CHAPTER FOUR
word count: 1765

               Taryn awoke late in the morning. Winterfell was half empty with the men having left on their hunt at dawn. Not wanting to disturb her siblings from their restful slumber when Taryn returned from her walk with Robb, which had lasted late until the feast was ending, Taryn had borrowed her little sister's bed for the night. And while Tommen attended sparring lessons with Joffrey and the Stark boys, Myrcella and Taryn sat in on the girls' sewing lesson.

Having had a needle poised between her fingers since she was six, Taryn had spent many hours hunched over fabric and it showed. She had the most experience and her embroidery was the best, but Sansa Stark was giving Taryn a run for her money.

Listening to Septa Mordane's instructions, Taryn had taken a seat beside Alys, Robb's twin sister, and her friend Elia Dayne, a Dornish girl who was even further from home than Taryn was. The Stark's septa was sat with Myrcella, admiring the little Princess' crooked stitches. Taryn smiled when her sister showed off her proud grin. Alys' sister Arya sat with Taryn, Alys and Elia too, to get as far away from her sister Sansa as possible.

Arya gave a sudden huff, frowning at the crooked stitches she had made. Taryn looked down at the Stark girl. "You're doing better than I did at your age." It was a small lie, but Taryn hoped Arya wouldn't notice.

Arya looked at the Princess and the neat embroidery in her hands. "That's not true."

Septa Mordane turned away from Myrcella. "Arya! Don't be rude to the Princess."

Taryn laughed. "It's quite alright. Here, would you like some help?"

She watched Arya glance past her, looking at Alys who gave her an encouraging nod, and Sansa who was occupied with her circle of friends. Arya gave a stiff nod. "Look really close at the tiny holes in the fabric. I used to scribble a line in pencil so I could see where I was stitching. Don't squint too much or you'll hurt your eyes, but try making smaller stitches like this..." Taryn took Arya's small hand and demonstrated, poking the needle through the fabric, pulling through and out the other end.

It took a couple of tries and then Taryn let Arya make her own stitches, which turned out much neater. Arya grinned. "Thank you."

Their lesson was interrupted by Robb. All the girls stopped their work and turned to look at him.

"Septa, might I steal Princess Taryn for a short while?" he asked, smiling over at Taryn. Robb's smile made his blue eyes glow brighter. It was infectious, Taryn found herself smiling too. She did not realise a simple smile could make her heart beat a little faster, but Robb's did and she wasn't quite sure why.

Septa Mordane made no complaint. Taryn set her needlework down and left with the heir of Winterfell. They walked outside together, Taryn's hand fitting in the crook of Robb's arm.

"I'm going to make a fool of myself," she said as they walked towards the stables.

Robb laughed. "I'm sure you won't. Besides, there is no one here to see you." He motioned around the courtyard, still empty. Robb had skipped the hunt in favour of seeing her. The thought made Taryn's heart thudder. They would have their whole lives together, yet Robb still offered to spend time with her now. Taryn was grateful — she wanted to spend time with him too.

There were still a few horses left in the stables — old and tame, Robb called them. "Not as fast for hunting anymore, but perfect for learning with."

Taryn realised how little she actually knew about horses. She tried to help Robb saddle the horse he picked for her — soft brown with one white ear — but he gave her an apple to feed the horse instead.

"It'll keep her calm," Robb explained. "Let her get used to you. And don't be afraid."

Taryn giggled as the horse ate the apple from her open palm. She ran a hand up and down the horse's face. Once the saddle and reins were secured, Robb called Taryn to his side. She had seen many men mount a horse before but now she had to try, she didn't know how they did it.

Robb manoeuvred himself so he stood behind Taryn. "Left foot in the stirrup. Put your hands here. And pull yourself up."

"What if I fall?"

"You won't. I've got you." Robb set his hands on Taryn's hips. She gripped the edge of the saddle tighter, warmth growing on her cheeks, as he helped hoist her up onto the horse. "There you go! How do you feel?"

Taryn looked around the courtyard. "Tall. Very tall."

They both laughed. "I'll ask Alys if you can borrow some of her riding gear next time."

"Next time?"

"You can't learn a new skill and only use it once," Robb said. "Now–" He touched her knee, fingers splayed against her thigh. Taryn stared down at him. "You have to sort of hug the horse with your legs, but not too tightly. And hold the reins like this." Robb demonstrated and held Taryn's hands in his as he adjusted her grip. "You're doing great. Let's get you moving."

Robb was very patient with her — especially when she cried out as soon as the horse moved, scared she was about to fall. ("I can't sit on the horse with you to keep you safe. But you won't fall, even if you do I'll catch you.")

He showed her how to walk and trot and steer until Taryn felt sure enough to guide her horse in circles without Robb holding onto the reins and walking beside them. It did not take long for the fear that had clung to Taryn's chest when she first sat atop the horse to dissipate. That was until a direwolf ran through the courtyard and gave the horse a terrible fright, making Taryn cry out in surprise — thank the gods, Robb was quick to settle the horse before she could try and throw Taryn from the saddle.

"Are you alright?" Robb asked. One hand on the reins, one hand on Taryn's thigh to steady her.

Taryn nodded, her fingers tense against the reins.

Robb was looking up, eyes searching against the walls of the castle. "Bran!"

Taryn's head turned to see Brandon Stark climbing the wall above the stable. "I'm sorry!" he called down. He whistled to his wolf — still without a name — and scurried away over the wall, the pale wolf running along the ground behind him.

Robb chuckled. "I don't expect any horse will grow used to a direwolf any time soon. Hopefully Grey Wind will forgive me for not taking him with us."

Taryn gave a puzzled expression as Robb disappeared back into the stable and re-emerged a moment later with another horse, saddled and ready. "Where are we going?" she asked as he mounted the horse with practised ease.

"The Wolfswood is two miles away," Robb explained. "We will start in that direction and see how you're doing."

***

Taryn quickly found that she adored riding. Even at a slower pace to get her used to the way the horse moved under her, she found herself grinning into the breeze. Hair tousled and her legs burning, Taryn felt free. She could not help but feel disappointed when she and Robb returned to Winterfell before their fathers came back from their hunt.

Robb helped her down when they arrived back at the stables. Fire spread across Taryn's body when Robb gripped her waist to steady her in her dismount. When he let her go she felt cold, and Taryn never wanted to feel cold again.

"You're a natural," Robb told her.

"I just had a good teacher." Taryn grinned.

"You'll have to teach me something next."

The Princess laughed. "I'm sure all my lessons would keep you very interested," she said sarcastically. "But I dare say your sisters would find it amusing if you took part in their sewing lessons."

"Gods." Robb shared her laughter. "Alys made me once. I pricked myself so many times I thought Septa Mordane would give me a thimble for every finger."

A guard approached them as Taryn and Robb walked away from the stables — one of Taryn's mother's personal staff.

"Princess." The guard gave a stiff bow. Taryn and Robb turned. "Your mother requests to see you."

An eager smile graced Taryn's lips. She turned back to Robb, dropping into a small curtsey. "Thank you for the lesson." She fell into step with the guard to go find her mother.

The North and Cersei Lannister were not compatible. Taryn's mother preferred finer things, the cold and misty damp of Winterfell was not for the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. If Taryn did not have to adapt to the North now she would spend her life there, she would surely share her mother's tolerance. Dressed in scarlet and fur, Cersei brought her eldest child into her arms once Taryn arrived.

The Queen scrunched her nose up, cutting their warm embrace short as she held Taryn at arm's length to study her. Tousled curls, mud splatters across her dress, she did not look very ladylike, much less like a princess. "You smell of horse."

Taryn gave a guilty smile. "Robb taught me how to ride."

Cersei reclaimed her seat by the window, Taryn sat next to her. It was warm inside, a welcome contrast to the cold morning. "Just do not turn wild while you are living here," Cersei warned. "There will be enough Starks in King's Landing without my daughter turning into a wolf."

Despite her mother's seriousness, Taryn managed a chuckle. "I am a Baratheon and a Lannister first. I cannot see myself turning wild that quickly.

Cersei's eyes softened. She looked away from Taryn, turning back to the window to look down upon the world around them. "Will he make you happy?"

After five years of letters and the feeling of wind in her hair, Taryn nodded with utter certainty. "I think so."

The Queen took her daughter's hands tightly in her own. "If you have any doubt about him, even for a second, you will tell me."

"Robb is a good man, Mother. He'll be good to me."

"You have a soft heart, my sweet girl." Cersei cupped Taryn's face in her hands. They looked so similar, except for their eyes. Taryn was always jealous of her siblings and her mother's emerald eyes. "I pray it doesn't destroy you."

A/N:

thank you wikihow for teaching me how to ride a horse 🥰