Hearts and Sword Play

Summery: Jon/OC/Robb – Told from the POV of a blacksmith's daughter about her love for both Stark brothers. Set prior and during GoT: Winter is Coming.

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or A Song of Fire and Ice.

A/N: I haven't written a ff in about 3 years so, firstly, to all the people who are reading this because they subed me AGES ago, there is a massive change in content and fandom so sorry, secondly, this is literally the first time I have put pen to paper and wrote in 3 years, so it might be rough (very rough). One pointer thought, this was done from the TV show POV rather than the books but there is still a little confusion over the age of the characters. At the start of the fic, Magadyln is around 19/20 and Robb and Jon are at least 20 – older than they should be in the books but about the age of their television show counterparts.

Chapter One

She stood on the parapets of the high castle wall and watched as the King's troops galloped away in the distance. The red and gold luxury coach held the queen and her children, while King Robert strode on besides, surrounded by his golden Kingsguard and knights. Within the party were Lord Eddark Stark, his two daughters and his bastard son. She could see, even from the distance, the black stallion contrasting with the majestic white and greys of the other horses it rode along with. Riding that black horse was Jon Snow, clad is his fur coat making his way to the Wall, never to be seen again.

It made her heart drop to see him ride away from her after all the years they had spent together.

It was tough for her growing up, being the only daughter of Thomas the Blacksmith and Armourer. She'd been raised with 4 brothers of her own, grew up a boy, strong and independent, knowing nothing of the fineries of femininity, after her mother died during the birth of her youngest brother. She grew up watching her brothers grow strong, working for their father, playing and fighting with the weapons they made. Growing up this way, surrounded by men, meant that sword play was her finest skill, though for girl it shouldn't have been. Ever since she could remember, all she knew was how to wield a sword, sitting in her father's armoury and shop watching him and her brothers wedeling swords and shields all day. Since picking up her first sword she remembered being determined to know how to use it. Between working, her brothers would play around with finished and unfinished swords, fighting each other for fun, until one day they allowed her to join in. She could still remember the victory she felt when she was finally good enough to beat them, pinning her eldest brother to the ground with a blunted sword hovering above his chest.

Not only did she watch her brothers but would gaze upon Robb Stark and Jon Snow as they were taught by Lord Eddard's Master At Arms, Rodrik Cassel. She admired them, admired their skill and talent, the grace in their step and the determinations of their bows. She wanted to train with them, wanted to be one of them. It wasn't until one day, upon her 10th name year, did she finally get the chance. While training by herself at the back of her father shop, the young but broodish, Robb threatened to challenge her, fight against her and pretend, since she was a girl, to let her win. But it came as a shock to everyone watching when she managed to beat him, disarming him, upon the watchful eye of the whole castle court yard, her brothers, stable boys and servants. However, unbeknownst to her, Lord Eddard was also watching, studying her intensely, watching her fighting skills and the way she moved, her ability to win against his eldest son while still putting up a fight. It wasn't until that evenfall did he then graced her father with his presence, asking him to let her train properly with his sons. Her brothers held this offer against her, saying it should have been them training with the young Lords not her. But she didn't care; she got everything she wanted – to fight with knights.

Back on the castle wall, she continued watching in the distance as the group of horses disappeared slowly into the distance behind the drooping hills. The wind was high as the sun began sinking slowly into the far distance bringing the darkening night with it. She held her arms close around her, if just to imagine it was his arms holding her close to him, shielding her from the harsh, icy winds of the oncoming winter.

'Magdalyn.' The voice came from below, from the court yard below the parapets. As she turned she saw Robb making his way to the stone steps towards her.

'My Lord,' she gave his light curtsey as he came and stood beside her, gazing out into the distance. Even though they had grown up together, playing and fighting, she still remembered her courtesies.

He turned towards her, his thick curls shifting slightly in the breezy air. 'There's really no need for that when we are alon.' He had always been unexplainably nice to her since the first time she had beaten him, as if he owed her that much for thinking he could beat her.

'I'm sorry, just habit. It's good to see you well, Robb,' she turned fully towards him brushing her hair away from her eyes to watch him closely. She had always admired his gracious looks, his perfect face, blue eyes and auburn hair. He looked the same as he did as a child but at the same time it was different. He held himself different, he stood prouder, taller. He had responsibilities now that his father had left the castle. He was to look after Winterfell alone and after everything his family had been through recently made him look somewhat, weathered.

'And you.' He gave her his playful smile, breaking his cool, calm, professional demeanour. 'There is word, amongst the servants in the castle, that you are still not married.' He looked down on her questionably his eyes searching for an answer within hers. She looked up at him, trying to show no sign of a secret but it was no use. He knew her better than that and, even if not, Jon was his brother. They were close, closer than close, closer than she had been to any of her brothers. If there was one thing Jon would have told Robb it would have been this. But she couldn't bring herself to confess it to him.

'Yes, you heard correctly. There is no one for me, 'she gave a mockingly, innocent smile turning back to watch the sky as it began bleeding red, blue and pink in the distance, trying to hid her true self, her true feelings.

'Maggie,' he said softly, reaching out his hand to touch hers as it hung limply next to her. But she pulled away just as his perfectly soft finger tips brushed against the back of her hand. Lifting her arms around her, she made it as if she was pulling her cloak tighter as the night's air got colder. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him drop his head slowly.

'You know he did tell me,' he started but she feared the rest as she could feel the stinging from her watery eyes. She took a deep breath bracing herself, hoping he wouldn't continue but he kept going, 'Maggie, I am so sorry he left you.' She had been brave all this time, all the time she watched him pack his horse and ride off with Lord Eddard and the King. She had put on a brave face, not letting herself cry, not let anyone know there was something between them. 'He didn't want to leave you.'

'Then why did he?' She spat back at him before she could stop herself. She watched him being taken back by the comment but her anger started to boil up inside of her, stopping her from apologising to her Lord. 'Why did he leave when he told me he would stay?' She could feel a lone tear begin to drip down her face, 'He said he would make plans for us, talk to your father, so that we could be together.' By this point it was too late; tears began streaming down her cheek as she continued. She had never let herself go before. She was strong, bold, collected, she had never showed pain or hurt to anyone before but now she was releasing everything in front of the Lord of Winterfell and she couldn't stop herself. She took a deep breath, pressing her eyes shut to stop the tears and bit her lip when they didn't. Opening her eyes again slowly, looking out into the blurry, watery horizon and whispered, 'Why did he go?'

Leaving all of his courtly mannerism behind him, he reached out to her and wrapped both his arms tightly around her, pressing her face deep into his warm cloak. She sobbed slowly, regaining her breathing as he sooth her, brushing down on her soft, brown curls. Her arms slipped under his heavy cloak and held on tightly around him, feeling his warmth against hers. They stood there, on the castle wall holding onto each other as the night dawned upon them and darkness surrounded Winterfell. Leaning into him she could smell the musky scene of the Stark men, a smell that reminded her too much of him, a smell she thought she would never come across again.

With her arms still around Robb she leant back slightly, his hand moved from her hair and pressed itself against her warm, wet cheek, wiping away her dried up tears, his fingers cold from the night's air. As the darkness fell around them, they were lighted only by the moonlight and the glowing windows of Winterfell's castle. As his slender fingers pushed back a lock of her unruly hair, she couldn't help but look and stare into his peaceful and serene blue eyes. Within that moment it felt like everything had stop, nothing mattered but that small brief moment between them. Everything seemed still against the breezy night until his hand traced the line of her jaw and lifted her face towards his. As their lips touched, she could feel the warmth pour down over her. Caught in the moment, she lifted herself on her toes and pulled him closer to her. He tasted different than his brother, slightly salty from the sweat of a hard day's work but sweet and tasteful like the glorious foods served in their great halls.

It felt like an eternally long moment before they released each other. She lowered herself, off of her toes, and looked back him mildly shocked. It had been many a years since they had shared a moment like that but it felt natural and instinctive. Remembering her place, she suddenly let go of him and turned away to face the grassy plains surrounding the castle. Shocked at her actions she fumbled with her cloak which had slipped off her shoulders and pushed back the hair he'd held on so tightly to during their kiss.

'I'm sorry,' she said finally, turning back to him, 'that was a mistake, my Lord. Forgive me, it was a moment of weakness.' She brushed her fingers across her cheeks to feel them warm with shame and sticky from her tears. She could feel her lips going a dark red from where he'd bit her slightly.

'No,' he took a step closer to her bridging the gap she had made between them. 'That wasn't a mistake you know it. It's been too long. I shouldn't have let you go.' He reached out and placed a hand firmly on her arm ready to pull her towards him.

'Yes, you let me go, all those years ago.' She fought back slightly but his hand gripped her firmly.

'I shouldn't have. I know where I went wrong. I want to make it up to you. All those lost years, the ones we should have had together.' She stared at him. She could see the fear in his eyes. The reason he wouldn't let go of her because he did, truly regret his actions all that time ago. He wanted to make it up to her, want them to experience things together they never had the chance to. 'If you can promise to me you didn't feel something just then I will let you go – but you can't lie to me.'

Shocked by what he just said she couldn't resist herself. It was true, she couldn't lie to him. All those years spent together, they knew each other – knew each other too well. She took one last glace out into the dark horizon before she knew, finally knew it in her heart that he was never coming back to her ever again. Turning back to Robb, she looked deep into his eyes now pale with fear of losing her, losing her again.

Taking two steps towards him she put her arms around him and pulled herself close to him, lifting herself so that their lips met again. He warped his arms around her pulling her as close as possible determined to never again let her go.