Gara

-ooo-

The yard was cold. Freezing in fact, Robb's teeth barely chattered though – he was used to the cold. The chilly breeze whipped the fur at his shoulders, and he sighed leaning back against a wooden beam – his eyes were fixed on the back door. Off in the distance, the rosy leaves of the heart tree could be seen peeking out above all the other greenery of the Godswood even in this dim light. Robb prayed Gara would hurry, he was anxious to see her. Despite himself this past year, Robb had missed Gara very much; he missed her strange wit, her humour. They were always laughing with one another, Robb smiled faintly at the thought.

Footsteps pattered to his left and he looked round; his breath hitched, it was Gara. Her expression was pensive and she was wringing her pale hands, Robb barely noticed this and strode over to her and engulfed her in a warm embrace. It had been too long. Gara giggled and returned the hug and sighed into the warm furs as he took her off her feet and held her close. Finally pulling away, Robb smiled and kept a hold of her delicate hands and smiled down at her,

"Lady Gara," He said formally making Gara roll her eyes and step back. With a deep curtsy, Gara replied regally, "Young Lord Stark." Robb laughed aloud at that,

"I suppose my father's the only Lord Stark." Gara laughed too and nodded. "What brings you out at this late hour?" She enquired playfully with a frown; Robb's brow knotted and he exhaled as if thinking of an answer before saying, "I was meant to meet a girl here, but she's not shown, Northern girls are terribly rude, I'm afraid..." Gara looked appalled and took his hands and said earnestly, "Well then, maybe my company will suffice until she shows up?" Robb's grin was playful and he cocked an eyebrow before replying seriously as he tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow,

"Nothing would please me more." He smiled and Gara bowed her head and allowed him to guide her down to the archery butts. They walked in silence until Robb leaned down at said; "You look lovely tonight," Gara looked down modestly and blushed, "Thank you – as do you." Robb chuckled and stepped in front of her and leaned against a railing, Gara stood before him. "According to my mother I look like a savage," Gara frowned,

"A savage, are you sure?"

Robb nodded, "Aye, she's having us prettied up for the King's visit. Luckily I'm not as attached to my whiskers as old Rodrik. They'll be shaved by the morrow." Gara pouted and stepped forward, placing a small hand on Robb's bearded jaw – she felt the dark hair tickle her fingers, and said, "That's unfortunate...I like your beard." Robb laughed and placed his hands around Gara's slim waist and pulled her closer to him, their eyes were level as he mocked, "So, Gara likes men with beards? Rodrik'll be thrilled." Gara rolled her eyes and batted his arm and eyed him sternly, "Oho, yes, Ser Rodrik is most certainly a man after my own heart!" Robb's handsome face was thoughtful a moment, his blue eyes watching Gara's face intently – Gifu was right, thought Gara; Robb did look...hunrgy. His intense expression dulled as quickly as it flared, and his features lost their hardness as he softly swept a tress of hair out of Gara's eyes.

Their closeness was quite maddening. Gara could feel Robb's fingers pressed gently into her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. Her hands were rested demurely on his chest, but her torso and his were so close that she could practically feel his heart beat against her breast. The silence endured until Gara smiled shyly and looked down; Robb saw her lick her lips before uttering completely randomly, "Robb, y-you...You don't want to lick me, do you?"

Silence. Robb's face was totally blank and she felt his grip lessen a little as he stared at her. Now, Robb knew Gara was a modest thing, not one for bawdy talk, or even sultry talk – she was still too much a girl, which was fine. Stifling a laugh, Robb nodded and held her a little closer, seeing her embarrassment – he manoeuvred gently, "Lick you? What do you mean by that?" Gara chuckled thinly and shook her head, "I-I meant, it's nothing...It's just something Gifu said." At the mention of Gifu's name, Robb sighed and leaned his head back exposing his neck to Gara; looking at it, she felt an urge to kiss it. Which was strange, of all Robb's qualities; his kind and understanding nature, his patience and good humour; not to mention his good looks, Gara never thought to think that his neck was attractive. His eyes, his arms, smile; yes. His neck? No. She shook it off and watched as he smiled warmly and said,

"I thought you gave no credit to what that witch says," Gara giggled and eyed him, "No...All she said was," She stopped and Robb leaned in closer, his face was only centimetres from hers,

"What'd she say?" He asked softly and Gara shook her head, "She said that if I was a dinner, you'd lick the plate clean...I-I didn't really get it." She confessed sadly and jumped when a bark of laughter erupted from Robb. His head fell forward and Gara felt his black hair against her chin and mouth as his shoulders jumped up and down in his mirth.

"What?!" Gara demanded with a smile and Robb looked up, his eyes pricking with tears. He smiled at her and exclaimed, "She's right! I would!" Gara frowned, and made to pull away but Robb's arms tightened around her and she felt his hands run up her back and gently feel her hair. Keeping her in place, Robb caught her eye and said earnestly, "She's right, I would," He said again, leaning in, "Because you'd be the best food out there. She meant that I was looking at you...I know it was a little wanton, but I hadn't seen you in so long – I couldn't not look. You really have no idea how lovely you are, Gara."

At that, Robb closed the distance between their mouths and planted a soft kiss on Gara's pink lips. Gara returned his kiss, her eyes closed, she placed a hand on his jaw; enjoying the sensation of having his mouth on hers and the brush of his beard against her skin. It was light and fleeting and when Robb broke away, Gara wished he hadn't, but she smiled at him and looked down – too embarrassed to hold his very strong gaze. With a little sigh of laughter, Robb chucked Gara under the chin – his thumb placed softly in the groove in between her lips and chin – and assured her,

"You are the dearest creature in the world to me. Don't listen to Gifu," Gara blinked and smiled looking at him and he grinned back before announcing. "We should get back – you'll no doubt be missed." He paused suddenly making Gara frown as he looked down and uttered a little sheepishly,

"You always are."

Gara bit her lip, her breast swelling at his intimacy. Gently pushing away his hand, Gara lifted his face to look up at her and kissed him gently. "Thank you." She said against his lips, making him stir as her hot breath ghosted his lips. After a moment, Gara moved back allowing Robb to stand up straight and unfold his true height. He was a whole head and shoulders taller than Gara with dark curling hair and an equally dark trimmed beard decorating his jaw. With stark blue eyes and a roguish smile, Gara really did adore him and beamed as he smiled down on her and tucked her hand into his arm before leading her back inside. She knew she wouldn't sleep tonight, her skin felt alive under his touch.

He took her as far as he dared before relinquishing her to Jory Cassel – Lord Stark's Captain of the Guard. "Jory, take Lady Gara back up to her chamber, and come and have a drink with me and my brother afterwards if you want." Jory nodded and smiled with a twinkle in his eye at the young lord.

"Aye, no fear, young Robb. Come with me, Lady." Gara nodded and threw a look back to Robb and smiled before turning and leaving with Jory. She could feel Robb's eyes bore into her back as she left and felt her heart swell; she knew that she was as dear to him as he was to her.

-ooo-

When finally Jory dropped her off at her chamber door, Gara nodded and thanked him graciously. Jory shook his head – the scar on his cheek visible to her as his hair shifted – and held up a gloved hand, "It's nothing, young Gara. Good night." Gara smiled,

"Good night, Jory."

With that, she ducked into her and Gifu's bedchamber. The candles were guttering, but Gifu was awake – sitting on the bed reading a book in her white night dress.

"Have a good thump, did you?" She piped from the bed mockingly. Gara shook her head and ignored her and began to undress and change into her night clothes. Gifu watched her for a moment before placing her book down and getting up and walking down the length of the bed. She stopped at the bedpost and leaned her head against it, her eyes were soft and sleepy, but her tongue had lost none of its sharpness in her lethargy,

"I bet you wish to the gods it was Robb in your bed and not me."

Gara gaped at the sheer acuteness of her observation. Of course she did, but she would never ever say so. To do so would be un maidenly, and Gifu knew it. She said snidely,

"Don't worry, I wish you were someone else every time I look at you." Gara laughed then, "Gifu, enough, I am too weary for a spar with you tonight. Will you just come and pleat my hair so that we may go to bed?" Gifu thought a moment before giggling and stepping forward as Gara sat before the looking glass in their chamber. Gara sighed as Gifu took a section of her hair and began to weave it into pleats. She did it silently – which Gara was grateful for. When she was finally done, Gifu leaned down and admired their reflections in the clear glass.

"We are some pair are we not?" She asked the identical reflections. Gara shrugged her shoulders and got up, ignoring her sister's strange behaviour and flopped down on the bed.

"So did you?" Asked Gifu as she sat on the bed next to Gara; the younger twin lazily opened an eye and groaned, "Did I what, Gifu?"

Gifu clicked her tongue and lay down next to Gara, "You and Robb. Did you...?" She asked slowly as if Gara was a stupid child and she was a maester who was trying to slow walk her to a conclusion. Gara understood well enough and eyed her sister scornfully,

"Oh, aye; down by the archery butts in the freezing cold. Of course not! We're not married." Gifu giggled her sexy laugh and shrugged her shoulders – looking a lot like Gara. "Well so? Take your pleasure while you can, Father and Lord Stark will never allow you two to marry anyway."

Gara bolted up and glared at Gifu, "What are you talking about?!" Gifu smiled and sat up languidly, yawning, she stretched and propped her pillow before turning on Gara and sighing heavily,

"Never mind, I cannot be bothered telling you. It's nothing."

Gara's eyes narrowed as she eyed her sister's back before flopping back down on her pillow and tried to forget Gifu's poisoned words, but even Gara had to admit; Gifu was probably right.