Stag of the Storm Chapter 3 - Meeting the Starks
A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to another chapter. I apologize to all those who have been waiting patiently (or impatiently) for a new chapter. I did intend to update this much sooner, but unfortunately, family visits, uni work, my sister being seriously ill, and life just seeming to throw a never ending barrage of problems at me, has prevented me from updating this as soon as i had planned to. I know this chapter most likely won't make up for the wait, but I hope it is a start at least. Constructive criticism is welcome, but no flaming please. Enough of me rambling, on with the story!
Robb Stark
The whole family minus Arya stood in a line awaiting the arrival of the royal family. Winterfell had been bustling with activity ever since the raven had arrived to notify their father of the king's intent to travel to Winterfell. Their father was visibly apprehensive of meeting his brother in all but blood again after so long. Robb could understand, no-one knew what to expect, not even their father, as nine years is a long time, and anyone can change in that amount of time.
Robb was broken out of his musings by his mother whispering urgently "Where's Arya?! Sansa, where is your sister?". Sansa simply shrugged, but not a moment later did a blur run across the courtyard, only to be caught by Ned. The blur turned out to be his youngest sister with a helmet on, which she was quickly relieved of.
"What are you doing with that on?" Father asked, taking the helmet and passing it back to Ser Rodrick. "Go on" he said, with a hidden smile at his daughter's antics. Arya groaned quietly, before making her way over to stand next to Sansa, pushing Bran to the side with a "Move", and about ten seconds later, the royal entourage entered the courtyard.
First came several Lannister guards, followed by two young men, one with golden blonde hair, the other with black hair. Robb guessed the one with blonde hair was the Crown Prince, Joffrey, with his ever loyal guard dog, Sandor Clegane, the Hound, right behind him. Immediately, Robb knew he didn't like him, with his lean frame, pouty lips curved into a slight, malign smirk as he looked at something. Robb followed the prince's eye line and saw Sansa staring at Joffrey, blushing slightly with a small smile on her face. Robb didn't like the look of this one bit, as clearly his sister was becoming infatuated with someone he was sure wasn't as angelic as he seemed to be.
Turning away from his sister and the crown prince, Robb observed the other boy, a relatively muscular young man, with wavy, waist length, ebony black hair, and midnight blue eyes. This must be Ruadan, the so-called Black Prince. He was currently looking around with mild interest, taking in the sight of Winterfell for the first time. His eyes then locked onto Robb's, and the prince gave a courteous nod of the head, which Robb returned.
The sound of rattling wheels was heard, and the royal wheelhouse, no doubt bearing the queen and her younger children, entered the courtyard. Right behind it, followed the King, who was not at all what Robb expected. This was the king?! The famous 'Demon of the Trident' their father spoke so highly of?! All Robb saw was a very fat man, with a beard to try hide his multiple chins, riding a horse that Robb felt sorry for into the courtyard. The King halted, waiting for a servant to bring steps so he could dismount his horse, before striding over towards them. Instinctively, The Starks and everyone else in the courtyard knelt before him. When the King reached the line, he beckoned them to stand. His father then spoke. "Your Grace."
For a moment there was silence before the King spoke "You've got fat."
Ned looked startled for a moment, while Robb saw Ruadan smirking, mildly amused out of the corner of his eye. Ned then regained his composure before looking down pointedly at the King's bulging belly then back to his face as though to say 'so have you'. The tense atmosphere in the courtyard was then shattered when the King and Ned broke into chuckles and then embraced like long lost brothers. When he released Ned, he turned to Catelyn, embracing her while warmly calling her 'Cat', an embrace she returned with a polite 'Your Grace'.
Turning back to Ned, the King spoke once more "9 years, why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, Your Grace, Winterfell is yours." Ned replied as the Queen, Cersei Lannister, exited the wheelhouse and strode over to them, disdain etched across her otherwise admittedly beautiful features. Extending her hand, Ned kissed it, as Catelyn curtsied, both with a polite 'My Queen'.
The King then moved down the family. "You must be Robb." he said, before they firmly clasped hands, the King looking mildly impressed at his grip. The King complimented Sansa on her beauty, before pausing. "And your name is...?" the King asked his youngest sister, gaining a bold "Arya" in reply, after which he moved on to Bran, telling Robb's younger brother that he's make a fine soldier one day.
Arya was next to break the silence when she excitedly exclaimed "That's Jaime Lannister! The Queen's twin brother!", earning her a harsh 'shut up' from Sansa, who was clearly embarrassed at Arya's outburst. She looked confused for a moment before asking "Where's the Imp?", earning her another harsh reprimand from her sister.
The King then called out "Ned, take me to your crypts, I want to pay my respects." Something which Ned looked uncomfortable about, as the Queen's gaze seemed to grow colder, and Prince Ruadan had a slightly reproachful look in his eye, as though tempted to berate his father for his tactlessness.
"We have been riding for a month my love." the Queen said without a hint of warmth "Surely the dead can wait?" The King ignored her however, motioning to Ned, to follow, with a mention of his name. Ned gave the Queen an apologetic look before following his old friend.
"Where's the Imp?" Came Arya's voice again. The Queen wrinkled her nose slightly in response to hearing this, and turned to her twin, commanding him to 'Find the little beast'. A voice called across to her as Jaime left to look for him.
"You know, the 'beast' you refer to has a name, Tyrion, and it would be better if you refer to him as such mother" The voice of the Black Prince carried across the courtyard as he dismounted his horse. The Queen simply grimmaced but held her tongue, whilst Ruadan moved to help his siblings out of the wheelhouse, before making his way over to greet them as the Queen, Prince Joffrey, Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella made their way up to their accommodation.
Ruadan Baratheon
Ruadan made his way over to the Starks as his mother and siblings left to get comfortable in their lodgings for their stay here in Winterfell. He on the hand, stayed to talk to the Stark family.
"A pleasure to meet you Stark family. My name is Ruadan Baratheon" He said with a polite bow to the Starks.
A tall, lean boy with thick auburn hair, who Ruadan assumed was the eldest stepped forward before replying. "It is an honour to meet you my Prince, on behalf of our family, I welcome you to Winterfell, my name is Robb Stark". Ruadan then made his greetings, even greeting Theon Greyjoy and, to everyone's surprise, Jon Snow, before taking a tour of Winterfell with Robb, before retiring to his lodgings to bathe and prepare to the feast that night.
And that's a wrap for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Just to say, I didn't include the scenes where they execute the deserter from the Night's Watch, find the direwolves or when Ned is offered the hand of the king position because it is exactly the same as every other fanfiction that involves this part of the story (a good number of them). I hope that I can get the next chapter out quicker for you guys, but it all depends on university, as my timetables for lectures are subject to near constant change, so I can't say anything for definite.
Also, I would like to propose a poll to decide the pairing. I was originally going to go for Sansa straight up, but decided in the end, that I wanted to let you, the readers decide. Candidates are Sansa, Arya, Margeary and Arianne. If you wish for a character other than these four, then please state your exact reasons why, then I will see if it is plausible or not.
As always, favourites and follows are greatly appreciated if you like the story, and reviews as well. Remember, this is my first fanfic so no flaming please, constructive criticisms only. See you in the next chapter! o/
