"Benjen!" Keaira called out, when she saw him later in the courtyard.
He smiled at her, and rushed towards her, taking her in his arms, swinging her around a little.
"Gods, how you grow every time I see you. You make me feel very old" He stated, pulling away.
"You wouldn't have to feel that way if you visited Winterfell more" Keaira suggested, as Benjen shook his head fondly.
"You know I can't do that. I am a man of the Night's Watch. Besides…next year you will be coming to live with me" Benjen grinned.
"I won't be the only one by the sounds of it" Keaira exclaimed.
"Ah, yes. I was wondering when you were going to bring that up. You know I'll look out for him. He is my nephew after all" Benjen explained.
"And you know how he is. He's stubborn" Keaira insisted.
"And so are you" Benjen replied, with a grin.
"Have you heard about the offer for my brother to become Hand of the King?" Benjen inquired.
"I'm surprised Ned so readily accepted. Leaving Winterfell won't be easy for him" Keaira sighed.
"I think there is more to it than that. He will be in danger in Kings Landing, so will the girls" Benjen went on, as Keaira frowned.
"You think someone will try to hurt them?" Keaira asked.
"Look at what happened to the last Hand of the King" Benjen stated.
"You think I should go with them?" Keaira realised.
"Perhaps…I want my brother and his children protected, yet…I couldn't bare the thought of anyone harming you" Benjen admitted.
"I can protect myself" Keaira insisted.
"You could better protect yourself if you practised fighting with your fire" Benjen started.
"Not this again. I don't believe I was given this power to hurt people" Keaira retorted, with a shake of her head.
"That is a noble ideal. I see Ned has been rubbing off on you" Benjen smiled, sadly.
"You say that like it's a bad thing" Keaira frowned.
"Sometimes my brother is too damn noble for his own good" Benjen sighed.
"I will see what Ned has to say to the matter of me travelling with them" Keaira announced.
"If you do this, Keaira…you cannot trust anyone in King's Landing" Benjen warned her, as she nodded.
"And you must promise me one other thing…you will keep yourself alive no matter the cost" Benjen exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Keaira questioned.
"You are so young, you do not yet know the horrors of this world. You must learn to put yourself first, Keaira. Or this world your entering will eat you alive" He explained, as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Lord Stark, can I speak with you?" Keaira called out in the hallways, a few hours later.
"Please, you know you may always call me Ned" He smiled down at her.
"There is a matter I wish to discuss with you…I am not sure how you will feel about it" Keaira announced.
"Go on" Ned nodded.
"I wish to travel with you and the girls to King's Landing" Keaira informed him.
"Why? Winterfell is your home. It's safe here" Ned replied.
"Exactly…you are going to a dangerous city with only your young daughters" Keaira went on.
"And my men who would lay down their lives for me" Ned exclaimed.
"Still, Robb will stay here, with your other sons. And I certainly don't think Lady Catelyn needs any protection" Keaira grinned, making Ned smile.
"That she does not…you would put yourself at risk for this family?" Ned questioned.
"You are my family" Keaira confessed, as Ned placed his hand on her shoulder.
"That you are. I agree, you should come with us. But you must remember you are only fifteen years of this world-" Ned started.
"Sixteen within two moons" Keaira cut in, making Ned laugh.
"You must allow my men and I to protect you, Keaira. Otherwise you can not join us" Ned told her, as she nodded.
"I will inform Sansa and Arya. I'm sure the latter will be thrilled" Ned smiled.
She knew that she would have to leave soon, and she still hadn't said goodbye to Jon. If she did, it would suddenly be real. She was so desperate for him not go, but he seemed set on the idea. She decided to leave him until last. It was easiest saying goodbye to Rickon, as he didn't really understand what was going on, thinking that she would only be gone for a little while. It was harder saying goodbye to Bran, who still had not woken. She hated leaving him, she wanted to stay and protect him.
"I'm sorry, Bran. I'll be back soon" She told him, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"Do you really believe that?" Lady Catelyn inquired, having not left her son's bedside in days.
"…I don't know. I hope so. I suppose you will be happy to have me gone" Keaira stated.
"I have never hated you, Keaira. However, I do not trust you" Catelyn explained.
"Because of my friendship with Jon?" She suggested, angrily,
"Not only that…you're dangerous, I have always seen that" Catelyn informed her.
With a shake of her head, she turned to leave, only stopping when Catelyn called after her.
"Will you protect my girls? Please" Catelyn begged.
"I thought you said you didn't trust me" Keaira retorted.
"I have no one else to ask" Catelyn cried.
"As long as I am around, no harm will come to them" Keaira promised.
"It's true then? You're leaving" Keaira heard a voice boom from behind her.
"I have to, Robb" Keaira sighed, as he nodded.
"I will miss you, perhaps the most" He admitted.
Keaira surged forward, as he wrapped his arms around her, as she rested her face in the crook of his neck.
"Will you be all right here?" Keaira questioned.
"I can look after myself, Keaira" Robb laughed, pulling away.
"Make sure you're still alive when I come back" She told him.
"Just make sure you come back" He pleaded.
"Don't worry, this won't be the last you see of me" Keaira smiled at him.
"I think we would have be good together, you and I" Robb stated.
"We would have" Keaira exclaimed, letting out a sigh and turning away.
Taking a deep breath, Keaira walked towards the gates, knowing that it was now or never to say goodbye to Jon. She couldn't say goodbye on the road, it didn't seem right somehow, it should be at their home.
"Jon…" She called over to him, as she approached him.
"Keaira, I-" Jon was cut off, by Keaira pulling him into a bone crushing hug.
"Don't go" She cried, a few tears dropping down her face.
She had been putting on a strong face all day but now, she couldn't keep it in anymore.
"I have to. You know that. I don't belong here. Besides, you'll be coming up to the wall soon enough. On your sixteenth name day, that should still count" Jon went on.
"But what if something happens to you? You could be killed!" Keaira exclaimed.
"I won't. I'll still be there when you come" Jon insisted.
"Don't do anything stupid" Keaira told him.
"Of course I won't, have you met me?" Jon joked.
"That's why I am worried" Keaira replied, a small smile on her face.
"Will you be alright in King's Landing?" Jon asked her.
"I'll look after the others" Keaira promised him.
"And yourself" Jon stated.
"Promise me we will meet again" Keaira said, sadly.
Jon then cupped her face with his hand, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"I promise" He replied, pulling away.
He then jumped on his horse, and looked down at her as tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't tell him of her true feelings, otherwise she knew he would never leave her. He needed to go to the Wall, to find his true calling, it was the only way to make him happy. He certainly wouldn't find it in King's Landing.
"Goodbye, Jon" Keaira announced.
"Goodbye, Aira" Jon mumbled, using her nickname.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! That will be the last we see of Jon for a while, but don't worry we'll still hear lots about him as Keaira will miss him a lot. Please leave a review:)
Farrahjohnson21: Thanks for the review:)
Bella-swann11: I think Keaira made the decision in this chapter to put Jon above her own feelings and to let him go. I think it's true what you said about Jaime being very passionate about the things he cares about, and Keaira will slowly become one of those things. Thanks for the review:)