Kailasa wasn't even able to say goodbye. A servant was given a letter by Captain Jones and told to give it to Lord Stark upon the morn. Kailasa's maid and nurse were to follow her with the other ship with their things, but time is of the essence. It was unsure if her father would last enough time to say goodbye to his children.

Kailasa did leave a ship at Jon's place at the table. That was all the time she had until she was put upon a horse and she and her favorite captain were put on horses.

"How long has his health been declining?" She asked Captain Jones as he helped her upon her horse. She was still in her nightgown under her clothes. Her hair was still in messy braids from sleeping in them. The only thing that was out of place was a wolf necklace around her neck.

"He did not wish to worry you." Was all Captain Jones replied.

Kailasa did not reply to him, she only nodded, though more out of saying that she could hear him than anything. If her father cared to say goodbye to her, he would have told her that he was dying.

But everyone knew he would die. His heart had been slowly bleeding out since his wife had died.

XXX

"How did you enjoy the North?" Emma asked Kailasa as they were below in the Captain's quarters. It was storming out in the sea, but Kailasa had been in worse storms in less able ships. She was not worried, though the ship was being thrown around quite a bit. They were snacking on salted nuts to keep them from getting sick.

"It was good." Kailasa told her, and she couldn't help but smile.

"Did you fall for one of the Northern men?" She asked.

Kailasa looked up at Emma. "Not the one my father wanted me to."

"You feel in love with Eddard Stark's bastard, didn't you?"

Kailasa nodded. "He asked me to marry him."

"And you said yes, I take it."

Kailasa nodded. "What do you think about a summer wedding?"

"At Goldenbirth or Silversheet?"

"Silversheet." Kailasa told her. "Only a few people, you and the captain, of course. My brother and his wife. I'm sure that my father will be dead by then."

"Aren't you cheerful?" Emma said. "Who have you told?"

"He only asked me last night...so no one." Kailasa told her. "There wasn't really any time." Kailasa couldn't stop smiling. "I can't wait for you to meet him. He's a bit shy at first, but he sees everything, I swear. Every tiny thing that is happening."

Emma smiled. "I can't wait to meet him. Anyone that can make you smile just by a mere thought of them must be something special."

"He is."

XXX

"My time has come my children." Lord Merrin told his children, as they kneeled by his bedside. He was pale, weak, and much thinner than either of his children had seen before. He had been having coughing fits that would cause him to faint.

"Papa," Kailasa whispered, kissing his hand. "You can stay. Please stay."

"I have kept your mother waiting long enough." Lord Merrin coughed. "But before I go, promise me that you will marry."

Kailasa smiled. "I will."

"You will marry the Lord of Winterfell." Lord Merrin said. "I sent the contract with the second ship. It is my final wish."

"But, Papa-"

"She will." Callum Merrin told his father. "I will make sure of it."

Lord Merrin began coughing again, and his children were ushered from the room by the Maester.

Kailasa grabbed her brother's arm. "I don't want to marry Robb. I want to marry Jon."

"The bastard?" Callum frowned. "Even in Dorne they do not marry the bastard. Do what they do. Bed the bastard and marry the true born."

Kailasa gave her brother the most betrayed look he had ever seen. "No. I already told him that I would marry him."

"Have you told anyone?" Callum asked.

"No." And Kailasa knew now that had been a mistake.

"Then it will be easily rectified." Callum said. "We can secure the largest part of Westeros, Kailasa. Do not say that those allies will not be good for the family to have."

"But Callum!"

"I am your older brother," he told her. "I know what is best for you. Be the Lady of the North. Be the silver woman in the land of snow. You will enjoy it there. Have Jon Snow warm your bed, but give the lord true born children."

"I don't want that." Kailasa told him. "I will not do as you say, I will not!"

"Yes, you will. I am your brother and your protector. The contract has already been sent, anyway. You cannot get our of it now."

"I will leave. I will leave and never come back." Kailasa threatened.

"No, you won't." Callum told her. "You will not go against your father's final wish."

"I don't love Robb." Kailasa told him.

"You don't have to love him."

"You love Meara, don't you?"

"Yes, but our love is more than just the emotion. It was good for both of our families. We are equals, and you wish to marry someone beneath you." Callum told her.

"I will never forgive you for this." Kailasa told him. "You will regret this."

"You will learn to love him. You said in one of your letters that you liked him."

"Liked him. Like a friend. Not like I love him." Kailasa said. "I was promised a true marriage, brother!"

"Things change." Callum said. "The family is on my shoulders now. You will not be a disappointment to this family."

"And if I do not give the lord of Winterfell a child?" Kailasa asked. "What happens then?"

"You will." Callum told her. "Just because your spine is out of shape doesn't mean your body won't give you a child. There's only a small chance."

"Not when my spine is here." She grabbed his hand and put it on her left side, where her spine was so obviously off center. "Even Jon could tell I was in pain, and he didn't even know me then."

"You're not in pain, stop being a child." Callum said. "You have to be faking it. It's not like you have a broken bone."

Kailasa struck her brother across the face, the sound echoing through the stone hall.

Callum's head turned to the side with the force of the blow, but slowly turned back to her, and grabbed her face, bringing it close to his.

"Do that again." He said softly. "And I will give you a matching mark."

XXX

Jon held the silver ship in his hand.t hadn't left his possession since he found it where he used to sit at the table. It was his. He knew she had to have wanted him to have it. It had to be a sign...to follow her. To go to her.

But that damned marriage contract had arrived. And it wasn't for him, but his brother.

She couldn't have known about it. She couldn't have. She agreed to marry him. She said yes. She kissed him and they had spent a while making plans. Him asking her about where she would want them to go.

"Silversheet would be our home." She had told him as she sat on his lap, their fingers twisting and untwisting. "It's beautiful."

"Where is it?"

"Just north of Goldenbirth." She told him. "It's not as big as Winterfell, but it's on a cliff, and it's beautiful. There are walls all around the city, and the castle has a private beach."

"Would we fill the house with children?" He teased.

Kailasa sighed. "About that...there's something you have been asking me, and I think it's about time you know."

Jon was suddenly alert. "About why you are in pain?"

She nodded, taking his hand and putting it on her back. "I have something that I don't really know if there is a name for. Do you feel this?"

He nodded. "I felt it before too."

"That's my spine." She told him. "It's not uncommon, exactly...just in this way it is. This severe, but that is what causes my pain...but it may also hurt my chances of having children."

"So?" He asked.

"Do you still want me?"

"Why would that stop me?" He asked. "I just want you."

Tears appeared in her eyes, and for a moment, Jon had thought he said the wrong thing, but then she kissed him.

"I love you." She whispered for the first time, leaning her forehead against his. "I love you."

"Now tell me more about this home we will have." He said, smiling. "I think it is a bit unfair that you have seen it when I haven't."

She smiled. "I guess we will have to change that as soon as we possibly can."

She trusted him. That spoke more than anything else. The thing she had been hiding since she arrived. The thing that she told him she would not tell, and yet she did. The moment he said he wanted to marry her. The moment she said yes.

She wanted this as much as he did. He wouldn't let her go. It was time he faced the million swords to get to her.

A/N:

Usedmemories: Yep! She chose him, but things do not always go as planned. Thank you for your review!

Autumn 98: So you're over it now? That's cool! Thank you so much! Thank you for your review!

Jemma: Thank you, and here you go! Thank you for your review!

Guest: Welcome! I would've changed it sooner if I would have known! Thank you again for telling me! Thank you for your review!

IwillBeDamned: Well, I gave you the definition of what it was, but not the name. (I don't think they would have a name for it in this timeframe lol). So happy you're enjoying it! Thank you for your reviews!

A Darker Heaven and Hell: I love them both too. Thank you for your review!

xxxRena: You are absolutely right. Thank you for your review!

Guest: Yep! Thank you for your review!

NOTagentsofnothing420: Thank you so much! I love GOT too(obviously, lol)! They always hurt me in the best and worst ways! Thank you for your review!

Please review!

Kat