Queen of the Stormlands

by Quinlyssbob

Summary:

Aleia Stark is Ned and Catelyn eldest daughter and Robb’s twin sister. Robert Baratheon arranges a marriage between Ned’s daughter and his brother Renly Baratheon which changes the course of The War of Five Kings.

Chapter 1: The Kings Arrival

My chambers smelled like wet dog. I had just finished giving Greywind and Meleys a bath. It was the day Father and Robb had brought the wolves home, the same day Father executed the deserter. I was sitting on my bed, combing out Meleys' fur. Robb was playing with Greywind on the floor while he talked to me, or more so at me. I wasn’t exactly listening. I was too busy thinking about what I had heard Mother say. Jon Arryn was dead. I didn’t know what to make of it. Honestly, I felt I should have been sadder than I was in that moment, that I should have felt something other than apathy. I had felt sorry for Lysa and her son; however, I felt nothing towards Lord Arryn himself, even though technically he was my uncle. I did not ever meet Lord Arryn, only knew of him through the stories Father told.

“Aleia?” he said, then took the brush out of my hand to get my attention. “Are you even listening to me?” he asked, and apparently that was enough of an answer. “Are you still upset with Father?” he asked. I wasn’t even there, but the thought of him letting Bran go along to see a man die, deserter or not, made me furious. I thought Bran too young to see such things. He was only a boy of ten. I had yelled at Father when he returned, and in exchange, this dire wolf was placed into my arms. It hadn’t made me any less angry.

“Do you feel sad about Lord Arryn?” I asked Robb, finally bringing words to what was on my mind.

“I grieve for Father.” Rob said as he gave me the brush back. I knew what he meant. I hadn't seen Father since I had yelled at him in the courtyard.

“I shouldn’t have yelled.”

“You didn’t know. He didn’t either.” Robb consoled me. I wouldn’t feel bad if Lord Arryn hadn’t died. I probably would have brought it up the next time I saw Father. I had a hard time letting things go back then. “He isn’t angry with you.”  I didn’t say anything, only stroked Meleys’s fur before putting her down on the floor. Robb handed me Greywind and I worked at his fur. Mother didn’t want dirty animals running around the castle, and into our chambers, so we had made her a promise we would keep the direwolves groomed.

“I wish that Father would let Bran be a boy longer. It's not fair he’s expected to grow up so fast.” It was true I felt at the time that Bran seeing the deserters' execution would mark the end of his childhood; little did I know it would be his fall and the events to follow.

Robb chuckled. “You’re just like Mother,” he told me. “Winter is coming, it’s time for Bran to learn our way.” Those were our words, ‘winter is coming,’ and somehow, I didn’t believe it would. I didn’t remember last winter. I was only a child when it happened, and it did not last long. All I knew was summer.

“Bran will not be the lord of Winterfell. So why do we force him to grow up so fast?” I argued.

"Aleia, whether he is the second son or first, Father’s lesson will shape him into a strong and honorable man.” Robb told me. I would later learn that, despite a man’s birthright, he could go on to do great things; however, back then, I was a young girl and did not understand the things I do now.

“To see a man die like that at such a young age is not right.” I pressed my case, which was purely based on my emotions and my not wanting Bran to grow up.

“He did well. Aleia, whether you like it or not, he’s growing up, and he will be a man one day.” It was as if Robb was reading my mind. There was a moment in time shortly after I arrived in Kingslanding that I thought Bran would never get to grow up.

As I brushed Greywind's hair, he began to fall asleep on my lap. “You know, I think he enjoys your company better than mine.” Robb said, changing the conversation.

“I believe everyone enjoys my company more than yours.” I quipped back.

“Oh, and I’m sure Koner would agree with that.” Robb teased. Koner was a boy from Wintertown. He was a year older than I was, and at that time, I believed him to be the love of my life. I didn’t like it when Robb brought Koner into the conversation somehow; it reminded me that it would never last, a fact I chose to ignore. I knew as the eldest of my Father’s daughters I would likely marry someone against my choosing. I was naive and thought that, despite whatever future marriage I would still have Koner.

“Oh shut it.” I rolled my eyes and playfully smacked Robb against the head. Greywind immediately woke up and nipped at my other hand before leaping off the bed and crawling into Robb's lap, Meleys then followed suit.

“And what was it you were saying about your company?” He let out a hearty laugh. Once he had stopped, my mind wandered back to Jon Arryn. The king was coming to Winterfell. I knew that could only mean one thing.

“Robert will need a new hand.” I said flatly Meleys was putting her front paws on my mattress and whining for me. I lifted her up.

“You think he is going to ask Father?”

“I’m sure he will. Who else would he ask?” I said as I took a light pink ribbon from my bedside table and tied it around Meleys’s neck and into a bow.

“What if he seeks to mend their friendship?” Robb suggested I could hear the denial in his voice.

“I doubt he would come all this way for that.” I didn’t know Robert, but I had heard he was a proud man. Little did I know his brother was too.

Robb and I talked all night. I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up to find Robb sleeping on my settee. I had told him I didn’t want to be alone.

 

Mother wanted everything to be perfect. Of course she did, the king was to be arriving shortly; the royal party had been spotted near Castle Cerwyn earlier this morning. I had spent all morning readying myself, and then sisters. Mother had asked me to do so.

“Would you stop pulling! ” Arya whined as I  worked a knot out of her hair. I had just finished brushing it, and somehow there were more snarls to be found.

“If you would just sit still, this wouldn’t hurt. And by the gods, what did you even do to become such a mess?” I asked, pulling a piece of straw out of her hair.

“Me and Turnip were jumping off the stable roof.” She told me as if it were of no concern of mine. That was Arya; she was always carefree and up to trouble.

“Arya, you shouldn’t be doing such things it’s dangerous.” I chided as I reached for my mixture of clove and nutmeg.

“I didn’t get hurt.” She argued as if that made it okay.

“Perhaps not this time, but if you keep doing such things, you will,” I told her as I ran the powder through her hair in an attempt to hide the smell of horse and dirt. Arya didn’t say anything in response, just rolled her eyes. I styled her hair in silence and then told her to get dressed.

“I hate this dress, it itches.” She grumbled as she slipped it on.

“Arya, please, of all the days, do not choose this one to be difficult.” I sighed as I put away my brush and powders. When I turned around, she was already darting out my door. “Arya!” I called out for her, though she didn’t listen. I chose not to chase after her. Instead, I just shook my head and made my way to my wardrobe to get my dress. I had chosen one that Sansa had made for me. It was beautiful. Sansa had such a talent for sewing. Whenever we sewed with Septa Mordane, Sansa would create such beautiful pieces; meanwhile, I would merely choose to mend the boys' trousers. Complex sewing always frustrated me; therefore, I stuck to the basics despite Septa Mordane nagging me to at least try and learn more complex stitches.

The dress Sansa had made for me was a light blue similar to the color of the one Arya wore that day. It was embroidered with beautiful black beads I had bought from a trader in Wintertown. I had bought the beads for Sansa. I hadn't expected her to use them on a dress for me, which she had given me on Robb and I’s seventeenth nameday.

 

 

 

Once I was ready, I went to check on Sansa. Of course, she was perfect. She was such a perfectionist at that age. Sansa, too, was wearing a blue dress, which made me chuckle. It seemed we had the same thought. Her hair was done in two braids at the top of her head and the rest of her hair down; it was a common style amongst young girls in the north. Father would often comment on how Lyanna would do her hair in that way when she was young, too. I often think about how hard it was for him to lose her and the scar she left on his heart.

“You look nice,” I told Sansa with a smile as I sat down on her bed. She was lacing up her boots. “It seems you don’t need my help anymore, you're all grown.” She was soon enough that Father would be lining up matches for her. Sooner than I thought, although it wasn’t like Father could say no to the king. Father had been trying to arrange a match for me however with my mind so consumed with Koner at that age I would refuse any offer though father did not know truthfully why I would merely tell him it was because I did not wish to leave home and in exchange he would try to seek matches with northern lords however I still declined though there were only three nearby northern offers before my hand was given to Renly and once again Father could not deny King Robert’s arrangement.

“Do you think the queen will think I look nice too?” she asked. That was all she had been worried about what Cersei Lannister would think of her.

 

“I think she will find you wonderful, not just your appearance,” I told her with a smile. I then went to hug her.

“You’ll ruffle my dress.” she said, putting her hand out.

“Alright, I leave you be.” I smiled again, then left her room.

I made my way through the halls of Winterfell. I could hear Mother talking to Maester Luwin in the distance from the great hall, which was being prepared for the feast. “We need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion’s chamber. I’m told he reads all night.”

“I’m told he drinks all night.” Maester Luwin told her.

“How much could he drink? A man of his stature?” Mother said. I snuck past a servant's platter and snitched a sweet roll.

“We’ve brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar. Perhaps we’ll find out.” Luwin said before Mother broke away from him.

Before Mother could see me I swallowed my bite and hid the roll behind my back. “Are your sisters ready?” She asked me.

“Yes, where’s Robb?” I asked her

“I told the boys to shave.”

With that, I nodded my head and made my way to find Robb. I finished my sweet roll as I made my way to the kitchens. When I reached the kitchens I could see Robb, Theon and my half brother Jon all clean shaven. “Well, aren't you a pretty picture?” I teased Robb. He ran his hands through his auburn hair and chuckled.

“What about me?” Theon asked, stretching his arms as if he were some big draw.

“In your dreams.” I rolled my eyes at him and turned my attention back to Robb, who was putting his shirt back on.

“And look at this one here.” Robb smiled and ruffled Jon’s newly cut hair. I had never seen Jon clean shaving since he began growing facial hair. Robb was closer to Jon then I was. Perhaps when he looked at him, he saw a brother. I however, only saw my Father’s bastard and a painful reminder that all men were the same, even my father who I had been the most honorable man I knew. Later in life, Robb would be that man to be instead.

“I’ve never seen you so prim and proper Snow.” I said. Jon wasn’t the type for frill. His dream was to become a man of The Nights Watch, which would happen soon enough. Uncle Benjin always said The Night's Watch was always in need of men. I never understood why, seeing as the wall was so tall, how could anything breach it? However, there was the occasional story of wildlings roaming around, terrorizing farms and killing children. They were savages after all. Uncle Benjin also said that the Night’s watch was an order of honor. I could not understand how bastards and criminals could be honorable.I thought of The Night's Watch as a life sentence and I thought Jon would be better off staying in Winterfell but he wanted to belong somewhere and that wasn’t here.

“Oh shut up.” Jon said quietly.

“Leave him be, Aleia, he's quite distraught about it.” Robb teased, nudging Jon’s shoulder. Robb threw on his cloak and we were on our way.

 

 

 

We all stood in the courtyard as the royal party rode through the gates. I stood between Mother and Rickon, who held tightly to my hand. At the front of the procession was the blond boy, who I soon learned was Prince Joffrey and a man who wore the helm of a snarling dog. The prince looked at Sansa first which made her smile. I could see Robb was not pleased with the way his jaw clenched. Then came who I assumed to be King Robert, next to two white cloaks. I knew it was King Robert when we all knelt down to bow. The king looked nothing as he was described by my mother and father. He was fat and red faced. Father had told me Robert was strong and handsome. I suppose he was only in his youth now. The only thing about Robert that matched the stories was how tall he was.

“You’ve got fat.” Robert told my father. I turned to see Mother’s reaction. She had a subtle smirk on her face. Then Robert and Father both laughed. Robert patted Father’s shoulder and then turned to my mother. “Cat!” He smiled and brought her into a soft and short hug. He turned to me, looked me up and down and smiled before ruffling Rickon's hair. “Nine years. Why haven’t I seen you? Where the hell have you been?” Robert said to Father, who still had a smile on his face. Nine years ago, Father had fought with Robert against Theon’s father, who had crowned himself king of the Iron Islands. When Balon bent the knee, Father took Theon as his hostage and ward.

“Guarding the North for you, Your Grace Winterfell is yours.” Father did a small bow of his head.

The Queen and her other two children exited the royal wheel house. I could hear Arya and Sansa bickering about something.

“What have we here? You must be Robb.” The king shook my brother's hand, then walked down the line to Sansa. “Aye, you’re a pretty one.” He said and Sansa smiled politely. He asked Arya her name and then moved on to Bran. “Oh, show us your muscles.” Bran did so with a big grin on his face. “You’ll be a soldier.” The king chuckled and smiled.

Once again, Arya and Sansa were bickering. I shot them both a glare. The queen approached us and we all did a small bow. “My queen.” Mother and father said. She held out her hand for Father to kiss.

“Take me to your crypt. I want to pay my respects.” Robert said his voice was loud and booming, but his face looked sad. He had been betrothed to Lyanna in his youth, so I assumed that’s who he wished to pay his respects to.

“We’ve been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait.” The Queen said. Robert only ignored her and called for my father. She frowned as my father followed Robert. She looked embarrassed and that’s when it became clear that Robert still loved my late aunt.

While Mother and I showed the royal family to their rooms, the king and my father discussed mine and Sansa’s hands and marriage arrangements. 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2: A Child’s Dream

Summary:

Ned accepts Robert’s offer to be Hand and strengthen the alliance between their houses through a marriage between Aleia and Renly.

I sat in my fathers solar. He had brought me up here after giving me the news of Robert’s plan to wed me to his youngest brother, Renly Baratheon, to strengthen the alliance between our two houses. I had lost my temper at the suggestion of marriage, as I did every time the subject was brought up. In the past, I had been able to argue, beg, or guilt my way out of the conversation, which would lead to Father turning the offers down. However, this time was different, and I could feel that. This offer was from the king. From Father’s best friend.

“You can say no, as you did with all the others!” I said, rising from my seat. I wanted the conversation to be over and the best way to do that was to make one of us so frustrated that we could not stand to have it anymore.

“Aleia, it’s not that simple, not this time.” His voice was surprisingly calm considering how long I had been raising mine. That’s why he had brought me up here so I wouldn’t cause a scene.

“You can decline! Just as you can decline to be his hand!” He had told me of that offer as well, though I had suspected that was the primary reason Robert came all this way.

“What Robert offers us, what Robert offers our family, is an honor.” It sounded as if he was trying to convince himself of that. Even then, I could tell Father did not want to go to Kingslanding. Soon enough, I would find out why and how unkind Kingslanding could be.

“An honor?” I stepped forward. “An honor to sell my life away? To whom, a man I’ve never met because of some stupid alliance made years ago!”

That was the moment Father’s patience ran out. “I have declined offer after offer. Man after man.” He slammed his hand against the table, then took a deep breath. “I did not do that for me or my sake. I did it all for you. So that your childhood could continue as you wished. I will not play this game anymore. This is not just an offer from a northern house seeking to better their standing with me. I cannot refuse this with a Raven or a kind word like the others.”

My face dropped. He was actually thinking about this. I’m sure he had thought about the others as well, but never this seriously. “You intend to make me go through with this?” My voice was shaking.

“It is high past time you were married. I know now I have been far too lenient with you. You will be married, whether it be to Renly Baratheon or another.”

I shook my head. I had done so well keeping back my tears until that moment. “Then I pray you use your better judgment and decide against this.”

 

 

Everyone at the feast enjoyed themselves well, I, however, was brooding. Even Jon, who was seated amongst the squires because Mother did not want him to be seen with our family, seemed to be having a good time, but I believe that credit was due to our uncle Benjin who seemed the only person who truly did not care that Jon was a bastard. I was still upset with Father regarding our previous conversation. Sansa, unlike me, was thrilled at the prospect of getting married. It seemed she could not wait for Father to say yes. Sansa was sitting next to Jeyne Poole and the two of them yammered on about how handsome Joffery was and how wonderful it would be when Sansa and he were married. Normally, I would not have minded the girlish banter between my sister and her friend however, for most of that night, everything seemed to irritate me. I found it incredibly hard not to roll my eyes at her. When Arya flung food at Sansa’s face, I couldn't help but chuckle.

Robb was laughing hysterically; it seemed to me he had had his fair share of ale that night. Mother shot him a look, and then he was hauling Arya off to bed with a playful shove.I took that as my chance to play it off as if I was going along with Robb to deal with Arya. No one would think my absence unusual.

I walked behind Robb, I don’t think he noticed, and if he did, he did not say anything. Meley followed behind her feet, padding on the stone floor. Robb made his way upstairs to where the rooms were and I branched away to the kitchens, where I snuck out of the keep.

When I got outside, I quickly spotted Koner, who was hauling bags of flour from a wagon to the kitchens. His hair was damp with sweat.

“Koner!” I called out quietly, his head immediately turned and his face lit up in his usual smug grin.

“There you are.” He said, setting down the bag of flour next to the door and coming over to me. I pulled him away quickly to a darker area so we wouldn’t be seen. “It took you long enough to come visit me.” He smirked. He had come to Winterfell for the king's visit. Robert had a party of over two hundred, so help was needed therefore, work was easy to find.

Koner tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and leaned towards me; he wanted to kiss me. I pushed him away. “I have the feeling I’ll never see you again.” He looks confused, as if I've made a poor joke he doesn’t understand.

“What?” He chuckles, brushing me off, then leans back in.

“Koner, I’m being serious.” I pushed him back again. “Robert- The king wishes for Sansa and I to marry into his house.”

“What?” Once again, he chuckled, but this time with a smirk. “You’re going to marry that golden haired Prince and Sansa that waddling child?” He found the idea ridiculous, though his perception was wrong.

“The king proposes Sansa marry Prince Joffrey. As for me, his own brother.” I told him and I could see him take it and understand this wasn’t some joke.

“You will just say no, as you have to all the rest.” He gave me a fake smile and took my arms gently in his hands.

I shook my head. “Father does not give me a choice on this.” I shut my eyes tightly for a moment to hold myself back from crying.

“So this is really going to happen?”

“If not, Father says it is time I was married, even if that be to someone else.”

“You can't not now,” His breath was shaking. I had never seen him like this. He was usually so pleased with that shit eating grin on his face. “Gage is giving me permanent work in the kitchens. I can see you every day if it pleases you and…” he began rambling on.

“Koner,” I pressed the palm of my hand to his cheek. “I can’t stay in Winterfell forever, it was an unrealistic expectation.”

“I’ll come with you. To Kingslanding or wherever you end up.” He sounded desperate and it broke my heart.

“You can’t. You know that it’s not realistic. You know this wasn’t going to last, it was stupid of us to think that it would-“

“I was just a way to pass the time then, is that it?” He scoffs, cutting me off and turns on his heel.

“Koner that’s not it if you know that!” I grabbed his wrist and he snapped it away, causing me to stumble.  Meleys stepped in front of me and growled.

“You didn’t even try to stop this, did you?”

“I did.” I was now sobbing, all self control lost. Koner once again began walking away. “It hasn’t been decided yet! Come back!” I heard the kitchen's wooden door slam. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to do anything. Meleys had stopped growling and was now at my side, brushing against my leg. She seemed content enough that Koner had stormed off, she was never found of him being around, perhaps it was because he took my attention, but that was just a guess.

I couldn’t stop crying. I felt like my legs were barely keeping me up as I walked to the courtyard in a haze.

“Aleia?” I heard a voice call after me. I turned around to see Jon, he had his sword in his hand. He had been taking out his anger on a training dummy. I did not know what had upset him so. I turned to look at him and he could see my tears. “Are you alright?” He looked concerned now, all traces of whatever had angered him prior were gone.

“It’s nothing, I just needed air.” I lied, sharply wiping my tears away with my sleeve.

“I know you’re lying.” He said. He was now standing by my side. Ghost attempted to lick Meleys’ nose and she nipped at the air in front of him.

“I don’t need comfort, especially from you.” I crossed my arms.

“Right because you don’t need company from a bastard.” She mumbled and walked back to the training dummy. I suddenly knew why he was upset too.

“That’s not what I said!” I walked over to him with a stomp. “I don’t want comfort from anyone and you wouldn’t get it anyway.”

“You really want to fight about this?” He was right. I was looking for another person to fight with, someone to take it out on.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.” I let my arms fall to my side.

“You’re right, though I don’t understand.” He set down his sword against the dummy’s post. “Because I’m not a fancy lady like you are.” He gave me a smile and that was the last time I ever saw it. “I don’t know what it’s like to be a bargaining chip.” He knew why I was upset. He had pieced it together. I assumed he had probably heard my calling out for Koner.

“He thinks I have a choice.”

“That’s because he’s an idiot.” Jon told me Robb had told me that before too.

“Don’t say that.”

“I’m only saying it because it’s true.” Jon stepped closer after he said it. “You’d be Lady of Storm’s End. Wardeness of The South.” He said matter of factly as if it was the greatest thing he had ever heard. It was a poor attempt to cheer me up.

I laughed. “I don’t think Wardness is a real title. Besides, I don't want it.”

“Then what do you want?”

“To stay here in Winterfell forever,” I shook my head and chuckled. It sounded so stupid aloud, especially when I was saying it to Jon. “To never grow up.”

“It sounds like a child’s dream.” Jon told me. He was right, it was but the truth of his statement clung to me like a wet cloak. 

 

 

I had cried myself to sleep and awoke to Mother tapping on my door before coming in. I hadn't been asleep long because the moon was still in the same place as before.

“You know,” Mother sighed, trying to find her words. She had been carefully spoken around me these past few days. “Marrying Lord Renly would not be such a terrible thing.” She sat down on the end of my bed. Meleys came to her and rested her head on her lap. Mother was still hesitant around our direwolves. I sat up. “Your father has chosen to accept his role as Hand.” I knew what that meant that father had accepted this marriage offer as well. I clasped my hand over my mouth and began sobbing.

Mother was at my side in an instant. “Oh, Aleia, it is not so bad.” She wrapped her arms around me and we sat like that in silence until I stopped crying and she once again spoke. “Your father intends to take Arya and Bran along as well.” It was supposed to make me feel better, but it didn’t.

“I will not have Robb.” I whispered that was the moment I realized what it had all been about. All the fighting and refusal hadn't been about Koner, though that was a portion but I knew it would be inevitable. I didn’t want to leave Robb. He was my best friend. He knew everything about me. Every thought I had he could read on my face, he was the only person I didn’t harbor any anger towards. The only person who truly saw me. He was my peace.

“His place is here.” Mother said, losing her embrace.

“What of you? Will you come?” I felt I already knew that answer.

“Robb needs someone to guide him and Rickon is young; he still needs his mother.” She said her hands were now in her lap.

“I need my mother.” I was crying once again. “I cannot do this without you. I won’t.” I had never felt so alone in all my life, even though she was right beside me, sitting there.

She wiped away my tears with her thumb and held my face in her hands. “You can. You are so strong, Aleia.” She smiled. I could see tears in the corner of her eye as well. She composed herself and suddenly became very serious. “This recusancy of yours, it will not be accepted in Kingslanding.”

I frowned and looked away to avoid her gaze. I didn't want to be lectured on this. “I know,” I said dismissively.

“It is not a kind place. Every word you say, every decision you make will be seen, judged and debated. You will be Robert’s sister in law and a part of his court. People will look to you.” She wanted me. I didn’t want it to be the responsibility of everyone watching me. I didn’t want to play the game; little did I know how well I would. “You must carry yourself with grace and kindness, but you cannot let others sway who you are, Aleia.” She sighed heavily. “You are so easily led. I worry about what a place like that will do to you.”