Sorry for the late update. This one was particularly difficult to write. But I already established my plot and I kinda cried while imagining the scenes. (I'm weird, I know!)
But this one is where the plot thickens... (I feel so manipulative, hahahaha!)
I hope you enjoy reading!
Oh, and thank you to all the ones who reviewed & followed my story. I get giddy every time i get a notification! It's crazy.
Anyway, I hope you like this one and I promise to upload the next one soon.
Robb
"I think we've enough rabbits, Arya." Koreen said.
"But I'm only getting started!" Arya protested.
It was their turn to hunt that day, considering that they have more than half of deer freshly smoked from yesterday than they needed.
"My arms are tired..." Bran complained. He shot all his twenty arrows, missing all the targets. Bran handed his bow and empty quiver to Jon.
Robb put his hands on his brother's shoulders, comforting him.
"It was a good practice, Bran. The wind up here in the mountain is much stronger than in our training ground. You did good." said Jon, trying to lift his ego.
"Can we use live preys as our target in training, Jon?" Arya asked, feeling thrilled.
"That would be cruel, Arya. I can make you a moving target for practice when we get back to the castle." Jon promised her sister, mussing her hair.
"I think it's best that you go back to the camp." Robb suggested.
"Us? Are you not coming with us?" Bran asked.
"I would like to show Koreen around. If that won't be any trouble." Robb answered.
"Why can't we come with you?" asked Bran.
"Because they're big boys and girls, Bran. Would you like to stick around and witness wet kisses and sweet nothings?" Arya answered, poking fun at his oldest brother.
Koreen laughed.
"Is that what you think people our age do?! Sharing tounges and whisper love poems? You, broods are very imaginative." Koreen exclaimed.
"Or very limited." Robb jokingly added.
"Well, are you?" Bran naively asked.
"Of course not,Bran. Robb Stark is a lordling, Bran. He is not to mix with the common folk. He is to be bethrothed to marry a noble woman to keep the bloodline... unpolluted." Theon jested looking at Koreen from head to foot.
"That's enough, Greyjoy." Marriage is the last thing on Robb's mind, but it was not an issue that was never kept from him. It was after all part of the promise.
One day, someday, you will lead this house, Robb. You are my heir. And I expect you to uphold the honor passed from my generation to yours.
"Take them back to the camp, Theon. Father might be needing your assistance." He turned his back to them, "Shall we, Koreen?"
"Of course." Koreen said smilingly. "Hey, where are you going?" Robb looked at who she was asking.
"Going back." Jon answered.
"Ar'nt you coming with us?" It was more of an invitation than a question.
Robb looked at Jon. Jon looked on to him, trying to read his reaction.
"I better not. I might come back to my brother and sister in chains if I leave them alone with Theon." He reasoned.
"Arya can easily shoot him between the eyes." Koreen rebutted.
Jon's eyes are at Robb again. Expecting him to give an answer.
"I don't want to be a bother- -"
"You won't be." She quipped.
"Come on, Jon." Robb's face was impassive. "If you need more persuading than this, then you are a bother."
Jon drew a deep inhale and exhale.
Robb lead the two along the footpath.
"Where are we going exactly?" curious, Koreen asked.
"It's going to be a surprise." The three walked along together.
"Is this land still part of Winterfell?" Koreen asked.
"Yes. Our land is the largest region of Westeros." Robb declared proudly.
"Are you going to stay here forever?" Koreen asked.
"Yes. Im the heir. I will be the guardian of the North. I need to be here to protect it."
Robb was proud, but the way Koreen looked, he saw disappointment.
"That's wonderful." Faking a faint smile, she commented. Koreen was adopting well to Northern ways, Robb thought to himself.
"It's here." Robb directed and took Koreen's hand and assisted her down a man-made stone stairs leading to a small mouth of the cave.
"What's in it?" Koreen asked, seeming excited.
"You'll see." Robb lifted the plants concealing the opening.
Koreen gazed at Jon for an intant.
"Go on. It's beautiful in there." Jon added, smiling.
Koreen grinned and keenly stepped inside the considerably dark cave.
"Watch your head." Jon cautioned.
"You stay out here, Jon." Robb directed.
"Of course." Jon obeyed.
The cave was damp and small. But it was not too silent and too dark like the other caves Koreen had been in. There were birds chirping and water drops chiming and echoing within its walls, enticing its guests more.
"Robb, it's..." Koreen was out of words.
They followed the sound and the light. And when they reached the end, a wide lagoon, brilliant and majestic greeted them.
The ceiling above was widely open, letting the sun shine down its blue water reflecting the skies.
There were birdsnests and healthy vegetation on its walls, making it more lively.
"This is amazing, Robb." Koreen stated, impressed by it all.
Robb sat her down on the flatest stone he could find. He set down his sword, putting it aside before sitting beside her.
"We do not understand why, but the water is warm here during summer." He shared.
"But winter is coming." She heard that too many times.
"Yes, it can get so cold but we have never seen it frozen."
A flock of birds danced and played inside the great space of the cave.
They watched them feast on moths resting on the moss.
"I've never brought any girl in here, you know." He said, as he sat down beside her.
"Not one girl? That's bull."
"Honest! I was afraid that she might get scared of the dark, or disgusted by the smell of bird shit or thought I was being too forward... or they might take advantage of me..."
Koreen slapped his shoulder laughing at his last remark.
"So you brought me here because you thought that I would not get scared and disgusted?" Koreen said, not buying his excuse.
"Partly. You're a brave girl. But I also know you would not take advantage of me."
"You sound so sure." she daringly joked.
Robb smiled at her. He loved how the sun reflected on her fiery hair. He adored how her eyes were innocent and knowing at the same time. He liked how she likes something for the first time.
"I wanted to see you seeing something magical. That's why I brought you here."
"It is magical, Robb." She looked at him, "But I thought you brought me here because you wanted to kiss me."
Robb was surprised of her straight forwardness. But then again he remembers the kind of girl she is and he was not surprised anymore.
"Did you want me to kiss you?" he whispered looking at her eyes.
"Kiss me then, Robb... and I'll decide after." Her voice was raspy, enticing.
Robb put her stray hair behind her ear, and touched her face with his other hand. Lightly felt her lips with his thumb.
He put his lips against hers, soft and tenderly. Tracing the corners of her mouth to the tip of her lips, biting it a bit.
Robb felt her nerves. And he was thrilled that he was nervous, too.
Robb's hand moved to the back of her head.
He felt her tongue lightly caressed his, and he couldnt help but smile. His lips went from her mouth to her chin, to her jaw, her ear and neck.
Koreen let out a weak moan.
His hand feeling her back as she unwillingly arches it.
He moved his hand inside her fur coat, searching, feeling the warmth Koreen radiates. His teeth biting her skin ever so lightly.
"My princess..." he whispered to her ear.
Koreen opened her eyes and was pulled out of the moment.
"Robb..." she held his shoulders, "Stop..." she said breathlessly.
She pushed him forward. Both of them out of breath.
Robb looked at her with questioning eyes.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
Koreen suddenly felt sick and anxious.
"N-no. I just- I want to get out of here, Robb." She declared blankly. She fixed her hair and straightened her clothes.
"As you wish." Robb said, still confused of the sudden change of her demeanor.
Their trail out of the cave was uncomfortablr quiet. Koreen was about to step out of the cave when Robb remembered that he forgot his sword inside.
"Go on, Koreen. Meet Jon outside. Wait with him. I won't be long."
Koreen looked at him and nodded, before he turned around and walked back the path.
Robb thought about the kiss they shared. She had imagined how her lips would taste before, same as the other girls he played around with in Winterfell. But when she felt her lips against his, she was messing with his senses.
He picked up his sword and wore it around his waist as he walked back.
He planned to bring her to town and buy her sweets and a nice brooch. Girls like brooch, right? He thought.
He shoved the curtain plants and let himself out of the cave.
He's going to have to ask Sansa, he decided.
"Hold it right there, milord." Said an umfamiliar voice of a man, catching his breath.
He was pointing Jon's sword to his face, if he had not stopped walking in time, he would be walking towards his death.
Jon were on fours on the floor, kneeling before a huge man, bloodied and beaten.
His eyes searched for Koreen. Another man stood behind her, holding a dagger against her neck.
He looked at her worried. But Koreen seemed unafraid.
The three men were out of breath, were also beaten. The man in front of him even had his nose broken.
Jon put up a good fight, Robb thought. But he was extremely outsized and outnumbered.
"What do you want?" Robb asked fearlessly, his hand ready at his sword.
"There is no need for more blood, milord. We only want Jon Snow."