The Reluctant Conquest of Ruby Snow Chapter Three

As always I will have a link to the G-docs at the bottom as well as some other reading formats.

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Ruby

“Fluffy like nothing else, as if she had mastered the art of being fluffy... if that is a thing.” I explained. As Caitlyn rolled her eyes at me.

“And you are sure? A direwolf.” She asked, again.

“Incredibly sure, she was absolutely gorgeous.” I said with a firm nod as Caitlyn seemed to consider my words.

“And you fed this direwolf a stag?” She asked, again. Urrg!

“Well, no she sorta stole the stag from me, but I guess in a way yeah, I killed the stag and the wolfie ate the... yeah, I guess.” I shrugged as Caitlyn seemed thoughtful for a moment, looking to the side for a moment before looking me in the eyes.

“The Greyjoy told me he saw you with that blacksmiths boy and Arya all playing with swords in the Godswood.” Caitlyn said slowly. I managed to keep my cool under her stern gaze, only sweating a little bit, my hands were barely shaking at all but I put them behind my back anyway as I tried to think of how to survive this moment.

“That’s a lie!” Arya lied. “He is so stupid I hate him! I HATE HIM!” She screamed, her face turning red as she raged against Theon Greyjoy, a hostage Ned treated more like a guest than a prisoner. I felt some guilt about the fact that Theon had likely only told on Arya and I because I had been... very firm with Theon with how I felt about him after he had... pestered me too much.

He was nineteen! My body is fourteen years old. Why was he even trying, that was GROSS! He was the sort of person that would get punched by Yan- 

Nevermind.

“Arya, calm down!” Caitlyn demanded as Arya started to cry, her face turning all blotchy and red and gross. “You are not in trouble-.” 

“Ruby never did anything! I made her do it.” Arya whined and I felt my eyes start to water.

“Then she should have known better. You have no way of forcing her to do anything. It was a foolish and dangerous thing to do!” Caitlyn snapped but grit her teeth. “I am giving... you both a warning.” she said at last as Arya sniffed up a super disgusting sounding booger. “I will be speaking to your father however and he shall have the final say on this sword business.” I kept my expression neutral but it was unusual for Caitlyn to rely upon Ned’s authority as a father when it came to her children. But it was clear that Arya was very upset.

“Yes My Lady.” I said, reaching for the skirt that extended just past my knees over a set of thick and comfortable woollen trousers. I performed a respectful curtsy and that seemed to satisfy Caitlyn. I then looked over at Arya who had her little fists all balled up but her mothers stern gaze bearing down on her eventually caused the girl to relent and nod.

“Yes mother.” She offered and Caitlyn nodded, seemingly satisfied for now.

“Off with both of you then, I will be going to see your father now.” With that she turned about and strode out of the little workshop while Ser Wylis glanced at the both of us and nodded. Before quietly closing the door. 

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Eddard

Cold blood clung to Ice as he set the timeless blade upon a knee and ran a cloth down the blade wet with the still water of the Godswood pond. Even in the cool shadows of this ancient place the greatsword seemed to ripple in the light as a thousand dark shades of its Valyrian steel caught the faint red tinted light that passed though the Wierwood’s leaves at his back.

He would always come to this place after having delivered the King's Justice, always sit before the face of the old Heart Tree. He would always wash away the blood in these waters and tend to the blade that hardly needed such care. A Valyrian Steel blade could be left in the wilds for a thousand years and still keep an edge they say.

He doubted that, but it was a fact that blades like Ice wanted to be sharp. He sat aside the first cloth and took a second out of a pouch as well as a small bottle of a foul smelling oil that failed to compete with the scent of ten thousand flowers that had already long commanded the very air around him.

“Ned.” Her voice was quiet even in this still place, quickly swallowed up by a place ancient beyond reckoning. 

“Catelyn.” He replied as he looked upon the woman he loved, the Lady of Winterfell for over fifteen years. She looked uncomfortable in this place, a place that by rights, she ruled as much as he did. “Where are the children?” He asked as she approached.

“Sansa went to her room to tend to one of her dresses, Arya was with that girl. You know that she is letting her play with swords.” Ned knew she was referring to Ruby. 

“Wooden swords, Ruby knows girls ought not to toy with even blunt steel in jest. It’s harmless fun.” Ned waved a hand.

“So you knew they were doing it?” Cat snapped as Ned set his lips at the trap he had so easily fallen into.

“Ruby would not have Arya come to harm, she loves her.” His words did little for Caitlyn who folded her arms and looked at him. “The girls have helmets that cover their face when they do it.” He gestured with a hand.

“It’s not the place of a Lady to swing swords about, even if it is a stick. Risk of injury or not.” Caitlyn continued. 

“It makes Arya happy, so she is willing to take her lessons well.” Ned offered.

“She ran out of her lesson today Ned.” Cat countered.

“Well I shall tell her if she wishes to play with the wooden swords then she had best do her lessons and do them well.” Ned resolved, Cat looked at him a moment longer before she sighed and nodded. 

“Very well. If you have made that decision I will not gainsay it.” She said at last.

“What of Bran.” Ned changed the subject as he ran the oily cloth across Ice.

“Bran is with Robb.” She paused and thought for a moment. “I am not sure how he is taking things.” She admitted at last.

“He is old enough to-” 

“I know.” Cat said quickly, closing her eyes and taking a calming breath. “I know but I worry for him, for all of them.”

“He will not be a boy forever. Winter is coming.” Ned reminded her and she glanced at the face of the Weirwood tree before looking away into the inky black of the pond.

Anywhere but at him.

“Bran took it well.” Ned assured her. “You would have been proud of him.” At last Cat looked at him with a wry smile.

“I am always proud of him, of all of them.” She assured him, he already knew that was true.

“Ben writes to me that many more men have tried to flee the watch, he is trying to support Castle Black from his new holdings in the gift but they are down below a thousand men at the wall and are losing men in rangings too. Not just desertions.”

“The wildlings?” Cat prompted and Ned nodded.

“Of course, they have rallied to this so-called ‘King-beyond-the-Wall’ There might be a time where I must call my banners and ride north to deal with him for good. Ben cannot resettle that land if the smallfolk fear wildlings roving past the wall.” Ned explained as Cat grew pale.

“You would go beyond the Wall?” 

“Mance Rayder is no threat to us.” Ned assured her.

“There are darker things beyond that Wall.” Cat assured him.

“Perhaps long ago, but the Children of the Forest have been gone for eight thousand years.” Ned dismissed cat’s worries with a gentle smile.

“And no living man had ever seen a direwolf either.” Cat’s voice was not filled with mirth but with an assured certainty. 

“What?” Ned asked, baffled. “What do you mean? A direwolf?”

“The Bastard encountered one.” She said, “Just this morning. While hunting alone in the Wolfswood to the north of Winterfell, she said it was roughly thirteen miles into the woods from the gate.” 

“That is very close.” Ned said after a moment. “A direwolf?” He confirmed.

“That girl is many things... but a liar she is not. A giant she-wolf taller than she is and fat with pups. That is what she saw.” Cat explained before rolling her eyes. “She also went to some lengths to describe the things fur, pale and fluffy I am to understand.” Ned exhaled in amusement at that.

“She could have been mistaken.” Ned offered after a moment to consider.

“Perhaps she was, but even so, a sizable wolf, brazen enough to get that close to Winterfell is something to take seriously.” Ned nodded as Cat spoke, upon that she was right.

“It would be a sad thing to kill the beast. Perhaps a party can drive it north or west so it settles in a less settled territory.” Ned mused.

“I am more concerned that this is an omen.” Caitlyn admitted. “That the beast made way south of the wall, that the Night's Watch are reporting troubles, Mance Rayder... we must take heed of these warnings.” 

“Aye, I take your meaning. I will ask Ruby about it personally, perhaps she will remember something else.” Ned resolved. He then glanced at Cat who looked deeply conflicted all of a sudden and the cool grip of concern gripped his belly.

“Cat?” It occurred to him then that his wife would not come to this place she so mislikes just to bring news of Ruby’s exploits and news of the faraway north.

“I am sorry my love.” She said at last, stepping forwards and kneeling on the soft and dry, vibrantly green kitchen that carpeted the earth. “Terrible news has arrived by raven, Jon Arryn is dead.”

At the words it was like Ned had been cast from a cliff and despite sitting he had to place a hand upon the stone he was sat upon to steady himself. He opened his mouth but found no words as his Wife’s eyes watered at the pain of bringing such news to him.

“Is this news certain?” Ned asked, his words sounding harsher then he intended but Cat only squeezed his hand supportively.

“It was written in the Robberts own hand and marked with his seal. Lord Arryn was taken quickly and did not suffer long. I know how he was like a father to you...” She took his silence with a sympathetic look and continued. “My sister and her son have returned to the Eyrie, I wish they had gone to Riverrun instead as the Eyrie is a lonely place.” Cat lamented.

“Go to her, take the children. Lysa should not be alone in her grief and that boy should have other children around him.” Ned advised his love.

“Would that I could. But The King is riding to Winterfell to seek you out.” Ned was grateful at that moment for Cat to offer him the good news last. It had been so long since he had seen Robert. Despite the terrible news of Jon’s passing he found a smile upon his face. But it was soon that his duties as Lord of Winterfell began to press upon him.

“He leaves us little time to prepare, how many people would he bring? How are we going to feed them all... the entertainment.” He turned to his Wife as she shared his smile and shook her head.

“Worse than the winter, the King is coming.” She teased and Ned was glad for the company of his love at that moment as he laughed. 

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Ruby

“Cley Cerwyn.” I offer, earning a humming sound from Sansa as she re-stitched one of the seams at the hip of her dress.

“The Cerwyn boy? Did he do well in the last tourney?” She frowned and I thought back to the last time I had seen Cley, he had come to take part in one of the reguler tournaments held at Winterfell, ostensibly for the realm but it was rare that any southerners attended. It was in the tournaments and feasts that noble children could get to spend time together and learn about each other.

“He performed well in the Recital. But was drummed out of the Archery and the Westling.” I paused for a moment and tied off the thread on one of the sleeves. I had been inspired to embroider some wolf heads into Sansa’s dress since the bulk of the refitting work had been so quick but now I was on head number four and ugh. I should have just gone with two. 

“He never took part in the Melee?” Sansa stood up to take a drink of some thinned wine that was left on the other side of the room from her dress. 

“No, he must have been injured in the wrestling or something. You don’t remember him? You commented on his attempt to grow a beard.” My words were punctuated by a scandalised gasp from Sansa.

“I remember now! It was so bad, just on top of his lip! He honestly needs to just give up on that until he can grow a beard properly.” Sansa tittered in amusement.

“You are so mean!” I teased. “All the boys get excited the moment a single hair starts to show up. Look at Robb.” 

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Sansa grossed before her eyes shined. “Best feature?” She asked.

“Oh his voice, he almost won.” I replied.

“He was a bit plain, if I remember right.” Sansa offered and I shrugged. “Alright,” She changed the subject of our gossiping. “Galbart Glover.”

“What? Ewww! He is old and married! With children.” I pointed out.

“He is not that old and we are just comparing Lords, he is handsome!” Sansa argued firmly.

“Far too much dad energy.” I waved a hand and stuck out my tongue as my little sister rolled her eyes.

“You are at once, the most and least picky person in the world.” Sansa accused me as she finished the stiching.

“How is it going?” I asked, desperate to avoid Sansa’s attempt to defend the attractiveness of old men. 

“You were right when you said this would take longer than an evening.” She said with a sigh. “And with the King arriving soon.” Sansa grumbled.

“Ha, soon. It will take them two or three months to get here with all of the people they will be bringing.” I pointed out.

“That is soon!” She snipped jabbing a needle at me as I held up my hands in surrender. “We will have the Queen here and her family and so many people from Kings landing and we have barely ANY time to prepare.” she whined.

“It will be fine Sansa, what could the most beautiful Lady of Winterfell possibly need to prepare for?” Sansa preened at the compliment.

“Plenty! Standing next to you for one.” She offered sweetly and I laughed.

“You won’t have to worry about that, I will be keeping well out of sight.” I informed her. Caitlyn had not wanted to outright say it but it would not be appropriate to present me to the King.

“Why? You are my sister just like Arya.” Sansa huffed as we started to put away thread and needle as night grew dark. The both of us had gotten into our bedclothes hours ago when we started working on the dress.

“A sister who lives in a wonderful castle and gets to spend her days with the people she loves, and I get my own little workshop too.” I picked up a brush and Sansa sat in front of me, no words needing to be exchanged as we entered a familiar rhythm. 

“Hiding you away isn't fair, how are you meant to find a rich and handsome husband?” She pointed out as I began to run the brush through her hair. 

“I’m not terribly worried about that, Sansa.” I offered and she crossed her arms.

“If you never found a husband I would have you live with me in my husband's keep.” She said at last. “No matter what happens. You will always be my sister.” She assured me. 

“I just need a little cottage with a smithy on the side,” I teased.

“The best smithy in the world.” Sansa countered. “With a hundred dresses and a garden path leading right to my door. With the greatest cooks in all the seven kingdoms to make you honey sweet rolls every day.” 

“It sounds wonderful, but what do you get in return?” I began to fold Sansa’s stunning Auburn locks into a hairnet. 

“Fresh venison, an unpaid seamstress and a captive audience for all of my complaints.” She grinned as she slipped into the bed while I placed the last log on the fire for the night.

“So the truth comes out.” I giggled as she held the blanket up for me to get under it with her after I put out the candles around the room. “Well, it is a tempting offer.” I said as we settled into Sansa’s expansive and comfy bed.

“You can’t say no, I forbid it.” She yawned.

“Well, if I don’t find a husband I will take you up on it.” I turned to the side and looked at her bright blue eyes lit by the dim flickering fire of the grand stone fireplace across the room.

“Oh and one more thing Ruby?” Sansa whispered before sleep took us.

“Yes Sansa?”

“If you kick me tonight I will push you out of bed.”

“So mean!”

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Ruby and Sansa are very cute as Sisters. Honestly I think Sansa gets a bad wrap in a lot of the Fandom, I like her a lot as a character.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NNihYISBwIkHmi-72lhD8jnD_KxeO_HSJubwV9poVUk/edit?tab=t.0