"Would you like to go to your chambers and clean yourself up first? Or would you like to get some dinner straight away, my friend." Lord Karstark touched his belly and laughed. "We can get cleaned up later, I am starving!" Lord Stark laughed with him. Eddard Stark opened the doors to the great hall. Dimmed light lit up the hall and the people dining in the hall looked curious at the six new guests at Winterfell. "May I take your cloak, my Lady?" Robb asked polite. His curly hair was dripping after standing outside and some of his curls hung down in front of his blue eyes. "Yes. Thank you, my Lord." "You can just call me Robb, my Lady." He grinned while taking my cloak. "Then you can call me Kristyna." We both smiled at each other and went to find a seat at a table. While Rickard went to sit with Eddard and his wife Catelyn, Robb guided me to the table with the Stark children. "Kristyna, this is Arya, Sansa, Bran and Rickon." All of the Stark children were beautiful. Sansa, the eldest girl had a pretty face and long auburn hair. She looked more like her Tully mother with her light features. Arya on the other hand had gotten more features from her father and the Starks, dark hair and a strong face. Both Bran and Rickon had also the looks from their mother. The Starks were kindly and curios about me and my life. Arya especially. She was interested in my training with swords and other weapons.
"Sansa, take your sister and brother to their chambers, it is getting rather late." "Yes, mother." Sansa said with her soft voice. Arya wanted to ask more questions, but she listened to her brother when he said she could ask more tomorrow. Only Robb and I remained at the table after the Stark children's leave. "More ale?" I nodded and Robb filled my cup up. As we talked a man at the table across from us, caught my eye. He also had curly hair, but longer and much darker then Robb's. Eyes dark as his hair and a motionless face. Those dark eyes caught me staring at him. Still his face was motionless. I broke our stare by looking down in my cup of ale, feeling a bit embarrassed. Next to the man I had been staring at, sat a man with the Kraken sigil on his chest. "A kraken in a wolf's home?" I asked Robb, refereeing to the man I had recently looked at. "That is Theon Greyjoy. Even though he is not a Stark I do look at him like a brother." "What about the dark one next to him?" "Oh, that is Jon, my brother." "Why was he not sitting with the rest of the Stark children?" I asked curious. "Well, he's actually my half-brother. He's last name is Snow, because, you know…" It was weird how the bastard had more of the dark Stark features, then Robb and the rest of the children, except Arya off course. I poured down rest of my ale, emptying my cup. "It's getting late. I should get some sleep." Robb rose up from the table and offered me his hand. "Let me follow you to your chambers." I looked quickly at Jon Snow, before taking Robbs hand. He was watching me. I gave him a little smile and walked off to my chambers with Robb.
The next morning I was woken up by servants that came in with hot water for my bath. After three long days with riding, the warm bath was a blessing. After scrubbing my face and the rest of my body, I got dressed for a new day at Winterfell. My stomach growled, ready for breakfast, and I went to the dining hall we had been yesterday. My grandfather was already there, sitting with Eddard. "Kristyna, come sit with me!" Arya shouted from one of the tables. She was sitting with Jon Snow, the one that had caught my interest at the dinner. "Good morning." I said to both of them, and sat down. "This is my brother Jon. Jon this is Kristyna Karstark." Arya said introducing us to one another. We gave each other a little smile. Jon was even more good looking up close, with his dark curly hair and eyes. Under the breakfast, Arya stood for most of the talking, but Jon hardly said a word. After a while, Robb and Theon joined us at the table. "Did you sleep well?" Robb asked with smiling eyes. "Yes, it was a bit cold in the night, but other else I slept well." "You could have asked for me, I would have warmed you up quickly." Theon commented and blinked his eye at me. Both Jon and Robb looked a bit shocked at Theons comment. "Theon, you shouldn't act like this in front of a Lady." Robb said stern. "Relax, Robb. It is okay, I do not really mind. And Theon, I would rather freeze to death then spend a night with you in my bed." I said blinking back to him. Everyone at the table began to laugh, except Theon who mumbled something and drank from his cup.
Later that day Arya and Sansa went for their sewing lessons, while the boys went in the training yard to practice their sword skills. Needle and thread did not appeal to me very much, so I decided to watch the boys in the training yard instead. Jon, Robb, Theon and Bran stood there with their armoury and training swords. The youngest of the Stark children, Rickon, sat on the fence, watching his older brothers. I walked up to Rickon and sat myself next to him on the fence. "Who's the best swordsman of your brother?" I asked little Rickon. "It is Jon. He is very good with his sword. One day I will be as good as him." Rickon said with a grin on his face. "Be as good as Jon? Ahh, but I think you will be even better, Rickon!" I said smiling. His eyes lit up. "Do you think so!?" "Off course!" I said, ruffling his hair. Rickon gave away a cute little laugh, clearly liking what I have said. Robb turned around and looked at Rickon and me, sitting on the fence. "Thought you would join Arya and Sansa?" Robb said walking towards us. "Rather look at you being clumsy with your swords." I smirked. Robb laughed and shook his head. "And you think you can do any better?" "Yes, bet I can beat at least two of you." "Lads, I think we have been challenged." Jon, Theon and Bran turned towards Robb with confusing looks on their faces. "By whom?" Jon asked. I jumped down from the fence and grabbed Robbs sword. "Me." I said playfully, pointing my sword at them. They were all silent for a while, but ended up bursting into laughter. "Yeah right. A girl cannot beat us. You should go back your sewing." Theon said mocking. I walked towards Theon and stopped in front of him, looking up into his eyes. "Well, I definitely can beat you, Theon Greyjoy." "Challenge accepted. But If I win, you will warm my bed tonight." He gave away a dirty smirk. "Done." I said firmly. Jon came grabbing my shoulder, making me turn towards him. "You cannot be serious? I do not think Lord Karstark will be happy when he finds out about your night with Theon." He had a worried look on his face, but I just smiled back at him. "Who said I was going to spend the night with Theon?" Jon let go of shoulder and I started to rip the bottom of my dress, so it would be easier to fight.
"Theon, you are first up." I said pointing my sword towards him. Theon walked laughing towards me rolling his eyes. "Ready…Fight!" Rickon shouted from the fence. Theon did not expect a sudden move from my side, making him out of balance. He tried to hit me, but I was too fast for him and ducked from his swings. Our swords smashed together. Because he was bigger and stronger than I was, he got the upper hand when our swords were linked together. I could see in his face that he knew he would win. However, I twirled around, making him surprised once again. I had gotten myself behind his back and I placed my sword up to his neck. "Dead." I laughed. "HURRAY!" Rickon cried out from the fence. Theon walked to the sideline with a grumpy face. "Looks like you have been beaten by a girl, Theon." Jon mocked. "Shut up!" he pouted. I gave Theon a wink with my eye before nodding towards Robb.
"Fight!" Rickon shouted again. Our swords clashed together several times, making a sharp noise when the steel met. Robb drove me backwards, trying to make me fall. When I crashed my back into the fence, I dodged quickly, making Robbs sword smash into the wood. Before he managed to recover from his mistake, I kicked his butt with my foot. "Playing dirty?" he laughed. I just shook my head and stood ready with my sword. Robb ran towards me and our swords met with great force, making me fall on my back. If he thought I played dirty when kicking his butt, he could just wait for my next move. "Auch, Robb, stop. My ankle, it hurts." I complained, clutching my leg. Robb dropped his sword and sat down quickly to look at my ankle. Unarmed and no idea of my next move, I caught him by surprise when I placed my sword at his throat. "Dead" I whispered in his ear. Robb opened his mouth in shock. "That was dirty of you!" "You should never trust a woman in combat. We must have our tricks to survive." I said patting his cheek, before we both laughed.
Jon was the most experienced of the boys, and I knew he would not fall for my tricks when I already had used them on Robb. There he stood before me. Tall and a hard face. This one was going to be tricky to beat. "Come on, Kristyna. You can beat him." Rickon cheered. I looked at the amused child and gave him a smile. "Ready?" Jon asked. "If you are, I am." We circled each other, waiting for the other one to take the first move. I attacked first, trying to get him off balance, but he stood there firm as a rock. I gave it another try and swung my sword. Jon was quick, so he ducked. He swung his sword low, aiming for my legs, but I managed to jump over it. Our swords smashed together a couple of times before he came with a surprising move. His sword linked with mine and teared it from my hand, making me unarmed. I quickly tried to pick up my sword from the ground, but he managed to take a firmly grasp around my neck and I could feel his blade against my back. As he pressed me tighter against his body, I could feel his beating heart and his heavy breathing against my ear. We stood like this for a few seconds, trying to catch our breath. "You win." I said heavily breathing. I could sense his face turning into a smile and he let me go. We bowed to each other and went to the sideline where the other ones were. Rickon climbed down from the fence and hugged my waist. "I think you were the best." "Aw, thank you Rickon. I could not have done it without your cheers." "Who taught you to fight like this?" Bran asked. "Lord Karstark taught me. He wanted me to take sword lessons instead of sewing lessons." "I wished I was a Karstark too." Arya said appearing from one of the barrels standing in the yard. "Have you been here all the time? Arya, you should not be down here. I am telling mother." Robb said. Arya crossed her arms and marched away from the training yard. "Arya reminds me a lot of myself when I was at her age." I laughed.
/Is the story okay, or should there be some some action or something? Coming some romance in the next chapter hahah. Enjoy.
