EPILOGUE

House Jasper was not well liked amongst the rich, but they were adored by the common and it was being proven once again to Lord Stark as he watched them arrive through the gates of Winterfell. Swirls of colour danced around as they came through the doors flipping and jumping much to the delight of all around. The Jasper's were on hours back waving and smiling at everyone they saw their clothing flamboyant with bright greens and radiant violets. Musicians, whom Ned assumed were considered of higher priority than guards, followed behind them playing happy tunes to match their energy.

The Jasper's always did like to make an entrance.

Lord Eryk Jasper rode in first his wife Amaretta following closely behind just as radiant as her husband and behind them rose six year old Kaia the same age as Robb and Jon who were watching the show with wide eyes and confused expressions.

Catelyn smiled watching them, she had always been good friends with Amaretta, House Tully being one of the only households seemingly able to bear their antics and energetic personalities but did find them to be a breathe of fresh air compared to all the houses wishing to be taken so seriously that they forgot how to enjoy life.

The music stopped and so did entertainers, the cloth they had been dancing with floated to a halt at their sides and they bowed at the small applause they received.

"Ned!" Eryk called out dismounting and rushing towards him hugging him tightly. "Thank you for hosting us for a few days, we couldn't head to the Iron islands without stopping in to see the Starks!"

Ned smiled. "It is no trouble."

"You remember my wife!" He waved Amaretta over and she smiled at him.

"My Lady." Ned greeted.

"And my daughter." Eryk's gaze went to Robb and Jon. "You boys remember my daughter don't you? She was here only two years ago, you danced with her all night as per her request didn't you?"

Robb's cheeks grew red remembering the little girl who had forced him to dance with her and play dress up, he was far too old for that now, he was six after all. "No need to be embarrassed." Eryk laughed, he looked behind him but did not seem to find what he was looking for. "Oh, where has that girl gone off to now. She's like her mother that way, far too free a spirit."

Catelyn was concerned right away. "We'll send someone to look for her, she couldn't have gotten far." She was slightly embarrassed that she hadn't seen the little girl get off her horse and disappear.

Amaretta smiled. "No need, she'll show up when she's done exploring, she never wanders too far and always seems to find us before we can find her." She clasps Cat's hand tightly and grinned. "Come

we must catch up!"

Everyone was dismissed from their duties out in the yard greeting the Jasper's and went back to their regular duties.

It wasn't until dinner that Eddard became worried, he allowed for the Jaspers time alone to settle in to their chambers and relax for a few hours before inviting them down for dinner but he had not once seen Kaia.

Her parent's were not concerned but it still left him on edge at the idea of the small girl out on her own.

"Do not worry." Eryk promised as he sat down at the table. "I should have explained more thoroughly. Kaia has a guard with her at all times, a man that she claims to hate and will continuously try to avoid

and escape from but I assure you Sir Eddmund always has sight of her."

"Sight of who?" A small voice asked. Robb, Jon and little Sansa were all startled at the noise as Kaia claimed out from under the table.

"See." Amaretta laughed. "Wherever she is," She nodded towards a guard standing by the door. "he is never too far. Kaia come sit and have dinner."

Kaia did as she was asked and took her seat next to Robb and began to eat. She was a pretty girl, and very lively, she would either be the perfect bride or a bride all men avoided Ned was sure. She was

a free spirit and had much learning to do before she would be fit to be a lady of Titan's Bay but the Jaspers had never been ones to focus on proper etiquette of their children. It showed in the odd

mannerisms of her parents and all the Lords and Ladies before them, they did not respect personal space and hugged and kissed as though everyone was family. They were loud and sang any chance

they had, they entrained the room with jokes and lines from plays they had performed throughout the years. Many houses avoided them as much as they could but they were a wealthy and powerful house despite their obnoxious personalities and focus'. Most houses that joined houses with them were the Tyrells, Tully, and many families from the reach or river lands, with a few more serious houses thrown in, the most embarrassing being a single Lannister.

"Love." Amaretta said to Kaia a few moments later. "Where did you run off to, it was rude of you to leave without saying hello to the Starks."

Kaia looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, but I was worried Robb was going to kiss my hand again." Robb coloured again and the adults smiled.

"I thought you liked Robb, you talked about nothing other than him and how much fun you had with him last time we were here."

"I do!" She cried. "But I don't like kissing. . .it's gross." She leaned over the table so she could see Robb. "Please don't kiss me."

"I promise you he won't." Cat said still smiling.

"Okay." Kaia went back to eating not seeming to have noticed that the grownups thought her words were amusing. "Can I go now?" She asked suddenly.

"Where do you want to go?" Eryk asked her.

"I want to show Robb and Jon the lute you had made for me." She said and without warning she was up and tugging on Jon's hand. "Come on." The boys looked mortified at the idea of being around the jumping little girl.

"Kaia we are eating." Eryk said quickly.

"It's alright." Ned said nodding for the boys to go with her.

"Sansa you come to!" Kaia beamed and all four took off towards the door, Sir Eddmund not far behind them.

Amaretta turned towards the Starks. "I am so sorry. Her birthday happened while we were travelling she has been too excited about the lute—"

"It's alright." Ned promised. "She has a lot of spirit."

"Ay." Eryk agreed. "She's happy, we hope to keep it that way."

"A ball of joy she is. It is nice to have around." Cat said. And it was, Kaia was young but she had a reputation for being a joy to all around her, she was happy and lovely and lifted the spirits of those around her. She was young but Cat hoped that she never loses the life within her because it was something that was rare, a truly happy person was rare and it would be a pity for her to lose that spark within her.

"The Iron islands." Eddard said as he sat with Eryk in his chambers. The two sipped wine and had decided that two days had been long enough for them not to speak of more important manners. "Four times in four years."

"It would seem so."

"I do not mean to offend you Eryk, but what interest do the Greyjoys have with your family? And what interest could you possibly have with theirs?"

Eryk placed his cup down and leaned forwards in his seat. He was a handsome man with brown hair and large brown eyes, his bear was neatly trimmed and his smile was charming and never leaving.

"Titan's Bay and the Irons Islands are the only land that reside with houses whom have ships."

"An alliance then?"

"A wedding." Eryk corrected.

"A wedding—" Ned leaned back in his chair as he remembered that Eryk only had one living heir. "You plan to marry Kaia to his son?"

"Theon, yes." It was as if he were implying that a Stag and a Direwolf could somehow mate and produce a child. It seemed impossible, the Greyjoys were the opposite to the Jaspers in every way evident, the only similarity the two houses had were that they both did indeed rule the waters with ships.

"You think that is wise?"

"If a war comes about I do not want to be fighting within the water Ned, it is dangerous enough on land. With the Greyjoys and Jaspers alliance we would own the water. The only people that could stop each other would be the opposite house, I have spoken to Lord Greyjoy he has agreed that a sharing the waters is much more beneficial than battling for them."

"I never thought you one to marry your child for personal power, let alone some water."

Eryk laughed at that. "I do not intend to force her. Why do you think we have been there so much over the years?"

Ned nodded suddenly understanding. He was trying to create a relationship between the two children, that would hopefully turn into a courtship as they grew older and Kaia could grow to love him. "And if Kaia doesn't love him?"

Eryk shrugged. "I do not plan to force my daughter to marry anyone but if she is going learn to love someone then it will most likely be Theon. I plan to leave her with them for a few months, and then Theon will them come back to Titan's Bay with us, if she cannot love him she might still wish to be with him because they are friends."

"And if they don't?"

Eryk laughed again. "You worry too much."

Ned sighed and placed his hands on the table trying to have Eryk be serious for a few moments. "Your army could destroy the Greyjoys if war did occur, why do you feel the need to create an alliance with them? You have a great house, the Greyjoys are not the most understanding and loving people they will start a war if they feel like they need to and you will have to support them."

"And if we do not then we will fight them on the waters. We are not fighters Lord Stark but we do know that we will have to pick a battle to fight in. If the Greyjoys want to start a war that is their choice, if another house wants to start a war that is their choice as well, we are simply choosing our battles before it happens."

Eryk was right, they were not fighters. Their house words came to Ned's mind, Masters of play, and players of war. The Jaspers may have been fools but they were not stupid, they manipulated every war they had ever been apart of and their house had never fallen.

Ned was about to ask him if that meant he was sensing a war coming when Sir Eddmund bursting through the door, he was sweating and his face was flushed red against his blonde hair.

"Sir Eddmund?"

"I'm sorry my Lord, I was trying to. . ." He huffed in a breath. "She was running and I tried to keep up with her but she slipped through the gate and. . ."

Eryk Jasper stood up knocking his chair to the ground as he did so, for the first time since Eddard had known Eryk he saw the first wave of emotion that was not happiness pass over his face. "Where is my daughter?"

Amaretta was being held by her husband and by Catelyn stark as she attempted to stay standing. "We will find her." Catelyn promised her as the woman wailed.

"She is only six." She managed to say.

Eryk took her face in his hands and wiped away her tears his handsome face looking at her with intensity. "She is a smart girl. She is strong, you know that of her."

"Eryk she is a child!"

Eryk's tone hushed but Lord Stark could still hear him. "And you know what she can do. She is like my father, she will fight. She will protect herself as best as she can, the elements are the only thing that can harm her here."

"My entire guard is looking for her." Ned told her but it did little to ease the Jasper's anxieties, he wasn't even sure if they had heard him.

"We will find her." Eryk said releasing his wife and heading to his own horse. "I will find her or die trying."

Hours had passed and Ned was exhausted from his search for Kaia, the woods were vast and far too large for his men to cover all of it. Kaia had disappeared into the forest she had been trying to escape from Sir Eddmund's watchful eye and had done so by taking off beyond the gates and lost him in the crowd of commoners.

The town had been searched and the only other place to look was the forest, but she had yet to be found. It was growing dark and Ned both feared that she had gotten lost and believed that she had found her way back.

"Lord Stark!" A guard called as he made his way over to him on his horse. "It is getting dark my Lord we will not be able to see her if we are out much longer." Ned knew this but did not want to admit it.

Not finding her before dark did not seem like an option but it was unlikely that she had managed to make it this far into the forest without being found.

"Lord Stark!" Another voice called out. He steered his horse to the voice and saw a torch lit a few hundred yards away. He followed its light but stopped a few feet away when he saw what the light was illuminating.

Blood, frozen from the cold clung to the white snow and the shredded remains of a purple dress, the same colour Kaia had been wearing that morning.

"There's also this Mi'lord." the squire breathed, there was a clump of hair frozen to the ground, resting next to where the squire had vomited at the sight of the blood, in a shaking hand he held a shoe, the foot still inside and tooth of direwolf embedded in the flesh.