A/N: The timeline got a little jigged, in order to better fit my story. Lysa and Jon would have originally been married at the beginning of Robert's Rebellion, while his second wife, Rowena Arryn passing away many years prior with no children. I decided to have Lysa and Jon's marriage move up a few years, just to give some relationship between Isabel and her mother, which then will set up the relationship between Lysa and Isabel. (And those of you asking about Isabel's age, she would have been born during the rebellion…But I've made the age sort of deliberately ambiguous.)
I hope the deviation doesn't offend anyone too much! A bit of Robb/Isabel interaction to compensate :)
And lastly, many thanks to the reviews and feedback from fellow readers - I really do appreciate it! (Brightroar, rikka21, Shahzadi, BeyondTheHorizonisHope, Trulzxoxo, and those anonymous reviewers so far!)
Chapter 5:
She held tight to her mother's hand, promising herself that she'd never let her go until they were safely back at home. The carriage had come to a complete halt after many months on King's Road. It was her first trip outside the Eyrie, and though her initial excitement had distracted her for some time, the long and boring journey had quickly diminished all energy in the young six year old girl.
The carriage door opened, inviting a cold breeze through her cloak. sending chills down her spine and gripping her mother's hand even tightened. Rowena Arryn smiled warmly at her daughter, and beckoned her daughter to step out.
"I want to go home," she whined. "It's cold up here."
"Isabel," her mother soothed, "I promise you, you'll have the best of times here at Winterfell. There are hot springs, and forests, mountains, and your father has even agreed to let you ride a horse for this special occasion!"
"There aren't even any girls here to play with!" she said stubbornly.
"Well then…I suppose I'll have to tell your father not to let you ride a horse. If you want to play with proper young ladies, I'll suppose I get the Septa to give you more lessons…" her mother trailed off, hoping to cheer Isabel up.
"Oh, please don't!" Isabel said quickly, momentarily forgetting the fight she was trying to win. "I want to ride a horse! Please mother!"
The two ladies stepped out of the carriage, and were greeted by the Lord and Lady of Winterfell and their family. Jon Arryn was already quick to embrace Eddard Stark in a warm hug, eager to see his friend. Jon Arryn's visit was one of multiple purposes. Balon Greyjoy had not two months earlier declared himself King of the Iron Sea and sought to rebel against King Robert Baratheon's rule. Jon Arryn was sent to seek Ned into helping him bring down Balon Greyjoy's claim. It was also the first time that Jon had decided to bring his wife and his daughter oh his journey as well. He knew it was time for his daughter to meet the young Lord Robb Stark.
After all, they would be eventually married.
Isabel hid behind the skirts of her mother's dress, desperately wanting to stay hidden away. She wasn't used to so many strangers staring and smiling at her. Back at the Eyrie, she had grown accustomed with the many knights and lords that would greet her as if she was their own. She knew everybody by name and by their coat of arms. But now she was in a new and strange place, where the faces were new and foreign.
"And you must be Isabel Arryn," said Catelyn Stark, bending down to the young girl's eye level, "it's very nice to meet you."
Isabel slowly crept out from behind her mother, but still refused to let go of her hand. She dipped into a slightly awkward curtsey and said in barely above a whisper, "My Lady."
Catelyn Stark gave her the warmest of smiles, which made Isabel feel slightly more comfortable. She gave the Lady of Winterfell a small smile – a sign of acceptance into her world.
"This is my son, Robb Stark," she took a young boy's hand and brought him forward so the two children could finally meet.
He was slightly taller than her, and he looked just as afraid and shy of the new guests at his home. His dark red curls hung in front of his eyes, making Isabel squint as she struggled to study his face. A nudge from his mother caused him to furrow his brows as the young lord whispered a faint 'hello' at the young lady.
"Hello," she whispered back.
She had trouble sleeping throughout the night, with nightmares that plagued her mind during her sleep. Refusing to join the Starks or the Lannisters for breakfast the next morning, she had decided to remain in her rooms, playing over and over again the events of the night before. It was a situation that she felt like she needed someone to talk to, someone to listen and someone who could help.
But that person was no longer there for her. And now she was left alone – alone to ponder her own thoughts and alone to fight her own battles.
Her father was everything to Isabel Arryn. From a young age, there wasn't almost anything that Jon wouldn't do for his daughter. When Rowena Arryn had passed away from a cold chill, Jon had made every effort to ensure that his daughter would grow up into a strong and steadfast woman – one that he could be proud of, and could continue his legacy.
Never in a million years would she ever suspect she'd be accused of the death of her father. She knew whoever sent that message was trying to control her, manipulate her and scare her. The thought increased her determination to find the culprit and prove them wrong.
They will always underestimate you, a voice echoed in her head. That will be your greatest strength.
"I am my father's daughter," she repeated to herself. "I am not afraid of anything."
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She rose from her seat, briefly making sure she was presentable and opened the door, thinking it was Ser Tommas with new developments on last night's events.
Her shoulders slightly sunk in disappointment as she found herself staring at a pair of blue eyes that was hidden behind a few curls of dark red hair. He too had noticed the slight disappointment and was quick to wipe his smile with a very awkward cough.
"Robb," she said. "Is there something you needed?"
He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say or how to begin. He found himself wandering the halls after breakfast after noticing that she was not present and quickly lost interest in the sparring session that Jon and himself were planning on having later in the afternoon. Instead, he found himself walking through the halls, stopping in front of her door, and before he could stop himself, he was knocking, hoping she would answer. Why am I here?
"We..um,..missed you at breakfast," he spluttered out, mentally berating himself at not being able to say something more interesting. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," she lied. "Had a bit too much to drink last night, that's all. But I'm feeling better now."
Again, Robb's voice had failed him leading to another awkward silence between them. After what felt like an eternity, before even thinking Robb suddenly blurted out, "Come riding with me."
He closed his eyes at his own stupidity. "I mean," he said trying to correct himself, "Would you like to accompany me on an afternoon ride, my Lady?"
An unfamiliar feeling in her stomach sent a rush of warmth through Isabel's body, causing a small smile to appear on her face. Though they had known each other for many years, she had to admit, Robb Stark felt like a complete stranger at that very moment.
"Yes," she found herself saying. "I would very much like that."
The pair kept their distance from each other as they made their way down the stables, where Robb hastily made his way to saddle two horses. Handing her the reigns of a grey horse, she mounted up with ease, surprising Robb, who was about to offer her some help. Feeling a slight blush creeping into his cheeks, Robb coughed uncomfortably and mounted on his own horse.
Keep it together Robb, he said to himself. What's the matter with you?
"Where are we going?" she asked, adjusting her weight on the saddle.
Robb thought for a moment, unsure of their destination when suddenly an idea clicked in his head. "When's the last time you've seen the cliffs?" recalling their memories as children when they use to ride out to watch the sunset.
He watched her eyes as they lit up, also recalling their childhood memories which brought a smile to her face. No words were needed between them, their eyes giving each other acknowledgement to the other's thoughts. They young pair then set off, riding through the gates and into the woods to their destination.
The awkward tension soon dissipated, as Isabel felt a sudden rush of energy as the wind wiped her hair out of her cloak. The stress from her father's death had seemingly disappeared off her shoulders as she kicked her horse to go faster. She turned her side to make sure Robb was keeping up with her. He held a mischievous glint in his eyes, keeping up her pace for a moment, before he sped up in front of her.
It was a challenge; a race – a game they used to play when they were younger.
She let out a laugh, the first one since her father's death, and it felt absolutely liberating. In that very moment, she forget about the Vale, her father, Lysa and Robert Arryn. She forgot about the Free Cities, King's landing and the Red Keep.
She quickly gained speed and was soon at the tail of Robb's trail before he pulled on his reigns and slowed his pace. He nudged his horse closer to hers, as they both recognized the off path that would eventually lead to an open clearing at the edge of the mountain. It was a small dirt track that was too steep for their horses to climb, so they decided to tie their horses to a nearby tree and continue their way by foot.
The path soon opened up to the most beautiful view of the North. They could see Winterfell not far in the distance, as well as the tiny speck of a white mountain near the horizon, where the Wall and Castle Black was. The greenery and mountains stretched into infinity; a testament of the vast and treacherous plains of the Northern lands that was never truly conquered by the Andals in history.
"Beautiful," she said to herself.
She found a dry rock and took a seat, wrapped her cloak tightly around her body and continued to stare out onto the landscape. Robb, following suit sat down next to her, but maintained his distance. He too, kept his eyes to the view.
Neither said anything, but both soaked in the silence and listened to the birds, the winds and the rustles of the leaves and branches behind them.
Yet, Isabel knew the question still lingered over their heads. "You can just ask you know," she said quietly.
It took a moment before Robb had the courage to ask the pondering question. "Why?"
It was one word, but a simple question that had plagued Robb for many years until he had just simply forgotten about her – that is, until Jon Arryn died, and all his memories about her resurfaced. Now, the same question reemerged from his memories, and he had not been able to focus on anything but that.
She let out a sighed, unsure of how to response. Would she tell him of the real reason?
"Everything changed when my mother died," she began slowly, careful to control her emotions. "Marriage was simply not an option for me...it wasn't because I didn't care for you Robb...I made a promise to myself a long time ago..duty above everything else."
"I…don't understand."
"Of course you won't. You're not a woman," she jested. "Marriage comes easy to you men. You can marry whomever you choose, and hope you will have sons and daughters to carry on your name."
He remained silent, acknowledging the truth in her words and waited for her to continue. "I'm expected to marry one day…I know that, but I refuse to use marriage as a political tool. I sometimes look to my own father, married three times for politics and sometimes I wonder if he ever truly loved any of them. I don't want that life..if I marry, it will be for my own happiness. But now, there are duties I must fulfill, battles I must fight alone before I can look for my own...that is, if the seven chooses to bless me with such a life."
He pulled his hand through his hair, accepting her words and sighed. "You will get your happiness one day," he reassured her. "If it not with me…then perhaps another lord. But you'll have your happy ending. I refuse to believe that someone as beautiful and headstrong as you will be condemned to a life of misery."
She turned to face him and smiled at his compliment and felt relieved, feeling another small burden lifted off her shoulders. She inched closer to his figure and put her head on his shoulder, where the softness of the furs on his cloak tickled her skin. She closed her eyes, and let the moment sink into her heart - she felt calm and at peace. "I must confess, I've thought of you..after it ended..from time to time, wondering what you looked like, what your voice was like...what kind of man you've become."
"Seeing me again, have I disappointed you?" he quietly asked.
"You could never disappoint me, Robb Stark. Never," she whispered into the furs of his cloak.
He took her hand slowly, and pulled the glove off from her hand and lightly traced his fingers on her exposed skin, which was lightly tanned from the southern climate. He brought her hand to his lips and lightly pecked it, a sign of simple affection and adoration. "And here I thought you broke our betrothal because I kept putting insects in your hair," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She broke out in a small laughter, recalling the memory when he secretly placed a grasshopper in her hair when they had met for the first time. By the time she had discovered it, she shrieked in such horror that her mother had to remove her from the dining hall because she wouldn't stop crying.
"You know, I've still never forgiven you for that," she replied through her laughter.
They returned to the castle by late afternoon. They no longer had the awkwardness that had plagued them, but returned as if they were old friends catching up and remembering their childhoods past. But whatever laughs and smiles shared between them had almost instantly disappeared when they approached a rather chaotic and disheveled state of the inner courtyard of Winterfell.
Servants were running around, with some yelling and looking for Maester Luwen, with others were riding out to find the King's hunting party. A young page boy had run into the stables, and stopped in front of Robb. He heaved heavily between his breathe, as if he had been running for miles.
"My…Lord," he said as he panted, "it's you-…your broth-..brother, Master Bran….he fell...he's hurt."
Isabel and Robb looked at each other sensing the urgency and fear in the page boy's voice. The colour from Robb's face had drained, as he feared the worst for his younger brother. With a knowing look, Isabel whispered, "Go to him."
She had never seen anyone run as fast as Robb did, and with a blink of an eye, he had disappeared from her sight. "How did he fall?" she asked the page boy.
"My Lad-..y Stark thi..thinks he fell from the old wa-watch tower," he sputtered out. "Master Bran never falls…never."
The page boy gave a quick bow and ran off when somehow had called him to help the Maester to gather his things, leaving Isabel alone in the stables. She decided to return to her rooms, wanting to leave the family in their privacy, choosing to inquire about Bran's condition until later in the evening.
Entering the corridor, she unmistakably spotted the pale blue armoured knight which was approaching in her direction. "Tommas, did you hear about Bran?" she asked worriedly.
"I did my Lady...it is the most unfortunate news. His direwolf came running back to the courtyard and wouldn't start barking until someone would follow him. They found him, near the old watch tower barely clinging to life," he said quietly, "however... I wish to speak to you about another matter."
Understanding his meaning, she lowered her voice. "You found the boy?"
He nodded his head, but the grim look on his face sent a dark feeling to the pit of her stomach. "Is he…alive?" she asked cautiously.
"I found him in the woods, hidden well away from the main road towards Winter Town. Someone had run him over, and left him there for the wolves. I found nothing on him, save for a small pouch of coins. I'm sorry my Lady."
She let out a heavy sigh, "Was anyone with you when you found him?"
"No, no one followed me out of Winterfell. I took the child's body into Winter Town, but no one recognized him. I paid the innkeeper a few coins to give him a proper burial though. Poor boy, he probably was just looking for a warm meal, and this is what he gets."
"Since when did the world of men begin using children to do their dirty deeds?" she spat out. "When did we start murdering them in the name of power?"
Her thoughts went to her own brother, a child that was unknowingly caught in a political web. Would his life meet the same fate?
"What will you have me do now?" asked Ser Tommas.
"Nothing for now," she answered. "Though, I believe it is the right time we return to the Vale. We must seek out our friends, and learn who our enemies are. Send the ravens out to our bannermen. Tell them that their Lady will be returning."
The young lord slept soundly in his bed, stirring occasionally as if he was having a bad dream. It was the third seizure this month that had plagued the young Robert Arryn. Maester Coleman didn't think he would have survived this one due to his weakened state, sending his mother Lysa Arryn in a hysterical rage. The entire Arryn household remained grim, all hoping and praying that their little lord would wake again.
Everybody, except Isabel Arryn.
She now sat in the corner of her brother's room, offering to watch him throughout the night in case his condition changed. It was a task that had been forced upon her by her father, much to her dismay. But after seeing the grief and despair that her step-mother and her father were in, she felt guilty and reluctantly accepted the task.
Isabel stared at his sleeping form, studying his figure. He was a small boy, even for his young age. He had dark brown hair, like her father and herself, while he had inherited his mother's eyes – large, bulgy and ice blue.
"Oh little brother," she whispered.
From the moment Robert Arryn was born, she knew he would not have an easy life. He was the firstborn son of Jon Arryn, a son he had longed for his entire life, a dream that even Rowena Arryn could not fulfill. Robert's birth put her dreams in jeopardy and she knew it would eventually put his life at risk too.
She was young, but she was not stupid - she knew how this game played. She had witnessed the terrible sacrifices that men had made in the name of power. She had witnessed first hand at the sacrifice her father made to cement an alliance with the Riverlands. No, Isabel was not stupid – she knew her father did not remarry for love or happiness.
They will manipulate, plot and scheme in name of Robert Arryn to steal Isabel's birthright. And it was the sole reason why she hated the sickly boy who was sleeping in front of her. Her eyes went to the spare pillow which was next to Robert's head, and was mesmerized by it as if it was calling her name.
It would quick and easy, a sinister voice whispered in the room. They will say he would have passed in his sleep.
She stood up from her chair and walked over to the bed, until her shadow loomed over her brother's sleeping form. As if he felt her presence, Robert moaned in his sleep and turned his head so that she was staring into his face.
With him gone, everything will be back to normal, the voice whispered again. The Vale will be yours.
She hesitated for a moment, considering reaching over and grabbing the pillow to rob him of his breathe. Would she dare do it? It would be a simple death, and an easy solution to all her woes. No one would suspect her, as she'd claim he simply never woke up from his sleep. With her brother gone, everything would be right again. Would she dare take the life of a child, one that was barely blossomed into this world?
Isabel sighed and sat herself at the edge of the bed. "No," she whispered out loud, "I will not rob you of your life...it is not mine to take. No, not tonight."
She bent her head and brought her lips to his brow and kissed it, a small affection towards an innocent child, unaware of the dark world around him. "Sleep dreams, Robert. May you never know of the dangerous world we live in."