Embrace who you are

(Wow last one for season One I guess how time flies… Also marks where Bran's actor started growing up too I guess lol. Sorry if it's a bit long but it does have a lot of information)

Dear Robb,

I'm sorry about father and wish I could do something to ease your pain but all I can think of is telling you to please do what you can to make them pay for that they have done to us. I have found out some rather interesting news lately from Maester Luwin and although it is troubling I am still able to carry on, if you are wondering what it is ask Catelyn Stark. I am denouncing my loyalty to King Joffrey and instead placing my loyalty to you as in my eyes you'd make a better King than anyone else I know. Continue rallying the troops and march towards King's Landing and get our sister's returned to us, in the meantime Bran, Rickon and I will make sure that Winterfell is run properly and maintained so you can return to the home I'm sure you and mother miss. I am always thinking of you and pray to the Gods for both yours and mothers safe return until then Robb I want you to remember not always to live on in anger but to live on for the memory of our father.

Forever a wolf,

Laria Stark

Bran was concerned about Laria as he watched her walk away from him a little over two weeks after their father died during their morning meal which would of seemed normal except she didn't offer him a smile or a word just left the room as though he or Rickon didn't exist. She had been this way for some time now and would almost completely ignore going about her business which in Bran's mind meant something was very wrong with her. Rickon looked back at his brother with a sad look once Laria had left looking as though he might cry "Do you think she doesn't want to be with us anymore?" "No" Bran said quickly feeling angry that Rickon would even suggest such a thing "I'm sure there is something else bothering her." Maester Lewin entered the room for a moment apparently just passing thru and Bran remembered that he had seen him a few nights after their father had died leaving Laria's room and felt like he might have something to do with the reason Laria was acting so strangely "I do intend to find out whatever it is that is bothering her."

"Hodor I need you to take me to see Maester Lewin" Bran instructed shortly after when Hodor had been carrying him around the castle as his tone was determined "I knew to ask him a few questions." "Hodor" Hodor responded and Bran let a small smile form on his face knowing that his companion would take him anyone the little Lord needed to go all he needed to do was ask. "Lord Bran" Maester Lewin questioned looking up as Bran entered his room on the giant's back "What brings you here?" "I need to ask you some questions Maester Lewin" Bran said as he looked at the man with a concerned look "I know you were in Laria's room a few days after father's death and I need to know why she's acting so bizarre." "I'm not sure if I can tell you that Lord Bran" Maester Lewin said looking at the floor "I believe it is not for me to tell." "Please tell me" Bran said practically begging as Hodor placed him in the chair tears forming in his eyes "She won't even speak to me anymore and I can't take it! I don't want to lose her Maester Lewin she and Rickon are the only ones left here in Winterfell!" "Alright Little Lord" Maester Lewin said after a moment in thought as he sighed "Laria may become very angry that I told you this but I do believe you need to know this as well." "What truth" Bran said confused "What is there to know about Laria?" "Bran Laria is not all what she seems" Maester Lewin said as he rubbed his brow apparently finding the subject difficult to speak of "I will tell you of the circumstances surrounding her birth and her place here in Winterfell."

Almost two weeks before

Three days after the news of Lord Stark's death Laria was alone in her room praying in front of her fireplace when a knock sounded at her door and she looked up in shock as Maester Lewin opened it "Lady Laria I am here because I need to tell you the truth." "I just lost my father" Laria said looking up at him tearfully "What can you possibly have to say?" "It is in Catelyn's best interests that I tell you this" Maester Lewin said as Laria noticed her was holding some kind of pouch against his chest as he sat at her the foot of her bed "It will help shape you for what is to come especially now when you need to be prepared...Laria Eddard Stark and Catelyn were not your real parents." "What" Laria shrieked out in shock standing up suddenly as she whirled around to him "What are you talking about how are they not my parents?!" "You real father is Benjen Stark" Maester Lewin said calmly knowing she'd act this way watching as her eyes widened and she placed her shaking hands at her sides "He didn't want you to grow up with him at the wall so he had his brother take you in and raise you as one of his own hoping that if you grew up with them you'd have a family."

"What about my mother then" Laria questioned shaking at the revelation unsure of how to react "Who was she?" "She was a wanderer who came here while she was traveling thru Westeros" Maester Luwin said as he looked her over "She fell in love with your father as he did with her and suddenly she became with child, you." "So what happened when she found out she was carrying me" Laria asked curiously her anger at bay for now "Did she just give birth to me and take off again?" "No she didn't I'm afraid my dear she died giving birth to you" Maester Luwin said a sad look on his face "She told Catelyn Stark as she held you for the first time she could feel her life slipping away and knew she didn't have very much time but she wanted you to be treated as what you were truly were, a Stark." "Who was she" Laria questioned as she sat down in front of the fire "My mother that is?" "She was a woman of many mysteries that much I can tell you" Maester Luwin said as he looked to the side in thought "she told us she came from an ancient old bloodline and for years her people had lived in Essos and she was to her people a princess. She said though that the princess life had never suited her and she felt much better being allowed to wander, to be free." Suddenly it all came back to Laria how Old Nan had looked at her after that story she had told her as though she knew something Laria hadn't and Laria couldn't stop herself from blurting out "If I may be so bold as to ask was she in any part of that so called fabled family that worshiped the Moon?"

"The very same" Maester Luwin said nodding as Laria's eyes widened that Old Nan had actually been telling her the story about her mother "Your mother apparently left after they made her perform some sort of ritual that she found rather barbaric and she wanted to travel the world instead. Her name was Seren Blood part of the Blood family with the sigil of the Golden Crescent Moon against a sea of white." "If all of that is true and I am indeed part of that family than why did Catelyn and Eddard act so strongly whenever someone asked for my hand" Laria asked as she paced about the room "Why act like asking for my hand is forbidden if I was not their real daughter?" "My dear that is because you were promised to someone long ago" Maester Luwin explained looking at her with a solemn expression "Your mother wanted you to remain a Stark for the rest of your life and said as is common with her people that she had a vision of you the day she found out she was carrying you standing beside another wolf as Lady of Winterfell someday. Thus Catelyn and Eddard had you betrothed to one of their sons since your birth." "What" Laria exclaimed laughing slightly as she shook her head "Betrothed to one of their sons what is this a terrible joke or something?! Oh you must be making this up." "I am not my dear" Maester Luwin said pushing the pouch forward towards her as he stood up "I believe it is in your best interests that you read these letters and unravel the true path that was planned for you." "But how…" Laria began but Maester Luwin exited her room leaving her alone to read the parchments hoping with the truth Laria would be able to begin her true path.

Pulling out the letters Laria shifted thru them and the first one she read had come from her mother addressed to Eddard Stark apparently looking for her father.

Dear Lord Eddard Stark,

My name is Seren Blood I'm sure you probably remember me but if you don't I was that curious character the young lady with the blood red hair who almost always had my hood up and visited a few months ago. I am writing to inform you that I have received not a word from your brother as of yet and I was hoping to get in touch with him as I have a very urgent matter to discuss with him the situation becoming rather difficult for me to hide. If you could please send this letter to him it would be very helpful I am held up currently in one of the old Inn's outside of Winterfell not too far away from you please send word when you know more of his whereabouts.

Gratefully yours,

Seren Blood

Laria could detect how scared her mother probably was and looked at the next one which was written by her father who apparently had decided already that she would be raised as a Stark and could feel herself already forgiving him for having placed her in the care of her Uncle and Aunt knowing how dangerous it would have been for her to live at the Wall.

Dear Ned,

Ned it's me your brother Benjen, I have arrived at the inn and found Seren and it seems the situation is not what we originally thought. You see Seren is not dying of illness or anything but is merely with child and I am indeed the father as Seren has not been with another man since our little encounter a few months back. She is now five months along and showing beautifully I could never have been as happy as I am at this moment than I am now I am concerned though about the child's legitimacy even though born from a noble born Lord and Lady because the last thing I want is for the child to grow up as a bastard. Therefore I beseech you to please when the child is born with your permission as you are head of house of Stark for the right to have the child legitimized that way dismissing any claims or problems that might rise against my child in the future. Please come and visit us when you can I'm sure you'll be quite pleased when you and Catelyn receive a new niece or nephew and look forward to seeing you.

Until then as always,

Benjen Stark

Next came from one from Catelyn telling Eddard what she thought of the baby being a Stark and surprised Laria because she never realized how close Catelyn had been with her mother wondering if this was one of the reasons Catelyn had so eagerly taken her in and treated her so differently from Jon.

Dear my sweet Eddard,

Thank you for allowing me to come here to watch over Seren as it is evident soon she will give birth and bring into the world our niece or nephew and I hope the child knows they are a Stark from the moment they are born. Benjen already does not wish for the child to grow up with him at the wall and is considering giving up his post so that the child can be raised in Winterfell along with our own children. Can you imagine it our family will be united and all the Starks will be in Winterfell including Seren who I hope you will give Benjen permission to unite houses with so their child will not be raised a bastard. I know you may have your doubts my husband but I do say implore for you to think it over because I can see that if our family is united that we will be able to overcome anything. I will see you again when the time comes near for the child to be born but until then please care for Robb in my absence.

Your loving wife,

Catelyn Stark

The next letter was from Eddard detailing Seren's death and Laria's birth and how she would be raised as a Stark along with the promise that she would be betrothed to one of their boys but which one depended on her actions as her mother had been vague in her final moments.

Dear Laria,

I feel that you need to know the truth about your birth and why exactly you have been raised as one of our own since you entered this world as I feel it is wrong to keep things from you for much longer. You were born one night during a full moon with a full head of hair the same color as your mother's and scared the nurses and Maester Luwin who thought you still had blood in your hair and scrubbed your head several times before they realized that it was your natural color. Your mother held you in her arms and told us she had a vision of you when she had first been told she was carrying you and told us you would join yourself with another wolf and would continue the Stark line because that is what you are and always will be, a Stark. She was losing blood and wasn't very clear but said that one of our sons would fall in love with you and you would feel equally the same amount of passion toward them. I've always been skeptical about these sorts of things but I had known your mother for some time and knew she had a sort of gift for these sorts of things so I didn't question her as she began to close her eyes succumbing to her death. Her last request before she handed you to my wife was that you be raised by alongside our family and be told every day how you are a Stark so you'd never feel like you didn't belong. Over these past few years I must say I have grown accustomed to having you around and I do love you dearly my sweet Laria for you are not only my niece and daughter but you are a member of my family and always will be do not forget that.

Your dear father,

Eddard Stark

Wiping away a tear Laria read the last letter and blinked in shock at what she read her hands shaking as she comprehended who it was exactly that she had been betrothed to for all these years.

Dear Maester Lewin,

You'll remember the day that Laria was born that her mother said that she would be betrothed to one of our sons and would show an unnatural sort of attachment to them? Well I think we may have found who she is to be betrothed to just by how I have observed her interactions with him over the past few weeks. My son Bran was born a few weeks ago and already Laria has refused to leave the newborn's side and stays as she close as she can to my wife Catelyn and the small child as though she can't bear to leave his side. I am telling you this so I can make a declaration that only those who know Laria's true parentage are allowed to hear. I never did think that Seren's words would be true until the day I first introduced Laria to the baby and saw something in her eyes I never thought I'd see in a three year old before, true devotion. I hereby declare under the promise that I made to Seren Blood on her deathbed that my son Bran Stark and my niece Laria Stark shall be promised to each other and it is my full intention that when they become of age that they are joined together as one. I know the journey for them might be hard but I can already see it every day that Laria is near my son that together they have the potential to do great things and wonder what the future holds for them. Tell no one but those who were with us that night and only show this to Laria when the time is right.

Your Lord of Winterfell,

Eddard Stark

Holding the letter against her chest Laria cried shaking her head in disbelief as she tried to process what she had just read the words seeming foreign to her and couldn't fathom that all these years she had been promised to Bran of all people. "It must be a lie…" Laria questioned looking at the paper again "Yet I know it is not look it is written clear as day right there! How am I supposed to react to this?" Her hands shaking Laria placed her head in between her legs trying to calm her breathing down as she closed her eyes hoping the process for clearing her head would be easier this way but found that upon closing her eyes all she could see, was Bran. "I need to clear my head" Laria said standing up feeling overwhelmed by everything "Maybe I need to go for a walk or something." Upon leaving her room Laria blinked eyes widening as she caught sight of Bran on Hodor's back smiling down at her the knowledge of the truth hitting her full force as Bran looked at her as though he needed to ask her something "Laria there you are I was looking around for you." "Yea well I was in my room no surprise there" Laria said finding it awkward how flushed she had suddenly become "Why were you looking for me?" "I was hoping that you'd join me in my room like you usually do" Bran said appearing to be a little jealous of something "I know the last few nights you've been lying with Rickon and I understand it's because of father's death but please don't forget I need you too." "No" Laria suddenly blurted out Bran become confused and a little sad watching as she ran a hand thru her hair nervously "I meant no sorry I can't not tonight because I need to sleep in my own bed for a while, I'm afraid I've been crying the last few nights and disturbing Rickon so I need to lie in my own bed. Last thing I would want is to disturb you Bran." "Huh but Laria…" Bran said and watched as she walked away giving him a small sad smile as she looked back "Sorry Bran but it's for the best believe me…"

Laria went in front of the Godswood and kneeled tears falling down her face as she shook holding the cloak tightly against her as she place a hand onto the tree "I know the truth I know everything now… He wasn't really my father was he?" 'No he wasn't' the tree spoke back to her 'You know they did this all so you could have a future?' "Why they'd lie to me like that though" Laria questioned aloud not caring who heard "Why keep it from me that I was promised to their son all along?" 'They might of thought you'd act like this' the voice said making Laria grit her teeth 'Calm down and see what they did for you red wolf for I do only see them giving you a future. They gave you a home, family and a future with someone they could see you forming a connection with is that not what you humans worry about most in life?' Laria clenched her teeth as she thought about it realizing that the voice on some bizarre level was right and that although she had been lied to her whole life everything that Eddard and Catelyn had done until now had been so she'd have a future.

They had refused for her to have been promised to anyone other than Bran due to the promise they had made to her mother and could see that she and Bran had something there and hadn't wanted to break that bond by giving her away. They had raised her as one of their own so she'd feel included and Eddard had legitimized her so she would never feel like she was a bastard or someone who was ever second to anyone else. They had given her a family and loved and cared for her as one of their own despite all of the circumstances that had occurred from her birth and had wanted her to know that from the moment she entered the world that she was free, she was a Stark. "They did this so I would be free" Laria said feeling guilty at the thought that she had been so angry before and bit her lower lip in thought "They wanted me to feel like there was nothing that could hold me back and they knew that the only thing that truly knows how to treat a wolf is another wolf…For a wolf won't try to tame one of its own but will accept them for who they are." With that knowledge Laria stood up and left the Godswood feeling that on some level she owed it to Eddard Stark and would make sure that Winterfell would be at its best while she was around.

Present time

"Laria is promised to me" Bran stated blinking in disbelief as Maester Lewin nodded "Laria is not only my cousin but my intended as well… and your telling me Mother and Father knew this all along?" "Your eleven and growing every day Little Lord" Master Lewin said looking at Bran with a look of appreciation "I have watched you grow from a young boy into the lad that someday will be very much like his father and you are already acting Lord of Winterfell. I feel like you are old enough to understand this." "But I never wanted to be married" Bran shouted his cheeks coating with color when his voice died down "At least I thought I didn't… so ever since I was born Laria has been promised to me?" "Yes she and you were seen from a young age as two people who had an unusual connection" Maester Luwin said looking at Bran amused by the boy's reaction "Your mother and father never wanted to break that connection nor the promise that had been made to her mother so whenever anyone asked for her hand they always said no." "All so that in the future I'd join myself with Laria" Bran said feeling confused and a little angry at the whole revelation "So whenever they said she had a special fate they meant that her fate was with me?" "Yes they saw to it that it was declared after you were born that she was promised to you" Maester Luwin said looking off to the side in thought "I never did see two children quite like you though I remember when you had just learned to walk you'd trail after her following her everywhere she went and she always made sure you were behind her always acting as though she needed to protect you." "Hodor pick me up" Bran instructed his face flushed and red Bran rubbing his cheeks finding they were indeed hot to the touch "Maester Luwin do you think that father would have wanted me to join with Laria?" "I know he would have wanted you two to always be together" Maester Luwin said watching as the giant picked up the young Lord "He said that watching you two he knew you could do anything as long as you were together." "Hodor we're going to find Laria" Bran instructed his face almost completely red as he waved to Maester Luwin as he left "Let us hope that she does not hate me as much as I'm sure she hates you."

Laria sighed lying down on the ground in a part of the old Winterfell ruins with Flare curled up against her keeping her warm the wolf appearing to understand her need to distance herself lately and had been Laria's constant companion her master thankful for the wolf's undying devotion to her. "Laria" a familiar voice called and Laria glanced up her eyes widening in confusion as she saw Hodor coming towards them a distraught looking Bran on his back and was he crying? "Laria" Bran repeated when they reached them and motioned for Hodor to place him down which he did and Bran leaned against the wall beside Laria looking at her with tear filled eyes "Please don't hate me." "Why would I hate you" Laria questioned as she moved closer to Bran and embraced him "Why would you think that I hate you?" "I know why you've been so distant to me and Rickon lately" Bran said causing a gasp to escape Laria as he felt her body stiffen "I know the truth Laria." "So what did you come to tell me to leave" Laria said her voice barely a whisper "I know you don't want to have a wife in the future Bran so if you want to me leave just say so." "No don't ever say that" Bran said pulling back looking at her his eyes fierce "I don't ever want you to leave okay! You are not Robb or Arya or Sansa or Rickon or even Jon okay I can survive without them but if you left I would be nothing!" "What do you mean" Laria questioned tears forming in her own eyes "Why would you be nothing?" "They don't understand me like you do Laria" Bran said burying his head into her chest "They don't know that when I am irritated and yell at someone else it's because I'm mad at myself they don't know that I hate being reminded that I can't walk and they don't know that I hate having to ask others for help, but you know all of those things about me and you never make me feel like I'm a burden to you." "Because you're not" Laria said making Bran sigh into her chest a small smile forming on his face "You are strong and able to do things on your own still and I'm sure one day you can and will walk again." "Even if I don't though you'll still be around me" Bran said smiling at her "Winterfell needs me to be at able to run things and I can't do anything if you won't even look at me so I'm asking you to stay here forever okay?"

"What about the whole me being promised to you" Laria questioned her face reddening as Bran flushed as well "What do we do about all of that?" "Father truly intended for us to be together" Bran said looking to the side in embarrassment "I'm only eleven though and I still find girls to be honestly kind of nasty." "Really Bran" Laria said her nose scrunching up in amusement "That's all you have to say about that?" "No that's not what I meant" Bran said trying to defend himself as he cleared his throat "I meant to say that I feel that way now and I think of you as the person who's closest to me and I don't want you to feel like you have to distance yourself from me or anything, I don't want us to change." "Neither do I" Laria said slightly relieved "So what do you want to do about that whole promised to each other thing?" "Someday I'm sure since it happened to Robb and Jon I will look at girls differently" Bran said looking at Laria truthfully hoping she'd be okay with everything he was saying "I don't want to question us being promised because it was what father wanted but when that day comes and I do start to like girls and maybe before I come of age we should discuss being promised to each other then." "I understand what you mean" Laria said pushing her hair behind her ear as she chuckled "To be honest I was hoping we wouldn't have to think of it now and could just go back to the way we always are despite the fact that we're actually cousins." "Okay then" Bran said smiling at her an almost sly look on his face "Now since you made me have Hodor bring me all the way up here will you take me back?" "Yes my little wolf" Laria said and picked up Bran on her back as Flare stood up ready to follow them "Just don't mention this to Rickon." "I don't think I even want him knowing you're our cousin" Bran said shaking his head as he looked around them while Laria walked "Would be too confusing for him and he'd tease me about us being p-promised to each other." "He won't know then" Laria agreed as she walked down the steps "We won't tell him until we're ready."

With Robb and Catelyn

Robb reread the letter from Laria over and over again questioning what she meant feeling like there was something his parents had been hiding from him and left his tent finally deciding he needed to find mother. He had been more angry and testy since finding out about father's death and people usually gave him a bit of a wide birth when they saw him approaching which was wise since he was known to snap more easily. Catelyn could sense her son before she saw him and turned to him with a suspicious look on her face as Robb practically snarled at her "What is Laria talking about, the truth about what?!" "Robb calm down" Catelyn said used to her son's temper and motioned for him to follow her while she walked "Come we have much to discuss." "What have you been hiding from me" Robb questioned as he followed her around the camp "What was Laria talking about?" "First of all you should know she's not actually your sister but your cousin" Catelyn said knowing laying things out for him first would be the best thing to do and then explain them "Second you need to know that whenever someone tried to ask for her hand there was a reason that we told them she had a special fate and it was because she was already promised to someone…your brother Bran." At the look of disbelief on Robb's face Catelyn knew she could continue and did sighing as she began the story "It all started almost fifteen years ago when a woman named Seren Blood entered Winterfell…"

(Goodbye Season One and hello to season two!)