✓ | 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 (R.STARK 2/3)

Chapter Nine::Boltons

Raina failed to get much sleep at all that night, and instead sat at her window for the entirety of it, watching dawn creep up along the horizon, her view, for once, being a bright golden one, casting an orange blush over the entire landscape for the briefest of times. And in that moment, when the sun's first stabs of light fled across the North, Raina almost felt the warmth of Robb's arms around her, the relaxation of having him by her side, the comfort of his warm breath against the bear skin of her neck, the softness of his fingers combing through her poorly cut her, the affection of his voice in her ear as she awoke slowly. She almost felt him. But then, when the wind began to cry, and speed through the trees stood to attention below, the warmth, and gold, was carried with it, across the sea and out of reach. Raina never felt more cold.

She leapt from the ebony chair with urgency, as she caught sight of life lurking in the town below. Deepwood Motte had no courtyard, but instead had its poverty ridden town, bustling within the arching, wooden confines of the settlement itself. The town, though twitching with some life, never did much past swaying in the wind, the occasional family striding through from home to market, or the huddle of soldiers making for the single tavern, and then later returning to their posts after one too many; never was there as much action as there was alerting Raina currently. Dawn had barely scraped the land before the quickly paced events of the wooden village began to buzz with deliberate efficiency, as though there was something startling a huddle of sleeping hens. The town, be it scarcely populated, had been disturbed so early, and had begun to cause discomfort when Raina caught sight of it; all the towns folk now lined the streets, or weaved around in crowds like spreading weeds under a watchful gaze.

Cautious as to what it was occurring down in the town, Raina departed from her room, into the eerily quiet corridor lined with doors matching her own. No one else was awake on this floor, which was not entirely shocking considering it was only just daybreak, however, the thudding calls of her father's voice was distinct even at this distance, alerting her that at least her parents were up bright and early, and looming on the ground floor as always. Letting out an irritated sigh, Raina realised just about how much she despised the idea of seeing her parents, especially this close to dawn, she would much prefer to observe from her bedroom window than confront her mother and father any time soon. Yet her curiosity was seething with the want to know what it was occurring in the pathetic little town, and so her legs soon refused her the option to do anything else but wander aimlessly down the grand stairwell to where her parents, and council, bickered helplessly. The large, ebony, bannisters curled under her grip, weaving around the corner and slithering down the stairwell to the floor, like a wooden vine. How many times Raina and Finn had slid down these wooden features, usually catapulting off of the end, landing atop one of the staff, or another member of the family. And how many times they had both received a scolding for their antics. Trying not to get distracted by nostalgia, Raina came to a halt in the foyer, her parents stood in the open doorway, alongside Clerk and Vivillon,  her auntie -the batty, and hag-like woman Esme had been forced to have as a septon for many years, Raina too, though she scarcely bothered to arrive to any of those lessons. Clerk and Vivillon bickered between themselves, hushed tones in the presence of their Lord and Lady, yet their squabble was still audible to Raina, whom approached from behind where they had procured themselves in the doorway. Greyson was nowhere to be seen, as far as Raina could tell. 

"What in the seven hells is going on out there?" She barked quickly, standing at Vivillon's side, and trying to peer over her mother's shoulder, curiosity demolishing her previous reservations when around her parents. "Raina!" Her father's loud voice exclaimed, the hearty man lurching forward from his previous spot at the head of the group, yet he fell short of his actions when she took, yet another, reflexive step away from the man. She gave him the same warning glare her mother had received upon her arrival home a week ago, letting her father know that she was not at all at 'embracing' terms with him, considering his actions before her departure. He nodded, and cleared his throat, turning back to the view of the outstretched stairwell leading to their entrance hall. "We have company."

Raina immediately hoped for the Forresters, wondering if perhaps Gregor and Rodrik had returned after all, and maybe they had gotten word of Asher's presence at Deepwood Motte, their entirely family rushing out in desperation to see the exiled son, whom had failed to go home first before visiting old friends. However, Raina felt sick at the name her father uttered. Boltons. She wanted to bolt again, remembering why she had left in the first place. She despised them, now more than she'd ever thought humanly possible, considering Roose's actions at The Twins. Raina had ceased to forget what he did, in fact, she could still picture it vividly, every time she closed her eyes. He stabbed Robb, that traitor. And suddenly the anger overwhelmed the sickness and fear, the red mist blazing in her vision as she caught sight of the wavering flag billowing at the foot of the stairs. How Raina wished she'd brought a dagger, or bow, with her to this exchange. They killed their King, their friend, a child at that, for a better deal, offered by savage people. What kind of a man could sell his soul so easily in doing that? For what gain? A title. A title that would mean nothing if Renly proceeded as he was doing already, lurking along the coast with now real attention being paid to him. If, and when, he got his hands on the Iron Throne, he would not hesitate to punish the ones responsible for severing his allegiance to the North. Raina banked her life on that fact alone. Yet that did not permit her rest, when all she could imagine doing was flaying Roose and his entire family, and all his men, to let them know how much pain their kingdom had endured on their account. How much pain Raina had endured because of them. 

But suddenly her actions, or her premeditated actions, were taken away from possibility as a strong grip secured her where she stood currently, that grip holding still even as she fidgetted for an escape. Finn. He looked down at her, his blond, messy, mop of hair falling in front of his sleepy eyes, as he tried hard to cast a reassuring smile her way, his tight, presumably aching, face not really allowing much in the way of stretching as far as expressions went. Raina knew what he was doing, he was trying to keep her from making a mistake, but she was sure this was something she would not regret, and anyone who had a problem with the Bolton's dying, should join them. Yet she subsided in defeat, knowing that even with one arm, her brother was twice, almost three times as strong as her petite frame could ever imagine to be. Relaxing in his warm grip, Raina sank against her brother's side, the anger fading and being replaced by the sickening growl in her stomach, the one that reminded her Robb was dead at this man's hand, and she was supposed to continue, and curtsey like a proper little girl, forgetting all that they had done to torture her life, all to make deals, and climb societies ladder, all the way to the top.