𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 -

Chapter One : Whispers of The Kingsroad

"Stop the carriage."

The Queen's voice had proved a continuous interruption, even towards the tail end of their month long journey to the north, if she had been keeping count, she might have guessed they had stopped well over twelve times today alone. 

The only form of silent protest Thalina could muster was her raised eyebrows as she kept her attention focused on the cross stitch she had chosen to focus on throughout the journey; Which despite having an entire month to complete, she had needed to restart twice now. As much as she had developed an aversion to cross stitch, she had found it was the only way to keep her mind occupied, having gone from grieving for her father to now travelling North to see family who's faces she could barely even remember. 

Even now as she weaved the needle in and out of the circle of fabric, she tried to recall the names of her cousins in her mind. 

Robb, Sansa, Ara? Arya. Rickard? No, Rickon. 

Her body jolted as the carriage finally stopped, almost pricking her finger with the needle in the process; Her lips turned to a frown as she looked up, watching as the queen relayed a message to one of her handmaidens, who then relayed it to soldier, who then relayed it to the king; This had been the process followed each time the queen had stopped the carriage, a painfully slow silence following as everybody waited for the soldier to return with the kings response.

She theorized if that queen had lessened even half of her stops, they might had been in Winterfell by now. 

The silence was finally filled as the soldiers footsteps grew closer, expecting yet another of the queens requests to be promptly denied once more by her husband, perhaps this time she was asking for more fruit, or another blanket. 

Swinging the carriage door open, the soldier had lifted the visors of his helmet, his eyes trailing over all the handmaidens in the carriage before landing upon Thalina.

"The king wishes to speak with you."

Her expectations were more that subverted, her gaze quickly trailing to the queen who seemed to be looking across at her with an expression she could not place, entirely unsure as to what had just been said to King Robert which might compel him to speak with her.

Standing as tall as she could, she balanced herself and stepped out of the carriage, immediately feeling herself sink slightly into the mud, the cold immediately biting at her skin despite the coat she'd worn and the two layers of dresses underneath. Unable to hide soft cringe coming to her lips, she continued on, taking another step as she turned her head to see the king only a few meters ahead on his horse. 

Continuing forward as best as she could, she'd manage to only stumble once, finally reaching where the king sat on his horse, watching as he turned to look down at her. 

"You wanted to speak with me, my king?" 

The king's eyes had looked down at her, his eyes portraying the sympathetic look she was beginning to be able to tolerate less and less.

"I haven't had the chance to talk with you about your father." he began, Thalina's eyes narrowing as she took in a breath, opening her mouth to say something before Robert interrupted. 

"He was a good friend to me, I have not forgotten that." 

Her silence was pointed as she crossed her arms across her chest, looking to the side. So many lords of the court had expressed their condolences, the same words thrown at her, only to so quickly lose their meaning just as quick as they were said.

"Your father was just as much to Ned and I as he was for you, When we arrive, You will walk beside us. You're family, little one. Whether you like it or not."