A light snow storm had just passed through Winterfell, making the task of tracking deer with Robb harder since the footprints of their prey had been covered over, though it was not impossible for such experienced hunters as them. He didn't mind the extra work, it was nice to be out in the woods, away from Lady Catelyn and her cold stares in his direction. They'd increased tenfold since his lord father Eddard had left with King Robert, and they did get to him as much as he didn't like to admit, even to himself. He knew that there would never be love for him with the woman, but she'd never displayed much courtesy towards him either, not that he blamed her. At least being a bastard meant you really knew what people thought about you, not having to question whatever someone said or did.

"Robb?"

"Yes, Jon?"

"Do you think that Eryn Karstark would agree to me marrying his niece?"

"Rosalynd?" Robb looked like he was trying not to smile when Jon nodded. "I think as long as you asked nicely that he would say yes. In fact, he's probably wondering why you haven't already done so, with the way you and Rosalynd have been spending a lot of time together." He smiled then at his half brother, slyly.

Jon felt his cheeks grow hot. "It's not like that."

Robb chuckled lightly. "Everyone in Winterfell can vouch for you two, you have nothing to fear about accusations concerning your desire of marriage."

"I wish I could believe I would be that lucky." Jon muttered darkly, groaning softly. "Gods, what am I thinking, Robb? You have a better chance of winning her hand than I ever will."

"Maybe, but I have no interest in marrying her, she is like a sister to me." Robb pointed out matter-of-factually, stopping and making his half brother face him fully, hands on his arms. "Do you love her, Jon?"

Jon swallowed the lump in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest. "More than any other girl in all the north."

"Then fight for her. Don't let the thought of what people might say or think convince you that she'd be better off without you. I can promise you she will not. You both will be miserable for the rest of your lives if you don't take this chance. And if you need to run away south with her just so you two can be together, then do it."

"No, no running." Jon said firmly, shaking his head. "If I cannot have her honorably, then I will not have her at all. I could never take her away from her family like that, even though I know she'd come willingly." His heart convulsed at the very thought, for he knew how close Rosalynd was with her uncle, who was her ward since she was small. He couldn't break her heart like that, or Eryn's, who treated him as if he were a true-born son of Lord Stark. It was unfathomable to him.

Robb smiled, squeezing Jon's arms before releasing them. "I had a feeling you would say that. Come, let us finish our task out here, and then you can approach Eryn Karstark about Rosalynd."

Jon nodded, unable to say a word. He felt so grateful to Robb, and he sensed his half brother knew it. They found the elusive deer much later and killing two sick ones in the herd, taking the beasts home to Winterfell, their direwolves trotting ahead of them. At the courtyard, he parted from Robb after his old buck was taken from him by one of the kitchen staff, his feet taking him unerringly to the small, but lovely building that had served as Rosalynd's home ever since he could remember. Gathering his courage, he knocked.

The door opened to reveal Eryn, a man in his late forties, his black hair streaked with more white than Jon's lord father's. "Jon, what a pleasant surprise. Rosalynd just went up to market, so she should be back soon if you'd like to come in and wait for her."

"Actually ser, I'm here to see you."

If Eryn was taken back by this, he didn't show it. "Ah, well then, come on in." He stepped aside to let Jon in, and shut the door once Jon had complied. He led the way down the halls to a sitting room and lowered himself slowly into a chair.

Jon waited until Eryn was situated before taking a chair himself. "Ser, I..." He swallowed another lump in his throat as Eryn looked at him with calm expectancy. Taking a deep breath to insure his voice did not shake, he continued: "I'm nearly a man now, and I love your niece with all my heart. I should like to ask you for her hand in marriage."

"I will give you my blessing, on one condition: If Rosalynd says yes." Eryn folded his hands together, a smile forming on his lips. "And since I know for a surety that she loves you as much as you love her, you and I will soon enough be family."

Jon could have kissed him, but since that would have been most inappropriate, he settled for smiling. "Thank you, ser." He wished he'd done this sooner, so that his father and siblings could have been present for the wedding, albeit it didn't hurt to send an invitation in hopes that everyone at King's Landing might be able to leave long enough to participate in the nuptials.

Eryn smiled widely, eyes sparkling. "You didn't think I'd say no, did you?"

"Well... I wasn't sure, ser. I am a bastard, after all."

"Bah, a lot of true born children are more bastard than you will ever be, Jon Snow. You have a good heart, and that my dear boy is all that matters." Eryn noticed Jon's lips twitching and guessed what he was thinking. "And yes, Rosalynd got her attitude from me. I suppose that is what happens when a child grows up with you."

Jon nodded, but before he could think of anything to say, the door opened and he heard familiar footsteps coming down the hall after it closed again.

Rosalynd appeared, Ghost as tight to her side as if she were Jon himself. "I wondered why Ghost was sitting outside the door without you."

"I have a habit of telling him to stay outside, as he makes most people uneasy." Jon replied, smiling a little.

"Direwolves are fearsome beasts, but that does not make them mindless killers." Eryn observed as he stood, taking the purchases from Rosalynd and carrying them into the other room.

"I like your uncle very much." Jon announced as he stood.

Rosalynd laughed, coming over and taking Jon's hand in hers. "He feels the same about you, you know." She petted Ghost when he silently licked her free hand with a rough tongue.

Both she and Jon had been surprised that his direwolf treated her like she was his master too, but she had been there for some of his puppy days, and was one of the few that didn't have fear towards him or his siblings. Jon also suspected that Ghost had accepted her in such a manner due to the fact that he could sense Jon's love for her. Speaking of which... "Rosalynd..."

"Yes, Jon?" She encouraged, squeezing his hand gently.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes."

The two of them were too happy to say anything for a long while, merely holding each other's hands as Ghost sat on his haunches beside them, a quite white shape on the stone floor. The smells of whatever Eryn was cooking wafted into the sitting room, promising delicious food if you were patient enough to wait for it. Jon didn't want to impose, but it seemed like he'd be staying even if he protested, so he let Rosalynd tug him into a chair, looking at her as she sat in the one beside him. Ghost moved quietly to lay between their chairs, head resting on his paws as his blood-red eyes half closed.

"I wish I had a more noble name to give you." Jon found himself saying aloud with a sigh.

Rosalynd looked up at him, her green eyes meeting his grey. "All I want is you Jon, not some fancy name. If I had ambitions to have a high-born name, you and I would still be friends, but little else."

Jon had to smile a bit. "Oh I don't know, I might have been able to convince you to give up those ambitions for me."

"You might have." Rosalynd conceded, nudging him gently with a smile of her own. "But you don't have to because I'm yours."

"And I am yours." Jon leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. He smiled when she blushed prettily, his hand twining more firmly with hers. He caught the sound of singing from the other room and raised his brows. "What is your uncle singing?"

Rosalynd chuckled. "From the melody, I think it's the song about Bran the Builder. He's rather fond of that one. Or it could be that silly love ballad he should be singing to Lyanna Glover."

Jon couldn't resist smirking a little. "He still in denial that he loves her?"

"Very much so." Rosalynd confirmed with a roll of her eyes. "We shall have to think of a way to fix that."

"We will, my love." Jon promised, smirking more at the impish look in her green eyes. Gods, he loved this woman.