Winterfell, 298ac

Robb Stark parried Theon's attempt at attacking him.

They were all training and what better time than after getting a clean shave? He grunted and swung his blunted weapon against his friend's shield then used his own to bash Theon back a foot or two.

His mind was here and elsewhere with the arrival of the King and his family, and the return of his little brother.

Winterfell is looking to be an exciting place again, they haven't had so many and Mother said there is at least a hundred or so accompanying the King plus the Queen's brothers, there was Ser Jaime the Kingslayer and Robb didn't quite know about the other one except the fact he was a dwarf.

And Arya, the she-wolf anticipated seeing them all as much as Sansa was excited to be greeting a bunch of Southern men and women.

"Guard yourself, Robb!" Rodrik chastised when Theon struck him in the shoulder, the heir to Winterfell winced slightly but didn't show it.

"Thinking about the Queen, Robb?" Theon asked with a grin, Robb scoffed and thrust then slashed with his weapon. "I did, I hear she's a pretty one. And her daughter, too."

He heard the same. The twin of the Crown Prince is rumored to mirror the Queen in looks and grace.

"I'm far more interested in seeing how Will has grown since living with the Manderlys for six years." Theon smiled and stopped, Rodrik threw up his hands saying the bout was over.

Theon and he laughed as their teacher at arms must be having a tiresome day.

"If he gorged like them, I'd say he's gotten as plump as Lord Wyman." Robb punched Theon hard in the arm for the remark, "A bad jest, clearly. Our Willam has obviously grown the most handsome of twelve-year-olds."

Theon wasn't too off, even Robb heard that the Manderlys love a big feast and do so often. An image came to mind of seeing a fat Willam Stark wabbling into the great hall.

No! He thought, fighting not to laugh but instead focused on a positive thought.

"Do you remember how he was? Wilder than Rickon and as cunning as Arya when it came to pulling his jokes. It will be nice having that back home." Sansa might not, seeing as it had been Will who taught Arya the sheep shift prank.

Other memories of the four of them flooded welcomingly, how they would be running and playing in the yard or racing through the Godswood. He was the one to make his brother comfortable enough to ride his first horse.

Father had done a lot to make the King's stay at Winterfell as enjoyable as possible, limiting the amount of hunting in the Wolfswood so there would be enough wildlife and keeping the larder full of fruits, vegetables, and meat.

Rooms were dusted and cleaned, one of the larger chambers especially set up for his Grace and the Queen.

Theon dropped his shield and sword, whereas Robb handed his to the armorer's assistants. "I imagine he's gotten used to living a southern noble life, the Manderlys are the richest House in the North." Robb agreed and wondered if being home would affect Willam's thoughts of Winterfell.

Will his brother miss the noise of the city streets? Will he like the quiet and serene hills outside their walls?

Jory had left to meet the King at Moat Cailin while Wyl and Heward left to bring Will home. "Come on, I'm hungry." He said to Theon and the two started making their way to the kitchens only to find Sansa and Arya there, the two sneaking treats for their wolves at the groaning of the cooks.

Robb laughed thinking it was adorable.

Later on, as night began to fall over his home, Robb and his direwolf Greywind were seated next to a hearth, the young heir was inspecting the new sword that was given to him on his fourteenth name day not two moons past.

Father and Mother had thought it was too soon to carry steel, he said that Will had written to them about his training in arms saying he had already gotten a sword and his brother was only twelve. "I am ready." He said aloud when they were arguing about it.

Father only relented after Rodrik assured him he was indeed ready.

He couldn't help but admit he was jealous, being the heir to Winterfell his place was beside his father where Will, Bran, Rickon, and even Jon would someday see the rest of the world where his duty would forever be here... Unless he was ever called to war or to settle disputes between his vassals.

Then he remembered that he was being petty, jealous of his brothers futures when if they stayed home like he is, then they wouldn't have a sense of belonging.

Even the Targaryen Kings sent away children when they had too many sons. "Lest the nest become too crowded." Uncle Ben said on the one occasion he came home.

Robb sighed sheathing the steel and waking his wolf, "Easy, boy. It's just me." He told and Greywind laid his head down. Robb reached down to scratch the pup's ears while being surprised at how much they were growing since being discovered just a month ago.

Footsteps inched close and Robb looked up to see Jon, "Can't sleep?" He asked his brother who shook his head.

Jon threw a log into the hearth before taking a chair and sitting next to Robb, his half-brother's direwolf Ghost padding close and lying down. "I am restless."

"As am I, the King's arrival but mostly our brother coming home has me remembering times when we were little." A smile grew on Jon's clean-shaven face as he too reminisced.

"Do you remember when he snuck out of the castle to hunt? Just six and trying to track rabbits not even a league away from Winterfell." Robb does remember that, mostly how Mother pulled Willam's ears hard enough he was sure his right one stretched making it larger than his left ear.

Jon sighed looking around the hall, "Your Lady-Mother certainly went all out, I daresay every table was brought in for the feasts to come."

It certainly seems as such, "They will be here tomorrow, she's done a lot to make his grace as comfortable as possible." A silence fell as the crackling of the logs in the fire popped. "You worried?"

"A little. Lady Stark is sure to make it so I know where I sit." Robb frowned.

Jon is his brother, none can dispute this but his mother never truly accepted Jon. Not to say she was cruel or abusive, she just rarely gave notice to Jon with the exception of the time he got sick.

"Let's get some rest, brother. Tomorrow, we feast."

The next morning came and the castle was undertaking the last of their preparations until Bran saw a large column drawing near Winterfell, Robb was told by his father to gather the other children together and be ready to greet the King.

Servants bustleed about as he kept Sansa, Bran, and Rickon close but he did lose track of Arya and only showed back up moments before the esteemed guests rode through Winterfell's South gate.

Robb was more than a little disappointed upon his meeting the man he was named for, the King in the stories was all brawn and taller than most men in his time who could swing his war hammer with one hand but the man who he saw was fat, black-bearded and heaved when he walked.

One thing is true, the King still has that grip as he shook his graces hand firmly.

The rest of the royal family were a little like his own as they took more after their mother, the Queen than the father, the King. "Golden-haired, wonder if they are like that below." Theon joked quietly and was elbowed by Jon and given a disapproving glance by Mother.

As the family and the King's party dispersed to prepare for the evening, Robb had remained standing in the square and waited another hour or so to see if Willam would arrive as well but he didn't.

He wondered if he would be coming tomorrow or perhaps not.

Before the feast began, each member of House Stark would escort a member of House Baratheon. He was put together with Princess Myrcella, right behind his father and the Queen.

The rumors were true, albeit a little unjust as the Princess was a beautiful young woman. She blushed when she noticed he was staring, though Robb felt even himself grow red in the cheeks.

After being seated the feast got underway, and by that so did his cups of wine and ale.