"Sing something that's not morbid, would you, Edd?" Robb teased as Eddmina finished up playing yet another old tragic war song, taking a swig of his wine and laughing at how theirs and Jon's wolves howled along with her strumming the last few notes on her lute.

Much like Robb and Eddmina, Grey Wind and Honour were joined by a tight bond that made them inseparable, and over the past week since Eddmina's arrival in Winterfell the wolves had grown considerably and she'd gotten to know hers very well. It had been Willas' idea to call her Honour, considering the way she sat so tall and noble, and on the first night she presented the pup to him he said the two were uncanny.

"It's as if she's you but in wolf form!" he had remarked in amusement, petting the little pup as she watched him warily before deciding he could be trusted, licking his hand. "Such a cautious and honourable little thing, I'm sure she'd fit in perfectly with the wolfhounds back home,"

The wolf pup was unlike any other animal Eddmina had encountered. She was curious and observant, yet when she was with the other wolves she was just as excitable. Eddmina wondered if she was the oldest of the pack and felt as though she had to be sensible to give off a good example, the way her own mother had lectured her to be for so long. Willas' comment about 'honourable' stuck, and so the pup's name became Honour, one that she thoroughly lived up to.

The couple had begun to train her together, and she was obedient and attentive. She slept at the bottom of their bed most nights, something that amused both of them, and in the week since they arrived in Winterfell, Honour had grown considerably. Still small, yet her paws had grown and her nose seemed longer, showing the potential of her size and how big she'd grow to be. The other wolves were just the same, and it was a real sight to see when they all ran about the courtyard chasing each other. The thought of seven unruly wolves lurking around Winterfell on the cusp of a royal visit gave Lady Stark a daily headache, which just added to Eddmina's amusement.

It was so good to be home to the point that Eddmina often forgot they were there for a royal visit. The royal party was due any day, and so while Eddmina and her family spent plenty of time together - rides with Jon and Robb, archery with Bran and Rickon, lunches with Sansa and Arya - the eldest three Starks decided to spend their last night before the royals arrival together, with the Tyrells of course. It turned out that Jon and Willas got on surprisingly well, and while Robb was still a little too protective over his sister to fully befriend Willas, he got on with Garlan excellently, and since Leonette could be friends with anyone, the six of them made a nice little group.

They decided to spend their last night of freedom in one of the little alcoves just off from the armouries, banned by Lady Stark from even going near the great hall since it had already been decorated. They were already going to annoy her by getting thoroughly drunk that night, they didn't want to aggravate her anymore than necessary. Jon had gotten a fire going so the three wolves were curled up in front of it together, while they humans sat around with goblets of wine and rum, chatting and laughing. Eddmina had her lute, so she would play songs and Leonette - unused to the strong northern spirits - would sing along, her voice loud and light. Whenever she laughed, Garlan would look at her with such amusement and adoration, and it made Eddmina's heart ache with the longing that her own husband would look at her like that when she wasn't looking.

"Play the blackbird one, love," Willas asked her with a smile, and she couldn't help but love how his eyes seemed to narrow whenever he smiled, feeling his hand squeeze her arm.

"I play that one all the time," she told him with a roll of her eyes.

"But it's my favourite," he reminded her before glancing over to Garlan as his brother filled his goblet up to the brim yet again. "Gods, do you wish to get me drunk?"

"Ah, good, I'd hate to think you misunderstood my intentions," Garlan teased, clinking their goblets together.

"I can barely stand normally, if I'm still drunk come the morning you'll have to have me propped up in case I fall before the royals and King Robert takes it as me swooning for his wife," Willas remarked, though he took a genourous sip of his alcohol anyway.

"If father's stories of the king are right I can't imagine he'll really care," Jon muttered, making Leonette gasp the way she always did whenever it came to gossip.

"Yes, I hope all the neighbouring brothels are prepared for all the custom they'll receive," Eddmina commented, cringing slightly at the thought of all the southern men about to desend on the North commented.

"Usually it's just Theon keeping them in business, but what with the king, all the royal party, not to mention the imp," Robb laughed. "You must have heard about Lord Tyrion's reputation,"

"If truth be told the only chance I've had to discuss the royals has been Sansa and so the conversation revolves entirely around the Prince," Eddmina said quietly, glancing up to Robb to see he was immediately glaring, both of them cautiously wary over their sister's fascination with joining the royals.

In a desperate attempt to change the conversation Eddmina began to pluck the strings of her lute, playing out some happy tune that she wasn't sure of the words to, but thankfully Leonette made up for her lack of lyrics. She was hoping to try and forget about Sansa's dream of becoming a princess, but that had been impossible to forget before, and now Eddmina was married herself, Sansa's dream had only grown. Much to Arya's disgust, the sisters' conversations usually revolved around living in the south and how wonderful it must be to be married, and though they weren't her topics of choice, Sansa revelled in her sisters happy marriage. She desperately wanted the same, but she didn't just want any man. She wanted a southerner so she could escape the dreary north, and a prince so she could become a princess and one day the queen.

Eddmina had always thought that aspiration was foolish. She would have been happy with a quiet life on her own, doing her own thing and happy in her freedom. Except now she had experienced what it felt like to be close to someone, to be married and to be falling in love, she wanted her sister to realise that what she and Willas had was an exception. She wanted Sansa to realise love was still a fairytale, and believing tales with her whole heart would get her hurt. Sansa may be every bit the perfect lady, but she still had the northern stubbornness, and refused to give up on her dream, and if Eddmina had any chance to convince her about reality, those chances would be banished the moment she met the royal family.

The thought of the royals didn't scare Eddmina. They might have done once, but she had travelled, she had married, she had gained life experience. Instead she just felt wary. When the Tyrells visited she knew exactly what to expect, she knew to expect a betrothal and a wedding eventually, and though she hadn't expected to like Willas, the royal visit brought so many unknown possibilities.

She tried not to think about any of it. Instead she focused on her lute and the laughter of her family. She focused on her brothers and how they kept filling her goblet up, and she focused on Willas, who held her arm and whistled along with the tunes she played.

***

The next morning Eddmina felt herself be ripped from a dream of woodlands and wolves by a harsh cramp in her stomach and a furious headache. It had been a nice dream too, as if she was a wolf herself, running by a stream and chasing squirrels, something she could imagine Honour doing with her pack, but reality was much harsher. Her mind fuzzy, Eddmina barely had chance to open her eyes before she realised the pain in her stomach was so overwhelming that she knew she was going to throw up.

She quickly got up, kneeling on the cold stone floor as she leaned under the bed for the chamber pot. As soon as it was in her grasp she felt her insides churn. She hated being sick, especially since she'd been so ill the whole journey from the Reach, and as she threw up into the chamber pot she found herself shivering pitifully.

"Mina?" A soft, tired voice called from the bed, and she felt immensely guilty that she'd woken Willas.

"I'm fine, go back to sleep," she replied weakly, though as soon as the words left her she retched again.

Before she knew it Willas was at her side, the way he had been throughout her seasickness. He limped over to her quickly and in a matter of seconds he was there holding up her hair and rubbing her back, reassuring her softly. She glanced round at him to see he still looked half asleep, his curls rough and frizzy from the pillow, yet he looked maddeningly handsome. It wasn't fair to her, that he looked so fine, while she was sat hunched over a chamber pot in sickness.

"Why're you so beautiful?" She mumbled out of instinct, glancing round again and smirking as she saw her words had caused him to blush.

"I find that very rich, coming from you," he told her, leaning across and kissing her temple. Whenever he did that she felt as though she was going to melt. "What's brought this on? Shall I send for the Maester to look you over?"

Willas leant over to her bedside table to retrieve the goblet of water she'd left there the night before, offering it to her. With a small thanks she took a sip and rinsed her mouth out, feeling a little better, though Willas clearly didn't notice her change of feeling. He pressed his hand gently to her forehead as if feeling for a fever, though she felt completely normal. She looked fine too, if not a little pale, but she was smirking and rolling her eyes and he knew she was on the verge of calling him a soft southerner. She did that occassionally, whenever he would worry over her as if hoping the name would embarass him out of fussing, but if anything he liked the way she said the words and so it merely encouraged him.

"I think what brought this on is that we all got through a small barrel of wine and two skins of rum between us," she reminded him, paling slightly despite the smirk on her face. "I'd hate to think I've lost my alcohol tolerance, but I don't need to see Maester Luwin for him to tell me I've got a hangover,"

Willas wasn't convinced, but he decided not to say anything, chuckling quietly as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her closer. The sickness left her just as quick as it had come on, and the two of them sat there for a few moments on the cold stone floor in silence. It was peaceful, and as Eddmina rested her head against his shoulder she felt almost as if she could fall asleep once more, but the peace was quickly disturbed by a knock at the door.

The two of them got up, Eddmina holding her hand out to help Willas, and since Winterfell was her home she was the one who, after wrapping a robe around herself, opened the door. She was greeted by her mother, who looked her up and down before grimacing, which made Eddmina smirk slightly. Ever since her return home her mother had avoided the topic of her marriage wherever possible, and so seeing Eddmina with tousled hair in nothing but a robe while Willas was barely in view as he sat on the bed reading, it was like coming face to face with everything she'd been trying to ignore.

"Good morning," Eddmina greeted, trying to make her voice sound cheery, though she still felt a pounding in her head.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," Lady Stark apologised, and Eddmina had to hold back a laugh at how awkward her mother was acting.

"You didn't, don't worry," Eddmina shrugged. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"A messenger has arrived, the royals will be here in less than three hours," she explained, and Eddmina felt her chest tighten. As if forgettig her hesitations, Lady Stark immediately began to instruct her daughter on what to do. "We're all to be assembled in the courtyard at least an hour before then just in case they arrive early. I want you looking presentable, you'll be stood with the rest of us while the Tyrells will be behind. When you're ready will you go and find Arya and make sure she's dressed right? Make sure her hair is done properly, and then will you make sure your little brothers are accounted for? I don't want the Lannisters thinking we're a wild band of hooligans,"

"I thought we were meant to be honest to our sovereigns?" Eddmina asked dryly, though she quickly laughed at her mother's glare. "Right, fine. Sort Arya, make sure Bran hasn't climbed off into the clouds, keep Rickon from running away with Shaggy, got it,"

"Good, thank you, Edda," her mother seemed to sigh with relief before drowning ever so slightly, looking her over once more. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, fine," she answered quickly, because she already had Willas worrying and the last thing she needed was her mother fussing over her too. "Look, my hair's a mess, I've got to get ready. I'll see you in a few hours,"

Eddmina didn't wait for her mother to depart before closing the door, letting out a tired sigh before crossing to her trunk, picking out a dress to wear. It was deep sage green with good embellishments, a wedding present from one of the distant Tyrell cousins who were smart enough to not gift her jewellery. Even with her dislike of jewellery she made sure that her wedding ring was still in place, though of course it was considering she hadn't taken if off once since Willas had gifted it to her, and she made sure her thumb ring was in place too before she moved to the vanity table to braid her hair. She considered doing something special with it, but didn't particularly have the energy to do anything but a simple braid.

"I like it when you wear your hair like that," Willas commented, glancing up from his book with a small smile as he watched her section her hair off, bringing it round her shoulder to plait it.

"It's just practical," she shrugged, focusing on her hair while looking down, hoping that he wouldn't see the pink tinge to her cheeks.

"Practical or not, it suits you, it makes you look really pretty," he added, speaking simply as if complimenting her was the easiest thing in the world.

It amused her to think that the last time they were in Winterfell remarks like that would have taken a great deal of courage. As soon as she'd tied the end of her braid off with a small leather bow, she got up from the stool and crossed to the bed, sitting back down next to her husband. Knowing that she'd be so busy with her family and the soon-to-arrive visitors, she pushed a kiss to his cheek, wishing that she had the time for it to be more than just a small kiss. By the way that he cupped her cheek with his hand he could tell he wished the same.

"I know you're not a Stark, but I'm certain my mother will still kill you if you're not in the courtyard on time," she muttered to him quietly, making him chuckle softly. "I'm serious. The same goes for Leo and Garlan. It's bad enough I know Arya is going to run riot and Bran will be climbing the battlements, not to mention a full wolf pack chasing each other around the whole castle, the least the rest of us can do is-"

"Try and not aggravate your mother?" he teased, raising his eyebrow slightly, though all jokes aside he knew she was serious. He knew she had an awkward relationship with Lady Stark, and the last thing he wanted to do was cause some sort of upset between them. "I promise we'll all be ready and waiting in plenty of time, Mina,"

"Good, thank you," she sighed in relief, kissing his cheek once more before she got up from the bed. "Right, I'll see you soon, I love you,"

Eddmina barely realised she'd said those words until she was on the other side of the bedroom door. She'd spoken in such a hurry, saying farewell in a rush to get out and get going with her chores to the point she'd not even registered what she was saying. They'd come out so naturally, so casually, and it was only when she closed the bedroom door that she suddenly understood the weight of the words.

She'd told Willas she loved him. It certainly wasn't a lie, but that wasn't the moment she was planning on telling him. She'd gotten it thoroughly planned out in her head that she was going to wait until the royals had left. She was going to take him to the godswood and speak the words to him there, in the place they'd first spoken truthfully to each other. She wanted it to be meaningful and carefully planned out, but for once she'd been so spontaneous. Part of her regretted it, but if anything she was more stunned at how she'd said it. She'd thought the first time she would tell him she loved him she'd be nervous, careful not to get her feelings hurt in case he didn't feel the same, but the words came out as if they were the most natural thing in the world.

Eddmina loved Willas. She really did. She felt foolish to have fallen in love with him so quickly, after only seven months of marriage and nearly nine of knowing each other, but it would have been impossible to fight it. Being with him felt like being with an extension of herself. It felt so right, so comfortable yet thrilling, and part of her was glad to have those words out there. At least he now knew, even if she had said them so quickly. The only problem was that he didn't say it back. Of course, she'd hardly given him the chance, but part of her worried that she'd moved too quickly. Perhaps he didn't feel the same just yet, or perhaps he never would. As she walked through Winterfell feeling a strange sensation of butterflies inside of her, she couldn't help but hope that her worries were untrue.

She was so caught up in her thoughts of Willas she barely paid attention to the walk up to Arya's chambers. Her little sisters room was across the hall from her old room, but she didn't hesitate to check it out, instead going straight into Arya's room without knocking, knowing her sister would still be sleeping. Sure enough the girl was curled up under layers of furs, her wolf Nymeria curled up next to her. The wolf's yellow eyes met Eddmina's, cocking her head to the side before letting out a low howl that woke Arya up.

"Wh- Eddie, what are you doing?" Arya exclaimed tiredly, though she didn't seem too annoyed, hopping straight out of bed as she frowned at her sister's dress. "Why do you look like a southerner?"

"Call me a southerner again and I'll ask mother and father for you to come and live with me in the south for a while, you can spend every morning sewing with the Tyrell cousins talking about pretty flowers and handsome knights," Eddmina replied dryly without hesitation, and immediately her sister seemed alarmed. "The royals will be here soon, mother says you need to get ready, and wear something nice as well,"

"You sound like Sansa," Arya rolled her eyes, and Eddmina hit her arm gently. "Ow!"

"Don't be dramatic, that didn't hurt," she sighed, going to her sister's wardrobe and picking out a dress for her, a dark grey that she knew she'd be able to tolerate. "Do you want me to sort your hair too?"

Arya merely scowled, so Eddmina chased her to the dressing table, pinning her onto the stool so she could brush through her thick dark hair. Her little sister's arms were folded tightly across her chest, though as Eddmina worked on the braids - nothing to decadent, it would only become tangled and messed up in a few hours - her mind was far from what she was doing. She couldn't stop thinking about Willas.

"Can we go riding later?" Arya asked, pulling her from her thoughts, though Eddmina didn't look up from her hair.

"Maybe tomorrow we can sneak away, but as for today mother and father will want our help," Eddmina told her, and both girls sighed. "You remember how mother was when the Tyrells visited? She's going to be ten times as pedantic about every little thing during this visit compared to Will and his family visiting, so just try and keep out of her way and not cause too much trouble, alright? At least, not while any of the Lannisters are around,"

"I didn't think you'd like the Tyrells," Arya stated bluntly, taking Eddmina by surprise as she immediately remembered what she'd told her husband only moments before. "Is being married all that Sansa thinks it will be?"

"I like them," she nodded simply as she finished off her hair. "As for being married... It's different, but I quite like it. That's probably just because I like Willas though. I think I'd hate being married if it was to anyone else,"

Arya looked confused, and looked as though she was going to barrage her sister with at least a dozen more questions, but Eddmina wasn't in the mood. Considering her last words to Willas, she didn't particularly fancy discussing the institution of marriage, so she quickly instructed Arya to get dressed, making her promise to be down in the courtyard on time. She knew she would have to answer her questions eventually, it was just like Arya to hold on to her curiosity until her answers were received, but for the time being they both had other things to do.

Eddmina left Arya to head to Bran's room next, though his room was empty. She had visions of him running along the high walls of the towers, jumping from the great heights as if he was an expert mountaineer. Old Nan had once told her a story about their great grandmother Arya Flint being from the mountain-land, and how her blood was what inspired the climber in Bran. Regardless of that, Bran's courage always amused her, especially since it terrified her mother.

Rickon's room was empty too, so she assumed one of the boys was with him. Rather than heading down to the courtyard to just sit about for hours, she decided to go to Sansa's room, though immediately regretted the decision as soon as she opened the door and saw her sister pacing the room in a panic, four different dresses laid out on the bed. Lady was sat in the corner of the room neatly, looking perfectly accurate to her name, and she glanced over to Eddmina with kind eyes. Other than Honour, Eddmina thought secretly that Lady was her favourite.

"Do you want help?" Eddmina asked, making her sister jump. Sansa had been that engrossed in the dresses that she barely noticed her, and seemed both relieved and panicked at her presence. "I like that pink one,"

"No, no it's not right," Sansa shook her head before throwing her hands up in the air. "Oh, Edda, I don't know what to do!"

"Hey, it's alright, calm down," she gently reassured her, putting her arms around her shoulders as she looked the options over again. "What about your light blue one? You haven't got that one out,"

Sansa gasped, running to the wardrobe and pulling out her light blue dress, quickly forgetting about the others she'd selected. Eddmina always thought light blue looked so nice on her younger sister, it flattered her hair so perfectly, though Sansa always looked pretty. She was always serene and beautiful, but that morning she looked rather anxious. As she put away the forgotten dresses, Eddmina couldn't help but feel a little concerned that Sansa was taking this royal visit far too seriously.

"Sansa," she spoke quietly, thinking her words through carefully as her sister went to the dressing table to braid her hair. "I don't think you should be so nervous for this visit,"

"Why not?" she asked, her eyes wide in confusion. "This is the Royal family, and they're visiting us! It's a big thing!"

"I realise that, but-" Eddmina began but Sansa sighed dramatically. "What?"

"Well the last time we had visitors, you ended up getting married!" she exclaimed, and Eddmina realised Sansa had already thought of the very thing that had been worrying her. "I am the same age as Prince Joffrey, and I've heard he's so kind and handsome, I think that they'll be arranging our betrothal! Why else would the King want to visit the north? It's not as if there's anything of any worth up here,"

"Sansa," Eddmina said, her voice firmer than she meant it to be. She paused, trying to get her thoughts straight and plan out exactly what she had to say, feeling something stir in her stomach that felt like the beginnings of fear. "There is plenty of worth in the north, don't let the pretty stories of the south fool you,"

"But they're not just stories, I've been to the south!" Sansa insisted, still wearing a smile.

"You've been to High Garden, and I'll admit it is a very beautiful place and I love living there, I love the Reach, but it is not more worthwhile than the North just because it is home to pretty flowers," Eddmina continued calmly, trying not to let her sisters naivity worry her. "The North is just as special and important, and one day when you have to marry and possibly leave, you will miss it. As for the royals and the Prince... save your judgement for people until you have met them. Don't believe the best in people constantly,"

Sansa looked at her with a small frown, before rolling her eyes, and Eddmina had to fight off the sudden urge to shake her as if that would put more sense in her. Of course she'd never even think of hurting her sister, but she wished she'd grow up and forget the fairytales. She worried that Sansa was jealous of her marriage, and see how kind Willas was and expect her own future husband to be the exact same, whilst Eddmina knew that not every man was as kind as her husband.

She'd been worried for a while at how badly this royal visit would change her family. She had a suspicion that the King would order her father to become the Hand to replace Jon Arryn, a thought that scared her considering it was her father who thought it bad luck for Starks to go south. It wouldn't be like her father to defy his friend though, there was no honour in it, and so she knew that if the King asked, her father would follow. It was honourable, but he'd be following him into a city without honour.

As for Sansa... Eddmina would have been a fool if she'd not thought of a possible betrothal. She remembered sneaking into Maester Luwin's study and finding the letter the King wrote to her father about the Tyrell visit, how he'd been arranging her betrothal. Eddmina knew that the king wanted his Lord Stark's daughter to marry into a southern house to bring his friend back into southern politics, but she also knew he wanted to join their families. If Eddmina was Sansa's age, she would never have been married to Willas, and would instead have been betrothed to the Prince. Except the Prince was the same age as Sansa, and it would make perfect sense for the King to want them to marry. Eddmina found her own wedding scary enough, the thought of leaving behind her family and joining another that she hardly knew, but to think of her little sister in the same position felt nerve wracking. It would be so much worse for Sansa, marrying into the royal family. She'd be in the public eye far more than Eddmina was with her marriage, and there was also the possibility of the Prince not being the kind figure that stories often made princes out to be.

The royals were only a few hours away though. It wasn't as if Eddmina could stop any of it, even if she desperately wished she could take control of it all and get rid of any sort of threat to her family. She was powerless to the inevitable, and so all she could do was hope that the future was a little more straightforward, and a little less worrisome.

***

Word count: 5003

***
Authors note:
Hey guys!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Obviously now this story is getting onto the plot of the show/book so exciting things are coming.
I just wanted to thank you all for your support, this story hit 10K reads earlier this week so thank you so much for reading! I'm so grateful and your support means everything to me.
Please leave a vote if you enjoyed this and a comment telling me what you think and I will hopefully have the next chapter up soon!

~Olivia