A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: I have a lot planned for this story and it will get to the action/romance/treachery you expect from game of thrones, I just want to start off with a solid base, so you can all see where the characters are at, the relationships that exist and then move forward into the main plots and sub-plots. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce this, and any reviews would be greatly appreciated in helping me continue this adventure.

Chapter 2: House Hofferson

Astrid

It was an surprisingly chilly night, the warmth of the summer sun that had glowed over the high walls of the castle had been replaced by the bitterness of the southern wind. I approached the balcony, looking out onto the cobbles below, trying get some solitude and silence from all the commotion of the past few hours. I closed my eyes, as I swayed my head side to side slowly, timing it with the muffled sound of music being played in the distance. I stood there for what felt like hours, before opening my eyes and staring out at the stars. The peace. The serenity. Sometimes it is all you need after the longest of days. I sighed heavily, resting my elbows on the railing as I leant forward and brought my head down to rest on my intertwined fingers. It was then I felt the gentle hand on my shoulder, and the feeling of hair brushing against my bare arms.

"Thought I'd find you here." The woman smiled, her perfectly braided auburn brown hair swaying elegantly in the breeze. She sauntered to my side, her arm still hung on my shoulder. She moved with an elegance I could only aspire to. My mother had instilled into me how to act like a lady. How to walk, how to smile, how to laugh. But no matter how hard I tried that wasn't me.

"You were born for these events Margaery, I don't stay any longer than I have to," I replied, "always hated being treated like a princess, stood up on a pedestal to be admired."

"Your father is the lord of the second most powerful house in the reach Astrid, I know how hard it must be to dress in fine silks and sit there smiling at the awful jokes of this lord and that, but that is your duty. A duty we both have."

"Don't I get any say in the matter. Look at me, I look ridiculous." I said, pointing down to the sleeveless red dress tied so tightly around my upper half it was like I was being strangled. The bottom half so thick and poofy in places everywhere I went I brought a draft.

"Are you joking? You look wonderful!" She exclaimed excited.

"Wonderful!" I huffed. "I'd be more comfortable in a full steel suit of armour."

"You think I don't know that Astrid. I've seen you in battle, there's no-one I trust more after what you did for me, but just look around. This… This isn't a battle. There is no war. No enemies to fight." Margaery said softly. I looked over to her, then back out over the castle gardens. I was about to agree but then she continued, "Yet you're still scared."

"Scared?" I asked skeptically. "I don't think you…"

"Astrid, I'm your friend. I know you're scared. Your brother just got married and now you think all the pressure is on you. Listen to me. Marriage isn't a shackle, or a chain, or a rope dragging you down. Marriage is a key that will unlock something completely new in your life."

"But what if I don't want that other life." I said quietly.

"That other life will come one way or the other, I'm sorry. If you need advice, treat it as a battle. Just pick up a weapon and charge straight towards it. You don't know if you'll win, or if you'll lose, but if you go in expecting to be defeated, you have no chance in victory." She said softly. "Just think about it all right, I'll be here if you need me."

"Thank you, Margaery, I don't know what I'd do without you." I replied. She was right. We were both young women now, women sought after by half of the Kingdom, according to my parents. My father (off of my orders) had already refused offers from Lords in the Stormlands, the Vale, even one from the North. Why would I ever want to leave my home, my family, my friends to live with strangers on the other side of Westeros. Just at the thought of that I shuddered. Margaery had spent many years with me at this point, she knew when I was upset, when I needed a friend, and when I needed to be alone.

She turned to face me, opened her arms out and embraced me. The hug only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to calm my nerves, "Astrid, I know you don't want to be the lady of a high lord and everything that goes with that. I know this scares you. Just remember I am always here for you, and always will be. Your brother will be expecting you to rejoin the festivities, I'll let him know you're on your way." One last fading smile and she was gone, her dress swishing as she made her exit.

This was my brother's day after all, it was his wedding. Marriage was so much simpler for the men. They got to stay in the family castle and someone of my father's stature could have a choice of suitors for his son, and unfortunately for me, his daughter. I didn't know who to expect to see standing by my brother's side at his wedding, but then I saw her. She was perfect. She was shorter than me in stature, but she had glistening jet-black hair that was coiled round her neck and back almost to waist height. Her large, emerald eyes glowing in the light. A woman with no flaws it seemed. My brother seemed equally as mesmerized, staring at his bride-to-be, and saying the sacred words. I'd left shortly after the ceremony and managed to avoid most of the after-party. It was the perfect wedding it seemed, but this would not me, no matter what, this could never be me!

I closed the doors to the balcony and headed down to the main hall. Opening the doors, I saw them across the room, laughing like they had known each other for years, when it was merely a few hours. I saw my parents sitting proudly, conversing with fellow lords and ladies who had attended. The hall of the castle was full to the brim, yet through the commotion I saw my brother bouncing across the crowded hall towards me. Finn was five years older than me and was a good half a foot taller. He had long curly blonde hair which rested an inch above his shoulders, and he had pushed it to one side at the fringe. His eyes were bright and blue like mine, and there was nothing in this world that would make me happier than seeing him smile.

"My favourite lady!" Finn grinned, with a skip in his step I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Don't be saying that, little Heather over there will be getting jealous." I sniggered back.

"Play nice sister, and that's lady Heather Hofferson to you," Finn chuckled, it was clear he was smitten with his new wife.

"I guess you like her then," I jabbed. I could see the wide smile painted almost permanently on his face since the morning. The smile that had gotten me through so many tough nights.

"I do, I didn't think I was going to, but I do. She's smart and kind, I'm just happy father managed to find someone I could connect with. It's not just her beauty Astrid, I can see it in her eyes, there's more to her. I hope you and her will be friends. I couldn't imagine anything worse than having you two hate each other."

Hearing Finn talk like this shocked me. We had always been close, but this was new to me. At twenty-two he was already late on the marriage front. He was as against the idea of a forced marriage, been putting it off for a good three years before father almost ordered him to. He had already been engaged once, and I never thought I'd see him as happy now as he was back then. To hear him speak about this girl he barely knew like this did nothing but confuse me even more. It's impossible that a forced marriage could actually work out. Surely it can't. No. I have to be clear on this. Not gonna happen. Nope. No marriage for me.

"I would love nothing more than to get to know her. If she does make you happy, I promise to do all I can to get along," I replied after a short pause to recompose myself.

"Thankyou sister, I love you." He said softly, kissing me on the forehead

"Love you too." I replied softly, reaching round him to pull him into a hug. I released him as he looked down smiling at me, "So when do I get meet the lucky lady?" I asked excitedly,

Within moments, I felt Finn's hand on my back as he led me through the hall. People parted each side, offering gestures of respect as we headed towards one of two the main tables. The feast was nearly over, and our parents were on the right table talking to lord Mace Tyrell and lady Margaery. She glanced up and gave me a quick nod, then rejoined the conversation with my parents. On the left table was Heather, chatting away like she had been here for years. Among these lords and ladies, she seemed at home here. I only wish I could.

Upon seeing my brother, she stood, looking up at us with a wide grin. I saw Finn look at her with shy smile, then look down nervously. It wasn't like Finn to be shy, he must truly like her. We reached the table and Finn stepped forward, offering his hand out to his new wife. Heather accepted it and he led her round the table towards me. The girl walked elegantly, with a gentle bounce in her step.

"May I present my sister, lady Astrid Hofferson." Finn looked at me, then to Heather

"My lady."

As if in unison, me and Heather spoke, both with accompanying curtseys. I'm sure Finn thought we must had planned it, but it did bring us to the point of chuckling.

"You can just call me Astrid, Finn knows I hate being called Lady," I spoke, looking over to my brother who was already mouthing an apology.

"Heather's just fine as well," the brunette added, "I've been called lady more than my actual name today, just nice to get back to some sort of normality."

"I know the feeling, sometimes I wish people would treat me as a normal person without all of this in the way," I raised my arms, gesturing to the vast expense that must have gone into the decorations for the feast, then pointed down to the dress I was wearing.

Heather chuckled, "It's the same back home, I only wish my mother could have been here today, would have made all of this even more special, to see her standing there smiling."

"Oh, I am sorry about that, I hope we will get to meet her soon. If you don't mind me asking, whereabouts are you from? This engagement seemingly came out of the blue, I wasn't told much."

"I'm from an Island off of the coast of Volantis." Heather responded.

"Volantis? That's so far away, what made you come to Westeros?" I asked. Now I was very curious.

"My mother was from Westeros, it was her home, she only wanted that for me. When I asked her if she would accept any of the marriage proposals from the selection of suitors, she insisted that House Hofferson was the only one she would accept. I think she made the right choice." Heather smiled, then started blushing, I think realising what she just said. "Would you mind if take my leave, I've had a long day and could really do with turning in for the night."

"Of course, my lady." Finn took her hand, "I'll escort you to your quarters."

"Goodnight Astrid," Heather spoke softly, before turning to Finn and being led off through the hall and out of large steel doors at the end.

Of all the people in the Kingdom, my brother is the one who I have always admired the most. His loyalty, braveness, compassion. He was my role model growing up, I always wished I could grow up to be as strong as he was, as smart as he was, as fearless. For the last three years, it's been hard for me watching him struggle. He grew colder and angrier, as if a part of him had been ripped away. But this, all this today, this was all I could have ever wanted. For the first time in years, he was smiling, he was happy. I just hope, I'm just praying that Heather can bring back the side of brother who brought me so much joy. The side of my brother I thought I would never see again…