Hi, everyone. Thanks for the reads, favorites, follows and reviews. It really made my day.
I should be doing my homework right now but ideas are overflowing my brain. I couldn't concentrate. I just wrote this to introduce my plot. Oh, and Koreen was named after my dear friend Corinne (who is so much like Ygritte). I hope one day I will have the courage to show her my work.
Again thanks to you for reading my story. And if you're reading this note, more love from me!
Catelyn
"Father!" Arya and Bran leapt to Ned's embrace the second he got off his horse.
"Oh, look at you, Arya! You look marvelous in a dress!"
"I did not make this, Sansa did. She made me wear it because I thought her embroidery looked more like snake than a fish."
"Was it supposed to be a fish?"
"Yes, for the House of Tullys. Mother's maiden house."
"I love it when you learn from books more than the woods, little darling."
"I prefer the woods, really." She said not letting go of her father's neck.
"I believe so." Ned kissed Arya on her cheeks.
"And my young Bran! I see you have been climbing. Your arms are tighter than the last time I embraced you."
"Please don't say that out loud, Father. Mother might hear and I made a promise."
"Then you should learn how to whisper if you plan to keep secrets."
Ned kissed the boy's forehead before setting them down.
"Welcome home, Father." Sansa greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug.
"You're looking more like your mother as time passes by."
"I like that father. Mother is a beauty. Everybody says so." She made sure her mother heard.
"That includes me, I suppose." Ned joked.
"We have missed you, Father." She embraced Ned more tightly this time.
"Where are the other sons?"
Robb stepped forward and bowed slightly towards his father.
Ned looked at his heir. Impressed at what he was seeing.
"Starks are never known at being tall, you know."
"I notice that, my Lord. But the Stark charm grows famous in the whole kingdom. Clearly, you know that too."
Ned smiled and chuckled as he embraced his first-born.
"Winterfell missed you, Father."
"And so have I missed home, my son."
Robb stepped back to steer clear of his mother's way.
"My lady." He looked at Catelyn with much admiration when she walked forward, little Rickon in her arms.
"My lord." She smiled. "It's alright, Rickon. It's just your father." She hushed the toddler who started wailing when they came near.
"No worries, Catelyn. It has been almost half a year. There's no need to force the boy."
Catelyn saw the hurt on her husband's tired face. She saw how he was worried that his youngest might have forgotten about his father.
"There will be a whole lot of time to bond with the whole family, my love."
"I'll take that as a promise, Ned. And you have kept all promises before. There is no doubt in my heart that you will keep this one."
"It is. That's what has kept me alive, my lady. All the time I was away, I aimed to go home. And finally I am."
Catelyn fought her tears. She never had shed a tear in front of the household or the folks of Winterfell.
"Yes, you are." She gave her sweetest smile. And Ned kissed his wife's forehead with much yearning.
"Where is Jon?" Ned asked out loud, not particularly to his wife.
"I'm here, my Lord." Jon answered, standing among the castle helpers.
The servants made way for the boy. And he reluctantly stepped towards the lord, trying to straighten his clothes.
"Welcome home, Father." The boy was nervous.
Catelyn caught Jon too a quick glance on her reaction. The boy very well know how to properly address the Lord of Winterfell. But she allowed him to call him Father if he is speaking towards his husband.
"Your skin is pale, son. Are you feeling ill?" worry can be seen in the fathers eyes.
Catelyn tensed a bit when her husband addresses his bastard that way especially when there was an audience.
"It's the cold, Lord Stark." He answered simply. Looking down at his own feet.
"Yes. Winter is coming." Ned heaved a sigh. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you, Jon."
Jon brought his eyes upon his father.
For the longest time, Catelyn had never taken time to stare at the bastard's face. But when she did, she felt her blood boil. And did not want it. She did not wish to be angry at anyone, not even her dear husband's bastard.
But when her lord came home from war almost seventeen years ago with a bastard at his arms, she never thought she could ever feel hatred and love towards anyone all at the same time.
She convinced herself that she had forgiven Ned's betrayal. But Jon Snow's presence withholds a constant reminder of her husband's disloyal of their wedding vows. Her prayers to the seven Gods to remove her loathing for the boy were never answered.
Ned held the boy's shoulders and met his gaze.
"You look more a Stark everday, boy. Your eyes, you got the Stark eyes."
"Thank you, Father." He smiled, a seldom occurence. "I was told before that I got your hair, too. Dirty and unmanageable."
Ned let out a loud laugh.
"You must be tired from your journey, Ned. The folks have prepared a feast for your homecoming." Catelyn cut in the welcome. Truly, her husband was tired and hungry.
"I was expecting that, my love. But before that I would like to introduce my family to someone I am deeply indebted to."
Ned gestured to one of his ward to bring forward the horse with the guest riding it.
Jory gently got the young lady off the horse and guided her way beside Lord Stark's side.
"My love, this is Koreen Lastliv. She will live here in Winterfell from now on."
"She looks like a Wildling, my Lord." Catelyn bluntly expressed.
"Well, she is. And maybe we can raise her as a lady."
This was the third time Ned Stark had brought home a stranger child. First was the bastard Jon Snow, the Greyjoy boy Theon and now a wildling girl from Gods know where.
"Koreen, this is my wife, Lady Stark." Ned introduced his wife.
"Aft'rnoon, Lady Stark. M'name's Koreen Lastliv." The girl presented herself. Her nerves perfectly visible.
"Lastliv? I have never heard of a wildling's family name."
"I've just giv'n it t'maself, m'lady." She stated.
"I didn't know one can do that. How did you come up with it?" Catelyn was genuinely curious.
"Am the last one of mah'fam'ly, Lady Stark. The last one livin'."
"I see. Where are you from, Koreen?"
"I don't r'member. I'm sorry."
"It's alright, little girl. It's alright." Catelyn smiled at the girl, soothing her hidden anxiety only a mother could sense.
Koreen stared at the ground she was standing on. She felt the wind warmer than in the snowy woods and the air smelled of grass and smoke. She was nervous but she can hide even fear.
"Have you ever tasted a lemon cake?" Lady Stark asked.
"I've heard of it from Lord Stark. He wanted me to taste it one day."
"This is a fortunate day for you then."