Serena woke up her head pounding harder than it ever had before. She has never drank as much as she had the previous night and didn't expect it to feel like this. It felt like the northerner had been run over by an entire Calvary. She rolled over and rubbed her face wiping away the sleep and slowly opened her eyes. The sun was shining through the windows and the sounds of the birds singing was a beautiful song to wake up to. Serena looked around and notified something...this wasn't her chamber it was Cersei's.

She didn't even remember walking into the chamber. In truth she didn't remember much of the end of the Nameday feast. Had she drunk that much? Hopefully she didn't embarrass herself. She sat up and looked over to see Cersei sitting at a desk looking over some parchment her hair unbraided covering her shoulders while wearing a morning robe. There didn't seem to be any wine nearby.

Cersei turned to see the girl awake from her long slumber after her long night and smiled.

"Good morning." She said.

"Morning...uhh how did I get here?" Serena asked.

"I helped you up here...you were quite drunk."

Serena rubbed her head.

"Obviously...we didn't uhh..."

"No...you actually passed out in the hallway."

Serena chucked and got out of the bed still in her dress. Clearly she didn't make it in the room if she was still in the dress. She had to get out of it and back into her regular outfit. Not only was this dress slightly uncomfortable it smelled of wine and chicken from the feast.

"I should get going back to my chamber...I have to get out of this dress it reeks of wine."

Serena went to leave but was stopped by a 'wait'. She turned around to see Cersei standing up placing her hands on the table.

"If I could have a moment."

Serena thought about it a moment. If this coming conversation was the conversation she thought was coming it was one she didn't really want to have. She was so conflicted on the topic but would indulge the Queen Regent and nodded her head.

"About what happened the other night."

"Cersei..."

"Please let me speak...we have something special here. Forget what everyone else thinks..."

"It's not about that." Serena cut Cersei off. "Well it partially is. It's just...I never loved anyone before nor did I ever plan on falling in love with anyone. I guess...I'm just scared."

Cersei brought her hand up to the girls cheek slowly stroking it. Serena almost leaned in to the soft touch of the older woman but didn't.

"Don't be scared little wolf...follow your heart. It will lead you...it knows what it wants."

A tear began to form In her eyes. Her family...Torrhen,Ned,Robb. It would be a betrayal. Or would it? Her head was starting to hurt. Cersei bushed the tear away with her thumb.

"No tears little wolf."

Cersei placed her forehead on Sernea's staying there waiting for the girl to complete the kiss if she wanted. 'Gods it was too early for this' Serena thought to herself. She could feel Cersei's breath against her face. She loved Cersei there was no denying it. No one made her feel the way Cersei Lannister did. No man or woman back in Winterfell made her feel like this. Stomach tied in knots body shivering from anxiety. Heck all the men were harsh and forward Cersei was soft and delicate. All of this was a new experience to the Northerner and she wanted to experience it...and she wanted to experience with Cersei.

In that moment she forgot about everything except Cersei and her hot breath blowing onto her face. Her soft full lips just inches from her own. Those lips that had felt so soft against her own. Slowly she leaned in and closed the gap between the two planting a soft kiss on the Queen Regents lips. The kiss was short lived as it was broken and green eyes and blue eyes met connecting the pair. In that moment a dangerous and forbidden romance was born.

Cersei went back in for another kiss but was stopped.

"I really do have to get back to my chamber and get out of this stinking dress." Serena said with a chuckle.

"Perhaps I could help you with it." Cersei said.

"Not now...maybe later I have some errands to run."

"Of course." Cersei said with a smile. "Do come back later."

"I will." Serena said.

They kissed one last time and Serena left the chambers with a ear to ear smile joy filling her for the first time in a long time. With each passing day the conflict about the relationship faded. This would definitely be an experience as she began to learn how to love someone like that.

Luckily it was still early and many of the guards weren't on duty to see her walking the halls still wearing the same dress she had been wearing the night before. Getting into her chamber she rummaged though her wardrobe to find a new outfit. Once it was laid out she immediately stripped out of the dress happy to be out of it and put on her usual outfit feeling much more comfortable and happy to not be smelling the wine and food that had spilled on it. She then walked over to the window and looked out at the city. All the buildings stacked on top of each other and the near million people compacted together. The city was starting to grow on the girl who grew up in a castle in the middle of nowhere with a small town just nearby.

After a few minutes she decided to take a walk to the gardens and look at some of the plants. Being from the North there weren't that many flowers because of the northern chills. She slipped out of the red keep and walked trough the grounds to the gardens. It was a beautiful day for a stroll as well with the sun shining and the birds chirping. The flowers were bright and beautiful attracting all kinds of insects like bees who would land on the center of the flower picking up their pollen.

While walking she would occasionally stop and smell a flower or two admiring them. After a while she took a seat overlooking the bay and looked out over the water listening to the waves crashing against the rocks. That along with the singing of birds was a beautiful and calming sound.

"You were out early." A voice said.

Serena turned around to see the red hair of Sansa. She wondered what her sister was talking about and remembered that she didn't sleep in her chamber last night.

"I seemed to have gotten lost last night." She lied unable to tell Sansa where she had been and what had happened.

"I'm sure you did..." Sansa started. "Father would be disappointed if he saw you drinking all that wine." The redhead replied with a giggle.

"Yea...however having to live with these people he'd be drinking that much too."

They both laughed and spent some time looking out at the bay watching the waves and just enjoying the weather. Serena looked to Sansa happy to see the smile on her face. For so long she was sad after the attack outside the brothel and the her,Torren,and Ned's arrest along with Joffrey's torment took its toll on her. Hopefully her little conversation with the King and Ser Meryn had the desired effect.

Both watched over the bay knowing Stannis was out there and would be coming. They almost hoped at points some of the merchant ships sailing in were Stannis coming to take the city. Both couldn't wait to see their family again. Sansa wondered how her brothers and Arya were doing and Serena hopes Torrhen was ok. Just then both were interrupted by a voice.

"Pardon me ladies."

They turned around to see the bald head of Varys.

"Lord Varys." Serena said.

"Such a lovely day."

"It is." Serena replied.

She began to wonder what Varys wanted. The Master of a Whispers always wanted something and seldom engaged in conversation unless it benefitted him or whatever agenda it was pushing.

"What do you want Lord Varys?"

"Do I need to want anything?" He asked.

"You usually do."

He smiled and began to dig into his sleeve.

"I brought you something you might want to read."

He pulled out a rolled up parchment and handed it to Serena. She looked over it finding a blank seal showing no sign of which house it was sent from. She broke the seal and immediately recognized the writing.

'Dear Serena,

I hope this manages to reach you and our mutual friend doesn't betray my trust. Me and father are ok at the Stark camp with Robb. We hope you are doing well and the girls are safe. Do not worry we shall be at Kings Landing soon to brig you girls home.

Your Brother,

Torrhen'

Serena rubbed the tear from her eye and rolled the parchment up sticking it in her pocket for safe keeping. Sansa was looking at her sister with curiosity wondering why she was crying.

"Thank you Lord Varys...but why are you helping us? Don't you serve Joffrey?"

Varys let out a chuckle.

"You misunderstand my goals Lady Serena...in here to serve the realm not a specific King or Queen."

"Well whatever the reason thank you."

Varys then bowed and took his leave.

Torrhen had packed all the essential things he would need on the road south. Changes of clothes,water skins,and his blade recently sharpened and ready for a battle. The nerves began to shake as he thought of the battle that would be happening within the next few days. Growing up hearing the stories of Roberts Rebellion and the Greyjoy a Rebellion from Ned he had always dreamed battle. All of his dreams as a boy were filled with open fields filled with soldiers dueling for control of the land and large sieges in hopes of taking a city or castle...dreams that felt as long as the battles and sieges themselves.

The sounds of soldiers preparing could be heard from outside the tent calmly moving their things from their tents to their mounts along with the sounds of prayed and blessings of safety in hopes the soldiers return safely. Many prayed to the Old Gods and some who were mostly supporters of House Manderly prayed to the Seven. The Seven might to more good than the Old Gods to these men. Many say the Old Gods have no power over the South as all the sacred trees have been cut down as well as the cursed history of any Stark that rode south.

Torrhen thought about that curse. Ned's father and brother Rickard and Brandon who were burned alive by the Mad King in the Throne Room of the Red Keep and even Ned who was going to be executed if Serena hadn't helped them escape. He hoped she was doing ok in Kings Landing with Sansa. That place was a bottomless pit of corruption and Cersei Lannister was the worst of them. All that mattered at this point was the girls's safety. It didn't matter who sat on the throne in the end as long as they were ok.

Torrhen left the tent and walked to the main tent where they were going to have one last meal before Robb and Torrhen rode off for battle. Some soldiers moved out of his way when they realized it was him making it easier to get to the tent. Once inside the table that usually held a map and the wooden figures was cleared and set with plates and forks surrounded by chairs for the Stark's to sit and eat.

Robb and Ned were already talking in the tent and Cat came in a few seconds later.

"Good were all here...you ready Torrhen?" Ned asked.

"All packed and ready to go."

"Ready to ride out." Torrhen replied.

"Good." Robb started. "I'd like to ride as soon as possible."

It was then the table was set and the meal was brought out. The main meal was venison and potatoes with some water to wash it all down. Both Torrhen and Robb took their time with their meals savoring each bite as if it would their last. After the meal they cleaned the table and went to ready their horses. Every soldier that was riding and marching out with them was ready to go when the order was given. Thousands of men sprinted into formation bringing the camp to life. At the head of the line waited Robb and Torren's horses as well as Lord Rickard Karstark who was already saddled and ready to go. Ned and Cat also walked over there to see them off.

"Do come home to me." Cat said to Robb before giving him a tight hug. "I will pray to the Seven every day for your return...and yours as well." She finished turning to Torrhen.

Torrhen have a hug to Cat while Robb and Ned said their farewells. Ned walked over to Torrhen and shook his hand.

"Feels like just a day ago I brought you into my home as a baby and now you march off to war a man." He stopped at looked to Robb. "Look out for Robb out there."

"I will."

Ned patted his back and Torrhen mounted his steed. With a look at Robb they began to ride off into the woods under the cover of night. They were both nervous Torrhen more so then the already battle tested Robb.