Gara
-ooo-
Gara was reeling as she stormed into her and Gifu's shared bedchamber. Gifu was sitting soaking in a large wooden tub, her head leaned back and her eyes closed. One of her pale arms hung over the side of the tub; her long slim fingers were brushing the linen on the floor languidly. Gifu actually looked content for once. Gara sighed as she gazed over her sister; Gifu was of fuller body than that of Gara, with full rounded breasts and deliciously curved hips. Gifu had the body of a woman while Gara felt at a disadvantage with her lack of curves and rounds, her thin arms and scrawny legs.
"Sister," Gifu greeted, her eyes still closed and her dark lashes sweeping her rosy cheeks. A lopsided smile curved along Gifu's pink lips and she slowly opened her dark eyes to look at her sister, "Must you always walk around in a storm, Gara? I swear our father is wrong to think you are so sweet tempered." Gara frowned as Gifu chuckled and lifted one of her long white legs and ran a hand down her calf. Gara watched puzzled as her sister plucked a shaving razor from the small table beside the tub and began to run it down her leg.
"What're you doing?" Asked Gara with a cock of her eyebrow and Gifu clicked her tongue, "What does it look like I'm doing, blockhead?" Gara shrugged impudently and Gifu laughed as she continued to run the silver blade down her leg,
"I'm shaving my legs, and you should too. If you want to married like me."
"You're not married yet...You've not even met your betrothed. The Lannister."
Gifu glared up at her sister, and Gara sneered quietly. "You might not even like him." Gara had the pleasure of seeing her confidant and sure sister squirm a little. "He might be old," Gara went on scornfully, "He might have money, Gifu, but you can't put a price on vitality."
"Shut up!" Yelled Gifu, her eyes flashing dangerously; she hissed back at Gara, "You're such a jealous little bitch, Gara!" Gara laughed and rolled her eyes, "Jealous?! Of what, may I ask?" Gifu chuckled patronisingly and stared at Gara quite intently,
"You're jealous because I'm older than you. I'm to be married first. I'll get the Hall once Father dies, and you'll get nothing but what I throw to you as scraps. I'm better looking, everyone knows it. I'm more fashionable than you and boys like me better," Gifu's dark eyes were piercing as she finished bitingly,
"And if you're not married before Father dies then I shall be the one to make your match. I hear that Lord Frey's always looking for an ample slut to call his wife. And we'll see how much the cost of vitality is then, won't we, my sister? So shut your mouth and brush my hair."
With a sigh, Gara relented and kneeled beside the tub – brush in hand – as Gifu lay back with her hair hanging over the side of the tub. Brushing Gifu's thick crimson hair, Gara thought about all the things Gifu had said; was she really as undesirable as Gifu made out?
You know you are not.
A voice whispered reassuringly in the back of her mind. Gara smiled as she held Gifu's hair and brushed through it gently, it was like a bloody river running through her white fingers. Suddenly Gifu sighed and asked ponderously,
"Have you even kissed a boy yet, Gara?"
Gara thought a moment before revealing, "Yes...I have." Gifu turned sharply, her pale fingers gripping the rim of the tub to stare intently at her sister, "Really?! Who?!" She demanded with a smile. Gara smiled at Gifu's eagerness and looked away modestly and placed the fine brush on the table,
"No one; it was over a year ago anyway." Gifu eyed her and retorted, "We were in Winterfell a year ago, and so was it someone there?" Gara frowned; of course Gifu would remember exactly where they had been a year ago. Gara stuttered, "Well...y-yes."
"So who was it?" Gifu asked again, her dark eyes blazing with curiosity. Gara laughed and splashed her sister making her squeal, "No, Gara! You have to tell me now!" Gifu watched as Gara's equally as dark gaze slid away again, "I will, one day – maybe." Gifu's brow puckered and her lips pouted, "Fine, be a bitch. I won't tell you who I kissed just last night."
Gara gaped, "Gifu, you're betrothed-"
"As of today! Not last night." Gifu replied smartly and Gara gave her the point with a nod. "So..." Gara began with a grin and a blush, "Who've you kissed? Was it Cyle?" Gifu's silence was as good as any answer, "It was him, wasn't it?!" Gara laughed and so did Gifu. With another nod, Gara smiled, "Well, he's very handsome, well done." Gifu giggled and splashed Gara making the younger girl reel back and chortle.
-ooo-
"Would you just get in here!"
Snapped Gifu to Gara as the younger girl stood in the cold courtyard outside Bloodhelm Hall. Gara frowned and waved Gifu away. Seated in the pillowed litter, Gifu rolled her eyes and watched her sister run over to Horn, her skirts billowing.
"Did you remember to pack it?" Gara demanded and Horn scowled at her from under his big black bushy eyebrows, his impressive black beard trembled as he rumbled, "Of course I did, milady. But I'm no steward- "Gara cut him off with a smile, "But you're the only one I trust. If Gifu found it, she'd want it for herself." With an exasperated sigh, Horn shook his head,
"You're hopeless, girl." Gara laughed, "I know. See you on the road." With a wave, she left him and returned to the litter and her agitated sister.
"Gara, for the gods sake! You're not a milk maid, fix your hair, you look common!" Gara frowned and gingerly patted her hair. She was dressed in a fine silken dress of green leaf, laced with cloth of gold and a fine damask petticoat. Gifu was a wave of violet and teal, pearls were sowed into her tight fitting bodice and gold chains were looping lazily around her slim waist.
"Come on, get in."
Gifu said again and Gara climbed into the litter. Casting a longing gaze back over the waving courtyard, Gara sighed. She felt nervous and excited at the same time. She would get to see the King, Robert Baratheon, for the first time since her and Gifu's birth. Their father had helped the King get the Iron Throne from the Mad King. Gara and Gifu had been raised in the Stark's nursery with Ned and Cat's children. Ned and Whykeham were close enough friends to class each other as uncle and nephew. Gara was excited to see the Starks again; Cat and Ned. Bran, Arya, Jon...Robb.
Gara shook herself as the litter jostled into action and they were finally on their way to Winterfell to feast the King and Queen and so Gifu could meet her Lannister husband-to-be.