It took a while for Willas to get settled in his chambers in Winterfell. He'd rarely left High Garden in the last few years, his bad leg had made sure of that, and Winterfell was a very harsh contrast to what he was used to. Of course that was a good thing, and he was actually savouring his time alone, sat by the window reading an old history book, except he was disturbed from his peace far sooner than he wanted.

"So, big brother, what did you think?" Margaery Tyrell practically demanded as she burst into Willas' chambers, startling him.

"Gods, Marg!" he exclaimed, more out of annoyance than anger, because of course his little sister would be the first one to ask him of his first impressions. "Learn how to knock, will you, I could have been naked!"

"But you weren't," Margaery pointed out casually with a slight shrug as she sat down onto his bed, leaving his door wide open. Her eyebrows were tilted up teasingly, her mouth turned up into a smirk. "Tell me then!"

"She's... nice enough," Willas hesitated over his words, not sure what really to say about the girl he had ony met once for a matter of minutes who was soon to be his betrothed.

If he was being honest, Willas had expected his sister to come bother him much sooner regarding his opinion on the 'Stark girl', as his siblings had started referring to her as. He'd expected Margaery to knock his door down the moment Eddmina had left him, considering how eager she'd been for the whole arrangement. He couldn't remember her being so excited about Garlan's marriage arrangements, but the entire journey up north had been filled by Margaery's speculation over what the 'Stark girl' would be like.

"Nice enough? That's all you have to say?" Another voice called from the doorway, and with an annoyed grunt Willas looked over to see Garlan, leaning against the doorframe as he too was smirking at him.

"Seven hells, just invite Loras in as well, why don't you!" Willas exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. Margaery let out a song-like laugh, exchanging a look with their brother.

"Don't be bitter, Willas," Garlan told him, rolling his eyes slightly as Margaery smirked at him. "Can you not think of anything else to say about her, other than 'nice enough'?"

"Well sorry I'm not as elloquent as you were when you first saw Leonette," Willas muttered, trying not to sound bitter despite not liking the fact that his own marriage would not be on the same grounds as his brothers.

"You really are adament on bringing Leo up in every conversation, aren't you, Will?" Garlan rolled his eyes. "Not thinking that it's rubbing salt into the wound of her not being here?"

"I know you miss her but she'd hate it here," Margaery stated rather plainly, making Garlan shrug, knowing her words to be true. "I thought Winterfell was meant to be built upon hot springs,"

"Don't let the Starks hear you say that, they're rather proud of their heritage, Bran the Builder built this keep," Willas told her, rather firmly, not wanting his sister's dislike of the cold weather to offend their hosts, especially not Lady Eddmina, who he could tell was a proud northerner.

"Now tell me, dear brother, did you know that fact before or did you learn it specially to impress Lady Eddmina?" Garlan teased, making Margaery laugh once more. Willas shot him a slight glare. "Oh, come on, you know we're only joking. Besides, we better head off to this feast,"

***

Feasts in Winterfell usually weren't such a spectactle, Eddmina knew, but the fact that this feast was in honour of one of the wealthiest houses in Westeros visiting - as well as the beginning of betrothal negotiations - meant that this particular feast was different.

It started no different, what with Robb coming to her room as she was finishing getting ready, as he always did when the Starks were hosting a feast, considering it was customary for them to enter the hall together due to them being the eldest. Eddmina instantly noticed how nice he looked, in his leathers and a dark fur cloak, and she couldn't help but wonder if he had purposefully dressed so nice to impress the Tyrells, especially the beautiful Lady Margaery. Robb had never seemed overly bothered about that sort of thing before, considering any northern visitors were just naturally drawn to him, but yet there he was. It was almost sweet, until Eddmina considered the fact that she was the one who should be dressing to impress since she was the only one the Tyrells were there for.

"You look nice," he commented despite her thoughts, admiring her deep blue velvet gown embellished with embroidered snowflakes that perfectly complimented her eyes, watching as she finished her hair. For once it was free of its usual braid, instead falling down her back in gentle curls with the front parts braided back."Rather northern, actually,"

"Makes sense, considering I am, plus it was Mother's idea," Eddmina shrugged as they headed out of her room, her arm linked in his, remembering what her mother had told her before, before she had met the Tyrells. "Speaking of her, what's she said about tonight?"

"If you mean about Jon..." Robb assumed, knowing exactly what Eddmina meant, glancing over to his sister with an annoyed look on his face that said it all, making her frown in slight anger. "You know Mother won't let him eat with us, she never does when we have visitors,"

"Fuck that," Eddmina muttered under her breath. "It's not fair, especially if Theon gets to join us..."

"I spoke to him earlier, by the way, about what he said," Robb cut in as she trailed off, wanting to change the subject, knowing Eddmina had taken part in plenty of arguments with their mother regarding her treatment of their bastard brother, and he didn't particularly fancy playing the part of a peacemaker that night. "I could tell it annoyed you,"

Maybe picking the topic of Theon to change their subject was a bad decision, Robb thought, as he saw Eddmina set her jaw in annoyance, letting out an irritated sigh. The silver lining of her annoyance was that it perfectly distracted her from her mother's cruelty towards their bastard brother.

"It didn't annoy me," Eddmina rolled her eyes, biting her lip as she thought of the right words to explain how she felt, which was hard; she never could sum up how she felt about Theon, especially after everything that had happened. "I just thought he'd be over it all by now,"

Robb glanced over to his sister, noticing how steely her expression was, her eyebrows knoted together in slight frustration at everything that was happening, her lips pursed together. Even when she was displeased she was beautiful, he couldn't help but note, unsure as to when they'd both gotten that old that they were concerning themselves with betrothals and unrequited romances.

"What did you think, anyway? To the Tyrells?" Robb asked the question she'd been dreading, making her let out a groan of displeasure.

"They're... pretty, and rather southern," she shrugged. "Did you see how many furs they were all wearing? But they could be worse, they seem polite enough,"

"He seemed polite enough," Robb said, trying not to sound bitter, though he couldn't bring himself to say Willas' name.

Eddmina couldn't help but wonder if Robb was jealous of Willas. Obviously not of the relationship they would eventually be forced into, but because he signified how they would soon be forced apart. If the betrothal went to plan, Eddmina would one day have to move down south to High Garden, far away from Winterfell, from her home and her family, from Robb. Nothing would ever spoil their sibling bond, but the thought of not seeing each other everyday was enough to turn them both bitter towards the situation at hand.

"Yes... he seemed rather..." Eddmina hesitated over her words, and Robb knew it was because she was trying to find the right words, knowing she would rather not speak at all than speak something wrong and regret it or be thought a fool. "Rather kind,"

Robb didn't say anything, confirming Eddmina's suspicions, but by that point they'd reached the great hall, and they could see that the rest of their siblings had already sat down. Looking in through the door they both could see two empty seats between Sansa and Arya, the seating arrangement making Eddmina wonder if their mother had organised it to be that way to stop her two sisters bickering, and the way Robb glanced at her told her he was thinking the same, so with a small smirk the two of them walked into the hall, arm in arm.

That was when Eddmina noticed the Tyrells, sat opposite her siblings. Lord and Lady Tyrell were sat on the top table with her parents, but the younger Tyrells were there, and as she and Robb approached the table the four of them turned, all eyes going to Eddmina. Robb felt her tense slightly, nerves getting to her, especially as Willas turned to her with a small smile that was failing to hide his stunned expression upon seeing her. Squeezing her arm slightly, Robb shot a glance to his sister before pulling her seat out, watching her as she sat down neatly.

"Sorry we're late," she excused casually, not looking up from the table as she reached for the flagon of wine, pouring herself a glass and taking a rather large swig of the alcohol.

As she glanced up, she noticed all of the Tyrells watching her, Willas included. In fact the expression on his face was the same as when he had kissed her hand before. Eddmina was rarely intimidated, but feeling Willas' gaze on her made her feel conscious of every move she made, as if she was terrified of making a fool out of herself in front of him, as if she was scared of no longer holding his attention.

It was going to be a long night.

***

In truth, Eddmina didn't speak much during dinner. She ate quickly, drank two cups of wine, and then dismissed herself, leaving the southern guests and her siblings behind. It was probably quite rude of her to leave, considering the Tyrells were there for her, but the future betrothal between her and Willas was still unspoken so Eddmina decided she owed them nothing at that point in time, not to mention there was someone she particularly wanted to see.

"Oi! Snow!" Eddmina called out to her brother who was putting his sword away in the armory. He spun round quickly, a small smile on his face, though it didn't hide the sad look in his eye that made her heart ache. "You didn't miss much, but here,"

She handed him the small plate of leftovers and the wine golblet she'd managed to smuggle out underneath her cloak, and his smile spread at the sight of it. It was something she always did whenever Jon wasn't allowed to eat with the family. She knew he was treated a lot better than most bastards, considering he got to live in Winterfell and be raised by his father and grow up with siblings, but there was still a lot of hardship for him, mostly inflicted by her mother. Her mother's cruelty towards Jon was always something Eddmina felt guilty for, and she tried to make up for it wherever she could.

"You didn't need to-" he immediately began, but she stopped him by raising her hand, shaking her head slightly. "Thank you, Edda,"

"You're welcome," she smiled back at him, deciding not to tell him that she saw it as her duty to make up for her mother's actions. "I'd much rather have been out here with you,"

"Shame you're not the bastard then," he shrugged, trying to hide his annoyance at his status as he bit into a honey-roasted chicken leg, taking a seat on the bench against the wall. "It can't have been that bad,"

"No, you're right, it wasn't that bad at all," she sighed slightly, collapsing back onto the bench next to him. "You're just a lot more fun to talk to than a bunch of southerners,"

That was true, considering no one had really spoken. Eddmina's younger siblings looked to her to take the lead, but she had no idea how to start the conversation on the table, and so they mostly stayed quiet.

"How were the our esteemed guests?" Jon joked, making Eddmina groan and roll her eyes. "Especially yours,"

"Not as bad as I thought they would be, but I don't know..." She trailed off. "And as for Willas Tyrell... I don't know, he's nice enough, and I know our wedding wouldn't be for a long time, but when I was sat at the table between Robb and Sansa, sat across from him, I just kept thinking... This is my home, Jon. I love Winterfell, I love the North, and the Tyrells look so out of place here, so that just means I'm going to be out of place in Highgarden,"

"Edd, you don't know that," Jon tried to reason, but he also knew that once Eddmina's mind was fixed on something, she could very rarely be changed. "Are you intimidated by them?"

"No, of course not!" Eddmina exclaimed, hating the thought of Jon thinking she could be so easily intimidated. "It's just... I'm not some pretty southern lady, am I?"

"Wouldn't know, haven't ever met one," Jon pointed out. "Have you?"

"Not exactly, but their reputation precedes them," Eddmina told him with a small frown.

"And so does yours, apparently, otherwise they wouldn't be here," Jon told her, making her frown even more. "A house like the Tyrells wouldn't usually care about northern visits but for you-"

"Gods, Jon, you make it sound like they sing songs about me," she laughed, rolling her eyes. "The sort of songs Sansa would beg me to sing,"

"But you'd refuse because there's no war or death in them," he teased, making her slap his arm. "I wouldn't worry, Edda, either it works out or it doesn't, what's the worst that can happen?"

"I get stuck in a loveless marriage far down south?" she raised her eyebrow, though now it was Jon's time to hit her.

"Have a little faith," he told her gently, before finishing off the food she'd brought out for him. "Did your mother see you bring this out?"

"Probably, but I don't care," she shrugged. "I'm sorry she treats you like shit. She's my mother, so of course I love her, but..."

That was when she heard the sound of footsteps just outside the armoury shelter. Both she and Jon turned round to see a slim feminine figure stood in the shadows, though as she stepped into the moonlight Eddmina recognised her as Margaery Tyrell. Eddmina instantly rose to her feet, curtsying slightly, though she wasn't entirely sure why. Winterfell was her home, if anyone should be curtsying it should be Margaery, but there was just something about the Tyrell girl that was so beautiful that made it seem as if she deserved every politeness that could be given.

"How long have you been standing there?" Eddmina asked, watching the younger woman offer her a kind smile.

"Not long, I'm sorry for interrupting," Margaery smiled, her smirk the same as her brothers. "I was wondering if you could show me to my chambers? Winterfell seems so complicated and I don't want to get lost,"

"Of course," Eddmina nodded before shooting an apologetic look to Jon who merely shrugged, gesturing for her to go.

As soon as Eddmina got close enough, Margaery took hold of her arm and wrapped her own through hers, a gesture that took her back slightly. Everything about the woman made Eddmina feel cautious, but that was probably because she'd never met anyone like her before. She'd not even spoken to her properly yet but she could tell how confident she was, that was something that came from growing up with three older brothers, not to mention her beauty. She seemed to be so perfect in the way she carried herself, the way she dressed, the way she spoke, the way she smiled. So perfect that Eddmina couldn't help but feel inferior.

Was that what everyone in the south was like? Pristine hair, pretty dresses, perfect accents? In comparison, Eddmina was all wrong, she felt wrong. She liked who she was as a northerner, but if she was expected to marry a southern lord who'd grown up around women like Lady Margaery, Eddmina couldn't help but believe she was going to be nothing but a disappointment to her future husband.

"You don't have to be nervous, you know," Margaery spoke up after a few moments as if she read her mind. Eddmina flashed her a small frown, opening her mouth to protest, but Margaery let out a small, bell-like laugh. "I can tell, and it's alright, you know. We all know why we're here,"

"And why is that?" Eddmina asked, looking straight ahead, keeping her tone flat, interested in what Margaery thought they were visiting for.

"Willas is a good man," she said, not bothering to answer her question, though she offered her a reassuring smile, squeezing her arm slightly. Eddmina stiffened, though she tried to relax, deciding that if anyone could give her advice on the situation she was caught up in, it was the sister of her future betrothed. "I know what you're thinking, that he's so much older and that he's got a bad leg, but truthfully he's a good man, and I know that you're a good person too,"

"How do you know that?" Eddmina raised an eyebrow, unsure as to why Margaery came to that conclusion.

If she was Margaery, having to travel halfway across the country just for her brother to meet his future betrothed, she wouldn't be so patient or kind. If it was her and Robb in this situation, not Margaery and Willas, she couldn't help but think how she'd be picking out any flaws possible to try and see whether the girl was worthy of her brother. She wouldn't just thread her arm through the girls and tell her kind things, she'd stay back and make her mind up from afar, and so she couldn't understand why Margaery wasn't doing the same, especially considering how different the two of them were. If Eddmina was Margaery, she knew she wouldn't have reached the conclusion of her being a good person so soon, she wouldn't just assume something like that.

Except Margaery hadn't assumed anything. In fact she had done exactly what Eddmina would have done. She'd been watching her since their arrival, watching out of the window of her chambers the way she played with her younger siblings, chasing her little brother around the courtyard, watching her as she helped the servants carry supplies down to the kitchens, carrying whatever was heaviest so not to burden them, watching her as she came back from the kitchen with a bag full of apples to feed the horses in the stable. Margaery had decided then that she liked Eddmina, but she didn't want to come to any conclusions, hence her following her straight out of the feast, watching how sweet she was to her bastard brother. She'd noticed all throughout the feast as she set leftovers from each dish brought to their table aside, noticing how she poured out one final cup of wine before sneaking both under her cloak as she excused herself. As soon as Margaery saw what Eddmina was doing, she realised that if Willas was in that situation he would do the exact same, which was the moment that she decided she did like Eddmina, that she thought she was a good person, and that she was going to be good for her brother.

How was Eddmina to know how she came to that decision without Margaery telling her that she'd been watching her since they arrived though? Margaery wasn't willing to confess to following her, no matter her reasoning, no matter how much she wanted to protect the interest of her house by checking out this woman, she couldn't tell her the truth. So instead, she smiled once more, moving to face her. The two of them stopped walking, Margaery taking hold of both of Eddmina's hands and squeezing them.

"I just know, but I know other things too," Margaery told her with a small smile. "I know that you're scared of my family coming North, and the possibility of having to marry my brother, but you don't need to be. Willas has a bad leg but a good heart. He used to read to me when I was a little girl and draw me pictures of the stars. If you ask my brothers they'll tell you the same, they'll tell you how kind and brave he is,"

"I'm sure he is, I'm sorry if I've offended you by making you think I thought otherwise," Eddmina excused, not sure what else to say, not used to having many female friends, especially not female friends related to her future betrothed offering her advice.

"Oh, no, you haven't offended, not at all. I love my brothers dearly, especially Willas. He's a good man, and I'd love for you to find that out too," Margaery squeezed her hands again. "I never got the chance to thank you for welcoming us all into your home. You'll have to show me around properly in the morning,"

"Of course," Eddmina nodded, though her mind drifted to Sansa. Eddmina knew her sister and the way she dreamed about leaving the north, and she remembered the way she looked dreamily at not just Ser Loras but Margaery too. "In fact, maybe my sister could show you around. I know she'd love the company, meanwhile, I could show your brother around. Wouldn't that give me the perfect opportunity to find that good heart of his you spoke of?"

Margaery smirked slyly, deciding she really did like Eddmina. She'd already decided she was kind enough for Willas, but now she noted she was smart enough, and possibly brave enough.

Maybe the journey north had been worth it after all.

***
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