VI. Winterfell (Part II)

The Baratheon royal family finally stood complete and none was happier for it than Harry. He would have went as far as saying that he had missed Joffrey if it wasn't for the look of pure loathing that his brother was giving him. Well never mind him, he was a barking dog with little strength to back his behavior. Right now he was simply a minor inconvenience. After hugging his father, Harry had been approached by the rest of the group. He finally noticed the others that were also looking at him with a questioning gaze.

'Starks' he thought. They looked the part. Jet black hair, body wrapped in thick fur coats and piercing eyes. All except two of them. Lady Catelyn Stark and her daughter whose name Harry did not know.

"Oh Harry, how I've missed you", said Myrcella as she speared him, almost knocking him off-balance. Harry returned her hug with the same enthusiasm. His beloved sister that he had not seen in 5 years. She had grown even more beautiful, her eyes shining with cleverness and mischief. He had so many stories to tell her about the places he had visited during his training. He had gathered some gem stones from all of the places he had been in and had kept them in a chest at Dragon stone. They were supposed to be shipped to King's Landing in a few days, along with all his other belongings as he would rejoin his family in the royal capital. He could not wait to shower her with gifts.

"I have missed you too sister, you have grown even more beautiful than I remember", Harry said with a smile. Myrcella returned his smile and stepped aside to allow others to greet him but stayed close as if fearing his disappearance. Tommen shyly stepped forward, extending a hand to Harry.

"Hello brother", he said while looking at his feet, not daring to meet the eyes of his brother. Harry smirked and grabbed Tommen's hand and pulled him in a hug. The little boy's eyes widened before softening and returning the hug in a firm manner. They separated and exchanged a laugh before Tommen stepped aside to allow his mother Cersei to greet his brother.

When seeing his mother, Harry's eyes dimmed a bit but he maintained his smile. He hugged her cautiously and she kissed his cheek, thanking the heavens and the gods for protecting him and bringing him safe back to her. Harry simply smiled and nodded. He then exchanged a polite nod with Jamie and Joffrey, then turned toward the Starks. They stood a little at the back, watching the scene unfold with varying expressions.

Lord Stark, gave him a firm handshake and talked about how much he had heard about him and that he looked every bit as impressive as the King had described him. Lady Stark gave him a polite bow and welcomed him to her home, then came a succession of bows and names from her children. Robb who appeared to be the oldest was sizing him up with a defying look that Harry returned as they shook hands, then came the beautiful Sansa who was giving him a bashful look complimented by a blush that she was trying her best to hide. Harry politely kissed her hand and felt chills up his spine. He knew that Elena must have been glaring daggers at the scene. Making a mental note to reassure her later, he moved on to Bran who was looking extremely bored but was still polite enough to put on a front, Arya who was looking at him with a frown as if she was expecting him to whip out a sword or shout something at any moment and finally Rickon who was having trouble meeting his eyes and reminded him strangely of Tommen.

A little further back, stood two young men one with Jet black hair and the other with black hair but a lighter shade. Harry exchanged nods with them and they nodded back, surprised at being acknowledged.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all" Loudly said Harry as he had finally greeted everyone. "This is Hendricks, my most loyal knight and companion and this is Elena".

"I thought you were traveling with a party of 6, what happened?" asked Robert as he stepped toward his son with an enquiring look.

"Oh I'll tell you father, but before that can we please drink something warm" answered Harry. His response garnered quite a few laughs.

"I'll make sure that their loved ones are properly compensated for their service", said Robert after downing yet another pint of mead. Harry, Eddard, Hendricks and him were sitting at a table in the mess hall, quietly going over Harry's adventure from Dragonstone to Winterfell. After being told of the death of his son's travelling companions, Robert had made a promise to do right by their families.

"Thank you father", said Harry glad that his father was seeing things his way.

"Think nothing of it" scoffed Robert, "And you defeated a Khal my son, a Khal, even I have yet to fight one".

Robert clapped Harry on the back, who almost spilled his own drink under the strength of his father. They exchanged a laugh and kept drinking, making lighter conversations and catching each other up on the latest developments in their parts of the world.

Elena was under a bit of distress. She might have been her prince's servant and now maybe more, but she remained a servant nonetheless. The only way for her to attend the current gathering was for her to be serving drinks and food to the tables. All under the lustful gaze of some of the men present. While she was thickly covered from top to bottom, her head was still out and her beautiful face was catching the eye of quite a few of these men. Even the queen was eyeing her with a calculating look, probably wondering what was the nature of the relationship between her and the prince.

'he's soon to be mine' thought Elena with determination as she served another round of drinks. Suddenly she felt a hand coming to rest on her rear and she jumped, nearly spilling the content of the cups she was holding on her plate. She turned around and was eye to eye with Joffrey Baratheon. She shuddered. She had never liked the prince, his cruelty and sadism making her fear him. But right now the lust displayed in his eyes as they roamed over her disgusted her even more.

"I did not mean to frighten you" he said in a false kind voice. Liking his lip as Elena visibly shuddered again. He liked that she seemed afraid of him. She was beautiful. Too beautiful to be by his brother's side. He would take her from him. Break her, then toss her away, just to spite him.

"No worries my prince", Elena said in a strained voice. Calling anyone but Harry her prince was difficult. No one but him deserved that from her.

"I heard a little bit about what you went through in my brother's company", added Joffrey with a sly-grin his eyes taking a tint of sympathy, "a beautiful girl like you should not be going through this, you should be serving in the finest rooms, surrounded by the finest things".

His words that he thought alluring were simply making Elena cringe even more, she looked around the room for someone to save her but her prince was sitting with his back to her and was engaged in a conversation with his father. Hendricks however had spotted the situation and signaled her with his eyes to endure. She realized that she had to endure and hope Joffrey would simply leave if she denied him. She dreaded what her prince would do to his brother if he tried anything more. It was better for Harry not to find out about this.

"Why don't you come work for me?" finally said Joffrey with a charming smile. his blood hair and green eyes shining with false sweetness. "I'll make you my personal handmaiden and you will serve me in King's Landing. You'll be treated well."

"I thank you for the offer my prince", said Elena in a polite tone of voice, "but I owe my life to your brother and I swore to stay by his side no matter what may come".

Joffrey's expression turned feral at the mention of his brother. Elena took a step back but Joffrey grabbed her wrist forcefully.

"My prince I-"

"This table as yet to be served" said a stern voice behind them. Elena and Joffrey looked at the newcomer. Myrcella was standing behind them, arms crossed and her expression set in a haughty look. "Do your duty and get them their drinks and food".

Elena jumped at the opportunity and excused herself before hurrying toward a table. Joffrey looked a bit lost for a moment but regained his bearings. He directed his anger toward Myrcella.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Saving your life", answered Myrcella in an even tone. "She clearly belongs to Harry, do you think you can take her without consequences?"

"I'll take whatever I want, I am the crown prince", said Joffrey in an imperial tone.

Myrcella sighted.

"If you really think so, then look towards father's table" she said while walking back to her own table, she turned around "because next time, I won't stop you".

Joffrey looked toward his father's table and came eye to eye with Harry's eyes. Hendricks had signaled Harry the moment Joffrey had grabbed a hold of Elena's wrist and Harry was now glaring at his brother as if he was trying to set him on fire with the simple strength of his eyes. Joffrey tried to hold the gaze but he soon found himself a bit overwhelmed. His brother's deep green eyes were fixated on him as a lion on his prey. he did not blink, did not make a sound, did not move, however the sheer ill will behind those eyes made Joffrey stagger back to his seat in fear.

All of this was happening under the watchful eye of The Queen Cersei.

As pleased as she was to see how much Harry had grown, how strong he seemed to have become, it was also obvious how he seemed more Baratheon than Joffrey. Comparing the two physically, Harry could easily pass for the older brother. He was a head taller than Geoffrey, had a better build and as good as Joffrey looked, Harry's raven black hair and deep green eyes were just mesmerizing. It was pretty easy to see who the armies would naturally come to respect and consider as their leader. The only thing that was keeping Joffrey afloat was his status as first-born. But then again, Joffrey was not even Robert's, which meant that Harry was in fact, the true crown prince. That's what Jon Arryn had been close to figuring out. When Cersei had found out he was sniffing around the family books she had known something was up but before she could do something about him he had been poisoned. Her hope was that it had been an act of retribution unrelated to the situation. Because otherwise, someone else was aware of their little secret.

Cersei was pulled out of her thoughts by the sight of Elena going by her table.

"You", she commanded, "Come here".

Elena stepped closer to Cersei, with an apprehensive look.

"Yes, your grace ?"

"What is your relationship with my son", Cersei asked straight away. Her voice was loud enough to reach the ears of Elena but no one else. Cersei was sitting at a table by herself, so no one could eavesdrop on their conversation.

"I am only his servant your grace", answered Elena while averting your eyes.

"There's no need to lie, you're not in trouble little girl" said Cersei with a soft voice, but her eyes as hard and calculating as ever, "I see the way you look at him, It's been that way for a while, you clearly love my son farther than a servant loves her master".

Elena swallowed before answering, knowing that lying to the Queen would simply make her angrier.

"My affection for the prince is real your grace, however I have no designs upon him, I am after all a lowly servant".

"Has anything happened, between you two?" asked Cersei, ignoring Elena's last statement.

Elena blushed when reminded of what transpired at that lake. She doesn't answer. Cersei understands.

"No need to answer that" she says. She then readjusts herself in her chair and take a sip of her wine. "He is his father's son so of course he would have a taste for the help", mutters Cersei in between sips. Elena ignores the offensive comment. She knows that to her prince she is more than that and that's all that matters. But she's also scared, because now that Cersei is aware, she could very well try to pull them apart.

"Well, its not a big deal, he's a boy after all", concluded Cersei with an air of finality. "Just don't get your hopes up peasant girl, always remember your place and that you will never be anything more than a girl to practice on". The last part comes out with a viciousness that startles Elena. Cersei dismisses her, with a hard look in her eyes and goes back to brooding.

As Elena retreats, she starts to understand. After all, Robert Baratheon has a history of sleeping with the help. Her being a servant too would definitely not place her high on Cersei's list.

'We haven't even done anything...yet' thought Elena as she entered the kitchen in Winterfell and was herself directed toward the servants eating quarters. A blush creeping on her face as she thought of her prince ravishing her. The warm feeling in her lower belly returning with a vengeance. A plan already formulating in her mind. She would have to claim the prince soon, before that Sansa Stark, before any other potential girl. He was hers, regardless of what they all said.

After the conversation with his father, Harry had got up from the table feeling a bit light headed from the drinking. He had in mind to retreat to his quarters to rest and was currently looking for Elena to go with him. After being told that she was having her own lunch in the servant quarters, he then decided to wait for her by the doors of the kitchen. He was going to exit the room when he fell upon a strange sight. Robb Stark and the two boys from earlier, talking loudly, participating in what seemed to be a drinking game. Without giving it much thought, Harry decided to join them.

"What do we have here?" he said loudly while approaching the table. The three boys turned around to look at him, and Robb's smile turned a bit more feral.

"If it isn't his highness from the south", he said in a mocking tone, "Is the room warm enough for you or should I get my sister's coat?".

One of the boys let out a guttural laugh while almost falling of his chair. The alcohol was clearly getting to him. The other one with much darker hair stayed silent but had an amused grin on his face.

Harry himself chuckled.

"Don't worry Robb Stark, as you'll come to find out soon I'm not a pansy like my older brother prince light-shines-out-of-my-arse over there", said Harry while plopping down loudly in an empty chair next to the silent boy, "Me, I'm warm enough, you however seem to be too warm seeing as you can barely finish this drink".

The other two boys looked at Robb with mirth in their eyes. Robb's eye twitched before he downed his drink in one go and challenged Harry to a drinking contest.

"I'll take you on Stark" said Harry with a grin, "But before we start, what are your names?", he asked to the other two.

"Theon Greyjoy, my prince", answered the one who appeared the most drunk, he had an auburn nest of hair and a small beard. Harry nodded and turned toward the one with jet black hair.

"Jon Snow, my prince" he answered.

'a bastard' thought Harry with a grin, 'how interesting, I wonder whose bastard'.

Robb raised his hand and loudly ordered more alcohol, catching the attention of many in the rooms, who quickly joined the table and started cheering. Robb was backed by locals while Harry had the Lannister soldiers in attendance behind him.

"Don't pass out" said Robb while raising his glass. Harry smiled.

"Don't puke" said Harry. The downed their first glasses in a go.

It was only after the sixth consecutive glass that Robb simply slumped over the table and stopped moving. Harry himself very tipsy simply down his cup and lifted his arms in victory under the cheers of the assembly. He got up from his chair and immediately regretted doing that as his uncontrollable body started swaying from left to right, unable to support his own weight. Elena seeing her prince struggle decided to land him a hand but Harry proved much too heavy for her to carry by herself and Hendricks came to her support. Together, they walked Harry to his quarter.

"Elena the oncoming days are going to be a trial for you and for me", started Hendricks as soon as they were out of ear shot from people. "Now that the prince is back with his family, we need to prove to the crown that we are worthy to stand by his side".

"What do you mean ?" ,asked Elena.

"The queen is always with a plan and she seeks to at best mend the relationship between her two sons or at worse, make sure that Prince Harry does not get in Prince Joffrey's way". answered Hendricks in a hushed tone, "for that purpose she will replace us, putting her own puppets at Harry's side so that they can tell her of his every move".

A wave of anger coursed through Elena. There was no way she was going to be removed from her prince's side. No way. But the queen's word was absolute. If she wanted to, then there was no way they could oppose themselves.

"How will we fight this? should we tell the prince ?"

"Absolutely not. He might know of her motives but the prince is a boy who has just been reunited with his mother, if we came to him with our suspicions it could backfire on us. However, he does seem to care for you a great deal so maybe that could help".

Elena blushed. Of course Hendricks had noticed that her relationship with the prince had changed.

"All we can do is show our usefulness at Harry's side to the King", finished Hendricks while pushing open the door to Harry's room, "now more than ever he needs to be protected. I fear something big will be happening very soon".

They laid Harry down on his bed, removing his shoes and coat. There was a fire in the room which was making it warm enough for him to be without the added layers. Elena tucked him in while Hendricks did a quick sweep of the quarters, checking the washroom and the window. Satisfied with his inspection he returned back to the bedroom, finding Elena standing by the bed.

"You should stay here, for security", said Hendricks with a knowing smile. Elena once again blushed and lowered her head. She however did not protest.

Hendricks exited the room after wishing her a quick goodnight. Elena kept her ear at the door, listening to his steps fading away. She then took a deep breath and removed her own coat and shoes, leaving her only in a gown. After much hesitation, she finally decided to climb into the bed with her prince, who was out cold from his drinking. After making a quick prayer to the Mother that they would not receive an unwanted visit, she laid down and snuggled next to her prince, the sound of his peaceful breathing driving her to sleep.

New chapter in. Thank you for everyone that still follows the story. I know the world is currently upside down right now for a lot of us, a lot is happening and we each have our own way of dealing with it. I hope this bring you guys a little normalcy. Thank you, until next time.