Minisa I

Winterfell, 293 AC

The Great Hall

The hall was filled to bursting with people, their voices and laughters echoing in the air. Some men were singing songs more fitting for a low-life tavern, not for a nameday feast. Her father did nothing to stop them, though, and from his smile she could tell he was enjoying it. Most of the ladies in the hall looked at them disapprovingly, her mother especially. The only exception was Lady Maege Mormont, who not only laughed at the singing, but decided to join it by intoning a song that Minisa didn't immediately recognize. A song that made the other ladies' cheeks turn as red as her hair just at the first lyrics.

"A bear there was, a bear, a bear." sang Lady Maege, and Lord Mormont clapped his hands at the rhythm of his aunt's voice. "All black and brown and covered in hair!"

Minisa didn't mind those songs, far from it. She enjoyed the joyous atmosphere they had brought in the hall when Ser Wendel had started singing, though she didn't quite understand what they were about. Like this one. Why did everyone chuckle at "he licked the honey from her hair?" What was so hilarious about a bear helping a maiden in distress? She would have to ask her father or mother. Or maybe her uncles. They would surely know something like that.

She was sitting at the great table with her family, her father at the head and her mother at his right. Minisa and her little sisters sat at their father's left. Her uncles were there, too, even Uncle Ned from Storm's End. She really liked Uncle Ned, and though she loved all her uncles the same, he was her favorite. She really didn't understand why some people seemed to dislike him. They said he was too "southronized". Of course, it was to be expected that he would lose some of his old habits, after years of living in the Stormlands. Where was the problem with that? Why did many northmen seem to think of the southrons and their ways with such disdain? Minisa hadn't met many southrons, but if they were all like her mother and Uncle Bryn, then they couldn't be that bad, could they? She had never been further south than Barrowton, but one day she hoped to travel beyond the Neck and see all the places she had only heard of. And maybe, just maybe, that way she would even be able to assist to a tourney. From what her mother and the septa had told her, tourneys were beautiful celebrations where knights showed their value to the rest of the realm. A pity there weren't any in the North. Perhaps she could ask her father if they could host one.

Next to her kin were sitting the great lords of the North. Some, like Lord Cerwyn and his son, she already knew. Their castle was closer to Winterfell than all the others, and Minisa had met them often over the years. Others she had met so seldomly that they were basically strangers to her, like Lords Umber and Bolton. The former was a big and boisterous man, whose laughter boomed like a thunder, and to whom she had already taken a liking. The latter, on the other hand...well, he scared her. There was something about the Lord of the Dreadfort that send cold chills down her spine. However, she made sure to be polite and courteous with him too, like the septa had thought her. One day she would inherit Winterfell, unless a brother was born in the meantime, and it wouldn't hurt to start forming good relationships with her future bannermen.

Only then she realized there was one person missing. Her brother, Torrhen, was nowhere to be seen. How strange. Torrhen had always been present at her previous namedays, so why wasn't he here now? Maybe he wasn't feeling well. Or maybe her mother had asked her father to not let him into the hall. Yes, that had to be the reason. Her mother had never looked kindly to her husband's bastard, and although she had always done her best to tolerate his presence at Winterfell, she would never let him attend an important event such as Minisa's tenth nameday. She felt sorry for Torrhen. It wasn't his fault that he was born a bastard. Some things just happened. She decided to save a piece of cake for later and bring it to Torrhen. He would surely appreciate it!

Lady Mormont ended her song, and was rewarded by an enthusiastic applause from the men in the hall. Her mother breathed a sigh of relief and whispered a thanks to the Seven. Her father waited for the applauses to die down, then rose to his feet and cleared his troath. Silence fell on the hall as everybody's eyes turned toward him and waited.

"My lords and ladies," he spoke, with what her mother called his "lord's voice". It was still his voice, of course, just different from when he spoke to his family and friends. "First, let me thank you all for being here for my daughter's tenth nameday..."

From the corner of her eye, Minisa noticed her mother looking at Lady Dustin. The Lady of Barrowton held her mother's gaze for about a second, before turning it back to her father. She saw her mother narrowing her eyes and clenching her fists, and asked herself what had happened between the two of them. Their interactions, ever since Lady Dustin arrived at Winterfell with her husband and sons, had been quite cold. Maybe they simply didn't like each other much? How could that be? Her mother was such a sweet and gentle lady. Everybody liked her.

"...now, though, I have an important announcement to make." her father said after a few moments. "In a few years, my daughter Minisa will be a woman grown. And after my death, she will be the next Lady of Winterfell. Of course, she will need a husband, to help her rule and give her children." He paused, and Minisa repeated those words into her mind. A husband. She knew that sooner or later she would have to marry, and that her parents would choose a husband for her. She just hoped it would be a good boy. Someone strong and gentle, who would protect her and comfort her when she needed it. Someone like her father, maybe, or Uncle Ned.

Her father spoke again. "After much deliberation, and after consulting with my lady wife, I made my choice. Therefore, I formally announce my daughter's bethrothal to my nephew Edwyle Stark, son to my brother Benjen."

Minisa blinked her eyes in surprise. She hadn't expected that! It was hardly an unusual occurrence, though. Her own grandfather had married a cousin of his, and many other lords throughout the realm had done that.

She glanced at her cousin, who was sitting at his father's left. Judging from his face, he too was surprised by the announcement.

"My brother has agreed to the bethrothal, which will be formally signed later this day. The wedding will take place once both Edwyle and Minisa will be six and ten. Their children will inherit Winterfell, unless the gods see fit to bless me and my lady wife with a son, while Sea Dragon Point will go to Benjen's second son, Artos."

Minisa smiled. Edwyle was only a few months older than her, a nice boy who always managed to make her laugh. She was glad that her parents had chosen him as her future husband, and hoped that Edwyle felt the same about her.

Her father took his cup, which had just been refilled with wine, and raised it. "And now, my lords and ladies, I would like to make a toast. To Minisa and Edwyle, may the gods bless them with a long and happy marriage."

As everybody raised their own cups, Minisa looked at Edwyle and smiled. He smiled back at her, although a bit shyly. Later, after the feast had ended and the dancing started, she accepted Edwyle's invitation to dance. He was a little clumsy, though, and after stepping on her feet four times in a row, he solemnly swore to learn how to dance properly in time for their wedding.

Minisa laughed, and hugged her cousin.

AN: Minisa is the second of the three main POV characters. Brandon and Catelyn's eldest daughter, she has her mother's hair and her father's eyes. And in case you're wondering, the Uncle Bryn she mentioned is the Blackfish. ITTL, he went with Catelyn and became Winterfell's master at arms.

The next chapter, the last of Part 1, will take us to Storm's End, and will be told from the POV of...a vastly different canon character.

See you in two weeks, folks!