Yeah its been a while I'm gonna try and update all my stories this is only getting updated as I already had it written. BTW this is unbetad

Ayla rose from her bed the next day, her handmaiden Amei Flowers picked out a thick dress of a shade of black, all her dresses were that colour as proof of her mourning before she sat Ayla in front of her vanity table and began combing through her thick golden curls. Rodrick had once joked that she was a Lannister with her hair of gold, Ayla smirked at the memory allowing her mask to slip. Amei pulled her curls that hung around her heart shaped face and fell down her back and began braiding her hair so that she had two braids coming from her temples to meet at the back of her head and join into a single braid down her back. Ayla felt her eyes fill with tears at the thought of Rick, she mentally shook herself at her weakness that was threatening to show. Amei sensing her mistress' distress took the girl's hands and gave her a weak smile. That small act of kindness caused Ayla to throw herself into Amei's open arms, seeking comfort from the older girl, who gently stroked her curls before Ayla pulled away her cheeks turning red in embarrassment. Amei gently pulled her closer placing a motherly kiss upon her forehead, showing that Ayla could be free to express her emotions to her.

Ayla gave her a small smile and said

"Thank you Amei, some times I wish you could speak as you would be wiser than any I have met."

The mute flushed in gratitude and gave Ayla a loving smile.

"I suppose it is time I broke my fast." Ayla spoke softly and let out a small laugh at Amei's stern, nodding expression, whose expression changed at her small laugh to a look of relief that the little girl she raised and knew who was so happy and full of life was still there, she was just hidden under her grief. Amei smiled sadly as Ayla's mask slipped on hiding her emotions from the world and the strangers that she now lived with.

She slowly walked into the main hall with grace beyond her years. Her blue eyes as cold as the coldest winter as she took her seat between Lord Stark and Robb.

"How did you sleep, Ayla?" Lord Eddard asked her while bouncing an energetic three year old, who Ayla felt the urge to play with but refrained from doing so.

"I slept better than I thought I would, Lord Eddard."

She replied simply taking a small bread roll and she began eating it so she would be unable to talk.

Then little Arya began to get restless and climbed onto Ayla's lap much to her horror which slipped through her mask as Arya began stroking her silken curls and began to giggle when they tickled her nose. Ayla's lips tugged at one corner giving the toddler a small smile. The Septa then took Arya away from her mask slipped back in place as she excused herself from the company of the Starks. She found herself wandering around the castle, which she compared constantly to Ironwrath which would always be her home within her heart. She was distracted by her surroundings, when she bumped into someone. She smiled when she saw that it was Jon.

"Hello Jon."

"Hello Ayla, how are you?" he asked

"I well as I can be, and you Jon?" she smiled

"I am well truly, do you want to see the Weirwood tree." he asked shyly

"I would love to, would you show me Jon?" she asked wanting to get to know the quiet boy.

"It would be my honor." Jon smiled offering her his arm. She gave him a genuine smile and graciously linked her arm with his. They walked through the castle and through the courtyard.

"Jon?" Robb shouted as he ran up to them "Where are you going, Snow? Lady Ayla?"

"I'm taking Ayla to see the Weirwood tree, do you want to join us Stark?" Jon smirked as Robb nodded and offered Ayla his other arm which she accepted. She felt an odd sense of comfort walking with the two sons of Lord Stark. Ayla gasped in wonder at the sight before her, she worshipped the old gods and the new but she had never seen a Weirwood tree no matter how many time she had begged to visit the Isle of Faces, but she was always told that she was too young. She walked toward the tree her fingers tracing the face then the red stains. She sent a silent prayer to the gods that her life would become less filled with death and filled with more life and even love. She turned and looked at the brothers both of the were smiling at her and she felt some of her walls around her heart begin to sway. Maybe just maybe she might be happy with the Starks and they could give her hope, a light in the darkness of her grief. She smiled gently back at them before running off and shouting

"Bet you can't catch me, either of you."

The boys smiled before running after her.

Right there is gonna be a time jump in the next chapter

- The Archfiend