✓ | 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑻𝒐 𝑹𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 (R.STARK 2/3)

Chapter Twenty Eight::Protect Him

"Not without you." Finn snapped abruptly, his hands gripping securely onto his slim hips, looking as dapper as ever. "I won't leave you again, Raina. You know how I feel about-" "Finn!" Raina said loudly, placing both hands against his cool cheeks to keep him quiet. His eyes bored into hers with almost urgency lingering in his cool gaze. He loved his sister, it was clear in his eyes, and the idea of leaving her behind to such monsters that lurked in the shadows of Winterfell made him physically sick. "Ray-" "Don't argue with me, brother. You know how serious I am about this. If you care at all for me you'll understand how much I need you to do this." Raina replied with a sad smile, looking deeply into her brothers eyes, before wrapping him tightly in her arms and holding him for a long moment. He seemed to lose such tenseness in his muscles when entangled with his sister, but the desperation in his grip made Raina certain he did not wish to leave, but was definitely considering it.

"Allow Finn to stay - I can take Robb if you will not come with us immediately, perhaps it will look less conspicuous if one of us remains." Delvin suggested, looking pale in the candlelight, he lent against the wooden door frame, with arms folded against his chest and chin growing with a thick layer of chocolate hair. "No, you must both go. I would not want to put one of you at risk if anything were to happen. Asher will wait for you at Deepwood Motte, if you arrive early you may come back for me if you are so worried." Raina explained stiffly, standing from Finn's bed to talk between her brothers that gathered in Arya's old chambers. "Do you have any idea how you intend on getting out of here so close to the wedding? Won't Ramsay be extra cautious given your past?" Finn exclaimed, joining his sister on his feet. His blond hair had grown out, shagging over his forehead and disclosing the thin layer of mud and film of sweat that had appeared upon his brow from the fight practice earlier that day; the golden locks atop his head ignited in colour in the reflected firelight illuminating the room, and shimmered the fine line of stubbled that layered his sharp jaw. He almost resembled what their father would've looked like as a young man, but that wasn't a thought Raina wished to associated with her brother. He looked dead serious, the glistening lakes in his eyes dancing with concern and fierce stubbornness; and worry. He wished not to leave the only sister he still had, and having failed his second he would rather die than watch his failure prove beyond repair again. "Raina, we have to be practical. It'll be hard enough to get Robb out of here, let alone you too only a night away from your wedding day. We either go now, or one of us stays with you until tomorrow." Finn stated with such finality that it almost came across as though he held control over the situation, yet he looked just as pleading for approval as ever.

Though she wanted to be strong, fierce and authoritative, Raina couldn't keep up the lie; her brothers were right. There was no way she'd be able to get away from Winterfell, on the day before her wedding, without being caught or dragged back screaming, Ramsay was a bastard but not an idiot, he'd practically lock her up just to ensure she did not repeat her actions so soon to his success. And, even if Ramsay did not take precautions, Raina would hardly make it very far before someone reported her missing - she'd be doomed. The second choice was to leave with her brothers, so that she'd at least have protection against anyone who dare try and take her back to the Boltons. But if they were to get caught, they'd all be hanged after the wedding, including Robb, which would make everything they'd done for nothing. Raina was clueless, but knew that if she didn't get Robb out now there would be no hope.

"Listen to me - I know you love me, I have always known that, but this is no longer about getting me out of here. This about serving and protecting your King. If Robb stays any longer he'll be caught and killed immediately, we all know that, so it is imperative he leave now. I would trust no one else with this duty than the pair of you - you cannot allow me to prevent you from doing what must be done. I will leave as quickly as I can, but there must be no question that you leave with Robb tonight, and make for Deepwood Motte with haste, understood?" Raina looked between the hopeless pair, whose expressions had fallen gaunt and hollow. They were both pale with faint annoyance and despair, knowing that she had been right all along, but that that meant leaving their only sister behind with monsters they could never trust to treat her right, and potentially leaving her to face a horrific fate if she did not make it in time. They could not secure her safety if they left, but they could not secure the King's safety if they remained; and without the pair of them together, either plan was futile when faced with a dozen Bolten men or more.

Delvin held Raina close, with Finn lined up behind him ready to bid her farewell. She'd matured so much since the last time they'd both seen her, when she was but 16 years old, younger for Delvin who'd left when she was but a child; however, since such an age Raina may not have grown in height but her skills, her intelligence, her strength had grown more than could've been anticipated. She was warrior, a better one than either of the boys, but a diplomat also. And no amount of words or actions could ever express the pride both brothers felt for the young girl, who'd they'd influenced far too much. "Good luck, Raina." Delvin whispered into her matted mess of hair, his chin trembling against her head as she wrapped herself around his torso as tightly as she could. She'd said goodbye to him far too many times, and he'd done too many things for her that could never be repaid, that saying goodbye made her feel sick and distraught. Next was Finn, who Raina regarded as her idol growing up, no matter how hot-headed and idiotic he could be, he was her hero and a great brother. He'd been the welcoming sight she'd been introduced to when running away the first time - she'd spotted his familiar golden locks from half a mile away, and the cheeky glint in his eyes, and had felt at home as soon as she saw him, because he was the closest, comforting thing she'd seen in such a long time. How she'd missed him when he'd gone away, and how she would miss him this time, no matter how long they'd spend apart. Similar to Delvin, his chin rest stop her head as he kept her close to him, hugging his goodbye so that she would not see the weakness of his sadness, and so he would not see hers. The Glovers were far too strong for that.

"Goodbye, sister." Finn mumbled, a soft sob reverberating in his throat, but never been set free. "Promise me something, both of you?" Raina spoke softly, despite all her will power, pulling away from Finn to look at the sadden pair. "You won't come back, no matter what. You stay safe and get the King home, don't worry about me?" To her surprise both the boys nodded slowly, sharing a depressed glance at one another briefly before looking down at the blond, shivering, girl. "And one other thing?" Both pairs of eyebrows raised as her sweet, quivering voice arose a second time. "Promise you'll protect him?" There was almost a smile this time, almost.