Author's Note: Hi everyone! I am currently in the process of writing a story that follows the new HBO show House of the Dragon with my own character thrown into the mix! It's called The Dragon & The Rose, and can be found in this same Game of Thrones category, so be sure to check it out. Because I'm waiting on each episode's release, I find myself wanting to write more but with nothing to base it on quite yet...enter The Throne of Ice. This story will be in the era that Game of Thrones follows, not House of the Dragon, with a new character added to the fold: Elyanna Stark. The picture for the story is of Lyanna Stark, which is what I imagine Elyanna to look like as well. Happy Reading ~ J❤️
THE THRONE OF ICE - CHAPTER ONE: "MY NAMESAKE"
"Arya, Sansa! Stop it both of you, we don't have time for this," Elyanna pleaded, quite literally pulling her two younger sisters away from each other.
"Stop her Anna, she messed up my stitch!" Sansa complained, her voice raising an octave as she tried swinging at Arya.
"I can think of something you're being that rhymes with sti-"
"Arya!" Elyanna snapped, turning to the youngest with a sharp eye.
"It's just needlework," Arya defended herself, her eyes wide, "I don't know why she's being so sensitive about it."
"Because I was making it for the Queen," Sansa said angrily, her eyes starting to redden and tear up. "It was nearly finished and now it's completely ruined."
"Seven hells, are you crying?" Arya laughed, then immediately stopped when she saw her eldest sister's face.
"Arya, go get properly dressed. They'll be arriving any minute and you need to be ready." Elyanna sighed, pushing her out the door. She then turned to Sansa and put a hand on her shoulder, "It's alright, Sansa, I'll see what I can do to mend it."
"You will?" Sansa sniffled.
"I will," Elyanna replied, giving her sister a kiss on the head as she took the barely damaged needlework into hand. "Don't fret. Now go get ready, you want to look your best for the Prince, don't you?"
Sansa didn't reply, only smiling sheepishly before turning to leave the sitting room, finally leaving Elyanna to herself. She slowly sat before the fire, inhaling deeply as she examined the stitching that needed to be fixed. The fire crackled lightly, creating the only sound in the room as the small embers sparked and flew against the metal grate. While she had always been excellent at stitching, she never enjoyed it like Sansa did. She would have rather been curled up underneath the weirwood trees with a book as she waited for her King and Queen's arrival. But alas, with sisters like her own she never had a moment's peace to do as she pleased. With her mother running around after the little boys and her father occupied with Robb and Jon's training, she often felt left behind by her own parents to occupy herself and her sisters. And though she was 16, her parents were either being extremely selective or unworried in finding her a match to be married. But this didn't bother her, in fact, she was rather opposed to being married. While she could have been wed as long as 3 years ago, when she first flowered, this was something she paid no mind to. She knew marriage would inevitably become part of her future, but she felt no desire to rush it.
Once she finished mending the stitching, she left her peace and solitude to go to her chambers and quickly change. Her shoes clicked on the cold stone floors of the halls of Winterfell, echoing gently around her as she walked. As she stopped in front of her room, a chamber maid exited, holding an empty bucket with wood shavings at the bottom.
"Milady," she said, curtsying before stepping out of the way.
"Good evening, Jacline." Elyanna smiled.
"Would you like help dressing, milady? I've just rekindled fire for you."
"Thank you, Jacline, but I can manage. You have too much to do already," Elyanna said, stepping through the doorway. The chamber-maid curtsied once more with gratitude and then continued quickly on with whatever other work needed to be done before the King and Queen's arrival.
A blast of warmth hit Elyanna as she entered her room and tossed the needlework onto her bed to give to Sansa later. She moved swiftly to her wardrobe, pulling out her best dress that she had. It was a dark forest green color, one that matched her eyes, embroidered with small flowers that she had done herself. Attached to the neckline and sleeves was a thick almond colored fur to keep her warm in the harsh cold climate Winterfell provided. She pulled the gown over her head, tugging the sleeves gently over her arms. Once it was on she reached behind her, trying to lace up the strings in the back on her own. Her fingers fiddled with the thick cord, trying to find the small holes to put it through, but it was pointless. Without seeing it she was just stabbing blindly in the air. Suddenly a short knock sounded on the door.
"Come in," she called out, turning to face whoever was entering. Her mother walked in slowly, peering her head around the corner before continuing further.
"Are you almost ready, darling?" she asked, looking frantic.
"Yes, I just can't get the strings tied on my own," Elyanna muttered, turning around for help.
Catelyn quickly walked forward, taking the strings into hand. "I forgot how beautiful this dress is on you. It makes you look like a proper lady."
"Am I not a proper lady?" Elyanna joked, inhaling sharply as her mother pulled it tighter.
"Of course you are," Catelyn said warmly, "I only meant that sometimes I forget you're not just my little Elly anymore. You're all grown up, you don't need me anymore."
"Hardly." Elyanna smiled to herself, "If I didn't need you I'd be walking out to greet the King and Queen with the back of my dress still open."
Catelyn laughed lightly as she tied off the end of the strings, "I meant for things other than helping you dress."
"I know," Elyanna said softly, feeling her smile fade. "But I still need you for those things too."
She turned around to face her mother, who put both her hands on her cheeks. "I'll always be here to help you, my love."
Elyanna smiled sadly and nodded, then stepped forward to hug her mother tightly.
"What's gotten into you?" Catelyn laughed gently, wrapping her arms gently around her eldest daughter. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," Elyanna smiled, pressing her face into her mother's shoulder. "As long as you don't marry me off to the Prince and make me leave you."
"Don't be silly, both of the princes are far too young for you," Catelyn said, pulling away. She lifted her hands to her daughters face and combed her fingers through the dark brown hair, gently framing her face. "Besides I think you'd have to fight Sansa to the death if you wanted to marry Joffrey."
"Gods be good," Elyanna laughed.
"And even then," Catelyn said, admiring her daughter's features. "I won't let anyone steal you from me just yet."
Elyanna nodded, then embraced her mother one last time.
"Now I have to go and get Bran and Rickon, will you get your sisters down to the courtyard, please?"
"Let me just change my shoes." Elyanna nodded.
"Alright, I'll see down there, and don't be late," Catelyn said, turning over shoulder. But before she made it two steps out the door she quickly turned back around and said, "Please make sure Arya's combed her hair."
"Yes, mother." Elyanna sighed, watching her leave. She then quickly kicked off her everyday shoes and slipped into the new leather pair she recently had made. Closing her eyes, she gave herself one last moment to take a breath, then walked out of her room towards Sansa's. Her red-headed sister was standing in front of the mirror, examining her dress with a narrowed eye.
"Do you think this color blue makes me look fat?" Sansa asked, spinning around once to look at her back. "This dress feels tighter than it did last time I wore it.
"You're just growing," Elyanna said, taking her sister's hand to pull her away. "One day you'll be taller than me, and I don't think that day is too far off."
"I don't want to keep growing," she muttered.
"You're beautiful no matter how tall you grow," Elyanna said, "Prince Joffrey will love you."
"Do you think?" Sansa beamed, linking her arm with Elyanna's as they walked.
"I do." Elyanna smiled, giving her sister's hand a quick squeeze. "No go down and join Mother and Father, they'll be waiting."
"What about you?"
"I'm just getting Arya first."
Elyanna walked down one door, then opened it. And while she knew the room was Arya's with strewn about clothes and sticks, the girl was nowhere inside.
"Where is she?" Elyanna called into the hall, jogging out to meet Sansa.
"Leave it to her to disappear the one day she's wanted." Sansa said, turning around with a sour face.
"Don't be snide, Sansa. Do you know where she is?" Elyanna asked, already feeling exhausted from all this running around.
Sansa shrugged, as if she couldn't care less, then turned to go down the stairs to the courtyard. Elyanna let out a huff, then turned over her shoulder to start looking. She looked everywhere she could think of with the time she had: in the stables, the archery range, and even the kitchens to see if she was swiping the sweets being prepared for the King and Queen's arrival. But she was nowhere to be found, and it wouldn't do Elyanna any good to be missing alongside her, so she begrudgingly made her way to the courtyard to join her family. She could hear the sound of the horses' hooves growing closer. Both her mother and father looked at her with worry on their faces as she approached them.
"Where's your sister?" Eddard asked, looking around for her.
"I couldn't find her," Elyanna said while shaking her head, "I looked everywhere for her, she just disappeared."
"It's alright, she'll turn up." He nodded, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Now go stand with your brother."
She exhaled lightly, trying to let go of the stress in her shoulders as she stood next to her twin. Her eyes continued to search around them for Arya, for she was likely somewhere close watching the grand arrival of the King and everyone else who rode with him. A small chuckle sounded next to her, and when she looked at Robb she could see a small grin on his face. She quickly elbowed him in the side, but his smile only turned into a grin.
"Did you check the stables?" he asked, holding his laughter back.
"Of course I checked the stables," she hissed. "Where did you look?"
"I didn't," he said, looking straight forward. "I was getting my beard shaven for the Queen."
"You're disgusting," she scoffed.
Suddenly, Arya came running through the crowd with a rusted helmet over her head. Elyanna immediately snatched her arm, bringing her in close.
"What are you doing with that on?" she asked, pulling the helmet off. She quickly brushed down the sweaty hair that was now sticking up, and pushed her away. "Now go!"
Arya groaned a little, walking down the line to stand between Sansa and Bran.
"There," Robb whispered, leaning over to her. "All the ducks are in a row."
"Shut up," she muttered, shaking her head as she tried suppressing her smile.
"Here they come, Anna!" Sansa said excitedly, gripping Elyanna's hand while standing on her tiptoes to watch as the first riders came through the gate.
All the Stark children, apart from Arya, stood up a little straighter as they watched the entourage parade inward. Elyanna's eyes flitted back and forth between all the riders, the first of whom was a man dressed in nearly all gold armour, followed by a blonde boy whom she assomed to be the Prince, and a man with a hound's head helmet. She had heard stories of them all, but it was her first time ever seeing them in the flesh. Or at least, the first time she could remember seeing them. Following closely behind was a stout man with raven colored hair sitting on an incredibly large horse, to which her parents immediately kneeled. Her and Robb followed suit, their younger siblings falling in line after them as the King rode closer. Elyanna kept her eyes on the dirt before her as the King dismounted his horse and approached them, only seeing his boots come into view. Once her father stood, she rose, looking to her father's best friend. She had heard all of his and her father's adventures together, or at least, the one's her father deemed suitable for his daughters to hear. Though she didn't recognize his face, she felt like she knew him.
King Robert paused, looking Eddard up and down, then said, "You got fat."
Elyanna glanced once to her brother, who was already looking at her to make sure that she heard the same thing he did. They then looked at their father as he waited in silence, looking the King up and down and raising his eyebrows. The two began laughing without another word, then embraced each other with rough slaps on the back. The twins exchanged one last smile with wide eyes, then watched as the King turned to their mother.
"Caaaat!" Robert said with a raspy voice, hugging her tightly and kissing her cheek. He turned back to their father and bellowed with a red and rosy face, "Nine years! Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North, Your Grace." Eddard smiled politely. "Winterfell is yours."
Suddenly, the carriage standing behind them opened. A blonde woman in red silk and thick furs stepped out with a pinched look on her face, as if she smelled something disagreeable. She walked slowly towards the line of Starks as she examined the area around them. She didn't look pleased with what she saw in the slightest. But before she reached them King Robert continued down the line of children.
"Who have we here?" he asked, sizing up her brother as he shook his hand. "You must be Robb."
He stepped down the line in front of Elyanna, with a smile, but she could see his eyes immediately turn sad. "And you must be Elyanna. You look just like your aunt."
Elyanna smiled gently, lowering her head with appreciation, but her attention immediately returned to the woman she assumed to be Queen Cersei, who was staring at her with dark eyes. As Robert continued down the line of children, Elyanna watched as the woman moved towards her father. Behind her, the man in golden armour removed his helm, revealing a head of thick blonde hair.
"Do you think that's her brother?" Robb asked quietly, also watching him. "Ser Jaime?"
"I think so," Elyanna whispered. "They're twins too, are they not?"
Robb nodded once, his eyes on the Queen. Cersei stopped before Eddard and smiled shortly, holding her hand out for him without saying anything. Eddard bowed and kissed her hand, while her mother curtsied, the both saying, "My Queen," simultaneously. But the Queen did not continue down the line for introductions as the King had, she only stood and looked to Robert with a displeased look on her face, obviously wanting to go wash and rest.
"Take me to your crypts, I want to pay my respects," Robert commanded, marching towards Eddard.
"We've been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait," she said with a smile, though her voice was cold with her lower teeth gritted together.
Elyanna felt her ears burn hot, knowing that the person the King wanted to visit in the crypt was her aunt Lyanna, who was also her namesake. But the King paid no mind to the Queen's protest, only calling her Eddard's name for him to follow, leaving the rest of them with her. Catelyn immediately stepped forward, offering to show Her Grace to her chambers, and instructing her other children to show the rest of the royal family to their own; leaving Elyanna alone with Ser Jaime.
"Ser Jaime," she said with a delicate smile as she approached him. "Welcome to Winterfell. Might I show you to your chambers?"
"Of course." He nodded politely, eyeing his sister once before following Elyanna. "I'm sorry, but I'm horrible with names, would you-"
"I'm Elyanna," she said softly, turning over shoulder. "Catelyn and Eddard's eldest daughter."
"Right," he sighed, his armor squeaking as he followed her. "You're the twin."
"As are you," she responded, walking through the open hallway.
"Yes," he responded mindlessly, moving forward to walk directly next to her. They moved in silence for a moment, neither one knowing what to say until he finally found something useless to talk about, "Is it always this cold here, even inside?"
"I'm afraid so, and this is actually some of the warmest weather we get. And it'll get much colder at night," she said, looking up at him with a small and apologetic smile.
The two fell back into silence. Now that they had mentioned the fact that they were both twins, and the fact that it was cold in Winterfell, it felt like they had already exhausted everything there was to say to each other. Elyanna thought a seasoned knight like himself would have a plethora of stories at hand for moments like this, but he seemed to be just as lost for words as she was. She glanced to the side at him as they walked, noticing his face was stiff and awkward. Perhaps he was too tired for small talk after a month on the road, or at the least too tired to make small talk with a girl nearly half his age.
"Here we are," she said, gently opening the door to the bed chamber. She immediately walked forward and grabbed the firepoker, stoking a few of the embers below to keep the fire going. "There's plenty of wood in the basket here to add to the fire if you get cold, but a chamber maid will be here every morning, midday, and before bed to keep it going for you. Extra furs are in the chest in front of the bed, again, if you get cold. But if you require more than that to keep you warm just let me know."
"What?" he choked a little, looking at her with wide eyes.
"If you need more..." She narrowed her brows at him with confusion, then looked to the chest of furs, not sure how else to reword what she said. "...there should be plenty in there, but if not just let me know and I can get you more... or anyone else could as well I suppose."
"Oh." he nodded, his face turning a bit red. "I see, my apologies, My Lady, I misunderstood you."
"It's alright," she said slowly, moving towards the door to leave. His initial interpretation flew naively over her head at first, then hit her in the face like a thousand bricks. "Oh- seven hells- I wasn't-"
"I know that now," he said uncomfortably, looking to the side. "My apologies-"
"No, I'm sorry," she said quickly, her voice in a bit of distress as her cheeks flushed bright pink. "I shouldn't have worded it like that, I-"
"It's alright." he nodded, coughing a little.
"Will you require anything else, Ser Jaime?" she asked quickly, hoping he would say no and let her leave. "Lord Tyrion has requested extra candles and books-"
"No, no-" he exhaled awkwardly, "I'm fine, thank you, Lady Elyanna, I'm just about to head back out, actually."
"Of course, My Lord. If that's all then, I'll leave you to it."
"Thank you." He repeated, clearing his throat. "Oh- And Elayne-"
"It's Elyanna," she said shortly, pleading him with her tone to let her go.
"Right, my apologies, I told you I was bad with names," he said, his cheeks flushing even more. "Anyways, I only meant to say...please don't...tell anyone about this, I'm afraid they'd get the wrong impression of me-"
"I wasn't planning to, Ser Jaime," she said quickly, her eyebrows raised, "Besides, it's not just you that people would get the wrong impression of."
"Right, then." he sighed, feeling a bit put in his place. "Good day."
She nodded once, then shut the door behind her, thankful to be done with that strange and embarrassing interaction. Just as soon as she was leaving his room, Robb was also leaving Prince Joffrey's, with a look of disbelief on his face. He quickly walked towards his sister, speaking quietly as they moved in unison.
"What a prick... he's demanding his sheets to be changed already because they're not soft enough," he whispered, sighing a little. "Was Ser Jaime alright?"
"He was fine," she said in a hushed voice, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "Just a bit strange."
"What makes you say that?" he asked, chuckling quietly.
"Hard to explain," she muttered, hoping the cold air would cool the redness in her cheeks down.
"Well it can't be that hard to explain," he whispered, sensing her lying. "You were only with him for five minutes."
"Our words just got lost in translation I suppose, it was just a bit awkward."
"You both speak the common tongue don't you? What was there to be translated-"
"It's just an expression, Robb," she sighed, wanting to him to put this topic to bed.
"From what I hear he isn't the brightest Lannister," Robb commented, smirking a little.
"Don't be rude."
"Well he can't be incredibly smart, can he? You can't look like he does, fight like he does, and also have a brain to go with it."
"Stop it," she whispered, trying to contain her laugh. "You're going to get us in trouble."
"You were the one insinuating that he's daft-"
"There you two are," Catelyn said, coming quickly around the corner. The two jumped a little, shocked to see her and hoping she hadn't heard them. "What are you two up to, why do you look so suspicious all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing," they said at the same time, standing a bit closer together for solidarity.
"I don't believe you, but I also don't have time for this. Are the Prince and his uncle settled into their rooms?"
"Yes, mother," they said again in unison.
"You both know I hate when you do that." Catelyn shook her head at her children.
"Sorry, mother."
"Go!" she said forcefully, ushering them away. "You know what needs to be done before supper so go see to it."
The twins smiled at each other and then split ways, off to finish their chores for the day. While she knew Robb would be going to the crypt to find their father, she made her way towards the kennels to feed the direwolves. Unlike the rest of the hounds that were kept there, the direwolf pups normally roamed freely, as Winterfell was as much their home as it was the Starks. But the arrival of the Royal family meant that they couldn't just be wandering, for southerners were not accustomed to such a beast. And despite their being only pups still, they still had a rather vicious side to them when it came to protecting the Stark children.
So for the time being they were being kept in the kennels, and they hated it. She could hear them all howling together, crying to be let out and sensing her smell as she approached. Being with them always brought a smile to her face.
"Good evening, Farlen," Elyanna said cheerfully to the kennel master. "Are the wolves ready for their supper?"
"Good evening, My Lady." The old man nodded with a small smile as he handed her the key to their pen. "Indeed they are."
"Thank you, Farlen, I'll be quick."
He stood up and lined up seven wooden bowls filled with raw leftover meat scraps from the feast outside the kennel, then closed the main kennel gate behind him to leave her alone with the wolves. For a man fond of dogs, he too was nervous around them. Once he locked her in entryway of the kennels, she turned the large iron key to their pen and opened it. Grey Wind, Lady, Summer, Shaggy Dog, Nymeria, Ghost, and Shadow came running out, all of them stumbling on each other as they raced to their bowls.
Elyanna sat on her ankles with a smile next to her own, Shadow, stroking her dark grey fur as she ate. "You're getting big, darling," she said sweetly, scratching the thick fur behind her tall and pointy ears.
"You'll ruin that lovely gown squatting in the mud like that," a voice said, echoing in the kennel.
Elyanna looked up to the see the Queen standing with a look of disapproval on her face. Elyanna immediately stood and then curtsided, "Yes, My Queen."
"These are the direwolves?" she asked, looking through the iron barred gate down at them. "They're smaller than I imagined."
"Well they're only pups, Your Grace, found as newborns last month just outside the gates," Elyanna replied with a smile, looking down at them and back up to the Queen. "They're shooting up like weeds every night."
"Hmm," Cersei nodded, her hands clasped in front of her. "Come here, child. Let me see your face."
Elyanna lifted her skirt as she slowly stepped through the mud towards the gate, "I'm sorry, I would open the gate but I don't have the key and Farlen's left to get the rest of the hounds' meals."
"It's alright, you're close enough," she said flatly, examining Elyanna's features through the bars. Cersei's eyes started piercing into her own green ones, then trailed across her smooth and pale skin. The queen put her hand through the gate and picked up a piece of her long and dark hair, smoothing out a small tangle in the loosely curled pieces. Elyanna watched her closely, unsure of what the Queen was doing or thinking. While this was something a mother might do, fawning over a child, there was something venemous behind Cersei's eyes as she inspected her. But before Elyanna could do or say anything, the Queen dropped her hand and gave her a melancholic smile. "So young, so beautiful."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Elyanna said stiffly, feeling a bit parlayzed with confusion from the interaction.
Cersei nodded once, her face falling immediately back to its bitter nature. "You should go wash before supper. Leave work like this to those who are meant for it."
"Yes, Your Grace," Elyanna responded, feeling a sting in her chest from the Queen's words. She didn't like how she had worded that sentence one bit.
The Queen then left, looking around at her surroundings for the next month as she walked through the courtyard of bustling people. Elyanna watched Cersei's graceful and stoic movements as she walked, wondering how someone so beautiful on the outside could immediately appear so ugly within. Once she saw her disappear into the halls of Winterfell, Elyanna saw Farlen walking up to her with two large pails of meat scraps in hand.
"Let me get the pups back inside, Farlen," she said quickly, shaking her mind from the daze it was in thinking about Cersei. "Come on, all of you."
She leaned down to pick up Shadow, giving her a small kiss on the head as she corralled the others back into the pen gently with her feet. Once inside she set Shadow down with her brothers and sisters, turning the lock on the iron gate door as she looked at their sad eyes. They all whined a little, wanting to be let back out with her.
"Don't worry about keeping them in there, My Lady," Farlen grunted, lifting one of the heavy pails to pour out the meat into the bowls. "They cry for a few minutes after you're gone and then they all go to sleep."
"Thank you, Farlen," Elyanna smiled. "Do you want anymore help before I go?"
"No, My Lady," he said gratefully, standing up straight. "I can manage from here."
"Alright then, but if they become a nuisance just send for me. I can stay and play with them a bit."
"Yes, My Lady, enjoy the feast."
Later That Evening
The feast was aboslutely roaring with excitement, the great hall filled with every sort of sound of happiness there could be; drunken songs, silverware clattering on plates, loud laughter, fiddles playing merry tunes, and the over all hum of everyone talking at once. More food was made than Elyanna had ever seen before at one time, every inch of every banquet table covered in roasted meats, breads, vegetables, fruits, and sweets. And the ceiling's chandeliers were adorned with a thousand candles, lighting up the room with a cheery warm glow.
Elyanna looked around the room with a bright smile, it had been too long since a feast as happy as this one had been put together. All of her siblings seemed to be just as happy as she was; Robb was off talking with Theon and all of his friends, Sansa sat with the Princess Myrcella with a delighted look on her face, and Arya was of course enjoying all the mischief to be had. The only person she couldn't find was Jon, but this certainly wasn't unusual for him. Her, Jon, and Robb had always been close, being so close together in age. She knew crowded scenes like this weren't his taste.
Elyanna stood from her seat to go find him, but immediately stopped as she looked over to her father, who was standing with her Uncle Benjen. She smiled widely and rushed over to him, a bit less gracefully that she would have usually done if it hadn't been for the wine.
"Uncle Benjen!" she said excitedly, throwing her arms around him with a laugh.
He picked her up and spun her around, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You've turned into a young lady while I've been away."
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes bright. "It's been too long!"
"I'm here to ask our King for more help at the Night's Watch," he said gruffly, nodding his head once. "More men, supplies-"
"These are boring matters for a girl, brother," Eddard said, putting a gentle hand on Benjen's shoulder.
"Why would it be a boring matter for a girl?" Elyanna asked, looking up to her father with raised brows.
"Go easy on your father." Benjen smiled, turning back to his niece. "It's good to see you, love, but I'm looking for your brother."
"Robb or Jon?" she asked, to which he nodded proudly, glad to see she still thought of him as a brother, not just The Bastard of Winterfell.
"The broody one."
"I'm not sure, I was looking for him as well," Elyanna exhaled, feeling a bit out of breath as she looked around. "It's been a while since I've seen him last."
"Not to worry, I'll find him. Continue to enjoy the feast." Benjen laughed, giving her one last quick kiss on the cheek before he turned to leave, exiting the hall and leaving her alone with her father. Eddard looked at his daughter with raised eyebrows and a small smile, which took her a moment to notice.
"What?" she finally asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Have you been at the wine?" he asked, laughing lightly.
She let out a small breath of air and laughed, "I'm afraid I may have had one too many cups, father."
"It's alright, I'm glad to see you enjoying yourself," he smiled. "But perhaps some water for the rest of the night."
"I think that would be wise."
"Elly?" he asked, his face a bit more grim. "I wanted to talk with you about something."
"Anything," she responded, feeling her smile fall a bit as he pulled her to a more quiet corner of the hall. "What is it? You're not making me marry the Prince, are you?"
"No, no," he laughed drly, "The King and I spoke and we agreed that if there is to be a match in our house, that Sansa would be more suitable for the Prince."
"Good," she sighed in relief, "I think she'd murder me in my sleep if I stole him from her."
He laughed louder, the lines in his face wrinkling around his eyes. "You're probably right."
"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked, sensing the seriousness creep back into his body.
"You won't be marrying Joffrey," he said slowly, "But he can't wed Sansa unless you are married first-"
"Father-" she tried to start in protest, but his voice grew stronger and deeper as he continued over her.
"I know you don't want to be married, you've made it quite clear to us all, so your mother and I have prolonged it as long as we can. But you're a Lady of Winterfell, and you're a Stark. With that comes obligations for all of us," he said somberly, "And your obligation to this family is to strengthen our alliances through marriage."
"To who?" she asked fiercely, feeling her eyes well with tears. "Who am I being shipped off with?"
"I don't know," he said honestly, his eyes turning apologetic and gentle. "That's why when I ride to King's Landing with the King, as his Hand, you and your sisters are coming with me."
She nodded bitterly, keeping her eyes just past him and looking at everyone else at the feast. How had she been so happy, so carefree only moments ago? How had those feelings turned into utter entrapment? She supposed she'd always been trapped, that was what it meant to be a girl in this world, but she never fully realized it until now. Now it was true and concrete, she would be marrying, and she would be leaving home to go to King's Landing.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! As you can see, we're starting in the very beginning of the series, and we'll be going through all the way until the end (or Elyanna's end that is...). Follow along to see how Elyanna's presence changes what we know happens in the world of Game of Thrones. And let me know what you all think so far, I am very open to suggestions when it comes to how this story will pan out. After all, there's a lot to choose from! Until next time, thank you for reading!