A/N: Hey guys! New chapter, a few people to respond to first of all though!

KhayaForever1: I'm sorry you feel that way but I assure you all my storylines are being written for a reason. I completely respect that Theon may not necessarily be your cup of tea but I did find it rather harsh that you referred to his storyline and my other storylines that don't feature Robb/Dany as 'faff'. I could understand your frustrations if I had billed this as a strictly Robb/Dany story but I have said from chapter one that I would be spanning a lot of Westeros and a lot of characters. I am trying to write a Game of Thrones story and there are a lot of players. I know the Starks are the heart of it but there is a lot more to the body of the story. I assure you I haven't forgotten about any of my characters and all these different storylines will weave together and have impacts on one another. I guess it's easier for me because I'm the one who has it all mapped out and knows how and when pieces will slot together. Robb and Dany are important, but I am afraid they're not the be all and end all of this fic and I never said they would be, I feel it would be a bad decision on my part to just write scenes with them in it just for the sake of it. Everything has to fit on my timeline and right now they're at the Wall and there isn't much I can do with them at the moment. Sorry if this comes across as a rant but as I mentioned earlier, it was kind of upsetting to have storylines I've been planning and working on for months dismissed as 'faff'. Hopefully you won't be put off the story but if you are I guess there isn't really anything I can do about it, I just hope you can give me the benefit of the doubt when it comes to my reasoning as I can't really say any more without giving all my plots away! :)

Guest: See below for the meeting! But I'm afraid there won't be any love story here. As much as I love Ygritte, I have other plans for Jon! As for Serra ... see below for more of her as well! :)

Right guys, apologies for holding you up! Hope you enjoy this one and I will get another out to you at the weekend!

:)

Contracts and Clashes

The Wall

"Fuck you," the girl spat.

"Charming," Robb muttered, sparing her a withering look before raising his eyebrows at Jon.

"You need to eat," Jon said softly then and she glared at him.

"Fuck. You." She reiterated and Jon sighed heavily.

"You know it doesn't need to be like this … they are making plans for those of you who are prepared to live peacefully to settle on The Gift," Jon told her.

"Like I believe a word from your mouth crow," she sneered at him.

"I'm not a man of the Watch," he told her calmly.

"You sure look like a crow," she looked at him suspiciously.

"I like to wear black," he tried a smile for her but her face remained stony.

"I give up," Robb said, "you keep trying if you want but I have better things to do"

"That one thinks he's a Lord," the girl said as soon as Robb was gone.

"That one is my brother, and he is a Lord," Jon told her and she scowled at him.

"You a Lord as well?" she mocked him.

"No," he said, meeting her eyes, "I'm a bastard, now are you going to eat this food or not?"

She said nothing but snatched the bowl of broth from him and took a suspicious sniff of it. Jon resisted rolling his eyes at her. All the other wildlings who had been captured had seemed happy enough to accept their meals, grateful that they weren't going to the block and on their best behaviour when they found out about the possibility of settling south of the Wall. Not this one thought. This one's temper was as fiery as her hair but at least she had finally agreed to eat something.

"What's your name?" Jon asked her once she had drained the contents of the bowl.

"None of your business Snow," she shot at him and he looked at her pointedly.

"Seems unfair you know my name and I don't know yours," he raised his brows.

"Lots of bastards are named Snow," she returned and he laughed despite himself.

"Northern bastards aye," he agreed, "my name is Jon … and yours?"

"Ygritte," she finally said and he tried not to smile.

"I'd like to say it's been a pleasure …" he trailed off and the corners of her lips twitched up.

"Is it true?" she asked, "About The Gift?"

"As I said … if there is an agreement to live peacefully. You wouldn't be free folk any longer, you would have to abide by the laws of the North," he told her.

"Don't you ever get sick of the laws?" she asked.

"They're there for a reason," he said and she rolled her eyes; "you know if you can find it in you to be a little more gracious they might consider letting you go too"

"I'll think about it," she said moodily.

"Alright," he sighed, rising to his feet and taking her empty bowl from her. She didn't thank him but her eyes weren't full of the usual disdain when he made to leave the room. Apparently he had managed to make some progress with her and about time too.

"Enough!" Ned raised his hand and his Lords fell silent; "I have heard enough … I will ask his Grace to consider it but I can do no more, we already agreed terms. If he is not agreeable then I will not force the issue but … but I will explain how keen you all are for the match."

They mumbled their thanks then and he raised his hand to gesture for them to leave and they did so with short bows and 'my Lord's'. He sighed heavily once he was alone. He should be euphoric, on top of the world now that he knew his lost daughter was almost home at Winterfell. She could even have arrived by now depending how long it had taken Catelyn's letter to reach him. That thought did have him smiling but then he remembered the conversation he had just had with his Lords. He should have guessed what they had wanted but he had betrothed Sansa to a boy who would seat the throne before and that had not ended the way it should have. He sat heavily and put his head in his hands, they had put pressure on him and he had agreed to ask now. Perhaps Aegon would say no. Ned doubted it though, the man wouldn't want to cause offence to the man who had more than tripled the size of his army and who could call on even more numbers as they marched south.

They would leave for Winterfell soon Ned imagined, once the dead were dealt with and those men they had injured were well enough to travel. It might take another week or more but at least there would be no more fighting. It had already been agreed that a thousand men would stay at the Wall for the time being as there was still the threat of the walkers to be concerned with. Once Aegon took the throne he would have Dragonstone back in his grasp as well and the obsidian deposits there would have to be mined and crafted into dragonglass weapons that would be sent to the Wall. Ned sighed heavily and put his head in his hands, massaging his temples. There was so much to do, even if they got Aegon on the throne he knew the war would be far from over. Did he really want Sansa in one of the most dangerous places in Westeros when that happened? She has survived it once and now I would send her back.

"Lord Stark?" he recognised Aegon's tones from just outside the room.

"Aye your Grace," he confirmed and in the next moment the fair man stepped inside.

"You wanted to see me?" Aegon raised his brows before easing himself into a seat.

"I did," Ned confirmed, "I know we have already agreed terms and I would not ask for anymore if you are unwilling to grant it"

"You have thought of something else?" Aegon smiled slightly.

"My Lords more than myself," Ned confessed, "my daughter … Sansa, she will soon be safely back at Winterfell"

"I'm delighted to hear it," Aegon said and Ned forced a smile for him.

"My Lords wondered if you would consider taking her as your wife once this is done … a way to further cement our alliance if you will," Ned told him.

"I see," Aegon said lightly and Ned could tell he was pondering the request.

Aegon looked intently at the troubled looking older man then before sighing heavily. He could tell that Ned Stark was less than thrilled with the idea of betrothing his daughter to him and he couldn't blame the man after she had spent so long trapped in the Capitol. It wouldn't have to be like that if she married him though, he would treat her with kindness, the way a Queen should be treated. He hadn't given much thought to who would become his Queen but why not Sansa Stark? Ned was right, it would cement the alliance and he knew it would keep the northern Lords happy and it was best they were kept happy since they would be far from his reach when he took the Capitol. He considered Ned for another few moments before slowly nodding his head.

"Yes," he said, "it would be my pleasure to join our houses even more securely. I will take the Lady Sansa as my Queen once all this is done with."

Val saw him emerge from one of the towers of Castle Black as she was escorted back towards her own tower. Her prison more like, she thought bitterly. At least she had been granted permission to go out beyond the Wall and see her sister's body given to the Gods, the flames and smoke swirling high up into the sky. The baby had been kept from her but one of the men who brought her meals to her had assured her that he was being taken care of. A wet nurse had been sent for from Moletown and until she arrived he seemed to be more than thriving on goat's milk. Val wanted to see him with her own eyes though but for now it had been forbidden. She looked towards the Targaryen then as he strode towards her. The false Targaryen that woman in red had told her. She cared neither way. False or not he was naught to her. The people though … they needed to come south of the Wall and she needed her nephew in her own arms so she could raise him the way Dalla would have wanted. At least she had seen Dalla go to the Gods, it must have been him who gave her permission. The Targaryen that they all called King.

"Your Grace?" she said when he came close enough to hear her and he looked surprised at her greeting.

"My Lady?" he returned, raising his brows slightly.

"Forgive us your Grace," one of the guards spoke up before she could; "we don't wish to trouble you, we were escorting the prisoner back to her chamber"

"The prisoner is a Princess is she not, at least beyond the Wall," he raised his brows, "speak," he directed to her then.

"I merely wanted to thank you your Grace, for giving permission for me to see my sister safely to the Gods," she said, meeting his eyes.

"You're welcome," he said, "unhand her," he said to her guards and they did so at once; "perhaps we could raise a glass to your sister?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble your Grace," she said as he fixed her with a searching look.

"No trouble," he said, holding out his arm which she hesitantly took after a moment. Her other hand shook as they walked. She wasn't ready for this. She had not expected to get him alone so quickly.

King's Landing

Stannis pressed his lips lightly against his bride's lips as the Septon concluded the ceremony. Melisandre would be furious when she found out he had married in the faith of the Seven but she didn't understand the way he did how angry the smallfolk would become if their Gods were taken away over-night. It had to be done slowly. Carefully. Stannis didn't care either way but the people did. They worshipped the Seven and his position as King was shaky enough as it was. One wrong move and the revolts would begin. Stannis only hoped that Melisandre's trip to the Wall would be as productive as her visit to Renly. True or not this brand new Targaryen was a threat and it was best he was extinguished now before he could even begin to march south. He glanced sideways at his new Queen as she lay her hand on his arm when they turned from the Septon to walk from the Sept to the grand dining hall for the feast. She had a smile on her face, whether it was genuine or not he didn't know but at least she looked the part. Now she just had to act it. The sooner she was with child the better. He needed a son and he needed one quickly.

He tried with some difficulty not to grimace as they walked into the dining hall to fanfare and people clapping and cheering them. Instead he forced a smile to his face the way a King should, the way Renly would have to win people over. He wasn't Renly though and nor would he want to be, being carefree and loved had done nothing for him in the end. Better people feared him for the most part. When it came to the Queen though he would have to show devotion. She was beautiful and if he was seen to treat her well then people would see his softer side. He already knew the people would love Erinne Swann, bouquets had been thrown at her feet wherever she walked for the past days leading up to their nuptials. They cheered for her in a way they would never cheer for him but that mattered not as he could bask in her reflected glow. How could he be a monster when his wife was so sweet and devoted? His smile was more genuine as he sat down at the head of the table with his young wife next to him. She would bring the people to his side without even trying, besides a son, what more could he ask for?

Erinne turned her smile on him then and he returned it before raising her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it. The people would love that. His wife's smile widened at his gesture and he returned the action, only dropping her hand when the first of many courses was placed in front of them. Erinne thanked the serving boys and girls and they blushed and stuttered their own thanks to her as they bowed and curtseyed deeply before their King and Queen. Stannis smirked slightly, this was already going better than he had imagined. He only hoped this good fortune extended to the bedchamber. As the meal went on Stannis was caught up in conversation with Mace Tyrell who was sat on his other side. Erinne knew that the man was desperate to be named Hand but she imagined her husband would choose his smuggling friend. Davos seemed a good sort of man despite his past but she was not entirely convinced that he would be able to run the Seven Kingdom's. Her own father would be a much better choice in her opinion but she was not foolish enough to voice it. She let her eyes wander the hall then until they were caught by his. Her heart seemed to stop as he held her gaze and she felt her own eyes well with tears as she took in his heartbroken expression. She swallowed hard then as her husband lay his hand on hers to draw her attention and she blinked rapidly to compose herself before turning to give him her undivided attention.

The Saltpans

They weren't far enough from the town to risk a fire so Jaime had given all the furs he had managed to carry from the smuggling boat to the children and Jeyne. The girl had tried to protest but he had insisted. He would never have slept anyway. Thoughts of Cersei were hounding him and he was constantly wondering if he was doing the right thing in going to the Rock. He wished he knew where Tyrion was or that his brother had left him some kind of instruction with Varys. The Eunuch hadn't cautioned him against heading towards Casterly Rock and so he could only imagine that it wasn't a bad idea. At least they could hole themselves up there and perhaps make some kind of deal later on. Stannis would never negotiate with him but Jaime wouldn't be surprised if he was soon usurped. He had heard from some of the smuggler's on the vessel they were carried on that Ned Stark had allied with the miraculously undead Aegon Targaryen. Jaime could say a lot of things about Stark but he was no fool and he could only imagine that the boy was real. He wasn't sure he would have better luck with him than with Stannis but he did have Jeyne Poole with him. If he treated her with kindness then that would reflect well on him, at least in northern eyes. He heard shuffling behind him then and he turned around, said Jeyne seemed to be tossing and turning in her sleep. He frowned slightly when she began to whimper, she sounded as though she was in pain and he inched closer to her only for her eyes to fly open before he could touch her. Instinctively he put his hand over her mouth to stop the scream escaping. She looked even more panicked then, her eyes wide and scared as he loomed over her in the darkness.

"It's alright," he whispered, "I'm not going to hurt you, you were dreaming that's all but I had to stop you screaming or we might have been discovered. I'm going to let go now … don't scream"

She sat up when he moved his hand away, her chest rapidly rising and falling as her eyes darted about her as though she was trying to remember exactly where she was. When her eyes fell on the sleeping Tommen and Myrcella she seemed to calm down, her breathing less ragged and the tension somewhat leaving her body.

"Do you want some water?" Jaime asked her.

"Thank you Ser," she said and he handed her one of the skins.

"Better?" he asked once she had drank her fill and handed it back to him.

"Yes," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes.

"What was the dream?" he asked her.

"It doesn't matter," she shook her head.

"I have dreams sometimes, unpleasant ones … memories …" he trailed off.

"I hate remembering," she said then, her eyes still firmly on the ground.

"Remembering what?" he whispered.

"That woman," her tone hardened, "what she made me do … how she sold my … she let those men touch me, spoil me …"

"No man will ever touch you again without your consent," Jaime promised her then.

"I fear it matters not either way," she looked up to meet his eyes, "I am little more than a whore now"

"You are no whore," he said firmly.

"But I am no Lady," she smiled wryly, "not without my innocence"

"Trust me Jeyne, few are innocent in this world," he sighed.

"You don't sleep," she stated then.

"As I said, you are not the only one who has unpleasant dreams," he said.

"What do you dream of?" she asked him quietly and he sighed. She had told him hers after all.

"The mad King mostly, but since … since we left I have dreamt of my sister," he confessed.

"Oh," she said, not knowing what else to say. She didn't have the nerve to ask him if the rumours about them were true.

"I left her there, no doubt to die … my other half, my twin … how could I do that?" he shook his head.

"You must have had your reasons," Jeyne said quietly.

"Oh I did," he nodded, "I had a thousand reasons … but she was my sister"

"She was trying to kill your brother," she stated.

"Tyrion was good to you?" Jaime turned to look at her and she met his eyes when she answered.

"He concealed me in his own chambers and never made me do anything like they did in the brothel," she said, "he took meals with me and brought me books and needlework so I wouldn't get bored. He spoke kindly to me and made me laugh … even when he was imprisoned he made sure that I was taken care of. Your brother is a good man Ser."

"He is," Jaime agreed, his tone slightly bitter.

"And so are you," she said, meeting his eyes again and he had no other words for her.

Winterfell

Serra got up from her seat in the window when she heard her father calling. Her stomach had been in a constant state of tension for the last days while she waited for Gendry to explain his plan to her. He hadn't though, merely imploring her to trust him when she asked him about it. Something about the way he looked into her eyes made her believe that he knew what he was doing and so she had agreed to give him time. If his idea came to nothing though she would have to confess and the thought of doing so made her legs shake as she walked down the stairs. Her father was beaming when she came to the bottom and she forced a smile to her own face before her eyes slid to Gendry whose expression was unreadable.

"You wanted me father?" she managed then.

"Yes," if anything his smile stretched even more, "I have a match for you"

"You …?" she trailed off, dread gripping her stomach.

"He's been under my nose this whole time," her father continued.

"He has?" she managed weakly.

"Aye," he nodded, "and when Gendry asked me I couldn't refuse, he's a good man Serra and he knows a good trade, you will be well looked after"

"I …" she frowned, glancing towards Gendry, "what?"

"You are to marry Gendry," her father told her then and her eyes widened.

"I …" she stuttered again, "I don't know what to say, I …"

"Perhaps I should give you a moment," her father smiled then before stepping forward to embrace her for a moment, still beaming when he pulled away. He made for the door then, clapping Gendry on the back as he went. Serra turned her eyes on him as soon as the door closed and noticed that he looked almost apprehensive. She couldn't believe he had done this. That this had been his plan. No wonder he hadn't told her, she would have rejected it at once.

"You don't have to do this," she told him, meeting his eyes.

"Do what?" he frowned.

"Marry me to try and spare my shame," she said, shaking her head.

"I never thought I'd get to marry anyone," Gendry said and she frowned.

"Then why me?" she asked.

"Because I wanted to help you, and you're kind and … beautiful," he dropped his gaze at the word, "and I can take good care of you, I would never mistreat you"

"I know that," she whispered, "but this is too much Gendry …"

"Do you not want to marry me?" he looked crestfallen.

"I never said that!" she said quickly, "I just … I just never expected you to do this"

"I didn't know if it would work," he confessed, "your father told me if there was ever anything he could do to repay me then I only had to name it. I never expected to name you … and when I did part of me thought he would say no, I am still a bastard after all but he agreed. As he said … I know a good trade and I can take care of you, he even offered to give me the name Cassel."

"Gendry I …" she shook her head, taking a few steps closer to him, "I don't know how I am ever going to thank you for this"

"Having someone as wonderful as you for my wife is all the thanks I need," he said.

"You are the wonderful one Gendry," she insisted, stepping even closer to him and reaching up to plant a light kiss to his cheek.

Salt Spear

Theon was up to his knees in the water as he clashed swords with his opponent who was seemingly twice his size. He clashed his sword against his but the man's brute strength won out and he pushed against the steel with his own and Theon staggered backwards. For a moment he saw his end, he saw the sword being plunged right through him. He saw the blood gushing into the water and being swept away almost instantly on the waves. He saw Adele swathing her expanding stomach in black and weeping for him, telling his motionless body over and over that he should never have ridden out to the coast. The blow never came though as the man faltered, his eyes fixed on something.

"Greyjoy?" he whispered, and Theon was so stunned by his recognition that he missed his own chance to finish him off. The man came for him then but instead of sticking him with his blade he cuffed his arm around his neck, the other twisting his hand and forcing him to drop his sword before he pulled his other arm around his chest and began dragging him further into the water. Gods was he going to drown him?

"Let go!" Theon struggled against him but the man was huge and other Ironborn were coming around him, asking their garbled questions about what he was doing.

"He's Greyjoy!" the man holding him declared, "He's the missing son!"

"Let go of me you bastard!" Theon demanded struggling with all his strength.

"We need to get him to the boats, Lord Greyjoy will want his son alive," the man ignored him.

"How do you know it's him?" one of the others demanded.

"The pin on his lapel," the man said, "saw it pinned on him the day Stark took him hostage, and he has the Greyjoy look, what's your name boy?"

"Theon," Theon confessed, knowing that if he denied it they would slit his throat. At least this way he would live and have some chance of getting back to Adele.

"Told you," the man said, hauling him towards a boat.

"Unhand me!" Theon tried once more.

The man holding him lost all patience then, snatching a club from one of his comrades and smacking it about Theon's head. He went limp at once and was ever so easy to haul up onto one of the boats. Those left on shore would perish, the northern and Tully forces easily outnumbered them but he had something worth the sacrifice. He had Balon Greyjoy's last remaining son alive. He would be greatly rewarded for this, for bringing the heir to the Iron Islands back to where he belonged.

A/N: A fair bit going on there ... as you can probably guess, the Ironborn will be making their appearance soon at long last ;)

More soon guys, hope you enjoyed.

:)