I don't own Game of Thrones.
Chapter 1
Barbrey Dustin, née Ryswell, is the Lady of Barrowton as the widow of Lord Willam Dustin. She is at her wit's end!
Muttering and full of whispers of vile words that would make everyone make a wide berth from her path.
Why she is in a foul mood you say?
Well, her beloved nephew Domeric Bolton had recently passed away.
'A sickness of the bowels, Maester Uthor says.' HA! She had to laugh at those grey rats' theory.
She believes that her nephew was poisoned.
And that someone had to be Ramsay Snow, the bastard son of Roose Bolton.
There is no proof of it, but when she saw him from afar at her nephew's funeral. His eyes looked more like a promise of Red Kings had returned in the form of that boy.
And oh, her poor sister's child.
Bethany had always softened and had poor health. She had suffered when her first few sons before Domeric was born had died in their cradles barely reaching their third week.
That is why Bethany had to send Domeric to serve as her page boy and already send him to be fostered in Vale as a squire for Lord Horton Redfort.
Tears are already forcing her eyes. She bit her lips tight so that she can hold them in her pitiful whimpers. No, she cannot and will not cry. She is no simpering maiden.
She is Barbrey Dustin and lady ruler to Barrowton. This should not hurt her, yet she had failed him.
Worse, failed her sister more.
'Why had the Gods take all my family away from me!'
"Mother, mother." She heard someone was calling her.
Barbrey looks at her daughter.
Her only heir and hope for the house of Dustin and Ryswell.
Avelina Dustin is the only daughter of William Dustin.
Her long black hair and slightly long face and bluest northern eyes, light pink lips, and pale ivory skin. Wide birthing hips and always tighten her breast to show her slim body.
She may not be as people would say the most beautiful women that would make heads turn, but can get people's attention by her wit and charms.
"Oh mother, please dry those eyes. It does not suit you." She patted her mother's eyes with her handkerchiefs.
Barbrey had her heart sets that Domeric and Avelina be married off to produces two heirs on Dreadfort and Barrowton.
Both of her nephew and daughter had begun courtships based on letters since it was on everyone's mind.
'Now what will happened to my poor daughter?'
Avelina did not cry, but she didn't speak about her feelings.
Avelina looked pale that Domeric had recently died before they could wed.
"Oh, your words speak true." Lady Dustin said to the precious pearl of her world.
"What will happen to me now?" Avelina softly asked.
Avelina is worried now since she is no longer engaged, plus it is a matter of her inheritance.
She is still the heiress to Barrowton. Many would want to grab her and their lands.
Barrowton is the second most powerful land beside the Winterfell even if her mother is from the Ryswell family and their blood was tied to Bolton's that could protect them, but the question is this for how long?
Greedy men or outsiders could try and take their homeland from her mother's hands.
"For now, you will continue to wear your mourning colors for the next moons. Leave everything to mother, I will find you a husband who could strengthen our lands and positions."
Avelina nodded to her mother.
As promised, Avelina had been in her mourning clothes and continue her routine lessons. Lady Barbrey's daughter is still young only just recently turned 17 years old.
Avelina had her mind focus on spinning and making wool stings. She always likes to imagine that she was spinning gold from the Spinsters wheel.
Like her childhood favorites from across the lands about this magical imp can turn his hays and spinning wheel into gold.
Meanwhile…
Lady Barbrey is at her wit's end!
Some from lower houses and felt an insult that wealthy merchants' families wanted to marry her daughter to gain noble status.
'Not while I am still alive.'
Yet she would appreciate if any of other great houses like Umbers, Karstarks, or at least Glover families would at least send a raven to her, but no.
There is no way she wanted to send a raven to House of Starks for possible marriage proposals. Barbrey knew that her daughter would be better off than marrying a Stark.
Barbrey fumed and think calmly about it.
If worst comes to worst, she may have to search for the southerners' sons, but she swore up and down that her daughter will not be connected to the South and will remain in the north.
Barbrey can honestly hope that a man is worthy enough to marry her daughter.
Lady Dustin went back to work as she looked through her letters and papers.
Far across the Narrow Seas….
There is a ship large enough to withstand storms and an army of fleets. A person stood on deck covering himself on a worn, torn brown and red cloak.
His purple eyes looked across the seas.
"I am coming home, mother, Rhaenys." He smiled as he sees Westeros deck coming their way.
Reviews are welcome.
AVELINA: Another avi name, Avelina came from Avila – desired. It was whispered down the alley into Evelyn over the year. Now Evelyn seems like the traditional choice, and Avelina the gussied-up innovation.