Arianna Le Fay: I am absolutely planning on adding some romance to the story, because who doesn't like a little romance? I have a few ideas on who to ultimately pair her with, but if you have any suggestions then let me know!
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Arianna toyed self-consciously with the jet black waves that fell around her shoulders as she strode to the door to meet her escort. When she pulled open the door, Robb Stark as well as a single nameless guard stood on the other side. He smiled charmingly, and pulled her hand up to meet his lips. It may have been a trick of the eye, but Arianna thought he looked slightly nervous as well.
The princess, willing her nerves to abandon her, gently took the older boy's arm when it was offered, and the two young teenagers were finally on their way to the Great Hall to take part in the feast. The walk was silent, almost awkward, with only the sounds of Arianna's heels clacking against the stone and the rustling of the guard's metal armor, until Robb Stark decided it was way past time to make conversation.
"You look stunning tonight, Princess."
At the exact moment Robb had flattered her so openly, Arianna's silk shoe caught on a particularly tall stone in their path. She stumbled but managed to catch herself before falling, Robb's grip tightening on her arm, ready to catch her should she tumble. The guard trailing behind them also lurched forward, for fear of the princess falling. Arianna flushed deeply and regained her footing before remembering she hadn't addressed the young Stark's compliment. "As do you, Lord Stark."
Arianna tried her hardest to avoid eye contact with the Stark out of embarrassment that he had witnessed her clumsiness. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes to see an amused grin plastered on his face, but he was not looking at her. Arianna shook her head and could not help her developing smile. When she met glances with Robb again, she could not help but laugh. Arianna could feel the young Lord shaking with laughter on her arm, as well.
"We will never speak of this again, my Lord," Arianna managed through her fit of giggles.
"I can't promise anything, Princess."
...
By the time they had reached the Great Hall, Arianna Baratheon and Robb Stark were fairly comfortable with each other. They had traded japes with each other the rest of the walk to the feast, most of them over her almost fall. His joking nature had erased her embarrassment over the mishap altogether, and she was glad he was not afraid to play around with her, regardless of who she was.
Those were her favorite kind of people.
Arm in arm, the teenagers walked through the open doors of the colossal Great Hall. Arianna was astonished at the sheer amount of people who had gathered for the occasion, for the Hall was filled nearly to bursting. Robb escorted the princess to the dais on the far side of the room, pulling out the chair to the left of the Queen. Arianna thanked and smiled widely at her new friend before taking her seat. Robb Stark bowed and kissed Arianna's hand as well as the Queen's before joining his siblings.
All past traces of the hard trip north seemed lost on the Queen, for she looked radiant in an elaborate dress made from gold and deep red silk, the Lannister colors. Her hair was braided and styled into a unique southern style that she had seen her wear a few times before.
Her father was not by her side, but down among some of the soldiers and servants that had attended. He was already vigorously drunk, loudly trading stories with some of the men that surrounded him. It was hard to judge her father for his actions, not only because she loved him dearly, but because she knew her father was a soldier before he was a King. Arianna knew he would always favor the lifestyle he had lived when he was younger than he would the lifestyle of a monarch.
Lord and Lady Stark sat up on the dais, as well, along with Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella. Her uncles, as well as the Stark children, were given places of honor under the dais, and the rest of the guests were placed wherever honored guests were not sitting.
As the first course was served, herb salad with vinegar as well as beef and pork pies, her father retook his seat between his royal wife and his oldest son. Arianna had chosen to drink Dornish red rather than ale, and the taste was pleasant as it washed down her first course for the evening.
By the time the second course had been served, roasted chicken and seasoned veal so tender that it fell off of the bone, Arianna was already full. Several others in the room had the same idea as they stood from their seats and scattered around the room to find a girl to seduce or more to drink.
Arianna was slightly frightened when she saw a wolf pup winding it's way through some of the guests' legs, until she saw it sit at the feet of Bran Stark, who rewarded the canine with a scratch behind the ears.
The princess leaned around her mother to grab her father's attention. "Father, may I be excused to join the Stark children? I've had enough to eat, I think."
The King smiled drunkenly and granted her request, turning back to converse with Lord Stark once more. The princess had wondered if her father had gotten the Warden of the North to accept the Hand of the King position, but decided she would ask over it later.
Arianna stood up from her seat on the dais, carrying her goblet with her, and walked around the table to reach where the five Starks sat. The Stark children had not noticed her until she had addressed Bran, who was still rubbing this companion softly on the head. "What is his name?"
Many of the children seemed startled at their sudden guest, Bran blushing before he remembered to respond. "Summer."
Robb smiled brightly at her, before scooting over on the bench to make room for her. "Would you like to join us, My Lady?"
"That would be lovely," Arianna responded, smiling and taking the seat that oldest Stark boy had offered. When Arianna asked what kind of animal Summer was, she was shocked when they said he was a direwolf, and that each of the Stark children owned one. She sipped from her goblet before placing it on the table.
"Your father lets you drink?" Arya asked from her position across from the princess. Sansa's expression faded from a polite smile at the princess's arrival to an angry scowl at Arya's question.
"Arya!"
"What?"
Arianna laughed and nodded before deciding she quite liked the youngest Stark girl. Not many people were so informal with her, so it was a treat when it happened. She craved normalcy sometimes.
The next course, an assortment of pies, cakes, fruit, and cheese, was soon brought out. Although Arianna was full, she could not help herself eating a bit of dessert.
After the meal was over, the real fun started. Her father removed himself from the dais once again, and took his previous place on the floor. Casks of ale and wine were brought in, so that the guests may help themselves to refills. Bards were playing songs, people were laughing, and Arianna felt completely at ease for the first time since before Jon Arryn had passed away.
As she took the time to get to know the Stark children, she realized that each of their personalities contrasted with the others. Robb was proud and strong, Sansa was ladylike and feminine, Arya was wild and blunt, Brandon was quiet but smart and Arianna could listen to him tell stories for hours, and Rickon was curious and held a fierce love for his family.
Arianna slowed down on the wine when she recognized that fuzzy feeling in her head telling her that she had overindulged. Ned Stark had left his seat at the dais and was now speaking to a man dressed in all black. Arianna recognized the garb as a man of the Night's Watch, and he looked suspiciously like Lord Stark himself. Perhaps his brother?
As the drinking continued, Arianna's father started to lose control. He had begun openly flirting with women, and he currently had his hands full with a busty wench. The princess gazed up at her mother to see her watching the display with a strange expression. While she was a product of her mother and father's marriage, she was not a product of their love. Cersei had never stared at Robert the way the tales say you are supposed to stare at a spouse and the King had never stared at the Queen that way either. They tolerated each other for political purposes, no more.
She loved her father dearly, but she sympathized with her mother and sincerely hoped and prayed that she would never be forced into something similar.
Sansa soon left the table to approach and address the Queen. While she was away, Robb leaned in to whisper to her. "I hear we may unite our families soon."
Arianna choked on her drink, and coughed hard. The result was a burning throat as well as watery eyes. She stared wide eyed up at the oldest Stark boy. What was he talking about? Was this a proposal? They had only met a day ago! There was no way she would agree to this!
Robb looked concerned as she continued to cough, glancing up at the Stark boy like a deer caught in headlights. "Sansa and Joffrey will not be married for a while yet, it will be fine," Robb consoled her, mistaking her coughing fit for concern for her brother. Arianna was so relieved that she laughed aloud and pulled Robb in for a tight hug. He was sufficiently confused, but he returned her relieved hug nonetheless.
The night began to come to a close when Arya flung food across the table to land on Sansa. The table erupted in laughter, but with a stern look from Catelyn, Robb Stark stood and picked Arya up from her seat. After he had escorted his younger sister from the Great Hall, many of the guests began to file out of the building into the night, either with company or without.
Arianna stood from her perch at the table, bidding her new friends goodbye before glancing around the Great Hall in search of her father. When she could not spot him, she climbed the dais to address her mother. "Mother, may I be excused for the night?" Cersei smiled softly at her daughter and granted her permission to retire to her room for the night. The princess kissed her mother on the cheek and bid her goodnight and turned to thank Lady Catelyn for the hospitality.
Arianna's siblings chose to remain at the feast a bit longer, so the princess turned around to walk the length of the Great Hall on her own. Lord Stark was still conversing with the man in black, so she did not interrupt. She would thank him the next day. Arianna slightly regretted her choice of attire as she walked out into the courtyard. She cursed herself on her failure to at least bring a cloak.
As she walked across the courtyard, her breath visible in the cold night, she saw a dark haired boy on the far side who seemed to be a little older than her, hacking away on a dummy with a sword. He seemed to be angry for some unknown reason, so Arianna slipped past him without bothering him.
When she finally reached her quarters, Varana was already inside with a bowl of warm water for Arianna to wash her face. She smiled and thanked the handmaiden before pressing a gold coin into her palm and dismissing her for the night. The handmaiden seemed shocked at the tip, and tried to refuse, but the princess insisted. The handmaiden left a little happier than she had came in, and that was all that mattered.
Arianna washed her face, braided her hair, and changed into one of her nightgowns. The fire was roaring in the hearth, but the room was dim and warm, and almost as soon as she had laid her head on the pillow, Arianna was in a deep sleep.
A/N: I hope you guys enoyed the feast! If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas then let me know. The next chapter will be out soon!