Chapter Five:
Lady was allowed at Sansa's nameday feast naturally, but she was the only direwolf there. Minisa would've been put out by the absence of her own direwolf, but Nori was never one for large crowds of people. She would cling to her leg, whimpering whenever the voices or music got too loud for her sensitive ears.
The air inside the room is suffocating in the best way possible. More people fill it than usual and sounds bounce off every wall.
Her family was there, of course, all of her siblings and Jon. Maester Luwin is there, as well as other important Stark household members and a few of the other Lords and Ladies close to Winterfell.
She sat at a table with the other Sansa and the other ladies around their age, all making light conversation.
"You should wear Orange more often sister, it suits you." Minisa complimented the redhead seated beside her, raising her voice slightly over the music.
"Really? I was not sure-"
"Here Sansa!" before either girl could raise their head at the interruption, a small parcel was thrust into her lap.
It was their younger siblings, Arya, Bran, and Rickon.
"Well, open it!" Arya urged, her eyes wide in excitement.
Sansa took her time properly unfolding the parcel rather than ripping it open.
Arya rolled her eyes, prompting "Just get on with it,". Which only caused Sansa to go deliberately slower.
As she pulled back the wrapping completely, a golden pin was revealed. Encrusted with beautiful stones of porcelain.
Deciding now was the perfect time, Minisa shot Jeyne the secret look from across the table. The brown haired girl nodded, running to get the gift.
Sansa thanked each of their siblings, all of whom looked rightfully proud of themselves and skittered off, pushing each other as they ran away. Minisa let out a chuckle at the sight.
Moments later, Jeyne approached with the gift.
"Okay, Now for your next gift." she said as Jeyne reaches them.
Jeyne hands it to Sansa, and all three of them are giddy with anticipation. Sansa wastes no time in opening it, her smile getting bigger as she sees the beautiful fabric. She gets it all out, spreading it to see all of the dress.
"We worked on it together!" Jeyne exclaims, shooting Minisa a proud smile.
"I love it!" She raised out her chair, engulfing them both in a hug that made Minisa's heart melt and the callouses on her hands worth it.
"Excuse me, girls," Their father showed behind them, a big smile on his face, "May I borrow the nameday girl?"
"Of course Father," Sansa lifted her skirts, grabbing his arm with the other.
Minisa watches as their father escorts Sansa to the middle of the floor, her first dance of the night. He's a little awkward in his movements but Sansa is absolute perfection.
Suddenly, the vision in front of her changes. Sansa looks older. Not in years, like their mother, but like something had happened to age her. She had her hair up in some Southern fashion and she was kissing a golden-haired man in front of a septon.
Minisa felt a chill run through her bones.
It had to be the prince and Sansa getting married. It should've filled her with joy, but for some reason all she felt was terror. So much so that she could feel tears start to well up in her eyes. Her face feels hot and her throat tightens in the way it does when you try not to cry.
Someone beside her is uttering words that she hears but doesn't hear. The more they talk though, the clearer their voice becomes.
"Minisa. Minisa-" The voice belongs to Jon.
As expected, she is met with concerned grey eyes when she turns to the voice.
"Hmm?" She answers, coming back to.
"I asked If you were alright. You're shaking," He gestured towards her hands.
They're shaking. All of her is shaking. Weird. Minisa hadn't felt it until he pointed it out. She looks around to see if anyone else has noticed, but all eyes are on the dancing father and daughter.
She turns back towards her half-brother, who looks worried but unsure. She wonders if she should tell him about the vision. It feels important. She feels like she should tell someone, but the words get stuck in her throat. Speaking it would breathe life into its existence, and she didn't want that.
She would erase it from her mind, she decides. Starting now.
"I'm fine Jon."
"Are you sure?" He asks, shifting from one foot to another, "I can get Robb, or Sans-"
Minisa shakes her head no but stops at the dizziness of the motion. Instead, she takes a deep breath, trying to make herself as convincing as possible.
"I'm fine Jon. Truly. I must've had too much wine." It's a lie. She has not had a drop of wine tonight. While delicious, it tended to do weird things to her mind. The last time she had wine at dinner she'd had a frightening dream about Jeyne and some dogs in an ... improper entanglement.
Jon doesn't look convinced but drops it, never one to pry.
She dances a lot that night. With her father, with her brothers, with Lord Poole. It's a merry occasion and she tries her best to feel the same, but the image of her sister and the golden-haired man refuses to leave her.
It's not long after that, that the Starks welcome new guests into their castle walls.
They were guest but hardly the most important guest Winterfell had ever welcomed. Lord Stark and his wife were there to greet them as they greeted all official guests in their walls, and Robb was there because he was the heir. Those three were really the only ones required.
Minisa and Sansa had taken it upon themselves to show up and meet Minisa's future husband. Theon was sad to say that they would be thoroughly disappointed. Minisa dreamed about the knights and Kings that they wrote songs and poems about. The pretty type, with flowery words and kind eyes. He had seen Benfred before and he was nothing of the sort. He was rude, loud, and awkward. Theon was sure Minisa would not like him.
Theon was there because he had nothing better to do and wanted to see the look of disappointment on Minisa's face when she saw him for herself. You know, strictly for curiosities sake.
At the current moment though, Minisa is the very image of excitement. She practically floats, her hands clutching the bouquet of flowers so tight that they might bruise.
"Yellow flowers might seem a little childish," Sansa warns her. Theon would normally agree. With anyone else, flowers would seem childish and daft, but with Minisa it was something else. The flowers were wild and free and bright.
Besides, Tallhart's the heir to a minor house. He should still count himself lucky that Minisa was greeting him at all. It did not matter if she greeted him in a dress made of flowers. How would a dress of flowers even work? She'd catch a chill, it'd offer hardly any coverage. You'd be able to see so much...
Theon cleared the thought from his head.
"They're for him, not me."
Theon felt something ugly curl in his chest at the words. The thought of Minisa giving her flowers to the boy didn't sit right with him.
Soon enough, the Tallharts party arrives. It's not that big, mostly comprised of servants and house members. Then, Lord Tallhart descends from his horse followed by his son.
Benfred Tallhart was still as awkward-looking as ever. With wild, yellow hair and a neck two sizer bigger than it should be. He was still tall but had put on weight. Not muscle or fat, simply weight.
If Minisa is disappointed by the boy, she doesn't show it. Instead, she steps right forward.
"My Lords, it is nice to see the two of you again. You're presence is very much welcomed and I hope you will enjoy your stay."
The Tallhart boy who had been quiet before has now stepped up. He shuffled from foot to foot, his hand scratching the back of his neck and the faintest of blushes on his cheeks. The parents look happy as their children interact. Even Robb has the gall to look amused, the traitor. Theon thought he could at least count on him to be as put out as he was.
"Hello Lady Minisa," Tallhart swallows, turning to greet Sansa before turning back to Minisa. "Thank you for welcoming me and my father into your home. I shall hope to see you around."
"As do I." She smiles.
"Well, we will let you get settled in. Come sister, we have things to do." Sansa finishes, giving a small nod before pulling her sister away. No doubt to talk about the boy.
With the girls out of sight, Tallhart relaxes. It seems that he then registers Theon for the first time.
"Oh, Hello Theon," He holds out his hand for Theon to shake. Theon takes it, squeezing it much harder than necessary. He smirks as the boy pulls his hand back sharply.
"Hey! You're gonna break my hand, ass."
"Benfred," His father chastises, though not seriously.
Theon leans into the boy, taunting, "My apologies Benfred, I did not know you were so delicate."
He enjoys the angry flush that overtakes his face and with that, he leaves the party, clutching the flowers in his hand.
Minisa is eager to get to know Benfred. As her potential future betrothed, it's important to know what she might be getting herself into. Also, she hopes it might take her mind off her troubling visions.
The two have spent many afternoons walking around the yards and gardens of Winterfell. Her Septon is never far behind of course.
Minisa has tried to goad him into conversation but so far he only provides bare, blank sentences. She usually ends up doing most, if not all of the talking. He'll occasionally interrupt her to ask questions, struggling to keep up with the rapid-fire words she spews in his direction.
Benfred has yet to truly open up, but so far she likes what she's seen of him. He's awkward, a little uptight, easily embarrassed, easily frustrated, and easily angered. Yet, is mostly harmless. She enjoys teasing him, watching how his face goes from pale pink to completely red in a matter of a few seconds.
"Blue is my favorite color. Blue and Pink." Minisa rattles off. "If I had to create my own House right now, I'd use blue and pink for my house colors. And my symbol would be Nori of course."
"Who is Nori?" He interrupts.
Then it occurs to Nori that she hasn't introduced the two of them yet! An oversight on her part.
"My direwolf. All of my siblings have one. I can't believe you have not met her."
Benfred sputters in surprise as Minsa grabs his hand and takes off running, pulling him along. She can hear her Septa calling, but she'll be fine. They weren't going anywhere private.
"Where are we going?" He asks.
"You'll see."
They to the training yard where Nori rests under a tree. It's mostly empty right now, bar a few household members like Ser Rickard, Jory, and Theon. Eyes flicker towards them upon arrival before looking away. Except for one pair of blue eyes that linger on them.
Nori senses their presence before they get close. Her ears perk up, and a second later her head too, then she's running full speed to meet her owner.
Benfred lets out a yelp, dropping her hand and Minisa just laughs. Nori reaches her, jumping on her as Minisa gives her a big hug.
"That's a good girl," Minisa compliments as Nori gets down. "Now, I have someone I want you to meet. Nori, this is-"
The spot beside her is now empty. She turns around, only to find Benfred's retreating figure running as fast as the wind.
A pang of indignation flickers through Minisa at the sight of his retreating figure. What if Nori had truly been a beast? Would he have left her to be eaten alive? She tries to taper it down, knowing that if she had come across a terrifying animal, she was prone to have the same response.
Laughs are heard from the men and she hears Theon call out, "Craven."
She goes to leave the courtyard, Nori silently following behind her. As she passes by, her eyes meet Theon's. One for appearances, he's clad in his fur-lined cloak, grey lambswool britches, and Kraken-embroidered doublet. His wild dark hair that's shorter than more Northmen wear is loose, and his typical cocky smile is in full effect.
His expression is smug but a flicker of something crosses his face as they land on her. But it leaves as quickly as it comes and Theon looks away, going back to whatever it is he was doing before.
Minisa continues on her way.
Dinner is a quaint affair as always, the only difference being the presence of Lord Tallhart and Beren at the table. The Lord discusses things with her parents that she doesn't bother listening to, all the while Beren continues to sneak not-so-subtle glances in her direction.
It would be sweet if her mind had not been elsewhere. Her vision of Sansa and Joffrey still troubles her. There were moments of happiness and calmness where she thought she had finally pushed it from her mind, but it would always return.
She wished desperately for Nori to be at the dinner table with her. She always seemed to calm Minisa down. But mother had been strict that the direwolves be confined to the children's bedchambers tonight. Especially Shaggydog.
Her troubles must show on her face because her mother finds her after is dinner is over.
She is walking back to her chambers when she hears her.
"Minisa," the red-haired woman calls.
Minisa pauses her stride, allowing her to catch up before continuing.
"Hello Mother," she answers in confusion. Her parent's chambers were the other way. "Is something the matter?"
"I feel I should be asking you the same thing. You looked... not there, at dinner. More so than usual."
Minisa's heart feels a tug at the concern in her voice. "You do not have to worry about me, Mother,"
"Nonsense." Catelyn scoffed, "I have worried about you from the moment you came into my life and will continue to do so until the moment I leave yours. Maybe after. Now, what is the matter?"
After it becomes clear that she's not going to drop the subject, Minisa answers.
"It's the betrothal. Sansa's betrothal." She clarified.
"What about Sansa's betrothal?"
"Well... I'm not exactly sure. Sansa will make a good and true queen. To live in King's Landing with all those Southern Knights and dances and tourneys. It's a dream come true and I want that for her very much."
"...But?" Catelyn questioned.
" We've never spent more than a day apart. If she marries Prince Joffrey and moves to King's Landing, who knows how long it'll be until we see each other again? How am I going to know she's okay?"
The words tumble out of Minisa's mouth fast. She has not talked to anyone about this-besides Nori, but that's different- and it feels nice to unburden. She usually talks to Sansa when she's troubled but she doesn't want to ruin her sister's excitement.
"It's quite normal to be concerned about your sibling's union." She comforts, putting her arms around Minisa.
"Really?"
Her mother nodded. "I remember when it was announced your Aunt Lysa was to marry Jon Arryn, a man older than our grandfather. I begged our father to reconsider all the way until the ceremony."
"Did he?"
"No. But everything turned out fine. Lord Arryn was a good and honorable man who did right by her and their son. The same will be true for your sister."
"And what if it's not?"
"Then your father and I will ride for King's Landing ourselves, tear down the Red Keep brick by brick, and bring her home."
"Promise?"
"Prom–"
"Lady Stark," a voice calls from down the hall. The two raise their head to find the Maester clad in his grey robes and chain. He makes his way towards them.
"Maester Luwin," Catelyn greeted and Minisa echoed her mother.
The old man nodded back, sending the daughter a small smile turning serious again. Turning to Catelyn, he pulled a letter from his robes. "From King's Landing My Lady."
Minisa's stomach drops. Was the betrothal official?
She watches as her mother scans the contents of the letter, her expression darkening with every word. She reaches the end, folds the letter back up, and nods to dismiss the man.
"What did it say, Mother?"
"Jon Arryn had died. The King is coming to Winterfell."