Robert

"Is that a girl speeding away with that horse," the Lord of Storm's End asked incredulously.

"Aye," Ned responded with a grin, "I expect that's Lyanna and Brandon, trying to beat us back."

"She rides like a warrior. Even from this far I can see it would be difficult to catch her in battle," Robert said in awe.

His bride to be. He had met her twice before at the Vale, years ago. She had been a girl then, trying to keep up with the boys. She had even made an attempt at sword fighting until her Lord father saw her sparring with her brothers in the courtyard. He had taken the sword away and chastised her for several minutes. The anger radiating off of her was palpable. She had been a girl then, though, but now she was a woman grown and his future wife.

"Lets catch up with them. I'd like to see my betrothed ride like that up close."

"Nay, my father won't like it if she's not there waiting for us. He thinks she acts too much a boy and not enough a woman. She'd carry a sword if he'd let her," Ned replied.

Robert didn't much like being told no. After all, she was to be his. He let it go though but quickened the pace of his horse, eager to see her close. As a girl, she had a pretty face. But they had not been matched yet and she had been no more to him than his best friend's comely little sister. Truth be told, she had been somewhat of a nuisance, never leaving Ned a moment alone. She had only been a young girl though, and now the thoughts of her captivated him. Ned had told him stories of her daring. She rode better than any man in the North, if he were to be believed, and could shoot a bird through the eye from a hundred yards away with an arrow. If half the tales Ned spoke of her were true, she'd be a formidable wife and partner.

"Robert," he heard Jon Arryn say from behind him, "I'm going to speak plainly. While we are in Winterfell, you are to act as though you are a septon. I will hear nothing of you frequenting the brothels or drinking yourself stupid. We are Lord Stark's guests. He has offered his only daughters hand to you. Do not dishonor him by dishonoring his daughter."

"Bad luck Robert," japed Elbert Arryn, "I've heard northern girls are quite talented."

"Do you think I can't control myself?" Robert asked defiantly.

"I think that having a Northern bastard would quite sour your relationship with Lady Lyanna before it's even begun," Jon said pointedly.

Ned was quiet throughout the whole conversation, his face expressionless. His eyes betrayed him though; it was clear he was still angry about Robert's bastard in the Vale. He was a man, though, as he had pointed out to Ned. Fighting and fucking were the only things that made him feel alive. Not having a woman for a moon would prove to be difficult.

Mayhaps I can convince my Lady to forgoe her maidenhood before the wedding.

It would not be dishonor as he was her intended. If she had grown to be half as beautiful as he had imagined, he would not be able to wait until the bedding ceremony. The thought having her made his cock twitch beneath his trousers and he sped up yet again.

I'm coming Lyanna.

As they entered the gates of Winterfell, his excitement grew exponentially. He began to feel something he had not felt since he had left his home at Storm's End to be fostered at the Vale – nervousness. He could not help but wonder if Ned had been too biased in his descriptions of Lyanna's personality. He also knew he had been building up her beauty in his head. Truth be told, he barely remembered what he looked like as a girl. Not nearly enough to picture her accurately as a woman. In the courtyard, they were lined up as though they were awaiting Aegon the Conqueror. It was not only Lord Stark and his children – several of his bannermen were there, no doubt for the feast, along with knights of Winterfell, their maester, handmaidens and squires. When he scanned the crowed for his Lady and laid his eyes upon her.

It was unmistakable that it was her. She looked like Ned, if Ned was the most beautiful woman in the world. She stood between her brothers in a long, her long dark hair rippling lightly in the breeze. Her dark blue gown made her seem to radiate and showed that she was most certainly no longer a girl but a woman grown. He could not help but stare at her although she did not return his gaze. No, her eyes were on the horse next to him, eagerly waiting to go to her brother. They dismounted without saying a word, and as soon as his friend was off his horse, she sprinted out of the line and threw herself at him. She was in Ned's arms in less than no time, hugging him so tightly, Robert feared she might suffocate him. He felt a twinge of jealousy that she had paid him no mind and instead ran straight to her brother. After all, they were here to seal the betrothal. She would not be seeing Ned if not for the marriage pact.

"LYANNA," Lord Rickard yelled, "Come back here this instant." Her Lord father was visibly irked by her lack of formality and glanced at Robert and Jon as though to apologize for his daughter's unseemly behavior. She paid him no mind, though, and was thoroughly unabashed after being chastised in front of everyone. On the contrary, she was smiling wider than Robert had every seen anyone smile. It made her face even more beautiful.

"Coming father," she called back sweetly as she gave Ned one more squeeze before skipping back to the line.

"Father," Ned nodded with a smile on his face as he stepped forward to shake the older man's hand. Lord Rickard gave a soft smile and pulled his middle son in for a hug. Brandon and Ned embraced only as two brothers can. When he reached Lyanna again, she threw her arms around him once more and gave him a kiss on each cheek.

"Oh my sweet brother, you have no idea how much I've missed you."

"I think I can guess," Ned said grinning in earnest. Robert had never seen Ned smile this much. He was usually so solemn. He reached Benjen and patted him on the head before hugging him.

Jon Arryn then went down the line greeting everyone. When he reached Lyanna, he kissed her hand and she gave a (somewhat awkward) curtsey. Now it was time. Jon introduced Robert formally, although he had already met them all, as was custom when introducing a betrothed for the first time after a marriage pact was made. Lord Rickard gave a solemn bow and shook his hand. Brandon looked him up and down appraisingly as though he were trying to deem him worthy or not of his sister. Then he reached her.

"My lady," he said with a bow, "you grow more beautiful each time I see you." He took her hand and kissed it lightly.

"Thank you, my Lord," she responded formally, "I hope the journey was not too hard." He was slightly put off by her formal demeanor but quickly recovered.

"Aye, the journey was easy, I had the thoughts of seeing my future wife to entertain me."

She smiled and bowed her head, although it was not difficult to tell that the smile was rigid. "You flatter me, my Lord."

Seeing that not much would come of this conversation in front of everyone, he moved on to Benjen. After all of the introductions were done Lord Rickard made the announcement that they would be feasting in two hours and offered stewards to show them to their chambers. He hoped Lyanna would offer to take him to his but she immediately turned to Ned and began to talk faster than he had ever heard a person speak.

"We must go to the godswood before dinner, or after if you need your rest, or we can skip it and go during. I have so much to tell you and I want you to see the horse father got me for my 13th nameday, and all of the whispers I've been hearing of other people's doings. I can come with you to your chambers now if you'd like." He could not understand how someone so small could form words that quickly. His mood was beginning to darken, though, as she made plans with Ned for the evening. He had ridden all this way for her, to court her before they wed. The first night she wanted to run off with her brother and talk.

"Lyanna, why don't you show Robert to his chambers?" Lord Rickard asked, although it was a command hidden in a question. She tried not to show her disappointment and agreed. "We'll go to the godswood after I take him," she told Ned earnestly.

As they walked, Robert had a difficult time making conversation with her. She seemed to only want to talk about Ned and had little interest in him.

"These are your chambers, my Lord," she said as they reached the door.

"You should call me Robert. We are to be wed, and soon if Jon and your father are to be believed."

"Whatever you wish my—Robert."

"My lady, we saw you as we rode up to Winterfell. You ride quite well. Is it something you rather enjoy to do?" he asked, determined to get on common ground.

"If you'd like me to call you Robert then I'd prefer if you called me Lyanna. You can't make me address you informally and then you call me my Lady." Robert was surprised at her feistiness. He rather liked it. "And yes, riding is my favorite thing to do."

"If it please you, I'd like to go on a ride with you on the morrow. You can show me the grounds."

She smiled politely. "Of course. On the morrow. I'm sure you want to get settled, I'll leave you to your things."

And with that, she turned around and was gone.

Damn it all. That woman is going to kill me.