IMPORTANT A/N: I think I may have been a little vague with the poisoning clues. For those of you who didn't guess it was Olenna Tyrell, perhaps I should have named her in Loras' thoughts or something. Anyway, now you know. Also, she had no idea the baby was Willas', she assumed it was Stannis'.

Sorry for any confusion, it's my bad!

Anyway, here's the new chapter for you lovely people.

:)


Unprepared


Winterfell


Catelyn sighed heavily as she read through the missive, it seemed the Ironborn had turned up at Moat Cailin again and White Harbour was calling for aid as most of its men had marched south with the armies. Dany looked at her concernedly as she massaged her temple with one hand as she tried to think of the best thing to do. They could spare men she supposed, if she sent half of their remaining forces then they should still be well defended should any threat come. She imagined if any threat were looming she would have heard of it by now. The only real threat could come from the south or from the Ironborn and it seemed she knew exactly where both of those threats were based. Winterfell could not be in any danger, Moat Cailin on the other hand was just a small town with no thick walls nor heavily guarded defences. If the Ironborn took hold there then they could easily begin to make their way steadily north, taking over the undefended towns and villages as they went. If Catelyn sent men now they could be driven back to the Iron Islands before they could take any more innocent lives nor steal any more innocent women away from their families. She let out another heavy sigh before turning her attention to Ser Rodrik who had brought the news for her.

"Take as many men as you see fit," she said, "I will not have the North seen as weak with Ned gone. Send them back to the sea where they belong"

"As you wish my Lady," he bowed lowly to her and she smiled for him as he made his way out.

"Ironborn again?" Dany questioned her.

"Likely another raiding party," she replied, "at least this time Theon is nowhere near them"

"We hope," Dany said, "the Kings Road runs right through Moat Cailin"

"Don't think of it," Catelyn urged her.

"Is it too much to want all of this to be over with?" Dany asked her sadly.

"It will be done," Catelyn said certainly, "Ned promised me … and he had never broken a promise to me in his life"

"I wish I could be as certain as you," she said, running her hands over her stomach.

"Have faith," Catelyn implored her, "Robb loves you, and Ned tells me that that is all a man needs to keep going in such times."


Jory was not happy but his uncle was insistent so all he could do was stand outside the smiths as the men gathered in the courtyard and quietly seethe. Gendry was hammering out yet another sword behind him and he found the rhythmic clanging of steel on steel oddly comforting. His good-son spent most of his waking hours at the smiths now as weapons needed to be constantly forged and sent down south. Jory glanced to the cart parked next to the smiths and saw it already half full of various weapons and armour. It meant more coin for Gendry which in turn meant that he and Serra would soon be moving into a home of their own. Jory knew it would happen sooner rather than later but Loral was in complete denial about it all. Serra, he knew, was excited at the prospect and his daughter's evident happiness meant that he didn't find the prospect of her leaving her family home quite as daunting as his wife did. His uncle came towards him then and he scowled at him, his irritation only increasing as he grinned widely in response.

"Come on lad, do you really want to go?" his uncle asked him.

"No I don't want to go, but I ought to go," Jory said.

"You're Captain of the Guards, the guards are here," Ser Rodrik reminded him.

"Aye, and they were here when I went with Lord Stark to the Capitol," he countered.

"And we all know how well that went," Ser Rodrik said darkly.

"Aye," Jory agreed, "but something doesn't feel right"

"It's war lad," his uncle said heavily, "of course it doesn't feel right"

"You shouldn't be going," Jory said again.

"I'm going Jory," he said firmly, "keep an eye on Beth for me"

"Aye, aye," Jory agreed, seeing there would be no reasoning with him.

"Wish me luck at least lad," Ser Rodrik chuckled.

"I wish you all the luck of the Gods," Jory said seriously, "all of you."

Jory watched him then as he ambled towards the waiting men and hauled himself up atop his horse. A feeling of unease and creeping dread was still niggling at Jory though. Something didn't feel right, he would stake his life on it. The men were leading out now, the courtyard full of the sounds of hooves beating against the cobblestones as they made their way under the gate, the sounds growing fainter and fainter until they were no more. Jory turned his attention to Gendry then as his good-son finally finished battering the sword he was working on into shape. Gendry seemed to examine it for a moment before he plunged it into the barrel of cold water so it hissed and spat before he pulled it back out and tossed it up onto the cart with the others.

"Will you be late again tonight?" Jory asked.

"More than like," Gendry said, wiping the back of his hand across his brow.

"I'll make sure Loral leaves some supper for you," he nodded.

"Thank you," Gendry said gratefully.

"It won't be forever lad," Jory said, clapping his shoulder.

"Sometimes I wonder that Serra even recognises me, I'm so rarely with her," he said bitterly.

"She loves you," Jory said, "and she knows you're just doing your duty"

"The sooner this war is over the better," Gendry snapped then turning back to his tools.

"Aye," Jory agreed, looking up at the darkening sky, "the sooner the better."


"So beautiful," Dany cooed at the baby in her arms before she looked up to meet Adele's tired eyes.

"Margaery was not wrong about sleep," Adele commented.

"Things will get easier when Theon and your father return," Dany soothed her.

"Yes, it shouldn't be more than a few days now," she smiled widely.

"I'm so glad for you," Dany smiled back at her.

"Thank you Dany, and thank you for coming to see me," Adele told her.

"It was my pleasure, but I should really go – it's got dark out," she said.

"Of course," Adele said, coming forward to shift her son out of Dany's arms.

"I'll see you soon," she promised, "and you know where I am should you ever need me"

"Thank you, truly," Adele said meaningfully.

"It's nothing," Dany smiled, "goodnight"

"Goodnight," Adele returned her gesture as Dany made her way from the house.

Once she was gone Adele rocked her baby slightly before laying him down in front of the fire and moving to turn the key in the lock. Theon had always insisted that she lock herself in at night when she was alone and she had always obliged him even though she thought it unnecessary. Now she had her son to think of though and she was more than happy to turn the key in the lock each night. She moved back to him then and scooped him up protectively into her arms, hushing him as he whimpered slightly, his eyelids drooping slightly which told her he was ready for sleep. Sleep was something she would rather like to get herself and so she lit a candle in the dying embers of the fire before carefully making her way up the stairs. She set it down on the bedside table when she entered her bedchamber and moved her son into his cradle where he squirmed around for a moment while she tucked his blankets tightly around him. By the time she had him well tucked in his eyes had closed, his little fists settled on either side of his head, his fingers twitching slightly every so often. She resisted the urge to touch them and instead unlaced her dress and tossed it over the back of the chair, her shift following it before she pulled her nightdress over her head. After she brushed her hair through she placed a few more logs on the fire and checked her baby was still sleeping soundly before she climbed into her own bed and closed her tired eyes.

It seemed like seconds before her eyes flew open as an almighty crash sounded against the front door. She sat bolt upright, her heart pounding as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, screams and cries reaching her ears now from outside the window. Something crashed against the door again then and she knew that someone was trying to get in. She scrambled out of bed then and went straight for the cradle where she scooped her miraculously still sleeping boy into her arms and fled out into the hallway. Oh Gods. She needed to hide him, what if they found him? In the next moment she hurried into the room that would be his when he was old enough to sleep alone, her eyes finding the dresser. Gods she hoped he would stay sleeping as she crossed to it and opened to doors, easing a blanket from the very top shelf and laying it down on the bottom to cushion him. She eased him inside then and closed her eyes for a moment, praying to the Gods that he wouldn't wake up, that they wouldn't find him. Somehow she managed to tear her eyes from him and close the doors of the dresser before she wrenched herself from the room, closing the door behind her before entering her own chamber and dragging the cradle out of her own room and into the washroom and behind the door where hopefully no one would look. She stood out on the landing then with her heart pounding as another crash hit the door followed by a splintering sound. In that moment she knew that her door would not hold out much longer and that she would soon be at the mercy of whoever had infiltrated Winterfell.


"That's it, quickly!" Catelyn urged her children and Margaery down the stairs, all of them pale and looking terrified.

"What will we do?" Sansa squeaked.

"Hide," her mother told her firmly, "you will all go down into the crypts"

"But …" Arya started.

"I want no buts from you," Catelyn said sharply, "you will go down into the crypts with Brienne"

"I'll keep them safe my Lady," Brienne said then, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

"But what about you?" Rickon asked.

"I will be just fine here," Catelyn managed to smile reassuringly for him.

"But …" Arya began again.

"Arya …" she began threateningly.

"Where's Dany?!" Arya shot in before her mother could finish.

"Dany," Catelyn repeated faintly, "oh Gods … Dany … where is she?!"

"She went out to see Adele and the baby," Margaery told her, clutching Steffon tight to her chest.

"Then we can only pray to the Gods she is still there," Catelyn said.

"I could go …" Arya started.

"Oh no you don't," her mother snarled, "it is bad enough you carry that thing on your hip without you trying to use it – crypts, now!"


Dany cursed herself as she slipped into the narrow alley between the stables and the kennels, her heart beating wildly as the swarms of men roamed the courtyard. Guards were coming from all sides and men were spilling from houses to try and contain those who had made their way over the walls. She should have gone straight back to the keep after seeing Adele but she had bumped into Serra on the way back as she was returning from the smiths after taking Gendry something to eat. They had got talking then and time had run away with them, it was only when she realised how dark and still it had become around them that she had bid Serra goodnight. Only a minute later the first scream had gone up and Dany had heard the clashing of swords. She had ran then as quickly as her legs would carry her towards the keep but when she reached the edge of the courtyard it was swarming with men clashing against one another, bodies littering the place and no clear way for her to get back home. Gods she hoped Serra had got back alright, the alternative didn't bear thinking about as she stood with her back pressed against the wall and her eyes fixed on the altercation in the courtyard.

When she heard the scuffle behind her she whipped her head around, seeing the kraken emblazoned on the man's armour had her darting from her hiding place. He grabbed her back though, his hand twisting and yanking her hair painfully as she cried out as he pulled her back against him. "Not so fast pretty girl," he snarled in her ear, his hot breath making her feel sick. She tried to elbow him but she only connected with his armour and he chuckled at her feeble attempts, pulling her back towards where she had originally been hiding. "Let's see what you're hiding under those furs shall we?" he asked her as he slammed her so hard against the wall that the breath was knocked from her. Oh Gods no. She could not let this man rape her, she couldn't. She was Robb's, she had always been Robb's and she would always ever be Robb's. Not only that but she had his child inside her and she was terrified both for herself and the tiny creature that fluttered so happily in her stomach. No. She would not let this happen. With every ounce of strength she had inside her she drew her knee up and aimed it squarely between his legs just as Theon had once taught her. The memory of it almost made her laugh then through her fear as he groaned out in pain and released the grip he had on her.

Again she darted away from him but again he came for her, this time cuffing her so hard around the back of the head that she was knocked to the floor. She put her hands out to break her fall, ignoring the sting of her palms and rolling quickly onto her back so she could see where he was. He was aiming a kick at her then and she rolled over onto her side, feeling his boot connect painfully with her back, a cry of pain escaping her lips. "You'll pay for that you bitch," he snarled at her and she drew her legs up around her, trying to protect her stomach as best she could, tensing her body for the blow that never came. After a few deep breaths she lifted her head just in time to see her attacker backing away from something she couldn't see. In the next instant the reason for his behaviour became clear as there was a loud screech followed by a stream of burning hot flames. Dany could have laughed out in relief then as Viserion came swooping into view, more flames leaving his mouth followed by sickening screams. She scrambled up to her feet then, backing towards the kennels, her eyes not leaving her dragon as he wreaked fiery hell on those Ironborn in the courtyard who were trying to break down the doors of the keep. Her heart was racing as she took in the scene, her hand dropping to her stomach, willing her baby to move so she could feel the reassuring flutter.


When the door finally crashed open Adele was still frozen on the landing, her eyes wide as she stared down the steps just waiting for the attackers to present themselves. It was one man and she was almost relieved he was not followed by another as he made his way up the stairs, his mouth splitting into a wide grin that made her feel sick as he advanced on her. She took a few shaking steps back away from him then as he slipped a dagger from his belt. "Looks like I picked the right house," he cackled nastily as she backed right into the wall; "where's your husband sweet thing?" he asked then and she saw his eyes lingering on her wedding band. She could only shake her head then and his smile widened even more. "Just you and me then?" he breathed, placing the blade to her throat; "don't scream lovely, it only makes me angry …"

She bit down on her lip then and closed her eyes, conjuring up the images of Theon and her son as the man's free hand trailed down her neck and chest until he could cup one of her breasts in his hand. Gods she wanted to scream but what if she woke her baby? This man would slit her throat if she let out one whimper anyway and then what would happen to her precious boy? No, she had to live. She would suffer anything for her baby. She would let this man take whatever he wanted from her, so long as he left her with her life she would endure every sickening touch of his hand. He pulled her away from the wall then and pulled her roughly into her room. Oh Gods. No. Not here. Not here. Not here in this bed where she had a thousand wonderful memories of making love to Theon, of him holding her in his arms, of her telling him she was pregnant with his child. Not here. Not here. Oh Gods, please not here. Her head was screaming but her mouth stayed silent as he pressed his finger against his lips in a gesture of silence. She nodded her head as best she could with his blade still pressed up against her throat and he smiled nastily again before slowly moving it away from her. "Take off your clothes," he told her then and her hands trembled as she slowly moved them to the straps of her nightgown, peeling them from her shoulders, her eyes closing as she let the material fall away from her.

She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the disgusting man looking her up and down. She didn't want to see another man appraising her bare body, she didn't want to see the look in his eyes. Theon was the only man who had ever seen her like this, the only man she had ever wanted to see her like this and now that was ruined. She would be ruined. Gods, what would she be when Theon came back? Would she even be alive? His rough hands came to her then and he pushed her down onto the bed, his weight pressing down against her after a moment, his hands forcing her legs apart. Forgive me Theon, please forgive me Theon, I did it for our son. I did it to save our precious boy. His lips were at her neck now, a hand at her breast as the other sought its way between them and she knew that he was fumbling to undo his laces. In the next second he was hard against her thigh and she had to open her eyes to let the tears spill from them, her teeth biting down so hard against her bottom lip that she could taste blood in her mouth. She watched as he took himself into his hand, guiding himself to her and she swallowed down the bile and the scream that were welling in her throat. A cry pierced the quiet then and he froze, his eyes going from her to the door. Damn it, why had he not just slept? Why had he woken now? He pushed slightly away from her then and panic rose up in her, replaced in an instant with a sense of hope as she noticed in his distraction that he had left his dagger there on the bed. In a second it was in her hand and before he could do more than snap his eyes back to her she had driven it up and buried it in the side of his neck.

Blood spilled everywhere as he choked out, a sickening noise bubbling in the back of his throat for a moment before he collapsed down against her. Adele shoved at him with all her strength, his blood seeping out onto her bare skin as she managed to slide out from underneath him, her hands shaking as she crawled along the floor, tugging Theon's robe down from where it had been slung over the back of one of the chairs since he had left. She needed him now, needed his reassuring scent as she pulled it around her, hiding the blood and hiding her rising sense of shame. Her baby's cries were intensifying now and she forced herself to her feet, forcing one foot in front of the other as she made her way into the next room. Her hands were still shaking as she came to the dresser and opened the doors and sank to her knees, pulling him into her arms and holding him close, her body slumping to the side, her back leaning against the wall as she held her son to her, sobbing into the blankets that he was wrapped in as he calmed against her chest.


Serra screamed as she was pushed back against the table, plates and glasses falling to the floor as the man's hands pushed her down, grabbing at her skirts as she kicked out at him, scratched at his hands as he forced himself between her legs. Another man had pounded up the stairs, she had seen him go and she had screamed for her mother who had retired an hour earlier. Now though she could focus on nothing but the man looming above her with a sickening smile on his face. She would not give up without a fight, she promised herself that as she moved her hands to try and push him away from her, desperately trying to twist and buck her body out of his grip but he was strong and he was laughing at her. That infuriated her even more and she let out a string of curses which only served to make him even more rough with her, slamming his hand against her throat and pressing down. She spluttered then, desperate for air as he increased the pressure on her, her nails clawing at his hand seemingly ineffective. Through the haze she thought she heard a woman scream and she tried to form words, tried to call for her mother but nothing came out as her vision blurred to the extent that she could no longer see clearly, the pressure on her throat choking the life from her.

In the next second she felt she could breathe again and she took in a great gulp of air before a coughing fit took over her as she hauled herself up from the table. She could scarce believe her eyes when she saw Joren stood there with one of the knives their mother used to cook in his hand dripping with blood. The man who had attacked her lay moaning in agony on the floor, a dark stain of blood quickly spreading out from under him which told Serra that he had been stabbed in the back. She opened her mouth then to thank her brother but before she could another man barrelled in from what seemed like nowhere, knocking Joren to the floor.

"Joren!" she screamed as she heard others crashing into the room, friend or foe she didn't know.

Friend, it seemed was the answer as Gendry darted towards Joren, grabbing the man who had knocked him down by the hair and slicing his sword through his neck. The blood sprayed everywhere and Serra had to turn away, her head spinning and her stomach churning so horribly she thought she might be sick. In the next second hands were gently cupping her face, encouraging her to look up. When she did she was looking into Gendry's eyes, worry etching every inch of his face and making him appear far older than his years.

"Did they hurt you?" he whispered.

"No," she managed to gasp out, feeling her throat throbbing, her hand going to massage it.

"They tried to," he concluded then and she could only nod, her throat feeling red raw.

"Joren?" she whispered after a moment.

"Just fine," Gendry promised her.

"My mother?" she asked then and she saw the look in Gendry's eyes before he could hide it.

"She …" he started.

"Where's my mother Gendry?" she asked again, fear coursing through her.

"Your father's with her," he answered her and she shoved away from him in an instant, making her way towards the door that led to the hallway.

Her footsteps faltered as the scene came into view; her father on his knees at the foot of the stairs with her mother's head cradled in his lap as he bent over her, his body shaking with sobs. No. This could not be real. How could any of this be real? Serra's own knees gave out then but before she could hit the floor arms came to hold her up, easing her gently down to the floor. Her own body wracked with sobs then as Gendry held tightly to her, his arms refusing to let her body crumple to the floor as it was aching to do. It felt like someone had reached in and squeezed her heart so tightly it had burst as she could not tear her eyes away from her mother's still face, her eyes that were usually so bright and alive staring back at her but seeing nothing.


A/N: Sorry ... I got mean again.

For those wondering where the hell Euron and Victarion were I say patience, all will be revealed.

More soon!

:)