Author's note: I know this chapter is a little slow, but it is building up to something soon. Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites.

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related to it. I own Alara.

Chapter 7: Don't fear the wolf.

Alara's P.o.v

Alara's dreams were filled with Blue eyes and snow. She had been in Winterfell a day and her dreams were already filled with fresh fallen snow and blue eyes. She tried to shake the young Lord, shake the thoughts of him and the way he made her body flush. No man had ever made her feel that way. She was used to being looked upon, she enjoyed the attention most times, but not a single man made her flush.

"Seven Hells." She cursed the man under her breath as she dressed. If she was only she could avoid him, but Alara knew her luck was never that good.

Upon exiting the chamber given to her Alara ran straight into the man whose eye's haunted her sleep. She stepped back and smoothed her dress down looking upon him with a huff. The Lord was more trouble than she thought he would be.

"I thought I could introduce you to Bran." He wore a smile, and she wanted to turn back to her chambers.

"Of course." She smiled as well, forcing herself to be polite.

She knew the Lord was not nearly as bad as she had thought him to be but she was frustrated. She was frustrated with herself, for letting her body react to him in such a way. He was just a boy, just a boy like any other, at least that was what she was going to tell herself. She followed the Lord through the hall, knowing it would not be long before she found herself in the room of Lady Stark's crippled son.

"This is his chamber. I have matters of my own to attend to, I will back later Miss." He gave her a curt nod before he walked off.

Alara was not surprised by his sudden proper behavior, she was sure he was embarrassed by last night and she thought he should be. She was not embarrassed by him seeing her naked, but it did not mean he should not have been ashamed of himself. Alara knocked on the heavy wooden door in front of her.

"Come in." She heard a muffled voice from the other side.

Alara opened the heavy door and looked into the room before. She let out a horrified scream when her eyes landed on the grey beast on the bed with yellow eyes. She stumbled backwards in fright as the animal stood up on the bed beginning to bare it's teeth at her. She could not speak, the scream was caught in her throat as the beast jumped from the bed. She could see the boy in the bed speak but she could not hear a word he said. She was frozen against the wall in terror, it was the giant wolf who would eat her.

"What is going on?" The Lord Robb had found her once again.

"There... there is.. a beast." Her voice was a shaky.

She watched Robb enter the room and heard him let out a sigh.

"Summer, come." She watched as the beast went to Robb's side, fear creeping over her. "Bran, until Alara is used to them we have to keep them outside."

Them? Alara was alarmed. Did the Starks have more wolves? Beasts that could eat her whole without even thinking. She watched as the Lord led the large animal from the room, looking away as the animal crossed her. She stood frozen for a moment longer after the beast was gone, afraid to enter the room. She had made such a fool of herself.

When she entered the boy's room she kept her gaze down. She could not believe she had caused such a scene in front of the Lords of Winterfell.

"Hello, Alara." The boy who spoke was in bed.

"Hello, Lord."

"Bran, please."

She smiled at the child her body still shaken from her encounter with the wolf. She did not imagine that the Starks had kept such wild beasts as pets. The animal was sat upon the young boys bed, as if guarding him. Could it be possible for such a wild creature to be tamed?

"I am sorry Summer frightened you. If I had known you had a fear of wolves, I would have kept him outside."

Alara looked down away from the boy. She was never truly embarrassed but she was, she had never reacted in such a manner to anything. She had killed a man, but the sight of a wolf drove her into a panic.

"It is not your fault. I have never seen a wolf before, and on my journey north I was told of beasts that could swallow me whole."

She heard the little Lord stifle a laugh and made Alara smile, even though he was laughing at her.

"I am sure a full grown direwolf could, but ours are no where near full grown." So they did have more. " We found six pups months ago, we were each allowed to keep one."

"Such a curious animal to keep as a pet."

Alara could understand cats, or even dogs, she had seen them roaming the city but never a wolf. Why would someone wish to keep a blood thirsty killer as a pet?

"Summer saved my life and my mother's life. I could not imagine a better animal to have as a companion."

Alara did not ask how the wolf saved their lives, she was sure she knew. Lady Stark had spoken about the attack on her son's life, and Alara had no doubt it was the wolf who spared them. She could not imagine something so horrid happening to a family, something so shattering. She had only been attacked once in her life, and she was able to defend herself thankfully.

"Well I am sure I will grow comfortable around him soon." I doubt it.

Alara did not even know if she would become comfortable with Winterfell, or the men who occupied it. Rickon seemed sweet enough but he was just a child, and she was sure Bran was just as kind but the others seemed more unpredictable. Robb was kind, and she knew that most of it was due to his training. She longed for real people, the ones who did not have to pretend to like her.

"How do you like Winterfell so far? I can imagine it is different from Kings Landing, I was supposed to be there with my family."

Alara was saddened by the tone in the young boy's voice.

"It is much too cold here for me. Kings Landing is so warm and crowded, nothing like here. It feels empty to me, I don't know how you can stand it."

"It used to be more crowded, it felt full. Before my father and sisters went to Kings landing, before my mother left us. I never felt alone back then but now it's hard not to."

Alara felt the sadness in his voice.

"Well I hope my presence here can help. I know your brother is no doubt busy being a Lord, so I hope my company can be enough for you."

She smiled at the young boy, she wished to help. She did not want either Rickon or Bran to feel alone. She knew what it was like to be alone, before Gendry she was alone. She wanted the two boys to feel happy, even if she had no true idea on how to help.

"Do you know any stories? My old Nan is always telling me stories."

Alara thought back on the stories her mother told her as a child and only one really struck her memory. It was the story if a valiant knight who died protecting a princess, how he fought hard to save her life but in the end lost his own. She did not think it was the kind of tale the young Lord was seeking.

"Just one, but I have a book of poems I could read to you if you wish."

The book was in her room, and she had not read it since she had left home. She knew it would be good to feel connected to her blood once again. She knew reading the poems would make her miss her mother, and long to find her father. She did not know if poems were the young Lord's thing either.

"I would like that, and maybe you can get Rickon too I am sure he would enjoy it as well."

Alara excused herself and made her way back to her chambers. She knew the young Lord was not interested in her poems, but she was thankful for his kindness. He was trying to find a common ground between them, and she was not sure if their was any. After she grabbed her small book she went in search of the youngest Lord of Winterfell. She found him in his chambers.

"Rickon, I am reading to Bran. Would you like to come and join us?" She wore a smile as she looked at the young boy.

"If you promise to play in the courtyard with me after."

"I promise." She took the young boy's hand as she led him to his brother's chambers.

Alara sat in a chair at the beside of Bran while the boys sat comfortably on the bed. The young Rickon lay sprawled at his brother's feet, while Bran laid staring intently at Alara. She began to read the poems to them, finding peace among the words written with n. When all else failed, she would always have the book her father had given her. Even when she thought she was alone, the poems would give her company.

Robb's P.o.V

Robb sat in his father's old solar wondering about Alara. She was so frightened when she had seen the wolf, and he began to wonder if she had truly never seen such an animal before. He was sure she had never seen a direwolf, but Summer was not truly large yet. She knew nothing of the Iron Islands, he did not doubt she knew nothing of direwolves, or many other things. He truly wished to help her learn of the Seven Kingdoms, to teach her things she did not know. He felt he had a duty to the woman, he could not help her find her family the least he could do was help her learn other things.

Robb's mother had sent word ahead of the girl, informing him that she was born a bastard and that his father was reaching out to her family. Robb had been surprised that his mother would even care for a bastard child enough to send them to Winterfell, she never cared for his father's own child. His mother had the same view on bastards as most of Seven Kingdoms, they were lesser class citizens. What was so special about the purple eyed girl that his mother would send her north? His mother would not even tell him of the woman's heritage.

He did not blame his mother for not telling him, because he would have told Alara in an instant. He did not agree with the idea of keeping someone's parentage from them. His father had yet to tell Jon of who his mother was, even with the rumors he had heard circulating Winterfell. Robb would never understand the reasoning for keeping something from children, such as who fathered or mothered them. He had learned from his mother's letter that Alara's mother was a whore, and her father was a noble man. That was all, no hints or clues, and he was told that she had never been told of who she belonged to. He could never imagine such a life.

"Lord Stark."

Robb looked up from his work to see Alara standing in the door of his solar. She was wearing a beautiful white dress, her dark hair flowing freely, and her purple eyes fixed on him. He found her to be one the most comely women he had ever seen. She was built for love making, he could tell, and he could stare at her body all day.

"Alara, I told you to call me Robb, please." He smiled at the woman.

"Right, sorry. I cam to apologize for the way I reacted to the animal in your brother's chambers, I just .."

"Do not fret, I warned Bran."

Robb did not mean to cut her off but he had seen how confident Alara was and he did not wish for her to weaken herself in front of him. She was a strong woman, he had seen it in the way she threatened Theon. He could see it in the way she stood before him naked at the end of his sword, never batting an eye.

"Even so that was most improper of me."

"You don't need to be proper, Alara. My parents are not here, I hate being proper most times, so please don't feel you must be something you are not comfortable being."

As he finished his sentence the woman's whole demeanor had changed, she seemed to let out a breath. She smiled at him and took a seat before him. Her eyes were a mystery to him, one he wished to solve as they looked upon him. They were the color of the Targaryens, but even so she was no Targaryen that much he knew for sure.

"Are you sure you want me to drop the formalities? I mean you are a Lord and I am daughter of a whore."

"I am sure."

Robb had seen her relax while they drank, but to see her let her guard down without the wine made him smile. She was such a beautiful woman, seeing her let herself be calm around him made it better. As he looked back down at his work Robb came up with a plan.

"Would you like to come meet the wolves?."

He watched her shift uncomfortably at the mention of the wolves. Alara bit her lip as her eyes regarded him with hesitation.

"I don't know about that. You are much too busy and I should go look after the boys."

"I am not too busy, and it will just take a moment."

He let out a small laugh and stood up from his chair. He looked at Alara who just gripped the chair in hesitation, before taking the hand he held out for her. He took her through the halls of Winterfell holding her hand in his, she had not tried to pull away so Robb did not either. She had such soft hands, a contrast to his own rough hands. When they reached the kennels he felt her body stiffen.

"Stay here, I shall be right back."

Robb left the woman standing at the entrance of the kennel as he walked to the back where Grey Wind was held. His wolf had grown since the first day they brought him home, they all had. He opened the cage and allowed the beast to come forward. Alara gasped and Robb could hear it from where he stood, and he let a small smile grace his visage.

"Come Grey Wind."

Grey Wind was a calm animal, much like his owner. Robb was gentle when he wished to be but when the wolf blood inside him took over it was best to steer clear of him. Grey wind was the same. He gently lead his wolf toward the woman waiting at the entrance of the kennel.

"Will he eat me?"

Robb wanted to laugh but he didn't.

"No."

He took Grey Wind to the woman, letting the wolf smell her skirt. She stood completely still as Grey Wind looked up at Robb as if asking if the woman was alright. He nodded to his wolf who then began to smell the woman's hand, taking in her scent. Alara held her hand still but continued to look upon the wolf with worry, Robb regarded her with a smile. Grey Wind was harmless. It took a few moments but soon the wolf was sitting looking up at the woman.

"He likes you."

"And if he didn't like me?"

"He may have bitten your hand off."

He did not laugh at first, unsure if the woman would get the joke but before long she let out her own laugh. He joined her smiling as he did, he was glad she was more relaxed. Before long the woman placed her hand upon the wolf's head lightly. She did not make a move to pet the wolf, and Robb placed his hand upon hers. He guided her hand in a gentle motion he knew his wolf enjoyed, and he watched her face as he did. He expected her to yell at him for touching her but instead she wore a small smile.

"Thank you for bringing me out here. I think I would have never shaken my fear unless you had."

"Well I am glad to help, truly, as I told you anything is better than running a castle."

"I am sure it is quite a stress being such a high born Lord."

Robb liked her humor, he was glad she showed it to him. When they had been drinking he saw a flash of her humor when they spoke of her naked. He had never imagined she would have had the wit to go back at him that night, and now she did the same again. He could grow fond of the bastard girl.

"Very stressful. I mean there are feasts, parties and all the wine I can drink."

"Such a hard life, my Lord."

She had smirk that when she wore it Robb could not help but smirk himself. There was a constant sultry tone to her voice as if she was constantly trying to seduce him. He could not lie, if that was her intention it was working.

"Would you like to start your lesson in sword fighting today?"

He walked Grey Wind back to his pen as he spoke, he knew she could hear him. She did not respond at first, and Robb wondered what would make her hesitate so much.

"I would but I promised Rickon I would play in the courtyard with him. Maybe later tonight? Come find me later, Robb."

She walked away with a wink and Robb was convinced she was sent to Winterfell to test him. Her eyes were enticing, her body something he longed to touch. The Gods were testing his resolve and he did not know how much longer he could hold out. She was a thing of beauty, a woman who would cost a fortune at a brothel. Exotic and strong. This woman was going to be the death of Robb Stark.