The Wars Yet To Come

by LottieDot

The Board had been altered, but the Game remained the same. When War ended and peace lay over the Seven Kingdoms. Rhaegar and Lyanna live and rule with Elia and raise their children. Now 20 years later it is the children of the players of the game that must learn how to play. Vows will be made, promises broken. We will all learn in the Game of Thrones you live or die.

8. The Duals on the Dance Floor

A:N This one isn't as polished as I would like, but I wanted to get this out. So the spelling and grammar are going to be horrible. I hope you enjoy this update. After this chapter the real fun begins!

Okay I forgot to add the menu for the feast. The end half will be the menu. You don't have to read it if you don't want to, but I wanted to add it in! Enjoy the story and the food.

Jon sat in the balcony Arya had showed him earlier in the day. He had dressed for the feast quickly and departed for that hiding place eager to be on his own for a little while. He wanted to see how the other groups entered and whom they talked to when they did not think they were under the watchful eyes of their king. He was on his stomach peering at the twittering Tyrell girl and Arianne. He heard footsteps behind him and knew before the approaching person spoke who it would be.

"Well Jaehaeryas what do you think of all your father's faithful lords and ladies?" Arthur Dayne asked, settling down on his haunches to peer over the railing.

"You know not to call me that. No one calls me that." Jon said looking up at his mentor.

"Queen Eila calls you that." Arthur said with a smile.

"Only if she catches me doing something she feels is not becoming to a crown prince to be doing. Or with that delightful way of hers that is completely condescending. I am Jon that is my name. You know that." Jon heaved himself up from his position to look at the other man.

"That I do Jonny boy." He reached out and tussled his hair.

"Hey, Rhaenys will have your hand for messing her carefully arrangement of my lovely locks." Jon said as he tried to fix his hair back the way his sister had fashioned it.

"I can take the girl, never fear my prince." Arthur stood and looked at Jon. "I see you are wearing the colors of your mother's birth house."

"This was in my room when I entered. I have a feeling my cousins made it for me." Jon tugged at his sleeve.

"Queen Elia will not be pleased." Arthur said.

Jon smiled. It was no secret that he and Elia did not get along. He always thought she resented him for being born. He saw the way the other woman treated his mother. If Elia was not the highborn woman, she pretended to be Jon would have sworn she was jealous of Lyanna. It made living in the Red Keep difficult. Jon wanted to scream at his father to keep his wife in check. The screams of his mother in her sleep hung over him. His father could help her, but he still did nothing to help his mother.

If he was telling the truth, being in Winterfell was the first time he had not felt like an interloper. In King's Landing, he felt the love of the people, yet there were many who called him bastard and his mother nothing but the King's whore. He knew it was because of the faith of the Seven. There were Septons who still relied against his parent's marriage. Not even his mother's kind ways of ruling had swayed the most viscous of those factions. However, in the North, where the old gods the king and queen had pledged them self together looked down on them kindly and there was no anger with in the walls that sheltered them. Jon pushed these thoughts away and looked at Arthur.

"Why did you come find me? The show was starting to get good." Jon smiled nodding to the hall. Arthur looked down as well.

Jon had sat back and watched Arya walk into the room and the way the Baratheon boy had hovered close, but not intruding. While his uncle, Jamie Lannister, the former King's Guard, strutted before her in his glory. He wanted to laugh at those two. But that was not the best show of the night, far from it.

The best group to watch consisted of Asha Greyjoy, Willas Tyrell and Renly Baratheon. It was an odd trio to be sure. Asha was said to be an intimidating sea captain, but she felt sheltered. As if she had never truly traveled from her home islands. Her actions made him eager to find out why. He felt she and her brother were hiding somethings from them all. He would mention this to his father and they could discover what they hid. Willas was just as he had been on their first meeting, as if he wanted to get the night over with as soon as he could, but he was there so he was trying to be involved. Renly on the other hand was loud, outspoken and boasted whenever he could. The man's voice was so loud Jon could hear him from his hiding place.

"Asha, you look like a shining mermaid. The grey green color is rather becoming on a woman with your endowments to fill it out." Renly said and the girl's face was spotted with a contained anger.

Jon regretted that he could not hear her reply to Renly's. Nevertheless, he read her body language. Her hands were clenched into tight fists. Her eyes shined with anger and she slightly shook. Willas said something that made Renly laugh.

"Wallis I believe you right. Look at that Stark girl. Pants are being worn in the hall. Pity Lady Asha that you are not in such a costume. Your traveling clothes looked very form fitting on your lovely body." Renly smiled and tried to touch her arm.

Asha recoiled back and it looked as if she would strike Renly. She was fast in her movements and almost achieved her goal. A surprisingly strong hand stopped her however, on her wrist. The hand belonged to Sansa Stark. She spoke a few words into the other woman's ear. Jon saw Asha's eyes grow wide as she looked at Renly in shock.

"I think your cousin just told the Lady Asha of the worst kept secret in the realm." Arthur said from beside him.

"I think she did as well." Jon smiled.

"Jon your mother wishes to see you before you enter the hall. We do not have much time. We must leave now." The older man said to the younger.

Jon sighed wearily. He had enjoyed his time alone on the balcony. "Alright, let's go see mother."

They walked down the stairway to a corridor that had two paths. Instead of going right, the way Jon knew, they went left. Every new secret Winterfell reveled delighted Jon. There was a game between him and Rhaenys as to who could discover more secrets first. He so far was winning.

They entered a small room where his mother waited. Jon smiled; they appeared to have dressed to match one another. Her armor-like dress shined in the touch light of the small room. Atop her dark head was her silver crown of winter roses. Jon knew it was the crown his father had given to her once she became his wife. It was a symbol of her right to be his queen. She never wore it in King's Landing, it caused hard feelings between the queens, but tonight Lyanna armed herself with all the weapons she possessed.

"My queen, I bring the prince, as promised." Arthur said, falling into a deep bow before her. Out of all the kings guards Arthur was the kindest to Lyanna and her son.

"Thank you Ser Dayne. I have a few words I would like to speak with my son in private before the feast. Will you inform the king we join him shortly?" Lyanna said.

"I would my queen, but I have been commanded to stay by your side until the feast." Arthur said from his bow.

"Arthur we are in Winterfell. No harm will come to us with in these walls. Go to my husband and deliver my message." She spoke harshly, a tone she had never used before with Arthur.

"As you say my queen." Arthur said, but he spoke again as he left the room. "I don't like this."

"Nor I ser. But a queen must act harsh when the time calls for it." She said to his retreating form.

"Mother, why so harsh with Arthur? He has always been faithful to you." Jon scolded his mother. Her shoulders relaxed and she looked him in the eyes.

"Jon, tonight will not just be a feast, but a test. The other lords of the realm will be judging your father on the way we act tonight. We have to act like the royals we are. Things are more volatile then you have grown to believe. I will not tell you of all our problems, but know you and I will be under harsh scrutiny from the others." She told him.

"Mother, I know this. Elia has said this many times on the journey here." Jon replied with a board voice.

"She will be the one watching us most closely." Lyanna snapped. "We must act as if we are above them all. But never forget our commitment to your father and the place you sit. You are the son of the king. I want you to grow close to as many of the groups as you can. Make them love you, respect and if you must fear you, the way your father had done."

"Mother it is a feast. You speak as if we are at war." Jon said with irritation.

"In a way we are son." Lyanna said, taking his hand in hers. Her soft touch helped sooth the way she had spoken to him moments ago. "We walk out into the hall filled with people who would see any action we take as weakness or as strength. You must be strong my son."

"I always am mother." He smiled at her. He wondered what had occurred between his mother and Elia to cause this kind of reaction from his mother. But he would trust her and act accordingly.

"I know you will Jon. You are the son of a great man." She touched his cheek.

"And a great woman as well." He said smiling at her again.

"Now we must go meet the king." She let go of his hand and gathered her skirts in her dominant left hand.

"Mother where did you get the dress?" Jon asked as they left the room.

"I had it made before we left King's Landing. Do you like it?" She asked as they walked the corridors.

"Very much. You look like a warrior queen." Jon smiled.

"That was the idea son." They entered the room where the King and the rest of the family waited.

"Lyanna, there you are. Jaehaeryas, glad to see you here as well. Now we can start." Elia said when she saw them.

"We were held back by Old Nan." Lyanna lied smoothly.

"Old Nan was overjoyed when she heard you were coming home at last." Catelyn said to Lyanna. The two smiled at each other with warmth in the

"Pardon the interruption, but we really do have to get into the hall." Elia said.

"What my queen means is that there is a room full of hungry people out there and they want to eat." Rhaegar said, trying to ease the tension.

"I know better then to keep a room of hungry men waiting." Lyanna said smiling. "What will our order be?"

"I wish to walk with Oberyn." Elia said, looking pointedly at her husband.

"I wish for Jon to escort me into the hall." Lyanna said with a warm smile on her face for her husband. Rhaegar looked as if he would protest but Lyanna spoke again. "These are the halls of our family. I wish to show Jon off to the people of the North."

Rhaegar nodded, trying to understand. He knew Elia was still upset with him from their argument earlier. He looked at Lyanna who looked the picture of the fabled queen Nymeria. He would never question her decision in having Jon escort her into the hall. He would never tell his wives, but he had always intended to escort his mother into the hall.

"Then I will escort the dowager Queen." Rhaegar said into the stillroom. "Rhaenys and Daenerys will be escorted by Aegon." He nodded at two of the three of his children and his little sister. They smiled warmly at him. Rhaenys knew that something was going on, as did Dany. Those girls were always quick on the tension between the two queens. Aegon was not as fast to grasp complicated situations with in the family, but once his sister could speak to him outside of their mother's earshot he would know what was at stake.

He was thankful that his host, his good brother knew how to read a room. Eila and Lyanna both had asked him for years to call Ned south. He had resisted their pleas for so long. Now he thought about their long sought after requests.

"Since that is settled Catelyn and I will walk out now and open the feast." Eddard said looking at the room.

They lined up and waited for the great doors to open. Jon had his mother on his arm and sweat slid down his back. He did not know what game the queens were playing. He hated being a pawn in his mother's game, but he would never abandon her. She squeezed his arm and winked at him. She shot a look at her brother and winked at him the same way she had at Jon. Jon heard Ned chuckle from in front of them and readied tormented the hall.

Ned and his lady wife entered the hall first. The outer room hushed at the sight of them standing on the dais. Eddard was pleased to see his children were all at their appointed places on the lower table. Catelyn had spent the better part of the last week deciding on who would sit where at which feast that would be held at their home. She decided it would be best to keep the seating rotating for each meal they ate. This feast had been the hardest to decide. He hoped his wife had chosen wisely for this dinner.

The brief time he had just spent with the royal family, all contained in one room had caused him worry. His sister was up to something. She had never been able to hide things from him, with the exclusion of running off with Elia and causing a war. He shook his head to get that thought out of his head. He needed to think of the here and now.

The royal family filed out and the traditional words of welcome were exchanged between him and the king. They all took their places and the feast began. His wife set a good table. Tonight she had outdone herself. For this feast, one course was set for each families region of realm in attendance. That meant there would be nine traditional courses with meals complete from each realm of the kingdom. Catelyn had even managed to make a course for Benjen who was coming from the Wall. That was ten courses of dishes of meat dishes, poultry, fish, pies, soups, and a vegetable dish. His cooks had created a number of deserts to finish the meal, as well as breads. His servants had called for a number of beverages to drink as well.

He sat beside his sister. She smiled at him, but her smile faltered when Robert stood behind the chair on his right. Robert hesitated before he sat in his chair. Ned looked over at Lyanna. Her smile was still intact, but her lips thinned and her eyes were not warm at all. Eddard had known that his sister would not be pleased with being seated so close to Robert, but he knew Lyanna needed to, in essences, grow up.

Ned had not been pleased with the way she had received the Baratheon family. Robert had been nothing but a faithful servant to the crown. It was time for her to learn how to look beyond her perceived hurts that Robert had inflicted on her. Ned had done so. When she had first diapered and their brother had rode down to the capital to demand her return and never returned he had blamed Lyanna, when their father rode off to get his eldest son back but never returned Ned had blamed Lyanna. When word reached him of their deaths, he blamed Lyanna.

If he was being honest, he still did. He had fought the war with anger boiling in his gut. He had thought that each man he slew in battle would sooth his anger, but it had no slacked the rage from losing his father of elder brother. He had still felt anger when Rhaegar had called them all together for the coup silk thatched ended the war. His anger was slightly eased when he learned his sister was alive, but still he had carried it with him. It had not been until he saw his sister great with child that his anger over their loss lost its flame. It receded to enders when he saw the child in the flesh his sister bore. Yet every day the embers of his anger at Lyanna waited to ignite. He was man enough to temper it down to nothing. That is what he was doing now. It was time for Lyanna to do so with Robert.

"Why is Catelyn not sitting beside you this night brother?" Lyanna asked.

"She wished to sit beside her childhood friend. She and Cersei are childhood friends. The two wished to sit together. I wished to sit next to two of the people I hold close to my heart." Ned said, not offering apology to the uncomfortable situation he had placed his sister in.

"It will be an interesting evening." Robert said smiling kindly over Eddard's head to Lyanna. It appears our children mirror our seating."

Lyanna glanced at the lower high table, as her brother dubbed it. The son from her body was in the same place as she was on the lower table. Arya was in the seat her father occupied and she was shocked to see that Robert's son was seated in the seat right to Arya. She took this moment to look around the table to see how the rest of the tables. She was surprised to see that the lower table was a mirror image to the high table.

Her table had her husband in the center with his wives on either sides of him. Her side of the table sat her brother, Robert and his wife, Catelyn Stark, Lady Lysa and their uncle. On the opposite table Elia sat beside their husband, next to her was her bother, dowager queen Rhaella, Olenna, Tywin, Edmure and an empty place set for Benjen. She hoped he would come from the Wall for the feast.

On the lower high table set her eldest son Aegon in the center. Mirroring her seat was Jon, then Arya then Gendry, as she had noted before. The strange thing to see was that Jamie Lannister sat fourth in line at the table. She smiled to see Dany sat next. Willas and Asha came next on the straight segment of the table. Sitting on the right arm of the table sat Renly, Robin, Shrieen and her nephew Rickon. The mirror images left her reeling. Then her vision swung to the left side of the table. After Aegon Rhaenys sat, beside her was Robb. That was an interesting match of tablemates. Beside Robb was the snake Arianna. Lyanna had always mistrusted the girl. Beside Arianne sat Margery, Theon and Sansa. On the left side of the table, Joffrey Baratheon was places. Next to him were Loras, Myrcella, Tyrion and last was Bran.

She was amazed at her good sisters planning. Catelyn was nothing if not thorough. She put that aside. She was more concerned with Robert Baratheon sitting so close to her. She took a breath and remembered her earlier words to her son. They were all watching them at this feast. She looked her brother in the face and smiled at him.

"It is so nice for old friends to be able to reconnect with one another after so many years apart." She gave her the courtly smile se had perfected in the twenty years she had sent living with Elia.

"I agree my queen. It is a shame that Ned refused to leave this frozen palace he has surrounded himself in all these years." Robert replied.

After his conversation with Ned in private, he came to the feast on a more even footing then he had been when he had arrived. He might have stayed in his small section of the realm for the last twenty years, but he had kept his ears opened to all the gossip of the realm since his last meeting with Ned.

He had been shocked at some of the news coming out of Ned's mouth in their private conversation. Robert had thought that the scandals of the South had been heinous, but this information from Ned would truly give him nightmares. He tried to hide the visible shudder he felt rolling over his body. He hoped he succeeded. He had much to discuss with his wife. Robert had been assured that Lady Catelyn knew all her husband had said to him.

Eddard had told him of the increasing numbers of Wildlings coming into his lands. Of the number of deserted from the wall. Of the raids, the attacks of his people. The most troubling news his friend said to him was of one of Ned's lords. These thoughts were all things he had to push out of his mind for the night. Robert knew he needed all his wits about him. He was on shaky ground with the King and his family. He had to be charming and kind. He had to show them he was nothing but a loyal servant to the crown.

Instead Robert looked down at his son. Robert wanted his son and the princes to bond, become friends even. If they grew attached to one another, it would go a long way to bridging the gap between his family and the royal family. One thing he never thought of happening was his son becoming attached to Ned's daughter. It made him smile, but at the same time, it made him uneasy. It had not escaped him the resemblance between his eldest son and the girl with her aunt.

"I am glad we are the entire same mind set." Ned said. He was relieved that his friend and his sister appeared to be getting alone.

In reality, the queen and the man beside him were too wrapped up in their children and their actions to care what passed between them. Ned took this time to look down at the lower high table. Arya was faring well with her cousin and Robert's son.

"What do they teach you boys down south?" Arya said from between the two men on either side of her.

Ned smiled at the lecture his daughter was giving to his nephew and his friend's son. She was schooling them in the art of living rough. Both boys were looking at her as if she was a wild thing. Not truly human. Arya was apt to go off into the Wolf Woods with nothing but a knife, a small ax, bedroll and a days' worth of rations. He had tried to put a stop to her excursions when the raids increased, but the girl always escaped his restrictions and his guards he placed on her.

"We in the Stormlands do camp. My father is an avid hunter. I am no stranger of living off the land." Gendry said to her.

"My father once said to me if you want to know your people you must walk amongst them. Ser Arthur and I once both dressed as peasants from Flee Bottom and lived with the poor for a month. You have not lived until you have had to live in Flee Bottom with nothing but the clothes on your back." Jon said with a smile in his eyes.

Arya just shook her head and dipped her spoon into one of the soups that had been passed around. She had chosen the soup from the Iron Islands. It was a hardy sea stew. She loved the different flavors and how strange it was from what she was used to. Jon was eating the ox tail soup while Gendry decided on the creamy chestnut soup.

"I understand what the lady is trying to say." Jamie said from the other side of his nephew. "I spent the majority of my life living the way she spoke of." He slurped at his rose hips soup. "On the other hand I lived the way the prince refers to. While I was in Pentos, I lived the way he describes. I bet the prince was forced to eating rats a few nights."

"I will admit I caught rats in that month. But I never ate them. I would trade them for other things. I met a woman who would buy any meat for her bowls of brown. The soups she made were horrible. But they filled you up and made you warm." Jon smiled to Jamie and they shared a look.

"I've had brown. This soup is much better." Jamie said.

"I full heartedly agree ser." Dany said on Jamie's right. "My leek soup is delicious. Lady Arya this was your reason's soup?"

"It is a favorite of my mothers. She has made it a staple of our table." Arya smiled. "I find this feast to be very enlightening for my tongue."

"I bet other things not on the menu tonight could enlighten it as well." Jamie smiles as he licked his spoon clean.

Arya looked him right in the eyes and set her spoon down. This man intrigued her, but she knew he was playing with her. She pointedly ignored him and turned her attention to her cousin instead. Jamie sighed. His nephew was glaring at him.

"Do you intend to push her away uncle?" Gendry sipped his wine smiling.

"No." Jamie drank his ale in one gulp. "I plan on making her come to me." With that, he turned from Gendry and looked at his partner on his right.

Daenerys was a vision in her house colors. Her dress so similar to Arya Starks. The two were the most eye catching of the place. With her silver hair down and flowing around her, her small crown signifying her as a princess a top her head she was a prize worth having. He turned to her and smiled. He suspected that she would not find the person on her right hand as interesting as he was.

"So princess, what do you do to fill your days? All embroidery and women's work?" He asked, signaling for another cup of ale.

"I work with the poor." She said sipping her soup. "I make sure the hungry are fed, clothed and have skills so they will no longer need my aide."

"Very commendable. I bet your sisters think it noble work." Jamie smiles again.

"Lyanna thinks so. Most of the people I help are those Elia turn away." The bitterness in Dany's voice was not mistaken. She resented Elia and her elitist views to the audience chambers.

"I am glad someone is taking care of the poor. Before he was king, your brother did as you do. I once went with him into the city. His mere presence nearly caused a riot." Jamie shook his head. "After that one day we had to go in the city in disguise. I became very good at it."

"I have a brown wig I wear while in the city." Dany said with a smile. "Some days it is tedious, having to pretend to not be who I am. I wish I could just go into the city as myself and help people. Do you have to act that way in Lannisport?"

"I have not gone into Lannisport as myself in many years. My father would have found me and forced me back into his golden cage." He sipped his wine. He was presently surprised with this girl. Jamie had loved her mother, almost like a second mother. Daenerys was her mother's daughter in more ways then mere looks. She had a gentle heart.

"So the stories are true." Dany said with a smile. "You became the champion of the people."

"Someone had to. Despite everything your brother has done, there is still trouble in the lands. I took vows to protect the kingdom. I may have been removed from the King's Guard but I still wish to protect the people." Jamie smiled sadly.

"And what of your vow to protect the Royal Family?" Dany asked with a raised brow. "If trouble came for say me would you protect me still?"

Jamie looked down at the table. He would put himself in the way of harm for any woman, but she was a princess, one he had once been tasked to protect. He raised his eyes to look into her violet ones. They were lovely. Warm, kind and under it all determined. He wondered for the briefest moment what she would be like in bed.

"Daenerys, Jon was just telling us of your childhood. Is it true you once accidentally blew up an oven in the kitchen?" Arya asked her from around the two large men blocking her view of the other girl.

"Did he mention it was his doing? He was the one who stole the mixture that we had placed in the bread that was baking. I might have been the one who put the thing in the oven but it was his thievery that caused the explosion. We were seven and after that we had never again allowed in the kitchen." Dany told Arya.

"He forgot to mention that information." Arya said, glancing at her cousin. Jon had a small blush on his face.

"Joffrey and I once set our forage on fire." Gendry said with a laugh. "We had been trying to make our own swords. Father had said that a real warrior made his own weapon. I had just learned how to make my own knife so like any boy of eight I thought I knew it all. I had the long piece of steel in the fire and it was glowing red when Joff pulled it out and dropped it right in a pile of wood shavings. They went up in flames. We were lucky to get out of there alive." Gendry laughed loudly and looked over his shoulder at his mother. "My mother was more than mad. I don't know what she wanted to do more, kill me or hug me."

"Cersei is very protective." Jamie said smiling.

"If she is protective then the Lady Lysa is possessive." Dany said, glancing down at Robin and his mothers watchful gaze.

Robin was trying to have a conversation with the man next to him. Renly Baratheon was an animated conversationalist, but he only seemed interested in making Lady Asha blush. Every so often, the older man would say a few words to him. Robin wished he could speak with Bran or Jon. Robin counted them as his friends. On his right sat a girl, one who was lovely and had a kind smile. Robin was to shy to speak with her, so he sat and tried to eat.

"Baby, do not eat such rich foods." Lysa called down to him from her place at the high table. Robin pretended nit to have heard her. He ate the autumn soup from Kings Landing.

"Your mother seems very concerned for your wellbeing." Shrieen said from beside him. She sipped at the cold shrimp and persimmons soup from Dorne.

"Yes." Robin nearly choked. He shot a look at his mother who thankfully was speaking with her sister. "She is very concerned with my wellbeing."

"Concerned for your wellbeing. That's a nice way to put it." Rickon said with a smile.

"The silent Stark speaks!" Renly said from his seat in shock. "I think Lady Stark was trying to test me placing me at this end of the table. No one speaks here!"

"We speak uncle. We just choose not to speak of the same things you wish to speak of." Shrieen said kindly.

"You are such a strange girl Shrieen. The young lords on either side of you are in for a treat tonight." He turned body away from the younger members of his table.

The three looked at one another. Rickon was looking at Shrieen who was looking at Robin who was looking at Rickon. Suddenly and without warning Shrieen started to laugh. She sat down her spoon and laughed whole-heartedly. Her father had told her once that Shrieen laughed like her uncle Robert. Stannis had meant it as an insult, but she took it as a compliment. She looked at Robin and his face was trying not to laugh, she turned to the man on her right and he was laughing.

"Renly is a strange man." Rickon said with a shake of his head. "Even up here in the frozen North he and his friend are talked about."

"He is a good man, good uncle. He was always the one who allowed us to do whatever we wanted when Uncle Robert was not around." Shrieen said with a happy smile.

"An uncle like that sounds nice." Rickon said. "Mine is on the Wall and is stricter then my father." Rickon said dryly.

"I have only just met my uncle. He seems like a good enough man." Robin said.

"Edmure has taken a liking to you." Rickon said. "Is he nice?"

"He is nice." Robin said slowly. He was unsure what to say in regards to Edmure. He liked the man but he did not know enough about him to inform on him.

"It appears that you have another uncle." Shrieen said to Rickon.

"I do not need any more family. What I have is enough." Rickon leaned back as a servant collected their soup bowls.

They were all presented with platters of poultry dishes from around the realm. Shrieen chose the dish from Highgarden, peacock with a rich plumb sauce. She had never eaten this bird before. The meat was tender and moist. She dipped her cut if meat into the sauce and the flavor erupted in her mouth. It was sweet and gamey at the same time. After the first bite, she looked to see what her table partners had chosen.

Rickon had chosen the Hen from the Wall. It was a small bird and he tore into it with a wolfish fervor. He was wide, that much she was sure. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes. A person such as him would make a fantastic character for the novel she and her cousin were creating. If she were going to get an acceptable recreation of him for her story, he would need to be carefully observed. She would watch him, but after seeing him tear into his hen, she switched her observation to the boy on her left.

Robin had chosen the goose in mulberry sauce. Shrieen smiled at his choice. She had almost picked that bird out of the ones offered. He ate like a curious bird himself. He picked at the meat, poking at it as if it would take flight off his platter and attack him. He was a curious creature. He seemed to be frightened of his own shadow. She sensed he wanted to speak with her more, but was frightened for some reason. She had seen the way his mother fussed over him. He was even more sheltered then she was.

"So Robin, what is the Bale like?" She asked as she dipped her peacock in the sauce.

"It is a great place to live. Our castle is in the clouds. My father used to come home and all the doors would be thrown opened wide. The castle seemed to breathe around us. Mother used to be afraid that I would fall through the moon doors but I knew better. I always felt as if I could fly." Robin had a light in his eyes. He spoke as if he loved his home.

"That sounds like a magical place to grow up at." Shrieen said with a soft tone in her voice.

"It was better then Kings Landing. The few times I was there were unbearable." Robin gave a visible shake to his body.

"Are you alright cousin?" Rickon asked. Bran was able to quickly pass along a warning about Robin's shaking sickness to him while they were dressing for the feast. Rickon had no idea if the rest of his family knew of his cousin's ailment, but he knew. So he watched to make sure his cousin was not going into a fit at the feast. Bran had mentioned that stress could bring on an attack. It was Rickson's job to make sure that there was no stress placed upon his cousin.

"I'm fine." Robin said after taking a deep breath. "My memory of the capital are not happy."

"Then let us speak of pleasant things." Shrieen said. There was something hovering below the surface of this conversation, she just had to figure out what game the other two were playing at.

A loud shriek from her uncle drew their gaze from their end of the table to Renly. Renly sat with gravy dripping down his face from his hair. Asha sat with a highly pleased look in her eyes and Willas looked shocked.

"What in the name of the seven hells did you do that for?" Renly demanded as he tried to catch the dripping gravy down to his shirt.

"You need to keep your hands to yourself and you cannot talk to me this way." Asha said kindly.

"I am not used to being treated this way. You are one strange woman." Renly had cleaned himself up, as best he could and was all smiles again. "If only you were a man."

"My father shares your sentiments." Asha said with a forced smile on her face. Despite allowing her anger to get the better of her and flinging the gravy for her chicken at Renly's face she knew she must act like a lady.

"I for one am glad you are not a man." Willas said smiling as he ate his Dornish chicken. He kept his eyes off her as he spoke.

Asha fought not to let her pleasure at his comment show on her face. Instead she asked him if he knew anything about the sea.

"Only what I have read in books. I have never been on a ship. My leg," he looked away from her face, "it has kept me from many things."

"The deck of a ship is unforgiving. But I know a man who lost his entire leg yet he still sails. He is one of the best men we have actually." Asha poked at her remaining chicken. She had not been very adventurous with her food selections. She had chosen foods she was used to. She decided that for the next course, the fish course she would choose something from a place besides the Islands.

"He truly only has one leg?" Willas asked.

"Yes. He is a good man. You have two legs; sailing will not be too difficult for you." She smiled at him.

"Then when we go back to the south you will have to take me on your ship." Willas said to her.

"I would be pleased to do that. Maybe you could come to the Iron Islands and see if our soil would be able to grow the wheat you suggested." Asha said.

"I would be pleased to do that. I have read about your home and its history. I am greatly intrigued by your house and its seat." Willas told her.

"Really?" Asha asked. "Most of the green lords discount our island."

"I may be a green landed lord, but I am also curious about the places of the world. I may never have the opportunity to sail to the Free Cities, but the Iron Island is a place I could go. And I will go, thanks to you." He gave her a warm smile. She looked away from his king gaze down the length of the table. She sought out her brother.

Theon was smiling at Sansa. The two had been talking about archery, of all things. Sansa was not comfortable with the arts of combat, but since the increasing number of raids and attacks that had been, occurring in the past few years her father insisted she learn how to defend herself. Sansa knew how to wield a knife, but her true flare of combat was with a bow.

"Bran is the best of us with a bow, but I can almost beat him in target practice." Sansa said with a slight smile on her face. She waited for the servant to clear the last course and offer the fish course. She choose the squid cooked in ink from the Iron Islands. Sansa knew it was a kind gesture, considering her table partner was from there.

Theon had chosen lobster in a butter sauce. Lobster was rarely cooked this way on Pyke. The cooks usually made it into a spread to eat between bread. He loved the way the velvety way the meat felt firm yet yielded to him as he bit into the meat between his fingers. He made a small popping soup d when he pulled his finger out of his mouth.

"Why Lord Theon, you ate that bite with such fervor." Margaery said with a laugh on his right. "It makes me wonder what else you do with such passion."

"I do a great many things." Theon laughed with her. "Lady Sansa and I were just discussing archery. Anything to add on the topic."

"Why no. I have never held a bow. My brothers are not archers. I have used a hawk to hunt before." Margaery said smiling.

"Well on the Iron Islands we do not use hawks. We use our own wits to hunt." Theon said.

"Here we do use birds that way, but not here in Winterfell." Sansa said softly. "We also use our own wits if we can help it."

Theon glanced at Sansa not knowing if she had meant the snub on the other girl or not. If she had Theon would be pleased, if not he would still be pleased. The look on Margaery's face was not one of the serine lady she was supposed to be.

"What do you use?" Margaery asked with a smile and a backward glance at Prince Aegon.

"Wolves of course." Sansa smiled brightly.

Theon snorted at the last comment. This girl was something else. He knew Margaery was using him for some unknown goal, but he didn't mind that. He enjoyed playing with Sansa with the Tyrell girl.

"So Sansa tell me more of your skills with a bow. I might be able to give you a pointer or two." Theon said with another bite of lobster in his fingers.

Rhaenys hated feasts. She loved the food her aunt had prepared. It was all so amazing, how Lady Stark found dishes for all her guests to identify as their own, but gave them the option to try something different at the same time. She choose dishes from the other regions, never taking the dish from the Crown lands. She was enjoying the cod cakes from White Harbor. Robb beside her offered her a sauce for her fish cakes

"Here, try this on the fish. The lemon and dill cream enhances the flavors." Robb held out a small dish to her.

Rhaenys dipped her morsel into the sauce. She smiled as the flavors bombarded her mouth. She smiled and closed her eyes. When they opened them, the blue eyes of the man next to her were smiling brightly.

"Did you like it?" Robb asked.

"Yes. We have something similar in King's Landing, but I have never tasted it this way before." She told him.

"Our cooks are the best in the realm." Robb boasted.

"They sure have outdone themselves." Arianna said smiling. She was board of her cousin and the dull conversation Robb Stark offered. She was more interested talking to Margaery. Her attempts to make the Crown Prince jealous were not working as she had hoped. The two had a quiet conversation going on. Robb looked at the two women with their heads bent together. He didn't think anything good would come out of it.

"I hear there will be a ride in the Wolf's Woods tomorrow." Rhaenys asked.

"There is. Arya wants to show your brother the woods. A few of the others are going out with us as well; you are welcome to join us." Robb smiled. He seemed to be smiling a lot today.

'I would like that very much." Rhaenys looked down at her plate. This man was to tempting her to continue to hold his gaze.

"So," Robb said after a long pause, "your mother seems to dislike my aunt."

Rhaenys nearly choked on her fish. She turned to him, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly ajar. She quickly gathered herself together and decided on what to say. Should she tell the truth or lie, she was unsure. She looked behind her at the High Table and looked at her parents. Her father was beside his wives, but he looked so alone. She decided to tell Robb the truth.

"Elia hates Lyanna for a number of reasons I think. The biggest one is that she feels that if she was not here Lyanna would make a better queen. Lyanna has my fathers love, the love of my brothers and I. Lyanna is smart and kind and wise. She has made Lyanna and Jon's life difficult. I have heard her speaking to the High Septon of my father and Lyanna's marriage. She has asked that the man say that Lyanna is nothing but a mistress, because they married in the Gods Wood with the Old Gods not in the light of the Seven. People believe the man; some even call Jon nothing but a bastard. The three of them are pretending very well here, but under the false smiles there is much anger." Rhaenys whispered, so her brother on her right could not hear what she was saying.

Robb sat beside her and let his words wash over him. He glanced at his father and wondered if he knew all of this. He wished he could ask his father on how to proceed with his quest for information. He had heard whispers from a few of his Father's banner men. None of them had been satisfied with how the war had ended. The girl they all had thought of as their princess was taken from them, their lord and heir were slain and they had been left with the second son who had grown up away from their lands for half of his life. Many loved the Starks, but not because of some deed his father had done in battle, but it was because of who they were. They might not be the Starks the lords of the North had wanted, but they were still Starks and that meant more to the northerners then anything.

"I have heard rumors of this, but I didn't believe it." Robb said.

"It is the truth. If my father doesn't do something soon the three of them will implode, taking the kingdom down around them. My mother," Rhaenys said with a slight sneer on the title, "wishes for us all to marry well and unite the kingdom. I think it is all a cart full of shut to tell you the truth. Nothing can save us."

"We can all be saved, sweet princess. All it takes is the right tools to come out on top." Robb said with his smiling eyes. They were locked, eyes to eyes. She felt herself drawn into him. She wanted to tell him more of her problems, of her fears and her dreams. She opened her mouth to continue but was interrupted when the next course was offered to them. The spell was broken. They chose their meat, vegetables, and spoke of mundane things.

Myrcella was dying to have a conversation she could enjoy without pretending. She loved her uncle, but the way he and Bran spoke could bore a fish to death. Loras Tyrell was making sad eyes across the table at his lover and Joffrey was trying to win the attention of the Lady Sansa. She looked over at Shrieen. She seemed to be having a good time between the Wolf boy and the frail Bird. The Iron Woman and the Wilted Flower sat in deep decision ignoring the Gelded Stag? No none of those names would work to mask these people in her novel. She would have to consider this all more deeply.

She looked up from her veal cooked in almonds milk and a salad of green beans with onions and beets. She had chosen the meat course from Highgarden and the vegetables in the Riverland. When she had looked up she noticed that the crowned prince had chosen the same she. It was not the first course he had copied her that night. It seemed that he would hold the servers until she chose. She was scarlet in the face when she realized he was flirting with her. She had hardly spoken two words to the prince and yet he was flirting with her from across the room. She took another bite of her salad and he did the same. She watched him for a moment as he mirrored her.

She noticed that he was isolated. His family sat beside him on either side, but none of them said a word to him. They were too wrapped up in the conversations with the Starks sitting on either side of them. Aegon the Prince of the Realm was utterly alone. She wanted to stand up and go talk to him. Yet protocol dictated she must stay where she was. She decided that once the feast was over she would talk to the sad man.

The meat course was removed when the doors to the hall banged opened. The entire room went silent as they craned their necks to see who walked into the hall. There was an excited yell from the dais.

"Ben!" Lyanna shouters as she stood and walked around the tables to make her to her brother. The two collided in a warm hug. The laughter rang against the halls walls. Giggles and deep masculine laughter sounded from the two people in the center of the room.

"Ben, I hoped you would come tonight. I have missed you so." Lyanna said into her brother's neck.

"I would not have missed this night sister. I have waited many years for you to come home." Ben smiled down at her.

The two walked together to his seat they had saved for him at the end of his high table. He stood and smiled at her.

"The feast is almost over, just two courses left. I hate this, but I must return to my place. Edmure will you keep my brother company until the end of the feast?" Lyanna asked the lord beside her.

"I would be glad to keep him company." Edmure said with a smile.

"I would love something to eat, but once the feast is over I desperately need to speak with Ned. Something happened that detained me at the Wall." Benjen said wearily.

"I am sure we can feed you and Ned will be most eager to speak with you well." Lyanna said slowly.

Ben sat down and a servant walked over with the savory pie course was served. Ben looked at the offered pies and chose the one he was used to. He took the steak and kidney pie he had enjoyed in his youth at Winterfell. It was bubbling hot and warmed him. He had felt so cold on his mad ride from the wall to the house of his brother.

Ben ate like a rabid wolf. Once his plate was cleared, the servant placed another slice of pie on his plate with a smile. He smiled back and started to eat slowly. He reached his hand down to pat the bag at his feet to masked sure it was still with him.

Edmure noticed that the Brother of the Night's Watch seemed intent on his food. He knew he could forgo conversation with Benjen Stark for a time. Edmure turned to Tywin beside him. Edmure had been the lord in Riverrun for nine years now. He had been given the pleasure of dealing with Tywin for the past fifteen years. Within the past three years, his lands had been under a subtle siege by a band of unknown men, but Edmure suspected they came from Lord Tywin's land.

"Lord Tywin, I have been meaning to ask you, have tour lands been hassled by a bunch of bandits lately?" He asked as he cut a bite from his cheese and onion pie.

"Now that you mention it they have." Tywin said mock shock written all over his face. "Do you know who is behind them?"

"I do not. I was hoping you could shed some light on the subject." Edmure said with a smile.

"I am as blind as you in this matter my lord." Edmure said.

"If you are blind and he is blind you are both fools." Olenna said from her place beside Tywin.

"I whole heartedly agree," Rhaella said from the other woman's side.

Usually the two were at odds with one another, but tonight they had become grudgingly allies. They had an unspoken truce for the feast. Neither of them would be cruel to one another and they would not interest with the way their grandchildren acted. They both had set things in motion and they decided that they would let them loose and pick up the pieces when the dancing started.

"Look at us Rhaella, two old Queens in a garden of young vines. What are the odds that the two of us will come out on top?" Olenna asked eating her fruit and cheese.

"Oh I suspect everyone will." Rhaella said as she daintily ate her root vegetable pie.

"Not as high as some." Olenna said with a smile.

"No one can rise as high as a dragon." Rhaella remarked. The savory pies were replaced with the deserts.

"Vines are strong my friend. The strongest ones will bind the mightiest creature to the ground." Olenna said with a wicked glint in her eyes.

Elia was seething as she sat and watched her children at the feast. The only one who was acting with an ounce of decorum was her son. Aegon stayed aloof from it all. He was the prince the stories had foretold. Elia had no doubt about that. She knew her husband had delusions that his second son, his bastard son, was the son from the stories, but she knew otherwise.

"Stop frowning sister and enjoy your iced milk and berries. Even in Kings Landing you could not hope to eat something so delightful." Her brother said from her side.

"I do not frown." Elia replied. She pushed the dish away from her and turned to him. "What do you think of all of this?" She waved her hand at the hall.

"I think it is a little much, but when you have this many arrogant people gathered in one place a little to much might not be enough." He cut into his poached pear and scooped up the sauce before he took the bite.

"I was not referring to the food. I was referring to the seating arrangements." Elia flowered at Oberyn. "There are to many enemies around my children. You should have brought your daughters. Bastards are not looked down upon when they are of my blood."

"But when they are not? What then." Oberyn asked.

"The sins of the parent do not transgress to the child, unless they act the same way." She could not help herself, her eyes flickered to Jon.

"I hear that Lady Baratheon has allowed Roberts bastard from the Vale to live in their home. What do you think of that?" He singled for more wine. A servant came scarring over to fill his glass.

"I say she is a fool. No woman likes to be reminded they are not enough for their husband. To suffer a bastard is one of the worst things to inflict on a wife." She spat.

"Watch your self sister, your envy is showing." Oberyn whispered.

Elia schooled her face into the mask she had perfected over the years. She had thought she had won a victory when she had turned the High Septon to her way of thinking. It had not taken that much to win the weak man over. She had shown outrage when the words he spoke had reached her husband, but inside she was pleased. Making the realm see Lyanna for what she truly was should have weakened the other woman's standing, but if anything Lyanna had worked harder to make the very people who called her a whore love her.

In the audience chamber when they sat to hear petitions, Lyanna was always the one to offer aide. She soothed the anger, healed the hurts and actually accomplished her word with more then common courtesies. Lyanna did things to help, not minding if she got her hands dirty in an effort to keep her word. Elia also knew that she had unlisted Dany in her fight to help all she could. For every person Elia turned away Lyanna worked on until the situation was resolved another task. To many the idea that Lyanna was not a true wife of the king did not matter. The poor, the weak the stupid loved her. It was one of the reasons Elia feared her.

"I have nothing to be envious about." Elia snapped.

"Why do you mot come home to the Water Gardens when we travel back home?" Oberyn asked. "Some time away from all this would do you good."

"Because I am not a fool. If I leave Rhaegar alone with her I will lose what hold I have over the king for sure." Her eyes darted to her husband. He was whispering in Lyanna's ear.

"You need a break from all of this. My sister you are starting to remind me of the queen of thrones. I do not wish for you to grow as unsightly as she." Oberyn smiled at her. Elia could not help herself, she laughed.

The sound of her laughter drew her husband's attention to her. He reached his hand out had it covered hers. She smiled at him. This is what she had wanted, a small show to remind the other lords that she was the King's queen.

"Maybe you are right Oberyn. Maybe absence will make my husband's heart grow fonder." She looked around the room and the feast was over. The king was having a conversation with Eddard.

"It seems the dancing is going to start soon. I am eager to see what happens." Oberyn said taking his wine and sipping it slowly.

"Lords and Ladies I our feast is at an end. I would like to thank out host for the superb meal he a d his lady wife have just given us." Rhaegar bowed to Eddard and the rest of the room showed their thanks to Ned by bowing to him from their places. "We have brought with us musicians to play. The feast might be finished but the celebration of all of us being together is not finished yet. Please let us continue."

Rhaegar stood and walked to the waiting players. He sat down among them and picked his beloved harp from the instruments scattered around the chair. Rhaegar watches as the men and women of the lower tables stood and moved the tables and benches aside for the dancing. Rhaegar loves playing his harp. Music was the one thing that cleared his mind. He watched as his children chose their dance partners.

Aegon had asked his sister to dance. They walked to the floor arm in arm. They had controlled looks on their faces and Rhaegar suspected Aegon had said something to Rhaenys that would make her under any other circumstance roar with laughter. Her face was red and her shoulders were too straight, so she was working very hard not to laugh.

Other pairs were making their way to the floor. Sansa stood with her eldest brother, Theon had collected his sister. Joffrey was glowering with his sister scolded him before the dance. Loras stood with Margaery. Surprisingly Arianne was standing next to Bran. Shrieen was paired with frail Robin. Ned had asked his wife to dance, but her child was being difficult and he waved her off. Lyanna smiled as Ben and Ned showed an argument over who would dance her around the floor, Ben won. Ned offered his arm to Rhaella. The two stood waiting for the music. Elia was with Oberyn. Lysa with her uncle. Robert and Cersei smiled at one another as they waited.

A small group was off to the side in a hushed argument. Jon had a smile on his face while the other four looked like they wanted to just walk away from it all.

"I think as the Prince I get to decide who my sweet cousin and lovely aunt dance with. I will be sitting this one out to play with the musicians and my father. I know the lady Daenerys is a master at the dances, and as a former member of the king's guard I assume you also know the dances of court?" Jon asked Jamie.

"I do, my prince." Jamie replied.

"Then this first dance we will have an experienced dancer with the ones who do not know these steps. I assume either Arya or you Gendry know it?" Jon asked.

"No my lord." Gendry answered.

"Oh shove it Jon and let us hurry it along will you? I gather I'm with Ser Jamie and Gendry is with Princess Daenerys?" Arya asked.

"Please Lady Arya I am just Dany." The other girl said.

"And I am just Arya." She smiled at Dany. "You know I was right, the purple and silver suit you much better then red and black."

"They might not suit me, but they look breathtaking on you Arya." Dany turned to her partner fir the dance. "Lord Gendry will you please escort me onto the dance floor?"

Gendry loomed at Arya and the smile she gave his uncle. He desperately wanted to say no, that Arya owed him a dance. He held back. His sister only had enough time to teach him one dance he could master and this one would not be it. He would wait for the right moment.

"I have a confession to make Princess." Gendry said as they finally joined the other dancers waiting in line.

"And what is that?" Dany asked, looking over to Jamie and the way he was making Arya laugh softly. She frowned.

"I cannot dance." Gendry blushed. "I told Lady Arya that I was a good dancer. I need her to believe it." He confessed.

Dany looked up into the blue eyes of the man in front of her. She glanced at her mother, Rhaella had told her the realm may appear whole but in truth, it was fractured. Her mother had told her that the way to heal the wounds old funds needed to be resolved. Friendship was a way to smooth things over.

"I will help you with your endeavors. If you win the lady it will be for the better of us all." Dany said with a coy smile on her lips as she whispered to him.

"You will?" Gendry asked in amazement.

"Yes. But I do not want you to think I am doing this for you." She said quickly. "Lady Arya is kind. She is making my nephew feel like a member of a family, of a pack. He might be a dragon but he is a wolf at heart. If she can make him happy I will do anything in my powers to see this happen."

"You think Prince Jon has his sights set on her?" The music started and the movements of the dancers took them apart and brought them back together again.

"Not in the way you think. Life has not been easy for him. If he can find a place of his own then all for the better." She was true to her word. He did not miss a step, he did not falter. He stole a glance to see how Arya was fairing. She stepped on Ser Jamie's foot and made him wince.

"You dance beautifully. I am glad we were made partners after all. I only know one dance." Gendry admitted.

"Which one?" She asked.

"It is a country dance from the Stormlands. My cousin said she would have the musicians play the tune." Gendry admitted.

"I will as well." She said. "Only if you befriend Jon."

They broke apart and swirled in step to the music. It was not as difficult as he had thought. It was as if they were fighting a battle. Each step he took was a step he could not afford to miss. They came together and he placed his hands on her waist and lifted her into the air. It was the step required in the dance and he was pleased he was able to accomplish it without her promoting her to do so.

"You are a quick study Baratheon." She said with a laugh.

"I had a good teacher." He smiled at her as the music ended.

"Thank you for the dance. I will help you again if you agree to my request." She told them as he bowed over her hand.

"I will do so my Lady." He said solemnly over her hand. He placed a small kiss on her knuckles. As he stood, he noticed he was the last man bending over his partner's hand. He blushed and she looked away. To all watching they were just two young people who had enjoyed their dance together.

"Escort me over to a bench Gendry. I can see Aegon needs my assistance." Dany said as she watched Margaery stalking her nephew as if he was a sheep and she was a hungry lion.

He walked her to the crowned prince. Gendry watched the way the man was looking at his sister. If it was any other man looking at Myrcella he would have less then friendly words with him. But one did not tell the son of a king to stay the hell away from your sister. He had to be more subtle.

"Introduce us better." Gendry whispered to Dany as they approached. She looked up at him. She had asked him to befriend one prince; two in his life could not hurt.

"Nephew." She greeted Aegon as they came close. "I know you have met Gendry once already, but I wish for you to meet him away from watchful eyes."

Aegon smiled at his aunt and the man she brought with her. He had been trying to keep his distance from the beautiful Tyrell girl. She had seemed to forward now that he no longer needed a distraction from the tediousness of travel.

"My darling aunt!" He said with a wide smile on his face as he noticed Margaery still for a moment. "Your timing is always impeccable. I saw you two dancing. You made a very lovely pair."

"I had a good leader." Gendry smiled down at Dany.

"A good man will follow a woman's lead from time to time when the need arises." Dany said looking at Aegon.

"Truer words have never been spoken princess." Gendry said, looking over Aegon's head at Arya.

"You two are speaking in riddles." Aegon said smiling at them. The two looked back to him and then started laughing when they looked at one another. "Will someone let me in on the joke?"

"Daenerys is just wise." Gendry answered.

"I have been meaning to ask you Gendry, where did this name come from? I know it is not the name you were given at birth. You were named for your grandfather on your father's side. Where did Gendry come from?" Dany asked.

Gendry gave her a warm smile.

"I need my sister here to tell it properly." He beckoned Myrcella over to them. She had been speaking with their mother. Myrcella made her way over to the group and Gendry gave her a warm smile. "Myrcella, the princess asked where I got the name Gendry. Would you please tell the story?"

Myrcella looked at her brother with an amused look on her face. She hated this story but she started telling it all the same.

"Gendry was named after our grandfather, Lord Steffen. The people in the Stormlands loved him. We grew up with the story of him hanging over us. Whenever we left the castle and rode with our father to see the small folk people were in awe of Gendry because of his name and the resemblance he has to all of Baratheon kin. I admit that as a child of four I hated this. I was the only daughter of their lord, I was cute. I felt I should be loved most. One day we were in one of the fishing villages around Storms End. The baker had given us all a sweet but gave Gendry two. I was so angry I told him he only got so much attention because of his name." She stopped talking and looked at Dany and Aegon with a smile on her face.

"So I asked her what name I should call myself, I would change it to keep my little sister happy." Gendry said picking up the story where she stopped. "She had cocked her head to the side and thought for a long time. Finally she said she wanted me to have a common name, something the people would stop fawning over me for."

"The baker had a dog tied up in the yard and I had heard her yelling at the creature. She called it Gendry, or that is what I thought she was referring to. It was really her young child who was hiding in the doghouse she had been yelling after, but I still liked that name. I told him the name I had decided on. He said if a simple thing as changing his name would make me stop crying he would do it. So from that day on he was Gendry. Our mother had not been pleased and when Joffrey told her why he was no longer answering to his given name she was shocked." She looked at her brother and then they both spoke in an imitation of their mother's voice.

"You were given a strong name, why on earth do you wish to be called the name of a dog?" The brother and sister laughed together and the two listeners joined in their laughs.

"We didn't know the baker was calling after her child. Being a stubborn bullheaded ass Gendry refused to be called anything different. As the years went on it just became his name. He made it his own and to my disappointment the people still fall all over themselves when ever he goes out riding." Myrcella huffed dramatically, earning another laugh.

"So you changed your name because your sister asked you to?" Aegon asked.

"My sister is a girl who is used to getting her way. I think I am the one to blame for that. Everything she asked I did when we were children." Gendry looked sheepish. "But if you have ever taken a shoe to the face you would do the same."

"It was only one time." Myrcella said with a shove to her brothers ribs. "And you had taken my doll and threatened to throw her off the walls of the keep. What was I supposed to do?"

"You did the right thing my lady. I once did the same thing to Rhaenys. I took her stuffed toy and tried to throw it into a fire once. She used her fist on my face, not a shoe." Aegon smiled at her.

A warm melodic laugh penetrated the glee of the small group. Margaery walked over with a smile on her face. She stood beside Aegon and placed her hand on his arm. She stood between Myrcella and Aegon as if staking her claim. Myrcella was taken aback at the way the other girl was acting, she had no designs on the prince, yet Margaery was acting as if Myrcella had tried to take him from her.

"I once threw mud at my brother Garlands head. Bit I must say that is demure compared to what you were referring to." Margaery smiled.

The four of the group did not smile in return. They looked at one another in amazement. Dany looked at her with withering contempt in her eyes. She cleared her throat to speak, but Myrcella spoke first.

"Having brothers are a trial, I think we ladies can all share in that sorrow."

The musicians started to tune their instruments for the next set of dancing. The party of five looked at one another. Aegon looked at his aunt. Dany inclined her head in the direction of the first girl that had entered their group.

"Lady Myrcella, would you dance with me?" He asked the girl.

They looked at one another with the question hanging heavy over them. Myrcella looked at him with wide eyes. Gendry was giving him a look that only a brother could give another male.

"I would be honored my prince." Myrcella said.

He reached out his arm and she lightly placed her hand on his arm. She shot a glance at her face and she was reminded of the way he had mirrored her movements at the feast. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

"I must find a partner. If you will excuse me." Margaery turned to leave. At that moment she a servant with a tray of wine was passing.

Margaery's arm flew into the and the tray went wild. The cups splashed over Myrcella and part of the crowned prince. The room stilled. Gendry let out a shocked yell, Dany shouted loudly, Myrcella gasped and Aegon roared. Margaery looked shocked, but pleased as well.

"Oh my prince, are you alright?" She rushed to his side, attempting to mop the wine spilled on his face with her sleeve.

"I am fine." He shouted at Margaery. "Lady Myrcella are you alright." He finished detangled himself from Margaery and grasped Myrcella by the shoulders and turned her to him.

Never before had Aegon felt anger and a swell of protection as he did now. He used his own sleeve to clean her face. She was too checked to move, but tears of outrage welled in her eyes. Myrcella shook as Aegon cleaned her face as best he could.

"That whore." She breathed. Only Aegon could hear her but he was not sure what she had said so he asked her to repeat herself. He leaned closer and she said the words again, just as angry, just as serious.

"Careful what you say my lady. In my experience a bitch can have a harsh bite." He whispered back. She smiled up at him then and they both chuckled.

Soon the stillness around them unfroze and their mothers and an army of servants rushed to their sides.

"Cellar, by darling are you alright? Oh no your dress!" Cersei said when she was next to her daughter.

"Aegon, you must go and change. This is now ruined." Elia said to him.

"It was an accident my queen. I did not know the tray was behind me." Margaery was rattling on in a stupid tone of voice.

"It is not your fault girl. These two need to get these two changed." Rhaella spoke calmly from behind them all.

The two, still standing with his hands on her shoulders. She looked over his shoulder at the fawning Margaery. She was fussing with the queen. The two were directing servants to them, lost in the task. Cersei let go of her daughter with an amused smile on her face.

"Prince Aegon would you escort my daughter to her rooms to change?" She asks kindly.

"Yes my lady. I will." Aegon said solemnly as he moved his hand from her shoulder and grasped her hand.

The two made their way out of the hall. Without being, told Aegon walked to her rooms. Once they were alone in the hallway and at her door, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. Margaery had toppled the tray over her on purpose, that much Myrcella knew. She suspected it was because she was jealous, but there was no cause for it. The last thing Myrcella wanted was Prince Aegon.

"Thank you for all your assistance. I must go and let my maid repair me so I can continue the feast." She smiled at him. He stepped closer, the hem of her dress brushing his boots.

"Ai am sorry we did not get our dance. But I believe we will have other opportunities." He took her hand and bowed over it. "Until we are reunited in the hall." He left to change his own wine soaked garments.

Myrcella escaped into her room and stood for a moment with her back to the door. Life had been so predictable at Storm's End. She suddenly felt tired and wished for nothing more then to escape all the people around her.

Back in the hall the wine had been mopped up, the dancing resumed and the conversations started up once again. The distraction of the prince being nearly drowned in wine had been amusing, but Tyrion had cringed at the loss of such a good vintage.

"What a tragedy." He said to his brother.

"What do you mean? No one was hurt." Arya asked him. She had elected to stay in the little group after her disastrous dance with Jamie.

"All that wine, now lost to rags. It is a pity." Tyrion sighed again.

"Fear not my friend. I have something that will make things all better." Oberyn ha died him a cup a d Tyrion smelled it.

"You have brought me a sweet wine. How nice of you." He took a sip and coughed. "Hells this is strong. Are you sure it is wine?"

"I had a man make it for me. It is the strongest wine I have found. Makes everything else seem like water. Jamie, Lady Arya would either of you like a taste?" Oberyn looked at Arya as he spoke. He wished to see how deeply the lion was enamored with this girl.

"I will try some." Arya said with smile on her lips. Oberyn waved his hand and a cup was offered to Arya. Jamie took one as well. Arya sipped the content of her glass and her eyes grew large.

"I was not joking when I said it was strong young one." Oberyn smiled at her. He turned to Jamie and smiled another grin. "What do you think of my wine?"

"I have something similar in Bravos." He answered sipping his wine. "But this one doesn't taste like pies so it is superior."

Oberyn laughed at that and walked away from this group to mingle among the other guests. Arya looked at the knight by her side.

"You have gone to Bravos? What was it like?" She asked.

"Hot, dirty, deadly. Everything a man could ask for." He said with a shrug.

"I wish to go there, soon." Arya told him. The way she said it, he had no doubt she would.

"I mean to go back there, maybe I could escort you. It can be dangerous for a lady without an escort."

"I am no lady and need no protection." She said. Someone called her name and she left the two brothers to answer the person calling her.

"You really want that girl?" Tyrion asked Jamie nice they were alone.

"She is feisty." Jamie said. He looked down at his cup. The wine was a deep purple color. It reminded him of Princess Daenerys eyes. He drained his glass and took another cup from a passing servant.

"Oh that she is. But it appears our nephew has set his mind on her as well. Are you sure you want to steal the girl from him?" Tyrion sipped at his cup as he looked at Gendry where he stood with the princesses and the Tyrell girl.

"How could I steal something that has no owner?" He walked away before he could near his brother's reply.

Shrieen had stayed close to Robin after the dancing. He seemed as shy as she was. Bran later joined the two. They had a lively conversation about books they had read, but her eyes sought out the youngest Stark boy. Rickon stood off to the side of the hall away from the merriment. She wanted to go to him and make him join the festivities. She could not decide how to accomplish that without being rude to the group she was with.

"I find that the fictions we have in Winterfell are nothing more then myths we have collected over the hears." Bran was saying.

"Robin!" A shrill voice broke over the three like a whip. "My baby you must retire for the night. It has been a long day and your color is to pale for my liking. Come along son." Lysa said placing her hand on her sons arm. Her fingers curled around his upper arm in a vise like grip making the boy wince.

"I assure you mother I am well." He tried to reason.

"Don't argue my baby. I am your mother and I know what is best. Come along with me." She tried to drag him away, but he held his ground. He looked at his cousin and Shrieen for aide.

"Lady Lysa we are just talking. If you are concerned we can move to the chairs set around the sides of the dance floor." Shrieen tried to reason.

Lysa turned slowly and leveled her gaze on the girl. Never before had Shrieen seen such loathing and contempt in a person's eyes. She took an involuntary step back from the irate woman.

"You will not speak to me or my son. I know what you are. You an abomination. I want you to stay away from my son. You cannot steal my baby's lands. You are nothing but a whore. Stay away from my son." Lysa spat at the girl and Shrieen felt the color drain from her face.

"Mother you cannot speak that way to Lady Shrieen." Robin said to her.

"I see what she is trying to do and I tell you it will not work. Do not let her fool you son. She is unclean." Lysa said.

Shrieen had been called that once before and the memory shook her to her bones. She turned on her heels and fled the hall so she would not cry in front of all the people in the hall. She stumbled to the courtyard. She sucked in the chilly air and felt the hot tears slide down her face. She walked in a daze to the sound of horses on the other side of the courtyard. Her feet carried her to the stables. Her eyes were obscured with tears. She walked to the doorway and leaned against the opening breathing deeply.

She felt like a fool for reacting the way she had. She had more control over herself then this. She shared a trait with her cousins. It was a very Baratheon character. Myrcella had excellent control, Joffrey did as well but he forgot it sometimes. Uncle Robert had shown his control by mending his wandering ways when he married Aunt Cersei. Renly let his control go and did whatever he wanted. He was the odd one in the family. Her father and Gendry had the iron control of the family. They used it in different ways but they both were masters at it. She tried to act the way her father would expect. She took a deep breath and a small puff formed in the air.

"If you are cold it's warmer in here." A voice called from deeper in the stable.

She spun and looked into the shadows. Rickon sat in a stool next to a large horse. He looked comfortable form the first time all night. Shrieen walked into the warm stables and a horse whined at her.

"What happened to make you cry?" He asked, but not like, he cared.

"Your aunt." She simply said.

"She can be a real bitch. So what? Wipe your eyes and go back to being a bright girl. Smile and play the part of the perfect lady. That's all they want." Rickon said standing from his stool to stand in front of her.

She took a step back. No one had ever talked to her that way before. The pain she had felt moments ago vanished in a rush of anger. She took a step forward and glared at him. He could not speak that way to her that way.

"How dare you." She seethed. "You have no idea what it is like to have to endure things that I have been forced to endure."

"You are referring to your sickness as a child? Your scars?" He asked. He casually leaned against the wall

"You have no idea of anything. You know nothing." She spat.

"Do think you are the only one who person here who feels like an outsider here? That the only reason you are around is because you are here is because of your name despite no one wanting you here?" He laughed harshly. "Think again girl."

He moved to walk past her but she pushed him as he walked past her. He stumbled and turned to look at her with a stunned expression on his face.

"You have been nothing but rude ungrateful idiot since I met you. All you did at dinner was cut down everything I said trying to be kind to you. And the way you treated your own cousin was deplorable. I should punch you for your behavior. It is not gentlemanly." She poked him in the chest again.

"Do not poke me little girl." He growled sounding more like an animal then man.

"Then you stop acting like a baby." She stood up to him. Her anger was alive in her eyes and matched in his.

She went to poke him but his hand grabbed her wrist before she could touch him. He pulled her to him. He was panting and inches from her face. He was breathing hard and he looked so lost. He glanced down at her lips then his eyes flashed back to lock with hers.

"I'm a man." He pressed his lips to hers then.

His anger poured from his lips to hers. She knew she should pull away, slap him and stomp out. She however stood still letting him kiss her. She had never been kissed before. Her logical mind told her this would be good information for her little novel. Her irrational mind was to stunned to react. He finally pulled his lips from her and stared at her.

"This proves it." He growled. He walked away from her leaving her confused and breathless. Before she was sad and angry, now she was confused and angry. This night suddenly felt long. She walked back into the feast. Her cousin grabbed her wrist and looked at her.

"Shrieen, are you alright?" Joffrey asked.

"I'm fine. I just needed some air." She said. It was the truth after all.

"Bran told me what that witch said to you." He said. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Do you want me to have the maids put a dead chicken in her bed?"

She giggled at him. Joffrey always had a way of lightening moods of people around him.

"No you fool." She told him. "I'm alright now. What dance is this?" She suddenly asked. She had promised Gendry she would have the band play the only dance he knew.

She looked around the room and saw him dancing with Arianne Martell. Shrieen was surprised he was doing such a commendable job of not looking like a fool.

"He has been out there with both Princesses, Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark. He whispers something in their ears and suddenly for a man who never knew how to dance he is a master of it. I don't know what he says or how he does it but he looks good out there." Joff said with a bemused look his face.

"I have to go and speak with the musicians. He still has one lady yet to dance with this night." She said and left her cousins side.

She wove her way around the men from the many traveler's parties. The men were drinking and joking with one another. Maids poured drinks and a number of them were flirting with the men at the tables. She walked determinedly to where King Rhaegar and Prince Jon sat playing music. She waited for them to finish playing them bowed deeply to her king.

"My king." She said from her bow.

"Arise child." Rhaegar bid with a smile in his face. She rose and smiled at his glowing face.

"I have a request my lord, for the next dance." She kept her eyes downcast and spoke meekly. She had no right to speak with the king, yet she had promised to help her cousin.

"A request for music. How wonderful. We have been playing whatever comes into our heads. Speak up girl. I will take your request." Rhaegar smiled at her.

"It is a tune from the Stormlands. It is a country tune. Do you know the Dance of the Rain?" She asked.

"We know it child. I will play it." Rhaegar turned to his son and spoke to him. "Jon would you like to dance this tune with this charming young lady?"

Jon placed his harp on the floor and stood with a serious expression on his face. Shrieen felt a flush bloom on her cheeks. She suspected that the king had noticed her confrontation with Lady Lysa and was showing his favor by having the prince dance with her.

"I would love to father. Lady Shrieen would you accompany me onto the floor?" He held his arm out to her and she took it with a shaking hand. They walked down from the musicians' platform.

"I must inform my cousin about this dance. He has been waiting all night for it." She said as they walked to the dancers lining the floor.

"I will assist you." They walked to where Gendry stood with his previous partner. Dany was suddenly beside them. She smiled at Shrieen.

"I have already spoken to Lady Arya. Tell Gendry that she is standing alone. It is his time I assume?" She smiled at Shrieen.

"How did you know?" Shrieen asked.

"Know what?" Jon asked.

"Nothing nephew. Just a small discussion between women." Dany said as she walked across the floor to stand beside Ser Jamie.

They were in Gendry's eyesight. Shrieen waved her hand and he excused himself from Arianne. He walked quickly over to her side.

"Are you alright little one?" He asked her when he was by her side. "Thank you Prince Jon for tending to my cousin."

"It is nothing. It is a duty of a prince to tend to the needs of his people. This girl asked for a dance to be played." Jon told the other man.

"The Dance of the Rain?" Gendry asked and his face paled slightly.

"The very one." Jon said with a smile.

"Arya is alone, go and collect your dance cousin." Shrieen said with a smile.

Gendry looked slightly ill but walked over to Arya. He stood there and bowed before her.

"Lady Arya it is time for the dance we agreed to." He said solemnly.

"It is about time." She said. "You have danced with every woman in this hall."

"I was waiting form the best song to share our dance together." He held out his arm and she placed her hand over his arm.

They walked out onto the floor and stood as the musicians signaled that the dance was about to begin. With all the other dances form the evening the couples stood in lines across from one another, only coming together for moments at a time. This dance made sure the two partners were close to one another.

He placed his hand on her waist and placed her hand on his bicep. His other hand held hers and he smiled down at her. Desire swelled in his body. He felt an instant lust looking down at her stormy grey eyes. The music started and he danced the steps his sister had taught him earlier. They moved around the floor as if they were the only two people there. Her lithe body was pressed to his as they moved. Sometimes she would stumble nut he was always there to right her mistakes. Their eyes sparkled and she soon found she was enjoying the dance.

It was wild and free. She laughed as he swirled her around.

"You dance better then I expected." Arya said with a smirk on her face.

"Do you want to know a secret?" Gendry asked her.

"What secret?" Arya demanded.

"I only learned to dance tonight." He whispered in her ear.

Arya glared at his face and he could not help it but he laughed at the anger on her face.

"How is that possible?" She asked.

"I'm a fast study." He said with a shrug as he twirled her yet again. She crashed into his body with a little more force then needed nut this made him laugh even more. The dance ended and they stood looking at each other. His eyes laughing and hers angry for being made a fool.

"Tomorrow I will show you real dancing you stupid ass." She hissed.

"Stupid bull would be a better description think milady." He bowed over her hand. She reached it out of his grasp and tuned to leave the dance floor.

"You are still stupid." She said over her shoulder at him.

"Arya that is no way for a lady to speak." Her mother's shocked voice called out from the side of the dancing. Arya turned around and her face was melted with embracement and anger. Gendry could not help himself he laughed again.

"Lady Arya until tomorrow morning." He called out to her. She kept walking out of the hall.

"You should not tease a wolf son." Robert said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I know father. It wasn't my intention." He blushed slightly.

"It is alright son. Just do not do it too often. I have to depart for a meeting with Lord Stark and his brother. Do not stay here to late." Robert said to his son as he walked to the back of the hall.

He entered the small room where the three older Starks stood looking around looking at an object on the table. He could not see what it was they were looking at, but they all had grim looks on their faces.

"Ned this must be pressing news to force you to call me away from the dancing." Robert said as he stopped behind them.

"It is Lord Baratheon." Lyanna said to him. She moved aside and waved him to come close to see the object that had captivated their attention.

Robert looked down at the table. In the middle of the table sat Benjen's bag. The opening was thrown wide. He peered inside. He furrowed his brow in confusion. His mind could not make sense of what his eyes were showing his mind.

"Is that, I mean that isn't." He floundered for words, unable to speak them.

"A severed arm yes." Benjen said tightly.

"From what?" Robert asked. "Human arms do not look that way." Robert demanded.

"A walked Lord Baratheon. The dead no longer rest but walk amongst us." Lyanna said. "Old Nan was telling the truth. May the Old Gods watch over us. It appears Winter is Coming for us all."

The Menu

· Kings Landing

o Crown Roast, beef ribs shaped in a crown, wrapped with bacon, stuffed with apples, root veggies, mushrooms and a red wine sause.

o Roasted swan with feathers, pomegranate sause.

o Trout scrappers with bacon stuffed with lemon and dill

o Pigeon pie with bacon and artichoke hearts

o Sweetgrass, spinach, plumbs with a plum vinaigrette

o Autumn soup

· North

o Broiled Beef Roast with horseradish

o Roasted goose with mulberry sauce

o Cod cakes

o Steak and kidney pie

o Roasted roots and onions with celery and purple carrots with beef gravy

o Leek Soup

· The Wall

o Ham with cloves in honey with dried cherries

o Hen on the Wall

o Stewed Eels with garlic and fire peppers

o Pork Pies

o Roasted Onions and Mushrooms on kabobs basted in garlic and salted butter

o Root soup

· Dorne

o Roasted Kid with honey and lemon

o Chicken baked with pomegranate and dragon fire peppers

o Sardines pickled, with three types of olives, eaten on flat bread

o Stuffed grape leaves, hummus,

o Cold shrimp and persimmon soup

· Vale

o Herb and mustard crusted Rack of Lamb

o Squab with cider basted, stuffed with bread, apples, onions and celery

o Steamed muscles and clams

o Root veggie pie

o Greens with bacon vinaigrette with apples and blue cheese

o Onion soup with carrots and goat meat

· Iron Islands

o Mutton with honey sauce

o Chicken with giblets gravy

o Squid cooked in ink

o Pike pie

o Fried squash

o Thick Sea Soup

· Highgarden

o Vale soaked in milk and cooked in the oven

o Peacock with feathers with a plum sauce

o Lobster in garlic butter

o Cheese and onion pie

o Cheese board

o Rosehip Soup

· Stormlands

o Wild Boar with apples, wild mushrooms and rice

o Quail with brown butter

o Bacon stuffed Pike

o Venison Pie

o Mushrooms stuffed with sausage, nuts and cheese

o Ox tail soup

· Riverlands

o Suckling Pig stuffed with chestnuts and white truffle

o Duck with honey, lemon and thyme

o Trout in clay

o Chicken in gravy pie with vegetables

o Green beans, onion and beet salad

o Venison Stew

· Lannister Lands

o Rack of Venison

o Duck with a white wine and lemon glaze

o Salmon Cakes

o Beef and bacon pie

o Stuffed peppers with cheese and rice

o Creamy chestnut soup

· Deserts

o Lemon Cakes

o Fruit Tarts

o Apple pie

o Honey cakes with blackberry sauce

o Iced berries in sweet cream

o Ginger candy

o Stewed plums

o Wintercakes

o Poached Pears

o Strawberries and sweetgrass

· Breads

o Black Bread

o Flat bread

o Oatbread

o Bread with seaweed

o Crusty bread

o Wheat bread

o White bread

o Sourdough bread

· Drinks

o Ale

o Mead

o Orange wine

o Plum wine

o "wildling cider"

o Tart persimmon wine

o Sweet arbor red

o Dry red

o Sweet white

o Dry whit

· Table decorations

o High table

§ Glass goblets

§ Silk table running

§ Glass plates with silver work

o Lower High Table

§ Fine metal goblets

§ Metal plates

§ Linen table running

Lower tables will be filled with the people who traveled with the groups. One sides will be solders, the others will be ladies, elevated servants and any small nobles that came with them. They will not receive the full array of the feast, but two dishes from each region. Mostly the ones with vegetables, beef, venison, chicken and sea food. The pastry that Jon and Arya stole will be at the lose tables.

The servants get what ever is left and rabbit stew, pies and breads.