The New Lord of Winterfell

Laria sat surrounded by men on either side of her while Robb sat down at the head end of the table and Bran sat a few seats away from her beside Theon occasionally glancing to see if she was alright as she listened to the men boast around her. "For thirty years I've been making corpses out of men boy" one of the men said "I'm the man you want leading the vanguard." "Galbart Glover will lead the Van" Robb said looking at the table full of men as the man protested saying the wall would melt before he submitted to leadership under a Glover and looked at Robb determinedly "I will lead the Van or I will take my men and march them home." "Flare" Laria whispered under her breath and the wolf at her side stood ready Bran and Robb glancing over at her curiously as she waited for her brother's response "You are welcome to do so Lord Umber and when I am done with the Lannister's I will march back North root you out of your keep and hang you for an oath breaker." "Oath breaker is it" Lord Umber shouted standing up "I will not sit here and listen to insults from a boy so green he pisses grass!" Grey Wind flew at Lord Umber biting him as Flare jumped up onto the table growling at others in warning challenging anyone else to speak out of terms stunning the others. "Good girl" Bran whispered reaching out towards Flare who licked his fingers gently as Robb looked down at Lord Umber as Laria tuned out most of the conversation until Lord Umber shouted "Your meat …is bloody tough." Murmurs became laughter as Laria and Bran looked about the room at the men who were now in an almost joyful mood the table full of laughter as Laria's hand met Flare's snout and her wolf nuzzled into her hand her words heard in Laria's mind 'We will show them all wolves are not to be messed with.'

Footsteps alerted Laria as she looked up from her sleep blinking groggily as Robb smirked at her noting she was once again lying beside Bran "You are predictable sister you know that, I can always find you where you're needed." "I haven't really slept in my bed except for but a few nights since his accident" Laria explained her eyes flickering to Bran's sleeping figure as she traced a finger over his cheek "He may be older but he and Rickon still need us, I'm afraid if I let one moment go by when I'm not looking after them they'll disappear from me and I'll be left alone." "Nonsense" Robb said sitting beside her and brought her in for a hug "You're a Stark sister remember you'll never be alone." "Now I need to speak with him" Robb said gesturing to Bran and Laria nodded gently placing her hand on his shoulder and shook him Bran looking up a moment later alert "What is it?" "Shh it's alright" Robb said looking at Bran with a small smile as Bran looked him over his eyes widening with realization "Where are you going?" "South for father" Robb responded watching as Bran reached over and grabbed one of Laria's hands squeezing it softly "But it is the middle of the night." "The Lannister's have spies everywhere I don't want them to know we are coming" Robb explained knowing this would be incredibly hard on his siblings as Bran looked at Robb curiously "They have more men than we do?" "Aye they do" Robb nodded as Bran sat up "Can't I come with you? I can ride now you've seen me riding and I won't get in the way." "There must always be a Stark in Winterfell" Robb said repeating their mother's words as he turned to the two of them with a sigh "Until I return that will be you Bran, you are not to leave the castle walls while we are gone do you understand?" "We won't get into trouble" Laria murmured catching the attention of her brothers "We'll be sure to keep everyone safe." "I was hoping you'd say that" Robb said smiling sadly at his sister and back to Bran "Listen to Maester Luwin and look after your little brother you two." "I will" Bran said as Laria smiled and got into the bed closer to Bran "We will I think you mean, we'll take care of Winterfell for you brother." "I will send letters when I can" Robb said knowing the three of them would protect each other "If you don't hear from me don't be scared…till I return." The two watched him walk away and left the door open as they wondered when he would return.

"Oh" Laria said when she noticed the familiar figure in the hallway "Oh dear my pup please come in." "How long have you been hiding out there" Bran said as Rickon came in the room "Robb will be looking for you to say goodbye." "They've all gone away" Rickon said sadly his eyes flickering back and forth between his siblings as Bran looked at his brother "They'll be back soon Robb with free father and they'll come back with mother." "No they won't" Rickon said shaking his head and walked away Laria getting up from the bed and going after him knowing he was deeply saddened. "Hey come here pup" Laria said and hugged him from behind spinning him around Rickon crying into her chest as she held him close and began to hum softly to him "Shh it's alright." "Don't leave us Laria" Rickon practically begged "I don't know what I'd do if you left us too." "Shh hey I'm staying right here" Laria said kissing him on his forehead "The war may break others apart but for me it brings me closer to my family and reminds me to keep them all safe." "You promise you won't leave us" Rickon said burying his head into her shoulder "You'll stay with Bran and me forever?" "I promise" Laria said knowing forever was a very long time but wanted her brother to feel better "I will never leave you or Bran ever." "Thank you Laria" Rickon said feeling a bit better as a woman's footsteps were heard and the two turned to see it was Rickon's caretaker a sigh escaping from her as she held her arms out "Let me take him from you Lady Stark, Mr. Rickon you know not to leave your room." "Will you sleep with me tomorrow night" Rickon questioned as he let the lady take him "You spend most of your nights with Bran and I want a turn?" "Alright fine" Laria said flashing him a wolfish grin "But only because you asked pup, sleep well dear." "See you tomorrow Laria" Rickon said trying to contain a yawn as Laria walked back towards Bran's room.

Bran watched Laria go after Rickon and his heart sagged as he wondered if Rickon was right and his family really wouldn't return home. Something brushing up against his hand he looked down to see Flare glancing up at him her expression worried as she softly licked his hand and Bran pet her his eyes widening as he eyed the wolf's almost human behavior "You know I'm worried don't you?" Flare grunted as if to say yes as she nuzzled into his hand and her nose although cold was comforting to Bran as he looked at the wolf wondering how smart exactly Laria's wolf was. 'Smarter than you think' a warm voice said and he looked down at Flare blinking in disbelief "Did you just?" 'Laria loves you Bran and she wouldn't want you to worry like this' the voice said as Bran gazed at Flare watching her as she licked at his hands almost motherly 'You must remain strong for them and the rest of your family otherwise if Laria is the only one who is strong she may very well break.' The memory of that dream he had of Laria in chains replayed in Bran's mind as he heard footsteps and looked to see Laria enter the room again Flare jumping down and went over to her master placing her head into Laria's hand.

"Well I would say I was missed" Laria joked as Flare then playfully nipped at her hand and then licked at it some "Ow fine then I won't give you any meat tomorrow rudeness is not bloody appreciated." 'You would give me some either way' Flare said in Laria's mind looking at her practically grinning 'Bran is worried about what Rickon said he is rather melancholy.' "Bran I wouldn't let what Rickon said bother you" Laria said coming toward him and sat on the edge of the bed as Flare joined Summer on the end "Letting something like that eat you up inside won't help you at all, need I remind you of how you first were when you woke up?" "No I just I worry about them" Bran said leaning against Laria with a sigh closing his eyes tiredly "Laria does your wolf ever speak to you?" "Yes she does" Laria said unashamed of the question "She can be quite the talker when she wants to be why?" "Nothing it's just she well…" Bran trailed off and glanced up at Laria with a sheepish look "She spoke to me and told me not to worry about things and stay strong, is that normal for her?" "Mhm" Laria agreed placing her chin down onto his head "She loves her brothers and sister you know and just like us she is worried about them too so she tries to remind every day to keep my head up and just hope for the best." "This is beyond the most bizarre conversation" Bran said finally after a moment Laria chuckling as she nodded "We probably shouldn't tell anyone about this." "Yes agreed" Laria said getting under the covers and rolled over onto her side a small grunt leaving her as felt Bran snuggle up into her back placing his nose close to her neck "Goodnight little wolf sleep well."

"I'll follow you down" Laria sang running thru the woods with Flare beside her letting Bran have some privacy at the Godswood " to the mountains and the streams through the woods and the trees I'll follow you down." Humming along to the song Laria suddenly froze as something showed in the corner of her vision glimmering and she walked towards it curiosity taking over her as she approached the object. Looking at it Laria realized it was someone's necklace the silver chain stuck on the branch and reached out towards it curiously pulling back after a moment when she felt as if it had singed her "What in the seven hells?" The wind began to pick up and she blinked as thru the trees she began to hear whispers the voices growing in volume as Laria put her hands to her ears and ran in fright. Flare close at her heels she ran back towards where she had left Bran remembering what she had heard the words scaring her dearly 'run from the white walkers little wolf, run before they get you.'

"Oh my" Laria said stopping her cheeks becoming flushed as she saw Hodor standing before her naked and quickly ducked her head as she heard Bran command him "Go find your clothes Hodor." "Are there really giants there" Bran questioned and Laria saw he was talking to Osha the woman looking at him as though she was surprised by his curiosity. 'Do you hear the voices too' Flare questioned and Laria nodded as she stepped forward walking past Bran and Osha and to the tree in front of them reaching out to touch the tree. "The cold winds are rising" Osha muttered and Laria glanced up to see the wind was picking up leaves before she reached out and placed her hand onto the tree. 'There now do you see young wolf' a new voice this one masculine and deep was heard in her ears as she blinked her eyes growing wide catching the attention of both Bran and Osha who looked at her as her body began to shake 'You and I are connected just like everything else in this land and we will not survive when the white walkers come.' 'What must I do' Laria questioned in her mind 'Why are you talking to me?' 'I speak to those who can hear me those who are still connected to the earth' the voice said 'you have always been even a part of this world even if you didn't know it and now it is your turn to help save it along with your family, your brother speaks to the Raven but you speak to the trees as a protector…When we need you little wolf we will call for you and it'll be up to you to answer the call. Do not forget that above all you are a wolf.' Closing her eyes Laria let her hand go as her body went limp and she fell back the last thing she remembered was hearing Bran cry out her name while Osha could be seen running towards her as everything went black.

"Ugh" Laria questioned coming blinking tiredly as she saw it was dark around her "Oh what happened did I hit my head?" Placing a hand to the back of her head she grimaced as she felt a bump there and wondered what she had hit as she looked around surveying her surroundings. She was definitely in a bed with warm blankets around her and saw that the bed was larger than hers or Bran's movement from her peripheral vision causing her to glance over and she smiled as she realized it was Rickon whose head was trying to use one of her arms as a pillow. She glanced over on her other side and chuckled softly when she realized that Bran was lying there as well the two of them probably worried over her and had insisted upon staying with her until she woke. Grinning to herself Laria decided to play a trick on the two and abruptly shouted out "Oh by the Gods no!"

Both of her brothers bolted into sitting positions glancing around tiredly as their sister chuckled smirking at them in delight "Can't believe that bloody worked." "Do you know how scared you made me" Bran chastised as he got closer to her and leaned against her chest " I thought you were seriously hurt or something the way you just fell like that in front of the Godswood Osha says you had some sort of vision or something." "You even missed dinner" Rickon said looking at her worriedly "You never miss dinner." "I'm sorry I didn't mean to worry the two of you so much" Laria said sheepishly as she pulled Rickon closer to her and placed a kiss onto the both of their foreheads "I didn't mean to have a black out either, so weird what happens when a tree speaks to you." "Osha made it sound like the gods can't speak to us" Bran said looking up at Laria inquisitively "What did the tree say?" "Look I don't really think this is a good idea" Laria said looking over at Bran concerned "We just talked about how speaking to animals is really bizarre so why would you count this as typical conversation?" "You two can speak to animals" Rickon said crossing his arms "Why can't I do something like that?" "No I never said we could actually speak to animals" Laria said irritated already by the conversation "We can only speak to Flare anyways but I don't think me talking about these things is right, it'll make people look at us strange." "Who cares we're Lords and Ladies of Winterfell" Bran said looking at her pleadingly "What did the tree say to you?" "He said I'm a wolf okay" Laria said throwing her head back slightly exhausted by everything "The tree said I'm a wolf and they'll call me when they need me as I'm a protector or something along those lines anyway I don't know what any of that means." "Sounds dumb" Rickon said sticking his tongue out "You aren't very good at lying sis." "I'm not lying" Laria mumbled her eyes closing as sleep overtook her again. The two watched her curiously as she fell asleep Bran shushing his brother before he placed his head on her chest listening to her heartbeat before he too fell asleep worried about her.

(Don't worry it's not going to get lame or revolve around her visions or anything I figure too much of that is Bran's and Laria is much more focused on keeping her brother's alive instead it just adds more to who she is though when all the pieces fall into place)