Taywin the Lioness

The Kingsroad and Winterfell

We left King's Landing and went north to my Father's most trusted friend, Eddard Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell. King Robert wanted his friend Lord Stark to be his new Hand of the King. A title that brings honor and if I know correctly then Lord Eddard Stark is a man of honor and would die for his honor and his family's.

From what I also knew from Lord Arryn's lessons and some of what Pycelle had told me was that he wasn't the first in the line of succession and that his eldest brother was meant to be Lord of Winterfell but was burned by the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, right in the very throne room of the Red Keep. Lord Stark's brother and father both burned that day- the very same day the Mad King had fallen as well.

My Uncle saw to that by stabbing him the back and so receiving the title 'Kingslayer'. Not the best title I warrant but some had to rid the land of that royal filth. But with no other heir to Winterfell and another brother sworn by the Night's Watch who could not claim the seat, it was young Eddard Stark who had to become Lord of Winterfell around the age of nine and ten years.

But along the way north of the Kingsroad I insisted that I must ride on a horse and not in the carriage with my Mother and two younger siblings, but because I was a 'girl' that meant I had to be protected, so I was forced to ride next to my elder brother, Joffrey. A pain in the ass, he was always rude and stuck up, but he showed more kindness to his siblings than anyone else. Even as sadistic as he was, he was family and family is everything.

No sooner than a few months had we arrived and rode through the gates of Winterfell, the North was cold and bleak, nothing compared to the southern shores and golden plains but the air was fresh even though it was damp. I would catch a cold from the dampness around me but that was the least of my concerns.

Around us; was the people, the commoners, northerners and bigots, all of them. Hard and strong and cold but many had warm smiles on their pale faces. I assumed that they had practiced their smiling since they heard of the Crown's arrival.

I glanced around my surroundings and landed my gaze over Lord Eddard Stark, the man was tall but was would be short compared to my Uncle. His hair was dark but it was growing light from age and his eyes were a gray mist like the mist and fog in the morning here in the North. At his side stood his wife Lady Catelyn Stark, once a Tully of Riverrun and Lord Hoster Tully's second daughter.

Lady Catelyn Stark had unusual red hair for a woman, I had seen red hair many times but not as dark or intense as hers and her eyes were the most piercing blue ever, she was beautiful but to claim her as the most beautiful would earn me a stern talking later with my Mother. So I just kept silent and held my chin up like my Mother had taught me during lessons.

My brother was too busy looking towards Lord Stark's eldest daughter to notice our Father climb down from his horse with the aid of two steps. He walked over in front of Eddard Stark and glared at him up and down, his voice always rang through everywhere so everyone heard," You've gotten fat."

Lord Stark then gestured his gaze down to King Roberts growing belly with each passing year, they both burst out laughing, much to my Mother's displeasure as she grunted and turned her gaze away from her embarrassing husband. Mother had said whispered to me one evening after a glass or two of wine that Father wasn't always a pig. 

My Father then pulled his best friend into a great hug and went over to Lady Stark, instead of kissing her hand her pulled her in a bear hug as well, his voice filled with cheerfulness," Cat." She muffled out something but I couldn't hear it, my Father proceeded to turn to each Stark child and comment on every one of the Starks. If my Father every really tried then he would be a great father. He had some patience and he knew when to give praise but he never did such. To suggest a slight change in his moodiness would earn me an earful.