Gazing at his twin daughters cooing in their cribs, Robb was reminded of a tale Old Nan had once told him and his siblings when they were children. There once lived a lord who had married the prettiest maiden in all the land. She died giving birth to a daughter who was said to be more beautiful. Due to deep grief, the lord refused to have anything to do with his daughter. Robb did not recall the entirety of the story, but did remember it had a grim ending. Was it the girl dying alone in a tower or was it raped by wildlings? He couldn't remember.

The lord is a fool, Robb reflected, his heart throbbing painfully as he smiled as he watched the elder of the twins, Lysara, play with his thumb with interest. Over the last few weeks, Lysara had grown more active. She still slept a great deal, but when she was awake, she'd clutch whatever she found captivating with her little fingers. Did the lord think spending time with his daughter would remind him of his dead wife? Dany was dead and Robb's heart ached every minute of every day yet it was spending time with their children that lifted his spirits.

Robb tore his eyes away from Lysara to look at Alysanne. Alysanne was a little more of a quiet baby, according to Mother. Robb thought her similar to Jon; both spent most of their time brooding. When Robb had remarked about it to Mother, she had laughed and said, "Babies don't brood on purpose, Robb. Even when you were an infant, you had brooded."

Lysara's happy giggle drew Robb's attention back to her. Her smile…it is so…so like Dany's. Robb shook his head. I must be mad. To have thought a baby bore the same smile as his late wife! Madness. Absolute madness. It is time I cease thinking about Daenerys. She would want me to move on.

"Robb?"

Robb's eyes widened. That familiar voice…it couldn't be – could it? He slowly turned around. His voice was hoarse when he whispered, "Jon?" He straightened up, wincing slightly as he limped towards the bearded man in wildling garments, who stood patiently on the threshold of the nursery room with a big smile on his face. For shame, Robb almost failed to recognise his own cousin, if it was not for the man's grey – almost black – eyes. Jon's eyes.

"Jon!" Robb embraced his cousin warmly, ignoring the pain in his leg. "You're here! You're back! You're home! I thought you were gone, Jon. When I heard that you fought at the Wall and disappeared…" He shook his head. "I wanted to send a search party to look for you."

"It's good to see you Robb," said Jon, hugging him back. "Lord Stark said that I would find you here."

Robb pulled away, smiling. "I spend most of my time here now," he confessed, a little sheepish. "Well, I have been for the last few weeks. Maester Luwin said it would be in my best interest to rest for a while to allow my injuries to heal, so I'd put down my sword for a bit." He noticed Jon looking curiously at the two cradles. "Your…" Robb hesitated. "Dany's children," he decided to say. "Dany and mine."

"Twins?" Jon's eyebrows rose. "Twins?"

"I was surprised too," Robb admitted with a quiet chuckle. "When I came back from the Hornwood, I was expecting one child, not two." I didn't expect Winterfell to be under attack either. He carefully lifted Alysanne from her crib. "Do you want to hold her?" Jon nodded and Robb placed her in his arms. Alysanne did not utter a single sound of complaint.

"Haven't carried a babe in a while," remarked Jon. "You a father now! Where is the lovely mother? Resting in your chambers?"

Robb's lips tightened. "Dany's dead, Jon," he muttered. "Died of childbed fever like her mother did."

Jon made a noise that sounded like a strangled cat. "She died?" He looked up at Robb and said sadly, "I'm so sorry for your loss."

"And yours," said Robb quietly. "She is your aunt after all."

"I never thought of her in that way. I love – loved – her, but not as an aunt. She was so young. I never thought she would die so…so soon."

"Neither did I." Robb had envisioned him and Dany growing old together with a large family in Winterfell. He knew death would come for them eventually as it would for everyone, but never considered Daenerys's appointment with death to have been so soon. "I wasn't even here when she died."

"She's buried in the crypts isn't she?"

"Yes. She does not have a statue though." Father had refused Robb's request a day after Daenerys was buried. He had said that only the Lords of Winterfell and those who died for the Northern cause were permitted statues. Like any obedient son, Robb had accepted his father's decision without complaint, but he made a vow that once he was lord, he would commission a statue of Daenerys for her tomb in the crypts so she would never be forgotten. "I would have named one of our girls after her," Robb went on, "but Dany named them before she died. Alysanne" – he pointed at the babe in Jon's arms – "and Lysara. Lysara is older."

"Northern names." Jon gently placed Alysanne back in her crib and picked up a smiling Lysara who seemed to be waiting her turn to be held by him. "Reckon she chose 'Lysara' to honour Lyarra?"

Robb hadn't thought about it. Lyarra…she was still trapped in the south. All of the troops camping out in the courtyard were to march down with Father to join the rivermen to restore Orys to the Iron Throne.

"So much has happened, Robb," said Jon, as Lysara pulled his beard to Robb's amusement. "I want to hear everything that happened here."

"I want to hear what happened to you too," said Robb, laughing as Lysara gave Jon's beard another hard yank. "The last thing I heard about you was that you'd been responsible for snatching victory against the wildlings in battle, but then at the end of the battle, you disappeared."

"Well, I'm here now."

"Come now," Robb pressed. "How did you get back? Is there a lord or a farmer that Father will be rewarding for helping you?"

"It's a long story." Jon didn't meet Robb's inquisitive gaze. "I was wounded and captured by the wildlings. I'm not here to stay either. I was sent here by the King-beyond-the-Wall as an envoy along with two others."

Robb frowned. Jon a wildling? Impossible. It must be a jape…but Jon wasn't of the japing type. Robb slowly shook his head. "Wildlings would've killed you or at least crippled you."

Jon sighed. "That's what many people said," he muttered. "We've already had a round of negotiations with Lord Stark and he is willing to accept the terms for an extended period of peace between the free folk and the northmen."

"Peace never lasts very long."

The nursery door opened again and this time Father entered, more grim than ever. "Jon," he said quietly. "Your…wife, is looking for you. To my knowledge, she is roaming around the courtyard, tailed by your sisters and Lyanna Mormont. It'll be best to keep your lady wife content here. We don't want her snapping at Arya, Gwen or Lady Lyanna out of irritation. You'll have time to speak to Robb today, I promise you that." He shook his head slightly as Robb opened his mouth. Jon was married? To whom? When was he even married?

Jon nodded. He gently moved Lysara's tiny fingers from his beard and handed her to Robb. Without another word, he left the nursery, leaving Robb alone with Father and the twins.

"We don't have enough time to go through Jon's adventures," Father said once Jon exited the nursery. "I know you have many questions, but we don't have the time. You will hear his tale one day as he will hear yours. Not now though. The soldiers here are impatient to march off and fight. In their eyes, the sooner we aid the king, the sooner they can return home and prepare for winter. I was to lead them south, but due to the…ah, recent developments at the Wall, I feel my presence is needed there.

"In my stead, you will lead the troops south where you'll join forces with Lord Tully and the other river lords. Together, you'll join the king's host and if all goes to plan, you will help rid Westeros of the Targaryen pretender."

"What about my children?" asked Robb softly. "They have Targaryen blood in their veins. What if someone discovers?"

"No one will, Robb. In the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms, your children are those of a Stark and a Dornish Sand."

Robb nodded. "When do you want us to leave?"

"Tomorrow at dawn," said Father promptly. "Hopefully you'll arrive before all the soldiers of the Riverlands depart." He paused. "You know that battles are not games," he said slowly. "You don't rush in, swinging your sword."

"I know. It requires strategy and thinking."

Father nodded. "Good." He hesitated and looked uncomfortable. "You might've heard other soldiers saying that battles last long and at times they need a woman to warm their beds…" He bit his lip. "Um…"

"I won't," Robb assured him honestly. "I have no desire to sleep with women I am not married to. I won't father any illegitimate children. I promise."

Father nodded again. "May the old gods be with you, Robb."


"This will be fun," said Theon cheerfully, as he mounted his horse. "You and I'll be marching off to battle, killing enemies, fucking girls in tents and returning war heroes. Here I thought nothing exciting would ever happen and we would all die old and grey in our homes." He smirked. Robb managed to return a tiny smile. Count on Theon Greyjoy to be eager in a time of war. Typical of him to only think about fucking girls in a tent too.

Memories of the Hornwood skirmish flashed in Robb's mind. All the blood and the smell of death…

Robb suppressed a shudder.

"Robb," said Father solemnly, looking up at him. "Stay safe. Do not engage in a risk of any sort. Don't be rash in your decisions. Listen to Osric Umber and take his advice. He had fought in many battles before and is an excellent commander." His lips curved into forced smile. "Good luck, Robb. And you, Theon," he added to Theon who nodded back respectfully. "May the old gods be with you both."

"Thank you Father," murmured Robb. "May your own journey to the Wall be a fruitful one. Hopefully there will be peace soon."

Father nodded. He stepped back. It was a sign for Robb to lead the host out of Winterfell. Taking a deep breath, Robb scanned the crowd for the final time. The whole household was part of the gathering crowd, as were every member of his family, including his twin daughters that were held by Mother and Lady Alys. On Father's right were Arthur and Rickon, both unusually wide awake. Arthur's face was radiating with excitement. He will not be so excited when he experiences the horrors of battle. Arya and Gwen stood beside Lady Alys along with Lady Lyanna Mormont and the two Reeds. Was that a look of envy in Arya's eyes? Robb hoped it wasn't. Next to Father's wards was Maester Luwin, who gave Robb a slow nod, his expression blank. Robb looked away and breathed deeply again.

It was time to march south.

Robb turned to the his host of soldiers and shouted, "We march!" He urged his horse forward into a steady trot and led the troops out of Winterfell's courtyard, Theon riding at his side.

"Reckon we'll arrive in time for battle?" asked Theon.

"Maybe," said Robb vaguely. Catching sight of his friend rolling his eyes, Robb sighed and said, "If we follow my father's schedule, we'll meet up with the host of river soldiers and march to King's Landing. If we are a little slow, I will send half the troops forward to catch up to Lord Tully's soldiers. According to my father, it may be a little late as it is. However, we can't ride all day and all night."

"It takes a month to ride to King's Landing, Robb."

"We don't have a month." We don't even have half a month. "We need to ride to Riverrun as swiftly as we can. We will journey down the kingsroad. Perhaps we'll meet the Frey troops on the way south."

"What if this Aegon Targaryen wins? We won't have time to go back and form another army. What's your plan then?"

"There should be enough men." Robb hoped he sounded confident. "The army from the Vale should be ready too. All the false dragon has are Dornishmen and a few troops from Essos." He noticed a look of unease on Theon's face. "What is it?" he inquired, concerned.

Theon looked uncomfortable. "I'm all for slaying enemies and all that, but um, there is this slight…problem."

"What?" Robb was alert. Did Theon anger a Vale knight or lord by sleeping or flirting with his daughter? To his knowledge the Vale lords could be quite proud. The tiniest of insults – intentional or not – could anger them.

"Do you remember that girl I uh fancied?"

Robb frowned. He had this conversation way too often with Theon. "Not to be rude, but which girl? I swear we spoke about this at least every month, Theon. Is it…Daisy?" No, that was a few months ago. "Lylla?"

Theon gave him a look. "Really, Robb?" He lowered his voice. "Melia Tully."

Oh shit. Robb had forgotten about Melia Tully. It was so long ago, he reflected a few seconds after he recovered from a moment of surprise. It felt like time flew a long way away since Theon mentioned Melia Tully by name. When did Theon last talk about this lady? Robb burrowed deep in his memories. Jon's return…Dany's death…killing Ramsay Snow…battle at the Hornwood…

No, it was much earlier.

Highgarden.

Robb's lips tightened. The Highgarden wedding festivities would always be an exciting event he would remember; it would also be one of the most jarring. He'd been betrothed to Princess Lyanna during that time. A new notion struck him. Is she safe? Robb wondered. With King's Landing under Targaryen control, will she still be safe? Will Lyarra? He felt his cheeks redden in shame. When he was safe at Winterfell, mourning Daenerys's death, he hardly spared a thought for his former betrothed – the princess he repudiated – and his own sister. I should've paid more attention to Father's strategising and helped motivate the soldiers.

"…and I refuse to be the first kraken to be flattened by a fucking trout," Theon was saying. "I didn't even do anything Lord Tully claimed I did!"

Robb blinked at him. Theon didn't do something Lord Tully claimed he did? "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said truthfully.

Theon frowned. "You didn't receive my letters?"

Guilt prodded Robb in his chest. There was a growing mountain of letters left on the solar table the last time Robb set foot in the solar. Theon's letters might be still mixed with them. Robb shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't. Had a busy time, you know. Placating northern lords, fighting bandits in the Hornwood, keeping an ear out for news at the Wall, killing Ramsay and his men…" He didn't mean to sound so bitter or cynical, yet he went on, "I didn't dance around south, sleeping with a different girl every night, Greyjoy."

"Calm down," said Theon, who didn't look in the slightest bit offended. "I know all the stuff you had to do as acting lord. It was only a question." He paused. "The Lord of Riverrun heard – probably from his bloody son – that I had spent quite a bit of time with his daughter. He somehow convinced himself that I had taken her maidenhead. He confronted me…" He hesitated.

"And?" Robb prompted, praying his foster brother didn't do anything stupid to anger the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.

"I denied it of course!" Theon exclaimed. He lowered his voice again to a tiny whisper. "Apparently Lord Tully had a septa examine Lady Melia and she did not have her maidenhead. Like she could've lost it riding a horse, couldn't she?"

"She could've," agreed Robb, uncomfortable with the topic of discussion.

"I…I don't actually recall if I fucked her or not."

Robb groaned. "Theon…"

"What?" said Theon defensively. "I may have drank a little too much during all the celebrations in King's Landing. There were feasts every night! The flavours of wine in the south too!" He smacked his lips. "More flavoursome than the ones in your wine cellar. No offense," he added hastily, seeing Robb's glare. "Best for me to stay away from the Tullys," Theon said a second later. "I think it'll be better for me to stay with the others whilst you and Osric One-Eyed find and discuss battle plans with Lord Tully."

Robb eyed him. "I never thought you a coward, Greyjoy. Shirking away from a war council meeting? Who'll be our ironborn representative?"

Theon darkened. "Do you know what my father will say if he ever sees me? An Ironborn on the outside and a green lander on the insider. Or even worse, a plain green lander. Besides, you know as well as I do that the rivermen despise men of the Iron Islands like me."

After a moment of hesitation, Robb decided to remain silent. Nothing he could say would comfort or reassure Theon when he was in his current mood.


Robb could see the clear look of distaste on Osric One-Eyed Umber's face as he saw the Twins for probably the first time in his life. Osric On-Eyed probably lived in the North his entire life, never setting foot in the Neck or beyond.

"Are all southron castles like this?" Osric barked at Robb, squinting at the two identical stone castles standing on a margin of the Green Fork. "Full of walls and this size? More of a prison than a keep." Both stone castles had high curtain walls, deep moats and a barbican and portcullis in each. A stone bridge arched between the two castles, with the bridge footings rising from within the inner keeps. Robb remembered the exterior of the Twins well from his last visit, albeit it was quite a long time ago. Who could forget the dreary look of the Twins?

"Some," Robb admitted. "Not all look as…um…like this."

Osric One-Eyed grunted. "One of the scouts reported that this Lord Frey has a host of nearly four thousand men assembled. Reckon they plan to march with us to the Tully's keep?"

"Lord Frey never takes risks," said Robb, frowning. "In King Robert's war, they only showed up when the outcome was already decided. Why wait? Does the late Lord Frey think King Orys will fail to defend his birthright?"

"I care not for southron politics," growled Osric. "Will Frey let us cross?"

Once the words slipped through the Umber man's lips, Robb saw a sally port open. The plank bridge slide across the moat and about half a dozen knights rode forth towards him, Osric-One-Eyed, Theon and the rest of the northern host. On the knights' tunics were the Frey sigils: dark blue twin towers on a field of silver-grey. As the knights rode closer, Robb recognised them all as Freys. Each of them had the same loose chin and weaselly appearance like Lord Frey. The first knight, who had white hair and tired brown eyes, rode closer.

"You must be Lord Robb," the knight said, his tone weary. "We received word that you were on your way here. We didn't realise you would arrive so early Lord Robb. We'd anticipated you would arrive in a few days' time."

"We came as fast as we can, Ser," said Robb bluntly. "My sister the queen is in danger as it your liege lord's sister the queen mother. Forgive me for being frank, but why are your troops not at Riverrun? Surely Lord Tully had summoned you?" He glanced at the other Frey knights. One of them had a cunning smile that Robb did not like at all.

"Lord Tully did," the old, tired knight affirmed. "However, my father thought it best to wait for your troops to arrive and we march to Riverrun together."

Robb arched an eyebrow. "Any reason why, Ser?" Lord Frey is ambitious. He'll have a reason for disobeying the orders of his liege lord. The ancient weasel was in the midst of planning something – Robb just knew it.

The knight offered Robb a seemingly polite smile. "A sign of friendship isn't it? You are of the North and House Frey is the bridge between the north and south. I think it is a strong sign to Riverrun that we are united in one cause – to help our true king sit on the Iron Throne."

"Wouldn't it be better for you to show your loyalty to your liege lord?" Theon inquired slyly. "To my knowledge, you aren't Lord Stark's bannerman."

"Neither are you," the knight responded. "Yet you march at a Stark's side." He turned back to Robb. "Before we march to war, my lord father requests to speak to you in the castle. Discuss plans and such."

Robb nodded slowly. Fair enough. He gestured to Osric and Theon. "We will all go," he said firmly.

The knight only smiled. "Of course."


Lately I just couldn't motivate myself to writing a southron chapter so I decided to write a northern one. Some of you might have found the first part of this chapter a little irritating as we know Dany is dead, but Jon isn't aware of it or Robb even having twins as he wouldn't have received news of that kind beyond the Wall.

On another note, Ned was supposed to lead the army south, but I decided his future presence at the Wall would lead to a nicer wrap up of the wildling-black brothers arc (and most likely a Jon and Ned heart-to-heart conversation).