His soft lips moved against mine with hunger, opening my mouth as his tongue slipped in. Robb's body pressed against me fully as I used the wall for support and wrapped my arms around his neck. Instinctively, I ran a hand through his hair, pulling him closer into me.
Robb had one hand on the wall by my waist. His other hand caressed my cheek, sending chills up my spine as I melted into the wall. Just as I started to notice Robb start to harden, he pulled away, leaving a few inches between our bodies.
We stood wordlessly, staring into each other's eyes. I moved my hands from behind his head, softly running one across his rough jawline. Robb rested his forehead against mine. I didn't want to let him go, feeling myself warm to his touch and yet I was trembling.
"Are you cold?" Robb asked.
I shook my head, "No, but I should go."
"Don't. Not yet."
"I will see you tomorrow, Robb."
"Early? At the bridge?" he asked.
"Yes, before our fathers leave for their hunting party."
"Good night, Ana."
I kissed Robb softly on the cheek in response and hurried to my chamber with a smile on my face. I kept touching my swollen lips to make sure that truly happened and couldn't wait to fall asleep simply to wake up.
Unfortunately, sleep betrayed me as I kept seeing flames dance in front of my eyes. It taunted me like everything I wanted to know was just one step away, but the flames kept me from knowing anything and something behind me kept me from finding a way through.
My restless night meant that I was awake at first light. I looked in the mirror, trying to fix myself so I looked less tired. Eventually, I had to give up and hurried to the bridge from the armory to the Great Keep. It was in perfect view of the courtyard so we could watch the hunting preparations.
Robb leaned with his elbows on the stone railing. He gazed towards the stables, seemingly lost in thought. Only when I was three steps from him did he realized anyone was there.
"Ana," he said with a smile.
I returned his grin and stood next to him, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Are you tired?"
I nodded, "I didn't sleep well."
"I was thinking of you too."
I looked to the side, staring at the top of the armory and was just about to lie before Robb spoke up.
"Or, maybe I was the only one."
"I did think of you, but…" I shook my head, standing upright now. With my hands on the wall of the bridge, leaning forward before I brought myself to look at Robb. "I keep having a dream where I'm staring at this fire in the woods and there's blood and I know there are people beyond the flames that I want to help, but I'm stuck on the outside of it."
Robb watched me steadily, his forehead creased with concern. He waited for me to try to explain what I was seeing, letting me take as much time as I needed.
"And, I think the most frightening part is that I can't feel anything. I should be afraid or angry, something, but it's as though I'm not allowed to."
Robb turned his body so that he sat against the stone railing, never taking his blue eyes off of me. "Do you feel like it's real or—"
"It's more than a dream, Robb," I exclaimed.
I had too many people tell me I took these things too seriously in the past. It was only after I saved Philip from nearing drowning because of such a dream that Will believed me. Even after, no one else did.
"That's not what I meant," Robb stated. "I wanted to know if you thought it were real or it stood for something else? Do you think it will literally be fire, or is it a symbol?"
"Oh…" I felt my face enflame, thinking I knew him so well that I could respond like that. "So many people tell me to forget these things…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed."
Robb smiled, "I told you the first night I met you, you need fire in winter. But, probably not this fire that you dream about."
"I just need to be vigilant. If I see it, I can react appropriately," I said, more to myself than to Robb. I saved Philip because of what I saw. I could do the same with this.
"How about we stay out of the woods while you're here?" Robb suggested.
I smiled softly, "I'm sure we can occupy ourselves within the gates for three more days."
Robb's face darkened at that, and almost as soon as the words escaped my mouth, my smile faded. I did miss my home, but I had a terrible feeling I would miss Robb more.
"I'll try to amuse you," he promised, attempting to lighten the mood with a half-hearted grin.
We turned back to see that the horses were being brought out for our fathers' hunt. They planned a two-day excursion, vowing to find the perfect feast for our final night in Winterfell.
"Come on." Robb took my hand firmly in his and led me down from the bridge. We crossed the courtyard, leaping to avoid the puddles from the rain the night before. It felt wonderfully childish to jump from dry space to dry space, hand-in-hand with Robb.
There was one large puddle just before reaching Hunters Gate. Robb and I looked at it like a challenge, but just before I could make the leap, Robb lifted me from the ground, two arms around my thighs. My arms quickly snaked around his neck as I let out a happy shriek, trying to steady myself perfectly straight in front of him. Robb was laughing too as he walked through the puddle, depositing me safely on the other side.
He took my hands in his, both of us laughing and smiling, only looking at each other. It was only when I heard Will clear his throat loudly that I realized anyone was there. My giggling instantly ceased. I still looked at Robb, slow to turn around given the open-mouthed expression on his face.
When I did turn, I saw our family members watching with different expressions. Sansa and Noreena appeared as though they saw true love for the first time. Arya, Philip, Bran and Rickon looked as though they might throw up. Jon and Will looked extremely amused, and our parents simply appeared curious, which was perhaps most unsettling of all.
"Hello," Robb and I said together, quickly dropping our hands. Now, Sansa had a hand over her heart. Arya truly looked ill. Jon and Will laughed aloud and our parents were smiling.
"So is everything ready for the hunt?" I asked as though there were nothing out of the ordinary.
My father supplied a truly warm smile as he answered, "Yes, we are ready."
He walked over to me and picked me up in a giant bear hug. I wrapped my arms around his wide shoulders as best I could before he turned me about. Setting me down on the ground, he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Listen to you brother," he warned as though I needed direction for the two days he would be gone. "He'll look after you. Much as Robb will I imagine."
Father's chuckle sent Robb into shades of red I had never seen before. He was speaking with his father, but based on the expression and pigment of his face, Robb was paying keen attention to my father and me.
Our families stood together as Ned Stark and my father trod out of Hunters Gate towards the woods. I barely noticed initially, but Robb must have been holding my hand in his for quite some time. It felt oddly normal.
My mother turned to the young ladies abruptly, "I believe that music lessons are this morning."
"Oh yes!" Noreena exclaimed, clapping her hands together quickly.
Sansa smiled indulgently but her expression still suggested that Noreena should only be so very excited for a moment. Robb looked to Jon, seemingly communicating in a language of their own much like Will and I did.
"Can I see you this afternoon?" Robb asked.
I nodded with a smile, feeling the peering eyes of both my mother's and Robb's upon my back as they started to walk away, pretending to be unaware. "In the inner ward?"
"Target practice again?" Robb asked with a grin.
I shook my head, "No, I suppose my father is not here to redeem me, so the courtyard then."
Robb kissed my hand, "My lady."
Our mothers were gone now, so I leaned in, intent to give Robb a quick kiss on the cheek. Instead, he caught my lips with his, giving me a soft kiss before I hurried on to follow a swooning Sansa, a jealous sister, and a disgusted Arya.
