Another chapter is up! Thank you so much for reading!

Guest: I am glad you are enjoying! Thank you for your review and for reading!

DaddysPrincess-Girl: Glad to see you are enjoying! Let's see what life is reserving for them. Thank you for your review and for reading!

Stormborn: I missed you! Don't disappear like that, I was beginning to wonder if you had stopped liking the story!
I don't think every couple is supposed to be only lovey dovey, they can joke as well, and I am a big fan of an occasional sarcasm.
Robert was a funny man, too slutty, but funny man. xD
I am glad you don't hate me, I wish they could simply live happily forever after, buuut... Life has always challenges. They are beginning to find the biggest one.
Theon is compassionate, sometimes, he is still an enigma for me, sometimes I feel angry with him, sometimes he is just a lost puppy. Maybe he will surprise us in the future.
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, if I did, a lot of things would be different.

Chapter XII – Agreement

Anne's eyes opened when the cell's door busted open and a man walked in, she didn't know him and he didn't look interested in introducing himself. He pulled her up by the arm and dragged her corridor after corridor, her feet didn't answer and she tripped several times because of the lack of strength.

Days had passed since Morgane brought her food and water and since then she hadn't had anything, she felt herself really thin and had probably lost several pounds.

The man threw her inside a common bedroom, it had a bathtub already filled with water and fresh clothes on the bed. "Bath and change, I will wait here, your father asked for you. Don't try anything funny." He said coldly.

"Thank you." Anne whispered before the man walked outside and closed the door. Looking around and seeing that she was alone, Anne ran to the window, but she was on a really tall tower, if she jumped, she would die for sure.

There was no other option but do as the man said. She bathed, taking her time, her body was covered with dust and dirt, she couldn't recall the last time she bathed, she was still in Winterfell. She did her best to clean herself, especially her hair, but she still felt dirty after she finished.

Anne looked at the dress on the bed after she finished drying herself, it was light pink and the fabric was really thin, she hated these dresses, they made her feel so exposed. Even the dresses in Winterfell were better.

She had no other choice but to get dressed and slowly opened the door, looking at the man who waited. He said nothing and started walking, she knew she had to follow.

They walked to the meetings hall, where her father sat on a chair and she saw a man standing in front of him, only a few steps away, she somehow recognized that back. The man pushed her so she would stand next to her father and she felt really shocked when she saw who it was.

"Lord Stark…"

Eddard Stark was standing in front of her and she found comfort in seeing him, but what was he doing there?

"Anne, my daughter, we were blessed with Lord Eddard Stark's visit, the Hand of the King. And he came with a very interesting proposal." Her father said and Anne felt really confused, Lord Stark was there to help her? How did he even know where she was? Did that mean that Jon knew?

She said nothing, too immersed in her own thoughts and questions to say anything, and she feared her father too much to raise her voice.

"He is here because he wants you to go back to Winterfell." Anne's heard quickened and she felt hope once more, her eyes not leaving the man's face and Eddard returned her gaze gently. "But I can't simply interrupt my plans for you just so you can walk freely around the world, our family's destine depends on you since I have no other children. I have one condition."

One condition… Which condition?

"He has a son about your age, a little older, and the name Stark is getting stronger, it would be really good for House Gael to have you join their family." She turned abruptly to her father, not understanding fully what he was saying, or she just feared too much what it meant.

One son, he has two, but which one is her father talking about? Jon doesn't have the surname Stark. That left… Robb…

She turned to look at Eddard, shock all over her face and he saw it and knew she had understood what was happening, so he nodded shortly his head, confirming her fears.

"You are to wed Robb Stark, heir of Winterfell."

Anne's head went numb and she felt like losing consciousness, but did her best to keep on her feet. Maybe she should say that she couldn't do it, that she was promised to another, that she didn't love Robb, but the look on Lord Stark's face told her to stay quiet.

"Finally you will pay back all the effort and work we put on you." That pissed Anne off really badly. "Effort? Work? You never did anything for me, you are a terrible and abusive father, and you locked me on a cell, for God's sake."

It was the first time the young woman said anything against her father and she knew she was going to pay the price for it. In less than a second, Lord Gael was up and is hand met her face strongly, forcing her to take one step back.

Eddard felt like doing something, but he couldn't interfere, or his plans would go do waste. "Forgive the girl, she has no idea of how hard it is on this world." He said, making Lord Gael sit again, sighing. "You are right, she has no idea. It's just a kid. You better take her before I regret."

"The wedding should take place in Winterfell in three months, how does that look for you?" Lord Stark asked, ignoring Anne and looking directly to her father, his sudden coldness confusing her. "Sure, looks fine. Should I travel with her?"

"No, I will take her to Winterfell immediately, you can go when the time comes, your village needs you here." Anne looked at their conversation from her spot, too shocked and frozen to say anything.

"Do you need to pick something here, girl?" Joseph Gael asked and Anne nodded gently one time. "Where is it?"

"In my room…" She answered really low. "Go get it. Minos, go with her." He waved his hand and the man who had accompanied her before appeared from the shadows, she began walking slowly, looking one more time to Lord Stark before leaving the hall.

Her bedroom was filled with books and had almost no other thing, Anne got a bag and picked a few books and turned when she heard the door opening, it was her septa Morgane.

"My dear girl… I hear what happened. Anything is better than marrying your father, keep that in mind." Even the words of her beloved motherly figure didn't ease the pain she felt and she sighed.

"I want you to have this." The old woman handed her a small decorated box. "It belonged to your mother, I am sure you remember it." Anne did remember that box, but so many years had passed since she last saw it. She gently put it on her bag together with her books.

Anne hugged her septa strongly for a couple of seconds and looked at her room for the last time, she would never see it again.

"Take care, my child." Morgane said and Anne only nodded, smiling at the old woman. She opened the door and looked at the man standing outside, then they begun walking.

The man kept following her as she walked back to the hall, carrying her small bag, the two men were exactly where they were when she left and turned to look at her once she entered. Lord Stark walked to her and picked up her bag.

"Are you ready?" He asked and Anne nodded. "Yes, My Lord."

"Good, let's go, I will ride with you to Winterfell." He announced and turned to Lord Gael. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, they will be really happy together." Joseph Gael moved his shoulders, uninterested.

Lord Stark and Anne walked to his small caravan, she felt her body tremble slightly and no one said a word during the walk.

"Are you alright, Anne?" Eddard asked once they were out of the Gael lands, marching north. "Not really…" She felt dizzy and without any strength. "I haven't eaten in a while."

He looked really worried and stopped the whole caravan and ordered a woman to bring food and water. "How long? You look really thin."

"I think it's been around… Two weeks or so. They gave me water though…" After Morgane fed her she stayed in the cell for two more weeks without food, her body was complaining and she had fainted a few times.

"Eat, you will feel better." He pushed food to her and she ate hungrily, but not too much. "That's enough for now, I don't think I should eat much…"

"Are you sure?" Eddard asked and Anne nodded. "I am sorry for all your trouble…" She wanted to avoid the marriage topic because she didn't know how to face it, she didn't know what to think of it.

"Lord Stark…" She called hesitantly and the older man looked at her. "Jon doesn't hate you." He said before she said anything and she shrunk, not asking or saying anything the rest of the trip.

~\~/~

They traveled for quite a while before arriving in Winterfell and Anne felt really nervous when they entered the gates, she compressed herself against the horse she was riding as people looked at them curiously.

The people were gathering to salute their Lord and Anne wished she was invisible, coming through the crowd she saw Robb, he looked more mature than he did the last time she saw him, but that was two months ago. And he wasn't the one she wanted to see.

Coming from behind Robb she saw Jon running toward them, his beard was longer and his hair was too, he stopped the moment he saw her.

"It's alright, it's only my father." Robb said and the crowd slowly walked away, Eddard got out of his horse and hugged his two sons. "Did you burn anything down while I was away?" He asked and Robb laughed.

"Father…" Jon started, but Eddard cut him. "Inside, we will talk inside."

Anne had gotten out of the horse too and walked slowly behind Lord Stark, not sure what to do on that moment, she felt really lost. They marched inside the Great Hall and Maester Luwin joined them.

"What happened, father?" Robb asked once they were inside alone. "I went to speak to Lord Gael. He was quite reluctant on letting Anne go without winning something back. I tried to negotiate with him, but he had one idea and this one was definitive."

"What is it?" Jon asked, getting impatient and anxious, he didn't stop glancing at her. "That I marry my oldest son to his daughter. That is you, Robb."

The news dropped like a bomb on their heads, they couldn't quite process what Eddard had just said and Anne felt really impatient as she looked at them.

"But, father…" Robb begun saying, obviously shocked. "It was the only way and I agreed. They had stopped feeding her and she was locked on a cell. Only the Gods know what else he would do to his own daughter."

Anne avoided looking at Jon's face at all costs, he looked so hurt and it hurt her to see him like that.

"Lord Stark…" The sound of her voice startled the four men who turned to look at her immediately. "I thank you for your kind offer and gesture, but I will refuse."

They looked confused at her, blinking several times. "I cannot force Robb to do something like this. I will flee, so there will be no consequences to your family."

"That isn't an option, Anne." Lord Stark said, firmly. He knew that she would be found and eventually killed for doing such thing. "I know you are not marrying Robb for love, but it is the only way to keep you alive."

"Please, Lord Stark… Don't force him…" Anne pleaded, but Robb touched her shoulder gently. "It's alright. We can work something out."

They waited for Jon to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth, he didn't know what to say, the situation was something he had never imagined before. But he was used to it, his brother having everything he wanted, now he was going to have the woman he loved.

"Do what you have to." He hissed before walking away, the young woman took one step to go after him, but Robb's hand on her shoulder forced her to stay. She was going to have to stay away from him from now on.

"I will escort you to your room." Robb said and Anne simply nodded, not wanting to stay in someone's company for now.

"I know this isn't what you want… But life gives us the tools, it is up to us to work with them." The young man said while they walked side by side. "I don't know how to work with these tools, Robb…"

"Neither do I, but like everything in life, we will try our best and work it out." He tried to reassure her, Anne simply smiled and sighed, not furthering the conversation.

"There you go… If you need anything, tell me." The young Stark said gently, smiling at her before leaving. Anne opened the bedroom's door and Ghost was there, laying next to her bed. He raised his head when he saw her come in and ran to her.

"I missed you too, Ghost." The young woman kneeled down on the floor and hugged the direwolf strongly, feeling him lick her face. After a few moments she got up and looked around, her room was just she had left, but her bed was messed like someone had laid there.

Perhaps it was Ghost… She thought and walked to the bed, sitting on it, she could smell a known scent, it was impregnating and her head went numb for a while as her eyes closed to feel more of it.

"He was here, wasn't he, Ghost?" She asked as the direwolf jumped on the bed next to her, cuddling against her legs. "Do you think he will go to the Wall now?" Ghost looked at her, his red eyes shining intently like he had understood her question.

Sighing, Anne got up from her bed and exited the room, she needed water to take a bath. Slowly she walked on the known halls and made her way to the kitchen, the cookers looked at her and whispered, but she ignored them. News travelled fast on Winterfell.

She was returning to her bedroom when someone bumped on her and she took a few steps back. Theon Greyjoy was looking at her and he smirked. "Anne, glad to see you are back safely."

"Thank you, Theon…" She said quietly, not exactly sure of why he had called her by her first name or why she had answered back by his. "Let me help." He said and got the bucket of water.

"We were worried, we looked around all Winterfell for you." He said, it was strange, it was probably the first time he was ever cordial to her and she felt uncomfortable. "I am sorry for your trouble…"

"It was nothing, after all, the Starks see you as family." Perhaps he didn't know about the agreement yet, or he did and that is why he was treating her kindly.

They arrived to her bedroom and Theon left the bucket on the floor in the middle of the room, and then exited. "If you need something…" He said and Anne nodded thankfully, watching him leave before she closed and locked the door.

Once she entered the hot water, all the feelings came together and she cried, her sobs echoing on the room and Ghost licked her face, wiping the tears, but she could only cry.