Had she truly been here for a month now? Gods, the time really flew by didn't it?
Today was an important day for Winterfell. The King and Queen of Westeros were on their way to visit the castle and, apparently, Eddard Stark specifically. The last minute visit caused the castle grounds to become tense, on edge, and nervous as everyone and everything was moved into its right and proper place. The half-pint gardener herself was even prettied up and her clothes the cleanest they could make them.
Since the half-phantom was an oddity, Eddard had put her on a bit of a pedestal and sat her next to his family at every meal. The result has been a bit of a bond forming between her and the children. Bran, Jon, and Robb especially, but Youmu thought that was just because she helped to save their lives.
A few days ago though, Arya was hovering around her while Youmu was practicing with her blade in the Godswood of the massive castle one day.
"I thought you and your sister had lessons on how to be a lady." Youmu stated absentmindedly as she brought her blade down on an invisible enemy. The nine year old seemed surprised and embarrassed to have been caught.
"Those are boring, and I'm terrible at being a lady." Those eyes followed the downward swing of the katana.
Youmu smirked at that before sparing a look to the younger as she replied. "Are they? I wish I could've taken some lessons when I was younger."
"But why? Being a warrior and fighter is so much cooler!" Arya's voice raised just a little bit as she watched Youmu move through a flurry of blows and stabs at her invisible assailant.
"It would've potentially helped me serve my mistress a bit better." They probably wouldn't have if Youmu was honest with herself. Yuyuko had proven to be incredibly lax when it came to conduct in the netherworld, which made sense considering how...candid her father Youki could be with her.
"But...aren't you a lady knight for her?"
"At times. I'm primarily her gardener, though." Youmu turned to Arya with a soft look as her blade gently slid into the sheath at her side. "My service to her has become a bit more…" the gardener trailed off as she tried to find the words in the other's language, "generalized, recently." She made her way to the young girl and offered a hand, which Arya took, but shivered from Youmu's colder touch.
"Oh...why do you fight for her, then?"
"Because I am the only one who can."
Arya was surprised, and though she dragged her feet as Youmu led her back into the castle, she didn't protest. "...Can you teach me?" The question left her lips before she could actually think about it, and it caused the half-phantom to look down curiously at her.
"Perhaps, but you'd need to get permission from your father and he can ask me himself. I would rather not overstep my boundaries. Let's get you back to your Septa, little one. Lead the way." Arya broke the hold on her hand and took off in a light sprint up a staircase, but not before letting out a groan of protest at Youmu's suggestion.
Now, Youmu had her arms outstretched to her sides while the various servants and tailors took measurements for replacement clothes. She had requested something easy to move in that matched her style, and gave her the options of fighting if she needed to.
Westeros was still a strange place to her, and if Youmu were to get back home, she couldn't stay with the Starks forever. Their hospitality only went so far, she imagined, and their library didn't have the knowledge she was looking for. Maester Luwin was more than gracious to let her read through any of the books detailing the history of Westeros from Winterfell's library.
The clothes wouldn't be ready for her for another few days, but the main tailor promised they would be available before the gardener left the castle. She was left alone in her room to finish her own final preparation before meeting the King's entourage, but she didn't exactly have any nicer clothes to throw on in a pinch. Instead, Youmu decided to go over the members of the royal family who were accompanying the King.
There was the King himself, Robert Baratheon I, the victor of his rebellion against the previous King, Aerys II Targaryen, who had gone mad and resorted to burning his enemies. Or at least that's the gist of what Youmu retained.
The Queen, Cersei Baratheon, was born into the Lannister family and married to Robert fourteen years ago to solidify relations between the Baratheons and Lannisters, and even produced three heirs for Robert. Two sons and a daughter, with the eldest being Joffery Baratheon, direct heir to Robert.
Finally, there were Cersei's brothers, Jaime, her twin, and Tyrion, the son of the Lannisters who was apparently cursed with dwarfism from birth. Jaime and Cersei were twins with Tyrion being the youngest of the Lannister children.
Youmu frowned. Tyrion being a dwarf would definitely ostracize him from his family a bit, and he'd be one of the few people who wasn't a child that was definitely shorter than her. That last fact brought at least a little bit of satisfaction to her lips.
However, what she was most concerned about would be the reaction of the visiting entourage to Youmu's particular unique makeup. The gardener sent a glance to the floating white mass next to her and quirked her lips to the side. She could always hide it in a bag that she kept on her person, true, but sooner or later the girl would get careless and be seen with it. No. Youmu will let everyone see and know who and what she is. Even just being the gardener for someone who governed over the life after this one carried weight, at least among the Starks and their people.
She also saw the looks some of the soldiers gave her. Fear, worry, even potential anger were directed towards her because she was, so far, the only person they knew that had returned from the other side while comrades and loved ones perished in battle or sickness. She shouldn't hide her other half. If anything, it cemented that she'll keep her true nature revealed. At least she can potentially intimidate possible enemies and dissuade actual fighters.
Youmu finally left her room after fastening her blades to her left side with the Katana above the wakizashi and their edges pointing upwards. It was traditional samurai fashion, and it was easier to sit with her swords like this. She remembered the incident a few days after she arrived here in this strange world. Youmu always did boast about her sword being able to cut through nearly everything, but until she crossed blades with a normal steel sword, she had a sense of doubt about the claim. This left her with one of the few advantages of being from the netherworld, especially since she still couldn't fly or cast danmaku bullets, and her great speed had been reduced. She wondered why. Perhaps it was a faith or belief thing since magic was very clearly in existence until a few hundred years ago when the last of the dragons died. Either way, she had no capability of finding that reason out here in Winterfell...Youmu needed to go to a place that had a vast wealth of knowledge on magic, specifically boundary magic if it existed in Westeros at all.
That would be difficult though with no connections, money, or any real way to do proper bartering. She could go to Old Town, home of the Citadel of the Maesters, on foot, but how would she sleep, eat, and other things her human body needed?
"I could request to return with the King, perhaps…" Youmu trailed off while rubbing her chin in thought as she exited the keep and stepped out onto the grounds. Lady Catelyn was there, as was Bran's dire wolf pup, who had grown surprisingly big in just a month, and Maester Luwin. "Enma, they grow fast." Youmu thought to herself.
"Brandon!" Catelyn called, and Youmu turned her vision to look in the direction Catelyn was looking, and widened her eyes. Bran was climbing the inner wall of the castle! It was easily a hundred feet high. No wonder Lady Catelyn wanted her son down from there!
"I saw the King! He's got hundreds of people!" The boy shouted back as he began climbing down.
"How many times have I told you: No climbing!" She sounded furious.
"But he's coming down the road right now!" Bran finally landed back on solid ground, causing Youmu, Catelyn, and Luwin to let out a synchronized sigh of relief, though Catelyn marched right toward the young boy.
"I want you to promise me: No more climbing."
Bran looked down. "I promise."
Catelyn shook her head and let out a small sigh. "You always look at your feet when you lie, child. Now go tell your father the king is here."
The boy ran off with a skip in his step while his mother shook her head. "What am I going to do with that boy?" She didn't seem to ask anyone in particular, though Youmu spoke up with a small chuckle.
"I'm sure he'll grow out of it as he gets older, my lady." The gardener also bowed respectfully.
"I hope so, but I fear it will be the death of him one of these days."
"Let's pray it won't." Youmu smiled briefly at the woman before beginning to find a decent position for when the entourage arrived.
Arya had snuck out of the main castle grounds with a helmet over her head as a disguise and entered the Winter Town just outside Winterfell to get a better look at the escort of the King into the castle proper. She got to see everyone important, and it was a truly awe-inspiring look to see her first King approach!
The nine year old's eyes darted from the Lannister bannermen at the front of the formation, and drifted backwards. She saw the magnificent, gold and red colored carriage that undoubtedly carried Queen Cersei, and finally, she saw Prince Joffery, Robert Baratheon himself, and the dog-shaped helmet of the Hound, Sandor Clegane, the charged shield for the Crown Prince Joffery. The image of every important person coming to visit her and her father would stick with her forever...but now she needed to get back to her family, and with quick haste.
Robert Baratheon had set out on a mission when he ventured North to Winterfell, and that was to name his best friend, Eddard Stark, Hand of the King. He would be Robert's royal advisor, and he wasn't going to take no for an answer. The man also wanted to pay his respects to his late betrothed, Lyanna Stark, and see if Ned's letter about this half-phantom from the Netherworld was true. If it was, maybe he could convince this woman to let him speak to his true beloved one last time. He'd do nearly anything to get such a chance.
The ride had been long and hard, especially with most of it being made in that damned carriage with his wife. He wanted to make this entrance on horseback as a king ought to, and he was damn-well entitled to do such a thing.
Robert stepped off his horse with the provided steps of the Winterfell men and strolled over to his best friend and family while the entire host of Winterfell bowed to the most powerful man in all the Seven Kingdoms. He inhaled that chilly northern air and looked at everyone before him, but one oddity caught his eye. It was a floating white formless mass behind Ned and next to Ser Rodrik.
The King leaned to the side briefly and caught a glimpse of white hair attached to the body of a small girl clad in green and white, and with two odd-looking swords attached to her left hip. That must be her. The girl Ned told him about in his letter. By the Seven, her skin was as though she was a walking corpse! It spooked Robert to his core, but here she was, bowing respectfully to a king she didn't owe allegiance to. He respected that.
Rob turned his attention back to Eddard and gently motioned for him and his host to stand, which they did. He smirked. "You've gotten fat."
The words took a moment to register in Ned's head before those dark brown eyes of his looked Robert up and down and gave a smirk as if to say: 'you're one to talk.'
That's what he wanted to see. Robert let out a great belly laugh and hugged Eddard in a tight bear hug. "Ahh...it's good to see you, Ned!"
"It's good to see you too, Your Grace."
Robert turned to the woman next to his friend and hugged her gently. "Cat!"
"Your grace." She replied in respect with a smile on her lips.
"It's been nine years," Robert started, "where the Seven Hells have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, Your grace." Ned smirked. "Winterfell is Yours."
The next few minutes Robert spent inspecting and greeting the children, who greeted and bowed in turn, but when he turned to smile at his wife, he noticed she wasn't looking at Ned or his family, no, those emerald green eyes were staring right at the pale-skinned girl standing next to Ser Rodrik.
It wasn't just Cersei. It was the entire host. They were all staring at the small girl with the floating white mass next to her. She flushed a bright pink and seemed to shrink under the gaze of so many, an indication that she didn't quite expect this much attention.
"Ned," the king spoke softly, "I wish to pay my respects, and I would like your new...friend, with us. Please." Robert looked to Youmu expectantly, who seemed to catch on that her presence had been requested. At least it would get her away from so many prying eyes!
Well, that could have gone better. Youmu's thoughts rattled in her head as she marched behind King Robert and Lord Stark enough paces far back so as to not eavesdrop on the duo. She stopped when they did, and continued when they continued, but the third stop in the cold, damp crypts was definitely a longer, more calculated pause.
"Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you Hand of the King." Robert's voice broke out loud enough that it nearly startled her, but Youmu kept her composure while watching the scene unfold.
Ned knelt and looked down as he replied. It was faint, but the gardener could make it out. "I'm not worthy of the honor."
"I'm not trying to honor you. I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink, and whore my way to an early grave. Damn it, Ned, stand up. You helped me win the Iron Throne, now help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived, we would have been bound by blood. Well, it's not too late. I have a son, you have a daughter. We'll join our Houses!" Robert sounded adamant as Ned stood and he turned to move further down the crypt's halls to his intended destination.
It took them another five minutes of silent, determined walking before they arrived at the statue of a girl. Youmu couldn't make out her features in the dim light, but she could tell that this was a very beautiful girl in life. A choked sob turned her attention to Robert and Ned. No words were said, but the pained cry from the king spoke a lot to what this girl meant to Robert in life.
Youmu's history lessons over the course of a month lead her to deduce that this was the tomb of Lyanna Stark, Robert Baratheon's original betrothed. It took several more minutes before words were spoken again as Robert deposited a feather in the outstretched hand of the statue of Lyanna Stark.
"Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her." Robert's voice was wracked with grief of a love lost.
"She was my sister. This is where she belongs." The Lord of Winterfell spoke softly and in a somber tone.
"She belonged with me." The king moved to touch the stone face of the statue."I kill him in my dreams every night." Robert's voice was filled with an icy hatred for the man he truly did kill on the field of battle, Rhaegar Targaryen, the Crown Prince of the Mad King Aerys II.
"It is done, Your Grace. The Targaryens are all gone."
"Not all of them."
A heavy, still silence grew between the friends before Robert cast a glance to the half-phantom standing silently with a hand casually resting on the hilt of her katana. They weren't the eyes of a man who was instinctively afraid of her, but of a man who was grief-stricken by the loss of his true love despite so many years having passed from the act. "Girl," he spoke, "come here."
She complied and was soon between two men of authority. Gods she was a short thing! If Eddard was a foot taller than her, Robert was almost two. "You requested me, Your grace?" Her voice was foreign to the king's ear, and almost a whisper out of respect for the dead all around them.
"Ned tells me you come from the Netherworld. The Great Beyond."
A sharp inhale, then a reply. "That is true, Your Grace."
A nod. "I know my odds, but is there a chance you might have seen my beloved Lyanna Stark?"
"I have not, Your Grace." Youmu turned to look up at the giant (to her) of a man.
"A long shot, but worth asking…" he trailed off and his voice died down, and the crypt settled into another dead silence.
Youmu took another breath. "Would you like me to see if there's the possibility of allowing you to see her again?"
Robert perked up at that, and soon let out a belly laugh. "Haha! I don't suppose that involves killing me, does it?"
Ned frowned and opened his mouth to comment, but Youmu sadly replied first. "It does not, Your Grace. If I am able to find a way back to the Netherworld, I will see what I can do to allow you to see Lady Stark once more."
Not a guarantee, then. Robert nodded to himself at the answer as the grief seemed to leave his voice. "I understand, child. What do you require to complete such a task?"
Her blue eyes widened in surprise, and so did Ned's. Here it was. An opportunity to seek the possible knowledge that would allow her to go home. How could she turn down an offer like this from the King of the Seven Kingdoms himself? Youmu must've looked like such a fool with the stammering answer that left her lips that Robert let out a great laugh of humor.
"Hah! Slow down, girl. You sound like a babe who's learning to talk for the first time."
Youmu's cheeks flushed a bright pink of embarrassment and her lips shut tightly for several moments before she took a breath and collected her thoughts. "I require access to the Red Keep's library at King's Landing, and possible funds to travel to Essos if I must." The last part is a bit of an added stipulation that Youmu most likely didn't need. It was an easy excuse to get free money and funding, however.
It was Robert's turn to fall silent as he contemplated these requests. They were easy enough, right? Youmu was most likely going to accompany Ned to King's Landing anyway, so it would be quite easy to give her free reign of the castle and the spot of an honored guest. No one would question the decision. Cersei wouldn't even fight the decision! If anything his wife would want the, admittedly freaky girl out of the castle as fast as possible.
"Alright. You can come with us when we depart for King's Landing, and you'll be welcome as an honored guest, my lady. Whatever you wish to have during your stay you may." The king saw the smile of happiness form on the smaller girl's face. "On one condition."
Youmu's smile floundered just barely, but she tilted her head to the side. "Yes, Your Grace?"
"Swear to me right here, before gods and men, that you will do everything in your power to let me see my darling Lyanna one last time before you depart this world."
Youmu was stunned. A vow? She knew how seriously those were taken here in Westeros, and even her father forced her to live up to her promises as a child so long as they were within reason. Her brow furrowed as she thought about the king's words for several moments, but she didn't have much of a choice, did she?
The gardener knelt on the ground before both Ned and Robert and directed her look to the ground. "I, Youmu Konpaku, swear to both you, Lord Eddard Stark, and to you, King Robert Baratheon, that I will do everything I can to reunite both with Lyanna Stark before I leave for the Netherworld."
Ned took a breath and spoke for the first time. "And if you break this vow, your life will be forfeit to the King's Justice." That caused the phantom's body to twitch briefly, but Robert let out a laugh.
"Bah! And how should we collect this life, Ned? I doubt she could even die in the first place, not to mention her own master or lord wouldn't just let her toss her life away so carelessly."
Robert was right on the money, Yuyuko Saigyouji would never allow her precious Youmu to meet the end of the executioner's blade, which should give her all the more motivation to help Youmu complete her request. Youmu knew her mistress had connections established over the course of her governing of the Netherworld to make such a request possible, even if the Yamas might not like it.
"My life will be forfeit, my lord." Youmu remained kneeling until told otherwise.
"Girl, get up. Don't dirty your skirt with soil meant for the dead." Robert commanded, and she rose. His eyes examined her in the dim torchlight briefly before speaking again. "Youmu is your name, is it?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"I do not understand the meaning, but I feel it's a pretty name for a pretty child." Robert began making a move to leave the crypt with the other two near him.
Youmu's face flushed for a third time. "I-I'm not a child, Your Grace. I'm sixty-five."
The King's breath hitched. "I...how?" He was incredulous at that information, and he even turned back to give her a once-over. "You don't look anything like Tywin Lannister and he is in his sixties!"
"I age slower due to my physiology, Your Grace. I will probably live to be three hundred years old if I am allowed to."
Well that would at least explain why she was so short, she was barely a child in terms of three hundred. Though with the way Youmu carried herself, Robert and Eddard had surmised that she was mature mentally, if not physically in some ways.
"I see. My apologies then, Lady Youmu. I will also inform my men of your age, if that is alright with you."
"If you wish to then you may. So long as I am not treated like a…" she trailed off, "like a child."
Robert laughed at that, but understood and nodded as they reached the stairs leading them out of the crypt. "Yes, my lady. I will make sure of that. Ned, is she dining with us?"
Eddard nodded. "She is, Your Grace. Is there anywhere I should seat her?"
"Put her next to the Kingslayer. She doesn't carry her swords around for show, I can tell." A glint in the King's eye. "That and it would scare the hells out of him."
Tonight's dinner was roast duck, deer, mutton, and a token amount of vegetables. Enma, everything was just so damn greasy! Youmu's own meals, while not as extravagant as the food before her right now, weren't nearly as messy as the duck and mutton. She was used to it at this point, after a month of eating such things, but gods, it irritated her to no end.
She wasn't a messy eater, but she wasn't an expert at using forks and knives. They were still foreign to her, and she overheard giggles and laughs from time to time with her fingers fumbling with the utensils. Those died down soon, after finishing her portions, she took to conversing with the guest to her right, who was Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard.
"I hear you're the best sword in the Seven Kingdoms." Her voice was inquisitive, curious. Youmu could tell the man was frightened, but he did a good job of keeping his composure.
"That is what they say, yes. And I'm happy to say that I certainly am. There's not been a man who could best me in single combat." He smiled boastfully, confident in his skill and history.
"I'm glad to hear that, Ser." Youmu took a small sip of her mug of ale. It burned the back of her throat, which kept her from replying for another minute. "Because I would like to test that capability myself."
"Someone of your stature, my lady? I fear that it would be an unfair match, regardless of how skilled you truly were." The man was silent for a moment before taking a bite of duck, savoring the greasy, gamey flavor, and swallowing.
She contemplated that. Sure Jaime was right about his height compared to hers, but she had a feeling that their strength was at least comparable. Youmu wanted to see how well the knight could wield her main sword, Roukanken, as it couldn't be wielded by any normal human. "I see. You have a point, Ser."
"I also wouldn't take pleasure in beating up a girl such as yourself. You're quite...unique."
"Thank you, Ser. I appreciate the compliment. What little I've read about you has also intrigued me if I may say so." Youmu set her empty plate aside and looked up at the Kingslayer.
"In what way, my lady?"
"Killing the Mad King despite being his sworn sword and guard. It must have been a hard choice to forsake on your oath to protect him." Her gaze hardened briefly.
"Actually, it was the easiest choice to ever make, and I don't regret it for a moment." Jaime's eyes turned icey as they glared down at the girl. What right did she have to judge him
"I see." The girl shoved off and out of her seat. "If you'll excuse me, my lord, I need some fresh air." The smell of alcohol and food in the great hall was beginning to make her nauseous anyway.
The man didn't get a chance to reply, and when she'd gone he let out an irritated sigh. Just another person who doesn't understand what it was like to be in his position. It was made even worse because Youmu is an outsider! Jaime sighed and took a long, heavy swig of his mug and didn't speak another word for the rest of the night. If she was going to be at court, he was going to have to learn to deal with her till she left. That could prove problematic for his sister.
The rest of the evening went by uneventfully, and Youmu retired to her room. Sleep came naturally and easy for her that night, and had no more of those terrifying dreams that occured the first two nights...or were they really dreams? The gardener had become acquainted with the people she dreamed about, with the exception of that three-eyed raven. Maybe that was Utsuho Reiuji? Possible, but unlikely since as far as she knew, Youmu was the only one here.
Her thoughts soon became jumbled together as she slipped into a deep sleep.
Youmu was up before dawn, and still wiping the grogginess from her eyes when a voice penetrated the near-blackness of the castle grounds. Her head turned behind her but didn't see anyone...until she looked down.
"Lady Konpaku!" It was the Imp, Tyrion lannister, and in a thick fur cloak over his small frame. He was only about nine inches shorter than the half-phantom herself. When the girl turned to face him, he paused and inhaled sharply. By the Seven she was gorgeous, in an otherworldly way, with the moonlight reflecting off her pale skin, which also caught her hair and seemed to make that snow-white hair glow.
"Lord Tyrion," the girl bowed, "are you an early riser as well?"
"No, actually. I was up most of the night reading in the library and needed some fresh air."
"I see. Mind if I ask what you were reading?"
"Since I was up North I figured I'd fancy some education about the Long Night." Tyrion replied as he moved to walk with the girl, who raised an eyebrow at the subject.
"The Long Night…" Youmu trailed off and rubbed her chin as a puff of hot breath was exhaled through her nostrils. "Didn't that take place around eight thousand years ago? I didn't think it'd hold any relevance in this day and age."
"You can read." He sounded surprised.
"I can, yes."
"So you aren't just the lowborn girl I took you for." Tyrion smirked. Youmu snorted.
"As far as I'm aware of my father's lineage goes back a while. He didn't tell me how important my family name is, but he didn't just come into service to my mistress by chance."
"Can you write?"
"I can, in at least four languages."
"Impressive. That takes a lot of practice."
"I've had almost seven decades to learn." Though the last fifteen years were self-study due to her father's departure from Yuyuko's service.
"You hold your age well, my lady." He was smirking. She smirked as well.
"The Netherworld does wonders for the skin, my lord."
"I'm sure it does, and yours looks exquisite."
Her cheeks turned a faint pink. "Thank you, Lord Tyrion."
"Will you be accompanying the King back to King's Landing?"
"I shall, yes. It's possible that the library of the Red Keep has more knowledge on the subject I'm seeking to use so I can return home."
"I see...it is a shame that I'm not accompanying you, then. I will be going further North to visit the Wall. I wish to piss over the edge of the world."
The girl's nose crinkled at such an idea. "I wish you luck in your endeavor then, my lord. Try not to lose those valuable bits to the cold, though. That would be quite a loss for whomever your future wife is."
"Oh trust me I'm good at a few things: Drinking, reading, and keeping my cock safe."
The gardener snorted once more as they seemed to have circled around the grounds and back to the doors to the great hall. "At least you know what's important, then."
"Of course I do. I may not be as old as you, my lady, but I've been through the forest once or twice."
"Indeed. I met your brother at dinner last night."
"Did you? How did that go?"
"I think I offended him, my lord."
"Jaime doesn't get very offended easily unless you were to insult our family." His voice had taken an edge to it now, though he was still being cordial.
"I, er, well, may have given him some grief about his Kingslayer title." She stuttered as though she was reconsidering her words to the man at dinner.
"That's certainly a sensitive topic. Jaime hasn't even told me the real reasons why he killed Aerys other than to end the war."
Youmu frowned and let out a small sigh. "I overstepped my boundaries, then."
Tyrion nodded. "I'd say so. It probably didn't help that he just met you, and you come from a completely different place with no knowledge how things are conducted here. Even if you've been here a month you can't consider yourself to be an expert in Westerosi customs and politics."
The Imp saw her look flounder briefly before he spoke again. "Give it time, my lady. I'm sure that you'll become an expert in such things if you're here longer."
"No offense, but I'm trying to be here for as little time as possible. I have responsibilities to return to."
"Then perhaps think of this as a vacation, Lady Konpaku, an extended one."
A smile crept to her lips. "I think I will, Lord Tyrion." The girl soon outstretched her hand to the Imp. "Would you like to raid the pantry for an early breakfast? I consider myself an adequate cook."
A laugh escaped Tyrion's throat as he took the cold hand offered to him while he replied. "A Lady Knight who knows how to cook, trim hedges, read, and write. You'll certainly prove valuable to anyone as a wife, Lady Konpaku."
Youmu's cheeks flushed a brighter pink at the compliment as they disappeared into the great hall and made their way to the kitchen.
Several more days passed after the King arrived in Winterfell, and several more events happened, not all of them good. Brandon Stark, the second-youngest boy of seven years, fell from a broken tower and was in a deep sleep. He was still alive, thankfully, but barely. It was still too soon to determine if he was going to live or not. Youmu didn't have high hopes, and apparently neither did a few of the King's Entourage.
While that event was tragic, the gardener couldn't do anything about it, and neither could the Stark Family. It was also time to depart for King's Landing, which would hopefully be another step closer to home.
With a heavy sigh, the half-phantom began packing her newly-made clothes into a small trunk that would be loaded up with the King's carriage. Youmu's clothes were, surprisingly, variations of her current outfit, albeit without the ghost insignia on the breast pocket and hem of the skirt. The colors ranged from a dark blue to white, black, green, and even red. Youmu was impressed in all honesty.
While the outfits weren't as well-made as her current outfit, which had buttons and an inside clip for her skirt, these would suit her well, especially since the skirts also had an inside pocket for a hidden dagger if she chose to use one. Youmu tossed in a few belts as well as changes of undergarments, closed the trunk, then headed out to the castle grounds.
Once outside she was directed to the luggage pile where she set her trunk down and brushed her hands off. Whew.
It was only a few minutes later that the Royal family, along with Ned, Sansa, and Arya. As the Lord of Winterfell approached Youmu and bowed, prompting the latter to do the same. "Lady Konpaku," he started, "are you ready to depart?"
"I am. It'll be a month's journey, correct?"
"Just about, aye."
The gardener gave a hum. "Well at least it'll give me time to get more accustomed to etiquette here." She smiled as she made her way to a pure white horse that was brought out for her.
"Indeed, and allow Robert and the family to get to know you better."
She climbed up on the horse and nodded to the man. "It shall. Am I riding alongside you?"
"My children and Septa Mordane, yes."
"Very well."
Youmu turned the reins of the horse and trotted out of the grounds and into the entourage to meet up with Sansa, Arya, and their septa. She took a deep breath and smiled, happy to finally begin her journey and get home.