Cats And Roses

Mystery Divulged

You didn't even realise when you reached the gates of Winterfell. You could see all of the people that were standing around the courtyard waiting for you. You began to feel nervous.
You forgot everything about the mystery your Father was keeping from you and focused on how to act in front of the spectators.
As you were helped out of the carriage you were repeating everything your Mother thought you.
You joined Father as he was greeted by Lord and Lady Stark.
You noticed a little boy no more than six years old standing next to them.
It must be Robb, you thought. He looked shocked when he saw you. You forgot how some people reacted when they first laid their eyes on you. Every now and then there was someone in your family born with skin as pale as snow, white hair and frosty blue eyes. Not the kind of sight people in the North would see every day.
Obviously Lord and Lady Stark knew about you because of your Father, but a child like Robb could never hide his emotions.
You felt uncomfortable, so you turned your attention to other people around the Starks. There was a black haired boy standing behind Lord Stark and he was holding a little girl with red hair by her hand.
That must have been Sansa Stark, the youngest of the children. You liked her immidiately. She reminded you of Clara when she was little.
Beside some of the soldiers you couldn't tell what other people there were. Robb was still staring at you and you noticed Lady Catelyn giving him a stern look.
Your Father now noded his head in your way, so you stepped forward in front of Lord Stark who was already engaged in a conversation with Lord Bane.

"Ned, my old friend, I would like to introduce you my daughter Lucia" Father smiled.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Stark" you said and curtsied.

"Likewise" he said and turned to your Father "You raised a proper lady Hugo."

"I wouldn't brag about it. If I wasn't  married to Honor she'd be in the woods hunting for stags and not here in Winterfell right now."

"That sounds more like I imagined your daughter to be, but you can't get the upper hand when it comes to your wife" added Lady Catelyn.

The three parents were talking while you were just standing by the side. Clara was just behind you looking around, not knowing what exactly to do.
You tried not to look at Robb who was still staring at you.

Your Father suddenly turned to you "Lady Catelyn just suggested that you and Clara go to your chambers and prepare for the feast."

You wanted to ask him when you're going to be told what you have to do. "Father ... " you started "may I ask ..."

"It will be better if you do as Lady Catelyn suggested" he turned you down.

"Yes Father" you said and tried to smile politely.

***********************
After you and Clara were escorted to your chambers you were left alone.
You were waiting for your blongings to be sent into your room and the place was draped in awkward silence.
You were filling upset because nobody has told you what will happen to you here and Clara didn't really know how to comfort you.
So you were both just sitting on your beds looking outside the windows into the endless snow.
Out of nowhere you heard a knock on the door. Clara stood up to open it.
On the other side you found Robb, who obviously didn't want to be there and was looking very embarressed.

"I thought I should apologise for my behavior earlier today my lady" he said.

You couldn't help yourself but smirk at the site of a little boy apologising to you in that kind of manner. Something like this would never happen in the Enchanted Forest. Some kids would always laugh at you and wouldn't even think about manners. Not until you challenged them to a fight at least.
Robb now looked even more uncomfortable than before. You felt bad for him, so you invited him inside.

"I'm so sorry" you said "but where I come from people don't usually apologise to me."

"But you are a highborn. Doesn't Lord Bane get angry if somebody insults you?" He looked confused.

"Well, he does but it's a little bit different there. You see, we treat people differently where we live. My Father would never punish innocent kids just because they are joking. We are mostly all friends there and we do not take everything so seriously as you do here."

"It must be really nice living there" he said.

"It has its perks sometimes" you answered with a smile.

"But I heard my Mother saying you wanted to leave" he looked confused.
You exchanged looks with Clara. Yes, you wanted to leave but that didn't mean that you hated your home. It was hard to explain your feelings to an outsider. You always wanted what you couldn't have. In your case it was freedom.
You wanted to have a choice and not forever be stuck in the same place.

"It's complicated" you finally answered. Robb didn't look happy with your explanation.
"Once we will take you there and show you what we mean" you tried to calm him down.

Then a realisation hit you. Maybe Robb would know what his parents had planned for you. After all, you thought you were suppose to marry him. If he hasn't thought the same, then he must have known someting you didn't.

"Robb," you started "have you got any idea why your parents sent for me? Please tell me."

"I don't know if I should" he hesitated "Father said they will tell you after the feast when there will be time for that."
You got angry. Why couldn't they tell you something that was obviously important not only for you but also for the future of Banes and Starks?

"Just tell me!" You didn't want to sound rude but you were quite annoyed at this point.

"Lucy! Coming from the Forest isn't an excuse for being mean" Clara reminded you.

"I know" you said and looked to your side and into Robb's eyes "I really need to know what will happen to me."

"Alright" he sighed as if what he was about to tell was a terrible burden on him.
"Don't be mad at me but I didn't quite understand everything. From what I could get out my parents' conversation is that they are planning to marry you into a family from the South and that your Mother wasn't very happy with their choice. That is all I know."
You couldn't believe your ears.

Later Robb had to leave the room because they were looking for him. So you were now just sitting on the bed with Clara. You were both wondering the same. Could it be that after all this time you finally got to leave the North?