Chapter Three
A Handmaiden's Duty

-.-
Fia Baltimoore
Winterfell
_._

As far as the business with the lemon cakes went, it seemed that Fia had nothing to be worried about at all. True to Jon Snow's words; Lady Sansa and Arya weren't angry at the misshapen pastry. The younger Stark girl even used her hands to gather the crumbs to her palm and popped them into her mouth with her head thrown back, much to Sansa's disgust. At first, she didn't know how to react when she saw yet more direwolves with the girls.

While Lady Sansa's direwolf was as small as a common wolf and looked quite tame, Arya's was large and it had gray fur that can blend very well in wolfswood forestry. She had called it 'Nymeria' and if Fia's memory served her well, it was the same name as the famed warrior queen from the South. Predictably Sansa had named her own, 'Lady'.

The firey haired girl offered Fia half of the lemon cake but she politely declined, partly because she was too guilty about ruining her lady's favourite food and she knew that it wouldn't be right for her to intrude the boundary between a lady and her handmaiden.

'Know your boundaries' Melina, her aunt's personal handmaiden who hailed from the Free Cities advised. 'If you have proved your loyalty and gained their trust, that's the only time when you can truly be their friend.'

Sansa shook her head in irritation as Arya ignored her lecture and wiped her hands on her trousers, making her sister frown before she looked away and daintily ate her piece. Fia could hear her hum low as she chewed the cake, it was quite amusing actually. Although Sansa tried to act mature she was still, like her, a young woman who was still a budding flower on the way of womanhood.

The sound of thundering hooves that was coming closer had caught their attention. Arya was the first to stand while Fia scrambled to her feet; trying to sense if there was trouble but young Arya had already broken into a sprint towards the sound, her loose braid swung to and fro on the air.

Regaining her senses, she held a hand to Sansa to help her up; which the Stark took in appreciation. "Father has returned!" her lady exclaimed happily but didn't rush forward to greet them like her sister. Four stallions had galloped to them and two more direwolves ran side by side with the lord of Winterfell.

The oldest of the lot was obviously Eddard Stark and as soon as Fia saw him, she immediately understood why most had felt some level of intimidation with the Lord of the North.

He has a long solemn face with dark hair that reached his shoulders and his small beard was already peppered with several gray hairs, making him older than what his actual age was. His eyes was a blank gray when it fell to her form but as soon as he shifted his gaze to Sansa, it was as soft as the mist that waned in the earliest of mornings. Mayhaps the frozen gaze that smallfolks had whispered to describe him was during a battle, she thought. His stance was firm and decisive even as he climbed down from his white stallion; she felt so small when he approached them.

Remembering her courtesies, she bowed low to Lord Stark and introduced herself; "My lord, my name's Fianne Holt. I was appointed to be Lady Sansa and Lady Arya's handmaiden". He said nothing and she dare not move as she could feel his eyes bore upon her. But when she finally looked up, he gave her a short nod before patting Sansa's head and went inside the Great Keep. Two men and a young boy slid down from their steeds as well.

No one could blame her that she had mistaken Jon as the trueborn son of the lord as she laid her eyes on the real Robb Stark. His face was more of a Tully. Though he had the dark locks like Jon's, his facial features was more of his mother's. Nonetheless, he looked dignified without coming off as boastful and Fia tilted her head slightly in amusement when he easily lifted Arya off her feet playfully. The direwolf beside him was entirely different from Jon's. His wolf had a smoky gray fur with bright yellow eyes.

Then there was the boy who was struggling to get the fur coat off of his body and his direwolf was nipping on the hem of the clothing to help him had walked behind him. This one must be Bran Stark. Like Robb, he favoured his mother's side as well. The deep blue eyes were a Tully feature as well as the auburn hair but the shade was so dark that many might mistake it for brown.

The oldest Stark finally let go of Arya before he took notice of the newcomer. Feeling a bit repetitive, Fia bowed down and introduced herself to the remaining Stark children. Robb was friendly enough and even tried to make her feel comfortable by making a (supposed) joke that made Sansa shake her head and beckoned Fia to follow her to the castle while Arya studied the three dead deer that was strapped behind the stallions. There was another man with them; this one she was sure wasn't a Stark.

He was lean and undeniably good-looking like Robb but there was a sense of arrogance and misplaced playfulness on his face as soon as his eyes slanted with hers. It might be her cautious nature or his lecherous look that forced the hairs on the back of her neck stand that made her wary of this man. She tore her eyes away and found Sansa looking at her with a questioning gaze.

Fia shook her head and shadowed her steps. All the while she could feel a pair of eyes boring at her that made her hands twitch for a bit. She wanted to look back to see what Arya was doing but she ultimately decided to follow Sansa instead. The younger female Stark was too independent for her services anyway and she could feel her presence wasn't exactly sitting too well with the girl.

"I suppose we'll be having deer for dinner" Sansa mused as they climbed the stone steps "Do you like deer meat Fia? I find them a bit too gamy, I prefer chicken."

It was a random thought but Fia just guessed that Sansa just wanted to have someone to talk to about mundane things. She for one never had a girl in Hailstrom to talk to other than her mother. Even the maids and smallfolk were either too busy with their duties or they just ignored her presence altogether.

Deer meat was a rarity in Hailstrom. While the animal was bountiful in the other parts of wolfswood, they never stayed at the woods near the seat of her house. They mostly culture the crops that can survive harsh winters and grow below the ground. She was more familiar with roots and tubers than meat, even chicken.

"I don't mind the deer meat, my lady" she answered as they continued their way to the Library Tower to learn poetry from Septa Mordane. While she had kept the faith if the Old Gods, she can't deny the woman's natural kindness that reminded her of her mother.

-.-
Jon Snow
_._

"It looks like you had a good trip" Jon commented as he unstrapped a doe from the back of Robb's horse. Bran's face broke into a smile as he quickly recanted the first time he went out hunting with his father and brother.

"I shot the arrow to one of the deer's knee!" he exclaimed, "I mean- I missed a few times-"

"More like a dozen" Robb jested, making Bran poke out a tongue and continued on with his tale. They had traveled to the west of wolfswood where a herd of deer was plentiful. As always, Robb was the fastest to get the kill. He was good at everything.

It wasn't just at marksmanship but also in great many things. Jon won't admit it but he was jealous of his half-brother solely for his importance in Ned's eyes.

Whenever their father watched Robb at at sword practice or training with a crossbow, there was a light of immense pride in his gray eyes. He had longed to see the same in Ned's eyes whenever he looked at him but he has yet to see it. It was one of those moments that he cursed his existence. For him, it would have been kinder if Ned had just left him with his birth mother; at the very least he would be able to escape Lady Catelyn's anger and other people's stares and whispers.

He heaved the doe's carcass on his shoulder to carry it to the kitchens for Gage to cook when he noticed that the Greyjoy was still looking at the direction Sansa and her handmaiden went. He didn't like the smirk the cocky bastard was showing.

It was no secret that his lord father's ward enjoyed the company of a whore or two. But the way he looked at the girl (whose name he didn't know), it seems as he will want a new bedwarmer and the handmaiden became his target. He may need to talk to Robb about this...

"Oi, get your lazy arse and take this to the butcher" Theon barked at him, earning a frown from both Robb and Bran.

"Theon" Robb started but Jon had already walked towards the kitchens; he didn't want his half-brother to feel obligated to protect him. He can take care of himself. A lone wolf. There was no one to help him, no one to watch his back other than Ghost. Only he could help himself.

A moon's turn had passed and he started to see the handmaiden everywhere. She was always by Sansa's side and Arya kept complaining to him that Sansa was completely taken with the girl, acting more as a friend than a handmaiden. "She should've been her sister" Arya snarked as she sliced through the air with a wooden sword. Most of the swords in the training ground was too large and heavy for her. It gave Jon an idea on what to give Arya for her nameday.

He leaned against the fence as he watched her try to stab an invisible enemy with her blunt weapon. If he was asked to be truthful about Arya's 'technique' he would likened her to a clumsy child waving a walking stick. But he was sure that once she would get a proper weapon, no doubt she can master it.

And her opinion with the handmaiden had amused him. Normally Arya would bemoan the fact that there was another pair of eyes that will watch her every move but all she had said about the girl was how Sansa gushed about her in mealtimes. And it seemed that the girl had followed his advice of not calling Arya 'my lady' which his half-sister was immensely pleased with.

"If I didn't know any better, Sansa would have asked mother and father to take Fia and replace me" she said nonchalantly as she stabbed the air.

"No one can replace you" Jon assured her "Your sister's just looking for some company who had similar... hobbies like hers. What was her name again?"

"Fianne" she answered "from House Holt. Said she was taken in by the Tallharts as a ward."

He looked up to the sky; it gave a promise of a clear day as no cloud was on sight and he could see several shrikes flying to the South. A thought passed his mind, "Shouldn't you be in the sept for your needle work?"

The girl gave him an exasperated look as if telling him that he knows the answer to his own question. The sound of footsteps and the figure of the person they had been talking about earlier had made herself known.

She wasn't the same stumbling mousy thing he had first met. She was now maneuvering herself confidently and she was looking around not by amazement or worry but with a purposeful stride; she was looking for something. Or, judging by Arya's scowl- someone.

The handmaiden, he now known as Fia, was wearing a dark blue dress with her long dark hair curling at the ends. She was looking about in every corner, even inside a wine cask, which was a bit funny for him.

Finally she walked up to their spot and her grayish blue eyes widened when she saw Arya with a wooden sword at hand and her hair was in disarray.

Her face painted a thousand words but she took a great deal of care on what she says. No doubt the girl fears for her job, it was evident "Septa Mordane has asked for you" she said.

"I'm not going!" Arya firmly answered back. The bite of a Stark she-wolf was making itself known and Jon was subtly impressed that the other girl didn't flinch. Fia's face screamed that she was conflicted but for a while, she sighed and placed her joined hands on her lap.

"I don't want to go to some stupid embroidery lesson" Arya grounded out as she gripped the hilt of her 'weapon' tightly like the handmaiden was going to wretch it from her.

Now Jon felt sorry for Fia. Septa Mordane would no doubt say this to Arya's mother and in turn, Lady Catelyn might dismiss her for not doing her duties. But instead of arguing or begging with the girl, Fia just hung her head before saying, "Then it seems I can't find her after all" she sighed out loud as if there was an invisible audience behind her.

Both he and Arya looked at each other before they stared the handmaiden. Fia just offered Arya a grin and turned her heel towards the sept. But as she turned to the Great Keep she crossed paths with Theon. Her whole body went rigid and her hands began to shake.

The highborn ward leaned close to her ear and muttered some words that made her raise a hand and a rewarding 'SMACK!' that echoed for all to hear. The force was so strong that it pushed him to the ground with a look of bewilderment. Those who had witnessed that exchanged could still remember to this day how Theon Greyjoy was humiliated by a handmaiden.

Arya was the first to regain her senses between the two of them and a crooked grin escaped her lips, "I think I'm beginning to like her too."

-.-
Fia Baltimoore
_._

She felt her whole body shake and her face flushed with anger as her flesh hit Theon Greyjoy's face. How dare he?! He walked right in front of her with a certain swagger that was absent from all the Starks she had met and served for over a month. All those time, Lord Stark's ward had been trying to corner her with every chance he could get.

At first, she thought he was just teasing her, trying to fluster her and make a fool of herself but some of the maids had whispered that he was an insatiable man and he will try to conquer every woman in Winterfell if he could. She really wanted to say something to her lady and maybe even to Robb but she feared that he might retaliate. But the words that he dared utter to her ear had pushed her to her limit and she had slapped him as hard as she could. Her hand stung and there were people all around them but the look of surprise on his face was all worth it. Before she could move, Jon was already next to her with Arya on tow. His dark eyes, almost black, widened as he looked down at the man who crumpled at the floor.

"What the hell are you all looking at?!" Theon spat out as he stood up "Get back to your own business!" he directed to the workers and several soldiers who snickered.

Fia took an automatic step back and her ears started to heat up when he started to walk towards her. Jon was about to advance when a figure appeared from the corner-

"What's going on?"

They all turned to see Robb with Greywind on his heel. Theon sent her a venomous look before he turned his back on the new arrival and stalked away. Robb lifted a brow as he walked towards them and asked why Theon had a reddish welt on his face. Fia wanted to say that it was nothing but Arya was already telling her brother what had happened and how Fia had slapped him.

As Robb's shocked face turned to look at her, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks and her stomach fluttered uncomfortably. It must be nerves, she concluded, she had raised a hand on the lord's ward. No doubt that it would be called for punishment.

"What was it?" he asked so suddenly.

"... huh?" came her rather less than eloquent reply.

"What did he say to make you react like that?"

At first she thought he was just curious but she then thought that he may be genuinely concerned about the matter so she tried to make it as... innocent as she possibly could especially since Arya was present. So she lowered her voice and whispered "He... invited me to his bed..." Oh how she felt her skin flush as if it was on fire- and that was the condensed version of it. What he really suggested was utterly offensive and downright vulgar that it would make a tavern wench blush... in shame. Robb's lips had pursed into a firm straight line while Jon, who was at her left, shook his head in disapproval.

"Not to worry" Robb breathed out "I'll take care of it"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make such a big trouble out of this" she apologized. If this would mean any disturbance within the house then it would be a problem for her and her goal as well.

But he shook his head, "My father won't stand for that kind of vulgarity here and neither will I" Robb retreated to the castle with Greywind shadowing his steps. It was unusual for her to meet a man with honour and the eldest Stark had proven to be his father's son.

Fia gave an affectionate gaze as she stared at Robb's back before she realizes that Jon was looking at her. Heat spread through her face before she cleared her throat and excused herself.

It was embarrassing.

She knew for a fact that Robb and Jon were very close; no doubt there was a large possibility that he might sing that particular moment with Robb. Her hair swayed with the wind as she continued to run towards the sept before she stopped and composed herself. She had to keep calm and go on like nothing has happened.

Both her lady and Septa Mordane had looked up from their embroidery, as well as the other girls who were busy with their stitch work when she opened the door. The older woman frowned when she saw that Arya wasn't with her.

"She hides too well" was all she answered and for a moment she saw Sansa frown for a second before she patted the empty seat beside her. Fia gratefully took her seat and continued the unfinished needlework in her hands, shaking slightly as she remembered the look Theon had sent her. He may not be a wolf but he was dangerous and she feared that he will seek revenge for publically raising a hand on him and getting away with it.

Days had passed since that encounter with Theon and Fia was relieved that he didn`t seek her out to get revenge. The afternoons had grown quite cool and sometimes her lady asked for her company in the Godswood. The weirwood trees here had more life than the ones back at Hailstrom. Mayhaps because not too many people believed in the Old Gods anymore and the trees can only be vibrant by the strength of faith. Lady Sansa bowed her head to contemplate and so did she. Fia prayed for the good health of her family, the prosperity of her House, regain her father's sanity and make allies. Finally Sansa lifted up her head and stroked Lady's soft fur with a musing face.

"Is something wrong, my lady?" she asked.

It took Sansa a few more moments before she inquired, "What is your dream Fia?"

That was certainly unexpected.

"My... dream?"

Her lady nodded as she continued to pet the wolf that lay upon her feet, "My dream is to become the Queen of Westeros" she said, a faint smile on her lips. "To be loved by everyone and rule with a gentle hand. I want to help the smallfolk and live the rest of my life with a family of my own."

"That's a lovely dream" Fia commented. It was ambitious but a good dream nonetheless. Her lady was kind and gentle; it wouldn't be hard to believe that she will be loved by everyone. "Someday it will happen" she encouraged her. By how, she didn't know but she knew that once Sansa had set her mind about something, she wouldn't just let go. In a way, that stubborn determination was the same with Arya.

"My dream... is to help my family" she whispered but the lass next to her had heard it. No doubt Sansa would be curious to know what was troubling her family. How she wished that she could open up to Sansa so she could help her but that would destroy the subtlety of her mission. A girl from a disgraced house would certainly put her back to Hailstrom or maybe even on the execution block as she dared to lie about her origins to the Lord of the North.

But the gods favoured her as Sansa said nothing and continued to watch the lake where several crimson leaves floated on the surface. Fia lifted her head and closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze caress her skin in a soothing manner. It was a peaceful moment that she never wanted to end. Small chimes of the bells had called from the sept. Sansa stood up and so did Lady; it was a time for prayers with the Faith of the Seven.

The good thing of having Sansa as her lady was that the girl didn't mind that Fia kept her firm faith with the Old Gods her father had also kept. She followed Sansa to the small sept and let Sansa dismiss her for a moment.

Fia wandered through the keep and went to the kitchens. Gage was a portly sort with a gritty language but he was a jolly man who provided good company whenever she wandered into the kitchens to see if there were any lemon cakes that Sansa always asked for.

She almost choked on her own spittle as Gage opened the door and blood was splattered on his apron. What almost made her nauseate was the pink and green carcass in his hands "We'll have deer stew tonight" he grunted and dropped the entrails into a bucket. Fia squirmed as she heard the viscera made a sloshing sound and bubbled in the bucket. He snorted as he wiped his hands on his already filthy apron, "Stupid boy made too much bread. How are we going to store 'em?! Tch, should'a left him wash the dishes 'nstead!"

She was sure Gage was now talking to himself before cleared her throat. He sighed and crossed his arms, sweat trickled down his forearms, "We haven't made any lemon cakes" he said, "Too busy thinking where we could throw those bloody bread off."

"I can take them" she offered. The man sent her a questioning gaze before he guffawed, "You? Pardon me m'lady, but you don't look like you can even finish a whole loaf!" His boisterous laughter echoed through the Hunter's gate; the kennel master even poked out his head to see what the commotion was about.

Actually, Fia planned to give the basket to Lady Sansa and she could give it to winter town for the smallfolk to share. It may not be much but it can cheer Sansa and it will give her some sense of what it would be like. She waited for Gage to hand over three large baskets with dozens of untouched loaves. Thankfully he had washed his hands when he gave it to her. There was enough bread to feed at least five families although she wondered how in Seven Hells someone can bake far too much bread without noticing it. She started to walk towards the Great Keep when she saw something blocking her path.

It was Ghost.

The pure white direwolf was staring at the food in her arms. He started to walk towards her with his ears pointing up and she can't help but move back as he started to approach her with his red eyes fixated on the bread.

"Ghost, no" she tried to intimidate the beast but he didn't really care so all Fia could do was run and yelped "Stop it! Stop following me! Ghost no!" Several loaves of bread had fallen from the baskets but she continued to run. She looked back and saw the direwolf was easily catching up to her with a large tongue lolling on the side.

She heard someone called for the direwolf and she continued to run before she reached the kennels. Fia could hear Maester Luwin and the kennelmaster, Farlen laughing at her state. Her hair was dishelved that it resembled a rat's nest and her face was painted with red blotches as she tried to regain her breath.

With a bruised pride, she turned around to see Jon holding Ghost by the scruff of his neck with a loaf of bread clamped tightly in his jaws and an apologetic look on Jon's face. Her lips quivered and her hands were cold and clammy from the adrenaline that rushed through her veins. Fia felt her cheeks flare up as the men's laughs continued on. With a huff, she held her head high and continued on her way like nothing happened.

It wasn't before long she heard someone approach he from behind and she saw Jon Snow trying to keep up with her with several loaves in hand. Ghost was silently following him as usual.

"I apologize for Ghost. He doesn't usually wander off and chase other people-"

"Well he keeps doing it to me!" she hissed as she stomped through the ground, purposely kicking any rocks that stood her way.

"It's because you always have food on you" he quipped. Fia didn't know if he was stating a fact or it was a jape but she couldn't find any humour in their current 'situation'. "I'm not the only one with food all the time! It's also only the second time I have some food on me" she placed the baskets on a bench and turned to Jon with her eyes flared.

-.-
Jon Snow
_._

It was strange to see someone lenient but became as feral as a shadowcat one moment later. Her eyes flashed with unbridled anger, like a spark of fire under a thick sheet of ice. She placed her hands on her hips and had the gall to say-

"You should just tie your wolf on the stables at all times!" she growled.

Jon felt himself bristle and crossed his arms across his chest, "I'm not going to deprive him of his freedom!"

"Then he'll just keep following me!" she complained.

Jon let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head, "He only followed you because you keep having food on your person!" he barked out. His patience was wearing thin; this girl doesn't have the right to order him in regards to Ghost. The girl made an annoyed "Ooh!" and stomped her foot on the ground. He raised a brow at her immature display and stood his ground.

"If you would just stop bringing pieces of your food every single time then Ghost wouldn't have to follow you!"

"It's not my food!" she exclaimed, her hands flew to her sides, he can see that her hands shaking but she squeezed them into fists and copied his stance. It was obvious that she wasn't going to stand down. The girl might rival Arya in terms of stubbornness and it would be a long day if he didn't decide to take the honourable manner and let her be on her way. So he took a large breath and lowered his arms to the side to look submissive.

"Fine. I will try to keep him away from you if it will make you feel any better" he relented, making her body relax and he turned to walk away before he heard her sigh out and called out to him-

"Wait!"

'What does she want now?' he drawled in his mind as he faced her, his jaws clenched firmly. She dropped her gaze to her hands that she was now twiddling before she whispered, "I-it's not that I don't like Ghost… I just don't like being chased around by a wolf almost as big as a horse…"

That, he could empathized; anyone would indeed be alarmed if a huge animal came barreling towards them whether it was a familiar sight or not. And she made a point about letting Ghost roam around the keep freely. There was already a strain within the house because of his presence and if Lady Catelyn were to hear than Jon's direwolf was causing Sansa's handmaiden some distress, she would surely have Ghost placed in the kennels permanently or worse.

Curiosity got the best of him when he remembered the large baskets she had diligently carried. Surely she can't mean to devour it all by herself so he dared to ask, "What do you plan to do with that many bread?" Those were the cook's finest flour bread made by the mills so surely it wasn't meant for the pigs, and she wasn't a lowborn handmaiden to be ordered to do such labour. Unless she volunteered to do the job herself.

The girl tugged a lock of hair and kept her head down before she exhaled audibly and went towards the baskets, "I'm actually going to keep these baskets of loaves by the sept to wait for Lady Sansa. We're going to give these out to the smallfolk in winter town."

Jon was taken aback; Sansa rarely ventured out to winter town out of free will and his instincts told him that it wasn't particularly Sansa who suggested this kind of deed. Although winter town wasn't a rundown place full of beggars, there were still starving smallfolk who can't keep all their crops and livestock because of the harsh winters and they could barely feed themselves with such meager coin from their daily wages. He saw her struggle with the first two baskets as she piled them one on top of the other and when she tilted her right arm, the third basked tipped out of the bench and almost fell on the ground had Jon not rushed in and caught it.

"Oh goodness, thank you!" she breathed out with much relief "They're really heavy!"

Actually, it was quite light. The girl lacked any semblance of physical strength but held this fact from her, knowing that it might spark another fight between them. "Normally," he spoke up; earning her full attention "A handmaiden would just keep her lady company and retain her within the Great Keep." For a second or two she stayed silent with a thoughtful expression on her face, he thought she looked dispirited and will back down from her plan but she looked at him with a teasing twinkle in her oddly shaded eyes,

"Then it seems I'm not 'normal' at all."

Jon Snow found himself fully agreeing to a woman's words for the first time in his life.

-.-

Catelyn Stark

_._

The woman lifted her head and opened her eyes to the statues that represented the God of Seven. Beside her, Sansa was still in the middle of her prayers, kneeling down with her equally fire-kissed locks curtaining her lovely face. It was now strange to see Sansa without Fia behind her or sitting next to her daughter even if she had only came to their service by the turn of a moon. Cat had a hunch that the Tallhart ward was also letting Arya skip the lessons whenever she pleased. Septa Mordane had whispered that she will always return with the same reason of not finding the missing Stark when Cat knew that Arya was in the company of that… boy. Gods help her that she may do something that she will regret but that boy was a frequent reminder of how Ned had strayed away from her, breaking his vow and staining their pride, especially hers. What she hated most about that boy was how much he looked like Ned whereas all her sons had taken the Tully features.

A threat.

The bastard would be a threat to the throne of the North if he so freely wanted it. That was one of the reasons why she made Ned promise to not legitimize Jon Snow. His very name filled her with anger and spite that she couldn`t even look at the boy without glaring at him. And Ned… he kept the identity of Jon`s birthmother a secret, even to her. How she had raged for days when she found out about his indiscretion, how he had humiliated her throughout the whole kingdom by producing a bastard. She loved Ned and she still does… but she can never forgive him for the existence of the bastard. Never.

She stood up quietly and walked out of the sept earlier than intended. There were voices by the doors of the sept and eavesdropping was something she frowned upon but she heard that deep voice that was akin of scraping nails against glass for Cat, she stepped out to see Fia, the handmaiden, place a large basket of bread by the steps of the sept and he was following her with two more in his arms. Cat`s blue eyes narrowed into slits and watched as the girl thanked the boy and proceeded to count the bread; that`s when Cat made herself known.

Fia was quick to bow at the lady`s presence while Jon just backed away automatically and hung his head down. He wouldn't even meet her gaze with his own. 'Good' she thought, 'Let him know his place'. She nodded back at Fia who just gave a small smile before going back to her chore. For what she was planning to do with those bread Cat didn`t know but she was more concerned about why the boy was hovering around Sansa and Arya`s handmaiden. Subtlety was an art she had perfected but it crumbles every time the boy was within her sights. If he thinks he could influence Sansa`s favour for him through Fianne, she won`t hesitate to dismiss the girl.

Family, duty, honour.

Those were the words of a Tully and even if Ned had taken her under his protection and as his wife, those words will always be stamped into her mind.

The door to her and Ned`s chambers were slightly ajar and she peered in to see Ned holding a letter with his hand on his chin, his face serious. She entered their room and walked towards her husband, surprised to see the broken seal of the king on the envelope. "What is it?" she asked, it has been a long time since King Robert or Jon Arryn had communicated with Ned and the expression of his face had spoken volumes on what the letter might contain. Ned placed the letter down and ran a hand through his hair,

"Robert's planning to visit Winterfell and accompany… someone 'til we figured things out" he sighed.

This was a serious matter if Ned was unhappy to have his oldest friend here in Winterfell. Surely they didn't have any sort of disagreement?

"Why would he come to Winterfell at such short notice?"

Ned said nothing before he gave the letter for Cat to read. Her eyes scanned every word hastily and the last line almost made her drop the parchment in shock. It can't be… Had the king of the Seven Kingdoms had possibly lost his mind?! This was unspeakable and… and… a disgrace! Ned knew what she was thinking as he hung his head low and sighed,

"He found out he had a bastard and it was by his command that the boy will be brought here in Winterfell and legitimize him when the day comes."

"Wha- what was he… a bastard?!" Cat almost shrieked as her hands gripped the parchment tightly, tearing the sides with her nails "Has he gone mad?! This could unbalance the power of the Iron Throne! His trueborn is Joffrey! No, I can't abide with this."

"It's the order of the king and as the Lord of the North I must answer to the crown!" Ned's temper made itself known, reminding his wife that he was indeed the lord of the north and it was his duty to carry out the king's wishes. All Cat could do was sit on the foot of their bed and watch the fire that danced in the hearth.

_._

Next on Winter's Song

"Is he really King Robert's bastard?"

.

"If I were you, I would tread lightly"

.

"Hey I know you; you're the wench Greyjoy's panting after!"

.

"Words are winds and I want to be assured that your loyalty is with this house"

.

AN: (In a Janice voice (from the TV show FRIENDS)) OH. MY. GOD!

You guys are so awesome. I mean, I was happy to get 2 or 3 reviews but you guys gave me a whole lot more! God this made me even more excited to write lengthier chapters! Of course, a special thanks to those who had taken their time in writing a review for this fic:

VoldemortTheMusical

MLHJ91 : (Blushes) Oh stop you!

KBlack25: One thing I can't tolerate in fanfictions are Mary Sues and Gary Stues and reverse-harem (all guys fall in love with one girl)

Lady of Starlight: Thank you and I look forward to know what you think about them :)

AllHailTyrion: Yeah… I had a writer's block on Finne Min Senter but I can update it (hopefully) in 3 days. I will try to incorporate this fic but I'm not sure if it will mix with the canon timeline… I love Robb way too much

Guest (Anon)

Molly

LymaT – Aw thanks! I try to reread and rewatch GoT to get their characterizations to a tee! I absolutely have a girl-crush on Gemma heheh xD

Guest 2 (Anon) : Thanks I try to keep the story in a good pace.

Guys… this isn't a RobbxOCxJon pairing alright? It will be purely JonxOC all the way. And I wanna ask… do you guys have any theory about Jon's parentage? I used my own theory with this story but I won't say which though xD

I wanna know your thoughts to the story, the characterization and your opinion on Fia.

So as usual read and review please because:

No review = No updates

(Why? Because I don't really care for Alerts and Faves since they're useless to me)