Naveena STARK :||: The Iron Throne Trilogy #1

11) Naveena

The party was small as we rode out of the gates of Winterfell, consisting of the king, two of his Kingsguards, Nedd, Benjen, Robb, Jon, Theon and a handful of House Stark guards. Robert, Nedd and Benjen rode side by side at the head of the group, the four of us behind them as the guards flanked us all. No Joffrey, whose mother had refused to let him come along.

It was still early enough that dew glinted off the rolling green hills that stretched out from the castle. Nedd chose the direction we were to go, hoping to catch something unaware out in the open rather than trying to hunt in the Wolfswood. 

Beneath me, Athzalar danced excitedly as we entered the open land. She loved to run and hadn't been ridden properly in a couple of days. 

We reached the crest of a hill, the sun blinding us as it peaked through the cloud cover. It was still rising, the time around midmorning. As we all blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness, we spotted the herd of deer in the next valley. 

"Naveena!"

"Shhh, Robert!" I rolled my eyes, not bothering to be polite as Athzalar baulked underneath me. "You're yelling will scare them away."

He raised an irritated brow and gestured with his head towards the deer that were slowly moving across the hill, grazing the lush grass. "How about a little one-on-one hunting challenge?"

I eyed him and his horse. "On horseback?"

"I've never known you to back down from a challenge," Robert smirked. 

Shrugging, I walked Athzalar forward. "I only meant that you're going to end up embarrassing yourself in front of everyone. Pick a target, brother."

He didn't even bother looking, already knowing he wanted the grand trophy. "The big buck, one with the great head of antlers. You can't miss him."

Sighing, I shifted in my saddle, Athzalar's head perking up, her ears shifting as she waited for my next cue. "We're not quite downwind," I noted, already planning to go left despite the forest being on our right. "Lord Theon?"

"Yes, my lady?"

"May I borrow your bow?" 

"Of course," Theon was already manoeuvring his horse towards me and he easily removed his bow and quiver from where it hung across his body. Taking the weapon, I pulled at the string, testing its durability. 

"Thank you."

"You're going to hinder it before you slay it?" Robert growled, leaning forward in his saddle, face thunderous. "That's cheating!"

"If you think you can get him before he disappears into the forest, brother, be my guest," And with that, I turned Athzalar away. "Hosh!" (Giddyup!)

Athzalar lunged forward, galloping down the gentle slope of the hill. Behind us, I could hear Lyanna's thundering hooves. We reached the bottom of the valley, sweeping left in a wide circle as Athzalar climbed the next hill, a little smaller than the one we'd run down. As we crested the next hill, the buck raised its great antlered head and spotted us. 

As one the herd began to run, heading along the side of the hill in the direction of the forest in the distance. Unlike Robert's horse, Lyanna, Athzalar had gotten used to the rocky and hilly terrain, and besides, she didn't have a fat king slowing her down. With a burst of speed her breed was famous for, we raced along the crest of the hill, gaining ground on the nimble deer. Athzalar's presence on their left guided them towards the right. Across from us, the hunting party were skirting the outer hills, following our progression. 

Athzalar's speed brought us alongside the herd and she slowed as I turned her head, angling angled more towards the deer, putting pressure on them as we ran across the tundra. Suddenly, Robert was beside me, racing us across the plains, our horses side-by-side.