A WINTER ROSE ⊳ g. of thrones [1]

CHAPTER TEN | The Wolf & the Lion

THE WEEKS FOLLOWING found Ellena Stark growing very fond of her knight. Though he was always stationed at her door, both day and night, he often would keep her company, watching her read or having polite conversations. Her father almost thought it improper, but Ellena reminded him that boys and girls could simply be friends too; much like she and Robb were brother and sister, but treated each other like the best of friends.

Nevertheless, it was during one of their chess matches, that her little sister burst through the door. "Ellena, you won't believe what I heard in— oh, who's this?"

Doran chuckled at the small, lithe Stark sister. "I am Doran Rivers, m'lady, your sisters guard." Arya wrinkled her nose. "Why would Ellena need her own personal guard?"

"Hm, that is a very good question... Doran?" Ellena mused, with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. The knight raised a brow at her, but shrugged and nonetheless answered.

"Your sister is an important lady, much like yourself, and after the, uh.. incident at the tourney, your Lord father felt it best she have a little more protection." Arya narrowed her eyes, contemplating his answer when Ellena spoke up.

"And do you not think I am fit to defend myself?"

"I never said that, but you are a lad—"

"A lady who knows how to defend herself just as well as you do, if not better. I was raised in the north, my knight, we are bred from iron and snow, you best not forget it."

Doran smirked. "Is that a challenge?"

Ellena smiled, her spirits giddy; she hadn't fought properly in quite some time, not since they left Winterfell. She rose from her seat on the balcony, moving over to the chest by her bed to retrieve her sword; a simple northern blade, with no name nor glory attached.

"I believe we can show my dear sister how it's properly done; though when I say we... I mean me," she stated proudly, turning her sword in her hands.

Doran came at her with a slash of his sword, but Ellena was a like a wolf; lithe and quick, turning around to block another attack. Their sword clambered, and as the knight pushed at the lady, she turned her blade around his own, causing it to fall from his grip. Arya stared in awe.

"And that is how we Northern girls water dance."

———

There was no question nor doubt that Arya and Ellena Stark were close. After all, they were sisters, but, Sansa Stark was their sister as well. Very different than them, ladylike and sweet as honey, though not withholding the sharon northern tongue.

Sansa sat in the gardens by herself, sewing a lion on a piece of cloth, a small smile on her face, though her heart held something else. She loved Kong's Landing, but she felt more ostracized by her family than ever before.

Her father had tried so hard to win her affections, to make her happy. Everything he did seemed to fail, the girl turning him away as if he were nothing. And truly, she didn't really care. She wanted what Arya and Ellena had; Sansa got nearly everything her heart desired, and that was the one thing she could never gain.

She pricked her finger in her haze of envy. She began muttering something under her breath that sounded highly like her repeating the word 'stupid'.

"Sansa, are you alright?"

She perked up in shock at the sound of Ellena's voice. "Uh..y..yes. What are you doing here?" She half snarled.

"Oh, well, I came looking for you.. Walk with me?"

Sansa nodded, cautiously stepping up, hoping this wasn't a joke being played upon her by Ellena and Arya.

"I feel as if I should apologize," she started, causing Sansa to turn to her shocked. "I'm not the best sister to you, and I should be. I should be there for you when you need me, because, well, I am older than you and it's my responsibility to care for you." She stopped along the path turning to the fiery haired sister of hers, smiling softly. "And I very badly want to be friends with you, Sansa. Just as Arya and I are. You deserve that." Sanaa's eyes started to well slightly with tears as a joyous grin broke across her features. "I would like that very much."

"Good, because I was thinking of sewing a new dress in the style of the Southern ladies, and I thought you could help me?"

If Sansa's grin could have grown any further, it did, and she grabbed her elder sister by the arm, dragging her towards the castle.

~

The girls chattered about, cutting out the fabric they would need to create the dress for Ellena, as Arya chased a cat through the room. As the girls laughed, and for once had fun together, when Ser Doran Rivers came rushing in.

"M'ladies, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but Lady Ellena... It's your father." She stood at once, hurrying over to him. "What? What has happened?"

"Lord Tyrion has been taken on the orders of your father, and Ser Jaime and his men have attacked your own, as well as wounding your father... I was told to fetch you at once and bring you the news."

Ellena nodded, processing the information before going to grab a thin scarf that would cover her face, and her sword. "Bring my father to his chambers where he will be comfortable. Have the Maester attend to him as best as he can. And Doran, take care of my sisters."

She then took her leave, found her mare, and raced off to find Jaime Lannister to remind him; Lannister's are not the only ones who pay their debts.