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Taryn awoke late in the morning. Winterfell was half empty with the men having left on their hunt at dawn. Not wanting to disturb her siblings from their restful slumber when Taryn returned from her walk with Robb, which had lasted late until the feast was ending, Taryn had borrowed her little sister's bed for the night. And while Tommen attended sparring lessons with Joffrey and the Stark boys, Myrcella and Taryn sat in on the girls' sewing lesson.
Having had a needle poised between her fingers since she was six, Taryn had spent many hours hunched over fabric and it showed. She had the most experience and her embroidery was the best, but Sansa Stark was giving Taryn a run for her money.
Listening to Septa Mordane's instructions, Taryn had taken a seat beside Alys, Robb's twin sister, and her friend Elia Dayne, a Dornish girl who was even further from home than Taryn was. The Stark's septa was sat with Myrcella, admiring the little Princess' crooked stitches. Taryn smiled when her sister showed off her proud grin. Alys' sister Arya sat with Taryn, Alys and Elia too, to get as far away from her sister Sansa as possible.
Arya gave a sudden huff, frowning at the crooked stitches she had made. Taryn looked down at the Stark girl. "You're doing better than I did at your age." It was a small lie, but Taryn hoped Arya wouldn't notice.
Arya looked at the Princess and the neat embroidery in her hands. "That's not true."
Septa Mordane turned away from Myrcella. "Arya! Don't be rude to the Princess."
Taryn laughed. "It's quite alright. Here, would you like some help?"
She watched Arya glance past her, looking at Alys who gave her an encouraging nod, and Sansa who was occupied with her circle of friends. Arya gave a stiff nod. "Look really close at the tiny holes in the fabric. I used to scribble a line in pencil so I could see where I was stitching. Don't squint too much or you'll hurt your eyes, but try making smaller stitches like this..." Taryn took Arya's small hand and demonstrated, poking the needle through the fabric, pulling through and out the other end.
It took a couple of tries and then Taryn let Arya make her own stitches, which turned out much neater. Arya grinned. "Thank you."
Their lesson was interrupted by Robb. All the girls stopped their work and turned to look at him.
"Septa, might I steal Princess Taryn for a short while?" he asked, smiling over at Taryn. Robb's smile made his blue eyes glow brighter. It was infectious, Taryn found herself smiling too. She did not realise a simple smile could make her heart beat a little faster, but Robb's did and she wasn't quite sure why.
Septa Mordane made no complaint. Taryn set her needlework down and left with the heir of Winterfell. They walked outside together, Taryn's hand fitting in the crook of Robb's arm.
