#maybe it's only real in Artos' mind

[the-winters-prince]

Artos says Lleu is beloved by the people but the boy's been bed-ridden for most of his childhood so what exactly did he do to gain public favor🤔

man, Artos' propaganda department must have been working over time

[entity9silvergen]

Mosaic (Disenchantment Fanfiction)

Summary: We are just mosaics of everyone we love and that mosaic shows everyone we love how beautiful they are. Bean doesn’t think she can love like everyone else but maybe that’s okay.

Fandom: Disenchantment 

Word Count: 2K

Characters: Bean

Relationships: Bean/ Mora, Mentioned Bean & Everyone, Mentioned Odval/ Sorcerio, Mentioned Zog/ Oona, Mentioned Zog/ Dagmar

Warnings: Internalized arophobia, first person pov, some self-deprecation, sex mention, drug mention, mention of interspecies relationships in fantasy setting 

Other Tags: F/F, Mentioned F/F QPR, Reflection/ Self-Reflection/ Internal Thoughts, No Dialogue, Queerplatonic, Aromantic Character, Aromantic Homosexual Character, Arospec Character, Queer Themes, Unreliable Narrarator, S3E6, Oneshot, AroWriMo 2021

Author’s Note: My friend sent me the line “I am a mosaic of everyone I’ve ever loved” about twenty minutes after I watched “Final Splash.” I’m working on the prompt for Week 2 of AroWriMo rn but I had to drop everything and write a short fic about this. Again, I didn’t really use the prompt but it kind of fits with week 1’s prompt romo/loveless & future. 

I’m headcanonnoning Bean as aro or demiro/ greyro. I think in the show it was implied she never experienced romantic attraction prior to meeting Mora because she likes women and I don’t want to erase that in any way but Bean still gives off a big aromantic bisexual homo(queer)platonic vibe.

_____________________

My name is Princess Tiabeanie of Dreamland and I’ve never loved anyone.

I mean, I love my dad and my friends and all that but I’ve never loved loved anyone. Is that weird to say? That makes it sound like I don’t really love my dad and Elfo and Luci and everyone. I probably shouldn’t say that then because I actually love them a lot. They’re my everything. 

One time, I was walking down Elf-Ally and this elf was sitting on the side of the road with some chalk. I feel like elves would really like chalk but I’ve never seen any of them use it, not even Arto, except this guy. I’d never seen anything like it before so I asked what he was doing and he said he was making this mosaic to show his love for this other elf he liked. I didn’t really understand it so he explained it to me like this: we are just mosaics of everyone we love and that mosaic shows everyone we love how beautiful they are.

I still didn’t get it so I just laughed at him and he got kind of upset and threw a piece of chalk at me. It didn’t really hurt but Luci was with me and the elf started throwing stuff at him and you know how Luci gets when he hits his nose so we left. I couldn’t really forget what that elf said though. 

You see, a mosaic is a mix of a bunch of little pieces taken from different things that all come together to make one thing. There’s this mosaic at the church and it’s pretty freaking ugly but the mosaic this elf was making was just so beautiful. He used so many colors and he drew all these little pictures and hid these words I didn’t understand in them. I’d expect it to be all crude and gross like those scribbly pictures Derek would draw when he was younger that Oona pretended to love but it all came together so well. It didn’t even look like separate pieces. It was just one.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The influences of countless parts of my life, weaving together into an insanely complex mesh- That felt like me. I always felt like something was broken in me but maybe I’m just a mosaic. 

I think my dad made me who I am the most. Even if he wasn’t really present most of my life. Sure, we don’t see eye to eye sometimes but I think we’re better because of that. He made me strong. His actions guided me into becoming the woman I am today. He taught me how to keep fighting. Literally and figuratively. He taught me to keep my head up and he taught me how to stab people. It’s pretty cool. I remember this one time as a kid he took me out to the courtyard, stole this guy’s knife, and taught me how to use it. I think I still have the knife actually. I don’t stab people with it anymore though.

(I hope he’s okay. He hasn’t been the same in awhile.)

My mom… Well, I don’t really love her anymore but I did for a long time. She was… How do I put it? A constant in my life. Even though she wasn’t there. What I felt towards her, it kept me together for a long time. When I had nothing to fall back on, I always had her memory. Until she tried to take over Dreamland, obviously. Now I just say she gave me my love for alcohol and that’s pretty sweet too. 

(I still miss her. I bet she’s dead.)

You know those pictures where the guy has an angel and demon on his shoulders telling him what to do? That’s Elfo and Luci, and it’s literal for Luci. And maybe for Elfo? He did go to heaven that one time. It can be kind of annoying to hear them bickering all the time, especially since they almost never want the same thing, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Elfo keeps me safe and Luci pushes me to be more than I am. They make life fun. Fuller. Less lonely.

(I’m scared they might leave someday. I wouldn’t blame them.)

I don’t really like Derek but I still love him. Maybe a little less since he tried to burn me at the stake. Maybe a little more since he chickened out at the last second. And a little less because he still went through with it. And maybe a little more since it was an accident. We have a complicated relationship but he’s still my little brother, as weird as he is. He reminds me of what I have to fight for, if that makes sense. I don’t really see him as the future of Dreamland or anything but he’s still a little kid and I can’t really help but have a soft spot for him. Don’t tell him I said that.

(I wonder if he’ll keep me around when he’s king. I’d be lying if I said I was surprised.)

The same goes for Oona. I never liked her but I think I love her. Especially after she tried to save me from my mom. And since she became an epic pirate. She’s awesome. She’s the mom I always wished I had except she was actually there the whole time and I didn’t realize it. I’m happy with how things turned out though. I don’t regret it. Plus she’s got great taste in drugs. I still steal them sometimes.

(I don’t know if she loves me. Maybe she did once but not anymore.)

I kind of hate Odval and Sorcerio in a weird way where I like them at the same time. They’re not really family but always been there. Like they’re kind of like second dads to me. Second dads whose the sex lives I know way too much about. My gay polyamorous uncles? But they kind of care under all that court properness and tradition nonsense so they’ve kind of wormed their way into my heart. They’ve always made my life difficult but I don’t think I would be myself if I wasn’t challenged so much.

(I think they’d rather have me gone. They don’t hide it every well but I can pretend.)

I’m going to be honest, I was really bummed when Pendergast died. We were kind of the same age and he hung around the castle for most of my life. And my dad trusted him so we actually did stuff together sometimes. A lot of adventures that never really went anywhere. He could be kind of a stick in the mud but he never really minded that I’m a girl and let me tag along on crusades and helped me get better with weapons and stuff. And Pendergast was weirdly loyal to Dreamland, even after Dad forked his eye out. Or was it spooned? I don’t remember. Some kind of eating utensil. I wasn’t there when it happened. But it was nice knowing I could trust him. He could be kind of fun though when he was off-duty. Total lightweight though. He threw up on one of those little guys who carries dad’s cape once. 

(I wish I’d known him better. I really miss him but I can’t tell anyone since Dad gets set off by anything that even reminds him of the guy.)

Who else is there? That’s right, Mertz and Turbish. Turbish and Mertz. Two peas in a pod. Plus Mrs. Mertz. Don’t get me wrong, they are idiots. Totally incompentant. It’s a wonder they’re still alive. But they’re sweet. And they try. They’re not good at anything but they try. Sometimes I don’t want to try but they tell me I always can.

(I’m waiting for the day they realize they could have a better life. It’ll be weird not having them around the palace.)

I even kind of like Merkimer. As a pig, not a human. God, he was an awful human but he’s a funny little pig. He lets Luci ride on his back sometimes. Both of them like it way more than either of them will ever admit. It’s cute. I think they’re friends. If they’re not, Elfo and I will start plotting until they are. Or maybe not. A Luci-Merkimer friendship might be too much for Dreamland to handle. They’re kind of a lot, even on their own. Merkimer always kind of had a big head and it only got bigger when he accepted his new life. It’s actually kind of inspiring how happy he is now. 

(I don’t want him to change but he already has. It makes me sad sometimes.)

And Bunty. Oh, Bunty. And Stan! The world doesn’t really deserve Bunty. Stan does though. I think they’re the ones who taught me what real love is. Bunty always showed me love as a kid, she was like the second mom I never had but actually did have because Oona was there. But she gave me something neither Oona or Dagmar could. I didn’t really understand it until I saw her and Stan and their family together. I still don’t. They’re really sweet.

(I’d give them everything. I know they just see me as some spoiled princess though.)

I want what those two have. Or what Odval and Sorcerio have. What my dad had with Dagmar or Oona. What Elfo’s had, and Luci’s had, and Derek’s had, and the knights have had. It feels like everyone’s had that kind of deep love at some point except me. I didn’t even realize until I was talking to Mora. 

I’ve had the chance to have it. Merkimer, that brother of his I accidentally killed, that one time Pendergast made a pass at me, that Steamland guy… I don’t think any of it really would’ve worked out though. I’ve had a lot of things with guys and there’s been kissing and touching and I’ve always enjoyed it but I think I always knew it would never go anywhere. That it will never go anywhere. And I can’t even blame my dad because it’s all me. It’s always been me. And I’m okay with that? Maybe? I don’t think so but I’m not really good at understanding my feelings. It’s just another thing on the pile of things I won’t work through.

I think I understood what I had with Mora though. It wasn’t… romantic but it felt like it almost was. We just… clicked. It felt right. She was tough and funny and she didn’t hold anything back. She followed her dreams and didn’t let the world get her down. That one night we had together, I felt like we were alone in the world.

Mora gave me the ocean and the stars.

She was beautiful. Maybe that’s what was missing? None of the guys I ever screwed around with were beautiful. Not like Mora was. Not like a woman can be. I really felt like this was it but there was still that disconnect. Like something was there but not quite. Like something was missing. I don’t know what it was.

But then she just left. I had that dream and I just felt so happy. I’d never felt happiness like that. And I never felt pain like the pain I felt when I woke up and the necklace was gone. I definitely would’ve cried if Elfo wasn’t there. I might’ve actually cried a little bit. It’s kind of hard to hear anything when Elfo’s sobbing. Some of those tears might have been mine.

Did I love her? I don’t think so. Not like Elfo loved that boat. It wasn’t romantic. But it was real. It gives me hope. I don’t think I’m capable of the same kind of love everyone else seems capable of and that’s not even a slight at me. It’s just reality. But what I had with Mora, however brief and imagined it was, tells me that’s okay. I don’t need the kind of love everyone else has. Not when I have so many others in my life.

Still, I hope I see her again, even for a second, just to feel that kind of happiness again.

I think that’s what that elf meant when he said we are just mosaics of everyone we love and that mosaic shows everyone we love how beautiful they are. Mora was beautiful and she didn’t see it but maybe she would if she saw how I looked at her. 

Stars and the ocean, I’ll never forget them. They’ll be a part of my mosaic forever.

Other AroWriMo Fics By Me, Posted on Ao3, Posted on FFN

[ziracona]

I love your idea about Stranger Things in this universe being based off urban legends/half known facts about real events. How much does the truth differ from the show and how would steve and Nancy react to it?

Oh, the truth differs wildly. Considering how most adaptations of that kind of stuff go, it was sort of bound to—both as a result of lack of information available, and ‘artistic liscense’. Even something based on people still mostly living like The Crown makes up all kinds of shit. So the show Stranger Things has let’s say more historical accuracy than Merlin does to historic events of King Arthur/Artos in legend, and less than historic Henry the Vth does to the play Henry the Vth. Maybe about the same level of historical accuracy as A Haunting in Connecticut had to the events it was based on. So. Not fantastic.

Uhhh, Steve and Nancy are shocked initially, that there is a big name show based on them at all, then incensed when they find out all the liberties taken, and very mad about how they and people they care about were portrayed, although they also find it uproariously funny at times. Biggest changes involve the details and order of events in reality vs the show, and also after season 2 the show just started making stuff up and incorporating weird bits of earlier events they cut out off the legends for the first two seasons to keep hashing together content, and character/people deaths. Different fates befalled the IRL people than in the show. Nancy and Steve never dated. Steve ended up stuck in a house for almost three days fighting of monsters from the upside down and trying to survive with Jonathan, Nancy, and Barb, and that’s how he got pulled into it all (though he knew them from school). He also started dating Barb after he got injured when a monster broke through and dragged him out of the safe house, but she ran out with a machete and chopped off vines and saved him and carried him back (Barb did not die in reality—showrunners killed her becuase they wanted a love triangle, and Nancy was more photogenic historically than Barb). Hopper and Joyce were never a thing, as were various elements. He, Bob, and Joyce were a tag-team during the whole operation, and Joyce married Bob, but all three were dream-team best friends and fighters. There was a lot more drama with the government and hiding from them involved. Robin instead of meeting Steve at his job was his lesbian best friend since childhood who moved away, then came back about a year after this started happening. Joined up as soon as she got back to town. There was no secret Russian base. Robin did decipher a code broadcast in Russian on the radio, and they found and broke into a secret complex in the mall, but found out when they made it down there it was not evil secret Cold War Russians, it was a distress signal, because some Russian scientists investigating the Upside Down had been attacked and fled and escaped through the US portal, and been immediately apprehended and interrogated (read: tortured) for information, and one had a device disguised as a watch that was capable of broadcasting a radio signal. There was only one still alive when they made it down there, which is the historical figure Alexi is based on, and they broke him out and fled. Also, the monsters worked differently. The Demogorgon is pretty close, and so is the hive mind, but the chunk that got stuck on this side didn’t become a weird gore monster. It was made of shadows and the more minds it collected by possessing and breaking people, the bigger it got, until you could be clinging to the only security light in a parking lot and see this towering thing the size of a building shifting around you, waiting for the dark to be complete, so it could grab you. I’m sure there’s more but that’s a big chunk lol. Many segments heavily inspired by ideas for a better version of ST pitched about by @kathi-linchen and me previously that I am quite fond of.

[courier2lw]

from-across-the-stars​:

All hope of West glossing over his statement was gone just like that, with the addition of his vague answer. One that left Deacon feeling…odd. It wasn’t like West to be so curt with him, it normally reserved for the strangers they met out in the wastes. Deacon liked to think that he was just special, that West liked him enough to give him information like candy on Halloween. That he was trusted. Sometimes when he thought about it too much, he would start to feel guilty for not extending West the same curtesy, but it wasn’t so simple. He trusted his friend, but to give him too much of what he knew, it would put more than just him in danger. Too many people relied on him for that.

For that brief moment before West elaborated, Deacon thought maybe he did something wrong. Was it weird to want to keep track of someone? Even if he hadn’t been using his Railroad contacts for it, he still would try to find a way to make sure West was safe. Then again, it may not be about him at all. Deacon knew that the other man had his own secrets to keep, that much was easy to figure out. Maybe it was just the idea that someone was watching him, no matter the reason. Deacon tried not to linger on that particular thought train, not liking the idea that West had been hunted in the past, or worse yet, was still being hunted.

When West lamented on his dead end lead, Deacon felt sympathy pulling at his heartstrings. He knew how much finding Betty meant to him, and he had even been keeping his own eyes and ears out for the robobrain in hopes to put West’s mind at ease, but he wasn’t having any luck either. Maybe if he could get West to give him just a little more information, he could set a few other agents on the hunt, but that would require the other man to extend a blind trust in Deacon and subsequently the Railroad, and he couldn’t ask that of him. He knew he wasn’t trustworthy on the surface, no matter what his intentions may be, and he couldn’t reveal the truth of his affiliations to West so he would know just who the info was going to. Maybe one day, when less lives were on Deacon’s shoulders.

Instead of hazarding continuing the line of conversation, Deacon opted to do what he does best and create a distraction. “Hey, when you’re all done patching me up, maybe we could grab Arto and head out to get those supplies? Since you’re already all dressed up for a night on the town.” Deacon shot West his signature grin as he tapped a knuckle against the leather armor stretched over the other’s chest. “Would be a shame to not let anyone see ya when you look that good.” Deacon overexaggerated his wink with a tilt of his head and a click of his tongue, only half joking with the flirty line, but West didn’t need to know that.

West thought about saying no. Briefly. The mention of following was really starting to get to him. If Deacon was following him, why didn’t he make himself known? And how long was he following? And fucking why? His frown was one of concentration but there was something else seeping in. He didn’t let his aggravation seep into his work, however, his touch was still gentle, even if his words suddenly... were not.

“You know, I like you a hell of a lot, Deacon. You’re handsome, you’re charming as shit, you’re fun to be around. And I’m not gonna bitch at you for keeping secrets, god knows I got plenty of my own. You don’t push it, and I respect that, so I won’t either. But...” West sighed heavily, straightening up. Deacon wasn’t bleeding anymore and there wasn’t any cloth stuck in the wound. A well placed stimpak was all he needed and West opened his bag to fetch one.

“I don’t like being followed. Especially not by a friend, who doesn’t have any real reason to. I’d... rather you be with me than keep a distance. Why do that?” West asked, obviously confused if not a bit hurt by the notion that maybe, somehow, it was West’s fault that Deacon was tracking him instead of being with him.

“This is gonna hurt a little.” Even though Deacon had no doubt stabbed a stimpak into his own body haphazardly countless times before, West gave the old doctor line before doing so himself into Deacon’s shoulder. “And yeah, we could probably use those supplies, so, you know... thank you.”

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

If the Stark children were to be married to Stark banner men (like many Stark did before) who do you think they would marry (I hope you understand the question!) :)

Even in a world where the plot of ASOIAF never happens, I don’t think the Stark children ever would have all married northern bannermen. I mean, look at the Stark family tree – even in generations where boys were marrying daughters of bannermen, girls were being sent to the Vale and Stormlands. And Blackwood brides went north more than once, a Royce too. In this generation, particularly with Catelyn’s southern connections, Sansa almost certainly would have gone south (to the Riverlands or Vale if not further), and probably Bran too (especially with his dreams of knighthood). You can see some ideas along those lines here and here.

But let’s assume for some reason Ned Stark is in a super-isolationist mode, and prefers to neither import nor export brides. So let’s look at the eligible young people of the North, see who’s out there. I’m going to use how old they’d be in 300AC as a baseline because it’s easiest for math, although even Robb and Jon and Sansa would very probably marry after that date (yes, Robb and Jon would be 17, but boys usually marry later, and Sansa’s only 14 and girls normally marry after adulthood at 16, not immediately after menarche). Also since the plot doesn’t happen, anyone who died past the start of AGOT is still alive in this AU.

House Bolton: Roose (50s, widowed, but lol no Ned’s not giving him one of his daughters), Domeric (20s, but dead in 297, so nope), Ramsay Snow (20s, but fuck no) – none of these

House Cassel: Jory (20s), Beth (11) – nobleborn, if not a major house, but Wintefell courtiers. Not super likely as marriage material, but they can’t be entirely ignored. But if Jory marries, it would likely be before the girls are eligible, so nope for him. Beth has a slight possibility for Bran, though.

House Cerwyn: Cley (15) is possible for Sansa or Arya. However, his sister Jonelle is a maid past thirty, very unlikely to marry anyone.

House Condon: House of the famed Ser Kyle Condon. May be sworn to House Cerwyn, so I’d put them as not highborn enough to be an option.

House Flint: Robin is in his 40s, so probably a nope here.

House Glover: Not a lordly house, a masterly one, but still. Galbart is in his 40s/50s and unmarried, dunno why, but therefore doubly no here. His nephew, Gawen (5) is too young for Arya even. Erena (newborn in 300AC) has a chance for Rickon, maybe.

House Hornwood: Daryn (~20?) is betrothed to Alys Karstark, and they’d be married before 300AC in this AU, so nope. Larence Snow (14) - a bastard, so nope again.

House Karstark: Alys (15) is with Daryn Hornwood. However, her brothers Harrion, Torrhen, and Eddard (~20ish-teens?) all have chances with Sansa or Arya. Especially since Lord Rickard is very social climbing (he’d hoped he could get a betrothal between Alys and Robb when she was 6 for goodness sake), I can definitely see him bugging Ned about the girls later on. Their cousins (Arnolf Karstark’s three grandsons) probably don’t have a chance in hell, though.

House Locke: I don’t know a thing about Ser Donnel so I’ll just say no.

House Manderly: Wendel (40s) is unmarried, dunno why, but probably for reasons, so (besides his age, and things) let’s say no again. Wynafryd (19) and Wylla (15) have a definite chance for Robb, however.

House Mollen: Hallis (20s) is again a Winterfell courtier, probably unlikely for Ned’s girls (also a bit too old).

House Mormont: Dacey (older 20s), Alysane (20s), Lyra (late teens-20s?), Jorelle (teens), Lyanna (10) – look, I love the Mormont women, I do. But nobody knows who Maege’s daughters’ father is. (/fathers are?) Alysane already also has two kids, again without a father in sight. Fan favorites, yes, but marriage material for Robb or Bran or Rickon? Not bloody likely. Maybe Jon might look to Bear Island if Ned stops angsting long enough to help him with his future, though.

House Poole: Jeyne (14ish) – like the Cassels and Mollens, lower-level noble; not likely for Robb, but Jon is a chance, though Vayon probably thinks she can do much better than a bastard. (In a world where Sansa goes south, or in one where Sansa does marry the crown prince but he’s not Joffrey or at least not an asshole and the plot doesn’t happen, Jeyne probably marries a lord’s son, maybe not an heir, but up there.)

House Reed: Meera (17) and Jojen (14) – very good chances with any of the older Stark kids, especially considering Ned’s friendship with Howland.

House Ryswell: the three Ryswell sons are in their 30s-40s, most likely; don’t know their marriage status, but I’m just going to say no anyway. Though they might have kids of the right ages, mind you, but none are listed yet, oh well.

House Tallhart: not a lordly house, but a masterly one, but still, Torrhen’s Square is an important location in the North. So Benfred (19ish) is possible for Sansa, and his sister Eddara (9) is possible for Bran; also their cousins Brandon (15) and Beren (10) have a possibility with Sansa or Arya, but less so since they’re sons of a younger son.

House Umber: Jon “Smalljon” (20s?) and also his brothers and sisters (unnamed) have some potential for the Starks.

House Flint of the Mountains: No idea how old Donnel or Artos are, or whether they’re single, or anything; they’re old enough to go to war and lead men, that’s all.

House Liddle: Same with Morgan (Middle Liddle) or Rickard (Little Liddle)

House Norrey: And same with Brandon and Owen, sorry

Also note there may be other unnamed girls of the mountain clans’ lordly families, and the crannogmen too, or heck even Skagosi, but since I don’t know any details about them, I can’t factor them in for anything.

So, for Robb: Wynafryd or Wylla Manderly, or Meera Reed, or possibly an Umber girl. Of these, Wynafryd seems likely to be her father’s heir, so marrying another heir is not that probable. (Possibly the reason she’s still unmarried at 19, Wyman trying to find the best match for his granddaughter, the future Lady of White Harbor?) Wylla is a bit more possible, though. But I really think Meera is the most likely option for Robb’s bride, especially because of Ned and Howland Reed’s connection.

Jon: this is complicated, because Jon at age 14 apparently had no idea if Ned had any plans for him, hence his consideration of the Night’s Watch because “what place could a bastard hope to earn” otherwise. Which means Jon was not aware of any betrothal offers Ned was getting, if any. And that’s because Jon, to everyone, is a bastard, and even nobleborn acknowledged bastards don’t get those options. And I thoroughly doubt Ned would reveal Jon’s secret parentage to anyone just to get him married – even if he tells Jon in confidence one day, it would be no doubt with the promise not to tell anyone ever. So, if Jon doesn’t go to the Night’s Watch, then he doesn’t have a lot of options for a bride; most nobles would only consider him if they have a lot of daughters and are running low on dowry money, or if the girl is shamed somehow (was publicly known to not be a virgin, basically). So of the known noble girls Jon’s age in the North, honestly I can only see him with one of the middle Mormont girls, Lyra or Jorelle. Or maybe a northern clansman’s daughter wouldn’t be too picky, or maybe even a younger Umber girl (they like their men tough, y’know). But most likely Jon still goes to the Night’s Watch.

Sansa: If she’s not going south, then Catelyn would accept no less for her than a lord’s heir, and preferably one of the highest born houses of the North. Jojen Reed is a strong possibility here, but if Robb’s marrying Meera, then it wouldn’t look right to again favor House Reed with the eldest (and most traditionally beautiful) daughter. (Sansa probably wouldn’t like the swamps of the Neck, anyway.) Cley Cerwyn is a good choice, Smalljon Umber probably isn’t bad… but honestly I think the most likely option is Harrion “Harry” Karstark. (Who’s hopefully not that old, and Alys is a good person who seems to think well of her brothers, so a recommendation there. And yes, this is another Harry for Sansa, heh.) Not only would it reaffirm the familial connection between the Starks and Karstarks (useful because of their significant strategic location at Karhold), but it would also make Rickard less grumpy about Alys never having a real chance with Robb. Mind you Harry isn’t a knight (and Sansa does love her knights), but in the North it’s harder to find them to begin with. Benfred Tallhart’s father is a knight, so he might be one eventually, but the Tallharts aren’t lords, so I’m thinking Cat would be “nope” there. Sansa will just deal, oh well.

Arya: Here we run into Arya’s less… pliant personality – however, Ned was the one who said she needed to learn court manners before she wed, so… that almost certainly still happens. (Especially since Arya will gain a “wild beauty” as she ages.) Again, Cley Cerwyn is a good choice, with the benefit that Castle Cerwyn is very close to Winterfell so they often visit the Starks, so Arya wouldn’t lose her closeness to her family. Jojen Reed also has potential, as does Beren Tallhart… but if Meera’s for Robb, again that probably puts Jojen out, and Beren’s the second son of a second son so I doubt Ned and Cat would consider him (unless it’s a love match, then maybe). Possibly it might be good for Arya to consider the mountain clans (where her namesake, her great-grandmother Arya Flint came from), but I don’t know any names of noble boys her age there.

Bran: Eddara Tallhart is the only girl we know of the right age who’s nobleborn enough, really. Beth Cassel might not be highborn enough… though maybe since Bran’s a second son who’s likely just getting a towerhouse to manage and make a cadet house there, maybe she would be, idk. Lyanna Mormont is very unlikely unless Maege’s marriage status becomes less… bearish. Wylla Manderly is a maybe, as she’s a bit too old for him and would probably already be betrothed or married by the time he comes of age to be so. And there might be other girls, Umbers or mountain clan or crannogmen, but I don’t know their names so I can’t give them as options, sorry.

Rickon: Not a lot of choice with what we know of northern children at the moment. So Erena Glover, I guess.

So, to sum up, in a world where the plot never happens and the Stark children only marry northern bannermen: Robb marries Meera Reed, Sansa marries Harrion Karstark (and eventually becomes Lady of Karhold), Arya marries Cley Cerwyn (and eventually becomes Lady of Castle Cerwyn), Bran marries Eddara Tallhart, Rickon marries Erena Glover. (And Jon either marries a Mormont girl or goes to the Night’s Watch.) Reed, Karstark, Cerwyn, Tallhart, Glover, (Mormont) – a nice mix of loyal bannermen across the north, without too much favor given to one or the other. Hope that helps!