I sat alone in my tent with a plate of grapes. I had waved my handmaidens away when they tried to braid my hair. I was just thinking I might have Aylward reassign them to someone who wanted to be fawned over. Just then, Aylward appeared. "My queen, we are beginning to pack up camp. We should be able to make it to Harrenhal today."

"Yes, of course. I'll just move outside and let them get my things," I said rising. Aylward reached for my plate to carry it for me, but I shook my head. "I'm not hungry. You can have them if you want."

"Amina, you haven't eaten a full meal in days. Robb is beginning to worry about your health." He put a hand on my arm

"I'm fine!" I snapped moving away from his touch. At Aylward's surprised expression I took a deep breath. Calmly I repeated, "I'm fine. Just adjusting."

"You have been spending lots of time alone. It's starting to worry me as well." He placed a hand on my shoulder, this time I didn't jerk away.

"I've been sleeping, trying to reach my sister. Unfortunately the little sleep that does come is entirely dreamless. I have no way of knowing if she's even still alive."

"If she's anything like you, I'm sure she is. I cannot imagine a Targaryen going down without a fight." He grinned at me. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. He stood stunned for a moment before carefully hugging me back.

"I'm so glad I have you as a friend. You are all I have left, you know," I told him, grabbing his arms and making him look at me.

"You have Robb, and Catelyn," he reminded me.

"Since Catelyn freed Jaime Lannister, I've barely had a chance to speak to her. And Robb...I can hardly look at him."

"Because of your child?" He asked.

"Not just that. I saw Jon. I saw him, it wasn't a trick. I saw him, and he saw me too. I can't give up on him. That's why I must get back to my sister. She can help me." Aylward stared at me blankly, I'd lost him. "Oh Gods!" I sat on my bed with my head in my hands.

"What's wrong?"

"I sound insane! Maybe I'm going mad just like my father." Aylward rubbed my back reassuringly. "I can't even keep a secret. Not that it matters, since half the world seems to know my business already."

"Who is Jon?" He asked.

"The man I love." He started to speak but I cut him off. "Before you say anything, I know I'm married to Robb. I know I have a duty as Queen. But I can't bear it! I cannot take another day of this insufferable war!"

"It will all end, maybe not tomorrow but one day. You just need patience."

"Patience is a virtue I never mastered."

"Amina?" Robb called from outside the tent.

"Gods," I sighed standing quickly. "Coming!" I glanced at Aylward who was still watching me closely. "I'll be alright. I just need a good night's sleep."

OoOoO

Just as Aylward had said, we arrived in Harrenhal by mid afternoon. Even from a mile out you could tell the place was deserted. I couldn't imagine anyone willingly occupying the decrepit old castle. But not long ago, Tywin Lannister's army had held it.

We marched through the gates and stopped when we saw bodies hanging from almost every wall. "Oh how horrid," I said to no one in particular. I dismounted Myst and followed the others into the castle. Once inside the courtyard, we realized just how many bodies had been left behind.

Robb grabbed my hand and tried to steer me away. "You shouldn't have to see this."

"I'm fine, I can handle it." I looked straight into a dead man's glassy eyes to prove my point. My stomach churned, the smell was disgusting, but I wasn't about to let Robb see that.

Catelyn stood beside me and looked at the man. "That was one of my father's banner men," she said quietly. I looked at the ground, unable to bear looking at him a moment longer.

"Find her a room to serve as a cell," Robb said to one of his soldiers. They took Catelyn away quickly and I looked back at him.

"She's your mother, Robb."

"She betrayed us," he told me.

"She did it because she loves Sansa and Arya, just like us. Yes, she was wrong in the way she went about things, but that doesn't make her evil."

"I can't let it go unpunished."

"May I visit her later?" I asked. I had plans to go no matter what he said, but I thought it would be appropriate to at least try and ask first.

He looked a bit surprised but nodded once. "Yes, of course."

The mousy nurse who tended to me while I was on bed rest called out to us. I had learned her name was Talisa the second time she'd come. "This man is still alive!" We went to her quickly. She began pulling things out of her bag. I could tell she wasn't going to need my help, so I excused myself.

"I'm going to see Catelyn," I told Robb, touching him lightly on the shoulder. I motioned to one of the soldiers and he led me up the stairs to where they had taken her. He opened the door to let me in, then closed it tightly behind me after I'd entered.

"Amina, it's been awhile since I've spoken with you," Catelyn greeted me. She stood up and hugged me. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you as well."

"Are you still upset with me, about Robb?"

I shook my head. "You did what you thought was best."

"I'm so sorry about what happened-"

"I would prefer not to dwell on it," I said cutting her off. "I came to talk to you about my sister. Ever since that night my dreams have stopped coming and I haven't been able to contact her. You appear to be the only person who even remotely understands this bond. I was hoping you'd have some advice about what I could do to bring the dreams back."

"I do not know much, unfortunately. The only thing I can recommend is to take something to help you sleep. Maybe ask your nurse if she has some herbs you can mix with tea."

I nodded. "I should've tried that sooner." I paused for a moment before speaking again. "Do you know of a way to contact someone else through the dreams? Someone who isn't my twin, I mean?"

"I've never heard of that being possible. Truthfully, most people don't even believe in the power of the twin bond, it's rare magic. Who is it you want to contact?"

"Margery," I lied, saying the first name that came to mind. When Catelyn frowned I quickly corrected myself. "Or Sansa and Arya, but something tells me Margaery would be more receptive. The girls are so guarded, and we were never that close."

"Always one of the boys," she said patting my arm.

"I miss them, Jon and Theon" I told her. "I miss what it was like when we were kids. When we didn't have to worry about war, or who was King. Things were so much easier then."

"Childhood often is," Catelyn said. "But now you're a woman, and beyond that a Queen. You have responsibilities. As much as you want to, there is no running away from destiny."

"How can you say for certain what my destiny is? How could anyone know?"

"Amina, look around you. These people, your people, trust you. They want you to be there Queen, as much as they want Robb to be their King."

"That doesn't make something destiny. Daenerys and me on the throne, that is destiny. It's our birthright." I rubbed my head. "That's why I came in here, for advice. Not for some lecture on destiny. I should be going. It's improper for the Queen to be fraternizing with a traitor."

OoOoO

I left the walls of Harrenhal. I needed a moment to myself, and the air in the destroyed castle was still scented with decay. I heard footsteps behind me, but didn't turn to look. I knew who it was before he wrapped his arms around me.

"You've been avoiding me," Robb said quietly, his lips close to my ear.

"I haven't."

"Then you've been doing a very good job making it look that way."

"You know I like time to myself."

"You always have, but you've never had a guard keeping me from visiting you before.

"I've been…" I started to tell him about Daenerys but changed my mind. He kissed the side of my head.

"I miss the kids too, and Jon" he shook his head. "Even Theon, the bastard. I'm sorry you've been so isolated."

"It's alright," I said quietly. Robb always knew what was on my mind. Since that night, everyone had been treating me like I was so fragile. But, what I really needed was a friend. Robb had always understood me. It was why we had once been so close.

"I know that-" he hesitated before continuing "I know that you don't love me the way I love you, you never have. But I want us to be a team. I don't think I can do this without you."

"We are a team." Even as I said it I knew it wasn't true. I had barely spoken to him in weeks, I had spent all my time trying to be somewhere else. "I want to work together," I corrected myself.

He smiled and brushed my hair out of my eyes. I kissed him lightly. "I love you," he told me. I didn't say anything, just kissed him again. "What did you and Catelyn talk about?" He asked after a moment.

"There's something I should probably tell you." He nodded for me to continue, he looked as if he was preparing for terrible news. "I have a sister, a twin, across the Narrow Sea."

He looked surprised, whatever he thought I was going to say, this wasn't it. "How did you find out?"

"I had a dream or something like that, while I was in Storm's End. I asked Catelyn and she told me the truth. Apparently Ned found out while in King's Landing and sent a letter back."

"What is she like?"

"A lot like me. She is a Khaleesi, it's like a queen in those parts. She's an amazing leader, she truly loves her people."

"She does sound like you."

"She's hoping to make it to Westeros. Do you know what that would mean for us? Two armies, double the strength. We could take King's Landing and overthrow Joffrey. Everything could be normal again."

"I don't believe things will ever go back to normal, but I do understand. Does she have a way across the sea?"

"I don't know." I leaned my head on his shoulder. "I don't even know if she's alive right now! That's why I was talking to Catelyn. I've been sleeping without dreaming. If I can't dream, I can't reach her. The last time I saw her we were being attacked by a warlock. The night I got back from Winterfell."

"When you lost our child." I nodded. "What happened?"

"I don't know. All I remember is thinking I was dying. Magic is a deadly thing."

"Is it too dangerous for you to return?" I liked that he asked, instead of trying to convince me not to go.

"Maybe, but I can't abandon her. She needs my help. I promise I'll protect myself."

"I wish I could go with you."

"But you can't," I told him. "If you see Talisa, could you have her send me some sleeping tea?"

He nodded. "Goodnight, my Queen."

"Goodnight."

OoOoO

Talisa was more than happy to prescribe the sleeping tea. Apparently she also agreed that I needed more rest. I was already drowsy after the first cup, and after the second I fell asleep before I could even put the mug on the table.

The first thing I saw was trees. It took me a moment to realize where I was and when I did I groaned. I knew I wasn't with my sister. I sat under my favorite weirwood tree and ran my finger over the heart I'd carved in the wood years ago. I noticed something around my finger and realized I had the black ribbon twisted about my finger like a ring. The ribbon was whole, not frayed as it was now. I was having a real dream. "Jon?" I called without even noticing I was speaking. There was a rustling noise in the trees and the crackle of fallen leaves, but no spoken response. "This isn't funny, we don't have much time before Catelyn comes looking for me. I have lessons with Sansa this afternoon!"

He swung out of the trees and landed next to me. "Don't be so cross. I'm the one who's supposed to be moody, aren't I?"

"You always are."

"Not when I'm with you." He grinned and I kissed him. I remembered this day. Not dream then, a memory.

"Theon caught me sneaking out today," I told him.

"What did you tell him?"

"That I was hiding from Sansa and not to tell Catelyn where I'd gone. I don't think he believed me."

"He'd never tell on you."

"Never." I tugged lightly at the pendant around my neck. "Sometimes I wish I had a sister."

"You have two, Sansa and Arya."

"No, a real sister. Someone just like me who I could talk to about everything. Sansa is too prissy and Arya is too young. I have you, Theon, and Robb of course, but some things you just can't talk about with boys!" I remembered this conversation exactly. It was funny how it had come true. Suddenly the ground started to shift. I grabbed for Jon's hand but the memory of me didn't reach for him. Quickly the image was replaced by another.

Bright light surrounded me. I could smell the salty scent of the sea. It mingled with the sharp, dirty scent or a city. I had never been to the coast, so this couldn't be a memory. "Amina!" A voice cried. I turned just in time to be scooped into my sister's arms. "When you disappeared, I was afraid you'd died! It's been months!"

"I've been trying my hardest to reach you. I've been so drained since our trip to the House of the Undying, I couldn't make it back until now."

"I'm so glad you're here." She turned looking for someone. "Jorah! She's here!" Jorah turned around and smiled at me. He walked towards us and gave me a pat on the shoulder.

"Daenerys had been worried sick, glad to see you're finally back," he told me.

"I am quite glad to be back." I paused and glanced around. "Back to where exactly? This is certainly not Qarth."

"After you vanished, we managed to secure a ship to travel from Qarth to Astapor. We're hoping to find an army here so we can travel to Westeros," Dany told me.

"That is the best news I've heard in weeks!" I said.

"You are just in time to survey the army with us," Jorah informed me.

"Soon you will have to see how big our dragons have gotten!" My sister said smiling.

"Hello," a woman said walking towards us with an older bald man behind her. "I am the translator for the slave master Kraznys. Is your party ready to view the Unsullied?"

Daenerys and I nodded in sync and the two of us followed the man and woman as they told us about the army. We walked over a walkway into a separated courtyard area. A small army of soldiers stood in lines. The man, Kraznys, spoken in Valyrian as the woman translated. I recognized a few words from my lessons, but I had never been good at foreign languages. The translator explained how the men before us would stand until they dropped. We walked through them, the parted to let us pass. "How are they trained?" Dany asked. The woman explained quickly, while the slave trader illustrated his point. Kraznys walked up to one of the soldiers and chopped off his ear. The man didn't even flinch.

"That is quite impressive," I mumbled to my sister. "Impressive but disturbing." She nodded shortly. "How many do you have to sell?" I asked. The woman translated and the man held up eight fingers. "Eight thousand is a sizable army," I said nodding my approval.

The three of us left and walked near the water. As Jorah and Daenerys discussed the slave soldiers, I watched the waves. I had never seen the sea before. It had such a strange lulling rhythm, I thought I might be able to get caught up in its steady crashing forever. I wondered if Theon felt the same way when he looked at the sea in Pyke. Daenerys caught sight of a child, and followed him. Jorah walked along with her, telling her that she would make a better owner to soldiers than any other. "I think they would be a good investment," I told her.

"Your sister knows what she is talking about, she has an army of her own," Jorah said to Daenerys. Dany continued to follow the child, until he stopped and threw a ball to my sister. The boy mimed twisting it open, and Daenerys smiled as she started to open it. Suddenly she was knocked to the ground by a man in a black cloak. A creature launched itself from the ball and toward my sister. The cloaked man stabbed the bug before it could strike. I grabbed Daenerys' hand and pulled her toward me. The boy disappeared into an alley.

"The warlocks," Dany mumbled. The man in the cloak removed his hood and looked at us.

"I have been looking you, Daenerys. I was once the leader of your father's kingsguard. I betrayed him, now I wish to right my wrong by pledging to protect you, if you will allow it," the man said. "I am Ser Barristan Selmy."

"I recognize the name," I said.

"Forgive me, I do not know you. You two look very similar, save for your hair," Ser Barristan said.

"I am Amina Stark, Queen in the North," I told him.

It appeared I had caught him off guard. "Your grace, how is it that you come to be in Essos when your war is being fought many leagues away?"

"The bond of a twin is a very curious thing," I replied.

"Stark and Targaryen, ice and fire, joined together though the blood of sisters. What an honor it would be to serve you both."