Nothing Without Sacrifice {Game of Thrones} - Season 1

Prologue

It was the dead of night. No one had bothered to explain to me why I had had to be woken from my slumber to ride again. I assumed the guards who were transporting me considered me too young.

It was silent and the icy wind nipped at my exposed face. I took my hands from the reins for a moment to pull my fur cloak tighter around my shivering figure. The man closest to me looked down and spoke the first time this entire ride.

"We are almost to Winterfell, Lady Tellis." He said, but his voice seemed plain. I couldn't blame him. The men who were still with me were the few who were still alive.

Our home had been attacked. In the eyes of the seven great houses I was sure it just seemed to be a civil dispute, but that was far from the truth. A neighboring house, the Branten, had come in the middle of the night to lay siege to my home. We had been anything but prepared. Within five days we were forced all the way back into our keep. Only a few men were left.

My father had sent me out one of the secret tunnels. He had assumed the Branten were intent on keeping them as prisoners. He had been wrong, and I had seen it with my own eyes. I had watched as our once glorious castle had been set ablaze and devoured by the flames.

I wasn't the only member of my family to survive the ordeal. My twin sister, Kiara, had escaped as well. However, my father had sent her running South. I assumed he thought we were too young to understand, but we knew the truth. He sent us opposite ways in the case that the Branten realized we were missing. If one of us were caught and killed, the other would survive. There would be an heir to House Tellis.

I let out a sigh and continued on in a dazed state.

About twenty minutes later a huge stone fortress came into view. My mouth came open slightly. My home had been a hut compared to this palace. I dropped near the back as I followed my men to the front gate.

"Come no closer!" A man yelled over the wall. "Who goes there?" I looked to one of my guards, Warryn, who had been the most kind to me. He stepped forward.

"We come bringing Lady Kienna, one of the last of two surviving members of the Tellis house." Warryn yelled back. "Have you not heard of the destruction of House Tellis?" The man's head disappeared a moment. I bit my lip, fearing the man was going to deny us entrance. I suddenly stepped forward.

"Ser!" I called and his head came back. "My mother, Lady Sala, wrote to the noble Starks asking protection of me in case anything were to happen to our house." I explained. "She had had suspicion of the Branten's treachery and wrote to Lady Stark asking for my protection. If you will ask Lord Stark I'm sure he could explain." The man nodded and disappeared again.

It felt like ages outside the walls and the icy wind had been joined by a light snowfall. My home had been on the south side of the bay called The Bite. If you looked closely enough you could almost see the Three Sisters on the clearest of days.

I missed the warmth that came with the sea. The North was too cold for my liking, but I had quickly realized I was going to have to forget this. Some said the long summer would be ending. This chilled my blood. I had heard stories of the winters.

The man reappeared. "The Starks shall receive you!" He yelled down and the front gate began to open. I hurried inside behind my men, glad of the wall's ability to block the wind.

We were lead by a group of men towards the Great Hall of Winterfell. When I dismounted my horse I noticed a large man standing, waiting for me.

I dropped into a low curtsy before him. "Lord Stark," I addressed him as formally as I could at age eleven. "I cannot thank you enough for receiving us on such short notice."

"Rise, Lady Kienna," Lord Stark smiled down at me. "Your father was a dear friend. I am sorry for your loss." I nodded and swallowed the lump forming in my throat at the mention of my father.

A woman suddenly walked up behind Lord Stark. Her auburn hair still managed to glow red in the dim light and her blue eyes seemed to sparkle as she looked down at me.

"You must be Lady Kienna," Her voice was as kind as she appeared. I realized she was Lady Stark.

"Yes, my Lady," I responded and curtsied again. I was surprised when her hand went to my shoulder.

"There is no need for that," She told me. "Our home is now yours. Come, you can meet our children while I prepare your room." Lady Stark then lead me into the Great Hall.

Lady Stark had barely walked me through the doors before I was alone. I looked down the Great Hall. I didn't see any children, but I could hear them.

"I hear that the Tellis' have pale, gold hair that glimmers like sunshine!" I could hear a young girl's voice whisper excitedly.

"I have heard that even men of older age believe Lord Tellis' daughters to be among the most beautiful in the realm." A young boy's voice announced.

"How would you know of such things?" Another boy asked. There was a pause and I assumed he was searching for an answer.

"I have just heard," He muttered back. I walked forward.

The four children's eyes shot to me when they noticed my entrance. I stared back at them, wide-eyed and nervous. "I am Kienna of House Tellis." I gave a small curtsy, unsure of what else to do.

The eldest girl suddenly stepped forward. Her light red hair complimented her light eyes and fair skin wonderfully. "I am Sansa Stark, welcome to Winterfell." She smiled at me. I felt myself relax. I could already tell she was a nice girl. Sansa appeared younger than me, but only by a few years. She was also almost already taller than me.

When no one else stepped forward Sansa seemed to take charge. "This is my sister Arya." She introduced. The youngest girl was very short and skinny. She had brown hair and light blue eyes and I recognized immediately that she resembled her father. I nodded with a smile in her direction.

"I am Jon Snow," One of the boys stepped forward. I noticed the other boy's eyes narrow a bit as he did so. I examined the one who was speaking. He had jet black, curly hair and light, almost golden looking eyes.

"Jon Snow..." I repeated. I had heard his name before. He was Lord Stark's bastard. I noticed Jon seemed to become nervous when I singled him out. He had likely been treated poorly because of his status. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I am Robb," The final boy announced, tearing my eyes from Jon. He was handsome, to say the least. He had dark auburn curls framing his face and blue eyes that seemed to shine. He was tall and muscular. When Robb's eyes kept on my face I felt myself blush and looked away.

"Thank you for welcoming me to your home," I said gratefully. They all seemed to smile.

I suddenly decided I could make it here. The Starks seemed kind and I felt as though they were willing enough to take me in. I had only been here about twenty minutes and they had already made me feel a part of their family. Maybe I could rebuild my life here after all.

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Please note that the picture at the side is of the house Kienna and her sister came from. I received a couple messages asking me to find a picture and I did! Please enjoy, comment, vote, and continue reading! 

:) Thanks!