I was writing for Winter's Reign when this idea popped into my head. Sorry WR fans, but that story is being finicky right now with the plot and I want to make sure it's done right before I post again considering how popular it is.

Anyway, I asked myself why are there are no Mass Effect/Game of Thrones crossovers? (at the time I started writing this.)

For this fic I also added an eighth kingdom to Westeros called the Nightlands, because Shepard's descendants deserve nothing less than their own kingdom. It's a harsh mountainous region with snow covered mountains and valleys. It is tagged on to the western part of the North. Sticking out like a jagged blade about the same length of the Vale. Its width north to south is from the northern edge of Blazewater bay to the Southern part of the Bay of Ice. I'll create background lore for the Nightlands as I go.

Reviews and Criticism are welcome.

Disclaimer: I don't own Game of Thrones. GRRM does. I guess House Shepard is mine though.

Liara

It took three days to track the beast. Through the mountain pass and down into the Shattered River Valley where it briefly eluded her once or twice. The mountainous region was mostly to blame for this as the steep cliffs and sheer drops prevented her from directly felling it. Liara hefted her crossbow, flipped out the bipod, and rested it on the cliff edge just out of view. She looked out the sighted and waited for her quarry. She tucked a stray strand of red hair behind her ear and focused her violet colored eyes on the trail the beast would soon tread down.

To be honest she knew little of the trails in this valley. Her Father, the former Lord of the Greatfort never even hunted this far down here as it was too dangerous to even be here. She looked past the trail and sighted the massive jagged cliffs that jutted from the land reaching toward the sky. They made even the great fortress of Harrenhall look small not that she'd ever seen largest castle ever built. Each had their own cracks and jutting cliffs. It was said this place was a once fertile valley like that found in the Vale. The Children of the forest in desperation to stop the First Men onslaught caused the valley to break up and deform. Some still believed that those Children lived on the far side away from the those that would do them harm.

Liara shook those distracting thoughts from her head. She sighted down the trail again just in time to see the Great Mountian Ram come down the trail oblivious to her presence atop the cliff. She smiled and thought to herself how fine a prize his mounted head would look upon the mantle in the sitting room of the Greatfort. The massive horns on the beast were the biggest she had ever seen. Perhaps she instead she could gift the rack to her future husb… her finger loosened on the trigger.

Right… that was the real reason why she had come out here in the middle of this uninhabited wasteland. Her elder sister had found a match for her. Liara never felt this day would come really. She felt childish really, running away like this. She looked back at the Great Ram. The massive beast was munching on a small patch of brush. She aimed again and found herself unable to fire. Even if she only took the head, lugging it along the dangerous cliffs would lead to her undoing and no doubt a cautionary tale to be told for centuries. It was not a way one wished to be remembered. Liara sighed and scooted back from the edge. She looked back the way she'd come.

Seeing the way back she knew it was the right decision. She got out her winch and started carefully sliding the string back down her weapon unloading it. She took time to admire her crossbow. Such a weapon was the pride of the Nightlands. Heartwood limbs and an ingenious loading lever that could load the draw the crossbow back in moments and have another bolt ready to fire. She let her hand glide along the red stripe with two outer white stripes which ran down the weapon's stock. The symbol carried by any who earned their Red Stripe Commando arm logo and title.

She remembered the training as some of the best days of her life as well as the worst. She still felt pride at displaying it proudly for all to see. She sat up and carefully snuck away as not to disturb the Great Ram. If she scared it further into the Shattered River Valley, it would probably never return to the Nightlands proper.

Liara began the risky journey back stopping only for the occasional quick meal brake before moving on. Reaching the mountain pass after a day's climb leading back to the Nightlands. She turned and gazed upon the Shattered River Valley probably for the last time.

"What secrets do you hold, I wonder?" she whispered before making her way back to the large valley where her home, the Greatfort was.

She found her horse Graystar still in the clearing where she left the mare. With a whistle, the grey horse trotted over earning a small treat from Liara. She led the horse to where she stashed her saddle and began the process of saddling the mare.

With that out of the way, she hopped into the saddle and began her Journey back to the Greatfort. It wasn't long before a party of riders could be seen coming down the road. She slowed her horse and carefully approached them. The lead rider was a tall broad-shouldered man wearing helmet with common mountain ram horns worked into the helm. She smiled nervously as Lord Darren Ramstrider approached. On his saddle was his family's greataxe carried by the men and even some of the stronger women of his house for over thousand years.

"Hello Uncle, fine day for riding yes?" Her uncle road up and she did her best to not look the least bit cowed by the fierce hazel-eyed gaze he laid upon her. In his heavy plate, he looked like war demon ready kill all those before him in river of blood. The red and white trimmed stripe made him even more fearsome. It was said her uncle Darren the Rambreaker could hold his own against even King Robert Baratheon himself in a fight.

"Yes, riding. I have been doing much of that recently. Running about the Nightlands looking for a runaway fox away from her burrow." Liara wanted to roll her eyes. Her uncle always tended toward the dramatic in his speech. Her mother was the same way before she passed or so she heard. Her mother died when she was but a year old. Dying of birthing fever, after giving birth to her baby sister, Tali.

"Oh, well you found her. Could we set off now?" she pointed back down the road. Her uncle huffed in annoyance and turned his horse around with the rest of the search party.

"Did you find him?" Her uncle asked as she rode beside him at the head of the search party.

"Who… Oh the great ram. Yes, had the shot lined and everything but…"

"You realized the beast was far too large to haul out of the Shattered River Valley." Her uncle interrupted. She heard a couple snorts from the men and women behind them.

Liara frowned in annoyance. "Well, I did make to the fourth cliff down." Her uncle gave her look that said you're foolish and lucky to be alive. He shook his head.

"A fool you are, not even your mother and myself went that far in. Your sister will very displeased at your recklessness." A flash anger flashed across Liara's face. Uncle Darren noticed her expression. "You should have seen this coming long ago."

"Being married to Nightlander man, I could handle, but a Stark out in the those barren and snow trodden lands they call a Kingdom." She growled out the last part.

Her Uncle snorted, "At least they follow the same gods. They say the Godswood there is among the most ancient in Westeros."

"As is the one in the Greatfort."

"The Greatfort isn't yours, it is your Sister's," Liara heard a few quiet murmurs from the rest of the search party. She found it hard to not turn her head and glare. They were no doubt annoyed with her. She remained quiet for a time and noticed that in her brooding over her impending marriage, her Uncle's fellows had slowly surrounded her preventing her from escaping. They all wore red and white stripes stitched into right shoulder. Fellow Red Stripe Commandos like her.

"Were you the only team sent?"

One of the men answered, "Your sister knew exactly where you'd end up. She only sent us."

"You didn't even make us go into that cursed place to look for ya," a woman muttered on the other side of her. "So I we're mostly mad we didn't get to go in on a daring rescue." Liara didn't recognize the woman. She had the common red nightlander hair but didn't appear to be noble. Must have been a commoner before joining, she thought. There were many red stripes from humble origins. Not that it mattered, each red stripe was a sibling to all others. It had been that way since the Red Vixen had laid down the ideals and creed of their order.

"Well, sorry to ruin your fun by not getting trapped there." Liara smiled, and considered her actions recently. They were selfish of her. but she hadn't been prepared mentally for what her sister asked of her. It seemed so out of the blue. Liara had needed those days to think and more importantly accept what she had to do for their house.

She sat in silence as her fellows began chatting about recent events. That was when her uncle held up a fist stopping the group in their quick trot.

She looked ahead to look upon what her uncle had seen. In the middle of the road were four fox kits. There sat looking in the party's direction with a waiting expression. She rode up beside her uncle. He had a look in his eyes, one that seemed distant. He snapped out of his haze and looked at her.

"They are an omen. Good or Ill, I have yet to see in any signs around. But they are parentless like the children of my sister and goodbrother." he pointed at them. "Go gather them up. They are a gift."

Liara looked back at the fox kits sitting patiently in the road. She could hardly believe what she was actually seeing. It was like the tales of the ancient Nightlander Kings and Queens. They fought next to Night Foxes in battle if the stories were to be believed.

"Well, get going. Don't make the Old Gods wait."

Liara shook out of her stupor at her uncles prodding, and dismounted. Stepping carefully toward the beasts. They were indeed Night Foxes and bigger than their cousins around the rest of the Westeros. She approached and knelt on one knee. Only one of the kits cautiously stepped forward. She held out her hand and let the little beast sniff it. One… two sniffs, before it leaned in and gave her hand a lick. Liara ran her hand along its fur atop its head. The kit leaned in. She barely heard her uncle come up and crouch down next to her.

"Old pacts are renewing. It has been a very long summer. Winter draws close." She found herself barely able to listen to her Uncle's mumblings. He would do things like that from time to time. She was more focused on the kits who now joined their sister.

"Three vixens and one tod." She whispered to herself. This gift from the Old Gods was most welcome though a tad bit ominous. She stood and the kits followed garnering looks of amazement from the search party. Interesting times were ahead for certain.

Garrus

With a loud thwack of wood on wood, the arrow struck dead center of the target. The arrow had flown straight and true. A small prideful part of Garrus asked why he even bothered to practice at all. He smiled. He always enjoyed that sound. It was a fine distraction from the nervous hustle and bustle of the castle. He frowned. Liara runs off for a few days and it's the end of the world. At least his elder sister, Miranda shared his annoyance. Everyone loved Liara, the Light of the Greatfort they called her. He found himself sighing, if he ran off no one would give two shits. Being a bastard had drawbacks. It was far better to be a bastard nightlander than anywhere else in Westeros barring Dorne of course. He was respected but mostly ignored. Earning a Red Stripe on his arm helped a lot in that regard.

Of course, Garrus figured being wary of nightlander bastards was warranted considering how many had tried to steal the GreatStone Throne in the past. Morinth the Wretched, Saren the Ruthless, and Wreav the Brawler to name a few. Wreav even sat on the throne in the end of his rebellion. Garrus and his sister's were his descendants. In the end, being a nightlander bastard was more about walking a line than anything.

His sisters never treated him any differently at least and he loved them for it. Hells, it was whispered that Miranda wanted to get him legitimized. Probably to marry off to some house or since Miranda was closer to him than Liara and Tali. It came down to the fact that Liara and Tali were born about four years after Miranda while he was only a half a year younger than Miri. His sister's uncle Darren would have none of such talk. Garrus had a tense relationship with his Father's goodbrother to say the least. It could have been worse between them, but the arse was always giving him the stink eye on a regular basis.

He began unstringing his bow. Stopping after to admire the weapon. It was truly beautiful carved with playing Foxes dancing through trees. Miranda gave him this bow when he completed his training to become a Red Stripe like Father had intended before he died. The nightlander bows were known to be the best in the world even the Golden Summer Island bows the Swan ships used. Made from Heartwood, a tree that grew in the Nightands and scattered patches in the north. These bows were only given to the Red Stripes. He had heard they were given as gifts to the Kings of Winter and the Westerlands from time to time. That was very rare occurrence, only after a war to help secure peace or out of a gesture of respect.

Ringing echoed throughout the keep. and he moved over to the wall and peered down. Riders were coming up the Twisted Path. Seeing a Helm with large ram horns he knew his sisters' Uncle had returned. Garrus shook his head. He figured he go be at the gates to see if Liara was with him. He had to at least see what Miri did to Liara for running off, and hopefully not have to play mediator again.

Garrus placed his bow on the weapon rack and walked down the winding paths through the fort. His family's castle was a marvel of engineering it was built in rings that acted as choke points before the main keep with tunnels throughout the mountain allowing the occupying force to harass soldiers on the twisted path leading to the castle. He rolled his shoulders letting his leather jacket settle better on his shoulder. The traditional Red Stripe Commando trenchcoat was another thing that marked those who completed the trails. It was worn as a badge of pride. Miri didn't wear a trenchcoat, instead opting for a light jacket with a red stripe for her duties around the keep. She only put on the trenchcoat when she armored up.

The riders approached the main gate which had been opened prior to them rounding the bend after scout horn called the friendly signal.

He heard some commotion behind him and turned to see Miranda in her coat with and her red hair tied into a fox tail which rested on her shoulder. Liara was in for it this time. Miranda only wore that hairstyle when she was about to enter battle or to give someone a tongue lashing.

Like the beauty, Miranda Lawson, from the Tales of the Red Vixen. His elder sister embodied her namesake's beauty and poise. Often referred to as the most beautiful woman in the Nightlands, perhaps even Westeros. Miri would have none of such talk in her presence though passionately disliking the comparison for some reason. Not that Miranda hated her beauty, far from it, but it seemed that something always weighed her down when it was mentioned.

He turned his head back to see to see Liara dismount. Like she had not a care in the world, practically strutted over to Miri. Miri gave her a cold glare only seeming to spur Liara forward. Garrus shook his head. Liara did sure like pushing Miri's patience. Garrus could see the conversation going as it had before.

"Sister," The Lady of the Greatfort said with a scowl, her violet eyes shimmering with annoyance. "I see you returned safely. Tell me are you ready to stop acting like a…"

"Here! Catch!" Before anyone could react Liara shoved a fluffy ball of fur into Miranda's arms. Flustered, Miranda held the fox kit up. It was Night Fox of all things how did…? He was so focused on the fox kit in Miranda's arms, he didn't register Liara as she shoved a kit into his arms as well. He grabbed the beast quickly to prevent it from falling.

Miranda had regained some composure setting the kit on the ground and it went to sit beside her standing tall and as proud as her new human companion. He set his down as well feeling a bit awkward. A sentiment that the kit seemed to share if the look it had on its face was any indication.

Liara approached Miranda again with an amused smirk, "Now sister, you were saying?"

Though Miranda's expression was a tiny bit amusing, Garrus knew he better step in before things got out hand. Miranda hated being undermined.

"Liara!" he called out. Everyone looked to him. "Did you at least find one for Tali?"

"Of course. There was one for each of us." That was strange. Even Miranda seemed to think about the implications of this. Which was good because Liara had a look on her face that implied she was unnerved by their meaning too. Whatever the reason for the kits appearance, it was enough to get both sisters thinking off track. That was a talent Garrus excelled at. Keeping his sisters from killing each other, by walking the line. Something he was very familiar by now.

Miranda

The nerve. Miranda had always done her best with dealing with her sister. It wasn't easy as Liara never made things easy. Miranda found herself smirking. She almost felt sorry for the Starks. They could do with someone to shake up Winterfell what with all the Southron influence going around there. From Eddard being fostered in the Vale to having a southron wife while said lord built a Sept in the heart of the Winterlands for said wife. A bloody Sept! She figured the white bracelet around her right wrist in frustration. A foolish habit she had yet to rid herself of.

Hopefully Liara had the bloody thing torn down when she became Lady of Winterfell. It would be for the best, and the benefit of the both kingdoms north of the neck to be united more than ever. The South was inching its way in little by little. Dorne, the Nightlands' honorary sister kingdom was facing similar problems.

Miranda would insure that the Nightlands remained stronger than ever, and never let Red Vixen's ways die out. Miranda sighed looking over the letter in front of her. Perhaps an envoy to Dorne was in order. She could take a tour of the deserts and red mountains. She would never have the time however. She swore things would fall apart around here without her here to manage every little item in her bloody kingdom.

Lord Stark had accepted the match a month ago. Right now, she and the Lord of Winterfell were going over the finer details. Things were going well she thought. Lord Stark seemed to like the idea if she was reading things right. He wished for Liara and Robb to meet about a week prior to get to know each other. It wasn't unheard for a betrothed couple to meet prior to marriage. No doubt it was Lord Stark's wife who really wanted to take measure of Liara. Miri signed her side of her agreement saying she arrive a week early and left her solar for the Rookery.

On the way, she passed serval servants and household guard. The Greatfort was very busy toward the end of a summer as it filled its granaries and began storing dried meats and vegetables. Fruit was being canned as well. A nightlander custom that was hopefully starting to catch on in the rest of Westeros. It could save many lives during harsh winters like it had in the Nightlands time and time again.

It wasn't long before arriving and finding the right bird for Winterfell. She heard a clanking of chains and turned to see an older balding man in his late fifties.

"Good afternoon, Maester Hullam," Miranda opened the cage and the raven flew out the window.

The old maester shook his head as he went about his routine of checking messages. "I swear I don't know why I bother doing anything around here. It always surprises me how much you nightlanders know regarding the Citadel's teachings."

"Well, tis not as if we torture maesters for knowledge. We just pay attention more." Miranda opened a hole in a nearby cage and began petting a raven. A small weight leaned on her leg. She looked down to see the vixen Liara had found while out on her little escapade. "Ori, it would be wise if you didn't come in here. You might scare the Ravens. The fox seemed to give her an irritated look. Miranda frowned. Perhaps the stories of Night Foxes being smarter than most animals were true after all. A clinking shadow loomed over the kit.

"Remarkable, I haven't seen a specimen this young before. Haven't seen many of this breed before at all really. Not much is written about them. Very elusive." The old man remarked while leaning down to get a good look at Ori. The fox seemed to straighten up and stand with more poise upon her inspection. Miranda smiled a bit at that. The old maester went back about his work muttering to himself about how most of his compatriots didn't even believe the animals existed.

Miranda took this moment to reach down scratch the fox behind the ears. "Aren't you just my little shadow." Miranda said in an amused tone. Orianna was too busy leaning into Miranda's scratching fingers to get a good scratch to give her another look. Miranda raised brow. "Let us be off then." Miranda made her way back to her solar. Opening the door only to find Garrus lounging on a small sofa in the corner. He seemed distracted as he looked out the window. The tod given to him seen his sister and the two kits began playing together in the floor, prancing around nipping each other's ears. Miranda sauntered over to her chair and sat. Garrus caught the movement and looked her way.

"What did you want Garrus?" Her half-brother seemed to mull over what he wished to say.

"Are you sure marrying Liara off to the Starks is a good idea?"

"Where did this come from? You have never questioned any of my decisions before? Why now?" Miranda had already assumed a little of what her brother intended to say, but wanted to hear his input all the same.

"It just seems that you are trying to get rid of her and that this marriage agreement is an excuse to do so. I am not implying that is what you are doing, but many around the Greatfort talk." The earnest look on his face gave away more. He didn't want Liara to be sent so far away she realized.

Miranda thought about her answer carefully for herself as much and Garrus. Was she trying to get rid of Liara? No, but her being sent away was a sacrifice of sorts more than anything. It had been a few generations since the Shepard's married outside the Nightlands. Reaffirming old alliances was needed.

"It may seem that way, that and Liara and I have never really gotten along. I do believe that this pact I am forging with the Winterlands is to the benefit of all. Liara has a way with people that make them want to follow her. That is something that I could use to our benefit. It could lessen the Southron Influence in Winterfell after Liara becomes Lady of Winterfell." Garrus's nodded giving her words thought. They had discussed the growing Southron influence in the Winterlands before. Miranda's idea to marry Liara off was her way of fighting that.

"As good a plan as any I suppose. If you want I can start rumors that is what you intend for this marriage. Maybe give any dissenters a chance to bite their tongue in the process." Miranda shook her head at the suggestion.

"Not until after the marriage has gone through. The marriage is set to happen three weeks from now. We will be traveling on the morrow. I am glad you're here because I have something to ask of you." Garrus gave her confused look.

"You want me to stay?" he asked.

"Only one week until Tali returns from her training. She is set to return with her class of graduating Red Stripes within the next few days. They recently earned their Seventh Level badge after helping defend a village from a "rogue" Ironborn raid. I would like you to oversee their Pinning." Garrus' eyes went wide in shock.

"But I am a bastard. I can't…"

"You are a Red Stripe. Since I will be gone to Winterfell, I would have you take the Commander's place for this year's class." When Miranda stood Garrus stood quicker to stand at attention and hold his arm up in a Red Stripe salute. Miranda returned the salute and then found herself hugging her brother.

"I hope after the ceremony that you and Tali can make it to the wedding in time." She pulled away from her brother. Garrus smirked.

"I don't mind a hard ride, and it will be good to see how well Tali's training took hold."

"I am sure she'll up to the challenge."

Garrus nodded, "I think you should talk to Liara more before you leave. I think it would do both of you good to talk more especially now that Liara it not going to be around much anymore." Miranda found herself frowning.

"We will see," Miranda said with a hint of finality signaling to Garrus that he should leave.

Miranda sat back down and found herself slumping into her chair. She knew Garrus was right about talking to Liara. It wasn't as she hadn't tried before. Liara made things… difficult and Miranda wasn't blameless either letting herself be bothered so much by her younger sister's immature nature at times. She sighed and decided she should try attempting to come to truce with her younger sister at some point on the journey to Winterfell.

House Shepard

Sigil: Red-orange Fox on a gray field.

House Heirloom: Foxpaw, a Valyrian bastard sword.

House Word(s): Take Heart, Look Beside You

The Nightlands host many houses that live in the harsh mountainous lands west of the Winterlands, only one house has always stood above them all. Their founding hero, Jane Shepard, was said to have appeared in a flash of green light during the Dawn Age. She helped aid the First men against the Long Night.

It is believed she eventually fell in love with a man known as the Last Hero and had two daughters with him. She was said to also have been an object of affection to Bran the Builder who built the Greatfort in her honor after she died helping to end the Long Night. Shepard earned the devotion of many and stole many a man's heart. She is called the Red Vixen because of this.

House Shepard claims with a firm certainty that they descended from this Heroine and for thousands of years every child born to her line has had her fire-kissed hair and eyes the color of green fire. The eyes of House Shepard's children remained that unsettling green until Aegon's Conquest. For after marrying Aenys's twin brother, Aegor to the Queen Kasumi's daughter and heir, their eyes have since been replaced with an unsettling violet.

. Though whether her children were Bran's or the Last Hero's is still a matter of debate. House Shepard and the Nightlanders honor their heroine with the same the devotion that the Dornish show Nymeria allowing the firstborn child of each house regardless of gender to inherit.

House Shepard was one of the only Houses to stand against Belarion and Aegon during the conquest and come out on top. It was said that Aegon came to a truce with the Nightlands after attempting to burn the Greatfort. He found the Red Stripe Commandos aim to be too close for comfort on his first fire breath filled pass with Belarion. As the Nightlander Commandos aimed for him not Belarion. It was said he took an arrow to the shoulder fired from Queen Kasumi's crossbow. House Shepard ended things on their terms keeping many rights and traditions while bending the knee to Aegon becoming Lords and Ladies Paramount of the Nightlands even getting a Targaryen Prince out of the deal.

The Red Stripe Commandos were founded by the Red Vixen as well to fight the Others during the War for the Dawn. House Shepard leads this group with every Lord or Lady of the Greatfort taking the title of Commander during wars in favor of Lord or Lady.

A/N: What do guy's think? Bear in mind that the Red Stripes are like Asari Commandos. They are the best warriors in Westeros, but to the other Kingdoms' relief there aren't that many of them. Perhaps around a thousand or so. I need to balance things out somehow.

Just so your aware, the Shepards haven't always been buddy-buddy with Starks especially before the Andal invasion and even a little after. They have even almost killed off each other's house at one point or another. Having access to Moat Calin being a major point of contention. Just so you guys don't think that this a Stark-centric story.