"Tell me Jon Snow.." She led, finally ceasing her laughter as they continued their stroll around the balconies out to the Greenwood Oasis. It wasn't so much of an oasis as it was a garden. A garden that bloomed the rarest flowers and had the most beautiful springs.

"Have you made yourself like Theon? Wondering about new places, looking for their whorehouses?" she asked, letting go of his arm and grasping the railings to look beneath her. Rolan and Brack were running about with Bran, Tommen, and Rickon. Jon's words caught in his throat at the question the Lady asked of him. After a few seconds to gather his thoughts, he leaned up against the railing she faced, resting his elbows on it.

"I am to be of the Nights Watch m'Lady. It's the only thing I've ever wanted as a boy. I wanted to become a knight for as long as I can remember." He said turning to rest his forearms on the rail just as Milah had done. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"A life of celibacy. To never feel a woman's warmth again?" she questioned. If her mother heard her discussing such things with a man of all people she wouldn't be very happy with Milah. She could hear Theon and Robb, discussing stories down by the fountain with her father, Robert, and Eddard. She glanced for a moment and only a moment only to catch eyes with Robb Stark who simply smiled at her, continuing speaking with her father. Jon shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I've never...erhm...I've never felt a woman's warmth m'Lady." Milah scoffed and looked at Jon in disbelief.

"Never?"

"Never." She lightly smacked his chest.

"Shut up!" She was in shock. It amazed her that a man like Jon Snow even existed. The two were interrupted by the Lannister's making their way out to the balcony.

"Ah Milah, come here little love," Cersei claimed, motioning Milah to come forward towards Jaime, Tyrion, Tywin and herself. It was a miracle all the Lannisters had made it together in one piece and were actually making good.

"Jon Snow, don't you have somewhere to be? Feeding horses, or swapping hunting stories perhaps?" Cersei questioned, causing Jon to bow and make his way down to the yard where the other men stood.

"Now then, Milah, little love, you've grown quite a bit since I last saw you in King's Landing." Cersei noticed, sitting down at the table placed outside. Milah also took this opportunity to place herself between the queen and Tyrion.

"That was well over ten years ago your grace. But yes, it seems that way doesn't it." Milah took the cup of wine that was offered to her by Jaime. Jaime Lannister was the most handsome man in all the realms.

According to some.

Not to say Milah didn't find him attractive, she just always had an eerie feeling around the Lannisters.

"Lord Tyrion. I just finished that last book you sent me. It was enthralling. I always feel like I learn so much whenever I get a package from you." The self-proclaimed Imp laughed, placing a hand on Milah's leg briefly.

"Why thank you Milah. I do know how you love to read. Your father never stopped babbling on and on about it anytime he had business in the Landing. Isn't that right brother?" Milah looked to Jaime who lifted his cup to her.

"Its true. The only other thing he would speak about at the table is how he can't seem to get you married off..." Jaime said, looking briefly at Milah's mouth and then her eyes. Cersei leaned forward in her chair. Tywin had gotten sick of the whole affair and went off somewhere to probably find his niece.

"Yes, why is that? Obviously, it can't be because no one finds you beautiful. Because you are beautiful Lady Gale." Cersei was trying to find what was wrong with Milah. The only problem is there wasn't anything wrong with Milah. What Cersei would come to find is that if she planned to marry off the Gale girl to her son, she would be thrown off Kings Landing as quickly as humanly possible. Milah was strong and Cersei liked that. But what Cersei didn't like was uncertainty.

As the awkward conversation upstairs continued, one of bravery continued down below it.

"Oh Seven Hells..." Stefan sighed after glancing up at his daughter. Robert was taken aback.

"My stories aren't that bad Stefan come on." Causing Eddard to laugh.

"Its that blasted wife of yours. She's got my Milah in a corner." All of the men around looked up at the scene above them, all quickly looking away when Cersei caught it.

"Speaking of my..ehm what did you call her? Blasted wife? Good one Stef. Maybe joining households wouldn't be a bad idea. Your daughter would make a great queen of the seven kingdoms." Robert said, sitting down on the edge of the fountain, beckoning one of the stable boys for more wine. Robb looked to Jon and Theon with wide eyes. Milah would tear that little boy to bits if she had the chance. She would make a find queen but a queen to Joffrey? She'd behead the boy in his sleep and make it look like a bloody accident. Eddard took this time to speak up.

"Actually Stefan, I was going to propose we join our houses as well." Robert laughed at Ned for having the balls to step to the king.

"Well looks like we have ourselves a horse race, mates, doesn't it?" Stefan laughed at Robert's remark and then looked to the boys.

"Robb, what you have of all this? Now give me your honest opinion boy. In Greenwood we speak our minds, neigh hold our tongues." Robb, leaning on a tree, looked up at Milah who was laughing with Tyrion.

"My Lord, I think Milah is a very strong and able-bodied woman and-" Robert interrupted.

"Oh get on with it boy. My son can give your daughter a Kingdom. What can Ned's give her eh?" Milah had finally torn herself away from the Lannisters to come down to the gardens. Milah hooked both arms of Jon and Robb before turning to her father.

"Your grace, Father, Lord Stark, I humbly come to see if I can take these men away from you for a bit." The men nodded at the young woman before she dragged the boys with her to the stables.

"Have you boys seen the Greenwood wisp rocks?" both shook their heads.

"Good, come on then!" She said, leading out the horses. It was near nightfall but the wedding wouldn't happen until late. Theon ran to catch up with the group.

"Oi, what about me?" Milah pretended not to hear him. Theon wasn't her favorite person in the world. Robb laughed after getting on his horse and leading it towards Milah's own.

"Looks like I only require two bodyguards for this walk. Many thanks, Lord Stark, Jon Snow." She smiled before kicking her horse into high gear. Robb shrugged and headed off after her. Before Jon could follow suit, Theon latched onto the horse.

"You're really leaving? Without me? Just because some Greenwood bitch said so?" Jon shrugged and shook off Theon in order to catch up with the two.

Milah hit the large body of water before the boys behind her could. The sun beat down, golden rays running throughout the water, hitting Milah's skin when she raced between the trees. Milah could see the boys in the distance and yelled to them.

"Well it's about time you two caught up!" she laughed as they both came to a halt. She admired how welcoming and open Robb was with Jon. He treated him as a brother, not as a bastard. That was honorable in her eyes.

"Well not all of us run around in the forest all day m'Lady," Jon smirked. He felt comfortable with Milah. Like not much time had passed since those summers so long ago. Milah laughed as she guided her horse into the water, leaning back to enjoy the last light hitting her face.

"Oh no? Just playing with each other's swords all day I suspect." She peeked with one eye at Robb who bit his lip, trying to hold his tongue.

"Woman, you bother me so." She sat straight up, leading them down the trail to the rock wisps.

"Is that any way to address a Lady of Greenwood." her horse stopped at the entrance to the rocks. Robb leaned down, still on his horse as his eyes peered around.

"Funny, I don't see any Lady" Jon laughed aloud, jumping off his horse. He was a little too close to Milah who punched his upper arm before smacking the horse's ass, making run as close to the rocks as it would get before throwing Robb Stark off. He only hit the ground lightly, Milah knew he was fine. She looked up at Jon and pointed a finger at Robb.

"You'd do well to remember that." Jon shook his head, following Milah to the rocks. Lights danced around the circle formed by the stones. The lights all different colors leading different directions.

"Was that really necessary?" Robb asked rubbing his head, still laying on his back. Milah scoffed, crouching down to run her fingers through his hair.

"Get up or I'll pin you, just like when we were little." She lightly pat his cheek, stepping into the middle of the circle, looking up at all the wisp lights. Jon walked around the circle, looking at the inscriptions on the stones.

"There's seven?" Jon asked, running his hands over the stone. As he did, the words shone light where he touched, making him retract his hand quickly. Milah found her family stone and ran her hand against it before laying down in the grass to watch the wisps fly about.

"One for each Kingdom. One for each family." Robb looked around up at the wisps flying about every which way.

"Why is it the blue ones glow the brightest?" He asked before laying down next to Milah to watch them. She turned her head to face the auburn-haired man.

"Because they're for the Stark House. Whichever House you belong to is the one that glows the brightest. They say they lead you to your deepest desires if you follow them." Robb turned his face to her own, their noses almost touching. He noticed how deep her eyes were, how cool they seemed to almost glow in the evening twilight. Milah cleared her throat, turning back to face the light. She glanced about then pointed to the side, grabbing onto Robb's forearm.

"Just there! The longer you wait here the more of a path they show you." Robb looked down at her arm, clasped onto his own. There wasn't any way in this world or the next that she would consent to marriage with Joffrey.

"Have you ever followed them? Find your desire?" He asked, his breath hot at Milah's ear. She turned to face him, so close all she had to do was inch a little further and their lips would touch.

"I haven't had the courage to. I guess I was scared to where they might lead." Robb looked at her lips and back to her eyes before opening his mouth.

"It'll be dark soon, we should get back so we don't miss the wedding," Jon interjected, walking to find his horse. Robb sat up, pulling himself to his feet, then pulled Milah up as well.

"Last one back has to marry a Lannister!" She yelled, running to her horse and dashing off into the forest back to House Gale. Robb and Jon looked at one another before shoving the other in a different direction.

Milah was back at the castle before the wedding had started. She stopped right in front of a very disappointed looking mother.

"Milah." Climbing off her horse she put her arms up in defense.

"I was just playing around with them ma. You know how bored I get." Catia pointed her daughter towards the stables and she obeyed. Jon and Robb rode in at the same time, arguing the whole way there.

"Oh I was before you!"

"No you weren't!" Jon replied, lightly pushing his brother so he staggered a bit. Robb cleared his throat when realizing the Lady Catia was waiting on them, arms crossed.

"Lady Gale, we were only-" Catia raised one hand to stop him from speaking.

"Robb, please escort my daughter into the hall if you would." Robb nodded at the Lady of the house and firmly grasped Milah's hand. The two hurried into the corridor like a pair of girls giggling. Jon took both horses back to the stable before Lady Catia ushered him with her hand to escort her in. Jon had never done such a thing before. He was never permitted by Lady Stark.

Milah caught the eye of her father who stood near the front of the altar with Tywin Lannister. Eddard smiled and leaned over to King Robert smugly.

"Ah, now would you look at that." He elbowed, looking at his son, whispering in the King's ear. She tested him and Eddard liked that.

She was fierce and full of fire, just like her mother. Eddard was in love with Catia for a time. His father had made other arrangements with House Tully before he could run away with Catia. Ned, now in love with his wife, never envied Stefan. Stefan was a good man and deserving of Catia Martell. Eddard saw himself in his eldest son. He saw a man in love with a girl from the house of Martell who wanted more. Who wanted to ride the sky and see the world, just like her mother did.

That's what Stefan gave her when they married, something Eddard couldn't as a Lord of Winterfell. Stefan handed off Greenwood for the time being so he could travel the kingdoms with his wife. It was a deal they brokered when they wed. He would show her the world before they had children and she would see to it the girls were raised with the boys. They believed tradition was hopeless when it came to living in the Seven Kingdoms.

War was always on the horizon, even when there was peace. If another rebellion had ever broken out, heavens forbid, their children would not prove worthless. The Gales raised warriors. Not women without a cause or boys who only pretended to wield a sword.

Catia sighed while looking at all the people in her hall. She was happy that there had been so many Stark children born. Eddard had love in his eyes for his Cat and it made Catia glow. Being betrothed to Stefan was not easy. Before they were to wed Eddard and Catia were to run off together to the Godswood. Eddard had never shown up that night, leaving Catia to marry Stefan. Catia grew to love Stefan with her whole heart. He had given her five healthy children, all beautiful warriors who never thought to do something out of honor, revenge, or spite was a bad thing considering the right circumstances.

Cerion looked nervous to Robb.

Robb could understand why. Cerion had gone his entire life without thinking a betrothal would even come close to happening to him. He hadn't even met the poor girl before today. He could only pray to the gods that his family would be mindful of his wishes. The last thing he would want is to be married off to a child from a Lannister house no less. Aramella walked in, guided by her father and everyone stared. Not Robb.

Robb looked down at the Gale who still had his arm in her own. He was baffled this little bird who used to be caked in dirt with him as a child, had turned into this beautiful creature. Milah was always grubby, always hanging around Robb, Jon, and Cerion. Sewing had never interested her but if there was a hunting trip to be had, she was right there, on the back of Stefan's horse, making faces at Jon and Robb as they rode behind. She was so different, but yet entirely the same. He looked back at Cerion who had finally gotten a look at his bride and had a look of relief on his face. Milah snickered to herself at her brother.

She knew how shallow her brother was when it came to looks. Before he was set to marry the Lannister girl, he was in love with another. No lady of noble blood, just a girl from Volantis. Milah suspected her father had her family paid off to shove her away somewhere. While living freely was an ideal of her parents, they still held that oaths and honor were more important. Cerion locked himself away for days hearing of her disappearance. Milah couldn't seem to do anything to get him out of his room. Finally, miraculously, Cerion was found outside by his sister. He was sitting about, reading a book that the Lannisters had sent him. Milah just about tackled him into the fountain when she saw him outside after days of refusing to come out. Aramella was a beauty in gold from her dress to her hair. Milah smiled at the sight of her brother, beholding his beauty to be his wife.

"Cloak the bride, and bring her under your protection." Cerion Gale removed the house cloak, adorned with a deep red griffin, fur about the collar. Milah glanced about the room, taking in the scene.

Catia stood, clasped to Stefan's arm, light tears on her face out of happiness. Stefan starred on at his son, proud that he was so willing to do his duty to his house. The Lannisters looked on in approval, Robert Baratheon looking very much disinterested. Milah turned her head up to catch Robb Stark's ear but was met with his eyes, locked on her own.

"Now these souls will be bound together until the end of their days. Look to one another and say the words."

Cerion was nervous, looking down on his bride.

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. She is mine, and I am hers, now until the end of my days." The words echoed in the background as Milah couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from Robb Stark.

"Uhm, Can I escort you to the dining hall my Lady?" He asked, finally releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding. Milah smiled, allowing him to guide her in.

The hall was decorated In burgundy from head to toe to celebrate the new Lady of House Gale. Milah was excited to teach her new sister how to wield a sword and ride properly, something she assumed Lannisters weren't taught. The girls at least. After being seated at the head of her family's table, Robb placed a kiss on her hand, disappearing into the crowd. She watched him walk away, finding Jon to talk to. She wondered why he hadn't been set up to marry a girl. She was brought out of her thoughts by the clearing of her mother's throat. Milah looked up to see Catia motioning her to come forward. Milah groaned before getting up to stand among her mother and the queen.

"Mother, your Grace." Milah curtsied, waiting to be spoken to. Cersei held out her hand for Milah, motioning her to sit down next to her and she obliged. Milah crossed her ankles and put her hands in her lap. Her mother gave her a nod but no smile. Catia didn't trust a Lannister as far as she could throw one.

"Sweetling, I have it on the King's authority that he is to offer your father position on his small council.. If your father accepts, which he will,-" Catia rolled her eyes at this remark. Any sort of position on small council for the king was a tremendous honor and Catia knew that. She wouldn't be completely upset about it. Catia would talk to Stefan tonight about the offer. He was a brave man, a warrior, as was his wife. She would be more than able to stay back and see to it that Aramella would be trained to be not only the Lady of the house but a Lady of House Gale.

"I was wondering if you would want to spend your winter in King's Landing? The grounds are beautiful and you can study on with Tyrion and shadow myself." Cersei finished, placing a hand on top of Milahs. The offer was astounding. Milah was more so preoccupied with the idea of her father being on small council for King Robert.

"Your Grace, that is such a gracious honor. I just feel like my family needs me here." Catia was about to open her mouth to protest her daughter spending time in King's Landing but was cut short by the queen herself.

"Oh please, they've just received a daughter, they can stand to lose one for a season." Cersei wanted Milah in the Capital but the reason she didn't know. Catia cleared her voice and the two women turned towards her.

"I think that winters in the Capital with your father would be good. Think of all the time with the Kingsguard, learning more on and off the field with your father and Lord Tyrion." Milah weighed her options and smiled to both women.

"I'll take both opinions into consideration. Your Grace, Mother." Milah was making her way back to her end of the table when her mother caught her hand, bringing her down to whisper in her ear.

"Perhaps you can switch on and off with winters and summers? I'm sure the Starks would love to have you during the summer if you're in the Capital in the winter." Her mother smiled slyly up at her daughter who had a grin that reached from here to Dorne.

Joffrey smirked looking at his mother speaking to Milah Gale. Unfortunately for him, he was stuck at the table with the younger men. The audacity of the Gale's shoving him with the Stark and the Stark bastard boy. It disgusted him to even think about speaking with him let alone mingle with him.

"Look Stark, my mother is probably finalizing the plans to take Milah with us to King's Landing with her father. Pity for you I'm sure. There goes the most suitable girl for miles. Not including any of those whores you all have lying around. Im sure there's more girls from Valantis being strewn about. Perhaps the one Cerion Gale threw aside hm?" Joffrey was bold. If he wasn't the King's son he wouldn't be. But being the prince of the Seven Kingdoms proved to be worth something. Stark couldn't touch the boy if he wanted to. Joffrey, in his own eyes, was untouchable.

Robb held his tongue at the young prince's words. Jon whispered under his breath for Robb to forget it. It wasn't worth having your head put on a stake. Robb pushed himself from his seat to find his father in the hall, a way to get away from the smug prince.

Eddard laughed as Robert had his ale filled by the maids of the castle. Stefan had taken leave of his wife to join his friends. The last he had seen of Eddard and Robert was in Robert's Rebellion against the Targaryens. Reminiscing was good but seeing his son feed his new wife strawberries was better. Stefan couldn't remember the last time he saw Cerion this happy. Ned took this opportunity where Robert was occupied to steal Stefan's ear.

"A joining of our two houses would prove much better than that of you and Robert. I know you've seen the way Robb looks at Milah and how she looks at him. I don't think either would protest." Stefan rubbed his beard as he laughed at Eddard's persistence. Robb Stark had finally found his father, clasping him on the shoulder before sitting down next to him.

"Couldn't take any more of that little twat." He said, making Stefan laugh louder. Eddard grasped Robb's shoulder, making him look at him.

"Son, would you consent to a marriage? Joining the Stark house and the Gale?" Stefan looked at the boy with curiosity, somewhat already knowing his answer.

"Lord Gale, I would very much like to marry your daughter." Robb said wide-eyed. Stefan smiled and nodded at the boy, grabbing his shoulder.

"That's good to hear son. It's going to take a real man to run with my Milah. Notice how I said run and not tame. Gale women aren't to be tamed, trust me I've tried." He said motioning toward his Lady. Robert tore himself away from the maidens to finally have the chat he had been meaning to with Stefan.

"Now that you have a Lord and Lady in training of the Gale House I have an opportunity for you Stefan. And no I don't mean my son." Stefan took a sip of his ail before motioning the king to hear his offer.

"You are the fiercest fighter this side of the isle. If any rebellion is to break out again I'd be a fool to keep you up here where I can't use you. I already have Ned as my hand but you, you Stefan, I wish you to be the Master of War for my small council." Stefan almost choked on his wine. An honor of course but his wife? His love? She wouldn't take this lightly.

"Your Grace, since when has there been a position of Master of War?" Stefan asked, baffled by the offer.

"Since I fucking made it one. I'm King for the love of the Seven." Robert howled with laughter.

"There are dark days upon us I'm afraid Stefan. I need someone I can trust keeping an eye on the king's guard. I need someone watching my back. Milah would be able to spend winters or summers, whichever she prefers, I don't give a rats ass, learning at the king's guard alongside you, my damned brother in law, and learning all that book garbage with the other one." Milah would be pleased. Cerion would be ecstatic to serve as the Lord of Gale. His wife could train young Aramella to be the Lady of the house as well.

"Your Grace, I'm humbled and honored by your offer. I have to speak it over with my wife of course." Robert scoffed swigging his ale.

"Catia is more than capable of running this land by her own, lucky for you, you had a son." Stefan spat out some wine in laughter, then looked to his love who motioned for the band to play. Dancing was never a part of a wedding ceremony but in Dorne, it was a tradition. Being of the Martells, Catia had started the tradition. Lord Tyrion was drunkenly trying to make conversation about the skew tradition.

"What an odd tradition. Dancing. Dancing was made for balls, not weddings. Where is the bedding ceremony, now that is something I can get behind. Or in front eh brother?" Jaime wasn't listening to his brother, he was looking towards his sister who had taken hold of Milah Gale once more. What his love could be planning he didn't know but he knew he wanted in on it. Cersei worried too much. She worried too much about what people thought and what's best for their children.

"I dare say I'll give this dance at weddings a try." Tyrion laughed so hard he almost fell out of his chair.

Milah was in a trance, watching her brother dance with his new wife. He was so in love with her already and it amazed her. She hummed along to the music she had heard growing up, swaying a bit in her seat.

"Care to show me how this works Lady Milah?" she jumped at the voice then turned to see the green eyes of one of the kingsguard himself.

"Well if you insist on making a fool of yourself." She teased, taking his hand as he led her to the floor. She was sure the looks she was getting were either envious or full of confusion. Lady Milah Gale with Jaime Lannister. She would argue he was one of the least horrible Lannisters but then again she didn't know much about him.

"Now I know my dear sister wasn't trying to get you to come down to King's Landing." He said in a hushed voice, near her ear as he pulled her closer to him.

"Well, there may have been talk of that. What's it to the king's guard?" She joked, making Jaime scoff.

"If my sister is scheming to groom you to be queen, I'd like to be in the know. I am her family after all." Milah threw her head back at the idea.

"Me? Queen? Oh, the kingdom would sooner have a boar at the iron throne."

"It's not that preposterous is it? I think strong women would do the capital some good. Seven Hells knows we lack them up there." Milah looked at Jaime in a questioning manner.

"You mean to tell me your sister isn't a strong woman?"

"Op I didn't say that." He said putting a finger up

"I said we lacked them. I never said she wasn't one." Silence overcame the two for a time, just swaying to the music.

"Might I said Lady Milah, this is quite the dress. I've never seen anything like it at the Capital."

"Don't have much of it up here either I hate to say. Do you mind Ser Lannister?" Milah turned her back to see the ever-charming Robb Stark.

"Of course not. My Lady." Jaime said, placing a kiss on Milah's hand before disappearing to find his sister.

"Oh my hero." She exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. Robb laughed, his hands grabbing her own to place them in a more respectable position.

"You remember that now, next time you want to swat at my ass." Milah covered her mouth to stop her from laughing.

"Oh maybe, we'll have to see. You happen to bother me as much as I bother you Lord Stark," she said matter-of-factly.

"Come away with me tonight." Milah looked at him in shock.

"What do you mean? I can't just leave. Where would we go?" Robb took this time to spin the young Lady, shocking her.

"I was hoping you'd be willing to take me back to the wisps." Milah smiled at the boy, pulling him by the hand into one of the many halls of the castle. Robb looked around, hoping to not be caught but loving the excited feeling in his stomach.