I'd been awake for less than a minute when there was a soft knock at the door that I could only assume would be Eraesella. I rolled over in the feather bed the Stark's had given me, still curled happily into my furs. It was far too warm in Pentos to sleep as I could in Winterfell, though I did miss the comfort of my siblings. On a normal day in Pentos, particularly when we were younger, Dany would have barged into my room unannounced, bouncing into bed with me. We would have laid in bed together all day until Viserys had come to get us.

Sometimes even he would join us. I missed those days. "Rhaeyna," Eraesella's voice called from the doorway. "Wake up."

Just about the last thing I wanted to do was wake up. I was still exhausted from the long journey to Winterfell and wanted to take these early days to catch up on my sleep. I slowly rolled over in the feather bed, staring up at the stone ceiling of the castle. Ella was standing in the doorway though it was closed behind her. I rolled slightly onto my side to look out the window. There was a chill in the air that blew into the room through the glass, but I liked it. The furs made it bearable, as did the fire that continued to roar in the corner, my dragon eggs still basking in the flames.

Eventually, I looked back at Ella. "Good morning, Ella," I said quietly.

Ella crossed the room and threw the blinds the rest of the way open. I let out a pathetic groan as I threw my arms over my eyes. "Time to get up," Ella ordered. I could hear the people of Winterfell wandering through the yard. "The Starks have prepared breakfast for you."

Another meal? I was so used to having to hunt for food with Dany and Viserys. "They're quite welcoming," I commented.

I'd been expecting perhaps one welcoming meal. After that, I had figured I would have to fend for myself. It was nice to see that I wouldn't. Ella arched a brow. "The Young Wolf more than any of them," she said suspiciously.

I sat up in bed and rested a hand against Ella's shoulder. "Relax, Ella. You're still my favorite. You always will be," I teased.

Her lips didn't twitch up in amusement as they normally did. "I worry about you."

"I'm aware," I interrupted. Ella scowled at me. "Sorry. Continue."

Ella strode around for a moment before coming to a stop in front of my bed. "You came here for one reason. Not that you've quite explained that reason to either of us," Ella said. I gave her a slight smile. They would know in due time. I couldn't risk my truth getting out yet. "That reason, I would assume, does not include the handsome Stark boy."

"Just because he's handsome doesn't mean that I'll forget what I came here for," I said defensively. Ella's face displayed no emotion. "I know what I came here for. That doesn't mean I can't also enjoy myself."

Ella didn't look pleased with my answer. "You're not a common whore. Remember that."

Why was it that I was being called a whore for being interested in Robb Stark? Ella would never say it out loud, but I knew she didn't approve of my rather loose morals when it came to someone attractive of the opposite gender. I'd never cared, though. If the admiration was the other way around, they would have all thought that Robb was just interested in a pretty face. That wasn't something I could or would tolerate. Not even from one of my oldest friends. I was allowed to have a social life, even if that social life wasn't considered to be acceptable.

"A fascinating double-edged sword, isn't it?" I asked sharply.

Ella's face dropped. "What do you mean?"

My jaws ground together as I straightened up in bed. "If a man walks into his bed on his wedding night inexperienced, he's laughed at. If a woman walks into her bed on her wedding night inexperienced, she makes the perfect bride," I told her. Ella merely stared at me blankly. "What's the difference? Just because he's got a cock?"

It was one of the only times I'd seen Ella at a loss for words. She looked guilty. "Rhaeyna -"

"No more," I interrupted rather harshly, much more than I had initially been expecting. Ella looked shocked at my sudden change of demeanor. "My aptitude will not be determined by what I do in the midnight hours."

Ella paled in embarrassment slightly. "My apologies."

Her words were bad enough, but the slight bow she gave me sent a spike of guilt through my chest. "Don't do that. It makes me feel guilty for having said anything in the first place," I told her.

"If this is truly what you want, you'll have to get used to saying some very stern things to the people you love the most," Ella pointed out.

"Understood," I muttered.

A few moments passed during which I stared shamefully at my lap. I loved Ella dearly and couldn't imagine when the day would come that I had to rule over her. She had always taken care of me. "That being said," Ella began as I looked back to her, "I can see where you're drawn into the Young Wolf."

"I'm not drawn into him," I said just as defensively as I had before.

But Ella knew me better than I knew myself at times. "Don't you lie to me," Ella barked. I scowled at her. I was lying to many people but she wasn't one of them. "As you said, we've been friends for a long time. I can see right through you and your lies."

"I'm not lying," I argued.

Ella's face softened after a moment. "Rhaeyna," she began patronizingly. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "You're away from your friends and family for the first time in your life. It could help to find someone new to trust."

Trust wasn't something that could easily be won. I liked Robb Stark just fine. Trusting him was something else entirely. "Can I trust him, though?" I asked.

"That's a question that you'll have to find the answer to yourself," Ella said.

Just like when I was a child, there were certain problems Ella would make me solve myself. "Of course," I sighed, grinning.

We exchanged a brief smile that reminded me that we were still friends before all else. She was my best friend and the only person I felt I could turn to beside Daenerys. I reached out and took Ella's hand, kissing the back of it briefly before releasing it and rising from the bed. She smiled complacently as I turned to the door. A future queen's work was never done. Today was officially where my reign would begin - regardless of whether the people of Winterfell knew it. Ella looked at me as I walked to the desk and picked up the letter I'd written to Dany last night.

It would be torture, waiting for potentially weeks for Dany to respond. I turned and handed the unsealed letter to Ella. "Get this to Daenerys, as soon as possible."

Ella looked down at the letter and nodded. "Written in High Valyrian. That's smart."

"Just in case the letter falls into the wrong hands. There are few speakers of the language here," I explained.

It was a trick she had taught both Dany and myself when we were younger. Never write to each other in the Common Tongue. Ella folded the letter up and looked back at my disheveled state. "Do you need me to help you get ready?" she offered.

I smiled. "No, I have a different idea in mind."

Without giving her a moment to complain about my outfit - which I knew she would - I bounded happily over to the door. "Oh, Rhaeyna, at least put on a dressing robe," Ella yelped, pushing herself out of my bed.

"Why?" I asked curiously, turning back to her.

Ella rolled her eyes. "Modesty, Rhaeyna. If you want to be a queen, people will have to respect you," Ella explained. I stared at her blankly. It was just a simple sleeping gown. It was hardly any different than the gowns I'd worn in Pentos. "And it's cold."

Now that was a good reason. "Fair point," I conceded.

Not that I cared much about what the people in Winterfell thought of me or the way I dressed, but I didn't care for the weather. Though it did appear to be getting a little warmer around this time of year, it was still far icier than I had ever dealt with in Pentos. I reached into my wardrobe Ella had organized yesterday and picked up a thick black robe, tightening it around my waist. It went to the floor and dipped at the chest slightly, making it obvious that I hadn't gotten dressed but not so revealing that I would be embarrassed if I ran into anyone.

"Better?" I asked Ella, turning and showing off my lovely ensemble.

Ella didn't look thrilled, but she nodded anyway. "Decent enough." She watched as I walked back to the door. "Where are you going?"

I turned back with a playful smile. "To plant seeds."

"Rhae?" Ella asked.

"I'll see you at breakfast," I called back to her.

Ella's voice followed me out into the hallway but I didn't listen to her. This was something I would have to do on my own. We could talk about it later. I darted out of the room and out into the warm hallway. All eyes immediately turned to me. Some were servants and others appeared to be guards. Many gave me strange looks but all gave me polite nods, though they didn't last more than a few seconds. It didn't matter to me, I responded to them all with a bright smile of my own. I knew that I looked strange and there was no need to be making enemies this early on.

It was only when I'd passed the tenth maid that I realized I had lost track of where I was and had been walking at least ten minutes. I didn't know where I was in the castle. Everything looked the same and I'd never asked where the room I was looking for was located. I was lost. I stopped short and looked around, hoping something familiar might jump out at me. I didn't want to have to knock on a random door and ask for directions. I whipped back and forth, confused out of my wits until I finally spotted something familiar.

"Robb," I called out.

Robb Stark stopped short and turned back to face me, a grin plastered across his lips. "Rhaeyna," he greeted, looking me up and down. His eyebrows creased at my clothing. "That's an interesting choice of clothing you've made."

"Funny," I barked as he walked up to me. "I was looking for your sister's room."

"Arya?" Robb asked.

"Sansa, as a matter of fact," I informed him.

As much as I did enjoy Arya's company, she wasn't the one I was looking for right now. Robb looked surprised that it was his red-headed sister I was looking for, but he nodded anyway. "I'll bring you there," he offered.

"Thank you," I chirped.

It was a good thing I'd run into Robb or else I would have been wandering the halls all morning. He offered me his hand as he came up to my side and I smiled, linking arms with him. He laid his spare hand over mine as the two of us wandered back down the hallway I'd just come from. Some whispers erupted on each side of us from both nobles and commoners. At this point, it wouldn't take long for the two of us to become the talk of Winterfell, but I didn't mind. Keeping people talking about me would make it that much easier for me to insert myself into their lives.

Not to mention that I enjoyed the few bits of time I'd spent with Robb so far. While I liked all of the Stark's perfectly well, Robb was already the one whose company I sought out. "Is the offer of a tour still on the table?" I asked curiously, after a moment of silence.

Robb smiled. "It would be my honor. After breakfast?"

"I'd like that," I answered.

Robb's eyes followed the outline of my clothing. "Will you be wearing two different coats?"

I barked out a chipper laugh. Maybe Ella was right to tell me to change before leaving... "I'll eventually learn how to dress in the North. It was just so warm in Pentos. I'm used to wearing thin silks not layers of cotton and wool," I explained.

"I can't even imagine living somewhere like that," Robb said.

"It wasn't exactly home," I told him. There had never really been a place to call home. Not even that home with the red door Dany had loved so much. A smile tilted up on my face at the memories of running through the halls of the house. "But it had its moments."

We smiled at each other as we continued to walk. It was only a few more steps before we came to stop at a wooden door similar to my own that Robb knocked on. "You were close," Robb said, looking back at me. The door opened a moment later to reveal Catelyn Stark. Sansa was sitting on a chair just behind her. Robb smiled at his mother. "Mother. Sansa. You have a visitor."

"Good morning, Catelyn," I greeted, stepping up alongside Robb.

"Rhaeyna," Catelyn greeted in response. "I trust you slept well?"

"Wonderfully, thank you," I said honestly, dipping my head slightly. "Those fur pelts you use are glorious. I'll have to bring some back to Pentos with me. My sister would love them."

Catelyn gave a stiff smile. "Of course. We would be happy to have some made."

She sounded like she would be thrilled to do that. Robb laid a hand on my shoulder and I turned back, having almost forgotten he was there. "You seem to be in good hands here. I'll see you at breakfast, then," he told me.

"Thank you for your help," I told him. Robb made the slight incline of his head before turning and walking off. I turned back to Catelyn and motioned into Sansa's room. "May I?"

"Yes," Catelyn said, stepping to the side and letting me enter the room. "Come in."

She closed the door behind me as I walked up to Sansa with a small smile on my face. "Good morning, Sansa," I told her gently.

"Rhaeyna," Sansa greeted, smiling brightly. "What are you doing here?"

Just as I had told Ella before leaving, I was planting seeds with the Stark family. "When I lived in the Free Cities as a child, my hair grew out so long that I had to braid it to keep it from trailing on the ground behind us. We didn't want anyone to step on it as we were running for our lives. My sister, Daenerys, learned how to braid. She used to do the most intricate ones," I explained, gently fingering at the long strands of hair that were laying over my shoulder. "They were beautiful."

"Did she do the one you had in yesterday?" Sansa asked curiously.

"Yes, she did. I've kept it in for the past month to remind me of her," I answered honestly.

"I missed my sister very much when I first came to Winterfell," Catelyn put in, walking over to us.

"It's hard leaving family," I said.

"It is," Catelyn agreed.

Perhaps the two of us didn't like each other very much. Perhaps we were completely different people. The one thing we did have in common was that we both knew what it was like to walk away from the family we wanted to protect. Sansa seemed to sense the tenseness in the room as she said, "I can't do that one, but I can put in another if you would like."

She was still pointing to the complicated plait Dany had put in my hair before I'd left Pentos. I fingered through my hair with a little pang in my chest. Sansa did so remind me of my sister. "I'd love that," I told Sansa, smiling at the prideful look on her face. "You know, Sansa, you remind me in some ways of my sister."

Sansa's eyes brightened, just the way Dany's used to do when I told her I had a surprise for her. "I do?" Sansa asked excitedly.

"You do," I said.

For once, I wasn't lying or embellishing the truth to the Stark's. Sansa genuinely did remind me of Daenerys. They weren't the same kind of people, but the way they smiled at me when I praised them... It was almost like looking into my sister's violet eyes. Sansa and I smiled at each other as I walked across the room and took a seat in a large wooden chair to allow Sansa a chance to do my hair. Catelyn watched out of the corner of her eyes as she cleaned up her daughter's mess. I relaxed slightly as Sansa began tugging at my hair. It reminded me of the way Dany had always done it.

Her fingers and short nails gently ran across my scalp and I smiled, resting my hands gently in my lap. I wished so desperately for a brief moment that I was back in Pentos with my siblings. "Will your siblings be joining us?" Catelyn asked after a few minutes, shattering the peaceful silence.

The image of Viserys in Winterfell was enough to send me into a mild fit of giggles. "That's highly unlikely. They're safer in Pentos, you understand," I told her. Catelyn gave me a long stare before eventually nodding. Dany had begun panicking for my safety immediately; Viserys had told me there was no way I would survive here. "I took a great risk coming out here. I don't intend to have them follow in that risk."

"It was a brave move for you," Catelyn said.

"It seems to have paid off so far," I said vaguely.

So far my time in Winterfell had been exactly what I'd wanted it to and even more. I'd been expecting to be around a stuffy royal family who held a long-standing hatred for mine. That wasn't completely incorrect - Catelyn seemed to hold an intense dislike for me and Ned didn't enjoy that I could hold something serious over his head. Sansa began giggling behind me, distracting me from my thoughts. I looked up from her work on my new braid and smiled up at the young girl. I already knew what she was laughing at, but I would play into it anyway.

Catelyn's reaction could prove amusing. "Something funny?" I asked the red-headed girl.

"It's just that Robb likes you," Sansa said, still giggling.

My face took on a reddish hue as I laughed with her. "Sansa!" Catelyn gasped, horrified that her daughter would give away her son's desire.

I smiled at Catelyn and shook my head. "It's alright. Men are always drawn in by a pretty face. Remember that," I told Sansa before turning back to her mother. "But you've raised an upstanding young man. Robb has been nothing but kind to me since my arrival."

"That's good to hear," Catelyn said, actually sounding relieved.

"Do you like him?" Sansa prodded.

"Sansa!" Catelyn repeated.

"It's fine," I told Catelyn, waving her off again. Talking about Robb with his sister didn't bother me in the slightest. I turned back to Sansa and smiled at her. "From what I've seen of your brother so far, yes, I do like him."

It looked like Sansa wanted to keep pressing the relationship, but Catelyn put a stop to it there. "Sansa, enough. I'm certain that Rhaeyna doesn't want to hear about fantasies."

"As I'm certain that your mother doesn't want to hear about her son's private thoughts," I added, smiling at Catelyn.

Catelyn shifted uncomfortably at my mention of her son's activities, just as I'd known she would. "Robb is a young man already. I expected it," she said confidently. For a moment, I thought she would end it there, but she continued. "After all, Targaryens are known for their beauty."

Though Catelyn wore a smile on her face, I suspected that her comment was a thinly veiled insult. I didn't know how, but I knew Catelyn was looking for any way to incriminate me to her family. "Thank you," I said tersely.

"Do you look like your mother?" Sansa asked, not sensing the tension in the room.

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at the floor. Even Catelyn looked like she might have felt the slightest bit bad for me. She must have known the story about my parents. "I don't know," I admitted. "She died before I could remember her."

"I'm sorry," Sansa whispered.

"Don't be sorry, dear. It's been a long time and I never had the chance to know them. There was no relationship to mourn," I told Sansa. She nodded as I swallowed thickly, desperate to change the conversation. "People say I have my father's bearing. But we all have those same traits."

"They're beautiful," Sansa said, running her fingers through my hair. "I wish I had your hair."

"Never wish you looked like someone else. You are beautiful just the way you are. That hair is lovely," I said, turning back and fingering the end of her long red strands. "It reminds me of fire."

"Thank you," Sansa said bashfully.

There was a long period of silence that extended after that. None of us knew what to say after the tense conversation. It wasn't often I liked talking about my parents. Dany had asked me about them frequently as we'd grown up but I had always told her I couldn't remember them. It was mostly the truth. I had very few memories of either one of them. I remembered our mother singing to me sometimes. The only thing I genuinely remembered about my father was his hulking figure. I swallowed again, blinking back tears that had formed.

Anything else was better than thinking about the untimely loss of my parents. "Like most of my ancestors before me, I was named for another Targaryen," I continued suddenly. Sansa's fingers stilled in my hair for a moment. "Queen Rhaenys Targaryen."

"Who was she?" Sansa asked curiously.

"She was the younger of Aegon the Conqueror's sister-wives," I explained. Catelyn shifted, visibly uncomfortable. "She was his favorite wife and the mother of Aenys I, making her the mother of the Targaryen line that would rule over the Seven Kingdoms for the next three-hundred years. Rhaenys was extremely beautiful and had shared our famous Valyrian features. Rhaenys was described as being more playful, wild and mischievous than her sister. And more of a flirt. Legend has it that she shared her bed with several other men when her brother was with Visenya - her sister. That being said, Aegon spent ten nights with Rhaenys for every night he spent with her older sister."

There was a long period of silence. Catelyn looked mortified by my story but Sansa had a starry gaze in her eyes. Of course. A woman who had seen far too much of the world and a little girl who still believed in fairy tales. "She sounds incredible," Sansa breathed.

"I believe she was," I said. "Queen Rhaenys was said to love music, poetry, and deeply enjoyed riding her dragon Meraxes, often flying twice as much as Visenya."

"Would you ever want a dragon?" Sansa asked curiously.

For a moment I thought about telling Sansa about my dragon eggs, but I didn't want to say it with Catelyn right there. "I would love a dragon. But they're long gone," I said sadly.

There was only a brief silence before Catelyn said, "The Targaryen's have always wed those from their own House."

She was referencing my story about Rhaenys and her relationship with her brother. Incest was highly prevalent in the Targaryen family and I had even seen a bit of it in the way Viserys looked at Daenerys and myself sometimes. It had occurred to me a few times over the years that it might have been easiest to just marry Viserys and have children with him. Between the three of us, we could begin to rebuild the Targaryen empire. It would help our House, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The idea of being with my brother sent chills of disgust down my spine.

Dany had once asked me about it, but I would be damned if I ever let Viserys lay a hand on her. She was too gentle. I wasn't. "Is that your way of asking me if Daenerys and I plan to wed Viserys?" I asked Catelyn bluntly.

Her face turned as red as her hair. "I've overstepped my bounds," Catelyn said bashfully.

"No. You have every right to ask, considering the history of my House. No. I'd sooner throw my brother from a cliff than wed him," I said. Catelyn looked surprised at my tone but Sansa let out a small giggle. "I love him, but I will never marry him. Neither will my sister. If and when the day comes that I wed, it will be to someone I love."

Much to my surprise, Catelyn's face turned up in a small smile. No one married for love. It was alliances. "That's a sweet sentiment."

"Being highborn doesn't condition us to a life of alliances and proposals. We allow it to happen," I told her. It wasn't fair to be with someone I didn't love just for an army or castle. It wasn't worth it. "I will not."

"I wish I had a sister like you," Sansa said dreamily.

The last thing I wanted was to accidentally pit the two very different Stark girls against each other. Their relationship already seemed frail. "But you don't. You have a sister like your own," I told her. Catelyn was staring at me as I reached up and pat Sansa on the arm. "Don't count Arya out just yet. I bet you that the day will come that you'll look back on these days of fruitless fighting and laugh about how silly you both were."

"Maybe," Sansa muttered. Definitely. They were little kids. They would grow out of their silly rivalry in a few years. A few seconds passed where we all sat in silence before I felt Sansa's hands still in my hair. "Would you like to see?"

"Please," I replied.

It would help me blend in to have a braid in that was meant for Northerners. I turned to the floor-length mirror behind Sansa and peered in. She had done a wonderful job. The hair in front of my head was pulled up and cascaded gently down my back. Two sections of hair were twisted together and pulled out to make my hair seem larger. It looked like a normal braid. Laid on top of that braid was a much thinner one that cascaded down. On each side of the back of my head was another thin braid. The leftover hair on the bottom layer was laid straight.

"This is beautiful," I said, reaching back and running my hands through the loose hair. "How did you learn this?"

"Practice," Sansa said plainly.

"You have a talent, my dear," I said truthfully. Sansa smiled at the praise as she looked down at her feet. I reached up and twirled the ends of her hair around my fingers. "Perhaps I'll come to you each time I need my hair done."

Sansa nodded excitedly. "Please do." I stood from the chair and prepared to leave, but I was stopped when Sansa spoke again. "I - I found some gowns that I think will suit you. Would you care to see?"

I smiled at her. "Yes, thank you."

We both stepped back as Sansa threw back the sheets on her bed and showed me a dress that was laid out in the center. It was lovely, but my gaze quickly shot to something else. It was a mostly black ensemble that's only other coloring was brilliant red stitching throughout. There was a tight-fitting black tunic laid underneath a black leather vest that had crossing straps at the chest. There was also a pair of black trousers with a pair of black chaps laid over the sides of the thighs. The only other material was a black fox pelt designed to knot at the throat and hang from one shoulder.

Mesmerized by the lovely and powerful design, I walked up to it and lifted the edge of the fur pelt. "What is this?" I asked Sansa.

She looked a little embarrassed that I had spotted the other design. "Oh, I started working on when I heard that you were coming here," Sansa said. I arched a brow curiously. She had done this for me? "Some are pieces of clothing I already had. I did the red stitching and dyed some of the pieces black. I know that they're your House colors."

"Can I wear it?" I asked excitedly.

I'd wanted to be a conqueror when I was young. This was the perfect outfit to wear for it. "It's not done yet, but I'll give it to you the moment it is," Sansa said.

I nodded understandingly. "Thank you. I'll be excited to see it."

It was the truth. I couldn't wait to see the finished product. It reminded me of how excited I got each time Daenerys had told me she was working on a new dress or tunic for me to wear. Sansa was a little piece of home. The young girl smiled at me as she moved to the other end of the bed and showed me the very pretty gown I'd originally seen. It was made from what appeared to be a charcoal grey cotton and lined with white lynx fur. There was a white silk cloth wrapped around the waist that trailed to the floor. The neckline would drop a touch from my collarbone.

"Lovely," I told Sansa, fingering the soft material.

Sansa smiled, bowing her head slightly. "Glad you like it."

"Please, allow us to help you. I imagine you won't want to be wearing that?" Catelyn asked, motioning to my odd mixture of robes and cloaks I had draped over myself this morning. "I think it's time for breakfast, girls. Shall we?"

"Thank you," I told the women.

Catelyn picked up the gown and motioned me over to the bathroom. It was about twice the size of the one I had. The women closed the door behind me as Sansa helped me out of my two coats, folding them up and throwing them onto the stone counter. Catelyn promised she would have one of the maids come and wash them. She also promised to have someone wash my silk gown carefully after I hesitantly handed it over, explaining that I had promised Daenerys she could have it once she was big enough to fit into it. It had always been her favorite.

Though I was confident Catelyn didn't like me very much, she must have sympathized with me that I was trying to keep my family close to my heart even from halfway around the world. Once Sansa had finished doing up the laces on the dress she stepped back and allowed me to give myself a once-over in the mirror. I nodded approvingly at my appearance. I was slowly morphing into someone that belonged in the North. A heavy dress, a cloak that would have killed me from heatstroke in Pentos, and a braid designed for a highborn Northerner.

It surprised me that I was as comfortable with my appearance as I was. I had always taken pride in the fact that I looked like no one else, but I liked the bit of Northerner I had now. But there was still that touch of Targaryen in my hair and eyes. The hair that was nearly as white as snow. The eyes that pierced through a crowd. It was a good mix. I smiled at myself for a few moments before Eraesella's warning from last night came back to my mind. Remember what you came here for... you are not a Northern Lady.

She was right. I wasn't from here. This was just a place I was living until I could figure out what my next step was. I smiled tersely at the two women as Catelyn opened her arms, motioning us to the hallway. We walked out of the room and to the next door down, beckoning a still half-asleep Arya to come to breakfast with us. I smiled at the dark-haired girl as we made our way across the yard and into the grand hall, which appeared to be hosting another feast of sorts for breakfast, something that had been done solely because of my arrival.

As we'd entered the hall, I had reassured Catelyn that they didn't need to do all this for me, but she insisted that it was to make me feel welcome. I smiled at her as she broke off to sit with her husband and I was ushered away with her daughters. I grabbed my breakfast with them, mostly listening to the direction of Arya and Sansa for what to eat, before heading back to a bench near the high table with them. I briefly stopped to greet the boys before turning and taking my seat, well-aware that Robb's eyes were following me. I was deliberate in taking long strides with swinging hips.

The breakfast was normal enough. I continued getting to know Arya and Sansa, asking them what their favorite hobbies and foods were. It was a mundane conversation but nothing that took too much thought. I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't been expecting with so many people around. The girls did most of the talking with me only putting in the occasional comment as I chewed my food. It was strange, a little saltier and chewier than I was used to. It was a long time before the conversation died down from the two girls, both concentrating on their food now.

At least, Sansa was focusing on her food. Arya was stabbing at the table with her knife as she stared at the table behind us. "What do they keep looking over here for?" Arya finally snapped.

She was motioning to the table where the boys sat. "They're looking at Rhaeyna," Sansa answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why?" Arya asked.

"Because boys are easy to distract," I interrupted, sensing the tension between the sisters.

The two both looked ready to speak again when another voice called from behind us. "Rhae."

A smile turned up on my lips. There was only one person in Winterfell that would be calling me by that nickname. I turned and looked up, spotting Robb standing above me. "Robb," I greeted happily.

Just as Robb opened his mouth to speak, he was interrupted. "My lady," Theon greeted, walking up to Robb's side and slapping his friend on the shoulder.

Robb's mouth thinned into a small line as I smiled at the Greyjoy man. He was only here to mess with Robb, which I respected. I would have done the same to Dany, given the chance. "Theon," I greeted in response.

"Would you care for a tour of Winterfell?" Theon offered.

It looked like Robb's teeth would break from how tightly he had them ground together. I smiled at the playful rivalry between the two men as I turned to Theon. "That's quite kind of you to offer, Theon, but I fear that I've already accepted another," I said, looking to Robb, who was grinning now. "Unless you've come to tell me to go with Theon."

"No," Robb said quickly, sending a sharp scowl to Theon before turning back to me. "I was just coming to see if you were ready."

"As it happens, I am," I said, raising my legs to spin myself over the bench. "Another time, perhaps, Theon?"

Theon smiled tensely. "Of course."

"I'll see you two later," I told Sansa and Arya.

"Bye, Rhaeyna," the two girls said together.

They both sent me little waves as they looked down at the ground, giggling with each other. I smiled at them. It was nice to see the sisters bonding over something, even if it was laughing at my situation. I rose from my spot at the table and took Robb by the arm. Theon watched irritably as the two of us made our way out of the dining hall. As we passed the front table I noticed the Stark parents watching us closely. They weren't the only ones. Daris and Eraesella were also watching us with slit eyes. There was no way we would ever be left completely alone.

"Your parents are watching us," I commented, glancing up at Robb.

He nodded as if he had already been expecting it. His eyes briefly darted to Ella and Daris before coming back to me. "So are your friends," he said.

"They don't trust you," I explained.

"Do you?" Robb asked.

My eyebrow quirked slightly. Did I trust Robb Stark? There were very few people I trusted in the world and they were ones I'd known my entire life. I barely knew Robb. "I haven't decided yet," I said honestly. "Do you trust me?"

"I haven't decided yet," Robb answered.

We both smiled at each other playfully as I gently shoved Robb to the side. He let out a charming laugh as we walked into the yard. I supposed I'd deserved that answer. We kept walking as Robb offered me his arm again. I linked mine through his and smiled as he placed his hand over mine again. Robb was still chuckling softly and I smiled at the look on his face. His green eyes were brighter than I'd ever seen from someone who was laughing. He was like the true embodiment of happiness.

"You look so happy when you smile," I commented.

No one I knew had ever smiled like that. Robb's grin faded slightly as he stared at me. "Do you know people who don't look happy when they smile?" he asked curiously.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much happiness in my life. "My brother doesn't," I answered him. Robb didn't understand what I meant. "When he smiles, it's like there's always something behind it. He's still angry or doesn't trust Daenerys or me. It's like he knows that his happiness will be short-lived. I don't know. But it's so rare for me to see a smile like that. Pure and genuine."

"Have you ever been genuinely happy?" Robb asked.

There were brief flickers in my life that had been lovely, but they'd never lasted more than a day or so. "No," I answered honestly. Robb looked shocked at my admission. "You could imagine that a child doesn't exactly know happiness when their bedtime stories were all about how their father ran about the throne room screaming orders to burn all of his subjects. When people look at me, I know that they see him."

"I don't," Robb answered so quickly it almost surprised me. He barely knew me. How did he know that I had no madness in me? "I don't know you well, I barely know you at all, but I don't think you are like your father."

The slightest of smiles turned up on my face. "You'll never know what that means to me," I said honestly.

Just hearing someone say they didn't think I was like my father sent a warm wave through my chest. I knew my father would have loved me, but that didn't change who he had been at the end of his life. Robb and I stared at each other for a long time as a slight shiver ran over my arms. I had never liked being compared to my father and having Robb tell me he didn't think we were alike had given me an immense feeling of relief. Though I'd never expressed my concerns, the worry of an impending madness had never left my mind.

Eventually, I could take the thoughts no longer. "Come now. This conversation is too intense," I told Robb, shaking my head clear and taking his arm, dragging him behind me. "Show me around."

"Of course," Robb said.

We walked to what Robb called the Great Keep first. It was the innermost castle of Winterfell and the stronghold of the complex. It was where the Starks - and now myself - lived. The walls of the Great Keep were made of beautiful granite and it connected to the armory by a raised bridge. The Great Hall - where we had eaten our meals - was used for receiving guests, exactly the way they had used it for me. It was the single largest building in Winterfell, made of grey stone with wide doors made of oak and iron.

It was the warmest part of Winterfell and housed the people who seemed most willing to welcome me. As we walked out of the heart of Winterfell, Robb explained to me that his father had built a small sept for Catelyn when she'd first arrived at Winterfell to make her feel more at home. We'd walked past with a vague glance as very few people other than Catelyn used it. Not long after we had passed the First Keep, a squat and round drum tower, which was the oldest surviving part of the castle but no longer in use. Around it laid a large lichyard.

Robb had gotten a good laugh out of me telling him that it was the creepiest part of Winterfell. The North was so much darker and quieter than Pentos was. It was mostly a joke but it was also the truth. The North was so calm and collected, nothing like the hustle and bustle of Pentos. Robb had shown me the Bell Tower afterward, which was connected to the rookery by another bridge that ran from the fourth floor of the tower to the second floor of the rookery. It was filled with dozens of breeds of birds I had never seen before.

On the other end of Winterfell was the Library Tower. It was the place Robb and I ended up spending the most time in. The one that I would have loved to have in Pentos was a library. I always had liked reading but we'd rarely stayed in one place long enough for me to get through a story. Robb promised that I could take out a book whenever I pleased and take as long as I needed to finish it. There was a stonework staircase that wound around the exterior of the library that Robb told me Bran could climb in a matter of seconds.

Once we had wound our way back down the staircase outside of the library, Robb brought us to the edge of the walls of Winterfell. I'd teased Robb about bringing me out there to kill me, which had given him a good laugh. It turned out that we were going toward the godswood. I'd never seen one, but I knew they were wooded sanctuaries, enclosed within a castle's walls, that had been set aside as a place of worship and meditation dedicated to the Old Gods of the Forest. It was centered around a single weirwood tree with a face carved into the trunk.

"I've never known," Robb commented as I meandered around the weirwood tree. "What faith do the Targaryen's follow?"

"There isn't one," I answered. "There was a Valyrian religion that was practiced in Essos throughout the empire called the Valyrian Freehold. It was polytheistic with a pantheon of several gods. Most of the old dragons were named after those gods: Balerion, Vhagar, and Meraxes. That religion lasted for thousands of years within the Freehold but was greatly diminished after the Doom of Valyria destroyed our civilization. We later abandoned the religion when Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters converted to the Faith of the Seven. It was largely a political move."

"Do you follow it?" Robb asked.

"No. I don't believe in any god," I told him.

Robb looked surprised. "None?"

"None. I don't believe that someone is out there, watching over you, guiding along your movements. I believe that you make your way in this world," I explained. Robb still looked surprised but he nodded in understanding. Suddenly, I was curious if he shared my sentiment. "Do you believe in the Old Gods?"

"I do," Robb answered. "I've always found myself at peace in the godswood. I'm not so certain that I believe in the gods, but I believe that there is something about this place."

It sounded like a nice place to be. "Maybe I'll have to come here more often."

"You're more than welcome to come here whenever you need," Robb told me.

"Thank you," I said.

I'd been in Winterfell for just over a full day, but this place already felt like home. Robb was certainly helping. I didn't know Robb very well, but I was extremely grateful for everything he'd done for me in the short amount of time we had been together. I walked forward and wrapped my arms over his shoulders. To my surprise, his arms wound back around my waist, resting in the small of my back. I wasn't sure how long we spent wrapped in each other, but I knew I wouldn't be the first one to pull away. Robb Stark was the comfort I needed after leaving Dany.

Perhaps it was inappropriate of me, but Robb didn't say anything about it. Instead, his hands wound gently into the braid as I tucked my head into his shoulder. It might have been slightly pathetic but I had never had a true friend before. Dany and Viserys were my siblings. Daris was my knight. Eraesella was my maid. I had had others in my life but had never made any genuine friends. No one had shown an interest in me for any reason other than liking my standing in society - save Robb Stark. He was the only person I'd met that seemed to like my personality.

He had no interest in my claim to the throne. None that I saw, anyway. The cracking of branches was what finally forced us apart. A couple was walking into the godswood. "I - I'm sorry," I stammered dumbly, stepping back from Robb. This was no time for me to act like a pathetic little girl around a handsome member of the ruling family of Winterfell. "I don't know what came over me."

My momentary weakness was forgiven by Robb. "You've just left your family for the first time in your life. You are in a foreign land with strangers. It's natural to be unsteady," he said, placing a sturdy hand on my shoulder. "It helps to have a friend."

"Is that what we are?" I asked curiously.

"Is that what you'd like to be?" Robb replied.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend after all my years of only having loyal servants and knights along with myself and my siblings? "I've never had a friend before," I said honestly.

I'd always considered Eraesella and Daris my friends but that was because of their loyalty to my family, not because they'd met me in the street and decided they liked my personality. Robb looked extremely saddened to hear that. "Then I'll be honored to be your first," he said brightly. We smiled at each other as Robb extended his hand to me again. "Shall we return?"

"Yes," I said.

It would have been fun to explore Winterfell for a while longer but we'd already been out here far too long. We started walking back toward the main fortress of Winterfell, past the couple who had wandered into the godswood. I knew they would be whispering about us as we left but I didn't care. I was enjoying myself and maybe this trip didn't have to be about just using Robb. Maybe I could be real friends with him. The idea of having a real friend warmed me to my core. I linked arms with Robb again and smiled as he walked us back into the courtyard.

That time my gaze turned to a few targets set up in the distance I hadn't initially noticed. I stopped walking and motioned to Robb. "Is that for archery practice?" I asked him curiously.

"Yes," Robb said.

"Do you shoot?"

"Yes. My father taught me when I was just about Bran's age. We've learned to fight with bows and arrows and swords since we were children."

"Do you like shooting?"

"I prefer a sword."

The targets looked extremely enticing to me. "I've never shot a bow before," I said.

Robb chuckled. "I'd be surprised if you had."

"Why? Because I'm a woman and we're not meant to do such things?" I asked shortly.

Robb paled. "It's -"

"I'm teasing you," I interrupted, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Robb laughed, shaking his head at my antics. "But I was being honest. That's why, correct?"

"I'm sorry for the presumption," Robb said.

Well, I had already had my presumptions about him. It was only fair that he had some about me. "Don't be. It's what you were taught. Did you know that most of the dragon riders in my family were women?" I asked dreamily. Oh, the things I could have done if I had a dragon. "There's a legend that some of them would shoot from the backs of their dragons."

Robb looked as fascinated by the story as I was. "What do you think?" he asked.

That I could only wish the dragons were still around.. I could learn to shoot a bow and ride a dragon. I would finally feel useful for more than just bearing sons. "I think that I'm proud to be descended from them," I told him.

Robb smiled, running a hand over my upper back. "As you well should be."

I smiled at him, looking toward the shooting targets. "Will you show me how?" I asked curiously.

"To shoot?" Robb asked, surprised.

"Yes," I said.

Robb looked as surprised as I felt. I couldn't believe I'd asked him. But now that I had, I was excited. I wanted to learn, though it looked like Robb didn't know quite how to answer my request. "I - I'll have to check with my father and see if -"

"If he trusts that I won't shoot you once I've learned how to use a bow," I put together.

It was easy enough to tell from the way he had stammered over his words. Even if Robb trusted me, the adults in his family didn't. "Unfortunately, I believe you are correct," Robb said, smiling guiltily.

"I'm sorry," I said suddenly, realizing just how many times I had cut him off in the past few minutes. "I think that's about the tenth time that I've interrupted you and we've not even known each other a day."

Robb smiled, bowing politely. "You can interrupt me any time, my lady. I get the feeling that you probably will anyway."

But it wasn't polite to interrupt him while he was trying to speak. "If I ever wanted to talk with Viserys in the room, I had to learn to talk over him. It's a habit," I defended myself weakly.

Robb's face fell. "He sounds -"

"Domineering?" I offered. My face dropped as I realized I had just interrupted him again. We exchanged a quick look before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Sorry."

Robb shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to it already."

We smiled at each other as we wandered back into the courtyard of Winterfell. I glanced around, watching the children darting around. "Have you ever left Winterfell?" I asked curiously.

Robb shook his head. "No. I've grown up here. The farthest we've ever gone was just for hunting trips."

"That must have been nice. To leave, knowing that you always had a safe place to call home."

"It was that bad?"

A bitter smile crept its way across my lips. "Do you know that I remember the first time a man openly tried to kill me?" I said.

Robb's steps halted as he searched for the right words. "Might I ask what happened?"

"We were in Braavos. Just me and Daris. Viserys was taking care of Dany with a knight loyal to my family, Ser Willam. Daris had suggested that the three of us dye our hair. It was too unsteady to have a Targaryen out in the open still so soon after Robert's Rebellion. We were wandering through the marketplace, searching for something to turn our hair to even a dark blonde. That was when I felt it," I explained.

Robb watched as I reached up and pulled my cloak over my shoulder, immediately grateful that it wasn't too cold in Winterfell. My hands traveled up to the laces at the top of my dress as I began to loosen them, pulling the top part of the dress open and shifting the material to the right. It was now showing the skin the fabric had been covering yesterday when Robb had done up the laces. As I moved my hair over my other shoulder, I turned back to Robb, revealing a thin scar that ran from below my shoulder blade to just over the middle of my spine.

"If I had been standing just a few inches closer to him, I would have lost my head," I continued. Robb watched as I tightened the laces again and threw my cloak back over myself. "Davis turned and lopped the man's head off in one fell swoop for daring to try and execute me. We rushed back to where we had been staying and immediately fled to the next city. I was six."

The scar had faded over the years but the memory remained stark in my mind. "I'm glad he didn't hurt you," Robb said, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"As am, I. Viserys was furious at the attempt but quite grateful that Daris had been there to save me. Dany cried for days afterward."

"Daris. That's the knight with you now, is he not?"

"That's him. Daris has been a good friend to my family for many years."

Daris had always been one of the few people in my life I'd felt had treated me like a friend. Rob shook his head as we continued through the courtyard. "I can't believe someone tried to kill a child," he said.

"A child with a claim to the Iron Throne makes them less of a child and more of an object," I said quietly.

Robb's dark eyebrow raised curiously. "You have a rather relaxed attitude towards men trying to kill you."

When it happened to me as frequently as it did, it made no difference. It was just another day in my life. "So many men have tried to kill me over the years that I can't even remember them all. There's no point in dwelling on them," I said carelessly.

Robb frowned. "You've had a hard life."

"So I have," I agreed, smiling at him again. "But I'm still alive. That has to count for something."

There was no point in being depressed about how messy my life became. I just had to focus on the happy parts, of which there were surprisingly many. As we continued walking, Robb released my arm and walked off to the left toward one of the archery stations. I didn't follow him, instead, watching him with my arms crossed over my chest. Robb pulled a wooden bow off its hook on the rack and grabbed an arrow, nocking it against the frame. He aimed at the target directly across from him and released as the arrow sailed into the center.

A few people in the yard stopped to smile proudly. Robb turned back to me and smiled. I returned the gesture as he headed back to me. "You have good aim," I commented, looking at the arrow buried deep in the middle of the target.

"It's not always about your aim. It's about your eyes - your eyesight," Robb corrected himself quickly.

"Then you have good eyes," I said, smiling.

Robb nodded. "I do." He hesitated for a moment before motioning toward the target. "Would you like to take a turn?" he offered.

My eyebrow arched. I would have loved to try shooting but I'd thought we had to wait. "I thought you had to wait for your father to tell you that it was okay? After all, aren't you afraid of me skewering you while you sleep?" I asked, grinning at him playfully.

Robb grinned back at me. "Can I trust you?"

"Suppose you'll find out," I teased. We smiled at each other again as we moved slowly toward the targets. "I think the better question is, do you trust me?"

"I do," Robb said.

"Show me, then," I said, motioning to the target.

Robb nodded, guiding me the few steps to the mark for the shooters. "Stand here. Turn your body toward the target," he instructed. Robb's hands moved to sit at a respectable height on my hip as he gently pushed my body into alignment with the straw target. He released my right hip as he reached back and grabbed the bow off the rack. "Take the bow."

Robb held the bow out in front of me to take. I wrapped my hand around the grip where Robb was motioning to. He folded my fingers into the grooves on the grip and motioned for me to hold the bow out. Robb did most of the work, showing me where I was supposed to hold the bow against my body and how my shoulders were supposed to be positioned. It wasn't long before Robb handed me an arrow, demonstrating how to place the nock in between my fingers and how to draw the string.

My shoulders wavered slightly from the abnormal tenseness in my stance. Robb stood behind me, keeping his fingers folded over mine. "Now, raise the arrow," Robb instructed. I slowly raised the arrowhead to meet the center of the target. "Relax your shoulders." My spine straightened as his hands worked against my shoulders, which was exactly what I wasn't supposed to do. "Take in a deep breath." His fingers on his free hand moved over the middle of my stomach. "When you're ready, slowly release your fingers from the string."

Robb's hands rested gently over mine. I didn't know much about shooting but I did know that my stance was too tense to fire a bow. It would only work because Robb was essentially shooting for me. It was an exciting moment, though. I loved the feeling of having the bow in my hands. Viserys had always told Dany and I that it was a woman's place to have children - not to be a warrior. He had always said that was his job. But it wasn't... At Robb's instruction, I slowly released my fingers from the nock and felt the arrow soar away from my hands. Robb immediately stepped back.

"Take a look," Robb told me. I looked up and saw that my arrow was just a few inches from the center of the target. "I think you're a natural."

We were both smiling happily. "Or you're a good instructor. It was mostly your shot anyway," I told him.

Robb shook his head. "I just showed you what to do. You made the shot."

Technically the shot was mine, but I likely would have skewered someone if Robb hadn't been showing me what to do. I turned back to the eldest Stark child and smiled at him, handing him the bow back. He took it but didn't initially turn away from me. Instead, he kept his gaze firmly focused on me. It was only then that I realized we were standing quite close together. I was halfway tempted to kiss him, but I managed to resist the sudden and surprising urge. I wasn't the only one to feel the urge, apparently, as Robb stepped into me.

Though I was halfway tempted to let it happen, I noticed something rather off in the distance. "Does she often do that?" I asked Robb.

He looked stunned at my question. "Pardon?" Robb asked.

"Your mother," I answered, looking directly into Catelyn Stark's eyes. "She's standing on the rampart up there, watching us, and not looking too happy."

Robb turned back to look at his mother. She looked away from me and to her son, who smiled at her and nodded, to which Catelyn responded to the gesture. "I think she's a little nervous to see the two of us together," Robb told me. "I'll talk to her."

"No, don't do that," I said, pulling Robb back. I didn't want him to make a scene with his mother. "She's right to be mistrusting."

Robb looked at me like I was insane. "You're here now, making the effort. She should understand that."

Catelyn was right not to trust me. My intentions here weren't purely what he thought they were. "Your people will not warm up to me in a day. I know that. It will take time. I've prepared myself for that much," I told Robb.

Robb arched a brow curiously. "How long do you plan on staying?"

"However long it takes for me to prove that having me here is not dangerous," I answered semi-honestly. That was how it would begin. "I am not my father, nor are my siblings. We have a right to live as much as anyone else."

"That could take a very long time," Robb commented.

"Are you trying to push me out?" I asked.

Robb shook his head. "On the contrary, I've quite enjoyed your company so far."

"Hmm... That's relieving to hear," I teased, smiling at Robb. He returned the gesture as we began strolling through the yard. People were wandering all over the place but no one seemed to be rushing to get anywhere. "So, tell me." Robb glanced up from the walkway. "What do you do in your day-to-day life here in Winterfell?"

"That depends on the day, I suppose," Robb said.

"Your favorite kind of day then," I suggested.

Robb thought for a moment before speaking. "The beginning of summer," he answered. I tilted a brow upward, motioning for him to explain. "There is still a chill in the air in the morning, but it's finally warm enough to go out for a stroll. Practice in the yard for a little while. Have a large breakfast in the dining hall with everyone. The birds and other animals are finally out. Everyone eats together and laughs and celebrates that they've made it through the harsh winter."

It seemed like the kind of day a real family could spend together. "That sounds like a lovely kind of day," I said honestly.

"It's fast approaching," Robb said. I flashed him a small smile. "What's your favorite kind of day?"

"Being out on the beaches of Pentos," I answered immediately. "We would find some secluded spot on the outskirts of a small village. We would lay in the sun all day, laughing with each other and ignoring the fact that we didn't have a home. It was the one time that we were just children."

We hadn't done it often, but the days we had were burned into my memory. "I'd like to see that beach one day," Robb said, smiling fondly.

"I'd like to return. Problem is, I don't recall the name or where exactly it was," I said, laughing at my idiocy.

"You could go looking for it one day," Robb suggested.

"All on my own? That sounds lonely," I teased.

"You don't have to go alone. Take someone with you."

"Who would you suggest?"

My eyebrow arched playfully. I was hoping he would take the hint and offer his services. "Robb," Catelyn Stark's voice suddenly cut through the air. We both turned back quickly. She nodded politely in my direction. "Rhaeyna. Pardon my interruption."

Robb didn't look happy with the interruption. "Mother -"

"Not a problem," I interrupted, placing an arm on Robb's shoulder and smiling at Catelyn.

A fight was sure to start if I didn't try to stop Robb. Catelyn looked between us curiously before looking back to her sun. "Robb, your father would like to see you," she said. He nodded at her as she looked back at me. "My apologies for cutting your tour short."

"That's quite alright. It doesn't appear that I'll be leaving anytime soon," I said as happily as possible, looking around the yard for a moment before turning back to Robb. "Perhaps we can pick up on it later?"

"Of course," Robb said.

Robb and I exchanged a brief smile with each other and I gave Catelyn a short nod before I turned to walk off. My skirt floated around my feet freely as I wandered through the slightly chilly air. I turned back for a brief moment, just long enough to notice Robb and Catelyn speaking in hushed tones. She looked angry about something - likely the fact that her son was speaking so freely to a Targaryen. Robb looked annoyed - likely about his mother's interference with our conversation. Catelyn's eyes traced up from the ground before landing on me, realizing I was staring at her.

Deciding to be polite, I gave Catelyn a slight smile before turning and walking off. I knew that I needed to be very careful with my bounds with Catelyn. She could easily have Ned turn around and throw me out of Winterfell and back to Pentos. I couldn't go back there. Not now and unfortunately not for a long time. Not until I had done what needed to be done. So, I decided to turn around and see what else I could get into. There had to be something fun I could do. This place couldn't just be freezing and boring all the time.

It almost made me smile when I turned again and spotted Sansa and Arya. They were both sitting under a tower near the center of Winterfell. It appeared that they were currently having sewing lessons with a few other young girls. Sansa looked like she was doing wonderfully as she was praised by her septa. Arya was stitching away carelessly, messing the stitching up beyond repair. The septa didn't look the slightest bit entertained by Arya's carelessness. But I thought it was cute. So, I decided to walk over to them and see if I could get one of the girls to chat with me.

Before I was able to walk up to their sides and bring them into a conversation, Sansa strutted off with some of her friends. The few young girls were laughing at a young attractive boy out in the yard who was practicing his sword work. I smiled at them. I understood what the girls were giggling at. I'd felt that way sometimes with the handsome boys I'd seen in Pentos. I hated to admit that I was currently feeling that way about Robb. I turned from the girls, trying to put my feelings elsewhere. Instead, I walked up to Arya, who looked about ready to throw her sewing needle away.

I'd developed a quick fondness for Arya's distaste for traditionally feminine roles. "You don't like sewing, do you?" I asked her, seating myself on the stool Sansa had just left.

"No," Arya huffed. "I'm lousy at it."

I hummed quietly. "As was I. I'm not a half-bad artist, but I can't sew worth a damn. One of my earlier attempts at sewing a pair of trousers for Viserys ended with me forgetting to put in holes for his feet," I told her. Arya giggled happily. I smiled, brushing her tangled hair back off her forehead. "If you want to do something else, go do it. Don't let society tell you what you should be doing."

"The boys just laugh at me when I ask them to come on hunts," Arya said.

"So, stop asking. Go," I told her.

"Will you come with me?" Arya asked.

"On a hunt?" I replied, surprised.

I'd never been hunting before, though I imagined it could be something exciting to do. "And to ask Robb," Arya said. I smiled at her. I should have seen that one coming. "He's going on one with Jon and Theon soon. They're taking Bran. Father and Jory will be going as well. I want to go."

Almost all of the men were going, even one of the youngest boys, but not a single one of the women was going. "I'll certainly come along," I said.

"Will you ask him?" Arya asked hopefully.

"Why must I ask him?" I said.

"Because Robb likes you," Arya said bluntly. "He'll probably say yes if you ask."

It was fair, though it was a nerve-wracking task. "I'll give it my best try."

"Thanks, Rhae."

Arya was one of the sweetest people I had met in Winterfell so far. She reminded me very much of myself when I had been her age. In some ways, she even reminded me of Dany. I'd already known Arya was fond of me, but it still surprised me when she launched forward into my arms and threw her own around my waist. The moment of comfort reminded me of having Dany at my side. I let out a soft breath, placing my head down in Arya's dark hair, stroking it back a few times.

When she finally released me, I smiled down at her and said, "Might I ask you something?"

"Of course," Arya said.

"Why did you say that Robb liked me?" I asked curiously.

Arya looked shocked. "Isn't it obvious?"

"I suppose I meant in which way," I said carefully.

It wasn't hard to see that Robb liked me, but I wasn't sure how she meant it. "The way he looks at you," Arya said. I nodded for her to continue. "He looks at you like... I don't know."

But I knew what she meant. "One day someone will look at you that way," I told her.

Arya gave me a disbelieving look. "Are you sure?"

Any man would be a fool to pass up Arya, but I also knew that not every man could take on someone like her. "I've got a good feeling. You just have to give it time. You're a lovely young woman who won't just settle for anyone," I said honestly. Arya gave me a brilliant smile as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her with me. "Come. Let's see if we can find your brother."

We walked off together to see if we could find Robb. I hadn't left him with his mother that long ago. I didn't know if their conversation was over, but I figured I could at least give it a shot. Arya grabbed my hand and began pulling me with her, leading me through the yards of Winterfell, searching far and wide for where Robb had gotten to. I let Arya lead the way as she seemed to know where she was going. Eventually, we came out to the same training yard Robb had shown me earlier. I smiled at the sight of the older boys' training.

Naturally, this was where the boys would be. "Robb," I called out.

It appeared that it was currently Robb fighting against Theon and Jon. Robb and Jon both appeared on the same level whereas Theon was a bit weaker in his stance. Robb swiped out at Theon - likely missing as my voice seemed to have startled him a bit - before stepping back, smiling as he turned back to meet my eyes. Theon looked about halfway tempted to lob his sword at Robb while he was distracted by me. Instead, he watched, green with envy, as Robb pulled off his armor and stepped toward me.

Once he was just inches away, I spoke. "We were wondering if we could ask you something."

"We?" Robb asked curiously.

Why did he look so confused? I glanced back at Arya, immediately realizing that I was alone. I chuckled, looking back up at Robb. "Or, just me, apparently," I corrected myself, making Robb laugh. "Arya would like me to ask you if you would be okay with having us join you on your hunt?"

Robb's face fell. "Oh. Rhae, it's not appropriate to bring Arya along on a hunt."

It was my turn to scowl. "Why not? You're taking Bran, who's younger than her."

"Rhae, I'm not sure that it's a wonderful idea."

"Why?"

"Because..."

"Because she's a little girl?" I offered. I knew without Robb saying anything that I was correct. His face drained of color. The sexist thoughts weren't unique to Robb, but they were infuriating. "Because she's supposed to sit around on her ass and sew and knit and make pretty dresses? Because she's supposed to keep her mouth shut? Be seen and not heard?"

Judging by the look on his face, I had embarrassed Robb greatly. Sometimes men needed to be embarrassed for things to change. "Rhae -"

"Please, Robb," I interrupted, reaching out and taking his hands. Anything he was going to say died on his lips as he looked at me. "Hear me out. Look to the future. If you had a daughter and she wanted to be a knight, if she had no interest in becoming a princess trapped within the walls of a castle, what would you tell her?"

Robb's gaze softened slightly as I smiled at him. I'd gotten somewhere. "I would..." Robb hesitated for a few moments, clearly unsure of what he was supposed to say now. "I would tell her what my father has always told me."

"And what's that?" I asked.

"To do not what feels easy but what feels right."

"And?"

"I would suggest Arya do the same."

It was a nice sentiment, but it didn't feel like it had hit hard enough. "Why do I feel like I have just been talking to the wall behind you?" I asked Robb slowly.

Robb let out a deep breath, shaking his head regretfully. "As much as I would love to allow Arya on the hunt, I don't believe she would be welcome. Not just that, but I doubt Father would allow her along. He would deem it too dangerous," he explained.

It wasn't an answer that I would take. "What will it take for you to allow Arya to join the hunting trip?" I asked stubbornly.

"Rhae -"

"So we're clear, I'm not taking no for an answer," I interrupted.

Robb chuckled. "That doesn't surprise me in the slightest."

"As it very well shouldn't," I teased. "Go on. What will it take?"

There had to be something I could do to get Arya on that hunting trip. If she could get out there, it would impact the rest of her life. It would motivate her to break boundaries for women everywhere. Robb was silent for a long time as he appeared to be trying to figure out what it would take to get Arya on the hunt. Apparently, myself as well, as I doubted Arya would allow me to sit out on the hunt. I wasn't overly fond of the idea of going on the hunt - as I had never loved seeing animals get hurt - but I knew that this was the right thing to do.

Finally, it appeared that Robb had come to his conclusion. "If you both listen to us at all times."

A small smile tilted up on the corner of my lips. "As you'll come to find out, Robb Stark, I don't listen to anyone."

Robb chuckled as he said, "I've noticed."

"You'll let us know when the hunt is set to begin, then?" I stated more than asked.

Robb laughed loudly as I began walking backward, smiling at him the entire time. "I'll talk to my father about having you two join," Robb called after me.

"You'll succeed," I called back.

If you gave someone a chance to say 'no' they always would. I had to make sure he didn't have a chance to tell me that Arya and I couldn't come on the hunt. Robb laughed again, shaking his head as he watched me walk off. I went to join Arya, who had been hiding behind a nearby pillar during our conversation. I should have known that the young girl would leave the deal up to me to handle. That much hadn't surprised me. I smiled at Arya and offered her my hand. She took it and pulled herself out from behind the wood to face me.

"What did he say?" Arya asked excitedly.

"He'll talk to your father to see if he will allow us along on the hunt," I explained.

Arya's face brightened. "I knew Robb would say yes if you asked."

"How did you know for sure?" I asked curiously.

"Because Robb likes you," Arya giggled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Your brother has been very kind to me since my arrival," I said noncommittally.

"Do you like him?" Arya asked, unwilling to drop the conversation.

"Do you know that your sister asked me the same thing?" I said.

"What did you tell her?" Arya asked curiously.

For someone who didn't strike me as being interested in romance, Arya seemed very interested in mine. Of course, it probably helped that it had something to do with her brother. "I told her the same thing I'll tell you. Your brother has been quite accommodating to me in the brief time I've been here. It's been wonderful to have someone so willing to help me acclimate," I said.

The little girl huffed, obviously having hoped for something more. "That's it?" she asked.

I gave Arya a knowing smile. "For now."

Arya smiled back at me and nodded, knowing that it was the end of the conversation. For now, at least. There was nothing more to say about my relationship with Robb. Perhaps something more would come out of this. Or, perhaps nothing would. Either way, Winterfell was becoming much more interesting than I had initially expected, much in part due to the Stark family. Arya and I smiled at each other as we wandered through the yard. She spent a while showing me the spots she loved to hide and her favorite places to play.

It was a long time before I heard a familiar voice. "Rhaeyna," Eraesella's voice called. I turned back and smiled at her as she inclined her head slightly to Arya. "Lady Stark."

"My name is Arya," Arya replied bluntly.

A small grin turned up on my lips. "Hmm..." Ella hummed, giving Arya a once-over. I rocked back and forth on my toes for a moment, feeling very awkward. I didn't want Ella to snap at Arya. She was a little girl who hadn't learned when the appropriate time was to use her manners. "I see the two of you will get along well."

"I believe we will," I said, placing my hand on Arya's shoulder.

"Yes," Ella said, looking very unimpressed with us. "Well, it's time for dinner."

"Already?" I asked.

"Already. Come now, both of you," Ella called to us.

"Shall we?" I offered Arya.

She had been smiling brightly from the moment I'd told her we would likely be going on the hunt. She continued to grin as she nodded excitedly, walking off with Ella and myself toward the dining hall. Ella walked on my side that Arya wasn't occupying, chatting quietly with me as we walked. Ella had spent most of the day wandering around Winterfell with Daris to ensure that the castle was safe for me. I rolled my eyes at her, knowing that I would hear more about my safety here later. For now, I knew they wouldn't say anything with Arya mere feet from me.

A few minutes later, I walked into the dining hall with Ella and Arya at my sides. We met up with Sansa and her friends she had run off with earlier on our way to the table and had them join us. They were all giggly little girls who seemed fascinated by me. I wasn't surprised, considering I was somewhat of a novelty to the people in Winterfell. The girls chattered away with me madly as we headed toward our table at the front of the hall. I didn't particularly listen to them as I looked around the candlelit hall. The boys from the Stark family were yet to arrive.

"Looking for the Stark boy?" Ella asked quietly, catching where my gaze was.

"Please, Ella -"

"May I speak freely?" she interrupted.

"Always," I said.

"You've seemed happy each time I've seen you with Robb Stark," Ella said. My face flushed. I hated to admit that she was right. "Happier than I've seen you in a long time. Perhaps ever."

"We don't know each other, Ella," I argued weakly.

Despite having not even known each other for two days, I had greatly enjoyed the time I spent Robb. "Rhae," Ella chided gently. I looked up at her. "I've seen the way you speak to him. The little facade you have going on falters each time you're around him. You don't need to know him well to know that you're a happier version of yourself around him. He's told you about himself. Perhaps it's time you let him know the real Rhaeyna Targaryen - the one I know and love."

"Thank you, Ella," I whispered.

She was right. Someone in Winterfell should have known me the way I was - humorous and always ready for an adventure. Ella and I smiled at each other as I straightened up, forcing a vague smile on my face. The people in the hall watched me but I desperately tried to ignore them. Mostly because my mind was still firmly stuck on Robb Stark. Ella was right. I did enjoy the time I'd spent with Robb more than anyone else I had met in Winterfell. But I wasn't prepared to make a genuine friend here and not anything that could have been more than a potential friend.

It didn't take long for my attention to be forced away by the girls. I was surrounded by Sansa, Arya, Ella, and some of the young girls from around the village, chatting away with them. I told the girls stories about growing up in Pentos and moving around freely. The girls had looked fascinated the entire time, particularly as I discussed meeting Pentos' versions of royalty. I much preferred listening to them talk about Winterfell. They might not have been able to hear it in their voices, but I knew that they were speaking about this place with love. It was home and it was nice to see.

"Rhae. Girls."

Our small group turned back to see Robb standing above us. I smiled at him as most of the girls began giggling. "Robb," I greeted.

"May I interrupt?" Robb asked.

"You're not interrupting," I told him, turning to look at the girls. "Right?"

"No," they all insisted together.

"Can we?" Robb asked, extending his hand to me. I nodded as I took Robb's hand, allowing him to pull me to my feet. We linked arms as we walked toward the wooden doors. "I spoke with Father."

"That was fast," I teased.

"I didn't think you would give me long to make the first move," Robb said.

I giggled. "You were correct."

"He's agreed."

"Has he?" I asked.

Naturally, I had known that Ned would agree, but Robb would have had no idea why. I would be forced to play dumb for Robb and pretend not to know why Ned had allowed Arya and me to come along on the hunt. Ned knew to watch his hand around me for fear that I may have revealed the truth about Jon Snow. Robb and I exchanged a long look with each other as we walked through the yard and toward our rooms. I smiled up at him as Robb gave me a scrutinizing stare. He must have been wondering why his father had allowed me on the hunt.

"He has," Robb said slowly.

"You look surprised," I commented.

"I never expected my father to allow Arya along on a hunt," Robb explained. "He's protective of her."

"It appears to me that all of your men are protective of the young women," I said.

"Of course," Robb said. "They need -"

"To be protected?" I interrupted, raising my brows curiously.

Robb hesitated when he realized that I hadn't enjoyed his words. It was the truth. Women didn't need to be protected just because of their gender. To my surprise, Robb started laughing. "I would have never thought twice about saying that until I met you," he said.

"Then I'm glad to have given you another vantage point," I said. A smile settled over Robb's features. "There will always be people who need to be protected. The very young and very old. Men and women alike. Those who are not warriors. But if someone is good at fighting, willing to protect those who need it, what does it matter their gender?"

Robb nodded. "That's a fair point."

"You'll be the Lord of Winterfell one day. Perhaps you should come up with a better answer to my question," I suggested.

Robb smiled. "Perhaps I'll need you around to challenge me."

"I'd have a hell of a time getting Ella to stay here," I laughed, looking around.

"She doesn't seem to enjoy it here."

"She hates it here."

"And you?" Robb asked.

It's certainly got some better views than what I was expecting. "I've come to find that I enjoy Winterfell more than I initially expected," I said honestly.

"You do?" Robb asked curiously.

"I do," I told him. We smiled at each other as I moved my arm up Robb's, wrapping my fingers around his upper bicep. "How long do you normally stay out on hunts?"

"Six or seven days, usually. It depends on how lucky we are," Robb answered.

"And you set up camp out there?" I asked curiously.

"Nervous to sleep outside the walls?" Robb teased.

"You act as though I've never slept on the hard ground before," I said. The teasing glint in Robb's eyes died immediately. "You've always had this castle to call home. I've never had a place to call home. Being out there might just remind me of my childhood."

Robb's face had turned bright red. "I'm sorry, Rhae, I didn't think about -"

"It's fine. I know what you meant," I said, waving him off. Robb was still giving me a guilty smile. "When do we leave?"

Robb looked very relieved I had changed the subject. "A fortnight."

"What to do in the meantime?" I asked, letting out an exaggerated breath.

Robb smiled. "If you're not busy, there's something I think you might like to see."

"What's that?"

"That would ruin the surprise."

I smiled. "So, I'll have to trust you."

"Do you?" Robb asked.

"For some strange reason, I do," I said slowly.

"Good."

We smiled at each other as we walked up to the door to my bedroom. "Well, this is me," I said slowly.

"Goodnight, Rhae," Robb said, bowing his head.

Neither one of us moved. For a long time, we both stood and watched each other. I stood with one hand resting on the metal doorknob, wishing so much that I could pull him in with me. But I was trying to take things one step at a time for now. So, I said, "Goodnight, Robb."

Robb gave me a long smile before turning and walking off. As much as I wanted to call him back, I ultimately decided to let him go. I let out a deep breath as I turned back to the door. A moment later, Robb's voice echoed again. "Rhae."

"Yes?" I said, turning back to him.

Before Robb got the chance to speak to me, Daris's voice echoed from the other end of the hall. "My lady."

Both Robb and I turned to look at him. "Good evening, Daris," I greeted. I looked between the two men for a moment, feeling extremely torn over which one to continue speaking with. I had been with Robb first. "Give us a moment, will you?"

Daris narrowed his eyes at Robb before nodding. "As you wish."

Daris nodded and brushed past me as he vanished inside my bedroom. "As you were saying?" I prodded Robb.

He waited until I had shut the door completely, blocking Daris from listening to our conversation. "If you ever feel like having company for the evening, you're more than welcome to come to visit," Robb offered kindly. It was an innocent offer, though a red tinge still flooded my cheeks. "I'm just a few rooms down. It just seems lonely to spend every night here with only your handmaid and knight."

"They're better company than you might think," I said. Robb nodded bashfully, likely believing that it was my way to refute his offer. "But I may take you up on that offer another night."

Robb smiled. "Whenever you would like."

"Thank you, Robb."

"Goodnight, Rhae."

Going to Robb's room one night was an interesting proposition and one that I knew I would eventually take him up on. I smiled at Robb as he walked up to me and pressed a kiss against my cheek. I felt my face warm slightly as he gave me the smallest bow and turned to head back to his room. I watched him for a moment, pleased with the turn of events of the day, before turning and slipping back into my room. Daris was waiting just past the threshold of the room and didn't look happy. I began pulling off my dress, unbothered by Daris' presence.

Daris had been taking care of me since I was an infant - changing me and healing any wounds I'd received. We were so familiar with each other that the sight of either one of us being unclothed had become completely natural. "The Young Wolf seems to be finding much comfort in your stay," Daris stated, handing me my dressing gown.

"You and Ella need to stop speaking with each other whilst I'm not around," I said.

"We're concerned," Daris told me.

They were concerned every time I did so much as take a step out of their immediate range of vision. "I know. There's nothing to be concerned with, Daris. Robb Stark has been very polite to me, but that's it," I said, shaking my head at him. Robb was fascinated with me as a Targaryen, but that would soon fade. "He's a young man. The next pretty face will come along and he will forget all about Rhaeyna Targaryen."

Daris let out a breath, walking up to me and resting a hand on my shoulder. "Take it from a man who has known and loved you for many years, Rhaeyna, you are not an easy woman to forget."

Something in my stomach sank at Daris's words. "He barely knows me," I argued weakly.

"It doesn't matter. The young man has already fallen hard for you," Daris said, smiling bitterly.

"That's silly," I said, waving him off.

"That's love, my dear," Daris said. We smiled sadly at each other as I backed away from Daris, seating myself on the edge of my bed. My thoughts were racing around my head incoherently. "I'll leave you to sleep."

"Thank you," I whispered. Daris turned to leave the room when I called him back. "Daris. Have you ever loved someone?"

He smiled. "You, my lady."

"Goodnight, Daris," I said, smiling lovingly at him.

"Sleep well, Rhae."

We stared at each other for a moment as my face broke into a smile. Daris gave me a nod before turning to leave the room, likely to stand guard for the night. He would have to sleep soon. It had already been two nights since he had gotten a full night's sleep. As I laid down in my furs, I stared into the fire. I tried to dream of my eggs and the dragons sleeping inside of them, but my thoughts were completely lost in Robb Stark. I had made the one mistake I'd tried so desperately to avoid - I had found someone I thought about even more than my mission here.

A/N: Thank you for reading, everyone! Sorry about how long this update took. As always, thank you for the follows and favorites. Please review! Until next time -A

A QUICK NOTICE: For anyone who would like to keep closer tabs on my stories, I now have a Twitter account set up so I can stay in touch with my readers and keep you all up to date on when you can expect new updates. Here's the link! /walkerlifeforme

Guest: Hello! I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter! This story will be heavily focused on the romance, as I feel the Game of Thrones world actually can be very heavy in romance. We'll definitely see a lot of Rhae and Robb around the North, particularly before we hit the timeline from the show. I just want a few chapters to set up their romance and early flirtation. Hope you liked this one!

aussieKayz: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this one!

Rhaeyns-Stark: Reviews like yours are so disheartening. Not because they offend me (that's a waste of time and effort), but because they're so unnecessarily rude. You offer no constructive criticism, instead pointing out each part of my story you dislike. Rather than going through point-by-point, I just want to say that I hate the term Mary-Sue. It insinuates that women can't be pretty and smart and talented, even if that's not what you meant. There must be faults found in a woman immediately. Rhae is bold. That's in her character. What's the old saying? A well-mannered woman will never get anywhere in life. That describes Rhae. I sincerely hope you learn to either leave the story and say nothing, or offer criticism with some suggestions for what could help it.

lizyeh2000: I'm so glad you love the story so far! Sorry this update took forever but I hope you enjoyed it!

UknownReaderHasJoined: I'm so glad you love it! I would love more reviews but I'll always be happy to get even a few. I hope you enjoyed this one!

movieman416: Thank you!

Guest: Whoa, that's a long review. I'll reply to as much as possible! Trust me, Robb is well aware that Rhae is attempting to manipulate him, he just hasn't said anything yet. He's just waiting for the right moment. You are right, Robb is smart and a good tactician. He'll approach Rhae when the time is right. Rhae is power-hungry right now, but trust me, she's going to soften as time goes on. Especially as she and Robb grow closer. I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter and I hope you've enjoyed this one as well!

NyanCos: I'm so glad you love Savage! That update is coming next. This is still a work in progress and I'm not completely sure where it's going. But, I'm working on it! I really hope you enjoyed this one!

Onesinglebird: Thank you very much! Things are much better with me these days. I'm fully healed now and back to writing!

debcpin2000: Thank you :) I hope you enjoyed this long-awaited chapter!

Guest: I'm one-hundred percent back to normal, thank you. I'm so glad you love Robb and Rhae! Here's hoping you enjoy them even more in the future!