3 Months Later:
"Why can't i sit like this?" i questioned. "It's unlady like. I know, it's strange and irritating but it's the truth" lady Stark said. "It's stupid" i mumbled. "I know, but it's just the order of things" she said.
Sarah, lady Stark and i were practicing our embroidery which i could not get the hang of. "This is stupid too" i said through gritted teeth. "You get better by the day child" lady Stark said.
I looked to Sarahs embroidery which was more than perfect. She also makes most of her dresses which were perfect too. "I doubt that very much" i said. Lady Stark put a hand on my shoulder as Sarah laughed.
Suddenly, the door flung open as Cregan barged inside. His smile faded immediately as he saw his mothers scowl. "Mother" he said with a small nod. "Just go. The both of you" she mumbled as my face lit up.
Cregan kissed his mothers cheek to annoy her further as we both ran out of the room. I made a deal with lady Stark that after my lessons, i could take the horses out with Cregan.
We ran to the stables and began gearing up the horses. Lord Stark gifted me a horse shortly after i arrived at Winterfell. The horse was white as winter snow. He went on to say something about it looking like my families hair, but i was just happy to have a horse.
"What did you call her again?" Cregan asked as he stroked his jet black horses mane. "Freya" i mumbled, already knowing what he was about to say. "Why didn't you call it some Targaryen name? Isn't that what you all do? Have kids and name them the same names over and over and over-"
"What did you call yours again? Benji? What kind of name is that?" i said tilting my head. "My uncles name was Benjen and he gave me the horse" he said. "Isn't that what you Starks do? Have kids and animals and name them the same thing over and over and over-"
"Alright! I get it!" he exclaimed with laughter. I hid my smirk as i mounted my horse. We both rode off into the woods as i felt the cold air flowing through my hair.
Although i was quite resistant to come to the North, i was actually quite enjoying it here. The people at first were weary of me being an outsider but even they have grown to accept me... Well... Most of them.
But the thing i loved the most about the North was the freedom. I could never go out riding in Kindslanding. And i could never speak my mind. But now i could do all these things and more.
"Did they never teach you how to ride in Kingslanding, princess?" Cregan shouted ahead of me. I smirked slightly as i squeezed my heels together to make Freya catch up. Freya caught up to Cregan and his horse immediately and eventually got ahead of them.
Cregans smirk grew at the challenge... But he would not win. We continued riding faster and faster until we got to a river. At the sight of the water, Freya jumped up on her hind legs.
I held onto her tightly, refusing to fall off. With fear, she fled off into the woods. "Aly!" Cregan shouted. I held onto her tightly trying to calm her down, but she would not. "Hey girl! You're okay! Slow down!" i called out.
It was as if all her senses had left her. Eventually, Freya began to slow down as i jumped onto the ground. "Hey girl. Hey come you, your fine" i said stroking her snout.
She huffed and puffed but in time she relaxed. "You scared me. Now come on, we better get back" i said about to jump back on her back... But i froze as i heard the bushes ruffle from behind me.
I turned swiftly around and saw three men creep out from the shrubs. I backed up as i saw them. "Sorry... I was just leaving. I didn't mean to intrude i-"
The men laughed hysterically at my words. "You didn't mean to intrude? I think you did m'lady. We saw waltz into Winterfell like you owned the place" one of them said.
"You are from Winterfell?" i asked. "Yes. We fight for Rickon Stark" one of them chimed in. I looked the men up and down and saw no Stark sigils. "What do you want?" i questioned. "We heard your father put a knife to lord Starks throat... And yet, he is still breathing... As are you."
I gulped as i saw one of the mens hands lingering over their dagger.
"My father apologised... Believe me there is no grief between our houses" i said clutching onto Freya's reigns. "Maybe lord Stark was quick to forgive, but we're not. You see bastard, your father hasn't just pissed off one house. He's pissed of two" he said with a smirk.
Everyone froze as there was silence. I knew i had to be quick. In the blink of an eye, i mounted Freya and tried to ride off. But before i could, the men dragged me off of her as i tried to scream.
"Keep it quiet, bastard" one of the men said putting a dagger to my throat. I gasped at the feeling of the cold steal pressing into my skin.
"Are you going to kill me?" i asked trying to act unafraid. "Sorry to say we are" one of the men said through his golden teeth. "Then do it. Get it over with" i spat.
"Trust me, we are... But, we've been on the road for so long, why don't we have a bit of fun first" he said as the others laughed. I scowled at all of them and took a deep breath. "If your going to kill me... Can i ask who sent you?"
"Your family sent us... Your real family" he said. I felt my heart sink at his words. "Your from the Vale? My family from Runestone sent you?" i asked with shakey breaths.
"Yes, m'lady. But i've heard whispers that were not the only ones who might want you dead. The Northerns did not take kindly to you being here. Your an outsider. Northerns don't like outsiders... And people of the Vale don't like bastards."
As the man rambled on, i used my free arm to elbow him in his side. I groaned in pain as i pushed blade away from my neck. I felt shooting pains in the palms of my hands and watched as blood dripped to the floor.
"What are you gonna do with that then? You gonna kill us?" one of the men taunted. "I'll leave. You tell my family you couldn't find me. And i won't" i said. "Or we can kill you? Simpler option?"
One of the men stormed towards me as i dug the dagger into his chest. My mouth fell open as the man began gurgling blood. Shit.
The two other men did not seem too happy about their friend being murdered by a girl. A "bastard" girl at that. "You little bitch" the man mumbled.
I backed up as they walked slowly towards me. "You'll pay for killing my brother, bastard" he shouted. I gasped for air and held up the dagger, but i knew it would not protect me from two of them.
I did not believe in the gods in truth. But in this moment, i truly believe they were looking out for me. The men stopped in their tracks as a jet black horse rode towards them. I watched as Cregan jumped down from his horse and grabbed his sword.
The mens faces dropped once they recognised him. Cregan looked back at me and noticed the blood dripping from my hands. "You alright there, princess?" he asked.
I nodded quickly as he turned back to the two men. "I don't know if you realise but the princess Alysanne is protected by my father now. Lord Stark" Cregan said.
"We don't want any trouble, Ser... But we have orders" one of the men said. Cregans eyes drifted down to the dead man lying lifelessly on the ground. Cregan laughed. "You did that?" he asked looking back at me once again.
"Kinda" i mumbled. Cregan smiled at me. But his smile faded once he laid his eyes back on the men. Without a word, Cregan charged at the two men and sliced one of the fat mens stomach open.
The last man standing tried to fight back. Cregan blocked the man's sword and forced it to the ground. I watched as the man put his hands up and knelt in front of Cregan.
"My lord have mercy please! I beg of you please!" the man pleaded. Cregan playfully put his sword to the desperate man's throat. "You can live. You go back to whoever sent you here and tell them if they try this again, more of you will die."
The man agreed immediately. "Now go" he spat. The small man stumbled away and fled into the forest. It was only then i took a breath. I didn't realise it, but i think i held my breath the whole time Cregan fought.
"Gods... Your bleeding" Cregan said as he grabbed my hands. "It's fine. Truly... In good news, i got a new dagger" i said with a weak smile. Cregan chuckled. "Are you sure you're alright?" he asked once again.
"I'm fine, Cregan. I just want to go home" i said. He gave me a saddened smile. "Alright then let's go" he said. I was about to mount Freya until i remembered i could not ride with my hands in this condition.
I turned to Cregan and sighed. I hated having to ask him for help. "I can not ride" i said. Cregan gave me a confused look until he remembered my hands. "Of course. Come on, you'll ride with me then."
Cregan helped me up onto his horse and climbed up behind me. I would be lying if i said i didn't feel an awkward tension with him being so close to me. Cregan noticed my uncomfortableness and smiled.
"Don't get used to this. I know you may want to ride with me more often, but sadly this is a one time thing" he said. I rolled my eyes and elbowed the man behind me. He laughed as if my blow meant nothing to him... That annoyed me further.
Once we arrived back into the safe walls of Winterfell, i pleaded Cregan not to tell his family about the situation until after i was bandaged up. Eventually... He agreed. Cregan brought me into his chambers and tried to help me with my wounds.
"I don't understand why i can't just call the Maester" he said. "Because it mean there would be even more dramatics than i care for this evening" i said. "Maybe you need stitches" he said.
"Maybe i don't" i taunted. Cregan rolled his eyes and laughed. He was trying his best to help with the deep wounds caused by the blade of the dagger. He placed a bandage over my hands as gently as he could... Which wasn't too gentle but i knew he was trying.
"You really scared me back there" he said. I looked up at him but he refused to meet my eye. "Aww, would you truly miss my presence that much if i was murdered?" i asked sarcastically.
"I'm serious. Could you imagine how my mother would react if you were killed on my watch!" he exclaimed sarcastically back. We both laughed.
"Was that the first person you killed?" he asked under his breath. My smile faded. "Yes" i mumbled. "Well, it could have been much worse. Trust me... I puked after my first" he said. "What!?" i exclaimed fighting the urge not to tease him.
"There was a wildling giving Sarah trouble when we were kids. I didn't want to kill him, but i had to. Puked all over Sarash shoes. I'm not sure if she cried more at the thought of death, or her new shoes being ruined" he said as i smiled.
Cregan knotted the bandage on my hand as he stood up. "All done" he said. I looked at my bandaged up hands and felt a wave of sadness wash over me. It was then i remembered why those men tried to kill me in the first place.
Even in death, my mother still tries to hurt me. "They we're from the Vale... Sent from Runestone" i said abruptly. Cregan stood there awkwardly.
"Your family then?" he questioned. "They've always hated me. Believed me to be burden for being a bastard... But i truly don't believe i am. My father has to be my father" i said.
Cregan sighed. "There is nothing else in this world that i am more sure of then that... 'Fine man' being your father" he said. I gave him a weak smile.
"If i could just claim a dragon then it would put all these rumours to rest" i mumbled through gritted teeth. "Then why don't you?" he questioned. "It's not that easy."
"I'm serious. Next time you return to Kingslanding or Dragonstone or wherever you Targaryens breed now a days, climb into that dragon pit and mount that dragon just as you would do a horse" he said.
My smile grew at his enthusiasm. I knew Cregan had no clue what he was taking about. But i did take some ideas from what he said. I will claim a dragon if it's the last thing i do.
I will go to Runestone and take back what was mine. And i will burn anyone who stands in my way of that.