A/N: New chapter guys, hope you all enjoy it! I will get another one up for you early next week.

Your thoughts as always would be much appreciated and I just wanted to say a big thanks to you all for reading. The number of follows/favourites this fic has caught my eye earlier and I was more than a little overwhelmed. Thanks so much and enjoy!

:)

Temptation

Winterfell

Roslin looked over at Sansa as they rode under the gates of Winterfell and saw that tears were streaming silently down her face. Before she could move to pull the handkerchief from her sleeve and give it to her Olyvar on her other side had fished out one of his own and offered it. Roslin smiled knowingly, her brother claimed to have taken the role as Edmure's squire and come to the North for her but it was glaringly obvious why he had truly come. Sansa Stark was beautiful and her brother barely left her side, forever catching her up in conversation and seeking her out at mealtimes so he could sit and speak with her. Roslin wanted to laugh at his claim he had come for her, he barely spent any time with her until Edmure had ridden off with the Northmen to beat back the Ironborn. He had been concerned then but she had reassured him that everything would be alright. She prayed several times a day for her husband's safe return and she had faith that the Gods would answer her. They were coming up to the keep now and Roslin tugged on the reins of her horse to halt her, others doing the same around her.

A woman who could only be Lady Stark flew out of the open double doors at once and hurried down the steps as Sansa slid down her horse, for once not waiting for Olyvar's helping hand. Her brother came instead to help her down and she fixed her eyes on Sansa and her mother as they reached one another in a tight embrace. She glanced up at Olyvar and he offered her his arm after a moment which she took before they began to walk slowly towards the reunited Stark's.

"Oh Sansa!" Catelyn finally pulled away slightly, "I cannot believe you are finally here!"

"I'm sorry mother, I never should have left Jory!" Sansa burst out, tears falling from her eyes again.

"Never mind that now, what happened? Have you been hurt?!" Catelyn demanded.

"No … not really … not since the Hound got me away from the Capitol," Sansa replied.

"Thank the Gods," Catelyn held her tightly for a moment before noticing Roslin and Olyvar stood waiting; "where is Edmure Sansa?"

"We met Theon on the road," Sansa told her, "he has taken men to help; he said they would not be too long behind us … but this is Roslin"

"My new sister," Catelyn smiled kindly, coming forward to take Roslin's hand and place a kiss to each of her cheeks.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Stark," Roslin smiled in return.

"Catelyn, please," she corrected her, "we are family after all"

"Of course," Roslin's smile widened, "allow me to introduce my brother, Olyvar is Edmure's squire"

"You're most welcome here, all of you," Catelyn said seriously.

"Edmure knew you wouldn't ask him to come unless you truly needed him," Roslin said.

"No," Catelyn agreed, "with most of our own men at the Wall we needed more on the border"

"Edmure garrisoned plenty on the way," Olyvar spoke up reassuringly then and Catelyn smiled.

"I will thank him when he arrives … now, perhaps we should take some wine?" she suggested.

"Where are Arya and the boys?" Sansa frowned slightly.

"In the tiltyard," Catelyn sighed and Sansa could see her mother was less than pleased with their whereabouts and it made her smile. She had missed this normality.

"I'll go and see them before I come in," she said and her mother's expression turned to that of smiling understanding.

"Would you like me to escort you my Lady?" Olyvar asked.

"No thank you," Sansa smiled, "go in and enjoy a rest, I'm home now … I'm safe here."

Sansa could feel her cheeks aching but still she could not stop smiling as she took the long route to the tiltyard so she could take in all the familiar sights of Winterfell that she had never imagined she would miss when she packed up her things all those months ago. If she never left here again she would be happy but she knew it was likely that duty would have her betrothed and married to some Lord. Not that she minded that so much, whoever her father chose next for her could never be as bad as Joffrey had been. She shook her head slightly as she entered the yard, she did not want to think about him now, she wanted Arya and Bran and Rickon in her arms and she wanted to tell them how sorry she was that she had left them. Rickon saw her first and he let out a squeal of delight that had laughter bursting from her. Arya turned from her sword training at the sound and Sansa was relieved to see her drop her sword and race towards her as she caught Rickon in her arms. Bran seemed to come up behind her then and before she knew it all four of them were embracing and exclaiming, laughing and crying at the same time. Gods she had missed them. She never realised how much she would miss them, even Arya despite their frequent fights. When she had been alone she had found herself wishing her sister was there, even if it was just for an argument.

"I'm sorry I left you," she whispered and Bran and Arya seemed to hold her even closer.

"I'm sorry we left you," Arya whispered back and even more tears came from Sansa's eyes.

"You had to," she said.

"Was it horrible?" Bran asked her quietly.

"Not always," she lied, "it doesn't matter now anyway because I'm home"

"And you won't leave again?" Rickon asked, his eyes wide.

"Not until I have to," she promised and he nodded, looking slightly crestfallen but understanding.

"We missed you," Arya said simply then and those simple words meant the world to Sansa.

King's Landing

Shireen was quiet as Erinne ran a brush gently through the Princess' hair. Usually she would chatter away happily and Erinne wondered if something was troubling the girl. She stuck a few pins into her hair and smiled at her in the mirror, slightly relieved when the girl smiled back. Erinne knew it must be strange for her, especially now as Stannis insisted Erinne spend more time with her and be as a mother to her. It wasn't that Erinne minded spending time with Shireen, the girl was sweet and very good company. What bothered her was playing the role of her mother. Shireen was twelve, almost thirteen, she was not some babe that could have her mother replaced so easily. Erinne didn't want Shireen to see her as a mother, she would prefer to be a friend to her and perhaps in time a confidant. She sighed as she stuck a few more pins into her dark hair.

"Is something wrong?" Shireen asked her and she shook her head.

"Of course not," Erinne smiled, "you have lovely hair Shireen, perhaps I will ask your father to have some jewelled clasps made for your name day"

"Thank you," Shireen smiled shyly.

"You're welcome," she said warmly, smiling at her again in the mirror.

"Father said I'm to have tea with my betrothed at the end of the week," Shireen told her then.

"Really?" Erinne said, keeping her tone even.

"Yes," Shireen confirmed, "but my Septa said I must have a chaperone"

"Of course, but you know Lord Willas is an honourable man," Erinne told her.

"Would you be my chaperone? I don't want the Septa with me she always makes a fuss and treats me as though I am a small child," Shireen said.

"Of course I will, with your father's permission of course," Erinne replied.

"Thank you," Shireen smiled shyly.

"You're welcome," Erinne returned the gesture and pinned the last of her hair up.

"Do you think you'll have a baby soon?" Shireen asked then, turning on her stool to face her.

"If the Gods are good," she said quietly.

"I hope you do … I like you, I don't want you to go to the Gods like my mother," Shireen said.

"What do you mean?" Erinne asked slightly shakily.

"She only had me and that wasn't good enough, father needed a boy but she couldn't give him one," she said and Erinne swallowed hard.

"Shireen …" she began.

"Thank you for doing my hair," the girl beamed up at her.

"You're welcome," she said in a slightly dazed voice as the door opened.

It was Stannis and Erinne took a deep breath to compose herself before she turned away from Shireen to smile at her husband. Stannis didn't smile often but he made a show of it when they were in public. She knew he was trying to make an effort with the people but she wished he would extend the same courtesies when they were in private. It was not so much herself she was bothered with as her father had warned her not to expect much affection from her marriage. She was however bothered about Shireen, the girl had lost her mother and her father was distant to put it mildly. Perhaps with gentle persuasion Stannis might consider spending just a little more time with his daughter.

"We weren't expecting you my love," Erinne said and his lips barely twitched up.

"I was told you were here," he said, "we will be dining with the Tyrell's after Shireen's tea with Willas, I want you to look your best"

"Of course my love," she said, smiling serenely at him as she always did.

"Yes," he nodded, his gaze shifting to Shireen.

"Shireen asked me to chaperone her to her tea with Lord Willas … with your permission of course," Erinne said then and he nodded absently again.

"Of course," he said.

"Thank you," she smiled again and he managed a slightly forced one in return.

"I will dine in your chambers tonight," he said and she swallowed.

"I look forward to it my love," she said. He only ever dined in her chambers for one purpose and it was when he intended to bed her. She enjoyed many of her duties as Queen but that was not one she was particularly fond of. Her gaze slid to Shireen then and her stomach twisted uncomfortably as she thought of the words the girl had spoken to her just before.

Loras stood outside the door shifting uncomfortably as he couldn't help but hear the noises that were coming from within. Initially he had been pleased to be placed in the Queensguard as it meant he would not have to trail Stannis around all day and resist the frequent urges to slit his throat. The Queen was a lovely woman which only served to make it worse when he had to stand guard outside her chamber door while Stannis fucked her. Thankfully it wasn't every night and on the night's he didn't come she would often invite Loras to share a drink with her. He enjoyed those nights, she was immensely good company and he couldn't help but grudgingly admire Stannis' choice of bride. The people may not have taken to him but they were besotted with his Queen and that kept them from grumbling. Personally Loras wished they would grumble. He wished they would arm themselves in a rebellion. He wished Ned Stark would hurry up and march with his new Targaryen. He didn't care if Aegon was real or not, he would rather see a beggar on that throne than Stannis Baratheon. He leant his head back against the wall in relief as the noises from within the Queen's chamber ceased, straightening up in the next instant as he knew Stannis would soon be leaving. Never had he stayed the night with her, as soon as he got what he came for he dressed and left. Even on the wedding night he had upped and left her. Gods he was cold, Loras had heard her cries of pain and when Stannis left he had heard her crying through the door. He himself wanted to go in there and comfort her and she was nothing to him. How Stannis could have just left her in such a state he didn't know but it made him hate him even more.

Sure enough, a moment later the handle of the door turned and Loras stared straight ahead as Stannis closed it behind him before striding purposefully away. He didn't even spare a glance for Loras and he was glad of it, anytime his eyes met his he wanted to gouge them out. It was unfair, unjust. How was it that an unfeeling bastard like Stannis was allowed to live when kind-hearted, jovial Renly was murdered? He swallowed hard then, thinking of Renly made him think of Margaery and of her baby. She would be settled at Winterfell now if she had made it there and he imagined the child would come in a few moons time. Gods he hoped she had made it. He hoped that she was safe and well and that her and her baby would thrive in the North. It was the least that child deserved after its father was snatched away from it when it was barely conceived. He leant his head back against the wall as he thought he heard the sound of the Queen crying inside her chamber. Damn it all he wanted to comfort her but he knew he couldn't. Damn it all he fucking hated Stannis Baratheon.

The Wall

"Well?" Dany asked as Robb entered their chambers and he grimaced at her.

"We won't be leaving for another week at least," he told her and she sighed.

"What about Mance?" she asked.

"I think Benjen wants to do it but by rights he's a deserter and it is down to my father to pass the sentence and swing the sword," Robb said.

"When will he die?" she asked then.

"Soon," he replied.

"Will he get to see his son?" she inquired, shuffling forwards to lay her hands on Robb's shoulders as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I doubt it," Robb said and she sighed.

"That poor baby, both parents gone and he is barely a week old," she said sadly.

"He'll be alright," he said softly, "you were," he smiled and she squeezed his shoulders.

"True enough," she said, "what will happen to him?"

"I think Aegon means to give him over to the care of his aunt," he told her.

"Val?" Dany narrowed her eyes slightly, "He is spending an awful lot of time with her"

"He feels sorry for her, we all do," Robb said.

"Nothing to do with how beautiful she is then?" she asked him with a frown.

"You're not jealous are you?" he teased her, moving further back onto the bed.

"No," she scowled, shifting herself so he could lay down.

"Are you sure?" he grinned, twirling a lock of her hair around his fingers as she sat at his side.

"Yes," she met his eyes and he snorted slightly.

"No woman is as beautiful as you," he told her.

"Stop it," she said.

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

"Making me smile when I'm annoyed with you," she said, her lips twitching upwards.

"Why are you annoyed with me?" he asked.

"I know you think she's beautiful, all the men do … they are enamoured with her," she pouted.

"I have no interest in her," Robb insisted.

"Truly?" she looked sceptical.

"Truly," he confirmed, "I have you, I need no other, now stop being ridiculous and come and lay down with me"

"I hope Aegon remembers he's betrothed," she said as she shifted into his arms.

"So do I," Robb kissed her forehead, "if he shames my sister I will have to punch him"

"Any excuse," Dany muttered and he grinned, tightening his hold on her as she snuggled closer to him.

It had become their routine over the last few days, sharing a drink in his chambers after dinner. Val knew she shouldn't but she enjoyed his company; he didn't seem like a King in her presence, with her he was just a man and she was irritated with herself for how much she liked him. False or not she didn't care either way but something about him made her feel as though he was genuine. As though she could trust him. That only made it worse, what she had to do nagging at the back of her mind. She had toyed with the idea of telling him but she was too afraid. That red woman had power she was certain of it, she had to be some kind of sorceress to make her way into Castle Black undetected. Val just knew that the second she told Aegon the truth she would sign her own death warrant and that of her sister's son. She couldn't do that. The babe was innocent, he deserved a chance at life. She glanced at Aegon then as he filled them another glass of wine. Was he not innocent too? He had never done her wrong, even with her in his chambers night after night he had never made any advance on her. She had thought that perhaps he didn't desire her but she knew he did, he had that look in his eyes when he looked at her that told her he would be more than happy to have her in his bed.

"Thank you," she said as he handed her the newly filled glass.

"To peace," he raised his own.

"Peace," she agreed, clinking her glass against his and hating herself.

She should have done it that first time. The first time he had invited her to share a drink with him she should have done it then. When he said Dalla's name though and raised the glass to her such a genuine expression of empathy crossed his face that she could not bring herself to do it. The next night he had told her of his joy at discovering he had a brother and how happy he was that they were bonding. He had spoken of his aunt and how kind she was and joked about how he didn't think her husband liked him very much. The night after that she had told him about her own family, what she remembered about her parents and how she and Dalla had always been so close. It didn't feel right, killing him after that. He trusted her in his chambers with a dagger in the belt around her waist and all the time she knew she had to plunge it into his chest. Tears welled up then and before she could compose herself one had escaped and trickled down her cheek. His hand came gently under her chin then and she saw the look of concern in his eyes as he tilted her face up to meet his.

"You've been kind to me," she whispered, "too kind …"

"I obviously haven't been kind enough if I've made you weep," he said softly, his fingers brushing her tears away.

"I wish …" she leant into his touch despite herself, shifting closer to him, perching on the edge of her chair.

"You wish?" he questioned, mirroring her movement, his face only inches from hers now.

"I wish it were simple, that we could be free to do as we liked … just for a moment," she whispered.

"How about a night?" he breathed, leaning so close she could feel his warm breath on her lips, almost taste the wine he had drank.

"Yes," she said, closing the tiny gap and pressing her lips to his.

He deepened the kiss at once, he had been desiring her since the moment he first laid eyes on her, so strong and defiant as she wrestled against her guards, furious with them that they would not let her be with her sister. She had barely spared him a glance when he ordered them to let her go into the chamber with her sister, she had barely noticed him but he had noticed her. After that she frequently haunted his dreams and these past nights he had spent in her company had driven him almost wild. He knew he was betrothed to another and he would not break the promise he had made to Lord Stark and the northern Lords but he had to have Val. He had to have her. He grasped her shoulders as he slid his tongue into her mouth, encouraging her to stand as he too rose to his feet, his lips not leaving hers as she kissed him back eagerly. Gods he was aching for her, he was so hard in his breeches he thought it a wonder he didn't explode. His hands fumbled at her clothing then and her own came to his, deftly unlacing his doublet as he unbuckled her belt and felt for the hem of her tunic. She had already discarded her furs when she entered his chamber and he could feel as he tugged the material up that she had nothing on beneath the white tunic.

She broke their kiss then, shoving away from him slightly, dragging his doublet away from his shoulders and forcing him to take his hands from her so he could let it fall to the floor. Before he could place his hands back on her and tug her tunic over her head she was practically ripping at his shirt and he helped her pull it over his head and toss it aside. Her eyes appraised his bare torso then and he seized his chance to pull up her tunic and throw it away from her. His own eyes took in her ample chest, his hands trailing up her sides, feeling the softness of her skin and hearing her sigh softly when his touch found her breasts. She pressed herself closer then, kissing his neck as her hands trailed down his chest and stomach to find the laces of his breeches. He groaned in pleasure despite himself as she unlaced him and wrapped her hand gently around his length.

"I can't promise you anything," he panted out as she slid her hand up and down.

"I don't want your promises," her breath was ragged in his ear; "I just want you"

At her words his hands came to her own breeches, feeling the soft wool of them as he tugged them down, pulling her towards the bed as he did so. She gasped as his hands came to her hips and pressed her firmly down against the mattress. Her chest was heaving and her eyes wide with anticipation as his hands came to tug her boots away from her and slide her breeches the rest of the way off. She lay there completely bare and aching for him as he tore his eyes regretfully away from her so he could discard his own boots and breeches. He crawled up between her legs when he was bare, sliding his hand high up on her thigh as she wrapped them around his waist. He vaguely wondered if she had done this before, her confident touch and actions made him feel like she had but he didn't care, he was no maid either. Val gasped as he let his hand touch between her legs, feeling her wet and ready for him. Her thighs tightened around his waist and he knew that neither of them could hold on anymore and so he pressed his length against her, pushing slowly inside her and hearing her moan of pleasure.

He was almost relieved to feel no barrier, relieved that he didn't have to cause her pain, that he would be able to just give her pleasure. She rocked her hips up to meet his as he began to thrust into her, her nails digging sharply into his shoulders before raking down his back, the sting of them making him growl out and arch his back, the movement causing him to bury deeper inside her. A moan left her then and a cry of delight when he pushed himself that far again. The movement of her hips encouraged him to rock his own faster and she met his pace as she cried out breathlessly beneath him, her hands touching every part of his body that they could reach before cupping around his face and practically dragging his lips to hers. He kissed her until she pushed him away from her, her breathing laboured as he pushed her closer to her release. Aegon let his lips come to her neck instead, suckling on the soft flesh there and making her moan out again as she climbed even higher. When she began to tighten around him he groaned against her shoulder, Gods she felt good, so warm and wonderful around him as she came to her end. She moaned in desperate relief and satisfaction in his ear as he finished her and he rocked into her once more before his own body was spent, collapsing against her as he spilled himself deep inside her.

The only sound was their ragged breathing as they lay there as one, both of them trying to calm themselves. He could feel Val's hand stroking through his hair and he let his own rub gently up and down her hip in response. After what felt like an age he regretfully shifted up, sliding out of her irresistible warmth and disentangling his limbs from hers, rolling onto his back and breathing a sigh of satisfaction. Val shifted then, moving towards the edge of the bed but he reached out for her, enclosing his hand gently around her wrist and she moved her eyes to his.

"Stay," he said softly.

"I shouldn't," she shook her head.

"Please," he gazed up at her and her resolve weakened.

She said nothing, merely shifting back onto the bed and laying her head down against his chest, letting him wrap his warm arms around her and smiling despite herself at the contented little sigh he let out as she snuggled against him. Damn it all. It wasn't supposed to end up like this. They lay there in a silence that was neither awkward nor comfortable until she heard his breathing come deeper and more measured and she knew he had fallen asleep. She waited, counting the minutes in her mind before she was certain that he was sleeping soundly. Slowly she lifted her head from his chest and looked towards the rest of her chamber, seeing where her dagger had fallen onto the chair. She swallowed hard, it would be ever so easy to plunge it into his chest while he slept. He would never wake up and she would have kept her promise to her sister without having to see the betrayal in his eyes. She took a deep breath and tried to move further but his arms tightened around her and she snapped her eyes to him in irritation. She hesitated then as she looked at his sleeping face. His innocent, beautiful face. Damn it all she couldn't do it. The Gods forgive her she could not do it.

A/N: Well Aegon's safe but you can bet Melisandre won't be too happy when she makes her reappearance!

More soon!

:)