𝓐𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓪
Antea Stark had never been the sweetest girl like her sister Sansa was, but everything she was feeling since the recent events made her doubt of herself. She felt nervous and she didn't feel like talking properly as the Septa had always taught her. She felt hate towards the Lannisters for what they had done to Bran, for the unnerving mind of the Imp that had yet made a full of them, managing to escape to death with that cutthroat. That man had fought and won, so for the Gods the Imp was innocent. And that made her feel hate even towards them.
She was feeling more anger towards the Kingslayer since when a crow arrived at the Eyrie announcing that her noble Father had been hurt and his guards killed, but she felt wrath when words arrived announcing the King's death and her Father's arrest once they landed in White Harbor.
"Treason?" had exclaimed Antea once her Mother announced her what had happened in King's Landing "That's outrageous! Under what charges?"
"Words say he wanted the throne" Catelyn said clenching in her fist the cloth of her gown as Antea kept walking back and forth inside their room of the inn where they had stopped. Her hands on her hips, feeling trouble breathing as her corset had been bound too tightly around her chest.
"Lies, lies. They do nothing but lie!" exclaimed Antea.
"Don't speak too loudly" Catelyn warned her with a glare.
"Why should I?" she argued back with rage "I'm sick of Lannisters and their lies! Father would have never betrayed the King, he is no such man".
Antea observed her mother, she knew what she was thinking; treason was a gruesome accuse. Punishable by death.
"Are they trying to destroy our House?! Is that what they are aiming for?" she felt trembling with rage. She wasn't even feeling like crying, she was beyond that. She was tired of those games.
"I honestly can't understand what they are aiming to" Catelyn said trying to hide a worried tone "Such accusations will lead us all to war"
They were already close to war. They had been since the King's party left Winterfell. They had known no peace after those days. And Antea was fearing that they would no live happy days for a long time from that moment on.
"What of Sansa and Arya?" she asked with anticipations "And Father's men?"
Catelyn's look made her fear even more and the anger grew with it.
"They died?" the girl asked moving towards the window gripping the hard stone with her fingers.
"For your Father's men I can just assume the worst, but for your sisters..." Catelyn took a deep breath, trying to not cry thinking about her little girls.
"I pray for the Stranger to take the Lannisters' lives if someone else from my family is going to be hurt by them" Antea said with gritted teeth. She had sworn to all the Gods, Old and New that the Lannisters would have paid and now she wanted to see it done. They had crippled her brother, send a man to kill him; they had killed innocent Northerns, accused her Father and Lord, and only the Gods knew what was of her sisters.
"They are going to pay for all the offences".
"A thought shared by your brother" Catelyn said standing up, making her daughter to look towards her with a frown.
"What do you mean by it?" asked Antea.
"He has called the bannermen and he is marching South" at her mother's words Antea's eyes grown wide.
"He is getting South?" she felt like in a dream, Robb wasn't so far form them. Her mother nodded her head.
"Moat Cailin" Catelyn said "And there is where we are going"
"To Robb?" asked Antea not fully believing what her mother was saying.
"I need to speak with your brother" Catelyn said looking in her daughter's eyes.
It didn't pass long as they received Robb's crow. Her brother had decided to go to war against the Lannisters. He had called the Bannermen and he was ready to march South. All the North had agreed on going as a warning to the Lords of the West that no one would have let this offence to sly. They were not people of the South, they were no liars or traitors. They were not afraid.
Even her mother's uncle, the Blackfish, finally decided to leave her fool Aunt behind to follow them. He too couldn't understand why Lysa didn't want to help them, but there was no much to say about it. She was crazy and it was far better leave her where she was than have her fussing over her son every single moment.
"It's a joy to have you with us, dear uncle" Antea said as they marched towards Moat Cailin, where Robb was marching too.
"It's a joy for me to help you and your noble Father" he said making the girl bow her head in gratitude. That was all she wanted. To free her father and sisters and go back to Winterfell. Never looking back towards the South ever again.
They had traveled for many days, by horse and by ship all to reach Moat Cailin where Robb had warned them that he would have marched to. As they got closer Antea couldn't help but feel excited at the thought of see her twin brother again. And Shadow was feeling the same. It felt like years since Antea had seen Robb last. She had missed him dearly and she couldn't wait to held him in her arms again, making her feel safe like he did since they were just children. But she felt pride to, once she saw how many men had answered to his order. He was just Robb no more, he was Lord Stark now, a man grown, ready to go to battle. That thought scared her, thinking of him in the battlefield, but that was his duty as was hers to support him in every step and decision.
"I expect for you to restrain yourself" said her mother as they walked in the camp.
"What do you mean?" Antea asked with a frown.
"Do not hug him, do not cry" she said solemnly as men started to turn towards them "He is a Lord now, a man. His soldiers have to see him as such".
Antea understood what her mother was saying, but she couldn't help but feeling sad for that. She wanted to hug her brother and kiss his cheeks, but she would have done her best to not let the feelings get the best of her. She didn't want for her brother's men to think of him as a child.
They arrived at the Gatehouse Tower of Moat Cailin where they could see the Starks' banner moving with the wind. That was where her brother had decided to make his sit. Her heart beat with joy as she saw him. His fur on and his bannermen all around him, deep in conversations of war. No one noticed them enter, but she had noticed her brother that seemed older and more confident and she noticed Theon Greyjoy always by Robb's side. Not far from them she saw Grey Wind and a smile appeared on her lips when she saw Shadow already at his side, nuzzling silently her nose against his and then both direwolves looked towards them, observing them. As Antea looked up, she noticed Theon Greyjoy looking in her direction with slightly parted lips as the lords fell silent one by one.
"Mother?" Robb said, his voice full of emotion as his eyes once they landed on Antea that respectfully bowed her head.
"You've grown a beard" Catelyn said solemnly as Grey Wind and Shadow moved towards her circling the woman with admiration "I like it".
It was true. It suited him. It was the first time he had let it grown and it all helped establishing his lead.
One of the men, a Tallhart by the banner on his armor was the first to walk closer to them and kneel before her mother.
"Lady Catelyn" he said "You are as fair as ever, a welcome sight in those troubled times" then he turned to Antea, bowing his head "As is your daughter, Lady Antea"
"Gratitude, for your kind words" Antea said with a smile and a small bow.
Then one by one, all the men got closer kneeling before them; the Umbers, the Glovers, Bolton and all the others. The last was Theon. He got closer observing them, and as he knelt before Antea, his lips moved up in a smile.
"I had no thought of seen you here, my lady" he said looking straight in Antea's eyes, making her smile before turning her head. Then Theon looked over to Catelyn "Nor you, Lady Stark".
"We had no thought of being here" her mother said starting to explain to them what had led them there and why the Blackfish was with them. Robb thanked him for his service. Then she explained that she had decided to make Ser Rodrick go back to Winterfell to hold it until their return.
"My Lady, a question, as it please you" the man who had spoken must have been Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, by the banner that he had sewn on his vest; the flayed man. Antea had never been before the man; he was pale, so pale that his skin and hair held no color. She had never met a man like that.
As her mother nodded her head, lord Bolton asked his questions "It is said that you hold Lord Tywin's dwarf son as a captive. Have you brought him to us?" no words could make Antea's anger her best, thinking about the vantage that they held that was now probably drinking and talking his way back to his family.
"I hold no longer such hostage" Catelyn said, not hiding her disappointment, telling the men that the Gods had favored the Imp helped by her fool sister. But then she took a breath.
"I would speak with my son alone. I know you will forgive me, my lords" her mother said before all bannermen bowed their heads and started to leave.
"Antea, Theon" she said making the two of them turn towards the woman "You too". Robb and Antea looked at each other, both wanting to reply. But it was no time for discussions, they were children no more.
"Mother" she said bowing her head.
"I'll come looking for you later" Robb assured nodding his head, just before Antea and Theon could walk away. Shadow nuzzled her snout against Grey Wind's before following the Stark girl.
"Would you walk with me, my lady?" Theon asked, holding out his arm for her. Antea smiled to him accepting, intertwining her arm with his. She giggled as he smiled at her, before starting to walk around the camp.
"Words cannot describe how please I am to see you, my lady" Thoen said as they walked down the muddy road.
"And I you" she said gripping his arm. She had missed Robb dearly, but she had thought about Theon many times and as her brother he too seemed older than before.
"Even if I would have preferred a more peaceful time, in a more pleasant place"
"Like Winterfell?" asked Theon, making her nod her head.
"Like Winterfell".
She still dreamt of her home, like it was just a faint memory. She missed it, she missed everything of Winterfell. And she knew that from now on nothing would have been the same.
"I will take you back there" Theon said "We'll win this war, for sure" Antea observed him as they walked.
"You always speak like everything is easy" she said looking away.
"Is it bad?" he asked, cocky as always.
"You're going to fight on a battlefield" she said "Both you and my brother. I hope it is bravery and not foolishness that is making you speak" that made him chuckle a bit.
"Bravery is foolishness" he answered making Antea roll her eyes "We wouldn't be here if we weren't a bit of both" then he turned to her "And you wouldn't have left if you weren't a bit of both" Antea turned to him with wide eyes.
"Have you just called me a fool?" the girl said with wide eyes and Theon chuckled.
"Did I offend you, my lady?" the young man said tightening his hold on her arm as she was trying to move away "It was no my intent" he said with a smirk as they stopped in the middle of the road.
"You spoke as all of this is a game, but fear for your life will be as easy as breathing once it will be really at risk" she said with strong voice, making him frown, before his usual smirk disappeared to be replaced by a worried expression.
"Have you risked your life, Antea?" he asked seriously, making her look away "When?" he asked urgently "Where you hurt?"
Antea shook her head "We've been attacked by the people of the mountains" she said shivering at the thought "I've seen people die before my eyes. It was only thanks to Shadow that I'm yet alive".
"I should have come with you" Theon said seriously, no smirk on his face "No one would have ever approached you, I wouldn't have let them" his worry surprised her. He had always been a dear friend, but he was being so protective, she wasn't expecting it.
Antea's hand moved to grab his, making Theon look up in her eyes.
"I was glad you weren't there" she said holding his hand strongly, wanting for him to hear every word "I would have never forgiven myself if you had perished just to protect me" she had worried about it, in the exact moment she had seen the first man die that her mind thought immediately at her friend.
"No death could be more honorable" Theon said holding her hand back.
"Or foolish" Antea answered with a small smile, yet a faint blush crept on her cheeks at his words.
"Antea" Robb's voice made her turn, making the both of them to step away from one another, before Antea could walk towards her brother who smiled at her. They were in public, so it was no place for hugs and kisses, yet Robb looked towards Theon.
"I'm stealing my sister, Greyjoy" he said with a smirk "You've kept her long enough".
"Not quite" Antea said turning to Theon "His company it's always well appreciated"
"As it's my lady's" Theon said bowing before walking away.
Antea observed him as he got moved down the path, still feeling the strange blush on her cheeks, but then she decided to ignore it to concentrate fully on her brother; that was now leading her toward his tent so that they could be alone for some moments. As they entered his private tent, Antea couldn't help but jump in her twin's arm, giggling as he twirled her around.
"My sweet sister" he said with a chuckle.
"I almost didn't recognize you with this beard" she said as Robb set her on the ground, caressing his face "Where is my young brother who played with wooden swords?" they both felt a bit of sadness as they talked about those days.
"We've both grown from there" he said kissing her forehead "I see you've grown in a brave woman" Antea smiled at him, hugging Robb once again. She didn't want to leave him. Never again. Those days parted had been too much.
"I've got so much to tell you" Robb said turning to look her in the eyes "Bran had woken up" the word joy could not describe what Antea was feeling in that moment, finally the Gods gave them a blessing, even if just one.
"Is he well?" she asked not liking that her brother fell silent for a moment.
"What Maester Luwin feared is indeed the truth" Robb said "He will not walk again" Antea took a breath. She had hoped that her brother would wake and in a few days what the Maester had said would have been wrong. That Bran would have stood up and climbed and ran once again.
"What did Mother say?" Antea asked try to keep herself from crying. Robb took a breath.
"I received a letter from Sansa" Robb said making her smile.
"Sansa is yet alive?" Robb nodded his head seriously.
"Mother read the letter and for her those are Cersei's words" he explained "They want for me and Mother to go in King's Landing and swore loyalty to Joffrey" Antea scoffed at his words, starting pacing once again.
"They keep mocking us" she exclaimed angrily "You can't go. Every Northerns remember what was of the last Starks that went South to swear an oath" her grandfather and uncle had perished in King's Landing before Robert's Rebellion; she would have not seen her brother die like that.
"We won't" Robb assured her making her stop "Mother and I had discussed what to do. She agreed on my strategy of splitting the army in two, to get both Jamie and Tywin Lannister, a river between them, to not let one reach the other" he was so confident speaking on war and she felt getting braver and braver by the minute, entrusting the North to her brother.
"They will pay" Antea said feeling pride once again, making Robb nod his head.
"For Father, Bran, our sisters and the North" he said taking her head between his hands "I will win this war".
"I'll pray the Old Gods and the New" she said making their forehead touch.