wolf boy || robb stark

four.

'A NEW HAND'

Ellie sat in the dining hall with her family surrounding her, eating their breakfast. It was astonishing to her that they always held themselves so miserably. She examined each of their smug faces to note that they just were as unhappy as everyone presumed them to be. "The tourney should be eventful this morrow." Tyrion said, shoveling more food into his mouth.

"Ah, yes. The hand's tourney." Tywin, her father acknowledged. Ellie had no desire to attend, but it was required of her. As she finished her food, she looked to her father.

"May I be excused?" She asked, politely. He nodded slowly and eyed her as she walked off and into the hall. A young girl bumped past her and stopped, turning to apologize. "You're alright." Ellie smiled. Arya's sad eyes looked to the floor and she began to walk off more. "Are you alright, though?" She asked innocently.

"I'm fine." But Arya didn't sound fine. Ellie could sense the hesitation in her voice and she approached her.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Ellie continued to pry. Arya then seemed to feel a sense of comfort in the woman beside her and they proceeded to walk through the halls toward Arya's chamber.

"They killed Mycah. He was my friend." She said, angrily as they entered her room. Ellie noticed a slim sword laying on her bed and she smirked to herself, already sensing a feeling of familiarity within the young Stark girl.

"Joffrey is a prat, Arya. He always has been." Ellie said to her. "I've had a fair share of my friends taken because my sister happens to be just like him." Ellie sat on the bed, now admiring the sword, and touching it gently. "Do you know how to use this?" She asked her, kindly.

"Everyone keeps asking me that." Arya scoffed, seating herself where Ellie just stood from. Ellie grasped the sword in her hand and pointed it to the wall, clearly knowing herself how to wield one. "You know how to use one?" Arya seemed surprised.

"Learned when I was around your age." Ellie nodded, still staring at it. "Good weight, nice balance. Perfect for your size." She continued. "You want to use this on my nephew, don't you?" She smirked to her. Arya sat silent. "It's okay, I'm not your enemy, Arya."

"I hate him." Arya said with rage.

"Most of us do. I know he's my blood. But in my opinion, blood doesn't make family. You choose your own family. Blood means nothing if loyalty and trust isn't attached." Ellie informed her, indicating that she had no desire to turn against her. She tossed the sword over to Arya, who then caught it. "You're not alone, always remember that." Ellie said before taking leave. As she walked through the hall, to the garden, where she found Caspian, staring at nothing of importance.

"You waiting for me?" Ellie asked, smirking in his direction. He turned to her and smiled, embracing her under his arm. "You need to stop with that." She said, removing his grasp and walking beside him, keeping her distance.

"I just thought I'd escort you to the tourney." He smiled at her. "I know you just are thrilled to go." He said, sarcastically. She rolled her eyes at him as they entered. He went to the front, to take his seat as he needed to, being a guard, as she followed up where her father sat.

"You're late." He muttered.

"Apologies, father." He nodded at her response. Everyone whooped and cheered as the two men, the Mountain and a knight, began charging at one another, beginning their joust. Before Ellie's eyes could comprehend what was witnessed, the knight fell to his back with a wooden spear lodged into his jugular. Blood spewed from his mouth and Sansa let out a scream as everyone then grew quiet. How quick death could be. She looked around to see Ned was nowhere to be found. She found it odd that the Hand of The King wasn't attending his own tourney. But she did know the man despised violence and chaos. Sadly, it was a world of chaos. And there was no escaping it.

The next tourney consisted of the Mountain once more and Ser Loras Tyrell. Ellie watched as Sansa became more disgruntled over the potential of seeing yet another innocent knight die at the hands of the Mountain. But she was surely wrong, as Loras defeated him. But Ellie knew it was a cheat. The Mountain grew angry and Ellie watched, intrigued as he lifted his large blade, he lunged toward Loras and began swinging, knocking him to the ground. Suddenly, The Mountains brother, The Hound, appeared, and shoved him back with his own, to halt his madness. The two battled for a few moments, and Ellie looked toward her father, who was unamused.

"Stop this madness, in the name of your king!" Robert Baratheon stood to his feet, shouting at the two brothers. They stopped and the Mountain sulked away. Everyone began to applaud for Loras and the Hound. Ellie couldn't help but to roll her eyes at the whole ordeal. Childish, she thought to herself. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Caspian standing with Ale and Danny. Her father, who was talking deeply with a member of the court, hadn't noticed as she quickly slipped away with her friends.