Winter's Knowledge

Chapter 10 Magic Revealed.

The following day, Lord Rickard left the Vale. He bid his children farewell and left after breaking his fast. Once he was gone, Jon called his daughter to his solar to tell her about the arrangements that he and Lord Rickard had reached. Hermione had a bad feeling when she was walking towards her father's solar. She had a feeling that he and Lord Rickard had made some marriage deal between her and Ned. The thought of having to marry Ned not only infuriated Hermione but grossed her out. Not only was she too young, but she saw Ned as her brother, and that was something she could do, and she had every intention of telling her father that.

Hermione knocked on her father's door, “Enter,” Hermione heard her father say.

“Daddy, you wanted to speak with me?”

“Yes, my love, won't you sit down?”

Hermione came into her father's solar and noticed that her mother was there as well. Now she knew this was something serious. Hermione smiled at her mother and kissed her cheek, then sat down. Jon looked at his daughter; he wasn't sure how to bring this up, but however he did it, Jon knew that Hermione would be upset. So Jon thought he might as well be direct.

“Hermione, Lord Rickard and I were discussing your future, and we decided-”

“I will not marry Ned,” Hermione declared firmly.

Jon looked at his daughter, shocked, He nearly laughed at the stubborn look on her face, but he controlled it, “No, my love, you will not marry Ned.”

“Good because that's gross; he's like my brother.”

Suddenly, Hermione's amber eyes narrowed, and she stared at her father, “Wait, but you do have someone in mind, don't you?”

Jon cleared his throat. He hated when Hermione did that to him, it was the same look his first wife would give him, and it always made him squirm. Rowena sat there and looked between father and daughter, trying not to laugh as she knew that look still got to Jon.

“Hermione, you'll be a woman soon-”

“I'm ten!”

“I have no intention of marrying you off the minute you flower, my dear. But I do need to look at offers.”

“I'm not a cow to be sold off!”

“Of course you're not, Little Falcon. And I will look for a suitable husband for you, but Lord Rickard and I have come to an accord.”

“I thought you said I wasn't going to marry Ned!”

“You're not; Lord Rickard is looking for a wife for his eldest son, Brandon.”

“THAT DICK!”

“HERMIONE!” Rowena cried, “Where did you hear that word?”

“Robert.”

Rowena rolled her eyes.

“And how do you know what kind of person Brandon is, young lady,” Jon asked.

“Ned told me, he's wild and inconsiderate. And likes to pick on Ned.”

“I'm sure he's only like that because Ned's his brother. And he's teasing him.”

“Yes, but the way he treats his family is an indication of how he'll treat his wife,” Hermione said.

Jon sighed, “My love, nothing is set in stone. I told Lord Stark that we would not announce anything until we know that you two will be compatible with each other.”

“And how are we supposed to get to know each other, Daddy?”

“Lord Rickard and I will make arrangements for you two to meet, and then you will start writing each other if you end up being compatible. Then we will finalize the marriage. I will not betroth you that will stifle you, my little falcon. On my honor, I promise you. If he cannot accept you for who you are, then you will not marry.”