Gara
-ooo-
Robb watched cautiously while walking behind Gara. She was fuming; marching before him like a fearless commander might lead a body of men into battle. Her shoulders were rigid and stiff, Robb had never seen Gara so angry before in all of his life. She rounded on him so quickly; he jumped back and closed his eyes – annoyed that he'd been caught off guard. He held out both hands to subdue her, should he need to again, but Gara simply breathed heavily and tried to contain her rage,
"I'll kill her!" Suddenly burst out of her and Robb cocked an eyebrow and checked down the long corridor, "Shh, don't shout that about, You don't even mean it-" Robb's reasoning was cut off as Gara waved a hand and clicked her tongue before turning and stamping away from him. Robb sighed and looked on as she left,
"Gara," He called after her and saw her pause in her gate for only a moment. "Where are you going?" Robb asked lightly, watching her back; he saw her take a breath and turn. Her face was confused, her nose reddening in her earlier passion. He seen her shoulders slump and exhaled a breath as she mewed pathetically; a little frown puckering her brow.
"I don't even know..."
She watched as he smiled sympathetically and came to her. Without thinking, she let him engulf her and hold her. She was suddenly lethargic and felt as though she could have curled up in Robb's arms right then and fell asleep. They disengaged and Robb gently caressed her cheek; Gara could tell he was still anxious about her situation, but she silently pleaded with the gods that he wouldn't speak about it anymore. Her prayers were not answered because Robb's dark curly head was bowed and he shrugged. Gara watched him carefully as he gazed at her; his eyes were the colour of the sky. They mesmerised Gara and she barely heard him concede,
"To go to King's Landing...Is that what you're truly going to do?"
That wasn't a question; Robb knew that when it came to loyalties, Gara's first and foremost would always be to her family. A good quality, but Gara's noble constancy was becoming dangerous. She looked down. With a sniffle she nodded and peered back up at him. Capturing his gaze, Robb blinked and said nothing. Gara could feel his heartbeat underneath his jacket; it was hammering against her fingers. It was strange that she found it so reassuring. She nodded again and she heard Robb sigh and then felt him lean forward and kiss her head. Moving back, he eyed her fondly and shrugged, "In what world is it where you don't come and go as you please, Gara?" She laughed and gave him a playful slap on the arm. She felt herself smile,
"In a world without Gifu."
"If only."
Robb nodded and Gara felt his hand on her neck, just below her ear. That small touch alone sent her body into a frenzy of heat. She tried to crush it down and maintain her decorum, but she felt her face flush as she looked up longingly at Robb Stark. "I'd do anything," He began slowly; his eyes affectionately looked over her, "To make you stay, you know that?" Gara laughed again, her nose was bright red now; she could feel herself about to cry, but she pushed her own sadness aside and joked,
"That sounds more rhetorical than anything, Lord Stark."
With a chuckle, Robb chucked her under the chin and planted a soft kiss on her mouth. Alone in the corridor, Gara was somewhat far off as Robb kissed her. His arms slinked around her waist her own hands found themselves tangled in Robb's tussled dark tresses. She leaned back only slightly, but Robb had her by the waist and allowed her to dip which deepened the kiss. Gara's blush was positively blatant as his lips were commanding on hers. She allowed him inside and her lips parted, his tongue was not a completely foreign presence, and Gara actually welcomed the intimate touch of their mouths and let out a faint moan. Robb responded with a reluctant growl and trailed to a stop. His forehead was leant against Gara's chin and he was watching her creamy chest gently raise up and down. Gara frowned, and heard him say forlornly,
"What're we doing?" He did not pull away, his hands still keeping her in place, but with his head bowed and his voice sad, Gara was confused. She cupped his cheek and made no move to lift his head. She simply kissed his forehead tenderly and sweetly and repeated,
"I don't know."
He looked at her. Her face wasn't confused now. It was bland, he thought. Robb frowned down on her as she shook her head, her eyes were as unseeing as two orbs of glass, but there was feeling in her voice as she managed to choke out regardless of how marble her face was,
"I-I really don't know, Robb..." His eyes were locked on her and with a sigh; he shrugged and shook his head. His eyes were still stuck on her however,
"Neither do I, but...I want-"
"Robb," Gara stopped him, her hand covering his mouth. Standing on the toes of his boots, she was partially level with him, her eyes on par with his lips, peeping up she grinned mischievously and pressed her smiling pink lips up against her fingers that were separating their mouths and said in a very kind voice, her eyes gleaming at his confusion and amusement.
"You don't have to explain. I understand."
Their eyes were locked in place as she slowly withdrew her hand and felt his lips against her for a second time that night, his stubble scratched her face. He gripped her around the waist and lifted her up in an intimate and warm embrace. Gara sighed against his lips and she felt the curve of his mouth as he smiled at her earnestness. He set her down and gazed down ponderously at her and jerked his head back in the direction of her and Gifu's chamber. Gara nodded and made to walk back, but Robb caught her. He was frowning. Gara smiled and laughed,
"What?" He was agape. Gara's brow cocked and she folded her arms, raising her chin; she inquired suspiciously, "Robb, what's the matter?" She laughed out loud when she saw him blush as red as a girl and went over to him, cupping his face she giggled,
"Oh, my love, you're blushing like a rose!"
His eyes snapped over to her. Clear and seeing and the most vivid shade of blue she'd ever seen. She waited for him to speak, breathless anyway. Robb smiled roguishly and pulled her in closer, when their bodies connected with a thump Robb heard Gara's little yip and eyed her until she looked away from embarrassment.
"My love?" He said and Gara could practically hear him smiling and turned to berate him for teasing her when he laughed sardonically and looked up at the ceiling. Gara was still irked and watched him coldly until he looked back at her and nodded,
"Aye and you for me..." Gara could barely breathe and felt him grip her waist a little tighter. They were so close now; it was as if they were attempting to be one flesh. Gara's eyes jerked from side to side as he kept her eye contact and vowed very solemnly,
"I can't stop you. I won't stop you, but if you're down there for more than a year. I'm coming for you."
-ooo-
"So this is your chamber?"
Gara wondered as she walked around the warm room. A fire was crackling lazily in the large hearth across from the closed window. Robb smiled and quietly closed the large wooden door and said, "Nothing compared to yours and Gifu's." Gara turned and laughed,
"Nothing but the best for honoured guests," He nodded and Gara beamed, "Your father houses us well when we're here." Said Gara cheerfully as she opened the window and gazed out it. Robb watched her a moment before saying, "Of course, your father and mine are close. He'd house you all better if King Robert and his court weren't here." Gara shrugged,
"We don't need anything more," She looked away, "Although, sharing with Gifu is...tiresome."
"That's an understatement." Robb stated flatly and Gara smiled ruefully, "Aye, believe it." There was an awkward pause as Robb stood by the door, unwilling to go any further inside and Gara kept her dark eyes intent out of the window. The silence was maddening. Finally Gara was the one to break it; turning, she had her hands behind her back and asked casually,
"Where's Grey Wind?" Robb's expression was vacant for a moment before he nodded,
"He's out in the Godswood with the others. My mother thought it best they stay out there in the night, especially with the Southerners here," She grinned and bobbed her head, "I take it they were unsettled by the dire wolves?" Robb nodded, "Aye, most definitely." Gara's stomach dropped when another heavy silence hung over them. Glancing down at her hands, she uttered,
"You don't mind me being here," She looked up and caught Robb's eye. "Do you?" She asked and Robb clicked his tongue and shook his head. In two strides he was in front of her and bundling up her hands. She saw his chest rise and fall unevenly; his hands were trembling around hers. He was appallingly nervous and she smiled as he said earnestly,
"No, no of course not...It's just, you being here with me. Isn't it...immodest?" He was surprised when Gara began to cackle loudly. Backing away, he cocked an eyebrow and was torn between confusion and laughter as she snorted and bent forward and tried to smother her mirth.
"Immodest?!" She cried through teary eyes and shook her head. Taking his hands, she giggled, "It'd only be immodest if I did this," Robb's eyes widened when she pulled him down and kissed him. He responded promptly enough and pulled away with a smile.
"I suppose." He agreed and Gara ran her hand down his arm until she gripped his hand. Cocking her head her eyes narrowed, "But you're still troubled." She said knowingly. Robb disengaged and turned his back to her, his head bowed. "A little...It's something Gifu said to me earlier-"
"Of course."
Gara sighed and came up behind him and rested her head on his shoulder. Robb gently touched her hand that was coiled around his waist and nodded, "She said that...She told me that you ran off this morning because she told you that we could not be together." He turned and looked down on Gara and said passionately,
"I want to be with you, Gara. Only you...Not anyone else and it's been that way for years."
Gara did not flinch when he touched her face, "But we've got obstacles...duties – to both our Houses. Whether your sister likes it or not, she's of the North and beholden to me as the next Lord of Winterfell; and I have a duty of protection to her as the next Lady of Bloodhelm, she and her husband – wherever they choose to reside – will still be my bannermen." Gara nodded, not taking her eyes off of him and asked simply,
"What are you getting at, Robb?"
He sighed, "I mean, d'you think we can go the distance? I love you, but will you cleave to me?" Gara looked down only slightly and thought a moment before she uttered,
"Will you still stand by me when I come home?"
"I'd stand by you anywhere...But my mother, she's all about duty. I don't know what she's got planned for me. My father is...I don't even know what he'd say."
"We'll just have to be brave," Gara said with a small weak smile. Touching Robb's face, she remained, "I'll need to persevere down South and you'll just need to weather the storm up here..." Robb looked nervous and Gara realised that she'd need to be the courageous one for them this time and kissed Robb deeply on the mouth. She felt him tense at her touch as she pulled away and promised firmly,
"I promise I'll come back, and if you don't forsake me...I'll always be yours, Robb." He blinked dumbly. Gara searched his face for a moment; had he not heard her? He did and he smiled, such a dazzling and bright smile it was infectious and made Gara smile too, even though tears were brimming in her dark eyes. Robb gripped her face and kissed her,
"I promise that too. My father is uneasy with going to King's Landing," Gara frowned, "Oh?" Robb nodded,
"You must be careful. Please, Gara, you must look after yourself down there." She nodded and waved his words away, "Let's not speak of it anymore...I can't stomach it. I don't want to be away for all that time." He nodded and consigned himself to speak of it no more and ran his thumb along Gara's smooth cheek. His eyes were grave as he looked at her;
"Winter is coming."
He said finally and Gara nodded in agreement. Taking his hand, she held it to her breast and responded quietly,
"Then when the winter comes, we must cleave to our kith and kin."
His eyes narrowed as he looked at her and smiled and he was certain that he'd never spend another moment with any other woman than Gara. Kissing her hand, he beamed down on her and enfolded her in his arms and tried to push back his feelings of trepidation at her encroaching departure into the maw of backstabbers and liars that was the King's court at King's Landing.