Chapter 5 | FAREWELL

EVERYDAY, BRAN AND RHAELLA would go into the godswood. There, he practiced his walking as much as he could. Rhaella caught him anytime he fell, like a baby walking for the first time. He also started gaining his weight back due to eating so much. Boys have such huge appetites.

They sat on one of the strong branches of the weirwood tree, taking a break. "Gōntan Aegon gūrogon nykeā ābrazȳrys? (Did Aegon ever take a wife)," Bran asked. Rhaella opened the history book and read, "Yes, Queen Helaena Targaryen's daughter, Jaehaera . . .but then she died."

"What happened to her?" He frowned.

"It says that she possibly threw herself from a window, suicide. Another account says that it was murder." She said, "Aegon's hand threw a Maiden's Ball to find a new wife."

"Did he find someone?"

"It says here that his half sisters brought forth a wife for him, Daenaera Velaryon. It says that she was only six years old, but still breathtakingly beautiful and a happy little girl. She smiled at Aegon and he returned a smile back. Everyone knew right then and there who the new queen would be," Rhaella said, "Aegon wasn't so gloomy anymore after her company."

That made Bran smile, "she sounds a lot like you."

"Children!" Maester Luwin shouted. "Bran's saddle is ready for use!"

Bran was so excited to finally be able to ride again, he could barely contain himself. Robb helped him mount on his stallion, using the special straps of the saddle. Rhaella mounted on hers. She ran her fingers through the mare's long blonde mane. Cloud sounds like a cute name, she thought to herself.

After Robb and Theon mounted their horses, all of them rode out to wolfswood. The two children raced around the woods, filling the forest with laughter and shouting.

"Not too fast!" Robb smiled. Rhaella noticed Robb and Theon acting strange lately, always having conversations with concerned looks on their faces, but Rhaella knew they would not tell her.

This had been the first time the both of them rode on grown horses, instead of ponies. Rhaella loved it. The speed gradually increased, she could feel the excitement growing within her. The breeze of the wind blowing through the silver curls.

Bran lost control of the horse, going off into a different direction. "Umbagon syt nyke!" Rhaella yelled, making her horse go after his. Before they knew it, they were lost. "Where are we?" She asked.

They heard the sound of a stick snapping. "Robb?" Bran asked curiously. It wasn't Robb, instead, a group of wildlings. Two men and one woman. They wanted to take the horses. "I can't!" Bran said, "the saddle, the straps!"

"What are you, some kind of cripple?" One of the men asked.

The other man eyed Rhaella. "This one is a beauty," he said with a perverted smile. "She become useful for us in the future, let's take her with us!"

"No!" Bran shouted, "I am Brandon Stark of Winterfell, and if you as much as lay a finger on her I will have you all killed!" Instead of the squeaky voice of a pup, Bran sounded fierce and tough. Like a grown wolf. It even threw himself off guard.

"Cut off his cock and stuff it in his mouth," one of the men said.

"Benjen Stark's own blood!" The woman said.

"Leave my brother and the young lady alone, and I might let you live." A voice commanded. It was Robb! The woman yanked Rhaella by the hair to get off her horse as one of the men charged at Robb. He easily killed the wilding, making the woman mad. She threw Rhaella to the side, charging at Robb. He quickly disarmed her, grabbing her by the hair.

The other man was able to get Bran down, holding a knife to his throat. "Bran!" Rhaella shouted. "Let him go!"

"Drop the blade," he commanded Robb.

"No, Robb, don't!" Bran protested.

Robb stood there, not knowing what to do. He soon made his decision to drop his weapon. The man gave a devilish smile, "that wasn't very smart—" An arrow went straight through the man's heart, killing him. It was Theon's arrow!

"Theon!" Rhaella cheered.

He made his way over with his bow aiming at the woman, "you guys are some tough little lads. In the iron islands, you aren't grown until you've killed your first enemy, well done."

Robb picked Bran up, "have you lost your mind? What if you missed?"

"But I didn't, and if I did he would've cut Bran's throat and carried off Rhaella, his future bride!"

"You don't have the right to—"

"To save your family's lives?" Theon yelled. The silence was loud in the forest.

"Thank you, Theon," Rhaella spoke up. "And Robb." Rhaella stared down at the woman, "what about her?"

"Please, spare me milord, and I'm all yours!" She begged Robb. He decided to spare the woman, but she was put in chains. It bothered Rhaella to see her walk around in shackles, but she understood it was only for their safety, she did try to harm the children. She told them her name was Osha.

After that hectic day, it was time for bed. Rhaella struggled to sleep, tossing and turning. She kept having the same dreams over and over again. Lord Stark, Viserys, and the dragon. Lord Stark's portion of the dream frightened her the most. The unforgettable scream and look on Sansa's face. The look of Lord Stark's face before being beheaded. It was too much for her to bare.

"Rhaella." A voice whispered softly. She felt a hand gently shake her shoulder. She laid her back flat against the bed to see who it was. Robb. It was dark in the room, but she could see that he had armor on. "You're wearing armor?" She asked, sitting up. "It's so late, Robb."

"Aye, I know." He said quietly. "I am afraid I must leave."

"To where?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.

"We are off to fight the Lannister army. King Robert is dead, Joffrey has been crowned king. He threw father in prison and forced Sansa to write a letter, telling us to bend the knee to him," he explained. "That's a lot of information for you to know, I'm sorry I didn't tell any of you earlier. I didn't want to ruin your spirits."

She could not see his face very well in the darkness. Not knowing what to say, she stayed silent.

"Please, don't be scared," he said. She could hear his voice trembling. "I need you to stay strong, for Bran and Rickon . . .and for me."

"I don't know if I can . . ." She felt tears filling her eyes.

He tried to search for her hand in the darkness to hold it. "If the gods give me strength, I promise, I shall return to you all, with father, mother, and my sisters." Even when he was scared, he sounded fierce and brave.

"Mother spoke to me about you. She was right," he said. "You have spread nothing but great joy in our family. I am proud to say that you are a Stark now."

Rhaella found his hand, placing hers on top of it. "Thank you, Robb." She could feel drops of tears landing on her hand, his tears. He's crying, she thought to herself. He was no older than Daenerys, only ten and seven, barely a man yet.

She jumped into his arms, giving him a warm hug.

"I love you," Robb said in a whisper. He couldn't say it any louder, or else he would break down completely. Her heart felt like it melted and shattered into a thousand pieces at the same time.

"I love you too, all of you." She whispered in return. She let go of him, laying her back against the bed again.

"Til we meet again, Rhaella," he said, before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "I need to talk to Bran and Rickon."

And just like that, he was gone. Ever since Robb left, Rickon started following Rhaella around. Some nights, he would lay in bed with her. The poor boy was terrified. She tried her best to stay brave for him, saying that they will win and the family will be together again. He knew it was a lie.

One day, Rhaella went to the godswood to think. Maester Luwin stayed behind with Rickon, so he wouldn't bother her. Once she made it there, she found Bran sitting on a rock by the pool praying. Rhaella never believed in any gods, but she sat down next to him and prayed anyway. She liked to think that there was a god out there, listening to their prayers.

"What are you two praying about?"

They turned their heads and saw Osha walking towards them. "What are you doing over here?" Bran asked.

"They're my gods too," she said. "Even slaves are allowed to pray."

"You're not a slave." Bran said in defense.

She lifted her right leg, showing the shackle around her ankle.

"You and your friends did try to harm us," Rhaella reminded her.

"I'm not complaining, silver girl." She said. "Just telling truths."

The three of them began to discuss the old gods and weir wood trees, until Hodor came stomping through the bushes. To Rhaella's shock, he was naked! She closed her eyes, turning away.

"Hodor?" The giant asked.

Osha giggled, "well, here's a big man! He's got giant's blood, or I am the Queen!"

Bran was embarrassed and slightly annoyed, "go find your clothes, Hodor." He sighed.

Rhaella's face was as red as a tomato. Never would have thought the first naked man she'd see would be Hodor. She turned her head to Osha, "You mentioned giants," Rhaella said. "Are there really giants out there, beyond the wall?"

"Aye, giants bigger than giants even." Apparently there were many other creatures there too. Giant ice spiders, polar bears, mammoths, and much more.

She told them Robb was marching the wrong way with his men, that they should go North not South. That made the two children anxious. That same night, Rhaella dreamt again, but only of Lord Stark's beheading. She couldn't sleep after that dream. The next day, Bran told her he had a dream of his father being in the crypts. He wanted to go in the crypts, so she agreed to go with him. Hodor was too scared to go down there, so Osha had to carry him instead.

"Must we go visit the dead?" She asked annoyed.

"Are you scared?" Rhaella asked.

"Me and Rhaella, two children, aren't afraid." Bran said.

"Not afraid, boy, just uneasy," she replied. "Let's get it over with then."

They walked through the crypts, looking at every statue of the dead. Osha was right, there was something uneasy about being in the presence of the dead. Rhaella felt chills travel down her spine. They found Rickon under there too, said he saw his father in his dreams too. As soon as they exited the crypts, they found Maester Luwin standing there. He had a devastating look on his face with a scroll in his hand.

"Maester Luwin, what's wrong?" Rhaella asked him.

"Horrid news, I'm afraid," he said. He gave the scroll to Bran, "I'm so sorry, Brandon, truly sorry."

Bran dropped the scroll in shock. He turned his head to Rhaella. "He's dead, Rhae. Father, he was beheaded by the orders of King Joffrey."

The past days were most depressing days of Rhaella's life. No signs of joy anywhere. The whole castle was grieving over their Lord. Bran and Rhaella haven't been seen smiling ever since. All Rhaella could do was lay on her bed, hugging her egg, singing Valyrian lullabies to it.

Suddenly, Bran swung the door open, "Rhaella!" Her soul almost left her body, "what is it?" He was out of breath from running, "Robb, he . . . he's been crowned King of the North!"

Her eyes widened, "what?" He sat next to her on the bed, showing her the scroll. "Then, that would make you . . ."

"A prince," he said. He took a deep gulp. "The prince of North, his heir."

She took his hand, squeezing it, "you must stay strong, be the people's strength."

"As you are mine." He said, with a grin. "I have to brave, like Robb. Wolves are never afraid."

"Neither are dragons." She told him. "We'll be brave, together."

Dragons, she thought. Dear sister, I do hope you are okay . . .