Prologue

Maester Egar watched his young king from a distance. Robb Stark had changed in the last seven months. The death of King Jeoffrey had not had the effect on him that he thought. It was the death of his wife that caused him to be so gone. The Maester hoped the ravens had been wrong, but three days after the message of her death, her horse returned to the stable.

Since then, Robb had not been the same. He walked in shadows and silence. His sister's presence brought him little or no joy. The only time he ever smiled was when he took Soren out, and the smile was very thin then. Robb was walking now with Arya at his side. He listened to her, but his mind was wondering all around.

"Maester Egar," a voice called suddenly.

Egar turned around to find his apprentice running toward him. He was older than most apprentices, but he was very good at what he did, which was dealing with medicines.

"Yes James," Egar said as he stood.

The young man sat down. He took a great interest in the King too. They all did. The North was stable again. Robb managed to get all the strong holds and even released some of the river lords. There were other battles to fight, but Robb didn't seem to concern himself with that.

"Have you approached him yet?" James asked.

Egar shook his head. "I cannot bring myself to. He still thinks that the girl is alive."

James sighed. "His wolf still calls for hers."

Egar looked at the man next to him for a long time. He heard the wolf howling each night. Sometimes it sounded so forlorn that Egar longed for the morning to come.

"The issue still needs to be addressed though," Egar started just to get his mind off the wolves. "Soon, the Lannisters will turn their attention back to the North."

"The King should be ready," James finished for him.

Egar nodded. "And he won't be ready without an heir."

James looked at Egar suddenly very sad. They all knew when they left that Lady Nyra was with child. She was starting to show just a little. The news of her death meant that perhaps there was a chance that Robb's line could die. That weighed heavy on the young King too.

"His Mother is going to try to approach the subject again," Egar started. "With her support perhaps he will start to listen."

James turned to Egar. "Perhaps we are pushing him. It has only been seven months."

"And the Lannisters could attack in two and who knows if the Freys will pick a side."

"Lady Catelyn wants him to take up his old vow to the Freys," James stated.

Egar nodded. "It would be a wise decision."

James stood. There was something bothering the young man. Egar sensed it in the way he acted. The boy had done everything he had asked without question. However, the idea of a new marriage seemed to make everyone but him and Lady Catelyn squeamish. It had to be done. Even if Nyra was somehow still alive, she was not here. They could not keep holding onto her like this.

"Do you trust the Freys?" Egar asked James.

James shook his head. "No."

Egar looked at the young man for a long, hard moment. He told the boy to always be honest, but it was strange to hear him be so forward about this idea. Egar knew that a Frey marriage was not a good idea, but they needed it. It could win them back part of their army. And it would help them win an advantage over the Lannisters. Egar turned his attention back to Robb, who was walking toward the stable.

"Even if we don't trust them," James said with a very heavy sigh. "We could use them. The women of the family seem fertile enough to give the King lots of sons."

Egar looked up at him. "So you do believe this has to be done?"

James spared a glance at the young king. He stood at Soren's stable again. The horse was as lost as the man. James didn't want to just let go of the hope that Nyra could still be alive. He knew that it most likely wasn't true, but she had always been a fighter.

"The King needs a Queen," James said softly. "And this Queen will give him sons.

Egar smiled. He didn't have to be told twice. He rose to his feet and started toward Robb. The young man was gently touching the horse's nose. The grooms had tried to keep him tidy. However, Soren would have nothing to do with it. He bit, growl, snarled, and kicked each time they approached him. Robb could only touch him when he wanted it.

"My lord," Egar started. "Could we speak in private?"

Robb looked over at the Maester. He quickly gave the man an annoyed look. Robb was in no mood to talk to anyone. All anyone wanted to talk to him about was battles to come or how he needed to move on. He wasn't ready for any of that. He wanted to go back to war, just to feel death close to him. Maybe that way he could be closer to Nyra.

"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Soren," Robb said as he gently scratched behind the horse's ears.

Egar looked at the horse, taking a deep breath. "I think it is time for you to find a wife, your grace."

Robb growled and began to walk away. "As I have told my mother, marriage will wait."

Maester Egar nodded, but he would not be deterred that easy. "My lord, your hold on the North is strong now, but it will soon start to slip. The only heirs you have are a seven year old and your youngest sister. You need a wife to give you a son."

Robb glared at the Maester for a long moment. The line of succession weighed heavy on him. He tried to keep it hid. He had to. He knew that Rickon was too young to be king. Then, there was Arya. Robb knew that a woman could rule. Arya would make a great ruler. She had been through more thatn she would ever tell anyone.

"My lord, we all know that you loved Queen Nyra, and that her death was terrible."

Robb stared at the Maester for a long time. "No, Maester Egar, you don't know."

The Maester nodded for a moment when suddenly Robb walked away. The Maester started to follow him, but he knew the look. It meant that he wanted to be left alone. This was never going to work if Robb would not see it was time.

Robb walked into the castle. He needed a warm fire and time to think. His mother, the Maester, his captain of the guards, and everyone in between was after him to get a wife. It had not even been a year since Nyra's death. He walked into his room and shrugged out of his cloak. He sat down by the fire when Grey Wind came over to him. The wolf gently licked his hand. Robb could only manage to gently rub his fur.

Robb turned his attention to the fire. It brought him back to the day before Nyra left. He could still hear her laughing and speaking to him. Her voice had been so soft like her skin.

"I don't want you to go," Robb said as he looked down at her body.

Nyra smiled up at him and pushed his hair. "I will be fine."

Robb leaned down and gently kissed her. "And if you aren't?"

Nyra stared at him for a long time. She felt his hand run down to her stomach where a small bump was starting to show. His hand moved over it for a long moment. Nyra watched him for a long moment. She bit her lip as she saw his body glow with pride.

"We'll be fine, Robb," she whispered.

"Nyra, I can send men."

Nyra shook her. Robb sighed and laid his head on his her stomach. He laid there for a long moment, listening and feeling. He remembered when his mother had been pregnant with Bran and Arya and how she let him touch her stomach, but this was different. This was his child and his wife.

"If only Jamie hadn't escaped," Robb mumbled.

"I will go, and I will get Sansa back," Nyra assured him.

It was morning before they spoke again. Robb woke before Nyra. That was rare, but some part of him was still trying to figure out a way for Nyra not to do this. He could send a hundred guards with her, and it would never be enough. Nyra woke after the sun rose. She dressed in his tunic and some pants. The loose clothing hid the child and other parts of her. She pulled her hair back. But it still showed.

"I am going to ask you one last time," Robb said as he held her close. "Please do not go."

Nyra looked up at him. "This is my duty."

Robb shook his head. "No, your duty is to be my wife."

Nyra shook her head and looked up at him with a smile. "That's my honor, Robb."

Grey Wind let out a loud howl, snapping Robb back to the moment. The room was suddenly no longer warm or loving. He turned to what the wolf was howling at but heard nothing. The animal must have sensed his thoughts. He could not just let Nyra go like this. Robb called for Maester Egar and his mother. He waited until they both stood before him.

"There is something that we must discuss now," he started.

He looked at his mother. She knew where this discussion going. He hoped that she would stand behind him if he needed it. The Maester seemed eager to speak, but Robb was not going to let him until he finished.

"I know that both of you think it would be in my best interest to find another wife," Robb paused. "But I will not. Nyra is the only woman I will ever love, and I cannot betray her memory by finding another wife that I will never love."

"You grace," the Maester started. "This is not about love."

Robb looked at his mother. He knew that love didn't enter into this, but he couldn't share his bed when all he could think about was Nyra. Lady Stark stared at him for a moment and then sighed.

"Robb," Lady Stark said. "You were lucky to have time with Nyra, but you have others to think about."

Robb jumped to his feet, knocking over a table and bottle of wine. "I have thought of others since the day they named me King of the North, but this is one thing I cannot do."

"Why?" Catelyn asked.

Robb looked at his mother and then at Grey Wind. The wolf still cried at night. Robb thought it had been for his lost sister, but now he wondered about that. Sometimes, he wondered if he called Nightshadow just as he called for Nyra.

"Because Mother," Robb started. "Even if I won all Seven Kingdoms, it wouldn't mean anything if I was with someone else."

Catelyn looked at him for a long time. She wanted to tell him that this was the best thing for him, but it wasn't. He had men, women, children, and a whole kingdom to look after.

"Robb," Catelyn began. "You have inherited your father's responsibilities, and they come at a cost."

Robb looked at his mother. The words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. He knew that he could no longer pretend that he was a boy throwing a fit. He had to be the King of the North. He felt his stomach start to lurch. He didn't want to just betray Nyra like this.

"Your Grace, we will find someone for you. Someone like Nyra."

Robb glared at Maester Egar. There was no one like Nyra. He stared at the two people before him. He was defeated. He finally nodded to them. He felt tears burn his eyes. He couldn't believe that he was walking away from all he had. He walked by the mantle and froze. The two cloak clasps laid there. The rearing horse was touching the direwolf. He stared at it for a long moment and then picked up the horse. Even if she was dead, Robb could not just let go.