A Cry of Wolves - Games of Thrones

02 ~ Stags and Lions

Many weeks later, the day came that the King and the royal family would finally arrive in Winterfell. I've heard stories of a little man by the name of Tyrion. Robb and I continuously joked about it as he claimed even I was taller than the man. The main reason I'd have to be excited was still for Jaime Lannister. It still has not hit me that I would meet the Kingslayer in all his glory. My father has warned me to stay far away from him, but I know my curiosity will not be able to keep me away.

All the direwolves have been growing extremely quick with Cypher being the largest. Ghost, Jon's wolf, was as white as snow and he never lost those blood-red eyes. My father stated that Blood would officially become my horse despite him never wanting me to even be around him as of a month ago. I'd taken him and Cypher out on a ride every single day since we got back.

My mother urged for me to wear a beautiful dress and have my hair done so that I would be presentable for the Royals. I'd always done my hair with many different braids all throughout. To pair with the braids, I'd wear one of my red gowns. Red was always the color gown I wanted to go with. It complimented my red hair and freckles.

My mother and father lined all of us up by our ages, with the exception of Arya, for the grand entry of the king's beautiful horses and armored men. Arya, wearing a helmet and cloak, pushes her way into a tall wagon for a better look. In rides Prince Joffrey, followed by an extremely large man with a hound shaped helmet.

"Where's Arya? Sansa, where's your sister?" My mother asks getting only a shrug from Sansa. More riders with banners pushed through the road to the castle. Arya scoots past mother and father to get in the receiving line. "Hey, hey, hey, hey. What are you doing with that on?" My father asks while taking off the helmet from Arya's head.

Joffrey rides up leading to Sansa smiling at him. Robb glares at Joffrey as a warning. The man with the hound helmet pulls it up to give a view of a half burned face. The coach carrying Queen Cersei lumbers in, followed by King Robert on horseback. We all follow my father's lead in kneeling before the king. Robert heaves himself off his horse. My father looks shocked at the sight of his old friend, now fat and red-faced. Robert signals for all to rise and looks at my father with a serious expression. "Your Grace" Father says with his voice almost trembling.

"You've got fat" the King spouted from his lips. It took everything in my heart not to laugh at the hypocrisy. Father just gave him a deep stare until Robert began to laugh himself. This allowed for my own laughter to shine through. "Oh God's be! She's grown!" Robert turns to me to which I curtsy. "Nine years. Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?" Robert turns back to my father. "Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Hearing him call Winterfell the Kings irked me. Winterfell was owned by the North and the North only.

Queen Cersei and the other Baratheon children all emerged from the coach. The older, golden haired Princess caught my eye. She seemed so royal and elegant while I was the opposite. "Where's the Imp?" Arya asks what we all were thinking. "Will you shut up?" Sansa snaps at Arya.

"Who have we here? You must be Robb." Robb nods towards the King before he turns towards Sansa. "My, you're a pretty one. Your name is?" Robert asks Arya to which she answers. Robert then turns to Bran who seems disinterested in the whole situation. "Oh! Show us your muscles. You'll be a soldier" Arya laughs at the Kings remark leading to Bran pushing her.

Then, the golden haired Kingslayer removes his helmet and my eyes light up. His gold plated armor shined in what little sun we received in the North. He was everything I'd read about growing up. Robb must have noticed my staring as he nudged me and smiled. "Isn't he a bit old for you?" He asks. "I can look that doesn't mean I want to marry him. He's a Lannister. I would never marry a Lannister."

Queen Cersei approaches us with a scowl on her face. She did not seem like somebody liked by the realm. King Robert asked to see the crypt with my father which left us to being dismissed while my mother showed the royal family where they would be staying.

I quickly ran to the stables where Jaime Lannister was caring for his horse. I tried to spin around to avoid him but was stopped. "Where are you going, child?" He asked. "Well, I forgot something in the kennels" Truthfully, I had forgotten something, Cypher. "Go and fetch it then return to me. Somebody needs to show me and my brother around." It took me a moment to process the situation. "Yes, your Grace"

I returned with Cypher at my side to see Jaime with a short man whom I could only assume to be Tyrion. "Ah here's our little tour guide." Jaime announces. "God's be, she's taller than you and she's only 14" He continued to joke. All I could muster up was a slight giggle while the short, imp of a man just stood there. "I really should be going. My mother says she needs me back inside to help prepare for the feast." I tried to urge my way out of the conversation. "Well then who shall show us around? The stable hands?" Jaime argued.

"I truly do not believe I am the right fit person to show you around. My brothers are far better than I am." Jaime nodded leaving me to run off searching for Robb or Jon to help me escape the glorious Kingslayer.