Savages - LolaStark

Chapter Four

CATELYN

They'd been arguing for nearly an hour in Ned's study, she had realized as she stood in the corner, her arms crossed across her chest, watching her son and her husband talking heatedly about Fallon Magnar.

Catelyn would be lying if she said she hadn't been expecting this sort of reaction from her eldest son. In fact, she was somewhat surprised it hadn't happened sooner. She and Ned had already discussed the possibility that Robb might corner them with a plea to keep Fallon at Winterfell.

"She doesn't want to go, why do you refuse to accept that?" Robb asked and to Catelyn, it was a valid question. "And of course she won't speak out about it. She does not feel as if it is her place. But she dreads it."

The moment Fallon had stepped foot into Winterfell, Catelyn had seen they way Robb's eyes lit up. She may have been from Skagos, but that didn't discredit the fact that she was still a lovely girl. Her beauty was rare and often underappreciated. But Robb had taken quickly to her vibrant eyes and a charming smile. She had endured more than Catelyn could bear to think of and yet Fallon took it in stride and held a composure that was most impressive for someone who was so ostracized by most.

"The decision has been made, Robb," Ned replied. "And the decision belongs to no one but myself. I chose this because I thought it was best for her. Her safety was entrusted to me." Robb was not satisfied with this answer. "Sansa and Arya will need Fallon as well. You know how they both get together. Fallon will keep them both from ripping each other's throats out. She may even find that she enjoys the South."

"You can't be serious? She'll probably never see her home again. She's finally gotten used to Winterfell and now you want to uproot her against her will? What do you think they'll say about her in King's Landing. When King Robert parades her around as your Skagosi hostage?"

"She won't be paraded around..."

"Won't she though, Father? You see the way he talks of her," Robb argued.

Catelyn looked to her husband. She could see the defeat in his eyes, but for whatever reason, he refused to back down on this. Ned looked to Catelyn. She could tell he wanted to do the right thing and that the right thing would be to leave Fallon here in Winterfell. But something stopped him.

"Fetch the girl, will you?" he asked softly and Catelyn nodded as she walked towards the door to find Fallon pacing the corridor outside the room where she'd been asked to wait.

"Come in," Catelyn whispered and Fallon straightened her dress as she approached the door slowly.

Catelyn watched as she walked in, without glancing at all in Robb's direction, her eyes only on Ned as she stood before him. Ned looked to his son and although no words were exchanged, Robb reluctantly walked out and closed the door behind him.

"I suppose you heard all of that?" he asked and Fallon nodded.

"It was quite difficult not to, My Lord," she replied and Ned smiled.

"Fallon, I don't want you to think I'm forcing you to go to King's Landing against your will. That is not my intention."

"Begging your pardon My Lord but if that is not your intention, then what is?" Fallon replied and Catelyn smiled at the girl's boldness. Her husband had a soft spot for strong-willed women. Catelyn was proof of that.

"I don't think I need to elaborate when I say I want to protect you from what future might lie for you here." When Fallon didn't question him, it was apparent that she did, in fact, understand what he was implying. Catelyn too knew Ned's reasoning in this aspect. "My son is very-passionate as of late. I have never before heard him speak to me in the manner he has displayed today. But I respect him for that. He's standing up for what he believes is right."

"But you think his beliefs are false ones," Fallon added and Ned shook his head and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Not false, but naive. I wish more than anything for my family's happiness. I don't like to disappoint them. Nor do I wish to disappoint you," he explained. "But the fact remains, leaving you here would only hurt the both of you in time."

"My Lord, if I may?" Fallon asked and he nodded. "I came here believing life as I had known it was over, that I would never be happy another day in my life so long as I was away from my home. But you and your family made me see a much different future for myself and the great fortune in which I have been bestowed."

"We had hoped you'd come around," Ned told her and she smiled.

"Lord Robb is part of that future and if anyone understands duty and responsibility as he does, it is me. Which is why I would never seek to interfere with that, no matter the circumstance." She paused, looking to Catelyn. "Lady Stark, I have learned so much here and would continue to learn more from you than I could in King's Landing. Once, long ago, Winterfell was not your home, but you made it so. I would also like to make it mine."

"If I were to leave you here, I would be condemning you to a life of disappointment," Ned tried to explain. "I promised your father and the King that I would do my utmost to see that you received good standing in your future. In the South there would be better opportunities for you."

"I respect you, Lord Stark, as I do my own father and brothers. I respect that you want what is best for me but you must know that marrying me off to some southern lord's son will only be a worse fate than whatever awaits me here," she paused as he nodded. Catelyn too understood her valid argument. "That being said, I do understand your reservations. Robb is your son and I cannot pretend I have not noticed the attention he has given me as of late," Fallon said, looking him in the eye.

"I too have seen how he has begun to look at you. I fear that the more time he spends with you will only cause him pain when the time comes for him to do his duty and marry Kathryn," Ned replied. Catelyn could see that it was hard for Ned to explain this to her, to someone he was beginning to care for. But Fallon seemed neither offended nor upset by his admission. "I do not want Robb to be conflicted by the temptation of a life he cannot have with you."

"He will do his duty My Lord. He wants to please you, to become the man you've been grooming him to be. I can assure you that, if I stay, Lord Robb will do that duty. He will marry Kathryn and he will become Lord of Winterfell in your stead."

"But Fallon," Catelyn interrupted. "How can you assure such a thing. Robb will come to care for you, if he does not already. He may be driven by honor and duty, but he is also a passionate and stubborn young man."

"Because My Lady," she said with a small smile. "It is not the first time I've had to convince a man that duty is more important than passions of the heart."

"What do you mean?" Ned asked. Fallon sighed heavily as she toyed with the end of her braid. Catelyn watched as she unravelled it anxiously as she tried to speak.

"Just over a year ago, a man named Aedan asked for my hand in marriage," she told them and Catelyn furrowed her brow in confusion. "I had hoped that someday I might marry him. Though of course I knew my father would need much convincing on the matter. My father impressed upon me a certain responsibility from the time I was very young. That responsibility required certain things from me- my marriage being one of them. I knew no matter how much I wanted to marry this man, my father had every right to refuse. He is a very protective man."

"As would any father be in his position," Catelyn assured.

"But I thought I could convince him. I've been known to be very convincing," she said with a smile. "But one day, a rebel tribe of the Black Mountains came down challenged my father to battle, raiding our villages and destroying our crops. Twelve clans of tribesmen were part of the rebellion and my father and his men fought them for a fortnight. If it weren't for Aedan, he would have died on the last day. Aedan saved his life and to honor his bravery, my father gave him my sister Eslbeth's hand in marriage."

Catelyn then began to see how the story would then unfold. The look in Fallon's eye was a familiar one and she could not help but feel pity for the young girl.

"When my father offered Elsbeth, Aedan wanted to refuse, to tell my father that it was me he wanted in her place. But to reject an offer from the Magnar is an insult beyond words. My marriage was no longer in my hands. I had a responsibility just as he did. Therefore I chose to convince Aedan that marrying my sister was his duty."

Catelyn listened to the words in disbelief. The poor child, ripped from love so young.

"How did you manage to convince him?" Ned asked curiously and Fallon sighed.

"I convinced him that I did not love him, that my interest was nothing more than a childish infatuation," she admitted quietly.

Both Ned and Catelyn did not reply. They simply took in her words, watching her expression as she spoke and realized what both of them had failed to see before. The girl was still in love. She tried so desperately to hide it but it was there.

"My Lord, if you truly wish it, I will go with you to King's Landing. But if you will me to stay, I promise you I will make my presence here one that will benefit all. I just beg that you do not punish Robb for something which will not happen." She looked at both Ned and Catelyn, waiting for their decision.

Catelyn looked to her husband, and he looked at her. And after several moments, Catelyn nodded to him.

It was decided.

Fallon would stay.

FALLON

She had counted over two hundred leaves before her eyes fell heavy and she succumbed to the darkness behind her lids. The wind was blowing cool wind over her face as she lie there under the weirwood, listening to the sounds of the godswood, waiting for words of wisdom to sink into her mind.

Of course all she really had was silence, aside from leaves blowing and ravens cawing. It made it easy for sleep to take over and lock her inside a limbo of sorts between the land of slumber and reality. She felt aware of her surroundings though at the same time felt the dreamlike haze dancing through every breath.

Somewhere near her head, a branch cracked. She sat up, startled by the sound she looked around her, only to find Theon standing over her, an amused grin on his face. It was better than the grin he saved for all the other girls, one that was uncomfortable to witness to say the least.

"Easy there slumber maiden, I've just come to collect you," Theon laughed with his hands up in mock surrender. His bow was strapped over his back along with his arrows and that was all it took to realize he was going out for a hunt.

"Collect me for what?" she asked him as she took the hand he offered to help her stand and he laughed at her appearance. She brushed leaves off of her dress and out of her hair before smacking him over the head in annoyance. He returned her slap with a look that showed his irritation, but he seemed to take the hint.

"Lady Stark sent me," he replied. "She says it's time for lessons. Which means all the ladies-and you of course-are meant to be cooped up in the tower all day embroidering your pretty drapes and things. Try not to prick yourself." She rolled her eyes as she walked passed him.

"Yes and do try not to fall on one of your arrows," she teased over her shoulder and continued onwards towards the castle.

It was difficult for her to decide if she liked Theon or not. Some days she found his presence grating. She had a disdain for his sly smirks when she would miss her target during their practice. None of that disdain came from his whoring ways. She could care less what a man did in his own time, or who rather.

But there were also days where she felt she could laugh alongside him. Both had a taste for the hunt and while she was rubbish still when it came to the bow, they both would find great amusement in tracking for hours through the wolfswood when Lord Stark would allow them off the grounds.

She was barely in the courtyard before she heard a loud yelp from what sounded like one of the direwolf pups. She spun around quickly to find that it was Ghost who was quivering under the kick of the yellow-haired Prince's boot. Again, the pup yelped in fear and she felt an anger like no other rush through her as she ran towards the boy, lifting her skirts to allow her to run faster as the pup cowered beneath the little prick.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" she shouted, stepping between them to pick up Ghost in her arms.

Joffrey looked at her, startled at her outburst, perhaps that she dare yell or reprimand him for anything. It was out of turn, surely. She had no privilege to speak to someone so high born in such a manner. But it didn't excuse his behavior and prince or peasant, she'd let him hear it.

"You dare speak to me that way?" he asked quietly and she looked around to see that only a few of the servants had passed by, one had stopped his carrying of water pales to watch the pair curiously.

"You have no right," she muttered, angrily.

"And why not? It only belongs to Stark's bastard," he said offhandedly as if Jon was less important than the shite on his boots. "And I'm your Prince. I will do whatever I please," Joffrey shouted and she shook her head in disgust.

"You beat a poor helpless animal and expect me to treat you with respect? I have seen your treatment of people, of better men than you even. What kind of king will you be if you have to beat a helpless pup into submission!?" she argued.

She didn't have time flinch as she felt the sting of Joffrey's slap, his jagged ring's cutting into her skin as her head spun away. Her heart was racing as she pulled her hand up to her face and felt the sting of a cut on her bottom lip. When she looked at her fingers she saw the tint of red blood staining them and she looked up at him in disbelief. She did not falter, but she did not speak as she held her hand against her torn flesh.

"You speak to me like that again, and it will be more than your face I'll tarnish," he told her. She didn't cower, didn't back down as he smirked at her with his mischievous eyes. Instead, she let her hands fall to her side, setting ghost down on the ground and she lifted her chin up so her eyes met his.

"You cannot scare me into submission," she whispered. "Perhaps you haven't heard, I'm from Skagos. I have battled savages that would rip your throat from your neck in the blink of an eye. There is nothing you can do that I haven't endured a thousand times worse."

For a moment there was silence. She could tell she'd caught Joffrey off guard, that he would have expected her to run in the opposite direction as most did when he threatened them. But she refused to let him see fear. She wasn't scared of this child. She wasn't scared of a man who liked to inflict pain. She'd seen many days and many men who were equally as rotten as this boy in front of her.

"Perhaps you do not scare easily, Skagg, however I daresay My Lady Sansa would be terrified if I were to start slapping her about," he said and Fallon's eyes narrowed angrily. "Yes, you see, she is to be my wife, therefore she will be my property, my toy. I love to play with my toys however I see fit." The thought was frightening, more frightening to her than taking her own punishment for boldness. But Sansa was faint-hearted. She had been sheltered against such savagery.

"She's just a girl. She would do nothing to deserve such treatment."

"And you think that would stop me?," he spat causing Fallon to cringe at his vulgarity. "When I get bored of her, which I will, or when I feel in a particularly foul mood, she might find herself with a pretty bruise decorating her face as well."

From the moment the yellow-haired prick had come through the gates of Winterfell, she knew he'd be trouble. And of course all Sansa could see was the beautiful appeal of becoming his queen, the queen. Even Fallon's words of warning would not deter her.

"See that you keep your hands off of her," she whispered harshly and he grinned evilly.

"Then be a good girl and run along, and I won't speak of your indiscretion to my father," he told her and Fallon's fists were balled up tight as she held onto the pup. Oh how she longed to wipe that smirk off of his face. But she thought of Sansa. The girl was naive when it came to men. She fell at the feet of any, young, handsome boy who smiled at her. But if she wouldn't look out for herself, Fallon would do her best to help her while she could.

So she turned and walked, as he'd instructed, in the direction of the castle and far from him. She didn't look back over her shoulder for fear of what she might do if she saw his face again. Ghost was yipping excitedly when they rounded the corner and she spotted Jon and Enat looking at her with solemn expressions. But she didn't say a word, just left the two of them outside and ghost at Jon's side.

She made it a few steps inside the castle before she let down her facade. She felt the sting of salty tears in her eyes but she refused to let herself cry. She wouldn't let that monstrosity be the reason for her tears. She placed her hand against the wall to hold herself up as she steadied her breaths, wiping her eyes with the opposite. Her hands shook but she did not know if it was in fury or in fear. It was several moments of her staggered breaths and her now red eyes, before she heard another sound.

"Fallon?" she heard and jumped, startled.

She looked up to see Kathryn and Robb standing there in the intersecting corridor and Robb's expression of confusion turned to concern when he saw her face. He dropped Kathryn's arm and walked quickly to Fallon's side. He moved her hair from her face, pushing it back to expose the bruise that was most likely already showing and her lip that would look angrier with the blood that she had yet to wipe away.

"Who did this to you?" he asked angrily and she began shaking her head as she pulled her face away from his touch. His calloused fingers grazing her neck as she did so.

"No one," she said quickly.

"Clearly it was someone," he corrected and she sighed, trying to slow her nerves as she attempted to keep her composure.

"I meant, no one of importance," she corrected, her tone frustrated. It was a lie of course, but if she told him the truth he would no doubt get himself into trouble avenging the Prince's wrongdoing. "Truly, it looks worse than it actually is."

"You see, love," Kathryn said sweetly as she took Robb's arm in hers once more. "She said she's fine."

"Yes but-," he persisted and Fallon met Kathryn's eyes. For once, they had a common goal. Both wanted Robb as far away from her as possible and as their eyes locked, they both knew that neither would stand in the other's way.

"I saw her out the window, sparring with a boy from the village, Robb. She's telling the truth. Though why any well-respected young woman would place herself in a sparring match, I cannot understand." Kathryn said and he looked down at her in surprise and then back to Fallon.

"Are you sure?" he asked, reaching out to her face once more, looking down at her with so much concern that Fallon felt she had to look away from his gaze.

"Yes," she said with a smile. "I'll just have this cleaned up and I'll-"

"ROBB!"

The shout came from the direction Fallon had just entered and all three of them spun around to see that it was Jon calling to them through the door. "Come quickly, it's Bran, he's fallen from the tower!" he shouted and both Robb and Fallon wasted no time in following. Fallon only looked over her shoulder once to tell Kathryn to get Lady Stark before she lifted her dresses and followed Robb out into the courtyard.

"You should stay, Fallon," Robb insisted quickly, holding her back but she pried herself from his grasp with a frown.

"I will not," she challenged, equally as insistent, running off towards the tower.

Robb quickly caught up to her. It was only a short run to the place where they spotted him, the child's body lying there, lifeless on the ground. Fallon felt her throat swell as she saw him, and slowed her running until she came to a complete stop. Robb tried to shield her from the sight, looking down in disbelief as well but she refused to be guarded from it.

Jaime and Cersei Lannister were standing by the boy's body, neither making eye contact with the other. It was an awkward scene, and she could tell by Jaime's sideways glance that they both knew Fallon was aware of their strange behavior.

"Where's Maester Luwin?!" she asked, her voice catching in her throat as she moved her eyes away from Bran and to Jaime.

"I am afraid I do not know. I have been preoccupied here, keeping an eye on the boy," he answered and she stepped closer to where Robb was crouched down, shaking Bran lightly.

Fallon knelt down by his side, looking down at Bran's mangled position. She placed her ear against his chest, closing her eyes as she waited for a familiar sound. Her heart was pounding too loudly for her to concentrate. Breathe, she told herself-willing Bran to do the same-as she closed her eyes, focusing on the small chest, so fragile as she pressed her head upon it.

"Come on Bran," Robb said eagerly. "Wake up!"

"Bran!" Jon was shouting.

"Don't touch him," she instructed as calmly as she could, trying desperately to hide her shaking hands from catching their attention as she pushed them back. "He's alive," she whispered with a sigh of relief and saw Robb move. "Wait!" she shouted as Robb reached underneath the boy to pick him up. "Don't move him yet," she told him, hurrying up and over to Bran's other side.

Their panicked voices were distracting, she couldn't think. She searched her memory for knowledge of what to do, of how to help as she took Bran's small hand in hers. She then looked up above her and spotted the tower and wondered just how high he had gotten before the fall.

But it didn't add up, Bran was an exceptional climber, even though just an hour before she'd told him to get down from the wall in the opposite courtyard, as his mother had requested. She said she'd keep it a secret between the two of them, that she wouldn't tell Lady Stark so long as he quit climbing. She thought he'd listen, but he hadn't.

"We need to keep him lying flat," she said and Robb looked confused, his brow furrowed as he placed his hands on his brother.

"We need to get him inside," he whispered and she nodded, placing her hand on his face.

"Trust me," she said quietly and after a moment he nodded and ran off to search for something, anything to keep Bran flat when they'd move him. She then looked to Jon.

"Jon, I told Kathryn to get Lady Stark," she said quickly. "You must keep her from seeing Bran this way." Jon nodded and stood. "And make sure the Maester finds his way quickly. I am no healer." She'd barely finished speaking when Jon was running back towards the castle, leaving her to look up at the Lannisters.

"You're quite quick under pressure for such a young girl," Jaime said and Fallon scowled.

"You were lucky to find him" she said, ignoring his ill-timed humor. "This isn't a very common part of the grounds."

"We were on a walk. Not that I need to explain myself to an urchin like you" Cersei said defensively and Fallon raised her head up to meet the queen's eyes. "Jaime was escorting me around the grounds when we found him lying here." Fallon didn't like the look in the woman's eyes, nor how she refused to look down at Bran as she spoke about him as if he wasn't there.

"You seem to know much about falls, is that because you took one of your own?" Jaime said as he crouched down, placing his hand on her lip, letting his fingers slide over the cut. Fallon slapped it away. "Touchy are we?"

"Keep your hands off of me, Ser," she whispered and turned to see Robb approaching with a wagon that had a large enough board over it that they could set Bran down as easily as possible. She looked around to see if Jon had returned but was still left without an extra hand aside from Robb's. She'd have to make due. She looked up to Jaime. "Lift his feet, but not until I say so. Robb, you'll grab his head. I will support his back."

The three of them positioned themselves, both men looking at Fallon, waiting for her command. As they lifted him, Fallon could feel how light he was in their arms, how fragile he would have been to such a fall. She tried not to think of such things as she concentrated on lowering him slowly, setting him gently on the board and pulling her hands out from under him.

It was Robb who started rolling him in when they ran into Lord Stark with the Maester and Jon at his side. He looked down at his son, lying there on the cart, his hands shaking as he saw the fragile state he was in.

Fallon then stopped following, stood in one spot as she watched them wheel Bran in quickly. Her heart was pounding and the stress finally rearing it's head as she stood there, the wind blowing around her, hoping beyond hope that he'd be okay, that perhaps she'd done something good to help him.

She didn't know what else to do then but run, run to the one place where no one would see her tears. Soon enough, she found herself beneath the weirwood once again, this time on her knees as she looked up at the great heart tree, tears falling freely from her eyes. She didn't bother to wipe them, only used the moment of silence and solitude to let loose the emotions she'd buried so deep down within her.

Her silent crying soon turned to quiet weeping, then to sobbing as she felt it all rise out of her. Every part of her crying out. The part that missed home, missed her brothers, missed Aedan's touch, her father's laugh. She cried out for Bran who was holding onto life by a string, to Sansa who would soon be forced to grow up so quickly.

She was there for a long while, feeling the aching inside of her pouring out in her sorrowful sobs. She knew the sun was fading in the sky and that soon someone would come to fetch her. She didn't want anyone to find her like this, so vulnerable and weak. Though, in Bran's state, she doubted that dinner would be an event that night. She had no appetite anyways.

She pulled out the letter from her skirts, the one Enat had given to her from Aedan and she read over the words again and again until she could hardly breathe from her sobbing. 'Take care of Fallon,' it had read in the Old Tongue, the language of her homeland. She clutched the bit of parchment in her hand and leaned over and cried against the weirwood tree, her tears were now uncontrollable.

Over her sobs she didn't hear the footsteps behind her or hear the person kneel down by her side. She only felt the strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her against his chest so her face was in the nook of his shoulder. She didn't have to see him to know it was Robb, stroking her hair as she clutched his tunic. She tried to pull away feebly but he only pulled her in tighter and she lost the will to care.

They sat like that until the darkness fell and the sun was long set beyond the trees. She didn't move until she'd settled her breaths and calmed her sobs until all that was left was a soreness in her throat and swelling in her eyes. She shivered as the cold night winds descended upon them and she thought it might have been the reason he pulled her in closer.

She finally stole a glance up at him and noticed that his eyes were red as well. She suddenly felt a sense of worry wash over her. She could see the dread hanging in his blue orbs, the ache that was apparent as he held her there against him. She placed her hand on his face and shook her head, clearing her throat as she tried to speak despite the heavy lump in her throat.

"He'll be ok," she spoke softly and her whisper was strained, broken as she swallowed a sob. His eyes fell but she ducked her head so he was forced to meet her gaze and she placed both hands on his shoulders. "Have faith," she encouraged. "Bran is strong and so must we be."

Robb nodded but he did not release his hold on her from the place they sat beneath the weirwood. She let her hands fall but Robb caught one of them in his own, squeezing it lightly in some way to thank her and she attempted a smile. But his closeness intimidated her, much as it did when he stood tall over her small figure. Their staggered breaths and muffled cries were all that passed between them as the wind grew swift around them.

She should have noticed when he moved closer, but for some reasons he didn't. One moment they were sharing a meaningful gaze and the next Robb's lips were pressed against hers, an action that caused her to stiffen in surprise. He held her against him, letting his lips move against hers and Fallon thought for a moment about pushing him away. But soon she forgot everything and was instead engulfed in the moment.

It was wrong-she knew it was wrong-and that if she let it continue things would never be the same between them again. But she tasted the salt mixed in between their lips and then their tongues and she knew that this was what he needed to distract him from the worry he felt for his brother. He needed comfort and for him, her friend, she would allow them this one moment.

She tried not to think about the way his lips moved desperately or the how warm his hand was on the based of her neck. She could only indulge him so long as this meant nothing. Because if she allowed any other thoughts to creep up inside of her, she might realize that perhaps it wasn't just nothing at all.

Updated 6/25/15