Chapter 2

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Ana sighed softly as she exited from her chambers, wrapping her furs a little more tightly around herself. Her Father had already left with the hunting party, which included her future husband and Father-by-Law. It felt good to have some time to herself, knowing that she wouldn't be running into Robb whilst she walked around the castle. She hadn't a destination in mind when she set out, the simplicity of walking just to walk had been appealing to her as she sat at her desk writing in her journal. She found it helpful pouring all her doubts and insecurities onto the book's pages, it helped to clear her head a great deal.

"Princess Ana." A soft feminine voice called out, and Ana turned sharply to see Lady Stark approaching her. Ana offered a polite smile and curtsey, as Lady Stark did the same.

"Lady Stark, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting to bump into anyone so early in the morning, especially with how late the feast must have lasted last night." Ana admitted as the older woman smiled kindly at her.

"I woke with my husband, and found that I couldn't fall back to sleep." Lady Catelyn explained. "I know not what possessed the men to wake so early to go hunting of all things." Ana smiled and shook her head.

"Father loves hunting so, he would hardly miss out on an opportunity to go. Especially here in the North where the game is still so plentiful. I'm afraid in the South we aren't so lucky in that aspect." Ana replied as Catelyn nodded, approaching the young woman and taking Ana's arm, tucking it into her own.

"This gives us women time to speak at least." Catelyn stated and Ana suddenly felt a little nervous.

"What would you like to speak about Lady Catelyn?" Ana asked politely, though judging by the warm look on the woman's face, Catelyn could clearly hear Ana was a little weary of what the subject may be.

"Of your betrothal to my son." Catelyn admitted reluctantly, seeing that Ana was obviously still on edge about the news herself. "I hope he treated you well last night."

"He was a complete gentleman." Ana responded honestly as she gave the older lady a small smile. "We spoke while dancing, and it seemed to take the edge off of some of our mutual concerns." She admitted as Catelyn positively beamed then.

"Good, good." She squeezed Ana's arm gently. "I was hoping that had happened. Robb seemed far more relaxed towards the end of the evening, as did yourself."

"So you noticed the tension?" Ana asked shyly then, wondering how many others had noticed as well.

"I'm a Mother as well, I know when something is off with my children, as does your own Mother, no doubt." Lady Catelyn replied knowingly. "When you have children of your own, you will understand yourself."

"I do hope to have many." Ana offered, though her voice did not sound happy. She had indeed hoped to have many children, and a large family, but now that it was so close to happening she felt herself rethinking such dreams.

"It will be nerve-wracking at first." Catelyn advised wisely. "But you will slip into the role and comfort of Motherhood quicker than you think." She added as they continued to walk along the halls.

"I hope so." Ana sighed. "I want you to know that my reservations have nothing to do with your son, Lady Stark." She added, looking towards the women with honesty. "My reservations lie in having to leave home. I know it sounds ridiculous, as I am a woman grown, but I will miss my family, and King's Landing." She admitted. "And saying that, I also mean no offence to your home, either."

"Oh I know that, dear." Catelyn replied easily, waving her hand as she laughed some. "I remember being horrified when I found out I would be moving up to Winterfell. So far from home, family, and everything I had ever known. When I first saw this place…" She sighed heavily, "if Ned had been able to read my mind he would have felt embarrassed by my thoughts. It looked like a barren wasteland of ice and snow to me. I thought I could never consider this my home." She admitted as Ana watched her, slightly surprised. "But I did eventually learn to love both Ned and our home, as I am sure will happen for you. I may not be your Mother by birth, but I am to be your Mother-by-Law." She paused for a moment, stopping them and turning to face Ana fully. "I want you to feel like you can come to me for anything and everything you may need. When you get lonely we can pray to The Seven together, when you miss home we can drink tea and talk of the South. When you miss your family, I can help to at least somewhat fill that hole. I would never be so bold as to try and replace your Mother, but I would like to think I can help you adjust and feel at home here."

Ana felt warmth filter through her at Catelyn's words, her heart un-clenching as some of her fears were addressed and legitimized by her. It made her fell like she wasn't weak, like she wasn't doing herself or the Stark house a disservice by having the reservations that she did. It calmed her to know she would be entering a household, under the roof, of such an understanding and caring woman. She gave her a warm, heartfelt smile then, leaning in and embracing her in a hug.

"Thank you, Lady Catelyn." Ana murmured into her shoulder, and Catelyn, while startled, slowly hugged the young Princess back.

"Please, call me Catelyn from now on Princess Ana. You're a part of this family." She murmured soothingly to her, allowing the girl to pull away as Ana nodded and smiled.

"As long as you call me Ana, Catelyn." She replied, squeezing the woman's hands gently as she did.

"Of course, Ana."

"LADY STARK!" A shout came from down the hall behind them, and both women turned sharply to see Jory, Ned's head guardsman, running towards them.

"Jory, what in the world is it?" Catelyn asked, letting Ana's hands go as she looked at the man in worry. Ana didn't like the look on his face, it was grim.

"It's your son, Bran, my Lady. He fell."

Catelyn's face paled and Ana's heart dropped as she caught the woman as she stumbled.

"Take us to him." Ana spoke up then as she gripped onto Catelyn to help her stay stead. Jory nodded, looking at Catelyn with concern, before leading the women hurried towards Bran's bedroom.

Ana just prayed the news wasn't as grim as Jory's face foretold.

The Next Day

Ana Baratheon

Catelyn Stark hadn't left the room since the morning they brought Bran's broken little body and laid him in his bed. Bran has since been sleeping, though Catelyn has not slept at all. She sat by his bed, not once moving from her chair, except to make sure his furs were keeping him warm.

Ana could tell the woman was absolutely devastated. She remembered walking into his room that day, still holding the older woman steady as she did, and seeing his tiny, frail body laying in the middle of what now looked to be an utterly massive bed. Catelyn had wailed a heart breaking cry, before flinging herself down to his bedside, begging him between wails to open his eyes. It had been a terrible scene to witness, one that brought tears to Ana's eyes even as she thought upon it now.

Then Robb had come in with his Father, who looked equally as devastated as his wife. She watched Ned go to Catelyn, place his hands on her shoulders and quietly ask for a chair, the chair she wouldn't now leave, to be brought to Bran's bedside. Ana was the first and only to move, everyone else in the room, including the Maester Luwin still with resounding shock. She had pulled the chair over, stood to the one side of Catelyn and glancing towards Ned, took her one side as he took the other to help her into the chair. A brief nod of thanks from Ned, and she had backed off once more. Ana had then looked to Robb, seeing the look of absolute sorrow on his face made her heart break even more, knowing there was nothing she could say, or do, to help with the pain that he was experiencing right now. She walked back to him silently and stood beside him as Maester Luwin began to explain what happened. Bran had fallen from an old watch tower, several dozen feet. He had been lucky to not smash his head on any of the fallen stone work that surrounded the tower, but if he woke, he would most likely not have any use of his legs from such a bad fall.

At this, Robb had taken a sharp breath, hearing that his brother, who loved to climb, who dreamed of becoming a Knight, would never walk again. Ana remembered reaching out then and taking his still gloved hand in her own, holding it firmly, and feeling his own hand grip back.

Now, a day later, as she entered the hall where her family was breaking fast, she had made her mind up. She was no longer a little girl, Ana reminded herself, she was a woman grown and had to make a woman's decision.

She would not be returning to King's Landing.

"Ana, come and join us for some food, darling." Cersei spoke up as soon as she saw her eldest, smiling warmly at her. Tommen and Mrycella turned in their seats, their faces lighting up as they saw Ana approaching. Ana smiled, trying not to think of how much she was going to miss them in the coming months, possibly years.

"I would love to, I'm starving." Ana replied honestly. She hadn't eaten well at the feast, nor had she eaten well yesterday after Bran's fall. Her stomach still was knotted in worry for the little Lord, but her hunger was outweighing it at the moment. She sat down next to Myrcella, pulling a plate for herself and piling on some fruit to eat. Bacon, bread, and fish felt too heavy for her at the moment.

"You look exhausted." Cersei worried then as she watched her daughter intently. "It's terrible what happened to the Stark boy, but you should not be forgetting yourself like this."

"His name is Bran, Mother." Ana reminded her gently then as she looked up to her, smiling slightly. "And I know, I'm sorry. I can't help it."

"Your loyalty to your future family is admirable, niece, but your Mother is right. You look too pale." Uncle Jaime spoke up then as Ana turned to look at him, nodding in agreement.

"I'll do better to keep myself in better health." She replied quietly, taking in some fruit while her stomach still allowed her to. Her nerves were beginning to grow once more, having to still break the news of her decision to stay to her Mother and siblings. She was about to open her mouth to do so, when her second Uncle, Tyrion's, voice filled the hall.

"Bread, and two of those little fish." He came in, ordering a servant. "And a mug of dark beer to wash it down with some bacon, burnt black." He finished his order, moving Tommen aside with a playful grunt and taking a place at the table as well.

"Good morning, Uncle Tyrion." Ana greeted with a small smile, feeling the tension radiating off of her Mother at his mere presence. Ana had always enjoyed her intellectual talks with her Uncle, but Mother had always held a resentment towards him. Uncle Jaime once told her it was due to the fact their Mother, her Grandmother, died while birthing him. Ana knew her Mother not to be a forgiving person when the mood took her.

"Good morning, Ana!" Tyrion greeted with a wide grin. "And beloved siblings." He added as he nodded towards Cersei and Jaime, the last greeting a little more sarcastic in nature. "I hear congratulations are in order for our dear Ana, betrothed to Robb Stark, are we?" Tyrion asked with a raised eyebrow, and Ana nodded in affirmation.

"It would appear so. In a years time we will wed." She replied as she glanced towards her Mother once more, now reconsidering telling her at this moment with the look on her face. She looked weary and agitated.

"Is Bran going to die?" Myrcella's voice cut in suddenly, and the question had Ana nearly drop her fork from her hand. She looked over to her sister tenderly, reaching over to her and brushing back some of her blond curls.

"Apparently not." Tyrion answered, and Ana looked over to him, her own eyes widening slightly as she heard this. Myrcella's face brightened almost instantly.

"What do you mean?" Cersei asked then as she tilted her head, her eyes hardening.

"The Maester says the boy may live." Tyrion continued then as he picked away at some bacon once it was brought to the table.

"It's no mercy, letting a child linger in such pain." Cersei frowned then as Ana frowned as well, looking towards her Mother in question. Why would she say such a thing? Better to be in pain and alive, than to be dead in Ana's own opinion.

"Only the gods know for certain. All the rest of us can do is pray." Tyrion finished, before starting a new conversation. "The charms of the North seem entirely lost on you, unlike Ana here." He gestured towards his niece, before Cersei shook her head.

"I still can't believe you're going. It's ridiculous, even for you." She replied, and Ana looked to her Uncle Tyrion in confusion.

"Going? Going where?" She asked lightly, and Tyrion grinned widely at her.

"Further North, to The Wall. Ned and Benjin Stark has given me permission to travel with Benjin's party. Ned Stark's bastard intends to take the black himself." Tyrion replied, turning back to her Mother. "Think about it! Where is your sense of wonder, dear sister? The greatest structure ever built, the intrepid men of the Night's Watch, the wintry abode of the White Walkers!" He ended with a playful growl towards Tommen, who laughed in return.

"Tell me you're not thinking of taking the black." Uncle Jaime cut in, half joking, and half serious.

"And go celibate? The whores would go begging from Dorne to Casterly Rock. I just want to stand on top of the Wall and piss off the edge of the world." Tyrion grinned and Ana had to do her best to hide her own smirk of amusement. Mother never liked it when they found Tyrion's dirty talk amusing. Myrcella couldn't stop her smile either, and Tommen giggled, so Mother decided that enough was enough.

"The children don't need to hear your filth. Come." Cersei ordered, standing, and Myrcella, Tommen, and Ana stood with her, walking with her from the hall. Ana paused, reaching for her Mother's hand to stop her.

"Mother, we need to talk." She swallows thickly, thinking that even if her Mother wasn't in the best of moods, now was better than later.

"About what, sweetling?" She asked as she frowned in confusion. "I know you are worried for the Stark boy, but there is nothing more you can do." She added tenderly, reaching out and touching her cheek lovingly. Ana bit down on her lower lip, shaking her head.

"This isn't necessarily about Bran." She murmured, nodding for Myrcella and Tommen to go on ahead. "Although in some ways it is." She sighed heavily as she looked up at her Mother. "And I beg for you to understand my decision. Lady Catelyn isn't fit right now, nor should she be. She is a Mother in grieving, and with Ned Stark leaving with you for Winterfell, Robb will be left in charge of Winterfell in both of his parents' absences." She swallowed thickly then as she watched the understanding coming to her Mother's face. "I want nothing more than to return to King's Landing with you and our family…but I feel a sense of duty to stay here and help where I can." Ana found her voice surprisingly stronger than she believed it would be. "They are to be my family, and Winterfell my home, I need to stay here and be responsible for my future house, and support my future husband. He is strong, but I sense he can't do this alone, and Catelyn needs someone here to remind her to care for herself. Robb will no doubt be busy with matters of this estate, and he will have too many matters to handle to take care of both his Mother and his youngest brother, Rickon. I can do both for him, to help him."

"This is your decision to stay here?" Cersei asked quietly after a moment watching her daughter intently.

"It's my duty, Mother, and I need to grow up and accept it…" Ana swallowed thickly, "no matter how badly I just want to go home." She kept her tears at bay, thinking about what she was doing to herself, for a family she barely knew yet.

"You do make me so proud." Cersei murmured as she stroked her daughter's cheek with the back of her fingers. "So proud." She trailed off softly. "You are right, it is your duty to stay here and support your future family, and husband. I hold you no ill-will for your decision." She moved, resting both of her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "But I promise you this, the moment you wish to come home, I will arrange for it." She told her firmly then. "I will not leave you here feeling like I've abandoned you to the wolves."

"I don't feel that way at all Mother." Ana assured Cersei as she smiled warmly at her. "I know you love me, just as you love us all. I don't feel abandoned…just frightened." She admitted in a small voice.

Cersei gazed at her daughter sorrowfully then, nodding in understanding. "But you are my brave little lion, if anyone can survive here in the North, it's you." She sighed then as she stepped back away. "Perhaps we should visit with Lady Stark. I have yet to show my condolences, and this would be a good opportunity to let her know of your decision."

"Alright, Mother." Ana agreed as she tucked her arm in with Cersei's, walking down the hall towards the Stark's living quarters, and Bran's room. They ascended the stairs silently together, no doubt Cersei still processing her daughter's decision. The moment they reached the door to Bran's room, the atmosphere thickened and grew heavy with grief. Cersei tightened her hold on her daughter in reaction, as they both moved through the doorway.

Catelyn was working on a prayer wheel from what Ana could tell when she entered the room, but Catelyn noticed her Mother and herself almost instantly and made to stand.

"Please." Her Mother gestured graciously that she didn't have to bother with the courtesies, letting go of her daughter's arms as she approached the beside of the young Stark boy, Bran.

"I would have dressed, your Grace." Catelyn replied, obviously a little embarrassed, and Ana's heart once more went out to her soon to be Mother-by-Law.

"This is your home. I'm your guest." Cersei replied gently, and Ana was momentarily surprised at the very real compassion she was showing. It was rare to see her Mother acting so with anybody other than herself or her siblings. "Handsome one, isn't he? I lost my first boy, a little black-haired beauty." Cersei began wistfully, and Ana stiffened slightly. Neither her Mother, nor her Father, talked of her brother Steffon…ever. "He was a fighter too…tried to beat the fever that took him. Thank the gods it didn't take my Ana as well. They were twins, you know? She wailed for days on end while he was sick, but stopped the moment he was at peace. It was the most eerie thing I have ever experienced." She murmured, and Ana could feel a chill running down her spine as she glanced towards Catelyn who glanced at her, looking equally as shocked. Cersei cleared her throat then as she shook her head. "Forgive me. It's the last thing you need to hear right now." She murmured, as if coming to her senses.

"I never knew." Catelyn replied empathetically, looking between the two women with sympathy.

"It was years ago. Robert was crazed, beat his hands bloody on the wall." Cersei continue then as Ana and Catelyn both listened intently. "All the things men do to show you how much they care." She added sardonically. "The boy looked just like him. Such a little thing. A bird without feathers. They came to take his body away and Robert held me. I screamed and I battled, but he held me. That little bundle." Ana could see tears building in her Mother's eyes, feeling tears building in her own as that familiar feeling of loss filled her; a loss that she never felt she truly knew, but felt all the same over her twin. "They took him away and I never saw him again. Never have visited the crypt, never." She finished as she looked over to Catelyn, her eyes distant one more. "I pray to the Mother every morning and night that she return your child to you."

"I am grateful." Catelyn replied, clearly unsure of what else to say in that moment.

"Perhaps this time she'll listen." Cersei added coldly, clearly still feeling the loss of her own boy. "My daughter has told me she has decided to stay with you here in Winterfell, to help as she can." Cersei spoke up once more after a long silence. Catelyn looked to Ana with a mixture of surprise and gratefulness.

"She does us a great honour, and a great help." Catelyn replied warmly as she smiled at Ana, and Ana was able to offer her a small smile in return. "Thank you, Princess. I'm sure Robb will be most happy to hear this news as well. I will tell him when he comes to visit next." She murmured, looking back to her son Bran.

"We will leave you to your prayers then, Lady Stark." Cersei bowed her head slightly in respect, before turning and leaving the room, Ana following silently behind her.

"You miss him, don't you?" Ana murmured quietly once they were far enough away from the room.

"With all my heart, every day." Cersei replied just as quietly, and the women continued on down the stairs in silence.

Robb Stark

Robb frowned as he walked through the courtyard, the servants all moving around frantically to make sure that everything was ready to go for his Father's departure to King's Landing. He moved through the mud, looking up at the walls and his mind drifted to Bran once more, thinking of how he used to climb them so effortlessly it used to make him envious. He would do anything just to see him wake. He glanced over towards the King's party, momentarily surprised when he saw Ana there, helping the servants organize her family's things, whilst apparently having them take away a few trunks in the process and bring them back into his home.

"Princess Ana?" Robb asked as he walked up, looking on curiously. "What are you doing out here?" He frowned a little more in concern, noticing that she didn't have a heavy fur cloak on, the one she was wearing was far too thin for this weather.

"Robb!" Ana gasped a little in shock as she spun quickly, almost losing her footing in the mud. "By the Gods, you frightened me!" She exclaimed, pressing her hand to her heaving chest. Robb held his hands up in apology, holding back a chuckle of amusement at the startled look on her face.

"I assure you that wasn't my intention." Robb replied gently. "But you still didn't answer my question."

"I'm making sure things are where they should be." Ana answered easily as she pulled her cloak a little tighter around herself. "I…I don't know if Lady Catelyn has had time to speak with you on this matter, but I am not leaving with my family for King's Landing." She looked up to him kindly. "I'm going to stay here with you and your Mother, to help where I can." Robb looked shocked at her.

"You are?" He asked, still shocked by the news. "But what about your family? Surely you'll miss them?" He frowned, realizing he might have said the wrong thing then as he saw her green eyes well up slightly with tears.

"I will." Ana cleared her throat as her voice cracked with emotion. "But you're my family now too. Your family needs me more right now than my family. Perhaps, when Bran is better," Robb's heart leapt with hope slightly that she seemed to think he would get better, "and your Mother feels more capable to take back her duties, I will go and visit home before our wedding." Ana shrugged her shoulders. "I mean…are you okay with me staying?" She asked meekly then, her hands clasped in front of her nervously.

"Yes!" Robb blurted out, fighting back a blush when he realized how loudly he had said it when Ana jumped. "Yes, I'm definitely glad to have you here to help." He finished in a calmer voice, before frowning when he noticed her shake with a chill."We need to get you thicker clothes made and a better cloak. That won't keep you warm here in the North." He murmured as he quickly grabbed his own cloak and threw it around her shoulder's before Ana could protest.

"Now you'll be cold!" Ana frowned deeply as she shook her head. "Please, Robb, I'll be heading inside any moment now. I just need to oversee a few more details-"

"Don't argue with me on this." Robb cautioned her then gently. "Let me do this one gentlemanly thing to make up for how I acted that night at the feast. Please." He added as he watched her intently, able to tell he had won the argument as her shoulders slumped slightly and her body relaxed under his cloak.

"Alright. I'll have a servant return this to you the moment I am inside." She replied then as he smiled a bit and nodded, reaching forward and taking her hand. Ana watched him curiously as he bowed, his lips meeting the skin of the back of her hand as he did.

"Until later, Princess Ana." Robb replied easily, standing up straight and noticing the flush that was spreading from her cheeks down her neck, and he knew it wasn't coming from the cold. He fought back a masculine sense of pride as he stepped away then, seeing Jon walking from the stable with his horse's saddle. Robb bowed his head once more, leaving the Princess speechless, before heading over towards his brother.

"You've said goodbye to Bran? He's not going to die, I know it." Robb told Jon confidently, feeling even more sure of it after hearing Ana believing the same.

"You Starks are hard to kill." Jon joked with him then as Robb smirked shaking his head.

"My Mother?" He asked then, looking a little troubled, knowing how she treated Jon.

"She was very kind." Jon replied easily, and Robb smiled, though he knew better than to believe him fully.

"Good. Next time I see you, you'll be all in black." Robb commented as Jon smirked.

"It was always my colour." He replied easily, setting his saddle on his horse before turning back to Robb. Jon and Robb embraced then, knowing that they wouldn't be seeing each other for a very, very long time. Robb had always considered Jon his brother, bastard or not, and he wished he would stay in Winterfell, but he could understand why Jon had to leave.

"Farewell, Snow." He murmured to his brother, before pulling back from the hug.

"And you Stark."

Ana Baratheon

Watching the carriage leave with her family that day had been the hardest sight that she had endured in a very long time. She had managed to retain herself through her goodbyes to her Father and siblings, but when she came to her Mother, she couldn't help letting a couple tears fall. Luckily her Mother understood, and instead of lecturing her, simply hugged her and told her how much she was going to miss her while Ana was gone.

Two days have passed since then, and things were finally settling into a pace that Ana was becoming familiar with. She would break fast with Robb and his younger brother Rickon in the mornings, before going up to Bran's room to sit with Catelyn for a few hours. Most often the women didn't talk, and Ana simply sat there for support, offering to watch Bran if Catelyn wished to go and relieve herself for a while. Catelyn always was polite about rejecting Ana's offer, but rejected it nonetheless. Ana was beginning to worry for the woman. It wasn't healthy for her to be in this room, day in and day out, worrying and grieving as she was. When the sun began to fall from high noon, Ana would then retire herself from Bran's room and find Rickon to take him off of Robb's hands for a little while. The poor boy was a mess, crying all the time because he didn't understand where is Mother was and what was going on with Bran. Ana would be able to sooth him, but only for a while. Robb assured her that this was happening with him too, and it wasn't Ana's fault that Rickon remained so upset.

Then, after she would put Rickon to sleep at night, she would go to the dining hall and meet Robb for some tea. They would discuss matters regarding Bran, and his Mother, and what might happen in the next couple of weeks if Catelyn continued to refuse to do her duties. Robb was sure he would be able to handle it, and Ana did not doubt it. She was quickly learning that Robb was far more responsible than most men his age, something she wished her own brother Joffrey would soon learn.

On the second night Ana decided to check in on Catelyn one last time before she retired to bed. Hoping that perhaps she could finally convince the woman to rest in her own chambers while Ana watched over Bran.

"Talk to Poole about it." Ana heard Catelyn's tired voice come from within the room as she walked in, surprised to see that Catelyn was not alone. Maester Luwin was standing in the room, obviously trying to get Catelyn to see reason.

"Poole went south with Lord Stark, my Lady." Maester Luwin replied. "We need a new steward, and there are several other appointments that require our immediate attention…"

"I'll make the appointments." Robb's voice came from behind Ana, causing her to jump slightly, startled. "We'll talk about it first thing in the morning."

"Very good, my Lord. My Lady. Your Grace." Maester Luwin made his exit then as Robb walked across the room, looking at his Mother with concern.

"When was the last time you left this room?" He asked then as Ana glanced over to him. He looked to her and Ana shook her head, signalling to him that Catelyn hadn't left the room once since Bran's fall. Robb sighed, going for the window and opening it, hearing the dire wolves howling below. The fresh night air felt good on his face compared to the stuffy room.

"I have to take care of him." Catelyn replied earnestly then as Ana frowned deeply in concern.

"My Lady, if you do not take care of yourself as well, then you won't be able to take care of Bran." Ana told her as she walked over to her chair, kneeling next to the arm of it and looking up to Catelyn's weary face. "I can see the dark circles under your eyes, Catelyn. Whatever little sleep you are getting, it's not restful." She sighed.

"He's not going to die, Mother. Maester Luwin says the most dangerous time has passed." Robb tried to reason with her as well. "Ana or I can look after Bran for an evening while you eat and rest."

"What if he's wrong?" Catelyn burst out. "Bran needs me!"

"Rickon needs you!" Robb frowned back at her, his concern edging into annoyance. Ana frowned at him, giving him a look that told him to calm down, but he neither cared or never saw her look. "He doesn't know what's happening. He follows me around all day, clutching my leg, crying." Catelyn looked near tears as she shook her head almost violently, the howling getting even louder outside.

"My Lady, we would call for you the minute anything changes-" Ana began.

"Close the windows!" Catelyn interrupted, nearly hysterical in the moment. "Please make them stop!" She cried then as she placed her hands over her ears. Ana frowned as she stood, heading over to the window to close it as Robb stood almost frozen by it.

"What is the matter?" She asked then in alarm, seeing the look of shock on his face.

"Fire!" Robb stated urgently, moving from the window and past Ana. "Both of you stay here, I'll come back!" He ordered, leaving the room in a hurry.

Ana sighed heavily, closing the window then as she could see the glow of a fire near what she thought was library. She sighed as she looked over, before screaming then in fright as she saw a hooded man come through the doorway.

"You're not supposed to be here, either of you." The man stated ominously as Catelyn slowly stood from her chair, shaking. Ana shook as well, before her eyes caught something shinning. They darted to the man's hand, where a blade was being held. "It's a mercy. He's dead already."

"No!" Catelyn's scream filled the room as Ana acted on instinct. She rushed forward as Catelyn moved to block the man from getting near Bran. She moved to push at the man hard, but he moved faster, slashing his knife at Ana and, catching her forearm as she brought it up as a reflex to cover her face. She felt him shove her then, grunting as she fell to the floor, turning over quickly as she paled seeing Catelyn pinned against his chest, her hands on the blade itself to stop it from cutting through her neck.

"CATELYN!" Ana screamed watching as she fought against the man, biting into his hand, before he moved and threw her to the ground as well. Ana went to move to fling herself over Bran's body, but before she could, one of the dire wolves came bounding into the room. She watched in shock as Bran's wolf tackled the assassin to the ground and began to viciously tear at his throat. Ana stood shakily, moving over to Catelyn and helping her to stand as well, wincing as she saw the blood from her hands running down her forearms. Without words the ladies clung to one and other as the man's pained screams filled the room, blood flowing from his neck where the dire wolf had ripped it apart as he died slowly. The wolf looked up once he was dead, looking back to the two women with the man's blood coating the fur around her mouth, before she jumped onto Bran's bed and lay by his still body, obviously meaning to still protect him.

"By the Gods, that dire wolf just saved Bran's life." Ana gasped then as she looked to Catelyn, who looked back at her just as shocked. She moved her over towards her chair then, helping her to sit down in it, Ana's own legs shaking as well.

"Ana, you're bleeding!" Catelyn pointed out weakly.

"So are you." Ana replied evenly, taking Catelyn's hands and looking over them. "They are clean cuts, though, thankfully." She murmured as she bit her lip, looking over as a servant came stumbling through the door.

"We heard screaming-" The maid began frantically, before stopping as her eyes landed on the dead body of the assassin.

"Send for Maester Luwin and Lord Stark." Ana directed the maid, frowning as the poor woman didn't move, still shocked. "NOW!" Ana shouted, instantly hating herself for losing her temper as she did. The maid jumped nonetheless, and rushed from the room to do as Ana bid.

"Bran, please, check on Bran." Catelyn murmured weakly, the adrenaline gone for her. Ana looked over to the bed, making a move towards it, but the dire wolf growled in warning.

"Bran is fine so long as he has that dire wolf of his protecting him. I don't think she'll let me near him right now, Catelyn." Ana replied, before looking over to the doorway as Maester Luwin came rushing in.

"My Lady." He gasped as soon as he saw the scene before him, ignoring the body on the floor and moving to Catelyn's side. He set his pack down, grabbing some clean bandages from it and barking to the same maid as before to get some water and bring it to the room to boil. "What happened?" He asked then as he glanced between the women and the body on the ground, laying in his own pool of blood.

"That man tried to kill my son." Catelyn answered weakly as Ana shook, clasping onto her own bleeding forearm.

"He…he came out of nowhere, as soon as Robb left the room to the fire." Ana murmured as she trembled, and Maester Luwin looked at her with concern as well.

"Your Grace, you're hurt." He frowned deeply at Ana as well, moving towards her now and gently removing her hand so he could look at her arm.

"I am fine for now, Maester. Tend to Catelyn." Ana replied, albeit a little weakly. "Please." She added a little more firmly, the maid rushing in with the water to boil over the fire finally.

"As you wish." Maester Luwin nodded, moving over towards Catelyn once more. It was mere seconds later that Robb came rushing through the door as well, his eyes frantically taking in the scene before him.

"What happened here?" He demanded, his voice hard and his face filled with fury. Ana watched him, feeling a shiver crawl down her spine for a new reason. Robb Stark was clearly not someone to cross. His steeled gaze turned to his Mother, noticing her hands, before looking to Ana. She watched his mouth drop then in worry as he no doubt saw the blood on her forearm. He made it to her in no more than three strides, taking her arm in his deceptively gentle hands, despite the anger that was showing in his eyes.

"Someone came to murder your brother." Maester Luwin spoke up when neither Catelyn nor Ana could clearly find the words. "It appears his dire wolf had an issue with that." He added dryly, motioning to the giant dog on Bran's bed, and the body with it's throat ripped out below him.

"I-I tried to push him out of the room, down the stairs, but he caught me with his knife and shoved me down." Ana's voice shook as Robb looked sharply back to her. He could feel her form trembling from where he stood in front of her, looking for somewhere to set her down quickly then. He saw another chair, by the window, and let her go to grab it, dragging it past the dead body and over closer to the fire and his Mother, setting Ana down in it gently.

"Then I tried to stop him as well, he tried to slice my neck, but I caught his blade in my hands. He overpowered me, and nearly got to Bran, before his wolf came in and saved us all." Catelyn finished, her voice sounding a little stronger now as the Maester started to clean her wounds and dress them.

"Why on earth would anyone want to kill Bran?" Robb asked, looking between the two women. "What could Bran possibly have done?"

"Perhaps it isn't what Bran has done, but what he might know." Catelyn replied ominously, and Ana frowned deeply at that thought. Then, it suddenly hit her.

Bran fell for the first time ever while her family was visiting Winterfell. She glanced towards Catelyn, seeing Catelyn looking at her in a new way, a way that Ana wasn't sure she quite felt comfortable with.

Would Catelyn Stark really accuse her family of Bran's fall and near assassination?

As always, please review with your thoughts!

Until later,

Tiggs1990