A Lion Loyal to Wolves

Chapter One: Princess Arielle Faye Baratheon, First of Her Name

  "We are close." Mother said, looking out the window.
I nodded and corrected my posture, not wanting to make the wrong impression on our Northern hosts.
"Ari, remember what I told you?"
I nodded, "Father will be wanting to make an arranged marriage between Robb and I."
She smiled bitterly, "yes. Your father is set on Joffrey marrying Sansa and you marrying Robb."
"Do I have to marry him?" I asked.
Mother nodded, and took my hands in hers, "my dove, marriage is rarely for love, it's for political affairs."
"What if this Robb is horrible?"
"I doubt Lord and Lady Stark would raise their children up like that." Mother stated.
I nodded and smiled sadly, "at least that is comforting."
"My dove, don't be scared, you will be in good hands. Besides, if any of them hurt you, I will take care of them."
I laughed, "Mom! You can't say things like that."
Cersei smiled weakly, and put both her hands on my cheeks. Our eyes met. Her emerald eyes staring deep into my bright blue ones. She brought her head down and kissed my forehead lightly.
"Remember, no matter what happens, I will always love you. Now and always."

XXX

"Why's your mother so dead-set on us getting prissy for the king?" Jon asked.
At the moment, he, Theon, and Robb were "cleaning up" for the arrival of the royal family.

"It's for the queen, I bet," Theon replied, leaning up against a post, "I hear she's sleek as a mink."

Robb brought his head up a little bit so the man who shaved his face could make sure he didn't miss any spots, "I hear the prince is a right royal prick." Robb said.

"Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick." Theon chuckled. "Or their eldest, the darling princess. I heard she looks just like her mother, except for her eyes. I've been told she has long, wavy, golden hair that reaches about halfway down her back. Big eyes, but blue like her father's. But, unlike most of the other girls, she's not extremely pale. Almost as if the sun has kissed her very lightly. Oh and her body, lets just say there's a reason all the men want to f-"
"Enough Theon," Robb interrupted, getting up from his seat, "go on Tommy, shave him good."
Jon walked over and sat down in the chair.
"He's never met a girl he likes better than his own hair." Robb joked.
Jon rolled his eyes and tilted his head back.

XXX

"Thank you sir." I said, taking the man in front of me's hand. I stepped light on the step of my carriage and stepped onto the ground.
I took a few steps and stood next to my younger sister, Myrcella. I looked out into the crowd of people the stood in front of me. From the descriptions my mother told me, I recognized the Stark children that took up the first row with their parents.
I counted them each in my head, Robb, Sansa, Bran, Aria, and Ricken. Only five.
I leaned over to Myrcella, "where's the bastard Joffrey was talking about?"
She shrugged and looked out into the crowd. After a moment she whispered back, "he's probably in the back of the crowd."
My mother looked back at Mycrella and I. She shook her head, as if to tell us to not talk about this now. We both turned back over to our father, who was in front of Lord Eddard Stark.
"Your grace." Lord Stark, said respectably.
Instead of replying with his usual nod, my father stood there, silent. He moved his head up and down Lord Stark's body, examining him. It was so silent that if you dropped a gold coin, you would be able to hear it drop.
It was as if time itself had stopped.
"You've got fat." my father said.
Almost everyone looked nervous. The Stark children, and their mother looked nervous. The people behind them looked at one another, as if to confirm that they heard him correctly.
I just chuckled a little, knowing that my father meant well. I remember the stories about him and Lord Stark fighting in my father's rebellion. It has been nine years since my father and Lord Stark had seen each other.
I received a couple of glares from some of the people in front of me. But one particular glare caught my eye, the eldest Stark. I could tell I didn't make a very good first impression on him, or on anyone else in the Stark family. To not offend anyone else more than I already had, I covered my mouth and looked down at my feet. Even after removing my hand, I couldn't help but smile a little bit.
Finally, Lord Stark and my father started to laugh, causing everyone to relax a little. When they started to hug, I stepped forward a little, ready to properly introduce myself to the Stark family.

While my father worked his way down the line of Starks, I came up to Lord and Lady Stark. I smiled and sank into a deep curtsy for them.
Ned smiled and opened his arms, "Princess Arielle, it's been to long since I've seen you!"
I laughed and hugged him, "I was seven when I last saw you."
Once we separated, I turned to Lady Catelyn. She sank into a curtsy, but I put my hand on her arm.
"Please, don't curtsy." I said, laughing.
She smiled and nodded her head, "Princess Arielle, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you after all these years. My husband has said so many kind things about you."
I smiled, "thank you for having us here. I have always wanted to travel up North."
My father came over and slung his arm around me, "she's adventurous, this one. Do any of your children ride?"
"Yes. Would you like to take one of our horses and go out riding?" Lady Catelyn asked.
"If it is fine with you, yes." I replied back.
"Robb, will you escort Arielle to the stables?" Lord Eddard asked, "and please escort her on her ride."
Robb nodded and walked towards me, "shall we?"
He extended his arm out towards me. I stared down at his arm, and linked my arm around his.
Robb started to walk forward, "this way my Princess."
"Please, call me Ari or Arielle."
"Okay."

XXX

Our walk over to the stables was quiet. I spent the time trying to figure out if he liked or disliked me. Probably disliked, judging from the glare earlier, or the silence currently.
Once we reached the stables I let go of his arm. I wandered down the hall, staring at each of the horses.
"You can ride Alfie."
I turned around staring back at Robb, "I'm sorry, pardon?"
"You can ride Alfie. He's a great horse for beginners." Robb replied.
I scoffed, "who says I'm a beginner?"
"I have a feeling you and Arya will get along," Robb said, "there should be some more suitable clothes down the hall. While you put those clothes on, I'll choose a horse."
I nodded and walked down the hall and grabbed a spare pair of leggings, a blouse, riding boots, gloves, and a cloak.
"I'll be outside!" Robb said loudly.
"Thank you!" I shouted back.
I went into one of the empty stables and lay the spare clothing on the ground. I knew if I kept my hair down it would get in my face, so I sat on a hay bale and fish tail braided my hair. I then slipped of my shoes and tucked them into the corner.
I began to unlace my dress when I heard a noise. I stuck my head out of the stable, but I didn't see anyone. Not thinking much of it, I unlaced the back of my dress and let it fall. I kicked it off to the side and reached down for my leggings and blouse.
"Arielle, are you ready? What's taking so lon-" Robb walked into the stable I was in.
"Get out!" I commanded.
"I'm so sorry," Robb said looking away, "but can you change quicker? People are starting to come over to the stables."
"I will once you leave." I retorted, pulling the blouse over my head.
"Right." Robb said quickly, then left.
I rolled my eyes and pulled my leggings and boots on. I grabbed my cloak and walked out into the open. Once I spotted Robb, I fastened my cloak on and walked over to him.
I got up and swung myself onto the horse Robb was holding for me.
"Thank you." I said curtly.
Robb swung himself onto his horse, "you're welcome my Princess."
"Don't call me that." I cringed my nose.
"But that is what you are, my Princess." he smiled.
"I'm sure you say that to all the women you fuck." I smiled back.
Robb laughed, "I would never have expected you to even know that word."
"Have you met my father?"
"Aye." He cringed.
I laughed, "come on, let's go."