Well this one goes for the interaction between Martyn Arryn and Stark children.

Also, i am waiting for your reviews which are ever needed for refinement in writing.

Here it goes...

Arya

"Where have you been, Arya?" Her mother asked in quite a demanding tone, "The king's courtiers still know that your Lord father has 5, not 4, children". Arya brushed it aside "Tell them that the fifth ran into the wolfswood to hunt a stag". Her response drew sharper words from her mother, a scowl from her father and chuckles from Robb and Theon. She wanted to see the royal processions more closely but this was all she could have done.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, the horsemen began to move into their courtyard. Banners flapped atop their spears. Golden flags and Crimson flags filled their yard with colors and the black stags and golden lions upon them made them look livelier. So many of them. They poured through the main gates in a way that seemed to make their flow endless. Then entered the king who looked…fat. He is surely not the giant my father boasts about. He may have a giant's hunger though.

"Ohh….Here he comes" Sansa's words were clear to everyone due to the way she spoke them. She looked around and was confused till she cast a gaze in the direction of her sister's frozen one. That one, oh come on sansa. The prince, who was riding besides the king, was also smiling in their direction. Finally, Sansa's dream had come true. Since the day the Raven had come from the south of the Kings arrival, Sansa had maddened her by her constant chatter with Jeyne and Beth about Prince Joffery Baratheon. They talked day and night about him, his curls, his looks, his gallantry (which somehow was not the thing she heard from others) and all other things.

But she wasn't nearly as delighted to hear that Martyn was accompanying them, fool of a sister. Arya liked Martyn very much, though they hadn't met until a year ago. He had been with some high lord from the vale that time and was headed to the wall. He remained with that Lord's son most of the time (whose son was another of Sansa's fantasies).But one night, she was out in the stables ,after having lured Fat Tom away from there, and planned to take a ride to some place when he entered and found her. Instead of alerting her father of her presence, he placed her on his horse and they both set out into the lands outside of winter fell's high walls. She enjoyed every bit of their journey. It was a full moon and the air was comparatively less cold. They rode through the small villages outside Winterfell, ate the berries he had brought he had brought with him, along with the tarts she had stolen from the kitchen. They rested near a hill from where clear dark sky gazed right into their faces and the moonlight made it even more of a sight to behold. The sky ,that day, was filled with stars and he filled her head with stories and interesting facts about them, especially the part where he told her about a Dothraki belief that stars were the spirits of dead warriors, who now rode in the skies. Although she knew it wasn't so, but she sometimes imagined Visenya Targaryan riding upon her dragon with Nymeria the warrior besides her.

"Arya", Sansa was tugging at her sleeves, "are you lost?" The King stood in front of her. She quickly blurted out"Your Grace". "And you are?" The king was being introduced to them and it was her turn."Arya", she spoke out. He nodded and went ahead. Her father was kneeling on the snow in order to kiss the Queen's hand. As the King and her father were talking about paying a visit to the crypts, she noticed another stream of riders coming forth, though not as large as the last one. Sky blue banners flapped on the two standards in the front and soldiers in light silvery armor and blue cloaks entered through their gates. Between them rode a shadow. It can't be. Martyn seemed like a tired old man with sunken eyes, skin as pale as on a corpse and body a walking structure of bones and reduced flesh. He quickly moved down from his saddle, flanked by his two guards who seemed equally tired. As she looked forward to greet him, she noticed a brief strange look on the king's face and a far more worse on the Queen's faced. Then the king nodded at her father and they both went towards the crypts.

When their introduction with the royal children was done, she went forward to meet Martyn but was caught by someone from behind. She looked behind and saw her mother staring at him "We can meet with the rest of our guests later, Arya. It's time we move to the hall for the feast". She freed herself from her mother's grip "Martyn is no rest of them.Infact he is better than the rest of them" She ran towards him. No one has moved forward to greet him. Martyn was exchanging greetings with none of the Starks but with Ser Rodrick and he saw her, his sullen appearance disappeared and he seemed to be that old jolly boy again."Arya" he said in a voice which sounded tired but joyful hugged each other and he moved her round and round in circles easily, skinny as she was." I have really missed you, little wolf pup."She brought her knee into his belly with full force and he laughed with pain as he placed her on the ground. She was feeling dizzy by the time he spoke up again "You've grown quite tall since I last saw you, little one. Maybe you will outgrow me in a year or two". "I may, though you seem to have worsened a lot. What has happened to you that you have faded into this form?" His look again turned sour but he smiled grimly.

As he was about to reply, his attention turned towards someone approaching towards them."Robb" H e greeted him with a firm hug and "How fares my stark friend" He said with that tired tone that was on him since the beginning."Quite well, Martyn." His eyes set deep "I am sorry for your loss, my friend. It was indeed very sad for all of us ".Oh, how could I forget, stupid little girl. His father had died recently, a father in all but name. And now he has been on this long journey just to meet us. And I ask him what is amiss? "I too am very sorry for your loss, Martyn." He smiled faintly, "no need Arya. Can we just move in, it is not so warm here as you can all feel?" As they moved towards the building, they watched their mother gesturing towards them to attend the royal children. Wordless, Robb left. Arya tried to stay alongside him but was forced to join Prince Tommen, a plump little boy with same golden hair of his mother. She glanced back and saw a shadow smiling faintly…

Sansa

She was moving besides Prince Joffery, still believing it to be a dream. My golden prince. Joffery was nothing if not handsome. With those deep green eyes of his and equally beautiful golden curls, he stood apart from all others in the procession. I wonder how he was fathered by that fat man who doesn't seem to be the man I pictured in my mind. His beauty is from his mother, of course. Sansa adored the queen even more than others, for that grace and charm that surrounds her perpetually. The Queen's twin, Ser Jamie Lannister, also seemed a formidable knight. Such a great family, the lannisters and their Baratheon children.

The arrival of the royal party seemed to have breathed new life into this grey castle. There were people all around and the hustle bustle was to her liking. The castle was now flooded with men from stormlands, crownlands and Casterly rock. And also from the vale. The former hands one-time heir was in the town. Martyn Arryn had arrived with barely a dozen men, all of them tired and torn by grief.

Sansa never minded Martyn whenever he came to the North. He had always been polite with her .He is comely enough ,that's for sure, but pales in comparison to Joffery .Besides he came from a lesser branch of house Arryn , his importance being on the basis of him being Denys Arryns son. But that doesn't make him a high lord and, besides, mother dissuades me from meeting him quite often. Still, she always played her part of a proper lady well and before going with Joffery, she greeted him and offered her condolences to him. A lady's armor is her courtesies. But sometimes she felt she needed to do just more than be a lady in front of him. When she met him, she felt a hunger in his eyes. He craves for near ones. Perhaps she should do that the next time. But right now she was with Joffery and that was all to her…..wasn't it….

Jon

It was the fourth hour of the welcoming feast for the king. Jon's brothers and sisters had been seated with the royal children beneath the raised platform where Lord and Lady stark hosted the King and the Queen. In honor of the occasion his Lord father had allowed the children to have one glass of wine each but not more. But Jon had gulped down many cups of wine from a flagon ,as he was seated quite far from his family.

His curiosity regarding the visitors had been sated since he got a good look at all of them when they had entered the Hall. The king, queen, her children escorted by his own brothers and sisters and the queens brothers. The King turned out to be a great disappointment for him but that was over his head when he saw Ser Jamie , glittering in his armor. Tyrion, the imp, was an interesting man to look at, confirming all the stories he had heard about the dwarf. Finally, the last ones to enter were his Uncle Benjen, their ward Theon Greyjoy and…is it really him? Jon wondered.

The last time he had seen Martyn Arryn was a year ago and that one had been a boy of fine built and healthy look. This one was like his direwolf, Ghost, pale and shrunken. But still he seemed a Lord in every aspect, esp. when he spoke.

"Jon" this was spoken more like a brother than a lord and Jon was more than happy for it. It was rare to hear words which felt more family-like from someone who isn't even your distant kin."My Lord" Jon japed. Martyn smirked "Of course, bow before the Lord of dust and dirt". Jon laughed and pulled him into a hug. Martyn was one of the few people who made him feel safer, stronger and well loved, even though he never expressed it. I can feel his bones, Jon thought while hugging him. He had lost a great deal of flesh since his last visit.

"You seem so tired…..of course, you are tired. You may go now and eat to your fill over there" Jon pointed towards the far end of the table where his family was seated. Supposedly, he had to sit right besides them. He was an Arryn, Denys Arryns son and the one time heir of the now deceased Lord Arryn. But Martyn just blankly stared at those benches for some time, and then moved to the one besides Jon's own table."I think I will be more comfortable here". He sat and moved into a more relaxed position. Jon stared at him in astonishment. This highborn lad was seated among lowborn squires and a bastard.

"I don't think that's right. You shouldn't be seated her-"Martyn cut him by raising a hand "I am very hungry Jon and hardly in a mood to debate on such a matter. Shall we eat?" He is avoiding the matter. He has some rift with the king's family or even mine, who knows? Jon nodded and sat down. Over the next hour, they ate to their fill and drank even more emptying a large flagon of fine wine which the servants readily served after seeing the boy seated next to him. Uncle Benjen joined them and exchanged greetings with Martyn, having known him since his visit to the wall last year. Martyn had left a good impression on the senior officers of the Nights watch by doing well to his promises. He had persuaded the hand of the king to send nearly a hundred men, half a dozen cogs filled with essential supplies and a thousand gold dragons. This was a clear proof of his sense of honor, as his family words said. He really lives up to his family words, mine are just too…..unlivable.

"Why aren't you two seated besides your family up there?" He gestured towards the raised platform."I usually sup with them but Lady stark thought it wouldn't be nice to seat a bastard besides the royal family" He replied plainly. It didn't bother him anymore, having grown used to such things on a regular basis.

Martyn seemed unhappy with this reply" Well, may they enjoy the company of those gluttons seated right besides them" Uncle Ben frowned but his eyes looked amused. He tugged at his sleeve "And what about you, Young Lord? You are no bastard to be seated here" Martyn looked at those benches again. Robb was conversing with the princess Myrcella beautiful girl and quite graceful, though too young. Martyn had his typical smirk on his face but his eyes were not as glad."There are no family members of mine up there, Uncle Ben." He looked more serious "However, kinship may also be forged in love, if not in blood." Uncle Ben gave an admiring look towards him" True, enough. That's the truth of it on the wall, at least." Martyn gazed at his uncle with those sad eyes of his "That's the way of it elsewhere, good uncle. Everywhere". That's what I need, Uncle Ben. Maybe Martyn needs the same.

"Your martial training is going on?" Uncle Benjen inquired. Martyn's response was a hard nod. His sparring skills needed more honing. Though he was fine enough with a sword (being really good at defense), his way with the lance was terrible. So terrible that Jon hardly thought of him becoming a jouster, let alone matching his father's (Denys) fame in the same. One day , during one of such practices, Robb had unknowingly told him that he was nothing in jousting compared to his father , and Martyn had stormed out of the ground ,yelling "I AM NOT MY FATHER", "I AM NOT MY FATHER". That was truly a bad day. Whenever Martyn was compared to his father, his rage knew no bonds .He never liked being talked about him later on. Jon always considered Martyn to be unique in his own way, however odd it may seem to others.

"Jon" he shook the thoughts away as his uncle called out to him."Your dire wolf seems hungry"."Yes, it needs something bigger and better". He cut a honeyed chicken into pieces and slid those onto the floor. As Ghost attacked the food, he noticed Martyn's shocked expression. Jon smiled "Never seen a dire wolf before? Are you afraid, My Lord?".Martyn retained that stone faced expression for a while, then remarked "As for your first question, No I have never seen a dire wolf before. For the second one, Not afraid, perhaps shocked, as plain as that"."Where did you find this one?" Jon remembered that day and told him the whole story. Martyn was quite astonished at its end "5 pups for 5 trueborns and 1 albino for this one before me? Hmmmm, Interesting with your sigil being a dire wolf too. Perhaps, you were true then, it seems you were really meant to have those" He took a piece of spiced bacon towards the pup who sniffed at his fingers. Finally, he ate that piece off his fingers and licked them clean. Jon was amused. This was quite rare."It may be that I have some stark blood after all "Martyn japed.

"You do have from your mother's side?" Uncle Benjen asked."Yes, the Waynwood have their line tracing back to the first men before the Andal conquest"he replied "but this pup should then have a damn strong nose to sniff out those droplets in me" Uncle grinned. Jon was more interested in the histories of conquests than bloodlines. His blood may be stark but history will always remember him as Jon snow, if at all. He wanted to gain fame o his own name, to be remembered as Jon the conqueror, defender, protector and lot of pother things. Things he couldn't hope for as a stark (as a bastard, of course).He wanted to end this stigma on bastards once and for all, to prove to the world that their blood is equally potent. But how?

Next, they talked about the night's watch and this talk soon descended into an argument."But I am a man grown now" Jon frowned. Uncle Benjen seemed to take him quite lightly."I will turn 15 on my next name day" Martyn grinned at that "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing, just imagining how our brave Jon would go beyond the wall to fight grumpkins and snorks leading his black brothers" Martyn seemed quite amused with his thought.

"What do you know about the lands beyond -the –wall" Jon was annoyed by Martyn's lack of confidence in him."Not as much as the watch's first ranger besides me, of course. But I know much and more. "The look on his face withered "And I have seen them, those lands beyond the wall".

Jon wondered "you have seen the lands beyond the wall" Martyn smiled slowly "Well, from the top of the wall with First ranger Benjen stark" His look was confused "Sometimes it felt much stranger than it ought to have , much stranger" Uncle Benjen suddenly looked at him "what have you felt, my dear?" Jon wondered whether it was a genuine question or Ben was just mocking him. Uncle Ben's face ,however, remained stoic, as well as Martyn's. It's no jape, he means something.

Martyn shook his head "Well, silly thoughts, nothing more" He picked up his cup of summer wine and slowly sipped at it. I need to whatever he has felt."I am going with you, Uncle Ben. I really want to join this order."

He brushed it aside "Feel a women's love once and you will never even think about it" Martyn made a face "Women's love, what a barrier you have set for him, Uncle."

"These things do matter once you have grown up. Father a few bastards and you will know "That was more than Jon could have digested "I have grown up and will never father a bastard; NEVER" He saw those surprised faces around him."May I be excused "He ran away from the tables "Jon" he heard Martyn call but never turned to look back, struggling to keep his tears from flowing. He busted out of the hall but not before knocking into a serving girl, leading to the shattering of a flagon.

In the courtyard, Jon wanted nothing more than to remain as far away from the noise of the hall, as possible. He looked around for a place to sit and spit out his anger.

"Boy" He heard a queer voice calling him. He looked around and saw Tyrion Lannister sitting on the top of one of the shelves besides the window."Are you alright?"

"I am" he replied gruffly "why aren't you in the hall, with others". The mismatched eyes of the imp betrayed no emotions at all. "It was exceedingly warm and noisy in there, and I drank too much wine". The drunken look was vaguely evident on his face. This one must have some good thirst.

Before he could say something, the door of the hall opened behind Tyrion and Martyn appeared from the hall. Jon could feel the feel of warmth on his face. Martyn moved towards him "Why did you run away like that, Uncle Ben was just-"He looked at his side "Tyrion…..hmmm…perhaps you have some good company, Jon" Company with this grotesque dwarf, never.

"Aaaah, Martyn Arryn arrives. It is nice to see you after you suddenly disappeared altogether. Where have you been, pray?" They have been close as of late. Of course, he likes this Lannister."Well, I needed to wash out the southern dirt in the pure northern waters. He grinned as Tyrion narrowed his eyes."Yes, I forgot to take the leave of my friend"Jon smiled at the comment. It made him feel proud as a northerner.

"My Arryn friend loves the north. No wonder you are your father's son, Martyn" Which father? Jon thought, Well both of them were staunch friends of my family, I have heard."Why is your friend looking so miserable today, Martyn?" Tyrion was speaking to Martyn.

"It's nothing" Martyn replied with his stare fixed on Jon. Both gazed into each other's soul for quite some time."Do you really wish to join the Night's watch, Jon?" The question took him aback."Yes, why do you ask?"

"Well, if you think that this ancient order consists of men like your Uncle, you are sadly mistaken. The nights watch is a shadow of its former self. It is manned by the scum of Westeros be it criminals, robbers, bandits, rapists, humiliated knights and other sorts of people. Honest and able men are far and too few between them. Their Lord Commander is a Mormont, as you know, and quite a man. But I fear any lack of able men who might succeed him in Castle black. Discipline is hard to garner, their provisions are insecure and the supply lines unsteady. But the bigger problem far outweighs them all." He hesitated to speak further.

"Speak now, don't leave it there" These words had struck Jon like a lightning bolt. He hadn't expected it to be that way. Of course he knew that the watch was dwindling in numbers and quality, but he hadn't expected it to be that worse. Criminals, disgraced knights and rapists…"Tell me" He insisted.

Martyn lifted his eyes and is face was tight with caution. What does he know that I don't? "The watch has lost its purpose" The words were enough to fill Jon with a bad feeling. Why?

"You know the days when the watch was created to fight the others. Those days are gone and gone. Now this 700 feet structure stands guard against half-starved wildlings beyond it. Men kill men and that's the way of it. Nothing more."He looked back at the sound of steps and then continued "These are the concerns that Jeor Mormont brought forth to me, none else".

There was a long silence in the balcony and the yard. Jon could hear the distant howling of wolves from the woods. Do they laugh at me? Jon had meant to join the order to put aside his status of being born of illegitimate relation, fight in the defense of the realm and be remembered as Jon of the Nights watch. Now that appeared a distant dream. How will I gain any honor by fighting against wild men who wear tattered clothes and live a primitive life?

"I am sorry ,Jon" Martyn seemed saddened from Jon's reaction to the revelation. He placed a hand on Jon's shoulder."I had only meant to tell you the truth of it"

"I am a bastard and that's the truth of it. My brothers will become Lords, rule from holdfasts and live on like that as Starks. My sisters will marry great Lords in the seven kingdoms and rule as princess or even queens. Both will live and die as Starks of winterfell. Upon their deaths their statues will be carved into the stones and placed in the crypts below forever." He sighed "And as for me. I will live out my life as a snow and when it's over; I will melt away and be forgotten as snow of summers. That will be my life." He wanted to scream, to run away and cry out loudly but he stood there besides his companions, feeling more alone than ever."

Martyn spoke up "I understand, Jon" He pushed his hand away, "How can you?" He was quite furious even to his own surprise."You are a highborn lad, born in one of the great families of the seven kingdoms, son of one of the most gallant knights and-"….

"All he now has is a dozen tired men besides him, a few pairs of clothing, some weapons and that's it" Tyrion had cut him off sharply, "Born to one of the poorer branches of House Arryn, orphaned at a very tender age, son to a very gallant knight whose gallantry had left him with little possessions in the vale when he was slain and owner of the few things I just mentioned" Tyrion's mismatched eyes narrowed "He knows it ,Jon. Even better than you. The only person he had nearest to himself died not a fortnight ago and the current Lady of vale is keen in keeping him as far away from the Eyrie as possible."

The little man continued "Even me, Tyrion, son of Tywin lannister, has seen a lot of what should have been some cripple's fate. Do you really think that bastards are only born?" Jon was confused." They are made up in this world, molded from the curses and myths thrown at them. All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes and orphans don't have a father who looks at them."This is the way of it, my friend"

"Martyn and I, we both are as nearer to our rights anyone can be but it is as distant from us as one can imagine. He has no family and, as such, craves for love and I have a family and still crave for the same."

Jon never knew when he had sat down on the cold floor of the balcony. Martyn was seated on the bench right in front of him and Tyrion stood between them. His heart was heavy from all he had heard. He saw Martyn who sat with his feet crossed, his face hidden behind his hands. Tyrion stood like a stone motionless but even he was filled with sadness, which was quite clear from his face. It's so cold here. Perhaps the world is cold from the likes of us. Everyone suffers yet we never feel it. Such cold people.

"Jon", Martyn was looking directly into his eyes."You told me what I felt when I stood on the top of the wall" Jon looked sullenly at him "what?" Martyn took a deep breath and continued "Fear, fear of the unknown. What I felt there I can't explain but I challenge you to do the same and then stare into my eyes and assure me that all is fine, assure me that it's just some wildlings and nothing else" Jon didn't understand properly 'What do you mean?"

"Join the nights watch" His words were solemn and swift."Join it and face that threat which comes from the unknown. Lord Arryn used to tell me that the real danger is that one which no one seems coming" His spirits were lifted and for once he felt proud again."I am not sure about what you said to me. But I will go there , I will join the order, I will stand on the wall and I will face any danger I meet. And I want to get that satisfaction of defeating that unseen danger when it comes. Let an unknown boy face an unknown danger.

For once, all the three were smiling "Maybe I should join you on this journey, Jon snow. But not to face the danger. I just want to stand on the top of the wall and piss off the edge of world."This time Jon led the laughter.