Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin, i do however own the non-canon character(s) of this story. This is purely a work of my personal enjoyment so i ask you to not expect anything worthy of the great GRRM. I fully welcome criticism/suggestions. The story will eventually be finished (I hate leaving things unfinished) but i have no real schedule. Please review with your thoughts as i'd love the feedback.

Notes: Willam arrives at Winterfell. I'll try to get the next chapter out Asap but as always I promise nothing. :P

Chapter 3: Winterfell

Winterhold held a similar cold beauty but Winterfell struck him as more ancient, the old paintings did not do it justice and it was not hard to picture as the home of his ancestors. Willam closed his eyes for a moment and thought of home as the wind brushed through his raven black hair, for a mere second forgetting that he'd ever left. "She is beautiful," Willam could not help but smile at Lord Eddard who rode up beside him. "It reminds me of home, although I do miss the smell of the sea and watching the ships dock in the city outside my window. All the same my lord, I will die happier having seen this."

Eddard returned a smile in response to the kind words about his home. "Come," He said. "My household will be waiting."

Willam was not used to this attention as being the forth born son he'd always been an afterthought of the smallfolk back home, the people of Winterfell however had left their houses to witness the Stark calling himself a Prince as he rode them by, it seemed word had spread rather quickly. "Seems you have an admirer my prince." Edwyn gestured towards a little girl that came running up to Willams horse with a small blue flower in her hands, holding it up for him to take.

"How do I look?" Willam asked, having taken the flower and placed it above his ear.

"Like a smug prick," Cregan jested as he rode past Willam and Ed.

Willam rolled his eyes and turned his head to one of Lord Eddards men that rode beside him. "The bastards jealous of my dashing good looks." Edwyn followed closely as Willam and the Stark guardsman rode ahead to catch up with Cregan. They entered the courtyard to find Lord Eddard greeting his gathered family.

"Prince Willam," Eddard called him over. "Allow me to introduce my lady wife, Catelyn Stark."

Willam planted a kiss on her hand when she held it out. "Lady Stark, my thanks for taking a foolish adventurer into your house. I promise not to be of too much trouble."

One of Starks daughters giggled at that as Catelyn replied. "Welcome to Winterfell, Prince Willam."

Eddard went down the line and introduced the others. "This is my eldest, Robb. And his brothers Brandon and Rickon."

"A pleasure." Willam offered his hand to the young heir to Winterfell took it gladly, younger than Willam by a few years at his guess. The youngest one, Rickon, seemed content to remain hidden behind his eldest brother. Brandon on the other hand stood tall for his age and shook the princes hand as his brother did before him.

"My daughters," Eddard continued. "Sansa and Arya."

Willam kissed the hand of the eldest. "Lady Sansa," Willam took the blue flower from his head. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful women."

"Are you really a prince?" The youngest Stark girl crooked her head to the side to inspect the alleged prince.

"Arya!" Lady Stark shot her a stare.

"It's quite alright Lady Stark," Willam smiled.

"So?" The little wolf asked again. "Are you? Where's your crown?"

"As a Prince I wear no crown little wolf," Willam began to explain. "For years my line of House Stark has ruled as Princes of the Sunset Sea, swearing fealty to the old Kings of Winter in the hope that one day we could return the crown of Brandon the Shipwright to it's rightful owners. Sadly, that will never happen."

"Because we bowed to the dragons?"

Willam nodded. "Aye, my father will likely wear the shipwrights crown once my people learn the fate of the Kingdom of Winter."

"That's quite enough questions for today Arya," Lady Stark ceased her daughters line of questions that Willam thought would've likely continued for hours.

He smiled at the little wolf as she rolled her eyes. "This is my beloved brother," Willam began to introduce his own family. "Cregan Snow, the Bastard of Winterhold."

Cregan reluctantly bowed at the mention of his official title. "My Lady."

Willam continued. "And last but not least is Edwyn Ryder, my brother-in-arms."

Edwyn bowed much easier than Snow did. "My Lady."

"Welcome to Winterfell gentlemen." Catelyn smiled, avoiding Cregan as she did. "I have arranged rooms for you and your men Prince Willam. Robb," She turned to her eldest. "show the Prince and his men to their rooms, they must be tired from their journey."

"Yes mother." Robb replied.

Willam addressed his friends before following the Stark heir. "You two behave yourselves, we are guests here."

Cregan rolled his eyes. "Yes mother."

"How do like Winterfell?" Robb broke the silence as he lead Willam through the halls towards the quarters that had been prepared for him.

"The old paintings don't do it justice." Willam was focused on his surroundings, trying to map out the keep in his head.

"You have paintings of Winterfell?"

"King Brandon grew homesick," Willam turned his attention to Robb, thinking it rude not to face the heir of the castle he was a guest in. "In his later years ruling from Winterhold he ordered his knowledge written down, understanding the importance of history and not wishing his sons and grandsons to forget where they came from."

"He never tried to sail home?"

Willam sighed at that, he knew all too well the dangers of what sailing across the sunset meant. "Many tired," He began. "none returned to tell the tale and eventually the idea became one of madness. To cross the sunset meant death and none tried for a few hundred years before I took it upon myself to risk my own life to prove them all wrong, along with the lives of those that followed me."

"Your father let you leave?" Robb seemed shocked at that. "My father would never allow me to do something so dangerous."

"Your his heir," Cregan laughed at how naive the young Stark was. "Willam is a forth born son, all his brothers besides myself happily wed with little pups of their own. Willam and I however were always the black wolves of the family, expendable, not that he ever complained. We enjoy more freedom to the envy of our brothers, while they have the family legacy to uphold we've no such weight on our shoulders."

"I see." Robb stopped to open a door. "This is yours Prince Willam, mother wished to invite you to dinner later this evening."

"It would be an honor," Willam spoke as he entered the room, larger than he'd expected for a mere guest. Lords had often played host to his family but he tended to get the smallest room out of all his brothers, while being the youngest had it's perks it also had it's downsides. "You have a hearttree I assume?"

"Aye," Robb replied. "In the godswood off from the courtyard, cant miss it."

"My thanks," Willam shook his hand and entered the room, tossing his sword and it's scabbard onto the bed before moving over to inspect the bookshelf that held a sizable selection. He proceeded to read a seemingly old book before being called on for dinner. Dressed in clean cloths for the first time since he'd washed up on that beach, he followed the servant to the main hall where Lord Stark and his family were already seated.

"Prince Willam," Eddard was the first to speak as Willam stood in the doorway, he looked a lot more princely in clean cloths. "Sit, you must be hungry."

He happily took a seat beside Lord Eddard with Robb to his left and Eddards daughters on the opposite side of the table to him. "Thank you for having me again," Willam began before he dared to start eating. "I do hope it wasn't too much trouble, would've sent a raven ahead but alas one rarely plans to capsize."

"It's no trouble Prince Willam," Catelyn replied with her usual courtesy. "We had been expecting guests even before my husband sent word of your arrival."

"Truly?" Willam took a sip of wine.

"You remember what I told you of the south during our ride from the Rills?" Eddard paused and Willam gave a nod in reply. "King Robert is riding North to Winterfell as we speak, we have been expecting him for almost a month now. We should arrive any day now."

Willam slowly drank his wine as he thought on the situation, before finally sharing his thoughts. "It seems Winterfell attracts royalty of all kinds, old and new."

"Quite," Eddard seemed oddly worried.

Willam guessed what he was thinking. "He doesn't know I exist."

"No," He replied simply, the concern obvious on his face.

"Well to be fair none knew of my existence until I washed up on your shores, my lord." Willam smiled to ease the tension. "King Robert could hardly blame you for not informing him, especially with him already on the road. Unless the good people of Westeros have trained birds to deliver messages to moving camps?"

The jest seemed to work, Willam often found making light of things had that effect. It worked for him anyway. "No, that's not my concern."

"This cannot be the first time Westeros has played host to a foreign envoy," Willam countered as he cut a piece of venison. "I am essentially a representative of my royal father and his people so I intend to act as such. You have my word, my Lord and Lady, there will be no trouble if I can help it."

That seemed to calm the lords worries. "I trust you to uphold the Stark name, Prince Willam." The rest of the dinner was rather uneventful as Willam excused himself after finishing his plate and went to discuss matters with Cregan and Edwyn in the godswood under the watched eyes of the Old Gods.

"This King," Edwyn began. "Is he likely take take our presence well?"

In truth Willam had his doubts. "Lord Eddard grew up with the man although he's not seen him for years, so only the gods know how a crown has changed the man he once knew. I will not bend to a man that is not my father, who is all for accounts our king even if he's not aware of it yet." The wind blew through the trees as Willam spoke and he took it as a sign that the gods agreed with him.

Edwyn did also, not that Edwyn has ever disagreed with him come to think of it. "Aye, this Iron Throne is of no concern to the islands, especially since it's not even held by those the Kings of Winter bent the knee to three hundred years ago. I am uncertain why these Starks obey now that the dragons you've spoke of are dead."

"To rise up against a unified South would been their downfall. You've not forgotten the rebellion back home Ed, picture it on a greater scale and ultimately more hopeless." Willam paused, realizing they were getting off track. "Regardless we did not come in slight of the gods to speak of matters that do not concern us, I asked you both here to ensure we're on the same page."

"No killing the royals during their visit?" Cregan stated the general idea.

"Yes," Willam eyed his brother. "No killing the royals. They are to be guests here, we don't want to start a war and anger the gods in one foolish swing."

Edwyn nodded in understanding and Cregan did much the same, only with his normal attitude. Willam knew his brother wasn't stupid but shot him a cold stare all the same, this wasn't a joke, things would likely go well but he simply wasn't used to this much responsibility. Usually one of his brothers would deal with this kind of thing.

It was the following morning when the visitors poured through the castle gates in a river of gold and silver, three hundred strong by Willam's count. Over their heads a dozer golden banners whipped back and forth in the northern wind, emblazoned with what Willam had been told was the crowned stag of House Baratheon. Prince Willam scanned the head of the column for Robert Baratheon, a man that Lord Eddard had described as clean-shaven, clear-eyes, muscular with blue eyes and hair to match his own raven black. In the place as this description stood a huge man with a full beard that processed to crush Lord Eddard in a hug. "Ned! Ah, but it is good to see that frozen face of yours." The king looked his old friend over before his eyes darted to Willam, the only person besides his two companions that had not knelt upon his arrival. "Who the bloody hells is that?"

"Allow me to introduce Prince Willam Stark," Eddard motioned him over with a look at said 'lets get this over with'.

"Prince? Ned, what is this?"

"Your Grace," Willam bowed respectfully. "It is a long story, one best had over drinks I think. Suffice to say I am a distant relation to Lord Eddard here, who has been gracious enough to shelter me and my companions until I can return home." Willam paused, offering his hand. "Lord Eddard has spoken quite highly of you."

After a brief silence King Robert shook his hand, causing Eddard to sigh in relief. "I'll hear more over those drinks you offered lad!"

"It would be a pleasure, Your Grace." Willam bowed again with a smile.

A golden haired women walked up to them, staring at Willam like he'd just called her a whore. Lord Eddard knelt in the snow to kiss her ring, while the king embraced Lady Catelyn like a long-lost sister. Then the children were brought forward, introduced, and approved of by both sides similar to Willam's first meeting with the Stark family.

"Prince Willam, was it?" The golden haired women stopped ignoring him, holding out her ring for him to kiss.

He did, seeing no reason to anger a queen today. "Queen Cersei I assume? Lord Eddard did not do your beauty justice, Your Grace."

She seemed to like the flattery, hiding the hint of a smile poorly. "I would understand how you claim to be a Prince."

"As would your lord husband, Your Grace." Willam smiled. "No doubt we'll talk more at the feast Lord Eddard has planned." The discussion was done at that as the queen turned her back on the alleged prince, despite her attempt to mask things it was obvious the idea of a Stark calling himself a Prince did not sit well with her.

After she left Willam moved over to Robb. "That went well."

"I think the king likes you Willam." He answered, forgoing the titles as Willam had requested of him earlier in the day.

"I think he likes drink," Willam jested, partly. "He seems a good enough man, although I am not certain about the queen."

"No?" Robb seemed surprised. "She seemed courteous enough."

Theon made himself apart of their conversation, nudging Robb. "Not to mention attractive."

Willam didn't like the queen, he'd decided upon that much simply by the manner the women held herself above everyone else. "Aye, sickening so." The king and Eddard returned from the crypts by the time Willam had finished talking to Robb and the others. They made their way to the great hall for the welcoming feast.