Savages - LolaStark

Chapter Nine

[Fallon]

It had been weeks since she could remember laughter. The sound creeping up from her throat and out for all to hear. It was pleasant, even to her own ears as she was bent, holding her side as the pain increased with each laugh.

The evening was falling quickly over Winterfell, the skies growing darker with each passing minute. It had been Bran's idea to light the fire out in the courtyard, both of them were tired after their archery lesson. She had volunteered to learn the art of Dothraki horseback archery alongside Bran when he seemed slightly reluctant. They hadn't spent much time together since he'd woken up after the fall, but they soon fell back into their easy familiarity within moments of Fallon missing her first target. They both laughed as the arrow flew by, not anywhere near it's intended mark. Theon, of course, stood at the side, shaking his head disappointedly.

Now they stood by the fire as Fallon taught Bran the Skagosi songs performed at Gheimhridh Comoradh, the festival House Magnar hosted at the beginning of every winter. She had only seen one Gheimhridh as a girl, what with the Summer lasting so many years, but she recalled the festivities as if it were yesterday. The songs were the same that she'd sung all her life as were the dances she'd learning from the valleys and the great hall.

"How do you do that?" Bran asked from his place on the blanket, Hodor close by, clapping excitedly along with the music.

"Do what?" she asked, slowing her spin until she and Rickon were paused, full of laughter as they tried to stay their balance.

"How do you dance like that? I've never seen anyone dance so fast," he said in awe.

It was true, the dances of Skagos were much faster than that of the dances she'd seen at Winterfell. Even Rickon was unable to keep up. But she liked both styles. She thought the dances that the people of the North did were more elegant than ones she'd known from birth. She'd only gotten a chance to dance them once, months ago, but she looked forward to the next time she was allowed to show what she'd learned.

"It's all about keeping pace with the music," she explained, letting go of Rickon's hand so he could sit down next to Bran. "When my sister comes, she'll show you exactly how fast a woman of Skagos can dance."

She sat down on the blanket near the fire, closest to Bran but directly across from where Robb's eyes were watching her intently. He was sitting next to Kathryn, who had a goblet in her hand as she sipped the wine with mild interest in the flames that danced in front of her. She didn't seem to notice Robb's eyes as Fallon did. She then quickly looked away, back down to where her own goblet was empty and she searched for the ale that had been passed around.

"Do they have jousting at the Gheimhridh?" Rickon asked and she laughed.

"Jousting is a foolish sport," she said with a grin, knowing Robb loved jousting tournaments. She saw him grin from across the fire. "The Skagosi think it is a savage way to compete. We don't like to put our horses at risk for something so silly."

"Horses are rarely injured," Robb countered, holding up the ale where she could see it, before he passed it around to her.

"And there isn't a single sport in Skagos that our horses have ever been injured at all," she argued matter-of-factly. He smirked.

"If you'd actually seen the joust, My Lady, I don't think you'd be so quick to cast it off. The joust is a way for the most noble men of Westeros to prove their strength and honor," Robb countered.

"And what good is their strength and honor if they are dead from one of those ridiculous sticks," she teased and watched as Robb didn't even bother to hide his amusement with her answer.

"What games do they have then, if not jousting?" Bran asked.

"The games at the Gheimhridh bring warriors and families from all over Skagos to Kingshouse. My father hosted the last Gheimhridh and he chose the twelve games that would be performed over the twelve days of the festival. Events like cliff climbing, wrestling, throwing, sword fighting, and runningaA. The games are often chosen to test the strength of the men, and the women who compete."

"Women compete?" Kathryn asked, which surprised Fallon. Kathryn never asked questions, nor did she ever seem to pay attention to any of the stories Fallon told.

"Of course the women compete," Enat said, pouring the ale into Fallon's goblet once it made it's way around. "They compete mostly in their own games, but there are a few events where women compete with men."

"Like what?" Theon asked.

"Fallon's mother was the champion of the archery tournament, beat over fifty men, including Drystan Magnar," Enat said.

"You mean to say your mother was a champion archer and you can't shoot to save your life?" Theon asked Fallon who only stuck her tongue out in response, causing the group's laughter to rise with the flames into the evening sky.

"Fallon has competed in the games, not the Gheimhridh because she was only small thing then, but there are summer games as well. Skagosi will find any reason to celebrate with a tournament and a bucket of ale. Fallon defeated Rowan by sword one year," Enat explained. "She was only fifteen then."

"As I recall it, she cheated during that particular instance," a voice said that caused all heads to turn towards it.

Fallon looked up to see the familiar features, the green eyes of her beloved brother staring down at her with a warm smile and she leapt to her feet. It was Rowan. Her heart too leapt in her chest, all feelings of joy flooding in.

She jumped up into his arms, his tall stature pulling her off the ground so that her feel flung freely in the air. She buried her face in his shoulder as he held her. He smelled of campfire and forest, the handstitched tunic embroidered with their family crest.

"Sweet sister," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "Surely you haven't spent all of your time here telling lies about me."

"I've let them know just how you are not to be trusted, Rowan," she told him, swatting him against his shoulder as he let her down. "And I did beat you. Fairly I might add."

Behind him stood another figure, Albertha. She hadn't seen her sister in nearly four years. And here she was in her fine gown, her hair braided and pinned in a style unlike Fallon had seen in the North. She had aged some, but her features were still that a of a young woman, hardly a few years over the age of twenty. And she was beautiful.

"Fallon," she said with a smile, opening her arms to embrace her. Fallon held her sister close to her, thinking that Elsbeth should be here, that they were broken without her, without Corran as well. "You look wonderful."

"As do you, sister," Fallon whispered, kissing her cheek. "Your skin is ice cold, come stand by the fire."

Fallon lead both Rowan and Albertha over towards the flame where Robb stood to welcome them. He shook hands with Fallon's brother and then kissed Albertha's cheek which caused her to smile. Rowan sat down next to her and she handed him a cup and filled it with ale to the brim. Albertha sat on his other side, listening to Bran retell one of the stories she'd told of Skagos. She would smile often as he'd reenact the parts he could without moving.

"I can't remember the last time I saw you smile," Rowan whispered as Bran continued with the story. Fallon brushed the hair from her face as she glanced at her brother. His green eyes danced in the firelight and she was suddenly reminded of their many adventures in Skagos. Always he'd been by her side.

"It's been a long time since I've been happy enough to do so," she replied with a sad smile as she thought of home.

"They treat you well?" he asked seriously and she smiled as she directed her gaze across the fire to see Robb laughing as Bran came to the funniest part of the story.

"They treat me like family," she admitted. "Better than I could have hoped."

It was true, amongst these people, she felt like family. She was even getting used to Kathryn. It was like growing up with Elsbeth. They'd always had a rocky relationship as girls. It didn't help that Aedan had been chosen for Elsbeth's husband. It was almost a reminder of that rivalry they'd always had. Rickon was a joy, always bringing out the smiles when he'd come to her rooms and read stories to her. Bran was adventurous and passionate, always reminding her of Corran. Theon was just like her, but not like her. Both in the same position and yet taking difference advantages of it.

And then there was Robb. The first time she saw Robb she resented him for being Ned's son, for being entitled to a future. But as time passed she saw that Robb was a slave to his future, just as she was. He didn't have a choice in most matters. He was meant to marry Kathryn without complaint. And the thought of Robb's impending wedding didn't sit well within her. There was an unnamed feeling that she was faced with.

Each day as the sun rose she woke with that feeling fresh in her mind and as the sun set, she lie awake, restless in her bed trying to rid her mind of his smile. Even now the sound of her laugh caused the corners of her mouth to rise into a grin that was unique to these moments. She knew she had to confront those feelings, she had to talk to Rowan.

He would know what they meant.

[Enat]

The sun had long risen as Enat woke, late into the morning. Though the light through her window was dimmed by the clouds that covered the sun from spreading it's rays. She woke with a start, quickly rushing out from under her sheets, unintentionally waking the other figure from her bed.

"What's got you in such a hurry?" he groaned, covering his eyes with the pillow as she opened the curtains. She laughed.

"I've got work to do," she said, throwing a towel at him.

Rowan pulled the pillow off of his face and she could see the sun dance over his dark features. His hair was the same color as Fallon's and fell down, just above his shoulders. He was strong, and handsome and had always had an eye for mischief. Fallon and Rowan were nearly the same person, she'd noticed. Since they were children they were always finding themselves in some sort of trouble. Both had the same passion for living. And both were very dear to Enat's heart.

"When will you find a wife for yourself and stop sharing my bed?" she teased. He sat up, stretching his shoulders.

"I'll find a wife, when you find yourself a husband," he joked back. "Though, I did hear whispers that you found yourself a Stark."

"They don't call him Stark," she said and then scolded herself for saying anything at all. But then again, Rowan always knew how to catch her in a lie.

"Ah so it's the Snow boy that you have your eye on," Rowan said, pulling on his tunic. "Is he a better lover than me?" he asked with a smirk.

"I wouldn't know," she said honestly.

It was true, part of her had grown very fond of Jon Snow before he'd left for the wall. She found him to be very serious at times, quite opposite of Rowan. But she liked that about him. She had never loved Rowan beyond their lovemaking. He was handsome, with a similar build to Robb Stark she'd pointed out once. But he was not an ideal partner outside of the bedroom.

It had been Jon that had caught her interest from the first day she set foot in Winterfell. But when Jon had left for the Night's Watch, she had lost whatever they might had gained in the time before his departure.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't miss him. She thought about writing him several times but there was no use in sparking a flame that would be put out in a matter of seconds. In the meantime she settle her womanly urges with Rowan Magnar, her longtime friend. They'd been each other's first, in many ways. There was a bond in that type of relationship. She'd told that to Fallon many times.

Fallon, too knew the bond of first love. Enat knew Aedan had been her friend's first. First love and lover as she recalled. But Fallon preferred not to speak of her conquests, even though Enat was positive the girl had only been with one man. She'd never tell Rowan, of course. If Rowan knew his best friend was taking his beloved sister to bed, there would be more than playful competition between them.

"What work has got you rushing off so fast? I've been here a week already and I've never seen you out of bed in such a hurry."

"Lord Robb has been planning this hunting trip for Fallon's nameday, for weeks. He wants to surprise her and if I don't have her ready then it will spoil the entire thing."

"Lord Stark must really know my sister," Rowan laughed. "She's the only girl I've ever met that wants to spend her nameday out in the forest, hunting. Of course her last name day we spent together I came home wounded from that damned spear of hers."

"She's no ordinary girl, you know that," Enat told him, pulling on her dress. Rowan stood to help her with the ties. He'd become quite an expert with Enat's instruction. Or at least that's what she told herself. The truth was, Rowan had many lovers already in his youth. She didn't blame him. Regardless of the quantity of Rowan's conquests, Enat knew one simple truth. Magnar's were notoriously good lovers. To waste his talents with monogamy would be a shame to women everywhere.

"You've been around her this whole time?" he asked and she nodded, holding her hands on her hips as she awaited his finishing of her ties. "Aedan wrote me, some time ago after he'd seen her in the forest."

"I expected he would. From what Fallon told me, their reunion wasn't exactly a happy one."

"She was angry. Hell I was angry as well. But when he described to me the woman he saw I thought surely it was not my sister." he said, pausing as he finished the last tie and stepped back. "He said she's changed. I see that for myself as well."

"Not all change is bad Rowan," she reminded him. "She's become a strong person, stronger than before."

"Does she still love him?" he asked her.

Aedan and Rowan were brothers in all but name. She'd never seen them apart until now. Rowan was the first one to discover Fallon's true feelings for Aedan. Broden too had noticed his sister's misery when Drystan announced Elsbeth's wedding, the combining of the Magnar and Friel families.

"Yes, I believe she does," she said, trailing off as she looked away.

"But not as she did before?" Rowan finished for her. Enat nodded.

"I always thought somehow the gods would bring them back together. But now I see that perhaps her love for my brother was simply a young love, a first love. She thrives here, Rowan. I've seen her with Aedan and believed that was love but now - now I am not so sure."

"You think she might love the Stark then?"

"She will," Enat admitted. "If she does not already. Fallon doesn't even know it herself yet, but I've seen it in her eyes. I've heard it in her voice," she told him confidently. "She casts herself away from it, plays the part of an indifferent woman. But I know her, you know her. She's connected to him, so much so that I dare say that perhaps the gods had other intentions for Fallon the day Aedan was betrothed to Elsbeth."

Enat could see the pain in Rowan's eyes at the mention of his late sister. But she could tell he was also considering her words. Rowan was a smart man, and he loved Fallon more than any of his siblings. He was very protective of her.

"I've seen it in her eyes as well," Rowan said quietly. "It worries me."

"Why be worried when she is happy?" she asked him, grabbing his hands but he shook his head.

"She is happy now, but how will it be when the Stark weds Kathryn Ashford?" he asked seriously. Enat would have been lying if she said she hadn't been hopping Robb would break his betrothal.

"He will never love Kathryn," she said stubbornly. "She strives to be Lady of Winterfell so desperately that I daresay she'd do anything to achieve it."

"She will be Lady of Winterfell."

"And everyone here will suffer because of it," Enat whispered. "She is the like a storm that threatens to destroy anything in it's path."

She wasn't sure if Rowan believed her words about Kathryn, but she knew that he saw what was going on between Fallon and Robb. Whether or not he would do anything about it was completely up to him.

[Rowan]

Rowan couldn't remember having a pastime he enjoyed as much as hunting, except perhaps making love to a beautiful woman. He found the sport to be just as exciting as it was relaxing. Since he was a child, he'd loved the hunt and he remembered the first time his father sat him upon his horse and lead him out into the forests of Skagos. The terrain was much different here in the North, but he found the weather very reminiscent of home, unlike the Vale, which was more like Skagos in terrain, but not in climate.

"If you keep missing, we'll have nothing to bring home for the feast," Theon complained, for the third time as Fallon's arrow barely missed a small doe, sending it scattering off into the brush without a scratch..

"If you'd stop breathing down my neck I might have had the last three, Theon!," she muttered from her clenched teeth as she shot him a glare that caused Rowan and Robb to laugh.

"Give her a spear, and see what she does with it then," Rowan told them and Robb looked at Theon who seemed to consider this idea as if it had never been proposed. Surely they'd seen her throw a spear, he thought. Rowan had spent all of his sixteenth year helping her perfect the throw. And since then, Fallon had never missed her target.

"I recall Broden saying something very similar when Father was teaching him to use the bow. But as he always said..." Fallon started and Rowan smiled at the memory. "You can never learn to swim..."

"...if you don't get out of the boat," Rowan finished. "I distinctly remember him saying that right before he threw us both off the boat and into the bay."

"And you learned to swim because of it."

"Only because I nearly drowned the first time. I wasn't about to let him do it to me again," Rowan corrected and Fallon laughed loudly, a pretty sound that caused all the men in the hunting party to smile.

Rowan couldn't help but see Robb's grin, wide as he watched Fallon's every move and an idea came to him then as he pulled his horse from it's place by the tree and looked to Theon.

"Well if she's going to be practicing all afternoon, we better leave the real hunting to those more capable, aye Theon?"

"If we leave it to her we'll be spending the week starving ourselves on bread and water," he agreed and he walked in the direction Rowan was leading his horse.

"See that her feelings aren't too hurt, won't you Stark?" Rowan joked, watching as Fallon rolled her eyes and walked in the opposite direction, leaving Robb to follow after her.

Theon and Rowan only had to walk for about an hour before they came upon a boar, not nearly full size but big enough that Theon didn't waste a second in shooting it down. Rowan was laying it over the back of his horse when Theon placed his bow over his shoulder and looked at him curiously.

"You meant to send them off together, didn't you?" he asked and Rowan couldn't hide his smirk.

"I can only imagine that since you're asking me that question that you've noticed exactly what I have," Rowan replied. "He's very familiar with her, wouldn't you say?" Theon seemed to think about his answer for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.

"I don't think they were ever strangers," was his answer and Rowan gleaned more in those few words than he had from Enat just that morning.

Whatever was going on between Robb and his sister was mutual, he'd seen that the moment he'd arrived back in Winterfell and watched them together. But for whatever reason she didn't want him to know that, and Rowan wanted to find out why.

[Robb]

The sun was high in the sky, peeking through the clouds that hung above them, sprinkling light showers every so often as they continued their hunt. Fallon's skin glistened from the previous shower that had caught them both unaware an hour after they'd parted from Theon and Rowan.

They were now stranded under one of the larger trees, waiting for the heavier rain to quit as they both leaned up against it. The time was passed retelling the story of Rowan and Fallon learning to swim, as per Robb's curiosity. He laughed as she provided the reenactment of his floundering in the ocean and her father's laughter.

She came to the end of the story, pausing as the rain let up slightly. They walked out from under the shelter of the thick branches and stepped lightly around fallen twigs, continuing into the forest as they'd planned. Robb knew this forest like the back of his hand, knowing exactly how far they were from Winterfell at any given moment. But Fallon was still unfamiliar with it, looking around anxiously as she held her bow at the ready. He tried to imagine her with a spear, on a rocky terrain, waiting for the right moment to strike. He wondered how he'd let her go so long without showing him.

"Robb," she whispered quickly and his attention was pulled from her stance to the direction in which she was facing.

There in the distance was the doe, the small one that had run off previously, barely escaping her arrow only an hour or so prior. She rose to shoot, but Robb placed his arm against hers, lowering it. She flinched slightly at the proximity, his back pressed against hers. Robb moved her long hair over her left hand shoulder and leaned in closely to her right ear.

"Not yet," he whispered. "You have to watch it, wait for it to be caught off guard. It's listening, waiting," he said and he saw her eyes attempting to focus on the doe, but glance back at him every few seconds.

He didn't move as they stood there, their bodies pressed together the smell of her damp hair filling his senses. He placed a hand on her hip, repositioning her to give her a better stance as his father had taught him. She moved with him easily, as if he was leading her in a dance. He then rose her bow arm, his hand resting over the skin of her wrist, and he heard a small intake of breath at the contact. He then pulled his hand from her wrist and pulled in against her stomach.

"Breathe in slowly," he whispered. She did as he said, and he could feel her breathing in under his hand. "Do you see her? She thinks she's alone now. But she's not." Once her arm was properly placed he gave her the signal. "Now."

The arrow shot out from her fingertips so fast that he hardly had time to look as the doe met it's end. The arrow piercing it's flesh as it cried out for only a moment. Fallon's chest rose and fell quickly, the adrenaline running through her as she watched the animal fall to it's side. Robb watched her expression of surprise morph as the corners of her pink mouth turned up into a smile.

"I did it," she whispered and then turned to look at Robb. "I did it!"

"Yes you did," he said, laughing.

"Thank you," she said happily, embracing him with her arms around his neck.

He was surprised at first. Fallon didn't normally embrace him this way, with a smile on her face and laughter in her voice. But this time, the hug was meant for him and he wrapped his arms around her small figure and lifted her into the air, both of them laughing louder as he did so. He put her down, then, in front of him, and their proximity was closer than he'd intended. But the look in her eyes kept him standing there as her smile faded slightly.

She pulled her hands from behind his neck and slid them down until they were resting lightly on his chest. Her eyes, so vibrant green, looked up at him with something akin to the feeling currently pulsing through his chest.

"Must we keep on pretending, Fallon?" he said, placing his forehead against hers as she craned her neck to see him.

"Keep on pretending what?" she asked slowly, as if she wasn't aware of what he meant. But it was clear that she was.

"Pretending not to care for one another," he told her and she sighed.

"Robb," she whispered, breaking their eye contact as she looked away, and again the sound of his name on her lips caught him by surprise. Gone were the days when she could only call him 'Stark.'

"I can pretend no longer. Each passing day I feel the struggle to keep my distance, to pretend that I do not care." he said, placing his hand over hers. "Tell me what I must do to make you mine Lady Magnar?"

Her eyes met his once more, their vibrance alight with the same feelings welled up within him.

"I'm starting to think, that perhaps, I have always been yours," she whispered and Robb could feel the breath against his face. "I cannot seem to escape you."

Robb felt his heart leap at her answer, although her tone was a very sad one as she then closed her eyes. He placed his hand on her neck, tracing it with his fingertips until it was resting under her jaw line. His heart pounded with such purpose he was sure it was coming out of his chest as he stood there, looking down at her.

Robb couldn't let go of that moment. He pressed his lips against hers, slowly at first. But soon it grew as he pulled her in against him. She didn't pull away as he deepened the kiss, only let her arms wrap around his neck as they felt the rain falling once again. It was cold against his skin, but Robb only cared about the warmth of her tongue against his and the sound that escaped her throat when he pushed her gently against a nearby tree trunk. He pulled away to let her breathe, using the time to kiss the expose skin of her neck.

"We shouldn't..." she tried to say, catching her breath but he covered her mouth with his. "This is all wrong."

"Why?" he asked her, kissing her cheek and then her jaw. "Why shouldn't we?"

"I made a promise," she said, her eyes closed when his lips reached her neck.

He knew the promise she spoke of, the one to his father. He too had made a promise and here he was breaking it. He knew it was wrong, to break an oath, that his mother would be furious if she saw him now. But he had never felt something so far from wrong in all of his life as he held her there so close to him.

"As did I, but I can't keep this promise, not to her," he admitted, looking into her eyes. "I can't marry her when my heart belongs to you."

For a moment he thought she might smile, the way the corners of her now bruised lips twitched slightly. But she then looked away.

"Robb I told you...you have a duty..." she explained. "You must marry her and honor that promise."

"How is it any more honorable to marry someone I cannot give my heart to?" he asked and held her when she finally tried to pull away and she began to speak but he interrupted her words. "And don't tell me that your heart is locked away, Fallon. I know part of your heart is free, that you have longed for this just as much as I have."

"Even if you broke off your engagement you couldn't marry me," she told him.

"Who would stop us?"

"Before your father left, he told me the next time he came to Winterfell he'd return me to Skagos," she told him and Robb's eyes widened. "He said I could go home."

Robb had a hard time trying to form words then as he watched her sad smile fall. He knew she wanted to go home, he'd give anything to bring her there himself. But that would also mean never seeing her again. He wasn't sure if he could do that.

"I should have told you," she said apologetically. "I just knew it would upset you."

"Of course it upsets me," he said, his voice raised. He looked down at her, watching her eyes try to mask her sadness but he saw it. "Do you think I want to force you to stay here? I'd give anything to return you home, to make you happy. And yes I am upset at the idea of you leaving because I love you."

"Don't," she protested, shaking her head. "Don't say that to me."

"Fallon," he whispered, placing his hands on either side of her face. "I love you."

"I wish you wouldn't," she replied. "Seven Hells," she cried out in frustration. "I wish I'd never come to Winterfell. You're life would have been so much better had you never met me."

"I disagree," he said firmly. "I need you."

"He was right," she whispered. "Staying here can only bring us both pain. I was so naive to think I could do this on my own."

"Who, my father?" he asked.

"Yes Stark, your father. He told me this would happen and I told him I'd take care of it. But...I'm just not strong enough."

"What do you mean?"

But she didn't answer him, only placed her lips against his, craning her neck up to him. The rain was barely falling through the trees, keeping them slightly sheltered. But Robb's mind was racing with her words. When the time came would she leave him? Would she disappear from his life as easily as she'd arrived into it? Could he give up this feeling, the touch of her skin and the taste of her lips? Right now he didn't know. If he only had a short time with her, then he would do what he had to in order to change her mind. As selfish as that was.

All he knew was he wanted Fallon Magnar and he wasn't giving up without a fight.