By nightfall, the Starks were ready to greet their guests. Soon the hall was full and the couples danced in harmony with the music. Among them, Robb and Roslin and Jon and Daenerys. Their children surrounded Aunt Arya, who was feeling unfit to dance. Like many, she was just there to say goodbye to her siblings and enjoy the family company. Her nephews surrounded her with their presence and their innumerable questions about the baby.

"Do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Arya, the niece, asked.

"Well, I hope for a boy," Aunt Arya said, "but if Gendry's right, she's a girl."

"Are you going to let us take care of him, Aunt?" Jaeherys asked.

"Of course, just be careful," Arya promised.

She noticed the younger brothers standing, still greeting newcomers. Rickon seemed to hide his boredom and Bran was apprehensive.

"Do you know what's bothering Uncle Bran?" Arya asked the children.

"I think he's waiting for Miss. Reed to come" Alyssa said.

"Ah ..." Arya understood everything.

His brother had so much time to tell her what he felt and now he didn't have that much time. It would be too late if he left it for when he returned from Essos.

Rickon scowled at the sight of Lyanna Mormont approaching.

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Stark" she greeted with a bow." I wish you courage, strength, and good fortune in your military endeavor. "

"Thank you, Miss. Mormont, "Bran replied politely.

"Do you want this for us judging us weak?" Rickon raised the question suspiciously.

"That's not what I meant, sir," Lyanna replied with some disdain, "but if you interpret that, it must be because you think you have the qualities I have mentioned."

"I swear miss that nothing makes me understand your analyst personality," whispered Rickon.

"Oh my dear Rickon, you only see me the way you want to see it." Lyanna shook her head. "If you really knew me."

"I don't want to be displeased." Rickon grinned.

"I hope you change your mind," Lyanna seemed to give in a little. "I really wish well, for you and your family."

"Equally Miss" Bran complete it for his brother and watch her walk away "why do you bicker with her so much?"

"She's a snob," Rickon shrugged. "Before she fight with me, I fight with her."

"Too mature for a future soldier." Bran rolled his eyes.

"You know I only act like that with her," Rickon apologized.

"For a reason you don't even know." Bran gave up arguing with his brother.

Meera had arrived at that moment and Bran pulled away leaving Rickon thinking of Lyanna behind.

"It's good you came!" Bran smiled at her.

"You forced me to come as soon as you leave at first light," Meera replied. "I'm going to miss you."

"And I, you" Bran was sad "for sure."

The new song that started to be played dragged them into the middle of the dance and between the couples strangely saw Lyanna and Rickon dancing together.

"No!" Robb said beside his brother and their sisters and their spouses.

"I don't believe it," Arya said.

"But what is Rickon doing?" Jon exclaimed.

"He's dancing with Miss. Mormont" Daenerys realized "so what about it?"

"Do you remember how much they hate each other?" Jon clarified.

"They don't hate each other," Sansa said her thoughts. "It's just a mutual misunderstanding."

"Then they made amends," Gendry decided.

What had happened was that Rickon noticed that no one had taken Lyanna out to dance and even angry with her pity and with her joking at the invitation, she eventually accepted and they became more civilized.

That was not the night's only surprise for the Starks. Surprisingly Tyrion Lannister had arrived. Daenerys was the first to greet him.

"Secretary Lannister!" Danny shook his hand. "I certainly didn't expect you here."

"Not myself," he replied, "but I'm sorry to say that a serious and delicate subject brought me here. But I realize that tonight is not the occasion for us to discuss it. I'll stay until tomorrow."

"All right," Daenerys tried to remain calm, "be welcome and feel as in your home."

"Thank you," Tyrion thanked him.

The diminutive secretary sat down next to the men of the Stark family, and Jon noticed his presence.

"It's good to see you here," he squeezed his hand, "you came to visit us?"

"It's still a visit," Tyrion admitted, "but tomorrow we'll discuss my reason for coming."

It also made Jon alert.

Tyrion seized the wine served, and for a moment he was carried away by the melody of the songs played. Stubbornly his feet beat at the sound of rhythm and he wished to take a seat in the middle of the hall. Then he remembered that probably no lady would bother to dance with him. As much of an important family and had one of the highest positions of the government, his appearance caused situations like this. "No self-pity," he thought to himself, "this is foolishness for which it's not worth grieving." It was then that Sansa Stark emerged.

"Good night, secretary," the girl smiled. "It's very good to see you here. I hope you enjoyed Winterfell."

"Well, it's very different from King's Landing or Casterly Rock," he replied, "it takes a while to get used to the cold."

"It's only a matter of time, I think," Sansa said, "it was the same with me when I moved to King's Landing."

The girl stopped talking when a lemon tart arrived at her table. She ate without hesitation, even in front of the secretary. Tyrion smiled at her enthusiasm. While Sansa ate, he returned to paying attention to the music and his feet denounced his interest.

"I'd like to ..." Sansa was saying, but she thought better of it in the middle of the sentence.

"I'd even dance," Tyrion deduced accurately, "but I don't have the time for that."

"I'm sorry if I offended you," Sansa lamented.

"You didn't offend me, Miss." Tyrion smiled "quite the opposite."

He paused for a moment. He reconsidered.

"I don't think we need self-pity," he decided at last. "Lady Sansa, can I have this dance?"

"It would be an honor, sir," she said, taking courage.

Soon they discovered a way to dance together, clapped their hands and moved to the rhythm. Tyrion was amazed. That girl had broken a paradigm and given him simple joy. Sansa admired the secretary, he was intelligent, charming, gentle, wise and kind. So different from the princes of stories as they appear, but so similar in their qualities.

"The Starks are truly a family, very different from us, Lannisters," thought Tyrion after everything he saw at the ball.