It was before dawn when Belle kissed her children goodbye before leaving them with their grandmother. She was anxious to leave them, but she knew they would be fine with their grandmother. They would never be harmed while in Catelyn's care. She kissed Catelyn goodbye as well as Catelyn pulled her gold fur closer around the younger woman's neck to keep her warm. Belle knew this was a mother's gesture—a mothering gesture. It made her feel even more comfortable about leaving her children in her care. She was most anxious to see what state her husband was in—it has been over a year since she saw him last.

They had both grown in the time they spent a part. She knew they would when she left, but she knew that even more now that they were about to see each other. She just wanted to hold him in her arms again, see that he was okay. And she would, in a few weeks time.

Her sister was in a carriage, but Belle preferred to ride, she had not ridden in so long. It also would give something for the small folk to see as they passed. Their queen felt safe enough to ride in the open, it would only mean things were going well in the war. It was funny, when she first arrived she was a bit of an outsider still. She was not a Northerner. Something changed, she bet it was a bit of everything. She had Northern children now, she also proved herself as a capable leader. Catelyn and Sansa also stood with her as a united front. That all had to mean something. And she was the Northern Queen with a Northern King who was fighting for their independence in the South.

Belle had a few Northern troops that came with her, so it was not only her father's men. These men were loyal to her now, after freeing them from the cells. They had respect for her other than the respect one has for a lady or monarch, respect she earned as well. Belle was comfortable as she rode with them, more so than if she was just with her father's men. The leader was one of her older half brother's, Johan, and she recognized at least three others as her bastard brothers. Belle did not have the faith in her brothers that Sansa did in hers. But Johan was five years her senior at least, and rode beside her, sitting tall in his saddle. He had brown hair that looked red in the moments of sun they had that day. His mother must have been beautiful because he was not ill favored. Belle remembered him, but she did not know him well at all. She did not know why her father chose him to bring her to this wedding.

"What made father choose you to be the one to summon me?" Belle asked him after hours of riding in silence.

"Perhaps he thought I would be least likely to annoy you." He said. "It is not a good thing to anger a queen. Especially one who's king heeds her words."

"How would you know that?" Belle asked.

"You think our father did not have spies in your camp?"

Belle weighed her head back and forth. "I did not think they would be able to get close enough to tell. Were you one of them?"

"No, I was elsewhere when you were married." He said.

"And why are you getting me now? Why not another brother?"

"I volunteered, your grace." He said.

"Why?"

"We never knew each other. I wanted to fix that." He said.

"Why? Because I am a queen now?"

"Because you got out." He answered.

That brought Belle up short—she always thought her brother's had a better chance than any of the girls.

"Don't look surprised, your grace." He said with a slight smile. "There is no way I am getting our father's title. I don't know if I even want it. But there is much said to being stuck under someone's thumb."

"Why do you not join the war effort?" Belle asked.

"Because I would rather do something more useful." He said. "I've also heard your story."

"My story?"

"Well, your grace. You went to war and healed men. You went to war with a wolf and was sent away with his pups. Your castle was taken from you and you took it back. It's quite a story. I am sure we will be hearing songs about it soon."

"Don't tease." She said. "How can you speak to me like you know me?"

"Because I know Roslyn very well. We shared a mother. One of our father's longer marriages." He said. "She has spoken nothing but good things of you, especially since she is convinced that you are the reason of her marriage to the Tully lord."

Belle could see it now. He and Rosalyn did look much alike.

"I had very little to do with it."

"You also took Jane with you to the North to get her from our father." He said. "You don't know me, your grace, but I will dare say I know you quite well."

"And how is Rosalyn?"

"Very happy that she will be married to a high lord with a good family and will bare fish for children. Not as mighty as your wolves, but more than she dared hope." He said.

Belle smiled slightly. "Perhaps when we get to the Twins we can all have some tea and get to know each other as siblings should."

"I would be honored, your grace." He said.

"So you volunteered to get me?"

"Partially. Rose also asked me to get you. She was sure our other brothers would not have as honorable intentions. They might think they can get something from you?"

"And you don't?" Belle challenged, her tone friendly, but with an edge.

"Not with intentions that would ever harm you." He answered. "I take pride in caring for my sisters. It is not my fault I was kept from all my sisters besides the one I share a mother with."

"I always wondered why our father did that." Belle said.

"Our father likes control. I am sure you have noticed. It was perhaps one of his rules so he would not get resistance when he started marrying you all off. I am sure any good brother would have a problem if their sister was sent to a man who would not care for them."

"And there are so many bad men in this country." Belle said.

"Sadly. Sadly some were related to us as well."

Belle was silent to that comment for a moment, not wanting to give anything away in case he knew something specific about her past. "There must be at least one bad man in every family, don't you think?"

"Of course, but it's not our fault our brother's and sisters must be in the hundreds by now."

"You exaggerate."

"Perhaps, but not by as much as I would like to be."

XXX

Sansa did not know what to do. The Watch was divided into two groups, one that supported Jon while he was Lord Commander, the other were the ones who killed him. There were Wildlings everywhere, and an envoy of men from Stannis Baratheon's army with a woman with dark red hair who gazed too hard at certain people and looked straight through others. But what confused her most is how her brother looked on the table they had laid him on. He was so much older than he was when they saw each other last. He could grow a beard now. Ghost growled at anyone who approached him, but he did not growl at her. He licked her hand and let her scratch behind his ears, burying her cold fingers in his fur.

Sansa wondered if Lady would have grown to as big as Ghost was now. Would she have grown bigger?

The Red Woman was behind her, watching her, watching her touch the wolf she had not seen in years. Watching her as she looked heartbroken over her dead brother.

"I can save him."

"Save him?" Ed asked while Sansa continued to gaze at her brother. "He's dead."

"The Lord of Light has plans for him." The Red Woman said. "He will come back."

"Do it." Sansa said, not looking away from her brother.

"I will need privacy."

"My men will guard the doors." Sansa said. She leant forward and kissed Jon's forehead before her fingers brushed back his hair. "I'm so sorry, Jon."

"I will go prepare." The Red Woman left the room.

Edd stopped her. "You don't know this woman."

"No, but I also know that my brother will not walk again either way." Sansa said. "I would never forgive myself if I did not try. My siblings would never forgive me." She looked back to her half-brother, lying dead on the table. They had never been close, but they shared blood. If she did not do everything in her power for his well being, she would not be able to hold her head up with pride. "My men will guard him. Let any man try to get him and they will not live."

"He's my brother." Edd said.

"Mine too." Sansa snapped, pushing tears down. They stared at each other.

"He won't come back the same."

"None of us do." She replied. "But can you say the world is better without Jon Snow in it?"

He was silent. She began leaving again. When she was at the door he called to her.

"He told me he was close to a younger sister, was that you?"

Sansa's hand was on the door. She paused and smiled sadly. "No, we were not close. But he is family. If I have faith in him as the sister who was not close to him, what does that tell you?"

He did not say anything. He just nodded before following her out of the room. Ghost stayed by his master's side.

XXX

They made camp when they were a day away from the Twins. There was no inn near enough by, but Belle did not mind. She had slept rough before. At least they had tents. It was cold outside, and there were candles in the large tent along with fires outside to keep the men keeping watch warm. In Belle's tent, which she would sleep in with her sister, they also had Johan in there, and he was telling stories of him doing foolish things as a child. They were all laughing as he told them of a time he, and a few of their older brother jumped into the water of the lake from twenty feet.

"So, Frank goes first and he jumps in no problem. We already made sure there were no rocks, where we were jumping. He comes out of the water grinning and telling us to come down as well." Johan said. "So, Randyl goes next once Frank swims out of the way. Again, no problem. It's my turn now. But I was the one that went into the water to make sure it was safe, so I'm still dripping wet because of my trousers. I take a few steps up and the rock is slippery as anything, so I start struggling and lose my footing." He raises his hands up, showing how he hit the water with a slap. "Back first I hit the water. I have never been in so much pain in my life, my back was bruised to hell, and what were our brothers doing? Laughing. Only I could have failed that jump." He rolled his eyes, but he was laughing at himself as his sisters laughed as well.

"What did you do then?"

"Waddle back home to see the Maester. He gave me a tongue lashing. I'm sure he would have given me a lashing as well if the water hadn't done it for him."

"Maester Rayn would never." Belle said, but she still laughed.

"You only say that because you were his favorite." He replied. "The rest of us were not so lucky."

"Perhaps." Belle said. "But still. I helped him treat half his patients when he was training me. I'm surprised I did not see you after that story."

"Oh, I got much smarter with my shenanigans as I got older. I was only thirteen at the time."

"So no more jumping from twenty feet?"

"Not anymore, as a man grown we have responsibilities." He said. "Besides, it's much too cold for it now. That was in the beginning of the past summer. We'll start getting snows in the South soon enough."

"I barely remember the last time it snowed." Belle said.

"Well, you were born in Winter." He said. "Both of you were. I was born in late Autumn. I remember the snows. You will see worse in Winterfell."

"Oh, I bet I will." Belle said. "We've already had snow on the ground, but it doesn't quite stick around long yet."

"I'm sure the Stark's won't let their queen go cold." He said. "Not one that has taken to them so quickly?"

"Quickly? I've been with them for two years or so now." Belle said. "I still feel like an outsider at times."

"You don't seem like an outsider to me." Jane spoke up. "They don't see you as one. Perhaps at the beginning, but now? With your little prince and princess? Taking back Winterfell all by your plan? You've earned their trust, loyalty, everything. They even gave you a Northern crown, Belle. You're a Stark, far more than you've ever been a Frey."

Belle was blushing, but she waved her sister off. "You never know what you can do until you're put in the situation. I was given an opportunity. Theon gave it to me, really. If he had me locked up like the rest of you, we would have had no chance."

"I'm sure, you are just being humble." Johan said. "We grew up in the same house, we all learned how to be self sufficient, and to know when to risk things to get what we want."

"Belle is quite self sufficient." Jane said, and then she paused. "How is Rosalyn? Does she still rely on you?"

"If you are asking if I am still the only one who has her best interests at heart in the castle, I will not lie to you." He sighed. "But good news for her, our little sister proved quite capable to turn Riverrun's heir towards the direction of our house."

"And?"

"Belle, is he a good man?" Johan asked. "I cannot make mark of him. He seems arrogant, yet when he met Rosalyn he bowed and kissed her hand and did everything he was supposed to do. You spent time with him at Riverrun? Yes?"

"I did." Belle said. "He's not bad. He will do his duty by her. He may even love her soon enough. I would not have tried to sell the idea of her if I thought he was a danger to her. But he is arrogant. Maybe my husband has humbled him, but it's been over a year since I saw him last. I do not believe he is a cruel man, or even close. He wants to be a good lord, a good husband, a good father, surely. He just wants a pretty and quiet wife."

"Which is exactly what Rosalyn is." Johan nodded. "I never knew you were close."

"We weren't, but as daughters of Walder Frey we all have sympathy for one another." Belle said. "When I see a way for one of us to get out, I try for it."

"And she will thank you for the rest of your life." Johan said.

XXX

"You should go to bed, Lady Sansa." Edd said as she and her men guarded the room the Red Woman worked in over Jon Snow's body. Her men were at the ready, and she knew that she would not be able to help much, but she couldn't leave him. He was a wolf, and so was she. It had already felt like hours of her standing out there. After everything, she couldn't leave him now.

"I will go to bed when I find out my brother's fate." Sansa said. "I will not leave him now."

"It's not safe."

"I have half my men here to guard me. The Wildlings are not on his usurper's side." She gestured to a certain large wild looking one with bright red hair and rather crazy eyes. She had been concerned about the wildlings at first, but it seemed at least a few were on her brother's side. She would not trust them, but she would not turn away their help either. "This one even called me lucky not ten minutes ago. Let us hope my luck is strong tonight. I think we need all the luck we can get."

The older man sighed, before turning to stand beside her, both of their backs to the door. His hand was on his sword at his side.

"So I see that you support my brother." Sansa said. "Why?"

"Because he is a good man." He said. "And there are so many worse things coming. We don't need to make enemies we don't have to."

"What worse things are coming?"

"Has Winterfell not been getting our letters?"

"We were taken under control for some time. We just got it back. We do not know what scrolls were burned."

"The dead are coming. White walkers."

"And my brother believed in them?"

"He fought them, my lady." Edd said.

"I will have to tell my sister, then." Sansa said.

"Your younger sister?"

"No." She frowned. "She's my brother's wife, the queen. She's the one who sent me here to see what was happening."

"Then you must tell her what is going on here. What needs to be done to keep people alive. The dead are coming."

Sansa nodded. "I will. But first, I want to see what can be done for my brother. If the Red Woman cannot bring him back I will need to bring him back to our crypts."

"He always told us that he was not a Stark."

"Well he is, to me, to my brothers, to my little sister. It's the least I could do for him now. Winterfell is our home."

Ed nodded, but said nothing. "And what if this witch does bring Jon back, what then?"

"Whatever he wants, I guess." Sansa said. "I will not impose on him. I will allow him to stay if he likes. I would love him to come with me. If he wants to go to the Free Cities, or South to our brother, I will support him in what ever he decided. I just want him to decide."

"I wonder why he didn't talk about you." Ed said. "He never spoke of a sister with red hair."

"He had his reasons." Sansa said solemnly. "I'm sure he will tell you if he wakes up."

"Then let us hope he wakes up."

The Red Woman came out of the room, startling them both into stepping aside for her to pass.

"Jon?" Sansa asked.

"He did not awaken." She said. "I tried."

Sansa wanted to cry right there, but she held herself composed and she walked straight into the room. Ghost was laying by the fire, his head did not even pick up when people entered the room. Sansa turned around.

"May I have a moment alone with my brother, please?"

"Of course." Edd said. "We'll be right outside."

"Thank you." Sansa said.

Jon's body was covered by a sheet from his feet to his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Jon." Sansa whispered, letting tears escape her eyes. She would not wail over his body. "I'm sorry I never was able to make amends with you. I'm so sorry we were not closer. I'm so sorry that this was the life you lived only to be gone so soon. I'm so sorry for everything." She rested her forehead against his before breathing in and moving to put her lips to his forehead again.

Then she heard a gasp. She shot straight up, standing up straight in shock. Her brother's grey eyes were open and he was breathing hard. He sat up straight.

Sansa screamed as her brother tried to jump off the table, falling into her arms.

The door burst open and men came flooding into the room.

It took all of Sansa's strength to keep her brother held up, but the only thought in her head was, He's alive.

A/N: So, here we go, guys! Look at me, actually updating when I say I am. I am already starting on the next chapter, so hpoefully I'll be able to update next week right after I get off work.

A GIANT SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL REVIEWERS! kmhappybunny, Jack of Spades29, Padfootette, D00rFr-4m3, and Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967.

Jack of Spades29: Her name is Belle. My computer did not like that name in the beginning so it must have kept switching it to Bella. One day I will go back and fix it!

Thank you all for reading, following, favoriting, and above all REVIEWING.

Kat