CHAPTER 190
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CHAPTER 190
294 AC
POV THIRD PERSON
In the heart of Winterfell, the Stark children gathered in the Great Hall, the warm glow of torchlight casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. The table before them was strewn with scrolls, parchment, and an array of maps, a vivid testament to their fervent discussions. The Stark children - Jon, Robb, Arya, Bran, and Sansa - sat around the long wooden table, their expressions a blend of excitement and nostalgia. The absence of their friend Aermir weighed heavily on their minds, reminding them of the deep bond they had forged with him during his time at Winterfell.
The dire wolves, loyal companions to the Stark children, lay sprawled around them, their eyes half-closed as they basked in the comforting presence of their pack and the warm fire.
As their discussions unfolded, Theon Greyjoy, a figure who had taken up residence at Winterfell, lingered on the fringes of the conversation. Though he had struck up a friendship with Robb, his presence was not met with the same warmth from Arya and Sansa. Theon's disposition and words had sown discord between him and the Stark sisters, creating an atmosphere of tension whenever they interacted.
Theon's negative sentiments towards Aermir became apparent in his frequent disparaging remarks. He dismissed Aermir as an "upstart wannabe noble," a phrase that never failed to grate on the nerves of those who cherished their friend's presence. His words were particularly cutting for Jon, whom he would openly belittle and insult for being a bastard. Theon's jabs at Jon's status as a Snow were aimed to undermine and humiliate him, revealing a cruel streak beneath his façade.
But he would only do this when he is alone with Jon or when he is with other knights and nobles who dislike bastards, and he would always deny insulting Aermir or Jon when those words reach Robb's ears.
Lord Stark had encouraged a cordial relationship with Theon, considering him a guest under their roof. Yet, despite this, Arya and Sansa harbored strong aversions to the young Greyjoy. Their disdain for him was rooted in his continuous derogatory remarks about Aermir, as well as his derogatory treatment of Jon and his wanton actions against other women and servants in Winterfell.
While they maintained civility in his presence, they had little desire to engage with him beyond necessity. Whatever the sisters do, they are not able to make Robb believe what kind of man Theon is. Since their father kept telling them to be friendly with him, Robb wanted to keep the peace.
Theon's interactions with Robb were quite different, as he adopted a façade of camaraderie, attempting to position himself as a loyal friend. Yet, even in his interactions with Robb, an astute observer could detect a certain level of sycophancy, hinting at a more self-serving nature beneath his outward charm.
"It's a shame Aermir can't be here,"
Jon remarked, his voice tinged with disappointment. His brows furrowed as he looked down at a detailed map of the North, his fingers tracing the familiar contours of the land.
"He's been so occupied with Moat Cailin, but Rickon's name day is a big event."
Robb nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the plans laid out before him.
"And I've got my lordship training to handle. I can't even go visit him, even if I wanted to. Can't be away from Winterfell for too long, or Maester Luwin and Rodrik would nag me to dead."
Arya's eyes sparkled mischievously, her lean form leaning forward as she added her thoughts.
"Well, that's even more reason for us to make this feast memorable. We've got to show Rickon that his big brothers can still throw a great feast for him."
She was stroking Robb's ego to nudge him forward with the plan. Bran's thoughtful expression held a hint of wistfulness.
"And it's been a while since we will all be together like this. We should take advantage of it."
Sansa, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up, her voice carrying a note of gentle persuasion.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, don't you? Bringing friends from all over the North to celebrate Rickon's name day."
Jon and Robb exchanged a glance, their expressions softening as they seemed to consider the proposition.
"It would be nice,"
Robb admitted, a touch of a smile tugging at his lips. Jon nodded in agreement; his gaze still fixed on the map.
"Yeah, we could invite some of the other noble families, and you, as the next lord, can forge stronger connections with them."
Sansa's smile held a trace of satisfaction as she watched her brothers warm up to the idea.
"And you know, a feast like this would show the unity of the North, how we all come together for each other."
Arya rolled her eyes, a playful grin on her face.
"Don't tell me you're turning into a Southerner noble now, Sansa. You talk just like them."
Sansa's gaze met Arya's with a knowing look, her tone light and teasing.
"Ye, and you keep scratching like a dog. Do you have fleas? You look just like a wildling."
Arya stuck her tongue out at Sansa and started to make faces to annoy her. After some banter between siblings, the conversation moved from the guest list to the menu, from the logistics of accommodation to the entertainment for the event. As Jon and Robb started to discuss the finer details, the initial reluctance they had felt seemed to dissolve entirely. Sansa's adept maneuvering had led them to embrace the idea wholeheartedly, each of them now contributing their ideas to make the feast a truly memorable occasion.
As the Stark children continued to hash out the details of their plans, an intangible force seemed to guide their efforts toward cohesion and unity. Sansa's subtle influence acted as an invisible thread, deftly weaving their individual ideas into a harmonious whole. While Aermir's physical presence was absent, his memory seemed to infuse the room, a testament to the deep friendships and alliances that had been forged during his time at Winterfell.
Unbeknownst to her siblings, it was Sansa who had initiated the idea of hosting a feast in honor of Rickon's name day. Over the past month, she had keenly felt Aermir's absence and longed for their beautiful conversations together. Through careful and subtle interactions with each of her siblings, Sansa cultivated a shared sense of nostalgia for Aermir. One by one, she met with them. Sparking conversations that revolved around their wild and mischievous adventures with their friend.
In these exchanges, they fondly recalled their escapades with Aermir during their mischievous childhood days. They reminisced about the daring escapades, the secret hideaways they would explore, and the way Aermir's quick thinking and resourcefulness always managed to keep them out of trouble. Sansa painted a vivid picture of the camaraderie they shared with their friend, skillfully tugging at their heartstrings.
One memory that never failed to bring a smile was the tale of Robb, Jon, and Aermir's pranks on some of the minor nobles of Winterfell. Armed with buckets of water and a mischievous plan, they stationed themselves on the castle walls. As the nobles gathered for a courtyard meeting just below the archways, the trio waited for the perfect moment.
Aermir signaled his companions. With well-aimed precision, they dumped buckets of water onto the unsuspecting nobles below, and right after, a few sacks of flour were dumped on the nobles. They were furious, but no one was found guilty of this prank. This was one of the perks of being in the same group of Stark heir. Every minor noble knew Robb was one of the people who did this, but they just kept their mouths shut.
Lord Stark had beaten them good in the training ground with deadly training because they wasted precious food. They had to run around to the training ground until the sun was down, and it would always restart if they passed out. It took them three days to finish it without passing out, but it was still a fond memory for them.
As Sansa wove her web of nostalgia, a subtle longing for Aermir began to take root within her siblings' hearts. The sense of unity and companionship they had felt with him seemed to be imbued in every corner of Winterfell. And so, when Sansa finally talked about Rickon's first name day and how all the lords were in Winterfell.
Arya literally had a lamp lit up on top of her head. She thought of giving a feast for his next name day. She told "her idea" to Robb and Jon. Sansa might think of herself as a master at this, but Jon and Robb were not naïve and knew whose idea it was; they just played along with it. The feast, initially designed to celebrate Rickon's name day, soon took on a deeper purpose – a means to reunite with old friends, honor cherished memories, and rekindle the bonds that had been formed with Aermir.
Sansa's careful orchestration extended even to convincing their father, Eddard Stark, to send out official invitations to the Northern lords. Her genuine enthusiasm and heartfelt desire to bring everyone together swayed him, and he readily agreed to her proposal. The excitement and anticipation for the upcoming feast were palpable.