The Forest Child {Sandor Clegane Story}

Lady

The morning after the banquet, the young Stark girls had been sent to attend their usual lessons with the Septa. Natari, on the other hand, was outside in the training yard with the Stark boys and Jon.

"Are you sure you want to do this brother?" Natari smiled as she swung her sword around her small frame.

"I should ask you the same thing sister." Jon teased back before charging towards her.

"Don't mess his hair up now!" Robb, Lord Starks eldest trueborn son, laughed from the side as Natari dodged his attack.

Attack after attack Natari dodged them all without even raising her sword. She could see the anger and tiredness grow within her brother.

"Stop teasing him Natari!" One of the Stark guards laughed.

Natari simply nodded her head and then went on to lay attack after attack on her twin brother. Within seconds he was on his back yielding as Natari stood back and looked over to see her father and King Robert smiling.

"Are all northern men scared of such little girls!" The King roared with laughter. "You, why don't you show me I'm wrong," he went on to call out as he looked over at Jory.

Jory gulped hard as he looked over at his beloved. "Of course, your grace," he replied as he took his weapon and walked slowly into the fight circle.

Natari knew the shame he would face if she beat him like Jon. Jory was captain of the Starks household guard and also well known was their love for each other. She knew what she had to do. Jory was first to attack again and soon there swords were smashing into each other as the noise of metal on metal filled the air. Natari allowed him to back her into the fence as she played tired. Raising his hand to strike, Natari went to block him on the right, knowing full well he would come from the left, and Jory stopped his sword close to her face and smiled.

"I yield!" Natari called out as Jory continued to push her further back into the fence.

"You cheat." He whispered into her ear before quickly standing back and bowing towards the King.

King Robert and Lord Stark then continued their walk through the yard, leaving the taunts and laughter behind.

"Are you really going to allow her to marry a lowborn?" King Robert asked.

"She is not Lyanna, Robert. She may be my daughter, but she is also a bastard. She will never likely marry a highborn, and they love each other. Who am I to stop my daughters' happiness?"

"You're her father Ned. She looks too much like her." King Robert groaned referring to his lost love Lyanna.

"Aye" Lord Stark agreed as they entered the castle.

Back in the yard, Jory was still extremely close to Natari. As the cold northerly wind blew through the yard, Jory folded a piece of her loose hair behind her ear and smiled. Natari blushed and looked down at her feet, he knew the smallest touch would always make her blush this way and he loved that. Their quiet moment together was quickly interrupted when one of the Stark guards came running towards them.

"The little lord, Bran. He fell, captain!" The young guard breathlessly explained.

Natari didn't need to hear anymore and quickly ran inside the castle. Bran had already been brought to his chambers. Maester Luwin was seeing to him and Lady Stark was also sat by her son's bed, her face was red and puffy from crying as she looked down at her lifeless son.

"Is he?" Natari spoke barely above a whisper as she walked into the room with Jory following behind her.

"He is alive. If he makes it through the night I am sure he will survive." Luwin answered.