I have never broken any law or have done anything wrong in my life in Thedra Ascent, so being escorted by knights of Winterfell into the Great Hall with Sophia by my side was making me sick to my stomach. Why were we, of all people in the area, being called to see not only our Lord, but Eddard Stark? It didn't seem right to me, since I was only a lowborn. But low and behold, we were in the Great Hall and I felt my heart dropping to the floor as soon as we entered.

I breathed in the food that was on the table in front of the two Lords there. A large banquet table was set in front of us, the Lord of Thedra was sitting at the middle of the table with his Lady and the female relatives at his side. The Lord of Winterfell, Eddard Stark, was on his other side with a couple of his own advisors. I saw his face clearly for the first time, though I stayed behind Sophia and the clutching the dresses towards my chest that we just made for the high ladies of the court. MY heart was racing as the Lord of Thedra stood in his spot, having both Sophia and myself curtsey him.

"Milord." We both said to him together, out voices rang in the high hall. The Lord of Thedra, Lord Aaron, was in his mid fifties with still the handsome features of any Lord. He ruled Thedra Ascent with a both mercy and sternness, he was nothing but kind to the servants that worked in his fortress and under his guard. He wife, the Lady of Thedra, was just as kind and gracious as him. She was beautiful beyond her years, yet her relative ladies were the opposite of her. How they were related, I had no clue.

"I thank you for coming on such short notice." Lord Aaron said aloud to Sophia, since she was my master and she was going to be spoken to first before me. I didn't mind, I would of gotten sick from speaking to the Lord. But my eyes went over to Eddard Stark, seeing him watch Sophia as she replied back to Lord Aaron. He looked handsome as well as Lord Aaron, brown dark hair and a small stubble of beard on his face, with the furs on his cloak and making him look more noble than before.

"Are those the dresses!" The female relative said aloud, bouncing up from her spot and looking right at me with her angelic but shallow face. I nodded my head, seeing Sophia aside as I walked forward with the dresses in hand. I felt as though I was in trail, even though I was here merely for the dresses.

"They are milady." I said aloud in a light tone of voice, seeing her smile. I walked over to the table, slowly and making sure I looked as least a bit graceful as I kept my eyes down and as soon as I reached the high lady, I held them out to her. Keeping my eyes down, I felt other eyes on me, mostly from the Lord of Thedra, and from the Lord of Winterfell. It was frightening.

"They are beautiful!" The high lady said aloud, taking them from my arms in almost a greedy state and held them out for all to see. I didn't want to watch, since I felt too low to already be in their presence. She laughed in glee as she sat back down at her chair, the other high lady taking the other dress and looking content in their spots.

"Darlings, I believe it is customary for you to thank the one who have made it for you. I am sure it must of taken quite some time to make such a wonderful piece of work." I heard to my left, having me look with surprise that it was from Lord Aaron. There was so sarcasm on his face, nor was there any thing of a joke. No, he was serious. He wanted them to thank me? Of all people? I was stunned as I heard the giggling die down quickly and the first high lady clear her throat with a hint go annoyance

"Thank you." She replied in almost a bland tone, having me look back at her and see her hold the dress. But she did hold it so delicately and a small sincere smile on her face. I lowered my head at her and curtseyed once more.

"You're welcome milady." I said aloud, hearing Lord Aaron chuckle from his spot as I returned to be behind Sophia. That was too much for me to handle in one afternoon.

"I take it this is your apprentice." He said aloud as I was back in my original position.

"She is, my Lord. Nora has been under my wing since she was a babe. I taught her all she knows, along with my old master Gaila from Kings Landing." Sophia explained with a hint of pride in her tone of voice. I knew she was proud of teaching me, she told me plenty of times. I saw Lord Aaron nod his head and then look over at me with a raised eyebrow.

"How old are you Nora?" he asked me aloud. I was now hating the fact that I was getting all of this attention, but I had to swallow that as I answered him.

"Ten and six milord." I replied back to him, seeing him look over at Eddard Stark who was also staring at me as well. But his stare was different, it was as if he was trying to solve something that was haunting his mind. HIs intense eyes, the stiffness of his sitting position, it was madden for him. But what was it? It made me more confused as Lord Aaron spoke up once more.

"Lord Stark of Winterfell has asked for the assistance of our dressmaker." I snapped my head back at Lord Aaron as he continued, "He is being paid a visit from the South, the Baraethon House and the King of the Seven Kingdoms: Robert Baraethon." There were murmurs in the Great Hall, people talking to one another as the news was so startling and interesting. Why was the King coming North? He would never, not that I knew of.

"Lord Stark wishes for his own household to be wearing the proper attire for the event, including Lady Stark and their two daughters. He has asked hire my best dressmaker, to come and help with the aid. I have told him of your great work and positive attribute to Thedra Ascent, and he is willing to hire you." I looked from Lord Aaron to Sophia, thinking how she was going to help with the Stark family. I was a but jealous of her, but that meant that she was going to leave me for a bit with the shop here in Thedra Ascent. I saw her nod her head and listen to him, still proper for a lowborn woman and I stayed quiet. I wanted to be her for a moment, to be able to step out of our own realm and into another's to see what was out there and what there was to see. But Sophia must of done that before I was handed to her as a babe.

"I thank you for the opportunity milord." Sophia said aloud in a softer tone, having me see her clutch her apron in front of her dress and I saw that it was in a death grip, "However, I wish to send my apprentice in my stead." I snapped my head over at her with wide eyes, saying nothing as she said this. How could she do this to me? She was the master, how is it that she saw that this was a good idea?

"Milord, Nora knows all that I know, and she knows enough to be on her own with the trade, no longer being my apprentice. She is a hard worker, knows everything about detail and precision, and she can be a proper lady." Sophia explained aloud to Lord Aaron and the rest of the highborns. She was in fact, trying to get me out, but for a good reason. She knew that I wanted to see the world, or whatever is in the world. And I felt as though she saw the opportunity to getting me out of the same place I was always in. I couldn't even talk, it was too much for me to drink in.

"I see, and I thank you for voicing your opinion." Lord Aaron said to her, then looking over at me with the same intrigue in his eyes. I found my voice once more as he started talking to me again.

"Would you be wiling to come to Winterfell and help the Stark family?" He asked me aloud, having me feel the cold sweat on my hands and I tried to dry them on my own simple dress.

"It would be a honor to represent your House at Winterfeel milord." I said aloud, making myself sound like a fool then. How could I represent them, since I was so low on the blood system. Even one of the highborn ladies snorted in laughter from her spot, but one look from Lord Aaron silenced her and made her look grave. He looked back at me with a small grin on his face.

"I am sure you will bring honor to Thedra." He said aloud, having me breathe out and then realize.

I was going to Winterfell.

I packed the last of the things I had, which consisted on marly anything at all. I only had a few tools for dressmaking, after I was told that there was a shop there for dressmaking, so I didn't need any materials at all for the job. I was still reeling over the fact that they chose me to work for the Stark family, one of the powerful families in Westeros. Why me, of all people? It made me wonder why I was so good at what I did, making dresses and making them beautiful. At this point, walking out of my shop and towards the small army of knights and servants with the Stark banners, I was way in over my head.

Sophia stood by me, checking my cloak to make sure it was on securely and I grinned at her, having me see that she was almost on the brink of tears. A part of me wanted to ask her why she wanted me to go instead of her, why I was chosen to do this. The weight of everything was piling on my shoulders now as I hugged her tightly and felt her hug me back.

"You'll be fine dear." She said aloud to me as we pulled away from each other. I was going alone in this, with no Sophia behind me or helping me. For once, I was actually going to be all by myself as a dressmaker. I was of age to be on my own, but I was scared to do with without Sophia.

"Don't burn the shop down." I reminded her, seeing her laugh and I grinned back at her, feeling her squeeze my hand once more as I looked from her to the group in front of me, waiting to take me to my new home for the current moment.

"It's time to go." The knight said to me, walking over to me. I nodded my head, looking at Sophia once more and feeling her kiss my forehead lightly. I walked away from her with the knight to the Stark troop, walking away from my old lit into a new one. For the first time in my young life, I was scared.

But I guess I was ready.