AN: All rights are reserved to their rightful owners. This is my first Game of Thrones story, I'm basing it slightly more of the TV Series as I have watched them and have not finished reading the books yet. I appreciate all reviews, and constructive criticism is welcome but if you are going to be horrible I would rather you do not. I hope you enjoy it and I am going to try hard to update regularly. Chapter Title is No Light by Florence and the Machine. Thank you for all the reviews and follows :D. I am going back to uni today, so i am going to try and get as much pre written as i can beofre the work starts getting heave. However do not fear I am still updating. xx

No Bravery in Your Eyes

Chapter 7 - Tell Me What You Want Me to Say …

The hour was late; another day that passed in equal measures quickly and painfully slow. The sky was dark and seemed to go on forever. A blanket of black that surrounded the whole of Westeros, from the south to the north. Aliana stood at the entrance of the tent looking to the stars. Robb stood somewhere to her right talking to one Lord or another, her plan to learn there names had so far been unsuccessful. She was distracted trying to remember the constellations her eldest brother dutifully repeated night after night to soothe the young girl after nightmares. Robb placed a hand on her shoulder making her jump. She turned to him, a smirk lacing his features.

"Is scaring me amusing to you, Your Grace"

"Only slightly, M'Lady" he smiled taking her elbow and leading her to the chair to the right of his. She sat as Robb did. He was at the head of the table, his hand clenched together chin resting on them. His gaze was hard and serious his presence commanded the room. A wave of pride flushed through her. Soon enough a young not unhandsome man was bought into the tent and made to stand in front of Robb. He kept his head down and was polite of a man in his position.

"Your Ser Alton Lannister" Robb asked.

"I am Your Grace"

"I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms. First your family must release my sisters. Second my father's bones must be returned to Winterfell so he can rest beside his brother and his sister in the crypt beneath Winterfell. And all those who died in his service must also be returned, there families cannot bury them without proper funerals."

"All honorable request Your Grace"

"And Joffery and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to the dominion of the North from this time till the end of time we are a free independent Kingdom."

The boy's eyes widened, looking at Robb as if he had lost sense of his mind. This made Aliana hold back a chuckle. Robb's face was deadly serious, and Greatjon smiled from the other side of Robb.

"The King of the North" he nodded like a proud father.

"The King of the North" they chorused

"Neither Joffery or any of his men will step foot in our lands ever again. If he disregards these commands he shall receive the same fate as my father only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me." Robb continued. Aliana looked over to him, the anger evident in his eyes. Aliana placed her hand on the arm of Robb's chair. He sat back in his chair, bumping her fingers with his elbow to acknowledge her attention and turned to the boy watching for his reaction.

"These are… Your Grace these are…" the boy tripped over his words.

Robb stood, his seat scrapping against the floor. Alton Lannister cowered as Robb towered over him, fearing he may show him his promise that he does his own executions.

"These are my terms if the Queen Regent and her son meet them I shall give them peace if not I shall litter the south with Lannister dead."

"King Joffery is a Baratheon Your Grace"

"Oh aye is he?" No one tried to refute this so Robb once again spoke "You'll ride at day break Ser Alton, My fiancé will see you get proper fed and prepared for your ride." He motioned to Aliana at his side.

"I thank you now My Lady" he said to Aliana

She nodded in acknowledgment and stood as well.

"That will be all for tonight." Robb said dismissing his men.

Soon all the men filtered out but Theon, Aliana placed a hand on his shoulder in passing. She stopped behind Robb leaning against him. The muscles in Robb's shoulders relaxed as Aliana rubbed her hand down his spine.

"I need you to go prepare the travel supplies, Love"

Aliana nodded rubbing her cold cheeks against the wool of his cloak warmed by his back. Aliana slipped out form behind Robb and left the tent. Theon was still there when she left drinking from his flagon, Aliana caught him out of the corner of her eye. Aliana went down the side of the tent, hiding her small body in the folds of the material hiding her body from prying eyes, and those that would catch her spying.

"A word Your Grace" Theon asked

"You don't have to call me Your Grace when no one's around" Robb smiled.

"It's not so bad once you get used to it"

"Well I'm glad someone's gotten used to it"

"Lannister's are going to reject your terms you know"

"Of course they are" Robb said slightly offended that Theon believed he did not know this.

"You can fight them in the fields as long as you like, but we won't beat them until you take Kings Landing and we can't take Kings Landing without ships. My father has ships and men who know how to sail them"

"Men who fought my father" Robb's voice rose in anger.

"Men who fought King Robert to free them self form the yolk of the South just like your doing now. I'm his only living son he'll listen to me. I know he will. I'm not a Stark I know that but your father raised me to be an honorable man. We can avenge him together"

Aliana shivered, it was a good speech. Theon should have been proud. Something however didn't sit right with his words in Aliana's mind. She had a bad feeling about this. She knew what men would do for their fathers, Robb only had to look in the mirror to see. She had grown up around enough siblings to know that if her father asked of them they would chop of their own arm for the chance of being the Lord of the Crossings. She sighed heavily and turned around to gather the supplies asked Robb asked of her.

She placed the last wrapped package into the saddlebag and lugged the heavy bag back to the stables giving it to one of the guards, who took it placing it on a table thanking her. She nodded and took her leave of the makeshift stable.


Aliana trudged back to the tent she shared with Catelyn more than content to fall into bed and not move until the sun rose. Her muscles ached and her eyes were heavy. The smoke from the many torches dotted around camp did nothing for her comfort. She pulled apart the curtain, to see an agitated Catelyn rushing backwards and forwards, while Robb sat in a chair.

"You don't want Balon Greyjoy as an ally" Catelyn cried out indignity.

"I need his ships, they say he has 200"

"They say a million rats live in the sewers of Kings landing. Shall we rally them to fight for us? Hello Aliana" was Catelyn's answer.

"My Lady" she curtsied before walking over to Robb who held out his arms for her. She settled into his arms her body relaxing into his warmth. Her heavy eyelids drooped. Robb brushed her hair from her face letting her bury her face in the crook of his neck.

"I understand you don't trust Lord Greyjoy" Robb said after pressing a kiss to Aliana's temple.

"I don't trust Lord Greyjoy because he is untrustworthy. Your father had to go to war to end his rebellion"

"Yes and now I am the one rebelling against the throne and before me it was father you married one rebel and mothered another" the argument continued.

Aliana suppressed a groan as the two stubborn Starks argued in front of her. They yelling much too loud for her liking.

"I mothered more than just rebels a fact you seem to have forgotten"

"If I trade the Kingslayer for two girls my banner man will string me up by my feet"

"You want to leave Sansa in the Queens hands and Arya I haven't heard a word about Arya. What are we fighting for if not for them?"

"Its more complicated than that you know it is" Robb said angrily.

A stiff silence fell over the three of them. Catelyn turned her back on the couple and sighed.

"Its time for me to go home, I haven't seen Bran or Rickon in months" Catelyn answered.

"You can't go to Winterfell,"

"I beg your pardon" Catelyn said angrily.

"I'll send Roderick to watch over the boys," Robb said playing with the ends of Aliana's braid absently while talking to his mother.

"Cause tomorrow you will ride south to the Stormlands"

"Why in the name in all the gods would you…" Catelyn started.

"I need you to negotiate with Renly Baratheon, he's rallied an army of 100 thousand and you know him, you know his family. I haven't seen Renly Baratheon since he was a boy. You have a 100 other lords…"

"Which of these Lords do I trust more than you? If Renly sides with us we'll out number them 2 -1 when they feel the jaws beginning to shut they'll side for peace and we'll get the girls back and we'll all go home for good" Robb said, lifting Aliana from his lap, who grumbled in protest. He pressed his lips to her head. He stood and walked over to his mother, his eyes boring into hers. The eyes that he had inherited from her a silent battle that only one pair could win.

"I will ride at first light" Catelyn conceded.

Robb took Catelyn in his arms, holding on to her squeezing her body tight and pressed a kiss to Catelyn's head.

"We'll all be together again soon. I promise."

"You have done so well your father would have been proud" Catelyn smiled.

"Aliana will you help me pack"

Aliana looked up from her seat. She nodded despite her body fighting the fatigue. Robb pressed his lips to hers lightly and made to leave.

"Give lord Renly my regards" he said

"King Renly, there's a king in every corner now" Catelyn complained. Robb left stalking from his mother. Aliana stood, placing a hand on Catelyn's shoulder and rushed out after Robb. He stopped when he heard her coming up behind him. He turned to Aliana and smiled.

"What is it with you and not wearing a cloak in the cold" Robb asked taking Aliana in his arms tucking her under his cloak as well.

"Bad habit" she smiled wrapping her arms around his waist.

Robb chuckled and buried his face in her hair.

"Are you okay Robb?"

"Yes, I want this to be over, I want to be back in Winterfell and I want to make you my wife"

Aliana smiled at his admission, his beautiful blue eyes boring into hers.

"Hmm," she agreed listening to the beat of his heart through his chest. Robb stroked her hair, holding her close to him.

"You should go help my mother pack,"

Aliana nodded pulling away from him. A hawk flew towards them, hidden in the night's sky, landing softly on Aliana's shoulder. She smiled at the bird that her father had gifted her on her sixteenth name day.

"That still amazes me" Robb said stroking the birds plumage. Aliana took the letter from its foot and untied it.

Aliana,

I would enquire after the health of you, your betrothed and his lady mother if I cared but I do not so I will get to the point. Your whore of a ladies maid has gotten herself with child. I do not want her but as a promise to her father I unfortunately have to look after her. I am sending her to you; she should arrive to you in a few days.

Your Lord Father

Aliana sighed heavily and handed Robb the letter, who looked at her questioningly.

"Theon" she said leaving to help Catelyn.

"Ali"

"I don't want to talk about it, when she told me I was disappointed this makes it all the worse, send him off and I will take responsibility for her. She's a sweet girl don't kick her away Robb … "

"Love, calm down it's alright" he said pressing a kiss to her head and guiding her back to the tent.

"Goodnight Robb"

"Goodnight Love," he said pressing a kiss to her lips and left to find Theon, who's stupid antics finally fathered him a child.