The rest of the day went to preparing troops, packing provisions for traveling, sending orders, and a thousand other tasks that had to be done now that Howard was dead. Katherine had shut herself in her chambers and wouldn't take any visitors. Michael had tried to bring her dinner as there had been no feast, but she'd refused and bolted the door behind him when he left.

Ned had chosen to take his supper in his chamber then, relishing a few moments alone. He tried to stay away that night. To give Katherine the space she wanted to mourn her younger brother's death, but his thoughts kept him awake. Strategies on how to find Howie's killer, or who he could marry one of Lord Jamie's daughters to other than his son, or even what Katherine looked like with only candlelight on her bare skin.

The thoughts swirled and mixed in his brain, driving him to madness. He'd left his room to take a walk and clear his head. The walk ended outside of her door. He couldn't even be surprised. He rested his forehead against the wood before knocking, letting the inventible happen.

She hadn't opened the door at first, not until he told her it was him. "Katherine, please." He said, knocking once more.

She pulled open the door not long after that, looking more beautiful than he remembered. Gods, did she look gorgeous and wild with her hair tousled from sleep like it was. He bolted the door behind him. They said nothing, melting together in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry, Katherine," he whispered. "Howie was a good man."

She cried softly into his chest, nodding. "He was. Is there any word on who could have done this?" she whispered.

"No. No word," he said against the top of her hair. "I have heard a few rumors, but you shouldn't hear any of that."

"What have you heard?" She asked, glancing up at him with wet, red eyes.

"Nothing but servants gossip," he said, running his hand across her tear-stained cheek.

"Ned," she warned him with a darker look in her eyes. "He was my little brother. I need to know what you have heard."

"Some say he had a… a strange woman... in his bed that night. Many believe she was the one to slip him the poison," he explained softly. "But it's only rumored, Katherine."

"My brother often had strangers share his bed. That is very widely known, but he was a kind man. He did not deserve this for hopping beds every night," she said with a shake of her head. "I will have someone's head for this, Ned."

"I know. We will find the person who did this," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"Just like we found the person who attacked Michael?" She laughed uneasily.

"Katherine," he sighed.

"Enough," she said, pulling away from him and shaking her head. "I've had enough talking for tonight. Is that okay with you?"

He stepped closer to her, pulling her into his arms. "What do you want?"

"You," she whispered. "I want you to make it go away. All of the pain and… grief. I want you to make it all go away."

"I can make it go away," he said, cupping her cheek and pressing their lips together, engaging in a dance as old as humanity. "I will. I swear."

He opened her robe slowly to find nothing underneath, smiling as he moved her to lay against the padding of her bed. He slowly knelt between her legs and slid his hand between them. Finding her soaking wet, he slid two fingers inside and heard her moan her pleasurably.

Katherine found herself hitching one leg up to wrap about his shoulder, giving him more access, more depth. His tongue in her mouth mimicked the motion of his fingers pumping in and out of her, and he massaged her swollen nub with his calloused thumb until she came.

Her legs shook and her breasts heaved while a string of breathless words came out of her mouth that Ned did not understand. He kissed her neck and shoulders while he palmed her breasts and rolled her sensitive pink nipples between his thumb and forefinger, causing her to gasp in pleasure.

He said nothing but lifted her chin to look into her eyes then. He saw the love he felt for her reflected in them, but so much sorrow and grief was there too. He kissed her softly and slowly, continuing to kiss her slowly, not letting her speed up. He wanted this to last as long as it could.

He caressed every part of her, only stopped kissing her to look into her eyes. He sucked on her fingers, kissed her ankles, enjoyed every part of her body, exploring it anew. It drove her mad, he knew that now, but he didn't care. It would be as slow as he could stand it this time.

And Ned had patience tonight. He also had the strength to stop her from flipping them over so she could take control. He usually enjoyed her over him, but right now he wanted to show her everything he felt for her. He couldn't say it, but he could show her how he felt.

When he finally did enter her, Katherine sighed in pleasure. His thrusts were slow, almost leisurely. He felt every tremor on his cock. He kissed any place he could reach and looked into her eyes often. Ned tried to treasure it, hold on to the feelings so that he could remember it in the cold nights ahead. He knew there would be the hopeless nights to come, fearful of all that could go wrong the next day now that her brother had been murdered.

He would carry this in those nights. He would remember the feeling of the Katherine Clancy coming apart beneath him for the rest of his life. She would be his reason to win, to return alive. He released, his tongue entering her mouth as he spilled into her and would try to make this feeling last a lifetime.

Ned didn't dream often, and when he did they were odd things. Ones where he would ride through forests and hunt. Sometimes they even felt more like visions than true dreams.

So he wasn't surprised to find himself in a tent he'd never been before, he could hear the army outside and saw the battle plans spread out around him. He walked over to study one.

It was a map of GrandVista and showed Clancy men fighting the Boltons, yet it wasn't where he had remembered commanding the battle not so long ago. He looked up and around and realized he had never been in this tent, so he couldn't be sure, but he thought he knew where he was.

His suspicions were confirmed as the tent flapped open, and Ned turned to face the last King of GrandVista.

His father-in-law, James Clancy.

Ned hadn't seen him since he'd died all those years before. Though he'd hardly knew James Clancy as so many did, the warrior king in the North, but they had gotten close in the year before his death. He had been too young the first time he came to GrandVista's court but imagined him much as he had known him when he came back to GrandVista's royal court to get to know his destined betrothed, Katherine.

Jim looked much the same as he had the day before he died, only younger with dark hair and a face free of worry wrinkles as he looked at his son-in-law. Ned shook his head, not knowing if this was real, but wanting to say the words he'd wanted to say to Jim for a long time, "I should have been there. I should have fought with you when Daniel first came to your study."

The man smirked, a familiar face in his memories, "Then you would have left Katherine alone and unprotected with two babes. You came when you did. Justice was served."

Ned couldn't argue with that. He never could argue with Jim. The man's nobility always made it impossible. "I can't believe I followed you as King. I am no man like you."

"I can," Jim said, laughing. "Did you ever settle on names for the twins?" Another fun jab from the man.

"Yes," he replied. "Michael Henry and Charlotte James."

Jim softened into a small smile, "That's awfully kind of you. How many more children?"

"Five," he said, thinking of them all. "Seven in all, three boys and four girls."

The father nodded. "I always knew Katherine would have a large family. How is she?"

"She's… grieving. It's always been hard on her to lose someone." He spoke softly, sighing toward the end.

"Since she lost Robb, it's been hard for her to lose anyone." The father corrected. "I wish she could see how peaceful her older brother is and Howie now too, even if their lives were cut short, they are at peace. As am I. Tell her that and help her understand." Jim's gaze seemed to study the woman in question, sleeping under a pile of furs.

Ned blinked. How and when had they returned to the room in the holdfast? But then dreams didn't allow for logical questions.

Jim's voice took on a teasing tone as he chuckled and turned away from the bed, "She looks like her mother, wrapped up in the furs to keep warm." Glancing back for a moment, Jim shook his head. "For someone who swore never to marry or love you… the wild Northman you are, she has certainly broken that vow."

"Men must take what little pleasures they can, especially with doom on the horizon." Then Ned gave an honest answer, even more, honest with his dead father-in-law than with himself, "I wish I could stay in bed forever with her and get lost in her warmth."

Then Ned remembered who he was speaking to, even in spirit, and looked back over at Jim, who rolled his eyes. "I've heard enough of your intimate life with my daughter." The prior King muttered.

"Aye," he closed his eyes. "Any advice on how to find Howie's murderer?"

"There's so much to look out for now that this has happened, and knowing what I know now. You need to prevent infighting as much as you can, remind them of your common enemy. Once you find out who that is, it will be simpler." Jim spoke with a wave of anger in his voice, then met his eyes sternly, "Don't let them hate her. They may try to blame Katherine again as they did with Robb, but don't let them. You must keep a steady in front of the court and the people. You must always have her back."

Ned closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as he thought about what he wanted to say, but when he opened them again Jim's ghost was gone. He blinked a few more times, trying to bring him back, but it was pointless.

He woke then, the room was dark and he was lying in bed with his wife. It had been so real though. He looked at Katherine. The moonlight made her hair look like melted chocolate spread over the sheets. She never looked as beautiful as she did, relaxed and asleep.

The man knew he should take the opportunity to sleep, but he brought her closer, his heart too full to consider such a silly action at this moment and he whispered, "I love you." He allowed himself to relax after that and drift off into sleep.

It was early morning when Ned dressed and was back in his study. He would have rathered stayed in bed, the warm silk sheets wrapped around him and Katherine until he could know for sure she was doing better since her brother's death, but instead, he was looking through a letter that had arrived from his scouts about the conditions of the roads.

Ned had been hopeful for fewer issues, but with rain like the west had, mud and fallen trees had made it hard for his scouts to travel and clear the for their currently stalled journey. Out of stress, his head was resting backward in his chair, eyes staring up at the ceiling, a wooden beam across the middle that had visible strings of dust. He had to think of some way to solve the problem.

When someone cleared their throat, and his head perked up. He saw the commander of his king's guards and most-trusted friend, Scott, was standing in the doorway to the office.

"Are you hungover?" His friend cracked a joke.

The more likely scenario was, "Are you?" He asked.

Scott sighed and regretfully shook his head. "Sadly, no. I'm as sober as I've ever been. I've been too wary to drink any ale or wine since Howie's was poisoned." After a beat of silence, the knight spoke again, "Have you received any words from the scouts who left two days ago?"

He rose the scroll in his hands for his friend to see, "Yes. They've nearly cleared the path and it's taken quite a bit of time, but we should be able to be on our way tomorrow."

"And I thank the Gods for that. Mary and the children have already arrived at the tourney and I can't wait to see them," Scott said happily, then remembered his duties. "I will have everything in place for our travels tomorrow as well, Your Grace."

He nodded stepped forward, mulling over his private thoughts, a strange look on his face. "I will send word if anything changes, Scott. Until the next time."

"Until the next time, Your Grace," his friend agreed, nodding to him.

"I hear were are leaving tomorrow," Charlotte wished for wine, but her hand rested on the swell of her stomach. She was only a few moons along and knew she could sip on some if she wanted, but decided against it.

Queen Katherine pinned the last of her braids before her mother turned to face her. "Yes, we've been imposing on Lord Jamie's generosity too long. I long to see your uncle again before he is brought back home."

She nodded, a sad smile moving over her face. "I had thought I had gotten here early enough to catch father as well. I had hoped to speak to you together."

Her mother tapped on her vanity table before rising. "Of what?" Katherine asked with an angry sigh.

"I have a theory on who our enemy could be, at least for the moment," she said, glancing down at her fingers and where the rested. "Not that it matters to you."

"No, sweet girl… I am sorry. I am under stress," Katherine sighed, "It matters, Charlotte. You matter to me, my sweet. Your words and your opinion matter to me. Tell me what's on your mind." Her mother sat beside her on the couch, adjusting her robe. "Who do you think could've done this?"

"The Boltons," she said, glancing up at her as she felt her mother's arm wrap around her.

"Which one?" Her mother asked, eyebrows knitted together tensely.

"Any of them. They marched against us more than once," she sighed, shaking her head. "They were at the front of the rebel war just a few years ago and that doesn't even begin to mention what Simon Bolton did to Aunt Lilliana."

Her mother shrugged at the idea, knowing their difficult past with the house. "You've thought on this quite a lot then."

"With Daveth.. and with Michael too," she said softly. "Michael has been trying piecing his memories back together… of that day. For moons now, but things are different now." Her mother nodded, knowing that she meant when her twin brother had been stabbed, left for dead by god knows who. "I know I shouldn't break our confidence… but he believes he knows who his attacker is. I think he is going to bring it to father's attention, but in case he doesn't… I thought I should tell you. It could be connected to Uncle Howie now that… this has happened. Promise me you won't let anyone know it was me who told you. He has been conversing with Daveth as well to keep this under wraps."

Her mother's head shot up, "Did your brother tell you whom he suspected to either of you?"

"No. Only that he believed he knew who did it," she said, shaking her head and letting out a sigh. "He said he didn't want to endanger us with that kind of information."

Her mother nodded. "If I find out, you will know who it was and no one will ever know it was you who disclosed this to me. Now, my sweet darling girl, how should I present myself to these western lords? If they are anything like this Jamie, they will be disrespectful fools. He had brass enough balls to tell your father that he thought your grandfather was wrong to appoint me his heir."

"I'm not surprised, mother. Don't take it to heart. Men are fools when they drink," Charlotte muttered and bit her lip before continuing. "What were you thinking of changing in to?"

Her mother stood, walked across the room to finger a black fur coat, "First, I think a change of wardrobe is in order. They want a Clancy ruler, and it's time we gave them what they expect."

"You're not afraid that would irritate father?" She asked.

"Never. Your father isn't a petty man," her mother replied. "These western lords aren't going to listen to my command or your father's on a liege lord that is against their choosing if I stay on this path. These people don't care how I look or what I say, our actions are all they will see. I want them to respect me. I even want them to fear me a little."

"Fear you?" The words did not seem familiar coming from her mother's mouth.

"Yes. A little," her mother replied. "My father always said every good ruler instills a bit of fear over their people. Not too much, but enough."

She wasn't convinced, but Charlotte thought she understood what her mother was planning. "Are you planning to start with Lord Jamie?"

Her mother smirked and poured herself a glass of wine and raised it in a silent toast of good faith before taking a sip. That was a definite yes.

Ned tightened the pack on his horse. He was ready to leave now. He wanted to leave. He looked over to Scott. "Are we still waiting on the queen?"

"Aye, and Lord Jamie." His friend replied.

Ned rolled his eyes. They didn't have time for these kinds of pleasantries. Howie was dead. They had no idea who did it or who could be planning to move against them right now. They had no time to stand around in the open.

He noticed the GrandVista soldiers come to attention before he saw her. Their men turned with a precision that still surprised him in its perfect uniformity. He'd known men in MistHaven who'd trained as warriors since boys and still wouldn't be able to match the perfect movements of GrandVista's army. He looked beyond them and saw their queen.

The sight of her made his breath catch. She looked beautiful and fierce. She was wearing her family's house colors, gold, and red. Her woolen cloak flowed behind her in the wind and her stag crown sat proudly on her head. She walked to the front of their army, looking over them with careful eyes. Nodding to the ones who were brave enough to make eye contact with her.

Ned watched, always having enjoyed seeing his queen interact with their army much before. She acted like the best commanders he knew, allowing those who would die for her, to see and know her. He loved her more for that.

Ned shook his head free of any lust for his wife.

There was no time for that either. He had to focus on getting the armies ready and on the road. In the day prior since Prince Howard's death, Ned had called their bannerman to march with them to Westport where they would plan their next move. His wife had told him last night that their men at arms they'd called hadn't lost any time due to the storm and would meet them in a few days, further along, the road than planned.

He pushed the thoughts away, climbing on his mount. His eyes searched for Lord Jamie. The fat lord still hadn't made an appearance and idly wondered if they had to wait for the lord before remembering that he was taking a host of his family's men. Their lord would want to see them off.

The king gripped his reins tighter. They didn't have time for late appearances.

He glanced at his queen again, who was still among her army. She stood next to Scott and another who was holding her horse. Ned recognized the look from the first time they met, she was playing the intimidating queen. He was proud that he knew her well enough to know such things, but he didn't understand why she was doing that now.

Lord Jamie chose that moment to make his entrance and Ned had to refrain from snapping at the man for holding them up. The Lord gave him a slight bow, only glancing in Katherine's direction. He wished the lord would stop doing that, being barely civil to his wife, the true and rightful ruler of this kingdom.

Katherine's eyes stayed on their men, ignoring the agitating western lord. Ned dismounted again and walked over to him alone.

Lord Jamie held out an arm, which he took. "I wish I was coming with you. Gods, if only I'd known there was so much fighting left in my later years, I might have kept in fighting shape for them."

Ned doubted the lord's words because no one wanted to spend their later years fighting. But he said nothing, nodding respectfully instead. Jamie looked past the queen's army to his men. "My men as promised, except the ones I need to hold this bloody holdfast. Use them well, King Ned."

Ned nodded again, "Thank you, my lord. GrandVista will remember this."

Jamie nodded and replied, "GrandVista will survive. Like it always has."

Katherine walked up, looking like a true Clancy queen. He was proud of her bold statement. Ned's eyes raked over her tight figure before he could stop them from only staying at the courteous level. She did look stunning. She gave Lord Jamie a tight smile and then moved to stand beside him.

The Lord nodded to her, "My Lady, it's been a pleasure meeting you. You've been a most honored guest."

Katherine's eyes narrowed slightly. "I am not a lady, my Lord. I am your queen."

Lord Manderly smiled the way an adult did when indulging a child. "On the death of the true heir and false proclamation of a father who loved his daughter more than he did his son."

Katherine's eyes stayed narrowed and Ned worried about what that meant. She whispered something to Scott who had the army began to move. This only increased Ned's worry. His wife turned back to the western lord, her tone steady, "Have you seen the enemy upon us, Lord Jamie?"

"No, but I don't believe you have either, my lady," another spiteful comment and same lower title than she was rolled off the lord's tongue with ease.

"I have seen them, my lord. They are the Boltons, as anyone could see," she stated flatly, not letting one bit of his rude nature affect her in the least. "My husband was right when he said that you let the Boltons ravage and rape whoever they wanted as long as your pockets were full, but in the end, you did help us deafest him and my little brother enjoyed you. So I've let things pass for far too long out of respect for who you used to be, Lord Jamie, because of unimportant things like not calling me by my proper title and not giving me a seat of honor at your feast. These small formalities mean nothing as we face the nights to come, but they are important because I mean to win far more than just this fight for justice for my brother and for my son as my father would have. I am your queen, Lord Jamie. You will refer to me as such and you will kneel before your monarch. These games are over. My brother isn't here to win your favor to me."

Their son appeared behind her with a cold look on his face, hand tightly placed on the hilt of his dagger on his sword belt. "Mother, your horse is ready when you are," Michael said softly, eyes never leaving the fat lord before them.

She nodded slightly, then turned back to the lord before them, tilting her head in an indication he should answer her request soon before she got too irritated with him. "Do you have anything to say for yourself, my lord?" She asked.

"I serve the men of House Clancy," Lord Jamie said. "You are no man, unless you mean to pull up your dress and show me you've had a cock all along."

"You hold your tongue from jeers like that, you old fool," Michael unsheathed his dagger and pressed it against the man's fat neck quickly before anyone could act, the skin seeping over the blade and slicing just enough to draw blood. "Apologize. Now. Or when I am king there will be no one to hold me back from taking revenge on your house."

"Michael," she muttered softly and only then did Michael's blade retract a little, but still sat close enough to bring fear to the lord's eyes as he knelt.

Jamie looked up at Katherine. "Forgive me, Your Grace."

Katherine's tight smile returned. "Thank you for hosting us, Lord Jamie. Your keep is lovely, however muddy it may be. I do hope my next visit here will be much more pleasant." The queen said something to Michael in Latin, one that he had learned as a child from her and they often used to keep conversations private. "Posuit et pugionem, mi dulcis puer. Comminatio est et mihi. Eamus feratur equos."

He knew what she had said calmed Michael down because he'd listened, sheathing his dagger and walking with her back to their horses. Latin was a language Ned didn't understand well enough to speak himself but had always loved hearing from her lips. Mostly because Katherine slipped into it when she was overwhelmed with pleasure.

Ned ignored the tug at his groin, putting the thoughts away, reminding himself that there was no time for that right now. He looked up to see Katherine climb onto her horse with effortless grace. She turned to her army and led their march, their small council following her army, while the western men watched. He was surprised to see Lord Andrew on a horse. He couldn't recall the man ever looking as uncomfortable or unhappy.

Jamie looked to him, who was waiting to ride out with his heir and their forces. "Would your boy have killed me? Would she have let him?"

"My son?" Ned hoped the answer was no, but he couldn't know for sure. "Maybe." He shrugged. "He is no green boy and is very protective of his mother, as any son is. She is the queen. She can give such orders, even to her son."

"And you would have done nothing?" Jamie looked annoyed.

"I am glad you so much confidence in me, Lord Jamie, but I raised my son to have good enough judgment. If he wished to kill you, I wouldn't stop him." He said, flatly. "Especially considering what you had just said to my wife."

Jamie's fear returned and he nodded. The lord couldn't form the words for a moment, then lowered his voice, "You truly care for a woman that strong-willed?"

"I am a man of the North, as you said before," he replied. "Did you think I would care for a soft southern maid?"

Jamie chuckled, "I suppose not." He looked off at the army leaving his holdfast. "I still would prefer your younger son to take one of my daughters to wife, but perhaps we can find someone more suitable and of age in one of your largely-stretched family?"

Ned knew it was the closest thing to support he was going to get from the lord and nodded. "Take care of your holdfast and people, Lord Jamie. We will try to stop the Boltons before any more damage is done and with the least bloodshed, but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared for anything."

The Lord nodded. "My men and my people's lives are in your hands, Your Grace."

Ned nodded, feeling the weight settle on his shoulders. He climbed back on his horse and pushed forward to catch up with his wife and son.

Latin translations —

Posuit et pugionem, mi dulcis puer. Comminatio est et mihi. Eamus feratur equos.

Put the dagger down, my sweet son. He is no harm to me. Let us go back to our horses.