Chapter Thirteen

Wiping tears from her face, Zora walked quickly into the godswood. She knew she looked disheveled; she had barely managed to put on a new dress, not even bothering to fix her hair. She felt ragged and raw. So much had happened. And she was tired, so very tired. All she wanted to do was sleep and cry and grieve.

She had lost family. Myrewood was not large. Only a few families were closely connected to the Blackmyres and the Celtigars were the closest. Colren Celtigar was her father's right-hand man; he had helped raise Zora and Zerryn after their mother passed, often giving Zora lessons in sword fighting when her father wasn't looking. He trained Zerryn completely. Daris Celtigar was Zerryn's best friend, much like Bancey was hers. And now they were gone. And Bancey was leaving her. Zora's last hold on Myrewood was gone, leaving her behind with only the Starks.

She paused. Zora could hear voices ahead. Tears were pricking at the edges of her eyes but she knew if they came they would never stop. Her hands were shaking but she clenched them to calm them. Now was not the time.

As she approached the weirwood tree, she saw Lady Catelyn standing there with Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrick, Theon, and Robb. Robb turned at the sound of her approach and walked quickly to her. Seeing her face, concern colored his. He put his hand on her arm.

"Are you alright?" He demanded softly, furrowing his brow at her. How she loved him for that. Zora went into him and buried her face in his chest. She closed her eyes took a deep breath, breathing him in, as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "Zora," he whispered in her ear. "Please. Tell me what's wrong."

She wanted nothing more than to tell him everything, to have him hold her and let her cry while everything poured out of her. But then she opened her eyes and saw Theon watching them. Zora quickly pulled away from Robb, but squeezed his hand and said softly, "Later."

Robb's eyes searched her face and, seeing the resolve there, nodded. He took her hand and led her over to where his mother was and Lady Catelyn began speaking.

"What I'm about to say must stay between us." Lady Catelyn said gravely. Zora couldn't help but throw a glance at Theon. Surely he wasn't someone who Lady Catelyn saw fit to trust her suspicions with. Regardless, Zora turned back to Lady Catelyn. Her theory that Bran saw something in the tower, that he was thrown, Zora readily believed. Bran was a child, a child who practically grew up scampering along the roofs of Winterfell. He always wanted to see more. Maybe this time he had seen too much.

But her accusation of the Lannisters' involvement chilled Zora's blood.

"We already have reason to distrust their loyalty to the crown." Lady Catelyn was saying fiercely, throwing a look at Maester Luwin.

"And what reason is that, my lady?" The words were out of Zora's mouth before she could stop them. The eyes of everyone were on her now. Lady Catelyn blinked at her before responding.

"Lady Zora," she said, a tinge of disdain in her voice, "That remains between myself, Lord Stark, and Maester Luwin."

Zora kept her gaze steadily on Lady Catelyn. "I hope it's a good enough reason to threaten the most powerful family in the seven kingdoms." Anger had sparked in her, an anger that she couldn't explain, but right now she was not focusing on stopping it.

Someone scoffed. Zora's head whipped around to look at the source: Theon. The nerve, she thought. Why is he speaking? Why is he here? Her eyes burned as she glared at Theon, who did not meet her gaze, but he was not as meek as he should have been.

"I examined the blade, my lady." Ser Rodrick was speaking now. As he opened the blade, Zora turned and looked. Last night she had only glanced at it, instead her attention being drawn by Lady Catelyn, by Bran, by the blood on the floor...Now, in the light of day, she noticed quickly the uniqueness of the blade.

"Is that Valeryian steel?" She asked quietly. Ser Rodrick nodded.

"And dragon bone in the handle." He said. "Too fine for a common assassin. Someone gave it to him."

Beside her, Robb shook with anger. "They come into our home, and try to kill my brother?" She looked at him and saw fury in his eyes. "If it's war they want-,"

Theon cut him off. "If it comes to that you know I'll stand beside you." His words poured out quickly. Too quickly, Zora thought. But that was beside the point. The ludicracy of what they were saying stunned her, but only for a moment.

Maester Luwin broke in. "What, is there going to be a battle in the godswood? Too easily words of war become acts of war. We don't-,"

"Are you mad?" Zora cried, unable to stop herself. Again, everyone's eyes fell on her. But she kept her gaze on Robb. "You must be, because no sane person would threaten war on the Lannisters because of a whim."

Robb opened his mouth to retort, but someone cut him off.

"Do you not think we could win?" Fury bubbled in Zora as she looked at Theon. He looked surprised at his own daring, but nevertheless met her gaze.

"Winning is irrelevant." She spit out. When he began to scoff again, she broke in, her voice nearing shouting now. "When you're up against the Lannisters it is more than one battle or one war. If you start that...it will never end, not in our favor, you must see that. Once a war with the Lannisters begins it only ends in blood."

Quiet settled around them. Zora breathed heavily. Her anger was dissipating, leaving behind the other emotion that was beginning to overwhelm her: fear. Everything around her, all of the events that had unfolded ever since she came to Winterfell this year, they only left her terribly afraid.

Turning to Lady Catelyn, who she saw was nearing fury herself, Zora spoke quickly. "My lady, I do not mean that I wish the Lannisters to be forgiven, or forgotten, if they are behind this." Turning slightly, she addressed her words to Robb. "I only mean to remind us that they are not an enemy to be underestimated."

"Quite right, my lady." Maester Luwin looked at her kindly. She nodded at him, then turned away from all of them. She closed her eyes to them, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She tried to focus on the peace of the godswood, but it was eluding her. There were too many people, too many terrors and plots. But then Robb's words roused her attention.

"I'll ride to King's Landing." He was saying. Zora felt all breath leave her and her stomach dropped.

"No!" She cried, turning quickly back to them, just as Lady Stark calmly said, "No."

Robb turned to Zora for a moment, his face unreadable, before looking back at his mother.

"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell." Lady Catelyn said. Robb, mollified, looked away. But Lady Catelyn caught Zora's eye and gave her a slight nod. Zora gave her a weak smile in return. Lady Catelyn continued. "I will go to King's Landing myself."

Zora couldn't help but greatly admire her in that moment; she stood sure and confident. Robb had been right; this attack on Bran had brought Lady Catelyn back to herself. The thought of the attack must have been on Robb's mind, as well.

"What about Bran?" He was saying to his mother. Zora could hear his impatience, his hesitancy to the whole plan. But Zora understood. Even though her fear almost choked her, she understood the position they were in. Zora walked back over to him and softly slipped her hand into his.

Then they all began to leave, Lady Catelyn and Ser Rodrick to pack and plan their departure from Winterfell. Robb turned to follow them all, but Zora held onto his hand and held him back. He turned back to her and, seeing the look in her eyes, stayed behind. Once they were alone, Robb dropped her hand and walked closer to the water. He stood there, his arms crossed, not looking at her. All at once Zora felt tired again.

After a moment of silence, he said quietly, "What's gotten into you, Zora?" There was an edge to his voice, a steeliness that was not always there. But Zora had heard it before. He turned around and faced her. There it was, she could see it: he was angry. Angry, she supposed, that she had been so outspoken in front of all of them, that she had openly disputed him.

Robb's voice was calm as he continued, but Zora could hear the sharp edges to his voice, threatening to cut her into a million pieces. "Before, when you spoke out, at least it was only to me. But this, in front of my mother, in front of the others. This cannot happen."

His eyes bore into hers, flashing at her. Anger began bubbling in her as well, but Robb was still speaking, too quickly for her to her to cut in. "It was bad enough in front of the king. Thankfully he thought it was charming. And honestly I did, too. Part of the reason I love you is your fire." He took a breath, his eyes still angry. "You need to learn to control that fire, though, before it burns all of us alive."

Then Zora found her voice and cut in. "That is rich, coming from the boy who just stood here, threatening war on the Lannisters over a suspicion! If anyone is threatening to burn us all, it's you! My words were no more reckless than yours."

Robb scoffed. "My words were not reckless. Whoever attacked Bran did not mean it as an act of peace. I meant my words; if they want war I will give it to them."

"Yes, with your mighty ally Theon Greyjoy at your side you are sure to win."

"In times of war we need all allies we can get!"

"Even ones who attacked your wife? Or had you forgotten, since you were so quick to forgive him."

"Forgive him?" Robb's eyes flashed again. "Who said I forgave him? You were the one who said those words the morning after the attack."

Zora stared at him incredulously. "I forgave him for you!" She cried. "I did it so I didn't have to ask you to send your best friend away, or kill him, right after we had made up. But that did not mean I wanted things to go back to how they were, to have him around, to always be reminded of-," She broke off, panting a little. Resentment that she didn't know she had was coming up in her, and in Robb as well it seemed.

"I may have allowed him to stay," Robb said slowly, "but that does not mean things are how they were." He looked at her steadily. "He will never stop being the man who attacked my wife to me."

"You should be an actor." Zora said coldly. "No one could ever tell that's how you really feel."

"This is not fair of you. You said you forgave him and you wanted to move on, and now you are unhappy because I acted according to your wishes?" Robb's voice was equally cold. "You do not get to change your mind and be angry at others because they cannot keep up."

"But you get to just march off to King's Landing asking for a death sentence?"

"I'm not going to King's Landing."

"Yes, but you wanted to! You could not wait to volunteer! I'm surprised you aren't after your mother right now, convincing her that you need to go instead."

"That is because I understand my duty to Winterfell. And it would do you good to remember your duties as well"

"Oh, this again." Zora bit out. "We've already established that I'm not good enough for you. That I'm reckless and do not know when to shut my mouth."

"I never said that."

"You're right, you did not. But the look in your eyes every time I open my mouth when other people are around says it all."

Robb shook his head in frustration. "I don't want you to be silent. I just wish you would think a little before you speak."

"I could say the same about you!" Zora cried. "You threatened war on the most dangerous family in the seven kingdoms and willingly offered to walk right into the lion's den!"

"Because of my duty to the North and my family. I thought you understood that. Didn't you say that we could serve the North well together?"

"Yes, but only if you're alive long enough to do it!"

He just closed his eyes, passing his hand through his hair. "I'm tired of this, Zora." He said quietly.

And before she could respond, either bitingly or calmly, she wasn't sure which, Robb turned from her and walked away. Zora blinked in surprise, hurt stinging in her chest, but she followed after him without a word.

As they made their way into the keep, Maester Luwin called Robb away instantly, leaving Zora alone in the courtyard. She stood there a moment, feeling almost frozen. The godswood hadn't brought her peace; she had left it more conflicted than she had been when she entered. Her eyes drifted to the training grounds. Training and sparring had always helped her in the past, made her feel more like herself.

But as she made her way to the training grounds, a distant memory came to her…

"That's it, my girl! Soon enough, you'll be beating all of these lads, not just the Stark boy!"

Colren Celtigar's words echoed in her head, bringing more pain to her heart. So Zora instead turned and went inside. As she walked to her room, thinking to lie down and rest, she saw the door to Bran's room open. On instinct, she walked to the door and stopped when she reached the doorway.

Inside, Lady Catelyn was hanging something over Bran's bed: the charm she had been working on. As Zora watched, Lady Catelyn sat on the bed next to Bran. She tenderly brushed his hair off his forehead and pressed a gentle kiss there. Zora felt a stirring in her heart like she had never had before. To openly witness a display of a mother's love, something she had no strong memory of, made her feel a longing that she never knew was there.

Then Lady Catelyn rose and turned toward the door, stopping when she saw Zora there.

"I apologize, my lady." Zora said quickly. "I came only to check on Bran. I'll take my leave of you." She turned and was about to walk out the door when Lady Catelyn stopped her.

"Wait, Lady Zora." Zora stopped and came back into the room. Lady Catelyn sat back on the bed and gestured to the chair next to it. Zora sat and looked at Lady Catelyn, her brow furrowed. Her fingers found a stray thread on her skirt and twisted it while she waited for Lady Catelyn to speak.

"Lady Zora, are you feeling alright?" Zora blanched, her eyes widening in surprise. Lady Catelyn looked at her expectantly.

"Only tired, my lady." Zora said quietly.

Lady Catelyn only looked at her, seeming to be thinking over something. "It's a hard thing, Lady Zora."

"What is?"

"Learning to be the wife of a Stark man." Lady Catelyn said simply. "And learning how to best handle yourself when they seem to be making the wrong decision." Zora looked quickly at her, surprised. "Duty and honor run strong in the Starks. Robb takes after his father that way. He will need you to help guide him." She paused. "But you cannot guide him if you are shouting over him. Your father taught you well, Lady Zora. Your instincts are there. Your learning shows. But it's your tact that needs some work." Zora looked down at her hands, her cheeks burning.

"When I return," Lady Catelyn continued, "we can start giving you more responsibility, and I can help teach you to better brave these waters. Do you like the sound of that?"

Tears springing to her eyes, Zora nodded. She opened her mouth to express to Lady Catelyn how much that meant to her, how much she valued and respected her opinion and how much Zora wanted to get better at this, and how sad she was after this fight with Robb, but all she could muster in response was a simple "Thank you."

Lady Catelyn looked at Bran and smoothed his hair again, then rose to leave. When she got to the door, she turned back to Zora and said, her eyes on Bran's sleeping form, "Look after them-all of them-for me."

Clearing her throat, Zora croaked out, "I will, my lady." And Lady Catelyn left.

Zora looked back at Bran, his steadily moving chest, and made a decision. She would get better. She never again wanted to have the same argument that she had had with Robb now too many times. She would not be an embarrassment. She would swallow her pride and improve.

After Lady Catelyn's departure, Zora stayed with Bran. As night fell, she was holding a book in her hands but not really reading the words. Her mind was fogged with all that had happened and the words swam in front of her eyes. Soon her exhaustion came over her and her eyes began to close. She was drifting somewhere near sleep when a loud gasp woke her. Jolting away, Zora shook her head to clear the tiredness from her mind, looking around for Summer or whatever made the noise. Then she her eyes drifted from Summer to Bran's face, his eyes wide open.

Bran was awake.

A/N Hey guys! I hope you like the new update! Sorry it took so long; I was stuck for the longest time on this but, because of a reviewer's comments, looked back at this and was able to fix things. Then the story came much more easily. Let me know what you guys think!