Game of Thrones: Short stories.

A little magic in Winterfell - Part 1 - Robb x Reader

There was a rush of excitement in the small villages around Winterfell. Despite the falling snow that covered the ground and the roofs of the simple homes, the smallfolk were warm as they crowded around a huge fire that lit up the dark day, all of them waiting expectantly for the band of performers that would appear, as if from nowhere, through the dense snow on the shortest day of the year.

The group were a mixture of men and women from all corners of the world, and each one had a special gift that they would use to entertain the smallfolk long into the night, never taking or wanting anything from those that they performed for.

The band had been coming to the villages every year for as long as anyone could remember, and their annual arrival was said to be as a continued thanks to the Stark family.

Legend had it that Bran the builder had rescued a small girl from a freak snowstorm, returning her to her parents who were part of a travelling show. Bran had been enchanted by the little girl, that he had asked her parents to allow him to see her again when they returned the next year, the adults promising that as a thank you for returning their precious daughter, that every year, on the shortest day, they would return the child to see him and they and their troupe would bring light and happiness to the darkest day.

And so it had been, every year without fail, the descendants of the original band of travellers that had made that promise would return, bringing with them the light and happiness that they had vowed.

"Are you two nearly ready?" Theon called out, as he pulled his hood over his head.

"If you take any longer, we are going to miss them arriving." Theon complained, breathing a sigh of relief as Robb and Jon finally appeared from Robb's chambers, the two dressed, like Theon, in large hoods.

Every year, the three men would join the festivities in the villages, disguising themselves as simple smallfolk so not to attract any attention. They had been sneaking out of the great castle ever since they were young, fascinated by the unusual group and what they could do; but this year promised to be even more spectacular than most.

"Do you really think that I would want to miss them arriving, this year of all years? And it's not their arrival that you want to see, you are just hoping that that girl you had your eye on last year is still with them." Robb scoffed, almost pushing Theon and Jon down the corridor, Jon chuckling to himself at his brother's observation.

It would not take the three men long to make their way to the villages, and given that this year was the great anniversary of Bran's rescue of the little girl, everyone knew that the troupe would put on a greater show than ever before, so it was even more important to Robb, Theon and Jon that they made sure that they were on time.

                                                     >>----------------------------------<<

Quietly the three young men made their way to join the villagers around the fire. The hum of chatter and laughter from the crowd was already giving the cold evening a comfortable warmth, and Robb, Jon, and Theon couldn't help but feel as though they truly belonged.

Suddenly from nowhere, balls of pure white light appeared as if by magic. The spheres lighting up the darkness as they seemed to begin to dance in the air. A hush falling over the crowd before a fanfare of horns split the sudden silence.

Robb couldn't help but stare in disbelief as one of the glowing orbs drifted down to settle in front of him. The ball slowly changing from its spherical shape into a scene of a pack of wolves chasing a pride of lions through a forest of snow covered trees.

Robb looked up, wondering if anyone else could see what he was seeing. But as he turned his attention to Jon and Theon, he noticed that they too seemed to be staring in disbelief at their own scenes. But before Robb could call out, and ask his brother and friend whether they were seeing the same as him, the scene suddenly disappeared, the orb returning to the sky to join all the others which had now formed themselves into the image of a great dragon that flew over the crowds heads, and breathed out perfect snowflakes.

Without warning, men and woman began to appear from the snow, each one dressed in bright clothes, some jumping and spinning in the air, others clapping and singing as they ran through the throng of people, presenting little gifts to the children present. And in the middle of all this exuberant chaos stood a young woman who seemed to be conducting the whole glorious show.

Robb couldn't help but stare. He had met many pretty girls in his life, been introduced to many a charming lady. But the creature that stood in the background surveying the scene, her gown as white as the thick freshly fallen snow that surrounded them, was more perfect than anything he had ever laid eyes on.

Her hair was of the palest grey, yet her eyes shone in a brilliant kaleidoscope of colours that Robb was not sure that he could find the words to suitably describe. And as the beauteous creature slowly moved her hands, it became obvious that she was the one that was giving them the light show that was continuing to dazzle the smallfolk.

Robb pushed his way through the villagers, feeling a strange need to find out who this mistress of lights was. The young lord wondering why that he had never seen her before. But as he got closer, he was stopped in his tracks by not only an orb that now seemed to be made of ice, but also one that was made of fire. The sphere of snow morphing into a figure of a young man, as the fire turned into a girl. The man offering the girl his hand before the two joined and began to dance gracefully in the air. The whole illusion disappearing as the two figures turned into clouds of steam.

Robb couldn't help but hear the gasps of delight as the sky suddenly exploded into a rainbow of colours, as images emerged from the dark. Images of creatures from ancient lore, of warriors in combat, and knights in shining armour. But nothing could draw the heir of Winterfell's attention away from the woman that was creating them.

As the show continued around him, Robb pushed on, making his way through the thick snow. As he got closer to his goal, Robb was sure that the woman was becoming more enchanting, and his need to get to her growing greater with every trudging step.

And then they were face to face. The young woman smiling softly as he stood before her.

"I.......I am............." Robb began, finding himself losing all power of speech as the woman before him slowly brought up her hand, and removed the hood from his head.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, I am." The woman replied, a small giggle in her melodious voice as she spoke.

"I wanted to........ I saw you.........and I wanted to know you." Robb continued, knowing full well that he sounded like a babbling idiot, but also knowing he could do nothing about it.

The world around him had vanished, and all that Robb could see, all that he could think of was what was in front of him.

"Well, you are here, and we have met. My name is ..........." The woman began, her introduction cut off as Theon suddenly called out Robb's name.

"Until we meet again, Robb." The mysterious creature told him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek before she seemed to disappear back into the snow.

"Robb. Your father is calling for us." Theon explained, as he came up behind his friend. Robb still staring in disbelief at where the woman had just been stood.

"Robb! We have to go back." Theon exclaimed, shaking Robb by the shoulder.

"I don't know who sheis." Robb whispered softly, as Theon pulled him through the crowd and back towhere Jon was waiting for the pair. The three making their way back toWinterfell, as Robb wondered whether he would ever see the exquisite womanagain.