Warrior

3

Maeriana walked out of her sleeping quarter to find her younger brother Joffrey arriving, "Sister..." he sneered, trying to sound brooding and arrogant, which to anyone but Maeriana worked, "Evening Joffrey, has mother sent you to escort me?" Maeriana asked in a low and kind tone which usually allowed the young prince to soften up, which he only did next to her and his mother, although not completely, "Indeed she has, she said as both of us are to be betrothed to Starks we should arrive together." Joffrey said in a non arrogantish way, extending his arm to his older half-sister.

"Or perhaps she has sent you to make sure that I do not run off into the night for the guards to later find me sparring with a drunkard." Maeriana teased, "That too, Heavens knows why you insist on training like a swordsman and a fighter, when you have an entire army and guards protecting you." Joffrey replied, shaking his head. "It matters not that I have an army and guards to protect me, I wish to know how to protect myself, in the ultimate event of a misfortune that we are to be kidnapped for ransom." Maeriana told her younger half brother who simply rolled his eyes at her.

The two half sibling walked towards the dinning hall, Joffrey leading Maeriana while holding her arms, their status making everyone bow at them and while Joffrey ignored them, Maeriana bowed her head in return. Departing only when they reached the hall, the blonde prince wandering off while Maeriana walked towards the table in which the ruler sat, bowing at the Lady of Winterfell and at her step-mother.

"You look lovely dear." Catelyn Stark told the black haired young woman who smiled in return at the complement before Robb Stark appeared, placing a hand on Maeriana's lower back and saying politely "May I take Mae for a walk?" Both Cersei and Catelyn nod, Cersei watching as her step-daughter departed with the eldest true born son of Catelyn and Eddard Stark, her mind reeling back to their earlier conversation.

Sure Maeriana seemed comfortable around Robb, but it was not as comfortable as she was around Sansa, Catelyn and Eddard's eldest daughter, so she watched them, preferring them to the sight of her husband kissing another woman. "Father told me that we are to be married." Robb stated as the two sat at the edge of the table alone, talking low so no one heard them, "My father told me the same, and that Sansa and Joffrey are to also be married." Maeriana whispered back, bringing a goblet of wine to her lips and taking a sip, instantly grimacing at the taste.

Robb chuckled and took the goblet from her hand and poured it into his empty one, earning a thankful smile from the black haired beauty, "Has Jon heard the news yet?" Maeriana inquired even lower, her eyes casting at the table in fear of the answer, "He has, broke his heart that he couldn't say anything, he even shaved for your arrival." Robb replied, covering his mouth with his goblet while he spoke before he took a swing, "It breaks my heart that nothing I say will change my father's mind." Mae countered.

"Maybe you should go talk to the lad, he's in the courtyard taking his anger in a training dummy." Robb told the woman dressed in a grey attire, "Are you sure you don't mind?" Mae inquired, lifting her eyes to the man beside her, "Your heart does not belong to me, neither does mine to you. Go get your man before he pulls a muscle." Robb teased once more. The princess smiled and stood up, kissing Robb on the cheek as she did so while whispering "The right girl for you will come soon Robb, don't lose hope."

Robb smirked into his goblet while Cersei frowned at her fleeting step-daughter, watching the sad smile on her face grow as she rushed to the door that lead to the freezing outside, and just as Maeriana reached the cold outside she heard Jon Snow, Lord Eddard Stark's bastard son greet excited "Uncle Benjen!" running towards an older man embracing him, making her stay by the door awaiting. "You got bigger. I rode all day. Didn't want to leave you alone with the Lannisters." the older man, Uncle Benjen, said looking at his nephew before inquiring "Why aren't you at the feast?"

"Lady Stark thought it might insult the royal family to seat a bastard in their midst." Jon replied making Maeriana's face fall at the fact that she had forgotten about Lady Catelyn's hatred for Jon, "Well, you're always welcome on the wall. No bastard was ever refused a seat there." Benjen said prompting Jon to look up at him hopeful while Maeriana's eyes widen with possible fear. "So take me with you when you go back." Jon told his uncle, pain cloaking his words for two reasons, him being a bastard and Lady Catelyn hating him and his half brother going to be married to the woman he loved.

"Jon..." Benjen started, "Father will let me if you ask him, I know he will." Jon insisted but his uncle countered "The Wall isn't going anywhere.", only for the bastard son of the North to say "I'm ready to swear your oath." he looked almost desperate to be away from his half-brother and his lover. "You don't understand what you'd be giving up. We have no families. None of us will ever father sons." Benjen began to explain, "I don't care about that!" Jon told his uncle, his eyes casting down to their feet "You used to, you used to talk about this young lady with long wavy black hair and piercing blue eyes, fair skin that felt like silk. What happened to her?" Benjen inquired.

"She is the King's eldest daugther, Mae... and she's to be married to Robb." Jon told his uncle, "Do you love her?" Benjen inquired, smiling softly at the fact that his nephew sure knew how to choose his women, "I do, more than anything." Jon replied, "And does she love you?" Benjen inquired once more. Then before Jon Snow could reply Maeriana made her presence known by replying "I do, more than anything in the seven Kingdoms."