Hours to write & plan, moments to review. Go ooooon, eh?
:)
Gifu
-ooo-
"Can't I tempt ye' to come down, Whyke?"
King Robert asked from his strong destrier, squinting down on the old Lord of Bloodhelm. Whykeham shook his grizzled head and smiled warmly as Robert added, "The warm'll do you some good!" He chuckled heartily and shook his head, "No, but you won't come, will ye?"
"No, your grace; my place is here, in the North at my holdfast."
"Bah, the Others take your holdfast! Come away South with me an' Ned! It'll be just like the good old days!" He tempted and Whykeham raised his hand and shook Robert's gloved paw; his wrinkled face crinkling, Whykeham said, "Nay, the good old days have passed, son. Now we must look to our children, keep them safe." His brow furrowed as he eyed the King and offered, "The bad old days have a habit of resurfacing when the good old days wane."
King Robert cocked one dark and regal eyebrow and leaned down to hear Whykeham's hushed council, "You have a care now, son. I fear dark days." The King didn't scoff, his face remained grave and he gently squeezed Whykeham's gauntleted hand and nodded his thanks and feigned brightness.
"Be seeing you, old man. I'll keep an eye on that girl of yours. When you next see her, she'll be an anointed Lannister." He joked rather barbed. Whykeham nodded unsmiling and withdrew his hand – not unkindly – and cast his gaze over the jumbled courtyard; everyone was making their final preparations for the King's departure. Whykeham sighed and peered back up at the King,
"A Lannister was not my first choice, if I'm honest. But Thegane seems to suit Gifu," He conceded and Robert laughed jovially and barked, "Lannisters are never anyone's first choice, my friend! Take it from someone who's been sharing a lion's bed since he was a lad." Whykeham forced a smile and said quietly, "Watch after my girl, Robert. She's one of my roses; don't let her be trampled in my absence." The King bowed his head and replied,
"No fear, Whyke, she'll thrive in King's Landing. A many beautiful flowers are in abundance down there. She'll want for nothing, I swear. Farewell, my friend." He ended with a wave and jabbed his heels into his destrier's flanks. Whykeham smiled and moved a step back,
"Goodbye, Robert, my boy. Until our next meeting!"
With that he moved off and threaded his way through the crush of people all milling about. Whykeham caught Ned's eye and jerked his head for him to come over. Eddard abandoned his survey of the wagons and trotted over to Whykeham and felt a little like the lad he had been years ago, Lord Bloodhelm beckoning him like a hound to the whistle, but Ned would always have the utmost respect for Whykeham Bloodhelm, so he didn't mind. He smiled and clasped hands with him,
"What is it, Whyke? What can I do for you?"
"Well, look at you," Began Whykeham with a prideful smile. Thumping a hand on Ned's shoulder, the old soldier said with a twinkle in his eyes, "The Hand of the King. You're father would be so proud, Ned." Lord Eddard modestly ducked his head and averted his blue eyes, "I'm still a soldier at heart," he uttered and Whyke nodded, "Aye, we Northerners are all simple men of steel and blood in the end. But you're a father too, and I want you to have a care for my daughter while she's in King's Landing."
"Of course, I thought that went without saying." Frowned Ned and Whyke nodded, "Aye it does, I've already said to Robert. You boys look after her; this business with the Lannisters having a hand in Jon's death unnerves me..." Eddard watched as Whykeham searched for the words,
"Jon was my age, we warded together in the Eyrie when we were whelps. He was always the stronger one, grew old with grace so he did. The fact that he's dead, Ned and I am still living is suspicious in and of itself."
Ned shook his head and came a little closer, Whykeham turned so that they were shielded from onlookers and continued clandestine, "You must be careful, lad." Lord Eddard's frown deepened and he found himself ready to laugh like a boy when old Uncle Whykeham made an appearance and tutted loudly – just as he used to when Ned or Robert were being slow. Whyke cocked a bushy eyebrow and growled, "If one Hand, Jon Arryn of the Vale, can die or be killed, Ned, it's not a stretch that the second Hand, Eddard Stark of Winterfell, could too. My guess is Robert must be feeling friendless in King's Landing after Jon's passing," He eyed Ned meaningfully and the lord of Winterfell nodded his head understanding what the old man was warning at.
"I'll be careful, my lord; don't fret, and I'll watch out for young Gifu."
"Be sure you do, boy. I have an ill feeling about this whole thing. Keep on your toes and don't trust any of those vipers down there; Varys, Littlefinger..." His voice faded and Ned nodded again,
"Just be mindful."
With a curt nod of his head, Whykeham released Ned and smiled. "Then this is goodbye until you return. Don't be gone for too long, that wife of yours will be reeling if you're gone more'n a year." He joked and Ned smiled and bowed his head as Whykeham embraced him in a fatherly hug.
"Old gods watch you, lad, be safe."
-ooo-
Gifu clicked her tongue in annoyance. Gara's cotton dress was itching her delicate flesh and she could feel sickness stir in her gut. It was Theon, who gave her a sidelong look, wondering what had turned her green, but she knew dressed like this; Theon would have no eyes for her. She was Gara. Looking sulky and downtrodden, she thought she was pulling Gara off quite well. A lingering look from Robb Stark made her furious; he had been glowering at her all morning. She had half a mind to slap his face, but she thought that if she even moved she would vomit.
"What?!"
She mouthed to him and he merely looked away. Gifu cocked an eyebrow grandly and quickly stopped herself from looking too annoyed. She had to look like Gara. Look sad and dowdy! She urged herself. You just have to look worried all the time, come on. She rearranged her features and hoped she resembled Gara's sad-looking disposition. Gods knew the only time that girl smiled was when she was with Robb, Jon, Bran or Arya while they were at Winterfell. Gifu huffed and tried to smother her jealousy. Sansa and Arya were in their litter, Gara had gotten her own, paid for by their father. That's good, concluded Gifu. The less people that moron talks to, the better. Her thoughts were stemmed acutely when she realised Jon Snow was standing before her. His dire wolf, Shadow, was it? No, Ghost, trailed at his heels. Gifu tried to look pleased to see him, but feared she made more of a wince.
The handsome boy didn't seem to even notice. He was looking nervous and Gifu felt gleeful of that. There should be no such thing as a confidant bastard. She smiled, but tried to make it look like one of Gara's weak and watery ones.
"This is it," He began and Gifu nodded, "Yes...This is what?" She asked a little shortly and Jon looked at her and smiled. "I'm going to the Wall! Don't tell me you forgot?" Gifu gaped,
"The Wall?!" She scoffed, "You're going to the Wall? Well, good luck. It was nice knowing you, Jon Snow." Jon's brow climbed his head, "Wait a minute...Gifu?"
"What?"
"You're Gifu. Where's Gara?"
"I am Gara, you tit." Gifu snapped and then suddenly smiled. Throwing her arms around Jon's furred neck, she held him close in an embrace and felt a lot of eyes on her. She ignored the eyes and hissed in Jon's ear,
"Don't you dare even bother telling anybody, bastard."
She hugged him a little tighter before pulling away and holding his dark gaze. He was scowling at her. Flashing a dazzling smile, she snapped sweetly,
"I hope you enjoy the Wall."
And stay there and freeze for all eternity, she thought harshly as the company began to pull out of the yard. Jon eyed her and whistled on his wolf and was gone before she could blink. Gifu made her way over to Robb and they stood shoulder to shoulder watching as the King's court and Lord Eddard's some one hundred men file through the gates which lead out onto the King's Road. Robb turned and looked at Gifu ponderously; he gasped quietly when he saw a tear on her face,
"What is it?" He asked carefully. Gifu made no move and shook her head; her eyes were on Thegane Lannister and his man, Nevelle Tornthorne; they were talking casually on horseback as they rode away. She would have given anything to be with that company, which was leaving her behind to freeze in the North and blandly replied to Robb,
"She's riding away to my destiny, while I am stuck with hers."
"Oh." Said Robb, barely containing his glee, "That." Gifu turned and snapped at him,
"I have Gara's fate, which is to be buried up here in the North with you; the most insipid boy in Winterfell."
Robb didn't take offence, leaning in, he said with a smile,
"Well then you'd best get used to it hadn't you, Mother Goose."