[Chapter Size: 3400 Words.]

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Third Person POV

Winterfell, 298 AC.

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“Why does Ned refuse his king’s offer?!” Robert’s voice roared in the crypts.

“I will ask that you show respect in this place, Robert. If you wish to talk, we can do it in my solar.” Ned said with a serious look.

“You must be joking!” Robert didn’t care about disturbing the dead in Winterfell’s crypt while speaking seriously with Ned.

“If you wish to talk, we can do it in my solar, Your Majesty.” Ned seemed quite irritated when he addressed Robert by his royal title.

“Dammit, Ned. I’m going upstairs to drink a bit. We’ll talk about this later, but I won’t accept your refusal.” Robert was in the same foul mood, wanting only to drink and forget his friend’s rejection.

In the end, Ned led him outside, while the place was still entirely filled with servants, guards, and knights of the king’s retinue preparing things.

“I’m leaving. I hope to have a better conversation with you at the feast.” Robert simply said to Ned with a still irritated tone and walked away, passing Barristan Selmy, who didn’t follow the king directly.

He was staring at Lord Stark.

“May I help you, Ser?” Ned asked, finding the man’s gaze toward him strange.

“No, Lord Stark. I was just confirming something… If we get the chance, I’d like to exchange a few words.” He simply said and turned to follow the king somewhere into the castle with a sour mood.

Lord Stark raised an eyebrow at that without fully understanding, but his gaze fell on the woman coming toward him with a slightly worried look.

“Lord Stark.” Cassandra approached him.

“Yes, my lady.” Lord Stark gave her leave to continue.

“There are at least 12 more noble houses than expected in the king’s retinue. 2 from the Stormlands, 4 from Riverrun, 1 from the Reach, 1 from Dorne, 2 from the Crownlands, and 2 from the Vale of Arryn.”

She spoke while Lord Stark looked out to the courtyard, with more and more people arriving.

“We can’t leave them outside. Place them in the castle, maybe on the floor below the king and my family’s quarters. But we won’t leave them outside.”

Ned said as Cassandra nodded.

“But, my lord… Two of those noble houses are from guardian houses of two realms.”

She spoke, while Ned looked at her surprised now, but also remembering something.

He quickly sighed, one of his eyes moving toward the red-haired woman staring at him beside Sansa and his sons still in the middle of the courtyard, with Bran talking to Hoster Tully’s younger brother, the Blackfish.

“You said two… Which is the other house?”

He asked, wanting to know which one besides the Tullys.

“House Tyrell will also be coming to Winterfell, but they’ll arrive later, that’s what the messenger said.”

She spoke, while Ned furrowed his brow.

“What do they want here now?”

Ned couldn’t help but mutter.

“They’re coming by ship. In fact, they’ll arrive in a few days, since the Tully heir can’t walk. According to the message from House Tyrell, it’s him and his younger brother: Ser Garlan Tyrell.”

Cassandra informed.

“I see… Very well, we’ll have to find more space.”

He said, as his eyes returned to Catelyn. Everyone looked at him from there, and Ned decided to go to them, asking Cassandra to follow closely behind.

Lord Stark approached Catelyn and her uncle Brynden.

“I didn’t receive any letter from House Tully coming to Winterfell.”

He commented calmly, while Cassandra stood behind Ned.

“I apologize for that, Lord Stark.” Brynden was about to speak, but was immediately interrupted by his niece.

“I heard that my son was nearly killed by a faceless assassin! Do you think I need an invitation to come here? I knew you’d refuse me, so I came unannounced. My Robb could be dead right now!”

Catelyn glared at him angrily.

Lord Stark took a few seconds to respond, staring at Catelyn, not liking having her there, even if it was for her maternal reasons.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Catelyn.” He replied coldly.

“Father, please!” Sansa stepped forward.

“You’re not going to send our mother away, are you?”

She seemed indignant at even having to ask, while Ned Stark saw the cautious looks from Robb and even Bran.

Lord Stark looked uncertain until he sighed.

“You’ll stay here until the king leaves. You will not remain in Winterfell, no matter what has happened.”

He spoke in a firm tone, as little Rickon passed by Ned and ran to Cassandra, hugging her legs, surprising Catelyn, who stared stunned, ignoring Ned after seeing that.

“Up!” he asked, as Cassandra smiled and picked him up as she always did, though she looked surprised to see Catelyn’s indignation at it.

Lord Stark noticed the look and sighed.

“This is Cassandra, the castellan of Winterfell. She handles all duties in Vayon Poole’s place, as you would prefer.”

He introduced her.

“It’s… A pleasure, milady.”

Cassandra tried to be polite, bowing with Rickon in her arms.

But Catelyn didn’t answer. She simply stepped forward.

“Give me the boy.”

She said, leaving everyone stunned as Rickon found himself being pulled by his mother, almost by force.

“Come, Rickon, come to your mother.”

She said, while Cassandra could do nothing.

“What are you doing, Catelyn? You could hurt the boy!”

Ned said, about to pull Catelyn away as she yanked the boy toward her, while even Cassandra was ready to hand him over, but Rickon clung to her.

“I won’t hurt him! He’s my son! I’m the one who should be holding him!”

She growled, finally taking the boy and giving a terrible look to Cassandra, who seemed lost with so much disdain and hostility, even though she was just doing her job.

“Catelyn, if you want to stay in Winterfell, you’ll need to be respectful. If not, I don’t care if our children ask for you to stay. I won’t tolerate any disrespect toward anyone.”

Lord Stark spoke seriously about the disrespect she had shown.

“You can’t be serious.”

Catelyn seemed hurt by it, with her ex-husband defending a servant.

“I am serious. You can stay with Rickon, but you must show more respect, since Cassandra has been taking care of him this past year.”

The boy seemed lost as he spoke.

Catelyn didn’t seem willing to apologize, still looking somewhat angrily at Cassandra. Even Sansa, Bran, and Robb seemed surprised by their mother’s behavior.

“I think my niece is tired, Lord Stark.”

Brynden then tried to ease the situation, but Lord Stark shook his head.

“I’ll say this one more time, Catelyn. We’re not married, and I’m serious when I say I won’t accept any more disrespect from you toward Cassandra or any other Northman. If you do it again, you’ll be out of Winterfell. Are we clear?”

He said, staring at Catelyn, deeply disapproving of her behavior and this jealous outburst over their youngest son.

“Yes… of course, Lord Stark.”

She finally said, clearly upset.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other noble guests who came with the king. Cassandra, please ask someone to bring them bread and salt, so they can settle into Winterfell. I’ll be speaking with the other nobles. Robb, I’d like you to accompany me as the heir of Winterfell.”

He requested, with Cassandra and Robb nodding in agreement.

Catelyn stood watching, holding Rickon in her arms, looking at her daughter and little Bran, the only ones who remained with her.

“Catelyn, you shouldn’t act like this.”

Brynden didn’t argue, but commented that his niece was acting on emotion.

“No matter how things turned out, you should still behave yourself.”

“I… I can’t.”

Cat murmured, watching Cassandra leave Lord Stark and head into the castle to organize more things with the newcomers, with the possibility that this northern woman might be taking her place.

Winterfell continued receiving everyone who arrived.

“Is everything all right, Father?”

Robb couldn’t help but ask, while Lord Stark sighed.

“I hope this ends soon, my son.”

Ned Stark murmured, seeing the amount of trouble already forming within Winterfell. More and more nobles were arriving, some easy to identify as friendly when they came to House Stark with goodwill, but Lord Stark also saw the unfriendly looks of others, realizing he might be bringing enemies into his own home.

It hadn’t even been an hour since the king arrived, and he was already full of worries. The king wanted him to be his Hand in King’s Landing. But, based on his daughter’s advice, and knowing well the political landscape between the Arctic and the Seven Kingdoms, he knew he would have to support one and go to war with the other—especially since the North was caught between the two. A neutral position would not be an option.

He didn’t want to get involved, not even for Robert’s sake. He knew King’s Landing was a danger to the Starks, and not at all safe for him—obviously, especially after his daughter told him he’d be easily brought down for playing with honor among snakes.

But it also made Ned think about Jon Arryn’s death, which he deeply mourned. After all, he had been his foster father, the one he spent most of his life with. He had gone to the Vale at just eight years old along with Robert, and barely saw his real father, Rickard Stark, after that—only at a few events when he returned to Winterfell over the years.

“Try to relax a little, Father.”

Arya appeared at that moment, after organizing a few things with her Unsullied.

Arya immediately brought some relief with her presence.

“Did you talk to your mother?” Ned asked.

“Lady Catelyn… well, you can imagine. I talked to her as much as I could.”

Arya replied.

They remained there at the castle entrance, lined up, receiving the last of the nobles, while the servants constantly brought food and drink to everyone.

“Lord Stark, everyone is already settling into the castle.”

Cassandra arrived at that moment and said.

“Great. And the king?”

Lord Stark asked.

“He went to a room beside the one planned. The queen demanded they sleep separately, and he didn’t oppose once he arrived.”

She said, as Lord Stark raised an eyebrow.

“The queen locked herself in the room with the children, while the king also returned to his own. He seemed in quite a bad mood and brought two women who came with the retinue and locked himself in with them, with his Kingsguards at the door.”

She informed.

Lord Stark found the situation outrageous for a king.

“I see… well. Let’s not disturb him.”

It was all he could say, as another group of knights approached, now from one of the houses of Dorne.

“House Jordayne of the Tor,” Arya murmured upon seeing the banners.

“Yes, it seems they were in King’s Landing when they learned the king was planning a journey to the Kingdom of the North, and they decided to join him urgently.”

Robb said, already informed, with Cassandra giving them details.

“I see.”

Arya murmured, thinking of her time in Dorne, which had not been very pleasant.

She hadn’t liked those people much, at least not House Martell. They were quite arrogant, and Jon had to control all the desert snakes and threaten them under his own roof to get some respect when they caused problems.

More horses with the house banners began to appear, as Dornish men adjusted to the cold of the North, wearing cloaks while still keeping the distinct style of Dornish clothing.

They advanced toward them, with a cart coming behind, from which a young man emerged, around his 20 namedays, skin slightly dark, hair messy, dressed in golden and colorful garments, approaching the three Starks.

“You must be Hore Jordayne. It’s a surprise to see a house from Dorne here in Winterfell.”

Lord Stark commented as the man approached with confidence.

“When I heard of the king’s journey, I couldn’t waste time. I’ve always wanted to see the North. It’s a pleasure to be here, even though the weather is very different from Dorne. The North has its beauties.”

He said, glancing directly at Arya.

Robb frowned, but said nothing. Even Lady Stark noticed, but also remained silent. Arya kept calm.

“Well, welcome to Winterfell, then.”

Lord Stark simply said.

“Thank you for the reception, Lord Stark. I hope it will be a pleasant visit while I get to know the Stark family better.”

He said.

Lord Stark didn’t like that. The boy was quite bold.

“At my side is my son and heir, Robb Stark.”

Ned introduced.

Robb looked at the Dornishman a bit coldly at his comments, while the young man didn’t seem to mind at all.

“So this is the heir of Winterfell? All the Starks seem to be quite sturdy.”

He commented.

“I also heard, as we passed through Wintertown, that you now have direwolves. Incredible creatures. If yours is as big as the one I heard your sister rides on the road, it’ll be quite famous in Westeros.”

He said before turning his eyes back to Arya.

“And you, milady? If all the Starks are rugged men, I must admit your women are both beautiful and powerful.”

He said with a seductive look.

“Thank you, my lord.”

Arya replied calmly, not seeming impressed.

But he didn’t seem to care. He kept smiling as if facing a challenge, while the guards behind her looked at him suspiciously, not liking how he spoke to the princess.

“Well, thank you for the welcome. I hope that, if we have time, we could talk a bit. I’d love to hear your stories from Dorne, and who knows, maybe hear how you defeated one of Prince Oberyn’s daughters when you visited Sunspear.

And you were even younger than you are now, Milady, so it’s really impressive to beat one of the Sand Snakes.”

He said, looking at Arya’s waist.

“It’s amazing that you now carry a sword like that, which the King of Arctic used against Prince Oberyn. I’ve heard you wield it quite well. It’s incredible to meet a lady like you. I doubt there’s another like you in all of Westeros.”

He went on praising Arya, while she simply nodded, but didn’t lose the bored look on her face, maintaining appearances only to avoid offending anyone.

“Thank you, my lord. Well, welcome to Winterfell.”

Ned said.

“If we get the chance, maybe we can spar a little, test my spear against your sword.”

He said.

“Maybe, Lord Hore.”

Arya simply replied.

The man just nodded and began to walk away, while the servants indicated that he would be staying in the castle.

“Are Dornishmen always like that?”

Robb asked, surprised at how bold and even disrespectful that young man was, clearly not liking how he had acted toward his sister.

“Yes. If I had given him the slightest opening, he’d go on rambling about songs and stories about me, about my Unsullied, about my royal guards, about my beauty—until he tried to take me to bed.”

Arya said calmly.

“Arya!”

Robb Stark called out, shocked by her words.

“Father, I’m not lying. The Dornish are extremely libertine.”

She shrugged.

“If that Dornishman comes near you again, I swear I’ll throw him out of Winterfell. And I’ll punch him before I do.”

Robb muttered.

“Don’t worry, brother. I’ve got two guards and a giant wolf to protect me.

Besides, my sword is fast—and I’m sure you already know that.”

Arya replied.

“Even so, I’m not going to let anyone disrespect you here…”

Robb said.

“That won’t be the last one to try to charm the youngest daughter of Ned Stark.

After all, she’s the younger sister of the future Queen of Westeros—so they think—and daughter of a great house with direct connections to Arctic, the power all the Seven Kingdoms fear.”

Arya said as Robb raised an eyebrow at his sister speaking of herself in the third person.

“Obviously more houses will begin to appear, and some lords’ sons have already tried to court me—though in a less brazen way.”

Arya added.

As the last noble finally began to settle in Winterfell, the line of three began to break apart, and Maester Luwin quickly approached Lord Stark, handing him a letter from the Wall.

Lord Stark took the letter and began to read it, then handed it to Arya, since the matter also concerned her. She read it and then passed it to Robb.

“Looks like Uncle Benjen will be staying in Arctic with the other members of the Night’s Watch. That’s good.”

Arya commented.

“At least the king won’t be making demands.”

Robb added.

“He hasn’t brought up Arctic yet, but it’s clear he’s going to—probably in the next few days, or even tonight. At least he won’t demand Benjen come here to bring news.”

Lord Stark said, visibly concerned.

“And I’m sure the queen won’t like that one bit, the way she’s been sending spies to the North over the past year…”

Arya mocked.

“Yeah… she doesn’t seem to like us much.”

Robb stated the obvious.

“Just keep showing respect. Even if she doesn’t like us, we still have to respect her as Queen of Westeros.”

Ned said firmly to his children.

Obviously, the king would bring up Arctic and demand information, because that was expected in the coming days.

Arya had already spoken at length with her father about it—that they couldn’t extract anything from her or force her to say anything, not while she had all the Stark guards, her royal guards, her three hundred Unsullied, and her wolf to protect her—while it already seemed that Arctic had favored Arya.

His father knew nothing about Arctic, so he couldn’t say much, even if he wanted to. The only person the king could turn to was House Reed, and perhaps he would ask why Lord Reed wasn’t in Winterfell to give information about Jon, since it was public knowledge that Jon had gone to the swamp in the southern North to seek him out. But there were also excuses concerning his legs, as he couldn’t move around.

There was still a chance that House Reed might appear in the coming days, but they wouldn’t be able to say much either. After all, the only ones who could say anything were the members of the Watch who had stayed behind in the kingdom.

And since they couldn’t return, the king wouldn’t have any real information about the Kingdom of Arctic, and the details about its dragons and military power—which would surely frighten them—would remain hidden.

“Thank you for that, Maester Luwin.”

Lord Stark handed the letter back to him to store, then returned to his tasks.

“There will be a few more nobles arriving in the coming days.”

Lord Stark continued.

“Willas Tyrell, along with his brother, Garlan Tyrell, will be coming to Winterfell in less than a week.”

He informed.

“They’re coming here?”

Arya raised an eyebrow.

“If I remember correctly, that Willas already tried to marry you. Let’s see if he’s as persistent this time.”

Robb muttered.

“I don’t know if it’s for a potential marriage, but they clearly want to get back on good terms with Arctic after what they did to Jon.”

Arya said.

“After all, the Reach owes Jon a lot of gold coins for throwing away their agreement.”

Finally, they began to disperse after that brief conversation, while Tyrion still stood watching everything unfold from a good vantage point near the entrance.

“That was entertaining.”

He said, finding the Stark family interactions interesting as he observed everything. Despite that, Robb and Lord Stark paid him no attention. Arya, from time to time, gave him discreet glances, while Tyrion remained calm, drinking as if he were watching a grand performance.

“What are we going to do now, Lord Tyrion?”

A Lannister man asked at his side.

“I have nothing else to do here. Let’s go back to town and visit the prostitutes.

We’ll return tonight, for the feast.”

Was what he said, as he began to leave Winterfell through the crowd at the gate.

With that, the castle began to prepare for the feast that would be held that night.

————-Nexts Chapters —————-

Chapter 284 – Thinks Herself Smarter Than She Truly Is.

Chapter 289 – Cannibal.

Chapter 299 – A conversation with Lord Stark about Westeros.

Chapter 308 – Visions.

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