Gifu

-ooo-

"Your sister a keen rider then?"

King Robert asked as he drained his cup of wine from his chair. Gifu turned; as green as a spike of grass at even the mention of Gara but she smiled prettily and said,

"Yes, your grace. A very keen rider indeed."

The King nodded as if in confirmation to himself and muttered, "Aye, I thought she was; the way she wrangled with that beast." Gifu took a sip of wine and bit down her annoyance at having to prompt her fool of a sister with a compliment.

"She must have some Dothraki spirit!"

Joked King Robert and Gifu laughed; now that was more like it. Yes, her sister was more akin to a savage than anything else. The Lord of Winterfell's eyes were on her; small, blue and brooding; what was he wondering? Thought Gifu as she met his gaze with her black eyes; she would never shy away, never retreat; a sly smile spread across her mouth as Lord Eddard looked away.

She felt a hand brush hers and she looked up to see Thegane Lannister and his handsome face. The look he gave her was almost knowing; as if he knew what she was thinking. She smiled and flicked her eyes down to maintain the guise of modesty. Although the gods knew that Gifu was by no means modest. Thegane nodded and accepted the withdrawal and said to Lord Bloodhelm;

"You must be glad, my lord; that your daughter has no serious injuries."

Gifu looked up and saw Father turn his dark blue eyes on her betrothed. He looked just as anxious as Robb had looked when he'd rode back to join the hunt. Gifu knew that her father would be worried for Gara all day – he always worried about Gara.

"A bit of a stupid observation, son," Growled Whykeham, his bushy eyebrows furrowing as he spoke. The King's harsh bark of laughter could be heard down the table at Whykeham's chagrin,

"She's my daughter and all is well and she is not hurt. Of course I am glad. More than glad."

Graciously Thegane bowed his head and said,

"My apologies, my lord. I am sorry that my observations were not clever enough for you."

"Hmph."

Gifu was glaring at her father. Sat beside him was Robb Stark – both of them looking a picture of concern and Gifu could feel her temper rising. Standing to her feet, she was aware that at least half the men who were enjoying the meal of the hunt were looking at her. She preened only ever so slightly and nodded to Theon who was staring the most openly. He looked away as Gifu slipped around the table and plucked a jug of wine from the table and began to refill her father and Robb's cups. She was standing behind them, just between where their shoulders met and she offered cunningly,

"I think the real praise should be to Robb here." She felt Robb shuffle as she brushed against his shoulder and moved back around so that she was facing him before sinking back into her seat next to Thegane. She added with a devious cock of her eyebrow,

"Did he not look so gallant sweeping my sister off of her feet?"

There were a few shouts of praise and some raised cups and Gifu saw Robb tense and eye her disdainfully. Toasting him, she hid her smug smile by sipping her wine. "To Ser Robb," She went on provoking him riskily and ignored his glaring blue eyes as the King joined in and toasted the young Stark. Gifu giggled as she saw Robb reddening, her father did not partake in the toast; he was glowering at her. She immediately relented in her attack and fell back resentfully and watched as Father gave Robb a pat on the back clandestine. She scowled when she saw him lean in and mutter a soft word of thanks; Robb smiled at the Lord of Bloodhelm Hall and nodded; accepting the thanks.

When the food was eaten and the kills collected, King Robert ordered the pavilion to be taken down and the tables and stools all packed up and brought back to the castle. He rode on ahead, leading the hunt back to Winterfell. At his side rode Lord Eddard, and at his side was her father. She hung back a little and ended up beside Jon and Robb. Thegane had bid her farewell until dinner as he had to ride on ahead – even before the King – to announce the hunt's return. Gifu had watched him ride off with his lackey, Nevelle Tornthorne, in tow and a few pages. Turning her attention to Robb and Jon, she sighed; the two dullest boys in all of the North and she had to ride beside them. Well that just wouldn't do. Robb's brow furrowed – a trademark of his – at her pulling her reigns to fall back and chat to Theon without a word to either him or his brother.

The Greyjoy was riding towards the back of the company; ambling next to him was Benjen Stark. Gifu grinned charmingly as she felt Theon's horse come up alongside hers.

"Good day," She greeted warmly to them. Benjen smiled only thinly at her pleasantry – being too old and too much a crow to be sucked in by wiles. Theon bit like a carp to the bait and smiled at her and inclined his head.

"Lady Gifu," Theon began. Gifu turned and crocheted her head a little as he leaned in and said quietly, "I saw your little display at the meal there. You'd best be careful." Gifu's dark eyes were luminous, as innocent as a kitten as she inquired, "Be careful? Of Robb?" She chuckled breathily and shook her head as she gathered up her reigns,

"I shouldn't think so, Theon."

"You keep teasing him and you won't be welcome, Gifu."

Theon warned and to Gifu's unbridled surprise, there was genuine earnestness in his tone. She looked at him and kept his gaze – as she always did.

"Thank you for your concern. You're a good friend, but I don't think it'll very much matter how welcome I am in Winterfell once I'm married."

-ooo-

Gifu's eyes were wide with shock. Catelyn had taken to Bran's chambers. Lord Eddard would not see anyone and had followed his wife's lead. The castle was silent in the wake of Bran's accident. There was to be no feasting, no dancing and no festivities. There was just quiet. Bran had fallen from an old tower; Gifu had overheard maester Luwin comment that the young boy had been injured, unattended at the foot of the tower for most of the day. Since the morning at least; while they had been out hunting.

It was early evening when Gifu found herself out in the yard. She was watching Theon and Jon shoot bolts at the targets; Robb and Rickon were with their parents, Cat was said to be absolutely devastated. Gifu had been silent for most of the night; not even Thegane and his interesting chat could lift her from her dampened spirits.

"You're quiet," Mentioned Theon as he plucked another bolt from the vase of arrows. Gifu averted her eyes and pulled her cloak in closer around her shoulders.

"I don't really have much to say," She countered and heard Jon scoff. Her eyes flashed and she snapped coldly, "I'm not a complete monster, Jon! Bran's a sweet lad, the thought of us all being out hunting and him laying there all day hurt makes me feel terrible. So you can shut that mouth of yours."

She started when she heard his bow slap off the ground. Charging up towards her, it was Theon who held him back and Gifu pointed her chin in the air. There was dead silence around them, the only noise being Jon's laboured breath and the rustle of his jerkin as Theon pulled him away from her. Despite the bad timing, her inability to choke down her disdain for him made her sneer coldly,

"Bastard."