ANTEA

Mornings were Antea's favorite moment of the day. She loved waking up with the cold north wind blowing on her face like a caress and the morning light which became clearer by the minute. She also loved it because it was the quietest time of the day.

In fact, for Antea Stark it was not so obvious to have a moment for herself. She was the eldest daughter of Lady Catelyn and Lord Eddard Stark, warden of the North, and being a lady implied to have duties and responsibilities. But much it was due to the fact that Antea Stark had other six brothers to make her life pleasantly eventful. Indeed, there was not a moment of boredom inside the walls of the castle of Winterfell.

Antea sat up composed on her bed when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" she said, fixing the warm furs around her body.

Antea Stark was considered a very charming lady, but when she was asleep, she was not graceful at all. Her twin brother Robb had always teased her on her unladylike way to sleep since they were children.

But what could she do?

It wasn't her fault if she dreamed of running during one of the many adventures she faced while she was asleep.

"Good morning, Antea" the gentle voice of lady Cyel Sand reached her as she saw her friend enter the room with two cups of milk and honey.

That was their secret breakfast. The two girls had been eaten that small breakfast every morning since Cyel had come from Dorne and became Lord Stark's ward. And after that they would have joined the rest of the Stark family in the main hall for the real breakfast.

"It is nice to see you already awake this morning" Cyel said, sitting on the bed next to Antea.

Antea had many friends, but the most trusted was surely0 Cyel Sand. She knew how honest and loyal Cyel was. Antea trusted her so deeply, that she would have entrusted Cyel her own life and her brothers'.

"Winter is coming" Antea said, quoting her house words "And with it even the icy wind, but it doesn't bother me" and with a smile she took one of the two cups of milk from her friend's hand and took a sip, loving the sweet teast of the milk.

"You are a Stark" Cyel replied with a smile "I did not expect anything different from you."

The girls had finished eating their secret breakfast when Antea realized how late she really was.

"Gods Cyel!" she exclaimed getting out of bed "You make me look so lazy. You are full dressed for the day while I yet have to get out of bed."

Antea ran across the room, making her way towards her ironwood trunk. When she opening it, the wood made a loud cracking noice that always made Antea wonder if it could be heard from outside of her chamber.

Then she moved the fabrics of her dresses, attentively folded, as Septa Mordane had taught her since she was a babe. Antea moved them slowly and with care; she did not want to fold all her gowns once again.

After some moments, she choose a pale grey dress with white fur around her shoulders and at the end of her sleaves. It was the present her mother and father had given toAs she started to undress herself, she noticed that Cyel had moved towards the mirror, fixing the pink perls that were adorning her dark hair.

"I will never stop wandering how long it takes you to dress yourself everyday" at Antea's words Cyel chuckled.

"I'm a morning person. You like to sleep, my lady" she spoke the truth. She much rather stay in bed some more, then leave her warm furs to try and adjust her hair. Of course, she wasn't sure that her mother would have liked her thoughts on that matter.

Not that Antea could ever dress like Cyel.

No one dressed as Cyel Sand in Winterfell. No one dressed like her in the North. Cyel wore colorful gowns, full of embroideries. She always wore jewels, such as neckless and earrings. And her hair was always tied perfectly, adorned with perls, hairbands or flowers.

Lady Sand was no girl to go unnoticed by Northeners.

Antea was always amazed by her friend's care of her appearance. In comparison, Antea had none. She was far more simple when it came to dresses and hair. Antea liked comfortable and plane gowns and her wavy hair was mostly tied in a single braid or let it free against her back.

"Can you help me with this fastening, please?"Cyel was immediately on her feet and in a few moments, she had fixed Antea's dress.

"We better go" Antea said to her friend "I do not want to be the last."

Antea didn't wish to start the morning arguing with her mother.

The two girls went down the stairs talking about their duties for the day. They would have starte with hawking, they always did that once or twice a week, and Antea loved it. The main reason was that it was the only duty that involved riding in the woods with her brothers. After that they would have their history and administration lesson with Maester Luwin and in the afternoon there would have been sewing and singing lesson with Septa Mordane.

"I'm sure Sansa will show us that beautiful embroidery that she was sewing yesterday."

Sansa was the eldest of her little brothers and since she had been a little girl of four, she had the manners and the movements of the ladies mentioned in the stories. She was graceful and sweet.

Sansa was the best at sewing, at singing, at writing and reading among them all. And every man in the Seven Kingdoms would have been lucky to have her as his wife, not only for her multiple qualities, but for her appearance as well. Antea's sister has hinerited the beauty of their mother, from her facial features, to her beautiful auburn hair. Some people said that Sansa Stark was one of the most beautiful ladies of the Seven Kingdoms. Antea was sure she was; her sister Sansa was almost perfect and she made her proud every day a little bit more.

Quick footsteps echoed in the corridor and the two girls turned. Antea wasn't surpriesed when her other little sister had bumped into her, making her almost loose her balance.

"Good morning, Arya."

Arya was her sister of nine. She was thin and resless. Her brown hair was always messy, it didn't matter how many times they had tried to tied it. Her face was sharp and her big eyes were grey, just like their Lord Father.

"I woke up late, Antea" she replied catching her breath.

Arya never stopped racing; she was so different from Sansa. Arya wasn't graceful, she had never been. She would have rather trained with their brothers all the day, instead of spending ten minutes at sewing lesson.

Sansa often reproved Arya; she said that ladies shouldn't behave like she did. And Antea often agreed with her, although she thought that Arya was still young, she could still have some fun. However, Antea and Arya had a passion in common: riding. Very often they went to long horse rides, just the two of them, since Sansa didn't enjoy it very much.

"So did I" Antea said, fixing her sister wild hair "But ladies do not ever run."

"They do if they are late for breakfast" Arya replied and at that Antea smiled.

"They do. I lied" Antea admitted before looking around and leaning towards her sister to whisper "But they do it properly,"

That made Arya frown "How can you properly run?" she asked skeptically without taking her eyes off her older sister.

Antea held out a hand to her "I' shall teach you."

Arya took her sister's hand unsure, while Antea turn over to Cyel who nodded with a smile. Antea looked once again at the corridor, to be sure that no Septa Mordane, or Maester Luwin or their Mother was around. When she was satisfied she held Arya's hand, before starting to run, followed Cyel close behind.

Arya squeezed her hand as they raced and Antea could not hide a smile when she heard her laugh. When they turned the first corner, Antea slowed her peace to a fast walk. As usual in the corridor there was Maester Luwin with some servants.

"Good morning" she said politely and they bow their heads at them.

"My ladies" the man said politely.

When they were out of sight the three girls started to run again. And that was what they did. They kept running, slowing their pace down everytime there was someone around and than they dashed again, until they arrived in front of the door of the great hall.

"Now you know how a lady runs" Antea said fixing her sister who was giggling.

"I understand how a lady cheats" Arya replied making Antea laugh. That was true, but they had been proper, not always proper. Even ladies could have their fun.

Arya smiled to her, before turning to entered the hall, followed by Antea and Cyel.

Winterfell main hall was huge. Usually, it was the hall where her father, Lord Eddard Stark, hosted feasts. Feasts where every single citizen of Winterfell was invited.

What Antea liked the most in that hall was the chair who belonged to the Lord of the North. On the handles of the chair were carved two heads of direwolves, and that prove that that chair belonged to her family since when the Starks were Kings in the North. In fact, the direwolf was the sigil of her house. That chair belonged to her father now, and one day it would have belonged to her brother, Robb.

But that day was far. For now they were just children.

"Good morning" Sansa was already there, sitting at the table looking at them with a gentle smile. Meanwhile, Arya had run to hugg Jon Snow.

Jon Snow was one of Antea's six brothers. Her half-brother actually. That was the reason why his name wasn't Stark but Snow.

Snow was the name given to the bastards of the North, and Jon was Eddard Stark's son, but not Catelyn Stark's. Antea didn't know the story of Jon's birth, in part because her parents had never talked about it and in part because she really didn't care. She was just glad that he was born. Jon was her brother as much as the others.

Antea loved him dearly. Jon was very gentle and introverted, he was skilled with a sword, or so she had heard from the Master at Arms, Ser Rodrick, and he had a beautiful smile. Even if Jon Snow didn't smile often. She wished he did it more though. His face was cuter that way.

"Good morning, Antea" turning her head to the right she saw Theon Greyjoy standing on his feet.

Theon Greyjoy was her Lord Father's other ward. He was a boy of nineteen, that found everything amusing. Indeed Theon's face always shown a cheeky smile. He could be really cocky sometimes, but to Antea he had always been gentle. Very much gentle, according to Sansa's closest friend Jayne Poole. Antea didn't like how that girl spoke about people around the castle, but at the same time she knew that Theon Greyjoy liked women's attentions.

"Always so proper" she said getting closer to the table looking at the boy "I never know if you are mocking me" she then set down as Theon looked at her with the usual cocky smirk.

"You wound me" he said with a bow of his head "I was offering my respects to my lady."

Antea shook her head with a chuckle and she heard Cyel do the same. The girl was giggling lightly as she took her sit next to the Greyjoy boy that observed her with a glare.

Theon and Cyel had always acted like they were brother and sister, maybe because they were both the Lord's wards and they were both away from their countries, but while Cyel came from the South, Theon was a man of the North. His father was Balon Greyjoy, who after countless failed revolts, had proclaimed himself King of the Iron Island. To maintain the peace after the last revolt her father, Ned Stark, took Theon away from his land as a hostage. And now Theon Greyjoy was one of the two wards of the North.

Theon was few years older than Antea, but he always acted and talked like he was a man grown, even though he still argued with Jon on trivial manners. Jon and Theon acted like they were young rivals. Antea had to admit that it was very easy to start an arguing with Theon Greyjoy, he was too sure of himself and very blunt, but the lady knew that there was more behind their rivalry and one of the reasons was Robb. They were both very fond of Robb, that held affection for both boys. But a special part was Antea's

"My heart belongs to you" Robb would always say to Antea.

Robb and Antea were like one person. No one was able to understand her like her twin did. No one was able to calm her like he did. At simple as it was, no one in her heart could ever take Robb's place.

Robb was the perfect eldest brother; he was strong and caring and every one of them looked out for him. But he was so stubborn and sometimes the only one who could make him see reason was Antea. They had never argued, not on serious matters anyway. To Antea it was hard to be mad at Robb.

Looking around her she realized that her mother wasn't there.

Probably she is busy with Rickon, she thought. Rickon was the youngest and the wilder of her siblings. He was just three, so every morning it took more time to her mother to get to break her fast, since she had to get little Rickon ready for the day.

The love that Antea held in her heart for her mother was difficoult to explain with words. She loved her, like every daughter was supposed to love her mother, but at the same time it was really easy for the tow them to start arguing. The fire of their anger would lit up unexpectedly. And sometimes their loud fights could be heard through the corridors of Winterfell.

Antea felt like she disappointed her mother in those moments, since she was the only one among her siblings that would have heated quarrels with the Lady of Winterfell.

With her father it was different. Her Lord Father was different. At first, he seemed a cold man, but he really wasn't. Eddard Stark was a great father; he was very caring with all of them. Antea loved when her father hugged her, she felt completely safe, like nothing could ever hurt her.

"You are very lucky, little man, that I was the one who find you instead of our mother" Robb's voice echoed in the hall and turning around Antea saw her twin enter the room with her little brother Bran.

Knowing Bran, Robb must have found him climbing the walls of the castle. It was a curious hobby, but she would have lied if she had said that he wasn't good at it. Bran climbed with the rain, with the wind and with the snow. Their mother was always worried when she didn't see him with them, she was so afraid that he could have hurt himself, but Bran always said to her I don't fall.

"I was not even half way up" her little brother replied.

Antea knew that wasn't the truth.

Bran usually could be found on top of the giant walls or running on the roofs. Lately even the guards had started chasing him everytime the say him climbing. But no one ever catched Bran. And her little brother had even too much fun with that situation, thinking of it as a game.

"A game I always win" he would say proudly everytime.

When Bran walked by Antea, she took him by the arm, sitting him on her lap. The boy stated laughing.

"Where is my kiss, squirrel?" Antea said starting to tickle him. Bran kept laughing and that caused everyone in the hall to smile.

"Give me my kiss" her little brother looked at her with a smile before sweetly kissing Antea on the cheek.

"My turn, now" Antea began to kiss him all over the face as he laughed again. When she felt satisfied, she let him go to take a sit. When he passed by Cyel, the girl smiled at him sweetly, making him blush as he sat down between Arya and Sansa.

"I want one too" Robb said from behind Antea, who shook her head.

"You are too old for such thing" the lady said with a smile.

Her twin chuckled before leaning over to kiss her on the hair. After that he sat down on the empty chair next to Antea.

"You wish for a kiss as well, Theon?"Cyel asked with a tiny grin, making Sansa laugh quietly.

The two girls shared the same age. They had both be born at the end of the last winter, eleven years before. And they even shared many interests, such as stories and songs. The two of them were even Septa Mordaine favorite and while Sansa was best at singing and sewing, Cyel was best with dancing and matemathics. This interests made the two of them grew close over the years.

Theon glared at Cyel "From you?"

"Cyel would not kiss you" Bran said as he grabbed a waffle from the plate in front of him.

"And why is that?" Arya asked with a smirk "Would she kiss you?"

Bran's cheeks got as red as fire at his sister's words. And he immediately turned shoving Arya.

"Arya!" he exclaimed "Shut up!"

Arya laughed loudly, holding her belly under Jon's fond gaze.

It was no rare for Bran and Arya to bicker. They had always done it. The two of them were close in age; Arya was nine while Bran was seven, and because of that they were always in competition with each other.

"Good morning children" her mother Lady Catelyn Stark had just entered the hall leading little Rickon by the hand towards the table. As he saw his siblings, Rickon tried to run to them waving his hand.

When they heard Lady Catelyn's voice Jon, Cyel and Theon got quiet and stood up, bowing their heads to greet her. The Lady of Winterfell nodded in aknowlegment, careful on not look at Jon like happened every morning.

Like happened every day since Antea had memory.

Lady Catelyn was a very good mother, she was caring and worm. Strict but also kind. Kindness that she shown to everyone, but Jon Snow. She had always treated him with coldness and distance.

Antea could understand her mother's point of view. Of course being betrayed by her husband must have been a terrible feeling and Antea could not blame her for that. But why did she hate Jon? He didn't ask to be born; it wasn't his fault. This was the main reason why Antea and her mother often argued.

"I'm glad that you are all on time" the Lady said, sitting on her chair, the one next to the Lord's "Your father will be joining us soon. He received a message."

Antea was so curious now. She always wanted to know what was going on around Winterfell. Sansa always told her that she was too curious.

"What are your duties for the day?" Catelyn asked while the servants brought some fish on the table.

"We'll be going hunt this morning" Robb said looking at Theon with a smirk. The boys always loved the morning hunt.

"Will you come with us, mother?" Sansa asked sweetly "Hawking with us?" Catelyn stroked Rickon's hair and turned to her daughter.

"Not today, my sweet. But I'll be there for your singing lesson."

Arya groaned leaning back on the chair and immediately Jon nudged her to make her sit composed.

Before someone could have said anything Eddard Stark entered the room, wearing his cloak and a pensive look. Something wasn't right, he usually had a little smile on his face. Whatever was written on that message was not good.

As he greeted them, Jon, Cyel and Theon stood up bowing their heads.

"There is something wrong, my love?" Catelyn asked looking at her husband. Antea observed him as well; her father seemed concerned.

"We are not going hunting this morning" he said with is usual calm voice and Robb and Jon looked at each other.

"Another deserter of the Night's Watch" at his words Antea looked down to her lap. She knew exactly what would have happened to the man, and so did her brothers Robb and Jon, who immediately stood up followed by Theon Greyjoy.

"Bran" when he heard his father say his name, Bran stood up as well, while Catelyn's eyes went from her husband to her child.

"You will join us today; it is time for you to learn" Antea took a breath.

The idea of her seven years old brother seeing a man being beheaded was not really what she wanted to happen that morning. However, it was what had to be done. Those were the Starks' ways, that was the law of the North and Bran had to learn it.

Who deserted the Night's Watch were sentenced to death by beheading by the hands of the Warden of the North.

Bran nodded and quickly, he followed his older brothers under the gaze of his sisters, his mother and Cyel. None of them were happy about that decision, but they knew that every Stark had to learn the tradition, one day Rickon would also have to do it.

"Antea" her mother said gravely once her husband and sons left the room "Since the morning hunt has been cancelled, until your lesson with Maester Luwin you'll have free time. You off your sisters" Antea nodded.

"Of course, Mother" she said nodding her head.

It was easy to find something to do to spend the morning. The Stark children always loved to spend time together.

The girls decided to go to the Godswood and sit near one of the pools of hot water; the same water that ran through the giant walls of Winterfell, keeping it warm against the cold of the North.

Sansa and Arya went in the kitchen to take some fresh baked waffles, while Antea and Cyel were searching for a blanket to sit on instead of the grass.

While they were looking for it, Antea's thoughts went to her brothers. She had just realized that that was the fourth deserter in a short time. Antea did not remember that ever happened since she had memory.

"You look so pensive, Antea" Cyel voice reached her as a whisper. Antea had never heard Cyel raise her voice.

"As do you" she knew her friend and she knew what Cyel was thinking about "Our way is the old way."

At her words Cyel nodded "I am accostume to that" she said "I've been raised to know these ways."

Cyel had grew up in Winterfell since she was a child, but she had been raised to learn of both the North and the Dornish traditions.

Dorne was no part of the Seven Kingdoms, and its ways were very different from any other land. Cyel had to learn her Father's people's costumes, as she had to learn the Northners'.

And it made sense with the reason behind Cyel's staying in Winterfell.

"I found it" Cyel said finding the blanket. Antea smiled lightly and together the two girls brought it outside.

They spent the morning between talk and gossip, most of them brought up by one of Sansa's friends Jayne Poole. Not that Antea did not like her, she was just a little girl after all, but sometimes Antea found Jayne's comments inappropriate for a young lady.

With them there was also the cannel master's daughter, Faryl's daughter Palla. She was a very sweet girl and when she didn't had duties to attend to, she spent time with the Starks playing or just talking.

"Antea, can I fix your hair?" Sansa asked getting closer to her sister. She had always loved playing with Antea's hair since they were little.

"Of course, you can" Sansa smiled happily while starting to braid Antea's hair.

Meanwhile Arya had found some blue roses. Blue roses grew only in the North and they were beautiful. They were Lord Stark's older sister Lyanna's favorite flowers. She died fifteen years ago. Antea had never met her, when Robb and she were born in Riverrun, their mother's home, Lord Eddard was fighting in the South to save Lyanna, who had been kidnapped by Rahegar Targaryen. Lyanna Stark never came back home in the North and this was what upset Antea the most. Her biggest fear was to leave Winterfell and never see it again.

"We could make flower crowns" Cyel said sitting next to Arya taking a rose in her hand. She had always been fascinated by the flower. Even because three blue roses were the sigil of the northern Rosemberg House of Thornhill, of wich Cyel's mother, lady Phelya Rosemberg, was part of.

"Please Cyel, could you teach us to make one?" Jayne Poole asked her enthusiastically. And of course Cyel nodded with a mannered smile.

"I do not want a crown" Arya complained and immediately Jayne Poole started giggling, but she stopped as soon as Antea gave her a glare.

Antea did not appreciate how the girl treated her little sister. She knew how she called her; Arya Horseface. Antea had heard her say those cruel name once, just once and the anger took over her. She had screamed at the girl, making Jayne cry. But she was not sorry for it; no one could insult her sister.

"Sansa, dear" Antea said while Sansa kept fixing her hair, humming as she hearf her name "What can we do with flowers?"

"A flower is like a lady" Sansa replied finishing her work "It is always needed" Antea saw Cyel smile, while teaching Palla how to entwine flowers.

"If you don't want a crown, Arya" Sansa continued "You could just put them among your hair."

"I do not want a head full of flowers, Sansa!" Arya answered back. Antea decided to intervene to perverted a very possible fight.

"Just one flower, then" she said turning to Sansa with an encouraging smile.

Sansa always hid very well when she was hurt by her sister's words and Arya never realized that.

"I am sure that a flower will be just fine" Sansa smiled at her and approached her little sister. Arya snorted but let her fix her hair anyway. She would have never admitted it, but during the course of the day Antea noticed Arya stopping at every mirror to check the flower fixed in her hair.

It was afternoon when Lord Stark and his sons came back. The girls did not notice it since they were at sewing lesson with Septa Mordane and she wouldn't let them walk out until the very end of it. Septa Mordane was the one responsible for their education to become perfect ladies. She was very strict. She corrected them in everything, from the way they talked, to their posture. Of course, her favorite was Sansa. She was very proud of Cyel too. With Arya was another story, she had hard times with her. But Antea was the one she was stricter with; she was the eldest after all.

"Girls!" Bran's voice made them turn, he had a huge smile on his face "You have to come with me, now!" he exclaimed running into the room.

"Brandon!" Septa Mordane scowled him "Behave yourself!"

Bran looked at her for a moment and after looking at his sisters.

"Alright" and he run out of the room. The girls gazed at each other with surprised looks, as Cyel tried to hide a chuckle.

Why was Bran so excited?

They had just resumed sewing, when the door burst open again. But this time it wasn't just Bran; Jon and Robb had come too and they were all holding something.

"Puppies!" Arya exclaimed throwing her work away. Even Sansa stood up taking the puppy Bran was giving to her with a smile.

"She is so soft" she said bringing her close to her face.

Meanwhile Arya ran to Jon who gave her another puppy.

"It's a she" he said while the little puppy was licking Arya's face.

Antea was still sit watching Bran showing his own pup to his sisters and Cyel.

There was something strange with those pups, they were not dogs but they were not wolves either. What were they?

"Do not be jealous" Robb said approaching his twin sister "There's one more for you."

Antea stood up without taking her eyes away from the little black furred creature. It was a direwolf. She couldn't believe it, real direwolves before her eyes and there was one for all of the Stark children, even for Jon Snow.

Direwolves were ancient creatures and they didn't live on their side of the Wall.

She took the little pup in her arms. She was so small and warm. And her gaze have never left Antea, not even for a moment. It was almost like she wanted to tell her a secret.

"Robb how… where did you find them?" she asked while the puppy was sniffing her.

"They were just born" her twin explained to her, while Jon was approaching them, with a little pup as white as the snow.

"Their mother was dead. Jon convinced Father to keep them" Antea smiled gratefully at Jon, who dropped his gaze blushing lightly.

"You choose her for me?" she asked Robb looking at her direwolf. Robb and Jon looked at each other smiling knowingly

"She and another one were inseparable." Jon said.

"The other one is mine" Robb added showing her his dark grey direwolf.

That must have been a sign. All the Stark children had received like a gift from the Gods these direwolf's puppies. This kind of creature hadn't been seen for ages.

Now she had to find a name for that little bundle of black fur.

"I feel like wishing you good luck" Antea said to Jon that frowned.

"Why?"

Antea chuckled "Now Cassie will want one too."