Part 9: Mya

Mya frowned as the three direwolf puppies whimpered and cried behind Lady Arya's shut door. Lord Bran had left his puppy with Lady Arya's two as he hadn't wanted it to be alone. Mya wanted to ask Lady Arya if her siblings were aware of Lord Arryn's death yet, but Lord Bran had been with Lady Arya constantly, Lord Bran had even stayed while Mya had fixed up Arya's hair. Unable to focus on her grief, Mya had decided to focus on the direwolf pups instead, it was likely the best thing for Lady Arya anyway. One of the pups whimpered again and Mya rested her hand on the door handle, instinctively wanting to return to the room and scoop the pup up. Mya wasn't high born, she wasn't important, nobody would miss her presence at supper. "I'll stay with them."

Lady Arya's response was immediate. "No," The little Stark looked up at Mya with her intense grey eyes. "They need to learn, and I… I want you at supper." So the young Stark Lord's didn't know about Lord Arryn yet, or Lord Bran did not at least. Lady Arya continued to speak hastily, as if trying to offer Lord Bran another reason why Mya shouldn't stay behind. "Father says we need to care for, and train them, ourselves." Lady Arya frowned. "They will be alright for a few hours."

Mya nodded. "I'm, sure they will, my Lady." She allowed her hand to drop away from the door. The pup whimpered again, she was sure it was the same pup, the smallest one. Lady, the pup intended for Lady Sansa, how much would change when the estranged Stark daughter returned? Mya did not know.

Lady Alys Karstark gave the door a disapproving look. "They should be in the kennels, they're not even toilet trained." Lady Alys Karstark was always fussing about the little things like that, it wasn't even as if it was her that would be cleaning up any mess. Lady Jorelle Mormont, who was standing just outside of Lady Alys' line of sight, rolled her eyes.

"No!" "They're not going in the kennels!" Lord Bran and Lady Arya's replied were simultaneous.

"Of course not." Lady Jorelle assured. "Now come, or we'll be late for supper."

The five of them made their way to the Great Hall in silence. Lady Arya and Lord Bran entered the Great Hall together, then Lady Alys and Lady Jorelle, and Mya made up the rear. The hall was full with guards and servants alike, Lord Stark always made a point of sharing the evening meal with as many members of the castle as possible, and the seat to the left of him was always reserved for a servant. Mikken, the head blacksmith, had sat to Lord Stark's left yesterday, and today the Steward, Vayon Poole, had the honour, surprisingly his pregnant daughter was beside him.

Jeyne Poole was a vain young woman, three years older than Lady Arya, she considered herself beautiful and Lady Arya plain, but the girls looked remarkably similar. Jeyne's face was slightly rounder, and Arya's was slightly longer, Jeyne's hair was naturally curly, and a couple of shades lighter than Arya's dark straight hair, but the eyes were where the biggest difference lay. Jeyne's eyes were a dark brown whereas Arya's were grey as steel, grey as flint. Jeyne thought something of herself for bedding Lord Harry, and had likely heard he had returned and pushed her father to get her a seat at the head table. But Lord Harry had come and gone, and if the silly girl thought he was making her Lady of the Vale she had much to learn.

As Mya looked around the table, one spot was conspicuously vacant, it was the seat belonging to Jon Snow. Lord Stark looked sombre, the worry lines that made him look older than his years somehow seemed deeper tonight, and Lord Robb's body language also showed that something was very wrong, perhaps Lord Stark had already informed his oldest boys about Lord Arryn? She wanted to ask were Jon was, but that wasn't her place, luckily Lady Arya did it for her.

"Where's Jon?" Lady Arya demanded, frowning, her gaze moved from her Lord Father to Lord Robb and back again as she expectantly waited for an answer.

Lord Stark met her gaze and gave her an apologetic look. "Jon doesn't feel like joining us for supper tonight, and I have given him permission to take his meal privately." He said quietly. Sadness and regret mixing in his features, it reminded Mya of Lord Arryn somehow, both men were so full of sorrow and regret… was that the cost of war?

"Why? Is he sick?" Lady Arya asked, the concern for Jon clear in her young face. Mya hoped that Lady Arya would go to check on Jon, if Lady Arya went then Mya would be permitted to follow. Yes, Jon was a claimed bastard, and she was an unclaimed one, but there was still an unspoken bond between them, a mutual understanding that came from wearing the label of 'Bastard', not that Lord Stark tolerated the use of the B word. Lady Arya stood up from the table, seemingly intent on going to find Jon.

"Arya, sit." Lord Stark commanded.

Vayon Poole looked uncomfortable but kept his thoughts to himself. Lady Arya gave her father a displeased look before sitting back down as loudly as possible, her displeasure obvious. No wonder the Dothraki women had given her the name Ivezh Zolat Ver: Wild little wolf.

"Arya," Lord Robb said quietly. "Jon's alright, or he will be, he just needs to be alone tonight." There was a sadness to his words, but when he glanced at Lord Stark there was also a hint of anger. Why would he be angry?

"Why?" Lady Arya demanded again.

"Because he just found out the truth about his mother." Lord Robb said quietly.

"Robb…" Lord Stark cautioned.

"What?! Lord Robb demanded. "You don't think he has the right to be angry? You should have told him years ago! I understand why you didn't tell me, but he deserved to know the truth." Lord Robb was standing now, arms leaning on the table as he glared at his Lord Father. He took a breath and seemed to catch himself, standing up straight. "Lord Stark," he said addressing Lord Stark formally. "I seem to have lost my appetite, may I be excused?"

"No." Lord Stark replied. "We need to talk-"

"About the fact that Jon Arryn is dead, possibly murdered, and that King Robert is riding North as we speak to try and force you to be his Hand, as Lord Stannis has stepped down and retreated to Dragonstone." Lord Robb replied coldly. "My brother needs me, we can talk about this tomorrow."

"Wait, Lord Arryn is dead?" Jeyne Poole gasped in shock. "Poor Harry, where is Harry?"

"Jeyne, that's not your place." Her father cautioned her.

But Jeyne did not listen, she shook herself free of her father's hand and pushed herself to her feet, completely forgetting her place. "Where is Harry?!"

Mya watched the change in Lord Stark's eyes, most Lords would have shown anger, but he showed compassion. "Jeyne, sit." He instructed softly, she obeyed and he continued to speak. "Lord Harrold Arryn, Lord Paramount of the Vale and Warden of the East, is riding home with haste to arrange Lord Jon Arryn's funeral, and then, likely his own wedding. I can write to him of your situation if you wish-"

Jeyne pushed herself to her feet again. "I should go to him, I should be with him-"

Vayon Poole grabbed his daughter's arm, yanking her back into her seat. "You're making a scene." He hissed.

"But I'm carrying his child!" Jeyne declared as she finally broke free of her father and regained her feet for the third time.

Vayon Poole found his feet as well. "That's about enough, young lady!" He turned to Lord Stark. "My Lord, forgive me." He then grabbed Jeyne by the elbow and began to drag her from the Great Hall, all the while Jeyne was yelling and screaming about how she was carrying Harry's child and he loved her.

"Well, that was embarrassing." Lord Theon scoffed.

"Ezas eshna gech ahilee!" Lord Robb scowled. Find another hole to dig. "Jeyne has a right to be upset, leave her alone." He returned his attention to Lord Stark. "Now may I be excused?"

Lord Stark gave Lord Robb an exasperated look. "Go, if you must."

Lord Robb nodded and turned wordlessly from the table. Bran had lots of questions about the King's visit and why Stannis had returned to Dragonstone. Apparently it had been some fallout regarding the King's mistress and her children. Bran had questions about Jon Arryn's death too… Jon Arryn was dead... Mya sniffed in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. Lady Jorelle touched her arm gently, a rare kindness from the usually abrupt Black Bear, bringing her attention back to the table, Bran was still asking questions.

"Is King Robert going to do what King Aegon IV did?" Lord Bran asked. "Is he going to legitimise all of his children? Is he going to legitimise Mya?" He… what? Mya froze in her seat, scarcely daring to breath, could King Robert be her father?!

Lord Stark paled at Bran's words, his expression careful. "What have I told you about listening to gossip Brandon?"

"Lord Bran, that's just fredrik, Mya is not King Robert's." Lady Alys said sharply.

"No it's not!" Lord Bran insisted. "I was climbing when I heard Father and Lord Arryn talking about it and Harry confirmed it!"

Mya's head was spinning, she had heard the rumours, but she had dismissed them as gossip, fredrik, as the Dothraki women said. She wasn't King Robert's, was she? Lord Stark was giving Lord Bran a lecture about climbing and eaves dropping, but he never denied that Mya was King Robert's… Mya had vague memories of her father, he had visited her many times when she was little… he used to throw her up in the air and catch her… she remembered that he had dark hair and blue eyes, and she remembered his laugh… she had recognised Lord Stark as being the quiet man who had always come with him…

"It doesn't matter who my father is," she said quietly. "My father never gave me a home, Lord Royce did, Lord Arryn did, Lord Stark did."

"Mya," There was a softness in Lord Stark's voice as he addressed her, but she didn't want to hear it, the last thing she needed was pity.

She shook her head and met Lord Stark's gaze. "As I said, Lord Stark, it doesn't matter." But it did.

Supper seemed to go on forever, finally Lady Arya started yawning and Mya quickly seized the opportunity to usher both her and Lord Bran to bed, Lady Alys and Lady Jorelle followed as well. The puppies had made a mess in the corner and Mya went to fetch a pail of water to clean it, but when she returned to the room Lady Arya took the pail from her hands and Lord Bran took the scrubbing brush and insisted on scrubbing.

"Lord Bran, let Mya-" Lady Alys started to say but Lord Bran cut her off.

"No, we are to care for them ourselves, Father said."

"Perhaps we could put some straw down where they went in case they have to go again." Mya suggested.

Lady Arya looked at her thoughtfully and nodded. "I'll-"

"I don't believe your Lord Father would mind me getting the straw for you." She excused herself from the room and made her way to the stables. By the time she returned, with a basket of clean straw, Lady Arya and her two puppies were already settled into bed. Mya made a small nest with some of the straw and put the rest of the basket by the door before bidding her lady goodnight.

Lady Arya lay curled up on her side, the larger of the two puppies had found its way under her chin and the smaller one was curled up behind her knees. She looked up at Mya sleepily as Mya adjusted one of the furs.

"Mya, will you check on Jon?" Lady Arya asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes, my lady." Mya replied and dropped a gentle kiss on Lady Arya's forehead. "Of course I will." Arya nodded and snuggled down into the bed, Mya did one last check of the room then blew out the candles. "Sleep well, Ivezh Zolat Ver." Mya said softly, then she picked up the basket and closed the door. She went to Lord Bran's room and made a little straw nest for his puppy before heading towards the wing that Robb, Jon, and Theon's rooms were in.

~~/~~

As Mya made her way to Jon's room she suddenly felt nervous, what if he didn't want her there? What if he told her to go away? What if he was already asleep? She nodded to a guard as she turned down the hallway that led to Robb, Jon, and Theon's rooms and was relieved to see light shining from under the door of Jon's room. She knocked on the door, and wasn't too surprised when it was Lord Robb who opened it.

"Mya." Lord Robb greeted with a gentle smile.

"Lord Robb," She replied, lowing her gaze. "I…" She thrust the basket of straw forward. "We made a little straw nest in both Lady Arya and Lord Bran's rooms for the puppies, we hope to use it as the start of their toilet training… I thought perhaps…"

Lord Robb nodded and took the basked from her. "That is very considerate, and a good idea, it looks like there is enough straw here for Jon, Theon, and me, thank you." He remained in the doorway, barring her path.

Mya took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, gathering her courage. "I'm worried about Jon, and so is Lady Arya, may I come in?" She asked meeting Lord Robb's gaze. She was well and truly overstepping her place, she knew that, but she also knew what it was like not to know the truth of your parentage.

Lord Robb hesitated and looked back into the room, Jon must have shown some sign that it was alright, Lord Robb opened the door wider and let Mya into the room. Jon's eyes were red-rimmed, as if he had been crying, and his knuckles were raw and bleeding as if he had been punching stone. There was an untouched plate of food on the table. (Jon had a Lord's room, large enough to accommodate a table and chairs as well as a large bed, wardrobe, and two chests of draws, and two large softer chairs by the hearth.) Two direwolf puppies were curled up on the bed, one grey, the other white as snow. Mya decided to focus on the puppies, she took a few steps towards the bed and reached out her hand tentatively. The white puppy uncurled itself and opened its eyes, red eyes, the pup sniffed her hand then licked it. Mya stroked her fingers through its soft fur.

"This is your one?" She asked Jon, half turning to look at him.

Jon nodded. "The outcast," He said quietly. "Like me."

"Jon, you're not an outcast." Mya replied in astonishment.

"I should be." Jon replied sadly. "If the truth of my parentage got out I'd be murdered just for being me."

Mya shook her head and took a step towards Jon. "That's just silly," Jon wasn't making any sense. "I'm sure Lord Stark had a good reason for keeping his secrets, but I cannot think of one possible person that your mother could be for that to make sense, your father-"

"He's not my father, he's my uncle." Jon whispered, he sounded so broken, before Mya could consider her actions she crossed the few steps between them and hugged him.

"Doesn't matter." She whispered as he desperately hugged her back. "Doesn't matter who sired you, Lord Eddard Stark is your father." She stroked Jon's back as he buried his face in her shoulder and cried.

"That's what I've been trying to tell him for hours." Lord Robb muttered.

After a few minutes Jon pulled back from the embrace seemingly embarrassed. "I, ah…"

"Let's get this sorted for the puppy, shall we?" Mya asked, taking the basket back from Lord Robb.

"Ghost." Jon muttered, "His name is Ghost."

Mya nodded. "It's a good name."

"Mine's Grey Wind," Lord Robb knelt down and helped Mya with the straw. "Theon named his Kraken, can you believe it?"

Mya pulled a face. "I'd believe almost anything of Lord Theon… will you…?" She indicated the basket.

Lord Robb nodded. "No need for you to go knocking on his door."

Mya nodded, she thanked them both and wished them a good sleep before dismissing herself. Whatever the truth was Jon was quite shaken, he would either tell her or not in time, all she could do was be his friend. But as she settled under her covers she found herself thinking about their conversation, and about the hug, Jon was almost as tall as her now, he was no longer a boy, he was becoming a man… a very handsome man.

~~/~~