Chapter Four
The King's Arrival
Weeks passed and The King neared Winterfell. Although Myles now accepted that his future would most likely lie in King's Landing, beside the King, he still felt worried. Was King Robert the same man he once knew? Had peace changed him more than it had changed Myles? The last thing Myles wanted or needed was for the King to hate him, because in the eyes of the smallfolk some still believed Myles wanted the throne for himself and that his friendship with King Robert was a lie.
Myles was glad that his mind was distracted with the King's arrival because while he was distracted the dreams that had been plaguing him faded away. Myles slept full nights and woke refreshed. Myles even volunteered in a local blacksmith to help create a decorative sword for the king's visit. It would surely be an event to remember, for some.
But as the King neared Winterfell, everything seemed to blur together. Myles didn't know how he let Robb convince him into shaving his stubble off but he had and now Myles stood with Theon and Jon waiting for his turn.
Myles purposely stood as far away from Theon as he could get. He wasn't in the mood to fall into an argument with Theon, which Theon would most likely start. So he silently stood listening to what Robb, Jon and Theon had to say as they all waited to be groomed for the King's arrival.
"Why is your mother so dead set on us getting pretty for the king?" Jon asked Robb.
"It's for the queen, I bet. I hear she's a sleek bit of mink," Theon replied.
"I heard the prince is a right royal prick," Robb added to Myles' dislike.
Myles neither agreed nor disagreed with the rumours he had heard. He kept an open mind because he had promised Sansa that he would find her the best prince he could and in Westeros there was a short list of princes, unless you counted Dorne and Myles knew that wasn't what Sansa had in mind when she said she wanted to marry a prince.
"Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick," Theon joked.
After Robb was finished Jon sat down next and Myles couldn't help but noticed as Jon had his hair cut that his hair was probably at its longest length in years, although technically it was still quite short. Robb and Myles had similar hair now although the colour was obviously different.
As Jon had his hair cut and his growing stubble shave from his face Myles silently stood deep in his thoughts ignoring everyone that surrounded him. He didn't like being here but he couldn't disobey Lady Stark's direct orders. Myles had been so distracted by purposely ignoring everyone Robb actually had to push him forward once Jon was finished.
Myles was taken by surprise because he had been standing in the back waiting for them to leave so he could avoid taking his shirt off in front of Robb, Jon and Theon. Myles only disliked disrobing in front people was because of one simple fact. He carried more scars than he carried to share. Many of these scars came from his time in King's Landing, which was another reason why he never wanted to return to that city.
Myles swallowed and untied the high collar, loose fitting shirt he wore before pulling it over his head to reveal the light, shallow scars on his chest and the deep scars on his back. He had received many of these scars from his own grandfather, although other men actually carried out The Mad King's orders. Myles slowly sat down before looking around the silent room.
Robb had seen his scars before because they were the closet and it had become Robb's reasonability to make sure Myles had a haircut or a shave. Myles disliked the idea of having someone that close to his throat with a knife so he would avoid haircuts and shaves until Lady Stark ordered it.
Jon and Theon had yet to actually see the scars that covered Myles' upper body, although the rumours about them had probably reached their ears. Theon stared in silent shock with a small grin on his face as if this was confirming something he had said or thought. Jon on the other hand silently looked away trying to find something else to stare out while Robb just stared Myles directly in the eyes as if none of it mattered and to Robb it didn't.
Why did Robb push Myles into this situation when he who Myles felt uncomfortable around Jon and especially Theon? The truth was he didn't have a choice, Lady Stark had made it very clear during dinner the night before that Myles had to be clean shaven for the king's visit and since they were all having the same thing done Myles didn't have a choice in the matter.
Myles leaned his head back and allowed the man standing behind him to shave the stubble from his face. Although Myles had been a little uncomfortable about taking his shirt off he felt a little better once Robb, Jon and Theon started talking again. But as they spoke Myles silently sat there thinking. It would be customary for the lord of house to greet guests, especially if they were the royal family.
So where was Myles supposed to stand when Lord Stark greeted the king? Myles was a bastard so should he stand beside Jon, a fellow bastard. But King Robert was a close friend the last time they spoke during The Greyjoy Rebellion. If Myles was too far away that might anger the king and angering the king was never a good thing.
Once the stubble had been shaved from Myles' face he stood deciding to leave his hair as it was. He left Robb, Jon and Theon to joke about southerner men and swoon over southerner women. Myles cared not for women or jokes because his mind was elsewhere. The King would be arriving soon and Myles was concerned where he should go. Both Lord and Lady Stark considered Myles a member of their family but this was not about them, this was about the King and his family.
If the King no longer looked upon Myles as a friend then being seen by the King might anger him or might disrespect him. But what if the King still considered Myles a friend and he didn't see him that could make him angry as well. Myles was conflicted so he found the one person he knew would give him the answer he needed.
Myles quickly pulled his shirt back on and made sure the collar of his shirt covered the one scar that carried the most painful memory of his time in King's Landing. Once his scars were covered he stepped outside in search of Lady Stark. He rushed through the courtyard and stable area of Winterfell. Myles knew she would be making sure everything was ready for the King's arrival and if Myles knew Lady Stark like he did he knew she would be double checking everything. Therefore finding Lady Stark was easy, for Myles.
"My lady," Myles said as he jogged after Lady Stark and Maester Luwin after finding them.
Lady Stark stopped under the archway that stood near the entrance to the crypts of Winterfell. She turned back to face him as Myles closed the gap between them. She instantly noticed the fact he was now clean shaven. She nodded and smiled in agreement.
"Is everything alright?" Lady Stark asked. "You seem more worried than normal," she added. "Is something bothering you?"
"Yes, my lady," Myles replied. "I am concerned over where I should be when the King arrives. I do not want to anger the King or disrespect him and then there is…"
"Myles, my dear," Lady Stark said as she stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are as much a member of this family as any one of my children," she added. "Therefore you have the right to stand beside my children as if they were your siblings," she said.
"Of course, Lady Stark," Myles replied. "Thank you," he added.
Lady Stark gave him a small smile before turning and continuing with Maester Luwin where they encountered Bran who got caught climbing the towers and walls of Winterfell, again. But it was Bran's words about the King's arrival that made Myles nervous. Although this news made Myles a little nervous he was also happy at the same time. It had been years since Myles had seen the King and although he considered Lord Stark the father figure in his life he also considered King Robert an important part of his life.
Although when Myles first met Robert it was obvious that Robert would prefer to see the bastard son of the crowned prince dead they became closer over the events of Robert's Rebellion and by the time he became king they were close friends, especially after the Battle of the Trident. Myles had looked up to Robert during his rebellion. It could easily be said that Robert was Myles' hero.
After Bran was sent to inform Lord Stark that the King was close, Myles rushed back to his room, where he climbed the stairs three steps at a time. He changed into something more respectable then an old shirt and once in the cleanest and most respectful clothes he had, that had a high collar so the clothes could cover his scars, he quickly descended the stairs to his room and went in search of Lord and Lady Stark.
Once he stepped back outside Myles found the courtyard full of people all waiting for the king to arrive. Myles said nothing as he walked towards Lady Stark. As soon as Lady Stark said she wanted him to stand among them Myles knew he wanted to stand beside her. She gave him the most confidence.
As Myles moved to stand between Lady Stark and Rickon Lord Stark gave him a small smile which told Myles that Lord Stark welcomed his presence. But as he stood beside Rickon Myles couldn't help but feel like a giant as he towered over the small boy. Out of all the Stark children Rickon was probably the one Myles had the least in common with, but it was hard to be friends with someone so young.
But as Myles stood there he couldn't help but notice that Arya was missing. Myles made no note of it because when wasn't Arya missing. She was always out adventuring and exploring, much like Bran, but they were young and Myles knew that once they got older it would be harder to be childish. As you grew older your decisions in life became harder.
"Where's Arya?" Lady Stark finally asked. "Sansa, where's your sister?" she asked.
Myles watched as Sansa shrugged. Myles knew Sansa and Arya weren't that close that's why Myles never choose sides in their little war. Although if he had to choose he would choose Sansa over Arya because he cared more for Sansa's wellbeing over Arya's because Arya could be somewhat annoying.
As if on cue Arya rushed towards them with a helmet on her head covering her hair. For a moment Myles was surprised that this was Arya at all but not shocked. This was not the first time this had happened and after forcefully making a space between Bran and Sansa for herself everyone was there.
The first person of importance to enter the courtyard was the famous Prince Joffrey, who attracted Sansa's attention almost instantly. Myles couldn't help but admit he was cute in a little boy kind of way. Myles just hoped the rumours he had heard were only that, rumours.
The Queen's coach was the next to enter, quickly followed by King Robert Baratheon. Upon seeing the king Myles was surprised, generally surprised. The King he once knew was not the King that had arrived. Of course it was the same person but the differences were… big.
