Game of Hearts-

This story should follow the events in the book. It will include the scenes with the Starks or that will deal with Elena directly. It will not include all the other different perspectives as the book.

All rights belong to George Martin and in some cases HBO.

Please enjoy!

The castle of Winterfell was silent when the first clang of metal rang out. Catelyn Stark, the lady of the castle and a notoriously light sleeper, shot up from her bed from the sound of it. As the fear coursed through her veins, she turned toward the window hoping that whatever she thought she heard was a figment of her imagination or an incredibly realistic dream. Suddenly another sound of metal clashing reverberated out towards her. Catelyn scurried to her window sill, not even wasting a second to fully dress, and peered over. Her eyes searched frantically along the grounds below but the cloudy late summer night made it impossible to actually see anything. There was no moonlight and the last remaining embers of the fires around the castle had long been extinguished. Another crash bellowed below, louder than them all. Lady Stark, convinced that someone else must have heard this as well, strained her neck to see if any of the guards were running out of the castle doors; they weren't or at least she couldn't see them. Catelyn gave a frustrated sigh and turned toward her sleeping husband, Lord Eddard Stark. "Ned" she whispered, "Ned wake up."

When she received no reply, the lady left her perch by the window to place a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder. "Ned, did you hear that?"

Eddard Stark groaned in response to the pressure on his shoulder and rolled over, his body now facing his increasingly nervous wife. "Hear what, my darling?" He spoke, his voice groggy.

"I'm not really sure what it was. It came from outside in the yard." She pointed towards the window but Eddard didn't follow. "My Lady-" he began but she cut him off. "It sounded like swords, Ned."

The metal clung again and this time Catelyn didn't wait to see her husband's reaction. She jumped from her bed and reached to her robe quickly, the night air causing goosebumps to develop over her naked body. Wrapping herself up, she stuck her head out the window. "Something is going on outside" she declared. "I think it might be an attack."

"Well if it is then by all means stick your head right out in the middle of it."

She pressed her lips together stubbornly. "I can't see a thing. Oh Ned what if it is an attack? The children-"

"Are sleeping soundly in their beds, my lady, as should you." He finished for her, patting her side of the bed softly. "Your imagination is running wild; save that for your dreams. Come back to bed my love."

"You're not worried?" She still hadn't turned from the window but Ned knew from her tone that her brow was creased and her mind still troubled.

"It's probably just the guards fooling around. They get bored on these quiet nights."

Lady Stark turned towards her husband defeated. Her eyes had lost some of their crazed excitement and brightness. "Maybe you're right" she began before another sound rang through the night. However unlike the others this was followed by an ear-splitting scream followed by a bang, "Ned" Catelyn began ready to pull him from the bed if she had to but her husband was already up reaching for his clothes and boots. "Ned that's Elena's scream, I know it. Something has happened, she is in danger. I can feel it in my bones."

"Cat, you can't tell me that you could possibly know it is Elena just from a scream."

The lady stumbled back towards her bed giving Ned a chance to look out the window. "A child's scream is the first thing a mother hears. She can never forget it." Her husband gave her a skeptical look before turning back to the window. "It's coming from the stables" He announced, giving room as Catelyn had pushed her way back up to see for herself. "I can see a light and bodies moving. What would Elena be doing in the barn in the middle of the night?"

There were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door and the voice of the captain of the guard, Jory Cassel. "My Lord?" their captain called, "my Lord are you awake?"

"Come in Jory" called Eddard as he placed a blanket around his wife's shoulders and stood tall for his captain.

Jory Cassel came swiftly into the bedroom and gave a dutiful bow towards Lady Catelyn. She nodded feebly noting instantly that his sword was already drawn and his armor in place. He turned towards his lord and gave another quick bow "My Lord-" he began but Lord Stark cut him off. "Jory, what in sevens hells is going on?"

Before the captain of the guard could answer Maester Luwin strolled calmly into the room followed by a servant. The servant placed a candle on the table and went to start a fire while the maester looked on. Jory's youthful face was filled with dread and weariness. He spoke softly, "My Lord and Lady, my sincerest apologies to disturb you so late at night-"

"Jory, you are never a disturbance." Eddard began waving off his formalities. "Now tell me what is going on?"

Jory nodded his head in understanding and continued, "My guards heard the sound of swords and feared attack. I sent them to search for the cause of the commotion. I took a few other men and came to check the castle for my first concern of course being the safety of you and Lady Stark and the children."

"Jory" Catelyn's voice was thick with emotion. "What aren't you saying?"

"Young Elena is not in her bed, my Lady. Her window was open and her sheets a mess but she was gone."

"The scream before-" Lord Stark began, "my wife thinks it might have been Elena."

"It was Elena" Catelyn shot out angrily, "I know it was." She looked at her husband who was sharing a glance with his captain. "Jory" Ned stated, "there is a light on in the stables. Do we think she might have been taken?"

"I don't know, my Lord." the captain of the guard answered honestly. "But we will find out shortly, the men have gone to the stables right away."

There were a few moments of silence before Maester Luwin came forward to offer Catelyn some comfort. "My Lady I'm sure she is fine. Let me get you some tea while we wait for news."

"Jory I want the whole castle looking for her and find out what is going on from the rest of the guard." Lord Stark stood beside his wife, his hand resting reassuringly on her shoulder.

"Yes my Lord" The captain gave a respectful bow and strode quickly from the room calling for others to join him.

"Maester Luwin, you wait here with Lady Stark. I'll be back when we find Elena." Eddard reached for his sword and daggers. "My Lady, I'll find her."

Catelyn nodded solemnly, her eyes lost of any of the brightness that she usually had. "Yes my lord."

Ned gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room. It only took him three steps out into the hallway before the first voice could be heard. "Father" it called and he recognized it immediately as belonging to his eldest son Robb. "What's happening?"

"Robb go back to bed." He ordered though he knew his argument was futile. His son would never go back to bed with all this commotion. "And tell anyone else in the hallway with you to go back to bed as well" the wise father warned. Lord Stark knew his children, there was no doubt that Robb was alone in this dark hallway.

Sure enough a smaller voice was heard somewhere next to where Robb's was heard. "Father the guards have their swords drawn, are we under attack?"

"Bran you are too young to hear such things. Robb take your brother back to-"

"I heard that Elena is missing, is it true father?"

"Arya, how did you hear-"

"That young guard Lore-something or other- or maybe it was Lude-something, he told me." Arya's face bounded into view, her brown eyes nervous but with a hint of excitement in them. "Is it true?"

"All of you back to bed now!" Ned roared but Arya pulled her brother Jon out from the shadows. " I told you Jon. Told you it was true."

"You too?" Ned asked his bastard with resignation in his tone. "Sansa, Rickon, are you out here as well."

"Yes father" his red haired daughter came out. She was the splitting image of her mother though she didn't have her natural warmth. "But only because she made me." Sansa pointed an accusatory finger towards Arya.

"LIAR!" screamed the brunette girl, her little hands rolling into fists. "You were just as curious as me!"

"Enough!" Eddard stomped his foot impatiently. "You will all go back to bed immediately. I need to find your sister."

"So it is true?" Bran spoke softly her eyes beginning to tear. "She's been taken away like Aunt Lyanna!"

Ned looked at his son, the horror on his face, "Your sister will be fine Bran, don't worry. She hasn't been taken by anyone" though the Lord couldn't be sure.

"Father let me help you look for her" Robb spoke up. "Yes me too" agreed Jon. "We can help."

"Put your siblings to bed that's the only help needed. I'll be back to check on you all soon, and STAY INSIDE!" He ordered over his shoulder racing towards the main doors.

It didn't take long for Eddard to reach the stables and he was happy to note that his men guarding the entrance seemed more amused than worried. He strode into the barn quickly, shielded his eyes from the sharp lights hanging from the walls and turned to find his young daughter on the ground being tended to by Jory. "Elena" he sighed, kneeling beside her, "What happened?"

"I'm so sorry, my Lord" Jory began his hands visibly shaking as he examined Elena's bruised left wrist. "I had no idea. No idea at all."

"Jory?" Ned was confused. "Why would you be apologizing?"

"He shouldn't be" spoke his daughter, her jaw clenched in pain. "It's not Jory's fault. It's his!" She motioned to a person behind Eddard's left shoulder and he turned to find two boys he hadn't noticed before. The first was Theon Greyjoy, his ward who was staring at his daughter with a scared look in his eyes. "My... my lord" he stuttered, "I- I didn't mean to frighten her."

"No you only came to spy on us." Elena spat frowning once more at her injured limb.

"Spy? On us? Whose-" but Ned stopped himself as he got a look at the boy standing next to Theon. He was young; no older than Robb or Jon with short black hair. His eyes were green and alert and at the moment he bit his quivering lip and shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other. He was tall and strong from the look of him, soldier or even knight material and it was then that Eddard noticed the sword in his hand. He looked at his daughter and found a similar sword to her right. "Who are you?" he asked calmly to the young man.

"He is the boy that raised a sword to your daughter!" Theon answered. "He could have killed her-"

"Killed me?" Elena laughed, "He wasn't fighting me he was teaching me your idiot!"

"Teaching" Ned's voice rose in exasperation. "You are learning swordplay in the middle of the night?"

Elena merely shrugged, "Septa would never let me do it in the day time, it isn't proper."

"Because the middle of the night is any better."

"Greyjoy" Ned warned and his ward was silent instantaneously. "But again, who is this boy?"

The young man stepped forward but it was Jory who spoke. "He is my little brother, my Lord."

"Your little brother?"

"Yes my Lord, Joseth Cassel. He works in the stables and I had taught him a few things with some of the old swords lying around. I felt it was no harm, he dreams of knighthood and battle glory like all the other boys but I assure you my Lord if I had known he was using the swords against Lady Elena -"

Lord Stark raised a hand to silence his captain, shaking his head softly. "This is not your wrongdoing Jory, do not fret."

"It's not Joseth's either!" Elena cried. "He only did it because I asked him. Please don't punish him, father, please!"

Ned wrapped a tighter arm around his daughter, "Elena, hush and stop moving that wrist. You, Joseth come forward." The young man did as his lord asked though everyone could see he was shaking with nerves.

Elena struggled to get up and moaned as she put weight on her hand. "No father, please."

"Stop worrying, my child. I do not blame Joseth either."

"You, you don't" her dark brown eyes glistened with moisture as it seemed the adrenaline finally was wearing off. Ned curled her softly into his chest and motioned to the boy once more. "Joseth?"

The dark haired youth stepped forward. "Ye-yes" he cleared his throat nervously. "Yes my Lord?"

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"We were training my lord. We've been doing it a couple of nights each moon cycle. Theon must have heard us and came to investigate. He surprised us and Lady Elena fell back onto her wrist. She let out that scream that woke the castle."

"I see." Lord Stark spoke calmly. He turned back to his ward, "Theon? You heard them?"

Greyjoy nodded meekly but Elena's voice raised out before he could properly answer. "He's known for weeks we've been doing this!" she argued fiercely, "He always drops little hints to get me nervous."

"I'm sorry, my Lord." His ward spoke quietly. "I just don't believe a man should wield a sword against a lady whether it for battle or for show. I only came to make sure Elena was okay."

"Which ended up causing me to get hurt!"

"Enough!" called Lord Stark and both children fell silent. Ned turned to the men. "That's enough excitement for tonight I believe. Joseth you are to go home. We will discuss this teaching more in the morning. Theon you will go back to your bedchamber. Jory let the guard know we found my daughter and have Maester Luwin meet me in Elena's bedchamber as soon as possible. I want this wrist looked at properly. The rest of you men go back to your post."

All the men bowed and left leaving only Eddard and Elena in the stables. His daughter sighed and snuggled closer into her father's chest. "I'm sorry father." She whispered. "Are you mad?"

"No" he spoke rubbing away a stray tear from her cheek softly, "Just thankful you are okay."

"I didn't mean to disobey. I just- I don't want to be a helpless lady, father. I don't need a knight to defend me."

"It's good to want to defend yourself, Elena but hiring a stable boy to help you in the middle of the night is not the way to do it."

"I know" she mumbled.

"Tomorrow we will discuss this further" he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head. He sighed as he looked at her, Elena was the splitting image of his younger sister Lyanna; she even had the fiery temper and determination. She was a Stark to her bones and it was no wondered she wanted to fight. "But for now let's get you checked out. I'm sure you're mother will be beside herself."

He scooped her up easily into his arms and headed back to the castle. He was about to say something more when he noticed the young girl had fallen asleep instantly in his arms. He smiled at her peaceful sleeping form and gave her another kiss. "Sleep well, my little knight."