Chapter Text
Chapter 1
He was always around people; lots of mates. She was always more of a loner, with just two or three friends. He had his way around girls, but it was Her! He was obsessed with her. He saw her reading, laughing, walking, but it was that first time he saw her: he was on his way back from practice (he did every kind of sports, especially hand to hand combat, anything to funnel his wild nature and endless energy,) and he saw her sitting at the piano of the music class room, hesitating. Then, she just started to play.
That alone was mesmerizing. The melody was hypnotizing and the movement of her delicate fingers, a small but fast and sure hand making the most amazing music he had ever heard. She always looked so shy and reserved, so quiet and sad, but strong with her wits. Now, with that perfect song, she looked so free and fearless. She moved her face from side to side, her long, glossy, and perfect black hair waving, flashing the most sweet and cheeky smile biting her lip. Her eyes were closed. He wanted to see them, but at least this way he got to see her without getting caught. He wanted to see everything, he decided.
It was getting late, so he was collecting his strength to leave from that heavenly view and music. But then she started to sing and that was it. The world around him seemed to stop and it was just him and that unique and sweet and strong voice. He would get her. He didn’t know how, but he would. Suddenly, the music stopped, and she was looking at him. For a moment, she looked embarrassed but then she stood up, angry.
He was invading her personal space, stealing her very little moments of peace where she wasn’t the poor scared girl, but just someone free. She stood in from him and told him, “You have no right!” and made her way to leave.
Rickon grabbed her by the elbow and looked her intently in the eyes. He grasped her by the shoulders and told her, nearly commanded her, “Finish the song… I want to hear all of it.”
She was a bit surprised. He didn’t seem to mind the gray side of her cheek. Most of all, she was angry. She said, “It’s my song, and you will never hear it!”
He pulls her closer and she shivers. He could feel it, feel all the electricity from him to her and told her, “It calls to me. It will be mine,” and then ran a finger to her lower lip. “And so will you, little doe.”
At that, she stomps his foot and runs but can’t help but turn to look at him. He has a predatory look in his eyes and wolfish grin and yells, “I’ll hunt you MY little doe.”
She gasped but gave nothing away. But remember: Ours is The Fury and she says, “Try it, hunter,” and flees.
Rickon stood there, thinking about what he could do to earn her trust, he didn't mean to scare her, he supposed he had, or at least he gave her a bad first impression, but he just couldn't help but feeling so possesive of her, he has a wild nature ,he does, but he also has mind for people, he know she's not fragile and that what others might see as weakness she uses it as strenght, so he will see her, but approaching so directly can be a bad idea after acting like a caveman, trust, he thought, is not easily to earn, speacially hers. So he is just going to observe, and respect her space.
He has kept his promise. He saw her from afar in the library, in the dining room, in the yard, but it’s hard with the two year age difference and all her advanced classes. (Sometimes he skips some of his own to get to her.) He has gotten to see her, and the more he saw the more his aches grew. But she hadn’t let him into her music again. Lying in bed, he smugly thought that he would get her music and more—much more— once he figured how to approach her. Knowing he was too obvious of his wants and possessive ways… the last time he spoke to her… He had no filter and always took like his uncle Brandon. His father would say wolf-blooded. But he knew what he wanted and took it. Skills, girls… he liked them, and they seemed to like him back , but this girl… She was more.
He felt stupid for wanting her so badly. Had he only watched her… But everything he saw left him craving for more. So he would take his time with her and all will be worthy… Love could be so simple, he thinks, is really only about being honest with yourself, like Bran had done with Jojen, they love each other and they never once felt bad about that, Rickon has always been proud of his brother, love should never something to feel embarrased about. He wasn't one to quiver, and every little thing he saw about Shireen just made his feelings for her grow stronger, so why should he bother to denied his heart's desire. She was just perfect in her own way, it might had happened fast but for Rickon, it felt so real, it wasn't the "wolfblood" or his nature, it felt like seeing after being blind, and after weeks of seeing her from afar.. He just thought that loving her was as easy as breath.
Today was that dinner with Stannis Baratheon and everyone had to be present. After he got ready, he was in the hall with his siblings and their partners when the Baratheons arrived. He inhaled sharply. She was looking like a vision in a delicate lilac dress that highlighted the color of her perfect eyes, with her black hair in a braid that let him see the face he’d been dreaming about every night. He felt excitement and pleasure all over him when he saw her. But she looked ready to slap him. He smiled and thought This will be fun, my pretty stone doe
Shireen has been in the North for three weeks now, as it is customary among the great houses to take pupils. She was to be the Stark’s pupil, and then a Stark will go to Dragonstone to be pupil there. Though she wasn’t excited about leaving home, she understood that it has to be done. Her father was indeed not quite affectionate, but his way to show love to her was by letting her make her own decisions. The first of those decisions was to travel with Davos, her father’s most trusted partner. That had been Shireen bravest choice so far, why before passing away her mother never stopped to remind her that she was all greyscale and that she would do good never forget that no matter how smart Shireen was, it will all come back to that. She was scared for a long time; buried in books and science until Tyrion Lannister give her an advice that she will carry with her forever: “You have a patch of grey on one side of you face. It will be the first that every one will ever see… It is up to you if it is the last… Be aware of your flaws don’t let anyone see how it affects you. And keep polishing you mind. You are smart, but only you will decide if greyscale is all in you or if there is more.”
Shireen decided more. She has only traveled to three places (she had school and duties with her father). To Dorne, where she became fast friends with Prince Doran. They were alike quiet and peaceful, and with him she learned that there is more in person that what it is at simple view. He may look sick and week but in reality was very cunning and calculating. Then, she went to King’s Landing where she met Queen Daenerys, who was intrigued to meet Stannis’s prominent and smart daughter. Shireen was flattered and was about to ask how Dany had heard of her when Tyrion showed up and said, “Well, well, you decided for more.”
Apparently Tyrion was one of Dany’s most trusted and valued advisers and told Dany a thing or two about Shireen. She had a great time with them: learning with Tyrion and japing with him. She also had a great admiration for Dany, who could be gentle but firm… And Shireen wondered if she could ever do that... Be gentle…
She is not cruel. She had taken Tyron’s advice keeping her head up and having Baratheon fury, but the people she called friends where far from her age. Hell, her closest confidante was of her father’s age. She would not let anyone hurt her, but will she let anyone come close enough… close enough to feel that passion that it was so common in Dorne? Or that love that she saw with Dany and Jon?
That terrifies her—that no matter how much she tries, she only hears her mother’s voice when she looks in the mirror and it’s all she sees… Yes, Smart and cunning, with a mind for academics, yes, but beautiful someone who a man would long and desire that never… and she haven’t thought about that until the “incident.”
In the three weeks she had been north, she had clung to Tyrion’s advice more than ever, knowing about the way the Northerners felt about greyscale, and it had worked. She showed no fear or pain, and they seemed to respect that. For what she had read, the people in the North respond to strength, of course that didn’t mean she was particularly popular. She was ignored more than anything, and with that she was content. She was only with Devan and Edric, who had come along after Uncle Renly demanded to see her to an extreme make over.
He bought her the best winter clothes and did a new hair style that, yes, she does look kind of amazing—no wave, straight, black hair. Renly seemed to be very pleased with his work and commanded Edric to protect Shireen from all the suitors she will get. She smiled politely but thought, that will not change my face…
After school she got to the home that her family had in the North. (She was to go to the Stark manor tonight with her father to the special dinner, and also because the Starks where dealing with some Night’s Watch problem and haven’t been able to receive her.) Davos was not there yet, and Devan and Edric were watching TV so she just went to her room. Ever since the boy with the wild hair and intense eyes had invaded her personal space, she always felt like she was being hunted, like a prey—she has not seen him since, but remembers how he said that she will be his. She doesn’t believe him to be really interested and thinks of it as a trick, but he looked so truthful… and he is handsome. She has seen him a couple of times before. He is muscular and tall, with perfect blue eyes and curly auburn hair it looks like it could use a cut. He was always with his mates and had girls around him. Pretty girls throwing themselves at him. It didn’t look like he minded them, but he didn’t look at them the way he had looked at her when he grabbed by the shoulders and ran his finger on her lower lip, when he said that she will be his…
She felt herself shiver at the memory. He was so certain. She could see it. But she looked herself in the mirror and pushed away the memories of the boy.
Davos returned home from the airport with her father, and they got ready for dinner. She got her luggage ready. Tonight, she was moving with the Starks for a full year. She wore a long lilac dress and braided her hair so her face was in full display. Her father loved her, yes, but he looked at her with a little pity. So stand tall and smile, Baratheon fury, she thought.
On the way to the Stark manor, she wondered what the Starks would be like, and she was pleasantly surprised to see that they were all warm. The Stark manor, well, the Stark castle was amazing. Of course, it has been modernized, but it still looked so antique, so ancestral, Shireen loved it. She loved history, and she would love to live in a place full of it.
She met Lord and Lady Stark first. They seemed like everything a couple should be: so loving. And they were very happy to receive her then she met Robb and Talisa and their baby. They were warm, and Talisa hugged her. Then, it was Sansa and Sandor, and Arya with Gendry, who she couldn’t help but notice looked a lot like Renly. Then, it was Bran. He quoted her favorite book and she thought, Yes… I have a friend here. He was with Jojen Reed, who Shireen liked a lot as well. She thought she had met everyone when Lord Stark pointed behind her for Shireen to meet the youngest of the Starks. And there it was: the feeling of being hunted, of being prey.
She turned around and saw the boy. The boy that had assured her that he would make her his and didn’t seem to allow any other choice. He was ogling her, eyeing her body up and down with no shame as he took a step to her and looked at her. First at her lips, licking his own and then at her eyes. She was lost his eyes, so dark that she almost can’t see the blue. He took her hand and kissed it. Then, he said, “Lady Shireen, welcome to my home. I’m Rickon Stark.”
He pulled her closer for a second and murmured to her ear. “Mine.”