Cold Hands

1

Young Benjen Stark's eyes watered as his horse sped along the ridge. He'd seen the parade of mounted soldiers, siege weapons, archers and infantry trailing through the valley and wanting a better look, he rode to the best lookout.  The banners...the profile of the dire wolf, his family's sigil and he felt the grin on his face become more evident by the second...His father and brothers were returning home.

He spun his horse and tore through the countryside heading up the dirt path up to and through Winter Town, right up to the gates of Winterfell keep. "They're coming! They're on their way home," he called out to anyone who was listening.

He rode through the gates and in his excitement, dismounted his horse while still in motion, the soles of his boots hitting the ground with a slight puff of dust arising around them. He ran toward the portcullis yelling at the top of his lungs announcing the arrival of his brothers and their father.

_____

Lord Eddard Stark rode wearily through the countryside, ever aware of the presence of the young Lannister girl and her charge, an infant boy. Lady Isabelle Lannister, the youngest sister of Lord Tywin Lannister charged by Robert Baratheon to care for the bastard child of his best friend.

They rode toward the dark keep, looming on the horizon, watching it grow in size with each step.

Finally, the contingent of men reached the walls of the keep and the men's family members lined the walls of the courtyard.

It was only when Benjen saw the look in his brother's eyes and the riderless mounts of his oldest brother and their father, did he realize that something was terribly wrong.

Benjen walked up to his brother's horse, arriving well before the stable boy, and noticed the pretty girl to his brother's right as well as a royal insignia of the House Baratheon on a carriage directly behind them.

"Who's this?"

"This is Izzy."

"Izzy...? Oh no, Ned...you didn't. Please tell me...you didn't..."

"I didn't."

"Then who's the child?"

Ned dismounted and turned to look into his brother's blue eyes. "His name is Aegon Targaryen," he said quietly.

"The seventh of his name," Isabelle said beneath her breath.

"Wot..." Benjen stared into his older brother's eyes. "Where's Bran...and Father?"

"They didn't make it," Ned mumbled sadly beneath his breath, continuing onward toward his young wife, Catelyn. He noticed that she was carrying a bundle of something wrapped in furs and while he was still grieving for the loss of his family members as well as his men, his heart soared at having seen his Cat and their young son.

Benjen spun around and looked at the maker's mark located on the skirt of the saddle...a lion. Then he noted the colors of gold and crimson. "You're a Lannister," he grumbled.

"And this offends you," she asked.

Benjen huffed as he rolled his eyes and shook his head causing her to chuckle.

"Kindly assist me with your nephew, my Lord? I'd like to get off of this animal. She's tired and so am I."

She lowered the bundled infant to his uncle and while he resisted at first, he gazed down at the bundle and lifted the veil of the swaddling..."Black hair..." he whispered.

Isabelle didn't wait for assistance dismounting the large black war horse, but expertly slid off the saddle. "He favors her more so than his father, don't you think?"

"He's not a towhead," he said quietly.

"Of course not. I told you that he favors his mother..."

"Who is..."

"Was."

"Fine. Who was?"

"I am forbidden to speak of it, my Lord," she chuckled. "And you will be too. May I have him please? He's sleeping now, but he'll need to feed soon."

"And you're the one to do it?"

She grinned. "No. That is what the wet nurse is for." She glanced behind her at the young Targaryen woman exiting the carriage behind them. The only reason the girl was still alive was because Izzy insisted...

She remembered King Robert rolling his eyes at her. Only because you're to be my auntie-in-law, he had told her in a flirtatious manner, then promised to kill every single other Targaryen he could get his hands on...When pressed in private for an excuse as to why she risked raising the King's ire, she told her brother, who was freshly named, Hand of the King, that she was half Targaryen and wanted to be able to save at least one other...The girl was a childhood friend and high born to boot...

"You are a Lannister, Isabelle. I took a great risk..."

"Calculated yes. But great? No. But I thank you all the same."

Tywin smiled and stroked her pale yellow hair tenderly. "Well, you may look like them, but you're one of us...you've the heart of a Lion, truly..."

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Is it?'

She nodded.

"Will you stay for Circe's wedding?"

"Of course brother. Wolves couldn't drag me away..."

He stroked her cheek with his finger. "Ah, but they will..."

She breathed in deeply and nodded. "Then adventure awaits..."

"I swear Izzy, you were born the wrong sex," he teased as he embraced her warmly.

She pulled away and grinned. "Now, that is the nicest thing you've ever said to me!"

Izzy and Tywin shared a laugh as she embraced her brother again, eyeing up the Lannister twins Circe and her brother Jaime, who they nicknamed, The King Slayer as they watched on with envy.

Benjen noticed not one or two, but three ornate carts...he quickly turned from the pretty Lannister girl and walked briskly toward the carriages; this homecoming march was primarily a funeral march.

Izzy followed him, carrying the infant with her. "Lord Stark, please..."

He pointed toward the last carriage. "Who's in there?"

"Ben..."

"Lord Stark," he snapped as he turn toward her accusingly.

"Please..."

"You know who's in there, don't you?"

Tears instantly filled her eyes and he was instantly reminded of his sister Lyanna.

"No. I don't believe it. I won't!"

Eddard Stark ran over to him, grabbing him by the shoulders and turned him around quickly. "It's true Ben. She's gone..."

He looked once again at the infant still in Izzy's arms as did Eddard. "No Ned. She can't be..."

"He is all we have of her."

"Then," he turned to Izzy, "with all due respect my lady...why is a Lannister caring for our nephew?"

"Because she is also a Targaryen."

He suddenly remembered his sister's letters...there were not many, but they were detailed...Lyanna had been happy...

"I'm his aunt, Lord Stark, just as you are his uncle."

"Come in Ben, let's get inside where we can talk in private," Ned said circling his arm around his younger brother's shoulders.