Chapter Ten

Nyra dreamed that night. During her whole stay at Winterfell, she had never dreamed. This night though her sleep was filled with nightmares. They had started out about Hardenknot. She had ridden home to find Jamie Lannister and her father standing in the keep. It took her a moment to realize that Jamie stood over her mother's dead body. She had woke from that in a cold sweat only to fall asleep and dream of Bran's fall. That dream drove sleep away for the rest of the night. She shivered and got to her feet to pace her room.

The dream replayed the day that Bran fell all over again. She had ran up to the tower this time alone and everything was more vivid. She saw this tower this time with more light. And the shadow had a face. This time she was certain of it. And the face had been that of Jamie Lannister's smile. The dream had left her feeling strange and unsure of herself. The pacing had become too much after a few minutes.

Nyra took a torch from her wall and took off for the tower. The late summer was cold compared to what she was used to. She moved across the yard with only the swish of cloak and skirts. Nightshadow padded along beside her with an ease and silence that made him more like a shadow. It only took a moment to find the tower again. She climbed the stairs quickly and rushed into the room. She froze when she saw a figure standing there. At first, she thought she was still dreaming, and Jamie had found his way back to the tower. Then, she noticed the dark and heavy robes.

"Robb?" she asked only to be answered with Nightshadow's low growl.

The figured turned. Nyra gripped the torch tighter as she moved to catch his face. It was Robb. He had been crying on perhaps his eyes were red from lack of sleep.

"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.

Nyra sighed. "I had a dream about the tower."

Robb looked up at her with a small boyish smile. "I did too."

Nyra moved closer to him. She found a torch holder and put the torch in it. The light was too low to really make out any details, but she could see Robb's face clearer.

"Bran didn't fall," he whispered as he moved closer.

Nyra reached out and felt his fingers intertwine with hers. She looked up at him and saw the true feelings on his face. She stared at him for a moment as he moved a little closer. The tower was suddenly hot and alive as he looked at her. Then, out of nowhere, Robb kissed her. His lips were so warm as were his hands. She fought it but only for a moment. Her arms wrapped around him tightly and it was long before she felt cold stone against her hot skin.

Nyra awoke to the sun flooding her room. Nightshadow lay at the foot of her bed, staring at her. She sat up, feeling flushed. She got up to quickly dress when she heard laughing and cheering. She looked out her window to see Bran riding around the courtyard. Nyra felt her heart swore as she flew down the steps fastening her cloak. She wanted to forget that dream.

The courtyard was full of people watching Bran. Nyra jumped in next to Master Luwin and Theon Greyjoy. She could feel Greyjoy watching her as he always did. She paid him no mind as she watched Bran rein Dancer up next to Robb. She cheered like everyone else as Bran looked around. His eyes quickly fell on her and he smiled. A smile that he had not smiled in a long time. Nyra ran over to him.

"You look amazing," she said to him.

"Robb and I are going to go riding outside the walls. Can you come?"

Nyra looked over at Bran and then at the stables. Soren was already saddled. He had grown to like the grooms there so he had no problem letting them saddle him. Her pack and sword were there too. She looked up at Bran and shook her head sadly.

"I can't my sweet one," she said for only Bran to hear.

Bran nodded. "Will you at least rid with us to the gate?"

Nyra smiled. She could not refuse that. She looked over at Robb, who nodded in agreement. Nyra ran over to Soren, checking everything. She swung into the saddle as Robb brought his grey gelding out. Bran was still grinning as they rode out. Nyra could only stand back in fascination of the saddle and Dancer. The horse responded to Bran as he never did her. Robb fell back next to her.

"Thank you, so much for this," he said as they got to the crossroads.

Nyra could only nod. She didn't trust herself speaking. There were tears entirely too close. She stopped next to both of them and turned to Bran.

"You can ride as tall as any knight now," she smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Hardenknot is far, and the road is dangerous," Robb spoke up. "Take some of my men."

Nyra shook her head and pointed to Nightshadow. "I have all the protection I need."

"Will you come back?" Bran asked suddenly.

She looked at both of them. They both wanted the answer to that. Nyra didn't know if she would ever be able to come back. If she could take what was hers, her life would be her own. If not, she was a prisoner in her own hall. She sighed. There was no easy way to say this.

"I don't know, Bran," she admitted honestly.

Nightshadow suddenly howled softly. He was standing at the road, looking down it. He was waiting for her to come. The sun was already higher than she wanted it to be. She turned to Robb.

"Thank you for everything," she said softly.

Robb nodded. "Send ravens."

Nyra nodded. "I will."

Robb felt something in him just tear at him as he watched her turn her horse. She started for the road and swung around. She looked at Bran.

"Bran, take care of Robb and Rickon for me," Bran nodded to her with a grin. "And don't let anyone call you cripple again."

With that, Nyra swung her horse around and took off. If she kept lingering, she would never leave. She may have been too late already. She glanced back at the two Stark boys. Robb had started toward the forest, but Bran still stood there waving. She waved back and spurred Soren.

Nyra rode hard for almost a week. She had tried only to stop to rest Soren. When she crossed on Hardenknot's lands, she slowed. She saw that her lands still looked in good shape. Her father had not gone completely insane. She watched for her father's men when she saw the castle come into view. No one seemed to be about. Most likely, her father had pulled the men into the walls to watch and wait.

Hardenknot castle was nothing fancy. It was a large enough made with heavy stones. The land around it was plains of glass that had yielded all their flowers and seeds for the year. But the horses could still graze well. The stone stallions at the gate greeted her as she rode past them. They were made of black stones and their eyes were a strange sort blue crystals. She felt Soren's back tense as the gate was raised for her.

Nyra rode into the stables to find it empty of both hands and horses. She slid from Soren's back when a young boy walked up. He was hesitant at first and then gave her a bow.

"I will take your horse," he said softly.

She looked at the young man. It had been over six months since she rode out of the gates. She didn't remember this boy. He worried about walking closer when he saw Nightshadow.

"He won't bite, child," she said gently. "Where is Graden?"

"I don't know Graden," the boy replied without meeting her eye.

"Graden is the stable hand!"

"Not anymore," a cold, shrill voice said behind her.

Nyra turned to see her father riding back in on his big red stallion. Soren danced nervously as the bigger horse stepped closer. Nyra grabbed his bridle. Her father, Lord Harker, slid from his horse. His dark hair was now peppered with white. His thick beard had thinned and was a little unkempt. His robes of dark blue and gold were smooth and well pressed.

"Where is Graden?" Nyra asked.

"He got too old to handle the horses."

Nyra glared at her father for a long time. She had forgotten how much she hated that man until that moment. She noticed something hanging from his waist and growled under breath. His huge frame moved closer, and Nyra could hear him clinking. Lannister gold.

"I see you have been partaking with the Lannisters again," Nyra sneered.

"You are lucky they have not had branded an oathbreaker."

Nyra walked up to him and growled. "You can't break an oath you didn't make. Now, where is my mother."

Her father grinned sinisterly. "Dying."

Nyra thought of spitting on him as she passed by. She started for the stairs, feeling Shadow at her side. She turned to the boy. He had taken her father's horse to the stable and left Soren to sweat and paw at the ground. She would deal with that later. She flew through the big double doors of the hall to find a dark hall with hardly any light coming in. The men looked her over, giving her a quick bow.

"My lady," a voice said as she started for the stairs.

Nyra stopped, almost tripping on her cloak as she turned. Master Dekim stood at the bottom of the steps. His light green robe appeared to have some stains on it. His master chain hung loosely as he stared up at her. He bowed lowly to her.

"We didn't expect you back so soon, my lady," he walking toward her. "Your mother is fading."

Nyra moved down the stairs her. Her cloak caught on the stairs, flaring behind her. The master had to catch his breath for a moment. She looked just like her mother standing there. The clasp was that of a jumping horse. Her body stood poised and tight.

"My lady," he started.

"I do not have time for the Master Dekim," she growled. "If my father sent you, I don't have time for it. I want to see my mother."

Nyra saw the look on his face and spun around. Her cloak snapped loudly as she ran up the stairs. She still remembered the layout of the hall as if she had walked the halls only days before. Nightshadow growled a little as they passed a room. Nyra stopped. The door was ajar with a woman standing there with only a sheet around her.

"Shadow, come," Nyra said lowly.

The girl couldn't have been more than fifteen. She seemed scared but yet confident. She was most likely one of her father's playthings. She would dismiss her later. She walked to her mother's room and opened the door silently. Her mother, Amelia, laid under the sunlight that flowed into the room. Her hair had grown thin, long, shaggy, and gray. She listened to the ragged breathing from the door before stepping in.

"Nyra," a soft voice from the sheets.

Nyra felt tears burn her eyes. "I'm here, Mother."

Her mother sat up a little on the sheets. Her appearance drew a gasp from Nyra. Her mother's eyes were pale and glassed over. In the year that Nyra had left Hardenknot, her other had gone blind and turned much older. She felt sickened at the thought of this.

"How did you know it was me?" she asked as she moved closer to the bed.

Amelia laughed. "Nightshadow's panting."

Nyra sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her. Nyra couldn't stop the tears now. That was her mother. A woman who had been so strong and powerful now laid broken. She felt a cold hand wrap around her arm and looked down to see Amelia grabbing her. The Knot bracelet that all the women of Hardenknot wore hung loosely on her wrist.

The bracelet was made of silver and created an intricate knot that favored thorns in some places. It was passed from mother to daughter when the time was right. She stared at piece of jewelry for a long time. She didn't want that bracelet, never did. But she would have to have it to keep what she wanted.

"How are you feeling?" Nyra asked softly.

Amelia looked at her general direction, but she was not seeing her. Nyra gently rubbed her mother's hand, watching her.

"Nyra," Amelia started. "Your thoughts are heavy."

Nyra could only nod. "This is not the life I wanted."

Amelia squeezed her hand. "But it was the life you were made for. Nyra, you are my daughter. The bravest and strongest one. You have forsaken all you wanted to take what was not meant to be yours."

Nyra got to her feet and went to the window. Robb's face appeared before her. She had forsaken everything to come here. She didn't want to really believe that. However, it was true. She could have been at Winterfell now.

"I ran," she said softly.

Amelia smiled. "You wanted freedom."

Nyra turned to her. "I didn't want the Lannisters to have my home."

Amelia smiled. "You were born for this."

Amelia moved around until her hand found the bracelet. She pulled it off slowly and very carefully. Nyra watched her and came over. She thought of stopping her when she felt the cold silver touch her skin.

"Where were you?" Amelia asked.

"Winterfell."

Amelia took her daughter's hand, holding it for a long time. Nyra looked down at her mother and couldn't fight the tears. She missed Robb and Bran. Now, all she could think of was what she would be giving up to stay here. Amelia gently kissed her hand. Nyra looked down.

"You found him didn't you?" Amelia asked with a loud cough.

"Found who?" Nyra asked, holding her mother's hand.

Amelia looked at her daughter. Really looked at her daughter. There was a soft smile on her a face.

"You found the one man you would give up Hardenknot for."