chapter one • Beginnings

"The King, he's coming to Winterfell!"  Lady Catelyn cawed with such conviction the foundations of Winterfell rattled in disbelief.

"Are you sure?"  Lord Eddard asked pensively from across the room, the two had retired to their chambers from great hall leaving the boys to bond with the newcomer from the Iron Islands. 

"Yes, it's say we shall receive him by the next full moon, should they stay within their current schedule."  She replied brandishing the letter menacingly - through their marriage the Lady Catelyn had truly transitioned from Tully to Stark and in doing so inherited her new families utter loathing of the dragon house, and the King kept one of the last dragons as his ward.

"I never thought I would live to see the day Robert paraded the royal trope up North!"  Eddard Stark mused, picking the letter from his wife's boney fingers, reading it with an expression that was a mixture of grim apprehension and confused hilarity.

"Ah, so he is bring the Targaryen girl."   Ned observed.

"The girl has no place within our walls - not after the sins her family have committed." Catelyn said with a sharp outcry.

"Those sins you speak of have already be answered by her family tenfold, she was but a child, no a baby when we took the city - she remembers nothing of her uncles reign and has been raised by Robert as if she were his child - why should she answer for crimes she took no part in?"  Silence swept between the Lord and Lady of Winterfell as they lay in deep thought. "Also," Ned said as an afterthought.  "I would wager that this is the first time she will have left King's Landing - she is only the same age as the boys, what harm can a girl do?"

***

"Rhyella."  The Queens voice whipped round the castle walls.  "Rhyella you insipid child where are you."

"Coming ."  A faint voice echoed back, followed by the clicking of feet racing down the stairs and into the throne room.

There the queen stood with her golden hair swept off her face and held up in an intricate woven design looking regal as ever. Next to her stood a new girl, her hair tumbled down her back like liquid fire and her face was pale and dotted with freckles. At least she wasn't another Lannister - King's Landing was crawling with them now whereas before they hid away in Casterly Rock plotting their revolution schemes they now chocked the capital with their straw hair and pale faces.

"This," the Queen gestured towards the girl at her side. "This is Elsane, her father is Bannerman to mine - she will be your new handmaiden."

"Why?"  Rhyella replied scouring the girl head to toe before turning up her nose.  "What is she supposed to do?"

"She will help you"

"Can she sharpen a sword, ready a horse, fix the tack when it wears?"

"No child, she will braid your hair, draw your baths and empty your chamber pot."

"But I can do all of that!"

Tiring of the girls antics Cersei took Elsane's arm and descended the steps. "I told Robert you need a handmaiden but he said you should learn to look after yourself, he has forgotten that you are to be a lady - not a knight!  He would have you take a squire and compete in a tourney!  You will take Elsane as your handmaiden and be done with it - you will thank me on the road north."

"North?  Why, are you sending me away?"

"The King would never."  Cersei replied with a wicked grin.

"But?"

"His Highness has decided that visiting his old friend in the North would prove most prudent.  Jon Ayrrn will remain here to rule in his stead."  Cersei said emphasising her points with a flick of her wrist but her eyes betrayed her feelings, she was removed, detached even. It was had mere been merely days since the Maester had told her she was with child - the King must have heard by now, the whole castle did, and the maids didn't care as to who hears their whispers.

"Why can't I stay here with Ser Arryn, I will be no use to the King on a royal trip - I am neither Lannister nor Baratheon - I will not be welcome in the North."

"Well the King would see you come with him."  Cersei retorted.

"Will Myrcella be coming?" 

"No."  Rhyella sighed in defeat as the  Queen continued. "Due to my...circumstances the King thinks it ill advised that I travel and as Myrcella is young she needs her mother so she will remain in King's Landing."

"When do we leave?"

"Sun rise."

"Sun rise!  How long has the King been planning on dragging me North without my knowledge."

"Calm down child, don't assume yourself so important that the King would consult you on such matters, you didn't know and now you do - go, have Elsane help you pack your stuff."  The Lannister girl dipped her head and ran off in the general direction of Rhyella's chamber - she must have already been shown around. "Go."  The Queen said shooing the girl away as if she were a pigeon in the town square.

***

"Did you hear?"  Rob Stark chirped to his present company which consistent of his half brother Jon Snow and his father's ward Theon Greyjoy.

"Of course I heard."  Jon replied in a monosyllabic voice.

"Heard what?"  Theon pestered the two, peeved to be left out of the conversation.

"The King - he is coming to Winterfell."  Jon explained but obviously Rob had different news on his mind. 

"No stupid, the Lady Targaryen is coming to Wintefell."  Rob said thwacking his half brother up the side of the head for good measure. 

"And the King."  Jon defended himself, nursing the back of his skull.

"Yes and the King but the Lady Dragon is far more important."  Rob said.

"Why?"  Theon wandered.

"Because she's a girl," Rob explained as if it were he simplest thing in the world.  "And she is meant to be beautiful." 

"What does that have to do with anything, surely the King is more important - the Targaryen's aren't in power anymore."  Jon asked, bewildered by Rob's approach to the news of the inbound Royal party.

Ignoring his half brother Rob continued.  "Old Nan says that she has hair the colour of star light and eyes that are the same hue as lavender. She is the most beautiful girl in all of Westeros!"  Rob boldly declared.

"You sounds like a love struck girl Rob, bedsides, how would you know? You haven't even met her yet?"

"I just do - I am going to marry her when I am old enough!"  He vowed, hand on heart, as though he had made up his mind long ago.

"Rob - you've never even seen her!"  Jon reasoned with him.

"And...?"

"Aren't the Targaryen and Stark houses enemies?"  Theon butted in.

"Yes, so are the Baratheon and Targaryen Houses But that didn't stop the King from taking her in as her ward. In fact, our houses are enemies too and yet here you are, ward to my father!"

"Yes but I am not planning on marrying your sister!"  Theon stated, waving his arms around incredulously.   And so continued the squabbling of the three boys despite them being completely oblivious to the fact that they were being watched by the Lady of Wintefell who had a grave look on her face - what harm can a girl do indeed!

***

"This is my room."  Rhyella said hauling open the double oak doors and following an over excited Elsane into the chambers.

"It is most beautiful m'lady."  The girl said spinning as she took in the beauty and lavish nature of the room. "Where might I be sleeping?"

"You know before he died, King Aegon..."

"Wasn't he murdered?"  Elsane burst out before hastily covering her mouth with both hands.

Rhyella turned to the new girl with a look of pleasant surprise at her comment and interruption.  "I suppose so, well before the Kingslayer stuck his sword through his Kings back breaking his holy vow then King had this room furnished for his daughter and a wall was knocked to make room for her Septa." 

"Her nurse?"

"Yes but a Septa would stay with someone like the princess well past birth so a room was made."  She pointed to a door in the far corner of the room.  "There, go look - if you have anything I am sure we can have them brought up!"

"By the seven!"  Elsane's voice echoed back through into the room. "This is to be mine?"

"I don't see why not but you won't be staying here long - we will be one the road in the morning so best not get used to it - traveling is never fun and being with royalty changes only one thing."

"What's that?"

"The company is worse."  Rhyella said with a chuckle. "Come now we must pack!" Rhyella exclaimed. "We might as well get it out the way - we will have to be up early tomorrow - and we will have to find you a suitable horse - do you ride often?"

"Ride, no - I am best suited in the wheel house with the other ladies and hand maids."

"I am afraid that there will be no wheel house on the road North - with the Queen staying behind there is no need. Now come let's go to the stable and find you a horse, we can pack later." 

***

"You four will stay behind."  The King said waving a podgy arm towards Ser Jaime and three others.  "And you three shall come with me to the North."  He said giving a second wave towards three more of his Kings Guard.

All seven of the Kings Guard nodded at their instructions and began to file out but at the command of the King, Jaime Lannister stayed behind.

"What is it your majesty?"

"The other have been instructed to guard my wife, daughter and unborn child - you must make sure nothing untoward happens to Ser Arryn."

"Of course."  He replied with a sweeping bow of his head, his hand clutching the hilt of his sword as always.

"Do make sure no daggers or swords should find their way into the old cunts back."  The Fat King gave a hearty laugh ay his own joke before dismissing Jaime, he was far to drunk to notice the rage that was ever present of the face of the Kings Guard.

Not that Robert cared for such things after all what's the point in having a backstabbing King Slayer if you can't make backstabbing jibes at him?

***

"Kieran, this is Elsane, she needs a horse."  Rhyella addressed the stable boy, he was all skin and bone and stood a good two heads taller than the young lady despite being only a year older. The silver haired child held such command over all the people of King's Landing, she was their Princess despite not being royalty.

"Of course. What kind of horse would you like m'lady?"

"I'm no lady." She quickly replied but Rhyella raised her brown, as handmaiden to her she was a courtier of the King. "Please call me Elsane."

"As you wish."

"Well Elsane, what horse would you like?"  Kieran asked.

"I am not sure."

"One of Joffrey's should suit."

"I'm not really sure it would be my place to be riding the Prince's horse m'lady."

"Well he will be riding Bohdi - that leaves Beast and Bracken." Rhyella listed off Joffrey's mares. "He really won't mind or notice."

"Umm, Bracken?"  Elsane replied unsure, Beast sounded rather threatening compared to Bracken and she felt she wouldn't be able to bring herself to call a beautiful mare a name such as Beast - she would feel far to ashamed of herself.

"Excellent choice m'lady!"  Kieran praises her. "Bracken is very well tempered."

"Why does the prince have three horses?"  Sabrina asked Rhyella as Kieran disappeared off into the royal stable.

"Joff has far more than three - he gets a new horse every name day.  His mother gave him Beast and his grandfather Bracken."

"Who gave him Bohdi?"

"I did."

"Which horse will be your mount?" Elsane asked looking around the yard. Rhyella pointed to her horse, Elsane wouldn't have known but the lady's horse was a Palfrey but it's dappled grey colour made it stick out amount it's brown and black companions, just as Rhyella's hair singled her out. "What's it's name?"

"I don't name horses." Rhyella stated before walking away as Kieran had made his way back.

"M'lady Rhyella doesn't name her steeds."

"Why not?"

"It was before my time but the stablemen all say the same thing, one name day Lady Rhyella was given a beautiful mare, she named her Amity. The next day the king made her watch as he beheaded it." Elsane gasped sharply, what a cruel thing to do to a child. "She's never named a horse since." Kieran took a breath before his happy demeanour returned to his face. "Anything else I can help you with m'lady Elsane?"

"That will be all Kieran." Rhyella having returned smiled at the stable boy, before her handmaid could get a word in she continued. "Come now Elsane, we should start packing."

To pass the time walking back to the Red Keep and to her room Elsane and Rhyella dabbled in small talk for a while until Rhyella posed her maid a question.

"You're not highborn, are you Elsane?"

"No m'lady I am not."  The you get girl replied, bowing her head.

"Aren't your parents of the Lannister's retinue though?"

"My Mother is of relation to the Queen but she married a good man, he is rich in heart but not in coin." Elsane sighed.

"Then how did you end up in King's Landing, as a handmaiden to a Lady of the court?"

"By the grace of the Lannister's m'lady, the past winter was hard on family and we never quite recovered." Her voice faltered.

"Gone on."  Rhyella urged her. 

"Well, I shouldn't."

"Elsane."

"Our liege promised to support my father if I can here to Kings Lansing, to become a maid at the castle."

"Kevin Lannister?"  Elsane nodded gently. "Well he doesn't do anything that is not the bidding of his niece or his brother and I have a hard time believing that a King's Landing handmaiden matters in the eyes of Tywin Lannister therefore that only leaves the lovely Cersei Lannister to be the reason you are here."

"But why m'lady?"

They had now reached Rhyella's quarters, opening the doors and then closing them behind, the two girls took a position on the balcony staring out across the Red Keep and then into King's Landing itself.

"I never assume to know the intentions of Cersei Lannister."  Rhyella mused.

"I suppose that would be smart."  Elsane admitted. "My friends call me Sae by the way."

"You are not here to be my friend, Sae."

"O, I apologise."

"There is no need, my friends call me Elle."

"Then I shall call you Rhyn as I am not to be your friend."  Sabrina replied with a light chuckle, Rhyn was a warriors name bestowed on the great and noble heroes of The Vale. Her father's family was rooted in The Vale but had moved elsewhere in search of livelihood but her father still told her stories of many a Rhyn - they were whispered legend, much like the last Dragon of the West.

"You may survive here yet!" Rhyella's replied with a small smile. "Now come, the night will pass and soon morning will be upon us and neither of us will have pack!