Katherine looked out over the armies they'd gathered so far, wringing her hands for warmth. Did they have enough men? She thought of the army the Bolton's raised so quickly before that she'd seen from behind the fronts.

She didn't know. It didn't seem like it.

She knew her Clancy men would face any enemy for her, knew they would fight to the last man. Sometimes she hated the responsibility of that. She wanted to command them well, wanted to prove that she deserved the trust they placed in her.

Yet, she was placing them against an invisible enemy. She worried about them. She worried for all of her people. She stopped the movement of her hands. She didn't like the North. Its constant cold went against her warm nature. She felt she might have to walk into a fire to actually get warm enough for her comfort.

Her eyes drifted over to where her husband and King stood with their son. They were instructing some of the captains of their army on the importance of staying warm and warning against the effects of frostbite and freezing to death. Katherine probably should be listening as well, but she felt she knew enough at this point in her life.

Plus, she guessed her husband would personally look after her. A small smile and blush crept to her face thinking of just how well he would treat her when they were alone in her tent later this evening.

"Your Grace," Ser Scott approached, interrupting her thoughts.

Katherine nodded to the man as he came closer to her and she noticed he was struggling against the cold as well, though not hugging himself as she did. His clenched fists and tight shoulders gave away his discomfort though. "You're not from the North, are you, Ser Scott?" She asked.

"No, Your Grace," he replied with a shiver. "I was born in a smaller village outside of MistHaven. You would not be likely to know it." He explained further at her look of confusion.

She nodded. "I know much about the land I rule over and the lands my allies and enemies rule over. Would it happen to be Foxboro or Wintertown?"

He smiled. "Foxboro, Your Grace."

She returned the smile. "You are much higher in life now though, aren't you?"

"Aye, I am. Thanks to you and King Ned," Scott said, taking a moment to think about what he said next to her. "Are you planning on terrifying all of the northern lords into submission?"

Her face hardened. Scott was Ned's advisor but not hers. Who did he think he was to question her? She was his queen. "When most men look at me, they don't see a ruler or a conqueror," she said sternly, her face as hard as stone. "They only see a young woman who was given the throne by her father. Someone to be pushed aside, laughed at, treated less than and ignored. I can't afford to be seen that way. I have to demand respect on my own."

"Respect and fear are not the same things, if I may say, Your Grace," Scott replied.

"No, but most people respect those they fear." She replied.

Scott looked out at the king he served. "I served the King's father before serving Ned." Katherine nodded, her father had given her notes on Scott after hearing he would accompany Ned. "King Charles was not a much-loved man. He was too stern to win the easy affections his brothers had. But I respected him more than anyone. Because you knew exactly where you stood with a man like Charles. He was tough but fair."

Katherine nodded to the loyal advisor but didn't know what else to say. She looked at Ned, who was now showing his longsword to one of the soldiers. The queen wondered what they were talking about. She asked Scott, "How did you come to serve my husband?"

"It's a long story," Scott said.

Katherine looked over, but Scott didn't say anything more. She asked instead, "Why do you serve him? You've told me why you followed Ned's father."

"I think that His Grace is the best hope GrandVista has in facing what's coming." Scott looked at his queen. "Him and you." His tone turned sarcastic. "Despite the fact that your years combined is still less than most noblemen who think they are better than both of you."

Katherine allowed a small smile. "And what do you envision for the world after we defeat our enemies?"

Scott shrugged. "Haven't thought that far ahead."

"Really? My advisors are always talking about what happens next and what needs to be changed. What reforms I should pass and asking me about how the line of succession should go," she muttered, sighing.

"Your advisors are far wiser men than I am," Scott replied.

"Maybe it's because we have to look at what comes after," she said. "Have to focus on a positive future so as not to fall to despair in the fight ahead."

Scott's jaw shifted as if considering his next words carefully.

"I understand that." He turned to face the queen fully. "My queen, I was with Ned in the last battle GrandVista faced… in all of the battles, we have faced… He was…He has always seemed to struggle with a deep melancholy. And I don't think he expected to live through the war after you were first married. He was still a green boy then."

Katherine's breath caught. How could Ned have thought that? Why was Scott telling her this? Katherine brow furrowed, what did that have to do with anything?

"He's different now," Scott replied. "It may still be there, but it's deeper down now. I think you have a lot to do with that."

"Different?" Katherine struggled to push her anger down. "He volunteered for us to be surrounded by enemies at this tourney a month ago."

Scott chuckled, "Beg pardon, your grace. But he didn't do that to die; he did that to impress his queen."

Katherine nearly rolled her eyes. "Why do men think stupid heroics impress women?"

"Men often act stupid around beautiful women. We can't help it." Scott's voice took on a teasing tone as he smirked. "Besides, it seemed to work in the end."

She ducked her head. She couldn't deny that.

Every stupid, heroic, brave thing Ned Banks ever did – it frustrated her to no end, but it was also what made her fall in love with him.

She looked over at her husband again. He was demonstrating some sword moves while many of the younger, green soldiers copied his movements with his own short sword.

"We'll have to work together to keep him alive, Ser Scott." She sighed.

"I think you staying alive would help a lot with that." Katherine glanced at Scott, who looked grave. "I don't want to see what effect your death would have on him." She went back to watching Ned with the soldiers. She felt a chill and wrapped her arms around her tighter. She wished she was back home with the warmer weather.

They had held the small council meeting in Katherine's tent since hers was largest. They didn't have the long tables or the details of the painted table back home in GrandVista, so they made do by pushing a couple of smaller tables together and using sigil stamps as army markers.

Ned lingered after everyone left and he fingered a book, which she had lying on top of a stack.

She entered, dressed more casually now, and saw what he was flipping through, "My father gave that to me after my brother, Robb, died. He said it was a book every king or queen should read."

"Have you read it?" He asked.

"I read it many years ago," she replied.

Ned nodded, sighing. He took her in. She had her hair down and wore a fur cloak though he suspected not much more than a shift was on underneath it. She offered him a warm beverage, which he accepted.

"What's the book about?" He thought about adding that maybe he should read it, but didn't want Katherine to get the wrong impression. He may be the king, but he was still a Northman and she was his queen.

Katherine frowned slightly. "It's very dense and dry. I feel like I'm going to have to read it two more times before I fully understand it the way my father did."

His eyebrows raised as he took a sip of the mug she offered. He wasn't entirely sure what this drink was, guessing it was something from GrandVista that he had never tried before. But it warmed him up and the spices actually tasted quite good. "Sounds fun. Maybe I will give it a read one day."

"You can give it a try whenever," she laughed.

Ned had been an avid reader in his youth, mostly he used it as an escape from his childish troubles. His favorite stories had been about the dragons and their riders.

He took another long drink as she sat across from him on a lounge couch. He wasn't sure where it came from or who had carried it, but she looked good on it. Even though she huddled practicably into a ball to keep warm. He smiled softly and took the chair across from her.

Katherine looked at her mug as she said, "There is room over here."

He smiled now. Not just for warmth then. He sat by her feet where most of the empty space was, pulling her legs into his lap and slipping a hand underneath her furs to caress her bare skin.

This was just one of his favorite things about their nightly routine. To sit together, share a drink and talk. How he longed to live in that world forever.

She brought him back to reality when her legs moved, rubbing against each other. She picked up her mug again to sip on the spiced drink. She looked down at her mug, a sad smile spreading. "My father always used to tell me that it was hard to be a ruler. Because no matter how much you might love your men, you had to keep a distance, never be their true friend. Because someday you may need to swing the blade against them."

Ned remembered the first execution his own father had brought him to, when Charles had swung his own sword to kill some noble lord who had committed treason. His brothers had both been there, many years older and trying to give him advice not to look away or their father would know. He couldn't even remember what crime the man had committed now.

He asked softly, "Did your father ever have to execute one of his own men?"

Katherine nodded. "Several. He didn't believe in having a headsman. Only a true king will swing his own sword after passing a sentence." She said softly.

His hand stopped moving, holding her instead. His eyes met hers and she leaned forward, her hand holding his cheek. He leaned into her warmth with a smile on his face. "You truly loved him, didn't you? Your father?" He asked.

"Yes, I did. He was a wonderful father," she replied and her forehead leaned in to meet his, Ned moved her even closer, her legs wrapping around his waist as he pulled her into his lap.

He whispered against her lips, "I wish I'd had that."

She captured his lips with his in a soft, brief kiss. She kissed him again and again. Between her kisses, she asked, "Had what?"

The kisses stayed light, but his fingers went into her hair, toying with her curls. Katherine had always loved the feeling. "A father to love. A father who loved me. He only had enough love for my older brother Paul it seemed. The rest of us only got his disappointment. We weren't his heir."

"Ned," she whispered. "I'm sorry… you deserved to be loved by your father."

"Don't be," he replied and moved forward, pushing Katherine back. "I love our children in the way I wish my father would have loved me. I am only glad I can be the better man."

His tongue now entered their kissing. His hands moved up completely under her furs. He'd been right. Only a silk dress separated his queen from him under those furs. His hand moved again. She wasn't even wearing underclothes. Ned bit off the moan that threatened to bubble out as he nibbled on her neck, and clutched him a little tighter. He did moan at that and let every thought in her head go, let everything go but the woman beneath him.

Katherine tied the robe tighter. The tent was warm, but not warm enough. She walked across to the table where her looking glass was kept to begin braiding her hair. She had taken to doing a more traditional southern single braid the older she got, but kept a few tendrils to give the appearance of a crown when she didn't wear her own.

Ned shifted under the furs on the bed and she smiled at him. She knew she should wake him soon, but he looked so peaceful. It was rare to see without the weight of the world on his shoulders and she wanted to give him just a few more moments of rest from his responsibilities.

Besides, she had worn him out the previous night.

She smiled to herself as she began to work her hair. She had the mirror set up and used her comb to separate out the sections. She did the smaller braids first, pinning them up to resemble the crown she would put on soon. Then she braided the rest.

It wasn't until she picked up the mirror to check her work that she noticed that she was no longer alone. She'd nearly dropped the mirror in surprise. She whipped around, grabbing the knife left on the table the night before to face the unexpected guest.

How in the seven hells had a creature that large managed to make no noise?

Katherine gripped the knife tightly as she looked at the large white animal for a terrifying moment before realizing that it was Sterling. He was usually by Michael, especially since his second attack, but was calmed to see him again.

She put the knife down slowly, knowing the wolf would never hurt her and relaxed, smiling. She brought a hand to stroke behind the pet's ears. "Hello, Sterling. It's nice to see you, boy."

He rubbed his head against her, his eyes closed from the pleasure of her petting. She wasn't sure how long it lasted, but it ended when Ned stirred on the bed. Sterling whipped away from her to pad over to his master. The dog climbed onto the bed and crawled up to lick her husband on the face.

Ned's voice was deep with sleep, "Kat, what are you…" His eyes opened and he smiled. "Sterling." He began to pet him. "What are you doing here, boy?"

Katherine sat at the edge of the bed to give them room, smiling at them both. "It seems someone missed us."

Ned's head bent around his massive dog's form to look at her as her hand reached out to scratch his backside. "I think Michael must have a... visitor."

"Aye," he chuckled. "Kenna should have arrived at camp with her family last night."

Sterling's head turned to look at her. The dog looked happy enough with her motions, she thought. "Yes, I thought as much when I saw Sterling had come in unannounced and unaccompanied." Then she noticed the mud on the white paws now on her bed. "Should he be on the bed?" She didn't want to break up the reunion, but well, she didn't mud on her bed either.

"Off, Sterling," Ned commanded and the dog made his way off the bed as he sat up, the sheet falling down and exposing his chest.

Katherine's eyes went over his perfect body and his imperfect scars. Her husband must not have missed her look, as he grabbed her, bringing her closer. She squealed in a very unqueenlike way as he kissed her and pulled back with a laugh. She glanced over to see eyes watching them.

It unsettled her some, "Ned… I see why our son may have sent him to us," she tried for an excuse.

"Sterling, go stand and watch outside." The dog then left.

Katherine shook her head even as Ned brought her back in for another kiss, his hand moving to grasp her rump.

She pulled back, shaking her head again, "Get up, Your Grace… we cannot stay in bed all morning. Not today, my love." She swung her legs off of him and onto the cold floor, missing his warmth immediately. She still walked away from him to check if he'd messed up her hair. "We have a long march ahead of us today and no one else is going to move until the queen and king do."

His head fell back into the pillow with a groan. "Aye, I know." He sighed.

She smiled and already knew how deeply she would miss such things in the coming dark days.