A WINTER ROSE ⊳ g. of thrones [1]

PROLOGUE

"A RAVEN flew from her nest, circling high above all who lay sleeping in Winterfell. This particular Raven flew towards the summer trees in the southern North, then back towards the forked river they call the Trident, where the dragon prince, Rhaegar Targaryen had been slain by the good king Robert Baratheon. Down South the Raven flew once more out of fear, her fellow kin having been hunted by starved men. Along the road more men capture her, locked her and caged her. But one man, with golden hair and beautiful eyes released the Raven, and there she flew to the North, escaping into the forests of Ironwrath."

"Hey, that's where Rodrik lives!" cried little Robb.

"Aw, I miss Rodrik! Can Father ask the Forresters to come visit again?" Ellena asked.

"Quiet, children..." Old Nan lightly scolded.

"The Raven took a lifetime to return home, and as soon as she did she went to fly amongst dragons, and drowned."

"That's an awful story, Old Nan!" cried the young Ellena Stark.

"Why did she have to die, Old Nan? She flew among dragons and still she dies?" asked the confused young Robb.

And Jon. Jon Snow, the bastard sat silent as ever, listening intently, his mind wondering to how this tale would end.

The three children had been gathered at night to listen to Old Nan's tales, while their mother gave birth to another child. Little baby Sansa was in the crib asleep, as peaceful and quiet as a princess.

"Shh, shh, children. I haven't finished yet."

The old woman had a gleam in her eye, and sometimes Ellena wondered if the old coot was crazy or if she had lived too long. Or perhaps she just knew so much, after all she was quite old, Father had said she took care of him as a child and looked ever the same, with that gray, tangled hair, old eyes and withered fingers.

"Now, where was I?"

"The Raven left home again and flew with dragons! But she died anyways," Ellena sighed sadly.

"Ah yes, the Raven flew with Dragons. Beyond the Wall she drowned, and there.. there were the White Walkers."

The children leaned in closer, each inching onto the edge of the bed to hear Old Nan's quiet voice. Her knitting needles clattered together, and she hummed lightly under her breath knowingly.

"The Night King, you know He, who was leader of those terrible creatures, took the Raven for himself and used his magic to turn her into an icy beast." Ellena and Jon exchanged a glance. Both held fear and excitement in there eyes, a wonder for the creatures beyond the Wall.

"But the Raven would not turn, for she sang the song of i—"

And just as the tale was about to end, their father, Lord Eddard Stark burst in with a smile on his face. "And what are you children doing?"

"Old Nan is reading us a stor—"

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Hey!"

Ellena has pushed past Robb to stand in front of her father, grinning up at him. "Well, father? What is it?"

He ruffled her hair and laughed, before picking her up and holding her on his hip. "Let's go see, shall we?"

"C'mon, boys!" Ellena cheered, and Robb pushed past Jon to run ahead. Jon yelled at his half brother, before running after him in an attempt to catch up.

"So, what's her name?"

Ned Stark stared down peculiarly at his eldest daughter. "And how do you know it's a girl?"

Ellena shrugged. "We have the same blood in our veins father, I know I have a little sister. I can feel it."

He chuckled, his hazel eyes gleaming under the faint torch light. Out in the night, the stars shined brightly, the moon large and full, casting a glare on the stone walls.

"You are so much like your mother, smart and wild.." He whispered quietly with a sad sort of smile. "I never really thought I was much like mother." She shrugged.

Ned carried her into the room, Robb was standing closely to the Maester as he looked at the babe in his mother's arms, and Jon stood quietly to the side, but looked at the new Stark child fondly.

"That would be your sister, Arya, see?" He pointed to the small whining thing in her mother's arms. The babe was fussy, but as Ned sat her down next to Catelyn, the little thing quieted. Ellena cooed, petting her soft dark curls.

"I want to see her, too!"

Robb pouted, as the Maester places their new sister in the arms of his twin. "Now we have someone else who will listen to Old Nan's stories with us!" Jon exclaimed excitedly.

But Ellena just stared into the grey eyes of her sister, and a dark raven stared at House Stark before flying into the night.