Chapter 1

Ashlyn

The soft knock on her door informed her she slept in too late again. With eyes snapping open she ran to grab a dressing robe before answering her door taking a peek at the window. Realizing the sun was just raising, it was not expected for her to even be awake yet. Another soft knock on the door made her grumble. Grabbing the handle with an agitated sigh she threw the door open to be greeted by charcoal eyes that immediately caused her heart to skip a beat.

You know it's impolite to wake a woman before the sun as even started over the horizon." She hissed out in a whisper refusing to make eye contact with the man before her.

"Oh my pardons, I'll let my lady Karstark get her beauty sleep, and go practice in the crypts alone." his voice a mere mummer and as smooth as silk. She looked up at him grinning ear to ear, all drowsiness had left her.

"Do not dare Jon Snow, allow me to dress, and I'll sneak down to meet you. Can we practice with real steel this morning?" She questioned her voice full of excitement.

"I haven't decided yet, met you soon, do not belong to Ashlyn, the castle will soon wake." and with that, he turned from her bedchambers and made his way down the hall. With a heavy sigh, she shut the door quietly and made her way to her wardrobe. Throwing on the knickers Robb Stark secretly had tailored for her and a cotton shirt. In haste, she opened her bedchamber door again and peeked into the hall. Not a soul was in the hall to much her relief. Ashlyn scurried down the hall until she was greeted with the cool breeze of early morning. She took another glance around before stalking swiftly down into the crypts below Winterfell.

Ashlyn followed the burning torches as she noticed a newly forged sword lying at the base of Lyanna Stark's statue. She simply raised an eyebrow understanding the game. The crypts under Winterfell where like a labyrinth with passages blocked off from decades of age and decay.

Picking up the sword slowly know perfectly well her opponent was watching her. She could feel him in the shadows waiting for her to be armed before he lunged. Ashlyn took her time wrapping her hand around the hilt looking for any sign of the other. Once the steel was in her hand she saw from the corner of her eye someone lunged at her from behind the statue of a great Stark king behind her. As graceful and swift as she could she brought up her sword to protect her. Her heart swelled at the music steel clashing with steel made. In a quick moment, Jon had made for another assault. Grinning with amusement Ashlyn parried his blade with her own. She was carefully watching him and his movement preparing for his next attack. She needed to be careful she had realized when she first laid eyes on the sword. These things are not toys to be played around with.

They mirrored each other's movements in a beautiful dance to the music their blades made. With a swelling heart, Ashlyn went from defended to actually taking an attack. It caught her practice partner off guard but did not faze him while he defended from her attack. He had a grin and a sparkle in his eye that caused her heart to skip a beat. Ashlyn than lost her footing as Jon knocked her feet from under her in her distraction and disarmed her. With a thud, she hit the ground panting looking up at the man who disarmed her.

"I yield." Ashlyn huffed as Jon held out a hand to help her up. She gladly took his hand and let him help lift her to her feet.

"Not bad for your first time using steel, but your reflexes were too slow. I had many openings I could have disarmed you sooner." Jon scolded her seething his own blade.

"What kept you from disarming me earlier than?" she challenged him standing a breath away.

He turned a shy eye to her and smiled softly, nothing but the longing in his eyes. A look only she has had the pleasure to see on his face. "The sword is your name day gift. Happy name day Ashlyn." her eyes danced as she stared up at him closing the gap between them. His lips were hungry for hers; the passion behind their kiss made her shiver. She playfully nipped at his lip earning a husky growl from him. Feeling braver she pulled herself into him daring to touch his face. As if he was losing all control over her his left hand pulled her in and molded her body to his. They fitted together perfectly. His right hand held the back of head fingers kneading into her long muss of brown curls. She couldn't help but shutter and moan into his mouth, which suited him just fine. Jon took the opportunity to allow his tongue to meet hers. It caused her head to swim as she pulled herself even hard against him, her soft fingers dance down his neck and along with his pulse. He hissed has her nails left goose prickles in their wake. She felt a wave of excitement run down her as Jon ran his hand down her back before carefully grabbing her backside. The action made her throb with desire for her love. As she expected Jon began to pull away. Letting out an annoyed sigh Ashlyn looked up at him.

"Why do you always stop?" she hissed out irritated from the pulse and throb coming from between her legs. Her grey eyes met with his seeing his own desires of lust on them. "I love you, and I know you love me too." she kissed at his jaw causing him to growl as she worked at his self-control "I can't imagine a more romantic place for two lovers." She giggled looking at the Kings of the north long dead.

"Never knew you lusted for an audience of the dead." Jon jested releasing his grip on her and going to retrieve her Name day present. "It's fresh forged; this is not a toy Ashlyn. Keep it well hidden for I fear what Lady Stark will do if she finds it." Jon warned seething the blade.

"It's beautiful, I'll treasure it always. Thank you, Jon." She whispered as he fastened it to her waist. He smiled brightly at her taking a few steps closer to lay a kiss on her forehead.

"You should return to your bed. The Castle will soon stir and imagine the look on your chambermaids face if you're not warm and asleep in your bed." He warned. Ashlyn nodded taking a step back from her love giving him another one over before turning to the exit.

"And imagine the teasing and jest you'll enjoy if Robb or Theon find your bed empty." Ashlyn teased him. He smiled wickedly at her before he charged and scoped her up making his way to the entrance with her laughing along with him over his shoulder.

As the made their way out of the crypts the sun was just below the trees. Jon set her carefully to her feet. "I'll see you when we break our fast," he whispered making his way toward the hall that held his own bedchamber.

"How I love you," she mumbled to herself flushing. She heard the gates to the kennel open. In haste, she made her way back to her own bedchambers.

She decided against trying to sleep. The adrenaline was still pumping in her veins. She opened the compartment on the bottom of her wardrobe, Robb had spent a day constructing for her so she could hide her training thing below without his mother Lady Starks knowledge. Swiftly undressed and folded her knickers and shirt and laid them in. She untied her new blade from her waist. She took a moment to unsheathe the blade looking at the beautiful blade before her. Ashlyn smiled softly. "Lovers woe," she spoke the name to the blade. "You are now the physical representation of my lovers' woes." she stared at the sword for a moment more before seething it again and laying down with her other secrets. She closed the secret door.

I have lots of secrets. She thought sorrowfully to herself. She noticed the new gown Lady Stark had given her for her name day early. It was a dark violet low cut, shoulders bear with soft white fox fur lining her bosom. Starks fancied fur. Ashlyn grabbed the garb and laid it upon her bed knowing she was expected to wear it to break her fast. It was only polite. And if Lady Stark can say one thing she drilled your courtesy into you. Soon after her chambermaid knocked on the door before entering.

"Oh good, you're already awake mi'lady." Her chambermaid wasn't much old than her. She had straw-colored hair and a fat face. Her bosom hadn't swelled much and she was scarcely pale. "Lady Stark has such taste in gowns. This is absolutely lovely." she continued to babble. Ashlyn didn't mind she preferred when Gale was talkative.

"Isn't it? I can scarcely wait to put it on. Gale comes to help me dress." Ashlyn spoke softly and kind. Gale smiled and bowed.

After Ashlyn had finished dressing she sat in front of her mirror dusting her face with powder. She stared into her bluish grey eye, Karstark eyes. She touched her cheekbones noticing her child chub was slowly leaving her features making a look more a woman. Her full shapely lip curled into a smile. The swell of her chest pushed up of her dress in a delightful way as it clung to her slender figure showing it off. This is a woman's dress. She thought herself as Gale laid her curls to frame her face and cascade down her just short of the small of her waist. At that moment arrival horns blow. Curious she moved to her window. She saw men on horse's carrying her own family banner.

"Your lord father came to celebrate you fifteenth name day mi'lady." Gale gushed excited eyeing Ashlyn older brother, Harrison, twenty years her senior ride in beside her lord father under the smiling sun banner of Karstark.

"My lord father has come. It means one thing. He is here to offer me a bride to Robb Stark." Ashlyn explained. She had been only a girl of seven when her Lady mother died of fever. That's when her Lord father Rickard Karstark had offered her to be fostered by Lady Stark as a ward. Her being so young compared to her other siblings her father just hadn't had it in him to raise a daughter.

"What a lovely idea, the gossip in the castle is how sweet the both of you are on one another. You must be enthralled." Gale gushed at the match. Everyone knew Catelyn Stark had been grooming her to someday wed her eldest. It was a good match to tie the loyalties of the north together with the oldest northern families coming together.

Ashlyn huffed and moved away from the window. "The help might want to mind their tongues about the noble families." She didn't mean it come out harsh or as a scolding, but Gale simple looked at her with saddened eyes and bowed.

"As mi'lady wishes." And like that Ashlyn was alone. She laughed humorously to herself. She was such a fool for falling for the baseborn son of Eddard Stark. What was she thinking, of course, she could never marry a bastard? Soon her laughter turned to sobs. "Oh Jon I do not know what to do." she sobbed to herself.

Robb knew Ashlyn knew Robb knew he wasn't as blind has the others in the castle. For he looked at her with the same eyes as Jon did, only he had noticed her not met his gaze with the same emotions as she did Jon. She was unsure if the brothers spoke of it, but most certainly did not speak of her to her. She smiled weakly at her reflection wiping away her tears. Robb would be a good husband to her; there was no doubt in his love for her. She just wondered if he realizes that she'll never lust for him the way she did for Jon. She brushed more powder to her face. I'll be the best wife I can, he deserves it. She thought standing up to meet the rest to break her fast.

When she arrived at the dining hall it was crowded with her own kin and bannermen. Ashlyn accepted their congratulation as she made her way to her spot at the main table the Stark children sat at in the hall. She silently sat between Arya and Theon Greyjoy, across from her soon betrothed and lover. Lord and Lady Stark sat at the end of the high table with her brother and Lord father to their rights, where the honored guest sat.

"You have a fever? You are here before the first course has ended." Theon jested sipping at morning beer.

"I did not sleep well last night," Ashlyn explained making knowing eye contact with Jon. Her eyes shifted to Robb who gave her a knowing nod back.

"You think your father came all this way to propose you wed Robb? That would be a lovely idea." Sansa spoke helping her four-year-old brother Rickon with his food.

"It would be an honor to be wed to the heir if Winterfell," Ashlyn replied as expected of her, she hoped no one noticed her eyes sadden as the stared at her plate.

"I don't see why a woman must sleep under a man once they're wed. We have plenty of available bed." Bran pondered earning a round of laughter from the older Children at the table and the Lords that heard. Arya, Bran, And Rickon didn't understand why they found that so funny. "It's wasn't meant to be a joke," Bran muttered shoving food into his mouth as he blushed.

"Bran when you're old you'll be glad to have a woman lay beneath you." Theon jested some more while laughing into his cup.

"Don't talk such filth to a boy Theon." Ashlyn scolded him which caused him to laugh harder. Ashlyn glanced up at her father as he spoke to Lord Stark both men laughing among themselves. It was utterly unfair. He was selling her as one sold a horse. Her eyes moved back to her food when Lady Starks approving eyes met hers. She hasn't taken a single bite just absent-mindedly moved her food about her plate.

"Ashlyn you need to eat," Jon spoke to her casually. Only her families own men looked in question. The Stark children along with Theon were used to the casualties between her and Jon. It was uncommon for even a Lords bastard to address a trueborn casually. They watched to see if she'd take offense. When she didn't they turned back to their own food.

"I do not have a taste for food." In truth, her mouth tasted sour and the smells made her nauseous.

"It's a shame to waste good food, Ashlyn," Robb spoke.

"I'm sure the mutts in the kennels will enjoy it." She snapped back throwing her napkin on the table. "Excuse me, but I have no hunger for I am feeling unwell, and wish to return to my bedchambers." Ashlyn got up and made haste out of the dining hall making her way back to her chamber.

A while later there was a knock on her door. At first, she ignored it. Not moving pretending to sleep for she wished to be alone. "Ashlyn may I enter." the gruff voice could belong to no one other than Harrison. She stood moving to allow her brother to enter her chamber.

"It's good to see you brother." she greeted.

"It looks like my sister is no longer a suckling babe, but a woman grown and to be wed to a lord." Harrison smiled at her.

"So it's official." Ashlyn mutter in distaste.

"Why do you seem so disinterested? Robb is a fine match and heir to Winterfell. You'll be the lady in the north and me your bannermen." he sat on the spare chair in her room while she sat on her bed.

"I always knew I'd marry Robb. I have no doubts he'll make me a good husband." She replied dutifully.

"You've grown into a proper beauty. I've to give you a gift." he pulled a silver chain lined with dark rubies the color of wine.

"It's beautiful brother. I'll treasure it." she moved her hair enough for her eldest brother to lay the necklace upon her neck. It was heavy, she was sure if she wore it long she'll have a sore neck. Harrison kissed the top of her head as he had done when she was a child.

"Happy name day. I shall leave you to your thoughts. Don't hold ill feelings it's a parent's responsibility to find suitable matches for their children." with that said he made his way out of her room. As he left Robb entered.

"How are you feeling?" Robb asked gently closing the door behind him. He was so gentle, so in love, with her, she knew with the way his eye refused to let her go. That's all it took to make her crumble. Before she knew it she was weeping. She angry rubbed her eyes as her tears betrayed her. The intensity of Robbs gaze gentled as he swiftly walked over to her and held her. She was broke. It wasn't fair to Robb that she loved another. It wasn't fair to Jon that she must marry his brother, share his bed, and bare his children. And it wasn't fair for her to be so selfish with her love. She crumbled in Robbs arms muttering apology after apology while he just murmured sweet nothings to her in his smooth voice while sobbed for the love she could not have and the love she did not love. She cried for all three of them. Most of all she cried for Jon.