Prologue: And Then There Were Two

It had been months since she could last remember sleeping in a real bed and not some patch of earth or the floor of a cave. Daniel was her ever present shadow making sure that no one would catch even a glimpse of who she once was. She wore commoner's clothes and made sure to keep her beautiful deeply auburn hair tightly pinned back in an unassuming bun. The mangled blue cloak was yet another faithful adornment that kept prying eyes away. If mother could see her now she would wrinkle her face in distaste and shake her head in lovable irritation. Mother had been strong and beautiful and graceful. Sibi would never see her soft smile and shining blue eyes again. She would never see her little brothers or her baby sisters. Then she thought of her twin brother Rob and the horror he faced in his last moments. Jon was spared all of it, but he was no less alone at the wall. Even her own son was God knows where. Safe, she prayed he was safe. Hope was something she tried to use in only small doses. What a long way down she had gone, and still she never knew how much further there was to go.

"Sibi, I've got us a stable for the night. Farmer could use the coin and we'll stay warm enough from the oncoming snow." Daniel said as he walked toward where she stood by a great pine tree.

"That sounds good enough. I am too tired to try another step… My blisters have opened again." She said with a sigh as she pulled off her shoe and raised her foot.

Daniel gave a small smirk and shook his head.

"I've seen worse blisters on the battle field. I'll patch them up for you once we get warm." He said as he gestured for her to let him pick her up. She was reluctant, but he waited patiently until she relented.

"At least I don't weigh half as much as I did a year ago. I barely have had more than a bowl of questionable brown soup in the last three days." She said as she laid her head against his shoulder.

"Aye, we'll both be sticks if I don't do some hunting tomorrow. The farmer did offer some potatoes and carrots. We'll make a stew." He said with a smile as he led her up the small hill toward the stable.

Once they reached the stable, Daniel sat Sibi down and pulled the door closed. He made certain to push a few heavy tools against the latch for an added barrier to a thief or scoundrel breaking in.

As Daniel laid out a blanket and began setting up his things, Sibi took time to really look at her sworn shield. He was no more than 25 years old, but he looked a bit older. He was handsome but not in the way one would usually envision. There was softness to his deep brown eyes that made one feel he was some wise sage looking into a person's soul. He had little laugh lines around his mouth, and a fierce beard that he took time to brush each morning. His hair was thick and dark and fell midway down his back. He was taller than Sibi but not as tall as her lord husband had been. Still, he made her feel safe. He was no Northman with big hands and large stature…but he was strong. He was lean muscles and long strides. He was quick but not impulsive. People always used to underestimate him based on his stature, but those people soon were proven to be fools.

"All done, my Lady. Ready to have those blisters fixed?" He asked breaking her from her reverie.

"Don't call me Lady…You've done a great job of calling me Sibi on the road don't start saying Lady Sibi again. You might slip up." She said as she took off her shoes and placed her feet in his lap.

"Aye, maybe you're right. It's those old habits and all that are hardest to break."

Sibi smiled and leaned back against the hay stack.

"You are my dearest friend and that matters more than titles. Besides, I'll likely never be a Lady again."

"One day, the treachery, war, and snow will end...and the North will want a true Stark. I'll protect you until that day...and every day after." He said with a sternness she was not used to seeing on his usually open face.

It was a face she had looked to for guidance, support, and protection. But sometimes she could see the love too. She felt guilty for having the same emotion play against her own face. But how long would she mourn her husband? How long would she be no one and pretend that was enough?

"I believe you. You are the only one I do believe in."She said with a small smile as she tilted her head back and allowed him to clean her wounds.