Song of Ice and Fire

Chapter Nine

"Mother Joana?" I call her softly and she turns at me. Her eyes hold strictness inside of them, her once smiling lips are in a thin line.

"Bianca." She sighs and shakes her head. "Remember only strong people survive in this cruel world. So, the more you cry, weaker you become. Stand high and look at people in the eyes. Show them how strong a Stark can be."

"But my family." More tears start appearing in my eyes.

"No." She tells me in harsh voice. "Don't talk about it. Wear your weakness as your armor. Make it your strength."

"How?" I ask her in a low voice and wipe my tears away. "How can i do it?"

"I don't know." She sighs again. "Try to adjust here and try to be the best. But never forget your past. Past is what creates us."

"He woke up!" Rickon yells and I start running with him at Bran's room. He is lying there with Old Nan, his eyes staring out from the window.

"Bran?" I call her scared that he might hate me. But instead he looks at me with large smile on his lips.

"Thank you." He whispers and I hug him tightly. Tears are streaming down my face and he puts his head on my shoulder.

"I was so scared." I whisper through sobs. "I thought... I thought..."

"Don't worry, I am alive." He assures me and smiles at me with sad smile. "But I can't be knight anymore..."

"Don't be silly!" I tell him angrily and give him the best smile I can master. "Bran you can't be knight, yes. But you can be something better than that. You are Stark, meaning that you are more than you can imagine. You can be the smartest man alive." I whisper at him and ruffle his hair. "I want to tell you the secret..." he leans forward and I lower my voice. "The tongue is sharper than the sword." He looks at me with disbelief and confusion. "And knowledge holds power."

"You speak like Maester Luwin." He tells me and I giggle.

"Because smart people think alike." I inform him and shake my head. "So, if you be smart than you will be more powerful than all the knights taken together." He smiles and nods.

"I... I will try my best." He promises and I ruffle his hair.

"Have you decided the name?" I ask and motion at the Dire Wolf playing with Nightshade.

"Summer." He whispers and his dire wolf looks up at him. I smile at them fondly.

"Take care of each other and never leave him." I whisper in a sad voice as I remember Lady, Sansa's dire wolf and how terrible she might feel. "He will defend you everywhere. Now, he is part of you." Bran nods and I smile at him one last time before I leave him with Rickon.

***

"Have you written to mother?" Robb asks me as I enter the hall. I shake my head and he sighs. "Have you talked since then?"

"No." I say and sit on my place, next to Robb. From the other side of Robb is sitting Theon, smiling at me. "And I don't intend to. She still has to apologize." I say angrily and he sighs. "So, anyways how have been your jobs as Lord of the Winterfell?" I ask him and smirk when I see him groaning.

"It's loathsome." He admits after couple of seconds. "Everyone is complaining... no one is happy and they are scared of the winter that might come." He says without stopping.

"Remember Robb... this is your life and there is no turning back... " I tell him and smile. "You are Lord now and act like one."

"She is right." Theon takes me side and Robb rolls his eyes muttering something about lovesick puppies. Theon smirks at him and shakes his head. "Stop whining like a little child."

"I hate when you two agree." Robb says in annoyed voice. "But I hate it even more when you disagree." He continues and smiles.

"Robb." I call him suddenly. "What do you think about Sanaa's marriage with Joffrey?"

"Hm." He says and his face darkens. "I don't really liked the lad." He admits and looks at his plate. "But... Sansa seemed in love with him. If he makes her happy." I smile at him and look back at my plate, pushing the meat aside I start eating smashed potatoes. "And I am happy you can't get married until Sansa will." I chuckle at it and Theon rolls his eyes, annoyed.

"You do know that I can hear you, right?" Theon asks and nudges Robb. He looks at him and shrugs his shoulders causing me to giggle. Theon smiles and stands up, taking his place next to me and putting his arm around my shoulders.

"Can you keep it in private?" Robb asks a little disgusted. Theon smirks and kisses me gentle on the cheek. "Ew, that's my sister!" Robb playfully objects and smiles at us.

"And my future wife." Theon winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"Oh boys." I stand up and pass both of them. "There is nothing that can change you." I sigh and smile.

"Would you want us to smile?" Theon asks me from the table and I chuckle. "So, that means we don't need to change." He objects and it's the last thing I hear before I exit from the hall.