Not Today

"Why is it so cold here?" Maianae asked no one in particular but earned a smile from her sister. "Nadiae is going to have to get used to it, since she'll be living here soon," Her father responded as they rode through the gates of Winterfell. Maianae had never been north higher than the Stormlands, so the opportunity to go to Winterfell was an obvious decision on whether or not to go. She thought the snow was beautiful, but the cold was unwelcome; she missed the warmth she was used to.
They arrived in the circle, greeted by the entire family and got down from their horses, standing behind her father as he greeted them. She looked around, noticing the King was around her age, and so was another man, who stood with the family but a little ways away. They followed them into a dining area and she found herself sitting across from the same man she noticed, and a younger boy. "Is it always this cold here?" She asked, pulling her cape around herself. "We're indoors and I'm still shaking, I'll need heavier coats to survive," She laughed a little.

Joan stood there with her hands folded in front of her as she watched as the carriage came to a halt, she looked down a little knowing that her presence was most unwanted which made it hard for her to find herself wanting to be there. Jon was stood by her side, and while he had a standing by Robb in whatever place he may go she still had a life to plan for - she was expected to marry soon she had no idea to who but she doubted it'd be a happy marriage. The man who had raised her with an iron fist had placed the decision in Robb's hands, part of her was skeptical, but she hoped she could sway him to see her way so she didn't have to marry so soon. She noticed Jon's fidgeting and nudged him then shook her head a little.

Lady Stark was the first to speak she greeted them happily, but she didn't know what a marriage pact between ten year olds was going to accomplish - their parents would likely be dead by then they could destroy it and do what they wanted with it by that time. Joan never saw the good behind it, what if they hated one another; she supposed she found herself lucky she was raised a bastard she fixed her hat securing it over her head as the wind blew.

"stop," Jon nudged her back making her roll her eyes, sometimes it wasn't so hard to believe that she was the oldest - he whined like a little brother but she was thankful to have him because he was her only true blood she had.

She stood behind, holding her coat around her from the inside, desperate for warmth. She watched as her father greeted them, wondering why this couldn't have happened indoors in front of a roaring fire. She stepped forward when she was introduced, but she knew this wasn't for her to stand out in. She was engaged to a man back home, he wasn't a monster but he was dull and boring. Just a few years her senior she was expecting a life of boredom but at least she could look forward to a life without abuse, as far as she could tell.

---

Robb smiled, introducing himself and then his family members in turn. "We are so happy that you have come. If you follow us, we can lead you inside. You will be shown to your rooms, and then brought for dinner," He said, turning to look at his mother. She was so much better at entertaining than he was, his father as well. But since it was just him, it fell to him to fill the shoes his father had, and while it was a lot, he was happy to do it.

Joan sighed a little and bowed to them respectfully since they were below them in status then stepped back as the other stark children made their way inside once they weren't needed, "come on, you know we have to go jon," she said nudging his arm, "I'll meet you in the dining hall for our meal once everyone is seated," it wasn't uncommon for them to be the last to enter and usually once everyone was settled they never noticed them.

Jon nodded a little then bowed out of respect to the family who had just arrive then moved out of the way when his sister left - he often wondered what she did on her own time, her noted her fingers were stained a lot so he thought maybe she painted. Though he didn't know what she could much do with brown paints, he shrugged it off then went to continue his daily tasks as he was no longer needed.

Maianae followed her family, making her way to the rooms they had given them before immediately changing into a warmer cape. She was freezing, and her choice of coat was clearly not enough for her while she was there. She stood, moving around the room before deciding to walk around, hoping to find warmth from movement and also finding the dining hall as well. She was free to roam as this wasn't marriage meetings for her, it was for her sister. She thought it was ridiculous it happened so young, but it was also the way things were and not much could be done about it.

---

Robb lead them back inside, but took a step back, letting his mother do the leading until he was needed again. It was a lot to keep up with but he felt he was doing alright. He went down a hall and leaned against it, his eyes closing and resting for a moment of peace before he was needed once again.

Joan made her way around the corner then looked around she saw mirror on the far end of the hall then pulled her hat off cursing when she saw that her roots were clearly visible - she hadn't had any time to let the mixture sit like usual and she still had to do the rest of her hair. Luckily she had more than enough to keep her covered for the next few months but it didn't stop her from feeling like a burden, her hair was the sole cause of her adoptive fathers stress something shed' nevr be okay with. "I'll try again before bed then," she spoke gently then pushed her fingers through her hair to see how light they were.

---

Jon was waiting paitently in the halls - he really just wanted to eat and be left alone but he knew that it wouldn't be possible until everyone was seated. He knew he and his sister were fortunate; living here in the same home as his trueborn children, being around them period? It was a stroke of luck his father was who he was in the first place, he stopped and bowed when he saw one of the women who had arrived for the marriagee arrangement.

Maianae stopped, curtseying before walking down to where he was in front of the door. "Is this the dining hall? I was hoping they would have food early," She admitted, looking inside. "I'm Maianae," She said, smiling a little. "You're one of the Stark's, right? It's nice to be welcomed so warmly here." She said, turning to move away from the wall.

---

Robb walked into the hall, heading to meet up with his mother and the father of the family who had arrived. He stopped short when he saw Joan, the obvious white hair stopping at the brown. He stared in confusion, wondering what was happening. "What's that?" He asked, making his way over and reaching for her hat.

She moved away from him with surprising speed then cursed closing her eyes, "no, you.. it's nothing," she said shaking her head the pulling the hat tightly down onto her head - he'd be so upset if he knew she'd gotten caught. Joan had been so careful for this long, "it's nothing," she was nearly begging him to ignore it but if anyone knew Robb Stark its that he had the resilience.

---

He nodded,"I'm Jon Snow, not a stark," he said as he bowed to her, "And the dining hall is just down this way m'lady," he said as he motioned to his right with a weak nod in that direction, "It's an honor to make you acquaintances," he said to her.

He reached above her, pulling the hat just out of her reach. "Why is your hair different colors?" He asked her, crossing his arms. "That, isn't nothing. What is that?" He asked, standing to get a better look.

---

"I'm honored to meet you, Mr. Snow," She said, curtsying again. "You are a part of the family I meant, you were with them when my family greeted yours," She said, looking where he pointed. "Have you lived in the North your whole life?" She asked him.

"Robb please," she said to him cursing her short stature for not being able to take the hat from his reach, "I can't tell you," she whispered as she looked at him with desparation in her eyes as she felt her stomach churn she felt sick - her father would surely be pissed off with her now, there was no going back. "Can we not talk about it here, please? Give it back,"

---

He nodded,"I was born in the south but I was brought back with my father with my twin sister when we were babies, after the war," he said to her smiling a little.

"Have you ever been down South since then? You must like the cold," She said, smiling a bit. "I'm not used to it, so I'm freezing. I might sleep in front of the fire." She said honestly. "Or in it."

---

He handed her back her hat but crossed his arms. "Later, after dinner, you'll explain yourself." He said to her. "Understand?" He said, looking at her hair again. It made no sense to him, there was no way she could be blonde, unless that was what the stains on her hands meant.

Joan nodded a little,"After dinner," she said to him, "I understand," a part of her worried he would say something to the man who'd raised her - who had given her a life she could lead without the worry of death if she was in danger then so was jon and that was unacceptable.

---

He shook his head,"I've been here since then, I've never left - so I'm used to the cold its easy to handle once you have layers, I suggest some furs the seamstress down the road a way has some really nice ones that could keep you warm,," he said as he looked at her with a smile.

"I'll be sure to visit, I'm in desperate need of heavier coats. So then what are your responsibilities here in Winterfell?" She asked curiously.

---

He looked at her hair once more before turning toward the door. "Dinner is soon, don't be late," He said, millions of questions running through his mind.

"Well, mostly to stay out of the way but I help Robb on occasion when he is studying battle plans, and I help train my younger brothers with archery and sword fighting," he said to her as he smiled a little, "I really don't do a whole lot,"

---

She made sure her hat was secure on her head as she looked at herself in the mirror then huffed before leaning on the wall whining a bit. "I won't be late, " she murmured lightly then headed down the hall towards the dining hall.

boop