Aurora had been given a few hours' respite from her charges and fallen asleep almost instantly on a small mattress in the corner of the shop. Robb had barely managed to get some stew in her stomach before she dropped into sleep. He covered her with his cloak and sat against the wall next to her, stroking her hair. Gendry had tempered the fires to a low simmer and sat across from Robb, looking almost a fatigued as Aurora.

"You can rest too if need be," Robb said, "I know this has been as hard on you as well."

"I'll be all right," Gendry said, dipping a piece of bread in his stew.

Robb nodded and stared towards the embers.

"That was a good speech you know," Gendry said, "I think they believed you."

Robb chuckled softly.

"I would hope so," he said, "I was being sincere."

"Only a fool would doubt the sincerity of a Stark. Even when Arya was lying, she was being very sincere about it.

Robb laughed again.

"Did you like my sister?"

"I found your sister very odd," Gendry said, "I don't believe I've ever met another person like her before."

"What do you mean?"

Gendry contemplated Robb's question.

"I would never have guessed she was a lady of Winterfell."

"She was a child of Winterfell," Robb corrected, "not a lady."

"She was very brave," Gendry said, a smile on his face, "braver than anyone else I met and she was noble. She saved three men from burning alive that everyone else had left behind because they were prisoners."

Robb listened intently to someone else's stories of his younger sister. An ache for his family clawed at his heart. It had been so long since he had seen any of his siblings, he found himself forgetting tiny details about them. He couldn't recall, no matter how hard he focused, the way Rickon's voice sounded or what Bran's horse was named. He couldn't remember when Arya learned to use a bow and arrow or Sansa's favorite color. He was even finding himself forgetting things about Jon, a person he once knew better than himself. Images of his father were fading and he couldn't recall the scent that always lingered on his mother's clothes when she hugged him. Robb wondered if he would really know his siblings if he saw them again. Everything had changed so much since they had last been together in Winterfell, he doubted any of them were the same people they had been. He doubted he was the same person he had been and wondered if he would be as much of a stranger to them. It was painful to think about, all six Stark children together in a room again and none of them recognizing the people the others had become. He had no desire to witness the harshness of war reflected in the eyes of his siblings.

"Why did Arya save prisoners?" Robb asked.

"She is a touch mad," Gendry said, "and it was honorable, I suppose."

"She's not mad."

"She has a list she constantly repeats of all the people she plans on murdering because they have wronged her or her family. That's a bit mad."

"What?" Robb asked, at a loss.

Gendry just shrugged.

"I assumed it was something she always did."

"No, my sister did not plot the murders of people around her."

"I think seeing your father beheaded might have changed her then."

"Arya was there?"

Gendry nodded.

"Sansa was as well," Gendry said.

Robb felt sick to him stomach at what he had just heard. He knew it was a possibility Arya has seen their father's death and it was a certainty Sansa had, but to hear it had caused such distress to his sister was disturbing. Robb rubbed his forehead.

"I liked your sister very much," Gendry said, "even if she was mad, she was a very good person."

"I miss her."

"I know," Gendry said, his eyes drooping with sleep.

"You should sleep," Robb said again.

Gendry shook his head and leaned against a beam near him.

"You're worried about her," Gendry said, motioning to Aurora.

"She took on too much today, and she's just going to keep going until she breaks."

"I haven't known her as long as you," Gendry said, "but Aurora's very resilient. She's not some helpless lady of court, gossiping and scheming to gain a husband."

"Court is much more treacherous than you imagine. All anyone schemes about in court is how to gain the Iron Throne for themselves."

"Point is," Gendry said ignoring Robb's interjection, "it would be a detriment for us to underestimate Aurora."

"It would be a detriment to Aurora for us to overestimate how much she can handle. She'll push herself far past her limit and only stop when she's too far gone to be saved. I won't allow that to happen."

Gendry furrowed his brow in concentration. A sly smile came over his face but Robb couldn't fathom what Gendry was thinking. He felt it was better to remain ignorant.

"If you care as much for the North as you do that girl," Gendry said, "I think you might truly be able to keep your promise that no one will ever invade or pillage these people again."

Robb chuckled again and rested his head against the wall. Gendry fell asleep before the embers burned down all the way, leaving Robb alone with his thoughts. He contemplated Gendry's words. Robb had struggled with feeling like a true king his entire reign, even while he raged and cut his way through the tyranny of the Iron Throne. Yet, making his proclamation to the smallfolk Aurora had vowed to heal, he truly felt like a king. The North ran through his veins more than anyone else and he vowed he would never let it fall as long as he was breathing.

Aurora awoke after a few hours' sleep. She still looked tired but she was bright and alert. She almost sprang from her mattress and Robb knew something had changed. Aurora bounced over to him, a devious gleam in her eyes.

"What?" he asked, wearily.

"I had a vision while I was asleep."

"Are you sure it wasn't just a dream."

"Yes," Aurora said, waving a hand dismissively, "we need to wake Gendry now."

"He just fell asleep," Robb said.

"War waits for no man Robb," Aurora said, "you can well rested and die or you can wake up and be alive."

What?" Robb asked, bewildered, "Did you make that up."

"Obviously, now help me wake him."

She moved to the sleeping blacksmith and kissed his cheek. A stab of jealously ripped through Robb's stomach. He looked away. Gendry stirred slightly, blinking rapidly and trying to figure out what was happening.

"You kissed me," he said, matter-of-factly.

"I did."

"Why did you kiss me?"

"I needed to wake you," she explained, "and I thought that was the nicest way to do it."

Gendry glanced towards Robb, clearly at a loss but amused never the less.

"We need to talk," Aurora said, "get up."

Aurora made her way back to the table and sat next to Robb. Gendry meandered over to the table and sat, rubbing his eyes. He seemed half asleep and barely lucid.

"Why did you wake me up?" Gendry asked.

"I know where were need to go next."

"The Wall?" Robb ventured.

"Not yet," Aurora said, "how do you two feel about adding some soldiers to our journey?"

"What soldiers?" Gendry asked.

"The three hundred men sitting around waiting to be called to action. The ones I saw in my visions. The ones that are going to join us."

Aurora stopped speaking, a huge grin on her face, and looked from Gendry to Robb as though expecting them to be as excited as her. Gendry and Robb exchanged glances again, both at a loss.

"I need more information," Robb said, "where are these three hundred soldiers? Who do they pledge their fidelity too?"

"No one anymore," Aurora explained excitedly, "they had been loyal to Renly Baratheon but when he died they became sellswords."

"Are you telling me there's three hundred trained soldiers just waiting to be bought?" Gendry asked.

"Yes.

"They're sellswords?" Robb asked.

Aurora nodded.

"Are you expecting us to buy their services? Because we don't have any money and I doubt they'll be loyal to me now, when they weren't loyal to me when Renly died. Then I had an army, now I just have the two of you."

"Of course not, and of course they won't be loyal to you, but they will be loyal to someone."

"Who?" Robb asked.

Aurora pointed to Gendry. His eyes went wide and he looked bewildered.

"Me," he said, "why?"

"Because you're Robert's bastard."

"They weren't loyal to Robert," Robb said, "they were loyal to Renly. Why would Robert's bastard rouse their sudden allegiance?"

"Because they're led by a man named Aloysius Seaworth."

"I still don't understand," Robb said.

"Aloysius Seaworth was best friends with Renly and a member of his king's guard. He refused to pledge allegiance to anyone else when Renly was murdered, least of all Stannis. However, he's also the only heir to House Seaworth now that his cousin Matthos is dead, something he isn't aware of. His family clawed their way into their title and he's not willing to lose it now. Gendry here is the only heir to Dragonstone, which means he's the only person who can ensure the Seaworth's keeping their house when all the chips fall. You stay King in the North, we put the True Heir on the Iron Throne, we make sure Gendry gets Dragonstone and Aloysius keeps his title. Also, I saw his uncle Davos in a different vision, so I think that's important. I think we're going to be allies."

Her rational seemed shaky at best but Robb had learned that Aurora often had a hard time explaining things to others. It very rarely kept them from being correct.

"What's the plan then?" Robb asked.

"We find them," Aurora said, "they join us, we make our way to the Eyrie, then the wall."

"Why the Eyrie?" Robb asked, perplexed.

"Oh," Aurora said off handedly, "Sansa's there."

"Sansa's there," Robb exclaimed in surprise.

Aurora grinned pleased with herself. Robb and Gendry glanced at each other again. Gendry just shrugged, clearly as confused as Robb was.

"Are you ready to find your sellswords?" Aurora asked.

"Where are they?" Gendry asked.

Aurora suddenly looked guilty and Robb readied himself for the worst.

"Somewhere in the Riverlands," Aurora said, unsurely.

"You're not positive?" Robb asked.

"I have a basic idea."

Robb exhaled exasperatedly.

"Are you ever going to ask me about a plan before you make it?"

"I promise I'll try," Aurora said sincerely, "but will you trust me one more time?"

"I doubt it will only be one more time," Robb said, resolutely ignoring her question.

Gendry looked between them uncomfortably. Aurora was looking at Robb with her large hopeful eyes and he knew he would be following her once again. He shook his head.

"I suppose we could use the men," Robb said, "but then we go find my sister."

"Deal."

A/N: You're all amazing, thank you to everyone who has read, favorited, commented and followed!

If you're interested I wrote another story "The Kindess of Lions" which is a love story involving Gendry. Check it out!

Shoutouts:

really241: As always, you are my favorite person ever! I love Gendry (hence the reason I wrote a love story about him) I think he's the most underrated character on the show besides Sansa. I really appreciate all the kind words and support you have for my story. Seriously, you helped me continue writting this because I want to finish it for people like you.

Guest: Of course, I will always reply to every review because I want to express my gratitude. Yeah I wanted to show that despite all her power, Aurora is still a human and is 's going to continue to push herself too hard thought because she's nuts.

Nanouchy: I completely understand your feelings and commiserate. I usually hate love Triangles too but I wanted to explore the dynamic between a love where people choose to love each other and fall in love organically vs. people who are destined to fall in love regardless of their will. Also, I wouldn't worry about it becoming boring because it's a secondary story. The bigger plot line is Aurora trying to stop the white walkers. I would love you to keep reading, and I appreciate what you said about my writting/plot but if it's not your style, I totally understand.

lilnightmare17: Thank you, I have up to chapter 19 written so I will be updating pretty regularly.

WolfWarrior: Thank you! Like I said I have almost 9 more chapters written so I should be updating quiet a bit.

Thank you thank you thank you for reading and Happy Reading!