ROBERT POV:
Winter Town / Winterfell:
"Are you sure we are expected? They don't seem very... joyful to see us"- Joffrey says not even pretending to ride his horse closer to his more bulk brother.
"Oh they are happy alright, this is the most emotion you are going to get out of the Northerners. Whores don't even scream when you are fucking them properly"-
"And how would you know that? I thought the members of the Kingsguard swore off women..."-
"That's because he spends far too much time listening through my bedroom door"-
Robert chose to ignore the unimportant banter of his son and his two good brothers; the Knight and the Imp. He preferred to focus on the fact that his subjects, people that lived on his lands downright ignored him. Just now a Knight coming from Winterfell had passed them running on his horse not as much as giving them a wave.
The minute they sat foot on northern soil there wasn't a minute they didn't feel in danger. Normally a path of roses would be thrown in front of them but every city, town and village they passed was the same, if people happened to be on the road when the Royal Caravan passed they would stand, curtsy and go on with their business, that was it. No blessings or good wishes, no children chasing the horses or pretty maidens giving their favors to the soldiers; only menacing stares and cold shoulders welcomed him to a land he once called home.
'Home is where the heart is' he thought as he looked behind him where the carriage held his wife, his Queen. He didn't deserved her. Cersei was the light at the end of the dark tunnel his life descended the minute he arrived at the Tower of Joy. Her never saw her body, he tried to go in the room but there was too much blood on the floor. He had seen men bleed to death, die by his own hand but to see his beloved?... 25 years he bowed to leave the North behind. It was his own wife that convinced him to go back...
"Stay with me today"- She purred in his ear.
"I cant. I have to hold up court today and listen to request"
"Your son has that covered. He woke before dawn"
"Then I have to meet with the council and find him a wife"
"Well if you stay with me I might just solve that particular problem..."
"Really? What is running inside that pretty little head of yours?"
"Well I was talking to Stannis the other day and..."-
"Stannis!" He groaned. He already hated where this conversation was heading. They were never close and the time he had spent in the north made Stannis harder, more blunt... like Eddard.
"Just hear me out and then you can go plot with the council all day. Agreed?"- It wasn't a question. It never was with his wife.
"He is worried about your forces, not only does an army grown weak when time passes without a war but he is worried about their number. More importantly about the North's number. Did you know that the Greyjoy's have triplicated their ships since your rebellion? Who do you think they will aid as their only daughter married Rob Stark and it's heir was raised in Winterfell?"-
"I am the King of Westeros Woman! Have you forgotten that the North and the Iron Islands are in fact in Westeros?"
"No but apparently you have, neglecting to go there for years. Who is to stop Eddard Stark from waking up tomorrow and declaring the North Independent? Who is to stop him if he sets his eye on the throne?"-
"That will never happen. He's too bloody honest to do that" He does have however the Targaryen boy...
"I know that my love but we are only looking out for you. And Gendry as well..."-
"If I had though you wanted me to stay in bed only to talk about Eddard Stark and that Bull headed child of yours I would have jumped over the balcony"
"Gendry is as stubborn as his father... but, I finally admit that it is time for him to be wedded, although I do not support your methods of finding him a bride mainly because he has no say in the mater"-
"He has no say in the mater because he doesn't say anything at all, he rejects every single girl that is put in front of him!"
"He just needs time to figure out what he wants but I agree that time is exactly what is running out. So, I've done a little digging by myself and found not one but two candidates that can interest the Crown. They are said to be beautiful and even more so intelligent. It would take us two months to meet them giving Gendry time to clear his head and it will also allow you to return to the North"-
"What are you talking about?"
"Eddard Stark has two daughters..."-
"HELL NO!" This was his signal to end the conversation. A Baratheon could never find happiness with a Stark. He sat up and began to put his clothes on.
"Robert please hear me out. The eldest is said to be the most graceful maiden in all the kingdom with a siren's voice and eyes as blue as the sky. While the youngest is already being compared to her aunt Lyanna"- That made him stop on his tracks. Lyanna... Surely the Gods would not be cruel enough to torment men with another face like her's again. He didn't dare to turn back, he felt ashamed that his wife could easily see that after all these years, after two sons; he still loved another woman.
"It's ok my Love"- She said reassuring him and hugging him from behind "She was your past, I cannot erase that but I am your present. I also need to take care of our future, our sons future. You need to make amends not only with Eddard but with yourself, if Gendry doesn't like any of the girls you would have at least released the burden that haunts you after all these years. Please... besides I am bored to death inside the castle, I'd like to feel a little bit of snow"-
...
A little more than a bit of snow was exactly what Cersei got, horses were having trouble marching and her carriage had been caught stuck two times but they finally were outside of gates of Winterfell. He didn't have to call him to see Gendry by his side; handsome and fearsome, even more built than he was at that age. He did however had to call Joffrey, he knew he was spoiling the boy rotten but he was just too funny and witty, the boy could weasel his way out of death. A trait he no doubt inherited from his uncle Tyrion.
The gates finally opened... Out of fear, out of nervousness he grabs on tight to his war-hammer... The whole town is there stoic but dutiful and in the steps of the great castle stand the Starks; Lords and Wardens of the mighty north.
They all bow in reverence has the king gets down of his horse and standing in front of the Lord of the House. His eyes are cold, and Robert honestly doesn't know if he is going to talk to him or throw a punch. Luckily for him, his wife always knows what to do.
"Lord Eddard..."- She said extending her hand which he dutifully takes.
"My Queen..."-
"So nice to finally meet you although I am more happy to see your wife"- Ugh? Suddenly both women were ignoring all protocol, hugging each other and giggling like two fifteen year-old. Both the King and the Lord stand awkwardly.
"Oh my God Cat, five?"-
"Oh yes, proud of every one of them"-
"As am I... Robert, the boys?"-
"Ah, yes... boys. This is my eldest and the Crown Prince; Gendry and this is my second Prince Joffrey" Robert says proudly as cold eyes in all of the yard scrutinize Gendry but he doesn't even flinch, he stands tall in the armor he forged himself and Robert is pleased to see that he surpasses even Eddard in height.
"You honor us with your presence these are my children..."-
The eldest Rob was what he expected, a proud northen man through and through, strong, young and married to the Greyjoy girl that seemed even more cold than the Starks, he wondered what their bed was like. The two youngest also favored the Tully look, blue eyes - red hair although Shireen betrothed looked more like a warrior, the other one looked more like a scholar. Then came the girls... or girl.
"It seems that you are missing one child Lady Stark"- Catelyn's eyes went wide but hid her distress well.
"Not missing, misplaced. Forgive us your Highness for the North has been Arya's playground and sometimes it is...difficult for her to find the way back to the castle"- But Robert didn't care for he had found his son's bride. There was no way that the youngest could be more beautiful than the redhead that stood before him. She was tall, even under her heavy coats you could tell she was slim and she had a face that was even more delicate than a porcelain doll. After all he doubted that the other girl looked like Lyanna for all the children had favored the Tully look.
"Please let us go inside so we can talk more freely. You must be tired after such a long journey."-
"Actually Ne... Lord Stark, I would like to pay my respects first." Robert said surprising all in attendance. Cersei looked proud.
"Of course, I will lead you to the crypts my King."- Robert was already making wedding plans as he walked inside Winterfell's mausoleums. Lya... I finally came back!
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ARYA POV:
Winterfell - the outskirts:
"Arya it's late, it will already take you more than two hours to get back home. It is already dark and you are alone. This is where we say our goodbyes"-
"You talk as if something could arm me. I belong to the wilderness and Nymerya roams the woods, it doesn't matter, I am already late"
"We don't care that you're late Girl we just want to move before we freeze our asses now let go of your cousin"-
"Don't speak to her like that"- She snickered as Sandor had to do what Jon told him. Winterfell was Sandor Clegane's home for he pledged his loyalty to Jon to cleanse the shame his brother gave upon his house after the sacking of Kings Landing.
She refused to let Jon go. He was to stay at the Wall until the Royal Party left Winterfell which by the way wasn't clear. The Wall! The Wall of all places! They said it was the only option in case the King decided to visit another of the great Houses. Jon was not to be seen, the King had made it clear on a letter he wrote saying that he was attending his niece's wedding and would preferred (meaning demanded) that the blood of Targaryen where far away from him. He was stripped of his home at childbirth and now as a grown man? Arya was positive her father saw her sneaking around after Jon but said nothing. It was best to not test her temper and her aim for everyone knew it far too well.
"Arya please. I have to go, we will always be in touch."-
"It's not the same" She pouted burying her head in his furs like she did with Nymeria.
"I now Little Wolf but it's not like you can come with me. Not without more protection..."-
"Protection? Send her to the wall. We'd have no more problems with wildlings and the white walkers!"-
"Thank the Gods! Will you get her home Forell before I kill her and say it was one of them walking corpses!"- Sandor said as Syrio Forell arrived in his horse instantly annoying Arya.
"I am perfectly capable of going back home"
"Yes... your father just doesn't trust you to do it on time. Let's go Pup, the King has already arrived"- Of course her father would send her dancing teacher. If she disobeyed him he would punish her often ending in bruises that would last for weeks. Not that she needed any more lessons, the student had surpassed the master years ago but was always hungry for any new technique she could learn.
"Promise me you will come back for my name-day!"
"You know I cant promise you that Arya, we don't know how long the King..."-
"I thought you were a dragon not a wolf's bitch!"- Muttered Clegane.
"If you want to go with sigil's then a dog isn't going to fair well against dragons and a wolf"- Scolded Jon. "Yes my Princess. I promise I will be with you on your name day"-
"Excellent" She said with glee, Jon would never say no to her and she was very much aware of it. "Ugh, I will miss you so much!" She said giving him one final hug.
"So will I my Little Wolf. Promise me you will behave and not do anything reckless"-
"When have I been reckless?"
"Since you were born!"- All three men said at the same time laughing at their own bad joke.
...
There would be no Septa nor handmaidens to help her get ready for they were all the feast held for the King but Arya didn't care. She really didn't see what the fuss was about and how her mother and sister managed to stretch into hours the simple task of brushing your hair and getting dressed. Not that she would ever say it out loud but she was happy she finally grew into her looks. She was still small in height but with curves that made men turn, a waist that made women jealous and a face that made people do what she wanted. It wasn't only Jon she had wrapped around her fingers. If Arya could not get what she wanted with her fists she would get it batting her eyelashes. Theon always said that she was worse than the mermaid's that used to rule the seas.
Tonight she was going to show the king what he couldn't have... she chose and elegant blue dress with a long flowly skirt, it had a somewhat low neckline that she was going to adorn with a necklace that had a wolf pennant with red eyes. Very carefully she styled her hair so that she could wear it down but had soft waves making it look even more thicker. And that was it! See? All in less then 45 minutes.
"What would you had done if I had left with Jon? Would you had stayed and sat there until I came back?"
"Of course! Unless your father's sword found my head or one of the wolves saw me appetizing"- As she walked down the stairs as had been the norm for almost a year now; Ramsey Bolton was waiting for her at the bottom. He was the chosen practice dummy for her charms and was madly in love with her. Arya knew she had to play her cards right and not give him enough hope for him to ask her hand in marriage for she truly did consider him a friend and didn't want to break his heart and say so. The kiss had caught her off guard, that will be his only one.
"Are you aware that no one is suppose to outshine the Queen? No man will even remember she is in the room once you enter"-
"If I had the ability to change my face I would do it but sadly this is what the God's deemed worthy of me. Shall we enter?"- She said with her sly knowing grin while Ramsey just smiled and shook his head while the doors to the great hall were opened.
"Lady Arya of House Stark escorted by Ramsey Bolton; heir of The Dreadfort"-
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