Chapter 1
Marie walked out of the small brothel in Winterfell. The Oracle's words still lingered in her head.
"You shall fall but your house shall prevail."
"What do you mean?"
"You shall die, while your children will rise."
"Lacy!?"
"Amelia!?" Lord and Lady Stark called in different directions.
"We should check the regular spots for them." Ned suggested, still looking around.
"You take the fighting chambers, I'll take the library." Catelyn suggested as she walked off.
Ned walked toward the small fighting chambers out back. He heard grunts from behind the door, along with the sound of wood hitting wood. As he went to open the door, he was stopped when he heard a thud and a groan. He opened the door to see Jon, Ned's bastard son, on the ground. He laughs as Amelia steps over him and laughs mockingly. Ned laughs at the two children. Amelia, the younger of the two sisters was the more rambunctious one. She would often sneak out and meet Jon at night for secret sword fights. She was always with Jon. Ever since they had met when Amelia arrived to the estate they had been friends. Jon was only 7 when Lacy and Amelia were brought in, Lacy 4 and Amelia 2.
"Amelia, let's not hurt your brother now." Ned jokingly teased. "You have to be careful of your brother, he only fights with girls, it seems."
"She is a girl!" Jon pointed out.
"That explains your talent." Amelia chimed in.
Jon picked up his practice sword and went to hit Amelia in the shins with it, when she reflected it with her own, and hit him on the chest.
"Men." She mumbled under her breath as Jon snickered.
"Listen you too, King Robert has declared that he's coming to Winterfell for a few days."
"He is?" Jon asked reaching up his hand to Amelia asked for help off of the ground.
"Yes, he's planning on arriving tomorrow, so Amelia go see your mother in the parlor to plan tomorrow."
"What will I be planning?"
"That's up to your mother dear."
Amelia whines as she hands Jon the sword and heads to see her mother.
Jon laughs as he puts the swords away. "So why is he coming to Winterfell?"
"Your mother and I think it's because he wants something."
"What does he want?"
"We aren't sure exactly. Your mother thinks-"
"She's not my mother!" Jon almost screams at Ned. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I shouldn't say that anyway. I should be sorry."
"I'm guessing I'm not invited then?"
"Cat doesn't think you should, no." Ned admitted, hanging his head.
They were silent, as Jon sighs and walks out the back door.
Catelyn enters the library and see's Lacy sitting on the floor, her dress spread out around her, with a book in her hands.
"Oh my dear! Always with your nose in a book." Cat states sitting in a chair next to her.
"I'm sorry. I just love it here. My mother when I was little used to tell me stories of the Great Ned Stark and the King Robert fighting the Targaryens, and bringing home a victory along with a son. I used to dream of learning the great tales about the wars, and old Kings and Queens, now I have it all."
Lady Catelyn smiles at her adopted daughter. "And you never have to be sorry for it. We might not be your blood family, but we're still family none the less."
"I know, and I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me and my sister."
"Oh darling, please. You are my daughters. I only did what any other mother would do."
"Thank you though! Was there some reason for your visit?"
"Oh yes, that's right. Your father and I just got word by raven that the king and the royal family are coming to visit."
"They are? What for?" Lacy marked her place and closed the book.
"We aren't sure yet, but I'm thinking King Robert is going to ask your father for something."
"Will father say yes?"
"Knowing him, probably, they are best friends. But there is something I need you talk to you about."
"What about?" She asked, getting up from her spot on the floor to put the book away.
"Your father and I are planning to make arrangements with the Queen about getting you married to Joffrey."
Lacy froze where she was. She had dreaded this. She was eight-teen now and she would be able to be married off. She didn't mind the idea of it, but she had fallen in love with someone else and she refused to marry just because.
"Mother, please no!" She begged.
"Yes, it's what's best for you. He'll be king one day, and you'll be queen. It's everything you've always wanted."
"Yes but…" She trailed off, the comments in her head to inappropriate to say out loud.
"My dear, it shall be fine! Now come, you and your sister need to get ready for tomorrow."
Cat gets up and walks out of the library, leaving Lacy alone.
The girls were fitted for new gowns and they were bather. Their supper was sent to their rooms, then they were put to bed. There was a knock at Amelia's door last at night.
"Come in." She quietly calls.
The door opens and the light of a candle aluminates the room.
"Amelia?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I wake you?" She treads softly to the bed and places the candle on the bed side table.
"No, I was up."
"Okay. Can we talk?" She sat on the bed next to her sister.
"Sure, what's wrong?"
"Catelyn told me something today."
"What was it?" She sat up worried about her sister.
"There setting me up to marry the Prince."
"Joffrey?! Ewww, but he's so…" She trailed off looking for the right word for him.
"Ugly? Evil? Just to name a few."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know Aim, Sansa likes him…and she's more his age."
"Have you told Robb yet?"
"No, he'll be heartbroken, plus…I'm scared to tell him."
"Why?"
"I love him, and me telling him we can't be together because I have to marry a twelve year old!"
"Well you should still tell him about it. He does have a right to know."
"I know. I was planning on seeing him tonight anyway, he wanted to see me before tomorrow."
"Then go! Don't sit here." Amelia said, shooing her sister off.
"And what about you? You're not running off to see Jon?"
"Who said I wasn't?" Amelia asked, getting up and pulling off her night dress to revel her sparing outfit.
Amelia was tall for her age, and the outfit had to be custom made to fit her. It was light brown leather with ties in the front and back. It was short sleeved, and had a pair of matching shorts.
"Sword fighting again?" Lacy asked, also removing her night dress, to reveal a long light baby blue dress.
"Maybe, along with other things. Father almost caught us today."
"Really!? What happened?" Lacy took the spare candle and lit it for her sister.
"We were fighting when I ended up trapping him against the wall, and he flipped us around so that I was pinned and then he kissed me. We ended up wrestling to the ground, and Jon saw Ned through the creaks in the shed, and I pushed him down again, and Ned walked in thinking I had defeated Jon…which I did….then again when don't I….but still."
"Damn little sister! I'm not getting half of that."
"But Robb's so sweet. He cherishes you."
"Jon does too!"
"Yes but…I don't think Jon feels the same as I do."
"None-sense! He does so."
"Let's stop arguing, go before it's too late." Amelia pushes her sister out the door before she runs to the window and crawls out.
Lacy walks softly through the silent halls, shielding the candle, so not to much light shines through. It's a long walk from the west wing; where Amelia and her rooms were, to the east wing. She reaches his door and knocks.
"Yes?" He calls, not to loud, but loud enough to hear.
Lacy opens the door and closes it quickly before anyone saw. "Hi."
"Lacy, what are you doing up this late?" Robb asked placing down the book he was reading.
He's still wearing his clothes from that day, and he was sitting at his desk reading something.
"I wanted to see you before tomorrow." She said, walking in the room more.
The room was dark, only illuminated by the two candles. Robb got up from his chair and walked towards Lacy. Even in the dark, his blue eyes shined.
He walks up to her and kisses her forehead. "Hello love."
"Hi." She cooed, her heart beating fast, while her eye lids closed.
"What's troubling you darling?" Robb led her towards the bed to sit her down, while he knelt on the floor.
"Nothing is wrong."
"I can see it in your eyes love. What's wrong?"
Lacy looks down and sighs. "I love you Robb."
"I love you too."
"How much?"
"Very much. Why, what is going on?"
"When are we going to tell Cat about us?" She asked quickly, while she fidgeted with her fingers.
"Soon. After the King leaves." He reassured.
"Can we make it sooner?"
"Why? What's the rush?"
"Cat talked to me today about the Royal family coming tomorrow."
"And…What happened?"
"She told me something that is…might be hard to hear." She stuttered.
"What is it Lacy? Tell me!" He demanded getting worried.
"They're planning on arranging a marriage with Joffrey and I."
Robb just sat there. "No…they can't! He's only six-teen! I won't lose you!" He almost screamed.
"Robb, please! I don't want this anymore then you do."
"What happens now then?"
"We need to talk to them about this. It can't happen…it won't happen."
"I love you Lace!"
"I love you too." She leaned in and kissed him softly.
He kissed back, slowly pushing her back as he got on top of her.
"You should go now. It's getting late." Robb sits up, fixes his shirt, and runs his hand through his hair.
"I know, but I don't want to yet." She snuggles upon on the bed, holding a pillow to her. "I want to sleep here."
"I know love. Soon you will."
She gets up reluctantly, and grabs her candle off of his desk and walks to the door.
"I love you Lace. Nothing will change that." He reassured kissing her forehead.
She smiled at him and left heading back to her room, with a terrible feeling in her stomach.
Amelia crawled out of her window and down the veined tarries near her small balcony. Jons room was apart from the castle thanks to Lady Stark. He enjoyed it though, and made it a home for himself. It was off of the estate not too far off and right near Amelia's window. She grabs a practice sword off of the outside holder and opens his front door and silently looks for him. She finds him asleep. She smiles at how peaceful he looks. She shakes her head and gets to her plan attack. She takes his sword from his bed side and moves it away. She stands up and pokes him with the practice sword. He stirs slightly and starts to wake up. He's startled by the sword, and goes to reach for his.
"Always be prepared for anything!"She mimicked his voice; remember him telling her that before.
He looks up and realizes who it is and smirks. He throws his leg out, hitting the sword out of her hand. She gasps, dropping the sword at her feet, then smiles. He doesn't say a word, as he grabs her other arm and pulls her down with him. She's lying on top of him, his hand is still clamped around her wrist, and the other is around her waist, holding her down. She stares at him as a smile brightens his face in the dark.
"Always be prepared for anything." He smiles as he leaving in and kissed her.
She kissed back, leaning into him. He slipped out from under her and pushed her down beneath him. They kissed fearsley as Jon stated to move his hips against hers. She placed her hands on his hips to stop him.
"Jon…not now." She panted, trying to catch her breath from kissing him.
"I know. I just get lost in you sometimes. You're so…intoxicating." He breathed barring his face in her neck.
She entangles her fingers in his hair. She loved the way he smelled sometimes. He smelled of the cold crisp wind, the hot fire wood that burned in his small room, and her perfume. It was hard to come by perfume, but she had one made for her every year. It was a mixture of Raspberry, and Strawberry and no matter what Jon did; he ended up smelling of her perfume.
"Jon?"
"Yes?"
"I'm worried about tomorrow."
"And why is that my dear?"
"I have a funny feeling something bad will happen."
"Why do you say that? I'm sure everything will be fine."
"I know. Maybe it's just because of Lacy."
"What about her?"
"Lady Stark has decided to wed Lacy with the Prince."
"Uhh! That cocky prick. He deserves no higher than a pig"
"My exact reaction." She said, as Jon got up off of Amelia.
"But what about her and Robb?"
"I don't know. I don't think he'll give up that easily."
"Me neither."
"Anyway, it's almost dawn. I should go."
"Yes you should. The nursemaids will be looking for you soon." He said taking a sip of water.
Amelia get up from the small cot, and walks to the door. Jon is right behind her and sees her out. She kisses him one last time, before she runs back to her room. Jon watches from the distance as she runs. Even when she's out of sight he stays and stands there watching. He wanted to tell her how he really felt about her, but he was to much of a coward. She was beautiful, graceful, strong, tough, everything he ever wanted in a girl, and he was to cowardly to tell her. He walked to the small fire place that lit and warmed the room, and fixed it, so it gave off more heat. He went back to his bed and laid back down. He closed his eyes and went to sleep, but before he did he softly whispered to himself.
"I love you Amelia!"