"The Wolf, the Stag and the Snake" book 1

Chapter 6

Hello everyone! Here for you another chapter. I hope you'll like it.

I do not own anything but my OCs, anything else belong to George R. R. Martin.

CYEL

The castle of Winterfell was different for everyone, now that Lord Stark was leaving for the South. Cyel had observed lady Catelyn those days; she was more quiet and more melancholic.

One afternoon she heard the Lady talk to Phelya, she said that she knew it was for the best, but it was still hard to let her children go. The girl couldn't even think about what Lady Stark was feeling as a mother.

Cyel learned about Antea's departure from Robb. Or better from Robb's shouting. She and Theon were in the gardens eating a waffle together, and even if he was denying it, she could tell that Theon was acting strangely. Then the future lord of Winterfell stormed out of the castle, with Antea close on his heels. Cyel then understood what was the cause of Theon's sadness.

She learned about Sansa and Arya's departure from the girls themselves.

Sansa was telling her how happy she was to go South and to learn how to be a good wife for prince Joffrey. The prince didn't made a good impression on Cyel; he could be quite whiny and to Cyel he had been even rude, frequently not understanding why she was treated as a lady, if her name belonged to bastards. But she knew that for Sansa that was the brightest future she could ask for. Every lady hoped to became Queen someday. Cyel could just hope that time would teach the future King kindness, making him a different person from who he was now. Or at least she hoped for Sansa.

Then Arya stood up complaining about how she didn't want to go, that she hated the South and that it was stupid to leave. And suddenly Cyel found herself trying to make peace between the two sisters that had different but very strong opinions.

And she had learnt about Bran that day. She'd found him in the Godswood, sitting on the branch of a tree. Cyel petted Bran's direwolf head before taking her shoes off and climbing up. She couldn't believe he was able to climb even the walls of the castle. She was already scared up on that tree.

"What are you doing up here?" He turned his head towards her, when he heard her voice and smiled.

"I'm looking at Winterfell" he answered. She looked at him for a moment; he usually went to the Broken Tower when he wanted to watch Winterfell. He stayed in the Goodswood when he was overthinking about something.

"Can I stay with you?" Bran nodded and move to make space for her. Cyel carefully let go of the trunk and made one step on the branch. Bran's laughter caused her to look up.

"You still look down" he said swinging his legs in the air without fear.

"Shut up" she answered finally managing to sit down, next the boy.

They sat in silence watching what was down them: the grass covered with a bit of summer's snow, the pools of hot water, the mist which covered all of it giving an almost magical atmosphere, and the scary weirwood tree, where lord Stark often prayed. Cyel didn't like it, as she knew Bran didn't like it. It was like that tree watched their every move.

"What kind of trees are there in the South?" He asked suddenly making her turn to look at him.

"Any kind" she answered sweetly. He nodded thinking about what she said.

"Do you like better the North or the South?" Cyel studied him with her eyes, Bran had always been curious, but all those question about the South were new to her ears.

"They are both beautiful places, in their own way" she managed to answer. She feared that there was more beyond those questions.

"Why do you ask?" Cyel said. She had a feeling she already knew what he was about to say, but she wasn't sure she wanted to hear it.