Game of Thrones: Of Fire and Gold

Chapter 1 - Archery

Rosei, Robb and Jon watched intensely as Bran loosed another arrow, only to see it completely miss the target and hit a nearby barrel.

Robb smiled as Bran stomped in frustration. Jon took him by the shoulders.

"Go on. Father's watching."

They looked up to see both Eddard and Catelyn watching from the platform above.

"And your mother," Jon continued.

Bran nodded nervously at his parents before getting ready to try again.

This time it flew right over the target and into the bushes behind.

Robb and Jon burst into laughter. Little Rickon, sitting nearby, was laughing too.

Suddenly a booming voice shouted down at them.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten?" Lord Stark questioned.

The brothers ceased their sniggering. Then Ned turned his attention to the young archer.

"Keep practising, Bran. Go on," he ordered.

That was just Lord Stark's way, thought Rosei, always offering an encouraging word.

Jon leant towards his half-brother.

"Don't think too much, Bran."

Bran readied himself for a lucky third try. He pulled back the arrow on the string, carefully eyeing his target.

"Relax your bow arm," Robb advised.

They waited with baited breath for him to take his shot. Suddenly the arrow flew into the centre of the target.

Rosei almost cheered, until she looked down to discover that Bran's arrow was still at his bow. She spun around to see the youngest Stark daughter, Arya, holding an empty bow and looking very smug. She bowed mockingly at Bran who proceeded to chase after her. Robb, Rosei and Jon couldn't help but laugh.

Then Rosei felt as though she was being watched. She turned back to look up to Eddard and Catelyn, catching Theon Greyjoy's eye. He was with Ser Rodrik, no doubt to deliver some news to the Lord and Lady of Winterfell. When their eyes met he quickly looked away. She would catch him doing that every now and again - staring at her. Even so, they got along well, both being strangers in the North as children together.

"How was your lesson?" asked Robb, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Boring," she said with a smile.

Robb smirked. "I don't doubt it."

She helped gather up the arrows from the targets while Theon approached them.

"Alright you lot, get on your horses."

Robb and Jon obliged, walking towards the horses.

Rosei, Bran and Arya followed.

"Another deserter?" asked Robb.

"Yes."

"You too," called Ser Rodrik as he came towards them, nodding to Bran.

That shocked her. Bran? But he was only ten!

"How come Bran gets to go?" whined Arya.

"He deserves it after you ruined his archery practice," Robb joked before glancing at Rosei. "You can come with us if you want you know."

Theon scoffed.

"A beheading is no such sight for a woman."

Rosei's eyes gave him a fiery glare.

"I would not think it a sight for a boy of ten years either," she remarked, looking curiously at Bran.

"Lord Stark's orders, my Lady," said Rodrik.

The boys mounted their horses and Rosei watched with Arya.

"We'll be back soon," Robb assured the sulking Arya. With one last smile at Rosei they were off with Eddard's men.

"Come on, Arya. Let's go shoot some arrows."

...

The men brought back six surprises. Six little direwolf puppies. Robb explained the entire story or the stag and the dead mother wolf.

Soon the Stark children were all sat around discussing names for their new pets. Of course Rosei was disappointed that there was no direwolf for her. The story Robb told her gave her an uneasy feeling in her stomach. A dead wolf and a dead stag. Her mind was filled with all kinds of different dreadful interpretations.