She lay resting on her blanket on the ground, feeling the moist chill and every irregularity of the surface through the woolen fabric. She was shivering and her breath came and went sharply but wearily. Ser Rodrik watched in utter trepidation.

"We will have reached Winterfell by dusk", he said, fully aware that she was not asleep, "We are almost home, my lady."

"The children…", she whispered, her eyes still closed, "Robb… Rickon… Bran!"

"Yes, my lady, they will happily be celebrating your return."

"Has the news reached Winterfell yet?"

"I cannot say."

She sighed and her face tensed in pain.

"They will all think that… And no one will know that I was always true to my lord husband."

"Your husband will know. And your children… Your oldest, at least. That needs to be enough."

"It isn't…", she replied and added after a moment of silence, "What if the babe looks just like him?"

"That is not very likely, my lady. Your other children, for the most part, don't look like their father either."

She opened her eyes to look at him, but he was cautiously avoiding it.

"I have always wanted another child. But Ned did not. I was not meant to go through all of it again, he said. It was too dangerous. And I understood. We were always so careful. But this time…"

"Careful is nice, my lady", Ser Rodrik said and even allowed for a smile on his face, "Only careful so hardly stands a chance when love and longing come into play."

She fought her own smile, with little success.

"He shall come home to Winterfell", she whispered, "He belongs with me and his family… I need him."

"He will be of greater help where he is now. He has to calm the rough sea boiling under the Red Keep. He can't do anything for you up in the North, other than what Maester Luwin's wisdom can do."

She bit her lower lip to suppress any further argument, her eyes closed, filling up with tears.

"We'd rather be going, my lady", he finally proclaimed after allowing her a moment of pain, "The sooner we'll be back, the better."

She would continue on his mount, held by her faithful Master-at-Arms. She was not capable of riding by herself anymore.