I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire or A Game of Thrones

Winterfell

"Is everything ready Cat?" Ned asked his wife fondly. Nodding her head Cat replied "mostly, we have brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar, the great hall has been cleaned and prepped for the feast and the courtyard has been shoveled of snow from last nights storm." Nodding his head Ned thanked the old gods that the snow storm last night didn't leave a few feet of snow, thankfully it only left an inch if that of snow on the ground.

"Sadly, because we didn't have more of a notice to the King's arrival we won't receive the shipment of crab for Princess Anthea until after today" Catelyn says a moment later. Anthea Ned thought Robert's first born child. The news of her numerous achievements had made their way all the way towards Winterfell. How she became the lady of Duskendale at twelve, how she commands a fleet of warships along with her own army, albeit a small one it is an army all the same. News of the great library had also made their way up North, Ned was amazed that someone the same age as his son could accomplish so much. Although Ned grimaced, not all the news they heard was good. The North has heard well enough of how Princess Anthea earned the nickname the Crucifier.

"Arya will be happy to have someone like Princess Anthea around" Ned says as he and his wife reaches the stairs that led towards the rooms of their kids. Frowning a little Catelyn replied "I'm not sure I want her to meet the Princess Ned. We have a hard time getting her to act like a lady as it is if she meets Anthea who commands not only an army but a fleet as well we'll never be able to control her." Not replying to his wife, they bother reached the corridor where their children's rooms were and set to making sure they were presentable for the royal party.

Winterfell courtyard: A few hours later

Standing with his family and a good portion of his castle staff Ned waited for the royal party to arrive and with the sound of horses galloping he could only assume they would arrive any minute now.

His assumption was proven right when three horses charged into the courtyard one Lannister, one Baratheon and what he could only assume was a Phylax each carrying a banner. The black stag of house Baratheon on a field of gold, the golden lion of house Lannister on a field of red and the golden lion with antlers of what he could only assume was Princess Anthea's personal banner on a field of black.

Not long after they arrived the rest of the royal party arrived. Ned had to work hard to keep his mouth from hanging open in shock at what his brother in all, but blood had become. If it wasn't for the kingsguard flanking the man he would have never guessed that the man who puts fat men to shame was the 'Demon of the Trident.'

After Robert arrives a beautiful woman rides in on a black mare surrounding her are seven soldiers also on horses each wearing an identical suit of armor consisting of a steel chest plate, battle skirt that went down to their knees and boots all in black while their arm and shoulder guards are in gold and their long sleeve doublet was a crimson red. Their helmets were of an intricate design that Ned could see clear as day, the base of their helmets were black with three pieces of gold metal rapping around the helmet and they had crimson masks underneath the helmets that went up to their nose. On their chest plate Ned could see the golden lion with antlers signifying that they were Princess Anthea's personal guards. Meaning that the woman they were surrounding was the Princess, oddly enough Ned could see that three of her guards were women. (Cersei's queensguard armor with a somewhat different color scheme)

As more and more of the royal party poured into the courtyard Ned turned his gaze to his eldest son Robb only to see him staring at the Princess. Shaking his head Ned knew why, Anthea had to easily be one of the most beautiful women in Westeros with pale skin, long hair, wide child bearing hips, full lips and sizable assets that her armor couldn't hide. Looking more closely at the Princess Ned can see that she was wearing a long sleeve crimson outfit with red leather top with chainmail embedded into it black pants, deer pelt boots and gloves, around her neck was a grey wolf's pelt. (Rise of the Tomb Raider: Hope's Bastion outfit with different colors. I don't own Tomb Raider)

Robert had gotten off his horse with the help of two squires carrying a stool for him. When the King's feet touched the ground all the starks and their household got on one knee and bowed their heads towards him, once Robert had reached Ned he motioned for his hand for them to get up. Once everyone had risen Ned noticed out of the side of his eye that Anthea was helping her siblings out of the carriage.

"You've got fat" said Robert drawing Ned's attention away from Anthea and back towards his old friend. Looking down towards Robert's great belly and back up towards Robert's eyes, Ned was suddenly brought into a hug before releasing him. "Nine years where the fuck have you been?"

"Guarding the North for you your Grace, Winterfell is yours."

As Robert moved to greet the rest of the Stark's Queen Cersei moved forward holding out her hand for Ned to kiss. Hesitating for a moment Ned bowed and kissed Cersei's ring while his wife curtseyed.

By this time Anthea had gathered her younger siblings and had walked behind her queen mother before introducing themselves to the Stark's. "Greetings house Stark I'm Princess Anthea and these are my younger sister, Princess Myrcella and my younger brother Prince Tommen" Anthea said as she and her sister curtseyed while her brother bowed his head. "Ned take me to your crypts, I wish to pay my respect!" Robert commanded suddenly. "We've been riding for a month my love, surely the dead can wait" Cersei said in a kind tone that Anthea could immediately tell was fake.

"Ned!" Robert said as he began to walk away with Lord Stark awkwardly fallowing behind him. "Where's the imp?" was suddenly heard as both Cersei's and Anthea's head tuned to the youngest Stark girl. Cersei immediately ordered her brother to find the little beast while Anthea says with a fake polite tone "he has a name little Stark." Looking past the young Stark Anthea saw someone that made her blood boil. Theon Greyjoy, Cersei immediately noticing what her daughter was looking at called for everyone to get settle in and for the royal family to be shown to their rooms.

Winterfell: Crypts

Walking down the dark halls of the crypts Ned listened to Robert as he explained the death of their father figure Jon Arryn. "I loved that man" Roberts said "we both did" Ned replied.

Laughing Robert asked, "you remember me at sixteen?" laughing a little to Ned replied, "aye I do."

"Gods all I wanted to do was fuck girls and crack skulls" Robert started "he never had to teach you much but me. I was a horny blood thirsty mess" Robert laughed before he surprisingly turned serious "I need you Ned. Not up here where your no bloody use to me, I need you in Kings Landing" Robert stated before stating formally "Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell I, King Robert Baratheon would name you hand of the king!"

Hesitating for longer then Ned would like to admit he finally dropped to one knee and said, "I'm not worthy of the honor." Laughing Robert replies "I'm not trying to honor you. I want you to run my kingdom, so I can drink, eat and whore myself to an early grave."

"Stand up Ned you helped we win the throne, now help me keep the bloody thing."

Sighing as Ned stood up Robert states "naming you hand of the king wasn't the only reason I came up here. . . you know if your sister had lived house Baratheon and Stark would have been bound by blood. Well it's not to late I have a son you have a daughter we'll join our houses!" Robert states before walking off towards Lyanna's tomb with a shocked Ned fallowing behind him.

"Why not Anthea and Robb? let the eldest of both our families marry first."

"Do you really think it would be wise to have Anthea move up here where a Greyjoy lives? And not just any Greyjoy but the fuckin heir of the Iron Islands."

"Surely her hatred cannot be so bad?"

"There is a fury in her that just might surpass even my own Ned. I know for a fucking fact that if I left my daughter here that Greyjoy would end up dead, besides she's the lady of Duskendale, her place is in the south not the north."

A Few Hours Later: The Great Hall

The feast was in full swing as men and women drank, ate and laughed together as Anthea sat and ate her full at the second highest table just under her mother, father and the Lord and Lady of Winterfell. Sitting there Anthea watched as her younger siblings both dressed beautifully talk with the Stark children, looking passed them she saw her other brother Joffrey telling Sansa about all the great things he had done and all the tournaments he had won. He was of course lying through his teeth, but it seemed Sansa couldn't tell.

Taking another gulp of Northern ale, a drink one of her guards Ragnar Lonbrooke told her about she couldn't deny it had a nice taste to it, but she preferred her wine all the same. Looking down at her cup she couldn't help but remember the melee tournament where Ragnar a Northern commoner had won against fifty seasoned knights, of course after that Anthea had to offer him a spot in her personal guard.

Looking down the hall Anthea could clearly see her drunk father groping one of the Stark maids. A look of disgust came a cross her face as she watched him slap the maid's ass all the while thinking that by the time they leave she might have four to five half siblings on the way. Deciding that she was done for the night Anthea stood up and nodding goodnight to her other who returned the nod and started walking away but not before she rubbed the heads of Myrcella and Tommen affectionately and began to walk off with one of her guards, Tytan Hill who chose to leave his shield in his room but kept his mace at his side.

As they walked down the hall and towards the door she was suddenly bumped into by someone, a certain Greyjoy who was immediately pushed away by her guard. "Apologies Princess" Theon said, "Did Lord Stark tell you to be nice to me Greyjoy?" Anthea asked, confused Theon relied "Princess?"

"I want you to act your nature Ironborn. Do you know why?" Anthea asked but started talking again before Theon had a chance to reply "it's because I maybe called the Crucifier but if you would believe it I never had the pleasure to see an Ironborn crucified. So please give me a reason, any reason at all." Anthea has said with a deadly calm and quite voice, so quite in fact that Theon had barley heard her.

"Dear niece what are you doing down here? You should be at the high table" said her uncle Tyrion who had walked in from the main door having just finished talking to Jon Snow had said.

"Nothing at all uncle I was just retiring for the night" she says before walking out of the Great Hall with her guard in tow. "A word of advice Greyjoy stay away from her."

The Next Day

There were few things Anthea loved more then spending time with the family she loved. Looking up from her stiches Anthea looked over to her sister Myrcella who was sitting adorably with the tip of her tongue poking out of the left side of her mouth as she worked on her stiches with Winterfell's septa, Mordane was her name if Anthea cared to remember. Who sat right next to Myrcella cooing at her. Behind Myrcella stood Kyra Sand, one of Anthea's guards, gripping her spear like a walking stick but ready to strike in a moments notice.

Looking over to her right Anthea saw Arya looking glumly at her own stitches before looking up and staring at Anthea's guards with a look of. . . hope? Catching Anthea's eyes Arya quickly looked down towards her stiches. Returning her focus back to her own stiches Anthea worked for a few more moments before she heard the conversation the Stark girls and their friends were having. "Prince Joff is very gallant isn't he sister? What did you think?" Sansa had asked her sister

"Jon says he looks like a girl"

Barley concealing her laugh Anthea glanced over towards them with a smirk on her face. "Poor Jon" Sansa started "He's just jealous because he's a bastard and Joffrey is a Prince."

"You don't like your brother Sansa?" Anthea couldn't help but ask. Taken back by the Princess' question Sansa replied, "he's only my half brother Princess Anthea, a bastard."

"The guard behind me is my half sister Mya Stones, she's a bastard and yet I prefer her company over that of Joffrey's" Anthea states while Sansa looks behind the Princess to the guard that was apparently named Mya, Mya stared back at Sansa who lowered her gaze in discomfort. "The guard behind my sister is also a bastard" Anthea continued motioning towards Kyra.

"He's our brother" Arya said loud enough for Mordane to leave Myrcella's side and make her way over. "What's going on here children?" Mordane asked.

"We were just talking about our half brother and what and honor it is to be working in the presence of royalty" Sansa said with a gentle voice and a smile on her face. "Indeed, the Princesses honor us with their presence" stated Mordane.

Myrcella looked down with a cute blush on her cheeks while Anthea just nodded her head, watching the events unfold. Septa Mordane seemed to target Arya as she walked towards Arya and grabbed her fabric. Arya, Arya, Arya this will not do, the stitching is horrendous" Mordane states while Arya looks down but not before catching the smirk on Jeyne Pool's face and the sorry look on Myrcella's face, tears were building up in her eyes, but Arya would not give Jeyne and Mordane the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Getting up Arya made for the door while Mordane called out "Arya where are you going?"

"To shoe a horse" was the reply

"Arya! You dare act like this in front of the Princesses, you shame us all!" Mordane yelled out as Arya stopped at the door, she turned around and gave a bow towards both Princesses and left slamming the door as she went. "The nerve of that little beast" Mordane ranted deciding to stick up for Arya as it was clear her own sister would not Anthea says with a bored voice "in her defense if you didn't pick on her and act like an old hag maybe she wouldn't have left"

Turning to face the eldest Princess Mordane was wide eyed and opened jawed along with the other ladies besides her sister who giggled and her guards who watched on in amusement. Before Mordane had a chance to recover from her shock Anthea says in a mocking tone "Would you please close your mouth Septa it's not very lady like."

A Few Hours Later

"This feels amazing Anthea, though it's not as elegant looking as the bathing room you had built back home" said a voice behind a door that Queen Cersei could easily tell belonged to her youngest daughter. One of Anthea's guards Battos, she recalled, stood guard at the door. Battos bowed before the Queen of Westeros before he opened the door for her. Stepping through a layer of steam Cersei entered the bathing room of Winterfell and was greeted to the sight of her two daughters relaxing and smiling along with all three of the female guards belonging to Anthea, one of which was dreadfully a bastard of Robert, but Cersei payed her no ill as she had repeatedly acted as a decoy for her daughter.

"Mother I'm pleased you decided to join us" Anthea greeted as Myrcella smiled happily as her mother. Having her daughter's lady in waiting, Allyria Dayne undress her Cersei stepped into the warm water. Taking a moment Cersei agreed with her daughter the bathing room of Winterfell was plain and just made from stone while the bathing room Anthea made in the Red Keep was made with gold, sapphires, emeralds, marble, silk drapes and plenty of mosaics.

"Mother I finished a cloak for you today" Myrcella said with pride. Smiling Cersei thanked her daughter, loving anything her children made for her.

"Oh, so I'm not good enough for a cloak made by the amazing Myrcella" Jested Anthea. Myrcella stuttered out an answer saying that she would get a new cloak as well all the while blushing from the compliment and from the newly found laughter of the ladies in the room.

KNOCK KNOCK

Nodding her head Allyria moved to open the door and took the note that Battos had in his hand before he shut the door again, moving across the room Allyria handed the note to Anthea who immediately opened it. Cersei could tell instantly that whatever was on the note angered her daughter by the way her eyes narrowed and how she was now holding the note in two clenched fists.

"Allyria I know I said that you could have the rest of the day off but I'm going to need you to pack my things. I promise you a whole day off and a trip to the royal bath house when we arrive back to Kings Landing." Nodding her head Allyria left the room instantly to carry out Anthea's orders. "What's going on Anthea?" Cersei asked

"Salladhor Saan was spotted sailing around Tarth, the Dusken fleet is three weeks away from White Harbor. I'll be heading back south sooner then I expected, hopefully I'll return to Duskendale with the self-proclaimed Prince of the Narrow Sea in a cage."

"Is he a bad man?" Myrcella asked her sister smiling Anthea replied, "he is a no good pirate who made one terrible mistake. . . he stole from me."

"Can me and Tommen come with you?" Myrcella asked smiling Anthea nodded her head "sure" she said.

"Absolutely not!" Cersei objected it'll be fine mother we have to stop by Kings Landing anyway to resupply. I'll leave them in the Red Keep with a detachment of Phylakes to watch over them." Anthea reasoned, sighing Cersei was reluctant, but she eventually gave in causing Mycrella to jump up and hug her bringing about another round of laughter.

The Next Day

Word had gotten out that Anthea and the youngest of the royal children were leaving and the entirety of Winterfell had come to see them off. The goodbyes were long but Anthea her guards, siblings and the one hundred Phylakes that came to Winterfell with them departed through the gates and made their way down towards White Harbor.

Hoped you liked the chapter and I wanted to know your opinions on the outfits. I don't care what house you support you got to admit Cersei's Queensguard armor is pretty cool

Till next time