Alandria walked down the halls in search for Aemon. She had run into Helena several times throughout the day, each time bearing a message from Robb to go see him. Alandria ignored each of the five messages to avoid trouble with her family.
"Aly! Wait a moment!" Helena paced quickly behind Alandria, panting from the messages she had been sent to deliver all day.
"Another one already?" Alandria sighed as she turned to see her friend catch up to her, holding out parchment towards her.
"This one is from Aemon." She handed the parchment to Alandria and watched her open it up.
"I've been at this all day, my lady." Helena brushed a strand of messy hair from the front of her face to behind her ear, and then placed her hands on her hips with a sigh.
Council Room. Be quick about it for once.
Alandria read the short letter in the voice she would have imagined her brother saying it to her.
"He want me at the council room at once." Alandria furrowed her eyebrows as she looked up at Helena.
"Well off we go then!" Helena began to walk towards the direction to the council room.
"We?"
"To each of the seven hells with this, my lady! With all respect… The whole northern land has had me chasing after you. This ends now! I'm going to see that you do what you're told."
Alandria lightly laughed.
"Seven hells, you've gone mad. I do apologize my sweet Helena." A grin remained on her face.
"See what you do to me, child? Off we go now, at once!" Helena waved her hands, rushing Alandria towards the council room, where she had been told to meet her brother.
Once they had arrived, Helena left Alandria's side to find a quiet place to relax.
Alandria pushed open the closed heavy doors to see her brother wasn't alone. On a wooden round table, a map of all Westeros spread across it. Hovering around the table was Aemon, leaning against it with both of his palms, Theon, looking pensive with his hand on his mouth, Catalyn Stark, who had seemed just as sullen as her own father, and Robb, with his arms crossed, his eyes just as cold as she had first seen them when watching him speak to Walder; They were accompanied by a couple more men that Alandria couldn't recognize.
Why did you have me come in here Aemon?
The sound of the heavy door creaking caused every pair of eyes to fall on her, she froze in place uncomfortably.
"There you are, Helena was finally able to catch you, I see." Aemon smiled at her invitingly; a warm attempt to make her comfortable.
"Reaching her does prove to be a challenge." Robb looked at her with a glare, followed by a smirk.
At least he isn't mad. The last thing I need is to add the King of the North to the list of people who hate me.
"What did you need me for?"
"This is my sister, Alandria. We speak of the south daily during sword practice. She has ideas that I thought you should hear." Aemon pulled her gently closer to the group of visitors.
What are you doing? They're not supposed to know about me.
"On what exactly?" Alandria looked at Robb, hoping he'd help enlighten her.
"We're making plans on our next moves against the Lannisters. Tywin is waiting for our next move, but now without doing anything…."
"….Villages in the north are being raided." Alandria finished his sentence.
"Everyone is claiming themselves King, Renly and Stannis being among them." Aemon added.
"Yes, it's clear that you must come to some terms with them if possible. The more alliances you can make, the stronger you are against the Lannisters." Alandria said as she looked at the map.
"But it looks to me you have plans for them already." She finished ash she looked up at Theon Greyjoy looking at her suspiciously.
"Yes, I'm a spy for Renly and Shannis." She said to him sarcastically, causing Aemon to chuckle. She looked up to see Robb grinning at her.
"You forget one piece of the puzzle though…" Alandria pointed at the map.
"Across the water… Some Dothraki follow the last Targaryan."
Silence fell. Aemon smiled at his sister proudly.
"The Queen of Dragons…" She added. "If you have her on your side… or at least against the Lannisters, you'd be nearly unstoppable."
Theon scoffed at her.
"Dragons have been dead for centuries."
This time everyone was looking at Theon as if he said something stupid too soon.
"True, until now. She has three young dragons on her side of the war, whatever side she chooses. At this point she has her own. But having the fact that Jamie Lannister slayed her father, no matter how mad he was. She will have a score to settle. She will want to return home, which by her own rights is in Kings Landing."
"How do you know all this?" Robb asked at he looked at her in a certain manner that she hadn't received by many; A manner that gave her credit.
"Being who I am, I have the time to keep up with these things."
"Then who are you exactly?" Catelyn asked.
"Alandria Rivers, m'lady."
"A bastard child from the Riverlands?" Catelyn asked with a look of surprise, and almost disgust.
"Mother-…" Robb snapped at her, as to avoid offending her.
"It's fine, it's true."
"Is that what they call bastards from the Riverlands?" Theon asked curiously.
"Yes."
"Their names are after the land they were born in." Robb said impatiently and uncomfortably to Theon.
"You knew?" Alandria asked, remembering she had introduced herself as such to him, her nervousness getting the best of her.
"Yes, it's fine." He said to her quietly as he placed his hand on her arm.
"Is there anything else you need of me?" She asked the group surrounding the table.
"As of now, no." Catelyn said curtly.
"You've helped us more than you know, we have much to discuss, thank you, Alandria." Robb gave her the look of credit that she loved so much.
"Your welcome." She bowed her head and headed for the door, Robb following her. As she got to the other side of the heavy doors, Robb stopped her by gently grabbing her arm.
"Why did you ignore me?"
"Pardon?"
"Five times."
Alandria gave him a guilty look. "Do you want the truth or what I was planning to tell you?"
"Both, I'm interested in what you've come up with." Robb had a smirk in his eyes.
"I was going to tell you I've been so busy meeting with others who wanted to see me as well."
"And the truth?"
"…That actually is the truth come to think of it. I suppose the true truth is the one with more detail."
"And?"
"I've been told to ignore you, or else." Alandria sighed; she was denying herself just as much as she denied him.
"Or else what?"
It's complicated, Robb… It's best for me."
"I just want to speak with you. Is that too much?"
Yes.
"No. It shouldn't be." Alandria admitted with a submissive smile.
"Then do me the favor." Robb didn't look as cold speaking to her as he did when he was speaking about his duties as King of the North.
"I shall be at the feast."
Robb smiled with a relieved sigh."I look forward to it."
"And so do I."
"One request…" Alandria said before heading off.
"Yes?"
"Call me Frey in the presence of my family. Or else it'll be the end for me."
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Alandria stepped out of her bedchamber in a long deep blue gown; her long black curled hair was loose over one shoulder. Her brother waited to accompany her to the feast outside the door, in seeing her he smiled.
"You look beautiful, sister."
"Shut up." She said with a playful smile.
Side by side they walked to the dining hall.
"I can't believe I let it slip."
"Let what slip?" Aemon furrowed his brows.
"That I'm a bastard child. Father will be furious."
"No he won't."
"Yes. I'm quite sure he will."
"Robb had a stern talking to with everyone in the room after you left. Had his king voice on." Aemon said with a grin.
Alandria looked up at him curiously.
"Said that they were to call you Alandria Frey, because that's the house that raised you and you belong to, and if he hears anyone call you rivers, he'll have no use of them anymore."
Alandria looked at her brother in shock.
"He said that?"
"All for you sister." Aemon said as he patted her shoulder happily. "You forget he has great love and respect for his brother, Jon Snow. Bloodlines make no matter to him."
"I don't think I'm ready for this dinner…" Alandria admitted nervously.
"Don't fret, just take my lead, avoid our mad sister, and don't forget to speak to the King, he's been waiting for you to do so."
"You know?" Alandria's cheeks turned pink.
"I was with the man the whole day. I watched him send every letter to you." He laughed. Alandria covered her face with her hands.
Is Robb Stark trying to get me killed?
"I had my own matters to discuss with you actually…"
"What are they?" Alandria asked, looking up at him.
"The reason I've been with him all day…" Helena rushed over to them, interrupting Aemon.
"Are you two purposely walking the pace of snails, off you go! You're going to be late!" Helena looked even madder than when Alandria last saw her.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x
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