Robb

The thick winter air was a relief to breath in. He was here, in the North. Home.

After Robb had fought multiple against the Lannisters, King Robert's younger brother Stannis took the capital at the Battle of the Blackwater and it wasn't long until Joffrey, his mother, siblings and uncle's heads were on spikes outside the city walls. An unnerving sight for the approaching army of Lannister and Tyrell who soon realized their combined might meant nothing when banners of flaming stags were plastered all over King's Landing. The Tyrell's quickly bent the knee and begrudgingly Tywin did as well else he end up like his children whose shame he now had no choice but to endure. And when the Kingslayer finally arrived in Kings landing his fate was no different.

King Stannis then turned his attention to the remaining two kingdoms in rebellion; The North and Iron Islands.

Robb managed to prolong a confrontation with Stannis and they joined forces to defeat a shared enemy; The Iron islands. Robb owed that to the new Hand of the King, who managed to convince Stannis to align with them for now. But on his way back North Robb had to pass through the Twins where Lord Walder insisted he at least choose his bride.

It was an easy choice.

Roslin Frey was the prettiest of Walder's brood, but Robb had little time to find out anymore than that. The Reeds had just retaken Moat Cailin and they would be marching on Winterfell while King Stannis seized the islands with the might of the rest of the Kingdoms.

Robb imagined this is how his father and King Robert felt all those years ago during the Greyjoy rebellion, with Stannis in his brothers place and Robb his fathers. It didn't end much different with the exception that Robb killed the heir to the Iron islands himself and Stannis dealt with their King.

Robb even manged to save his younger brothers and his mother cried when she found out they were alive though Roose Bolton displayed no emotion when he told her.

Then came the matter of the Kingdom of the North and Trident. He did not consider King Stannis an enemy but Stannis no doubt considered him one. Robb knew his bannermen were loyal but he knew they would be angry at him for bending the knee. He could understand why, but he reminded them.

"No one will dare cross us again. This is a reminder of the strength of the North and they will not forget it. But for now Winter is Coming and we must prepare for it"

None disagreed, but when they left the camp the River lords and Northmen alike shouted one final time.

"The King in the North!"

"The King of the Trident!"

Robb felt just then like he was something out of the Age of Heroes.

Now they journeyed home. Sansa was returned to him as was Ice and all the prisoners the Lannsiters had. Arya was lost out there somewhere, but she was found soon enough although she did not react pleasantly when she heard about Elmar Frey.

As they journeyed through the river lands, the River lords began falling out to return to their homes or whatever they had left. Some stayed with him all the way to the Twins to witness his wedding.

His mother certainly seemed happy about it; to see her eldest son married, but no doubt wished for better circumstances and probably a better match. Putting such thoughts aside during the wedding he ate berries from Roslin's hand, danced, smiled and laughed with her. She seemed both delighted and nervous he remembered; no doubt about the bedding ceremony.

It was clearly her first time Robb thought judging by the screams she made. He hoped he hadn't hurt her which he assumed to be true because the next day she doted on her new husband and name. She rode as close to him as possible the whole ride back and whenever they walked together she would hold him even closer. After a long journey, made longer even by her they finally reached home; Winterfell.

Robb wished that marked the end of the fighting, but if felt that just as he returned to Winterfell he as well as every lord in the North received ravens from the Night's Watch begging for support. As Lord of the North he had no choice but to answer this call, as did all his bannermen. He called upon the Freys' for their help; this marriage had to get him something. Although Ryman Frey only arrived with two hundred Frey men of which only about fifty were knights, every little bit counted. With his army amassed they sailed around the Wall landing in the lands beyond and with nearly everyone mounted they easily ran down the wildlings.

It was another victory with barley any casualties, but the same could not be said of the Night's Watch. He was happy Jon was alive, even more so that he had taken command during the siege. Seeing him again was the happiest he'd been in months, maybe years.

He sent a raven home telling them of his victory and that he was fine.

Now after the battle, looking out over the wall to see the other side with Grey Wind at his feet and Ice resting in the snow, Robb couldn't believe where his life had taken him these past few years.

"Your grace" a familiar voice called to him from behind. Robb turned to see him.

"Lord Commander" he said back. Jon walked up to him.

"I'm not Lord Commander" he said walking to his side and gazing beyond the wall with him.

"And I'm no King. Not anymore" Robb corrected him "But you could still become Lord Commander. If everything I've heard you've done is true" he smiled knowing it was. Jon finally found a place to prove himself. But he hoped he would always consider Winterfell his home.

"I've heard I could have been next in line for your Throne if anything had happened. And I'm glad it didn't" Jon smiled to him. He couldn't believe how different their walks of life had been. They'd both been through quite a lot and Robb had told him everything. "Your a married man now aren't you?" he asked already knowing the answer. Robb nodded his head. "What's the Queen in the North like?". Robb gave him a solemn look the moment he said that. But he knew he would ask it eventually.

Robb told his bastard brother everything about his wife, or rather everything he knew about Roslin Frey, now Roslin Stark.

Forcing affection he would call her "my Queen" to build up fondness towards each other, to which she would always blush, smile and be at a loss for words. The only thing that frightened her more than the direwolf on his banners was the one by his side.

Favoring her mother she was more Rosby than Frey it seemed. She was pretty but petite, delicate and frail, and a little quiet and shy. She had big brown eyes that constantly seemed curious yet fearful of the world around her. Whenever he would find her wandering the castle alone she looked petrified. She reminded Robb more of a mouse than a wolf. She had never even left the Twins before. That was all she ever knew and now she was marching to a new home; a place where she's never been and now must call home. She was the lady of Winterfell now and could have even been Queen. She could be the only Frey alive or dead who could say that.

Her mother was stronger than most Rosby's, but Roslin didn't take after her in that regard. Being a Frey in name only, she didn't share her mother's robustness like most other Rosby's. The second they crossed the Neck she started to cough. The farther North they got the more violent it became. So bad that they had to hold down for a week more until she was strong enough to move, stopping at both Castle Cerwyn and Winter Town. Having never truly experienced weather like this or even a winter Robb could understand her reaction. But at the same time he knew winter was coming and wondered if his wife would be able to survive it.

"She has the most beautiful voice" Robb admitted astonished. Something Jon seemed to find genuinely funny. 'And a tight little ass' he said in his head. On their final night in Winter Town she was strong enough for them to go at it again, and she enjoyed it even more the second time.

"You should bring her up here to visit" Jon insisted "Every Northerner should see the wall, especially those from the South" he joked. Robb must just take him up on that, her health permitting.

Roslin

The Bridgebride.

That was the name her new countrymen had generously bestowed upon her. Obviously demeaning in nature, she could hear it whispered whenever she was alone. It didn't make her feel any more welcome when they treated her with spite whenever her husband wasn't there. From the gods she worshiped to how she walked around the castle or the way she spoke, they didn't like anything about her. They didn't like how she found her way into their home through her fathers manipulations and had no problem letting her know that.

'Hoster Tully had done the same thing during Roberts Rebellion' she would think to herself whenever she heard it. It helped to ease her mind. She hoped they would warm up to her soon. It was cold enough already.

Maybe when they finally have a son, gods be good. Although she could already hear people's venom that their child would be more Southern than Northern as Robb is only half Stark, their child would be even less so.

Trying to be positive Roslin personally considered their marriage historic, somebody had to. It was the first time a Frey and Stark had joined houses. To commemorate it she wanted a new name for their children,one that never existed in the Stark records. She tried to come up with one that had never been a Frey name but there were already so many of them she gave up rather quickly. But she also thought it would be kind if their first son was named Eddard after his father. She thought it a good way to deepen their bond. If they had a girl they could perhaps name her Bethany after her mother. She forgot to ask him this before he left, it just slipped her mind. She was forgetful sometimes.

"Would he like the name Walder?" She pondered. He was already fostering two boys named Walder and although their household may not like how she found her way here she was grateful to her father for this opportunity, she was sure Robb was too. She knew many of the Northerners didn't like her there, but she considered herself lucky. How many women could say they have a loving husband who owned the largest of the kingdoms?

Despite the malice of the household and the harshness of the country that she was in no way prepared for there were some things she enjoyed in her new home. Robb was definitely at the top of her list.

Aside from him she also liked the hot springs in Winterfell. Not only did it help with her constant colds, but she found it relaxing and new; entirely different from her life in the Twins. She couldn't swim but she could lay down and rest her head above the water or sit up, just so long as she didn't go into the deeper ends where she couldn't stand. She would walk into the glass gardens and sneak away with some fresh vegetables, sometimes even in the middle of the night. She thought she was being too mischievous. And of course the library had a plethora of information about her family so she would go there, enjoy the silence and read the days away.

But ever since Robb left for the wall she occupied her time searching the castle for new things, practicing her harp or singing. His family appreciated her at least. She did activities with Sansa who had taken a quick liking to her, feeling like the sister she never had. She would watch Bran or Rickon play with her relatives being fostered here although their direwolfs scarred her as much as Grey Wind. She'd go and explore the castle with her brother Olyvar who had become the Steward of Winterfell. She would visit the Sept which she thought Robb had built just for her, although that wasn't the case she liked to think it was anyway. Lady Catelyn was always nice to her and always tried to make sure she was alright. Although Roslin knew she had doubts about her new daughters ability to bear children. That her or neither of them would survive the pregnancy, if it ever happened. They both prayed everything would be fine, that was about all they could do.

There weren't as many knights in the North as there were in the South, so Robb put some in their household to make her feel more at home. Ser Donnel Locke was the new Captain of the guard and it felt like her own little Queensguard along with the other members of the household; most of whom came there by way of her father to expand his influence. At least members of her own family- or rather former family- didn't treat her so harshly.

Once or twice when she was feeling strong enough she had to attend to her duties as the lady of Winterfell when Robb was at The Wall. She hoped she was doing alright, but by the time the third man came asking for builders she had already sent all them off to repair a small stone wall at a farmers house and a cart.

She had a hard time distinguishes her new bannermen, often confusing the Umbers for Mormonts. "They're big like bears"she kept thinking and telling Robb. He didn't seem to disagree. She originally thought the Rysewlls were related to the Brackens and would confuse both Dustin and Cerwyn.

Bannermen and her duties aside, feeling stronger today than most days she now sat with Winterfells new maester and in fact a relative of hers; Maester Robert her half nephew who had only recently taken his oaths.

"Are you sure?" she squeaked under her furs. Even inside she was freezing.

"No doubt about it. There can be no other conclusion" he responded. She trusted his word, he was a maester after all, who would know it not him?

A stomping was heard and they turned to see Roberts uncle and Roslin's half brother storm in.

Ser Hosteen Frey the new Master at Arms of Winterfell was left behind to guard the castle while his new Lord left for The Wall. Although big and strong Robb thought it better to leave someone like him behind to guard the heart of the North. Hosteen had spent that time training Big and Little Walder as well as Rickon.

"Lord Stark has returned" Hosteen announced gruffly. Roslin shot up to her feet.

"I have to tell him!" she said aloud.