Noah [Game of Thrones] ✓

Haze

"Lady Mars?"
Noah freezes in her movement. She had been sneaking back to her chambers after the lesson she had with Arya and just a few moments ago she had been confident she'd make it back without running across..
"Lord Stark." She turns around and bows slightly, keeping her eyes down. "My son has been taking great interest in you.", the man states bluntly, as it was the northern manner. "Which is why I am avoiding him at all costs, my lord. It shall pass."
Ned Starks heavy steps come closer to her until she can see the leather of his shoes right before her. "Look at me, Lady Mars." She looks up.
Ned Stark was, despite his age, still incredibly handsome. The wrinkles on his face didn't take away from the sharp, clean cut jaw and the grey blue eyes that all Starks seemed to have. "Why would you turn away a chance to gain the title of a noble house?" "Because I refuse to bow to the restrictions such title brings, my lord.", Noah answers, nervous, yet aware that if she would beat around the bush with the truth Ned Stark would be angered. "And what restrictions might those be?" "Unladylike behaviour would not be tolerated and I like to indulge in it. Intelligence and independence is frowned upon. Further I do not plan on having children, my lord. I highly doubt it would be anywhere near appropriate for your eldest son not to have children. I do appreciate working for you and your family as a teacher, my lord. And I do not desire to be anything else." Ned Stark smiles for a moment. "Indeed. I would like my son to have children of his own. Yet I can not help but believe you to be the best choice he'd ever at least attempted to make." "I am flattered. But even if I were willing to birth children it would be highly inappropriate for a noble born to marry a simple woman such as myself." "You are far too humble. Not once have I met a man or woman more intelligent than yourself." Noah felt herself flush at the flattery. She was in luck that the cold gave a good excuse for the redness.
"I may be well educated but it doesn't make up for a lack of title, my lord. Now may I return to my quarters in the royal servant wing? I have plenty of things to read into." "Not quite. I have a task for you." "And that would be, my lord?" "The king and the royal family are coming to Winterfell in less than three moons. I want you to join us upon their arrival to keep Arya, Brandon and Rickon in line." "Yes, my lord. I will, my lord." "And another thing." Inwardly Noah curses the man before her. "Yes?" "Please join us for dinner this evening. My wife and myself are curious to see what improvements out children are showing." "Yes, my Lord. I shall be there." "Now you may go." Bowing her head slightly.

Her steps are quick but not quick enough. "Lady Mars." "Hello, Jon." Her voice is gentle still. Filled with soft kindness at the sound of his voice. She had taken it upon herself to be helping the boy wherever she could since Catelyn Stark didn't appear to give two shots about him. He is with Ghost. The young pup had grown quickly and he had become fiercely intelligent like Direwolves were known to be.
"Robb is looking for you." She turns to look at him. "Jon we both know why he is looking for me, right?" The boy nods. "I will not be what he wants me to be. I will not marry. I will not birth children and I will most definitely not become part of a noble family by marrying a boy four years younger than myself. I adore the Starks. Each and every one of them. Including the half one. You. But I am not willing to become a Stark or carry any other name than my own. I am Lady Mars. And I shall stay Lady Mars until my demise." Jon blinks. "It sounds like we need a castle black for women too." Noah cracks a smile and she makes her way down the stairs to the training courtyard. It couldn't get worse anyways. Brushing a hand through the boys dark curls she offers him a smile. "You are still intend on being a man of the black?" Jon nods. "It was always my fate." "Fate, Jon, is a fickle thing. Fate is not something other people can be creating for you. It is your own. You are still so young. You may regret it. Joining the Nightswatch. But I will not stop you. It is your decision whether or not you will go and I shall support you either way." The boy looks at her. Noah Mars was taller than most women. Right now she was just above his height while he usually already stood above most boys and the women he had met. "Thank you, Noah." "Any time, Jon. Anyways. I might not join you for dinner. Lord Stark requested I join the family and report about their improvements. But I made a deal with the baker to give his little one a few lessons so they can at least read simple sentences and got some cake that I think we can share later." She winks at Jon whose face takes on a wide smile and he quickly embraces the woman who, with a small laugh, rubs his back. "Thank you for being my mother.", he whispers into her ear. With her smile not faltering she hugs him a bit closer. "I am glad I get to be such an important person to you." They step apart and she rubs his shoulders in a caring manner. "I will see you later then, Jon?" He nods and with one last smile exchanged she disappears into the high servants wing where she has her quarters close to those of the head of kitchen, head of laundry and so forth. Entering her room she takes a deep breath to steady herself. This was important and she had to concentrate.