Elaine451: Thank you very much for reading, reviewing and following the story. For me it is very important to get the characters right, and I am glad you think I did ;)

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7) New resolutions.

Robb gathered all his bannermen and soldiers in the Main Hall. A decision had been reached and his men needed to be notified. He had been speaking with his father until late the night before. Having his father back made him see things more clearly.

"My loyal and trusted men, a few moons ago our hand was forced and we had no choice but to go to war. Our liege Lord, my father, had been falsely accused and arrested. We joined forces to rescue him. All our efforts appeared to for naught when word of his execution reached us. However, we need not have feared. We now know something the Lannisters do not. My father is indeed very much alive and here with us."

The men in the hall gasped in surprise as Ned Stark made his appearance.

"My loyal and trusted men, do not fear. This is not an apparition or an evil spirit. Nor is this a trick. My father, Lord Eddard Stark is indeed with us. He escaped the Black Cells and made his way to us. He was fortunate enough to find my sister Arya on the way and they have both reached the safety of these walls. We need not go to King's Landing now."

"Yet, we cannot forget there is a war raging outside our walls. We cannot forget what the Lannisters have done to us and our people in the Riverlands. This has been called the War of the Five Kings. There's the bastard King Joffrey Waters sitting on the Iron Throne. We have no use for him."

When the booing and jeering died down he continued. "Yes, we have no use for him. There was also King Renly who met an untimely death under mysterious circumstances. King Balon Greyjoy, father to Theon Greyjoy, the turncoat who attacked our homes in the North and killed our people, including my brothers, a boy of ten who could not even walk and a boy of five who posed no threat to him. We have no use for the Greyjoys."

Again, he waited for the booing and jeering to die down and continued. "That leaves us and Stannis. When we first started out, we had no intentions of ruling over the Seven Kingdoms. You crowned me King in the North. I have no intentions of sitting on the god-awful iron chair. My place is in the North. My house is in Winterfell. But do not misunderstand my words, the Lannisters need to be defeated. Stannis believes he is the rightful heir to the throne. His brother Robert was King, and when he died the throne would legally pass on to his trueborn son. However, the boy sitting on the throne is a bastard with no claim to the throne. The crown should have gone to Stannis. As the only surviving brother of King Robert, he is the only rightful heir to the throne. If we join Stannis, we can amass an army large enough to defeat the Lannisters, we will rid our lands of the usurpers and put the right person on the throne. We will be achieving what my father set out to do from the beginning. With Stannis as King of the Seven Kingdoms, we will be able to return to our homes and live our lives with the dignity only the rightful King can afford us. Are you with me on this?"

The cheering and clapping rang all over the hall.

"Are you with me on this?" he cried again.

"Yes!" and a loud roar echoed in the room.

"Are we ready to support the rightful King and rid our lands of this scourge that are the Lannisters?"

"Yes!" replied an even louder roar.

"To victory!" Robb claimed as he raised his cup.

"To victory" chanted the men raising their cups and thumping their chests.

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"Well met son, I'm proud of you" Ned told his son. He was content his son would never be King of the Seven Kingdoms. This folly of King in the North was just the Northern rage speaking. The Starks were not meant to be Kings, they were not meant for the heat and comfort of the South. They were meant for the cold and the ice of the North.

"These are your men, father. They raised their arms to rescue you."

"They are your men now, Lord Robb Stark." Ned knew his son was right. He should be the one leading the Northern men now, but he felt his son had earned his place. Robb had done well in his absence and he could not take that away from him now. Besides, now he was there to lead him and guide him in the right direction should he veer off track or make a wrong decision. He felt somewhat guilty about their conversation the night before. Robb had felt very proud of his resolution to join Stannis, but he didn't know how easily his father had cajoled him. "Come on, let's write a message to Stannis pledging our support."

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"King Stannis,

Circumstances have changed. There have been developments in our camp you should be aware of. Despite evidence to the contrary, my father, Lord Eddard Stark is very much alive. The North and the Riverlands decline all claims to the throne and pledge our allegiance to King Stannis Baratheon, the rightful heir to the Throne. If we meet our forces at Harrenhall by the end of this month, we can march together on King's Landing and defeat the Lannister forces.

Awaiting your prompt reply,

Robb Stark.

Lord of Winterfell

Lord Eddard Stark and Lord Edmure Tully"

Not trusting ravens with such an important message, Robb gathered two of his most trusted riders and instructed them to go to Dragonstone and hand this message to Stannis in person.

"Your Grace, I've been thinking" started Edmure.

"Uncle, I'm not King any more" smiled Robb warmly.

"Yes .. being uncle to the King had a nice ring to it. Anyways, I fear our armies together might not be enough. Many of Renly's men have joined the Tyrells, and they will surely join the Lannisters in King's Landing. If we involve the Martells we stand a much better chance" suggested Edmure.

"Uncle, you are right."

"Let me go negotiate with them. Given the history between your families and everything that transpired with Elia Martell during Robert's rebellion, they might be more inclined to listen to me. The Tullys and Martells have always been on good terms. I can sail down the river to the Saltpans and take a ship to Sunspear. I reckon I can be there in about ten days" continued Edmure.

"All right. Go and speak to Prince Oberyn. Tell them we will meet Stannis's army in Harrenhall and march on King's Landing. Instruct them to attack from the south or from the sea. We need to coordinate our attacks. If we stick to our plan, we could be at the gates of the city by the end of next month."

"I'll leave in an hour." Edmure was feeling proud of himself. After the debacle of the mill he felt the need to prove himself to Robb. By all accounts, he shouldn't have to bow and prove himself to his nephew, a boy almost half his age. But he had made a mistake and needed to atone for it. Besides, boy or not, he was his Lord at the moment, and until about an hour ago had been his King.

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Robb made his way to his room. He felt elated. He had the support of his men, and most importantly, his father. His father was proud of him and they were setting the course for victory. Things were finally starting to shape up. He was in the mood for celebrating and he wanted his wife, Jeyne.

"My love," he called her as he closed the door behind him "we will be finishing this war soon."

"Yes, so I have heard."

"You do not sound pleased"

"You were going to be King. Why did you back down? Your claim is rightful."

"No it's not. Stannis is the rightful heir. I just wanted my father back."

"How can you stoop so low as to support Stannis?"

"We don't need the crown. We'll be together in Winterfell. You'll love the place."

"No Robb, you were meant to be King."

"And you were meant to be Queen?" he asked suspiciously.

"Yes. Don't you see it?"

"Is that all you wanted?"

"Yes. No, my love, I want you. But I want you to be King."

"I do not wish to be King." After a long silence he continued "Do you still want me if I'm not King?" When she remained quiet he finally ordered her out. "Get out"

"No Robb"

"Yes, get out. You've never loved me. You just wanted the crown. Get out. Now!"

He broke down as soon as she closed the door behind her. By nightfall she and her whole entourage had left.

"If she only wanted your crown, she was not good for you, my son" his father consoled him.

TBC

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Next chapter: Ned and Cat's reunion.