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So I work every other week, last week was my week off (obviously) and I might not have much time to update this week.
But don't fear!
I won't abandon you!
I will be back next Monday!

Chapter Ten: You Are Not The Enemy

Catelyn

Catelyn looked up, concerned as she heard someone running up the stairs toward Bran's tower, ordering the guards to leave. She stood and moved toward the door, but only as far as her hold on Bran's hand would allow. She would not leave her son, but she stood prepared to yell at whoever thought it was their right to order her guards away. A moment later Lenora came running into the chamber, "My Lady," Lenora greeted her, dropping down into a curtsy, as she skidded to a halt in front of her. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I sent your guards out to help Robb, there's a fire."

Only this could have caused Catelyn to let go of Bran's hand. "What?" she asked, moving closer to the young woman in front of her. She turned to look back at Bran, "Help me with Bran," she commanded, prepared to drag her son from the tower to save him.

Lenora shook her head and moved around her toward the window. She threw it open so that they could see the grounds below them. "Bran is safe here, my Lady," she told Catelyn, speaking loudly so that the lady would be able to hear her over the sound of barking dogs and howling direwolves. "It's the library tower."

Catelyn sighed with relief, the library tower was far enough away that the fire would not spread to where they were. Her son would be safe. She moved closer to the window, leaving her son for a moment, and coming to stand beside the young woman. They stood, shoulder to shoulder for a moment, watching the flames dance bright and red against the dark sky. She thought briefly, sadly, for a moment of the books that the Starks had gathered over the centuries. As the Lady of Winterfell she should have been more saddened by the loss, but she couldn't bring herself to feel anything but grateful that her son was safe.

She looked down at the dark haired girl beside her before she reached out and closed the window, both to the cold and the sight of the flames. She turned back toward the bed, toward her son, and realized that they were not alone. There was a man in the chamber with them.

"You weren't s'posed to be here," the man muttered, his tone angry and sullen as if they had ruined something for him. His eyes darted between Catelyn and Lenora. "No one was s'posed to be here."

He was a small, dirty man He smelled of horses. Winterfell was by no means a small castle, but Catelyn knew all the men that worked in Winterfell's stables. This man was not one of them. Something in his hand glinted in the firelight, he was holding a dagger. It took no more than a second for Catelyn to realize why he was here, why he was so upset there there were people in the chamber. Her eyes darted to Bran who still lay sleeping in his bed, "No!" she commanded, her voice nothing but a whisper as her eyes darting back to the dagger.

"It's a mercy," the man told her as if she was stupid not to see it for herself. "He's dead already."

"No!" Catelyn told him, her voice stronger now, louder. "No, you can't!" She turned toward the window, ready to move toward it and scream for help, but the man was faster than she was. He was quicker than she would have thought. Before she moved a step he was behind her, one hand over her mouth and the other with the dagger at her throat.

She fought against him, her hands grabbing onto the blade in an attempt to push it away from her. He cursed at her, his mouth close to her ear. Her fingers were bleeding, but she would not let go of the knife. She was the one thing that stood between this would-be murderer and her son. She tensed suddenly, realizing that there was someone else in the room. She glanced toward the window and caught sight of Lenora in the shadows.

The girl had quickly moved into the shadows after the man had entered the room. Catelyn knew that the man had seen her, but in his struggle with Catelyn he seemed to have forgotten her presence. The girl wasn't cowering in the shadows, but she was using them to her advantage, carefully inching her way closer to the window so that she could call for help. Catelyn continued to struggle, hoping that she would be able to distract the man for as long as it took for Lenora to get help.

The man's hand over her mouth tightened, she was fighting too hard against the dagger and if he couldn't slit her throat he seemed content to suffocate her. Catelyn bit his palm, grinding her teeth and ripping his skin open. At that exact moment Lenora threw open the window and leaned out of it, screaming as loudly as she could for help.

Whether or not anyone heard her Catelyn didn't know. The man holding her yelled angrily and threw her to the ground, moving toward Lenora. He grabbed her around the waist and wrenched her away from the window. "No one was s'posed to be here!" he yelled again as he threw the young woman into a wall.

Catelyn watched as the young woman's head hit the stone wall and her body crumpled to the floor, her dark hair spilling around her and hiding her face from view. Catelyn had no idea how injured the girl was, but she would have to wait to check on the girl. She desperately needed to get to her son, to protect him. The man was moving closer to the bed, the dagger clutched in his hand, Catelyn began to drag herself across the floor toward him.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a shadow enter the chamber behind the man. There was a low rumble, it wasn't a snarl, but the whispered threat of an attack. But the man heard it, he started to turn toward the door as the wolf leapt at him. The two of them went down together, almost landing on Catelyn. The man started to shriek, but his cry lasted for no more than a second before Bran's wolf bit his throat, taking out half his neck with one snap of its strong jaws.

The man's blood was as warm and welcome as a spring rain when it showered down on her. Summer, the wolf, watched her for a moment before it jumped up on the bed and laid down beside Bran. The most Catelyn could get out was a whispered thank you before she started laughing hysterically.

That was how the found her when they finally arrived in the tower. Robb, Maester Luwin, Sir Rodrik, and half the guards of Winterfell burst in the room to find Bran safe and protected by his wolf, Catelyn laughing hysterically and covered in blood, and Lenora crumpled and injured on the floor, but not broken.

When the laughter finally died on Catelyn's lips and Maester Luwin had wrapped her in a blanket she watched her son as he knelt beside Lenora and helped her sit up. Her son was surprisingly gentle with the young woman and for the first time Catelyn began to see what kind of Lord he would be when he was officially named the Lord of Winterfell. She could see the two of them, Robb and Lenora, taking care of Winterfell together and she was filled with hope, an unfamiliar feeling after all that had happened to her family over the last fortnight.

-.-.-.-.-

Robb

He hadn't expected to feel so much worry. And fear. He knew that he cared for the girl, but he had not expected to worry so much for her. He had sent her to his mother and Bran to keep her safe during the fire. He had no doubt that she would have followed him into the burning library tower if he had let her. But instead he had sent her to his mother. He had told her it was because he needed his mother to know what was happening, but more than anything it had been to keep her safe. And instead of being safe he had sent her straight up to his brother's would-be murderer. She wouldn't have been hurt if it weren't for that.

She wouldn't have been hurt if she had just stayed in the shadows and not made a move, not called for help. But she had cried for help, fighting the only way she could think of without her sword, he had joked when he had called her his little warrior. But she was, and now she had the bruises to prove it.

Through her laughter his mother had explained how her scream had distracted the assassin long enough that Summer had been able to make it to the tower and kill him before he could harm Bran.

Lenora didn't bleed, she didn't have the cuts on her hands that his mother did from fighting the man's dagger. But they had both fought, they had both protected Bran.

He had heard her scream as he and the other men of Winterfell had rushed the library tower with buckets of water, trying as hard as they could to drown the fire. He had looked toward Bran's tower and seen her in the window screaming for help before someone pulled her out of sight. He hadn't known what had happened, all he knew was that her scream ended suddenly. Too suddenly.

He had grabbed Sir Rodrik, Maester Luwin, and as many guards as he could and taken the tower steps two or three at a time in an effort to get to her faster. He didn't know what to expect when he entered the chamber, but it definitely wasn't what he found. His mother was laying on the floor, covered in blood. Summer was laying on Bran's bed, protecting him. There was a dead man on the floor. And Lenora, crumpled in the corner against the wall.

He had rushed to her side and dropped down to the ground, brushing her hair away from her face gently. She was unconscious, but that did not stop him from pulling her into his lap so that he could hold her until Maester Luwin could see her.

She wasn't unconscious for long. His mother explained to them what happened and allowed Maester to Luwin to lead her to her bedchamber. After they had left Robb lifted Lenora off the ground and began to carry her toward her own bedchamber. She opened her eyes about half way there. He hadn't been watching her when her eyes opened, but he felt her tense in his arms and he looked down, her eyes were a dark grey and they darted all over the corridor, searching for danger.

"You're safe, Nora," he told her, his voice gentle. He hadn't spoken loudly, but his voice seemed to calm her and her eyes found his. He smiled down at her and shook his head, "I sent you to my mother so that you would be safe," he told her, his tone scolding though his smile told her that he was proud of her. "And instead, my little warrior, you found danger."

Lenora shrugged her shoulders and settled deeper into his arms, "Serves your right for thinking I couldn't protect myself," she told him.

His eyes ghosted over her face, landing on the bruise that was beginning to bloom on her temple. She seemed to be doing well, but he could not deny that seeing her unconscious had frightened him. "Just promise me, Nora," he requested, his voice gentle, "that you won't go looking for trouble just to prove that you can protect yourself."

Nora smiled up at him and nodded gently as Robb pushed the door of her chamber open and carried her inside. He laid her down on the bed and pulled the blankets up to her shoulders. He could have called her ladies and had her put to bed properly, but that would have meant leaving her and the last thing he wanted to do was to leave her. "Is it," he paused, "is it all right if I stay here?" he asked her, gesturing toward a chair in the corner of the chamber.

Lenora rolled over onto her side and looked at the chair in question, if she thought that it was improper for him to stay in her chamber overnight she did not say. Instead she simply nodded and closed her eyes. Robb wasn't the only on that didn't want her to be left alone that night.

...

His mother slept for four days. In that time Robb refused to let Lenora out of his sight. He brought her riding with him when he needed to check on the tenants. He pulled her along with him when he went to check on Bran. He dragged her with him when he went to the Godswood to pray. He had a cot set up in the corridor outside her bedchamber so that he would be there if she needed him. The few times that he had to leave her he left her with Theon, trusting that his closest friend would keep her safe for him.

Once his mother woke up she wasted no time calling for a meeting though Maester Luwin would not let her leave her bedchamber. When Robb went to see his mother he brought Lenora then too. His heart had warmed at the smile Catelyn gave the two of them as they entered.

"Who was he?" she asked once Robb, Lenora, Sir Rodrik, Theon, and Hallis Mollen, the new Captain of the Guard had all arrived in her room.

"No one knows his name," Hallis informed them, bowing slightly. "He was no man of Winterfell, I can tell you that, My Lady. But some says that they have seen him here and about the castle these past few weeks."

Robb had already heard this, but he had kept it from Lenora. He watched as his mother's eyes landed on Lenora. "So one of the King's men then?"

Lenora looked up and shook her head, "Not one of my father's," she told Catelyn before glancing at Robb. She bit her lip for a moment, worrying it between her teeth as if debating something.

"What is it, love?" Robb asked her softly, not bothering to look up when he heard Theon snort at the endearment that had slipped his lips.

"I know the man was not my fathers's," she said quietly, shaking her head. "I can't say the same about my mother though." Robb nodded, feeling the girl's quiet bravery. There was no denying that the man was one of her parents', but for her to admit it in front of them so quickly, he was proud of her.

"There's no telling now," Hallis told them, "and with all the strangers filling up Winterfell as of late there is no telling who he belonged to."

"He's been sleeping in your stables," Theon interjected. "You could smell it on him."

Robb nodded, "We found where he was sleeping. He had ninety silver stags in a leather bag buried beneath the straw."

Catelyn snorted, "It's good to know that my son's death did not come cheaply," she said, her tone bitter.

Hallis looked at the woman, confusion written all over his face. "Begging your grace, my Lady, you think he was here to murder your boy?"

Lenora nodded even though Hallis had not addressed her, "He kept telling us that we weren't supposed to be there. That no one was supposed to be in that chamber. No one, save Bran. I bet he set the fire in the library tower. To draw everyone there. He hadn't planned on us being there."

"But why would anyone want to kill Bran?" Robb asked, looking between his mother and Lenora. "He's a child!"

Catelyn looked at him, her eyes and her tone sharp, "Think about it," she ordered her son. "If you are to be Lord of Winterfell you better be quicker on your feet."

Robb looked down, ashamed that his mother had reprimanded him in front of the entire group, but Lenora reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He smiled at her and thought for a moment before he looked up, "Bran knows something," he told his mother. "I'm not sure what, but he knows something and someone is afraid that he might wake up. They're afraid of what he might say or do." Catelyn nodded, silently proud of her son. Robb turned to look at Hallis, "I want one man in the sickroom, day and night. I want one posted outside the door. His wolf is to stay in his room. And no one is to see him without my warrant or my mother's."

Hallis nodded silently.

Robb stared at him, "Do it now," he commanded.

Hallis nodded, bowed, and then left the room as Rodrik showed Catelyn the dagger, claiming that it was much too nice for the man who had attempted to kill Bran. The blade was Valyrian steel, the hilt dragonbone. Robb was watching Lenora and he saw something light in her eyes. She glanced up at him and reached out, squeezing his arm. "I should leave," she said softly.

"No," Robb told her, shaking his head. "Your place is here."

Lenora shook her head, "If indeed this man belonged to my mother then you deserve a chance to discuss this without me listening in. I understand that." The men all rose from their seats and stood as she left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Robb didn't want to admit it, but he was happy that she had left when his mother shared her belief that the Lannisters had killed John Arryn and that Jaime Lannister had not gone on the hunt with the others the day Bran fell. While he wouldn't put the actions past Jaime and he was sure that a part of Lenora wouldn't either he didn't want her to have to hear it.

"Someone must go to Kings Landing to tell Ned," Catelyn announced once she had told them what she believed.

"I'll go," Robb volunteered. He didn't like the idea of leaving Lenora alone, but it was his job to protect her and Winterfell and his family now. And he meant to take the job seriously.

Catelyn shook her head. "No," she told him. "Your place is here. There must always be a Stark at Winterfell. I'll go myself."

-.-.-.-.-

Lenora

She was surprised when she heard that Catelyn had set off for King's Landing. The woman had just woken up and she was already setting off across the country. She wasn't surprised though, everything she had learned about Catelyn Stark told her that the woman would do anything to protect her family. She had always been fierce, but the North had made her tough.

She knew that her mother would want to know about this, to know that someone had tried to murder Bran. To know that the Starks wanted to blame her. But when she started to write the letter something stilled her hand. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to send a raven to her mother, not about this. Lady Catelyn wouldn't want anyone to know that she was traveling to Kings Landing and Lenora didn't want her mother to know that they had thwarted an attempt on Bran's life.

If the Starks were right and her mother was to blame for everything that had happened to Bran the last thing they needed was for the woman to know that the attempt had failed.

So instead she had thrown the half written letter into the fire and walked out to the Godswood instead. It was there, beneath the heart tree that Robb found her. She looked up at him and forced a smile onto her lips, "Seen your mother off?" she asked him. He nodded. She didn't ask for the details of Catelyn's travels and he didn't supply any. Instead she nodded, "Good," she told him.

"Thank you," Robb told her as he sat down on the ground beside her. "For giving us some time, back there."

Lenora smiled ruefully, "If what your mother believes is true then I am the enemy. You deserved to discuss your battle plans without me spying on you."

Robb shook his head, "You're not the enemy," he told her, leaning close so that he could press his lips against hers. As if the silent promise of his kiss was enough to make her believe him.

She kissed him back for a moment before she pressed her hand against his chest and pushed him away gently. "Oh," she told him, giggling slightly when he moved his lips down the side of her neck. It seemed as though he was determined to kiss her and if he couldn't have her lips than he would settle with her neck. "Believe me, I am." The giggle died on her lips and she looked away from him for a moment. When she looked back at him, her eyes were a stormy grey, "I am the enemy."

Robb stopped kissing her neck and ducked his head to make eye contact with her. He slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted her head so that she was looking at his face. "You are not my enemy," he told her, his voice so sincere that she had to believe that he meant what he said. Or at least that he believed that he meant what he said. "You might be the daughter of the enemy," he told her, a smirk making its way onto his lips to soften the blow somehow. "But you will never be the enemy."

Lenora smiled at him, "Is that a promise?" she asked him, her voice teasing.

"It's an oath," Robb told her, sealing his promise with another kiss.

...

A week after Catelyn had left for Kings Landing Robb and Lenora were out riding their horses when Theon found them, riding his own horse as fast as he could. "Robb!" the young man called, reigning his horse in. "Lady Lenora. He's awake!"

Robb looked as though he were about to ride off at breakneck speed. But he stopped and turned to look at her. Lenora was about to tell him to go without her, that Theon would see her back to the castle safely. But Robb reached out and held his hand out to her.

Lenora raised her eyebrows at him, but released her reigns so that she could reach out for his hand. Robb smiled at her and gave a tug, pulling her from her own saddle and into his. They had only ridden this way once, but Lenora already felt at home in his arms and his saddle.

He took the time to press a kiss against her temple and then once he was sure that she was secure in her seat he took off toward the castle, letting out a whoop of celebration when it finally hit him that his brother was finally awake.

Lenora couldn't help but laugh at the boy's excitement. She felt free now, free and happy. What she didn't know yet, what she couldn't know, was how short lived the feeling would be.

Author's Note:
Well there you go! The next chapter!
I hope you enjoyed it! As I said above, I will be back next week! In the meantime, since you're down here head over to that nice little box below and write I review, would you? It will make my work week so much better if I get to read them when I get home!
Thanks to those who reviewed on the last chapter:
minnie2015: Hello new reviewer! Thank you! I'm glad that you liked the last chapter and I hope that you enjoyed this one too!
DannyBlack70: Hello friend, I hope that this chapter didn't disappoint you! I was a fan of their bonding too. Like I said yesterday, I'm a bit further ahead in writing than I am in posting so their interactions that I'm currently writing are vastly different from these chapters. So it was nice to go back to this.
ZabuzasGirl: Here you go, lady!
Until next week!
Hugs and kisses,
Chloe Jane.