NOTE: Hi!

SO

I was supposed to post this yesterday. But I happen to have a busy day and then fell asleep while I was editing it...

Soooo with a little bit of delay here's the 19th chapter! Hope you'll like it!

Chapter 19: The Broken Tower

Last Week of the Sixth Month of the Year 298

Winterfell

Kyria Stark

The morning after the feast found Winterfell sleepy. It took time for anyone to emerge out of their bed, let alone their room. Kyria took this opportunity to snooze a little bit more than what was recommended in the comfort of her bed. She had too many occasions to enjoy things like this.

Today, she had a mission. Find the little prince and princess, and ask questions. About Joffrey mainly and the weird comment little Tommen did yesterday, but also about the court and the Capital. If she was to send her precious little sister in that place, she was going to know everything she could about it before. Books won't be enough anymore.

Even with her unusual tardiness, Kyria was surprised to be one of the firsts out of bed. Rumor had it that a great hunt was prepared today, one in which the King himself would participate. Though how any horse could support such… kingly amount of inflated flesh was beyond her understanding and something she would pay good money to witness with her own eyes. That poor beast… As his oldest friend, Father would of course also be part of such a party.

Maybe this was the reason why everyone was still resting, maybe it was the consequences of the feast. In any case, she welcomed the silence of the Great Hall with a plate of rich food and a thick book to occupy herself with.

Before she could observe the morning rituals of the royal family as she wished to, each and every member of her family joined her at their table. Disheveled and still sleepy for most of them, but present nonetheless. With a polite smile and warmth in her heart, she got to savor a short, delightful conversation with her little sisters both of whom had many things to say about many subjects, all related to the new developments happening around the castle.

"She's not that bad," confessed Arya when the conversation deviated on Princess Myrcella. "I mean she's a princess and she kind of acts like Sansa. But… she's not so bad I suppose."

"I am sure there are no higher compliments than this one sister…" noted Kyria as dry as the Dornish sand.

Arya flushed furiously and looked away grumpily. Kyria rolled her eyes, amused. As if summoned by her own name, Sansa blinked out of her daydreaming and smiled happily in their direction.

"This is so perfect!" she chirped, although neither Kyria nor Arya knew what she was precisely talking about.

They choose not to comment and smiled back in tandem, much to Kyria's growing amusement. She wondered whose behavior was bleeding on whom. She assumed they were all progressively influencing each other like uncle Benjen suggested all those months ago.

A quiet hour later, the doors of the hall opened again to the majestic presence of Queen Cersei and her thick golden locks following her. Each side of her dress were flanked by little hands belonging to her smaller children, all wide-eyed and curious in this still unfamiliar environment. Kyria observed their little group with apt attention, barely noticing the light touching the immaculate armor of a knight behind them.

It astonished Kyria once again how much they looked like their mother. Softer, younger, and less intimidating, but the otherwise spitting image of perfectly bred Lannisters.

This day promised to be interesting for sure.

Soon enough, little Myrcella who seemed to be the most adventurous of the two dared to move away from her mother's clutch and met Kyria's steady eyes. Kyria immediately smiled politely and silently invited the little princess closer. In a couple of hushed sentences to prevent any disturbances, they exchanged pleasantries and Kyria proposed a quiet walk around the keep for her and her little brother.

Myrcella was delighted to accept, especially upon hearing the news of Sansa's presence. Now if that wasn't the most adorable thing in the world…

Sansa of course was delighted to join, delighted by the idea alone of spending time with those who had good chances of becoming her in-laws once she was trapped with the crown prince. Arya seemed to think a little bit more before accepting, sending obvious curious looks in her older sister's direction. She knew something was going on and the curiosity was killing her.

"Very well…" she grumbled after five more minutes of Vaillant resistance.

Oh, she would sooner be caught dead than to admit the idea was appealing to her. Let it be known she was still as wild and rebellious as ever deep within her beating little heart.

The hunt departed right after luncheon. Kyria and her sisters were already joined by the little princelings at this point, both blond children silently holding hands as they watched their brother depart behind his massive father. Kyria's eyes were drawn to Robb's pouting face, having to run in the woods and hunt without Greywind was a low bow for him. She could understand. She smiled when he looked in her direction and shrugged helplessly when he glared harder. For once she was happy to be born a girl. Anything could be better than spending an entire afternoon running through the woods with the boorish king.

"I wish I could see the King galloping on his horse…" confessed Arya between her teeth.

Kyria snorted.

"So do I sister."

Oh did she wish so.

Once the hunt was finally gone, Kyria opened the path for their little excursion. She guided their little party through the godswood, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the woods. Besides the two princelings, they had to be followed everywhere by a Kingsguard, courtesy of the blond children's worried mother. Not that she could condemn the woman for worrying about her children. Ser Oakhart was a silent man, the only sound he produced came from his heavy armor and the handle of his sword hitting his belt from time to time. Overall, he was easy to forget, and soon enough, only Arya was paying him any kind of attention.

The godswood was a very good idea, and apparently a fantastic discovery for the children. Tommen was especially curious about the black water of the pool right next to the great heartree.

"Why is the water like that?"

"Like what?" mumbled Arya who seemed to think the tiniest show of happiness would be a personal betrayal of some sort.

"So dark…"

The little girl shrugged. Sansa looked down pensively.

"I've never thought about it. It had always been that way. Do you know Kyria?"

Kyria looked down, mimicking her sister.

"I'm not entirely certain. I think it is because of the stones at the bottom of the water. They are black."

"They are."

Kyria nodded. Tommen looked fascinated by the water, she didn't really know why.

"It looks like there's black paint in the water."

Arya snorted.

"That's not paint, stupid, that's water."

"Arya!" scolded Sansa.

"It's true! We used to swim in that pool when we were younger. It's just water. It's warm though."

"It is?"

Instead of answering, Kyria lowered herself on the floor and pushed her hand through the water.

"Go on, try it. It is warm."

Curious, the little boy did just that. He showed a surprised smile when his hand broke the surface of the lukewarm liquid. He giggled.

"It feels funny!"

Kyria smiled, inviting the little princess to mimic her brother. It was rather odd, how warm the pond always was, no matter the weather. It didn't exhale the warm mist of the hot spring farther through the woods, or those within the keep itself, but it was still warmer than what one would expect. The sensation was unexpected, yet not uncomfortable.

They remained a couple of minutes around the pond, mainly for the sake of the little royal's curiosity, before carrying on through the woods, deeper toward the edges and the thick walls surrounding it.

"This place is so much bigger than the godswood in the Red Keep." observed Myrcella as they reached the wall at the deep end of the woods, where the trees were thicker and the vegetation fuller.

She held a delicate little hand against the hard stone and Kyria wondered if she could cut herself to the hardness of the North if she pressed too much. She looked so fragile.

"You have a godswood?" enquired Sansa, surprised.

Tommen nodded.

"Mother said it is for tree huggers and peasants too stupid to pray properly."

Sansa gasped, Arya flushed furiously and Kyria pushed her hand against her little sister's shoulder, begging her to hold herself for fear of insulting the princelings before she could even begin to question them on anything.

"At least we don't have to pay to be heard by our gods", protested the youngest Stark girl, seemingly deaf to Kyria's poor attempts at telepathy, "we don't have stupid songs and pretty words. We only have to talk and know how to listen to our gods!"

Tommen flushed, stunned. His wide eyes became blurry Kyria hastily took the matter at hand before any crying session could start. They did not need the little prince to run back to his mother's skirt with tear-filled eyes.

"The Old gods and the faith of the Seven are two different religions. We do not pray to our trees my prince as much as we talk to our gods through the faces carved in the trees, like you pray yours with a candle and a statue. It is different."

Tommen looked down and didn't talk again. Was he sulking?

"I apologize for my brother lady Kyria, he didn't want to insult you."

"I am sure he didn't." smiled Kyria.

His mother, however… why would she say such a thing to a child? The more she learned the less she liked that woman.

The atmosphere remained tense as they exited the godswood for the gardens, a heavy silence surrounded them and Kyria despaired for the lightness of the night prior. Her objective still fresh in her mind, encouraged Sansa in a light conversation with the princess, who shyly answered.

Kyria took the opportunity of opening the door to the garden to push Arya sharply slapping the crown of her head.

"Ah! What?!"

"Mind your manners sister. Not everyone here is used to your rudeness."

"It's not my fault he's stupid!"

"He's young and listens to his mother, can you blame him?"

Arya grumbled something and Kyria rolled her eyes. Stubborn child.

The gardens fascinated Myrcella. For sure, living South of the Neck, the girl must have seen far bigger gardens, bathed by the sun and sprouting thousands more flowers and trees all around. But she was somehow enthralled by the logic and thinking behind the construction of gigantic glass houses to shelter crops too fragile for the harsh temperatures of the northern climate. The sight of the newly built glasshouse Robb ordered, twice as big as the others, snatched a delighted gasp from her mouth.

"It's so big!"

Kyria smiled proudly. It was indeed impressive. Over 160 feet long, a good 70 feet large, with high walls to allow trees to grow bigger and fuller. One point of the building ended up in a large round shape, where he ordered all the flowers his mother had brought from Riverrun when she moved here would be put together, to allow the newly freed space to be occupied by food. It had been marvelously made and to this day Kyria still had no clue how this tall thing was even standing. She only hoped the glass on the roof would hold the heavy snow winter undoubtedly would throw upon it. Robb had been sure it would, spurring things about calculus made and structure checked but she honestly didn't get most of it. Numbers had never been her forte.

All in all, it was indeed a pleasant afternoon. Tommen expressed his curiosity over the wolves, and after having dragged the poor boy from point to point while he had to suffer ladies talking around him all afternoon, Kyria couldn't object to a little trip to the kennels.

Much to Kyria's surprise, Myrcella, who until now has acted as the brave face of their little duo, was the most afraid of the wolves. Though from what she gathered through their sparse conversations, Tommen had a strong affinity with animals.

"My prince-" immediately worried the knight still following them as the little boy bravely took a step inside the kennels.

The entire pack was there, piercing eyes following the little boy's every move with the sharp attention of the predators they were.

"Do not trouble yourself ser," appease Sansa with a smile, "they will not hurt him as long as we are here. They are loyal beasts."

The man lowered his arm by an inch, still warry. Kyria couldn't really blame him for that.

"They truly are massive. I wasn't sure-" hesitated the princess, safely on the other side of the open door.

Sansa smiled and quietly invited the girl to pet Lady whose head was happily resting on her lap.

"Do not worry princess, Lady is the most gentle of them all."

Summer huffed, apparently offended by the affirmation. Tommen chuckled.

"This one looks jealous!" he giggled.

Arya snorted around Nymeria's head.

"Summer is soft too, but Lady's delicate. She's small and more gentle. Like Sansa."

"Are they all brother and sister?" enquired the little boy.

He dared to hold a hand in front of Frost's nose, hoping for a curious sniff. Frost indulged.

"They are." pipped Arya proudly, "Our brothers found them in the forest. They were very little! Days old."

"Really? How did they do that?"

Arya shrugged.

"Their mother was dead. Jon said it was the antler of the stag she was chasing that ripped her throat and killed her."

The little boy turned a little green and looked down sadly at Greywind who pushed his hand with his nose. Sansa, the darling girl that she is, found upon herself to reassure him.

"They were very young. I do not think they remember."

Tommen nodded as his sister curled around Lady shyly.

"I'm glad. Death is ugly."

Kyria looked up at the little blond's somber face. He was thinking of something.

"What do you mean my prince?" she asked softly.

The boy shrugged again, not looking up.

"Jon was nice. He would pat my head sometimes when he saw me. And he's dead. Mother doesn't know but I saw him. After. It was ugly and it smelled wrong."

He saw Jon Arryn's corpse. That child… What else did he see in this dreadful place the poor dear?

"And there was my cat and Joffrey. She was sweet, and she had babies in her belly and then Joffrey cut it open. He said he wanted to watch the babies."

"Tommen."

He stopped and went to cuddle his sister. The tension was high in the kennels and no one seemed to know what to say after that. Sansa was pale and shaking slightly, Arya looked barely better and Kyria… Kyria was thinking.

No one knew what to say. There weren't many ways to start back a conversation after such a horrible story… Myrcella tentatively tried a new subject and Sansa threw herself into it with the desperation of someone wishing beyond everything to forget what just happened but none of their hearts were in it and it showed. Arya preferred to play with Nymeria and Shaggydog.

Kyria remained silent, a growing dread polluting her mind and twisting her stomach. Joffrey… this boy again... It's only been a day and already she felt a strong urge to barge into Father's solar and demand the incoming betrothal with Sansa be annulled. Prince or not she had a bad feeling about all of this.

If you thought this had a happy ending you haven't been paying attention.

No. This charming prince storyline sounded too good to be true for her sweet little sister. As the children chirped around her bonding tentatively over the wolves who puffed up under the young attention, Kyria plotted. She needed to do something. But what? How? Refusing without a valid reason would insult the King, and the Lannister family on top of it, two entities she better stay away from if she could…

As if sensing her growing distress, Frost curled around her, his head on her joined thighs. She slowly stroked his head.

"Kyria?"

She blinked.

"Are you alright?" asked Arya worriedly.

The entire room's attention was turned on her. She blushed, now may not be the time to reflect on everything. She forced a smile.

"I am alright Arya, thank you. I was just-"

kâââââ

"Oh!"

Kââââ Kââââ

"Is that a crow?"

"Why is he here?"

Summer growled slowly, eyes on the bird. Kyria froze her eyes on the wolf.

Why is he growling?

"Maybe someone received a raven."

Kââââ

"Yes, but why would he come here?"

"He wished to fly around?"

Not a crow. Raven.

Thousand of ravens hiding red leaves. Screaming. The cracking sound of wheels on the snow. Empty eyes piercing through her very soul.

"You can't stop it Kyria."

BRAN!

Kyria gasped.

"Kyria?"

"Are you alright?"

"I- My apologies, It seems like I have to verify something…" she mumbled abruptly, struggling to stand up.

Bran, Bran!

She barely made it outside the kennels. When there, she stopped thinking. She ran. Piling her skirt to her waist to free her booted legs, she took off like the winds blowing leaves.

Bran!

"Kyria?"

"Frost! Come back here, boy!"

"Wha- Summer!"

She ran as fast as she could, deaf to her sister's call and only aware of the growing panic in her guts. Frost and Summer ran with her, the latter soon passing in front of her, no doubt to find his master as soon as possible. She followed him without thinking.

No. This couldn't happen. This wasn't happening. The things we do for love.

He saw us!

For Love-

No. Not on her watch.

I'm sorry for what I did to you

Why did you do it?

I protected my family

Never! For as long as she was alive!

The things I do for love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.

You can't change it, Kyria.

She pushed away the last voice, determined to prove it wrong. Watch me, Bran. I will not let that happen. Never. She saw it, she could change it.

A tiny part of her brain was slowly gathering the clues on the voices, understanding what was about to happen, slowly, far too slowly for her liking. But she couldn't focus on that. She had to run. Fast, faster, faster! She had to arrive in time. Please let her arrive in time.

She could almost see it, Bran so small, so frail in his large bed. Asleep, hurt, broken by a fall so like hers. Except higher, more dangerous. She couldn't let that happen. She had to save her little brother. She had to!

I'd rather have you walk like a wolf than fly like a bird little brother.

No, he won't. You won't take him from us. You won't. I won't let you. I can't. He won't fall. He'll stay as he is, Bran, Bran Bran!

You can't stop it, sister.

He won't fall!

Finally, the light in her dark thoughts and panics. Bran. Bran climbing, alive, breathing, moving! On the Broken Tower, going high, higher, so high the blood froze in her veins. His hands were wrapped around the wooden pieces that pierced through the stones, right before the window.

The window! screamed her frantic mind.

"BRANDON STARK!"

In retrospect, this was definitely not the best way to catch his attention, especially with him so high and in such a dangerous position. But fear obscured her mind, clouded her judgment, and all that mattered was for him to stop climbing!

"What in the Seven hells do you think you are doing!?" she shrieked with all the anger she could muster around her fear.

Thank the gods the little boy stilled in his activity, still solidly anchored against the wall like a moth on a rotting fruit.

"Kyria! Don't scream like that! You scared me!"

"Scared you?! What do you think you are doing right now?! Mother forbid you from climbing! You promised you wouldn't!"

"But I almost reached the top!"

"I don't care! You promised Brandon! No more climbing! So Get. Down. Here!"

"But-"

"Now! Or I ask Frost to call the household!"

"No! If Mother see me- Kyria!"

"You chose to disobey her first, Bran!"

She couldn't see his face from here. She couldn't see his face!

Summer barked, Frost growled. Paw scratched the floor, she didn't know whose. Panic gripped her throat.

"What's it to you anyway! I climb on top of the tower and then I'll go down! No one else has to know!"

Kyria almost strangled herself with her own breath when from the corner of her eyes she saw something move by the window. The feeling of urgency was almost overwhelming at this point, for it wasn't just an intuition anymore. There was something here, something Bran could not see. She screamed even louder, ignoring the aching back of her throat.

"What part of this conversation made you think it was a negotiation? You get down right now or Frost calls and Mother will take you down!"

Bran's chin wobbled.

"You can't! I'm almost at the top! I'll go down then, I promise!"

"I don't care! You get down here right now!"

Frost shifted next to her, pawing the floor nervously, sensing her distress. He whined shortly, immediately echoed by his brother whose master just couldn't listen!

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me!"

He held his grown, so to speak. He refused to move.

"You wouldn't!"

She glared one last time. He glared back. He didn't believe her. Fine. He was going down whether he liked it or not.

"Frost-"

"No! I climb down, Kyria, don't do it!"

"-call!"

Immediately, her companion threw his head back and howled loud and clear for the whole keep to hear. Summer was close behind, far louder than his brother, desperate almost. Just how much are they understanding the situation?

"Why did you do that!" whined the boy.

"Get down Bran before Mother sees you. She'll be mad enough as it is."

"She wouldn't be if you hadn't done that!"

"I wouldn't have done that if you kept your word!"

"It's not fair! She's going to ground me now!"

"Because you think she wouldn't have discovered that on her own?"

With no other choice, he slowly climbed down, grumbling the whole time. Kyria remained tense the whole time, fearing for a wrong move, a stone falling, fingers slipping. Anything really. Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened, soon enough, Bran was low enough so the fall, if he did fall, wouldn't kill him. Hopefully.

"Hodor!"

People were answering her call. Hodor, bless his giant soft heart for she had never been happier to see him, was followed by Old Nan, Ser Rodrick, and finally, Mother.

Kyria would have smiled if she allowed herself to. Or cried. She chose to do none, observing Hodor with the attention of a hawk as he stopped in front of the tower, close to where Bran was climbing. He was strong, whispered her mind, he could catch Bran if ever-

No. It wasn't happening.

Not on my watch. Not on my watch...

"Kyria what-" Mother's sentence stopped when her eyes fell on her son, still attached to the rock of the tower.

"Brandon Stark!" she exclaimed, scandalized. "What do you think you are doing here?"

Her legs wobbled under her weight when Bran arrived safely on the floor. He refused to look at her while Mother scolded him loudly, but she couldn't have cared less about his mood right now. He was safe. He was safe! Nothing else mattered. Nothing.

It was then she realized the shaking of her limbs and the weakness of her legs. She was thankful to her companion who pushed his massive flank against her waist, allowing her to use him as a support for her failing legs.

Finally, she allowed her eyes to look back up, to the window. Just at that time, something moved, something white and airy. Fabric. A shirt? Maybe. Her heart beating fast in her chest, she finally allowed herself to think about it. Who was up there? What happened that Bran could not see? What had been happening that was bad to the point of throwing her into this full-blown panic?

What was hiding up there?

"Kyria? What happened?" asked Sansa from behind her.

She was surrounded by the little party Kyria abandoned in her panic.

"Bran didn't keep his word."

"What?"

"What did he do?" asked the soft voice of the princess.

She pointed to the broken stones in front of them.

"He climbed the broken tower."

"The tower? How did he do that?" shrieked the little princess.

"He always does that." said Arya from her post next to Sansa, "He climbs on everything, tower, walls, all around the keep."

"But it's- it's dangerous! He could fall!"

"He never did." smiled Kyria with barely repressed relief, "Not once. Through the wind, the rain, the storms… he never fell."

Sansa smiled proudly, and Arya puffed her chest.

The conversation carries on, but Kyria kept looking back up, again and again, hoping to see what he had so desperately tried to stop her brother from witnessing. Who was up there?

GOT

The hunt came back at the end of the day with no other incident to note. Kyria retreated to the library for the better part of the afternoon, needing to calm her mind. It was no use. She kept thinking about it, no matter what book was in her hands, or what subject she tried to concentrate on.

When the chaos finally ended in the yard, she gave up on trying to distract herself. She was useless here, and there was no need to torture herself any more with running thoughts and endless questions.

With a tired sigh, she decided on a quick trip to the godswood. She was always able to think there.

Kyria closed her book, brushed a crease in her grey and blue dress, and put the said book back where it belonged on the shelf.

"My Lady? Are you feeling well?" enquired Maester Luwin, surprising the girl in her quiet ministrations.

"Maester! I didn't know you were here!" she flushed embarrassingly.

The old man shook his head, the clinking of the chain around his neck capturing her attention for a moment.

"Do not trouble yourself with an old man like me child, I am quite silent when I wish to be."

She smiled awkwardly. Maester Luwin blinked, awaiting the answer to the question she barely heard from him.

"Did you- wish something Maester? Can I help you with something?"

He smiled.

"No worries my dear, I was simply enquiring about your health. You seem troubled."

Oh. Well…

"I am… I have a lot of things on my mind."

"Would you like to talk about it? Experience taught me that the best cure to a troubled mind is sharing one's burden."

Ah. Yes, well… as kind as he was, there wasn't much she could tell him without a good threat of milk of the poppy and the conviction of her completely losing her mind.

She had wished, from time to time, that she could talk freely about her troubles to the man. He was a good listener and a man of science before anything else. And for having the pleasure of witnessing her mother's daily tasks almost as often as she accomplished them, she had been able to see firsthand how good his advice could get. But this was something she couldn't share with just anyone.

She had always thought, deep down, that people like Maester Luwin, Mother or even her father wouldn't understand what she was living. They would rationalize it, try to find logical explanations, and things like that.

She didn't need to rationalize her visions. She had tried that for months with no success. What would be the point of telling them now anyway?

So Kyria plastered her best smile and thanked the Maester.

"Thank you, but it was nothing of importance."

The man seemed dubious. But he chose to let go, much to her relief. The last thing she needed today was an interrogation.

"Well then, I leave you to your thoughts. Though I do hope you know you can find me if you need to talk, my lady."

"I know Maester. Thank you for your kindness."

With a quick bow, she was out of the library.

Her mind was still wandering as she made her way through the stairs of the tower, then the bridge that lay the library tower to the keep. She bowed to the people she crossed in the corridors and smiled when talked to, but she was still deep in her thoughts despite all her efforts to clear her mind.

The sight of the gates leading to the godswood couldn't have been more welcomed. With their visit earlier that day, and Princess Myrcella and Prince Tommen's discovery of the place, she felt like she was seeing it for the first time again.

It was easy to forget how magnificent this place was, having access to it every day and spending so much time here. But it was breathtaking. The whisper of the leaves, the murmur of the water against the rocks. The strong trees and their wide arms spread to the sky. Everything was beautiful.

With a deep sight, Kyria slowly walked through the path made by generations of Starks before her. She was silently contemplating the beauty of it when she heard.

The giggle.

She froze right where she was. Slowly, she turned around.

…Oh gods.

Oh, gods!

Pushed against one large trunk, was an unfamiliar handmaiden. One of those Mother had recruited from Wintertown in preparation for the upcoming visitors and the work that would have to be done around the keep. She was giggling flirtatiously in a familiar mop of auburn hair. Attached to a just as familiar head. And shoulders; And back. And everything.

Oh gods she was going to be sick.

The familiar head seemed very absorbed by the girl's bodice. Or…lack of? Was that- oh no. No, she was not watching this.

"My Lord-" half moaned the girl, much to Kyria's growing distress.

Her small hand curled within Kyria's brother's mane, twisting the hair as if her life depended on it.

Oh, there was no way in hell she was going to stand there and watch Robb do- UGH!

Slowly, Kyria took a step back, then another, ignoring the heat growing on her cheeks and hoping, praying the old gods not to put a stick on her path. Or leaves. Or anything that could make noise as she retreated far, far away from that scene.

The gods didn't listen. Or maybe they did but thought it more entertaining to push Kyria a little deeper in her embarrassment.

The tiny little stick was enough to startle her big brother who stopped any kind of ministration on his…friend. He stood straight and turned around his hand still half buried in the girl's neck and hair.

His face lost all colors when his eyes found hers.

"I am not here!" cried Kyria, desperate to escape this whole thing and never think of it ever again.

"K-"

"I am not here! I have never been here and I will never think of being here in this precise moment of your life!"

"K-Kyria!" he squeaked unhelpfully and she stepped back further away, hands held in front of her as if to stop him from coming closer.

"No! I don't want to hear it! I will disappear and we will continue to think of how not here I was and you will pursue your… activities which I do not want to know anything about!"

"Kyria-"

"Not here!" she squalled again, almost running out of the way.

She was not ashamed to admit that she ran away. Fast. There were things in her brother's life she'd better not know, or witness. Ever.

With a beating heart and still flushed face, she escaped the woods. Good gods…

It was completely by chance that her eyes got lost in the grey stones of Winterfell and landed on the Broken Tower. But as they did, her mind jumped back into her previous questioning. Partly because she wished to forget what she saw with Robb for the sake of her own sanity, and partly because, no matter what, she was still curious.

Robb would never know this, but it was his little adventure that pushed her steps to find the Broken Tower and dare to climb it. With what happened after she was certainly not going to tell him any of that.

TBC

NOTE:Aannnd we're done here!

What do you think? I kind of like this one a lot, not gonna lie. I hoped you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

We are getting close to the BIG change I had planned for this whole book AND the main reason why I started this whole editing nightmare!

I hope you'll enjoy that! I know it takes a lot more time than anticipated and I am SO sorry for that but I promise I try my best to deliver this edited version as fast as possible! Book 2 will be a thing I promise!

Don't forget that I have a discord server where you can come and yell at me to your heart's content! Or just you know, converse if you're

inclined to ^^' I might even talk about BOOK 2 for the more curious!

discord. gg/Hg RWxnKJ just remove the spaces!

See you soon!