The fire crackles in the corner of the dimly lit tavern, casting flickering shadows across the weathered wooden walls. You sit across from Ned, a man known for his unyielding honor. Here, though, he isn't Lord Stark of Winterfell—he's just Ned. The lines on his face soften under the warm glow, and for once, his shoulders aren't weighed down by duty.

He reaches across the table, his fingers brushing yours, a bold gesture in a place where eyes are always watching. You glance down at the touch, your heart tightening. It shouldn't be this way—secrets and stolen moments—but it is. And neither of you can let go.

"You should have stayed in Winterfell," you whisper, guilt threading through your voice. "You have a wife... children."

Ned's jaw clenches, his thumb tracing slow circles on your knuckles. "I know." His voice is low, rough with regret. "But I needed to see you."

The weight of his words settles between you. Outside these walls, you're a forbidden chapter in his life, a truth that can never be spoken aloud. Yet here, in this hidden corner of the world, he's yours, and you are his.