Robb was at a loss for words. He was brimming with emotions, fear, hurt, worry. He, however, marveled at how resourceful she was, claiming they were already wed in secret, that they were lovers and she was carrying his child when it was all a lie. Seeing the ribbon tied around the scroll, a ribbon he had given to her when she was little, well more like he stole it from his mother to give to her. It was a warning, just as much as her scroll was. She was being watched and carefully. She must have known she couldn't hide a pregnancy for long to be telling him like this.

He knew he had to protect her, for her sake as much as the babes. He would claim the child that wasn't his, he would pretend he was married to her until they could wed for real. As Robb continued to read the scroll over and over, his mind started to wander, thinking of everyone else that has probably read this note, this subtle plea for his help. He was acting Lord of Winterfell, ever since his mother rode off to go see his father. He was still a child, but so was she. And he had a duty to protect her as her betrothed. Robb grabbed his quill and ink, choosing his words carefully as he wrote his reply, trying to seem overly joyous and in love, even though he felt the exact opposite.

Once he was finished with his reply, he sealed the scroll and had one of the maids deliver it to maester Luwin. A small smile crept onto his face, thinking about this web of lies they were beginning to spin. And he thought of Jon, the child's real father. Jon, out on the wall, never knowing he was to be a father, or that the girl he loved was going to be in danger. Jon, living in blissful ignorance. Something Robb wished he could do.

Jon now at least had a few companions at Castle Black. Pip, Ed, and Grenn. They were training in the courtyard, under Ser Allister Throne's scrutinizing eyes, Jon was fighting Pip, trying to prove to Throne that he was worthy, that he belonged here. Jon tried not to fight too aggressively against his friend, but he needed to prove himself, meaning Pip got a particularly hard hit to the chest with Jon's elbow.

"Alright! I yield" Pip said as Jon helped him back to his feet. Thorne started ranting once more, calling him Lord Snow, but Jon was distracted by the incoming of a new recruit, a fat boy who looked to be about Jon's age. He was looking around frantically, fear plastered on his face as if he was about to be jumped by one of them.

"Fresh meat, who are you, fat boy?" Thorne called down from his vantage point.

"S-samwell T-Tarly" the boy stuttered, his hands shaking.

"Well Tarly, gear up and show us what you can do" Thorne ordered, another one of the boys handing Samwell a bit of leather padded chest armor and a practice sword. Samwell slowly slipped on the armor and seemed to have difficulty lifting up the sword.

"Rast! Give Ser Piggy a test run" Thorne called, a smirk on his face. Rast stepped forward into the center of the ring the boys had formed and gave Samwell and hard hit to the chest, instantly making him fall down to his back.

"I yield!" Samwell shouted. Rast looked up at Thorne, before continuing to hit Samwell with his sword.

"That's enough!" Jon shouted, stepping forward into the ring, shoving past Rast and helping Samwell to his feet.

"Leave it be Lord Snow" Thorne called.

"He yielded!" Jon shouted back.

"Looks like Lord Snow has found himself a new lady love, well let's see how well you can defend her, boys!" Thorne shouted, calling out Rast, Pip, and Grenn. The three stepped forward as Jon got into a fighting stance. One after another they came after him and Samwell, but Jon was better than they were and everyone knew it too. The swings of their swords were reluctant, weak, making them easy for Jon to deflect.

"Alright! I've had enough of this pitiful game! Snow! You and Tarly have sentry duty for the rest of the week. Snow, you're watching The Wall tonight," Thorne called, ending the fighting. Everyone left the courtyard to put away their equipment, leaving Jon with Samwell.

"Thank you for that, my names Samwell but you can call me Sam" Samwell muttered awkwardly.

"Jon" he answered.

"Why didn't you fight back?" Jon asked him. Sam seemed a bit reluctant to say anything before he spoke.

"I'm a craven" Sam answered as he slowly walked off to put his things away.

"Did ye hear that? He called himself a coward" Pip muttered walking back over to Jon, along with Grenn.

"Yeah, we should stay away from the likes of him or we'll be called cowards too" Grenn agreed as they walked to put their things away. The day carried on, as usual, Jon and his friends had supper together briefly before Jon had to head out for the night watch.

Jon didn't really mind it, he liked wandering the wall at night, looking out into the night, looking out into the haunted forest and up at the moon, the same color as her hair. Gods! Would he never be able to forget her? Why must everything remind him or her? Why couldn't she let him be? Just for a night.

He stood at his post, looking out over the woods when he heard someone approach him from behind. He turned around and saw Samwell Tarly standing a few feet behind.

"You didn't have to come, I could have done it alone" Jon mumbled, turning to look back out over the wall.

"I couldn't just leave you, even if my eyesight is pore...and I'm terrified of heights and this cold really is dreadful" Samwell muttered, keeping a few feet away from the edge.

"Then why are you here?" Jon asked in a harsh tone, making the other boy jump a bit in his spot.

"Well, my father gave me a choice you see. When I came of age he said I could either take the black and renounce all my titles to my younger brother or that there would be a hunt and somewhere I would trip and fall on my sword or get thrown from my horse. Or at least that was what he would tell my mother. So I chose the black" he explained. Jon suddenly felt guilty. Sam was a true born heir, and he had it worse than him, a bastard.

"Come here," Jon said, gesturing for Sam to walk forward. Sam slowly shook his head no.

"You're gonna have to some time, it might as well be now" Jon reasoned. Sam gave a long sigh and slowly inched his way forward to peer out a bit over the wall. Jon could still see him shaking as he timidly looked out beyond the wall.

"Wow, its very pretty" Sam muttered with a happy smile.

"It is, my uncle's out there, ranging" Jon mumbled, looking out beyond the wall as well. They stayed silent for a while after that, just enjoying the view of the moon.

"I suspect you'll be a ranger too then" Same muttered, as if not wanting to disturb the night.

"I hope so" Jon mumbled back. They spent the rest of sentry duty just talking with one another, easy topics, like Winterfell and his half-siblings. Sam talked about his younger brother and younger sister, who along with his mother were the only nice ones to him. It was easy to take to Sam, even if he wasn't a bastard he knew what it felt like to be on the outside.

"So did you have a girl back in Winterfell?" Sam asked, innocently of course but it still hurt Jon to think about her.

"No" he lied, her face coming to his mind.

"Ah come on, you must have had someone, I mean just look at you. You with your hair and looking like you do," Sam complimented feebly.

"No, there was no one, you?" Jon said, continuing to lie, trying to get her face out of his mind. But she was beginning to haunt his thoughts the more he tried to dismiss her.

"No, if you haven't noticed I'm not much to look at, plus I get nervous talking to girls. Especially the pretty ones," he admitted, getting flustered, making Jon smile.

"But a guy like you? You must have had girls falling at your feet" Sam mumbled.

"Girls don't tend to think highly of bastards," but not all girls, Jon thought.

"So you've never...?" Sam muttered, trailing off.

"No, I haven't," Jon said, continuing his lie. No one could know of his night with her, now that she was a Lady, betrothed to his half-brother Robb. If anyone found out she could be killed. He couldn't let that happen.

"There was a girl once, we were in her chambers and she had her top off, but I just couldn't do it" Jon mumbled shyly, knowing he'd have to tell his new companion something.

"Did she have nice..." Sam mumbled gesturing towards his chest. Jon gave a slight chuckle.

"Very" he answered.

"But you didn't?"

"No"

"Didn't know where to put it?" Sam teased with a smile.

"I know where to put it, I just thought...what if I got her pregnant? What if I did the same thing to a child that happened to me? Another bastard" Jon mumbled, the truth whispered in his words. He did think of that, the night of the feast when she took him to his chambers and begged him to touch her.

"Was she pretty?" Sam asked curiously, Jon smiled and nodded slowly, her face coming to his mind.

"What color was her hair?" Sam continued.

"Red" Jon lied, it would be too obvious if he said silver.

"Oh I love redheads," Sam said with a smile, making Jon smile too. Now Jon couldn't stop thinking about her, about what it was like to lay with her, to feel her warmth. If Jon closed his eyes now he would be back in that bed, stroking her silver hair with her head laying on his chest as she looked at him with loving purple eyes.

"He's gonna make me fight tomorrow" Sam muttered, changing the subject and breaking the spell that had fallen over Jon.

"He's gonna make me fight I just know it and I'm not a fighter, I'm a reader" Sam continued on hopelessly. But then Jon got an idea.

"Its gonna be fine Sam, I know it," Jon told him reassuringly.

Later that night, Jon spoke with his friends about Sam and everything he went through, convincing them he was one of them, and that if Allister made them fight Sam, they wouldn't.

"Even if we agree, that's not gonna stop Rast," Grenn told Jon, making Pip nod in agreement.

"Then we gotta convince him," Jon told them, whispering his plan.

In the dead of night, Jon, Ghost and his two friends crept down the chamber hall and to the recruitment chambers. They slowly moved to Rast's bed, Pip quickly put a bit of cloth in his mouth as Jon whistled for Ghost to hop up. Ghost immediately complied, causing Rast to wake up and almost scream as Ghost snarled in his face.

"No one touches Sam, do you understand?" Jon asked in the most threatening voice he could muster. Rast nodded quickly with wide eyes, fear written across his face. As they left the room, Ghost snarled some more, slowly getting off of Rast.

The next morning was a successful one, it took everything in Jon not to smile when Grenn 'fought' Sam. And when Allister told Rast to give him a try Jon glared at him, sending fear through Rast's spine. After that day Thorne may have hated him more, but at least Jon had another friend, something he needed. Friends...and distractions.

I couldn't believe how vast the castle was, so many things to find and discover. I liked wandering the castle halls, especially at night, there was something so calming and soothing about it, just me and Winter, walking the empty halls save for a few knights here and there. It was the night before the tourney of the Hand and I couldn't sleep, my head was filled with worries, worries for the daughter in my body, worries for Jon on the wall and worries for Robb and his reaction. So I spent most of my nights walking, nights like this one.

I wasn't sure where I was going, I just felt drawn somehow. I was getting deeper and deeper into the castle until I was sure I was underground. Everything was dark and even though there were torches, they seemed to burn dimly. The halls suddenly got strangely narrow, narrow enough that Winter had to walk directly behind me. I feared I was walking into a dead end as the line of torches ended, leaving me and Winter in the dark, but I kept walking. Something made me keep going.

Finally, the hall opened up into a large room, dimly lit. I hesitantly walked into the room, Winter trotting ahead of me, but I stopped, feeling my heart squeeze in my chest as I looked around the room. All over the room was dragon skulls, tattered and torn Targaryen banners and a few old chests that looked centuries old.

"This is...incredible" I whisper to myself as I walk deeper into the room. The dragon skulls at the beginning of the room were small, the size of small cats, but as I walked deeper into the dark and musty chamber, the skulls got bigger and bigger, and bigger. As I came to the end of my circling of the room, I approached the largest head of all.

"You must have been Balerion the Dread, the dragon Aegon the conqueror rode when he came to Westeros" I mumbled to myself, looking at the giant skull before me, so large it filled up its own small portion of the room. I turned around as I heard Winter begin to whimper. I saw her clawing at one of the ancient chests, whimpering at it slightly.

"What is it?" I asked her as I walked towards her, the skirts of my grey dress fanning out as I sat down in front of the chest. I looked seeing an ancient lock on the outside of the chest. I stared at it as I lightly scratched the top of Winter's head as she sat next to me. My curiosity got the best of me and I tugged on the lock hopefully.

"Brushing up on your history?"

I quickly turned around, Winter turning and instantly beginning to snarl. I see a darkly dressed man, with dark hair and a sharp beard looking at me with a smirk. He takes a few steps closer and Winter advances on him, getting in a defensive stance, her snarl growing louder and more fierce. I quickly rise to my feet.

"Who are you?" I ask quickly, not ready to call Winter off just yet.

"Forgive me, my lady, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Lord Petyr Baelish," he says introducing himself. Winter continues to snarl at the man, still uncomfortable by his presence.

"It's alright Winter," I tell her softly. She snarls at him once more before dropping her defensive stance to move to my right side, staying close to me.

"Lord Baelish, it's a pleasure, please forgive Winter, she's a tad possessive and isn't too keen when it comes to strangers" I explain.

"No worries, although I am a tad curious as to what you're doing down here late at night, alone," he tells me in what feels like a manipulative tone.

"I might ask the same of you" I reply as he begins to pace around, eyeing me in a way that made me feel insecure and vulnerable.

"My mind tends to be at its most active at night, I like to wander, it tends to calm my thoughts" he explains, looking about the room with ease as if he owned it, a dangerous trait to have.

"Let me guess, you saw me wandering as well and decided to follow me? Or was it one of your spies?" I ask, hearing Varys' words echo through my ears, trust no one. It was only an assumption but I could see that I had surprised him with it.

"You have a suspicious mind, a wise thing to have in a place like this," he tells me with a sly smile.

"So I've been told, is there something you wanted Lord Baelish?" I ask.

"Only to offer my congratulations," he tells me with a smile, taking a step closer.

"Congratulations, for what might I ask?"

"Why for your pregnancy, and secret marriage to Robb Stark, future Lord of Winterfell," he tells me with a smile. I do my best to hide the shock on my face, but I fail. I suspected I would be discovered, but not this quickly and certainly not by someone like Lord Baelish.

"Thank you, my Lord, that is rather kind of you" I answer back with an uneasy smile, he gives me a gracious nod in return.

"Forgive me but I couldn't help but notice you trying to open up that chest," he tells me, striding closer to me. I can feel my cheeks heat up from embarrassment.

"No worries child, I admit I have been down here trying to open up that chest myself, just to take a peek at what's inside," he says softly, moving his gaze from me to the chest behind me.

"Why don't you force it open then?" I ask, glancing back at the ancient chest.

"It's composed entirely of iron and the lock doesn't appear to have a keyhole. The contents of the chest are rumored to be delicate, so it can't be forced open. Quite a puzzle isn't it?" he tells me.

"I suppose" I mumble back.

"It's rumored that only one of Aegon's descendants could open it, so you can imagine my dismay when you weren't able to" he continues, but I remain silent.

"I suspect there is something else you want, aside to give me congratulations" I announced, trying to figure out his game, his angle.

"You're right, I want to be your ally"

"My ally?" I ask, slightly confused. I was still no one, even if I was Lady Rhaella Targaryen now, I was still no one. No lands, no power, only a name and even then most days it felt like the wrong one.

"You're going to need friends here at court, people you can trust, especially now with your situation. There will be plots against you, more so than before" he explains.

"There's been plots against me?" I ask, slightly shocked at the notion.

"Oh yes, numerous ones, mainly from the queen. She fears you, that you will disrupt the line of succession because you're a Targaryen, you're a threat" he continues on.

"And you want to help me?" I ask hesitantly.

"I do. I want to help lead you in the right direction" he says with a smile, crossing his arms behind his back, looking at me expectantly.

"That's very kind of you Lord Baelish, but I'll need some time to consider your offer" I mumble, wishing I could back away from him. His mere presence made me uncomfortable.

"Of course my Lady I'd expect nothing less," he tells me, giving me a respectful bow before exiting the chamber. Afterward, I made my way with Winter back to my chambers, falling into a dreamless sleep.

The next day my maids dressed me in a fiery red silk dress and put my hair up in a large braided bun. Sansa came and joined me so that we could walk to the tourney together.

"Rhaella you look gorgeous! You look like a real princess" she tells me with a smile as she walks towards me in her green dress.

"Not as beautiful as you" I reply, smiling at her simple long-sleeved green dress that matched her hair perfectly. She blushed at my words and linked our arms together, leading us out of my chambers and down the Red Keep's halls, guards trailed after us at a respectable distance. They were a constant reminder that nothing is kept secret, no one is safe.

"Do you think Joffery will like my dress?" Sansa asks me hopefully as we continue our walk from the castle.

"He'd be insane not to," I tell her with a smile. I was becoming paranoid, it felt like everyone at court knew about me and my situation. How was I supposed to play this game? I was a child, even if I was a Lady I still felt like a Snow. I would always be a Snow, but how could I move from a Snow to a Dragon? I needed to get better and start playing aggressively.

"Sansa, there's something I wanted to tell you," I told her, stopping our walk just outside of the tourney stands. She turns and looks at me expectantly, with that sweet innocent smile of hers. Oh child, so ignorant of the game that's being played right in front of you.

"Before we left Winterfell, Robb and I got married, in secret in front of the old Wirewood tree, and well, we're going to have a child," I tell her with a happy grin. The story may have been a lie, but the joy behind my smile wasn't. I couldn't be happier to have something of Jon's with me, always.

"I knew it! I knew that's what you two were doing!" Sansa squealed with delight.

"Wait what?" I asked.

"The day we left, I was trying to find Robb and I saw you two in front of the Wirewood tree. Your hands clasped and the kiss. Oh, I wish you would have told me! I would have been a witness! But I am so happy for you! Does that mean you'll be leaving for Winterfell soon? Oh, have you told father? I'm sure he'll be pleased" Sansa said, continuing to ramble on in excitement. I knew I saw some red hair that day. But this was good, she could confirm my story to others. This would work in my favor.

"Woah, not so fast. I've only just told Robb and I'm still expecting his reply. For now, this has to be our secret do you understand?" I tell her, grabbing her by the sides of her arm to look into her eyes, making sure she heard my words.

"Of course! I won't tell a soul" she tells me with a smile before linking her arm back with mine, leading us to our seats. We were about to sit down, at the bottom right of the stands when the queen approached.

"Your majesty" Sansa and I both said, giving polite curtsies in greeting.

"You both look lovely, Lady Targaryen, as a ward of the King you will be sitting with us as befitting your station," she tells me with what could be perceived as a warm smile, but it only sent shivers down my spine.

"I'd be honored your majesty," I tell her with a smile. She only gives a smile and moves towards the royal box. I bid Sansa farewell with a nervous smile and moved up towards the royal box, about to take a seat next to the queen's daughter, Marcella.

"Oh no child please, sit next to me," the queen told me with a smile, patting the bench that sat next to her chair. I nervously moved closer to the queen, slowly taking a seat on her right.

"Thank you, your Majesty this is quite an honor, one I'm not sure I deserve," I say, choosing my words carefully, remembering Lord Baelish's words, I was a threat. She wanted me gone.

"Nonsense, you are an honored guest of the King, and future Lady of Winterfell," she tells me with a sly smile, with something hidden behind it, something dark.

"That's very kind of you to say," I tell her with a smile as we both turn to watch the beginning of the first joust.

"Oh I also wanted to give you this," she tells me casually, holding a scroll out for me, lazily, between her fingers. I take it hesitantly and notice the broken dire wolf seal. I slowly unscroll it and read.

My Love,

I couldn't be happier! I only wish I was there to revel in our joy. I bid you and our child return to Winterfell at once, I cannot spare another moment without looking upon your face and holding you in my arms. I need you here with me, you and the child. Hurry back my love, before I die from the wait.

Love, Robb

I could feel my heart start to race. She knew. Gods only know who told her.

"I see congratulations are in order," she tells me.

"T-thank you, your Majesty," I say, cursing the crack in my voice at my words.

"Fear not child, I understand what it's like to hide your love away from prying eyes," she tells me softly, whispering as everyone applauds the first joust.

"You do?" I ask hesitantly, fearing my secret was out. Could she know about Jon?

"I was young once, hard to picture I know but it's true. Young and in love, but then I was sold off to Robert and that ended that. I am happy for you child, truly and if it were up to me I would send you back to Winterfell to be with your future lordling love. But it is not up to me" she tells me with a heavy sigh.

I was caught off guard. Was the queen truly on my side? Or was she just trying to get rid of me? My mind was racing, trying to figure out an answer. What was my next move? What was her next move? Then she held another scroll between her fingers.

"You're a clever girl, I'll give you that, but not clever enough" she whispers in a harsher tone than before, as I take the other scroll.

Emylea,

It's hard being here at the wall, harder than I thought it would be, but I'm not sure if its hard because of the cold, or because you aren't here. I miss you, more than I'd care to admit. I hope you are faring well in the capital and I'm glad to hear you are no longer cold. I wish I could show you the view from the top of the wall, it's the most beautiful thing you'll ever see. But not quite as beautiful as you. I wish you well and pray to hear again from you soon.

With Love, Jon

I slowly looked up at the queen after reading my scroll and she smirked at me knowingly.

"When you play the game child, you need to be clever, cunning and ruthless. You have one, but you won't survive without the others, not here, and certainly not like that"