It was another warm day in the North when Kailasa decided to lay in the sun one afternoon. A part of her didn't know if she was just getting used to the cold or if it was actually warm outside, and she didn't really care enough to ask anyone else if they thought it was warm outside. Kailasa persuaded Arya to join her at her favorite spot by the pond, but the girl did not seem to understand why it was so much fun to just lay in the sun.
It had been a week since Kailasa recovered, and she looked as healthy as ever.
"What shall we do?" The girl asked.
"Lay down. Doze. Talk." Kailasa shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked up at Arya who was standing above her. "Or you can run around the pond a few times to stop you from being so energetic."
"I'll do that." Arya said, before she began running from her.
"I was kidding." Kailasa called, but Arya didn't hear her. She closed her eyes again, and just tried to enjoy what little amount of sun she got between the waves of clouds moving in the sky.
"The sun suits you." A male voice said, blocking the sun from her skin.
"Then perhaps you should get out of it." She stated, patting the blanket beside her. "Lay down, enjoy the seconds of sun between the minutes of clouds with me."
He did as she asked, his arm touching hers lightly. She knew he was looking at the side of her face. She could feel his stare. "How are you this fine day? I take it you are back in perfect health?"
Kailasa laughed, a bitter edge in it. "I am completely back to normal." She said, turning towards him and opening one eye. "And you, Robb?"
"I am doing very well, thank you." He replied. "You love the sun, don't you?"
Kailasa nodded. "It pains me to think, as your family says, winter is coming."
Robb smiled. "Yes, those are our words. I know yours as well, respect like the sea."
Kailasa smiled and closed her eyes, turning her face back to the sun. "Do you want to know what my father told my brother when he was about to be married?"
Robb nodded before realizing that her eyes were closed and she could not see his nod. "Yes I would."
Kailasa smiled. "My father told him that women were like the sea. Dangerous. Beautiful. Strong. My family has always been good at marriages. As long as there is mutual respect it could turn to love. My father always told us that if we loved something, truly loved it, we should respect it like the sea."
"Your brother had an arranged marriage?"
Kailasa shook her head. "Heavens, no. But she was a princess of Dorne, and it was a good match."
Robb paused for a moment. "I agree with your father, women are dangerous."
"Personal experience or just a guess?"
"I'm sure many women can make men forget themselves, that is dangerous. You are very dangerous. You have been trained and I am sure you could kill anyone if you wanted to. You're beautiful enough to get anything you ever wanted from a man with the smarts to use what you get to destroy said man. I'm sure you could be queen if you wanted, but you don't. You're strong and I'm sure if anyone disrespected you, they would be the ones who would be embarrassed by the time you were finished with them."
Kailasa smiled. "You're right, I don't want to be queen."
"Then what do you want?" Robb asked.
"I have no idea." Kailasa said honestly. "I only know what I do not want."
"You are very odd, Kailasa."
"I know. Isn't it wonderful?" Kailasa turned her head towards him again to look at him. "Where is your brother?"
Robb knew which brother she was talking about. "He's looking for Arya."
"...She's with me."
"But he doesn't know that. He seems to be stealing quite a bit of your time lately, and I just wanted a bit to myself. Is that so wrong?" He asked.
"No, I guess not." Kailasa replied, smiling.
"So why has he been taking up so much of your time, lately?" He asked.
"We had a bit of a heart-to-heart." Kailasa told him.
"About?"
"Something between us." Kailasa told him. "I do not go telling stories, Robb. What kind of woman do you take me for?" She teased.
"I had to ask." Robb said.
"Theon doesn't seem to like me much." Kailasa said. "I haven't seen him much since I got better."
"He doesn't like being rejected."
"I have barely spoken two words to him and my father already told me he would approve of the match." Kailasa said. "Not that I disagree. I really would rather not have my husband have a saltwife."
"So then, why did you allow both Jon and I to court you?" Robb asked.
"I don't think I should tell you why I allowed Jon, but I will tell you why I said yes to you."
"All right. Why did you decide to let me?" Robb asked.
Kailasa turned her head slightly to look at him. "Because you are kind and have a good sense of humor. I would like to get to know you better before I make a potentially life changing decision. And I like you, what can I say? I'm a sucker for tall and handsome men." She pushed against him with her shoulder slightly.
"That's good to hear, even if I am against my brother." Robb replied.
"Now I will turn the question onto you." Kailasa replied. "Why did you ask my father's permission to court me?"
Robb paused. "To be honest with you I didn't think you would live up to your reputation." Robb admitted. "But you did. Beauty and all. You exceeded it. You fit well here; everyone likes you. You're passionate,-wolfblooded as my father calls it-you never take anything lying down. That's why I like you, and I believe I will love you soon enough."
"Good, because I think I could love you too, given a little more time."
"But at some point, and I'm not saying now, but at some point you will have to choose between us." Robb told her. "It's early on, so we won't make you choose yet, but it is coming."
"Just like winter?"
"Just like winter
XXX
Kailasa and Robb brought Arya back to the castle, picking her up by her hands and swinging her between the. They were all laughing as Lady Catelyn watched them return to the castle. In that moment she could see them ten years later with a child of their own between them. She could imagine their wedding with them standing in the water as their hands were bound and they said their vows.
Catelyn approved of Kailasa, even if she wasn't what a classic highborn lady should be. She was someone who could survive the North. She would challenge Robb in the best ways; she would make him become a better man. She would also be a good mother. She had seen Kailasa with Rickon, protecting him from the freezing rain without thinking of herself. She loved children, it was obvious.
Catelyn frowned when she saw Jon meet them in the courtyard. They seemed to speak for a moment, and she could tell that both of the boys seemed a little stressed, though the smile never left Kailasa's face.
Catelyn was sure that Robb and Kailasa would be married long before summer was over. They were a good match. The high lord of the Coast and the high lord of the North being united through their eldest daughter and son. It was always good to have strong allies.
They would have beautiful children as well, no matter if their child had silver blonde hair like their mother or auburn hair like their father. They would definitely have blue eyes, though, no matter if it was Tully blue or blue like the sea.
Kailasa had good hips for childbearing. She could give Robb all the children he would want, and if it was a good marriage, maybe even more.
But would Kailasa convince the young man to go to the South with her and claim the lands she was promised? Would she take her eldest son and not return for months? Years? Would Kailasa have that much power over Robb? Would Robb want to go to the South? Would he want to leave Winterfell?
Catelyn watched as Jon walked away with Arya, and Robb linked Kailasa's arm through his before leading her away, towards the entrance to the hot springs beneath Winterfell.
She knew Robb would go with her. He would want her to be happy, and it was obvious that she craved fire, not ice. No matter how much she looked like a queen of winter.
XXX
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Robb and Kailasa chanted as they arrived to sup late. She had gotten distracted by the humid heat of the hot springs that reminded her of home. They took their places around the table.
"Where have you two been?" Ned asked them, though he didn't seem to care that they were late, he just wanted to know why.
"Hot springs after laying in the sun." Kailasa told him. "I was just craving a bit of heat."
"Do you miss the sun and warmth of the South?" Catelyn asked.
Kailasa nodded. "As do you, I'm sure. The sun shining until afternoon storms and then reappearing for sunset and all."
Catelyn smiled. "I remember it well, Kai."
Nothing like a little rain on a hot summer's day." Kailasa smiled back.
"Indeed."
XXX
"You were with Arya?" Jon asked he walked her to her chambers that night. Robb wanted to be the one, but Kailasa said it was only fair since Robb spent all afternoon with her.
Kailasa nodded. "Yes."
"She said she wanted to show me something this morning, I spent all afternoon looking for her."
"She didn't tell me that." Kailasa frowned. "I feel bad. I talked her into going with me. I'm sorry."
"Robb didn't tell me she was with you. I take it he knew?"
Kailasa nodded slowly. "We told him when we left so someone would know if they wanted to come find us. He came to find us not long after. He said he didn't want to share me since you occupy so much of my time."
"I have to have something going for me." He half joked.
Just that sentence made her heart sink a little.
"He asked why I am letting both you and him court me." Kailasa stated, hoping he would ask for her answer, and a part of him would be happy when he heard her answer.
"Why did you?"
"I'll make the same deal with you that I did with him. I told him why I chose him, and I will tell you why I chose you. If you want to tell the other, you can, but that's about you. I don't want either of you acting like the other when that is the last thing I want. In return for my answer, you will tell me why you asked to court me."
"All right." He agreed, feeling bad that it wasn't him, but his father who asked. He only agreed because he truly wanted to know. Who would choose him when he had nothing and all of Winterfell came with Robb?
"I chose you because I knew from the moment you saw me that you saw me. You didn't see the person a put out there, though that does frustrate me sometimes. You question what you see and don't take it for the face value. You see what many haven't. You're curious. You confuse me just a bit, but at the same time I can understand you." She stopped walking and turned towards him, touching his tight curls on his head. "Also, I love your hair." She teased. "Your turn, Jon Snow."
He blushed a bit, looking down. "I didn't think you ever saw me, or if you did, I didn't think you saw me as anything. I didn't ask to court you. My father did." He looked up at her then, waiting to hear that she chose his brother. Waiting to see her face show that she was offended, but all he saw was the same sad expression when she told him she didn't care if he was a bastard as long as he was a good person.
She stepped closer to him. "Oh, Jon..." She pushed herself onto her toes, her hand on his jaw as she kissed him softly.
He didn't respond for a moment, so Kailasa pulled away, ready to apologize for being so forward. But before her lips could even form the words, his lips were back on hers.. One hand on the small of her back and the other in her silver hair. He kissed her like he was afraid of losing her, and she kissed him back, happy that he had to have some feelings for her if he was kissing her. Her hand moved from his jaw to his neck, pulling him closer to her. It was a good first kiss for the couple. Like they had been kissing for years. It was like they knew exactly when one would bite the other's lip, or tease them with their tongue.
Kailasa's hands moved to the front of his shirt and pulled him with her so she could be between him and the wall, pulling him tighter against her with the wall bracing her back to keep her in place. She wanted to feel him against her. She didn't even care that she couldn't breathe until she really needed air. Her hands flattened on his chest then, giving him a gentle push back. He obliged.
They were both breathing hard as they looked at each other, but just still looked like he was ready to be reprimanded, though his eyes were a little more guarded than before. She didn't like that, and pulled him in for another kiss.
He was more confident now. He pushed Kailasa against the wall so she didn't need to pull on him any longer. There was barely anything that she could feel that wasn't him or the stone wall behind her. The heat of him and the chill of the stone making her shiver from excitement. She didn't care if they were seen in a compromising situation. She didn't care about anything but the effect he had on her. She had never been kissed like this before. Never had a kiss been this perfect.
This time, when Kailasa broke away to breathe, he didn't pause when his lips moved to her neck, and finding here he could feel her pulse and sucking there.
"Oh," a quiet gasp escaped her lips. Jon liked that.
He could feel himself reacting to her, so he moved away from her so he wouldn't do anything both of them would regret-even if Jon was sure he would not regret it. He would not dishonor Kailasa in such a way.
Jon rested his forehead against hers as they breathed.
"What happens now?" She whispered, mostly to herself, but he answered her as well.
"Now I walk you to your room." He looked towards her door, just a little farther down the hall. "Which is about ten steps away, and I will leave you there and see you in the morning. We're going to town, remember?"
Kailasa smiled. "Yes, of course. Arya is upset that Lady Cat is not letting her join us. Sansa isn't ecstatic about spending the day with a ruffian like me. She can't handle the enigma that is me for too long.." She laughed quietly. "I bet she will beg for Robb's time." She pushed his hair away from his face. "I hope I do not have to beg for yours."
"I don't know." He whispered, leaning down until their lips were almost touching. "I would like to see you beg."
Kailasa smiled, tilting her chin up a little for their lips to touch again. They kissed slower this time. Sweeter.
They slowly made it over to Kailasa's bedroom, and with her pushing him against her door, they kissed goodnight. Stalling for time. Stalling for time together, and Kailasa stalling as she tried to figure out what this meant.
"Bye," she whispered from her doorway, as he stood not two inches away.
"Bye." He kissed her lightly.
"Bye." She kissed him before pulling away. "Really, we cannot do this all night."
"Yes, yes, you're right." He smiled. "Bye."
She kissed him softly. "Goodnight, Jon."
"Goodnight, Kailasa." He said. "I will see you in the morning."
"And I you." She kissed him a final time. "Now go. I do not think I will be able to close my door on you."
"As you wish." He bowed slightly. "Goodnight, my lady." He took a step away as he watched her smile at him.
"Goodnight." She whispered, closing her door and leaning against it.
Did Kailasa just make her choice with one kiss? Or a few? Gods, how could she possibly know? But that kiss left her lips swollen and her heart pounding. She replayed it in her head over and over again as she undressed herself and her nurse came in ten minutes after her she had returned from her room to set her corset for her to sleep in.
"You seem to be in a good mood." Kailasa's nurse told her as she hung from the stone edge of the window.
Kailasa didn't speak until she let her weight get back on her feet. She wore only a corset and smallclothes that had holes for her legs to go through like trousers. She hated sleeping in much clothing when she didn't have to. When Jon and Robb came to visit her, she had to put on a shift to wear over it so she wasn't indecent, but she could sleep just like this.
"I am in a good mood." She told her nurse. "Thank you for caring for me. I know it is not always the easiest thing to do."
Her nurse smiled. "I would rather take care of no other. Goodnight, milady."
"Goodnight, Rebecca."
XXX
Jon had three things on his mind that caused him to be unable to sleep. One was wondering if he had fallen in love with the silver lady. With the Southerner that would happily take him south with her. With the girl he could be more than just a bastard with. The second thing he wondered about was if she had chosen him. The last thing he wondered was if she had kissed his brother earlier that day. He was more than slightly jealous of his brother. He had everything he didn't. A name. A title. Winterfell.
Jon was not out of the running, though. She kissed him. More than once. And he could swear that just for a second she wanted him to come inside her chambers. He could see it in those sea blue eyes.
But there was still that voice in his head, telling him that she would never choose him. After all, who would ever choose the bastard?
A/N:
xxxRena: Thank you! Thank you for your review!
Please review!
Kat