To serve an honourable lord

Riverrun Servants' Hall

"I was in the crowd when Lord Stark's father lost his head." He explained "There was no trial, just King Joffrey commanding the headsman to kill him. It was wrong."

"So you left to join Lord Stark?"

"Yes. I'm the right age for a soldier, and I knew if I stayed I would've been conscripted to fight for the Baratheons. I'm not afraid of a fight, but I don't want to serve a dishonourable lord." He smiled softly "Not that one sellsword makes a difference"

"You're not a sellsword anymore, though" Darna pointed out, her fingertips brushing the back of his hand gently. "You're part of Lord Stark's guard. You'll probably be made a knight soon."

Garrick laughed "Hardly. But thank you, that means a lot."

Darna smiled back at him, clearly warming up to his presence. "Did you get into any fights on the journey from King's Landing?"

"Actually, I didn't. I heard a few rumours of bandits, but I never encountered any. An armed and armoured man isn't necessarily the best target to rob, even if he is on his own. Armies are still gathering, though, I think it'll get a lot more dangerous to travel soon."

"Do you think you'll go back to King's Landing when all this is over?"

"I might. If I survive, that is."

She frowned at him "Don't say that."

"It's true."

"I don't care. You're tempting the Gods if you say things like that, and I for one don't want you to die."

"You don't?" Garrick responded with a smirk on his face.

"No, I don't." Darna was resolute. "Not until we've finished our conversation, at least." She added with a smile.

He laughed. "Do you like working at the castle?"

"It's alright. I can eat, have somewhere to sleep, that sort of thing, but it's not what I really want."

"What do you really want, then?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, it doesn't matter. It's a fantasy, it isn't going to happen."

"If it doesn't matter, what's the harm in telling me?"

She sighed, but it was playful. "Well, I grew up hearing the stories of heroic knights and beautiful ladies... and I've always wanted to be swept off of my feet by a handsome hero. Like Florian the Fool and Jonquil."

Garrick raised an eyebrow. "And what would your family say if you became some knight's fair Jonquil?"

Darna smiled "I think they'd be happy for me." Her fingers continued to brush against his hand and she leaned closer to him. "What about you, Garrick? Do you like being a warrior?"

"I do. I could've been a blacksmith. I still can, really, I was my father's apprentice, but this is what I truly wanted. I could be a knight some day, maybe even a hero out of your tales."

"Oh really? And which hero would you be?"

He grinned, reminiscing on the stories he, like most Westerosi children, had grown up hearing. "I could see myself as Florian. Or perhaps Duncan the Tall."

"Yes, I can see that too." She said with a smile.

Garrick glanced around as many more servants entered the hall, clearly having reached the end of their working days. "Perhaps you'd like to continue this somewhere outside?"

Darna nodded excitedly "I would love to."

"You'll have to show me where, though, I'm completely lost."

She laughed, and led him out of the hall. "We can go to the Godswood, it's quiet there."

Riverrun Godswood

A few minutes later the pair were walking through the castle godswood. It was a large, airy garden nestled between the castle walls, thick with tall redwoods and old elms, and a bone-white weirwood at its centre. Patches of flowers, both wild and tended-to, grew all around the godswood. Birds sung sweet songs from nests hidden between branches as the two wandered aimless through the place. Garrick did not know what was more beautiful, the gardens themselves or the maid by his side, but he quickly made up his mind that the answer was Darna.

"This place is beautiful" Garrick said, impressed by the ample gardens as he drank the sights in.

Darna nodded in agreement, pleased to show him one of her favourite places. "Servants don't get to spend much time here normally, but with you here, nobody will stop us."

"Why not?" Garrick asked.

"It's the Lord's private gardens. They worship the Seven, not the Old Gods, so until the Starks came this place was just for leisure."

"So you don't get to come here often?"

"Not really, but I enjoy the times that I do."

"Are you enjoying this time?" Garrick asked, the hints of a smirk on his lips.

"I am." Darna responded, her expression warm and playful. "It's a beautiful place, I just wish I could come more often."

"Well, I'll walk with you whenever I can, if you wish"

"That... that would be lovely." She seemed surprised at his offer, but quickly became excited by it.

The two continued their conversation, with Darna teaching him more about Riverrun and Garrick telling her about King's Landing. After an hour of wandering, the sun hung low in the sky, and it seemed the right time to return to their chambers. Garrick offered to walk her back, on the condition she showed him where the barracks were.

They reached Darna's chambers soon after, she lived in a small room on one of the lower floors of the castle, but she did not share it with anyone. Garrick was about to say goodbye and wish her a good night's sleep when she turned and looked him in the eye, before standing on the tips of her toes and kissing him.

"Would... would you like to come in?" She asked, her voice full of nervousness but also excitement.