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Natalia

The Eyrie, 280 B.C.

Natalia awoke to the sun tickling her face, like every day for the last couple of months that they had been staying at the Eyrie. Marrying Eddard Stark had caused more trouble than either of them had ever anticipated, so they had decided it might be better to lay low in the Vale until things had calmed down. Time and time again Nat thanked the Old Gods that her Stark wasn't the heir of Winterfell and that he had not been promised to another woman yet (surprisingly). If that had been the case, they would probably be in war right now. Men had fought and died for less.

Next to her, her husband apparently had woken up as well, if the shuffling was any indication, so Nat turned around to face him fully.

"Good morning Dearest," he murmured sleepily, an adorable small smile on his lips.

"Good morning," she answered tenderly. "What do you say, ready to start the day?"

She sat up and pushed the blanket back on her side, ready to get out of bed.

"Not so quickly my Lady," he growled, pulling on her hand so she fell back on top of him.

While his strong arms limited her range of movement, he began peppering her neck and cheeks with kisses, making her laugh. His wife struggled in his grip, expertedly wiggling out of his arms and scooting to the other end of the bed so he couldn't reach her.

"This is no fun!" he complained, making her laugh even harder.

"Ned, now you are pouting like a child! I am not sure whether that is sweet or whether it is utterly ridiculous!"

She bend forward again to give him a quick peck on the lips, then jumped out of bed to walk towards the window and look outside.

"What are your plans for today?"

"Well, apparently my wife is kicking me out of her bed," he grumbled, "so I shall return to my chamber to get dressed. We can break the fast then and later I will have some training fights with Robert that I will certainly loose. The same as usual, so to say. What about you?"

"Let's see, there are some ladies from the Vale currently staying here and I will probably have to entertain them again." She made a face. "One is quite pleasant, the other two are incredibly tedious. The only thing that they seem to take an interest in is embroidery. Then there are some arrangements for a new tapestry and some new furniture to be made and I am supposed to draw up some ideas and discuss them with the Lord."

Ned nodded at her approvingly. Since Jon Arryn was not married and Natalia had charmed him immediatedly, she had taken on most duties that would usually be carried out by the Lady of the Eyrie. The woman knew what people were saying behind her back, that she was power-hungry, that she wanted the Eyrie for herself and would leave Ned anytime for Jon Arryn, that she was the next Ellyn Reyne. It didn't matter, she was good at the job and would make herself useful as long as they stayed.

Later, when they were sitting in the solar, enjoying the little time they had together before going about their day, Ned looked up from the pile of letters he had recieved.

"It is from my father. He changed his mind, he only wants you to come to Winterfell. I am supposed to stay here for an undefined time, to learn more."

"This is the most ridiculous excuse I have ever heard! He only wants to separate us," Natalia answered, her voice grave, "he probably hopes you will forget me and later annul the marriage. We both know it would not even be a real offence to my family. Well, it would, but nothing money and a betrothal to one of his other bannermen can't solve. Ned, please don't make me go!"

Her green eyes were begging him, a rare occurence. Normally there would have been a challenge in them, a confirmation that she wouldn't budge. But right now, in this situation, she really wasn't sure what Ned would do. The stand he had in his family had become fragile enough, would he really risk loosing them, loosing his heritage for her?

"Natty...," he trailed off, "I don't want you to go back alone, I really don't. I am afraid of how they will treat you when I am not around. But I think you should go, that it would be unwise to provoke them any further. If you could be the daughter-in-law they wish for -"

Suddenly, Natalia became angry.

"So you want me gone then," she hissed, her voice icy, "do you already regret marrying me and not someone like Ashara Dayne?"

Ned blanched before turning as red as his wife's hair. With a few steps he was out of his seat and in front of her, his hands grabbing her small shoulders so tightly that it hurt.

"Don't you dare making this about another woman or me not wanting you! I am just as afraid of losing you, that you might find I am not worth all the trouble. I know you never really cared about the title, so that is nothing I can keep you with! And men will cluster around you again at Winterfell, just as they have always done, begging for your favour and attention. Some because they admire you for all the right reasons and some because they simply want to fuck you!"

Natalia was taken aback by this unsusual display of emotion, she had never expected Ned to be the jealous kind of man. He losened the hold he had on her before kneeling down so that his face was closer to her level. When he slowly started to carress her cheek, his fingers came away damp, though Nat had not even noticed that she had started crying.

"My sweet, I know I can't possess you, but that doesn't mean I have to like it!" he declared.

"Maybe I can go with Lyanna to Storm's End when she finally marries Robert," the young woman offered quietly. "I prefer the North, but she has asked me to come with her several times and there would be some distance between Winterfell and me. Until then, we will manage somehow."

"It might be a good solution and keep you out of my father's way. I will inform him about these plans. You could still meet Bucky at Brookbridge. By the Gods, I still have no idea what fancy struck your brother to become close friends with Sir Steven, this Lannister offspring."

Nat shrugged her shoulders. "I think he misses you and he simply likes him. I don't believe there is more to it, I love my brother but he is not the mastermind who starts playing political games."

Ned's face started to lighten up a bit. "No, he really isn't. That's what I like about him. On the other hand, you are such a mastermind. That's what I like about you."

"Husband of mine, you are not making any sense," Nat argued, "you like something about me that you wouldn't like about my brother."

"Sure, because it will keep you safe. And I trust your judgement Natty, more than anything else."

He stepped into her space again to pull her close to his chest, his wife offered no resistance. They stayed like that and her thoughts were already drifting off, when Ned ripped her out of her reverie again.

"Would you believe that Bucky could be after Maryah Starshield?"

"No I don't" Natalia answered, grinning a bit, "she is far too severe and sensible for him. If at all, he would be more after Sir Steven's sister Barbara. That would be screaming for trouble, Lannister-involvement always comes with a price, but we are talking about my roguish brother here."

"You are right my love, as always. Well, I will compose and send the letters then and let everybody know about the alteration of plans."

When Ned had left for his room, his young wife got dressed with the help of a maid. Putting on one of her wedding gifts, a pendant in the shape of a wolf-head, she wondered once more who had sent it o her and whether she would ever find out.

Thank you for reading, stay safe!