"GreyWind, would you like some?" Victoria offered the last of her soup to the wolf, his dark eyes had been concentrated on her for so long.

She had fed him before her supper had even arrived to her chambers but of course the growing pup wanted more.

GreyWind immediately stood from his spot on her bed and raced over to the soup bowl. Ghost trotted over, having heard the commotion his long tongue darted out and licked his snout. Victoria smirked at the two dogs and then looked down at the Alpha who was greedily finishing his bowl, "share with your brother."

The grey wolf huffed but obeyed, looking towards his younger brother as if to invite him. The stark white pup trotted over and both shared the last rations of her bowl, which was practically more then half the bowl.

She wasn't hungry, in fact her stomach had been a bundle of nerves lately which is why she had given up her meal to the wolves and also ate in her chambers. Robb had told her something in the wee hours of the morning that had kept her alert since dawn.

The King and Queen of Westoros were on their way to Winterfell, Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister along with most of their court.

Her heart had pumped rapidly much like it still did this late at night, mouth dry as she wondered what to do with the upcoming visit. It was no secret that much of Dorne was not found of the king of Westoros and much less his brides family, they had been after all at fault for the death of the Dornish Sun and Victoria's aunt, Elia Martel.

Her lips pressed together, pacing her bedroom as she wondered what on earth to do when they arrived, should she keep to herself or stand like a proud Dornish women amongst the crowd. What would the Starks want of her in those moments? Ned had once been best friends with the King but since the rebellion things had changed and now mountains separated them, surely he wouldn't want the spark of bad blood to taint his home. Victoria knew her marriage with Robb could shatter with an impact as big as her outburst to the king but still her Martell blood asked not to be ignored.

She reeled on the heels of her feet, biting her bottom lip as she stared into the deep fire that had been left by her Handmaids. What to do? What to do!

She was overthinking this and they weren't even near Winterfell but even so the thought could not escape her head.

Her body turned, in search of the two wolves who had since finished the last of her meal and were now laying on their paws, staring intently at her. GreyWind and Ghost spent a lot of time in her chambers, especially at night. They got along great just like their fathers and tended to lay on Victoria's bed whilst she moved around. Ghost usually left before she went to bed and headed back to Jon but GreyWind stayed, usually because Robb would make his way to her bed either way. Victoria didn't mind this especially now when she felt like she needed someone to hear her thoughts. She walked over, crushing down to their level and scratching the tops of their heads, "so what do you two think I should do? Should I say something to the King or be a polite Lady?"

The wolves tilted their heads as if to get a better understand or showing thorough confusing, either way she was left with no answer she huffed, pouting her lip and realizing it was a stupid idea as the wolves could offer no advice. Robb would never understand and he wasn't likely to show up for a few hours, if she even thought about leaving her chambers to find Jon one of her Handmaids would follows and then gossip would spread, her father was likely fast asleep and also the least bit of help as he preferred to leave the past behind. Her eyes stilled coming up with a million names and settling on one , suddenly realizing one solution, Ser Trout.

She smiled at the pups and patted their heads before standing and walking over towards the door, it pulled back with a low rumble and showed the bored face of her knight. See Trout tended to spend much of his time in front of her door whenever she was inside, he usually never left until right before the new day started and was up before the brunette was even awake, his dedication was immeasurable.

She smiled at her knight who had just turned, mouth open as if to ask what had occurred, but the words never left his lips as the Dornish beauty pushed the door open further and pulled him in. She was surprisingly strong for such a feminine women but she managed to yank him right into the room, and he even slightly slipped at the sudden push.

The door shut just as he adjusted his balance and then turned towards her.

Victoria was in her night dress, something not appropriate at all for a betrothed lady. It was a simple black dress that had been made for her in Dorne, the material was not thinly made but even so he saw more then he thought imaginable. With its deep V over greats and high slit to allow her walk he felt his cheeks tint with color.

Lady Valiente didn't seem to mind it, the Dornish were very free people and their bodies were never too modest for one another. Surely the knight had taken a peak back in Valiente Castle when she'd gone skinny dipping in the waters, and besides, her body was very nice for her age, nothing to be ashamed of.

"My lady, I should not be in here when you're—" he had ducked his eyes to only stare at his feet but even so his mouth had dried at the quick look he had managed. Victoria Valiente was a beauty, someone not even Robb Stark was worthy of and Marcos Trout was not worthy of guarding. She had such beauty Trout often found himself wondering just what he had done to be tortured in this way by the gods. To love a women who would never be his was truly a sentence worse then death.

Victoria waved him off, walking around him and towards the robe on one of the tables. It didn't close anymore so it wouldn't cover everything but if it made her knight feel comfortable then she would try. "You're quite alright Ser Trout, I have a question however."

"Can't it wait until the morning? When you are dressed and I cannot be killed for being in here?" He joked slightly although it failed as both of them knew it to be true.

The brunette sighed, realizing her quick thinking hadn't worked so well and decided to step back and calm her nerves. She pushed the jacket further together so it would expose less and then slowly waited for Ser Trout to feel comfortable. "It'll be quick, I promise and besides no one is up this late."

Marcos took a deep breath and finally looked up, willing himself not to look completely awestruck at her sheer beauty. "Fine, what's wrong?"

"The King and Queen are coming. The very ones who killed my aunt Elia, who killed my cousins like they weren't innocent and then took the throne with their blood soaked hands. I'm expected to pretend like it doesn't hurt? Like I am alright with the massacre of my family? Or should I stand tall and proud, should I stand against the entirety of Winterfell?" She was breathless by the end of her rant, running a hand through her hair and taking a few steps forward as her hands went back and forth a dozens of times.

Trout silently watched this, awaiting her words to end and the small fear that peaked in her eyes to diminish. His Lady was never fearful, she was valiant like her name and any fear that grew in her eyes would diminish rather quickly if he had anything to do with it. He gave a few moments of breath between them, her chest rising rapidly and then slowing as she grew calm. Trout fidgeted slightly, fixing the sword on his hip and then speaking, "Victoria, I can't answer this for you."

"Why not?" She looked disappointed.

He licked his lips, sighing out, "because I won't know either. You won't know until you see them, when they stand before you and you judge them yourself. Lady Valiente, you're Dornish by blood but have your heart set in the North. This is something that even you won't be prepared for."

Victoria groaned, "I guess you're right Ser Trout. I apologize for pushing this on you."

"Anything for you my lady, it was no trouble." He nodded his head and headed towards the door.

Victoria caught him, just as he began to walk out her hand reached out and intertwined with his own. She squeezed long enough to get a reaction out of him, her lips pressed into an appreciative smile, "thank you for being there for me, not just in this but every time."

Marcos Trout felt his stomach flip, silently promising he'd be there no matter what.

|•|•|•|•|

Two days later and the King was expected to arrive within the day.

Victoria was her again in her chambers, GreyWind on her bed as he watched her be fitted into a tight dress, one of which she was clearly detesting. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, grunting in annoyance as her Handmaid continued to bind her into the navy blue ordeal.

A set of knocks on her door distracted her for the moment, the young maid having finished the intricate laces to her dress and tying it together into an elegant bow. Victoria attempted her best not to look too uncomfortable as she smiled and spoke, "come in!"

The handmaiden walked over towards the bed where the coat her father had given her was placed, the dark fur was a bit too large for her skinny frame but it created a warmth she desperately needed, even just being in the room her cheeks were a bright pink.

The door opened to reveal her sworn knight, the man's impassive expression gave nothing away as he spoke, "Lord Stark is here to see you my lady, shall I let him in?"

It was no secret to the staff and workers of Winterfell how close Robb and Victoria were, they often whispered about their lack of morals before their nuptials but neither seemed to care. Victoria preferred the Dorne's way of living and Robb seemed to agree with her after the extensive tales she spun over her life there.

"Yes, you may," she nodded her head, Ser Trout ducking his head before turning back.

He held the door open for Robb who stared at the man as he walked past, Trout sent his lady a parting glance to which she knew he indicated, I'm right outside the door if you need me.

She smiled at him before looking towards her betrothed. He was so handsome, beard newly shaven and hair styled back so the wild curls framed his face beautifully. Her heart would have fluttered if it none been for the tightly bound corset. The grey accents to her dress matched the detail in Robb's dark wear, and she knew Lady Catelyn must have had something to do with it.

Robb smiled at his future wife, finding that her beauty never ceased to amaze him, "my future wife, you look radiant and very tightly wrapped."

The twinkle in his eyes made the Dornish beauty scoff as her maid blushed and ducked her head, "m'lord."

"You're hilarious, my husband." Victoria dryly responded as her handmaid graciously passed the future Lord of Winterfell. She noted how the young girl was respectful, and made a mental not to remember the girls name. Her Handmaids changed every time she left and came back, mainly because she would never force any of them to move as much as she did and because most of them were a tad too judgmental. This one seemed different, with light blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes she was a true beauty and Victoria wished to make friends with her

The maid was not afraid of GreyWind, she petted his long fur and quickly pulled the coat out from under him. Robb eyed Victoria his brows shooting up in slight wonder, both finding this impressive. The blonde women kept quiet as she began her walk back towards her lady but was stopped by Robb who held out his hand with a smile, "I'll help her into the coat. You can rest now."

The blonde girl nodded her head but looked back towards her lady, as if to get approval from her. Victoria nodded, "it's quite alright, go and get some rest before the night. I'd like you to help me get ready tonight."

"M'lord, M'lady," she bid them both farewell and then ducked out of the room.

The door shut behind her before the Stark or Valiente spoke, the former being the first to let out a low whistle, "she seems brave, I've never seen anyone near GreyWind with such ease other then the family."

"She's valiant, I like her. Where is she from?" Victoria smiled.

Robb walked towards his betrothed, pushing the coat open and stepping behind her, "mother says she was a daughter of one of the girls in the brothel. Said she didn't want that life for her child and raised her better. Her mothers gone now and she needed a job so she came here."

"Do you know her name?" Victoria raised a brow. She enclosed her arms and allowed the warmth to shroud her like a cape, it was much darker then Robb's but still looked similar to his design.

"Elaine," Robb answered and when his betrothed gave him a suspicious look he rolled his eyes in amusement. One hand tightened around her waist so she would turn, coming face to face with the beauty. His blue eyes concentrated on tying the material around her neck firmly as he spoke, "not like that. Theon fancies her, he's been making advances towards her since she arrived but it appears she's not one to partake, not that it's stopped him from trying though."

Her eyebrows knitted together, small creases in her forehead appearing as her lips pouted with anger. "That Greyjoy doesn't know when to stop does he, poor girl is just trying to do her job. I'll have to talk to her and see what I can do."

Robb smirked, fastening the cape firmly and then lifting his hands to her forehead where he relaxed the muscles with the pads of his thumb, they then travelled down to cup her face. "Alright well take care of that later, right now we've got somewhere important to be. Father wants you to stand beside me."

"What? I'm not a Stark." She was thrown off by the statement.

"You will be the Lady Stark, the Lady of Winterfell, one day and should be treated as such. Now come love, they are waiting on us." The way his blue green eyes sparkles when he spoke of her future made the women's stomach tighten with ecstasy. Indeed, she would one day be his Lady and he, her Lord.

Victoria's smile mirrored his own as she took the crook of his elbow and interlocked their arms, allowing him to lead her out as if they were a married couple.

|•|•|•|•|

"You looked beautiful, Victoria," Lady Stark whispered to the Dornish girl as she appeared with her husband. Her eyes that matched Robb's to a T swelled with pride and happiness as she spoke.

Victoria curtsied as Robb laughed lightly, "she should, it took her so bloody long to get ready."

"You ought be careful with all the lies you spill, my lord, wouldn't want the gods to punish you for it or me for that matter." Victoria sarcastically responded, patting the fur on his shoulder a little too thoroughly.

"Robb, you treat her well or you'll be left an old crow all by yourself." Catelyn scolded her son with amusement.

"Aye, or I'll ask your father to give you a proper smack like when we were little." Victoria added on earning a small nod from Ned Stark as he took his place beside his wife.

Ned seemed thoughtful as he approached but managed to give the two and his wife a smile, "a word of advice son, the lady is always right."

Robb's face cracked into a grin as the giggle of his betrothed bounded and he pulled her with him. "What will I do with you, everyone is on your side."

"Come and join us." She winked, pressing her lips together in a smirk just as everyone else in the Keep began to join them.

The sounds of horse hooves and carriage wheels grew nearer as the Stark children began to assemble. Lord Valiente took a place behind his daughter, briefly squeezing her shoulder and giving her a wink as he passed.

Sansa took a place beside her, her smile giddy as she spoke softly, "what do you think they'll be like? I've heard the prince is quite handsome."

Victoria pressed her lips together from repeating Robb's words from last night about the prince, instead she decided to humor the girl, "well I'm sure if he is he'll be stunned to find a beauty such as you to match."

Sansa's cheeks linked just as Bran and Rickon appeared with the Septa and took  their place.

Catelyn suddenly speaks louder as the royals begin to grow nearer. "Where's Arya? Sansa, where's your sister?"

Sansa shrugs her shoulders just as the youngest Stark daughter appears, running and pushing people out of her way. The helm she has on is far too big for her little head but she doesn't seem to care as she begins to breeze past her family until Ned Stark stops her. "Hey, hey, hey, hey. What are you doing with that on?

He pulls it off but Arya doesn't seem to mind or care as her devious smirk appears and she runs down the line between Bran and Sansa, yelling at the former. "Move!"

Robb and Victoria share a look, both smiling at the spirit in her. Arya would always be rebellious.

She seems to have arrived in the nick of time because soon enough the first riders begin to arrive. She notices one with the helm of a dog who is quick to take it off once he settles. Behind the first wave comes a blonde haired male riding a horse, he's younger then all of them and clearly by the way he is dressed he must be the prince, this has to be Prince Joffrey. He rides in with a look of annoyance at all of them, barely giving anyone a respectable look as he stops directly in the center of the Keep and then his eyes meet Sansa's. He smirks a tad, like he's enjoying what he sees and Sansa clearly feels the same way as she sends him a tiny smile of his own. Victoria watches this occur and feels her stomach tighten like she knows this is a bad idea. Robb seems to think so as well, glowering menacingly at the young prince until Victoria leans over to place her hand in his own. She squeezes with the minimalist of pressure but it's enough to gain Robb's attention. His blue eyes glance back towards her and they share a silent exchange of looks that range from "yes I know he seems horrible" to "alright I'll stay silent."

Victoria resists the urge to kiss his lips and erase the frown just as the royal carriage arrives.

It rides in with even more guards and then the royal guards who center around King Robert himself.

Victoria had no intention to kneel for the King, he was no one to her and the Dornish did not kneel as they were free but it became apparent she would be the only one standing if she did not. Immediately as the King arrived Ned was the first to drop and that prompted everyone else to do as well. Victoria turned towards her father for the briefest of moments to find him kneeling down, and she decided that it was probably best she did as well.

Robb was tugging on the hem of her jacket just as she'd made the decision and again the two shared a few silent looks of a conversation. "Why did it take you so long to drop?" Followed by her brief look of "well I did it anyways."

Her head was down for the remainder of the time, and only the hooves of the horse were visible, until they gave King Robert a stool to step off and then his riding boots came clear. He dropped and walked towards the line of Starks and the one Valiente girl, standing directly in front of Ned. He tapped his shoulder to stand and everyone else prompted to do as such.

"Your Grace." Ned respectfully said.

Victoria finally got a look at the Kings face, finding that he was indeed bigger then what she'd imagined but that's what happened when you became King she supposed. His facial expression was stern, letting the silence envelop them for a moment before he spoke, "You've got fat."

Ned stays silent although his eyes travel down as if to say, "look who is talking," and they both begin to laugh. King Roberts face breaks out into a smile as he leans to the side and acknowledges the Lady. "Cat!"

Catelyn was much more formal as she bowed, "Your Grace." But Robert was having none of it as he leaned into peck her cheek and give her a tight hug. He ruffled Rickons hair as well.

Robert returned his eyes back to the Lord and placed a palm over his shoulder, speaking to his oldest friend. "Nine years. Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?"

"Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours." Ned responded.

From behind them the Queen begins to descend from her carriage, her two youngest children following. Victoria takes a glance at her and notices how beautiful she really is but the scowl on her face just seems to reek of only outer beauty. Her heart plummets as she realizes that maybe her anger wasn't towards the King but his Queen and the Lannisters.

"Where's the Imp?" Arya is loud with her comment, forcing the Dornish girl to look at her and hold back a smile at her sheer bluntness.

Sansa scoffs with annoyance, "Will you shut up?"

Victoria turns back in time to see the King step between her and Robb, "Who have we here? You must be Robb." He shakes his hands and then moves towards her, Lady Valiente. His emotionless face suddenly lifts with a small brightness, "my aren't you a sight. You take after your mother Amara."

Victoria's heart warms at the compliment she couldn't help it, anyone who said this specific comment would always have points in her eyes. She bows her head and speaks, "your grace."

"Your name darling," he asks.

"Victoria Valiente," she responds with pride.

He nods and smiles at her, "like I said, after your mother, thank the gods, your father wasn't much of a looker when he was younger."

"It's not like you were any better, your grace." Ricardo rebuts, stepping closer towards the front. Nobody seems surprised by his words or speaking out of place, they were all old friends and title or not this is how they spoke.

Robert laughs, a small chuckle even Ned as well scoffed a bit in agreement. Victoria pressed to the side to allow her father a proper handshake with the King who speaks, "the boldness you got, the looks not so much."

Ricardo shrugs his shoulders as if to agree and says, "it's good to see you old friend, far too long."

"Indeed." Robert answers and then continues down the line of Stark children, his next being the one and only Sansa. "My, you're a pretty one." He walks on and then looks towards the youngest daughter who grins at him, "Your name is?"

"Arya." She responds proudly.

Robert nods and moves down to the final child, "Ooh. Show us your muscles. You'll be a soldier."

Suddenly one of the Kings guards decided to take his golden helmet off and out came a string of blonde locks far too familiar. Victoria knew immediately who this had to be, the kingslayer.

Arya whispered loudly and confirmed it. "That's Jaime Lannister. The queen's twin brother."

He was handsome, beautiful even but like his sister the prominent scowl was held to his face. Victoria's fury burned at two people she had never met in her life.

Queen Cersei approached the Starks, holding out her hand for Ned to kiss. He looked slightly embarrassed but did so anyways. "My queen."

Catelyn bowed her head as well. "My queen."

Cersei did not acknowledge any of the children, instead she turned towards Robert who looked toward his friend. "Take me to your crypt. I want to pay my respects."

Cersei did not seem to like this as she interrupted. "We've been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait."

Robert could have cared less what she had to say as he looked towards the Warden and spoke once more, "Ned. Ricardo"

Ned and Ricardo walked towards him, both going off and clearly the arrival ceremony was over as everyone slowly went back to doing their daily tasks, but not before glancing at Cersei with pity. Victoria turned towards Robb, neither saying a thing but deciding it was best they left as well.

He took her hand and they promptly walked off, in search of better things to do.

|•|•|•|•|

So like??? I'm obsessing over
this story honestly and I can't stop
writing for it. But also I love Victoria and
Ricardo's relationship like yasss.
Also I wasn't going to
give her the handmaid
because I felt like
being closer to her knight
was better but then
I had a spur of the moment decision
and bam Elaine
happened. She played by
Clair Holt!
You'll learn more
about Elaine next chapter!
P.S. how am I not done
with the first episode yet???