Happy New Year!

I'm still Revising this story but felt like posting and this story is the only one with an Unpublished COMPLETE chapter.

So I guess, you could think of it as a gift?

This is also a RAW/UNEDITED chapter so don't get too mad about the grammer etc.

Enjoyx


Chapter 20: Do You Know Who You Serve?

Ned still struggled to accept his return home to be real and not another desperate dream. The sharp flood of Winterfell's morning chill filled his lungs and the chasm of yearning he'd grown to expect in his chest had finally been filled. He dressed for the day with a smile on his lips while his heartbeat warmly in its cage. But the highlight of his mornings, upon his return home, appeared in the form of a smiling girl outside his door.

"Good morning, Ned!" Anya greeted with a slight bounce in her step.

Ned felt a slight ache in his cheeks as he smiled down at his sweetest sister.

"Good Morning, Anya," he softly replied.

Ned watched as his sweet sister flushed pink and fiddled with her sleeves. He was reminded of the shy toddler who would chase after himself and Brandon with a demanding Lyanna holding her hand tightly; Their tiny footsteps determinedly following theirs, even waiting outside their closed doors until they would leave so they could follow them once more.

Anya, blushing, mumbled about her wants to walk him to the dining hall so they may break fast together.

"Only if you want to Ned. If you're going somewhere else and wish to be alone, I completely understand." She hastily added looking flustered with mild panic.

Ned laughed; the sound surprising them both with how loudly it echoed down the corridors. Closing the door behind him, Ned placed a hand on Anya's head, careful not to mess her elegantly styled hair. He bent so he could meet her eyes and smiled down at her gently.

"It would be my honour to escort you, my lady," He solemnly declared.

Anya giggled and the sound had Ned's heart soaring with equal elation. He offered his arm and her dainty small hand gracefully settled in place. Together they walked Winterfell's halls in quiet joy, soaking in the physical presence of one another. The quiet between them humble and heart felt.

Between them, words were not needed, for the silence between them expressed plenty.

Ned looked down at his sweet sister and smiled wide at the expression of delight she wore.

Neither sibling noticed the quiet whispers of the help that spied on them from corners and behind doors. They were unaware of the giddy awing and fawning of the maids who were starstruck by the happy bliss the two exuded in each other's company.

The Quiet Wolf and Winterfell's Heart reunited once more.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Anya tried to pay attention to her steps but was too distracted by the joy that bubbled in her chest. She couldn't stop sneaking subtle glances at her quiet brother who walked beside her. He was real and he was home. She couldn't stop marvelling at the change in him. The lightness to his hair, the stretch of his legs to the slight tan of his skin. He looked like Brandon and Father at certain angles, in other's she saw Lyanna and Benjen, but the solemn draw of his expression and eyes was entirely him.

There would be no more letters or anxiously worrying for his health.

"Nya?" Ned called with a curious tilt of his head.

Anya felt her face grow hot at being caught absent in mind. She resisted the urge to hide her face. Ned laughed once again and tugged at one of her loose braids.

"Still so shy, little sister?" he teased.

Anya gripped his sleeve tight and quietly mumbled her words. Any other day she would be mortified by her lack of lady manner, for ladies do not mumble or allow themselves to be so visibly flustered.

But Anya was far too overwhelmed by the flood of emotions she'd not felt in so many years.

"I missed you so much Ned…."

To her horror, she felt her eyes grow hot. Before the first tear could successfully escape, Ned had pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Not as much as I missed you, sweet sister."

Anya sniffed and sent a silent prayer in thanks to the Gods for guiding her brother home.

Anya was practically skipping as she explained to Ned what changes had been made around the castle. Ned listened to her with a patient ear, humming and asking questions whenever he had one.

Ned listened attentively just as Father would and Anya was reminded of how deeply she loved her brother once more.

It was the sudden clashing and loud war cry that snapped the two siblings out of their immersed reunion. Ned opened the dining halls with wary caution only to slump and sigh at the mess that greeted him. Behind him, Anya's own expression did something similar.

"GIVE IT BACK BRANDON!" Lyanna roared from her place on Brandon's back.

"Oh dear, what will Anya say if she saw you acting so beastly," Brandon laughed as he kept the object in his hand out of reach from his outraged sister.

Lyanna let out another war cry and changed tactics, attempting to bite at Brandon's outstretched arm. Brandon flailed and tried to fling Lyanna off his back, but her legs tightened around his torso and her teeth continued to snap for skin.

"I'M TELLING FATHER!" Benjen yelled as his older siblings grappling tipped several of the table dishes, wasting food.

"Don't be a squealer Ben," Brandon growled as he forced Lyanna back with one hand on her face.

Ned marched forward and with a swift swipe he stole the object in Brandon's hand and levelled him with a stare identical to their Lord father. Anya stood behind Ned with a displeased expression of her own and shook her head at her two older siblings.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Brandon and Lyanna cringed under the weight of their quiet siblings glares.

"What is going on here?" Ned softly demanded, looking incredibly similar to their stern Lord Father.

Brandon quickly dropped Lyanna, who scrambled to tidy her appearance. Brandon slapped a light teasing grin on his face, but Ned continued to look unimpressed.

"Ah! Brother, how nice of you to finally join us."

"Bran, it is far too early for this…." Ned groaned once again.

Before Bran could comment in return, Lyanna quickly spoke, heaping all blame on the wild wolf's shoulders.

"Bran started it! He took my spare arrowhead and refused to return it!"

Ned turned a silent stare towards Bran who shrugged without shame.

"I was confiscating it brother. What presence does an arrowhead have at the table? More importantly, have you ever heard of a Lady carrying such a thing with her? I think not!" Brandon haughtily explained with a mocking smirk in Lyanna's direction.

Lyanna bristled and her face turned an angry red, but before she could retaliate, Anya addressed her.

"Lya, you know you're not allowed to bring your weaponry to the table."

Lyanna turned to Anya with a frustrated growl.

"I wanted to show it to Ned after we broke fast! Brandon's the one who snatched it out of my pockets!"

"What need does a Lady have for pockets in her dresses?" Brandon scoffed, making it obvious he refused to hold any blame for the morning chaos.

"Brandon," Ned named with obvious warning.

"What!?" Brandon repeated.

A quiet cough had all four siblings turning back to the messy table where Benjen sat.

"Not to be rude, but can we eat yet?"

Anya sighed and looked up to Ned. With a silent nod, Ned stepped aside, and Anya skipped to where their youngest sibling sat. Neither sibling noticed the irritation their silent interaction caused Brandon and Lyanna.

Ned did not scold his louder siblings or lecture them as they expected. Instead, he levelled them with a suffering sigh and turned to join their younger siblings.

"Is that it?" Lyanna blurted uncertain with such dismissal.

Not even father dismissed her without at least a word or two.

"Oh Gods, I'd forgotten about this…." Brandon groaned as he realised what Ned intended.

"What?"

But Brandon didn't explain, which only frustrated Lyanna more. It was the start of a very long list of things that Lyanna found frustrating about the return of her older brothers.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*

Rickard noted how Ned remained silent whenever his Older brother prompted him for conversation. He observed the growing scowl on Lyanna's lips deepen as she too was ignored. Inwardly, he smiled at the returned sparkle in Anya's eyes and the giggle amusement on Benjen's child face.

"Ned, could you pass me the bacon?"

"Of course, Nya."

"Ooh! Give some- Well that was rude."

Brandon huffed as Ned ignored his older brother, again, and passed the bacon to Anya.

"Eddard, Don't you think it a bit childish of you to ignore me?"

"Childish you say? Interesting choice of words…" Ned mused while sipping at his goblet.

Rickard contemplated his children with a focused eye and a mind that drifted.

"Are you implying something, little brother?" Brandon drawled before viscously tearing into his bread.

Brandon's behaviour could only be described as wolfish. From the menacing glint of his bared teeth as he ate, and the wild will of his grey eyes. Ned did not cower in the face of his brother's dominant play but did the same in silent rebellion. Rickard hid the twitch of amusement his lips gave behind his hand and committed this puppy game of manliness to memory.

"Gods, are you really going to give me the quiet wolf treatment? I can't believe you still do that by the way, thought you would have grown out of it."

Ned stared at Brandon just a second more before he turned back to his meal without a word. Brandon chucked his bread roll on his platter and turned to Rickard with a disbelieving eye.

"Father, can you believe this!?"

Perhaps it was the fact that the precious gifts of his late wife were finally reunited before him? Or a section of his iced stone heart had finally melted at seeing his youngest daughter's childish cheer? Maybe it was the return of his most resilient son? It could even be the simple ruckus of his bickering pups?

Whatever the case, Rickard felt his tired beating heart give a skip in its beat, while his eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Believe what?" he purposely enticed.

Brandon's scowl was fierce enough to make his brows furrow while his eyes rolled with annoyance.

"The fact that your son is being so childish!"

Rickard tilted his head and arched a brow with practiced intrigue.

"I disagree, Benjen is proving to be the most mature of my sons." he slowly remarked.

The giggle Anya and Benjen gave was worth the choked gasp Lyanna fell into at his jest. But nothing was better than the smirk on Ned's lips and the flabbergasted disbelief on Brandon's.

"Did father just tell a jape!?" Lyanna hissed after her choking fit.

"Father's always telling japes, Lya" Benjen corrected with a shake of his head.

Rickard continued his meal with the dignity only a Lord Father could have before his children. The rest of their morning meal passed with similar jesting and light-hearted bantering. When their meal had come to an end and their separate duties and responsibilities for the day needed tending to, they parted with aching cheeks, full bellies, and warm hearts.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Lord Stark was seen laughing yesterday morning!"

"Tell me, Tell me! Did you see? Lord Brandon and Lady Lyanna were said to be sparring in the courtyard!"

"Rumour says that Lord Eddard, Lord Benjen and Lady Anya were spotted sharing stories in the library!"

"Winterfell Castle is said to be full of plenty of laughter and joy since the return of Lord Eddard. Sweet Lady Lyarra must be overwhelmed with joy from wherever her soul may be resting. Gods be good to our blessed Lord Stark and his children."

Eventually, the excitement of having all the Stark children home tempered down until all that showed such feeling was the warm smiles exchanged between the help and the small folk. So of course, the announcement of a feast to celebrate the return of their Lords sons from fostering was expected to come.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Anya furrowed her brow with confusion as her siblings erupted into what could only be described as chaos.

"You want to host a FEAST! Have you gone mad!?" Lyanna hysterically cried as she flailed her arms in Anya's direction.

So caught up in her distress and hysteria, all her hard learned lady manners were completely forgotten. Even Benjen was showing distress as he played with his cutlery and stared at Anya with wide eyes.

"M-Must we? Do we have too, Nya?"

Anya couldn't understand their reactions, not when this was to be expected. Did they truly believe Ned and Brandon's fostering end will be welcomed without a feast? Anya turned her incredulous stare to her father who observed everything with his usual stare.

"Why are you all so surprised? Isn't it expected?" she voiced.

"It is a formality, one that is not needed, and we will not be doing it." Brandon decided with a wave of dismissal.

Anya blinked once again at her Oldest brother's casual rejection. To not hold a feast in honour of their return would reflect badly on their house, especially their Lord Father! She could already predict the fallout following Brandon's decision and felt her shock shift into irritation.

"Surely, you are japing, Brandon!?"

"I am not. We will not be holding a feast and that is my decision," Brandon repeated and from the sternness in his eye, he meant every word.

"A decision, I wholeheartedly support," Lyanna added with a nod of her own.

Anya blinked a little more rapidly and looked to Benjen and Ned for their thoughts. Ned seemed to be brooding, his eyes dark and his brows furrowed, but Benjen appeared guilty. Clearly all her siblings seemed to agree. Once again, Anya looked to their Lord Father for his reaction, but he showed no signs of interfering.

'No, you have learnt much from your time beside Father. You will use these lessons,' she thought before steeling herself to reason with her nonsensical siblings.

"For what reason?" she demanded, halting whatever topic Brandon had attempted to switch them to.

"Pardon?"

"If you do not agree to holding a feast, than I request to hear your reasonings."

Brandon arched a brow, one that seemed almost mocking if not for the glint of frustration in his eyes. The rest of their siblings had grown silent and the tension at the table had increased. Still their Lord Father said nothing as he observed everything in detail.

"What greater reason might there be other than the reason of 'I do not agree'?" Brandon's tone was curious and teasing but his smile lordlike.

But Anya did not cower, instead she hardened her mask and spoke clearly. She was vaguely aware of the change in atmosphere among their family. She could certainly feel the formality that was beginning to overwhelm them as tension grew between her and Brandon. This was no longer a simple meal among family, but a discussion among highborn individuals.

"If you will not give me yours, than allow me to list mine."

Anya turned her stare towards her other siblings and began to argue her reasons.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Rickard watched and listened as his children argued. The most adamant and stubborn on his stance was Brandon, which wasn't exactly a shock. Brandon was his heir and as the heir he'd been raised to know the power his position granted him. However, Rickard had not been idle when it came to the teachings of his younger children.

Lyanna, despite her wild ways and stubborn refusals, understood the importance of certain traditions. She still had plenty to learn, especially in terms of politics and Lady responsibilities, but she was familiar with the expectations of their ways. For Benjen, his lessons were focused on the politics of the small folk and peasants. How they serve, How they gain, How they suffer, under the choices of a Lord. As the youngest of his children, Benjen, unlike his siblings, had the freedom of choosing his path in life. The world was his to explore, experience and dominate if he wished.

Anya was different to her siblings. She had a mind that took to politics, tradition, history, and responsibility like a duck to water. Rickard had taught her as he would've Brandon had he not been fostered. It was not out of favouritism but out of necessity. He had sworn to arm his children with all and any tools they may need to survive the roles they'd been born too. With Lyanna's talents and interests claimed by other things, Rickard was forced to teach Anya.

He would not leave his children blind to the world they live in.

He would arm them with knowledge and teach them to seek each other in times of hardship so they may survive together.

The lone wolf dies…. But the pack survives…. And he will ensure his children remember this lesson.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Brandon's heart can be cruel and cold, but for his pack, he holds nothing but love and adoration. He would rage wars and destroy kingdoms out of love for his family. He knows no cage, has no limits, and refuses none of his wants.

But….. Brandon is not a man of patience.

He is not a man to be a refused.

Across from him, with her stern eyes of marble stone and her back straight as steel, Anya speaks with power; power he can feel radiating from her every being. She is speaking and her words drip with persuasion and reason, a dangerous combination in the right hands. He glances at the rest of their pack seated at the table. He sees Lyanna, who'd first passionately agreed with his words, but is now looking swayed otherwise. He sees Benjen, who had felt guilt but agreeable to his word, now he smiles with adoration and fond awe at Anya's proposal.

He looks to Father and their eyes lock.

He knows the glint in his father's eye. He knows it's meaning and can hear it's silent challenge with ease. Brandon curls his fist as he realizes what his Lord Father has done during his fostering. Brandon swallows the snarl building his throat and dons his Lordly mask, the very same Anya wears in the moment.

He is not Brandon Stark, the Wild wolf.

He is Brandon Stark, Lord Heir to Winterfell, First Born son to Rickard Stark and his will is law.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

"I've heard enough."

Ned feels himself snap to attention at Brandon's interruption. It has been years, but he knows the tone his brother speaks with. A quick glance confirms the mask that sits on his Wild brother's face. In response to Brandon's change, Ned shifts in response, feeling the familiar role of being his brother's second take over.

The Stark brother's stare down at their younger siblings with the teachings of their Lord Father in play.

Lyanna sits upright from the slouched slump she'd been in, her eyes nervous and confused but still defiant. Benjen quiets and pulls away from the table, but his eyes remain wide as the tension settles among them. It is Anya, however, who remains unchanged at the face of her Older Brother's shifting manners.

Anya, whose mask sits just as coldly on her skin as her brothers, does not falter at their change. If anything, the chill of her stare intensifies, and Ned is tempted to excuse her from Brandon's lordly will. But he does not. He loves his sister, she is his sweet baby sister till the end of his days, but Brandon is the heir and future Lord.

And Ned is the second son.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

"There will be no feast, and should our honour be questioned, I will personally see to the matter."

Anya swallows at the dryness of her tongue and the swoop of nerves in her belly. Brandon stares down at her without his usual gleam of teasing and wolfish laughter. Suddenly, she is reminded of how small she is compared to him. He looks down on her and she is forced to tilt her head up to meet his gaze equally. Though their eyes are the same shade of grey, his seem steel forced and sharp in their shade.

While she succeeds in keeping her head high and her posture straight, Anya wants nothing more than to shy away from the steel of Brandon's presence. In this moment, she is reminded of the first time Father had properly scolded her for mishandling some important papers regarding the budget. Not once has she ever seen similarities between Brandon and Father, but now it is all she can see.

Whatever arguments, reason, and words she thought to say next escaped her.

It takes effort for Anya not to simply bow her head under Brandon's steely stare.

"Anya…." Ned calls gently but clearly.

All attention turns to him, and Anya sees that a change has come over him as well. Ned's eyes are unreadable, his expression slack and impenetrable despite the small tilt to his lips. He is Ned, her quiet brother, but in this moment Anya feels as if he is a stranger.

"We understand your worries and fears for our families honour, but please don't misunderstand our intentions. Brandon and I are not saying no, as a way to silence you, but because a feast in our name is of little importance. We do not wish to celebrate our return with Houses sworn to our family. We wish to celebrate our return home with our pack in our home."

Ned speaks soft and earnest, his words resonating in her ears before seeping to her heart. She looks to Brandon, who's eyes have not lost their steely glint, but his lips have curled into a shallow imitation of his usual smirk.

"Still, I thank you for your passion little sister, but there is no need to fret about some silly feast. Do you agree Lyanna?"

Surprised at the sudden address, Lyanna jolts and stammers out a confused no, while Benjen gives a hurried nod soon after. Brandon's stare returns to her, and Anya feels a chill scramble down her spine at the smile on his lips. It is cold and not the stare of her wolf brother, but that of a Lord Heir.

"Do you understand me now, little sister?" he asks her.

Anya swallows and gives a deep but slow nod of her head.

"Of course, Brother….. I understand you completely."

Brandon smiles and his eyes brighten with their usual glint of mischief and tease. Anya feels her shoulders ease while her lungs expand and the tension in the room disappears.

"Now, what's this nonsense I've heard about you being half horse Lya?" Brandon teases which sets Lyanna off in a cry of outrage.

The rest of their meal passes in it's usual chaotic manner, but that night, as Anya readies for bed, she reflects on the memory of it all.

She sleeps with a sense of uncomfortable change on the horizon, one she is not sure she is ready for.

~*~*~Winter Storm Queen~*~*~

Rickard hums as he reads through Brandon's drafted letters for the Northern Lords, explaining why there will be no feast to celebrate the end of their fostering. In truth, he is admittedly impressed by the weight of his sons words and the command they hold and expect to be followed. After his third read, Rickard is further impressed that Brandon had not used Ned to write the letter itself. Although, it is obvious Ned had advised his older brother to make the letters a little more personal.

A smart move as it assured the Lords of their importance and position with their family so they might not feel as slighted. Brandon seemed to have taken this a step further and personally addressed letters to their heirs as well.

Rickard leans back with a smirk and doesn't bother hiding how impressed he is by his children's showing.

'Did I not tell you my Love? Our children will be great….' Lyarra's ghost purrs in his ear.

Rickard grunts but is reminded of the expression Anya wore at the of their meal. He thinks of Lyanna and the increase of her rants and rebellion since the return of her older brothers. He thinks of Benjen and his quiet retreat into the shadows whenever meal discussions become political.

"…..but they are not ready. Not yet. I need them to be ready," he responds.

While the ghost of his wife continues to whisper in his ears, Rickard spends the night in his solar, considering the proposal on his desk bearing the mark of a Stag.