Ice, Fire, and Salt

Please read Author's note at bottom.

Thank you, Kindly.

She pulled on the reigns of her horse and gently. The horse let out a small grunt. Her eyes scanned the landscape out north, something different to the accustomed landscape of the southern region she had only known. Before her was a thick forrest of pine trees and tall grasses. A cool breeze carried the scent of the pine to her nose and through her long locks. She quickly licked her lips to feel the breeze dry them again. Even the thick boiled leather upon her shoulders and back could not keep the northern air from sinking through her skin and chilling her bones.

"It is grand view is it not, cousin?" A horse trotted up beside her. "Such a different kind of land."

"Aye," The girl agreed and turned her head toward the boy who spoke. She smiled. "Very different from home. I'd give anything to smell the sweet scent of wild flowers over this harsh scent of pine. Perhaps anything to have sweat coating my brow again."

"Flowers," The boy laughed shaking his head of light brown curls that gleamed in the setting sun light. "Oh and to feel warm again."

"There are not enough fires lit in this camp that could warm the very blood in my veins, Andrew." The wind picked up and her hair flew back once again. "Nor fur."

"Isidora, I'm sure there are ways to keep warm," Andrew laughed then kicked the side of his horse. His horse trotted away quickly. "Men of the north would know how. Other than furs. Perhaps a Stark boy?"

"Oh you!" Isidora shouted at her cousin playfully. "How inappropriate, cousin!"

Isidora sighed and looked out at the landscape again taking in the mountains and forrest. The forrest was dark, full of shadow and more than likely dangerous creatures she had never seen before. A crow croaked above her startling her, she bolted up on her saddle pulling at the reigns harshly, the horse let out a whinny. Her head snapped at the bird's direction. A sign, she thought to herself looking up into the darkening skies. Faint laugher in the distance broke her stare.

"Oh you shut up!" Isidora shouted, gently kicking the horse's side and made her way toward the camp grounds after Andrew.

"Scared of a little bird now Cousin?" Andrew's voice was loud through the thick, knotted trees, masking the wind and animal calls. "The Stark boy may not take too kindly to your fears of harmless birds."

"When I catch up to you Andrew I'm going to strangle you!" She shouted laughing, "You know I don't find men of the north attractive. It is said the boy is promised to another, perhaps it is my older sister!"

"And you are not curious of his features?" Andrew slowed down smiling widely at Isidora. Her eyes went wild for a second as she caught up with her cousin's horse.

"Maybe just a small bit," Isidora scrunched up her face in protest. "And how well he can wield sword."

"Oh yes weaponry." Andrew nodded his head and tapped a finger on his pointy chin. "I suppose that is an important skill to have to be married off. How to use a sword...I bet you are wondering how large a sword he carries on his person."

"I'm not hearing these words fall from your lips," She kicked at the horses side and road off away from her cousin. "If you were not my cousin I shall see an arrow in your throat or perhaps roast the very tongue that sprouts such words and feed it to the Stark boy's direwolf."

"Such threats," He voice was rich, "For such a loving cousin."

They both road into camp. Hundreds of tents lined the damp, cold ground where near by fire clouded smoke into the air. There was squealing of animals being butchered preparing for a evening's meal and the clinging of sharpening weapons. The two stopped at a large red tent and hopped off their horses their feet coming in contact with moist ground. Outside of the tent were two banners, the color red with yellow and orange flamed birds, The Phoenix.

"Time for you to rest now, Leeria," Isidora patted the top of the her animal friend's head, "Our longest ride starts tomorrow then we shall be at the camp site of the north!"

"Lady Harcourt," A boy walked up from behind her and grabbed the reigns of her horse and bowed his head. He walked away leading the horses behind. She approached the opening flaps of the tent and walked in. Surrounding an oval shaped wooden table were many people.

"What did I say about keeping your hair loose, Isidora?" A woman shouted furrowing her eyebrows, "It will be in knots by night fall!"

Isidora turned her head and rolled her eyes making contact with a small woman sitting who's face glowed in the flickering light of a candle. Her face was hard with a deep frown.

Quickly she gathered her thick, golden brown locks, and weaved the strands into a long braid that stop at her tail bone.

"Much better," The woman said smiling, "Now come and eat. It's getting cold."

Isidora scanned the red tent and wooden table for an empty seat, there were two, one for her and one for her cousin. She walked to a place beside her older sister who was dressed in a rich, dark blue dress and black cloak with a white fur trim. She looked down at her own forest green riding dress and leather pull over tunic that was laced tightly to get in warmth. It was of course nothing comparable to the fine garment her sister dawned herself in.

"Dressed a bit ostentatious tonight are we not, dear sister?" Isidora asked looking down at the plate of food before her. An elbow met her side, her cousin had sat down. She turned to him and stuck her tongue out. "It is a fine dress never-the-less, Marie."

"One that Robb Stark shall be fond of," Andrew agreed glaring at his cousin beside him. "Is it the gown you shall be wearing upon meeting the high lords?"

"Isidora!" Her mother, Anna, scolded. "Leave your sister be and eat your meal. You do the same Andrew."

Marie picked up a piece of hard bread and pulled a chunk of it out. She daintily placed it in her mouth and chewed, avoiding speaking to her sister.

"Mother I lack such fine things though," Isidora said looking at her plate then looking at the dress her sister was wearing. Her eyes went back to the dirt stained fabric she wore. She didn't regret the stains. "You give Marie dresses of grand stature and I rags fit for the lowest of people. How are you to get rid of me then? To be married off?"

"You ask for things much more expensive than silk and fur." He mother stated picking up a roasted piece of potatoes. "Metal is not cheap. The smithing is not cheap either."

"But everyone in this family has such metal."

"You have fine things Isidora, you just refuse to wear them." Marie opened her mouth.

"Not as fine as-"

"Now women," A man interrupted he sat at the end of the table in a large white cloak of fur. His hair was loose and long, he placed an auburn strand behind his ear. "This is no place for argument we shall be at the Stark's camp next night fall. Such argument shall be saved for later or to be had not at all."

"Yes Lord father." Isidora agreed looking down avoiding his eyes. A twitch formed in her mouth as she tried not to frown.

"You're so spoiled," Marie stated placing the bit of food down and not listening to her father, "Archery lessons and what not, will you ever be satisfied? Father had hope that would put an end to your boyish desires. Lets hope you get married. Is there even a match out there for such a creature."

"Marie!" Lord Harcourt scolded to his daughter slamming his bare hands on the wooden table.

"At least I can defend myself. At least I will be able to fight and be useful for Robb Stark's army. For this war!" Isidora picked up her hard bread and threw it at Marie. It bounced off her forehead and landed in her soup splashing onto the table. Marie jumped from splash and slapped a hand on her forehead. "At least I'm not going to camp searching for a husband. Do you really expect a Stark to fall for such a passive woman. Stark men need wolf women."

"And I suppose you are a she-wolf in human form?" Marie shouted in disgust. "As wild as one I would say."

"Isidora shut your mouth now! Marie you do the same." Lady Harcourt, Anna, spoke rubbing her temples. "For the love of the god who flies in the morning skies, please calm down. The Starks will not be having this, you were not taught to lack such manners!"

"You're going to get yourself killed!" Isidora continued taking a large portion of cooked vegetables into her mouth, "You should have stayed home in Fireburn! Tending the sewing, making sure our little brothers grow into lordlings. Perhaps you would pick up another skill...tending to children."

"At least I know I will land a husband!" Marie shouted as she stood up from her seat. "You could pass for a little boy now couldn't you, no breasts and no hips. You're so unlady like with wild hair and dirty hands. Might as well be a wildling."

"Take that back!" Isidora joined in the standing up clenching her jaw. Hot tears formed in the back of her eyes. "I'm no wildling."

"You sure can pass for one." Marie shook her head. "When was the last time you took a bath?"

"I went swimming in lake not too long ago."

"That does not count."

"We'll see who survives this war dear sister. You can have the Stark boy if that is what's to your heart's contents." Isidora stood up facing her sister then walked away from the table. She stomped out of the flap of the tent and breathed in deeply hearing her mother's words shoot out of the flaps behind her.

"Isidora you come back right now!" Lady Anna demanded. "Apologize to your sister!"

"That will be the day!" Isidora spoke wiping her mouth of any food remnants and the collecting tears from her eyes. "Not until she apologizes to me."

"You're too stubborn for your own good." Isidora turned her head to see Andrew walk out of the large tent holding a plate of food. He clenched his jaw tightly then spoke. "We are all about to go off to war, we need to stay close as a family. We cannot allow these petty arguments to break this family apart during the war."

Isidora huffed loudly and walked away from the tent toward a large fire near a smaller tent where men were resting and eating. They raised an eye brow to her, but did not speak. She shat down on a damp log and pulled her knees to her chest. Her fingers undid the braid and the strands spilled across her back. She locked eyes on the fire imagining it being feather flames of a phoenix. Andrew sat down beside her and held an apple slice in front of her face. Her eyes stayed hypnotized by the moving flames, their heat flickered at her cheek like small kisses.

"You'll marry," Andrew laughed, he knew how much Isidora detested the subject. "I don't know who the suitor may be, but it will happen. It may even be the Stark boy."

Isidora's eyes went wide breaking away from the fire. She opened her mouth in protest.

"Marie is going to marry the King in the North," She informed him solemnly, "It's how things work. It was one of the main reasons for us to travel so far from the south, only to join the two families. Why would two such families join. The North and South? We are the contrast of one another. Of course such a northern man would want a lady."

"Are you a bit jealous, cousin?" Andrew asked eating the apple slice, his words were jumbled with the food. A bit apple juice spat out of his mouth and onto Isidora's face. She wiped it away smiling. "Of course your elder sister would a choice to be married off to the Stark boy, but it doesn't mean you cannot try to wooe him."

"Aye, I am jealous, perhaps I'll be married off to a lower lord back south." Isidora kicked at the ground then let out a rich chuckle. "I Just want my horse, the clothes on my back, and to make sure this war with the Lannisters does not get out of hand anymore than it already has."

"Well that is where we come in with our 4,000 men."

"And war, damn their old gods, too many people are going to die." Isidora was green, too green, never seen or been in a war.

"Of course there will be death," Andrew agreed. "I was 5 when the war against the Mad king broke out, when my father and your father went out to help the Baratheons and Lannisters. My father lost his life the day the mad king was killed by Jamie."

"Father regrets that day still." Isidora sighed as she leaned her head upon his shoulder. "He cannot let it go, he feels that it was the Lannister's fault."

"We'll get them all." Andrew Spoke placing his head on Isidora's looking up into the sky.

They traveled in a line formation a dozen banner men riding up front, holding the flag with the phoenix sigil, leading the men north toward the Stark camp. Lord Harcourt riding beside his wife Lady Anna dressed in a red riding dress with yellow printed trim. On her back was a brown cloak with a white fur trim. Her hair was up in a southern hair style with a few strands loose. Behind Lady Anna was her eldest daughter wearing a rich violet dress laced just tight enough to show off her womanly figure of large hips and ample breasts. On her back was a black cloak with white fur trim. Her hair was up in a souther hair style as well with twisted strands strapped across the crown of her head. She held onto the reigns of her horse with a loose grip and straight back.

Marie turned her head to see her sister was missing from the formation. She rolled her eyes and slumped her back heaving out a large sigh.

"Mother, Isidora is missing again," Marie informed with a raised head, "So is cousin, Andrew."

"Damn that child," Lord Harcourt cursed, shaking his head at his wife, "She will be an embarrassment to us all in front of the Starks. She should have been a boy."

"She is close enough to a boy," Marie taunted keeping her pointy nose high, "She sure fights like one. Perhaps if she was a boy she would have been married off by now."

"Marie!" Lady Anna shouted, "This childish bickering between you and your sister will cease once we arrive in camp."

"Yes, Mother." Marie sat up straight once again then pulled her cloak tight around her.

Isidora and Andrew were playfully trotting behind a section of men that marched behind Lord Harcourt and the lesser lords beside him. A black cloak with white fur trim was strapped on her back over a thick, rich, blue, lenin dress. The fabric was pulled tightly around her figure to make it look like she had a figure. It showed off her chest and hips. Andrew wore a hard, boiled leather tunic with thick lenin breeches. He too were a thick cloak across his back along with a sword strapped toward his right shoulder.

Isidora looked up at the darkening sky, where the day's orange sun light was reddening and dimming. Speckles of bright starts freckled above. The temperature was getting colder and colder.

"I bet Robb isn't as handsome as they say," Said Isidora trotting closer to her cousin. "I bet he is this wimpy body of a boy. Who probably cannot use a sword properly. Marie can have him."

Andrew shook his head. "Your words might just make you lose a hand once we get to camp, let us hope the Stark boy doesn't unleash his wolf on you."

"I have my sword, I'm not afraid of some wolf."

"Have you heard of the Starks before girl?" A marcher spoke from Isidora's side. "The Starks are properly trained in war and sword handling. Robb Starks will know how to use a sword."

"I know my houses, kind marcher, I know of the house Stark's expertise." Isidora's words stumbled out of her mouth. "I was just saying-"

"You were just saying..." Andrew grinned, then his lips fell. "Talking yourself out of the jealousy you will face perhaps, when your sister charms him."

"Perhaps I'm trying to think of things other than war,"

"But I am glad you've decided to make yourself presentable for today, Cousin." Andrew eyed the dress beneath the cloak and then flickered up to the brushed locks floating in the wind behind her. "I'm sure you've made your family happy, nothing compared to what your mother and sister wear of course, but a difference, though I honestly think you look lovely always."

"In all honesty we shouldn't be wearing such fine things to begin with." Isidora looked at her simple dress again. "It will do."

"Of course it will do."

Isidora gently dug her heel into the side of Leeria's side and trotted off behind her cousin weaving through masses of marchers and horses. She road until her cousin was no where to be seen. Her fast riding slowed as her eyes fell upon a large glowing of a camp site where hundreds of tents and fires sat. Her mouth went dry and a chill crept down her spine. There was a faint smell of bread and meat carried on the night's cool breeze. Her stomach let out a small growl. The sun had completely gone down only to be replaced with a full moon. It lit up the sky and the land.

The men marched into the campsite quickly knowing they would get their rest finally for at least a day or two. The quicken steps went on for what seemed minutes. The marching stopped and Isidora could hear the introductions beginning. Her lord father was being introduced and then her Lady Mother was being introduced along with her elder sister, and then finally her own name being introduced. Isidora was to join them at arrival, but she could not get herself to ride ahead in time.

"Lady Harcourt you must join your family in the introductions and greetings." A whisper urged her from her left. "It is the proper way, you are a lady remember that."

Isidora snapped her head toward the voice, but only saw dark forrest and flickering torches and soldiers standing as if they were statues.

"Isidora!" A loud voice called out. "Isidora join the family in greeting Lord and Lady Stark at once!"

"Father!" Isidora shouted as she bit her lip. She gripped the leather reigns of her horse. "Yah! I'm sorry father!"

She kicked at her horse gently and leeria began to trot, she kicked again and the horse began to trot faster until it went into a full sprint. They weaved through halted marching men and and halted horses to the point where they decided to trot outside of the large group of men. The horse sprinted until Isidora pulled on the reigns of her horse once she saw her mother and father. In the process of halting the horse stirred up clumps of mud as it kicked up into the air with the sudden need to stop. It landed on all fours and let out loud pants.

"Sorry Leeria." She dipped down and whispered into the horse's ear.

As she leaned back up she could hear her cousin laughing a few horses down. She straightened her back and turned her head to see Marie looking disgusted. She turned her head slowly toward the other direction and met the blue eyes of a stranger. He sat atop a white stallion fully dressed in his armor with the fire of the torches flickering across his face. His chin and jawline was covered in a dusting of hair and his eyes looked a bit sunken in with lack of sleep.

"Isidora Harcourt is it?" The blue eyed man spoke.

Isidora clenched his jaw in embarrassment.

"Yes my lord," Lord Harcourt informed. "My youngest daughter. I do apologize for her behavior. She acts as if she has seen fewer years."

"She acts as if she is a wildling father." Marie spoke in her dainty feminine voice. "There is a bit of dirt caked on your cheek dear sister."

Isidora instantly brought her cold finger tips to her cheeks scraping the dirt off with her finger nails. Another round of laughter erupted from the men, but this time came from the northern men. She quickly flickered her eyes toward the new crowd frowning. Her eyes landed on a young man with sunken in eyes and wild hair.

"That is enough Theon." The blue eyed man spoke again sternly. "Isidora Harcourt, I am Robb Stark. That was quite an entrance my lady."

She looked up at the young man who just revealed his name. There was a weak frown across his tired face. Heat formed in her stomach and spread through out her cheeks and forehead. She swallowed quickly.

"It is lovely to meet you, Lord Stark." She spoke with all the courage she could gather. "I apologize for such an entrance and the lack of manner I hold on my person."

She dipped her head low feeling a bit sick at her stomach. The Stark boy was no boy at all, but a man with growing whiskers and broad shoulders.

"Very well then." His voice was weak. "No need to apologize. Things do happen. Such introductions do not always need to be so formal."

Andrew began laughing again until someone made him stop.

"Lord Stark," Lord Harcourt began. "I've brought you many men to fight along with yours, we are from the south, but we join you of the North with such an occasion. The Lannisters have been a burden for years. I'm only sorry that my brother cannot be here today, but we have his son here, Andrew Harcourt."

Lord Stark's eyes moved from Isidora toward Andrew. He gave him a strong look.

"Come let us get some rest before we speak of war." Robb spoke kicking the side of his horse. "Let your men camp and eat."

Author's Note: So it's been quite a while since I've wrote or updated any fan fiction and now I'm a bit weird about fan fiction in general. I've recently read somewhere online that G.R.R.M. is weird about Fan fiction as well. So this is just going to be a break for me, something to do over the summer instead of completing some original work I've done this recent semester in school so I apologize about any messy grammar or punctuation in advance. This chapter has just been saved on my background on my mac for day and I haven had the guts to post it. This is also an experiment, depending on the amount of positive feed back I receive I will update or delete this in it's entirety. I'm working on a poorly constructed graphic with photos of character that I shall be posting soon on my profile. If anyone is interested in what I've written in the past please go to my profile and see what I've written. Some stories I've taken more seriously than others I'll warn you. At last I thank you for reading this chapter/introduction and taking interest in this story.

On another note: this story is not set in stone, I don't know where it may lead or go. It is a romance though. I'm also reading the ASOIAF book series and watching the show. Most likely the terribly written summary will change along with the name.

Summary: The noble Harcourt family has joined the Starks in war, to put an end to the reign of Lannisters. Traveling with them are their two daughters Marie and Isidora; one lands a husband in the north while the other forms more than an alliance with an unlikely enemy causing the family to split apart and choose sides.

Thank you,

Beweartheundead1991