Chapter 8:
She ran down the halls and up the stairs, eager to give the wooden box in her hands to her father. Today was his names-day, and although he hated making a big deal out of it, Isabel had always found a way to celebrate with him, privately away from the king's tourney and feast that King Robert would hold in his honour.
She found him, sitting in his room behind his desk, reading a rather large old and dusty book. He was so absorbed by its contents, that he had failed to notice her walking into his quarters and taking a seat in front of him.
"Father!" she cried out.
He jumped at the noise, and shut the book closed. He smiled at his daughter, but Isabel could see the tiredness behind his eyes. "When's the last time you've had a proper night's sleep, father?" she asked.
"The king makes sure I keep myself busy," he answered.
She gazed down at his desk, and struggled to read the title of the leather bound book upside down. "Is the king making you re-learn the history of all the great houses as well?" she inquired.
Ignoring her comment, he put the book away, and went over to his daughter and placed an affectionate kiss on her brow. "This is for you father," she said as she handed him the intricately carved wooden box.
"What's the special occasion?"
"Have you forgotten what day it is today? Your own names-day?" she joked, "Can you not hear the knights and shouts from King's Landing who joust in your name today?"
They both shared a laugh, as she watched him lift the lock and opened its top to reveal an amulet, made of dragonglass and gold, adorned with small red, purple and blue gems.
"Dragonglass," he said in awe. "Isabel, you shouldn't have…this must have cost you a small fortune."
"Anything for my dear father," she said affectionately. "It's not everyday you can celebrate your names-day. Besides…I got a good price on it."
Jon Arryn kissed her forehead and engulfed his daughter in a hug. "I worry for you sometimes," she said. "You've looked so troubled lately, more than usual. I hoped this gift will ease your mind…and keep you safe. William told me this was said to be blessed by the priests of R'hllor….to ward off the shadows of our world."
He laughed at her, "I am sorry that I worry you Isabel…it is not my intention."
"What troubles you?" she asked in seriousness, "You know you can tell me."
Jon Arryn sighed, unsure of what to tell his daughter to keep her mind at ease. He trusted her with everything, wanted to tell her everything he knew, but he also desired to protect her from certain truths.
"I know you wish to share my burden Isabel…but there are some things that are not your battle," he said earnestly.
"I don't need you protecting me anymore," she protested. "I know what goes on around here… I know the danger. You were the one who taught me on how to survive here…and you promised me we'd stick through this together. You and me, remember?"
"One day, I won't be there to protect you," he said sadly. "I will leave this world, and leave you alone. So…indulge me while I still live, and let me dote upon a daughter like a loving father should."
He could see the worry on her face and it saddened him that he could not tell her of the dark secret he had discovered about the Lannisters. But he needed to protect her, as he felt his time was now ending.
"I wish your mother could you see," he mused. "She'd be so proud of you…I am proud of you."
Her smile did not leave her face and she crept up to place two affectionate kisses on both of his cheeks. "I am my father's daughter," she whispered fondly in his ear, "I am not afraid of anything."
The Valyrian blade sat on Ned Stark's desk, calling to him as if it had some life of its own. His reluctant acceptance at being the new Hand of the King was only to investigate at the accusations of Jon Arryn's murder. But now he had just learned that someone had sent an assassin to murder his son, Bran with the very same blade that was now placed on his desk.
Who would murder an innocent child?
He could not think that the two seemingly unrelated events were connected to each other, and the one common factor was the Lannisters. The worrisome words that his living wife brought from Winterfell had haunted his mind, body and soul.
Did Bran see something? Did Jon Arryn discover the same secret that it was worthy of murder?
This was indeed a dangerous place that they've come to. He feared for his daughters, worried that they may not have the strength to repel the evils that lurked in the shadows. He feared for his family, and he feared for the king's safety.
Winter is coming.
In a place as dangerous as King's Landing, who could he trust? Lord Petyr Baelish had offered his help in solving this mystery, but Ned Stark was wary of his intentions. He wondered if Isabel Arryn knew of these allegations, and had hoped to confide in her, but she was presently absent at the time. No, this was a task he'd have to seek out for himself.
His eyes fell upon the blade once more. It was a beautiful forged dagger, adorned with dragonstone with blue and red jewels, had it not been used for such a malicious intent. He touched its hilt in vain, hoping it would tell him who its true owner was.
But the room remained silent, refusing Ned Stark the answers he was looking for.
The ports of Gulltown lively sea town, the fourth largest city in the realm, which sat next to the Bay of Crabs. Though not as busy as Blackwater Bay in King's Landing, there were many ships, from the north as well as from the east that would dock here. Small row houses hoisted on logs were scattered across the shoreline, as the high waves would crash into the cliffs and rocks below.
She had come to the Vale to seek out her friends, and now it was time to return to King's Landing. Still, there was a troublesome worry at the back of her mind that something was still unsettled. The mystery behind her father's death still plagued her as she grew more and more suspicious at Lysa's story. It also bothered her that she had mentioned Petyr Baelish's name on more than one occasion.
"You look worried," claimed Ser Tommas.
"I have every right to be worried Ser Tommas…my future now hangs on the words of a very fat king, The lords have faith in me now, but will they still support me when it the time comes?"
He chuckled at her. "Ease your mind, my Lady. The lords of the Vale have spoken…you have their support. King Robert cannot ignore that. He will issue the dispensation…everything will be set right...you'll see."
"Perhaps I do not share your hope Ser Tommas," she replied, "fighting for my inheritance is one battle…keeping my enemies at bay, that is another battle that has yet to come. Must I fight my enemies my entire life? Will I ever achieve the peace that my father dreamt of?"
She appreciated Ser Tommas' optimism, yet she could not share his hopefulness. It was as if she could feel a dark evil lingering in the air, waiting for the opportunity to strike. "When we return to King's Landing, I'd like you to keep an eye on Petyr Baelish," she instructed.
"A closer eye than usual?" he inquired.
"Yes…he's up to something, and I'd like to know what it is," she replied.
"Consider it done…though may I ask why my Lady?" Ser Tommas asked.
"A precaution, that's all," she stated, not wishing to give away her true reason. She trusted Ser Tommas with her life, but still, there were things where she simply kept to herself. In her mind, it was better that way and kept those she cared about safe from danger.
A cry in the sky caused the lady and knight to look up to see a blue and white falcon soar high above the sky. "You see my lady?" he pointed out, "Even the birds call out to you as their Lady. A good omen, I would say."
The bird circled twice above the shoreline, before swooping down and landing on a wooden post near the pair. Isabel stared at it carefully, as it perched on the post, waiting for the string around its legs to untie and its message deliver.
She walked over to it, and affectionately petted its neck as she took the letter off its legs. She glanced at the folded paper, recognizing the writing but did not dare to open it and read its contents. She hid her smile in her cloak, knowing the letter's author and promised herself to read it when she was alone.
"Do you know the creature?" Ser Tommas asked.
The image of the baby bird in his hands appeared in her mind, as she followed its form that that took off into the air and flew away into distance until it was a speck in the blue sky. "Yes," she replied, "You can say that he's an old friend of mine."
She touched the face that was said to have been that of the Children of the Forests. Its curves and bumps of the bark sent shivers down Isabel's spine. Bran's accident darkened the mood at Winterfell, and strangely enough she had found herself in the godswoods, praying to the Old Faith for his health. The Seven were her gods, but the Starks were believers of the Old Faith, so she thought it'd be appropriate for the godswoods to here her prayers.
"Protect him," she whispered.
A rustle of leaves and a snap of a branch made her turn around. He stood there, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, and walked up to her and placed a light kiss on her forehead, which sent a warmness throughout her body – a welcome feeling against the cold crisp air. "I did not think you prayed to the Old Faith," he said.
"I don't…but I doubt the seven can hear me up here. Besides, I pray for Bran, not for myself."
She took a seat on the bench, and motioned him to follow suit. He sat down beside her, and she took his hand and intertwined their fingers. "I wish you didn't have to leave," he whispered, "Makes it all seem like a dream."
"You know I can't stay," she replied.
Robb started tracing circles on the back of her hand and brought his lips down and pecked it – a gesture that he liked doing because it always brought a smile to Isabel's face. "I want you to know…whatever happens, I will wait for you Isabel," he confessed.
She struggled to hide her smile, as the flush of pink appeared on her cheeks. "Then you will wait a very long time, my Lord," she said, "for I do not intend to marry until I know that my father's lands are in capable hands."
"I have waited my whole life," he jested, "I can continue to wait."
"You speak as if you were in love your entire life," she mused.
"I gave my heart to you a very long time ago and you...broke it, when you broke our engagement."
"Robb…" she began, unsure of what to say, "I told you of my reasons."
"I know."
"And where is your heart now?" she wondered out loud.
"Well," he began as he placed his hand on her chin to turn her head so they faced each other. "I have not demanded it back…so I suppose it still belongs to its original owner."
"And what do you suppose its owner do with it? Keep it? Return it? Toss it to the sea?" she jested.
"I hope that she keeps it and cherishes it…I hope that she loves it, for it is the most fragile and delicate gift, for a man to give away."
She closed the distance between them, until their noises were touching. She could feel his warm breathe on her skin, a warmth sensation that she found herself enjoying. "You put too much trust in me, Robb Stark."
He placed a kiss on her forehead, and then moved down to kiss her nose, and then lastly a light and soft kiss on her pinks lips. "Then call me a fool, blinded by love," he whispered.
Isabel knew what he was asking, what he wanted them to become, but in truth she could not give him her declaration in return. There was no future for them, she thought. She cast her eyes down leaned forward to their foreheads were now touching. "I cannot give you what you seek," she sadly said, "for I cannot promise a future that is still unknown to me."
"Then I will not ask you to look into the future…I will ask you for these stolen moments...moments like this, neither of the past, nor of the future, but hidden away in the present. Only the gods may know what tomorrow brings, so I only ask you to live as if it were your last day."
"You ask too much of me," she protested, "The future is all I think about nowadays."
Suddenly feeling frustrated that Robb was no longer listening, she abruptly got up and started walking away. Her heart yelled up to her, demanding that she turn around, but her mind said otherwise.
Was this the ultimate sacrifice?
She paused and turned her head around and gave a sad smile to him. "If things were different…if it had been a different life, I would have loved you unconditionally…I would have given you my heart."
Isabel didn't realize the tears that had formed in the corners of her eye as she left the godswood, and back to her reality where her future was calling out to her.
A/N: Sorry, this one's a bit of a filler chapter and I do apologize for making it a bit shorter than usual, but enjoy nonetheless!