"That doesn't fit very well," Robb commented. His eyes traveled down my body. Although they were not completely disinterested, they seemed to find me somewhat lacking in my armor.

"No," Will concurred.

I narrowed my stare towards them. "Well, it's the best that could be done on short notice. Although…you would think there might be a lighter way to make armor, yet still have it be as strong."

"Are you a blacksmith now too?" Robb teased, patting Grey Wind, who sat on his haunches at my husband's feet.

"Well, I'm glad someone has found his humor again," I replied, turning a teasing smile towards him.

Robb had been hesitant after agreeing to let me participate in the next battle. I was fairly certain he had conferred with his men to find a path that would keep me as far away from the actual fighting as possible. However, I knew I would at least be close enough to use a bow.

"Can you move in all that armor?" Will asked.

"Only one way to find out," I shrugged, looking towards my brother who had championed my cause.

It was dark outside as I clanked alongside him. Once again, I felt like a child as Will strode proudly, his long legs carrying him quickly along the pathways, while I felt like I was running to keep pace.

"You're breathing more heavily," Robb commented knowingly.

I shot him a look, "I can do this."

"I never said you couldn't, Ana. I just think that maybe you should get used to all of this. You can join us when you are truly comfortable in your new skin." Robb tried to smile, but I could see the worry behind his eyes.

"Ana will be fine," Will insisted. "She is my sister."

"And my wife," Robb returned pointedly.

Will turned quickly, pulling out his sword and leveling it towards me. With equal quickness, I pulled out mine and caught his. "I guess Winterfell has not yet frozen your reflexes."

"Robb keeps me on my toes."

"If we were anywhere but here, I'd prefer to be keeping you off of them," Robb spoke up.

"Disgusting…" Will's mouth had turned into a grimace as though he were about to be sick.

"Enough, boys." I nodded towards my brother. "Shall we?"

Willem lifted his sword and made the first strike. I had practiced with armor before of course, but this felt like more of a test than any training before. No matter what Robb had promised, if I faltered here, he was not going to let me fight. But if I won, he could not go back on his word.

The blows reigned down hard. Will had the advantage of moving with limited armor, freeing him to move with significantly more ease. He was not going to go easy on me; at least, I hoped he was not. I knew the tells in a soldier's movements, but I knew Will's even better as my brother, which also meant that he was equally as sure of mine.

We fought for a long time, each gaining ground for a few moments before the other would come back as we hacked at each other. When I began to fall back, though, I could feel the tiredness in my steps. It was my father's voice that kept me going, a reminder about moving my feet. He always stressed that. Whenever you felt tired, just will yourself to move your feet a little more.

I still gave way a bit, taking another step backward as Will came at me, but a moment later, the footwork came back twofold. I kept on my toes, feeling a branch beneath my feet, but I could steady myself thinking of the branch before kicking it into Will's path. He stumbled just a bit, and I took the advantage, catching him off balance, swinging quick and hard, until I stopped halfway into what would have been a maiming blow.

"That was not fair," Will exclaimed. His eyes shot fire at me as he puffed out a deep breath. "But brilliant." He laughed after the statement, clapping a hand on my back and pulling me into his chest.

"You never meet a fair fight in battle," Robb agreed from behind me. "You've learned that much I guess."

I turned towards him with bright, wide eyes, hoping to hear the next words out of his mouth be: "You must be ready." However, I was sorely disappointed when another voice cut through the air.

"Well done!" Jaime called, clapping. "That was the best entertainment I had all night."

Robb's expression soured as he turned around with a sigh. Beyond him, I could see a slight grimace on Jaime's face as he clapped.

"All for you, Kingslayer," Will returned, bowing.

Jaime smirked, "I think we would have been great friends in different circumstances."

Will's mouth grew into a thin line, but I could not help but think that was probably true. Maybe if we were not at war, if so many things had never happened, they would have been friends.

"Are you actually thinking of sending your wife into a battle?" Jaime chided, clucking his tongue. "Why Robb Stark, I thought better of you."

"What is it to you?" Will demanded, taking the bait so easily.

I could see the frustration in Robb's face. His eyes had narrowed and he was biting the inside of his mouth, but he said nothing, knowing better than to engage.

"Well, apparently," Jaime added, "I am the only one who cares enough about your sister and wants to see her safe."

Now, I gave him a doubtful stare, my mouth falling into a bemused smile. Surely, that was not the case.

"You looked to be clapping rather gingerly," I called back.

He turned a twinkling eye to me despite the slightly hesitant smile. "Would you like me to stand and truly show my adoration?"

"Has anyone taken a look at your hand recently?"

Robb shot back a warning look, ice flashing in his blue eyes, but I pacified him as I rested a hand on his arm.

"We have to make sure he is more or less in one piece. He is worth far more alive than dead, especially to Cersei," I explained. "May I?"

I nodded towards the cage in which Jaime sat, asking Robb if I could approach. He appeared reluctant but came with me anyway. Grey Wind took his post at Robb's other side as we got near.

"Keep in mind, he will snatch your hand, Kingslayer, if you try anything," Robb warned, looking at his direwolf.

The moment I saw Jaime's hand I realized that it might be better if he did. The wound that I had only managed to partially close was certainly infected, and as I looked at it with one of the guard's lanterns, I could see that it was beginning to spread. Jaime watched my expression carefully, and I did not bother to hide the concern on my brow.

"You did not heal me," he commented, attempting to joke but the humor was so soft in his tone.

"You reneged on my deal," I stated, still turning his hand over. He grimaced again. "Perhaps you will learn not to do so again."

"What can be done?"

"Ana," Robb and Will both sounded exhausted in their rebuke.

"Not much. We could try a poultice, but I think it's festered too long and too far," I replied, ignoring them. That was when I looked into Jaime's eyes. His stare was serious and his lips frowning, already sure of what I would say. "If you want to be more or less sure you'll survive, we need to cut it off."

I could hear Will expel the air from his lungs in utter disbelief – although it did not seem of disappointment. I was sure inside that Robb was somewhat pleased, but again, he managed to hold his emotions. He had grown incredibly talented at doing so as King.

"We can take care of it in the morning," Robb stated. "Better lighting."

"How much lighting do you need to chop off a hand?" Jaime returned, throwing a dark stare at Robb.

"This is my responsibility. I should have had our doctors take care of you better. You are a prisoner, but you deserve treatment as any other man."

"I'm sure your honor will truly inspire my family."

Robb regarded Jaime coolly. "It always has in the past. I would expect no different."

The Kingslayer's head cocked to the side in surprise of Robb's answer; the slight spark in his eyes showed that he was somewhat impressed with the retort from the King in the North.

"In the morning then," Robb added and turned away, leading Grey Wind, Will, and myself back to camp. "I should have listened to you. The Lannisters will be furious."

"Well, at least their family can still come back to them alive," I replied. "This is not an eye for an eye."

"And even that would be fair," Will added.

Robb shook his head. "When we first took him, I wanted to kill him. Honestly, I wanted anything Lannister to die to pay for what they did, but the Kingslayer was nowhere near my father when he died. I don't like him. I especially hate him around Ana, but I know what happened with my father had nothing to do with him. And I'm sure he would rather not be in a battle; I'm sure he would rather be home…with his sister."

Robb's expression again soured as his lips turned down in disgust at his own words. Will and I both stared off into the distance with similar expressions, shuddering inwardly.

"Was that absolutely necessary, Robb?" Will asked.

He chuckled, "No, I suppose not."

"And uh, what of my little sister?" Will asked proudly. "Is she battle-ready?"

"Unfortunately, she did not prove that she was not."

I rubbed Robb's arm, giving him a sympathetic smile as he kissed me softly.

"I said you could. I don't go back on my word," Robb added.

"I know." I caressed his cheeks, his beard scratching my hand a bit before I stood on my toes to kiss him again. The feel of his lips and his hand brushing softly down my back made my heart start to beat a little faster.

"I am just going to let one of our people know about Jaime Lannister tomorrow. I will be back in a minute," Robb added.

Almost as soon as he was out of earshot, Willem and my sad sort of smiles turned into wide grins as we started laughing. My brother picked me up in a strong hug, swinging me about.

"Gods, what a relief!" I exclaimed. "I can actually be out there with him."

"Now all the hard work really starts."

"I don't know…you have never been left waiting for someone like we women have to. It may be less dangerous, but I think that is every bit as hard, feeling so helpless."

The next morning, I went to help with the amputation. Jaime was being restrained as we walked into the cage. His arms tied up and legs safely bound, the guards were ready to hold him in place to cut the hand.

"Wait!" I grabbed a stick from outside and walked over to Jaime's head, placing it in his mouth. "Let's not lose your tongue too."

I could see the panic in his eyes as he stared up at my face. The look alone was enough to hurt my chest, leave a pit in my stomach. Unsure of what else to do, I crouched down by his head, meeting his scared brown eyes with a soft brush of his hair.

"Are you ready?" I asked, getting a nod from him.

I looked to the doctor and silently gave him the approval. A moment later, Jaime eyes grew inexplicably wide as he screamed, biting hard on the wood. His moans continued while the men worked to clot the blood, ensure the wound was clean, and protect it as best they could; all the while, I sat there, running a hand through his blond hair, trying to soothe him, promising it would be alright. Jaime passed out quickly, and when he woke hours later, I was sitting outside of his holding cell.

"You said that should teach me from ever crossing you again," he called.

"Maybe that was said a bit too soon."

"I knew the second you walked away with the stitching that I had made a mistake."

I nodded, "I saw as much in your eyes."

"I have never been good at accepting help."

"I can't imagine that you have often needed it."

"Kicking over that branch against you brother was a piece of genius. You'll need to play dirty if you plan to fight."

"I'm not afraid to get my hands in the mud."

Jaime nodded, "I know that, but for some reason, my lady Stark, I really hope you make it; so as long as I am here, you will get one piece of advice per day."

I smirked, "And, what have I done to deserve this?"

"You tried to show me kindness. I did not listen. I doubt you will make the same mistake."