Her hopes had been so high for the celebrations, an opportunity to simply enjoy her time as a young woman without a care in the world - whether or not that was true. Instead it had seemed to be an almost endless parade of men given her father’s newfound obsession with marrying that last of his children off. Yet even in the face of all that she had managed to find a moment to snatch with Alys, one that she could truly enjoy without having to censor any part of herself.
( though no doubt she would later have to listen to her father find some way to mention that her dearest friend had managed to find a groom before she had. she was not sure if it was simply because she was something of a loose end now or whether Greatjon Umber was keen to put the embarrassment of her being passed over behind them that had made him so keen to make a match )
Small tut of disapproval clicked from from her, head shaking slightly at the display of a collection of overeager ladies surrounding their King. Usually she was not one to hold such disdain for her fellow women but she was at a loss as to what would possess them to act in such a way. “You would think that they had not heard of the new Queen in The North.” Honey-flecked brown eyes rolled their way skywards, her distaste for the moment made all too clear as she leaned in closer to her friend, mischief causing a smile to dance across her lips. “I cannot say I see the attraction. Not only is he married but have you ever noticed how his gait is ever so slightly off? Once you spot it, it is all you will be able to notice.” Words were delivered lightly, the jest almost singing out of them as she tilted her head even closer to her fellow Northwoman. “In fact, I find it hard to stifle my laughter over it.”
Though none would ever dare call the sole Karstark daughter tame, Alys was reasonably certain she’d been far more reserved before her flight North. Perhaps it was simply a matter of having to yell to be heard amongst the frigid men of the Night’s Watch, perhaps it was one of the better traits she’d absorbed from her husband, perhaps it had simply been too long since she’d been in Northern society; all Alys knew was her patience was quickly growing thin. King’s Landing was crowded, reeking, and warm, her furs shed for thin layers she couldn’t remember ever wearing back home. It all managed to leave her in a near-constant bad mood, words clipped and short and a fire in her eyes if anyone dared look at her the wrong way.
Serena was a well-needed reminder that not everything about coming South was as awful as she wished to believe. Between the war and Alys’ rather late arrival to the Northern retinue, it had been ages since she’d seen her friend. A part of her, the part who knew distinctly how much she’d changed since her father’s death, wondered what her friend thought of her now; how did she measure up?
“To think,” Alys drawled lazily, angling her body away from the spectacle surrounding their King, “I used to be one of those girls.” Much like every other Lord in the North, Rickard Karstark had been desperate for a match between his sole daughter and Ned Stark’s heir. Unlike many of the Lords, though, he’d made absolutely no secret of it. Look at me now, father, she thought wryly, casting an errant glance for her wildling husband. Giving Serena a curious look, Alys turned to watch Robb intently. “No, no, I see it. Why do you think that is?” When the King cast a glance their way, she quickly turned back around, giggling like the girl she hadn’t been in too long. Sobering up, she gave the woman a look. “I’ve never known you to stifle your laughter over anything.”
