They heard the drums announcing the Royal party at dawn. The people of Winterfell flew into a flurry of last minute preparations. The unused portions of the castle had been brought back to life for use of all the guests. No one in Winterfell had slept since the ravens from their people had flooded in telling how close the giant train was to the castle. Catelyn had been beside herself from her inactivity due to the baby. Sansa had stepped into the role of Lady of Winterfell to see that everything was properly prepared.
Catelyn was reclining on a couch that had been placed in Arya's workroom. The soul d of the loom was the only thing that calmed the baby. The family was meeting to go over what they needed to do for the greeting that afternoon.
"We will greet the Royal family first." She instructed her family. "Next, because they are my family we will meet the Tully and Aryan families. Next will be the Martell's. After then we will meet the Greyjoy's. The Lannister's will be next. Then we will greet the Tyrell's. Finally we will meet the Baratheon's."
"Why the Greyjoy's before the Lannister's and the Tyrell's?" Rickon asked. He pulled on the collar of his shirt. They were all dressed in some of their finest clothing. All the clothing they owned were above perfection, even their work clothes thanks to the girls.
"They are closest to us geographically. By our customs, we meet with family first. The King, Edmure, Lysa and the Martell's are family, by blood and marriage. The rest are based on where they live, with the exclusion of the Baratheon's. However, father want's to meet them last. For his own reasons." Bran said.
They all looked at him. He was wearing grey of different shades, as if he was already in the service of the maesters. Then again, the colors were of their house. They were all dressed in a wide array of Stark colors. Except for Catelyn. She was in Tully colors. In some way, they incorporated the color blue in their clothing. None of them wore red. Sansa was in a grey dress with blue embroidery all over it. Robb had a blue coat over a grey shirt and pants tucked into leather boots dyed blue. Rickon was dressed opposite. Grey jacket and boots with blue wool dyed pants. Arya was in a grey dress with blue hues worked into the fabric. She and Sansa had worked on the clothing for the entire family, up until the night before. Their mother's peace had forced the girls to think of new ways to create cloth for the household. All the people in Winterfell had new clothing made for them.
"Do we have to meet with all in the parties, or just the principles of the families?" Rickon asked. His dark mood had not left him. He had kept busy with the rebuilding of the older section of the castle, away from the parents. This was the first time he had been in the same room as Catelyn since his outburst.
"We will meet all the members of the ruling families today. The rest will wait." Eddard said. He was in black, grey and white. He had grown moody with each day that the group had come closer.
Ned had mixed feelings about this meeting. He was eager to see his sister and his old friends again. But the feelings were over shadowed by feelings of unease. Robert had told him of the bounty his hold had received in the last year. The seas had been good to him. Robert also told him of how the Reach had prospered as well. Lyanna and Elia had told him of the prosperity of the realm. What they did not know, did not want to realize was that Winter Was Coming. His people had seen a prosperous year in the last days of summer. They had an over abundance in their harvests. All signs pointing to a long winter.
He knew that the realm would need everything they had to offer to live out this on coming winter. That would mean strengthen the bonds of the ruling families could create. This was not a meeting of old friends. It was a meeting of how best ready the realm for the oncoming storm.
"Right, everyone knows their place. Our estimate is that they will all be here in four hours' time. We still have much to see too. Robb will you assist your father in preparations with garrisoning the retainers that different parties will need? Sansa will you double-check the room assignments one final time? Bran will you check with the cooks for tonight feast? Rickon, I have no orders for you." Catelyn said to her assembled group. They all went to move as ordered. Arya stood as well. "Arya Stark if you move from that loom I will ship you to your uncle on the Wall."
Arya sat back down at the loom and started the motions once more. Mother and daughter had not spent much time alone together in the past. They had too many differences. Her other children had more Tully in their blood. Arya was all Stark. Catelyn had only ever seen the faults in her second daughter in the seventeen years of her life. She had been too headstrong and war like for her taste. After spending the last few weeks with Arya working at the loom for her comfort she had realized she had been rash in her judgment.
"You do not have to weave for my comfort." Catelyn told her daughter.
Arya never stopped working. They had enough fine fabric to be the envy of the entire realm. But one thing about Arya she had come to realize was that once she realized her family was in need of something she could provide she never stopped. Arya went in all the way. Her fingers had bled and her hands had become frozen, yet she worked at the loom to create comfort for her mother. The child that grew inside her womb was active. Arya often sang as she worked. Arya had created songs from the stories Old Nan had told them all as children. Arya believed that the tales were what really soothed the child, not the loom work.
"It is the one thing that I do that you approve of. I would have rather been in the yard working on my dancing lessons." She told her mother. She was upset with what had happened with Rickon and did not hide it from her mother. They had never been close, but they were mother and daughter. She could never truly hide things from her.
"I know this has been a disadvantage to you." Catelyn said to her as she shifted in her seat. "I know things have been difficult for you. When I refused to let you go with Syrio, I know I killed a part of yourself. And now with Rickon I feel as if I have wronged two of my children."
Arya just kept weaving. It had not always been her prerogative to holder tongue. The harsh lessons of the Water Dancing and the loom had taught her to wait for the right moment to speak her mind. She was going to let her mother talk a bit more.
"This child was a shock to us all. I never expected to have another child after Rickon. The gods know that I am to old for this. I realize that this child will probably be closer to my grandchildren than to you and the others." Catelyn touched her stomach. "I have been meaning to talk to you about what might happen with this meeting."
Arya thought she knew. One or all of them would be married off. Or Robb, Sansa and herself would. Bran was safe, and Rickon will be on the wall. She had been waiting for this moment. She was going to tell her mother of her plans.
"Mother, I know that you and father have obligations you must uphold. I accept that. Robb will be Lord of Winterfell one day. Sansa was groomed to be a highborn man's wife since birth. Bran knows his place. Rickon, well, he is wild, to wild to be told what to do. As for me, I have my own plans." She worked the spindle in and out of the strands of thread on her loom. Once she was done with the row, she moved the arm to push the new segment into the cloth. "My plans will not include becoming a wife. I am of an age to do as I please. I intend to go to Bravos and finish my training once the guests are no longer with us."
Catelyn was shocked. She had not expected Arya to sound so calm when she started to tell her she would be married. She had expected anger, rage, and an outburst. This was unexpected. This calm child was not the small girl who she had chastised for improper behavior for so many years. The news of Arya wanting to go to finish her training was not a shock either.
"Arya you cannot go to Bravos." Catelyn said sharper than she intended. The babe kicked her in the ribs. This child was strong. "This babe reminds me of you in many ways. And Rickon. You were both violent children, even in the womb. I know 'in my heart it will be another girl."
"If you carry a girl she can marry once she is of age. You will not need me." Arya set her weaving aside and turned to look at her mother. "I will never make a good wife for a lord. We both know that. I am to wild. I want so many things. No mother. I swear to you, if you arrange a match for me I will disgrace this family yet again and I will run."
Catelyn blinked. Her pulse sped. The last time that a Stark woman ran the game had changed for them all. Now they were playing by the altered rules. Arya was standing now. She was finished for the day. There was still much to see to.
"I will have Fat Tom come and escort you to the Great Hall mother." She turned to walk to the door.
"Arya, we all must do out duty. No matter what the heart wants. Winter is coming. We must ready ourselves the best we can."
"Yes mother winter is coming. And the best way I can think of to be ready is to finish my training. We will need all the pieces we have to win the game. When I am fully trained I might consent to marriage, but the man will be of my choosing. If he is low born, so be it. If a lord, all the better for us. Now I need to talk to cook." Arya left her mother liking at the loom.
Arya had not been working on fabric. She was weaving a tapestry. The Wolves of Winterfell were howling into the Winter Wind. Catelyn shivered, she would never admit it but she knew her daughter was right. The others in the game might not feel that way. She hoped her daughter was strong enough to be smarter than the opponents they all would soon meet.
Xxxxxxxx
Rickon was in the stables checking over the additions that had been created for the arrival of so many mounts. He loved horses, him and Arya were the equestrians in the family. Their aunt Queen Lyanna was said to be one of the best riders of the realm. The family trait seemed to have passed over the rest of the Stark children. Arya had learned trick riding from Syrio and was damn near impossible win a race with, no matter the animal she rode. Rickon helped care for the beasts. He was always on hand with the birth of a new foal, when one became sick or lame he tended to them. He found that the animals were the only calming creatures in the castle for his mind recently. Robb found him there looking over the additions.
"If you get dirty I will be forced to kick your ass." Robb said to him when Rickon went to grab a pitchfork.
"As if you could kick my ass. You are basically an old man now. I'm still quick." He reached for the pitchfork and spun around Robb, twirling it in the air as he did so, ending facing his brother with the deadly end pointing under Robb's throat.
"I see that the free risers from Dorne have been teaching you a thing or two." Robb said dryly.
Rickon laughed and put the fork into the ground.
"Give me a spear and then I will be better than Arya when she is dancing." Rickon had asked to be shown the ways of the Water Dancer. He had tried, but had been unable to reform his mind the way the discipline required. He had taken to learning every fighting style that came through Winterfell's gates. Robb would never admit it but his baby brother was the better fighter.
The entire castle came to a stand still to watch as Arya and Rickon sparred in the yard. They moved faster than the eye could track. Robb had marveled at their skills. He had begrudge them at first. He was the eldest and should be the best fighter in the family. He was good, but never good enough.
"You have tried that Rickon. The match was a draw. Father had to call it to a stop." Robb smiled at the memory. "I fear we will never know who the best is."
"What are you doing here Robb? Shouldn't you be talking with the chamberlain about arrangements?" Rickon asked coldly.
"I wanted to talk to you. I haven't been able to talk much with you about family issues." Robb scuffed his boot on the dirt of the stable. "I just want you to know you aren't alone. I do not wish for you to join the Night's Watch, but if that is your wish I will speak to mother and father when the time comes."
Rickon had not expected this, not from Robb. He had been sure Robb would be the one that their parents sent to talk him out of taking the black.
"Thank you Robb. I just don't have a place here now." Rickon said slowly.
"Arya has felt like that for years. You are not do the only one who wants to know their place." Robb said as he turned to walk away.
Rickon stayed in the stables until the chamberlain came to summon him go the front steps of the castle. Rickon stood in line next to Bran. He was a good three inches taller than Robb and Bran. He towered over Arya and Sansa alike. None of the Starks were short, but among them, he was the tallest. He was able to watch as the families of the great houses rode into the gates of Winterfell.
King Rhaegar led the party. He was dressed in black and red, the colors of his house. The three-headed dragon was embroidered on his breast. His silver hair was cut to his collar. His lilac colored eyes took in the surroundings with a guarded glance. This was the home of one of his Queens. He looked to his right to his wife. Lyanna's face was light up, the way he had never seen it. He sighed and knew that this visit was long overdue.
The family had traveled to Dorne with every opportunity they could. His children had known the seat of Elia's family from childhood. Nevertheless, the North had never been possible to visit. Now looking at Lyanna's face, he felt the guilt hit him again. His wife was looking at the assembled Stark family at the doors of the great hall of Winterfell. She did not take her eyes from the serious face of her brother.
"My Queen, if I did not know better I would think that you would be off your horse by now, running like a child to him." He said to her.
She finally turned to look at him. Her face changed, as it had so often when she turned her gaze to his. It was tinged with sadness. He did not know when their relationship had changed, but it had.
"I am just eager to be home, in the place of my birth." Lyanna replied.
"Do not scold her Rhaegar. She is eager to be home." Elia said from his left.
Lyanna stiffened at her words. She had taken to treating Lyanna like a child, Rhaegar had noticed on the months of their travels. His wives had been close once, but now they were cold to each other. He tried to bridge the gap between them; he loved them to much to not try to fix things between his loves.
"I would never scold my Winter Rose. She is the cool wind that soothes my fires. One does not tamper with the gods will." Rhaegar said to them both. They were almost upon the steps and prepared to dismount and greet Eddard and his family.
The king surveyed the Stark family. He saw the three boys and two girls lined up. He saw Catelyn Stark, growing large with the life growing with in her. He felt a twinge at the thought of the child. He had always said that the dragon must have three heads and so he had fathered only three children. He had always wanted more. Children were a joy he had loved to have. Neither of his wives could bear him more children, so he had taken the realm into his heart as his children.
"Welcome my King to Winterfell, home of the Stark family. We offer you hospitality and friendship." Eddard said as he walked down the steps to meet with his king and brother in law. He bowed to him and the rest of the castle did as well. Rhaegar pulled him to his feet.
"Thank you Eddard, for the hospitality." Rhaegar said smiling.
"Is the prompt over with now?" Lyanna asked. "I would like to hug my brother." She stood in the cold sun and felt home.
"We have to finish the introductions Lyanna." Elia said sweetly. "Eddard it has been to long."
"Yes it has been, my Queen." Eddard smiled back at her. "Allow me to introduce my wife, Catelyn Stark. Cat this is Queen Elia and Lyanna."
Catelyn smiled and reached her hands out to Lyanna. Queen Elia might hold to proper edict, but this was Winterfell, they did things differently here.
"Lyanna I am so happy to see you again. Our first meeting was a long time ago." She hugged the Queen to her. "So glad to have you home."
Lyanna had stiffened at the first contact, but hugged the other woman back. She could now realize why her brother loved this woman so. They pulled back from another. Then her brother was standing next to them, smiling at them both. He enveloped both women in a fierce hug. When Lyanna tucked her head under her broths chin everything bad fell away. She was safe, home and at peace. Maybe tonight she would sleep without fear.
"Ned, I have missed you." She said. A tear escaped her eyes. She blinked and more ran down her cheeks.
"All is well now Little Wolf. You are among the pack. Nothing will harm you now." He whispered in her ear. "Now let me introduce you to my children."
"I have met one already. This new Stark is vivacious already." Lyanna smiled as she wiped her tears. "This one will be a girl. I can feel it."
"She is like Arya when I carried her." Catelyn smiled. "Now to put faces with the names." They turned back to the King and the rest of the Royal family. "My apologies. I have been overcome with emotions due to my condition and had to embrace my good sister. We can recommence with the introductions if it pleases the king."
"My all means my Lady. It was no inconvenience for you to greet Lyanna. May I introduce my family? My wives Lyanna and Elia you know. Our children, Rhaenys, Aegon and Jon." The children had dismounted and were standing behind their parents smiling. "My sister Daenerys and my mother Rhaella."
"Welcome to Winterfell. It is a pleasure to meet you all. Last time I saw any of you every one of you were small." Ned smiled at the children. "Here are my children; Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon. Robb will be more than willing to show you around the castle and grounds if you wish."
Aegon had watched the reunion of the Starks and had been shocked at the way his mother was acting. Elia had never openly chastised Lyanna in such a manner and felt as if she had been unjust to do so. Whenever they went to Dorne, she was the first to embrace her brothers. To prevent Lyanna from doing so confused him. Something was not right between the two.
He put that thought out of his head as he assessed the family before him. The boys were all tall, as tall as he was. Two of them had their mothers family features while the youngest looked almost complete Stark. There was a red hint in his hair and his eyes were not true grey, but it was close. The girls were also tall, and beautiful. Sansa had her mothers coloring while the second girl Arya looked to be his second mothers copy. He had done a double take when he had first set eyes upon the girl.
"My Lord Stark, we are grateful to be welcomed into your home." Rhaenys spoke as the eldest of the royal children.
Robb walked to be level with his father and smiled at them all. It was his duty to act as the guide of the royal family. He looked them over. The King looked every inch of how the old Targaryen family was said to look like. He was the last of the old kings from the tales, as did his mother and sister. His children bore more resemblance to their mothers. Jon would fit in nicely with the folk of the North. He looked every inch the part. The only thing separating him from his mother's people was the dark grey purple of his eyes. From a distance, they could be mistaken for the Stark grey, but there his father's blood had won out. He also was wearing red, not a traditional Northern color. The other two were tan, honey colored hair and blue lavender eyes. The princess wore a gown to match her eyes. Robb was awe struck with her. She was not what he was used to.
"I would be pleased to show you to your rooms, once we greet the other members of your party. I am sure Aunt Lyanna could show you to the great hall." Robb smiled at the King and Queens and let his gaze stay on the princess.
"What a splendid idea Robb." Catelyn smiled at her son. She was starting to tire and wanted to get the introductions out of the way as soon as possible. "If you accept your highness?"
The king looked at Elia and her serious face. She would not want to leave, but Lyanna would love to show them her family home as soon as possible. He was torn, and not for the first time. Elia made the decision.
"My Lord, you and the children should see Lyanna's home while it is still unoccupied with the rest of the guests. I will stay with Lord Stark and meet the others." She smiled sweetly, but her eyes told him that they would talk later. It was the first night of her week with him.
Elia had not wanted to show her distaste in how Lyanna was acting. Since they had decided to come to Winterfell, her friend had been different. However, that was not the cause for their rift. That had begun many years ago, when the children were small. Lyanna had been so young when they had started on their path, a fact that she had overlooked out of love for her. Lyanna had been like the sister she had never had as a child. But as they grew, she saw that Lyanna was smart in counsel, loved by the people and carried just the right amount of wildness to make her act irrationally. Elia could have over looked that all. She was the right balance for herself. What she could not over look was how Lyanna had complete love and devotion from their husband and her children.
The worst sting happened when Rhaenys had fallen ill to a sweating sickness. In the young girls delirium she had called out for her mother and Elia had been beside her in an instant, but the child only cried harder for her mother. It was not until Lyanna had entered the room, took the girl in her arms, and spoke the stories of her home did Rhaenys fall back in to a peaceful slumber.
That had been when her feelings of total love had changed to jealousy. She had told Rhaegar of her fears that the family no longer needed her, not with Lyanna there. He had told her that things would be all right, once Rhaenys recovered. They had not. Every milestone the children made in lessons were shared with Lyanna first, every injury was only better once Lyanna had seen to it. That was when she demanded that the king split his time with them. One week at a time, including the children, with one Queen. Once the children had grown old enough to decide who they wanted to be with they had always chosen Lyanna over her, but she still had the king on her weeks alone. Lyanna could not steal that one victory from her.
"Thank you Elia, for the offer to stay behind. You are a true friend." Lyanna smiled just as sweetly to her. She knew that Elia would have words with their husband, but she did not care. She was home and nothing could bother here, not with in Winterfell.
Elia watched her family enter the Great Keep of Winterfell. She knew her duty. She would stand here for the royal family. She knew her duty. She knew that the next that would enter would be Lady Stark's two siblings. She liked Lord Tully. He was young, but had a good head on his shoulder. The sister Lysa was a different matter.
While her husband had been the Hand, she had gotten to know the woman. This was one of the matters she would like to talk with Ned about. She had her suspicions over Jon's death. She knew, to her bones, that Jon had not died a natural death. She had watched Lysa descend into madness in the years. She was not to be trusted. The time to tell was close at hand, but now was not that time. She knew that Lysa Arryn had the potential to plunge the realm into chaos. Elia would not allow that, but she had to tread carefully. She was sister of two powerful players. The game was rigged against her. She was try g to keep her head above the tide.
The banners proceeded the houses of Arryn and Tully. The fish and the falcon blazed to life all around them. Catelyn took a slight step in front of her husband. She saw her brother. It had been ten years since she had seen him. She had gone to Riverrun for her father's funeral. Edmure had been eighteen that day. Now he was a man of twenty-eight. She had once told Ned that Robb looked like her brother and now her husband saw the resemblance.
"Our eldest son is the image of your brother and our second daughter is the copy of my sister. How did this happen?" Ned whispered to her.
"How did the kings' son come to look so much like you?" She whispered back. They shared a look. They could not speak because Edmure was off his horse and walking quickly towards her.
"Cat! By the Seven I have missed you!" He said as be wrapped her in hug.
She gave a laugh and hugged him back. No matter how old they got he was her baby brother and she loved him deeply.
"Where is Lysa?" She craned her neck to find her. That is when she had spotted the wheelhouse. She looked shocked. Her sister was riding in that thing? She asked her brother with her eyes and be shrugged.
"Uncle can tell you more. In the weeks of travel, I have found her to be much altered. Ready yourself sister. Lysa is no longer the girl we knew." Edmure said softly.
The wheelhouse came to a stop and a knight placed a step in front of the door. It opened and Lysa struck her head out and had a quick conversation with the young knight. She looked around and nodded her head. The door opened completely and she stepped out.
Catelyn was stunned. Lysa was only one year younger than she was, but she looked ten years her elder. The once deep glossy auburn hair now hung limp around her. She was thin, to the point of being sickly. And her eyes, once bright and loving were now sunken and hostile. Lysa had not attended their father's funeral, this was the first time she had seen Lysa since the war.
"Ed, what?" Cat whispered.
"Later Cat. We have much to talk about." Edmure said. He turned to the queen. "Queen Elia, greetings."
"Greetings to you as well Lord Tully." She smiled at him. Edmure opened his mouth to continue to speak with the queen, but the air was split with Lysa's voice.
"Cat. Oh my darling sister." Lysa cried in a child like voice she had never used, not even as a child. "Come along baby, come meet your aunt."
She was reaching into the wheelhouse and a hand was clasped in hers. A boy emerged from the door. He squinted his eyes in the sun. He was pale, thin and small. He was the same age as Rickon, yet he looked like a boy, while her son was on his way to becoming a man. His hair was devoid of shine, his eyes were devoid of life and he walked as if he was unsure of what was going to happen next.
"Mother, is this Winterfell?" He asked.
"Yes Baby. Now come meet your aunt." She led the boy with her as she approached Cat. She kept her son as far from her brother as she could while still being polite. Lyse embraced Cat and the child kicked at that moment. Lysa stiffened.
"You look as if you are in good health, dear sister." Lysa said stiffly as she pulled away.
"I am well. You remember my husband. Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell." Catelyn said, trying to change the subject. Lysa appeared to change moods quickly.
"Lord Stark, it is a pleasure to see you after all these years. My lord husband often times talked of you. I know he thought of you like a son." Lysa said to him when she came up from the curtsy she had fallen into.
"He was like a father to me and I still grieve over his passing. I cannot even imagine how you must feel my lady. I see that his child grows and prospers." Ned said, waving over to the child.
"Yes, my baby is growing into a nice strong man. Robin, this is your Aunt Catelyn and your Uncle Eddard. Say hello baby."
"My lord, my lady. Thank you for the hospitality." He was the first of the party to thank them. The boy may be small, but his father's teachings had stayed with him.
"You are most welcome to our home son. I would like you to meet your cousins." Ned made the introductions. He was shocked at how the son of the mighty Jon Arryn could look so sickly. Jon had never mentioned his son's health in the letters they wrote.
Rickon looked at his cousin with curiosity. Robin was the same age he was, yet he was a foot and a half taller than the other boy was. The boy looked as if he could not even pick up a wooden practice sword, let alone the steal sword that Rickon now used. He was glad that Bran had been given the task of being the guide for the Tully and Arryn parties. Rickon knew that he would have nothing to say to any of them. His uncle looked nice enough, but the aunt and her child were hopeless.
"Please, proceed into the great hall. There is a fire and wine inside." Catelyn was saying to her brother and sister.
"That would be most welcome. Uncle Byrnden is with the men helping them get settled. He will want to see you." Edmure said as he walked to the doors of the castle.
As the second group was entering the castle, the third was riding into the courtyard. The spear pierced sun banners entered. The queen smiled warmly for the first time Arya noted. There was something with this queen that Arya felt nervous about. Arya had watched her while the others had looked to Lysa and Edmure's arrive. This queen was cunning and smart, Arya saw, but she was astute in the game. As her brother and niece entered, Arya felt as if this was the real woman.
"On behalf of the Martell family of Dorne Arianne and myself thank you for the hospitality. We have traveled a long way to bring prosperity between our corners of the kingdom. But all the pleasantries aside, I really just wanted to see how cold it could really get." Oberon was saying when. Arya turned back her attention to the new arrivals.
"Uncle, please. Your sister the Queen is right there. Saying things like that to Lord Stark will not win us a friend." Arianne spoke. She looked at Elia who was smiling at her brother. She let her eyes sweep over to Robb and she looked right at him. "We want them to like us."
Sansa rolled her eyes. She knew her broths was a desirable match for a husband. Many of the Northern houses had offered daughters to him. Many girls had flirted, trying to tempt Robb. None had done so, or none had been able to tempt his attention to seriously. Sansa flashed a look at Arya and they had a wordless conversation. Neither of them liked this girl and her forward ways. They would watch her.
"We wish to extend friendship to our friends south, all of them." Catelyn said smoothly, also disliking the girl and her attention to her son.
"Lord Stark," Oberyn said to him. He had seen the silent communication between the Stark women. He knew his niece had not made friends for her comment to the lording. "I have an interest in conversing with your master of horse. My mounts are more touchy than I am with their handling."
"My son Rickon," Ned gestured to his youngest son, "is our unofficial Master of Horse. If you have, any questions or requirements go to him. He will work with you on the matter."
Rickon nodded, his eyes on the sand steed Oberyn had rode in on. He had admired the mounts the royal family had rode on. Prince Jon's mount had been of particular interest to him. He was eager to be done with the matter of greetings and escape to the stables.
"Rickon, you know horses?" Oberyn asked him, shocking him out of his disinterest in the lord talk.
"Yes my lord." He answered.
"My title is prince, but I will let this slide. I feel that you and I will be spending much time together. I have heard about you, by the way. A group of Dornish travelers who visited here a time ago mentioned your aptitude with a spear. I would wonder if you would like to show me what my countrymen taught you. If that would be acceptable?" Oberyn asked, arching a brow.
Rickon looked to his father. He nodded his head slightly in consent. He smiled and felt a reckless joy set inside him. He has jested with Robb that morning about being the best fighter in the family, or equal with Arya. He relished the thought of the chance to fight a master of his chosen weapon.
"That would be my pleasure prince Oberyn." He gave a wolfish smile and the prince smiled back.
"If you would like to enter the great hall there is warmth and wine for you." Ned said, speaking the traditional words of welcome.
"Warmth would be welcome, and wine would be a pleasure. Thank you Lord Stark." Arianne said.
She had missed the displeasure of her flirtation with the heir of Winterfell. She had never noticed the way women treated her. She was the heir of Sunspear. She was used to getting her way and at this moment, since she had entered the courtyard of Winterfell she decided to set her sights on Robb Stark. Willas Tyrell had been dull and to placid for her liking. Her brother had been a fun amusement, but he liked men, that was no secret. The only other men in her life were family. It was never a good idea to dally with family.
"Our king is already inside, as well as the Tully and Arryn families. Please enter and be merry." Eddard spoke with a smile.
They left the courtyard into the hall. The Stark family shuffled on their feel and Catelyn sighed wearily. She was feeling her heavy burden now more than ever. This child was something she had not counted on and with her age, she felt tired. The next party, the Greyjoy family entered on lean battered horses.
Theon was beside Asha. They had both marveled at the size of Winterfell. It was a truly breath catching place. Theon smiled at the family before him. The men were all tall and strong, the size of the Ironborn. The women, especially the red haired one, were beautiful. Asha watched with a squirming feeling in her gut. This was more grand than she had imagined. She may be a lord's daughter, a captain of her own ship, but this was more.
"Greeting neighbors. We welcome you to our halls." Eddard said to the two members of the party. He knew that the house Greyjoy was a proud family.
"Thank you Lord Stark. We are road weary. I would give a more courtly greetings, but we both know how useless that all is." Asha said to the family before her.
"We are much alike in that respect." Eddard smiled at the young woman. "It must be because we are not from the south where the game is more heavily played. Please enter the great hall and rest from your travels. We can have a proper greeting when we are all in better moods."
Theon decided that this man would be the only one of the great lords there he could like. He was a no nonsense man, Theon could tell. His few words had shown that he was not like the southern lords he had been traveling with.
"Thank you Lord Stark. You are a very kind host." Asha said with the first real smile on her face since they started their journey.
They walked wearily into the hall. The rest of the Stark family looked from one to the other. This was the way that then were used to greeting visitors. It was refreshing to deal with people of sense. The Iron Islands had always been fierce, plaguing the coast of the northern lands in the past with raids. But when the Northern men had shown that they were not easy to take, they had left them alone. They had a strenuous relationship.
Arya had watched her sisters face when the iron born man had entered. The Greyjoy boy, no man, was very tall. As tall as Rickon and as strong looking as Robb. She knew her sister. Sansa was a dreamer. Always looking, longing for the Great Love she called it. Sansa had talked about the looks the man she wished for would have. As soon as the man had entered, she had heard Sansa suck in her breath. As he made his way to the hall Sansa had watched him leave. Arya had an uneasy feeling about the situation. Nothing good would come from this.
The next party was entering the gates. Lions poured in, so that the entire courtyard was changed to red and gold. Two men entered next. They were golden haired, distinguished looking and proud. There the third man of the party, the dwarf, was assisted from his mount. The three walked to the family. But instead of greeting the Stark family, the elder Lannister spoke to the queen.
"Your highness, greetings to you on this fine day." Tywin said with a calculated grace.
"And you, Lord Tywin, greetings as well." Elia said with a smile. She had felt slighted from the Greyjoy party. They had not even looked to her. They had not even used the word games that the southern families deployed so well. But she still felt weary about the Lannister lord.
"Greeting Lord Tywin." Lord Stark said slowly. He did not want to tangle with the man, but there was no one better at the game than this man before him was.
"My Lord Stark. Many thanks for opening your house to us." Tywin said graciously.
"You are most welcome to our halls." Catelyn said to him.
"Lady Stark, you are most lovely today." Tyrion said, his mismatched eyes soaking in the sights around him.
"Thank you Lord Tyrion." She smiled.
"Lord Stark, it is a pleasure to see you after so many years." Jamie spoke with a soft voice. "I am truly happy to be in your company." He stuck out his hand to shake with Eddard's. Ned was a little taken aback. The last time he had seen Ser Jamie he had been a boy, now he was a man. One who was confident, where the boy had been unsure. Ned clasped the outstretched hand and smiled warmly.
Tywin Lannister watched his sons with the Lord and Lady Stark and felt a slight anger rise in him. The moral Lord Stark had somehow tainted his eldest son in some way. He had said some unknown words to Jamie and forced his son to go on his voyages to all over the known world without a second thought for doing his proper duty. For this, he would never forgive and he would not forget. People always said the North Remembered, but a Lannister always paid his debts.
"Ser Jamie, it has been a long time. It is good to see you in good health. We open our doors to you and offer bread and beer to state your thirst and hunger." Ned said. These were not the common words used in greeting, not the old words, but true enough. It was his way of playing the game. Ned would never be the strongest at this, but he could play.
"Beer would be quite welcome Lord Stark. I hope there is more than bread to fill my belly. I am in a mood for a roasted chicken. Perhaps you have one hidden for one my size?" Tyrion asked with a joke.
Arya could not help herself. She gave a very unlady like snort, which started Rickon off on a loud roar of laughter and soon the unease of this meeting dissolved into gleeful laughter. Arya decided that she liked this little man. He was said to be the smarted man in the seven kingdoms. Bran had said that he was eager for him to arrive. He had only ever known the logical functioning of the maesters. The logic that Tyrion used was different. There had been a raven from Tyrion, asking for rare volumes of the library. Bran had scrambled among the books and scrolls to find the volumes he had asked for. He had set them aside for Lord Tyrion's coming.
Unlike his habit of speaking, he stepped forward. He prepared to speak to Lord Tyrion. His father quickly introduced his children to the Lannister's and Bran was finally ready.
"Lord Tyrion, I have found the volumes you requested." Bran spoke in his voice that he only used with his family. They all looked at him in stunned belief.
Tyrion watched the Stark family's reaction to this boy speaking out. He quickly calculated the importance of this. Instead of his pithy remark he employed, he spoke kindly.
"Thank you, Bran is it?" He asked. The boy nodded. "I am grateful to you for hunting the books down for me." He smiled and he knew that his smile was grotesque, but the young man he bestowed it upon did not flinch away from his face. Bran smiled warmly to him.
They all had been assigned families to guide while staying in Winterfell. Robb had the royal family and the Martell's, since the two families were so closely related. Sansa had been given the Tyrell's due to the young woman in the party her own age. Rickon was placed with the Greyjoy's as guide, due to their temperaments. Everyone knew of the iron men habit of disinterest of the realm, which suited Rickson's disinterest of things. Bran had been told to show Robin around, based on his placid approach to dealing with difficult situations. The last two families had fallen on Arya; she would be the guide to the Lannister and Baratheon families. This had not been an ideal situation. She was not the warmest hostess, but she would do her duty.
Bran wished he had been chosen to be the Lannister guide, so he could have more time with the curious Tyrion. He knew that this man would be the first one he had met that could challenge his mind in ways not yet challenged.
"It was nothing. I rather enjoyed the hunt." Bran smiled.
"It's the only thing Bran will hunt for. Elusive volumes of obscure books in the library." Arya said dryly.
"That is a noble pursuit. Tyrion was the same way. It is not so easy to have a brother that is brilliant." Jamie replied. He smiled at her. They shared a look of perfect understanding. Their fathers watched this, one plotting the other on guard.
The queen spoke then. She did not want Tywin Lannister thinking of Arya as a perspective bride for his son. The child might not be her direct blood, but she was family and you did not let the lions eat family.
"Lord Tywin, there was a small matter the king would like your advice on. He is inside if you would like to proceed to the hall?" She smiled queenly at him.
"Yes your grace." He said to her. "Come along boys." He did not like being dismissed, but you had to do as the queen commanded.
Jamie and Tyrion followed their father inside. Tyrion for the beer, Jamie because he had no other choice. He looked over his shoulder as they went past the Starks. The dark haired girl, Arya, was watching him from the corner of her eye. He smiled at himself. She was a pretty thing. However, young. He was feeling his age. There was nothing he could do about his age, so he followed his father inside.
The Lannister's were finally out of the courtyard and Eddard breathed a sigh of relief. He had not liked the was Ser Jamie had looked at Arya. He respected the man, but not for his daughter. There were too many unwed men about. His sons he could gladly consent marry a girl of his choice, no matter who she was, as long as they had love. He always said he would do the same for his daughters, but watching the smile that passed between Arya and Ser Jamie, he was no longer sure he could do that.
While he was contemplating his double standards regarding his daughters, the Tyrell party entered the yard. Robb had heard many things about the young Knight of the flowers. How he was the best night of his age, better some said than Ser Jamie Lannister. The young man might not have done half the things Ser Jamie had done. On his travels, the wandering Ser Jamie had always helped the small folks wherever he went. There had been tales of him putting out whole towns ablaze in the Riverlands, battling whole tribes of the hill folk in the Vale and many more heroic tales. The new knight was nothing but a show fighter, but the people loved him more than the other knight. They did not knight men in the North, but any one man was better than ten southern men were. Robb wanted to show this flower lord how a real man fought. He might have a sister and younger brother better at fighting in his family, but against this boy, he was sure he would win.
The wheelhouse rode in first, the heir of Highgarden at the driving position. They knew of the queen's brother's accident with Willas Tyrell years back. The family had great hatred of Oberyn Martell. The young man who had been injured held no grudge, but the grandmother, known as the Queen of Thorns, still wanted blood. Now the two families were going to be together. Things would be difficult. Ned was now pleased to have Queen Elia with him now.
Willis had watched the great castle loom over his party every passing day for the last two days. On the day, they reached the castle the king had sent messengers of when they would enter the castle. They would not enter all at once, the command had said. His family would be second to last to enter. His grandmother had railed against the orders.
"Our family is greater than the house of Greyjoy. We should be admitted before them." She had huffed in her crone like voice.
Willas knew the reasoning behind the order of entrance into the castle. He could not tell the reasoning to Grandmother. He knew that there would be no reasoning with her in this. Margaery had somehow been able to sooth the old woman.
"Grandmother, if we enter later we will have one of the grandest entrances into Winterfell. Our arrival will be second only to the King and his family." Margaery smiled brightly at the old woman. She had huffed and closed the doors to the wheelhouse. Now they sat inside the yard of the castle.
He took a hand from the guards' man that his grandmother called Right. He hated being forced to use help, that he could not ride his own horse into the castle, but it was something he had swallowed down and took the help.
He knew better than to walk straight to the Lord and Lady. He swallowed when he saw the queen standing there. His grandmother would take perverse delight seeing her there. The old woman loved sparing with words and the Queen Elia was a master.
Left and Loras had opened the door to the wheelhouse. Margaery left first. She had adopted her thickest wool dress, which had been made snug on her body, the neckline plunging down to her navel. There was a sheer fabric over her exposed skin, but that was all. It was see through enough that she left nothing to the imagination.
"Could you not have worn this dress? It is not becoming." Willis whispered.
"I wore what grandmother and I decided on last week. It is none of your business." She smiled for the people around her, but her words were angry and her eyes shot him a look of anger.
Willas looked over to Loras. He was the bridge between him and the woman in the family. If Loras said silently not to fight now he would not do it. Loras was right, this was not the time or the place to have this fight.
"Who is going to help these old bones down so we can greet the winter lords?" Lady Olenna barked. Loras helped hear down and they made their way the waiting party.
"Queen Elia, Lord and Lady Stark, we have arrived at last. Hello." Olenna said when they got to them.
"Lady Olenna, welcome at last. We have an entire new wing for you and your family to stay in for the duration." Lord Stark said to her and her alone.
"Good. We need a good place to live out this stay." She said smoothly.
"We would like to introduce our family to you, Lady." Lady Stark said.
"Yes. That would be nice." She gave a snort. "Here are mine. Willis, Loras and my sweet pet Margaery." She waved at her grandchildren. They bowed as their names were said. None of them spoke. Wills wanted to speak, but no one interrupted his grandmother.
"My children, Robb, my heir. Ladies Sansa and Arya, both skilled at household arts in their own way. Bran, who is to become Maesters, and Rickon, who we have yet to discover his talents." Ned spoke with the words he hated speaking. He felt as if he was selling off his children in parts to this old woman.
"All a very impressive brood of children. Moreover, I see you have a sixth growing with in your wife womb. What will this one be?" She asked sweetly.
"I believe that I carry a daughter. She will be as tough as any Stark and as wise as her family before her." Catelyn said. She had a better grasp of this fight than her husband did. She remembered her father playing host to this formidable woman. The less her dear husband spoke the better for them all.
"A girl, how wonderful. Will she be a wolf, or a fish? You have one of each already I believe?" She asked.
"I do have one of each; I hope this new child will be a mix of both." Lady Stark said warmly.
Queen Elia looked at the two woman, how they spoke. She had never expected that the Lady Stark could speak the words with the Queen of Thorns. Elia had underestimated Catelyn Stark, but not anymore. She stood silent as she watched.
"And if the child is male? What do you wish for? You have an heir, a maesters and from his looks, I would say a warrior. What would this fourth son be?" She asked.
"If I have a male he will be as he wishes, like all my children." Catelyn said with a smile. Her own family turmoil was leaking to close to the surface. She would not let this woman know this fact.
Olenna sniffed the air and changed the subject. She had learned what she needed to know about this new child. Now she wanted to find out if there was any chance to show off her grand children to their best advantage.
"I hope there will be a feast tonight?"
"We have planned a welcome feast." Eddard said.
"And will there be singers and musicians? Dancing and players? We are not accustomed to just eating in Highgarden at feasts." She asked.
The Starks looked blankly at the old woman. They had not arraigned these things. Catelyn knew they should have, but she had become accustomed to the ways of the North where such frivolities were discarded. Elia came to the rescue.
"We have brought the crème of the capitol performers with us to entertain the guests. There will be music and dancing this night, and a murmur production performed later in the week once the play is completed. The writers are trying to decide what to do." She smiled at Olenna. "With every family of the ruling class here they are having difficulties. They do not want to offend the wrong people."
Olenna broke into a burst of laughter that startled the ravens on the tallest towers of the castle.
"And so they must be pissing themselves over that." She smiled again, reveling many blank spaces in her smile. "Well then, have someone lead us inside. It is to cold outside for my own bones. Margaery, take my arm and lead me indoors."
"Right away Grandmother." The young beauty said. They had decided she was not to dally with the Stark heir. They had their eyes on the throne, and despite the fact that the entire portion of the northern end of the kingdom was the largest it was not the one they wanted.
"My Lord Stark, might I enquire as to where your Maester is at? I have some information I believe he would find quite useful." Willas spoke as his grandmother and sister were on their way up the steps.
"He will be in the great hall with the other guests. Once we are all inside my son Bran could be of help to you as well. He is out studious child and knows everything our maester knows." Eddard said to the young lord.
Willas smiled at them. His eyes sought Bran out from the Starks lined up bedside their parents and nodded thoughtfully.
"I look forward to speaking with Bran and the maester both." He took his leave following his family inside at a much slower pace.
Once all the Highgarden roses were inside Ned gave thanks to the old gods that they only had one family left to greet. He gave a sidelong look at Elia. He would not be rude to the Queen but he wished she would go away. He was about to meet his oldest friend and he had a feeling she would not find any comfort from this meeting.
Like with everything in his life Catelyn read his mind. She placed her hand on the Queens arm and winced slightly. Ned knew she had figured out a way to rid them of the unwanted guest in that moment.
"My Queen, I know there is one final house left to meet and welcome, but this child is unruly." She smiled apologetically at the other woman. "I would have one of the children go and fetch me my stomach powders that help sooth me, but I fear that would be most unbecoming. And they do not truly understand what it is like to carry a babe. Could I ask you, one mother to another to fetch this for me? I know you are a queen not a servant, but all our people are inside." Cat looked helpless and the other woman looked at her with concern.
"It is no worry Lady Stark. I understand. From one mother to another I remember my first time. Rhaenys was very spirited. It would be my pleasure. You are over taxed as it, having to stand outside for the last few hours to greet the people I essentially brought along on a family visit. This is no incontinence to me, but my way of repayment to you for the hospitality you offer to us all." Elia smiled with the understanding only a woman who has carried a child would be able to show.
"Thank you Elia, I hope I can call you that? We are in a since family after all." Catelyn smiled.
"You may, if I can call you Catelyn?" There was warmth in her voice that had been missing all day.
"You must. Thank you for assisting me in this."
With a nod of her head and a smile on her lips, the queen turned to enter the castle. Catelyn had done her performance so deftly that the queen had no idea that she had been played. She had only seen a fellow woman made to suffer. Arya saw all this as the master play that it was. She knew that nothing but the sound of her low singing and the swish of her loom calmed the child. Once the Queen was inside, she spoke.
"Was there a reason you asked the queen to leave? Or did you all tire of being on your best behavior?"
"Arya!" Sansa admonished. "Mother would never send the queen away if there was no cause for it."
"Actually Arya is right. I did send the queen away for this last greeting." Catelyn said to her daughters. "The Baratheon's might be loyal to the crown, but they still have harsh feelings towards one another. Your father wants this to be a happy occasion for old friends. None of us wants that tainted with false smiles. All that will come in good time."
Sansa had a reply hot on her lips, but she swallowed it down when the final family entered their battlements. There were no flag wavers, no grand entrance, just a man on a horse.
"I couldn't wait for the rest of them!" Robert yelled from his horse as he rode to the waiting groom. "I was tired of waiting. Why in the seven hells did you make us be last?"
The man, who they all knew without introductions to be none other than Robert Baratheon climbed off his horse, walked over to Ned, and embraced like a brother.
"There were only two people in this whole bloody farce that I wanted to see. I had you be last so I could enjoy one greeting out of all this." Ned said clasping his friend on the arm once the embrace was over.
"Cat!" Roberts shouted, delighted to see her. "You look just as I remember seeing you last." He hugged her as she laughed. "Just the same. With a child growing with in you and your cheeks pink and plump."
"And you look just the same as well. I'm glad to see you didn't get fat and go to seed." She joked, poking him in the belly.
"I'm not fat woman, just jolly." He said, poking his belly to prove his point. "Ah, here is the rest of them. Ned I want you to meet my children. And my lovely wife, I'm sure you remember Cersei?" He smiled at his lady as she dismounted her horse and walked over to them, smiling at her husband.
"What have you been saying Robert? Nothing that will cause us any embarrassment I hope." She linked her arm in his and Ned was pleased to see love shining on both their faces. He knew an image well, seeing that same look when he looked at his own wife.
"Enough of the love bird routine please." Joffery said when he drew up to his parents. He snuck a look at the Stark children and saw that one of them was feeling what he had said. "Too much sweetness can cause stomach pains."
Rickon shorted, Arya pretended to cough and Sansa looked shocked. Robb and Bran just smiled. They were all used to parental displays of affection, and so it seemed were the Baratheon children. The two groups of young people looked at each other with curiosity. This family, more than any of the others felt normal. On the other hand, as normal you can be when your family is the leaders of a section of a vast kingdom.
Gendry had spotted Robb right away, the two smiled, and he had wanted to go right away to his friend. They were both to schooled to break ranks and finally meet in person, so Gendry stood in line with his family across the yard from the Starks.
He had the perfect opportunity to look them all over. He had expected them all to look like their father. It was widely known that both the Stark family and Baratheon families always breed true, but it did not appear so this time. Like in his own family only one of the children looked fully like the old blood of their father's house. For his family he was the Baratheon in looks. For the Starks it was the third child, a young woman who was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. When he looked at her the first time he felt as if he was seeing color for the first time in his life.
"Since my son had to open his mouth I think it is time to introduce the children. We cannot be outside all day. We have to go in and kiss the royal ass." Roberts said with a grimace.
"Robert, is that anyway to speak? Remember we are not in the Stormlands anymore. You are not the highest man here, though you may be the strongest." Cersei said with a warning look on her face, somewhat softened by the smile in her eyes.
"You always were the brains to my beauty." And he kissed her.
Ned smiled brightly at his lifelong friend and his family. He had been worried for a time about this match. Now he saw that there was no reason to worry. The two were made for each other, the way he and Cat were.
"Right." He said, clearing his throat to break up the kiss. "Robert, Cersei I am pleased to introduce my children. Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and Rickon." He rattled off the names and the children bowed or gave a small curtsy at the right times. They had been doing it all day.
"Capable looking boys and beautiful girls you have. Here are my brood. Gendry, Joffery, Myrcella and my niece Shrieen."' The Baratheon bunch bowed and gave small curtsies in return.
"I wish we didn't have to go inside, but this is my castle. If you would like to follow me we can get this over with." Ned said to Robert.
"I don't think this will be the end of it all, just the beginning." Robert said dryly.
The two families walked to the doors to the great hall. Ned held his hand on the large loop that acted as the opener. He had been speaking the truth. He wished that he, Robert, and their two families could have riddled away from the people who were inside the doors. With a heavy sigh, he pulled on the loop and the door swung opened soundlessly.