A/N: I'm sorry about the delay, but here is chapter 5! I hope you guys enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire.
Arianna groaned the next morning when she heard her bedroom door swing open, and sharp footsteps enter the room. The princess's eyes struggled against the early morning light as her mystery visitor drew the curtains open, enveloping the room in an almost overwhelming
brightness. It was a particularly sunny day for the north, perfect for Arianna to explore her foreign environment.
When she felt the opposite side of her bed sink in, she turned over to see her mother already ready for the day in a dress of soft Lannister red and her golden hair falling silkily around her shoulders like the lion she truly was. "It's time to wake up, darling." The princess felt the gentle pressure of her mother's hand on her arm, coaxing her awake.
Arianna rose from the soft, warm sheets of the bed and stood up on the stone ground to stretch her legs. She could feel the faint traces of a headache, perhaps from drinking one too many goblets of wine at the feast the night before.
When Arianna met her reflection in a mirror, she giggled at the unruly mess that was her hair. Cersei smiled slightly at her oldest daughter before she stood up from her perch on the bed and made her way to Arianna, heels clacking all the while. When she reached her, she gently placed her hands on on the princess's nightgown-clad shoulders.
"It is as wild as you are this morning. You truly are your father's child."
Arianna was thrown off by the comment, meeting her mother's eyes through the mirror they both stood before. Cersei's expression was strange, distant almost, but loving all the same. Arianna didn't have a chance to respond before her mother seemed to snap back to reality.
The princess watched her mother through the mirror as she strode to the other side of the room to open the cabinet that contained all of Arianna's dresses and other assorted clothing that she had brought from King's Landing. She could not refuse the Queen when she returned with a gown of soft green material and a light silver cloak to wear away the chill of the northern wind.
When the handmaidens that had been assigned to Arianna had made their appearance a few minutes hence, the Queen had sent them away, stating that she would help ready Arianna for the day, personally.
The Queen loved her children, all of them, and she took personal interest in their everyday lives. She kept tabs on their studies, their feelings, and their friendships. Maybe it seemed nosy, but she was protective, a mother lion with sharper claws than she let on.
Cersei ran her fingers through the silky jet black locks of her daughter's hair as she braided it. Arianna's hair certainly wasn't going to work with any other style that morning, unruly as it was.
"What are your thoughts on a union between the Stark girl and your brother?"
It had been the second time that she had caught wind of a wedding rumor concerning Prince Joffrey and Sansa Stark, the first time having come from the mouth of Robb Stark at the welcoming feast. To be honest, the alliance was both profitable and politically powerful. The son and daughter of the King and potentially the Hand of the King as well as the most powerful man in the north would open many political opportunities. Their marriage would cement northern and southern relations.
"It is a well made match. Sansa is a fitting choice for Queen."
A strange expression flitted across her mother's face before she let it slip away and smiled. "Yes, I believe she has potential."
While her brother certainly had a foul side, a particularly large one, he had not always been that way. Arianna could vaguely remember how pleasant he had been when they were younger. Joff hadn't started acting strange until he had reached about eleven to twelve years old. Every time her father would gift her a new hare to keep around as company, it would mysteriously go missing. While Arianna never had any definite proof that Joffrey had been killing her pets for sport, she had always suspected. It was around the same time he had begun to act mysteriously cruel at times, as if he was slowly going mad.
While Joffrey was annoying even at the best of times, he was still her brother, and she hoped that she could eventually save him from himself.
To be forced to marry someone like her brother was a punishment overall. However, it was unavoidable that Joffrey eventually marry, and Arianna suspected that if anyone could handle the future king, Sansa Stark could. Besides, if Sansa were to become her new sister, that meant that she would always be around to defend her from her brother if need be.
She did not vocalize this point to her mother.
When Arianna was ready for the day, Cersei escorted her eldest daughter to the door and wrenching it open to reveal Ser Meryn Trant of her father's Kingsguard standing watch on the other side. "Your Grace. My Princess," he greeted, bowing low before them. Cersei released her daughter's shoulders in favor of grasping her hand, starting down the stone pathway to the Great Hall for breakfast.
...
Arianna had only broke her fast with her mother, siblings, and Uncle Jaime, for Tyrion was missing, unsurprisingly, as well as her father, which was also unsurprising. Cersei had informed her daughter that the Starks had broke their fast earlier in the morning, but had wanted to allow their guests to rest rather than waking them, due to their long journey north.
It was a fairly dull affair, so Arianna tried her hardest to eat quickly without seeming like she was rushing. When she was sure she was sufficiently full, she excused herself before walking out of the Great Hall and into the courtyard. When she noticed several people training in the yard, Arianna smiled and immediately knew what she was going to do with her day.
...
Arianna threw open the door to her room when she had eventually reached it, startling Natalia in the process, who had been making the princess's bed and tidying the room. The princess spat out a haste apology before racing to the cupboard that housed all of her various clothing. She couldn't very well practice swordplay in a gown, could she?
Natalia halted what she was doing to observe the princess in her search for more appropriate clothing, seemingly confused.
"Did you spoil your gown, Princess?"
Arianna threw her chosen breeches over her shoulder and tugged one of her while linen shirts from a drawer. She smiled and shook her head as she made her way over to the bewildered handmaiden, turning to face away from her, silently asking her for help with the ties that held her dress together in the back.
"No, I happened by some people in the training yard after breaking my fast. Thought I could use the practice."
The handmaiden released Arianna's gown ties, loosening it. Natalia seemed to come to an understanding as Arianna made her way behind the screen to change into her breeches. "I had heard that the Black Princess practiced swordplay, but I didn't know how much truth there was to the story."
Arianna snorted at the nickname, amused, as she unsuccessfully tugged her foot through the leg of her breeches and stumbled in her haste.
"Are you quite alright, Princess?"
Arianna tugged the linen shirt over her head before tucking it into her breeches and emerging behind the screen in attire fit for swordplay. "Never better."
The princess gathered her boots from one of her trunks that she had brought north with her, shoving her petite feet excitedly into them. Natalia watched closely as Arianna walked to the bed and crouched, pulling something out from underneath. The handmaiden gasped when she laid eyes on the blade that lay comfortably in its leather scabbard.
Arianna smiled fondly at the blade that had been such a dear gift from her father, before buckling it around her thin waist. It was always comforting to feel the weight of the blade pressing against her left hip.
It made her feel safe. Secure.
With a word of farewell to the handmaiden, Arianna walked back out into the stone hallway of Winterfell's castle, an excited smile gracing her features.
...
The princess watched from afar as Bran Stark drew the bowstring back, his arrow nocked and ready to let fly. Robb, as well as two other young men she had not had the pleasure of meeting yet, watched quietly as he took aim. All was silent as Bran eyed the bucket perched on a barrel across the yard. When he released his arrow, it pierced the barrel, about three quarters of a foot lower than the target.
Robb consoled his brother, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Arianna decided that moment was the ideal time to make her appearance.
"Nock another, Bran."
The four young men seemed startled at the princess's sudden appearance, but Robb smiled soon after recovering from his shock. Bran glanced at his older brother, unsure, but pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it at a reassuring nod from Robb.
Arianna smiled and approached Bran, observing his form. The others were silent as the princess made adjustments to the young Stark's hands and feet, as well as the placement of his elbow. She stepped back slightly, observing her work after making all the necessary adjustments to his form and playfully glared at the amused look Robb was sending her way.
"Don't think too hard when you're aiming, Bran. If you're pointing an arrow at a target, they are not always still."
Bran gave a firm nod before rapidly releasing the arrow and grinning widely when it sent the bucket flying across the yard. Arianna smiled and gave Bran a congratulatory pat on the back before smirking smugly at his older brother who's amused expression had given way for an impressed one.
One of the young men who was present in the yard, a young man with hair black as jet and skin pale as winter, eyed the blade that pressed so comfortingly against her hip before speaking up. "Who taught you?"
Arianna smiled briefly at the mystery boy, watching as Bran retrieved his arrow before responding. "My father, my uncles... Anyone who could stand to lose an hour or two of their time to teach me something new." She turned to face the young man, deciding it was way past time they made introductions, outstretching her hand in greeting. "Arianna Baratheon, my Lord."
He kissed her hand gently before letting it fall back to her side. "I am no lord, my Princess. My name is Jon Snow, Lord Stark's illegitimate son."
Arianna found it hard to believe that any woman could make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor, even for a night, but she smiled graciously regardless, never letting her shock show. Robb was paying close attention to the conversation, remaining silent as he allowed them to continue their introductions. "You are his son as much as Robb and Bran and Rickon are," she corrected. While Jon Snow did not respond, he looked grateful for her kindness. It was subtle, not meant to be noticed, but she watched as Robb glanced fondly at her before turning to face the other young man whom had remained silent.
"And this is Theon Greyjoy," Robb introduced, interrupting the silence and capturing the princess's attention. She turned to face the heir of Pyke and the Iron Islands, her polite smile still present, just as she was always taught.
"It is a pleasure, Lord Greyjoy."
The only living son of Balon Greyjoy smirked and kissed her hand just as Jon Snow had moments before. She softly cleared her throat and turned away afterwards, embarrassed, as he had not broken eye contact while doing so, leaving her with chills and a slightly uncomfortable feeling with the way he was leering.
"How about it, Greyjoy?" Robb Stark teased, interrupting the awkward moment and nodding to the gates of the fenced-in training yard. "It has been a while since I have humiliated you in front of a girl."
"Yeah, it has been a while since yesterday," Jon Snow commented, laughing heartily and jumping back when Theon playfully hurtled a punch his way. Arianna watched the spectacle with amusement as Robb Stark and Theon jumped the fence and took their places in the ring, each of their faces plastered with a cocky smile.
Jon retook his place at Arianna's left side, shaking his head, amused, before glancing at the Stark and Greyjoy that now circled each other in the ring, swords drawn. "Unfortunately, Theon is known more for his skill with a bow than with a blade," Jon remarked over a barely contained chuckle.
"And lovemaking above all else," Theon replied, as he had overheard Jon's comment to Arianna. The Greyjoy smirked at the princess as her face flushed a deep crimson. His smugness was cut short as Robb slashed at him, catching him off guard and sending him stumbling backwards.
Arianna's entertainment was cut short as she felt a heavy hand land on her shoulder. She looked over her right shoulder to see the Hound standing behind her, the same grim expression on his face that he usually wore.
While many of the people that had ever come into contact with the Hound, were sensible enough to fear him. He would kill a man without a second thought if her father ordered him to, but Arianna knew him well enough to know that he was a seriously misunderstood man. The scar that covered half of his face proved that.
"Your father wants a word," the large man explained, glancing over Arianna's head at the Stark and Greyjoy that slashed at each other in the ring. Without another word, the Hound left the way he had come, and Arianna knew that he was expectowing her to follow after him. She had been hoping to get a bit of practice in.
She muttered a quick goodbye to Bran and Jon and without bothering the two young men that were still engaged in their spar, she trailed after the Hound to find her father.
A/N: Let me know if you guys have any ideas! Next chapter will be out soon.