A Verse of Ice and Fire

Robb and Annaelyn

She awoke rather comfortable. She wasn't in the South anymore, but if these furs were far softer than anything she'd felt in her life. Damn the South if this is what Northmen sleep on. She was embraced with a warmth that she just simply couldn't define. It was around her, surrounding her, almost like the castle had its own bloodstream. It was then that she struck the answer. Berating herself for her forgetful nature, she remembered that Winterfell indeed has a bloodstream of sorts. The castle was built over a natural hot spring that filled the keep with wondrous warmth to combat the harsh cold this kingdom was known to have.

 Her blue eyes fluttered open as she groaned herself to consciousness. Running a hand through her black locks of curled hair, she sighed. There was sunlight, but there wasn't nearly enough to heat her bare arms. She threw the furs off her body and hopped from the bed all with the same motion. She was indeed swift. Flipping her hair once more, she walked over to the full-body mirror the guest room so kindly had and examined her body. A slim waist and wide hips. She frowned at her physicality. The longer she stared at her near bare image, she felt she was watching herself get wider and wider. A shiver exploded up and down her spine and legs, nearly bringing her to her knees.

 Lord Arryn told her of the Manderly's. They were always the fatter ones, even their women. Her blue eyes widened at the thought of her growing to meet a Manderly's size. She felt sick to her stomach. Anna shook her head, jumping to her feet, feeling far steadier than before. She steeled her resolve in her appearance before running over to her trunk and throwing on the best looking thick dress she had in her possession. It was either that or she wore her skirt and breeches. Her mother and the septa's would have heart attacks if they saw her; the princess, dressed in such a state.

 Anna laughed patting her dress down to fit and hide her curves. Blue eyes ran up and down her image, locking with her cheekbones. A face of her mother's but everything else was her father's. She was quite glad that she didn't take after her father or her mother in the regard of wine and alcohol. Never a fan of such liquids, her parents sure loved consuming it as if wine and mead would never grace Westeros ever again. It made people do weird and inappropriate things. Intoxication was her biggest fear and she was certain the only time she'll ever drink was at her wedding; IF that ever happens.

 Robb is nice and all, but he's no Loras. Nor is he a Robar. Anna sighed. But Jon...black hair and that stern look...

 She shook her head vivaciously. That was unbecoming of her. Choosing between twins was probably the worst thing anyone can do; especially someone like her. She's a princess. Sure Robb and Jon were good looking specimens of the opposite gender, it was still no excuse for her to compare and contrast. So far, of twins Robb was the only one that showed interest; if his examining eyes were any indication. He was attentive and kept his eyes locked with hers. She didn't return to her quarters until an hour before dawn. She had learned far more up close and personal than she ever could from those old wrinkled and shabby books the Maester liked to keep in his library.

 Anna walked along, pushing her door open finding it completely empty. This had her worried. Had she overslept? No, that wasn't possible. She was a princess so someone would have been sent to awake her from her slumber. She walked along, slapping her feet against the stone floors of this ancient keep. She took a deep breath, walking along, dragging her soft palm along the walls. Blue eyes scanned the area for any sign of life. She came across her brother's room and knocked softly, pushing the door open just a creak. No words were said and there wasn't even a shout. Confused, Anna pushed the door open completely only to find her brother sitting rather depressed and staring out the window.

 He turned to her, clearly looking like he'd been crying. Anna rushed up to her deranged, yet sweet little brother and wiped away a stray tear from his cheek. He whimpered something inaudible as he turned his head away to face the cold dull of the North. Anna was beyond confused at this point. Joffrey was never this emotional before. She asked him what was wrong, but she was replied with an empty sniffle and gut-wrenching silence. Neither have ever come from her brother. He was always so loud and brash, so uncaring and did what he liked; but he never did this. Sure their father would be a bit abusive, but Joffrey never cried. He always took things head on and never backed down, even if they weren't for the right reasons.