Soul of a Wolf (Kagome x Robert Baratheon)

Chapter 5 Correspondence

After Ned had his lessons and sparred with Robert for a while, he ran up to his chambers to write a letter to Alarra. Ned went into his room and slammed the door shut. Ned made his way to his desk and pulled out some parchment, ink, and a quill. Sitting down, he began to write his response to the letters that Alarra had sent him.

*Dearest Sister,*

*I received your letters today, and I am glad to see that you enjoyed your journey back home. However, it saddens me to know how upset you were when you first left the Eyrie. As for me, I am doing better than I was when you and Father departed. Lord Arryn has done his best to make me feel at home, and Robert has been very welcoming. He has spent a great deal of his time trying to keep my mind occupied not to become homesick. Though sometimes, I cannot help but miss you and the others.*

Ned continued with his letter, telling Alarra about his lessons with Maester Coleman and his training with Robert and the master at arms. Ned ended up filling two sheets of parchments before he concluded his letter.

*I miss you and the family very much, little sister, and hope to receive a message from you soon.*

*All my love, your brother, Ned.*

Once Ned had concluded his letter to Alarra, he waited for the ink to dry, folded it, and sealed it with the Stark sigil. He left his room and went to the rookery to have Maester Coleman send the letter to Winterfell. After that, Ned sought out Robert so that they could go to dinner with Lord Arryn.

Back in Winterfell, Lyarra continued with Lyanna and Alarra's lessons. On her insistence, the girls were going to train with the Master at Arms. Lyarra reasoned that if Bear Island women could be trained as warriors, so could her daughters. At first, Rickard objected, but Lyarra told him that it would be the perfect compromise for Lyanna to learn to be a lady. Rickard thought about it for a while and finally agreed. When Lyarra informed her daughters, Lyanna was ecstatic. She jumped into her mother's arms and hugged her tightly.

“Thank you, Mother!” Lyanna cried as she hugged Lyarra.

Lyarra chuckled and patted her daughter on the bottom, “You're welcome, daughter, but remember this is on the condition that you continue with your studies.”

“Oh, I will, Mother, I promise I will not let you down. I will be the perfect lady, even if I don't want to be,” Lyanna said.

Lyarra and Alarra laughed. Lyarra looked at her youngest daughter, “And you, my sweet, are you excited to learn?”

“Aye, Mother, though I was hoping to learn to use the bow.”

“You may learn whichever weapon you feel most comfortable with, Alarra,” Lyarra said.

Alarra smiled sweetly and hugged her mother, “Thank you so much, Mother. I promise you will not regret it.”

“I know I won't, Sweetling.”

And so it went, Lyanna and Alarra would attend all of their lessons with their mother and would learn needlepoint and running a household. They also learned the politics that women used amongst themselves, as well as studied with Maester Walys. After their studies, they were allowed to have their weapons training with the master at arms Martyn Cassel. Lyanna was looking forward to learning how to use a sword, while Alarra was anxious to start her archery lessons.

And so, a week after Rickon and Lyarra had permitted the twins to learn to use a sword, their training began after their lessons with their mother. Lyanna rushed up to her room to change into her tunic and breeches and waited for her twin to do the same, “Come on, Larra, we're going to be late for our first lesson,” Lyanna yelled as she rushed into her sister's room.