"Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice.
Whatever choice you make, makes you.
Choose wisely."

— Roy T. Bennett

"What do you love so much about her?" Robb asked, truly curious as to what exactly it was about Lady Ireyne that had gotten Jon so besotted. After noting Jon's giddy expression the entire morning, Robb had managed to corner his brother and force him to reveal the real reason why he was smiling and blushing like an idiot. Robb had an idea, to a large extent, of what might be the actual cause for his happiness but it was still interesting to hear Jon admit it.

Right now, Robb was sitting in his chambers all alone, save for Jon who, sitting opposite him, was moodily picking at his bread and not providing any substantial company. It was midday, and with nothing left to do, both boys were quietly eating bread and honey in Robb's chamber.

Jon's movements halted for a beat as he seemed to ponder the question. What did he love so much about her? Jon didn't know the answer to that. What was it? Was it her beauty, her charm, her appeal? Her witty speech? Her rare displays of kindness? The question made him decidedly uncomfortable.

His day had started well — who could say that spending a few moments alone with with your lady was not a nice way to start the morning? Jon's mind inadvertently returned back to Ireyne: his golden-haired beauty with her dimpled smile, her shy demeanor, her sweet kisses... It all filled him up with a strange warmth that spread inwards at a rapid speed, heating up his blood and deepening his breathing.

But then, like fierce rain clouds eclipsing the bright sun, Robb's question floated itself back into Jon's mind, terrorizing him, daunting in all its simplistic glory.

What did he love so much about her? This unforeseen question was starting to strangle him. It was chocking him; watering his eyes, making him unable to breathe in a single gasp of air; his lungs were collapsing, his stomach dissolving into a puddle, his brain freezing and thoughts numbing. Love, it was strange to hear someone else say the word in conjunction to himself and Ireyne.

Jon reflected on how just a few days ago, he'd secretly deemed all this to be some kind of powerful infatuation with her. She was young, attractive, confident, witty, secretly very caring, insightful, and Jon could go on and on about all that he loved about her for he had spent far too long thinking about Ireyne to come up with just one quality of hers. Jon just knew that it wasn't infatuation he felt. No. It was a feeling far more meaningful, and therefore far more deadly than simple infatuation.

Eventually, after having thought a great deal about the terrible question posed, Jon replied in a distant voice, "She snorts when she begins laughing".

"...What?!"

Jon looked around as his eyes slowly focused on Robb once more. Seeing his brother's incredulous expression jolted some sense back into Jon who flushed deeply, realizing what he'd said.

"What in the name of the Old Gods could you possibly mean by that, Jon?" Robb inquired, holding a piece of bread aloft.

"Nothing, I meant nothing. I just - she has a nice laugh." Jon hurriedly explained, continuing to blurt his thoughts, "and eyes, she has very green eyes - like all the trees in summer. And she seems so arrogant at first but she's surprisingly very shy too, though she pretends not to be. And I just - there's a lot of qualities to love about her, I can't answer your stupid question, Robb."

His brother remained silent for a long stretch of time. "You really do love her."

Jon simply nodded his head, not trusting his own mouth to express his voice. Robb sat silently, dipping his piece of bread into honey and chewing it slowly; Jon sat quietly too, cradling his cup of now warm ale. The sounds of birds singing outside infiltrated the room now that no one was talking at all, filling Jon's ears with a harmony that did little to ease his jittery nerves.

"Run away." Robb murmured eventually as he tore another chunk of bread and chewed on it.

"What?" Jon stared at his brother, perplexed by the sudden diversion of their conversation.

"Run away with Ireyne, take her and leave the North." Robb muttered, not meeting Jon's eyes.

Jon stayed silent for a while, repeating Robb's words over and over again in his head. A hundred questions formed in his mind, each one more formidable than the previous. He eventually settled on the one that kept coming back and haunting him, "Why? Why do I have to run? Have I done wrong?"

Robb looked at Jon incredulously, "You fell in love with a Lannister, and got her to fall in love with you in return. What's not wrong with that?"

"So you're saying I am an idiot?"

"Maybe you are? Jon, I am saying that you love a girl from a house that values birth status above all else, and you do not have the status they value. Listen to me, don't go to the Wall; take Ireyne and go South. Or better yet, go East – go anywhere in Essos."

"'Take Ireyne'? She's not a horse that I can just 'take' and run away with." Jon huffed angrily, unable to formulate any other sentence as his mind continued buzzing with Robb's suggestion. His utterly awful response caused Robb to, despite the seriousness of their conversation, weakly chuckle at Jon's words.

"That's not what I meant Jon. You are aware that the Lannister's would never agree to this? Seven hells, I don't think our father would agree to this match – and it won't be because of your birth." Robb held up his hand to quiet Jon's protests, continuing his explanation: "Look, if you stay here, whatever happens, one thing is clear: you'll never be allowed to marry her. But if you leave, the two of you can build a life together."

"Away from Winterfell? From my home, my land?"

"Not for eternity, no." Robb said. When Jon's brows furrowed even further, if possible, the eldest Stark spoke again. "One day, in the future, I'll become Warden of the North. That day, I will ensure you come back home and live with us again."

"I'd dishonor our family. Wage a war between the North and West if I ran away with Ireyne." Jon stated firmly, raising a hand to stop Robb from saying anything further, "No! You know that's true. Father didn't face all that humiliation and raise me – a bastard – only for me to go ahead and humiliate him again. And if I do run away with Ireyne, what can I even offer her? A proper home, comfort? No. A bastard name? Disgrace? Of course."

"Jon? Sit down, please." Robb spoke evenly. In all his disbelief and rage, Jon hadn't even realized when he had sprung up from his position on the bed and begun pacing across the floor. He stood there, fuming for a beat longer, watching Robb simply stare at him. Eventually, Jon's feet moved slowly, step by step, back towards the bed where he perched on the edge once more. Cradling his head in his hands, Jon leaned forward on his elbows. His mind was buzzing, whirring loudly, screaming. Screaming all these things he shouldn't think about, screaming things that were right and things that were wrong. His head ached from all his thoughts; he needed peace.

Robb's warm hand rubbed circles on Jon's back for a long moment before Jon even comprehended it. Jon wondered if Robb knew what he was suggesting. If he had weighed the consequences, considered the aftermath.

"You know, I don't want you to run away" said Robb, his voice low and tinged with something Jon couldn't place. "It is a bad idea. I know. And the consequences? Even worse."

"But then –"

"But then why did I suggest it? Do you have any other idea in that daft mind of yours that provides a solution to all this? Any idea that'll allow you and your Lannister Lady to be together?"

Jon remained silent; Robb understood the meaning of it. They both knew the answer wasn't favorable.

"If you go to the Wall, you'll lose her forever. You love her, I know you do. You've never been any happier. And she loves you too. If you make each other so happy, why not strive to sustain it?"

"But father-"

"Father will understand. Or else I do, at any rate. You have my guarantee that I will defend you. Its your decision in the end, but I can't think of any other way for you and Ireyne to be together."

Robb knew his idea wasn't practical; he wished he could take it back. But there really was no other way out of this maze that Jon and Ireyne had created, and Robb knew very well that his proposed solution was no real solution either. When Jon didn't respond again for a long while, Robb let out a long sigh as he moved around his chambers gathering his fur cloak and changing into his boiled leather jerkin.

"Well, if you are to stay this mum Jon, I must be off."

"Off where?"

"You see, I have been asked to show your Lady Ireyne the Winter Town," Robb whispered, an annoyingly smug expression etched upon his face. "I bet she'll be a little disappointed to see me but don't worry, I shall let her know that you are sitting here in Winterfell, warm and safe and moping around like a lovestruck maid!"

Robb laughed as Jon's expression became an equal mix of annoyance and amusement. Clapping his brother on the back, Robb fastened his cloak over his shoulders as he departed the warm chambers to brace the chill outside.

The sound of the heavy door shutting announced the eldest Stark child's departure - Robb was gone, yet his words hadn't; his words were still ringing in Jon's ears. The idea was certainly appealing, Jon felt ashamed to admit it to himself – it was what made him so angry in the first place. He wanted to run away; he liked the notion of leaving behind everything else and starting over. They could leave, him and Ireyne, and travel across the Narrow Sea to Pentos. Or Mereen. Or Braavos. He'd learned enough about those places from his lessons with master Luwin when he was a boy of ten to navigate his way around. Ireyne was sure to have memorized details about lands across Westeros and beyond as well.

Perhaps they could find a small cottage there, with flowers in the front and a small stable at the side. They were both young, healthy, ambitious – Jon knew they could both work; they could be together; they could build the life they wanted. He wouldn't have to go to the Wall and swear oaths of celibacy; she wouldn't have to go back South and marry a man twice her age.

They could both just run away and create a happy life for themselves together; they could share their smiles, their laughs, their happiness and their sadness, their doubts and fears; they could have children that had her smile and his hair, her wits and his speech; they could both grow old and remain with each other until their last breath, and.

And what all would this dream cost them? Honor? Respect? Family? The distinction between right and wrong? Jon wondered whether any of this would be worth the life they could have. And the more that he thought about it, the more he realized how little he knew about Ireyne. He knew she was smart, witty, bold, beautiful, and even a little manipulative. But would she give up everything she held dear to share a life with him?

Jon was at a complete loss for an answer. He didn't know her, didn't know what she liked or disliked, what she wanted in her life and what she didn't. He knew Ireyne Lannister but he didn't know her.

And that, Jon concluded, was a fault that had to be fixed.

"He likes you too, you know? More than you can fathom, it seems to me." Robb stated calmly after a few minutes of deadly silence between them, making Ireyne almost falter in her step and lose balance. Almost. She was assigned to walk alongside Robb Stark today as he was supposed to show her around Winter Town and be a 'fucking host', as Jaime had put it when he'd informed her earlier that morning about her main task for the day.

Even though the younger Stark boy was still unconscious, the Starks were still very much aware of the fact that there were guests residing in their home currently and therefore, in a bid to be the courteous hosts that they were, had decided it would be a nice idea to show the guests around the Winter Town. Cersei and Jaime had refused, whereas Tyrion was missing; Robert was drunk and barely able to walk, and his children were far too young to go anywhere without their mother - at least that's what Cersei claimed. Hence, Ireyne had been burned with the tedious task of accompanying Robb on this weary tour.

And having been caught up in the rushing wave of emotions that had tormented her over the past few days, Ireyne had completely forgotten to pay heed to the rest of the world around her; Ireyne's heart sped-up at the knowledge that someone else in this world was also aware of the feelings that had been transpiring between her and Jon.

As much as she wanted Jon, she also wanted to keep all this secret. Wanted to keep the stolen moments, the secret kisses, the wistful glances, the shy smiles all to herself. Ireyne wanted to keep it all locked up in her heart and toss the key into the Narrow Sea so that no creature with flesh, blood, and a beating heart would ever find it and unearth her secret.

Ireyne upheld an unflustered, impassive façade, nonetheless, when she turned around to respond to Robb's words. However, before she could utter a single word, he grinned at her, raising a hand to halt her oncoming denial.

"I know, and it's alright. I will not mention anything to anyone."

Ireyne stared at him skeptically, her face barely showing her aggravation at the direction this conversation was headed towards. She broke out into a sweet smile, however, as she asked him, "You know what, my Lord?"

Robb smirked in her direction, not looking directly at Ireyne as he gazed around to make sure no one was within earshot of the two. Satisfied that they were highly unlikely to be overheard, Robb lowered his voice and began leaning into her sideways as he whispered:

"In the near future, Lady Ireyne, you might want to consider finding a better place than the kitchens to conduct your – ah, secret trysts? For lack of a better term."

If someone had offered her a vial of poison that very moment, Ireyne would have chosen to drink the lethal liquid rather than face Robb Stark ever again. She turned beet-red; she knew she was flushed-deeply because her cheeks suddenly felt far too hot; the northern wind felt like icy knives on her flaming skin. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind; each as unpleasant as the next.

"I don't know how to best to say this, but thank you."

Ireyne whipped around to stare at him. What was Robb thanking her for? This conversation made less and less sense to Ireyne with each passing minute.

"What on earth are you thanking me for?" Ireyne incredulously asked.

"For seeing past Jon's birth nature, and recognizing him for the person that he is?" Robb answered her as though it were obvious.

Ireyne wanted to snap at him, wanted to deny his allegations and storm away, trudge back up to Winterfell. But she didn't. She couldn't. Robb Stark knew she'd been in the kitchen with Jon – alone. It was very much likely that he was also aware of whatever had happened between her and Jon last night. And yet he was still thanking her?

Ireyne appreciated how much Robb cared for his bastard brother; he was thanking her for something that didn't even concern him at all - he didn't stand to gain anything at all from this knowledge. She wondered vaguely what it would be like to have a relationship like that. Sure, she trusted Jaime and Tyrion, and would share almost anything with them but it was a mark of how strained all her familial relations were because Ireyne couldn't bear the idea of having her family come to knowledge about this unsteady relationship she had with Jon. And although Robb Stark was clearly aware of it, Ireyne didn't feel as threatened by the notion.

"I am afraid I still do not understand why you are thanking me." Ireyne muttered, not denying Robb's claims at all as her gaze strayed once more to the tall turrets of Winterfell, her mind wandering away - far, far away from the chilly town she stood in. When Robb didn't speak again, she chanced a glance at him, satisfied to see the slightly shocked expression on his face. Clearly, he hadn't expected her to relent without a fight; Ireyne enjoyed the fleetingly small victory.

She was confident he wouldn't dare tell anyone else about her and Jon for his own brother would be condemned by such an action. And Ireyne did not need to hear anyone else's opinion on her and Jon. Especially not some northern fool's, Ireyne cursed inwardly, sensing the oncoming conversation. There would be no way out once it began, hence the best course of action was to put a stop to it before this unwanted conversation even begun.

"Well, I have to say, no other highborn lady has ever considered-" Robb started again, only to be cutoff by Ireyne.

"- That is because there are no other highborn ladies like me, my lord." Ireyne retorted in a clipped voice, her haughty demeanor taking control once more after the momentary lapse that occurred due to her being caught off-guard. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must make my way back up to the castle. All this cold isn't good for my wellbeing."

— (END NOTES) —

• Not much #Joreyne in this chapter but fear not, there's a lot more of their interaction remaining before the - well, you don't know yet 😏

• And I know Ireyne seems kinda terrible in the scene with Robb but I felt like it was my duty to remind everyone that she is a Lannister who has grown up around Cersei - our girl is not the perfect angel we think her to be when she's around Jon and while she does love him, she still holds some prejudice against the other Starks.

And she's also not someone who trusts others easily - Ireyne knows here that Robb is unlikely to do much harm cause, well she's perceptive. And for that reason itself, she doesn't want to waste her time having pointless conversations. Sorry if that bit isn't clear; i had to deal with some laptop glitches and lost a lot of the Robb and Ireyne scene, and it was draining to rewrite whatever I remembered of it again :(

I feel this bit here is important for her eventual character development so just bear with me.

• And sorry if this chapter lagged a bit. Life has been hectic and I can not concentrate enough to do better. I thought of delaying this chapter further but that's just being awful to my lovely readers, so here it is :)

Until next time, cheers!

— Elaine

(P.s.: all future chapters will hereby be posted on Friday afternoons, PST)

— (REVIEW RESPONSE) —

.2017 said: "Awww very cute gesture with the rose" — Thanks hun! I wanted to have him do something cliche like a teenager in love you know? Glad is worked well :)

a Guest said: "Nice" — thank you! I'm glad you like it; if you could, I'd like to hear more of what exactly you like/dislike :)