The Little Raven

by Succulent Killer

The world fell to fire and ice, and the three eyed raven tired quickly of bloodshed. To change the tide of fate, they conjured a child of their own to be born alongside Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon's only trueborn son. With knowlage of the future no one else has, how will Kailyah Baratheon change the tide of the war?

8. Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

"Lord Robb." A sharp voice cut in, and Kailyah scowled slightly as Robb abruptly pulled back, and she turned her glare to her brothers.

"Jasper, Joff, what are you doing here?" She didn't bother to hide her annoyance, and Jasper smirked.

Robb had asked her the previous day if she'd like to tour the glass gardens. Kailyah had smiled sweetly, agreeing easily enough, and later that night, had scrubbed her skin til it shone, and had Maya braid her hair in tight rope braids and oil them so they were (carefully arranged) wild curls the next morning. She'd worn a simple pale blue gown with light bell sleeves that hung below her shoulders and cinched at her wrists. The fabric was light and airy, but shivering in the cold was worth it the moment Robb had arrived, taking one look at her (His Tully blue eyes going dark and hungry) before striding forward and removing his own cloak, wrapping the fur around her shoulders and using it to pull her closer, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.

"Good morning." He'd breathed, eyes softening slightly as he took her in, wearing his simple, Northern colors. He'd led her through the glass garden, always keeping a hand on her, her waist, her hip, her hand. He'd pushed a Winter rose behind her hair, the pale blue color vibrant against her raven curls, and they'd remained in the Gardens, eating cherries off of a tree and just talking for an hour.

And then her brothers barged in.

"Trant was quite concerned when he realized you were missing, Kai."

"We worried you might have been attacked by some wild animal. Looks as though we were-" Joffrey was cut off when Jasper drove a sharp elbow into his side, hissing a quiet 'too much' but not taking his eyes off of Robb, more specifically the hand resting on her leg, which Robb quickly pulled away.

"Lord Robb, I'm not certain what you were thinking, taking my sister anywhere without my Fathers permission and a proper escort. You wouldn't want to ruin her reputation, would you?"

"Jasper Eddard-" Kailyah warned.

"Perhaps he does. Perhaps he simply wishes to ruin her, maybe that is why he hasn't sought to formally court her."

"I wonder what our Father, the King, would think about this?" A moment later, a handful of cherries smacked into both of their faces.

"Father can't remember my name half the time, stop being prats." Kailyah stood, offering Robb an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Robb. I had a great time, really. Please don't let them scare you, they're harmless."

"I'm the Crown Prince of the Realm." Jasper drawled from behind her, and Joffrey snickered as she waved a hand at him dismissively.

"Perhaps we could go riding tomorrow." Robb offered, taking her hand and formally brushing his lips over her knuckles.

"With an escort." Jasper reminded, and Robb met his eyes with a challenging smirk.

"If we remember." Kailyah smiled at the eldest Stark approvingly.

TLR

"I don't understand what you see in him, Kailee." Joffrey whined as they made their way from the glass gardens towards the courtyard. "You know Father has plans to marry us off to the Starks, if you're not careful, he'll actually go through with it."

"Robb is a good man, he'd make a good match." Kailyah repeated, ignoring the identical scowls that fell over her brother's faces.

"Kai." Jasper warned, his hand coming to take her arm protectively.

"So you want to leave us? To rot up here in the North all alone?" Joffrey demanded, furious, and Kailyah hushed him.

"I have no intentions to marry yet, you both know that. I'm just saying, he'd make a good match. He's the next Lord of the North, he's clever, and more importantly, he respects me. He's a good man."

"There are good men closer to home, Kailee."

"None that I've met."

"Loras or Willas-"

"Father will not let me wed a Tyrell while he lives, you know that."

"Besides, rumor has it Loras would prefer you instead, Jas." Joffrey snickered, before straightening as the twins shot him a look. "I know." He grumbled before they could shut him down. "Don't talk like that."

"Loras is our friend, Joff." Kailyah scolded gently, before turning her attention back to her twin. "And don't pretend you don't like him, you wouldn't spend nearly as much time with the Stark boys if you couldn't stand him."

"He wants to take you away from me." Jasper huffed as they reached the courtyard, where Marcella, Tommen, Brandon and Rickon were making little castles out of the freshly fallen snow, desperately trying to build them as the light spring snow melted under their hands. Kailyah just squeezed his arm gently, and Jasper sighed. "He isn't bad. And Jon's there, and he understands."

"Robb does too. We're taking three of his siblings with us, after all." Jasper just shrugged dismissively, and she sighed. "Will either of you miss Winterfell?" She asked, changing the subject, and Joffrey scoffed.

"I miss being warm. I'll be far happier in the Capitol, I don't see why we had to come along in the first place."

"Come on Joff, this is the most of the world we've ever seen! We've never been farther North than Dragonstone before now." Jasper encouraged, moving past his sulking gracefully.

"And you've had a chance to make an impression on the Lords of the Crownlands and the Riverlands, as well as the North." Kailyah pointed out, and Jasper rolled his eyes.

"Not everything is about politics, Kai."

"Everything can be if you do it right."

"You're impossible." Jasper shoved her lightly, and Joffrey steadied her automatically, stepping in to stop the twins bickering.

"I suppose I did enjoy seeing Harrenhall." Joffrey mused, and Jasper lit up, rambling over its short history and the tomes he'd read of Aegon's siege, his wild gestures and excited voice quickly catching his youngest siblings' attention. Tommen and Marcella quickly dragged him into playing in the snow, and even Joffrey joined briefly, if only to chuck a snowball at his older brother's head, before retreating to whine to their Mother when he was pelted with snow in return. Kailyah simply watched her siblings play, content. She'd do whatever she had to, to protect this.

TLR

"You've taken an interest in the red headed girl." Maya drawled as she hung up Kailyah's gowns.

"Sansa or Ros?"

"Are you interested in Sansa?"

"Not particularly." Kailyah shrugged as she read through scrolls from King's Landing. "She's a clever girl, and she could be powerful someday, with the right tutors."

"You value cleverness. But you've shown more care for the youngest Stark girl."

"Mm. She reminds me of myself." Before the fate of my family was dropped onto my shoulders. "It is fun watching Catelynn squirm, and she made it so easy to get to Arya. Much as the Starks love her, they'll try to force a role she doesn't want onto her, and she'll turn to me."

"And Sansa?"

"She was born to be a Lady, and she'll do it well, but she'll need a mentor in the South."

"And Ros?"

"We have very few connections in the North. If I'm to live here, I'll need help, though I do intend to bring help from King's Landing."

"Will I be a part of that help?"

"If you wish it. But you do well in the South, Maya. I'd like to keep you in King's Landing, to keep an eye on things."

"Hm." Maya hummed, before returning to the subject. "Ros has decided to stay in the North. I told her how to contact you, but we'll need to find a way to pay her."

"We'll give her an advance pay for now, we can't very well send money pouches two thousand miles North every month. If she does well, we can give her the rest next time I come North, or possibly give her the funds to open her own brothel as a madam."

"I can't imagine what good it'll do, the North isn't exactly a large part of the game."

"Do you honestly think it'll stay that way should I marry Robb?" Kailyah chuckled. "The North is the largest of the Seven Kingdoms, but it's one of the poorest, followed by the Stormlands and the Iron Islands. I have ideas to change that."

"The North isn't prone to change."

"They've done well for themselves, I'll admit it. But they can do better. I can do better, and I was never one to be quiet."

TLR

"Arya!" Sansa snapped suddenly, and Arya flinched, releasing her arrow abruptly, and watched, dismayed, as her arrow thunked into the dirt, several feet before the target.

"I think that means I win." Kailyah chuckled, ruffling the girl's chocolate brown hair when she scowled. "Don't pout, darling. You're incredibly talented, especially for your age." Kailyah turned calculating green eyes to Sansa, who'd faltered when she realized the Princess had skipped lessons alongside her wayward sister. "Would you like to try, Lady Sansa?"

"What? I- I couldn't!"

"Why not?" Sansa sputtered, taking a slight step back, and the raven haired Princess tilted her head to the side. "Why don't you like archery, Lady Sansa?"

"It's-" Sansa hesitated again, unwilling to insult the sport to the Princess who clearly enjoyed it.

"Not traditional?" Kailyah suggested, offering her a way out.

"Yes."

"I was told it was more normal in the North. The Manderlys train their ladies to fight alongside them, do they not? They are noble, just as you are, just as I am. Archery is an important skill, in times of need it can be used to defend or to hunt."

"I didn't mean any insult, Princess." Sansa stuttered, and Kailyah waved her off.

"And I've taken none. I'm just curious as to why."

"It's- my Mother said- Women don't need to learn."

"In a world like ours, women need every advantage we can find, darling."

"But Ladies have guards. Knights, to protect us!"

"And what happens when those guards fall, or flee? You'd be defenseless."

"They wouldn't-"

"Why not? Men die every day. Men run all the time, honor means little when you're afraid for your life."

"But…"

"Knights aren't like that in the stories." Arya whispered, and Kailyah wrapped her arm around the little girl's shoulders.

"Stories are pretty, safe things. Life is not. The reason those stories are told is because they are extraordinary. Rare. Your own Father is renowned for his honor, isn't he?"

"Father is honorable!" Arya insisted, jumping to her Fathers defense, and Sansa nodded quickly, agreeing with her.

"He is. But the reason so many stories are told of your Father and his honor is because it is extraordinary, rare. Most men are not like that, most Lords and Ladies I've met aren't, most knights I know aren't." The girls were silent, and Kailyah shook her head. "You've heard stories of the War, yes? Did they tell you what happened to the royal family?"

"They're gone." Sansa whispered.

"A pretty word for it. After Rhaegar died in the Battle for the Trident, Queen Rhaella and her son were sent to Dragonstone. It is a fortress, after all, incredibly difficult to siege because of the sharp rocks under the sea, the easiest entry is littered with shipwrecks. But Princess Elia and her children were forced to remain in the Capitol, with the Mad King. He believed the Dornish would betray him, and planned to hold Elia hostage to keep them in line. Princess Elia was well loved by her people, those in Dorne and King's Landing. She was a gentle, generous, Princess.

When the city was sacked, Elia and her children were in Maegor's Holdfast. It is supposed to be the safest place in the city. Its walls are twelve feet thick, and there is only one way in, the drawbridge over the moat. When the city was under siege, guards were placed at the drawbridge to protect the Royal Family. And still, the Mountain waded through the moat and climbed the walls. The Princess and her children had guards with them, of course. Some ran. Some stood and fought and died. And the Queen and her children were left with no protection." The girls were silent, looking like Kailyah had knocked their world off of its axis, and Kailyah hi a smile. "We cannot always depend on others to keep us safe. I certainly am not content to."

"I hadn't… thought of it that way." Sansa whispered, shaken, and Kailyah reached over, taking her hand and squeezing it gently.

"I am not saying this to scare you, Sansa. If you are not interested in weaponry, there is nothing wrong with that. But you're a clever girl, your knowledge of history is on par with even my Uncles. You know that terrible things can happen in places where you are meant to be safe. Having a measure of protection isn't a bad thing, especially in King Landing. If you don't wish to learn, that's fine, but you should be happy your sister can keep herself safe. If you do decide you'd like to learn, I'd be happy to help you."

TLR

The next morning, as the sun rose, Sansa appeared in the courtyard, quietly asking the Princess if she could show her the basics of Archery. Kailyah obliged with a proud smile.

TLR

"You know our Fathers are discussing an engagement between us." Robb drawled one day, watching her as she and Greywind wound through the trees of the Wolfswood.

"I've heard some rumors about it." Kailyah teased, scratching behind Greywind's ears as he rubbed up against her side.

"You don't think they'll come true?"

"Not anytime soon, if my Mother has anything to say about it. She doesn't want her children so far from home."

"Children must leave home eventually."

"Mother doesn't wish for any of us to wander too far. Last I heard she was pushing for Joffrey to marry Sansa."

"That will be a hard won fight with my Mother."

"Thus the 'not anytime soon.'" She laughed, wandering through the wolfswood trees, Robb trailing close behind her.

"Even if they do come to a decision, nothing can happen while your Father thinks you haven't bled yet."

"That's the point, Robb."

"You don't wish to marry?"

"I don't wish to marry before I'm ready, and I don't wish to marry a stranger. I know my duty, and I will fulfill it. But I will do it when I'm ready. Or when Father is sober enough to realize I have, which will be around the time I'm forty and Westeros runs out of wine."

"He'll be furious."

"Of course he will, he will be fighting off a hangover that's been building for sixteen years." Kailyah shook her head. "My Father is a drunk, but he isn't a fool. I'm almost seventeen, he has to know I've bled by now. He hasn't wanted to marry me off to anyone but a Stark, so I think he's only gone along with it to fend off Jon Arryn. He'd been pitching betrothals for me since I was nine, may the Seven look after his soul." Robb shook his head and Kailyah turned, taking his hands. "I know it won't last much longer. But is it so wrong to want to know the person I am to spend the rest of my life with?" Robb smiled down at her, helpless, and ran his thumb over her knuckles.

"No, it's not wrong." They had a few more conversations like that one before she'd quietly told him that she didn't feel ready to marry or leave home yet, that she wanted to wait before leaving everything she knew behind. Robb had wrapped her in his arms and told her that he was willing to wait until she was ready, so long as she eventually returned to him. Kailyah rested her head on his shoulder and prayed to the Seven that she would never have to break this boy's heart. Bless him, Robb never pushed for more, content with their little adventures and stolen kisses in dark corners. Time flew by until it was three days before they were meant to leave for Kings Landing.

Kailyah made her way to her brother's room, nodding at the guards and walking in without bothering to knock. Jasper arched an eyebrow at her reflection where he was fastening the clasps on his hunting leathers, Lannister red, as always.

"I could've been naked."

"I've seen you naked. Not much to look at." She ignored him entirely, making her way to his trunk and rifling through it.

"When we were children." Her twin scoffed.

"Really? I remember seeing you streak through the halls a few months ago when you were caught with-"

"You said you wouldn't speak of that!" Jasper hissed, whipping around to glare at her.

"I can't believe you ran." Kailyah snickered, glancing up at him. "You are the Crown Prince of Westeros, what was Loras going to do, kill you?"

"His hand went straight to his sword!"

"Seventeen years of sword lessons from Barristan Selmy and Jaime Lannister, and you ran."

"I was half naked, Kai! I wasn't going to stop and grab my sword when Margery invited me to her chambers!"

"No, you already had the sword you needed." Kailyah smirked at him.

"Shut. Up." Kailyah laughed to herself, and Jasper rolled his eyes, walking toward her and grabbing his cloak out of the trunk. "What are you looking for, anyway?"

"Wrist braces, I forgot mine."

"Why do you need them? You hate archery."

"I don't hate archery, it's just harder to hide a bow and quiver than it is to hide daggers." Jasper tilted his head to the side consideringly before reaching over and easily snatching one of the jeweled pieces keeping her braided bun in place. It was a small throwing knife, its blade small but sharp, its handle studded with rubies. A name day gift from Jaime, if he remembered correctly.

"That and you prefer your knives." He drawled, examining it. Kailyah snatched it out of his hand, making her way to the mirror to fix it and grumbling about her hair being lopsided. When she had it back inside its small metal sheath, she turned, only to find Jasper waiting, braces dangling from his fingers. "Why?"

"I may hate archery, but I am good at it, and Brandon's not."

"And he needs to be?"

"No, he needs to be occupied." Jasper's blue eyes narrowed, and he stepped in her way as she turned to leave.

"Today's important." Kailyah hesitated but nodded. "Why?"

"Today is the day the war between the Starks and the Lannisters began." Kailyah whispered, glancing at the door nervously.

"What happened?"

"It doesn't matter, it's not going to happen." She moved to step past him but he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"Kailyah, I'm not a boy anymore. You can tell me what you saw." Kailyah shook her head slightly.

"What I saw is a burden I do not wish for you to bear, Jas. It was war. It was awful and bloody and terrible."

"That is a heavy burden to bear alone, sister." Jasper sighed, wrapping his arms around her. Kailyah came easily, smiling slightly when he tucked her head under his chin. "Trust me."

"Brandon Stark falls from a tower today. He became paralyzed from the waist down. The Starks thought the Lannisters had something to do with it."

"Did we?" Kailyah nodded lightly and he pulled back, staring at her with wide stormy eyes. "He's ten!"

"I told you it's terrible." Kailyah stepped away and smiled up at him. "It won't happen. Not this time."

TLR

"Brandon!" Bran jumped slightly, tightening his grip on the stones of the broken tower before turning slightly to see Kailyah Baratheon standing a few feet below him, kneeling down to pet his Direwolf. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Climbing. I can climb to the very top! Want to see?" Bran asked eagerly, blushing when she smiled at him.

"Maybe next time. Come down, I have a surprise for you." Bran climbed down a few feet before jumping, stumbling to a stop in front of the princess. His shoulders slumped slightly when she pulled out his bow and quiver.

"Oh." He sighed, glancing up at her. "I'm not very good at that."

"Well, that's why I brought mine as well. I thought we could practice. You'll need to work if you want to show up Arya next time."

"She told you?"

"Robb did, actually." Brandons head bowed, and she gently tilted his chin up to face her. "You want to know a secret? I am one of the best archer's in Kings Landing."

"Really?"

"Really. If anyone can help you, it's me. And if you want to be a knight or a member of the Kingsguard someday, you'll need to know it." Bran lit up.

"You think I can be a member of the Kingsguard someday?"

"Absolutely." Kailyah smiled, standing up straight and offering him his bow. "If you practice."

"Let's go now!" He grabbed the bow and quiver, throwing them over his shoulder and grabbed her hand, running back toward Winterfell. Kailyah followed easily, only glancing back at the tower once. She found a shirtless, disheveled Jaime staring down at them with wide eyes.

TLR

Kailyah practiced with Bran until the hunting party arrived back at Winterfell. By the time they'd arrived, their arms were sore and their fingertips were cracked and near bleeding but Bran could hit the target every time, though where the arrows landed inside was a mystery. Bran excitedly showed his Father and brothers his progress, while the King guffawed loudly, declaring that they'd have to bring him on the next hunt.

Kailyah made her way to her brothers, meeting Jasper's eyes and smiling. Jasper's shoulders relaxed, and he kissed her cheek before handing his horse off to a stableboy and leaving to help bring their catch in. Joffrey stood, arms crossed and glaring as his Father encouraged Bran to show them his skills, laughing drunkenly and showing more interest in this boy than he'd ever shown his own sons.

"You can hit a target dead center at twenty yards every time. Brandon is at five." Kailyah whispered in his ear.

"Father doesn't care. He's saying that Bran will win the tourney when he's old enough to enter." Joffrey muttered bitterly, though he leaned into the hand Kailyah placed on his shoulder.

"Perhaps you should prove him wrong." Kailyah arched an eyebrow at him and Joffery's lips turned up slightly.

"Perhaps I should." He mused before leaving to bathe for their feast tonight. The training yard began to clear and Kailyah turned to gather her arrows, only to stumble back when a small body slammed into her. She looked down and found Bran grinning up at her, arms hugging her tightly around the waist.

"Brandon!" His Father called, exasperated, while his brothers and Theon snickered behind them.

"Thank you for helping me, Princess Kailyah." Kailyahs green eyes softened and she wrapped an arm around his shoulders, ruffling his hair with her other hand.

"We will have to do it again, soon. And please, call me Kailee. I have a feeling we'll see a lot of each other." Bran grinned, hugging her tighter, and Kailyah glanced up, meeting Lord Stark's eyes. Ned's eyes lost some of their ice, and he nodded at her. Kailyah smiled at him, before sending Bran off and turning back to her target as the training grounds cleared. She knocked an arrow, pulling the string back until the feathers brushed against the corner of her mouth, locking her eyes on the target before releasing. She watched as it hit the center of Bran's target, and smiled slightly when arms wrapped around her waist.

"When are you going to stop surprising me?" Robb whispered in her ear, dragging his lips over her jaw.

"Impressed?" Kailyah asked wryly, reaching back to trail a hand up the side of his throat, tangling her fingers in auburn curls at the nape of his neck and tugging.

"Very." He breathed, spinning her around to take her mouth. Kailyah arched into him, just for a moment before dancing away, taking a few steps back with a playful smile.

"There are people here." She scolded, though her emerald eyes danced. 'Follow me!" they seemed to croon, and Robb trailed after her, helpless.

"I don't care."

"Oh? And will you care more when my Mother hears? Or my Uncle?" There he paused, tilting his head to the side.

"I may be more worried about your brother. I've sparred with him, he is vicious with a sword." Robb admitted. Kailyah laughed.

"Jasper knows better than to try and protect me. It's my Mother you should worry about. Lionesses are ferocious when protecting their cubs."

TLR

"Kailyah."

"Seven hells!" The Princess whipped around, finding Jaime behind her, wearing his golden armor and white cloak. "How can you be so quiet with twenty pounds of armor on?" She demanded, hand over her chest, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

"Closer to forty, actually." Jaime chuckled, nodding at Ser Meryn. "I'll take over, Meryn." Ser Meryn nodded at him and offered the princess a bow before striding away.

"Thank the Gods." Kailyah sighed when he was out of earshot, taking the arm Jaime offered her. "I hate it when he's my guard."

"Trants' a spineless coward, but he's not- horrifically bad with a sword."

"I don't need a guard, I don't know why Father bothers." Kailyah sighed, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.

"I don't either, considering you always manage to slip away."

"If Father doesn't want me to slip away, he should hire better guards." Jaime chuckled fondly and Kailyah grinned up at him. "You always managed to find me, Uncle."

"Apparently you can find me, too. The one time I try to slip away, you show up." Jaime teased, though his smile was suddenly strained. "What were you and the Stark boy doing at the tower, anyway?"

"He wanted to climb to the top. Robb said he was sure footed, but I was worried he'd fall, so I convinced him to come practice his archery with me instead." Kailyah lied smoothly, ignoring how his arm tensed under her hand. "Thank the Gods he hadn't gotten very far, I'd have had a heart attack if he'd made it to the window. And who knows what he would've seen if he'd reached it." She turned, arching an eyebrow up at him.

"He certainly would've been scarred for life." Jaime agreed easily, before shaking his head. "Come, little niece. Let me escort you to the feast."

TLR

Robb had found her later that night, without her guard once again, pulled her into a darkened corridor. "They were talking about us in Wintertown." He'd whispered, lips trailing across her jawline to whisper in her ear. "The wolf and his little doe." Kailyah's lips quirked up and she lunged forward, taking his mouth with her own, just for a moment, before leaving them with a sharp nip, pulling back to meet his eyes. Robb ran his tongue over his lips and smirked when he tasted blood. "They don't know the lion that lurks under your skin."

"Or the wolf under yours." Kailyah leaned back against the wall, trailing a hand over the small hickey he'd managed to leave her before she'd yanked him back to his mouth. Robb eyed the mark he'd left on her, Tully blue eyes darkening with desire.

"I wanted to give you something you'd remember me by. You're leaving tomorrow." Robb murmured, fingers tracing over it.

"It won't last long, I suppose you'll simply have to come visit me to replace it." Kailyah teased. Robbs lips quirked up, and his hand raised to cup her jaw.

"Aye, it won't." He agreed, reaching into his pocket. "This might, though." He pulled out a delicate silver chain, lifting it so she could see. Glinting in the candlelight, a ten pointed silver snowflake dangled from the chain, details painstakingly carved and a small crystal centered in the middle. On the back, so subtle you could only see it if you looked, was an imprint of a wolf's paw.

"Robb." Kailyah breathed, stunned. Robb smiled as he motioned for her to turn around, pulling her raven curls out of the way.

"I know you wont wear the Stark crest, not yet. But I hope you'll have this to remember me by." Robb fastened the clasp, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her shoulder. Kailyah let her hair tumble down her back, turning to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"How could I possibly forget you, Robb Stark?." Robb smiled, resting his forehead against her own, his thumbs rubbing gentle circles into her hips.

"Don't stay away for too long."

"I could never."

TLR

"Mother." Kailyah smiled as her mother strode into her chambers early the next morning. Her handmaidens scrambled to bow and Cersei gestured to the door, sending them out.

"Good morning, my love." Cersei took Maya's place behind her, running gentle fingers through her curls before beginning to braid her hair back from her face in the Queen's usual style, leaving a few pieces out to frame her face. "I noticed that you and the Stark boy have become… close." Kailyahs emerald eyes narrowed before she sighed.

"Who told you?"

"Does it matter?" Kailyah stayed silent and Cersei shook her head, tying the two small rope braids together behind her head before starting another one. "You know if your father thinks you love him he will leave you here. If he thinks the boy ruined you he will see you married tonight."

"Why is it that men can whore around as much as they wish with no consequences, but the moment a woman kisses one she is ruined?" Kailyah huffed.

"Men were born to rule. Women were born to be perfect, obedient little wives. Such is the way of the world, my love." Cersei shook her head bitterly. Kailyah turned in her seat to meet her Mother's eyes.

"Please. You or I could rule Westeros better than any man ever could." Cersei's lips quirked up, and she leaned down to kiss the crown of her daughter's head.

"The boy?"

"I'm just having some fun, mother. There's not very much else to do here." Kailyah lied, ignoring the way her gut churned. Cersei hummed, digging through her daughter's jewelry box until she found silver cuffs, fastening them around the small leather strings tying her hair together.

"Very well. Just be careful, Kailyah. Please."

"I will, Mother." Cersei nodded, letting her hands fall to rest on her daughter's shoulders, squeezing gently.

"Such a beauty." Kailyah beamed and Cersei smiled, seeing so much of herself in her daughter. Her eldest was everything Cersei had dreamed of and more, brilliant, beautiful, and capable. She didn't waste a single advantage her station had given her, and Cersei had nothing but high hopes for her future. "Join us for breakfast, when you're done."

TLR

"Bread, and two of those little fish." Kailyah glanced up as Tyrion strode into the great hall, walking toward the table where she, her mother, uncle Jaime, Marcella and Tommon sat, eating their breakfast. "And a mug of dark beer to wash it down. And bacon, burnt black." Tyrion ordered, lifting Tommon out of his seat and scooting him over to make room for himself, Tommen giggling the whole time.

"Little brother." Jaime greeted easily.

"Beloved siblings." Tyrion returned, passing Tommen his bowl and swiping a piece for himself.

"Where did you end up last night Uncle? You disappeared halfway through the feast." Kailyah asked, nibbling on her honeyed toast.

"The less you know, the better, little princess." Tyrion winked at her.

"Why'd you leave, Uncle Tyrion?" Marcella asked from next to her, tilting her head to the side.

"Exploring, my dear. There is still much of Winterfell to see, and I'd hate to miss any before I leave." Cersei rolled her eyes and Tyrion smirked. "The charms of the north seem entirely lost on you."

"I still can't believe you're going. It's ridiculous, even for you."

"Where's your sense of wonder? The greatest structure ever built, the intrepid men of the Night's Watch. The wintery abode of the white walkers." Tyrion growled, playfully lunging at Tommen, making the lad giggle.

"Tell me you're not thinking of taking the black." Jaime sighed.

"And go celebate? The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock. No, I just want to stand at the edge of the wall and piss off the edge of the world."

"The children don't need to hear your filth." Cersei scolded even as Kailyah and Tommen laughed. Tyrion winked at Marcella and the little girl grinned while Cersei rolled her eyes, rising to her feet. "Come." She beckoned her children, and the three of them stood to finish packing their things. Kailyah paused, turning to face her uncle even as Marcella tugged at her hand.

"How long until you return to King's Landing, uncle?"

"Oh a month, maybe two. It will depend on how long the wall can keep my attention." He grinned and Kailyah smiled back, letting Marcella tug her towards the door.

"When you return, you better have some good stories."

"You as well, little niece." He called after her.

TLR

"Thank you for opening your home to us, Lady Catelynn." Kailyah offered her a sugar sweet smile and a small curtsy. Lady Stark returned it, her smile a bit tense.

"It was an honor to host the royal family, princess."

"I will be sure to look after your children in King's Landing, and I'm sure that Lady Lysa will enjoy seeing her nephew and nieces again."

"Actually, my sister and her son have returned to the Vale." Catelynn watched her closely, looking for a reaction.

"Oh?" Kailyah feigned confusion. "I didn't know that she was planning to leave the capitol. Though I suppose she will need to look after the Vale until little Robyn comes of age."

"I suppose so. It is such a shame, what happened to John Arryn."

"It is. I didn't know him well, but Father was fond of him, and Jasper said he was a kind man. He spent a lot of time with Jasper, preparing him to rule the realm."

"He was. Please excuse me princess, I should say my goodbyes to my children." Catlynn curtsied, striding off towards her husband and daughters. Kailyah watched her go, eyes calculating, before Robb stepped in front of her. Her emerald eyes softened slightly and her pasted on smile melted into something far more genuine.

"Your Grace." He bowed over her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles before straightening, squeezing her fingers gently before letting go.

"Robb." She bit her lip, feeling half a hundred eyes on them. "Will you be alright, by yourself?"

"It will be different, without my siblings here. Quiet." His eyes trailed over to his siblings, where Sansa and Arya were arguing loudly. Kailyah winced, already dreading a month of riding with them, and Robb chuckled at her, shaking his head. "You may have to come back soon, just to get some peace."

"If there's one thing King's Landing isn't, it's quiet." Jasper appeared at her side, taking her arm in his. "I think we'll manage."

"You haven't spent much time with my sisters." Robb smirked. Jasper grinned and offered him a hand.

"I look forward to seeing you soon, Lord Robb." Robb shook his hand firmly.

"Until then, Prince Jasper. Princess." He bowed to them both, eyes lingering on Kailyah, and the delicate silver chain around her neck, the charm carefully tucked into her dress.

"Don't forget to write." Kailyah ordered with a small smile, allowing Jasper to lead her away.

"Will you manage to survive being away from your beloved, sister?" Jasper mocked.

"I can feel my fragile heart breaking already." Kailyah stepped up into the carriage, whacking him upside the head as she passed. Cersei arched an eyebrow from where she sat, Tommen and Marcella giggling next to her.

"What did I tell you about hitting your brother, Darling?"

"Not to do it in front of people." Kailyah recited, sitting next to her, groaning quietly when Sansa and Aryas loud voices neared the carriage. "Is it a bad sign that I already want to burn the carriage down and run off to Essos?"

"We haven't even left yet Kailee. How bad can it be?" Marcella giggled.

AN: Robb and Kailyah are not in love, they've only known each other for a month. There is a heavy attraction and a lot of potential for something more between them, but it's not love, not yet. Both grew up knowing they had to marry for the betterment of their house and they are both each other's best option. The fact that they care for each other is just a bonus. Robb has already decided Kailyah is his future. Kailyah cares for him, and wants a good foundation for a relationship or marriage, but her first priority is making sure her family comes out of this war alive. She does see Robb and a future in Winterfell as her happy ending.

Also, this story is mostly from Kailyahs perspective, so it doesn't really show what anyone else has been up to. Jaspers mostly been training or hunting in Winterfell, occasionally hiding away with a book in their library or his twin's room. He gets along descentally with Robb, but is a bit resentful towards him. In his mind, Robb is eventually going to take his sister, his rock, away from him. He gets along better with Jon, and surprisingly with Ned Stark. Joffrey generally does his own thing, he doesn't really have much of an interest in other people unless he's bored. When he is bored, he will usually seek Cersei, Kailyah, Jasper, or as a last resort, Sansa out.

Marcella has been bonding with Sansa and the other Ladies of Winterfell, occasionally trailing after Bran, who she has a bit of a crush on. Tommen has been happily playing with Bran and Rickon, running around with them and their Direwolves. By the time they left for the Capitol, he was begging for one of his own. Kailyah convinced him it was a bad idea because they'd eat his kittens.