Noah [Game of Thrones] ✓

Protection

She had been prepared for it, yet she still hadn't seen it coming. She had still been unnerved by Jon leaving and by worrying over Catelyn Stark, fussing around the woman constantly. But when the damn Lannister man had attacked and his dagger pierced through Lady Starks hand, Noah had seen nothing but Red.
Jumping from her seated position she had been frozen in before with a warcry, she throws the man away from her lady into a corner of the room. With the strength of many, many self defense courses her boyfriend had send her to, she turns the blade to face the man's head while pressing her palm onto the shaft the man still clings to. "No one touches him! NO ONE!" With her outcry she slams the blade into the man's head. The pained cry that leaves him and the cracking of bone fall on deaf ears. Noah Mars is deaf to his screams and pleas for mercy as she brings the blade down on his face again and again until there is no more resistance and the ugly grimace only resembles a squashed tomato. Getting up she lets the dagger clatter to the ground. Rushing to Lady Catelyn she takes the woman's bleeding hand into hers. Whispering sweet nothings she bandages the woman's hand with her still mostly unstained apron she quickly rips a piece from. "You saved us.." Those are the first words the mother of five whispers. She looks in trance at the younger woman who, with the remains of her apron, scrubs at the blood that was still left after Summer sunk his teeth into the body, pulling it god knows where to probably eat it. Noah knew it meant Bran would wake soon. And she didn't want this very sight to be the first he'd see. "Noah. It's alright. Look at me." Laying the soaked fabric to rest Noah looks up at the noble Lady Stark. "You saved us.. You protected us with your life." "Of course I did. He harmed you, my lady. He tried to kill Bran. I can hardly just watch on!" "I owe you my life." "You do not owe me a single thing. Why does everyone try to indebt themselves to me?" Noah sighs and kneels down before Catelyn Stark. "You are most precious to me and a well valued friend, my lady. And Bran I watched grow up before my very eyes so much in just two years. It feels like he is family. If I can I will keep you out of harm's way. But look. I wasn't quick enough. It scared me. I'm sorry you have gotten hurt, Milady." "I could have gotten killed if not for you, Noah. Thank you." Noah smiles sadly for she knows the woman would come to pass after watching her beloved eldest son die. "I'd do it again if I had to... But.. this dagger." She takes it and cleans the blade. Her breath hitches. "That is far too good of a blade for such a dirty fellow. He was send here." "What else can you tell?" Noah's finger follows the blade. "This is Valyrian steel. There are no people north who own anything of such value. I doubt any northern lord would be disloyal to your house anyways. This came from the south." Catelyns eyes harden. "Are you certain, Noah?" "I'd swear on my the blood in my veins." The older woman nods, sucking a deep breath in. "We need to.." she stumbles as she sits up. "You shall visit the maester first, Milady. I shall stay here and watch over Bran..." That is when Summer re-enters the room. "Or Summer does so for me. Please let me help you. We can not risk the wound getting infected. Perhaps the blade was poisoned." Catelyn nods, understanding the reasoning behind Noah's words. Wordlessly she leans onto the younger woman as she guides her to the maesters quarters, loudly calling out for the man.

Around that very time Bran's eyes open again.

Once the boy and Lady Catelyn had recovered, Noah knew it would soon be time for her to leave. Once the news of Ned Starks death would reach the North she'd have to leave. Her next halt would be the wall to visit Jon before swinging around to the furthest eastern outpost. It was all but unmanned. And it was there where she would cross. She had the dead to speak to and Benjen Stark to save.
And much to her pleasure and or displeasure the date arrived sooner than she had hoped for. Holding the sobbing widow of the Lord she too had started to cry. He had always been kind and true to her.
Although she knew she had to let the story proceed as it had so she could finally return home. Return to Zach and his warm embrace laced with the scent of warm sand, sun, cigarettes, cologne and that shampoo he'd always use. She knew that she would do everything it'd take if it meant that she could but see and touch him again. Kiss him again. That was all that mattered.

Zach was all that mattered. Yet a little voice in her head always screamed Jon's name. For good reason. She would not leave him there. Not if he didn't demand it. They would leave together and she'd find a way to explain everything to Zach. But what mattered the most to her in this world was that he wouldn't be left behind.