Hi! I have been bombarded with so many favourites, alerts and reviews! It's amazing opening up your emails and seeing so may people take an interest in your story. So another thank you for that! I am so sorry that it has been about three days since my last update, but I have only just successfully beaten the Flu and then I had to start packing for returning home, as I spent Christmas with my family. But I guess this chapter's appearance has been long awaited.

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Slightlynerdy.

Wolves and Hounds.

Chapter 6.

The water ran in rivulets down her neck as she splashed water over her face. Breathing heavily she grasped the porcelain washbasin, her mind backtracking over the details of the nightmare she had just suffered. Screams still echoed in her head as she tried to piece it together. But as quickly as the nightmare had begun it disappeared, and no matter how much she strained she could only remember the haunting screams and the echoing howls. She reached for a square of clean cloth and rubbed her face dry, she stood there for a few seconds just holding the damp fabric to her face, inhaling deeply, and trying to calm down her frayed nerves. Her mind replayed the events of the previous evening; Theon's wet tongue slithering over her neck, his hands grasping her waist bruising her flesh. And then the man who had saved her, the man with a thousand voices, and eyes which told of horrors that she could not hope to understand.

She looked up, out the window to the midnight sky, it pulsated with stars, which glittered and shone from a thousand leagues above. She stood for a moment, watching as a black shadow slunk across the yard. She pushed away from the basin and turned to the floor length looking glass. Her cheeks were flushed with heat, and her hair was wild mess, her eyes seemed feverish and inhuman in her pale face.

There was a whirling sensation and she felt the need to vomit as thoughts of Theon's hardness pressing into her leg re-surfaced. She ran then to the wooden box with the hatch that when opened revealed a circular hole which had a metal bucket beneath it. She threw it open and retched, throwing up the contents of last night's meal. When she had finished she slumped to the ground, laying her face against the cool stone which felt good against her hot skin. She didn't know when she fell asleep again but when her heavy eyes flickered open she wasn't alone anymore.

Tome licked her face and whined, his warm breath cascading over her cheeks.

Her voice was croaky, "Tome." She reached out and with her fingertips stroked his smooth fur, the next voice that entered her ears made her sigh with great relief.

"Tome, I told you not to… My lady!" She felt smooth hands grasping her skin, and fingertips brushing over her forehead, "You have a fever. Wait here."

Tarynn turned her face away from the bright light that filled her room, her voice quiet as she answered her friend, "Trust me. I don't think I'll be going anywhere."

Her head throbbed without mercy and her insides wobbled and jolted with any minuscule movement. Tome settled down beside her, his fur warm against her aching stomach. She groaned and turned ever so slightly when she felt something wet and sticky against her bare legs. She felt down to where the stickiness was and gently touched it before raising her fingers up and through squinted eyes looked at whatever it was.

Blood.

I'm just having my moonblood, that explains the blood. But it's never been able to make me feel so physically ill and tired before.

When she heard soft footsteps running along the corridor she called out, "Gerta! Gerta is that you? I need a strip of clean cloth."

"Yes it's me… I thought that was one of the reasons why you were so ill but you've never suffered so badly before. Stay still my lady, I have roused Maester Luwin from his sleep and have encouraged someone to help lift you onto your bed…" Gerta wiped down Tarynn's face with a cool compress, and cleaned the blood from her fingers. "He should be here in a matter of seconds, meanwhile allow me to help you change out of your bedclothes, they're covered in blood."

Gerta helped Tarynn sit up, but as she did so a sharp jolt went through her stomach which caused Tarynn to scream out in pain. Tears pricked at her eyes as Gerta shrugged over a clean night shift and placed the strip of cloth between Tarynn's legs before fetching a pair of white under-dress garments to wear in order to keep the strip of cloth secure. Once they were done, Tarynn could hear footsteps again on the corridor, heavy ones but sure footed. Tarynn closed her eyes, "Gerta who did you summon in order to lift me onto my bed?"

"I don't know who he is my lady, he was the only one in the yard when I ran across it to fetch Maester Luwin. He was polishing some sort of helm… I didn't look at him too closely; I was in a rush to get to the Maester."

There was a knock at the door and Gerta sprang up to answer it, Tarynn swore she had heard Gerta gasp and mumble an apology but her mind wouldn't allow her to focus on any one thing, her head and vision swam and blurred through the pain of the headache.

The next feeling she felt was weightlessness and strong arms supporting her body, she wanted to open her eyes to see who was carrying her, but the blackness was soothing, and the light was not. Instead she listened to his heartbeat, which thudded beside her as he moved towards her bed. He deposited her on the soft covers, the heat that his body radiated disappeared leaving her chilled.

"Is that all?"

His voice reminded her of something, but she was tired, impossibly tired. And her head felt like the Stone Drum that had been built by Valyrian architects when Dragonstone had been erected. She felt the bed shift and then a wet nose pressing against her cheek.

Tome. I feel so tired, the last few days have been exhausting and tomorrow I must ride south, I pray that I will be able to ride a horse. I would not feel comfortable sitting with the Queen and her children inside that confined space.

Tome whined again, as if he understood her thoughts. She felt comforted with her direwolf nestled beside her.

"Yes thank you, you may leave." The man who had lifted her departed from the room, the door was pulled brusquely shut, different to the gentle snap that it emitted whenever Gerta pulled it close, "Tarynn how do you feel." Gerta's cool hands ran over he forehead again, "You have a temperature."

The next person to enter her room didn't knock first, "Gerta, you roused me this morning because Lady Tarynn has taken ill?"

"Yes Maester, I found her on the floor beside the privy. She feels hot to touch and has started her moonblood today."

"Could it not just be that?"

"No, Tarynn never has her moodbloods very heavy, they are always light."

"I see."

The next hands on her forehead were soft, and cold. She let out a breath.

"She is definitely warm… Has she complained of anything?

"Yes, she said something about her stomach and she did mutter tired."

"I will give her some milk of the poppy to help her sleep; you are to rouse her mid afternoon however, so that we can check on how she is doing. She might just be suffering from sleep deprivation. Or perhaps the arrival of the King has worn her out. I don't think it is her moonblood… But these stomach aches?"

"Yes, but they're not in her abdomen."

"I will give her something for those too, assist me please. I need to administer the medicine."

The next time she woke it was to something licking her ear, and for half a second her mind panicked over what it could be. She sat upright and looked over to her left. Tome was lying on his back, his paws up in the air with his tongue lolling to the side. She stretched and yawned, looking around her room. The sun was at its highest point in the sky and someone had left a window open which she had been sure had been closed the night before. She moved slightly, shifting backwards so her back rested against the wood of her bed. She ran her fingers over Tome's belly, gently tickling him when the door opened.

She hadn't been expecting her mother to come visit her in her chambers but sure enough, the woman who had bought her into the world stood in her doorway.

"Darling, I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner but Maester Luwin was positive that the milk of the poppy would make you sleep for a while. I didn't want to disturb your rest. How are you feeling?"

Her mother sat down on the edge of her bed and reached out touching her forehead, "I didn't realise that I had been ill mother."

"You don't remember this morning? Gerta found you lying on the floor, the contents of your stomach in the privy. You've started your moon cycle as well."

So that's the thing between my legs.

Tarynn moaned, "Trust me to get it right before we're supposed to ride."

"Don't worry; I don't think you'll have to ride in that wagon with the Queen and her… offspring. Gerta has assured me that she will pack lots of cloth so that you can double them up. That way you will be able to ride a horse."

"Good. So I was really that sick?"

"Apparently so. You couldn't even move from what Gerta told me, she had to ask one of the southern soldiers to lift you into your bed."

A southern soldier?

"Who."

"I believe your sister calls him the Hound. I don't know his actual name, he follows Prince Joffrey around so that no harm befalls him."

"I see."

I don't feel terribly comfortable with the knowledge that a stranger has been in my chambers.

"Are you well enough to get up?"

She tested her footing, swinging her legs over the side of her bed and standing up, taking a few tentative steps forward before walking to her wardrobe.

"Yes, I feel fine. Whatever Maester Luwin gave me seems to have helped whatever illness I was suffering from. I should get dressed." She opened her wardrobe and started rummaging through her dresses.

"Well I shall leave you to it. Maester Luwin was going to come up and check on you by I told him that I would do it, when you have finished dressing go down and thank him. He says that he has a few things for you that might come in handy when you get to King's Landing." Tarynn's mother stood up from where she sat on the edge of Tarynn's bed, and moved towards her eldest daughter, gently kissing her on the cheek, "Now I must go and entertain the Queen. Your father and the King have gone out hunting with Robb, Theon and the rest... By the way I saw that very public display of affection between you and Theon last night."

Tarynn didn't look at her when she answered, pretending to be busy with some buttons on one of her dresses, "You did?"

"Yes the whole hall did. You're warming to him, I can tell."

Well that's actually the whole opposite mother, but I can't blame you for not seeing through the supposed romantic notions. It's me who wants to keep what Theon tried to do to me a secret.

"Well we shall see how it goes."

"But now with you going off to King's Landing… I was planning on you having an autumn wedding, you know around the time of Sansa's birthday."

Tarynn felt like she could snap, but she suppressed her anger, instead speaking through gritted teeth, "We shall see, perhaps I will get a different offer from another Lord when I go to King's Landing."

"Yes maybe…" Her mother touched her arm lightly, "Well I shall see you later on today."

Her mother left her room and Tarynn resumed looking through her wardrobe for a dress to wear for the day, even though she had slept through half of it. She pulled out a grey dress, to match her mood.

She changed the strip between her legs and pulled on her undergarments before putting her dress on. Her fingers ghosting over the buttons when she felt like she was being watched, she looked up and sure enough Tome was perched on the end of her bed, his surreal blue eyes gazing at her. She moved all her hair away from the nape of her neck before attacking it with her hairbrush. Once it was smoothed out she went to braid it but then decided against it. Instead she let it hang loose. With a snap of her fingers, Tome leapt from her bed and together they left her room

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, she thought she saw Sansa and Jeyne pass through to the practice room, but when she craned her neck to look around the banister she couldn't see anything, and the hallway was deserted. She turned the collar of her cloak up and marched out into the icy winds of the north.

Today was perceptibly colder then the day before, everyone who was in the yard wore their thickest coats and warmest boots. Even the soldiers the King had brought with him from the south were wearing layers upon layers of clothes just to keep the edge off. She crossed the yard, intent on reaching the rookery in order to thank Maester Luwin for his help when she had been taken by a mysterious illness earlier this morning. But when she reached the door, her hand grasping the smooth cast iron ring to open it, a voice interrupted her actions.

"You're Tarynn are you not, the eldest of the Stark brood? I'm sorry but I'm a little lost, could you tell me where I could find the Maester?"

She turned to her left and finding no one beside her looked down just out of instinct when she realised that there was someone beside her. The youngest Lannister had been cursed with the physique of a dwarf. He had a curling smile, yellow hair which was more akin to straw than the flowing locks that his siblings had. His eyes were mismatched and he only just came to her elbow.

"Yes I'm down here."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to seem rude." She bowed her head to him slightly, "I hope you're finding Winterfell comfortable."

"Comfortable? Good Gods no! Twice I had almost frozen in my bedchambers. But the people… Ah now they're an interesting sort. You northerners always act so rough and tough. I feel quite jealous. But still. The Maester, do you know where I can find him?"

He spoke fast; his tone was tinged with subtle hints of sarcasm and believing that he was better than those around him.

"I was just about to visit him myself, if you wish to accompany me."

"How gracious of you, I would, I need something for these twisted legs of mine."

She turned the handle, opening the door, Tyrion beckoned her to enter first and so she did. She stepped into the gloom of the Maester's room.

Maester Luwin had always been untidy, and even though they had sorted out his belongings just a few days past, the room beneath the rookery was already a gigantic mess. She picked past the jars, books and papers that were flung everywhere around the room, in order to reach the Maester who was sitting at his stool, he was writing a letter of some sort. She stood in front of his desk and coughed. He looked up, his eyes shining in the dark.

"Tarynn I didn't realise you were up. Forgive me I was going to check on you but your mother went in my stead."

"It's quite alright. She said that you wanted to see me?" She bent down slightly to see inside a jar that was balancing precariously on the edge of Maester Luwin's desk, it's contents were shrouded in a thick green fog but it was clear to say that it was some sort of narcotic in there.

"Yes I thought I would give you your vials today, I have a selection of other things that I wanted to pass on to you also… I see we are not alone Tarynn, how are you my Lord."

"I am not a Lord, my father, now he is a Lord. And I'm not terribly well, I was hoping you could give me some milk of the poppy, to help me sleep sweeter."

"Yes… I can give you enough for tonight and the day after but I'm afraid that Tarynn is my sole responsibility and I need the milk of the poppy to make her own sleeping draughts. I hope you forgive me…"

"Yes, yes. Two good nights sleep will do me fine. Do you mind if I look at your wonderful collection of books?"

"No , not all, please be my guest."

Luwin bustled over getting two vials worth of milk of the poppy. The milky white substance was able to put even the lightest sleeper to sleep, which is why Tarynn had to take it regularly, mixed with other things as well, so that she wasn't kept awake by her recurring nightmares. She thought back over yesterday, how Gerta had told her that she was out of her sleeping draught and she had shrugged it off;

"I'm afraid that you had the last dose last night. I can ask Maester Luwin to mix some more…"

"No, it's too late now Gerta, I'm exhausted anyway, I'm sure I'll sleep soundly enough."

"As you wish."

She now realised that she should have sent Gerta to Maester Luwin in order to get her a vial, whatever her nightmare had been of last night it had obviously troubled her.

"Tarynn I have concocted enough vials to see you through the month's ride to King's Landing. I have also sent by raven to the Maester at King's Landing a list with the ingredients needed for your draught."

"Who is the Maester at King's Landing?"

"Pycelle, good fellow but even older than me." The Maester chuckled and lifted his heavy sleeves, "Oh I almost forgot," His hand delved into his right sleeve, his brow furrowed and when he couldn't find what he was searching for he searched through the other one. "Ah, here we are."

Out of his sleeve he drew out a long chain, fixed to the end of the change was an oval shaped locket, delicately moulded with the outline of a tree with twisting branches crafted upon it. She accepted it from the Maester.

"Go on, open it."

She undid the clasp and the locket swung open, the words were in a tongue she did not understand. The lines that made up the foreign language were elegant and regal looking, she looked up. "What does it mean?"

"My child," Maester Luwin stepped forwarded and clasped her hands with his, "It is written in High Valyrian and says 'what we leave isn't forgotten, but misplaced'. You travel south, leaving all those who love you behind, but we are not forgotten, merely misplaced out of your life for the time being."

Tears began to well in her eyes, her voice shook when she answered. "Thank you, so much Maester Luwin."

She hugged the old man, thinking back over everything he had done for her.

He taught me my first runes, he told me the difference in scents and which were the smell of poisons, he encourage my books and readings. He helped me know all that I know now.

I'm going to miss him.

"We all chipped in, Gerta and I, I think Ser Rodrik flipped a coin into the pot as well. The carpenter did, some of the servant girls. In fact I think everyone contributed a little. You do not realise how many people love you Tarynn. You would have made an excellent Lady of Winterfell, of that I am sure. But now fate decrees that you leave us."

She stepped away, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand, laughing nervously. She undid the clasp of the locket and put it round her neck, before closing it with a faint snap. The locket sat a good inch and a half below where her collarbones met. It was a perfect fit.

"Why did you decide to give it to me today?"

The Maester shrugged and shuffled some papers on his desk, "It was likely to be very busy tomorrow morning, I would not have had the chance to speak to you; besides Gerta said that you would want to wear it when you ride."

"She knows me well. Thank you again," She touched it gently, the cold dark grey metal cool on her fingertips, "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it. Now would you mind helping me with…"

There was a shout from the yard, loud, booming. The Imp looked up from the book he held in his hands and Maester Luwin looked at her briefly before pushing past to the door that led out into the yard, Tarynn was close behind.

The difference in the light between the inside of the Maester's room and the outside world caused her to be blinded for a few seconds as her eyes adjusted to the glare. When she had regained her senses she ran towards Jon Snow who had just reached the yard, she grasped the boy by the arm.

"Jon! Jon! What is it? Are you hurt?"

He was breathless, "No, no not me. It's… It's Bran. Beside the tower he has fallen."

Tarynn's response was sharp and held no nonsense, "Go tell father." The boy ran off, and she turned to the Maester who was approaching, "Maester we need to get to the tower, Bran has fallen, I don't know how hurt he is."

"I will fetch the medicines. Go to the tower."

She ran then, her feet swift as she charged through the woods.

Just yesterday Bran and I had run this way, laughing and giggling. He had told me that he never fell.

When she reached the tower a small circle had gathered around what she presumed to be Bran. It consisted of the Lannister twins, and Joffrey. His hound was sure to be lurking nearby but she didn't even stop to consider him. She ran up to the group, the Kingslayer held out his arm as if to stop her but she pushed it away, falling on her knees beside Bran's limp body. She sobbed as she gazed over his broken body.

"Tarynn…" Across from her Robb crouched, his blue eyes full of sorrow.

"Did you send Jon?"

"Yes, I dared not leave his side."

"Who found him?"

"It was I, my lady." The Kingslayer stepped forward slightly, moving his hand away from the Queen's shoulder.

Tarynn was angry, she stood and whirled on him, "And do you not think to get help immediately?!"

"Do not raise your voice to a member of the Kinsguard child!"

Her hand itched to slap the beautiful Queen but she repressed it. "I am not a child, he however," She gestured to her brother, "who has fallen from a tower, who has sustained serious injuries he is! And you waited for Robb to come along?! You could've sent for help sooner!"

She turned her gaze back to Bran, "What's wrong? Robb? Tarynn? What… By the Gods!" Her father and Jon Snow entered the clearing then, followed closely by her mother and Maester Luwin.

"Bran, my poor sweet boy." Her mother went to touch Bran but her father stopped her.

"No, my dearest, don't touch him, Luwin?"

Tarynn turned from her brother's body and once against barged past Jaime Lannister. He didn't look up; his eyes were rooted to the ground. But his twin, she did. Her green eyes were alight with flames and they were directed straight at her. She dropped the contact and moved away to the shade of the trees. She hadn't realised it in her panic and shock but Theon had also been among the group that had been standing by Bran. He moved closer to her, as if he was going to say something, but she shook her head. The time for apologies was over.

He stopped, dropped his hand and moved away from her. The group had converged around Bran so that she couldn't see him anymore. She struggled to rein in her tears.

"He is strong, he won't die."

That voice again, the voice from last night, the voice from this morning. She turned her head to where the voice had floated from and her eyes rested on a tall man, standing in the shadows that the trees cast.

"Sandor?" Her mind clicked it then, he was there because of Joffrey, the whiny prince who thought he owned the world. He had been there this morning when Gerta went for help. He was… "The Hound."

It wasn't a statement it was a fact. She felt disgust towards him.

How could a grown man be that spiteful brat's lackey? How could he allow him to degrade him so much?

"Aye the Hound," His voice had flickered to a tone of regret and self condemnation,"your brother won't die Wolf."

"Wolf?"

"Yes, Wolf, uncontrollable, fierce-some. But cunning, smart, and patient."

She watched him as he took a swig from the skin on his hip, "What's in it?"

"Wine. It dulls the pain, makes you forget the bad things." He chuckled, his deep wheezing laugh. "Here." He tossed the skin at her, but her fingers slipped over the smooth leather, almost dropping it on the ground if she hadn't grasped the leather cord which it hung from. "A clumsy Wolf. That's new."

She undid the stopper, and took a drink. It was rich, sweet and extremely strong but it soothed her thoughts, stopped them from ricocheting around her head. She passed the skin back, not trusting herself to toss it.

"Thank you."

Their fingertips touched as the wine-skin exchanged hands.