『 HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN 』
( chapter two, early bird )

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         KHIERA PYRIL IS A DELICATE SOUL. SHE ALWAYS WAS, FROM THE TIME SHE WAS LITTLE GIRL UNTIL SHE GREW UP. SHE WAS KIND AND CARING DESPITE WHAT SHE HAD BEEN THROUGH. Some had called her weak and the girls in the brothel didn't speak to her often. They were confident and talkative while she was more insecure and hid away from everyone else.

When Robb Stark offered her a place to stay, she was more than grateful towards the son of Ned Stark. She wanted to repay him but alas she didn't know how. When the sun shone through the windows of the servants quarters she quickly woke up when the brightness hit her face. She sat up in the bed and looked around the room.

There was a woman getting dressed and Khiera quickly stood up. She was wearing the same clothes from last night and there was pile of neatly folded clothes on her bedside. The woman turned around and quickly offered a smile at Khiera.

"Ah, you must be Khiera," the woman started, she walked towards her and stuck out her hand, "I'm Illreena,"

Khiera shook her hand and stood up, "Pleasure to meet you," she said, "Are these mine?"

Illreena nodded her head, she had honey brown eyes and long brown hair that was in two braids. She had a warm smile and looked friendly.

"I have to get going, we have to make breakfast and I have to talk to Lady Catelyn," she started, "Lord Stark should be here soon, he said he wanted to meet you," She then turned around and closed the door behind her.

Khiera quickly changed her clothes so she wasn't in her brothel clothes. The clothes Madame Lilianna gave her always felt dirty on her skin. Anytime any man touched her it felt dirty, the men who came to the brothel always disgusted her. She knew Theon Greyjoy often visited it, except he always met Ros. The red haired girl, she was the one most men went to. She knew Jon Snow visited once but she never saw him again.

If Theon saw her he would recognize her quickly and she couldn't risk Robb Stark finding out what she did for a living. Inviting a whore to his home was shameful. After she changed, she heard a faint knock on the door.

"Come in," she ordered.

It was Robb Stark. He was wearing the clothes that most noble men wore and he had his sword hidden away. Khiera always wanted to know how to use one, in case anything ever happened to her but she knew that no man would teach her.

Khiera bowed her head when she saw him, "Lord Stark,"

"Khiera, right?"

"Yes, M'Lord," she answered, "Thank you for letting stay here last night, I don't know how to repay you back. I don't have a lot of money," she said, she looked down at her feet before lifting her gaze to look at him.

He had soft brown curls and blazing blue eyes. He didn't take his eyes off of her, he studied her posture and how she talked. He was intrigued by the girl, she was so delicate and shy.

"You do not have to pay me back," he started, "You helped Arya last night, that was very brave of you,"

She nodded her head, "I understand what it is like to be a child and fear someone older and bigger than you. She needed someone and I couldn't let him hurt a child," she quickly stopped talking, she thought she had said to much and she started to feel more comfortable around Robb. She lifted her head to look at him. He was handsome for sure, any woman be lucky to be in his presence.

He's going to marry a lady with wealth. She thought to herself, he can't marry a whore with no money.

"Is she alright? Your sister?"

Robb nodded his head as a smile appeared on his face, "Yes, Arya is also very brave and she tends not to let anything get to her,"

Robb's smile quickly made Khiera more intrigued.

Khiera chuckled softly, "She is a brave one, I saw her practicing her sword skills last night. She is a fighter,"

Robb chuckled lightly, "You're welcome to stay another night," he suggested, "What is it that you do?" He asked.

Khiera felt her stomach sink in her chest. A question she wanted to avoid. She knew she couldn't stay any longer, she knew she had to leave. She didn't want him to find out, and she knew she couldn't see him. Even if his presence comforted her. He'd protect her when she couldn't. He was a kind man, unlike the others she had met. She knew she couldn't love him. She'd be the reason her own heart would break.

"I help my mother," she lied, "And with all due respect, I should get back home and help her. She's probably worried I didn't return home last night,"

Robb furrowed his brows, a part of him wanted her to stay, "Are you alright?"

She nodded her head, "Yes, again, I thank you for the kind gesture but I really must go,"

"I'll send Theon to walk you back home safely," he suggested.

"That won't be necessary," she started, "Plus, my mother will get suspicious if she sees me with a strange man," She couldn't risk him knowing, she didn't want him to know what she did, he would know and the girls at the brothel would too. They would make her feel guilty. She knew the truth was always the right thing to do but she knew she wasn't going to see him again. She would hear about him and hear his name but this was most likely going to be the last time she saw him. She didn't want him to think badly about her.

"If you insist," he started, "I'll escort you out of here and I will let you be on your way," She smiled as the two walked out of the room. He was taller than her by a lot and he walked proudly, like if he had no care in the world. Khiera admired that, she wished she didn't have to care about anything. He was fearless and brave and she was none of that.

"What's it like here?" She asked curiously, "What is it like being the son of Ned Stark?"

Robb chuckled, "It has its ups and downs," he answered, "But I cannot complain,"

Khiera smiled, "Is it true that the Robert Baratheon is coming to Winterfell?"

"Aye,"

"Lady Stark must be planning everything for his arrival,"

Robb chuckled, "She wants me to shave the day that they arrive," he started, "Theon, Jon, and I are to get ready and Arya is supposed to be on her best behavior. She has a feast prepared for them,"

Khiera chuckled, "I pray that Arya is on her best behavior, and I am sure thing the King will enjoy his stay here,"

Robb smiled, "Thank you again, for helping Arya," he said while looking at her. She was focused on her feet as she walked and her hair was in a small braid that moved as she walked.

"Us girls have to watch out for one another," the girls in the brothel never did that. They simply watched and never stuck up for her. It was something that Khiera always hated. She always wanted to leave but she couldn't do it. She had no where to go. No where to sleep. She had no other job.

Once they reached the outside, the two stood at the gate. Robb placed his hand on his sword and the faced each other. Khiera finally locked eyes with Robb and she was entranced by the intense blue of his eyes. She felt her heart stop for a brief minute as he looked at her.

His gaze didn't move, he was studying her every feature. He looked at her dark brown eyes that showed vulnerability that she didn't want to show. The wisps of hair that were on her face, which she moved out of her face with her fingers. She was certainly beautiful but Robb knew she was just a commoner. He wanted to be with her, he didn't want her to leave.

They had only just met but she was ready to risk her life for a girl she didn't know. She was ready to be a shield and take whatever was coming for her. She didn't act different around him, most of the girls on Winterfell would start acting differently around him.

"May we meet again, Khiera,"

"May we meet again,"

And they would. Just not under their own circumstances.

a/n
okay this chapter was a little boring but I promise the next chapter will be a little more exciting.
khiera is a little simp and so is Robb but that's okay.