GreyWind followed her trial as she made her way through Winterfell. It was terrifyingly cold and the darkness shrouded them but she did not seem to care as the warmth of wine that filled her belly was enough to keep her going.

She slightly tipped to the side as her actions were becoming sloppy the longer she drank but at the moment it all seemed to be but a blur in her mind. She hummed to herself, steadying against the walls with every turn she did and ignoring the concerned stares some of the patrons of Winterfell gave her.

She just needed to forget. She just needed to be free.

Victoria could admit to herself that some things were far too complicated for even her to deal with sometimes, the stress of her wedding with Robb Stark being one of them. Jamie Lannisters mocking words kept bouncing in her head like torture and no matter how much alcohol ran through her veins she could not rid herself of them.

And thus she found herself in search of someone who could guarantee she would be better, someone who's sweet words meant more then the venom the Lannister lions could spews, unfortunately it seemed the Lannisters were not done with her.

She'd heard many tales of the youngest Lion, the imp they called him quietly, but out of respect for his house everyone referred to him as Tyrion Lannister.

He bumped into her legs, sending her sprawling back and him to the ground, both landing with a hard oomph. The Lord began to laugh, using his hands to push himself back into a sitting position and hoping for a chance to find the exotic face the beautiful legs belonged too. He caught site of her dark dress, the streaks of canary yellow that lined it and then found her sun kissed skin.

"Ahh Lady Valiente, such an honor despite our improper meet." He laughed, staying put on the cold ground.

Victoria giggled loudly, the stables of Winterfell bounding with her laughs and then hiccups. The fact he was a Lannister, and the youngest sibling to Jamie, passed over her head as she managed to push herself up, "my apologies my lord, I fear the wine was more entertaining then the scenery!"

Tyrion laughed alongside her, both lazily staying on the frozen ground, the man was perhaps more inebriated then she'd ever been but even so he managed to hold up well.

"Other ladies would usually grow angry with me but Lady Valiente you truly are one of a kind." Tyrion commented amongst the giggles.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "would not be the first time someone has said that to me. I suppose it's a dornish thing." The wine bottle she held was lifted once more to her lips, finding that it's contents were almost emptying.

"Indeed." Tyrion lifted his own bottle in her honor and chugged.

"Seven hells, Victoria!" Jon Snow loud annoyance was heard across the stable as he came upon the two. He'd heard the giggles and the small murmurs afterwards but only after hearing the distinct pitch to Victoria's voice did he know it was her. She sounded a tad different, her voice pitched in a strange way, almost lazily but once he turned the corner to the entrance and found her on the ground beside a Lannister did it occur to him why.

She looked up like a child being caught, wide eyes and lips pressing together to keep from giggling as she shared looks with Tyrion.

"Bastard! Come join us in a round of drinking, I fear your lady might win you though." Tyrion seemed not to care as he sloppily stood.

"Jon Snow!" Victoria mocked her friend, looking up with excitement. Her hands extended, "come! Sit with us! Have a drink!"

Jon shook his head and walked over, careful to not see anyone near he lifted her up and held her with ease. She leaned against him, her arms wrapped around his neck and pushed against his body a gentle hum of happiness left her lips as Jon wrapped his arm on her hip.

"I guess not," Victoria laughed softly and then turned to the small lord, "apologies, my lord, but apparently Jon has to yell at me for having fun and interrupting his daily brooding!"

Tyrion seemed not to care as he waved his hand at them and muttered, "go on, I have to see a horse about his fish now."

The conversation was left at that as Victoria pulled Jon alongside her, steering him as if he were a horse directly towards the stables. Her champion horse was tied there, still bright awake the animal known as Puma looked at his owner and seemed not to care as they pushed into his stable. He had once been a wild horse, roaming the lands of Dorne free until he'd found the brunette eating vegetables. She'd given him some and eventually he returned enough time to where he stayed. Puma with his dark hair and shiny mare was a beauty, and a fast runner, even faster then the Lords horse.

Puma huffed at them, his head bobbing for a moment as his owner smiled widely at him and then attempted to pet him before being brought back by Jon.

He decided that it was better she sat and pulled her against one of the stable walls, watching as the soon to be Lady of his home slid against the ground like a child. She landed against the hat and then tilted her head up patting the spot next to her, "come Jon, join me will you."

Jon saw something in her eyes, like she had so much to say but conflicting thoughts ran amuck in her mind. He strode over, staying silent as he did so and awaiting her inevitable chatter, he slid against the ground a bit more graceful then she had, spreading his legs across the cold ground. His body had been deliberately placed further away from her own, a small space left between them but the Valiente girl would not have it, she slid over and pressed her head to the crook of his neck. A soft hum left her lips as she pressed against his body and cupped their hands together. Jon felt the temperature rise despite the harsh winds blowing, Vic was affectionate but even she knew there was some boundaries, still he supposed the wine was making things slightly bleak for her.

"Jon, would you like to know something?" Vic spoke softly, her eyes honed in on Ghost and GreyWind playing together on the cold ground ahead of them. The two wolves in perfect syncs, rolling around in the dirt just like brother would. GreyWind was significantly bigger then Ghost but even so the young white wolf held his own, he was stealthy and pure as Snow. Vic had no doubt that when winter can and the ground was covered in an endless white Ghost would use it to his advantage and be deadlier then his brother's.

Jon had turned his head slightly, finding that she only smiled at the wolves and didn't meet his eyes. She seemed serene, a much different contrast to what she had been like upon showing up. Her eyes dropped slightly and he had no doubt she would be sleeping soon enough.

"What is it?" He spoke, finding that curiosity peaked despite the initial fear that had creviced into his heart.

"I was going to pick you." She softly whispered and before he could question what the generic statement meant she went on. "When I was younger, just a little girl, Robb, Theon, you, and I played a lot. You three never treated me any different, just because my skin was darker and my hair was longer did not matter. Robb and Theon had their laughs every once in awhile but Jon you treated me no different to anyone else, and for that I always loved you the most. One day my father came into my room just as I was preparing for bed, he said he would tuck me in and proceeded to brush my hair and pull the furs tightly around me. I thought he would leave but instead he took a seat and brushed his hand across my cheek and said "my dear winter sun, may I ask something of you?" I had no idea what he would say but I nodded my head and awaited his next words. He took a long pause, staring off into the distance before coming back and looking at me, "if I gave you the chance to marry any man in the world who would it be?" I knew what my duty was to say, even then I knew that Robb was to be my husband and I was to be a Stark but I could not find it in myself to say it aloud. I was terrified of the words that would blurt out and feared that we would be banished from Winterfell for it but even so I did not care. I needed to say it, to hear it for myself and so I opened my mouth and responded, "I wish to marry Jon. I wish to hold his hand for all of life and love him. I wish to be his lady." And my dead father smiled sadly, his eyes turned dark and he caressed my cheek once more with pity as he explained that he wished to give me my desires but our world did not work in such a way. You were to be only my godbrother and I was to be Robb's lady one day but if he could have you would have been mine."

Jon' mouth went dry, he did not know if she spoke the truth or if the alcohol simply manipulated her emotions but he wished to never hear it again. He would be lying to himself, Victoria, and the gods himself if he said those very thoughts hadn't crossed his mind at a young age. The idea of having Victoria as a wife was more tempting then being a natural Stark but even he had his limits at dreams and he wished to never think further which is why his only response to her thought was a simple, "oh."

Victoria did not seem to care that his tone had suddenly dropped as she leaned closer and continued on, "could you imagine Jon? If we had been betrothed? We would be married already, and you'd be Lord Valiente of Valiente Castle and the borders. In Dorne you would have been praised for being bastard and treated no different, just as I have. My father and I would have taught you the ways of the Dornish, giving you a different outlook on life and a world you would excel at. You and I, Jon, we would have conquered the entire realm if we saw fit. Our children would have been great leaders, they would have had two parents that adored them. Jon Snow, you would have treated me like a Queen, and I would have held you up as my King. You have always been kind to me Jon, you have always been there for me, that's why I would have chosen you."

"Victoria," Jon spoke softly, sensing her voice breaking at the end. He knew there was an even bigger reason to her story, to her drunkenness, and to the grasp she had on his arm that seemed desperate not to release. "What happened tonight."

She sighed loudly, her eyes sobering up to a sudden somberness as she finally locked eyes with him. The dark hue to them seemed more prominent in this moment as she released her secrets, "just sometimes I wish that you were my option instead of Robb."

"What happened?" He repeated yet again, he knew his brother was slightly devious in his activities but deep down Robb actually cared for his betrothed. He was young, he was the future lord and Victoria had allowed him to continue his adultery despite how much Jon knew she hated it.

"Robb and I fought, it's not worth mentioning but even so I wish he just understood me better. I'm always doing things for him, putting up with the whispers and the glances, sucking up my pride to give him a chance to be free—sometimes I feel like he takes more then I ever get. I asked him for one thing and he thought it was ridiculous, and I just sometimes question if it's always going to be like this with him." She spilled her thoughts just like she did every time Jon Snow lent his ear to her.

"Victoria, my brother can be a dick sometimes but he loves you deep down." Jon offered her a condolence.

"That's the thing," she licked her lips and swallowed the pain in her heart. "I've spent so long telling him that love was not meant for us I think he's begun to believe it."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

She smiled to rid of the pain, "I'm a lady, soon to be his lady and we're suppose to listen to our husbands and allow them to be a leader." She mocked the rules instilled in her from every women older then her. After another chug of her drink the smile that had creeped up was gone and she looked at Jon with innocence. "What can I really do, Jon Snow? Your brother is with some whore as we speak while I sit here and wallow in self pity over it all."

Jon didn't know what much else to say so he stayed the obvious, "so what do you want to do?"

"Right now?" She lifted her head off his shoulder so her body was turned in his directly. Jon felt like burst of flames were running through his blood when she looked at him through her darkened eyes. "Right now I don't want to be alone."

Jon looked away because he knew that lines needed to be drawn. He loved Victoria, she had been someone who had treated him no different to Robb and therefore had gained notable respect and admiration in his eyes but there was limits he could not push. The offer was tempting but to know that she would one day be the wife of his brother, yet another person to treat him no different, made his head heavy with thoughts. He cleared his throat and stood, leaving a wide eyed Victoria to await his next move as he turned and extended his hand. "Come on, Ghost can sleep with ya tonight. He's good company."

Victoria didn't say much after, she nodded her head an understood, it had been a stupid offer, one she would have regretted in the morning.

|•|•|•|•|

"My lady, this is nice but you don't have to do this." Elaine strolled through Wintertown with her lady, the blonde handmaidens cheeks were tinted pink from exasperation as she kept up with the Valiente women.

It'd been a few days since the Kings arrival and the grand feast, Victoria had only spoken a few words to Robb and most of them had been out of courtesy. She had avoided him as much as possible and instead taking it upon herself to get to know her handmaiden more. After speaking with Lady Catelyn over her chosen handmaid the Lady of Winterfell had been reluctant to agree to the idea seeing as Elaine was a whores daughter but hadn't disputed after Victoria had insisted. Since then Elaine had been placed through a rigorous course of learning every detail there was to know about being the future Lady of Winterfell's handmaiden. Every detail had been looked at several times and even the simplest of things like getting tea was speculated over with Lady Catelyn's handmaid. Elaine had bags under her eyes after a few days and she walked slowly which is why Victoria has said enough was enough and chosen a different activity for the day.

Lady Catelyn had mentioned that Elaine's clothes weren't fit for a handmaid so Victoria had taken it upon herself to go out into the small town in search of dresses. Unfortunately Elaine did not fit any of her clothes so she needed a whole new wardrobe. They had just walked out of one of the spinsters shops, Victoria having taken charge and presided over every dress, boots, coat, and even accessories that her young maid would wear from now on. It was quite a lot but even more so after Elaine had heard the price over it all and Victoria had smiled like it was nothing and handed over the money, adding in a few spare coins to hopefully speed the process along.

"Nonsense," Victoria waved off the blonde as they continued to walk. "You're my handmaid and what is mine is yours now, today you're part of House Valiente but one day we will both be apart of House Stark. Our colors now match our house but eventually we will have to switch."

"Yes but, Victoria, it's too much." Elaine attempted to compromise by using her ladies name in a soft tone, hoping no one but Trout who was walking a few steps behind them heard.

"Too much is what the queen brought," Vic clarified without a care in the world. This was the north and northemen were only loyal to the Starks, besides most smiled as she walked by and called out to her. She had grown here, her blood was just as much Dornish as it was a northerner. "Elaine, please understand that you're no longer paying for things yourself, you're my friend and I want to take care of you. Just ask Ser Trout, who do you think bought that cozy coat for him."

Elaine turned back to find the knight's dark fur was similar to the ones she had seen on the Lords, he nodded gently indicating that she spoke the truth. The blonde had grown accustomed to not only her Ladies eccentric nature but also the knights quiet demeanor. She often forgot he was standing only a few feet away from them, Trout was a nice man though and did exactly as Victoria asked him to do every single time.

Victoria bunches up her father's coat, she loves the feeling of it and its smell. The warm smell to it reminded her of her dearest father and the stitching inside held an embroidered panther as well as a sun, the winter sun. Seeing these small pieces had made her very happy and since receiving the loaned material she had refused to take it off. It was slightly bigger then she was but honestly she could have cared less as it was beautiful.

"Come on, we'll just drop by the seamstress making my clothes to see if any of them are done and then we can head back. I was hoping to see some of the children but I suppose we will save that for another day." She hummed to Elaine and walked a tad faster. Wintertown was like the back of her hand, she knew every corner thanks to her father who had allowed her to venture out with him occasionally when she was younger. She even knew where the brothel was and she deliberately stayed away from that part as to not make Elaine uncomfortable but also she did not want to restrain the fury that would arise if she saw Robb walking out.

She rounded the corner, looking towards Elaine for a moment before finding that someone had walked all the way up towards her and offered a bouquet of flowers.

Her eyes travelled up to find the handsome face of Robb Stark smiling down at her, his blue eyes bright and happy as he greeted her, "Lady Valiente."

Victoria no longer had to pretend here, her voice didn't raise to one of pure happiness and she certainly did not curtsy to him. She instead took the flowers and slowly said to him, "Robb."

Elaine moved her gaze and pretended to mind her business as the tension between them grew. Victoria seemed not to care as Robb took a moment to look and see if any of the common folk had heard her curt answer before clearing his throat. He seemed displease which was not the way he wished this conversation to go, he was hoping to make up with her before both their father's left but apparently Victoria wasn't an easy enough girl to please.

He looked back to the knight that seemed to trail behind her like a GreyWind, only this one seemed to despise everything about him. Sometimes he found himself reaching for his sword when Trout was too close, like he knew just how much the sworn knight wished to kill him. His eyes travelled away from the man towards the blonde who was standing next to her lady. Her eyes were cast down towards the dirty ground, hair pinned in elegant braids that only Victoria could ever fasten. He knew Vic like the back of his hand most days and he could tell that the quiet demeanor of Elaine would be a suitable steady to the Dornish girls frenzied nature. Anytime he caught a glimpse of his betrothed Elaine was by her side, arms enlaced and the blonde seemed always overwhelmed by her new life. She was humble, he thought, much like his future wife was which made him happy. He had been such an idiot to judge the girl for what her mother had done but he supposed he had Victoria to thank for that, an easy realization he had come too much to late after the party.

Robb trailed his eyes back to his future wife, finding that her exotic features were fierce now, ready to cut him down at any chance and thus he knew that his apology would need to be much more sincere. "My Lady, would you join me for a walk?"

Victoria's jaw ticked, the pull to say no was tempting but even she knew better and besides, curiosity would have killed the panther. She turned to her Knight, finding him already alert at her command, "Ser Marcos, walk with Ms. Elaine back to Winterfell, Lord Stark and I will walk."

"My lady, it is getting dark." Trout remarked back, his eyes flickering to the future lord of Winterfell instead of the sky.

"She's safe with me," Robb snapped back, placing his hand on his sword tucked away at his waist. "I won't let anyone put a hand on my lady."

Victoria wished to bite back that she didn't need his help but instead restrained once more, sending her knight a reassuring nod, "we will be back before the sun sets."

Trout seemed displeased with this but knew it was not his place to say otherwise and thus gestured for the handmaiden to walk with him, "come Ms. Elaine, we have a walk ahead of us."

"M'Lady, M'Lord," she curtsied to both of them and caught up to Trout who hadn't bothered with the formalities.

Once they'd gone out of vision Victoria turned back to find Robb's face was twisted in annoyance, his blue eyes coming back to her. "He's not one for respect now is he."

"Ser Marcos has kept me alive for this long, whatever he does or suggests is only for my safety and well being." She bit back, lips pulling into a frown.

Robb quickly realized that he would soon start another fight, his annoyance vanished and was replaced with slight guilt, "right, sorry. He has done more then enough, I apologize."

Robb held out the crook of his hand for her, gesturing for their arms to interlace. Vic took the arm, knowing that as a lady it was not right for her to walk without a lord or knight by her side. She was more then capable of handling herself, Trout and her father had seen to that, but even so appearances for a highborn lady were everything.

"So, our father's leave soon." He started to talk first, having known that she would bite her tongue out before uttering the first word.

Victoria hummed, finding that the small hallow in her heart was growing bigger the closer her father's departure came. She wondered how long it would take him to visit and if he would look any different, he was getting old and he often needed her help just as much as she needed his. He put up a strong face but if anyone knew the Lord it was his daughter. Her eyes dropped and she squeezes the hand wrapped against his side into his arm, an unintentional move that alerted Robb of how uncomfortable she was. He decided she had probably not meant to do it and was more like a reflex, so he awaited her voice, "I don't want him to go."

Robb nodded, seeming to have agreed. Without his father or Lord Valiente all of Winterfell was on his and his mothers shoulders, a responsibility he wasn't entirely ready for. "Aye, I feel the same. Our father's are great men."

"I'm petrified of what might happen with those Lannisters," she cursed their names, a scowl taking over. "I don't trust them, not with their lives."

"Victoria you must be confident they can take care of themselves, we must busy ourselves with Winterfell now. It is our home," Robb attempted to persuade the brunette although he didn't believe his own words.

"Winterfell is your home Robb, I am not your wife yet." She clarified, shooting him a glance as they trekked around the village.

"You will be my wife in a years time, " he reminded her. "It could be tomorrow if you bloody well chose."

"I don't think it's appropriate given our feelings right now," she snorted, eyeing him once more as the fury rose.

"Vic—" Robb sighed.

She let go of his arm, stepping forward so she had blocked his walk now, "what were you doing in the town Robb? Fucking whores? Tell me, did you see me out of one of the rooms and decide now was the time to get back on my good side with flowers?"

Robb stepped closer, finding that her voice had raised a bit too high and she was behind care. "Victoria, now is not the time."

"Then when is it?"

"I don't know, perhaps when you're not avoiding me!" He seethed back.

Victoria huffed, the flowers in her hand now at a deathly grip as she swirled on her heel and headed for the trail back to Winterfell without Robb. To hell with tradition, she thought, men only brought anger and misery what did I need that for on a walk.

Robb was not finished with her yet as he dashed forward and caught up, this time he was the one to cut off her walk. "Victoria, we will discuss this. I was not at the brothel, I had asked your father where you were and he told me! You can ask him when we get back, together!"

Her brown eyes swirled with rage, lips pressed into a thin line as she slowly shook in her stance. She allowed a quick breath to leave her lips as she clutched Robb's arm once more and began to walk again, speaking between her teeth, "Robb! You are not turning this around on me, I swear by the old gods and the new if you try—"

"I don't even know what we are fighting about anymore! Is it the whores? Is it about Elaine?" Robb cut in, his words spilling into anger. "Just remember I came to you about the whores and you said it was alright! You were fine with it! What changed? You could have told me!"

Victoria stopped their walk, pulling him to a sudden halt as she yanked back at him. Robb decided to turn on his hell and state her down, both now out of most earshot from the town and nearing the walls of Winterfell. Her eyes were narrowed in anger, "do you know why I chose to marry you Robert Stark?"

He was confused she chose?? They'd been destined for marriage ever since she'd been pushed out of her dead mums body. She had no choice much like him, what did she mean? Victoria must have seen the confusion as she continued, "my father may have declared me your wife but he did ask me once if I still wanted to marry you. He asked me several times but it was only the last I took seriously."

Robb nodded, still fully confused but slowly he was understanding. Ricardo Valiente was known for the love he showed his daughter, he would do everything in his power for her and damned be those affected. He knew the answer though, it was the only thing he was quite sure of at the moment. "You married me because of the strength are houses would hold, the power are children would hold together. The power we would have."

Victoria's eyes didn't seem to say otherwise but even so she spoke, "no. I could have that with any Castle, the Lannisters, the Freys, I could marry you uncle Edmure and gain power. I told my father the only person I'd ever marry was Robb Stark because you were loyal. You never let me down or gave me away, not when I gave my innocence to you prematurely, not when I thought I was pregnant and you spent the night looking for moon tea. Robb, I need you to understand that I will marry you because one day I will grow to love you and I don't want that love biting me back. I need you to understand that I do not ask much of you, and you ask me to be okay with the whores. I give because that is what a good wife does but I am not desperate and willing to be thrown around. When I ask something of you I expect you to listen and not to set it aside because I have never set you aside. Robb, that is my anger."

Robb took longer then normal to process her request but as the jaded look left her eyes and she slowly revealed a sense of fright in her brown eyes did he then know just how serious she was. She had a point, eventually they might fall in love, they would have to if they wished to rule together. Robb decided he needed to listen and this time really listen, besides the initial fact that one day she would be his wife, Victoria was his best friend, she put sense in his head in dire times.

He looked down, placed a hand around her neck and caressed the fine hairs there. In a simple push he brought her forward until the space between them was nonexistent and patted their foreheads together softly.

"I swear by the gods, old and new, that I will make you proud to be my wife. I will treat you as my equal and listen to you. I'm sorry, Victoria, you are right, you always are. I'll try better."

Victoria hadn't realized how emotional her words had made her until the words to speak were bubbled up in the small sob that wished to escape. Robb could see the unshed tears that clung in her eyes and waited patiently as she slowly found the will to speak. Breathlessly she lifted her smaller palm to cover his own and clung to his stare. "That's all I ask Robb, we are to be rulers. Marriage only leads to love or resentment, there will not be an in between."

Robb nodded alongside, and repeated, "I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

She didn't speak and instead allowed her shoulders to relax, the tenseness fully easing off her as she hoped Robb would listen. After a moment the two began to smile, as if finally happy that they were no longer fighting and Robb's sea blue eyes filled with happiness only mirrored in Victoria's desert browns.

The moment was blissful and could only be interrupted by the child screams that filled the air.

|•|•|•|•|

Bran why you fucking up the moment.