True to his word at first light the next morning her Uncle Ned woke her.
She made her way down to the stables of the Red Keep where only a few guards were lingering around.
"Morning boy" She smiled as she brought Frosts bridle over to his stall and began to put it on him. She led him out into the middle of the stables where she had much more room to put his saddle on.
That's when she heard the small light footsteps making their way into the reasonably quiet stable.
Nieva turned to see Arya making her way towards her. The young girls hair was still ragged from sleep.
"What are you doing up?" Nieva asked throwing Frosts saddle onto his back.
"I heard you leaving and thought I could come with you" Arya smiled.
"You can't today, it's not safe" Nieva replied shaking her head as she began to tighten her saddle.
"That's why I've got this" Arya smiled holding up a tiny but sharp, thin blade making Nieva frown n confusion.
"Give it here" Nieva smirked holding out her hand which Arya quickly placed the small blade into. "So which one of your maniacal brothers had Mikken make for you, Robb or Jon?"
Arya bit her lip, not wanting to answer her older cousins questions. "Or I could have your father write to both of them, or better yet inform your mother and..."
"Jon" Arya answered instantly. "It was Jon. He gave me needle"
"Needle eh? Good name" Nieva let out a small chuckle. "I''m not surprised. Jon gave me my first blade on my thirteenth name day. Luckily your father knew and taught me how to use it. I wish I could be here to teach you"
"Where are you going?" Arya asked finally noticing her cousin was in riding gear.
"I'm riding back to Winterfell, someone has to teach that half wit of a brother of yours how to run things, and no you can't come" Nieva smirked.
"It's not fair, I didn't even want to come here in the first place, now I can't go home" Arya sighed.
"You'll return to Winterfell one day, I promise" Nieva smiled before she grabbed her younger cousin in a tight hug. "And if I hear you and your sister have been making this difficult for your poor father, you will both have me to answer too. He's got enough on his mind without having to keep you two in line. Say goodbye to your sister for me" she smiled before she leaned down and kissed Arya's forehead, an action that would normally cause the younger girl to throw a fit but this time she allowed it without fuss.
It broke Nieva's heart to walk away from her cousin but she knew she had to do it.
"Nieva" Arya's voice made her turn back to face her. Nieva frowned at her younger cousin before Arya ran full speed towards her and wrapped her arms around her in an embrace. Tears made her vision blurry as she felt her younger cousin sobbing against her.
"Hey, hey" Nieva said unwrapping Arya's arms from around her then she knelt down and wiped the tears from her cheeks with her thumb. "You are going to be fine here on your own, you're strong. Your father won't let anything happen to your sister"
She gave the girl one last hug. "Do not let needle out of your sight and don't let any of the guards see you using it" she whispered into her ear before she pulled back and stood to her full height. "Now go on before Septa Mordane starts to worry about you"
The younger Stark gave her one last small smile and took off running back up the steps to their chambers.
Nieva was biting her lip to keep the tears in her eyes from spilling over when her Uncle's voice startled her.
"You all set?" Ned asked walking to where Nieva was fastening the last strap of her saddle. She turned to her Uncle with a smile but Ned could see the tears in her eyes.
"Just about, I told Arya to say goodbye to Sansa for me. If they get too much hassle just send a raven and I'll be right back down here to deal with them" she grinned.
"I think I can take anything they throw at me" Ned replied. "Write to me the moment you get to Winterfell so I know you're safe. And tell Robb, Bran and Rickon I miss them and tell your aunt..."
"That you love her" Nieva smiled."Trust me Uncle Ned, she already knows"
"I am so proud of you, you know that right?" Ned smiled placing a hand upon her shoulder.
A wider smile brightened her face. "Thank you Uncle Ned"
"Your parent would have been proud too" Ned smiled, her heart clenched a little as she thought of her parents and the suffering they went through in the very castle she was standing in. Her Uncle Ned pulled her into a tight embrace "Stay safe don't do anything stupid" before he placed a gentle kiss upon her hair.
"Can't promise anything Uncle Ned" she chuckled lightly as she wrapped her arms around his well worn armour, the smell of the leather never failing to comfort her. Ned quickly pulled away from the embrace and took her by the shoulders, his face grim and serious
"I'm serious Nieva" his. tone suddenly made Nieva afraid. Did he think something was going to happen to her?
"I'll be careful" she replied.
"I love you" Ned smiled
"I love you too Uncle Ned" she smiled before leaning up to kiss his cheek before she turned and mounted her horse. "I'll write to you and let you know how Bran's getting on. Goodbye Uncle Ned"
"Goodbye Nieva" Ned smiled but Nieva could see the worry in his eyes. She knew he didn't like sending her on such a long journey alone but if anyone else rode with her the Lannisters would be suspicious.
She clicked her horse into a canter until she reached the stable doors then she pulled the reins to a halt and turned back to her uncle.
A single tear rolled down her Uncles cheek as he stared towards her, she gave a weak, tear filled smile back before she urged her horse out of the stables and began to speed her way towards the gates of Kings Landing before any Lannister guard noticed her and warned her Uncle Robert.
*9 years earlier*
Ned and Jory were sitting in his study discussing Theon's progress in attitude and training since he arrived at Winterfell. Eddard still didn't trust the little kraken, neither did Jory but they both agreed he'd matured a lot in the training yard since being a ward in Winterfell. His attitude had not improved so much.
He and Jory jumped as his study door was thrown open. He felt the weight on his side before he knew what was happening. He pushed dark hair out of his face as he looked at Jory with a shocked expression as his niece sobbed on his shoulder.
"Nieva what in seven hells has happened?" He asked taking the young girl by the shoulder and pushing her away from him so he could see her face. Her eyes were red and tear stained as were her cheeks. Ned had never seen her so hysterical.
"R...Robb" she stuttered wiping her left eye with her sleeve. Neds heart stalled in panic, what had happened to his son? "He and Theon were being mean saying that I can't join them in their games because I'm a girl and that girls are weak and stupid"
Ned let out a small sigh of relief but then was filled with a simmering rage. He knew Robb would never call Nieva weak or stupid so he knew instantly it was Theon, he hated how much influence his new ward had over his eldest son due to his older age.
"Nieva sweetheart come here" he said pulling the small, sobbing girl onto his knee. "I can assure you that you are not stupid or weak"
"I know I'm not, but why would they say something so horrible" she said with the fiery attitude that reminded Ned of Robert as a child, in the corner Jory chuckled at the little girls confidence. "I don't like Theon Uncle Ned, does he have to stay with us?"
"I'm afraid he does, it's the Kings demands" Ned sighed.
"The King is my uncle Robert, maybe I can write to him and ask him to change his mind" Nieva said suddenly perking up.
"No little wolf, your Uncle is a stubborn man, I highly doubt even you could change his mind" Eddard smiled.
"If Theon stays here then I don't want to stay here" Nieva said a hint of a snarl in her voice.
Ned smiled in slight amusement. "And tell me where would you go?
"My Uncle Renlys always talking about wanting me to stay with him in Storms End, maybe I'll go there" this wiped the smile from Neds face, Catelyn had told him when Bran was born that Renly had offered to take Nieva off their hands and take full custody of her.
"Your uncle Renly is still a child Nieva, he wouldn't know how to look after you properly" Ned said.
"He wouldn't need to, I can look after myself" Nieva said a hint of her Baratheon stubbornness showing. "Please Uncle Ned can I go and stay with my Uncle Renly, please?"
"Nieva no, you're too young" Ned said with authority in his voice that normally made the rest of his children instantly, but Nieva was not one of his children, she was more high spirited and stubborn. Therefore she usually went against the alpha of the packs wishes.
Nieva quickly wrangled her way off his lap and ran to the door. "You're just as bad as Theon" she cried as she turned back to face him before sprinting off down the corridor.
Later that night after a long and hard day, Ned was tucking Jon into bed after telling him the story of Bran the builder, a story the seven year old never got tired of hearing. He leaned down and kissed his wild mess of curls before he stood from the bed and went to blow out the candle.
"Ned!" Catelyns cry rang through the castle causing him to sprint out of the door to see her standing in the doorway to Nievas chambers. "Nieva's gone"
They searched her room and every room in the castle they could think of that she would hide before they began to really worry.
They called every servant out of bed to find the young girl. Ned called for Robb, Theon and Jon to be woke and brought to him. If anyone knew where she was, it was those three.
"Mother, what's going on?" A sleepy Robb asked as the three boys were brought in by Jory to stand in front of the Lord.
"Boys, Nievas bed chamber is empty and she's nowhere to be found in the castle, we were wondering if any of you boys know where she would be?" Catelyn asked.
Robb and Theon both shook their heads with confusion on their expressions. Jon however turned his gaze to the floor as he shook his head, catching the adults attention instantly.
"Jon where is Nieva?" Ned asked seeing the young boy looking very sheepish and guilty.
"I don't know" Jon shrugged but they could tell right away he was lying.
"Jon!" Ned said using his alpha voice that made Robb wince slightly and Theon step back a little.
"She made me promise not to tell" Jon snapped.
"Jon you need to tell us now where she is, we won't tell her you told us" Catelyn said speaking to the boy civilly for the first time in many years.
"Jon this is serious, Nieva could be in danger. Where is she?" Ned snapped beginning to lose patience.
"She said she was going to Storms End, to live with her Uncle Renly"
Panic settled in Ned stomach. As Catelyn gasped and turned to stare towards her husband.
"Jory, get men on the Kings road, Nieva knows that's the quickest way to Storms end" Ned ordered to his second in command. "Maester, write a head to Renly, warn him that Nieva may be on her way towards him."
"Shall I also write to Stannis and Robert my lord?" The maester asked.
"Gods no, the last thing the king needs to hear is that we lost his niece" Catelyn replied, her own worry showing.
"Cat get the boys back to bed, I'll need to get myself ready for riding" Ned ordered.
"Father I want to come with you, to help find her" Robb spoke up.
"You can't Robb it's too dangerous" Catelyn said shaking her head.
"She'll hide the moment she knows you're looking for her, she might come out of she knows I'm with you" Robb replied looking up at his mother before he turned back to his father. "Please father, I want to help find her, she could be in danger"
"Who cares, she's just a girl" Theon sniggered.
"She's not just a girl" Robb snapped. Ned and Jon seemed surprise to Robbs sudden hostility towards the older boy, even Theon looked shocked. "She's my little cousin, and we're going to find her"
The cold air bit to ever part of Neds exposed skin as he rode along the Kingsroad, this was an exceptionally cold night and he knew if Nieva was out here with her night clothes on she would likely freeze to death if they did not find her soon. The forest was getting darker and darker as they rode on.
Robb sat on his horse beside him, he was more awake now but still looked tired. Jon just looked worried from where he sat upon his horse on the other side of his brother.
"Nieva!" Robbs young voice echoed in the darkness but it was no match for his fathers which could be heard at the back of the search party.
"Nieva!" Ned called out.
"Uncle Ned" relief overwhelmed him when he heard the small girlish voice cry out. Suddenly there was a small figure moving within the trees towards them.
"Nieva!" Ned instantly jumped from his horse and ran to the edge of the forest as Nieva stepped out of it and into view.
Her furs were missing and her dress was soaked in snow and torn in certain places. She ran straight towards him.
He knelt down and caught her in his arms, letting his relief out in a sigh. He quickly wrapped the end of his cloak around her shivering form.
"I'm sorry uncle Ned, I'm so sorry" she sobbed out as she slung tightly to him
"Nieva!" Robb called out as he and Jon ran over from where they jumped off their horses. "Thank the gods you're alright" he said before he pulled his younger cousin into an embrace.
"Nieva I'm sorry, I know I promised but I had to tell them" Jon stuttered out in fear his older cousin would be mad at him before Nieva flung her arms around him in an embrace to quieten him.
"Jon it's alright, I'm glad you did" Nieva smiled.
They rode back for Winterfell instantly. Mid way through the ride home, Ned glanced down to see Nieva had fallen asleep against him. She looked so you and innocent. It was from that moment on Ned made sure he would protect this young girl with everything he had.