Gara

-ooo-

King Robert Baratheon was due to arrive at Winterfell within four days aftre the Bloodhelm's arrival. Gara had sighed very deeply upon hearing this news – needless to say, Gifu had many complaints about the King's 'lateness' as she put it.

"I mean, what can be taking him so bloody long?!" Gifu was pacing back and forth from bed post to window like a trapped lioness. Her face was stony as her fists clenched and relaxed almost periodically. Gara shrugged, sitting on the bed, she ran a hand over the fine, fine furs and thought of Robb. They'd be going down to sup with the Starks soon; she was excited to speak to him. In a whirl of violet silk and crimson hair, Gifu whipped round and barked antagonising Gara,

"What, is this,"

She mimicked Gara's complacent shrug, "all you can give me?! You're as useless as a horse with three legs, Gara!" Gifu huffed loudly and turned away as Gara widened her eyes, looked down and ignored her sister's fuming. She jumped as Gifu exclaimed to herself,

"Urgh! Why would they take a whole stupid month?! Don't they have carriages?!" Gara smiled and retorted from the bed, "Westeros is a big place, sister. To get from South to North in a month is hard riding, believe it or not – especially for an Entourage of the King's size."

Gifu's eyes narrowed and she spat coldly, "Don't pretend to be clever, Gara. It does not suit you."

"What's the big rush anyway? I thought you said to father that you were not ready to wed yet, and here you are as fidgety as a sparrow." Gifu turned an eye on Gara and sneered, not even answering her sister; the older twin ran a hand down her face and Gara frowned, seeing some genuine flicker of distress shoot through her sister.

"I just want to get this over with. Who knows how long the King'll stay here? Another month, and then another month's ride back to King's Landing? When will I be wed, Gara? In something akin to five months if this Lannister intends to wed me properly..." Gara eyed her sister and remained silent as she thought,

"Then it'll be a chance to get to know him, I suppose..." There was a crash as Gifu threw a jug of spiced wine to the floor, spilling it everywhere.

"I can't wait that long! Gara, just shut up, your naiveties weary me beyond your comprehension, believe me." Gara watched carefully, leaning back in case Gifu flew in to another rage. Finally with a heavy sigh, Gifu pressed her pale hand to her forehead and said,

"Now, we must get changed and you must do my hair. Then I will do yours – gods know, you only look presentable when I help you to."

-ooo-

The home of the Stark's was warm and comforting to Gara. She had spent so many days filtering in and out of its many chambers; maester Luwin's study – a place of learning. The stables where she had saddled her first pony. The great hall was the warm heart at the centre of the house, where she had supped and dined many times with the Stark family. Gazing up from her plate of cooked beef, deliciously cooked, hearty and filling with a succulent broth around the meat with soft steamed vegetables to compliment it and a cup of mulled cider to wash it down, Gara's eyes met with Cat's; the redhead smiled softly and winked.

She'd sat Gara away from Gifu. Much to Gifu's chagrin, with no Gara, Gifu could not stand out and with no Gifu; Gara was at ease and willing to enjoy her dinner without her sister hissing in her ear every two seconds. Gara returned Cat's smile and bowed her head to Lord Stark; who squeezed his wife's hand and ducked his head before leaning in to Cat's side and uttering something to her – his eyes remained on Gara all the time. At the Stark's recognition, Gara looked to her father; he was smiling knowingly and bobbed his head as if to say, 'Well done.'

She felt eyes on her, looking around – not engagingly – Gara's eyes fell on Jon Snow. He was sitting at a table quite far to the back, as befitted his status as a bastard. He nodded and chugged some wine from a horn. Gara's eyes widened and she mouthed, "Wine?" He nodded with a cheeky smile and she cocked an eyebrow and toasted him mockingly with her cider. He laughed and leaned down to pat his albino wolfhound, Ghost. Gara laughed too before turning to little Arya who had been bombarding her with questions all throughout supper; could she really shoot a moving target? Yes. And would Gara be willing to demonstrate this to Arya in the courtyard tomorrow? No.

"Why not?!" Arya demanded, her pretty, impish face looked tragic. Gara placed her horn down and said quietly, "I meant I couldn't show you in the courtyard, you dullard." Arya beamed, "Then where?!" Gara thought a moment before taking a small bite of her beef. Arya did the same before turning her single-minded attention back to Gara,

"I don't know, we will go out for a ride tomorrow and take Hodor and he can throw the targets." Gara decided with a smile. Arya's young face was astounded, "Throw the targets?! Can you teach me? I hate sitting in all day with the septa and Sansa, it's so boring..."

"I'll bet," Gara agreed. "I was never one for needlework, myself-"

She was cut off by a wet nose pushing against her fingers. With small frown, she glanced down and beheld Grey Wind – Robb Stark's young dire wolf pup. He was certainly growing at a fast rate. Arya had told her that they had only been found a week before she arrived, and when they had been found they were still suckling pups, now they were as big as regular dogs. Smiling down at him, Gara patted his soft brow; the pup yelped happily and nuzzled her hand with his snout as she ran her hand along his ears and neck. Her brow puckered when she felt a piece of parchment underneath the make-shift rope collar Robb had given it and plucked the paper free.

Glancing up, she saw Robb was watching her and she pretended not to see him and said audibly enough for him to hear to the dire wolf pup, "Why, thank you." Robb smiled as Grey Wind blinked uncomprehending and then with a flick of his ear, returned to his master's heel. Gara smiled up at him a moment and Robb leaned over and ruffled Grey Wind's ears, nodding to her to look at the paper; Gara turned away and unfolded the paper.

Meet me in the yard in an hour.

Gara's stomach flipped and she refused to look over openly at him anymore and smiled to herself when she did steal a glance to see that he was doing the exact same thing. She shook her head and returned her attention to her dinner. She caught a glimpse of her sister; Gifu was seated amongst the older ladies and young Sansa. She was laughing, throwing her head back and captivating everyone, making the women laugh – Gara noticed that Theon Greyjoy couldn't keep his eyes off of her and shivered. Greyjoy was a knave, and not the charming kind; Gara would never understand Robb's ability to stomach the froggy-looking man. The meal dimmed down and finally Lord Stark announced his and his Lady's retirement from the hall. Father did the same, kissing both Gifu and Gara's brows; he smiled and said,

"I'll be in meeting with Ned most of the day tomorrow, so make yourselves useful or don't get under the servants' feet – they're getting everything ready for Robert's stay."

"Of course not, Father," Said Gifu smoothly and curtsied to him. Turning to Gara, she nodded and made the same promise. Looking past her father, Gara had to smother a laugh as Robb was rolling his eyes and mouthing, "Come on!"

With a stern look, she made him smile and he backed away – his eyes focused on her and a lopsided smile curved on his lips. Gifu's intense dark eyes looked sharply from Gara to where Robb had been standing, she said nothing however and smiled as their father took his leave and left them standing side by side in the hall.

Gara bade goodnight to Gifu, but her sister stopped her by standing on the hem of her gown,

"Wait," She commanded and walked in front of Gara. "That's better. Now, where are you off to in such a rush? A midnight liaison?" Gara gaped and stormed up alongside her sister – her face flushed,

"No! Shut up, Gifu!" Gifu giggled at Gara's testiness and gave her a sultry sidelong look, "I saw him looking at you all night, what a catch for my little sister; a rangy, raggedy Stark. I'm happy for you, but he's no golden prince." Gara swallowed her want to defend Robb from Gifu's harsh words, so she smiled and said sweetly, "I could say the same for your treatment of Theon Greyjoy. Leading on old Froggy Face is a might more impressive than what I get up to, I suppose."

Gara was surprised when a crack of laughter bubbled out of her sister. Gifu sobered and conceded the point, "Well, at least, my sister; you are not completely bereft of wit after all." Gara averted her gaze and said sullenly,

"Uh, thank you..." Gifu's compliment was barbed – as they always were – and she retorted with a flash of a feral grin,

"If my little sister was a dinner, though," She looked Gara up and down before slipping away and saying over her shoulder darkly, "Robb Stark would lick the plate clean."