A/N: So this chapter is finally up. It was going to be longer, but as i reached the half way point, i realised it was going to be a realllllllyyyyy long chapter so split it in two. So here is the complete and finished chapter 7. Hope you enjoy, lots of love!


"They are all talking about you." Theon said, his horse walking beside Amane's. Amane glanced around them. Several of the men in the caravan that had assembled were staring at her while talking.

"Joy." She said, sarcasm evident in her voice.

"They say, if you can prove that you are a Hufflepuff, that you would inherit the fortune. Everything in the castle, and what was in the Iron Bank. Which, supposedly, even makes the Lannisters look poor." Theon added, a smirk forming on your face. "Which might explain Ser Jaimes interest in you. He hasn't taken his eyes off you. Or at least, parts of you."

"Theon lay off" it was Jon who spoke, from his own horse that was on Amane's other side.

"I'm just stating the truth." Theon said

"I don't want it." Amane said angrily, her face a permanent scowl.

"The money, or the attention?" Theon asked.

"Both. I don't want either. It's obnoxious. This whole thing is obnoxious." Amane said angrily. Theon snorted at her words.

"You are set to inherit a fortune greater than potentially all of Westeros combined, and have the attention of almost every man alive, and you don't want it. Only you."

"Yes, Theon. I'm a terrible woman for wanting more in life than riches and getting married and making babies." Amane bit out sarcastically.

"What do you expect otherwise? To live off of the Starks for the rest of your life?" Theon asked.

"Theon that's enough." It was Robb who spoke this time, a firm tone in his voice as he rode just ahead of the three. Amane sent a glare at Theon, before kicking her horse forward, going around Robb and making her way forward in the line of horses and carriages. She came up beside Lord Stark and the King, who rose next to Ser Jaime. Her anger from Theon must have still shown on her face.

"How much longer is this going to take?" Amane asked Ned. Ned had come used to her informal speach but seemed slightly surprised she would speak like that in front of others.

"The trip takes about a forte night with as many as we have." It was the king who answered. Surprisingly, her brash and informal words had earned her a smile from the king.

"Why are we traveling with so many people? I thought this place was supposed to be a secret and this group will attract a lot of attention. In addition to going slower than snails." Amane said, annoyance in her voice.

"She does have a point. The carriage the bank representative insists he has to have is slowing us down. And attracting more attention than necessary." Ser Jaime said. The king considered their words.

"Very well. Tell that man to get a horse. Gather some guards and any necessary items. At a faster pace, we could be there in days." The king ordered, and several guards around them broke off to follow his orders.

"Does that satisfy you, lass?" The king asked. Amane nodded in response.

"I'll scout ahead." Amane said, moving her horse forward.

"Amane." The king noticed the fatherly tone in Ned's voice as he spoke, causing the girl to stop her horse and look back. "You don't know where you are going." The king thought maybe Ned's words would deter her, but the determined look on her face never faltered.

"Than I suggest someone who does know follows me." She said, before urging her horse forward, cantering away from the group. The king motioned for two guards to go with her.

"Is she always like that?" Robert asked, looking over at his old friend. Ned let out a laugh.

"More often than not, yes. But it mostly only comes out when someone has angered her." Ned said. "Takes some getting used to."

"She reminds me of my sister." Ser Jaime said aloud, but mostly to himself. The king looked over at him.

"Don't insult her so. She is far more than your sister could be. She will make an excellent wife one day. Keep that in mind." Ser Jaime glared at the king for his harsh words towards his sister.

"I'm in the kingsguard. I can't marry." Ser Jaime but out. The king rolled his eyes.

"You are my wife's brother. You will be allowed to marry." The king said. He noticed the grim look on Ned's face. "Don't look at me like that, Ned. I'm not marrying her off now. She is young yet. But when the time comes, if she is still not Betrothed, I would see her married. A girl like that is best kept close." The king rose forward then, leaving a grim Ned behind. Even he couldn't disobey the king.


Amane sighed as she laid on the cot in her tent. She decided she didn't like traveling. Her butt was sore from being on a horse constantly, and her legs ached. Her back had a creek in it from the cot she slept on. They would get there tomorrow. She was assured of that. But what were they all really expecting to find? She shook her head and stood from her cot, pulling in her boots and grabbing her daggers before exiting. She glanced around at the camp. It was mostly empty, everyone in their tents save for a few guards. They glanced at Amane as she moved, going to the trees just to the side of the camp.

It was there she received some frustration. Throwing dagger after dagger into the tree, before retrieving them and doing it again. She didn't know what they expected to find in a fort that had been abandoned for so long. She was afraid of what would be in there.

"Remind me never to make you angry." The sudden sound of Ser Jaime's voice startled her, causing her movements to pause right before she threw another dagger. Amane glanced back at him. He stood leaning against a tree not far from her. His armor was off, and he wore just a tunic and trousers. Amane didn't say anything in response, just turning back to her target before throwing the blade.

"Couldn't sleep?" He asked, watching another blade embed itself in the tree. "What keeps a pretty little thing like you awake at night?"Amane huffed at the question, walking forward to collect her daggers. She grabbed her blades and turned to leave, earning a raised eyebrow from him.

"Not feeling very talkative?" He asked, moving to follow her.

"Not really, no." She said bluntly.

"Something has to be on your mind to keep you awake at this hour." He stared. Amane sent him a glare. "Normally helps to talk it out. Isn't that what women do?" She could sense the joke. But just sent him another glare.

"Do you honestly want to listen to me rant?" There was an exasperated tone in her voice. Jaime shrugged. Honestly, he didn't care. But he needed to be on her good side.

"Not particularly. But there isn't anything better to do, and you obviously need to, so why not?" Jaime shrugged. He could tell being honest with her would be the best route. He had a feeling she could see straight through most lies. Amane stared at him for a moment, trying to decide his intentions. They stared area higher silently for a few seconds before Amane sighed and looked away first.

"I'm just... ok just sick of all of this. Why does everyone think this is so damn important?" She asked exasperatedly. Jaime raised an eyebrow at her in question.

"Why does everyone think finding the heir to one of the biggest fortunes there is important?" He asked, his tone clearly stating he thought it was a stupid question. Amane sent him a glare.

"There is more to life than money and glory." Amane states, earning a small laugh from Jaime.

"Not around here there isn't." He replied. "Money and glory guarantee you a good life."

"A life full of lies and deceit you mean. Gaining a fortune like this would have everyone who is anyone pretending to be my friend. Just like you and the king." Amane stated.

"Those are bold words." There was a warning tone in his voice.

"Oh please, if I was potentially the heir to this fortune you never would have spoken two words to me. We probably wouldn't have even met." Amane said. Jaime looked her over for a second. He was right. She was like his sister. Smart as a whip.

"That is false. Lord Stark is one of the Kings closest friends. We would have met eventually." Jaime stated.

"And you wouldn't have said two words to me. I'm a ward." She said firmly.

"You underestimate your beauty." He told her. It was true. He would have spoken to her under other circumstances. He would have even tried to bed her. Not marry her. But he would have had some fun. Amane rolled her eyes at his response.

"I was raised to value loyalty. Money, glory, and even beauty can't bring loyalty. As a matter of fact, they almost guarantee betrayal." Amane said, a sad look in her eyes.

"How so?" Jaime didn't believe a word of it, but he would hear her out. Amane looked over at him.

"There will always be someone richer than you, who has done more than you, and who is prettier than you. That's life. And if you think you have people loyal to you because of those reasons, the second someone comes along with more of them than you, everyone you trust will betray you." Amane said, before getting up and heading for her tent. Jaime stared at her tent for a moment, before returning to his own.


She didn't know what she had been expecting, but it wasn't this. She had been dreading this moment for over a week. They had finally arrived at the Hufflepuff fortress. And to say it took her breath away was an understatement. In her head, she had imagined what it would look like. A blend of an old castle and Erebor. But this was something entirely different. Large stone gates stood looming in front of them, leading into nothing but the solid stone face of a mountain. Two statues stood on either side of the entrance, and as they got closer Amane could tell they were badgers. As they approached the gates, Amane realized just how big they were. They towards over the group, easily reaching a hundred feet high.

The doors were massive, and Amane silently wondered how on earth they were going to open the doors even if she could unlock them. The group slowed to a halt as they neared the entrance, the two badger statues casting a large shadow over the group. Amane dismounted her horse as they company around her did the same. She closed her eyes in silent preparation, only opening them when she felt someone standing beside her. She looked over, and say Jon and Robb standing next to her. They both had grim looks on their faces. At least she wasn't the only one dreading this But she wondered what had them dreading it,

"Come, Lady Amane," Ned said, walking up to her. "Time to see if that necklace of yours is really the key." Amane swallowed hard but nodded. Ned hated seeing the scared and confused. He personally could live without ever doing this. He had no issue supporting her until she was married. But he knew Robert and knew he wouldn't just drop the matter. He placed a hand on the top of her back, leading her forward to where the king was waiting by the solid stone door. Amane swallowed hard as she approached the king.

"All right. Let's see it then. This is the lock. Damn thing" The king muttered that last part more to himself than anyone else. There was a small circular hole in the stone surface. All around the keyhole though, were scratches from what Amane assumed was people trying to break in. Amane's hands deftly pulled the necklace out of her blouse. She silently pulled it over her head. She walked up to the keyhole. And silently placed the bottom of her necklace in the hole. Everyone around her was silent as they all watched and listened. She slowly turned the necklace and listened. At first, nothing happened, but then Amane heard a deep groan come from the door. The whole group stepped back, Amane being pulled back by a hand on her arm, pulling her back so swiftly she almost tripped, but the person caught her, steadying her as dust blew out from the door in front of them, blinding them all momentarily. Amane felt herself be pulled back, as someone stepped in front of her, the sound of a sword being drawn. Amane coughed as the dust settled, looking up to see Ser Jaime in front of her, his sword drawn with two of the guards by his side. In front of them, where the doors had once been solid smooth stone, a large hole now sat, about the size of the entrance doors of Winterfell.

"Grab torches, we will enter first." Ser Jaime ordered the guards, before glancing back at Amane. "Follow behind us, stay close to the men." He stared at her until she nodded in confirmation, before he grabbed a torch from the guard and headed in. The king followed behind him next, followed by several guards, Ned and Theon. Ned gave her a knowing look before entering. Robb and Jon came to a stop on either side of her.

"You ready?" Robb asked. Amane shook her head no, earning a sad look from Robb. "Take a few moments, but don't get too far behind." With that, he headed in. Jon idly rubbed a hand on Amane's upper back.

"It'll be fine, no matter what we find in here." Jon said, before heading in. Amane took in a deep breath, before following as well. One of the guards handed her a torch as she entered. It was dark but surprisingly not cold. The stone hall they entered was wide and tall with arched ceilings. The walls were lined with old torches, that the guards lit as they walked by. Not all of the torches lit, but enough did to provide light. The group walked forward quickly, what they were looking for, Amane didn't know. Her eyes were wide as she took in everything as they walked. They passed several corridors as they walked, no one seeming to care about them. But as Amane passed a corridor, something made her stop. A breeze seemed to come from the corridor as she passed it. She stopped and looked down the dark corridor. She slowly turned and walked down it, her hand tracing the wall as she walked.


"By gods." The words left lord Starks mouth in a whisper as they looked around what appeared to be a throne room. The room itself was massive, but that wasn't what shocked him. Every column, chair, and table in the room appeared to be made out of solid gold. Portraits of people lined the hall, each portrait framed in gold or silver, and encrusted with sparkling gems. At the far end of the hall was a solid gold throne, above it was a gold archway, with the words 'Just, Loyal, and unafraid of toil." Engraved in the gold. Lord stark and his sons slowly made their way around the hall, looking at the pictures. The first was of a heavier set women, with brown hair and pale skin. As they went down the line the features slowly changed in each family portrait. The brown hair slowly got lighter, until each woman had pale white blonde hair. The last portrait contained a woman who looked like Amane, but with dee green eyes. But by her side were three little girls. The older two had darker blonde hair and deep green eyes. But the youngest had her mother's pale white blonde hair, and sparkling light green eyes. The very same eyes Amane had.

"Its her." It was Robb who spoke first, his gloved hand gently touch the portrait where a toddler version of Amane stood.

"Indeed it is." Neds voice was grim. They turned as they heard footsteps come up behind them. The king, Ser Jaime, and the banker all came to a halt in front of the portrait, examining it.

"I think that should answer any doubts about who she is." Robert said to the banker.

"It does resemble her. But if it is true, then she isn't to inherit the fortune. She has two older siblings it would go to." The banker stated, earning an annoyed glance from the men around her.

"None of whom have made any appearance yet." The king stated.

"That doesn't mean she just gets their inheritance." The banker argued.

"Why don't we ask her about her sisters?" Ser Jaime suggested.

"Very good. Amane! Where is that girl?" The king asked, as they all looked around. A small sense of panic filled the air as they realised she wasn't even in the room.

"Take torches. Spread out down the corridors we passed, she had to have gone down one of them." Ned ordered, as he moved quickly towards the hall they came in. The fortress may have been abandoned for years, but that didn't mean there wasn't dangers in it. The group made their way back down the hallways, checking corridors as they past them.

"Over here!" The yell came from Jon, causing those within hearing distance to Find him down one of the corridors. There were boot prints in the dust leading down the hallway, that were so small they could have only been hers. They followed the prints down the corridor and down several staircases, leading them deep into the lower part of the fort.

"By god's, where was the girl going?" The king asked as they continued going deeper in the castle. Before anyone could answer, they heard the distance sound of crying. The four men from Winterfell shared a panicked look. In all the time Amane had been with them, she had never really cried. The men all took off at once, almost running down the dark corridors, their swords drawn. They slowed as they approached two large stone doors that had been recently opened, and could hear Amane crying from within. They all cautiously came around the doors, ready to fight, not knowing what to expect. But what they saw inside filled them with a large sense of dread. Amane knelt on the floor in front a line of solid stone sarcophaguses. Above each one held a portrait. The room was winding and long, and from what they could tell held the dead of the hufflepuff line. But it was the most recent ones that hit hard. The four closest sarcophaguses each had a portrait above them. One was of the woman they assumed was her mother, and two they assumed were her sisters. The one she was in front of held a little girl, who from everything she had told them, the starks assumed was her niece.

"Well that answers the question about who gets the inheritance." The entire room froze as the words left the bankers mouth. The quiet sobs that had been coming from Amane stopped. Jon saw her hand reach for the blade attached to her leg just in time. Without a second thought, he grabbed the banker, pulling him to the side roughly. The banker yelled in surprise, but froze with eyes wide as he saw a dagger hit the stone on the wall directly behind where he had just been staring. He turned to look at Amane, who stood staring at him now. Her eyes were red from crying, but held a dark look in them. Robb moved first, going over to her and grabbing her arm, stopping her from reaching for her next dagger.

"I just found out that my entire family is-" Her voice cracked as she spoke. "Is dead. And all you care about is the damn money." She was shaking. She didn't know if it was from anger or sorrow, or both. Robb put a hand on each of her arms, turning her to look at him to try and calm her down.

"The matter of inheritance is an important one. I am just glad that it is clear who should inherit it." The banker said, earning a glare from everyone in the room.

"Get out." Amane's vice was low as she spoke to him, but loud enough to be heard.

"Excuse me?" The banker as incredulously, not believing what he just heard.

"GET OUT!" SHe yelled it this time, and everyone froze as it echoed through the large hall, earning a rumble from farther back. Everyone stared at the back of the room for a moment, wondering if something was back there.

"I think it best you leave this room." It was Ser Jaime who broke the silence, glancing at the banker. The banker huffed, before turning to leave.

"Ungrateful little wench." He mumbled the words, but Amane heard them, and lunged. Robb tightened his grip on her shoulders and pulled her back.

"Amane you need to calm down." His words were soft, but only seemed to anger her further.

"Did you not hear what he just said?!" She asked angrily, attempting to pull away from him.

"Yes I did. But he is gone now. And you need to calm down." He said gently, holding her arms firmly as she struggled.

"My family is dead Robb. i didn't want this. I didn't want any of this." She said angrily, tears welling up in her eyes. Robb looked down at her sadly.

'I know you didn't." He said, pulling her closer to him despite her struggles. He wrapped an arm around her back, and held her in a hug as she struggled and cried. Neither noticed the others leave the room, giving her privacy. She didn't know how long they stood there, but he didn't let her go until she stopped crying. Even then he only let her pull back slightly, enough to wipe the tears from her face.

"Why?" Amane asked as she wiped another tear away. Robb looked down at her questioningly.

"Why what?" He asked. Sniffed and swallowed as she looked up at him.

"Why are you being so nice?" She asked. Robb let out a silent sigh.

"Because that's what you need right now. You don't need me being an ass towards you. Unless of course that's what you want, in which case i could tell you your face is red and your pants are dirty." He said the last part as a joke, hoping to get a small smile from her. It didn't work.

"No mean comments about being weak for crying?" She asked, wiping away another tear. Robb tensed when she said that. His right hand left her arm, and went up to hold her chin, forcing her to look up at her.

"You are never, never weak for crying over your family, Amane. No one deserves that. No one deserves this." He said casting a quick glance over at the coffins. "You lost people you love, Amane. Anyone would be crying in your position." His words were low and soft. Amane stared up at him for a moment, trying to figure him out. Robb Stark was a mystery. One minute he was rude and cold, the next not so much. His thumb brushed a tear off of her cheek as he stared down at her, a look in his eyes Amane couldn't quite place. The moment was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Robb dropped his hand as they looked over to see Jon standing not far from them.

"There is something you should see." He said, gesturing towards the back of the long room. Amane nodded, swallowing hard as her throat was dry and sore from crying. She pulled back from Robb, whose hands dropped as he watched her silently as she moved over to where Jon was standing. He followed behind the two as Jon lead them to the back of the long room full of stone coffins and portraits. A small, almost unnoticeable doorway was to the right, and he led them through.

It lead down a narrow hallway, that open into a massive cavern. It was the only way to describe the room. There were no polished stone walls, just harsh jagged stone of the inside of a mountain. The room was easily the size of the entire castle of Winterfell. Large and opened. But what made them all stop and stare in awe, was the mounds upon mounds of glittering gold and jewels that filled the cavern in massive dunes.