Savages - LolaStark

A/N: Just a little tiny bit more before goodbye - don't be fooled by the word count, most of it is just massive thank you's and notes at the end. I hope you like this, because I'm typing this note with bittersweet tears as I realize I am about to post this story as 'complete!'

Epilogue

| Skagos: Many Years Later |

"Uncle Rickon, is that really how it happened?" little Elle asked as she sat upon her Uncle's lap and he grinned.

"Well of course it is," he replied with a chuckle. "Don't you believe me?"

"Mother wasn't really captured by Bricriu, Elle," Evelyn replied, kissing her younger sister's forehead. "Uncle Rick just likes to tell it that way because it sounds like much more of an adventure."

"Yes well, your father did defeat the man," Rickon told them, lifting Elle off of him and placing her on the ground. "Be happy of that. Had your mother not chosen the joust at the games you might have had a one-eyed Skanish warrior for a father."

They all laughed, including Catelyn who was holding her youngest grandchild, Jon, in her lap and smoothing out his dark curls with a lazy grin on both of their faces.

Edwyn knew his uncle was joking. The man liked to retell stories of his time in Skagos with the Magnar family. Edwyn liked the stories as much as his other siblings, most especially the tales of his mother and father in battle. It was appropriate timing for it all. They had just arrived at Kingshouse the night before and each of the Stark children had been delighted to see their mother's childhood home. His cousin, Farran, was the Nighean and it was for her games that they had sailed to Skagos to begin with, hoping to reunite their parents before the opening ceremonies.

Only Edwyn had seen Skagos before. He was born at Kingshouse, a year after his father - the King in the North - had won his mother's hand there at her tournament. The story of his Name Day was one of his favorites, but his father always got it wrong, skipping the best bits about the battle that began his birth. It was his mother who told it best, of the fight against the wildlings from beyond the Wall. She had barely finished taking down the wildling king when he had come into the world, red-faced and bright-eyed. Eyes full of the Magnar green, she'd told him, kissing his forehead every night before bed when he was a boy.

Of the six Stark children, Edwyn knew he loved his mother best. He had told her once and he knew the words meant a great deal to her. She often told him he would be a great man, just like his father and just like the two men he was named for. He only knew these men in stories. Ned Stark, the Warden of the North who gave his life for his family and Drystan Magnar, the Lord Commander who had helped defeat an army of White Walkers before his death when Edwyn was only a babe. But the stories were enough, he realized, to know that greatness ran through his veins.

He was a Prince of Winter. But he would be King in the North one day. He was the eldest of his six siblings and sometimes felt as if all the responsibility rested on his shoulders. He was only just seventeen, but he knew his duty was important and that it could fall onto his shoulders at any moment. His father was only nineteen when he became King. Edwyn could only hope he would have many years of youth before taking on the task.

"Come Edwyn, I see mama and papa!" Elle said eagerly, pulling at his hand.

Edwyn stood from his place on the picnic blanket and looked out over the moors where two horses and their riders rode swiftly, laughter in the air as they approached closer. Edwyn smiled, picking up his youngest sister in his arms as she waved wildly at their parents. It had been a nearly a month since the King and Queen had left Winterfell, on a quest to quell a small rebellion that had arisen among the wildling tribes who had come North of the Wall after the war seeking safe havens.

Aedan stood next to him and Edwyn could see his brother's smile as he helped little Jon onto his shoulders and Evelyn stood close by as well, looking amused at their parents' childish laughter.

Aedan was the second eldest and he often felt as if he held just as much responsibility as his older brother. He had no interest in being King, however. Not like Edwyn. He was a year younger than his brother, but his father expected just as much responsibility from him. Aedan was more interested in the hunt, in becoming a soldier one day like the men who fought for his mother and father. His mother would grin at him and tell him how like his Uncle Rowan he was. Aedan liked that, he thought. Uncle Rowan visited quite often and always brought him along on his adventures. His Uncle Garlan, who was only uncle in name, would come as well and was very fond of trips with the Stark boys as he had no sons of his own.

Aedan recalled his mother often mocking the now retired knight, saying that "Ser Garlan the Gallant was cursed with four daughters as punishment for breaking so many ladies hearts in his youth."

It was this man that Garlan Stark had been named after on his name day. He and his twin, Evelyn, had been born exactly three minutes apart, Garlan being the older one, and his mother had said from the day she had named him she knew he'd grow to live up to his name. Garlie, as he was fondly known, was nowhere to be found, Evelyn realized, as her parents came closer and knew that her mother would be sorely disappointed at his absence. But she knew her twin as well as herself, and she knew he would most likely be off flirting with one of those Tyrell girls. Evelyn rolled her eyes.

"Where is your Kingsguard, Your Grace?" Rickon teased as Robb and Fallon dismounted their horses and Robb laughed as Elle leapt into his arms and he kissed her cheeks.

"They are too slow for my Queen," he joked, pointing out over the hill where several more horses appeared over the horizon. "Arya and Gendry are back at the keep, helping to prepare the feast for tonight."

"Have the wildlings been tamed, sister?" Rickon asked then, kissing Fallon's cheek and her tired sigh turned into a laugh.

"Wildlings have no interest in being tamed, Rick. You and I have been through too many rebellions to expect otherwise," she teased, hugging her two eldest sons with exaggerated kisses on their foreheads. "When I left Winterfell I could have sworn I had four sons," she contemplated mockingly. "Where is your brother Evelyn?"

"Off chasing the girls. I don't know what he finds so interesting about them," Evelyn replied and her mother simply laughed.

"The same thing young Tarly Cerwyn finds interesting in you, my dear," Fallon told her daughter and watched her husband's eyes narrow curiously.

Robb was nearly oblivious to Evelyn's impending womanhood. She was barely fourteen but quite a beauty with fine Stark features. She and Garlie were hardly identical in appearance, but in personality they were cut from the same cloth. Robb would soon be a worried mess when she brought up the idea of marriage to him. She was some years off before she'd even consider the idea and Fallon would not force her daughter's hand. But if Robb had it his way, his darling daughter would grow up an old maid.

Fallon carried Jon in her arms, kissing his smiling face, as they walked towards the horses the approached. Jon was nearly five years passed his first name day and he had always been fond of horses. Already Fallon knew he'd be a fantastic rider and if her father were still alive, she knew he'd have him on a horse already. She placed him on the back of the mare and watched him grab the reins in his hands as she stood close by to support him.

But as soon as she let go of the boy she felt herself quickly grabbed around the waist and lifted into the air and she shouted in surprise, laughing as she looked down and saw her missing son, his dark brown hair, gleaming auburn in the sunlight. She screamed out as he tackled her playfully to the ground and it was Robb who lifted him off of her with a concerned furrow in his brow.

"Careful, son," he said quickly and then pulled her to her feet, lifting her easily in his arms and she grinned up at her cautious husband. "Do be gentle with your mother, boys."

"Robb, really, I'm alright," she insisted, placing her palm to his face and he kissed her mouth.

"Why so cautious with your Queen, Robb?" Catelyn asked, looking over Fallon's figure with a knowing smile and both Robb and his queen knew they could keep their secret no longer. "Do we find our sweet Fallon in a more delicate condition than we left her?"

"It seems as though your son, Lady Stark, wants to keep me off the battlefield until the Harvest so he put a babe in my belly, for the seventh time."

There was excitement surrounding them, joy on Robb's face as Fallon told the news. Robb was proud of such a lot. He had told Fallon since their wedding night that he fill her life with children. He was quite amused when she was forced to trade the spear in her arms for a son, and then another and then the expression on her face when Robb made her mother six times over. She had never expected to be a mother, let alone to six, soon to be seven, Starks.

But once she held Edwyn in her arms the night he was born, her face red and sweat on her brow, she knew this was how it was meant to be. She was meant to have Robb's children. And to her surprise, they loved her, just as much as she loved them.

Each of them was a perfect piece of herself and Robb. Edwyn was honorable and compassionate, whilst Aedan was fearless and wild, Garlan and Evelyn were mirror images of Robb and Fallon's youth. Both full of Robb's bravery and Fallon's laugh. Elle was young, only eight years of age, but Fallon knew she would be strong-willed to the end of her days. She told Robb she was just like him, but he had insisted that the girl was the spitting image of her mother. And finally Jon. Jon was the happiest boy with an adventurer's soul. She would have him for many more years, Fallon thought. She hoped he would always look up at her, or down at her, with that same love in his eyes as he had now.

Perhaps he would, she thought. Edwyn still looked at her, tall like his father as she craned her neck to see his bright green eyes. And in those eyes she saw Robb, she saw Rowan and Broden and her father the Magnar. She saw Ned Stark, telling her she was brave and Aedan telling her she was strong. She even saw Garlan's golden shimmer that told her after all these years she was still beautiful.

And as Robb's hand took hers she then saw blue, blue like the sea on day like now. Summer had come to Skagos and the Bay of Seals was alight with the bright blue sky and she could see it in Robb's eyes. That look had never changed.

Because of this man she knew true joy and the meaning of life and in having him, she could never ask the gods for anything more perfect.

The End

A/N: A little sappy, fluffy, cheesy - but hey I'm a sucker for happy endings. It's hard to say goodbye to this story but alas I must. I'm working hard on outlining my new story "Lady of the Waves" which I hope to start posting soon (crossing my fingers). It will be RobbxOC with a character I have been working on for quite a while. It will be odd writing someone else with Robb but hopefully you'll like her as much as Fallon. Also - because I can't bear to let go completely, I put a poll in my profile that I want everyone to answer if you have a second. I want to do one or two oneshots about Savages and I'd love the input of what you'd want to read. If you don't like any of the suggestions, please PM me what you want to see. I cannot guarantee that I will definitely pick yours but I do want to hear your thoughts.

Also, please stop by and read Lady of the Waves once I start posting, I love all of you reviewers and I hope to keep pleasing and surprising you.

One last thing before I get into the thank you's, I really want to write a JaimexOC story - I've been thinking about it a lot lately (it won't be for a while though) but I want to know if you guys think it's a good idea and maybe some thoughts on a new Jaime story idea that you'd like to see me write. Thanks again for reading my ramblings!

Many Many thanks to my amazing readers and reviewers!
CentaurWatch (my very first reviewer!), starrysky7, Jenn, Kat, Pinkbeachlulu, AryaTyrell, ratherbereading125, sunnygirl5786, ThatGirl54 (your reviews always brightened my day! Thanks for always taking the time to give me such an inspiring review and for bearing with me after months and months of hiatus'. You're awesome!), ANewLight (I can't quite thank you enough for all of your excitement and positive feedback. Every time I read your reviews I would smile and think - thank goodness someone really gets this story! I hope you got my PMs where I was able to thank you more fully!), miinou20, WhatsGoingOn (I always laughed at your reactions. They were always some of the most enjoyable. Hopefully everything turned out the way you had hoped), kenz1717, Bridget, Cass (my now deactivated friend - you were the one who inspired me to write this story and I thank you so much for all of your input!), klandgraf2007 (another faithful reviewer! So glad you enjoyed the ending and I know Kathryn didn't reappear but I was so tired of her I just wanted her gone. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews!), chicaespanola17, Soccer-Bitch, bbymojo (you left me several fantastic reviews and I just hope that the story was still to your liking towards the end), Lawsy89, Maira, nikki4317, Mr. Legalize, Camille, SunlitMercy (goodness this review came right when I needed it. It was so lovely to read a review like yours because it really made me feel as though I was doing a good job. Thanks for that!), james90, kblatz, duchess123, Louise, Krista, Pinkbeachlulu, Tarafina (seriously blushed at your reviews. thanks for the wonderful compliments. And thanks for loving Fallon and her name! She's been my favorite character to write thusfar), TheMorningMist (I am always inspired by your enjoyment of my updates. your reviews were always welcomed and some of the first I would see after posting a chapter. Thank you thank you thank you!), Laylay, HermioneandMarcus (thanks for always reading and reviewing. Glad to know I could keep on pleasing my followers), DGfleetfox, matrim cuthon, Andy, charlotte2014, lilnightmare17, RosesInJamJars (you were such a wonderful reviewer and alway so full of praise. Thank you!), La Belle Marauder (this was such a wonderful review and I am so beyond humbled to hear you say that this was your favorite Robb/OC story. I'm seriously blushing right now), cdog0803 (thanks C, for your review on my story. working with you has very much helped me become a better writer so far so I thank you for that!), ratherbereading125 (thanks for this criticism, it's one of my biggest regrets that I didn't get to show the Skagosi culture as I truly wanted to. I completely agree that Skagosi would be more 'savage' though I do believe that the nobles of Skagos would have been a little more civilized), Aren, Beth, Tsavorite, Yvette, Shelley421 (hopefully you were pleased with the Roslin situation?), MorningThief and all the 'guests' and 'anon's who reviewed. Thank you will never ever be enough but alas, I will continue to thank you all. Love,Lola