Queen of the Stormlands
Chapter One- The Kings Arrival
Renly Baratheon/Stark Female OC
Summary- Aleia Stark is Ned and Catelyn eldest daughter and Robb’s twin sister. Robert Baratheon arranges a marriage between Ned’s daughter and his brother Renly Baratheon which changes the course of The War of Five Kings.
Word count- 2,867
My chambers smelled like wet dog. I had just finished giving Greywind and Meleys a bath. It was the day Father and Robb had brought the wolves home, the same day Father executed the deserter. I was sitting on my bed, combing out Meleys's fur. Robb was playing with Greywind on the floor while he talked to me, or more so at me. I wasn’t exactly listening. I was too busy thinking about what I had heard Mother say. Jon Arryn was dead. I didn’t know what to make of it. Honestly, I felt I should have been sadder than I was in that moment, that I should have felt something other than apathy. I had felt sorry for Lysa and her son; however, I felt nothing towards Lord Arryn himself, even though technically he was my uncle. I did not ever meet Lord Arryn, only knew of him through the stories Father told.
“Aleia?” he said, then took the brush out of my hand to get my attention. “Are you even listening to me?” he asked, and apparently that was enough of an answer. “Are you still upset with Father?” he asked. I wasn’t even there, but the thought of him letting Bran go along to see a man die, deserter or not, made me furious. I thought Bran too young to see such things. He was only a boy of ten. I had yelled at Father when he returned, and in exchange, this dire wolf was placed into my arms. It hadn’t made me any less angry.
“Do you feel sad about Lord Arryn?” I asked Robb, finally bringing words to what was on my mind.
“I grieve for Father.” Rob said as he gave me the brush back. I knew what he meant. I hadn't seen Father since I had yelled at him in the courtyard.
“I shouldn’t have yelled.”
“You didn’t know. He didn’t either.” Robb consoled me. I wouldn’t feel bad if Lord Arryn hadn’t died. I probably would have brought it up the next time I saw Father. I had a hard time letting things go back then. “He isn’t angry with you.” I didn’t say anything, only stroked Meleys’s fur before putting her down on the floor. Robb handed me Greywind and I worked at his fur. Mother didn’t want dirty animals running around the castle, and into our chambers, so we had made her a promise we would keep the direwolves groomed.
“I wish that Father would let Bran be a boy longer. It's not fair he’s expected to grow up so fast.” It was true I felt at the time that Bran seeing the deserters' execution would mark the end of his childhood; little did I know it would be his fall and the events to follow.
Robb chuckled. “You’re just like Mother,” he told me. “Winter is coming, it’s time for Bran to learn our way.” Those were our words, ‘winter is coming,’ and somehow, I didn’t believe it would. I didn’t remember last winter. I was only a child when it happened, and it did not last long. All I knew was summer.
“Bran will not be the lord of Winterfell. So why do we force him to grow up so fast?” I argued.
"Aleia, whether he is the second son or first, Father’s lesson will shape him into a strong and honorable man.” Robb told me. I would later learn that, despite a man’s birthright, he could go on to do great things; however, back then, I was a young girl and did not understand the things I do now.
“To see a man die like that at such a young age is not right.” I pressed my case, which was purely based on my emotions and my not wanting Bran to grow up.
“He did well. Aleia, whether you like it or not, he’s growing up, and he will be a man one day.” It was as if Robb was reading my mind. There was a moment in time shortly after I arrived in Kingslanding that I thought Bran would never get to grow up.
As I brushed Greywind's hair, he began to fall asleep on my lap. “You know, I think he enjoys your company better than mine.” Robb said, changing the conversation.
“I believe everyone enjoys my company more than yours.” I quipped back.
“Oh, and I’m sure Koner would agree with that.” Robb teased. Koner was a boy from Wintertown. He was a year older than I was, and at that time, I believed him to be the love of my life. I didn’t like it when Robb brought Koner into the conversation somehow; it reminded me that it would never last, a fact I chose to ignore. I knew as the eldest of my Father’s daughters I would likely marry someone against my choosing. I was naive and thought that, despite whatever future marriage I would still have Koner.
“Oh shut it.” I rolled my eyes and playfully smacked Robb against the head. Greywind immediately woke up and nipped at my other hand before leaping off the bed and crawling into Robb's lap, Meleys then followed suit.
“And what was it you were saying about your company?” He let out a hearty laugh. Once he had stopped, my mind wandered back to Jon Arryn. The king was coming to Winterfell. I knew that could only mean one thing.
“Robert will need a new hand.” I said flatly Meleys was putting her front paws on my mattress and whining for me. I lifted her up.
“You think he is going to ask Father?”
“I’m sure he will. Who else would he ask?” I said as I took a light pink ribbon from my bedside table and tied it around Meleys’s neck and into a bow.
“What if he seeks to mend their friendship?” Robb suggested I could hear the denial in his voice.
“I doubt he would come all this way for that.” I didn’t know Robert, but I had heard he was a proud man. Little did I know his brother was too.
Robb and I talked all night. I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up to find Robb sleeping on my settee. I had told him I didn’t want to be alone.
Mother wanted everything to be perfect. Of course she did, the king was to be arriving shortly; the royal party had been spotted near Castle Cerwyn earlier this morning. I had spent all morning readying myself, and then sisters. Mother had asked me to do so.
“Would you stop pulling! ” Arya whined as I worked a knot out of her hair. I had just finished brushing it, and somehow there were more snarls to be found.
“If you would just sit still, this wouldn’t hurt. And by the gods, what did you even do to become such a mess?” I asked, pulling a piece of straw out of her hair.
“Me and Turnip were jumping off the stable roof.” She told me as if it were of no concern of mine. That was Arya; she was always carefree and up to trouble.
“Arya, you shouldn’t be doing such things it’s dangerous.” I chided as I reached for my mixture of clove and nutmeg.
“I didn’t get hurt.” She argued as if that made it okay.
“Perhaps not this time, but if you keep doing such things, you will,” I told her as I ran the powder through her hair in an attempt to hide the smell of horse and dirt. Arya didn’t say anything in response, just rolled her eyes. I styled her hair in silence and then told her to get dressed.
“I hate this dress, it itches.” She grumbled as she slipped it on.
“Arya, please, of all the days, do not choose this one to be difficult.” I sighed as I put away my brush and powders. When I turned around, she was already darting out my door. “Arya!” I called out for her, though she didn’t listen. I chose not to chase after her. Instead, I just shook my head and made my way to my wardrobe to get my dress. I had chosen one that Sansa had made for me. It was beautiful. Sansa had such a talent for sewing. Whenever we sewed with Septa Mordane, Sansa would create such beautiful pieces; meanwhile, I would merely choose to mend the boys' trousers. Complex sewing always frustrated me; therefore, I stuck to the basics despite Septa Mordane nagging me to at least try and learn more trying stitches.
The dress Sansa had made for me was a light blue similar to the color of the one Arya wore that day. It was embroidered with beautiful black beads I had bought from a trader in Wintertown. I had bought the beads for Sansa. I hadn't expected her to use them on a dress for me, which she had given me on Robb and I’s seventeenth nameday.
Once I was ready, I went to check on Sansa. Of course, she was perfect. She was such a perfectionist at that age. Sansa, too, was wearing a blue dress, which made me chuckle. It seemed we had the same thought. Her hair was done in two braids at the top of her head and the rest of her hair down; it was a common style amongst young girls in the north. Father would often comment on how Lyanna would do her hair in that way when she was young, too. I often think about how hard it was for him to lose her and the scar she left on his heart.
“You look nice,” I told Sansa with a smile as I sat down on her bed. She was lacing up her boots. “It seems you don’t need my help anymore, you're all grown.” Soon enough that Father would be lining up matches for her. Sooner than I thought, although it wasn’t like Father could say no to the king. Father had been trying to arrange a match for me however with my mind so consumed with Koner at that age I would refuse any offer though father did not know truthfully why I would merely tell him it was because I did not wish to leave home and in exchange he would try to seek matches with northern lords however I still declined though there were only three nearby northern offers before my hand was given to Renly and once again Father could not deny King Robert’s arrangement.
“Do you think the queen will think I look nice too?” she asked. That was all she had been worried about what Cersei Lannister would think of her.
“I think she will find you wonderful, not just your appearance,” I told her with a smile. I then went to hug her.
“You’ll ruffle my dress.” she said, putting her hand out.
“Alright, I leave you be.” I smiled again, then left her room.
I made my way through the halls of Winterfell. I could hear Mother talking to Maester Luwin in the distance from the great hall, which was being prepared for the feast. “We need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion’s chamber. I’m told he reads all night.
“I’m told he drinks all night.” Maester Luwin told her.
“How much could he drink? A man of his stature?” Mother said. I snuck past a servant's platter and snitched a sweet roll.
“We’ve brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar. Perhaps we’ll find out.” Luwin said before Mother broke away from him.
Before Mother could see me I swallowed my bite and hid the roll behind my back. “Are your sisters ready?” She asked me.
“Yes, where’s Robb?” I asked her
“I told the boys to shave.”
With that, I nodded my head and made my way to find Robb. I finished my sweet roll as I made my way to the kitchens. When I reached the kitchens I could see Robb, Theon and my half brother Jon all clean shaven. “Well, aren't you a pretty picture?” I teased Robb. He ran his hands through his auburn hair and chuckled.
“What about me?” Theon asked, stretching his arms as if he were some big draw.
“In your dreams.” I rolled my eyes at him and turned my attention back to Robb, who was putting his shirt back on.
“And look at this one here.” Robb smiled and ruffled Jon’s newly cut hair. I had never seen Jon clean shaving since he began growing facial hair. Robb was closer to Jon then I was. Perhaps when he looked at him, he saw a brother. I however, only saw my Father’s bastard and a painful reminder that all men were the same, even my father who I had been the most honorable man I knew. Later in life, Robb would be that man to be instead.
“I’ve never seen you so prim and proper Snow.” I said. Jon wasn’t the type for frill. His dream was to become a man of The Nights Watch, which would happen soon enough. Uncle Benjen always said The Night's Watch was always in need of men. I never understood why, seeing as the wall was so tall, how could anything breach it? However, there was the occasional story of wildlings roaming around, terrorizing farms and killing children. They were savages after all. Uncle Benjen also said that the Night’s watch was an order of honor. I could not understand how bastards and criminals could be honorable.I thought of The Night's Watch as a life sentence and I thought Jon would be better off staying in Winterfell but he wanted to belong somewhere and that wasn’t here.
“Oh shut up.” Jon said quietly.
“Leave him be, Aleia, he's quite distraught about it.” Robb teased, nudging Jon’s shoulder. Robb threw on his cloak and we were on our way.
We all stood in the courtyard as the royal party rode through the gates. I stood between Mother and Rickon, who held tightly to my hand. At the front of the procession was the blond boy, who I soon learned was Prince Joffrey and a man who wore the helm of a snarling dog. The prince looked at Sansa first which made her smile. I could see Robb was not pleased with it the way his jaw clenched. Then came who I assumed to be King Robert, next to two white cloaks. I knew it was King Robert when we all knelt down to bow. The king looked nothing as he was described by my mother and father. He was fat and red faced. Father had told me Robert was strong and handsome. I suppose he was only in his youth now. The only thing about Robert that matched the stories was how tall he was.
“You’ve got fat.” Robert told my father. I turned to see Mother’s reaction. She had a subtle smirk on her face. Then Robert and Father both laughed. Robert patted Father’s shoulder and then turned to my mother. “Cat!” He smiled and brought her into a soft and short hug. He turned to me, looked me up and down and smiled before ruffling Rickon's hair. “Nine years. Why haven’t I seen you? Where the hell have you been?” Robert said to Father, who still had a smile on his face. Nine years ago, Father had fought with Robert against Theon’s father, who had crowned himself king of the Iron Islands. When Balon bent the knee, Father took Theon as his hostage and ward.
“Guarding the North for you, Your Grace Winterfell is yours.” Father did a small bow of his head.
The Queen and her other two children exited the royal wheel house. I could hear Arya and Sansa bickering about something.
“What have we here? You must be Robb.” The king shook my brother's hand, then walked down the line to Sansa. “Aye, you’re a pretty one.” He said and Sansa smiled politely. He asked Arya her name and then moved on to Bran. “Oh, show us your muscles.” Bran did so with a big grin on his face. “You’ll be a soldier.” The king chuckled and smiled.
Once again, Arya and Sansa were bickering. I shot them both a glare. The queen approached us and we all did a small bow. “My queen.” Mother and father said. She held out her hand for Father to kiss.
“Take me to your crypt. I want to pay my respects.” Robert said his voice was loud and booming, but his face looked sad. He had been betrothed to Lyanna in his youth, so I assumed that’s who he wished to pay his respects to.
“We’ve been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait.” The Queen said. Robert only ignored her and called for my father. She frowned as my father followed Robert. She looked embarrassed and that’s when it became clear that Robert still loved my late aunt.
While Mother and I showed the royal family to their rooms, the king and my father discussed mine and Sansa’s hands and marriage arrangements.
@furiousgardenhologram
