Just wanted to see if I could write something other than Supernatural fanfiction. I'm not sure how far this will go, but who knows. It may actually go somewhere.

With her soft, mousy-brown hair falling in loose curls down her back, Natalie Blackmont walked the streets of Winterfell like every other day. With the fact that her father wasn't in Winterfell, she found herself having little to do. Her father, Jonathan, was often away, leaving his only daughter to do whatever she pleased. But all she ever wanted was company. And she found company in the sons of Lord Eddard Stark.

It didn't take the young woman long to hear the familiar laughter of Robb and Jon, and when her hazel eyes finally found them; she couldn't help herself but laugh also. They were teaching their younger brother, Bran, archery, and every few time he released his bow, he would miss. "Don't lose hope yet, Bran," Natalie smiled softly at the young boy as she came to a stop next to Robb. "I remember when your brothers were learning, and they both missed terribly until they were at least twelve."

Robb shock his head with laughter and stared back at Natalie. "I haven't seen you for almost a fortnight," he observed as the two friends watched Bran try again. "What has kept you?"

"Was Robb Stark starting to miss me?" Natalie asked with a sly smile as another of Bran's arrows flew over the wall, sending both Robb and Jon into laughter.

"And which one of you was a marksmen at ten?" asked Lord Stark from where he stood at a balcony, observing everything below. "Natalie. I thought you had stopped gracing the house of Stark with your presence."

"Never, my lord," she smiled back. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Growing up, Natalie spent many of her time running through the castle after Robb and Jon. There were times she spent so much of her time there, it was as though she became a fixture of the family. Her father was a military man, and he spent many of his time riding to many different far places, and Ned Stark was kind enough to treat Natalie as a daughter during the time periods when her father wasn't around.

"Don't think too much, Bran," Jon whispered to his brother as Bran set up another arrow.

"Relax your bow-arm," Robb instructed as he focused on his brother. Then, he leaned toward Natalie, "So where have you really been?"

Before she could answer, the buzzing sound of an arrow cut her off, and they observed the arrow hit the center of the target. Puzzled by the fact that Bran hadn't released his arrow, they all turned to see the youngest Stark daughter, Arya, holding a bow in her hands with a smile on her face.

As the Jon, Robb, and Natalie laughed at what had occurred, Bran gave chase after Arya, as the brothers prompted him forward. "Come on," Jon said, still laughing as he helped the youngest Stark son, Rickon, off of a saddle. "Let's gather these arrows."

"You never answer me," Robb sighed as he bent down and started to gather arrows, handing Natalie the ones he picked up.

Pushing a piece of stray hair from her face, Natalie replied, "My father was home for a few days. We were spending some time together before he left for King's Landing." Her voice dropped as Robb stood back up and looked down at Natalie, who was a mere three inches shorter than he. "He's going to be gone for almost a year this time."

Robb took the arrows back from Natalie and walked over to the container for the arrows. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said, casting a sad glance in Natalie's direction.

Natalie only had time to return a smile to Robb when Theon Grayjoy came walking toward them. "Hope I'm not interrupting something," he smirked as he grabbed everyone's attention.

"You always are, Grayjoy," Jon sighed as he came to stand next to Rob. "What do you need?"

"A deserter from the Night's Watch was captured by the guardsmen," Theon explained. "Your father wants you to saddle your horses."

As Robb and Jon started to walk away, Natalie followed after them. "Don't think for a moment that you're leaving me behind," she stated as she followed after the boys as they headed toward the stables.

Jon turned and started to walk backward. "You can't come along, Natalie," he sighed as he stared at her. "It's not a suitable place for a young lady such as yourself."

"And I'll keep my distance," she added, finally catching up to her two friends. "I'll just come along for the company."

"You're also not a very good rider, Natalie," Rob sighed, a look of concern etched on his face, as they came to a stop by the stable. "You won't be able to make it all the way."

"If she would like to come," Ned Stark interrupted as he came to the stable, "then Natalie may ride with one of you."

With a smug smile, Natalie looked at Robb, who sighed heavily. "Alright, you can come along with me," he replied, a weak smile of his own on his face.

As the men saddled their horses, Natalie gave Bran a hand saddling his pony. She watched at the young boy's fingers stumbled of the horse's martingale, and how he seemed to be unsure of what he was doing. "I've watched you saddle your pony numerous times, Bran," Natalie commented as she finished the throatlatch on the horse's bridle. "Are you nervous?"

Bran looked over to where his brothers and his father where before he nodded his head yes. With a soft smile, Natalie touched his shoulder and whispered, "Don't be. You're ready for this?"

"How do you know?" Bran whispered back, keeping his eyes on the white hair of his pony.

Wrinkling her nose, Natalie took the pony's reins and led him out of the stable. "Because I know everything."

"If she did know everything," Theon smirked as he rode his horse past, "then she wouldn't be doing things she wasn't supposed to."

"Leave it," Robb sighed as he brought his own horse up. "There's no talking her out of anything." Then, Robb turned his attention upon Natalie as he slipped his hand into his riding gloves. "Are you ready?"

Natalie bobbed her head and smiled as she walked up to Robb. As he grasped her waist to lift her up onto the horse, she laughed, "Don't drop me."

"Have I dropped you once?" he laughed back, and before she realized it, he was lifting her up and behind the horse's saddle. "See? Perfectly safe."

"So you say," Natalie accused, a smile still on her face as Robb climbed up onto the saddle in front of her. Then she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his back. "Remember the last time you took me for a ride? You nearly killed me."

"You weren't holding on," Robb laughed at the memory of Natalie sliding off the back of the horse.

With little warning, Robb kicked the horse into a trot, causing Natalie to grasp tighter. She loved to ride horses, but every time she had ever gotten on a horse, she had fallen off. That was the reason why Natalie only rode when someone else was in control.

"Are you alright?" Robb asked as the party exited through the gates.

Leaning her face between Robb's shoulders and into his fur cloak, Natalie groaned, "Warn me next time you do that so there's less of a chance of me pulling you off of this horse."

For the rest of the ride, Natalie remained mostly quiet and just enjoyed the movement of the horse and the company of her friends. Jon had ridden his horse next to Robb's, and they casually talked as they made their way to the execution site.

Upon the arrival, Jon had gotten off his horse swiftly, and gently helped Natalie to the ground. "Thank you," she smiled as she smoothed the fabrics of her dark green dress. "I appreciated not falling to the ground."

"I would never let you fall," Jon replied with a soft smile before he walked up the hill.

Robb let out a soft sigh as he took his gloves off his hands and handed the reins of his horse over to a guard. "Are you sure you will be alright down here alone?" he asked as he looked up the hill.

"Don't worry about me," Natalie sighed as she pushed Robb slightly up the hill. "I can take care of myself."