Taria delicately sewed the hem of the queen's gown she requested she made for her. She heard someone knock on her door, but ignored them as she wanted to be alone right now.

Taria didn't know if she should stay in Winterfell or return to the capital. She was confused as to what she should do. If she were to stay in Winterfell then there could be a chance that she may fall in love in Robb Stark and then out of guilt tell him everything that's happened.

If she returned to King's Landing then she will miss her chance to gain the Starks' trust of her and the queen might be angry at her.

She looked up quickly when Jaime came into her room. "Get out, ser. I wish to be alone."

"I'm afraid I cannot, Taria. What is the matter with you?"

"Should I stay in Winterfell or return home?" Taria asked, not being able to make a decision.

"Staying in Winterfell would be advantageous," he told her softly. "But I don't trust your heart. You'd give it too willingly to him."

"You don't know me well then," Taria snapped. "Perhaps I should return then."

"Return and Cersei will be angry at you for missing your chance to get close to them."

"What shall I do?" Taria asked. "I don't know what to do."

"I would say for you to return to the capital, it's best you keep him on his toes and woo you from afar," Jaime advised her. "It's better for you to stay close to me or else you will stray."

Taria looked closely at him and gave him a bright smile. "Why? Have you no faith in my manipulation?"

Jaime chuckled, enjoying her smile. "Manipulation? You're not very good at it."

"But I've been manipulating you this entire time," Taria said impassively, the smiled dropping from her face. "As you've said before, I am too nice for anyone to suspect foul play from. You're not excluded from this group either, Ser Jaime. I've noticed that you tend to play the part of the hero well when a damsel is in distress."

Jaime gave her a cold look before he stood up, looking over her gown. "If you really were as good as you say you are, then you should have no trouble not falling for the Stark boy. Use him and then dispose of him. That's it. We will expect you back by the next moon, Taria."

Taria nodded. "So you have faith in me?"

"Of course not. You're a mouse. Lions eat mice."

Taria stood up and then ran her fingers gently down his jaw line, smiling as he asked, "Is this you manipulating me?"

"No."

Taria kissed Jaime on the lips as well as she could. She dug her fingers into his golden hair. Jaime returned her kiss after a moment of shock passed him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. She felt nice to him which he was surprised at as he only ever felt anything for his sister and no one else. It was nice.

Taria pushed him away and said, "Now that was me manipulating you."

"You said that you weren't."

"I lied to you and I am good at lying. I know liars. You forget that my mother was the best of them," Taria replied to him with a shrug of her shoulders.

"I thought that you wouldn't use your body to get what you wanted."

"That was before you threatened my brother and myself. Technically I used my lips, not the hole between my legs. I can make him believe me. I'm staying."

"I don't think you should."

"Why?"

"You might change your mind," Jaime suggested. "Cersei may believe in your abilities, but I do not. You're different and you know it. You can't play the game like we can, you don't have it in you."

Taria watched as Jaime left her room. She let out a heavy sigh and sat down on her bed, frowning. She breathed in and out, trying to keep her emotions in check. He was right, she could pretend to be a strong player all she wanted, but if it really came down to a choice whether or not she could kill Robb if he were to find out everything...would she do it? Could she take someone's life? Could she be a murderer and live with that for the rest of her life.

Marian hugged his sister fiercely. "I know we aren't in the right place-"

"You're still my brother. Always."

Marian nodded. "Always, sister. Always. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. It's all so new and I want to find my footing here. I want to make something of myself. I want to be remembered for my greatness, not that I'm a bastard."

"It will be the first thing they mention in the history books," Taria said sadly. "The world will never forget what we are, but we can damn well show them what we're made of."

"I will miss that," Marian told her. "Are you sure you want to stay? Say the word and I will stay here with you as well. You mean more to me than some new armor and a sword I'll probably never even use and let's be honest, it's just decoration."

Taria laughed. "No, I could never make you do that. You're meant to be great. I saw the way you looked when you squire and train. You love it. It would rip my heart apart trying to make you stay here. Go, Marian. We will see each other soon. It's only a month."

Marian smile and hugged his sister again, whispering, "Don't trust them too much."

Taria froze and Marian pulled away from her, mounting his horse as he gave her a bright young smile before riding off.

"He's a good son," the king said from beside her. "He knows you love him."

"I don't think he knows how much I do. I would do anything for him."

"I hope so or you wouldn't be my daughter," he laughed. "My brothers and I...we aren't very close anymore. We're too different."

"My uncles? Lord Stannis and Lord Renly, yes? What are they like?" Taria asked curiously.

The king chuckled. "Stannis has always been too serious. Renly is never serious enough. Stannis is too damn stubborn to listen to reason. Once he sets his mind on something...well, it will be his greatest defeat one day and Renly is always trying to swipe at water. He never sees beyond the damn thing. My brothers, Taria. You're lucky to have Marian."

Taria nodded. "I know. He could've turned out worse. Have you heard from my mother?"

"I have the spider looking for her. Littlefinger doesn't know where she could be."

"Do you think she's dead?"

The king paused and let out a shaky breath. "I hope not...I want to see her. I need to see her. Do you?"

Taria shrugged. "I honestly don't know. She could be alive and well for all we know, and just couldn't care."

The king placed his hand on her shoulder, his fingers tight around her as he said firmly, "I'm here now. I'm not leaving either of you. You're my children, you might not have my name, but my blood runs through your veins. You're still a Baratheon. You're a stag."

"You think so?"

The king smiled. "I know so. You're more Baratheon thank you realize. The Stark boy doesn't stand a chance against your fury. You wear it well."

Taria laughed. "We can never be and I wish he would realize that before we both get hurt."

"I know," the king said solemnly. "Let him live his fantasy for now. He's smart...I hope at least. The Lady of Winterfell."

Taria nodded, frowning. "I keep telling myself that we can't mary, but Robb won't listen to me. He wants to marry me and I don't know if it's because I'm beautiful or because of who I am."

"If you marry him, everything changes. Your children would be Wardens of the North, Lords of Winterfell and so on," he explained to her. "There would be high expectations of you."

"I don't want to marry him."

The king nodded. "I know. The choice is yours. Stay or return, either one of them is fine with me."

The king hugged Taria who stood there uncomfortably, growing closer to the man who claimed to be her father. He was acting like a father to her and gave her advice on what she should be doing. So Taria returned his hug and smiled into his chest.

"Thank you, father," she said softly which made him tighten his arms around her before he left to his horse.

Taria watched as the party she came with left Winterfell. She watched from the shadows as they went.

"You're becoming a harder woman to find these days," Robb said when she made her way back to her room.

"It's not purposely." She told him. "I have a lot on my mind."

"You stayed."

"I did."

Robb smiled brightly and said, "I'm happy. I want to show you something if you'll accompany me, my lady."

"I'm not a lady," she snapped quickly.

"Do you have honor?"

"Perhaps."

"Do you have grace and beauty?"

"Maybe. It would be arrogant to agree," she explained to him with a smile.

Robb shook his head. "Then you are a lady in my eyes. Always will be."

Taria's smile was genuine as she looked closely at him. Robb leaned towards her, his eyes glancing to her lips. She wondered if she should turn her cheek the other way or let him kiss her.

"What will you do now? Lady Stark doesn't seem to be in the right mind to decide anything regarding Winterfell."

"As of now, I am Lord of Winterfell until my lord father returns," Robb answered. "Take my arm, Taria."

Taria took his arm as they started to walk back to the castle. Taria stayed close to him as they went down a series of steps. She started to get cold when they went through an ironwood door and stood in amazement when she saw the long line of pillars going in various directions. As they passed each statue, she realized that these were the lords of Winterfell.

"This is my family's crypt," Robb said softly. "Someday I will be here and as will my father...and every Stark after us."

She studied the large stone direwolves sitting at the feet of the old lords of House Stark. She saw that there were also the Kings of the North placed there as well. Taria thought then that it must have been nice to know who exactly belonged to your family. That it was nice to see your ancestors and what they would've looked like.

As they passed the statue of Lyanna Stark, Robb began to tell her, "Old Nan used to tell us that their ghosts haunt the crypt. Protecting Winterfell from harm which is why it's stood for over eight thousand years. Bran the Builder built Winterfell with the help of giants after the white walkers came. That's what the legends say at least."

"I think it's true," she said to him. "Why lie about it about for thousands of years? I believe that before the Wall was built, everyone was at peace with each other."

"The wildings caused the war. That's why the Wall was built. To keep them and other monsters out."

Taria shrugged. "Don't you ever wonder what would've happened if it fell? How would they protect us?"

Robb laughed. "The Wall is impregnable. It's held together for thousands of years by man and magic. The Children of the Forest put ancient spells on it as my ancestor helped them build the structure. It won't fall."

"Good," Taria said. "I've never been to the North so the idea of the Wall being the only thing between us and them frightens me. How aren't any of you scared?"

"It's been thousands of years since the long night. If it were to happen again then we are ready. It's why the Night's Watch was created to protect and man the Wall. It's why Jon went there. He wanted to do something with his life, wanted honor."

Taria nodded in understanding. "There is so much history and most of it we don't even know about. We only it by songs and books, but even then it could've gotten lost in translation."

They heard a gasp behind them and turned around seeing that it was Robb's youngest brother, Rickon with his direwolf.

"You're not supposed to be down here," Rickon said.

"Apologize to the lady," Robb scolded. "It was rude of you to say something like that to her."

"But it's true! Father told us so," Rickon retorted which made Taria smile.

The direwolf started to walk closer to her as she moved behind Robb. She was fearful of the direwolves that they let roam around so freely.

"Shaggydog," Robb warned, surprised at how hostile the wolf had become. The thing bared its teeth at her, growling. "Rickon, make him stop."

"She's not supposed to be down here. Starks only."

"She's going to be my wife, the lady of Winterfell," Robb proclaimed as Taria shakingly held her hand out.

Shaggydog sniffed her hand and then licked her fingertips before walking away. Taria breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Oh," Rickon whispered, seeming confused and yet ashamed. "I'm sorry, Robb. I miss Bran and mother."

Rickon ran into his arms, holding him tightly as he cried. Taria smiled sweetly at them as she said, "It's okay, Rickon."

Rickon glanced up at her and nodded slowly. "Will Bran be okay?"

"It's up to the gods now," she told him. "Keep praying to them for Bran to awaken."

"You should be in bed by now," Robb said to Rickon who shrugged.

"I couldn't sleep," Rickon replied. "Mother usually reads me a story before bed, but she won't leave Bran's side. Can you read me one, Robb?"

"I can't. I have things to do," Robb told him. "Ask Old Nan."

"No!" Rickon cried. "Her stories are always so scary and the same ones! I want a different one! Please, Robb!"

"I'm sorry, Rickon."

Taria's heart broke at the sad and disappointed look on Rickon's face. He reminded her so much of Marian when he would ask their mother for the same thing and she wouldn't do it. "I can do it."

They looked to her as Robb began, "I wanted to show you more of Winterfell."

"It can wait," she said firmly. "Rickon needs a story and I happen to be the best at telling them. I don't think you ever heard of the story of the red god."

Rickon's brows furrowed in confusion. "What is it?"

"How the lord of the light began...a merchant from the free cities told me this when I was young." Taria held out her hand for him to take. "Come on, Rickon."

Rickon took her hand quickly and Taria chuckled at how excited he was. "Do you have many stories?"

She nodded as Robb followed them. "Yes. Plenty. Some of them scary, some happy, and some of them quite sad."

As they tucked him into bed, Rickon waited impatiently for Taria's story. Taria looked to Robb and inquired, "Don't you have things to do, my lord?"

Robb smiled and nodded. "Of course. I won't be long."

Shaggydog jumped onto the bed they sat on and laid by Rickon. Taria waited until Robb left as she began to tell him the story of R'hllor.

"There are many gods here in this world, but only a few actually do anything. One of them is called the Red God also known as the Lord of Light and the Red God. He is the god of light, heat, and life. His enemy was the Great Other who was the god of ice and death. They wish to rule over the world and it is because of the Lord of Light that the Great Other hasn't taken us, but he tried."

"The long night," Rickon whispered.

"Yes. The war between the gods of ice and fire. The Great Other wants to bring darkness around the lands, but as long as R'hllor stands, that will never happen. He makes sure of it. It's said that he can bring us back from the dead, but only for a purpose in life. They say that if you look hard into the flames and believe in him that you can see the future."

"Have you ever done that?"

Taria nodded. "I did when the merchant left. I prayed to him and looked into the flames."

"What did you see?"

"Snow. Lots of it," she told him. "Then I saw myself holding a sword in that snow. I don't know what it means. I do know that once summer ends then winter shall come."

"Winter is coming," Rickon realized. "Father says it all the time."

Taria laughed. "He does, doesn't he?"

"Tell me more!"

"The merchant told me that the Lord of Light and the Great Other were brothers once. One brother desired the light and the other wanted darkness. He wanted ice and darkness and death. His brother couldn't let that happen. When the darkness laid all over the world and the dead arose, he made Azor Ahai who ended the long night and saved us all," Taria continued. "Are you frightened, Rickon?"

Rickon shook his head. "Not in the slightest, but I heard Old Nan say that this winter will be the longest we've had. What will happen? Will the others come again?"

"I asked him the same question and he told me that R'hllor will choose a new champion to defeat the darkness. It's been prophesied for thousands of years now."

"How will we know?" Rickon asked urgently. "What if we miss it?!"

"A bleeding star will fly across the skies," Taria told him.

Rickon breathed a sigh of relief. "So if I see the bleeding star then the champion is here."

She nodded. "Yes, Rickon."

"Is that the end?"

"For now, yes. Go to bed and then maybe tomorrow I will tell you another one."

Rickon smiled for a moment then frowned. "Mother usually sleeps with me. Can you sleep with me tonight, Taria? I want to feel safe."

Taria nodded and laid beside him as he wrapped his tiny arms around her tightly. She ran her fingers through his curls, smiling.

TBC…

THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES!

Taria doesn't really believe in any of the gods because all they have done is cause misery for everyone and nothing was fair. She doesn't believe in the seven because she's seen people to pray to each of them yet nothing happens. She somewhat believes in R'hllor since looking into the flames.

I hoped you liked this chapter.

REVIEW. FOLLOW. FAVORITE. Until next time...