Chapter 2. TARA

During Robert's rebellion Eddard Stark was ambushed in the Red Keep by men still loyal to the Targaryens. Jordan was in that battle with his son Gregor. Jordan had saved Lord Stark's life and the Warden of the North owed him a favor. What better place for Tara to keep her edge and learn to be a lady then at Winterfell. So he sent a Raven to Winterfell and Lord Stark agreed to Tara being his ward.

"I know why you are sending me away…I am not afraid of Gregor."

Jordan smiles, "You are too smart for your own good…My little girl…I will write you often…"

Adeline walks up to her daughter looking up and kisses her on the cheek. Then she runs off crying, "Hey squirt!" Sandor says. "Give them hell in the North…"

Tara smiles, "I will!" They interlock arms and hug. Tara mounts her horse and joins Eagen who will accompany her to Winterfell and continue her training there. They ride off with fifty men.

The trip to Winterfell takes a month and a week on horse. When they arrive Eagen meets with Lord Stark and his family in the great hall. "Holy shit!" Theon a ward says whispering to Robb Stark the heir of Winterfell and the eldest son of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn.

"My lord I am Sir Eagen Kent Sword-master of Clegane's Keep…and this fiery raven haired warrior is Lady Tara Clegane…"

Tara's heart flutters when she lays eyes on Robb Stark the heir of Winterfell. Apparently distracted Eagen bumps her arm because Lord Eddard had asked a question. "Oh I am sorry my lord…Yes I can cook…I can speak Dothraki, Old Valarian, and Ibben…I hate sowing and needle point…"

"Those are things a lady should know!" Catelyn Stark said speaking up.

"Well let's get her settled in…Sir Eagen you and your men may stay the night…"

"Thank you my lord, but the men will be leaving now…I am staying to continue Lady Tara's training with the sword…"

"As you wish!"

Tara got settled in and was visited by Lady Catelyn, Septa Modane, and Young Sansa. They helped Tara to settle in then Sansa asked if she could comb Tara's long thick hair which she always kept in a thick braid. At diner Tara kept stealing looks at Robb Stark. The next morning Tara was up before everyone else in the courtyard practicing her calisthenics. By the time breakfast was served Tara was finished. Grudgingly she followed Septa Modane to study. She found it very boring and Sansa to prissy to befriend as they had nothing in common.

When the lessons were over Tara ran to meet with Eagen. When she reached the courtyard she found Robb, Theon, and Jon practicing with their sword-master. She boldly walks up to the three boys, "Any of you want to spar?"

They exchange glances, "I will take you on!" Theon boldly replies, "And when you yield you have to kiss me…Not a peck either! I want one of those big long wet kisses."

"What do I get when I beat you?" Tara asked sizing Theon up.

"Oooh!" Both Robb and Jon say at the same time.

"What do you want?"

Tara sighs staring at his head, "Your head! You must shave your head!"

"Deal!" Theon replies arrogantly.

As they take a fighting stance Lord Eddard Stark walks onto the upper porch and watches. Some of the men working and guards on duty stop to watch as well. Theon is armed with a long sword while Tara is armed with two swords. "BEGIN!" Rodrick Cassel says.

Tara goes on the defensive alternating her blocks between her left and right. Rodrick Cassel shakes his head and looks at Eddard Stark who smiles shaking his head as well. Tara has reach and speed on her side as she easily stops Theon's sword.

"Can't you land one blow?" She arrogantly says.

Theon sneers as they lock swords. Tara shocks him by shoving Theon down to the ground. He stares up dumbfounded. He slowly gets up and as soon as Theon is on his feet Tara attacks. During the melee Theon manages to knock her left sword from her hand. Tara goes back into defensive mode waiting for an opening. She doesn't have to wait long as Theon is angry and careless after his embarrassment. She wrenches his sword from his hand and places the blade of the practice sword to his neck.

"Dead! Tara Clegane is the winner…" Rodrick Cassel says.

"Holy shit!" Robb says.

"How about two out three?" Theon says.

"No a wager is a wager…You have until sunset to get your head shaved…"

"No!" Theon says, "I won't do it!"

"Oh yes you will…" Eddard says, "Even if Robb and Jon have to hold you down…"

Tara points her sword at Robb, "How about you?"

Robb smiles, "No thank you!"

Later that day Robb and Jon hold Theon down while his head is shaved. "Lord Stark help me…"

Eddard smiles, "You made a wager Theon…Let that be a lesson to you…never underestimate the opposite sex…"

Tara got up the courage to sneak out of her room and make her way to Robb's room. He opened the door and she entered, "What are you doing here?"

"I…I like you! I am in love with you…My heart races when you are around and I wanted to know if you feel the same…"

"I don't know you!" Robb confessed.

She takes a step towards him and grabbing his hands, then she placed them on her breasts. "We can change that…"

He pulls his hands away quickly, "You are tall and very pretty, but I don't feel that way about you…"

Tara takes a deep breath and leaves his room. The next day Robb talks to his father about girls in general. Later on he apologizes to Tara and asks if they can be friends. She apologizes and agrees. Tara and Robb become good friends. She also takes the time to get to know Jon. Tara tolerates Theon because of Robb but otherwise she keeps her distance from him.

"She likes you Robb!" Theon says, his hair had grown back by now.

"We are just friends…"

Robb Theon and Jon are by the lake swimming, "I bet if you asked her she would let you feel her up…"

"Leave him alone!" Jon says.

Theon shakes his head, "If that tall drink of wine liked me I would try to get in between her legs…Tell me you don't want to grab those breasts? She is only 12 and she has breasts…"

"If you like her so much why don't you give her a present…or she likes poetry."

"I ain't trying to court the bitch…I just want to grab those tits!"

"So why don't you!" Jon says. "I dare you to walk up to Tara and grab her breasts…"

"You're on!" So Theon over the next few days made it his mission to sneak up on Tara and grab her breasts from behind. She was walking up the hall and Theon was six feet from her when she spun around and stared at him.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Nothing!" He replies and leaves.

Every time Theon tries Tara catches him so he challenges her to a duel after five failed attempts. Just as they get ready to fight Theon throws down his sword and says I yield. He offers his hand and when she reaches out to interlock arms Theon pulls her in close and grabs her breasts. Tara looks at Theon and smiles as he pulls his hands away.

"THEON GREYJOY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Rodrick Cassel asks.

Tara's smile vanishes as she grabs Theon by the balls and squeezes until he bends over unable to move. "Listen here you Iron born shit! You ever touch me like that again and I will rip your balls off and feed them to you…" She releases Theon and he falls to the ground groaning in pain. She looks at Robb with a sneer. "I guess you told this perv and he thought…I want to cop a feel…"

"We are friends I would never!" Robb said.

Picking up on the conversation Jon interjected, "Its not Robb;s fault I dared Theon…he talks about you so much I never thought he would actually do it…"

Tara grunts and walks off, then both Robb and Jon start laughing at Theon. "What is wrong with Theon?" Eddard Stark asks. Eddard shakes his head as Robb explains, "Help him up and go wash up for diner…" As they walk away both Eddard and Rodrick Cassel laugh.

Before diner Catelyn chastises Theon and Tara for acting so immaturely. Other than the incident with Theon Tara's first year at Winterfell is quiet. Despite all the styles Catelyn puts Tara's hair in she always undoes the hairstyle after a few days and braids her hair into one long braid. Eventually Cat gives up and allows her to wear her hair the way she wishes. Getting her to wear a dress is another war and Tara only yields when Robb or Lord Eddard Stark intervenes.

Tara is now 13 years old standing at 6 feet and on her name day her mother Adeline and her brother Clegane come to visit her. "Your father was called to Casterly Rock on business…" Adeline offers as they sit in the main hall talking alone.

"And where is that oaf of a brother?"

"With father on his way to Casterly Rock…" Sandor replies.

Adeline and Sandor stay at Winterfell for three days then they leave.