Ages:
Rachel Stark: 32
Robb Stark: 32
Rana Stark: 18
Atie Stark: 17
Ned Stark: 11
Brandon Stark: 6
Jasper Frost: 20
Liam Frost: 18

Chapter 1: People fall in love in mysterious ways

Rachel Stark was a beautiful woman, well Queen to be more precise. She was known for her beauty all around the kingdom of Winterfell. She had fair skins, piercing blue eyes, and beautiful blonde locks. The people of Winterfell knew her to be a kind and loving queen, who always had a smile on her face. But today as Rachel marched over to her husband, the King of Winterfell, Robb Stark’s chambers, she looked anything but kind. Rachel stormed right past the guards not even waiting for them to courtesy to her and barged into her husband’s chambers. The members of his council all looked up in shock and confusion at the queen’s anger. They weren’t used to seeing her like this. They all quickly stood up and bowed, “Your Majesty.”
Rachel ignored them all and stared right at Robb, her beautiful husband who was tall, lean, and had dark brown hair and piercing eyes. One look from Rachel and Robb got the hint. “Um, will you all excuse me and the queen for a moment? I will summon for you all a bit later.”
Once the council was out of the chambers, Robb leaned back a little in his chair and tried to hide the amused smile that was threatening to sneak up on his mouth. “Wife.” He said simply.
“Husband.” Rachel said sternly starting back at him.
“Is there a problem?”
Rachel scoffed, “Is there a problem? IS THERE A PROBLEM??” she repeated for the second time a bit more loudly. “There is a huge problem! I just received news that the King of the Sandstorms is coming to Winterfell with his two sons, and the eldest son is supposed to marry our daughter!?” Rachel spit out. “Is this true?”
Robb sighed, “Yes.”
Rachel stared at her husband in shock, “Robb, they have been our greatest enemies for years. Our ancestors have been fighting each other for decades. How can you just give our daughter away to them? We were fighting with them just about a year ago. We lost more than half our men!”
Robb sighed, “And then we made peace.” He said getting up and walking towards her. “We made peace and we agreed that this feud between our two kingdoms needs to stop now.” He said placing his hands on her hips. Usually Rachel would respond to the gesture immediately, and she really wanted to at this moment, she wanted some comfort from her husband, but she was too worried about her children right now so she simply just crossed her arms and looked away from him. Robb groaned, “Rachel, by having this marriage happen we can officially unite the two kingdoms. I’m sorry. I know this makes you upset, but our daughter Rana will marry the future king of the Standstorms, Jasper and that is all.”


Rachel turned to look at her husband, “You should have told me.” She said softly. “I should have found out from you and not some random council members.”
“I’m sorry you found out the way you did, truly I am.” Robb said stroking her cheek. Rachel sighed and leaned her head against his chest. Although her arms were still crossed, Robb knew her resolve was breaking. “We just have so much going on with this constant feuding and now these rumors…”
Rachel sighed and looked down guilty, “The rumors surrounding me and my brother.”
Robb shook his head, “Ridiculous, disgusting rumors that I do not believe even for a second! But we still need to assure our kingdom and have an army support just in case and what better way than to unite two kingdoms together. Besides, Rana is coming of marrying age. This one marriage solves so many of our problems.”
Rachel sighed and finally unfolded her arms, tightly wrapping them around Robb’s waist. “I’m just worried. You know how I get about the children, and the thought of having Rana marry one of our enemies….after Anne. I just…”
Robb quickly placed his finger on her lips, he couldn’t bear to hear what she was about to say. “I regret what happened to Anne every single day and I blame myself for it every single day, but I would never let that happen to any of my children again. I can’t lose any more of them. I would have never agreed to this marriage if I didn’t think Rana would be safe.”
Rachel sighed, and let go of her husband reluctantly. “So I suppose I have to go break the news to Rana then, and Atie, she’s going to take it pretty hard too.”
Robb nodded his head, “Do you wish me to come with you?”
Rachel let out a half amused and half bitter laugh, “I love you honey, but after the girls hear of this news I doubt they’re going to want to see you.”



Robb groaned and threw his head in the air, having one of his daughters mad at him was hard enough, but both of them was going to be torture.

Rana Stark was sitting in her chambers organizing her vanity table. Her mother had asked to visit with her and she was curious as to why. She heard her bedroom chambers open and looked up expecting to see her mother, but was in fact greeted by her little sister, Atiha, who everyone lovingly liked to call Atie.
“Go away, mother wishes to speak to me.” Rana said crisply.
“As if I want to spend time with you.” Atie said rolling her eyes, “Mother has asked me to come here as well.”
Rana’s brows crunched up, “Why does mother wish to speak to both of us?”
“I’m not psychic.” Atie muttered shrugging her shoulders. “Maybe you’re finally getting married.” Atie teased, but suddenly her face turned serious. “Oh my god! Do you think you’re getting married?”
The color from Rana’s face suddenly drained and she stood up to go sit down next to her sister. “Do you think? I mean I know father has been looking for a good relationship for me, but I never thought it would be this soon!?”
“Who do you think it is!?” Atie asked excitedly.
Rana rolled her eyes, “Who cares, I don’t want to get married.”
“Maybe, it’s someone from the Baratheon’s!” Atie said completely ignoring her sister. “They’re rich!”
“They’re a bunch of idiots.” Rana muttered. “Besides you’re missing the point, at this point in time I do not wish to marry.”
Atie looked at her sister understandingly. “To be completely honest, I do not wish for you to get married right now either. Especially after all the rumors surrounding mother…..and Anne.” Atie said softly.
Rana turned and gave her sister a sad smile, completely understanding. Although the two sisters fought a lot, they had always been pretty close growing up since they were only a year apart. And after all the recent tragedies their family had gone through in the past couple of years they had become even closer. “I know. But I don’t think this is something I can cry my way out of.” Rana said slightly joking. “When you’re royalty, you get married for the advancement of your family. Let’s just hope my future husband comes from a family we love and that is loyal.” Rana said softly.
Atie nodded her head and the two sisters sat in silence, waiting for their mother to come in and announce her news.



Rachel walked into the bechambers, her head held high as she entered the room. She spotted both of her daughters waiting for her, looking very eager.
"What is it, mother?" Rana blurted out.
"I have to tell you something", Rachel said, closing the door after her to make sure that no curious servants would hear. "Well, only Rana but I don't see why the both of you can't be here.."
Rana and Atie gave each other a glance before turning to their mother. "What is it?"
Rachel sighed. "Your father has decided that...", she looked at her hands before looking back at her daughters. In her head she cursed her beloved husband for not sharing these news with her first. LIke she would have deserved. After all, she was the one who had given birth to all their children, the one that had always taken care of them. "That you, Rana, are to wed Jasper Frost of the Sandstorms."
There was a silence in the room for the longest time. Until Atie blurted out: "Is he old?"
It seemed like a juvanile question but it was not. It was what Rana and Atie had always thought about. If their parents would marry them to some old men like so many lords and ladies did.
"No, he's not old", Rachel said patiently. "He's almost your age, a bit older. From what I understand, he's a fine man. And he will be king."
"I... I don't WANT to marry!" Rana said desperately, trying to get her mother to understand. "Not now, not with everything going on! Can't you make father see?!"
Rachel said nothing, just shook her head. In truth she thought that it was clear she could no longer make their father do anything. "I'm sorry, Rana."
"This isn't fair!" Atie said, defending her sister. "You married for love! Why can't you give your own daughter the same option?"
"Because the world is different now, and you are not as lucky as I was", Rachel said impatiently. "Lucky enough to fall in love with a future king all on my own."
"Well, good for you!" Rana snapped. "Unlucky for me, I was never even allowed to try to find love on my own! I am so-"
"I know!" Rachel shushed her daughter. "I know that it's unfair and awful and nothing that you hoped for. But you are a princess and this is what you were raised to be", she grabbed onto her daughter's arm gently, trying to make her understand. "They say he's a good man."
"I don't care", Rana forced out, tugging her hand away from her mother. "I don't care and I especially don't care what father has to say."
Rachel sighed. She knew exactly how her daughter was feeling, but she had to try to make her see. "You will marry Jasper Frost. And you will be queen", she tried to make her see the good side. "Just like I am."
"I don't want to be like you are", Rana murmured as she walked past her out of the room , closely followed by Atie.



Rachel sighed again, sitting on the bed, wondering how on earth to make this better.

Atie and Rana were sitting in the Godswood of Winterfell, picking at the red leaves on the ground. It was time for the royal visitors to arrive. Jasper Frost would bring with him a great group of people, including his younger brother, Liam, who was already bethroed.
"It's going to be okay", Atie tried to give words of comfort to her sister. "I'm sure mother wouldn't let this happen if he was a bad person."
"I know, but the fact that it's an arranged marriage alone...", Rana groaned, laying down on the grass. "Tell me what to do."
Atie sighed. She was usually not a woman of many words, but her sister needed help. She grabbed onto her hand firmly. "You will be queen one day. Think of that when you have to endure his boring politics, or his annoying habits. Think that you will be queen. I know you would be a great one."
Rana smiled, leaning closer to hug her sister. "Thank you." As they pulled away, she said: "You will marry one day, too."
"I know", Atie gave a shy smile. She did not mind it so much. She had always been more like her mother out of the two, very romantic. Whereas Rana cared for passion and adventure.
"And you will find someone amazing", Rana said with a smile. "Someone who truly loves you. Unlike me and this Jasper."
"You'll grow to like him", Atie protested.
"I highly doubt that."
Before Atie could say another word, their younger brothers, Brandon and Ned, rushed into the Godswood.
"They're coming!" they shouted. "There's a huge royal party on the way here down the Kingsroad!"
Atie and Rana both stood up, straightening their dresses. Just as they thought they were fit enough to present themselves to the court, their mother spotted them and immediately told them to change their clothes.
Robb and Rachel were already standing as a welcoming committee with their young sons, waiting for the men to arrive.
"Are you still angry with me?" Robb asked, his eyes on the road.
"I'm not angry. Just...."
"Angry", Robb smiled a little. He took her hand, squeezing it. They would talk about this later. For now they had to remain united.
Atie and Rana rushed to stand beside their family, Atie running a hand through her hair as they waited for the carriage to arrive. There were hundreds of horses and about ten carriages. It was a big host indeed.
"Where is Jasper?" Atie asked curiously. She seemed more eager than her own sister did.
"He's the one at the front", Robb said, gesturing at the man with dark hair. He was handsome, and he seemed to have easy confidence to him, but Rana decided immediately that she did not care for him.
Rachel forced a smile on her face. She was genuinely a kind person, but all of this at once seemed to be a bit too much. And when she saw the look of anxiety on Rana's face, she felt even worse.
"It'll be okay", she whispered to her daughter, who said nothing.
And when Jasper stepped down from his horse and came to greet them, his eyes met Rana's, and for a moment, for a single moment, Rana forgot that she hated him. There was instant chemistry, but the moment he grabbed onto her hand gently and kissed it, the chemistry was gone in Rana's head.
She was again reminded that this was a forced marriage, so she did nothing but give a curtsy and say: "Your Grace", before turning her eyes to the ground.
The encounter was awkward to say the least, and the only one to break the ice was Jasper's younger brother, Liam, who walked over to them with a charming smile, greeting each one of them happily. The one he seemed to focus on the most, however, was Atie, who blushed as he kissed her hand.
But the lovely moment was over far too soon. In a moment it was time for the feast to begin, and none of the Starks were in the mood for a party.