AN: Thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter and to everyone reading; I hope you are all still enjoying this story. I would love to hear what you all think so please leave a review with your thoughts and opinions.

Break me Down

Faye

It was on the seventh day that they encountered trouble; a group of Lannister men with more armour than clothing and more steel than Ned and Faye had put together. They were squatting behind foliage peering through the leaves at the men who were gathered around the fire they had just been about the light.

"They can't have gotten far," one of the men said.

The others had their swords drawn and their eyes were scanning the area. Faye held her breath as Ned clutched his sword. They both had no doubt that they would have to fight before the sun set which it was doing rapidly taking with it the light. Soon they would all be plunged into darkness.

"Search the area," the men had already found their horses; if they wanted to try and escape it would have to be on foot. The Lannister men would catch them for sure.

Faye watched as they men split off into pairs, heading in different directions. Two were heading straight for Ned and herself.

"I want you to try and get to the horses," he whispered into her ear. "Then I want you to ride and I don't want you to stop."

She shook her head, "what about you?"

The men were getting closer, they were cutting at the foliage with their swords; it wouldn't be long before the two men would be upon them.

"I will fight them off but you must leave Faye," he said his grip on his sword tightening.

Faye frowned, "I cannot just leave you."

He turned to her as much as he dared, "you must."

Faye bit her lip but nodded slowly. She knew their chances were slim but she also knew that six men against only Ned meant he would surely fall. He was sacrificing himself so she could escape. She wasn't sure how to feel about that but she knew there was no talking him out of it and even if there was a chance she didn't have time.

"Take this," she felt the handle of a blade pressed into her palm. "Do you know how to use it if you have to?"

She nodded, "stab them with the pointy end."

Ned managed a smile which she returned. "Stay safe Faye," he whispered.

"You to," though she knew he wouldn't. Fighting six men was not what anyone would call safe.

He didn't answer instead he stayed quiet and began to stand. "When their attentions on me; run," Faye did not get time to answer for Ned dove from their cover on the two unsuspecting men.

The fight had begun.

Faye did not look back; she did not stop when she heard the clatter of swords or the calls of the Lannister men. She kept running with the dagger in hand as she raced towards her horse.

She was still weak but survival instincts had taken over and she found knew found strength as she lifted herself onto the horse. The mare reared upwards but she hung on kicking its hind, commanding it to move and fast.

The forest was thick and Faye found it difficult to weave between the trees and keep a fast pace. She found her horse was slowing, weaving carefully between the dense trees. Faye could still hear the fighting, the clashing of swords; Ned was still alive and that filled her with hope.

But her hope was short lived when she heard the hooves of another horse not far behind. She dared to look behind her; a Lannister man was following her and he was close. She could see his sword, the moon light was reflecting off its shinning steel blade as well as his armour.

Faye kicked her horse, urging it to go faster but she knew in her heart that she could not outride her attacker. The blade felt heavy in her hand; she knew she would have to use it but what use was a small dagger against a sword.

It came to her quickly; a plan. She had no time to really think it through, all she could do was hope that it worked.

She slowed her horse to a stop. Her hands were shaking and the reins fell from her grasp, Faye dismounted and listening with a pounding heart as the Lannister men drew nearer. She slid the blade down the front of her chest concealing it from the man's view; it was cold and she fought the shivers that ran through her.

The Lannister man landed on his feet with a heavy thud and he approached her, his sword out in front of him. Faye lifted her hands, palms facing him trying to seem as no threatening as she could; which wasn't hard, she didn't feel threatening at all.

"Please, let me go," she whispered letting her fear seep into her voice making her sound as weak and vulnerable as she looked.

He stopped and lowered his sword; she obviously looked nothing more than a weak girl who could barely keep herself on her feet. He saw nothing to fear from her. Its working she thought to herself fighting away the smile that threatening to stretch her lips.

"My orders are to take you to the Queen," he said stepping ever closer and as he did he sheathed his sword.

Only a few more steps and she would be able to strike. Her heart was thumping wildly and all she could hear was her blood pounding through her. Faye never wanted to have to hurt anyone, let alone kill anyone but she had to. They were in the middle of a war, with men who would not think twice at cutting a woman down; she could not hesitate.

"Please, I've done nothing wrong," she said shaking her head. "Let me go."

He was in front of her, "I can't I'm..." she did not know what he would have said. Maybe he would have said 'I'm sorry' but she would never know. She struck quickly, pulling the dagger from her chest and plunging it into the man's neck.

Her dangerous plan had worked; the Lannister man fell to the floor his eyes wide and disbelieving and she pulled the dagger from his neck and wiped it clean.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and she meant it but she knew it had to be done.

She closed the man's eyes once he lay dead on the ground. She took in several shaky breaths not believing what she had done yet the body at her feet was all the proof she needed. She had killed someone he would have killed me if the roles had been reversed but that thought did her little good.

Faye mounted her horse once again, she debated on whether to turn back and see if Ned was alright but she decided against it. Ned had told her to run and the odds were Lord Stark was dead; she would not let his sacrifice be in vain. She would run; she would survive.

Break me Down

Faye did not stop, she rode through the night and into the day but when the night began to fall again she knew she must stop. No other Lannister men had followed her and no more had found her. She needed rest, she was no fool; if she didn't get any soon she would not survive for long and she would continue to grow weaker until she could no longer move.

She found a small clearing deep in the heart of the forest and began to collect firewood. She would make a small fire and warm herself and some of the little food she had. They had split the rations between them and so half of the rations were still attached to Eddard's horse.

Faye sighed and sat on the dry grass. She wondered what had become of Ned? Is he alive? It seemed unlikely but then she knew he was a good warrior maybe he had won. She would not give up hope; she couldn't, not again.

Her sleep that night was restless, she tossed and turned but she found no peace. Faye woke many times before she finally gave up. Adding more wood to the fire and stared into the flames. The morning would dawn soon and she would set off again; riding as fast and as unnoticed as she could.

When the sun rose she stamped out her fire and covered it as best she could before moving out. She rode with care making sure not to snap any branches as not to give away her course too easily in case she was being followed but there was nothing she could do about the horse tracks, Faye just hoped she was not being pursued by Lannister men.

It was on her fourth night alone that she began to lose faith that Ned had not survived. She had hoped he would have caught up with her but that hope was slowly fading. So, to keep her strong she thought of Jon and seeing him again. Faye missed him more than words could explain; her heart ached by so far away from him but it was the thought of seeing him again that kept her going.

That night she laid her head down using her cloak as a blanket. She kept the dagger in her grasp and watched the flames dance as her eyes began to flutter closed. The several sleepless nights were catching up with her; Faye was exhausted and so sleep took her easily that night.

Break me Down

It was just before dawn when she awake to the sound of branches snapping beneath a pair of feet. She held her breath and lay still for a moment; she listened as the footsteps got nearer and as she listened she heard the sounds of a horse. A rider was approaching; only one though.

She scrambled to her feet as quickly but as silently as possible. There was no time to cover the fire so she darted behind a tree, its trunk large enough to hide her entire body. Faye listened as the animal and rider got closer. She clutched the dagger to her chest fearing she would have to use it again. The thought made her hands shake and her knees tremble; she was no fighter, war was not her forte.

Faye held her breath as she heard horse and rider enter the clearing; the leaves that settle on the ground crunching beneath their feet. She held her breath and wondered if her previous plan would work again, if she could pretend to be unarmed and harmless. I'll have to try.

"Faye," she let her deep breath out and stepped out into plan sight.

She gasped in relief and nearly fell to her knees. Ned stood before her; he looked exhausted and worse for wear but he was alive. She ran to him, unthinking and flung herself at him laughing hysterically.

"I thought you were dead," she said simply not being able to think or speak clearly.

Ned chuckled and returned her embrace. "I am very much alive."

They parted and Faye smiled happily up at him. "You have no idea how good it is to see you."

He nodded in return. "You didn't make it easy to find you," he said with a soft smile as he settled himself down by the fire.

"Sorry I was erm-"

Ned stopped it, "which was smart. If it was difficult for me then it would have been difficult for Lannister men. You were wise to cover your tracks."

So much praise was odd to Faye but she accepted it.

"I caught a rabbit," he announced pulling it from his bag. "We shall eat and rest for a while before we keep moving."

Faye nodded, it was good to not be alone; she felt safer already. She prepared the rabbit happily looking forward to having meat in her belly; it had been a while, she had been living off berries and bread.

She noticed while the rabbit cooked that Ned winced every so often when he moved. She stood wiping her hands on her dress before walking around the fire to kneel before him.

"You're wounded," she said worriedly.

Ned tried to brush it off, "a few scratches."

Faye shook her head. "Let me look."

That night she cleaned his wounds and then they dined on rabbit and bread. It was odd but Faye felt slightly peacefully; more so than she had on her own. With another with her she felt safer and knowing that Ned was alive was a burden lifted from her shoulders. She had felt such guilt thinking he had died so she could live. She was a whore and he was a Lord; he shouldn't even think about giving his life for hers.

"Thank you," she whispered once they had settled for the night. "For nearly giving your life to save mine; you shouldn't have but thank you."

There was a long silence before Ned replied. "My son loves you and you have done a lot for my family. I would sacrifice my life for yours if it comes to it. I have already lived but your life is just beginning."

Faye smiled slightly, "well let's hope we don't encounter anymore trouble."

It was a foolish hope she knew but she hoped all the same.

AN: So, what do you think? Please let me know as each review makes my day a little better.

If you like this story please check out my other Game of Thrones stories:

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We Might Fall: When Myrcella arrives in Winterfell she has no idea how much her life is about to change. She is to be married to Robb but why is she drawn to his bastard brother Jon? And as she finds out some shocking truths, those truths will lead to a war...but winter is coming and with it brings something no one expected...