Every lie made in the dark becomes an evil truth in the light.

"Adopted?" Elena's voice was just above a whisper, she could barely muster it out. She looked away from Gillian's dark brown eyes, trying to process the words he just said. "Who are my parents then?" She looked back up at him. Fear was flowing within her, what if she was the daughter of someone terrible?

"I don't know." Gillian said. He laid his hand on Elena's shoulder to try and comfort her. "I'm sure they're the bravest parents we've ever met."

"How can you know that? There's even a chance I'm the Mountains daughter for god's sake!" Elena sobbed. "How could father lie to me about this." She hid her head in her hands and sighed deeply. 

"It was for your own protection most likely." Gillian said as he tried to pry her hands from her face, trying to look into her eyes. "Your real parents were highborn, that I know for sure."

"So what, they just gave me up?" Elena looked up at him with tears in her eyes. 

"I don't know Elena, they didn't give any reason in the letter as to why they gave you away."

"Most likely because I would be a shame to their family, the last guardian who can't protect anyone."

"Don't say that, don't you ever say that." Gillian grasped both her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "If there is a Guardian who can protect the ones she loves, it's you." Gillian kept staring into Elena's eyes in silence, awaiting a response. She didn't know what to say though, the way Gillian looked, so sure about what he said, almost convinced her too. If Elena hadn't lost Catelyn, Eddard, Brann and Rickon a few nights before, he'd have succeeded.

"Maybe that's because I'm the only one left." Elena said after a while, a sad smile playing on her lips.

"Maybe there's a reason you're the only one left too." Gillian chuckled while slightly shaking her shoulders, trying to lighten the mood.

"Big chance you're an huge part of that reason." Elena looked up again, this time with a full smile on her lips. She looked at him with adoration clear in he eyes, savouring the feeling of being with him. Somehow being with Gillian was always easy, he always listened to her and succeeded in making her smile. 

"Of course I am, I'm awesome." Gillian lifted Elena off the ground, swirling her around in his arms. "You know it!" He laughed in glee.

"Stop it!" For the first time in years, Elena laughed out loud. It was a weird feeling, her life had become so miserable and full of grief but still Gillian had the ability to make her laugh. "Gillian, put me down!" She giggled and playfully slapped his back.

"I've missed you." Gillian whispered after he had put Elena back on the ground and leaned his forehead against her.

"Gillian?"

"Yes?"

"How are you holding up, after your father died?" Elena looked up at his eyes. She could barely see his pupil, his irises were so dark you could barely separate them. 

"Well, I kind of hate Robb now after he beheaded him. But you know, he deserved it after he had killed those Lannister boys." Gillian hesitated and stroked Elena's hair away from her eyes. "He didn't love me as much as he loved my brother, he kind of forgot I was there. So now it actually isn't very different than before."

"You're still a Karstark though, the others have left but you're still here." Elena looked away from his eyes as she rested her palms against his flat chest.

"I couldn't leave Robb now, especially not because I promised you I would protect him." Gillian sighed and rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Do you think they will come back when you ask them? I mean, you're their lord now." Elena looked back at Gillian, hope filling her.

"Honestly, I don't know. They're furious. They still wouldn't come when I ask them though, they kind of hate me." Gillian tried to smile but failed miserably.

"Of course not, how could anyone hate you?" Elena mocked him, pushing at his chest.

"Not everyone loves me as much as you do." Gillian smirked.

"Of course not." Elena rolled her eyes and stepped away from him, her fingers gliding over the numerous books Gillian had collected. "Let's just forget about that for now, okay? First we have to kill Roose Bolton, Joffrey, all the wildlings that are going to storm the wall, the white walkers that are coming also and..." Elena frowned. "You know I think it would take a lot of time before we're finished with this war."

"And a lot of misery and pain and loss and all that stuff." Gillian suddenly acted as if he were drunk, stumbling around in his tent.

"What are you doing?" Elena laughed and followed his drunken steps with her eyes.

"I'm Elena and I'm a guardian, I must protect everyone in the world!" Gillian mocked her and took her arms in his hands. "But it's going to take soooo long and I have to kill so many people, including a toddler wearing a tiara." Gillian pouted while he was trying to hide his smile, pulling Elena along. "And I can't do this anymore! I just want to lay down and never get up from my arse, maybe take my best friend with me so we could travel the world with no worries at all!" He frowned and the suddenly fell back, pulling Elena with him until they were lying flat on the ground, Elena on top of him.

"I hate you." Elena laughed and smacked him on his chest.

"I love you too." Gillian laughed, dropping his act and laid his head down, looking up at the ceiling with a dreamy look in his eyes. 

A cough from the entrance interrupted them suddenly. Both their heads shot up to look at the newcomer. Elena's eyes immediately widened in shock as she distaned herself a bit from her friend while Gillian only held her more tight and looked at Robb defiantly.

"Elena, Karstark, I'm holding a small council if you're not otherwise occupied." Robb stood there, a hateful look on his face as he looked down at the two.

"We're coming, just a minute!" Gillian said while Elena hid her head in his chest.

"Why would he hold a small council in the middle of the night?" Elena said after Robb had left, she frowned and lifted her head from Gillian's chest.

"I don't know, must be something important." Gillian said as he looked at the tent above him. "I hate important things." He sighed and bit the inside of his cheek.

"Must be something bad probably." Elena pouted while she looked at Gillian, still laying on top of him. It kind of felt normal, they both knew they weren't more than friends.

"Let's go and find out." Gillian said and lifted Elena with him as he stood up.

~

"Joffrey is dead." Robb said curtly, looking at all the people that had gathered around the table. Everyone looked around at each other, looking for a sign to see if it were a joke. "He was killed at his own wedding." Robb finished and threw a letter on the map of Westeros.

"Have we heard anything about Sansa?" Elena stepped forward, she had been hiding in the shadows of the tent.

"No word." Robb stated as he studied the map with a concentrated look on his face, his eyebrows furrowed together.

"If Joffrey was murdered and Sansa was there, there is an huge chance they are going to blame her." Gillian said and looked at Elena, avoiding Robb simply because he didn't like him that much.

"In case you're planning on a rescue mission, forget it. By the time we get there she'd probably be dead already if they blame her." One of Robb's bannerman said.

"And don't forget that we will ruin our position, they still think we're dead." Another said. It was true, everyone still thought that Robb and all the other Northmen were killed at the Twins. Walder Frey had sent the letter that Robb and all the others were dead before everything took place.

"It's time for them to know we're still alive." Robb spoke up, still looking at the map.

"But my king, they have more numbers than we do." An old Lord said who hadn't spoken before.

"Numbers don't matter when you have a guardian." Robb tore his eyes of the map and looked at Elena for the first time since he had seen her with Gillian. His chest still ached due to the sight of the two. In truth, Robb had an internal conflict. He wasn't sure what to think about it. After all, he had been the one to break their promise by loving Talisa. Didn't that justify Elena's actions if she were to be with Gillian? Either way, Robb didn't like it one bit. 

"She has already proven herself during the battle of the Twins, she killed more than 12 thousand men in one minute." Robb walked around the table and the Lord's that were gathered around it, making sure everyone could hear him clearly.

"Thanks for reminding me." Elena mumbled quietly after Robb had passed them, making Gillian who stood next to her chuckle.

"What are you proposing your grace?" One of his bannerman asked.

"We will send Elena to the capital with my peace terms. That way they will see who they're up against when they refuse." Robb said slowly, pronouncing every word clearly and with care, just as he always did.

"We've already tried making peace, they refused your terms. How can you risk Elena's life to try it again?!" Gillian burst out. Elena shushed him and put her hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Tommen is king now and Margeary queen regent. As far as I'm told those two won't risk anything when it comes to war." Robb said as he looked straight into Gillian's eyes. Irritation built up in his chest, he didn't like the fact that Gillian was trying more to protect Elena than he himself was. It made him feel like he was the bad guy. He saw he had yet succeeded to convince him. 

"I'm sure Elena can take care of herself." He added curtly. Robb looked around at everyone, looking if someone had any other objections or ideas. When there was none, Robb continued. "You will leave at dawn. Fly as fast as you can, we wouldn't want Stannis to be first."

Elena nodded silently, determined to go.

"Good, then this council meeting is over." Robb dismissed everyone. Soon everybody was walking towards their tent to try and get some sleep, except for Gillian who was following Elena.

"You can't go out there Elena, I won't have it." Gillian protested as he walked beside her.

"Gillian, please. I will be alright out there." Elena smiled at him. It felt good to know that Gillian cared enough for her to worry. "Besides, this is the only way I can stop all the slaughter and misery."

"There are other ways too, ways were it will be safe with me by your side." Gillian pulled Elena to a halt, trying to speak some sense into her.

"Gillian." Elena sighed. Placing her hand on his cheek to try and calm him down, Elena realized that he had tears in his eyes. She stopped herself from speaking any further as she looked at his eyes. "Are you crying?"

"No, of course not." Gillian turned his head away. Nobody had ever seen him cry and he wouldn't like that to change. "I just... I can't lose you too, you're the only one I have left."

"You won't lose me, at least, not this time." Elena smiled courageously and then pulled Gillian in for a hug. "I won't leave you alone, I have to make sure someone annoys you everyday."

~

"Have you got everything?" Robb asked Elena and handed her a bag full off food for the voyage.

"As far as I know, yes." Elena took the bag and fastened it on her belt.

"Try not to kill Cersei." Robb smiled at her.

"I won't, not when there's still a chance she's my mother." Elena mumbled and looked at the ground. If Cersei was her mother, she'd probably kill herself out of misery.

"What are you talking about?" Robb frowned. Just then Elena realized she hadn't told him about the news.

"I'm adopted. Gillian found proof when I was gone, he just told me a few hours ago." Elena said, avoiding eye contact with Robb.

"You don't know who your parents are?" Robb questioned.

"Nope. All we know is that at least one of them is highborn. Maybe... Maybe I'm a bastard." Elena realized, looking up in thought.

"Well, I'm sure your amazing friend Gillian can figure out who they are." Rolling his eyes Robb handed Elena the scroll where the terms were written on.

"I'm sure too." Elena smiled, ignoring the hint of hatred that was laced through Robb's voice. "He might be our only chance, you know."

"Because he's a Karstark you mean? I don't think he can convince his people to come back and fight." Robb hissed, this time Elena looked up at him when she noticed the harshness in his tone. 

"What is it between you two? Why do you hate him that much?"

"He's a thief and a traitor Elena, I don't trust him. Neither should you." Robb said.

"He's not a traitor or a thief." Elena glared at him, almost literally shooting daggers with her eyes. 

"It doesn't matter right now." Robb frowned at Elena's defense against him. "The sun's coming up, you should go."

"I'm so excited." Elena sarcastically said and checked if her belt and bags were attached to her.

"When will you be back?"

"If nothing goes wrong, I should be back tomorrow night." Elena finally mustered up the strength to look at Robb without glaring.

"Be careful." Robb patted her shoulder awkwardly, he knew that if he'd try to hug her after what he said about Gillian, she'd probably push him away with so much force that he would stumble and fall.

"Don't do anything stupid until I get back." Elena smiled at Robb and turned around to walk away, she couldn't believe she was leaving him again. If it was up to her, she'd probably stay by his side all day to make sure he was safe.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you." Robb smiled for the first time since Talisa had died.

"Jerk." Elena chuckled over her shoulder, facing him before flying off.

"Cunt." Robb chuckled also and looked how Elena flew off, the dirt from where she first stood blown away. He watched until he couldn't see her anymore.

"Please don't die." Robb whispered and turned around.

Author's note.

Hey guys! If anyone of you was wondering who the guy on the picture above is, that's who I picture as Gillian! He is super hot etc. and was just perfect for the role :). The actors' name is Ben Barnes for who'd like to know.

Anyway, thx for reading and please, pretty please vote. I used to get around 5 votes/chapter and now it's down to two :( (massive thank you's and hugs to the two who did!!)

Bye guys and see you next chapter!! :)

(Those who love Gelena raise your hands 👋👋👋)