A/N: I'm not going to give a disclaimer it's obvious I don't own GoT and all that dwells within it. I created Adelais, her house, and the castle and forest surrounding it. I worked to build a House and characters that would be believable within the sphere of GoT. Previously I have published a fanfic called Aubouroc however I've reworked a lot since then and feel this is better.

I hope you enjoy!

Adelais watched from the battlefield her heart swelling with fear. They were going to die here. They were going to die in this icy tundra surrounded by the undead. If she were to meet death today though she would not be taken down easily. She would fight for the living. For every child who had yet to experience the joy's life could bring. She would fight for heartbeats, heartbreaks, for love and loss and all those things that only living could bring to the world.

#?*

There were hands at her throat. She couldn't breathe. Pressing on her windpipe, making sucking in another breath impossible. A dark face loomed above her, the last thing she would see before she died. A faceless assassin. The weight on her throat was unbearable as she scrabbled at the hands around her neck.

Adelais bolted up in bed. Thrusting the blade into the shadows that fell motionless across her bed. Her heart hammered in her chest as she lowered the blade slowly. She pulled in long deep breaths as her eyes swept the room just to be sure.

The room was clear, there was no assailant and she was safe, as safe as one could be when they feared their sister and her husband were trying to kill her. Adelais crossed to the window, watching the moon giving way to the sun. It was early morning, too early for breakfast. She returned to the bed and pulled open the chest containing letters on her vanity table.

Eventually the bustle of the castle signalled that breakfast would be served and Adelais made her way to the table. Tib and Julius her closest advisors were already there and they both turned to her with a smile as she sat down.

"Were you talking about me?" Adelais asked suspiciously.

"Of course not." Tib replied, though his guilt was showing on his face.

"We were just saying, perhaps the trip to King's Landing would be fruitful for more than just business." Julius replied studying her face.

"Not this again." Adelais sighed as she plucked an apple from a bowl and tucked into it. "I'm fine. Bright as the Snow in the North."

"I just think-"

"Julius, I know you're here to advise me but there are maesters to assess my health. My aim is straight, and my hands are steady." She held up a hand but withdrew it quickly to hide the smallest of tremors.

"Forgive me Adelais but your face is saying otherwise." Tib said as he played with a grape on his plate. Tib was older than Adelais by two years. He had grown up and fought alongside her brother before he'd died. Now he fought alongside her. Tib was unwaveringly loyal and handsome. Well built like all the Aelton men with strong arms and chests. "It's starting to show that you clearly aren't sleeping. If you're still worried aft-"

"I'm not worried." Adelais refuted, ignoring the memory of panic from the previous night. "I'm fine."

Suddenly there was a commotion at the other end of the hall as Halle and Tomaris stumbled into breakfast. Hands all over each other in a sickening display that made Adelais roll her eyes. Her sister had been married off to Tomaris before their father had died. He had arranged it all. The pair of them had been expecting to inherit Aubouroc when Roven, Adelais older brother, had died. Roven had given express, binding instructions that the house go to Adelais though and so it had.

"Jealous dear sister?" Halle asked. Adelais was unlike her sister in a lot of ways but the most telling was their looks. Where Halle was blessed with the traditional Aubouroc rosy-pale skin and buttered toast blonde hair, Adelais had dark auburn hair that made her skin look paler than it was. She possessed hazel eyes with flecks of green where Halle's were an icy blue. If it weren't for her grandmother on her mother's side, there might have been questions of Adelais paternity given that she didn't fit the traditional aesthetic of the Aubouroc household.

"I'd rather not have a dog slobbering all over me." Adelais retorted, already bored with what was about to come.

"Funny, I think that's the only creature that would take you now. Maybe you should reconsider? I'm sure we can find you a nice match in the yard." Tomaris replied spitefully as they sidled up to the table and began to help themselves to the fruit on offer.

"Forgive me Tomaris but when was the last time you actually ventured to the yard? I know you don't like to get your hands dirty." Adelais retorted, a dangerous edge to her voice that said she knew it was him who'd had the assassin sent to her room.

"Well of course not, he's got to keep them clean for the last unblemished and pure Aubouroc woman." Halle replied with a smirk. Adelais snorted out a laugh.

"You haven't been pure in a long time."

"That may be so but at least I'm not an unwanted disfigured disgrace who brought nothing but disappointment to our mother and father." Halle snapped, her beautiful face contorting with the cruelty of the jibe.

The house of Aubouroc was famous for two things; the quality of its armour and weaponry, and, the beauty of its women. Legend said Aubouroc women were unblemished, pure, they were said to be sought after by men all over the world. A lie. Legend also said that those same Aubouroc women would become barren if they were ever scarred.

Adelais had been twelve when Halle, in a fit of jealous rage, had hit her with a hot poker from the yard. The weight had left its mark on her back and it had been driven into Adelais by her superstitious father and his court that she was something of a monster because of it.

"I'd love to sit here and do this with you again Halle, but I have work to do, to keep this house in order. Like preparing for the trip to King's Landing." Adelais sighed rising from her chair.

"You're not going to King's Landing. We are." Halle said narrowing her eyes at Adelais.

"No, you're not. You and Tomaris will have to stay here and see to things. As head of this house it should be me who gives the King his naming day present. Wouldn't want you messing up another deal would we Tomaris?" Adelais smiled at them both and Tomaris looked like he was ready to kill her. She half wanted him to try it so she could finish him off once and for all.

"They're expecting us." Tomaris said through his teeth.

"Not anymore. I've already sent word to Tyrion to expect me."

"Of course, she just wants to see the dwarf, the only man in the seven kingdoms who'll pay her attention."

"Ah yes the dwarf, might talk to you but he still won't fuck you, will he? Even he knows better than to touch a-" Tomaris was interrupted as the table scraped and shook when Tib stood up quickly ready to fight. Adelais held out a hand to steady him.

"You know Tomaris, size isn't everything. I thought you of all people would understand that." Adelais glanced him up and down taking time to let her gaze linger near his groin so he knew exactly what she was referring too. Tomaris face turned as sour as did Halle's, and Adelais smirked. Victory was hers. "Now if you don't mind. As head of this house I have preparations to see to. Tib I need you to see to the men, make sure their ready with the armour. Make sure the villagers have dried fruits to take with us as a gift. Some herbs too."

Adelais walked away from the table with Tib and Julius following as Halle and Tomaris sat down to eat.

"Eat well." She said giving them her most unsettling smile that she knew would leave them inspecting the food for the next twenty minutes for fear she'd put something in it.

"My lady, I'm sure your sister-" Julius started but Adelais held up a hand.

"Julius, I appreciate the sentiment, but my sister has never loved me."

"I think the visit to King's Landing will serve you well." He said changing tack. "The sun and the sea can do wonders for ill health." Julius rubbed at his greying beard. He was a small, sickly looking man and had been that way as long as Adelais could remember. He oversaw the accounts at Aubouroc and he had done since her father's rule. Adelais trusted him and his judgement, which was a rarity for her in Aubouroc.

"I'm not ill. I'm fine. Talking of King's Landing though I want you to stay here Julius. Keep an eye on things whilst Tib and I are both gone. I don't trust my sister not to try and incite some sort of rebellion and I wouldn't want to come back and find one village trying to slaughter another."

"I don't think you have anything to worry about Adi." Tib said gently. "You've got the men on side, they trust you. They know you're the best thing for this place. They trusted your brother they trusted his judgement and they moved that trust to you because they knew how much he cared for you."

"That may be the case, but alliances can shift. I'd like to at least keep an eye on what they get up to when I'm not here holding the reigns." Adelais replied. It had taken time for her to truly earn the men's trust. They had been wary to have a woman at the head of a house whose business relied on weaponry and armour. She had shown them she could lead the house in prosperity though and they had come to accept her. It was a fragile alliance though and one she never took for granted.

"I'll keep you informed of course my Lady. Safe riding." Julius said with a gentle sort of bow before he scurried off back towards his chambers.

Adelais watched him go. He was fragile and squirrelly, a man of math not a man of sword. Maybe he wasn't the best person to leave here in her absence. At least he could report things with ease though, everyone seemed to trust Julius because he was so unassuming. A nervous chill drove itself upwards from her stomach at the thought of relinquishing so much control on either endeavour.

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