She assumed at first that he mistook her for Lady Catelyn again. Tender words given while his fever ran high, it wasn't difficult to imagine that he saw the faces that he longed for and spoke of what was in his heart for them. She simply shushed him and gently dabbed the cloth against his brow again.

It was only when he focused his eyes on her, seeing her clearly that she understood what was being said. Her stomach twisted as a cold chill ran through her. In all of her teasing and flirting, she hadn't considered what the end result would be. It didn't seem likely that an honorable man like Eddard Stark would fall in love with her or forget the family he held close to his heart. Who was she in this? Only the same sort of southron woman he had likely seen before. Hardly rivaling Ashara Dayne or the other great beauties that came before her.

Yet she had miscalculated and because of her games, she could hurt someone that had become family to her. A man that she respected and admired very much. Worse still, there was no saying how Robb, Sansa or Jon might feel about this situation, if they knew of it. Ned Stark was a loyal man and falling in love with a woman other than his wife was unthinkable. She had no desire to shake their pride or image of their father. Some things were better left unsaid.

"You are not old, Ned." She told him gently, folding his hand between hers. "It is never age that draws two people together but the heart. Yours is a good heart and it is full of love and honor, and I am unworthy of it. There is a greater lady that occupies that place in your affections. It wouldn't be right of me to claim you when I know that you love her deeply. She is a good woman."

She placed a kiss to his fingers, a gentle gift from one who treasured their friendship. "There is someone else I love as well."