Robb was sitting across from his father, Eddard Stark, seemingly lost in his own thoughts while his father was over-looking correspondence, a frown twisted age-old and war torn features, an expression that Eddard normally had when he was seated behind the over-sized desk. The silence hung between the two of them for several moments before it was Robb who broke the silence having pulled himself from his own mind.

"Father, surely your Hand can do this or even I can contend with these matters...if it displeases you so greatly." A smirk curving his lips as he watched his Father for a reaction but that smirk seemed to fade as he was met with no reaction at all save for a heavy hearted sigh from Eddard.

Eddard inhaled a breath before releasing it with another sigh as he shook his head, still he did not lift his eyes from the parchment within his hands. A moment later he finally spoke, his words kept low for the moment. "A great leader Robb does not force his duties onto someone else no matter how displeasing or difficult a particular task may be. As he sat down one piece of parchment he lifted another one in his hand, his expression changing almost instantly as he read the first and only line on the smaller parchment. Shaking his head a moment as Robb lifted a single dark brow.

"What is it Father?" Was all that Robb had asked a hint of concern or perhaps worry lingering with his words.

"Son..." There was a pause as Eddard lifted his eyes to his son who was now leaning forward in his chair, his expression remaining the same as he kept his eyes on his father, letting them drift between Eddard and the paper in his father's hand. With but a few words that were about to be spoken Eddard knew that his son was going to feel pain from this and yet he knew of no way to shield him from such a thing. This...could crush the spirit of the man who sat across from him.

"What...is...it?" He asked again, more concerned had found its way into his words and the look of worry was beginning to cripple his features as he sat perfectly still waiting for his father to give him word of what he had just read.

The words that followed that one little question was brief, yet Eddard knew those brief words were about to cause a great deal of pain to his son. No father ever wanted to cause such pain. Slowly Eddard rose from his chair behind the desk holding the piece of paper in his hand as he walked around the desk to stand in front of it; his eyes were lowering enough to look at Robb as he handed the parchment over. Though he held onto it a moment longer as he said very simply.

"It is Shoshanna." With that Eddard released the parchment as he saw the look of worry cripple Robb's face even more.

In that brief moment with just those three words, Robb stood so quickly that the chair rattled and almost toppled over. It was almost instant that a thousand thoughts began racing through his mind, and not a single one of those thoughts were good. Especially considering the look that his father had on his faced the moment he saw the parchment. Was she hurt? Captured? Or worse? Oh god he could not even think about the worse. Finally with a shaking hand he turned the parchment over and looked and the words written there. As he read the words, he found himself in disbelief and read them once more as several emotions began welling from deep inside of him. He stared at the words in silence for moments on end it seemed, still saying the same thing.

Princess Shoshanna is to wed King Viserys

That was all that the parchment had said but those words had twisted Robb's insides to the point it was almost unbearable and he was fighting hard to regain the breath that was so suddenly stolen from him. Shoshanna is marrying Viserys? Again he read the words, saying them over and over within his mind while shaking his head. It was all so sudden and he needed to sit down for fear of falling backwards into his chair, certainly then it would have toppled over.

"Viserys..." The name, the word tasted like venom in mouth and caused him to spit the bitter taste from his mouth, his eyes narrowed slowly for a moment as he turned them upwards to look at his father who was still standing there, leaning against his desk as he let his son's emotion run their course.

"I do not understand. Her father KNEW of my intentions yet he has allowed this atrocity to take place." He growled low as he balled the parchment up in his hand and tossed it to the ground at his feet in disgust.

"She won't permit this, she will refuse. I know she wills...she has to. Doesn't she?" A question that needed no answer as it was rhetorical.

"Has Shoshanna expressed the same amount of love for you that is clearly shown by you Robb?" Eddard had asked the question with gentle words as he could see the turmoil within his son's eyes.

"Yes, once...long ago Father. I felt it then just as I do now...I can feel her here with me even." Was the answer to his father's question even though Robb kept his eyes lowered to the ground. Still he was in a state of shock, an emotional storm gutting his insides.

"Listen Robb, I am uncertain as to what can be done about this. Perhaps I should discuss this with Bartoen, but I do not know if that will help matters...Bartoen might not even allow an audience. I will try though." Eddard explained as best as he could, but he knew all too well why Bartoen agreed to give his daughter's hand in marriage to Viserys. It was simple... And he was about to inform Robb of this as well.

"It is simple...Bartoen did this for Viserys's army." A simple nod confirming his words.

Robb lifted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he listened to his father's words. An army? If that was all that Bartoen wanted then he should have discussed it with the Starks...Not Viserys.

"We have an army..." Robb's voice was low and Eddard could hear the slight venom dripping from his son's words but even those words caused Eddard to shake his head slowly as he let go of the breath he had just inhaled...a low sigh being heard.

"Yes, we have an army. A powerful one but even that does not match the number of men Viserys has. His army outnumbers our own seven to one Robb. Should our armies wage war with one another the Starks would most certainly lose. THAT is what makes a strong leader...to know when to wage war and when to find other means to get what one wants." Eddard spoke as he moved from his seated position on the desk. He walked back around the over-size desk to retake his chair, his elbows propped up as he folded his hands together, his eyes studying his son's quiet expression.

"Our alliance with the young king must stay intact. I know what you are thinking and it is a bad decision. Think strongly before you make it son." The only reason Eddard had even the remote idea of what Robb was thinking was simple...it was a decision that he would make himself if he were in his son's position.

"I will speak to Bartoen Father. It is my place...not yours. This wrong must be righted, I cannot let it stand." In that moment Robb began to slowly rise from his chair but his movements were halted by the narrowed gaze of his father, a mere wave of Eddard's hand had Robb retake his seat as he listened.

"We will NOT wage a war Robb, not with Strokwen, nor King's Landing. I understand that you must speak with Bartoen, as would I. But you must control your temper beforehand. If the alliance is broken, or wars come from your discussion with the King. I will hold you personally responsible and in turn you will not like the outcome of what I will be forced to do. Do I make myself clear?" Eddard hated the fact that he must speak to his son in such a way but he knew Robb's temper was much like his own. A threat perhaps would be the only means of getting through to his son.

Robb did not reply, he merely sat there in perfect silence as he spoke the words again within his mind, this wedding was NOT going to take place. He simply refused to let it happen much less believe that this is what Shoshanna truly wanted. He knew her far better than anyone, perhaps at times even better than she knew herself. The woman he loved his whole life was going to be forced to marry another simply for the sake of gaining an army. By the Gods this would not come to pass!

"Robb Stark! Do I make myself clear?!" Eddard had finally raised his voice enough to bring his son from his thoughts, the raised voice had done the trick as Robb blinked several times with a shake of his head as if awakening from the daze of his own thoughts...but that did not stop his father's next words. "We...will...not...wage...a...ware!"

There was only thing that Robb could do. He merely nodded to appease his father because Robb had already made the decision on what he was going to do. Gods be with him as he was about to set his plans into motion and perhaps destroy an alliance as well as cause a war. Gods be with him indeed.

Lady Stark had heard the shouting by her husband and with her curiosity she entered the room to see her husband and son within the room. As Robb looked over his shoulder upon seeing his mother he rose from the chair as he made his way from the room with not so much as a word to Lady Stark. Her brows furrowed briefly as she watched her son leave, her arms crossing over her chest as she turned her eyes back to Eddard who at this time had buried his face within his hands releasing a deep sigh.

"What is all this shouting about?" Caitlyn asked as he made her way further into the room to stop near the chair that Robb had previously been sitting in. A moment of silence passed between husband and wife before she would ask the same words again. Eddard finally lifted his head and shook it once more before finally answering his beloved.

"Bartoen has traded Shoshanna's hand in marriage to Viserys for King's Landing's army." The words were simple and spoken just the same as he watched the expression on Caitlyn's face change.

"This cannot be!...How can Bartoen trade his daughter like this? Is there not something you can do about this? Talk to Bartoen yourself. He will listen to you. Make him understand Eddard." Caitlyn watched as Eddard shook his head again. He intended on speaking to Bartoen but Robb had suggested that it was not his place to do so since it was Robb that was in love with Shoshanna. This was something Robb must do on his own.

"Bartoen has become a different man since Brooke's death, my wife. I am afraid he will not listen to reason anymore. There is always a chance that he will not even grant me an audience with him, much as what I tried to explain to your son." Eddard was fighting with many different emotions right now but none would be able to lead him to the right decision in this matter. There was truly only one thing that he could possibly do. It was simple really. He needed to let Robb tend to this matter on his own, after all Robb was a grown man, a strong man. This was something he needed to do because it was the right thing to do and as much as Eddard wanted to right this injustice on his own, he decided it was best not to interfere.

Caitlyn watched her husband's expressions change from one to the next in the next moments as they stood there merely staring at one another. Finally she eased around to sit down in the chair that Robb had previously been sitting in. Her voice was softer now as she spoke. "I do not understand this though. Is Shoshanna actually agreeing to this union?"

"You know as much as we do. That was all that was written upon the parchment I had received earlier. I do not know anything for certain. What I do know however is this. There is going to be a war. Robb loves her more than his own life, and he will give that very life to ensure her hand in marriage is given to no one but himself. He has assured me that she too feels the same way for him. Nevertheless Caitlyn, Robb is going to start a war over this, so we must prepare ourselves." Just as he finished speaking he drew in a much needed breath and with that exhaled breath Caitlyn had begun to speak, silencing her husband's next words.

"Can you not see it within their eyes, my husband? They look at one another like there is no one else in Winterfell. As if they are the only two people in the world. If you look closely my love, they stare at one another just as you and I still look at each other." A pause within her words as her lips curved into a smile, it was a chain reaction as Eddard smiled for a brief moment. "Shoshanna and Robb are meant to be together. Whatever happens next. We will stand together as only Starks can."

"Perhaps it is merely young love. It is possible that they will grow out of it, perhaps with more time Robb will let this go and let Shoshanna marry Viserys. It would make this so much easier on everyone" Folding his hands together he placed them on the desk, but it was brief as he leaned back into his chair, his hands gripping the arms loosely.

"No Eddard, it is not young love. I know my son. I have seen the way he looks at her as I have seen how she looks at our son. She belongs to him as he does her. This will not change. Their love is only for one another, as no other will know such love from them. Truly you must see this as well, my husband. His heart is breaking." Caitlyn told her husband. She felt such sympathy for her son now knowing this news, such terrible news indeed. In the brief exchange of looks between Robb and herself as she entered the room she had seen the pain in his eyes and it tore at her heart to see her child in such pain and to know there was nothing she could do to ease his pain. Caitlyn stayed there in Eddard's office as the two of them talked for several more moments until their discussion had come to an end. It was then that she left the office in search of Robb.

As she searched out his chambers, he was nowhere to be found, nor had he been in the stables. Though on her way back from the stables she thought she had heard his voice in the woods outside the castle walls. She set off almost instantly in the direction she thought she had heard her son.

Robb stood there, striking his sword with all his might and power that he held within himself at the large oak tree. over and over again he swung the sword...piece by piece chips of wood went flying through the air but still his anger had not settled as he continue to swing, several times over and over again the sword's edge struck the unmovable tree. With each strike more wood chips went flying through the air and new chips and dents if you will form in the blade of a near perfect sword.

"ROBB!" His mother yelled out to him, her voice had lifted to his ears as he stopped only a moment before he swung one final time. "You have ruined your sword...look at this...control your temper my son...please"

Robb had finally collapsed to his news as his mother reached him, her arms instantly coming to wrap around her son in his time of need, such an emotional state. She held her son tightly in her embrace as Robb could no longer hold back the emotions as they finally claimed him to the point he started to sob against his mother's shoulder.

"I will kill him mother...I shall kill them BOTH if that's what this comes to...I swear it mother...on everything that I am...I will kill them" He continued to sob as Caitlyn listened, speaking soothing words, incoherent sounds as she tried to calm her son. She knew who he spoke of though. Viserys and Bartoen would die by her son's hand if it was the only way to reclaim his one and only love...Shoshanna