A Gift to Change the Games

Chapter One

"Catherine!!!!  It's time for your lessons!!!"  The high shrill yell echoed across the yard as the thick woman known as Septa Mordane scurried around Winterfell, but of course I was no were to be found, as well as my twin brother Robb and our half brother Jon.  But looking around the yard hopefully she spotted the stable hand and called him over, "boy where is the Lady Catherine?"

"The Lady Stark, Sir Stark, Snow and Theon went out this morning and haven't returned."  With that the Septa nodded, her usually controlled emotions now over-boiling, her face red with anger.  She twirled on her heel and stormed back into the castle, cursing me under her breath.

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The cold wind whipped my silver hair around me, the sun's light causing it to shine and come alive like liquid silver.  The cold wind beat against my exposed skin but I couldn't feel its bitterness anymore, well honestly I never had.  I was a born Stark, born in the long summer but bred and made for the long winter; I was made to endure cold even if I didn't look like it.

"Cat do you need to go back, you have to be cold without your cloak on."  The question came from my ten second older twin brother, the oldest child of Lord Eddard Stark and Lady Catelyn Stark and the heir of Winterfell, Robb Stark.  He looked like our mother with his sky blue eyes and high cheek bones but he had dark hair like my father with only a slight red tint, he stood at 6'5" with a 230 lb build that could swing a double hand sword as tall as he was with ease and style.  I turned to him my mixed sapphire and violet eyes dark and blazing with defiance but immediately calmed when I saw the humor in his own.  Theon chuckled at my scowl while Jon laughed deeply at my reaction, the sound rumbling in chest just like our fathers did.  Jon had black hair that fell past his ears and was thick and curly; he stood at the same height as Robb with the same build but only 215lbs.  But what he lacked in weight he made up for in tactics, skill, speed, and courage.  Jon was my father's only bastard child as most people called him, I called him brother as all the Stark children did, only my mother seemed to find his presence dishonorable.  Even though I knew in my heart that Jon was not a bastard but a king, but I also knew he would have to find that out for himself in time.

"It's you three ninny's that will go crying back home for your cloaks," I spat back, my tone light as I held back a laugh as their smug expressions turned sour.  I saw them glance at each other and I knew I had to get away from them before they could scheme, so turning to Robb I released my stallion's reins and with both hands shoved him off his horse while my foot struck at Jon's chest causing him to fall as well.  The two landed with a thump and a gasp of surprise while I righted myself and grabbing the reins of their two stallions I urged them forward into a gallop laughing loudly as the two scrambled after me and Theon, taken by surprise as his horse bolted forward crashed down on the two in a huge mound of arms and legs.  I galloped to the top of a hill before stopping and turning back around, they were far enough away I didn't feel threatened as I waved and smiled, laughing softly as the three huffed and puffed from the weight of the huge animal furred cloaks they were wearing.  "I'll be waiting for your return at the dinner table my dear brothers!"  My voice carried across the green rolling hills and the three started chasing after me ordering me to come back, but I just waved a last time before urging the horses into a gallop and back towards Winterfell.

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As I galloped through the gates of Winterfell stable hands rushed forward along with several guards.  "My lady what has happened, were you attacked?  Where are your brothers?"  A knight questioned me grabbing the reins of Robb's bay stallion as I released him.

"Do not worry yourselves, the three boys decided theyneeded a good long walk to clear their lungs and loosen their muscles beforetraining tomorrow."  I explainedreleasing Jon's horse and letting the stable hands take them away, but nostable hand came to fetch my stallion. Instead everyone gave us a wide berth as the white stallion pawed theground threatening anyone that came to close for his liking.