For disclaimers see chapter 1.

Being inside near the fire had quickly warmed Tali and the little ones in her care. After they were fed by the wet nurse, the twins fell into a deep sleep. Their cradle was at the foot of their parents' bed, with their fur blanket hanging over the side. Tali looked back over to her chargers to make sure they were still asleep, before going back to her duties. She was trying to clean up the room, in anticipation of her mistress's return. As she was dusting off the wardrobe in the corner, the door that led to the hallway creaked open.

A woman with a round, innocent face walked in. Her pale cheeks were red from the cold outside. Brown hair peaked out of the shawl that was wrapped around her head. Tali had never seen this woman before and wondered what she wanted. "What business do you have with my lady?" Tali asked, getting between her and the cradle.

"Lady Daeryssa offered me a place in her household," the woman said. "My father wrote to her, asking if she would take me in as a handmaiden. She said she had a place for me."

"Can I see the letter?" Tali was skeptical of the woman's story. The lady had never told her she was expecting a new handmaiden.

After a few moments of searching her snow covered cloak, she pulled out a folded parchment. It was slightly damp in places. The woman offered it to Tali. Unfolding the letter carefully, she read the letter a few times through. Some of the ink was streaked across the page, making some of the words hard to make out. Eventually, Tali did look back up at her. "You are Lord Bolton's daughter?"

Pulling off her shawl, she shook out her hair. "Myranda Bolton."

Bowing low, Tali said, "Forgive my rudeness my lady."

Chuckling, Myranda motioned for Tali to stand up. "Rise. There is no need to bow. I am only a handmaiden, same as you."

"Welcome," Tali said as she rose. "Let me show you the duties that you will be required to do daily."

000

With Alia and Jon gone all night, Robb was starting to get worried. He knew that they were more than likely doing something that he didn't want to see. There was a little nagging part of his brain that was reminding him that they could have been found by Wildlings. The thought made his stomach drop. He had to go and look for them.

Looking over at his wife, he opened his mouth to tell her about his intentions, but he closed it quickly. Daeryssa's eyes were closed and her chest was moving slowly. Robb was sure he would be back before she woke up. He slowly tried to slip out of his space without waking her. Before he even got to his feet, her voice caught his attention. "Are you going to look for Jon?"

Robb leaned over and kissed her head, before standing up all the way. "I'll return soon."

"I want to go home Robb…." Daeryssa's eyes slowly opened. "I need to see our children…"

"I know," Robb tried to comfort her. "Once I find Jon, we will leave for Winterfell. We will ride all night if we have to." Kneeling back in front of her, he took Daeryssa's face in his hands. "I will take us home."

A sigh left Daeryssa's mouth as Robb kissed her. His lips felt so good on hers. She wanted to be in their room, in bed. She wanted to feel his chest against her back, cuddling her to his chest, with only the large fur covering them. Whimpering as he pulled away, Daeryssa watched him ready to leave. "Hurry."

"I won't make your heart wait much longer," Robb promised. He untied the reins from a nearby tree and mounted his horse. "Pray that Jon doesn't delay me."

"He will feel my wrath if he does," Daeryssa promised.

Robb chuckled. "I will pass along your message."

With a kick, Robb's horse went walking through the trees, disappearing after a few moments. Kristina came over and put a hand on her lady's shoulder. "Do you need anything my lady?"

"No." Daeryssa closed her eyes again, trying to will her body to stop hurting. "Break camp. We are leaving as soon as Robb returns."

"Are you sure you will be able to ride?" Kristina asked, worried for her lady.

"It doesn't hurt as much as it use to," Daeryssa told her. "I think I can. Now go break camp."

000

Hours seemed to have passed. Jon had assured her that he knew how to get back to camp, but Alia was seriously having her doubts. These weren't woods they were familiar with and it would have been easy for them to get lost. Stopping, she sat down on the fallen tree trunk that they had passed at least twice. "I need a moment."

Jon sat down next to her and put his hand on her stomach. "Are you alright?"

Nodding, Alia put her hand over his, lacing their fingers together. "Yes, I just need to rest. I don't have as much energy as I once did."

Laying her head against his chest, they just sat there. Alia was seriously considering staying here in these woods, lost with Jon forever. The thought was tempting to every part of her soul. She knew that she was tormenting herself, but she didn't care. She was determined to make all the time she had with Jon mean something.

Suddenly, a swift kick smacked into the side of Alia's belly. Wincing slightly, she moved their hands over to the stinging area. "What was that?" Jon asked, staring at her stomach. Worry started to fill him for Alia and their child.

"It kicked," Alia explained, placing their hands over where the baby had kicked. "The baby is moving." The smile that graced her face made his body relax. Their baby, his child was alive inside of Alia. Jon opened his hand over her stomach and rubbed gently.

"Be still," Jon said softly. "Be good for your mother. She is very tired."

"I think he heard you," Alia whispered to him. Her lips brushed his. Wrapping his free arm around her shoulders, Jon pulled her closer. Her hand slipped over his cheek, holding his face to hers. As his tongue slowly slid over hers, the sound of horse filled the air.

Pulling away, Jon stood in front of Alia, his hand ready at his sword. At first he thought it might be Robb, but there seemed to be more horses. It couldn't be Wildlings due to the number of horses that there seemed to be. "Who do you think it is?" Alia asked.

"I'm not sure." Jon tried to look through the trees to see if he could see a banner or any sign as to who they might be.

Without any warning, a rider came through the treeline. He was wearing a heavy cloak and a silver helmet. As his cloak moved in the wind, a wolf could be seen embroidered on his doublet. "Snow," the man addressed Jon. "We have been searching for you for hours. Where is Lord Robb?"

"That's what we are trying to find out," Alia spoke up. "We have been lost for hours."

The guard started laughing. "Jory! We found Lord Snow!"

A few moments later, Jory Cassel's horse came from the same direction that the guard had. Before Jory could say a word, Gabriel jumped off the back of his horse and went to Alia. He took her in his arms and checked her over. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine," Alia tried to reassure him.

Watching them made jealousy rise in Jon. He knew that Gabriel wasn't interested in Alia as a woman, but he would try to keep her from him. If the guard had it his way, he would never see Alia or his child. "I would never let any harm come to her."

Pulling away from Alia, Gabriel faced Jon. "Only the harm that comes from your own hand."

Clenching his fists, Jon tried to keep his anger from boiling over. Sensing his distress, Alia got between the two men. "Jon has never hurt me. I love him, and he loves me."

"That is why you are running to King's Landing," Gabriel snapped. "You are going to run from him, from the pain of him breaking off your engagement and leaving you to raise a child on your own."

As Jon started to push past Alia, more horses came through the trees. "Jon!" Ned's voice filled the void, causing Jon to stop his advice toward the guard. Looking between the people here, he realized that his oldest son was not among them. "Where is Robb?"

"They are camping not too far from here," Jon answered, staying between Alia and Gabriel.

Bushes from behind them started to rustle. Another horse came into the clearing, this one's rider seemed very relieved to have found them. "I have been searching for you two all morning," Robb said. "I thought you lost."

"No more than your mother and I feared that you were lost," Ned smiled.

"Father!" Robb looked relieved to see him again. "Did the children make it to Winterfell?"

"Do not worry," Ned tried to calm his son. "They are safe and warm. Tali is taking good care of them."

Relief washed over Robb. From the moment they had left his sight, he was worried about them. There was always the small piece of his mind that was afraid that they wouldn't make it. "Thank the Gods."

000

The quiet was broken the sound of horses. Kristina looked up from the horse she was saddling. Daeryssa reached for her bow and arrows, in case their guests weren't friendly. "Do you think it could be Lord Robb?" Kristina asked, her voice had twinges of fear.

"That is a band of riders," Daeryssa answered, as she readied her arrow. "It is too much noise to just be one horse."

Just as Kristina reached for the sword that Jon had left, horses broke the tree line. Daeryssa lifted her arrow as a warning, but as she scanned the men, they were definitely not Wildlings. They were dressed well and carried castle made swords. Breaking through the line, Ned and Robb came into their sights. Robb looked at his wife with amusement. "Planning on shooting me? I wasn't gone but a few hours."

Lowering her bow, Daeryssa smiled at her husband. "Don't tempt me."

Kristina bowed her head respectfully as Jon dismounted from a horse. He reached up to help Alia down, who didn't let go of his hand after he had let her go. Taking his sword from the maid, he slid it back into its scabbard. "Now we make for Winterfell," Ned commanded. "It will be dark soon."

Jon started to pull Alia back toward his horse, but he stopped when he felt her arm tug. He turned back to her, only to find she wasn't looking toward him. "What is it?" Jon asked, catching her face in his hands.

"I'm not going to Winterfell," Alia said in a small voice. "I gave my sister my word and I plan to keep it."

Disappointment filled Jon. He had hoped she would forget all about that and come back to Winterfell with him. If she left, he knew he couldn't go with her. That meant his child would be born in place in wasn't. The thought scared him more than anything.

Laying his hand to her stomach, Jon looked into her eyes, begging her to stay. "Please. Come back with me."

"I can't," Alia's voice could barely be heard. "What would wait for me there? I would continue to be a maid."

"You would be Lady Snow," Jon said louder than he meant to.

"You already broke that future." Alia finally looked at him, tears in her eyes. Saying this would break her heart, but she had to. Her sister was waiting for her and part of Alia wanted to be with her. A bigger part of her wanted to be Lady Snow, but she knew what she had to do, for her family. "I am going to Kings Landing."

Watching her walk over to Gabriel broke Jon's heart. "Alia, please don't do this."

"I'm sorry," Alia looked back at him one last time. "You will always be in my heart."

Reaching down, Gabriel helped Alia up behind him. As he motioned the horse forward and they went toward the King's Road, she couldn't look back at Jon. She buried her face in the guard's back and sobbed silently. Hate was brewing in her. Alia hated herself for what she had done.

Suddenly she felt a small kick at her stomach. Alia put her hand over her stomach and rubbed the area gently. 'I'm sorry little one.' she thought to herself. After a moment, another swift kick hit the same spot of her stomach. She was sure that was the child's way of telling her that it hated her too, for leaving its father.

A/N: Ok! I'm sorry for the BIG BIG BIG gap in the story. The new season of Game of Thrones didn't do anything for my inspiration. I will hopefully be able to post more in the very near future. The next few chapters are where everything takes off. So strap yourselves in. Its about to get bumpy! Review!