A Northern Rose - Game of Thrones // Robb Stark

The Stables

When I reached the stables I was surprised to see how empty it was, I was clearly the first one here. I headed straight for the first available stall, tied up Gilly and began to remove the saddle from the long ride.

Gilly had been my horse for almost 10 years now and she was like my best friend. “It’s much colder here Gil.” I said to her, I knew she was listening. “I bet you’re glad you’ve got fur. We can let it grow a bit more now, can’t we?” She moved her head towards me, giving my leg a nudge as I lifted the saddle from her back.

I stroked her blood bay coat, rewarding her strength with a heavy pat. I rested her saddle on top of the low gate of her new stall before moving onto her face. “I’m quite surprised though. It’s not as cold as I thought it would be.” I unbuckled her bridle and began to lift the leather from behind her ears.

“I bet it’s colder than your Southern lands.” Spoke someone from behind me; I jumped when I heard the unfamiliar voice.

I spun around to see Robb Stark standing in the doorway leaning against the wood, clad with furs, arms folded across his chest, and a cheeky smile painted across his face. I smiled back at him and laughed, resting one arm across Gilly’s back and the other on my hip. “How long have you been there?” I spoke tenderly. He began to walk closer towards me, a grin still on his face. He moved to the other side of my horse, running his hand from her ears and down to her shoulders. “Long enough.” His voice deep and teasing, but he didn’t answer my question.

I turned to face him and rolled my hazel eyes with a sigh, finishing what I started and removing Gilly’s bridle. I tied her back up with a soft rope and reached for a brush, grooming out the dust and dirt collected from the road. It didn’t take me long, but I decided I’d come back to visit Gilly later anyway. “Do you know where they keep the hay?” I said to Robb, not actually looking at him as I spoke. But when I heard no reply I did give him a glance to see why he hadn’t answered my question. He flicked his head to the left, signalling me to look where there was a large pile of fresh hay. “Oh. Thank you.” I said as I marched towards the pile, shovelling a pile of it and placing it beside Gilly. Robb said nothing still, but he watched me as if I were some foreign creature. Which, I suppose, I was.

I patted the horse once more and kissed her on the side of her muzzle, inaudibly whispering a thank you to her before I walked towards the door. I stopped at the open arch way and spun around on my heels to face Robb once more.

I was just about to ask him if he was coming, but he beat me too it. “Would you like me to show you the north?” He spoke gently, walking towards me and stroking Gilly as he left. I thought about his offer for a few seconds, and saw no reason why not to go with him… although, it would have to be on foot. “Okay.” I smiled, pulling my long, blond messy-plait from behind my head and onto my shoulder where it was more comfortable.