Damnit, she hated when Jaime was correct; it always made him so smug and he would give her a shit eating grin every time he was right about something. She bet he was doing right now, as the cold wind chilled her to the bone. Even when she spent the whole time through the Riverlands sewing thick fabric dresses with fur lining she was still cold in said dresses. Her cloak did well with keeping the humidity's chill off of her body, but did little to repel the quick gusts of wind. It would be better if she was inside of the carriage, but she refused to be stuck in a confined space with the queen. She knew the spiteful woman would only spend the time belittling and mocking her. Instead she went on horseback for most of the trip, ignoring the odd looks she got from the other riders. She rode mostly next to Jaime or Tyrion, and would end up spending most of the day cracking jokes or hearing interesting tales of Tyrion's travels.
"I don't want to say I told you so, but I recall mentioning how you may not handle the cold well." she could hear Jaime's smirk in his tone without even seeing it. She glanced to her right where Jaime sat upon his own steed and shot him a steely glare. Jaime's smile widened even more for eliciting a reaction out of the poor freezing girl.
A cheerful voice broke out before she could tell the knight off, "Now brother don't tease the girl. Even I am cold this far North. Most of the men are also freezing in their own clothes." Tyrion rode up on Myria's left as he defended her against his older brother. The Imp of House Lannister may be considered a deviant to many people, but Myria always smiled when she was around her dwarfish friend. He had the classic Lannister features of golden hair and entitlement, but he had one blue eye and one green eye to add to his list of imperfections. At least in his mind. Myria thought it was a unique feature to be born with.
"Tyrion, I was wondering when you would catch up with the procession," Jaime spoke up. "I was worried you would be left behind in the brothel you slept in last night."
"Yes such a shame, being left behind with a plethora of gorgeous women who want to satisfy my every whim. Oh woe is me brother." Myria closed her eyes at his comment, she knew Tyrion would not mind being left behind at all in that circumstance. She could hear both men chuckle and she was glad for the light hearted conversation, crude comments aside. She was used to the brothers' banter by now, most of the comments not even fazing her. "Is our lovely nephew not going to join us on the horses? Or is he planning on hiding in his mother's skirts when we ride into Winterfell today?" Myria held in a laugh at Tyrion's jab at Joffrey, the crown prince.
The annoying boy may be a year younger than Myria, but he most certainly did not act like it. He was harsh and cruel to his siblings, uncles, servants, and even his personal guard. The only people he treated with a shred of dignity were his parents, and Myria guessed it was only because they were the king and queen. If they would have been a lord and a lady he would probably hate them too. Gods know he acted like he hated everyone around him. He was especially a sadistic monster to his younger siblings more than anyone, even going to the lengths of skinning Tommen and Myrcella's pets over the years. Myria had attempted to stand between the younger Baratheon's and his rage once when she was 10, but only ended up with a nasty scar on her forearm and a week in a cell for 'assaulting the crown prince'. She was glad to take the punishment because she was able to protect Tommen and Myrcella from being stabbed by their older brother instead. Though afterwards Jaime and the king both insisted she stay far from the prince and she was not one to object.
She had seen little of the boy since then and she was glad to not see much during the journey. Prince Joffrey claimed riding on horseback the whole journey was a foolish way of wasting energy, but she and others knew he was shoddy at best on stay up on a horse for hours on end. Not to mention he would whine the whole time about the weather and his upcoming betrothal to one of the Stark girls. She knew however he would soon be pulled from the carriage by his father and ride a horse into Winterfell like the gallant prince he is supposed to be.
Speaking of which she could hear the king's yelling as the line of horses came to a halt. "I do not care what he wants. Joffrey is the crown prince and he will ride at the front of the line whether he likes it or not!" She pulled her white mare to a stop while she watched Ser Barristan Selmy hop off his horse and approach the carriage. She sat and waited as the prince was pulled from the wooden box whining about the cold. He was quickly put up on a horse and led to the front of the line along with his guard, Sandor Clegane or as some called him, the Hound.
"You Dayne girl!" Myria quickly jumped at the king's voice. "You ride at the front too, need a pretty face with all of the bloody men." She nudged her horse forward toward the king and the crown prince. "Barristan, keep an eye on the girl. She looks frozen to the damn bone." The king went back to his own area of the procession as Ser Barristan began to silently follow the Dornish woman now riding behind the crown prince.
Myria stayed quiet as she rode near the prince, stuck listening to his pointless rambles. She wished she was back near Jaime and Tyrion, but they were told near the beginning of the trip to stay near the carriage in case the queen or the children required something.
Ser Barristan observed the purple eyed woman as they continued onward. Sometimes looking at her was like looking into the face of his old friend Ser Arthur, and sometimes it was like looking at his lost love Ashara. She resembled the Dayne side of her family so well, baring almost no resemblance to her mother's Arryn traits. He always wondered how Ser Arthur Dayne, Sword of The Morning and sworn sword to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, ended up marrying the sweet Clara Arryn, younger sister to the late Jon Arryn. Most did not even know of their marriage until Clara gave birth to their daughter in King's Landing a month after Princess Elia Martell gave birth to her own son, Aegon. He recalled how happy Arthur was when he first set eyes on his baby girl, promising to always protect her. He also recalled how Clara and little Myria went missing after Rhaegar ran off with Lyanna Stark, only for Lord Eddard Stark to bring the infant back to the capital, along with news of his sister and Clara's deaths.
King Robert insisted on keeping the baby in King's Landing even when Ned claimed Ser Arthur and Clara both asked him separately to take care of their daughter. Robert stated keeping the Dayne in the city was the only way to keep the South form rebelling after the deaths of Princess Elia and her children. Ser Barristan personally thought it cruel to keep her from her family or at least honoring her parents' final wishes for their child; but his job as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was to protect the king, not to judge him.
"Is there something you wish to say to me, Ser Barristan?" His daze was broken by her voice. "Or are you going to continue to gaze at me the whole rest of the ride?" His cheeks tinted pink for being caught staring at the young woman.
"Forgive me my lady, I did not mean to stare, you just look so much like your Aunt Ashara and your father." She looked over at the old knight with a solemn gaze.
"I never knew either of them Ser, I'm sorry," Ser Barristan felt a small flash of guilt. "Did you know them?"
He nodded his head, "Yes I did. Your father was one of the best men I ever had the pleasure of meeting, strong and chivalrous. He loved your mother to a fault. She herself was the sweetest soul in Westeros besides Princess Elia and yourself." He watched as she slowed her horse a bit and he did the same to match her pace. "You were their treasure, they both loved you so much. Your aunt Ashara loved you too, and it broke her heart when you could not go home to Starfall."
He watched as tears started to fall from her amethyst eyes. He passed her a white handkerchief from his doublet and she gratefully took it from him. She dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief as she silently sniffled. Ser Barristan heard Prince Joffrey scoff at the Dayne's crying. He knew the prince would not care why she was crying, only that the noise bothered him.
"Thank you Ser Barristan. I have barely heard a single whisper about my father's family. My uncle Jon would always tell me little things about my mother, but he refused to ever speak of my father. Like his name alone was a curse. I am glad I at least had him and my aunt Lysa growing up, even if Aunt Lysa focused more on her son Robin than anyone else."
"I am glad to give you some solace, and I am personally sorry I did not do more to watch over you growing up." Myria nodded her head at the knight and turned her horse back towards the rest of the procession. The two continued in peaceful silence as they neared the outer gates of Winter Town. Myria had never seen a cities like Winter Town in the South. The streets were clean and there were children laughing and running through the streets. People were shuffling around the town selling their wares and observing the royal procession as it carried through the town towards the castle on the hill past the town. She was happy to know the towns in the North were safe enough children could play without worry. In Flea Bottom no child could even go outside without having to look over their shoulder every three or so seconds.
She noticed some people were watching her more intently than the others, which was not surprising. Many of the small folk throughout the whole journey would single her out for their gazes, her darker skin tone exotic to the people who had never seen a true Dornish person before. She smiled and waved at a few of the people staring, and a little girl blushed and hid herself behind her mother before returning the wave. She continued to follow the prince and the rest of the entourage, but she slowed her horse as they got closer to the outer gates of Winterfell.
She could feel eyes on her yes, many countless eyes, but she felt one set of eyes burning into her head, observing and analyze her. She turned her head toward the eyes and made contact with a pair of soft grey eyes. A young girl sat on an empty cart dressed in a sky blue dress with a dark fur-lined cloak. She had straight shoulder length chocolate brown hair, dove grey eyes sparkling with excitement, along with a smile which promised adventure and fun. She appeared to be around 10 or 11 with a carefree attitude, like she had no cares or worries in her life. Myria smiled at the girl and tilted her head towards her. The girl smiled back at her before she hopped off of the cart and ran back into the crowd.
The Dornish woman continued onward following the line of horses into the gates of Winterfell. As she neared the gates she could feel a sense of ancient power which commanded silent respect flowing through the area around the keep. She understood partly why the Northerners were a prideful bunch if they lived in wondrous castles like this one, it had a special magic to it. She slowed her horse as she wandered into the training yard inside the gates and saw a sea of people lined up behind a row of seven people, two adults and and five children. She assumed they were the Stark family and the rest of the lot were the other occupants of the castle. She let her eyes roam the crowd and observed many surprised faces tracking her own, including lord Stark himself.
As her eyes wandered the crowd she met the eyes of another person with grey eyes, and by the Gods they were the most intense eyes she had ever laid her eyes on. The face the eyes were sitting must have been sculpted by the Gods, Old or New she did not care. A strong jawline, striking cheekbones, pouty lips, and those eyes which threaten to reach into her soul. She let her eyes continue down his body following his broad shoulders all the way down to his sturdy legs. She had never wished for a man to undress himself in her company, but she would not complain if he decided to do so right then and there.
She might even thank him.
Unfortunately, Myria's attention was shocked back to the procession as the carriage and the king arrived, and while the queen was escorted from her carriage the king proceeded to dismount from his horse. It was almost embarrassing to see the king of the seven kingdoms using a stool to remove himself from a horse, but the man would fall on his ass if he got down the normal way.
Once he was fully on the ground everyone including the Starks knelt to the ground in front of their king. He wandered up to Ned Stark and lifted his hand to raise him back to his feet. When the lord of Winterfell stood back up all of the rest behind him got back onto their feet as well. Lord Stark nodded his head at the king while he muttered, "Your Grace."
King Robert glanced at his old friend, "You've got fat."
Eddard Stark simply raised his eyebrows and pointed at the king's own bulging stomach. They both stared quietly at the other before bursting into laughter and embracing each other. Robert pulled away from his friend and turned to his wife happily calling her by her nickname, "Cat." He pulled the auburn lady of Winterfell into a tight hug as well while the woman muttered 'Your Grace'.
He rubbed the smallest child's head before moving back to Ned, "Nine years, I have not seen you where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Robert nodded before moving down the line.
"What have we here?" He shook the oldest child's hand. "You must be Robb." He passed the pretty red head and smirked at her. "You're a pretty one." She smiled and looked down with a light blush on her face. He stopped at the young grey eyed girl Myria had seen earlier on the cart in Winter Town, "Your name is?"
She shuffled her feet, "Arya." The king nodded his head at her before stopping in front of the last son in line
"Show us your muscles," The boy stretched out his arm and flexed it a bit. Robert laughed and muttered, "You'll be a soldier someday." The king stepped away from Ned's children while the queen wandered up to the line. She extended her hand toward the lord of Winterfell and he lightly grasped it while bending into a bow.
"My Queen." Queen Cersei nodded her head at the man while his wife also bowed her head with a mutter of 'My Queen' as well. The queen turned to collect her children to introduce them to the Stark family when the king's voice broke through the courtyard.
"Dayne, get off your horse and introduce yourself." Myria was frozen upon hearing the king's words. She could feel the queen's gaze burning into her, Jaime and Tyrion's worried eyes, and the shocked faces of the people of Winterfell as Ser Barristan held out his hand to assist her down. She grasped Selmy's hand and quickly hopped from her mare. She ducked her head as she shuffled by the queen and up to lord Stark. She raised her eyes to meet with the man's fatherly gaze as he looked down at the girl who he retrieved from the Tower of Joy nearly 17 years ago.
She gave the man a curtsy as a quiet 'My Lord' and he swept the Dornish child into his arms. She was startled, but lightly hugged him in return. As he pulled away from her he whispered in her ear, "It's good to see you safe, Myria."
The king spoke before she could form words, "Good to see you still remember her, Ned. Myria Dayne has grown up well in King's Landing." He then nodded towards a corridor off from the main entrance to the inside of the keep. "Take me to your crypts. I wish to pay my respects."
"We've been riding a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait?" Cersei's sharp voice cut into the deathly silent courtyard. The king simply turned and gave her a look before turning back to the door he gestured to.
"Ned." He walked off and the stoic lord followed.
Once the king had left the courtyard the tense atmosphere left a bit, and when the queen turned away from the poor Dornish woman, Myria finally relaxed her stance. It was almost as if the king was trying to get his wife to strangle her with her own cold hands. She tried to push the thought from her head as she curtsied at the lady of Winterfell. "My lady, thank you for having us here in Winterfell. The North is so beautiful, more snow than I've seen in my entire lifetime."
Catelyn Stark smiled at the girl and outstretched her hand to her, "We are always happy to host the royal court. If you would like lady Dayne my daughter, Sansa, would be honored to escort you to your room." Myria nodded her head with a smile and the red-headed girl rushed up to her and wrapped her pale arm around her own tan one.
As she was being led into the castle she looked back one more time and was lucky enough to meet with the man's grey eyes once more. She would be certain to ask about him once she settled into her room.