Alessandra was only four years old when she and her family arrived in King's Landing for the first time. 

After bumping around in a carriage for over a month with rests only for sleep and quick stops so everyone could walk around, she was anxious to be in one place and see what her mother claimed would be their new home.

Alessandra was the youngest of her family. Her older brother and sister were already almost seven years old, and she could tell that Rickton and Cressida were trying to hide their excitement. Still, neither could contain the shine in their eyes when their carriage driver announced they were almost at their destination. 

If she was being honest, Alessandra still wasn't sure why they had come to King's Landing instead of staying in the North, where the rest of her family was. Her mother only said that they had been personally invited by the Queen to stay in the King's own home so Rickton could train alongside her sons and the other princes, which was a great honour. At first, Alessandra had wanted to argue that Winterfell had plenty of places to train, and Rickton would be with their cousin, Cregan. But her father had given her a certain look that told her it was no use. So instead, she resolved to look forward to their new home. 

Looking across the carriage to where her sister sat, Alessandra moved her foot, so it knocked against Cressida's. "Cressy, how long do you think it'll be now?" She asked, smiling a little as her older sister looked up at her with a pensive expression.

"I'm not sure, Aless," she admitted slowly, which shocked Alessandra a little. She truly thought her sister knew everything. 

"I'd say within the hour," Rickton piped up, making Cressida nod sagely.

"Our brother is, of course, correct," she announced. She was the elder of the twins, which made her the boss. Rickton seemed quite content to let his twin boss him around, piping up only to provide useful little tidbits of information or give advice when he thought she might need it. Their father often joked around that Rickton had been born with a lover's heart, whereas Cressida had been blessed with that of a queen. She was born to rule over people, and he was made to learn and serve.

 Alessandra had once asked what heart she had as they rested in front of the fire, which made her father scoop her up into his lap and rest his chin on her forehead. He'd taken a moment to respond before whispering in her ear that hers was that of a wolf. She was a warrior at heart, and she could never forget that.

So she didn't. Her sister was the boss, all-knowing and stern. Her brother was kind and did as he was told. Alessandra was neither. She was loud and often would speak when she wasn't supposed to. She would yell at Cregan when he pulled her hair and shove him back when he would hit Rickton. She would watch as her other cousins learned how to use their swords, admiring their footwork and how their blades crossed, clumsy with age but learning more precision every day.

That was what she wanted for herself.

She sometimes thought that her mother knew, judging by the looks the woman sent her when she would catch her peering from behind the pillars of the training grounds as her cousins and the knights sparred. Her green eyes would peer deep into Alessandra's soul at times, and she would run her hand over her daughter's hair before requesting that she return inside. She never discouraged it, though.

It was never in her mother's nature to tell her children they could not do something. Or show any true affection other than the occasional touch and smile. Alessandra knew that her mother loved them, though, just as they loved her.

Her thoughts were stopped by the carriage slowing, making her head pop up in excitement as she realized what that meant.

"We're here!" she exclaimed, standing up in her seat only to be pulled gently back down by her father.

"Easy, little one," he advised with a hearty laugh. "There will be no more excitement if you crack open your skull before the carriage stops."

Her mother didn't seem to want to follow the advice, though, rising from where she sat before Rickton and throwing open the carriage door, making the three children gawk as they heard their mother's name called out.

"Della!"

A regal-looking woman in a green dress was standing on a set of stairs close to where their carriage was coming to a stop. The sight of the woman had Alessandra's mother smiling more brightly than she had ever seen as she practically threw herself down, barely waiting for the carriage to have completely halted before she was on the ground and moving to where the other woman was running toward her.

The two threw their arms around one another when they met, laughing and rocking from side to side with the force of their collision. Neither seemed to want to let the other go but eventually peeled away from one another as Alessandra's father exited the carriage and helped both of his daughters to the ground. Rickton managed to hop down alone, much to his apparent pride.

Clearing her throat, Alessandra's mother gestured for her family to come closer and smiled as they did. 

"Your Grace, you remember my husband, Renly, correct?"

The woman, who Alessandra slowly realized was the Queen, nodded with a small smile to Alessandra's father as he bowed. 

"Of course, I am so glad you accepted our invitation, Lord Renly."

"It is our honour and pleasure, Your Grace," the man answered before his wife interjected. 

"And my children. These are the twins, Rickton and Cressida, and our youngest, Alessandra."

The Queen smiled at all three children as they attempted to bow and curtsy to her out of respect, laughing slightly as Alessandra wobbled in place. "How beautiful, each of them," she said sweetly. "I wish I could introduce you to my own children immediately. However, the eldest three are with their Septas, and Daeron is with his nurse. Before I send for them, though, I am sure you are all exhausted. Come, let me get you all settled in your new rooms. You have all had rooms prepared in one of the guest wings. If there is anything you may require to be changed, or you find unsuitable, please do not hesitate to let me know. Elizabeth will show you the way, so rest and freshen up. We will send you a guide when it is time for supper."

Alessandra's mother smiled and squeezed the Queen's hand. "Thank you, Your Grace. You are too kind."

Squeezing back, the Queen shook her head. "Alicent," she corrected. "And nonsense. This is merely a fraction of the kindness you have shown me over the years. My husband and I are honoured to have you staying in our home."

The two women smiled at one another again, and Alessandra could have sworn she was missing something. She dismissed the thought, though, once a servant stepped forward and requested that they follow her. A look over her shoulder reassured her that their belongings were being loaded off the carriage, so she slipped her hand into her sister's offered one and followed her family into the castle, eager for a bath and sleep.

A knock on her door made Alessandra's eyes open slowly. It took her a moment to realize where she was, wondering dimly why she was so warm without a blanket covering her. Blinking the sleep from her eyes as she sat up, the young girl barely managed to yawn out an invitation to enter.

She was surprised to see two young faces peering in at her as the door slowly creaked open, one a boy with long, almost white hair and the other with curly brown. The blond boy shoved the door open when he made eye contact with Alessandra, and he shook his head.

"Wrong room," he grumbled before turning to the smaller boy beside him. "We should've picked the one across the hall."

"Who are you?" Alessandra asked immediately, crossing her arms defensively at the disappointment both boys seemed to show. "And why are you invading my room?"

The brown-haired boy smiled cheerily at her. "I'm Jacaerys, but you can call me Jace. That's Aegon. We call him Aegon."

Deciding that she wanted to be on equal footing with the two boys, Alessandra slid out of bed and walked over to them, ignoring that her hair was messy and her feet were bare. "My name is Alessandra Stark. It's a pleasure to meet you both, even if it was the wrong room."

Aegon looked at her for a moment before smiling. "Well, you can fix that by telling us which room is your brother's," he declared with a nod. "We want to meet him. My mother said that your family will be living with us now, and Rickton is to be my personal knight one day."

"Rickton will be his own knight," Alessandra said stiffly as she crossed her arms, scowling as Aegon laughed at her.

"That's not how it works," he informed her. "Knights serve lords and princes and kings. Rickton will serve me."

"My brother will be a great knight," Alessandra said simply. "But who he'll serve should be his choice, so you should be his friend first."

Aegon didn't seem to understand her reasoning, but Jace interrupted before the older boy could further upset Alessandra.

"Can you show us what room your brother has? I'd like to meet him."

After a moment of contemplation, Alessandra nodded and moved past the two boys into the hall, unbothered by the cold stone on her feet. 

She swung open the door to her brother's door without much thought. Running and jumping onto the lump under the covers that she knew was Rickton, she laughed heartily at the sound of breath leaving his lungs when she landed.

"Wake up, Rick!" she ordered. "You have guests!"

Her brother thrashed around until his head popped out from under the blanket he'd taken refuge in. His blue eyes glared blearily up at her. "What are you talking about?" he asked thickly, making his little sister giggle. 

"Two boys came into my room looking for you," she explained, making Rickton sit up quickly, throwing her off of him and the bed with a squeal.

"In your room?" He repeated, swivelling his head over to the doorway where Aegon and Jace were standing. His eyes widened, and his jaw slackened as he scrambled to stand up and bow hurriedly. It looked pretty weird to Alessandra, considering how his shirt was twisted and looked like he was about to fall on his face.

"Princes," he greeted, making Alessandra frown.

"Their names are Aegon and Jace," she said simply. 

Aegon strode into the room and walked around Rickton like he was examining a cow. "A little skinny," he said thoughtfully. "But you'll do. Right, nephew?"

Jace looked a little uncomfortable at the question but nodded. Rickton stood a little straighter as he turned to look at the older boy. 

"I won't be skinny forever," he promised. "One day, I'll be a great knight for this kingdom."

Aegon seemed pleased with the boy's answer, and he stepped back. "It's nearly supper time," he said, clearly trying to sound authoritative. "You should ready yourself. We'll wait here so we can show you around before we eat."

Rickton smiled, clearly excited at the offer. He glanced over his shoulder at Alessandra before turning back to the princes. "What about my sisters?" he asked. "Can they come too?"

Aegon made a face, clearly not amused by the idea, but Jace spoke up first. 

"Of course!" he said enthusiastically. "It'll be fun!"

Alessandra finally stood up, wiping off her bum with a fake scowl at her brother, who had the grace to look guilty for shoving her on the floor. "I'll get Cressida!" she offered but pouted when Rickton held up a hand.

"I'll get her," he corrected with a shake. "She's more likely to get up quickly if it's me."

"That's because you stink, and she wants you out of her space," Alessandra muttered, laughing under her breath as her brother shoved her head on the way out the door, grabbing his shoes as he went. She stayed where she was until she realized that Jace had stopped right in front of her.

"Do you want me to come with you so you can get shoes?"

Alessandra looked down at her bare feet and realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to walk around without them covered. Still, she tilted her head. "Why would you come with me?"

Jace's face flushed a little. "I don't want you to get lost."

Alessandra frowned and looked out the door, where she could easily see her own bedroom. "I do not think that's possible."

Nodding to himself, Jace looked down at the ground as Alessandra moved past him, trying to figure out why Aegon was laughing so much.

Boys...  boys were very odd.

╰┈➤ AUTHOR'S NOTE

So here's the first chapter, everyone! Not my best work, but Alessandra is four and cute, so there's that. The next chapter will have a little bit of a time skip. Not quite at episode six yet, but getting closer!