Author's Note; Something I forgot to say before but I'll say it now. For the longest time, RL had prevented me from getting any updates for this emotionally charged story because my real life felt like a war of its own. Now that the war's over and what's left of my family's been able to pick up the pieces, I can return to this tale with a clear head and a ready heart once more.
As for my recent reviews, all of them have been welcome except for three from one person. Anon, if you're going to leave a review, please by the Seven Hells, leave one that makes even a shred of sense! Yours I can't begin to decipher as they are and they don't seem to have anything to do with the story!
Reviews, favorites, and follows are always welcome, but I'm actually kind of hoping someone might throw in some fan art of the characters we've revealed thus far. I've only seen ONE Artemis pic in GoT styled garb. ONE! I'd love to have the entire YJ cast in GoT styled armor and silks, but I'll take what I can get lol.
One last thing. I wish to thank everyone that's been so patient for another chapter after such a long absence. I truly appreciate all of the favorites, follows, and reviews you've left myself and Archer83.
Winterfell
Artemis Lian Crock
A month after her arrival.
The infection had lingered, but between Maester Luwin's medicines and most of the Starks willingness to stay by her bed when they could, mostly to satisfy their own curiosity, some to encourage her, Artemis's recovery had been quicker than she thought it would have been given the nature of the world she had wound up in. Despite how much it drove her nuts to be bedridden for any length of time, Artemis had learned much of this place called Westeros through Old Nan's tales, and then asking more about them later from whatever Stark happened to be around when she was conscious. The fact Old Nan had a tendency to forget or mix up certain details hadn't bothered her so much, Artemis still found the old woman's tales to be of great interest.
"So you wish to know of Winter do you? Once you are able to take a meal with me in the hall I might tell you." With a quiet laugh, Eddard Stark gently pressed on Artemis's shoulder as she attempted to sit up in the narrow bed. "Impatient as always I see."
"Um yeah. I've been stuck here for a month. I think you'd be a bit stir crazy yourself Stark." Artemis countered with a huff as she crossed her arms over her chest. She frowned at the curious look on Eddard's face. "Err...your...Lordship?"
"I told you before Artemis, Ned will do. But, as you've been at death's door with fever for almost a fortnight, I will forgive your offense." Ned managed his usual stern countenance for all of three seconds before he broke into a kind smile. "This time."
"I'll keep that in mind. Ned." Artemis said as an amused look filled her gray eyes. She looked away a moment later when she saw a flicker of movement by the door. "You don't have to listen at a keyhole Arya." Artemis rolled her eyes but found she wasn't annoyed with the youngest Stark daughter in the least. Arya reminded her of herself in some respects.
"How do you do that?" Arya asked as she hesitantly poked her head into the room before shutting the door behind her.
Even mildly irritated with his youngest daughter, Stark's smile stayed in place. "I apologize for your rude guest. Her curiosity knows no bounds. As does her lack of proper manners."
"In case ya forgot Ned, I don't have 'proper manners' either, so we'll get along just fine." Turning to Arya next, the twinkle in her gray eyes increased as the young girl plopped herself down on her father's lap. "As for how I knew you were at the door, I had a pretty good idea it was you or Bran since you two have the softest footsteps. And Bran doesn't use soap."
"Oh." Arya mumbled with a look of embarrassment, before her expression brightened. "Could you teach me to do that?"
"Arya, I don't think now's the time to be asking such a thi-"
"No, I won't." Both Starks looked at Artemis as if she had grown a second head, although a flash of relief appeared on Ned's face at her flat refusal. "Trust me, I didn't enjoy learning how and neither would you." While she didn't know exactly what she might have said during her bouts of delirium, Artemis knew she had said enough that they knew part of her story from some of the questions asked of her by Ned and Catelyn.
But she must have mentioned her father at least a handful of times, since Lawrence Crock was the subject of the lion's share of their delicate quarries. Artemis had no doubt that Ned wouldn't have hesitated to put Sportsmaster to the sword if ever given the chance, and she wasn't sure she would have stopped him from executing her father. He had been very careful to hide any negative feelings from her, except for one small thing. She was pretty sure he must have been picturing the man in his mind whenever she caught him chopping wood outside of her small window. He still had a few errant splinters in his fur lined cloak to show for his over zealous approach.
"Why?" Arya asked, having missed the look that passed between Artemis and her father. "I think it'd be quite useful to be able to know who's coming around a corner or behind a door."
"Because the training involved to hone her senses to that precision nearly killed her and her sister, Arya." Ned stated solemnly before Artemis could come up with a kind response to the girl's question. Artemis was surprised by the man's bluntness, but she nodded her head in reluctant agreement since it wasn't too far off the mark. "Her father…was not a kind or honorable man. He tried to forge his children into weapons of war and worse."
"I take it I talked a lot more in my sleep than I thought." Artemis didn't know how she did it, but she resisted the urge to pull her legs up to her chin and bury her head between them in shame at admitting such weakness to anyone. Great! That means he probably knows what I am then! A murderer...just another Crock family criminal.
"Aye. I thought it better to be truthful than to deceive you." Eddard sighed as he gently stroked Arya's hair, clearly trying to show he was not upset with the small girl. "I had planned to wait a time before speaking of it."
"So what's with the five star treatment then? From what I've heard, people don't take kindly to criminals around here." She had heard of at least two other criminals that had been captured and given a choice. Both times they had chosen execution over serving on the infamous Wall that was far to the North of Winterfell.
"A son has the right not to be judged for the crimes of his family." It seemed to physically pain the man to see the usual cautious suspicion reasserting itself in her grey eyes. Even Arya noticed how the blonde woman looked at them now, and Ned knew she was trying to think of something to say to fix the mess she had made of things. "Artemis, you are who you choose to be. Unless you give me a reason not to trust you, you'll be allowed to live in Winterfell. I'm sure we can find something for you to do once you're on your feet again."
Caught between a desperate need to believe in the man's good nature, and being jaded enough to know no one was really as noble as Eddard Stark acted, Artemis' temper flared. "If you expect me to be a pretty flower on the wall, you got another thing coming."
Ned laughed and shook his head at the stubborn defiance on Artemis's face. He had seen her scars when she had held Robb hostage with his own dagger. Ned wasn't foolish enough to assume that she would ever be willing to act as a 'proper lady'. While it might be strange, having her as a guard on our walls would serve a dual purpose. It would give her a way to mingle among my people, and it will allow us to learn more about her when she isn't constantly on her guard. Stark internally chuckled at his bad pun before he replied. "You're too much of a warrior to have your talents wasted in such a manner young Artemis. I hope that your skills are never needed, but for now I don't see a problem with you manning the castle walls."
"A month here and you want me standing watch on the walls huh? Sure that's a good idea?" Artemis countered, surprised that anyone would ask her to do such an important task as watching for intruders along the walls of any castle. Surprised and suspicious because she didn't trust anyone except for her old friends about as far as she could throw them.
"Do you plan to betray my Lord father?" Arya peered closer at the older girl, as if she was staring to her very soul.
"What? No. You only just met me though. I wouldn't trust me." A dubious sounding Artemis advised the bluntest yet of Stark's children.
Ned risked a gentle pat on the blonde's shoulder. "And that's how I know I can. You've been nothing but honest, and while you keep your past closely guarded, I can understand why from what you have revealed."
"Not to mention about as blunt as a hammer to the anvil." Arya muttered just loud enough to be heard by them both.
"And damn proud of it." Artemis countered with a brief grin.
Ned's next words had her grin disappearing, replaced by a brief flash of embarrassment as he leveled his stern gaze on her next. "I would ask you to watch your tongue around my daughter, but she's already heard far worse. Mostly from her brothers and her fouled mouthed father."
That news surprised Artemis as she cocked her head to the side. "Really? I know I was out of it a lot, but I don't think I've heard you swear. I mean, not even once."
"Trust me, you have been fortunate not to be in my presence during such a tirade, as rare as they are." Ned replied, a noticeable twinkle in his stern gaze at the self deprecating humor.
"Bloody hell is about the worst he gets. And that's barely once or twice a year. When he doesn't think I'm around." Arya stated with what Artemis couldn't mistake for anything else but pride. Even as Ned turned his stern gaze on her, the smirk on the girl's face never faltered. "He's really quite boring to be honest."
"I'm boring am I?" Ned said with a small chuckle before he ruffled his daughter's hair.
"Trust me Arya, boring's a good thing." Artemis said with a nod of approval. "A very good thing." Boring was safe, boring was the comfort of routine, boring was family and friends who cared about you. Her life had been anything but boring, but she had had a group treasured friends and at least one family member that had honestly loved and cared for her.
"I won't lie to you, Artemis. Life here in the north is harsh, but we are a proud people that look out for one another. Has Maester Luwin told you our House motto by chance?"
Artemis nodded her head before reciting the phrase that Luwin had told her when she had asked about House Stark. "Winter is coming." She hadn't needed the old Maester to tell her what it meant, or that it had several meanings, all of them dire. Hard times were coming, was the first thing that always came to her mind, but she had a feeling there had been far more to it.
"While these lands may seem cold and unforgiving to you now, Winter, Winter is-" Ned paused with a rare look of confusion as Artemis held up a hand to stop him.
"Meal in the hall first, remember?" Artemis said as her smirk reasserted itself on her face.
"Indeed, I recall that being the bargain we struck." Ned replied with a nod of his head, an honest to gods smile appearing on his face for a moment.
Artemis instantly corrected the formidable Lord of the North. "That you demanded."
"Yes." With a self deprecating smirk, Ned found himself increasingly fascinated with this strong willed young woman the more he spoke with her. When she wasn't tossing and turning in her sleep from some old nightmare or another, she was intriguing and wise beyond her years. I always forget that she is a woman rather than a man, but her strong will is a fitting addition to Winterfell. I am just glad Walder Frey didn't find her instead. I fear his head would have been mounted above his own gates by now. Ned didn't realize he was grinning off into space until he noticed the odd looks Artemis and his daughter were giving him.
Arya nudged Ned in the ribs before hopping off of his lap. "Don't worry, he isn't nearly this strange. Most of the time."
For the first time in her memory of him, Stark actually looked befuddled. "So boring and strange then?" Artemis opted to take pity on him.
"I wasn't concerned. All of my old friends had strange habits." You have no idea how true that is old man Ned. Artemis chuckled and shook her head again, only then noticing that her stomach was growling. "So, when's that feast?"
"Should be ready by now." Arya said with a shrug before looking at her father, who nodded his head.
"Screw it. I'm tired of staring at the ceiling." Her eyes flicked to Ned's raised hand as she moved to sit on the side of the bed. "Either you can try to stop me again, not promising that I won't embarrass you, or you could get someone to help me out of this damn bed."
"Um...might I suggest-"
"Geez, what's that smell-" Artemis felt her cheeks warming as she realized the noticeable body odor was coming from her. "Oh."
Arya was quick to pounce on that loaded comment. "I wasn't planning to say anything, but you do kind of reek Arty."
Ned Stark's exasperated sigh said it all, as far as the young blonde archer was concerned. "Arya, you will address Artemis by her-"
Quick to recover some measure of her pride, Artemis interrupted the Lord of the North before he could finish chastising Arya. Besides, her nickname didn't sound so bad coming from the young girl, despite the innocent insult Arya had thrown her way. "Arty's fine. Some of my closest friends called me that….back home."
"I see." Ned said with a chuckle and a shake of his head before turning to Artemis again. "But if you're going to attend a feast, then we must have you looking halfway presentable."
"At least you have a nice way of saying I look like shit." Artemis made it a point to look at Arya, who blushed but giggled nervously at the playful glare the archer threw her way. "So, I take it Catelyn and a few of her gals will be up here soon then? So long as it's not Septa Mordane, I'm cool." There was no way in Hell she'd let that old ding bat within a hundred meters of her again. Not after the last time. Her unlady like ways had absolutely mortified Septa Mordane, and the old woman that usually tended to Sansa Stark had tried to verbally browbeat Artemis into submission. By the time Robb and Ned had come along, she and Mordane had been eye to eye, seconds away from tearing the other's throat out.
"Yes, I think one attempt to lead you away from your-" Stark pondered, and raised an eyebrow in amusement. "-I believe her exact words were 'path of wickedness', was enough. Wouldn't you agree?" Ned wasn't at all surprised by the blonde archer's response. In fact, he was more surprised she didn't shout out her reply given how her last encounter with the Septa had gone.
"Hell yes." Her enthusiasm was very much not in doubt.
Without missing a beat, Ned continued onto a far less volatile subject, his smile losing none of its warmth. "And you are quite correct, my wife will no doubt dote on you to the point of madness. I only ask that you try to humor her, while suffering her womanly smothering."
"Your wife's a good woman, so I'll be nice. This time." Artemis said, mimicking Ned's own stern tone. Arya giggled again, her own gray eyes alight with the strange woman's attempt to copy her father's stern tone.
"You have my thanks. Come Arya." With that, Eddard rose from his chair with his daughter two steps behind him.
"See you soon Arty." Arya shot over her shoulder, a grin on her face that reached her ears until the door shut behind her.
Artemis could only shake her head at the two of them, never growing tired of their company even if they came from two different worlds, literally and otherwise. Just hope I can live up to their standards until I can find my old team. Ignoring the guilt associated with why she was so readily accepted among them, overall, Artemis sat up on the side of the bed and tried to stand on her own
only to stumble back when her legs threatened to go out from under her. Damn...still weak. At least I'm still alive to complain about it though.
Artemis managed not to wobble, 'confidently' getting to her feet when Catelyn Stark entered the spartan room a short time later. "Don't bother. You may have fooled my Lord husband, but I am a far more observant host than he is. You may not have Stark blood, but you are as stubborn as any of my children, along with their father."
"Men are kind of dense no matter where you are." Artemis said with a snort as she considered sitting back down, while trying to ignore the sweat that beaded on her forehead just from trying to stay on her feet. It made her blood boil even to acknowledge its existence, betraying the fact she was still all but helpless. "I hate appearing weak. Weakness wasn't something that was tolerated growing up." There was no point in lying to Catelyn, she had already proven she was far more observant than most.
"As you showed us many times while you fought the fever that almost took you." The Stark matriarch rolled up one of her embroidered sleeves to show Artemis a nasty bruise on her right forearm. "At first, you were far more combative than cooperative." Catelyn frowned the instant Artemis averted her gaze, her grey eyes full of guilt. "No. Shame does not suit you, I thanked the gods for your defiant spirit. It was then that I knew you would survive."
"Why do you and your family care so much about a complete stranger?" Not a complete stranger, Artemis corrected herself, but the question remained.
To Artemis's surprise, Catelyn gently cupped her chin and made her meet her gaze. "Because we in the North look after our own. You are in the North, hence you are one of us. Your strange arrival means nothing, only what you choose to do now matters-"
Artemis was quick to jerk her chin out of the Tully woman's grasp, but she did so with some reluctance. "You can save the pep talk, I already got this speech from His Lordship."
"Then you'll just have to suffer through it again until you believe it. Now, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?" Catelyn asked, a familiar twinkle appearing in her eyes as she let her hand fall to her side. "And would you kindly sit? You look as if a strong breeze could best you."
With a sigh of defeat, Artemis plopped back down on the bed with a huff of annoyance. At least she was able to contain the relief she felt as her legs stopped shaking. "Only I can choose, blah, blah, blah."
"Gods be good, it's no wonder Septa Mordane thought about ripping her hair out. What hair she has left." Catelyn said with a laugh and a shake of her head. "I fear you shall ruin every decent young lady for miles and lead a rebellion against proper manners." Catelyn leaned closer to the younger woman and raised a hand before she could think of a snappy comeback. "And I have no doubt you would be victorious."
"At least you know who to put your money on." Artemis countered as her smirk disappeared as quickly as it had formed. "Thank you….I don't think I've said it enough, but thanks for keeping me alive. I don't know how I'll do it, but I'll find some way to repay you, to help Winterfell until I can find or hear from any of my friends again. I have a feeling I'm not the only 'strange arrival' Westeros has had."
"I don't doubt your word, nor your commitment to your old friends. I will pray to the Seven that they are safe and well." Catelyn turned as a handmaiden entered behind them and offered a small bundle to her with a curtsey.
"M'lady."
"Ah, thank you. Please, help the others prepare a bath for our guest." Catelyn chose to ignore the glare Artemis threw her way. They both knew she was in no position to be doing anything for herself, and so the archer said nothing.
"Of course, m'lady." With another small curtsey, the girl, who had to be Artemis' age if not younger, quickly left the room.
Catelyn raised a curious eyebrow, as her opinion of the young woman went up a few notches. "You disapprove?"
"I hate being waited on hand and foot. I'm just used to doing everything myself, injured or not." The actual wound had long since healed over, but the infection had done its job by that point. So as much as it annoyed her, angered her, Artemis had to endure being treated as an invalid, or so she thought of herself.
"Would it improve your mood if I promised to assign you their tasks for a day, once you are well enough?" Catelyn gently chided the good hearted blonde.
"Only if you don't mind anyone who slaps my ass getting a black eye or a couple broken ribs." Artemis deadpanned as she crossed her arms over her chest again.
"Hmm. Perhaps I shall simply make up a holiday which they would not dare to question."
"Ya know, you aren't so bad Catelyn." While she doubted Catelyn would actually give such a holiday to the servants of the castle, forcing the people in a position of power to serve themselves, the humor wasn't lost on the archer. "Guess we might as well get this over with then, or Ned will be wondering what we're doing."
Catelyn's shock was not entirely feigned given Artemis's habit since breaking her fever for good. "Just Ned? I thought you'd never stop coming up with more interesting titles for my husband."
"I'm trying to be 'proper' for once. Don't get used to it." Artemis shot back, her gray eyes lighting up with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
Catelyn placed a hand to her chest with a mock pained expression. "I fear I may die of shock." Artemis only shook her head and chuckled at the woman's theatrics. Before either of them could say another word, Catelyn unwrapped the bundle in her arms.
Artemis blinked, dumbfounded as she looked at the dark green garment the woman was unfolding. "A dress? You actually expect me to wear... a dress?" The stern look on the Stark matriarch's face answered that question for her. "Fine. I'll wear the damn thing." Despite her seemingly easy acceptance, Artemis's mind was awhirl with her distaste of the outfit Catelyn had had brought up to her. I can walk around a Manta sub in bronze armor and an enchanted amulet to hide my real identity, a dress shouldn't be half as difficult. It's a dress though! I might as well be naked.
Artemis's thoughts were derailed when someone made their presence known. "I'm glad to hear that." Both women turned to see Jon sticking his head into the room. "You are hard to kill I see." Jon noted with satisfaction. "Lord father sent me to see what was taking so long. Shall I let him know that you'll be coming down soon?"
"Tell him what you wish." Artemis was surprised by the chill that seemed to appear out of thin air as Catelyn turned her head towards Jon. She couldn't see her face, but the blonde woman had the distinct impression that Jon would have been reduced to ash if Catelyn could have killed him with a look. "We will be there soon enough, Snow." The young man merely nodded before shutting the door, leaving without so much as a word. The chill remained, but Artemis noticed it seemed tinged with sorrow at letting her control slip as Catelyn immediately shifted her attention back to the younger woman. "Now then, I imagine a hot bath will do you a world of good."
She didn't say anything about it then, but Artemis didn't plan to leave things as they were. If Catelyn could feel her gray eyed glare on her back, she didn't comment on it. If she had, Artemis wasn't sure she could have held her tongue in check. It wasn't her place to question their ways, not yet, but that didn't stop her from thinking about the hatred that had emanated from Catelyn Stark at the mere presence of Jon Snow.
Instead, Catelyn and one of her handmaidens got her cleaned up, dressed in the green gown that the older woman had had brought up, and ready to head down to her first meal outside of the infirmary since her arrival, all in silence.
Only Ned's arrival broke the tense silence that had fallen over the infirmary. "Who is this enchanting creature I see before me, and what have you done with courageous young Artemis?" Between Catelyn and her handmaiden's ministrations, Artemis had been transformed from the rough young woman she had been upon arrival, to the stunning picture that was presented to him now. While she still scowled and narrowed her eyes in annoyance, her inner beauty had been brought out. Her hair had been brushed until the long blonde locks shone and went down her back in golden waves, free of the ponytail it had originally been in. A little makeup had accentuated Artemis's facial features and clear skin, only adding to her natural allure. The green gown helped to show off her lean and trim figure.
"Your wife made her disappear, for the moment." She wasn't happy with the dress, but Catelyn's glowing expression almost made it tolerable. Almost. "But if you want to keep poking the bear, I'm sure I can find her again." Artemis grinned at the smirk on Ned's stern face as he shook his head in amusement at the brash woman's attitude.
"I'm sure we'll find her soon enough. Come, a lady such as yourself deserves a proper escort." Ned turned to Catelyn with a gentle smirk. "With your leave m'lady."
"Off with you two before I reconsider." Catelyn countered, having to bite her tongue to stop herself from laughing at her husband's attempt at humor. Before they got far, Artemis felt the woman's hand on her shoulder. "As rare as this might be, you would make a fair match for any true noble born lady."
Artemis stared blankly for a moment before finally replying, her cheeks having turned a shade brighter at the compliment. "Um...thanks. I guess."
"Aye, we could tell everyone she's a relation of yours my love." Ned teased as he offered Artemis his hand.
"With blonde hair like a Lannister? I think not." Catelyn laughed at that, and Ned chuckled in turn as they made their way to the main hall of Winterfell.
"Lannister? Lannister who-" Artemis didn't get to finish her question as she almost stumbled over the hem of her dress. "Damn! This is why I hate dresses!" If not for Ned's hand wrapped around her arm, and the fact she was having trouble keeping her balance anyway, she'd have bent down and ripped the gown to pieces so it didn't trip her up with every step. Jade would be laughing her ass off if she could see me right now.
"At least it's a pretty dress." Ned snorted with a quiet chuckle.
"Not. Another. Word." Artemis growled, then remembered her situation and quickly tacked on a "Please."
"As you wish." With that, Ned patiently guided her to the main hall where the majority of his family had already gathered. Artemis felt an odd mixture of annoyance and gratitude when the man seemed to sense her fatigue and automatically slowed their pace towards the head table. "Attention everyone."
Oh no. Oh hell no. Artemis realized with horror what the man was about to do, and tried to tug free of his arm before being pulled slightly closer.
As suspected, Eddard carried out his plan to embarrass her to the fullest of his ability. "I would like to introduce Artemis Crock, our latest guest and future guardsmen... woman. So be courteous, all of you, your life might depend on her good nature one day."
"You are so dead when I'm back on my feet again." Artemis growled barely above a whisper, just loud enough to be heard by none but a grinning Eddard Stark and a beaming Catelyn Tully. With another huff, she was sat down at the end of the small table, near a four year old, Rickon, if her foggy memory served. Despite the curious glances that most of the family gave her, it was the subtle glare that the prettiest of the Stark children threw her way that had Artemis's undivided attention. What crawled up your dress and died?
"It is a pleasure to meet you Artemis Crock, for a peasant, my dress suits you rather nicely." It took a considerable amount of effort not to grab the knife in front of her and throw it into the girl's neck as Artemis met the oldest daughter's disapproving gaze. Thankfully, the food that the nearby servants had prepared for their meal decided to step in before she could dwell on it too much.
With practiced ease, Artemis just threw a smirk the girl's way, as if her verbal slap hadn't stung in the least. "Thanks. I didn't realize I was wearing something of yours. Sansa, right?" The way Sansa blushed at her surprisingly kind words gave Artemis a moment of pleasure at having put the pretty wall flower on the defensive.
To her credit, Sansa didn't remain on the defensive for long. "You are correct. I see my family has treated you well. Usually father is a bit less forgiving of those who hold his children hostage." Sansa shot back in that delicately soft voice that somehow contained equal parts pleasantness and scorn.
Robb quickly spoke up in Artemis's defense before his sister could get another word in edgewise. "Sansa, I certainly wouldn't describe it that way. The poor woman was half delirious at the time, and rightly cautious in my opinion."
"I heard she did it in the skin the gods gave her." Arya stated, much to Robb's embarrassment and Catelyn's shock at her blunt statement. Even Artemis had to pause as she reconsidered taking a drink from the mug that had been put in front of her as her cheeks turned a shade of red that would have put Sansa's hair to shame.
Robb nearly spat out his wine as he set the goblet down, sputtering loudly. "Arya! That is not true! ...Mostly."
"I'm not sure what's more surprising. The fact Robb looks like he swallowed his tongue, or the fact he was disarmed by a girl in the buff. What a Crock of bullshit." Theon Greyjoy stated with a leer.
"I've heard that more times than I can remember. From your idiotic grin, you must be Theon, the ah... 'ward' of House Stark. How'd your father's rebellion go? Oh right, sorry." Theon's leering smirk died at the reminder while Artemis smirked at having smacked the iron blooded idiot down without laying a hand on him. Before Theon could come up with a comeback, Artemis had since turned her gaze to Arya next. "And Arya, your brother's right, I wasn't exactly thinking straight. So uh...let's forget the whole thing shall we?"
It was Arya's turn to be interrupted as Theon recovered faster than Artemis thought he would. The dark look he threw her way aside, the leer on his face had returned as he openly looked at her body without a shred of shame. "I'm surprised Lord Stark saw fit to let you pretend to be a guard. I'm sure your fellow guardsmen will be happy to give you a warm welcome. If they don't, you can always patrol my bed anytime you like."
Before a fuming Eddard Stark could say a word, Artemis quickly spoke for herself. "Any man that tries to lay a finger on me won't have fingers." Theon again was at a loss for words at the cold fury that lined Artemis's voice as she casually picked up and twirled a carving knife between her fingers. "And just so we're clear Greyjoy, if I ever find myself in your bed, it'll be to cut your cock off and shove it down your throat." To emphasize her point, Theon had to jerk to the left as the knife left her hand and embedded itself into the wood of the chair where his ear had just been.
"Can you show me how to do that?!" Bran and Arya shouted at the same time, ignoring the terrified look on Greyjoy's face as Jon pulled the knife out of the chair and nodded his thanks to Artemis before returning to his meal.
"No, she won't." Ned grumbled while taking his seat, saving Artemis the effort. "Now, may we have a peaceful meal together for once?"
"Artemis, where are you from, that they teach girls archery and swordsmanship?" At his father's frown Bran shrugged and gestured to the interesting new woman at the end of the table. "What? I heard her talking in her sleep when Maester Luwin let me see her."
Artemis smirked down at the young boy, unbothered by his questions in the least as she took a moment to savor the good food that had been laid out on the table before addressing the second youngest Stark child. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. I doubt you'd find my home town on any map you have Bran."
"Well, it was more interesting than listening to Luwin teach me how to make a poultice anyway." Bran shrugged despite the disapproving frown he received from his lord father.
"I wouldn't let Maester Luwin hear you say that." Robb said before he turned his gaze to Artemis next. "But he does have a point. I don't think I've heard tale of such a land where women are equal to men in the arts of war. Your journey here must have been quite a story in itself."
Eddard suddenly had a coughing fit which conveniently drew everyone's attention to the opposite side of the table. "Excuse me. As I recall, you made mention of visions of red lightning, a cackling evil boy, and other strange thoughts. It must have been the fever wreaking havoc with your memory, with the considerable amount you seem to have lost. Temporarily I hope."
It took all of Artemis's skill not to profusely thank Eddard for covering for her. She had no idea how she would have explained Klarion's magic sending her there without his clever half lie. "Yeah, me too. Sorry, I don't really know more than my name, the name of my parents, my sister, and some of the people I used to know before I found myself here. Other than some fuzzy memories of where we lived and what we did, there's not much else." And I didn't need a fake background and an enchanted amulet to pull that off. Eat your heart out Dick.
Sansa almost seemed ashamed of her earlier behavior as she looked at Artemis with renewed interest. "It must be a terrible burden to be robbed of such memories."
Not really. I wouldn't complain if I could erase a few of the worst. She merely shrugged before saying anything more. "It could have been a lot worse Sansa. At least I'm alive to complain about it at all."
"She's got a point." Jon mumbled, ignoring the scathing look that Catelyn threw his way for drawing attention to himself. Again Artemis had to wonder what the deal was with Jon and Catelyn, but she chose to keep her opinions to herself, for now.
As she noticed every pair of eyes in the hall curiously studying her, Artemis honestly had to wonder if she would have been better off staying in bed. Why did I have to open my big damn mouth? As conversation slowly drifted away from her arrival in Winterfell, Artemis did her best to stay quiet and tried to enjoy her first decent hot meal in recent memory.
Present Day
The news of Jon Arryn's death had hit Ned hard, but from what Artemis had heard from the rest of the house guard, that wasn't the only bit of news that had come with the raven's message that morning. Having been standing watch by the main gate since early that morning, she thought she could see a distant cloud of dust approaching down the kingsroad, drawing closer to the gates of Winterfell. With the flurry of activity in the castle grounds themselves, Artemis had a pretty good idea who was coming. "King Robert Baratheon and the Lannisters." Turning to see who had given voice to her suspicions, Artemis's gray eyes shone briefly with admiration for the man that had approached her.
Looking over her shoulder, she smiled when she noted it was Jory Cassel, the Captain of Lord Stark's guards. The young man had never given her a reason not to like him, and he had eagerly accepted her as part of the force that would lay down their lives in defense of the castle and those that lived within. "I had a feeling, but I've been freezing my ass off up here so I haven't been able to listen to the gossip this afternoon. He's looking for a new Hand I take it?" Idly running a gloved hand through Cheshire's black fur, Artemis met the captain's gaze as he soon stood next to her and her direwolf.
"You'd be right Crock. Chances are good we'll be marching for King's Landing before the month's over." Jory said as he leaned on the wall next to the extraordinary archer. "I'm not sure who'd be better suited for that nest of adders, me or you."
"If it comes time for us to decide who's staying and who's going, I'd almost prefer staying here in Winterfell." There might have been a time Artemis would have welcomed the chance to see an actual city again, but that time had come and gone. Now she preferred the silence of the country, the communal society people here so favored. From the look on Jory's face, she could see that he was surprised by her answer, but pleasantly so.
Jory recovered quickly though and nodded his head in approval of her answer. But she didn't need to read his mind to know that he wanted to go out and see the world as he looked to the distant horizon. "Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing King's Landing, Lady Crock. To walk through the Red Keep, to look upon the Iron Throne for myself just once so I have stories to tell my grandchildren someday. Although I'll have plenty of stories to tell them about you."
Artemis threw her head back and laughed at that until she noted the embarrassment on Jory's face. "I'm sorry Jory, I just didn't think I'd ever hear someone say that about me of all people." Looking down when she felt a familiar tug on her glove, Artemis shook her head and met her wolf's gray gaze as she knelt down to Cheshire's level. "Alright you. You're as bad as my sister. Come on then, we could both use a hot meal."
"Get on with you. I'll have one of the others stand up here while you take care of yourself and your friend there." Cheshire gave off an appreciative growl deep in her throat, much to Jory's amusement. "I swear those wolves are as smart as me and you."
"You got that impression too huh?" Artemis didn't stick around for a reply before she and her black wolf ran off, the small wolf pup hot on her heels. She wasn't so small now though, just as the rest of the Starks' new pets had also grown over the last month since their discovery.
"Brandon!" Hearing Catelyn's shout as they crossed the yard, Artemis stopped and stared up at the wall the young boy was currently climbing down. She and Cheshire soon stood behind the Stark matriarch as she glowered at the cheerful boy. "How many times have I told you, no climbing?!"
"But mother-" The sight of Artemis' glare along with a subtle shake of her head was enough to get the boy safely to the ground in record time.
Knowing why Bran had gone silent so quickly before she even turned to look, Catelyn met Artemis's gray eyes and fought the urge to chuckle. "And you're just as bad as he is. Don't think I don't know about your little lessons you've been giving Arya and Bran when I'm not looking. Gods only know why I put up with you."
"Because I'm a hell of a shot and you like that I'm so honest all the time." Artemis countered without a moment of thought.
"True enough. Bran, go tell your brothers and sisters to be ready. I fear we will be having unwelcome guests for dinner tonight."
"But why do I have t-" The mischievous grin on Artemis's face had Bran running as fast as his legs could carry him, his own direwolf pup, Summer, doing his best to keep up with him. Cheshire watched all this with an amused look on her face while Catelyn only shook her head as she turned back to the grinning archer.
"Dare I ask how you do that?" The older woman asked.
"He knows not to call my bluffs on the off chance I'm not kidding. Which is never in his case. But don't tell him I said that." Artemis said with a shrug of her shoulders before she pulled her heavy quiver's strap higher on her left shoulder.
"Oh, I know that you'd sooner stick one of your own arrows in your heart than harm a hair on Bran's head. That said, I thought the 'accidental' near misses during his archery lessons were a stroke of genius. You certainly taught him a healthy respect for weapons in short order."
"Yeah well, better respect than outright fear." Artemis shrugged again, but Catelyn didn't miss the brief flash in her gray eyes as they made their way to the main hall. "Besides, his accuracy certainly went up a fair bit."
Having gained the advantage, Catelyn was loath to let it go as she continued speaking. "And you were clever enough to take advantage of the opportunity to teach him how to stitch the tears in his clothes. One never knows when they might have to mend a shirt, or a wound."
"I'm over prepared, what can I say?" Try as she might to sound nonchalant about it, Artemis knew she hadn't fooled Catelyn into believing she didn't consider it a big deal.
A hand on her arm proved that in spades as they stopped just past the main hall's heavy iron doors. "Over prepared is well armed Artemis. You and Ser Rodrick make a formidable team. You especially have done more for my children, even Jon Snow, than I could have hoped for. I might not like to think of it, but I know my Lord husband is right. Winter always comes, and I'd rather they be safe and prepared for anything."
"It helps I don't have gray whiskers about as long as my hand." Artemis countered as a small smirk appeared on her lips, but her intense gaze never wavered from Catelyn's face.
Letting her hand fall back to her side, the Tully woman moved about the hall as she directed the bustling servants to and fro, all the while continuing their conversation. "Don't let Rodrick hear you say such things. I fear he'll have you cleaning the armory all summer long."
As was her custom, Artemis had a ready comeback. "I can always use more practice cleaning the weapons anyway."
Overhearing this as he strode towards them, Eddard shook his head in amusement. "Haven't you had enough of 'maintaining' the armory? You're going to wear the blades down to a nub. And then what would we fight with?"
"Vulgar language?" Artemis shot back, her grin reappearing on her face as she stepped aside when a servant laden with food bustled past. "'Sides, with the King and his merry band about to knock on the gates, I think we'll have plenty of ammo to go around."
"I take it you heard then." Ned stated rather than asked as she only nodded as she hesitantly met his stern green gaze. "Then it shouldn't come as a surprise that I'd like for you to be present alongside Ser Rodrick, and the rest of the guard, when they ride in."
"Parade march through the castle, got it. Should I dress up in that pretty gown again? Before you say anything, I'd rather go to this party naked before wearing that thing again. I swear it was trying to trip me." Despite her complaint, Artemis really hadn't minded the dress so much. It had felt good to actually look like a woman rather than a wilding, as Septa Mordane would no doubt say. Artemis didn't plan to admit that to anyone though, Ned especially.
"And Catelyn was looking forward to making you look ravishing again too." Ned chuckled as the first meal they had had together flickered through his thoughts. "Wear what you will, but I would ask you to clean off the mud and the dirt at the very least."
"But Jory always tells me the mud and dirt is 'quite striking.'" Again the wolf pup at her feet growled in what was unmistakably a chuckle as Artemis crossed her arms before the stern faced Lord of the North. "Course, his opinion is probably biased since I could beat him and any three men bloody with nothing but my fists."
Ned could only sigh in exasperation. "Just do it Artemis. It would not do for a Lord to have to beg one of his guards now would it?"
"Of course m'lord." Artemis smirked as she gave the nobleman a small bow.
Ned held out a hand to stop her. "Don't do that. It's... very odd. Coming from you especially."
Just as she was about to take off to do as he had kindly asked, Artemis stopped and stared at Ned and Catelyn for a long moment. "Whatever happens with the King, I'll be right behind you one way or the other." Ned only nodded while Catelyn looked on the young archer and her pup with appreciation as Artemis exited the main hall at a brisk run. They didn't have to ask what she had meant. Robert Baratheon's reason for visiting Winterfell was the worst kept secret in the seven kingdoms.
"So the invaders approach our gates, but are you ready to thwart them?" Stopping on her way to the guard barracks, Artemis wasn't at all surprised Robb was trying to catch up with her. His own wolf, Grey Wind, stopped and stared at her own in that curious way all of the Stark wolves had about them, as if they were speaking to each other without their owners being the wiser.
Ignoring the look her own wolf was giving to Robb's, Artemis met the eldest Stark's gaze and grinned as she started towards the barracks again, albeit at a much slower pace. "Give me a pile of quivers, and five men half as good as I am. We could be at your father's coronation in King's Landing in two weeks, tops."
"Really, that long eh? You don't give yourself enough credit Artemis. I doubt even the mighty Aegon the Conqueror and his three dragons would have been a match for you and your bow." Robb said, his eyes holding more in their gray depths than amusement.
It took a considerable effort for her to ignore the intensity in his eyes as she shrugged him off. "I'd turn him and his sister wives into allies and have three interesting new pets. Failing that, well, there's always plan B."
"Let me guess: Bloodbath?"
"Something like that. At least I'd still have the dragons though. I don't like animal cruelty." Except for Klarion's cat. There's one pussy I wouldn't mind declawing. Letting that thought sink deep into a dark corner of her mind, Artemis continued without missing a beat. "So, what can I do for ya Robb?"
"Besides provide me with your usual brand of humor? I was actually hoping you had seen Jon and my brothers about."
"Bran was just sent to find you and the rest of your folks actually, to let them know the King and his entourage are coming down the kingsroad. I haven't seen Arya today, and Sansa I'd guess is with old bat Mordane, as usual. Jon I was sure was talking with Mikken earlier, but if he's still there I can't say."
"You and Mordane are still at odds I see." Robb leaned closer to her as if sharing a dark secret. "Between you and me, she always has the barest hint of a grin on her wrinkled face after one of your bouts. I think it keeps her young at heart, finding some little upstart that isn't intimidated by her in the least."
"Huh. That's the last thing I expected to hear." Artemis could only blink for a few seconds as Robb's words sunk in, but when they did, she let out a short laugh and disappeared into the barracks, leaving Robb to find his brothers and sisters alone. It was only after the door had been shut behind her that Artemis let her mask dissolve completely. Great. This is almost as bad as the whole thing with Kaldur and M'gann. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. My life and the people I care about are here, but I have to honor my word. Ned's going to give in to Robert's demand to be the new Hand, and if half of the stories I've heard about the capital are true, then he'll need all the help he can get. If only Ollie was here. He'd say something asinine and then give me some surprisingly wise advice right about now.
"You look like you swallowed a horseshoe Arty." While it wasn't Ollie, Arya was the second best thing she had as Artemis opened the door to her private quarters and was surprised to see the young girl sitting on her bed. "I'm hiding from Mordane." Arya stated when Artemis looked at her quizzically.
"I figured. So what happened this time? Banished from classes? Destroyed some ancient holy relic?" Artemis asked as she looked outside before gently shutting the door when she was sure the coast was clear.
"Sewing lessons. I hate sewing!" Arya shot back.
"Well, let me ask you the same thing I asked Bran. Do you like bleeding to death?" Bran had paled visibly when Artemis had put the question to him, but he at least had had the good sense to give her a satisfactory answer when he had recovered.
The young girl was too angry to be afraid as she rounded on Artemis. "You don't have to stitch stupid embroidery onto wounds though!" Arya countered before flopping onto her front on Artemis's bed. "I know what you're trying to do. I hate that it's working. You always know what to say, what to do, to get people to do what you want."
"I've had practice." Sitting next to the young Stark, Artemis looked at the ground between her feet. "I don't like scaring you kiddo, but like your old man, I won't lie to you either. I don't think this royal welcome is going to end well for anyone. Just a bad feeling I have. Why do you think I've been so hard on you and Bran and Rickon?" Rickon she hadn't had nearly enough time with, but the fact remained all the same.
"Because winter is coming?" Arya phrased the statement like a question, but it still had the effect of sending a chill down their respective spines.
"That's about the truth in a nutshell Arya." Artemis finally said as she felt rather than saw the girl sit next to her. "It might not seem like an important skill, but trust me, sewing a wound shut, 'stupid embroidery' or not, is something you shouldn't run away from. It's either that or plan B."
"Burning it shut with fire and steel didn't work so well for you." Arya grumbled aloud, but the hint of a grin had started to appear once more.
"Thanks for the reminder Arya Underfoot." She wasn't surprised when the girl nudged her none too gently with her elbow before getting to her feet.
"You promised you wouldn't say that!"
"I lied. Adults do that."
"Long Lost Lannister." Arya muttered with a grin on her face. Artemis much prefered the story Ned had implied years ago than Arya's mocking theory. The mysterious woman with no past suited her quite well.
"Horseface." Artemis countered before ruffling the girl's hair, much to Arya's amused annoyance. "Now go, I need to get ready and so do you."
"I wasn't going to say anything, but you do kind of reek." Arya shot back just as Artemis chugged her pillow at the retreating girl's back. The door shut before it could get close to its mark, but it had served its purpose in getting the young Stark moving.
Cleaned and dressed in her best polished leathers and fur lined clothes that Artemis had stored away, the archer had had just enough time to feed herself and Cheshire before the first of the King's entourage made their presence known at the castle gates. Gently nudging her way between Rodrick and another of the castle staff, Artemis stood with her arms crossed and her bow prominently displayed on her back, right next to her heavy quiver. Rodrick gave her a curious glance, but she just shrugged. The old man said nothing more, knowing better than to question her well meaning paranoia.
Maester Luwin also gave her a strange look as Artemis stared at the back of Catelyn's head, until she realized Arya was missing about the same time the Tully woman had. When asked about her location, Sansa only minutely shrugged, but they didn't have to wait for long as the youngest girl ran by, a helmet on her head of all things. Artemis had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from smirking as Ned took the iron helm off of Arya's head and handed it to Rodrick, who made it disappear like a magician. Way to go Arya. Artemis gave the young girl a brief smirk when their eyes met, and the annoyed frown disappeared from Arya's face as the first of the royal entourage rode into Winterfell.
It was as Jory had said, as Catelyn had feared, and as the gossip had said. The entire royal family and all of their men in arms were about to descend on Winterfell in force. It was a security nightmare in Artemis's opinion, but she said nothing. Her well meaning paranoia aside, she had heard the stories of how the mighty Tywin Lannister had taken King's Landing during the rebellion. If the man had led his men into the besieged city only to turn on the Mad King's forces the moment they were inside the capitol, she shuddered to think what his children were capable of if the need were to ever arise. Lannister arrogance is only matched by their cunning, Vandal Savage would have been right at home with them.
Her thoughts were entirely derailed when her gray eyes fell on the last of the royal entourage. At the very back, flanking the ugliest dwarf she had ever seen, were two people she had all but given up on seeing again. M'gann?! Zatanna?! What in the Seven Hells are you doing here?! The two beautifully adorned women almost fell from their respective horses when they saw and sensed her in their telepathic link, M'gann having been gently probing the crowd for anyone that stood out. Her surprise gave way to unbridled joy as she fought the intense urge to run out of the Stark line and charge the two right in front of the queen and king of the Seven Kingdoms.
Her joy turned a bit sour when she heard an unfamiliar voice in her thoughts, and from the lecherous look from the littlest Lord, she had a pretty good idea who had spoken. So you're the goddess of the hunt I've heard so much about from my two good friends. My but you are a beauty. Tyrion Lannister, and you're Artemis Lian Crock, are you not? Zat, M'gann, you never said your friend was a long lost relative of mine.
Helping the little Lord from his special saddle, 'Megan' and Zatanna merely shook their heads at the man that had become their friend. It's good to see you again Artemis. We have a lot to catch up on. Megan nodded her head enthusiastically at Zat's words, leaving Artemis at a rare loss for words as Ned and Robert disappeared from the gathering to pay their respects to Lyanna Stark. Zatanna had no idea how true her words were.
Ending Notes; I plan to have M'gann and Zat's backstory for this little dance next chapter. For now, I hope this one made up for the exceedingly short chapter last round guys and gals. Sansa Stark's relationship with Artemis is understandably icy, as you can see, but who knows what might happen later down the road. ;D Arya Stark is unsurprisingly good friends with the archer, and everyone else save for Theon treats her with the respect such an accomplished woman like her deserves.
As a bonus, if anyone wishes to make that beforementioned fanart, I'd be happy to consider putting in a character or idea of your choosing into the next chapter, whether it'd be an OC or an unmentioned YJ character wouldn't matter.
One more thing before I forget, thank you X'Over's Chosen for picking one of my stories to be a part of your community's archives. At any rate, see ya!