Gendry and I carried Astrid and Koda back to the Crossroads Inn, carrying them in our packs since they got to fit in them perfectly. Nymeria was in front of us, looking at each person that looked at us funny with her barring teeth, merely because they have no seen a Direwolf before. It was frightening to them, very frightening and intimidated. I was betting Nymeria was growling at each of them as we hoisted ourselves up on the horses. The pup's heads poked out from our packs, Koda's jet black hair was looking around in wonder against Gendry's side and Astrid was nuzzling against me in worry. I patted her head as we trotted off down the road, Nymeria on Gendyr's side and staying up to pace. But I heard someone as we passed by, seeing Nymeria and saying in astonishment:

"Is that a Stark?"

Astrid and Koda were growing day by day, getting bigger in size bolder in their nature. Everytime I woke up, it was to Astrid who was licking my face but looking a little bigger, and it made me wonder if she was going to be as big as her mother. It was the same with Koda, whom was already bigger than his sister and I knew he was going to be far bigger than his mother, way bigger. He was going to look more like a bear than a direwolf. But they were attached to us: Astrid to me and Koda to Gendry. Every night Nymeria would stand guard for me, circling us as we slept and her pups snuggling up to us for both warmth and love. I got used to having Astrid snuggling into my chest, which was a nice warmth for me.

They were also getting protective of the both of us. When Gendry and I would hunt, our wolf would follow and help, in their own way. I knew that we would have to train them to listen and understand our commands, so we did. Whenever we would have downtime, we would teach them the basics, seeing that they were learning quickly and staying close to us at all times. Astrid knew my command and voice very quickly, the same with Koda to Gendry. It was as if they were full grown, but they are still young. Nymeria would hunt early in the morning for her pups as Gendry and I would hunt for each other.

The closer we got to the North, the colder it got. It was getting harder for us to sleep outside at night, though we had three direwolves who were willing to snuggling up to us to keep their masters warm, though two were still pups. One morning I awoke to Astrid licking my face, having me smile and rub her behind her ears. She sat politely as I sat up from being under the cloak and she waited for me before pounding on me, wanting to play.

"Good morning to you too!" I said to her as she nipped at my fingers and wiggled against me as I held her. I then looked around, seeing that we were alone with the dead fire. Where was Gendry, Koda, or Nymeria? For a second I panicked, Astrid in my arms and I then heard Nymeria behind me, giving one bark and then Astrid wiggling out of my arms. She trotted to her mother, whom had a dead animal in her mouth and she placed it on the ground.

"Morning Nymeria." I said to her, seeing her walk over to me and rubbing me against her fur as a sign that she was telling me good morning as well. There were footsteps in front of me, having me look as I heard Koda barking. Gendry was walking back with his sword in hand and two rabbits in the other hand. Koda was walking on his heels, tongue out in joy as he saw Nymeria and Astrid with breakfast. Koda left Gendry, running over and almost running into his sister as he tried to stop.

"He doesn't know how to slow down." Gendry said in a joking tone as he sat down next to me handing me one rabbit. I withdrew my dagger and started to skin it with a smile on my face.

"He's just like you then." I commented, seeing him eye me with s suspicious look, having me shrug as he started to skin his own rabbit. We were quiet then, since we only only hear the dire wolves with their own breakfast and I finished with my rabbit. I was about to start the fire when Gendry spoke up from his sitting position.

"Do you think Thedra Ascent is still standing?" He asked me, having me pause before I worked on the fire once more.

"I don't know." I replied aloud, really thinking about it. There was no word if it was still up in one piece, and I knew that they were in allegiance with Winterfell, so that could lead them to trouble. It was up in the air, but I knew we were still going back so that we had a place to stay, whether it was still inhabited or isolated.

"I was thinking…." Gendry said once more, having me continue to work.

"That's dangerous, you know. To think." I said in a light tone, trying to make our mood light early that morning, but they didn't work since I heard Gendry's voice, sounding a bit disappointed.

"You're a Stark." He stated, not like a question but more as a recap, having me pause and wait for him to finished, "So that…that means you're a lady….a highborn." Ieaned on my back leg, thinking about it and then realizing that it was true: I was a lady. Technically I was part of a Great House and that made me highborn. Throughout this whole time, that piece of the information never really got under my skin, until now. Not until Gendry informed me of who I was and what I was.

"I guess it does." I said in a normal tone, thinking it was nothing. I may be a Lady, well I was for all my life, but I never wanted that. I was fine being a Dressmaker, being a lowborn and having a normal low life. It was acceptable to me, but I heard nothing behind me, having me look and see Gendry look down at his hands on his lap, the skinned rabbit in front of him. Was this bothering him, that I was Lady? Since when was this a issue with him? He looked upset, as if he hated that fact about me now. Was it….oh no….he knew that he was a Bastard and that.

We couldn't be together.

"Gendry." I started, but he shot up and I saw Koda trot over to him, waiting for his master to move. Gendry wasn't looking at me, he was looking at the ground and I could tell this was bothering him.

"I'm getting the horses ready." He said aloud moving away from the area with Koda wanting to follow him, but Gendry looked over at him, his eyes were far from behind warm.

"Koda, stay." he commanded, having me see Koda's ear go back in shame and him walking back to his sister and mother. I sighed, getting the fire started and placing my rabbit on a spear over the fire, doing the same with his and getting up from my own spot.

"Watch them, Nymeria." I said to Nymeria, seeing her watch me as I followed Gendry. I could hear Astrid barking at me, wanting to know where her master was going. But I had to talk to him, to make this right. This was like the cave all over again, the both of us were on the brink of loosing on another over something that had no need to break. For it was his decision to stay with the Brotherhood Without Banners and leave us be, but now it was different. He knew…..and I knew as well…that the two of us together would never be. At least that's what he was thinking, but for me, that was not going to be. I needed him, and I wasn't going to walk away from him.

Not this time.

Gendry was at the horses, getting their saddles ready as I walked over to him. I watched him with my eyes as I approached him, he was still handsome even covered in dirt and is living in the woods for awhile. I didn't care, all I saw was him and his kind soul. He has never left my mind, not once since he helped me in Flea Bottom. If he thought he was too love for me, he was wrong, dead wrong. I lost my mother, father, brother, bodyguard, and I had no clue if my young brothers or even Arya was still alive. But I was not going to loose Gendry, like Hell I would.

I grabbed his shoulder, seeing him turn and look at me. Before I knew it, I wrapped my arms around his neck,pulled him close and kissed him right on the lips. Something inside of me snapped, opening the floodgates of my feelings for him. But I didn't care, because he had to know how I felt for him and how I didn't care what my blood was compared to his. He was there for me this whole time, helping and protect me, keeping my sanity and knowing more about me than the others. I did the same for him, and I hoped he felt the same for me.

He didn't move, and I held the kiss for what seemed like ages, my lips on his and my arms around his neck to freeze them there, to not let him move. What was he thinking at this point? I didn't know, and as I pulled away, I saw him stare down at me. It wasn't a shocked look he was giving, nor was it mad. It looked like…to me…like he was just thinking. His blue eyes were soft, and his stance was just still. I slowly withdrew my arms from around them, placing my hands and arms to my sides and waiting for some kind of answer. But nothing, not for a moment or two as I saw his eyes flicker from my own to my lips in rapid pace. That kiss I gave him was the best thing that I have ever felt in my whole life, and I felt as though I could die happy.

"I-" I started, thinking that I had to explain myself to him. But he stopped me by placing his hand on my neck, his other arm around my waist to pull me towards him, and he kissed me. He was kissing me! I immediately had my eyes closed as he kissed me in the woods, having me see stars and colors behind my eyes. His lips were soft against my own, soft yet demanding as I kissed him back after a moment or two. He had feelings for me too, and for so long I was blind to think that I was the only one. I clung onto his shirt for dear life as I felt his fingers in my hair, a soothing feeling as he kissed me once more. We needed each other, after all this time, and we chose this one moment to show how we felt about the other.

He pulled away from me, having me miss his lips on me, but he rested his forehead on my own and I breathed him in, smelling smoke, the dirt floor and his own unique scent that reminded me of a river stream. I kept him close, feeling his arms round me stay there but his hand resting back on my neck. I was silent for a moment before I opened my eyes at him, seeing him look back at me. I was in love with him, through and through, and he had to know.

"I don't care if you're a Bastard or the Prince." I said to him in a soft tone, but my voice was hoarse from the sudden kiss he gave me, "It doesn't mater to me, because it's who you are, your kind soul and protective spirit and your thirst for good, that I adore." He smiled at me, having me see that I affected him for what he said. He then had both of his arms around me, holding me in such a way that was protective and loving at the same time as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Don't ever doubt yourself again, Gendry." I said to him in a low tone, seeing him scan my eyes, "I think you're good enough for me, and you promised me that you would never leave me." I said the last part in almost a broken tone, seeing him suddenly kiss my forehead to silence me as I remembered him telling me this. He did promise me that, and yet he was so close to leaving me emotionally and hiding himself from me. His kiss on my head was fierce, having me hold on to him as he pulled away and looked back down at me.

"I won't. I promise, Nora. You're the best thing I have in my life." He said to me in a light tone, pulling me in a hug. We both were together then, and no force in Westeros was going to change it. A weight was lifted off of me now, knowing that I told him what I was feeling and that I wasn't going to loose him, never again. As we hugged each other that morning, after kissing each other and professing our love for on another, it was clear that my life was going to be brighter. It didn't matter if I was a Stark, or if Winterfell and Thedra Ascent was in ruins. If I had Gendry, then I didn't need anything else. He felt the same, I knew that for certain.

We were each other's happiness.