Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! I hope the length of this chapter makes up for my absence :) A special thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed my story! All of your comments are so wonderful to read and I am so happy that most of you are enjoying my story!

The chapter is un-beta'd so be gentle. Keep those reviews coming :)

Chapter 15: Love is a Risk

"It appears that luck is on my side again today," Ned rasped, watching as the torch light grew brighter and a disguised Varys took shape. How long had it been since the time he visited last? Ned lost count of the days that he had been stuck in this pit. He gratefully took the skin of wine that Varys offered and took a swig. "You may be my only friend, Varys."

Varys gave him a smile dripping with sweetness. "Surely not, my lord, there are still many who love you. Your daughter Sansa, for one, she pleaded so sweetly for Joffrey to spare your life."

Ned's heart clenched at the mention of his eldest daughter and he felt the anxiety clawing at his throat. "How is she?" He asked, struggling to sit up straighter. "Is she alright?"

"She is mostly unharmed as far as I can tell," Varys answered, but just as Ned was about to relax slightly, he saw Varys hesitate. "But Joffrey…" his voice trailed off, shrugging. "You know how the boy can be."

Ned's jaw clenched, and his mind immediately shied away from dwelling on what that heinous boy might be doing to his daughter. "What do you want, Varys?" He asked, annoyance leaking through his voice. "Tell me honestly, no riddles, no games."

Varys crouched next to him, his eyes locking on Ned's. "Such a simple concept really - peace throughout the realm," he answered honestly. "Which is difficult to achieve when your son is marching south with an army of northmen at his back."

"Robb?" Ned repeated, aghast, mind whirling. "But he's just a boy – "

"A boy fighting for his father's freedom," Varys reminded him gently. "There have been boy conquerors before, I can assure you. But it is Stannis Baratheon who is giving the queen the most trouble. He may be a proven battle commander but he is utterly without mercy."

"It matters not," Ned disagreed, shaking his head. "Stannis is the rightful heir to the throne." Varys opened his mouth to argue, but Ned wearily held up a hand to stop him. "But I've heard everything that you've said and I've had nothing but time to think about my options. My family is the only thing that I have left. If I…" He swallowed harshly, the next words tasting sour as they came out of his mouth. "If I publicly confess my treason and claim Joffrey as the true heir, do you believe the queen will allow me to take the black as a promise to keep my daughter safe?"

Relief shone through Varys' smile. "Yes, I believe she will. Cersei knows that a tame wolf is more use to her than a dead one."

"Then if I'm going to do this, I'm going to need you to do something for me in return." Ned had been thinking a lot about this. About his past, his regrets and his failings, but most importantly about what he could do to make it right. "I need a piece of parchment and a quill. I have a letter that needs to be sent."

It would have to be done carefully, of course, a message hidden within a message, just in case it was intercepted. And then, even when the message was uncoded, it was still just a clue - a piece to the puzzle. The truth would be extremely dangerous… for everyone involved.

But he had faith that she would figure it out… and then maybe she could fix the mistakes that he had made.

"Everything is packed and ready, My Lady," Julina informed her, placing the last bag on the floor. "In this bag I've packed two spare dresses and some of the light armor that you requested." She hesitated, looking hesitant and uncertain. "I've also taken the liberty of designing something for you. I know that you plan to be fighting and riding too, and I imagine that can be quite cumbersome in a regular dress. It didn't take that long to do, it was quite easy actually – "

Maliya smiled fondly as her handmaiden turned friend began to babble. "Relax, Julina," she chuckled. "What do you mean you designed something?" Julina smiled sheepishly, her face turning red. She hesitated once more before reaching into the bag and pulling out what looked like a dress at first glance. Maliya's eyebrows furrowed and she tilted her head to the side. "I don't mean to be rude," she began in a curious voice. "But what is it? It looks like there's a large part of the dress missing, a very important part of the dress."

"It is a dress, in a way," Julina explained, reaching back into the bag and pulling out a pair of riding leggings. "But I thought this style would be less cumbersome and easier to ride and fight." She put the two pieces of clothing together and Maliya was finally understand the design. The front part looked like a one of her simpler dresses, but it ended around the waistline and flared out around to the back, reaching just above the floor.

"So it's like trousers in the front and a dress in the back," Maliya mused, her eyes lighting up. "It's brilliant Julina! You said you designed this?" Julina nodded, looking pleased. "Have you ever thought about becoming a seamstress?"

The poor girl went pink again. "Oh no, I couldn't possibly – "

"I think that this is more than enough evidence that you could," Maliya interrupted gently. "Can I try it on?"

Unsurprisingly, the black outfit was a perfect fit. Maliya put on her flat heeled boots and stood admiring herself in the looking glass for a moment before going over to her small pile of belongings and picking up her sword. She pulled the scabbard over her head and then slowly slid the sword out of it's sheath, carefully moving it through the air. She was pleased with how flexible the dress was and how easy it was for her to move.

Unbenownst to her, Julina was watching her with an odd expression on her face. "You really learned how to fight when you were younger, didn't you?" She asked in a soft voice. "That sword, it looks like it could be an extension of your arm, like it was made to be in your hands."

"My uncle had it made specifically for me," Maliya told her, sheathing the sword and taking it off again. "And it does feel like an extension of my arm. I don't know what the fact that I like fighting says about me, but it's all I've ever known."

Julina looked thoughtful. "Well I suppose it all depends what you do with it. I think if you use your abilities to help save people than that sort of makes you a hero, doesn't it?"

Maliya involuntarily snorted, thinking of her strong, near constant desire for revenge. "I'm no hero."

"You're about to ride off to war to help your husband fight to free his father," Julina pointed out with raised eyebrows. "That seems like the act of a hero to me. Have you told Bran and Rickon that you're leaving yet?"

Guilt and worry flooded through her at the mention of the boys. "No. Truthfully I've been putting it off for as long as possible. But it's been three days now and I'm afraid I don't have any time left."

Julina looked confused. "Why haven't you told them?"

Maliya sighed, leaning back against the bed. "I don't want them to be angry or upset with me. We've all been through a lot together, and now it feels like I'm just abandoning them."

"They might understand – "

"Bran might," Maliya corrected, standing to remove her new outfit and put her dress back on. "I can't see Rickon being happy with me leaving." Especially since I promised him that I wasn't going anywhere, she added sullenly in her head. "And I haven't the slightest idea what Maester Luwin is going to say."

"All he can do is advise you," Julina reminded her while helping Maliya into her dress. "He cannot keep you here against your will."

"Well, I suppose we'll find out, won't we?" Maliya asked, sighing again once she was presentable. "Could you do me one more favor, Julina? Could you gather some food for the journey? Non-perishable would be best, just enough to reach the Twins." Julina nodded and bowed her head before turning to leave the room.

Maliya waited until Julina had closed the door firmly behind her before dropping to her knees and pulling a small chest out from under the bed. She had waited until late last night before she snuck down to the crypts to retrieve her dragon egg. Opening the chest, she felt an immediate sense of tranquility and peace wash over her as she picked up the beautiful egg and cradled it to her chest. "I wish that I could hatch you," she murmured to it, lovingly tracing the gold veins that ran through the pearl white shell. "With you by my side, the Lannisters would have no choice but to hand over Lord Stark, Arya and Sansa."

Blinking with shock, she nearly dropped the egg as she thought she felt a resounding heat from within. Unsure if she had been imagining it or not and realizing she didn't have time to even attempt to figure it out, Maliya closed the chest and pushed it back under the bed, taking the egg and hiding it within the bag of clothes that Julina had packed for her. It made the bag a bit heavier to be sure, but at least without the chest the bag wasn't abnormally bulky. She also added a flask of Moon Tea, enough to last several months and the leftover ingredients that she had.

Knowing that she couldn't put it off any longer, Maliya swallowed the bile that threatened to rise from her throat, and headed for the Maester's tower. She would start with Maester Luwin first. Telling him that she was leaving would be the easiest. It was a small reprieve, one that she was glad for, but of course that couldn't have worked out for her either. When she knocked on the door of the Maester's Tower and pushed it open, Bran was sitting across from Maester Luwin at the table, Hodor sitting in the corner.

"Oh!" She exclaimed in surprise, her stomach twisting itself into knots. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt – "

"You didn't!" Bran interjected eagerly, looking either pleased to see her or pleased to have his lesson interrupted. "Were you looking for me?"

Feeling put on the spot and caught off-guard, Maliya stammered out, "I – no, I wasn't, but I guess…. I guess I should talk to both of you together then."

"Is everything alright, My Lady?" Maester Luwin asked, looking at her with concern.

Maliya had to resist the strong urge to blab out all of her problems and defend all of her reasons. She took a moment to compose herself, lacing her fingers in front of her and attempting to keep her face straight. "I've decided that I'm going to leave Winterfell and join Robb."

Bran's jaw dropped comically, but Maester Luwin look unsurprised. "I was afraid that you would think of something like this," he sighed, looking weary. "My Lady, women aren't allowed – "

"Then Robb will keep me in his tent while he's off fighting his war," Maliya countered impatiently. Or he'll try to, anyway. "I just can't stay behind, not knowing what's happening or if he's okay. I feel as if I'm going crazy, Maester Luwin, and I can't do it anymore. As silly as this romantic notion may seem to you, he needs to know that I love him and I need to tell him in person, I can't write it in a letter."

Bran gave her a childlike frown. "He doesn't know you love him?" He asked in an innocent voice. "But you married Robb a long time ago."

Maester Luwin smiled at him fondly. "Love doesn't just appear when a man and a woman marry, Bran," he explained gently. "It takes time to develop, if they're lucky, but sometimes it never does."

"I know that," Bran muttered in a small voice.

"Nevertheless, My Lady, Robb's instructions were clear," Maester Luwin continued in a matter of fact voice, turning to look at her once more. "You are to remain here at Winterfell with Bran and Rickon – "

"Let her go, Maester Luwin," Bran interrupted, in a calm voice, making Maliya's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "It's not like we can force her to stay."

Maester Luwin was plainly shocked as well. "Bran – "

"I am Lord of Winterfell while Robb is away," Bran reminded him in a loud, firm voice, before his face softened and his voice lowered. "Besides, I know what it's like to feel trapped and want nothing more than to escape."

"Bran," Maliya murmured softly, stepping closer to sit next to him, placing a hand on his arm. "A large part of me does not wish to go. I wish that I could stay here with you and Rickon."

"I know," Bran whispered, smiling softly.

Gratitude, affection, sadness and relief washed over her, and for just a moment it felt as if her heart was too big for her chest. "I'm going to help Robb free your father and your sisters and then I am going to bring them home," she told him fiercely, her eyes blazing with her belief in her own words. She saw Bran's smile widen and briefly berated herself for making promises that she wasn't sure she could keep. It was more important than ever that they win.

"You will take three guards with you," Maester Luwin announced in the resulting silence. "And that is not up for discussion. You cannot travel hundreds of leagues on your own. You may be capable of defending yourself, but a woman traveling alone is just asking for trouble and eventually you will find it."

"Alright," Maliya agreed, nodding her head. "Thank you, Maester. Julina has been helping me gather a few things for my journey. She's packed some clothes and some food – "

A noise came from the doorway and Maliya's head snapped around to see Rickon standing there, a look of shock on his face. "You're leaving?" He accused in an angry voice as he attempted to disguise the hurt that she could so plainly see.

Panic clawing at her throat, her heart nearly stopping in her chest, Maliya leapt to her feet. "Rickon – " she tried, but he was in no mood to listen.

"You promised me that you were going to stay!" He shouted, his little face screwed up as tears welled in his eyes. "You promised!"

"Rickon," Maliya pleaded desperately, taking a step toward him with her hand outstretched. "Rickon, please, wait - !" With one last furious glare, Rickon spun on his heel and dashed out of the Maester's Tower. Maliya stared at the empty doorway in stunned disbelief, unable to comprehend how she had just managed to fuck up everything she had worked so hard for in such a short amount of time.

"Maliya?" Maester Luwin prodded gently, his face sympathetic. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Maliya murmured automatically, her voice emotionless, one hand resting on the pit in her stomach. "I'm going to find Rickon and attempt to fix things. Pick the guards that you would like to accompany me on my journey and have them meet me at the stables in an hour – I'm leaving tonight."

She left without another word, without turning around to see the looks on Bran or Maester Luwin's face. Over the past few months, Maliya had gotten to know Rickon well enough to learn the place that he retreats to when he was upset. So she headed down to the crypts, trying to rehearse what she was going to say. She couldn't ever remember feeling so nervous or worried in her whole life, and there was a large part of her that feared he would be angry with her no matter what she said.

Lifting her dress as she cautiously descended the steps of the crypts, Maliya took a deep breath before reaching the first landing. "Rickon?" Maliya called softly as her eyes grew accostomed to the darkness. "Rickon, it's Maliya. Where are you? I want to talk to you, I need to explain – "

A loud snarl came out of the darkness and Shaggydog rounded one of the corners of the empty crypts, his eyes glowing and his lip curled. Rickon trodded next to him, his hand in his fur as he stared out at Maliya distrustfully. Her heart skipped several beats as she was confronted with an angry direwolf for the first time. Eyes wide and her hands held out to the sides, Maliya spoke in a calm, even voice. "Rick, can you please tell Shaggydog to calm down – "

"He's angry with you," Rickon told her, in a matter of fact, innocent voice.

Maliya's expression was sorrowful. "No, sweetie, you're angry with me. And I don't blame you! You have every right to be mad at me, trust me – "

Rickon's abruptly face twisted at her words, looking every bit of the wild boy that people said he was becoming. "You lied to me!" He screamed, his eyes flashing as his voice echoed through the crypts. Shaggydog's rumbling snarls grew louder at his master's obvious agitation, but Maliya forced herself to stay where she was as he advanced a step further. "You promised me that you were never going to leave! You promised me you were going to stay! And now, you're leaving just like all the others and you're never coming back!"

Maliya's throat tightened, burning, as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. So many negative emotions were swirling through her at the moment that she couldn't find one to focus on. There was the obvious sadness for what Rickon was going through, the self-hatred she was feeling for making this all worse for him, and the feeling of being pulled in two different directions – one towards Robb and the other here with Bran and Rickon.

"I'm going to come back, Rickon," Maliya whispered, just loud enough for him to hear her over Shaggydog. "Winterfell is my home now – "

"Then stay here," Rickon interrupted again, his expression switching into an imploring one. He looked up at her through the darkness with wide, bright eyes, his lower lip trembling slightly. "Don't leave us."

Maliya's heart nearly broke all over again, and while part of her did want to agree with him and stay, she knew she would hate herself for it as time went on. "Robb is my husband," Maliya explained, speaking quickly as Rickon's face darkened. "And he's your oldest brother! I can't stay behind not knowing if he's alright, Rickon, please try to understand! My place is by his side – "

"Then just go!" He shouted with his hands curled into fists, startling her with his raised voice. "I don't want you here anyway!"

A tear trickled down Maliya's cheek as she desperately pleaded with him. "No, I'm not going to leave until we talk about this!" She persisted in a loud voice, trying to ignore Shaggydog's warning growls. "Please, Rickon – "

"No!" He yelled back, screwing his eyes shut and putting both his hands over his ears. "No more lying! Go away, go away, go away!"

Another tear joined the first, a pain in her chest making it difficult for her to breathe. "Rickon – " she tried again, her voice cracking with emotion. She made to take a step towards him unthinkingly and realized right away that she had made a critical mistake.

Shaggydog gave one last thunderous snarl before taking a bounding leap toward her. She dimly heard Rickon shouting, "No, Shaggydog!" and only had time to let out a terrified gasp and take a fumbling step backwards, raising her hands in front of her face. Maliya felt a sharp pain in her left forearm as his claws connected with her before she hit the ground hard. She stared up with wide, terrified eyes as Shaggydog's teeth snapped an inch away from her face in warning.

"Come, Shaggy," Rickon ordered, and the direwolf reluctantly left her. Breathing hard and cradling her left arm against her chest while trying to ignore the feeling of her warm blood seeping through her fingers, Maliya sat up to watch Rickon and Shaggydog disappear deeper into the crypts. The tears were now flowing silently and freely down her cheeks, and it wasn't because of the pain, but rather the fragile relationship that she had just managed to shatter into pieces.

"My Lady, you really should have Maester Luwin look at these," Julina tried to reason with her in a soft, concerned voice.

Maliya was sitting on the edge of her and Robb's bed, staring dejectedly at the floor with her left arm held out towards Julina. "It's just a scratch, all it needs is a bandage," Maliya told her emotionlessly, wincing only slightly as Julina cleaned the the three claw marks on her arm. "Besides, I don't know what Maester Luwin would do if he knew that Rickon's direwolf attacked someone. I've already broken Rickon's trust and furthered his abadonment issues, I don't want to also be responsible for losing the one thing that he feels he has left."

Julina's face was sympathetic and Maliya found that it was an expression that she hated. She finished tying the bandage around Maliya's arm and patted her hand comfortingly. "He's too young now, My Lady, but one day Rickon will be able to understand what you're doing and why."

"I'll explain it all again when I get back," Maliya mused out loud, more to herself than for Julina's benefit. "I wish that I could take the time to stay and make him understand, but with everyday that passes, it's just another battle for Robb as he marches further and further South." She sat there in silence for a long moment before shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "Right. I would appreciate it if you would help me into this new outfit you designed as quickly as possible, because I'm sure my hour is up and Maester Luwin is waiting at the stables with the guards he has chosen."

"Of course, My Lady," Julina murmured, bowing her head. Once Maliya had slipped on the makeshift dress, riding leggings and flat heeled boots, Julina walked over to the bags and picked up the one that Maliya had hidden the dragon egg in.

"Did you put anything else in here?" Julina asked with a frown, testing the bag's weight. "It's a bit heavier than I remember."

"Here, I'll take it," Maliya told her quickly, pulling the bag over her shoulder before Julina could protest. "It's really not a problem, Julina, I have to get used to carrying my own things anyway."

Julina knew better than to protest and wordlessly picked up the other bag of food before turning to face Maliya. They stared at each other in silence for a moment and it looked like Julina was warring with herself. "I know I've already said this, but it truly has been a pleasure to serve you and to get to know you."

Maliya surprised both herself and Julina by pulling her into a tight hug. Although she blamed most of it on how emotional she was feeling right now, Maliya really did appreciate Julina. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome," Julina smiled with slightly watery eyes. "Now come, we musn't keep them waiting."

When they left the castle and walked out into the night, she found the men already there and waiting for her. Three guards and their horses stood next to an already saddled Shadow, as well as Maester Luwin who looked solemn and was holding a torch and Hodor, who was carrying Bran. It was a scene that reminded her entirely too much of the night that Robb had left.

"Evening, My Lady," Maester Luwin greeted in a quiet voice. "I have acquired the services of Colrin, Dontar and Bennar for your journey south. They have vowed to do everything in their power to see that you safely make it to Lord Robb."

"Thank you," Maliya told them graciously, giving a small smile to the guard who took the bags from her and Julina to tie them to Shadow's saddle. "Good-bye Bran," she murmured, turning to the small boy and placing a hand on his cheek before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I will see you soon, I hope. Take care of your brother."

"I will," Bran promised solemnly, accepting the responsibility. "Tell Robb – tell him that I said hello."

Maliya nodded, looking up at the big man. "Bye Hodor."

"Hodor," he replied sadly.

She moved on to Maester Luwin. "How did it go with Rickon?" Maester Luwin asked quietly. He sighed as Maliya slowly shook her head. "I feared as much."

"He's angry, angrier than I've ever seen him," Maliya whispered, shaking her head in concern. "He feels as if everyone has left him and in a way, I suppose they have. Except he doesn't think that any of us are ever going to come back."

"Well, you would do well to prove him wrong," Maester Luwin encouraged, raising his eyebrows pointedly before pulling her into a hug. "Safe travels, My Lady."

"Thank you, Maester Luwin." Maliya turned to Shadow, running her hand along his neck and side before putting a foot in the stirrup and swinging her leg over the saddle, marveling at how easy the move was in this new "dress." Her newfound guards followed suit and Maliya looked down at the rest of them, raising her hand in farewell before looking at her new home one last time.

Grabbing Shadow's reins, she turned Shadow around and gently pushed her heels into his sides, following her guards out through the gates of Winterfell and towards her husband.

He has an old man's caution, a young man's ambition and he never lacked for cunning. Catelyn Stark's own words bounced around inside her head as she rode beside Ser Stevron Frey, Lord Walder's heir and a man well into his sixties as well as two other sons that she did not recognize. It was going to take all of her wit and cunning in order to negotiate safe crossing for Robb and his army. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Lord Frey held all the power. Robb needed to cross the river quickly in order to aid Riverrun and she wondered just what price they were going to have to pay.

"Lady Stark, My Lord," Ser Stevron announced as they walked into a Great Hall empty of any tables. Lord Frey, a frail ninety year old man, was sitting in a large chair on the other side of the room, all of his children and most of his grandchildren sitting on benches on either side of him. His significantly younger wife was standing at his side, her expression a mixture of fear and humiliation as her husband's hand gently caressed her backside. Catelyn felt a pang of pity for the younger girl.

"What do you want?" Lord Frey snapped rudely, sneering at her.

Catelyn took a deep breath, gathering all of her patience in order to get through this. "It is a great pleasure to see you again after so many years, My Lord – "

"Oh, spare me," Lord Frey interrupted, waving his hand. "Your boy is too proud to come before me himself so he sends his mother in his stead."

"Father," Ser Stevron spoke up with a reproachful look, while a few of his siblings sent each other uncomfortable glances. "You forget yourself. Lady Stark is here – "

Lord Frey rolled his eyes. "You are not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead to you?" In the brief moment of silence that followed, Lord Frey huffed a sigh of impatience and waved her forward, taking her hand and placing a chaste kiss to the back of it. She fought a grimace. "Now, what do you want?"

"To ask you to open your gates so my son and his bannerman can cross the Trident and be on their way," Catelyn answered politely, all too aware of the large number of ears listening to their conversation.

"Heh," Lord Frey snickered, his eyes cold and calculating. "On their way to Riverrun. Oh yes, I'm not blind yet, I know what's been going on."

And yet here you sit, Catelyn thought sarcastically. "To Riverrun, yes," Catelyn confirmed, tilting her head to the side. "I might have expected to find you there lending aid, My Lord. You are still my father's bannerman, are you not?"

"I called my swords, did you not see them on my walls? It was my intent to have my sons march as soon as all my strength was assembled, was it not?" Several of his sons nodded in agreement. "It's not my fault that your fool of a brother lost the battle before we could get there. Why should I hurry and send my sons to die?"

Patience, Catelyn reminded herself as her anger swelled inside her. Patience. Keeping a pleasant expression on her face, she spoke again. "Please, My Lord, is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

"We're talking now," Lord Frey complained, displeased. "Out, out! All of you, out! Yes, even you wife," he sneered when she glanced down at him uncertainly. She jumped as he slapped her bottom before hurrying out the door with his eyes down. "Now, say what you came here to say," Lord Frey ordered once the room was clear.

"I have already requested that let my son and his bannerman cross the Trident. They have twenty thousand men at your gates, which you would be able to see if you were strong enough to climb the battlements – "

"Twenty thousand dead men once Lord Tywin gets here," Lord Frey corrected in amusement, irritating her even further. "Don't you try and frighten me, Lady Stark. Your father lies sick, your brother a prisoner, your husband in a cell and your son doesn't have enough fur to keep his balls warm."

"You swore an oath to my father – " Catelyn tried to remind him, switching tactics.

Lord Freys smirk only grew. "Oh yes, I said some words. But then again, I also said some words to the crown. The way I see it, you and your boy are rising up against the King and that makes you all rebels. I could hand you over to the Lannisters in an instant."

Catelyn was quickly losing the patience that she was struggling to retain. "Why don't you?" She challenged without thinking.

Lord Frey's face contorted into a sneer of disdain. "Mighty Lord Tywin, Warden of the West and Hand of the King. He eats, sleeps and shits just like the rest of us. He's only got two sons and one of them is a twisted little monster! I would have nineteen and a half more than him when his are dead! That bloody lion can ask for help if he needs it."

Cately saw her chance and jumped on it. "But that is why I am here, my Lord. My family and I need your help – "

"Your family has been pissing on me for decades," Lord Frey snorted, eyes narrowing. "Your lord father didn't come to my wedding, even if he is dying, but he didn't come to the last one either. I know that he calls me the Late Lord Frey – did he think I was dead and wouldn't find out? It's just plain disrespectful if you ask me. I'm going to outlive your father just as I outlived his," he cackled, making the hairs on the back of Catelyn's neck stand up. "You say you want to cross the river? Well, you can't! The Tullys and the Starks have never been friends of mine. Why should I allow it?"

Catelyn watched him push himself back in his chair and cross his arms as he waited for an answer. Catelyn found herself wanting to cross her own arms in response but she refrained. This was it. "Let's say that you allow my son and his bannermen to cross the Trident, adding the men that you have gathered to his army – "

"I would require four hundred of my men to stay behind for my protection," Lord Frey interrupted, holding up a hand.

"Understood," Catelyn agreed, inclining her head. She was almost afraid to hear the answer to her next question. "What would you request in return for our safe crossing?"

Lord Frey's eyes glittered dangerously, and the corners of his lip twitched up into a smirk. "One of my sons, Olyvar, will become Lord Robb's squire. He's young now, but I expect a knighthood in good time." Catelyn nodded slowly, examining his request from every angle to look for hidden traps. So far, the request sounded reasonable. "It's a pity that your boy is already married to that Dornish girl," Lord Frey continued, gripping the armrest of the chair as he leaned forward, his eyes alight. "Though from what I hear she's quite beautiful, with a tight little body and perky tits," he sniggered, actually licking his lips. "My daughters may not have been as pretty, but he could have had his choice from the lot of them."

"A most generous offer, My Lord," Catelyn responded after a moment, her stomach turning with revulsion, feeling incredibly thankful that Robb was already married to Maliya.

"Yes, it would have been," Lord Frey agreed in a superior voice. "Your eldest girl is betrothed to the King, but what about your other daughter?"

"Arya," Catelyn told him reluctantly, thinking quickly. "She's still in King's Landing." No one was quite sure where she was at the moment, but King's Landing was the last place she was seen, at least.

"Your girl will marry my son Waldron when they both come of age," Lord Frey demanded, his beady eyes watching her every reaction closely. "And I'd like to expand my territory. I have too many bloody sons and daughters, grandson and granddaughters, I don't know what to do with them all."

Catelyn was shaking her head before he had even finished speaking. "I cannot make that decision. Those lands would have to be renegotiated with the neighboring lords and that could take months. If I could offer another suggestion?" She asked, noticing the look on his face. "I have another son – "

Lord Frey scoffed, looking offended. "You can't mean the cripple boy! I will not sit here and be insulted if you mean to suggest – "

"I can assure you I do not," Catelyn interjected in a raised voice, trying to hide her fury on behalf of her son. By the look on Lord Freys face, she didn't succeed. "My youngest son, Rickon. He's still very young, but a match between him and one of your granddaughters would be beneficial."

"Fine, fine," Lord Frey agreed uncaringly, waving a hand. "Two of my grandsons, both named Walder thanks to their bloody mothers, will be fostered at Winterfell as wards of your family." Lord Frey paused, but there was a glint in his eye that told her he wasn't quite finished yet. What more could he possibly ask for? Catelyn thought, mystified and incredulous. He's already gotten two marriages, a squire and two fosterlings in less than five minutes! "Has Lord Robb put a son in his Dornish wife's belly yet?" He asked specutively.

Catelyn frowned at the question. "I couldn't say. Why do you ask, My Lord?"

"In return for fostering my grandsons, Lord Robb's first born son will be fostered here at the Twins when he reaches his tenth nameday," Lord Frey proclaimed, his smirk wide at her obvious shock. He watched her as her mind raced, trying to discover all the implications of what he was demanding.

In order to secure Robb's position as Lord of Winterfell, he and Maliya needed to have an heir, preferably a son. If they did have a son, they would lose him to the Twins at age ten and he would have a difficult time learning how to be the next Lord of Winterfell. Catelyn hesitated before answering. "That would be my grandson, My Lord," she told him in a serious voice. "I don't believe I have the authority – "

Lord Frey shrugged uncaringly. "Then I don't believe I can permit Lord Robb to cross the Trident – "

"Fine," Catelyn practically snarled. "I agree to your terms. But my son is Lord and in charge of the Northern army. Give me an hour to speak with him and we will send you our final answer."

Lord Frey's grin widened, and Catelyn found she hated the pleased look on his face. "I will send Ser Stevron to accompany you back to your son. I am so glad we were able to come to an agreement, Lady Stark. I eagerly await the time when we can officially join our families together."

Robb's POV

"If Lord Frey denies our crossing, what are our other options?" Robb asked the people surrounding him, bracing his hands on the table as he leaned over the map.

"We could take the Twins by force," Theon suggested again. "We have the numbers – "

"It would take too long," Lord Umber disagreed, shaking his head. "We could always find the shallowest point of the Trident and swim across. The horses would have no trouble and we could build rafts for anything heavy."

Frustration leaked through Robb and he slammed his hands down on the table, making the men around him jump in surprise. "Both options would take too long! Rivverrun is in need of our help now. If we don't cross the Trident as soon as possible, then Jaime Lannister is going to take the castle."

"That is not going to happen," a female voice said, and they looked over to see Lady Catelyn entering the tent, escorted by a guard.

Robb felt his heart begin to pound in anticipation. "Mother," he greeted, inclining his head. "How was the meeting? What toll is Lord Frey demanding?"

"Lord Frey has granted you your crossing," his mother told him, and there was a collective sigh of relief from the Lords sitting around the table. Robb didn't relax, however, knowing there way more to come. He watched his mother's eyes flick around the table, waiting to see if he would dismiss the Lord's to hear the news in privacy. When he didn't, she continued. "In order to cross the Trident, Lord Frey has demanded a number of things. First, you will take his son, Olyvar, as your squire. He expects a knighthood in good time."

"Fine," Robb answered impatiently, part of him waiting to hear some really bad news. "What else?"

"Two of his grandsons, both named Walder, are going to be fostered at Winterfell. Lord Frey would appreciate it if you could spare a few guards to accompany them."

"What else, mother?" Robb pressed, sensing the unease in the expression on her face. "Tell me all of it."

His mother took a deep breath, her face drawn. "When Arya comes of age, she will marry one of Lord Frey's sons, and Rickon will marry one of his daughters. And…" she hesitated, her eyebrows drawn together in a sympathetic expression. "Your first born son will be fostered at the Twins when he reaches ten years of age."

There was a long moment of silence and then the tent erupted in outrage, everyone trying to talk over each other. "Fostered at the Twins?" Lord Umber roared, spittle flying out of his mouth. "It's a bloody insult that's what it is – "

Theon looked paler than usual, though his eyes were narrowed in disgust. "You cannot allow this Robb. Your son will be heir to Winterfell, you need to be the one to raise him – "

"The Frey's are a lesser house than yours, My Lord," Roose Bolton advised in his cold, detached voice. "Lord Frey knows what he is asking, he knows the position he is putting you in – "

And while his bannermen were shouting their advice at him, Robb was all too aware of his mother's sympathetic gaze. "Enough," Robb muttered, his head swimming. Robb's first, automatic instinct was deny Lord Frey's request, to protect his future son. The old bastard obviously knew the importance of having an heir, recognized an opportunity to weaken the Stark house, and took it. And then, on the other hand, it felt extremely surreal to have to think about a son that he didn't even have yet. His head began to pound as his bannermen continued to talk. "Enough!" Robb shouted again, raising his voice to be heard and slamming a fist on the table for good measure, feeling a slight sense of relief when they all fell silent at once. His eyes met his mother's. "If I were to refuse?"

"Then we don't cross," his mother answered simply.

Feeling the weight of his army and his unborn son on his shoulders all while trying not to think of his wife's reaction to what he was doing, Robb shoved his emotions to the side and focused on what needed to be done. "Send word to Lord Frey and tell him that I consent to his terms."

Her legs were incredibly sore, her muscles unaccustomed to riding on horseback at this pace for this long, but Maliya barely paid it any mind. Each and every one of Shadow's strides brought her closer to Robb and she could feel her excitement growing with every step. She knew he would be absolutely furious when he saw her, but she missed him so much that she almost didn't care.

The depth and strength of her emotion surprised even her. She knew she had wanted to be with Robb because she couldn't stand not knowing what was happening to him, but examining it further, she found that she missed just being with him. She refused to think too closely about how she was turning into one of those sappy women who did nothing but pine for the men that they loved.

Maliya's gaze refocused as the lead guard, Bennar, slowed his pace down to a walk, waiting for Maliya and Shadow to catch up with him. "My Lady," he said, bowing his head respectfully. "We are almost at the Twins."

Maliya frowned in confusion. "Robb has eighteen thousand men with him, we should have reached their camp by now if we're almost at the Twins."

Bennar nodded and signaled to the other two guards who fanned out around them, keeping their eyes on their surroundings and any incoming dangers. "I believe that Lord Robb and his bannermen successfully acquired passage from Lord Frey to cross the Trident, which is not an easy thing to do."

"Why not?" Maliya questioned, trying to remember everything her father had told her about the Lord of the Twins. The only thing that she could think of in this moment was the fact that his whispered nickname was the 'Late Lord Frey.'

The older man answered her questions patiently. "Because Lord Frey is a greedy bastard – " He abruptly stopped talking, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Pardon my language, My Lady," he apologized, before continuing on when Maliya merely smiled and waved him on. "Six generations ago the Frey's built the bridge that spands across the Trident, and ever since, they've been exacting tolls on whomever wishes to cross. It has made their house quite wealthy."

Now Maliya was beginning to grow worried. "What kind of toll?"

Bennar shrugged. "It could be anything; money, marriages, land." He hesitated. "May I speak freely, My Lady?"

"Of course."

"Going to deal with Lord Frey will take time, and the gods only know what he's going to ask you to give in exchange for a crossing."

"What are you suggesting, Bennar?" Maliya asked curiously. "The only other crossing that I know if is the Ruby Ford and that's entirely too far away."

"I agree. Lord Robb probably couldn't have done this due to the size of his army, but before the bridges were built, the soldiers used to build rafts to hold their heavy armor while they and their horses swam across. I suggest we avoid the Twins all together and find the shallowest part of the Trident in order to cross. We'll only need one raft for our gear and Dontar and Colrin can help me. It shouldn't take too long."

Maliya looked down at Shadow's reins, thinking quickly. "Alright," she nodded after a moment, her face determined. "Let's do it. But we need to do it quickly and it's imperative that we aren't seen. We'll wait till night falls and cross under the cover of the darkness. If Lord Frey is as everyone says he is then I don't want him to know that we're going to be crossing the Trident without his knowledge."

Robb was once again standing at the head of the table, hovering over it as his eyes danced across the map. They had set up camp briefly after crossing the Trident, just to gather their forces and finalize their plan. All of Robb's bannermen sat at the table around him in silence, watching him as he thought. "Alright, this is our finalized plan," Robb announced, finally speaking up. "We've been in contact with Ser Marq Piper, who has been raiding the Lannister supply trains since they attacked Riverrun. Under the disguise of Tully colors, we're going to send a few hundred men with his own to lure the Kingslayer and his men here, into the Whispering Wood." Robb pointed out the location on the map. "Lady Mormont will wait until the Lannister army is in position and she will alert the rest of us to attack. Lord Umber, Lord Karstark, Ser Stevron and Lord Mallister, you will each command your own men. Lord Bolton has already left with 2,000 of his own men to keep Lord Tywin occupied while we attack his son. Any questions?" The tent was still silent, the gravity of the situation evident on their faces. "Good. We march within the hour. Dismissed."

The tension in his shoulders lessened as his bannermen strolled out of the command tent one by one, clapping him on the back as they went off to prepare themselves for war. His eyes were back on the map, running through the plan over and over in his mind. If everyone played their part properly, the execution should be perfect. Bolton would keep Lord Tywin distracted and the Kingslayer would be lured into a trap.

"You are doing well." Robb started and looked up, unaware that his mother had stayed behind after everyone else had left. She was coming around the table toward him, a proud smile on her face but a sad look in her eyes. "You remind me so much of your father. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine," Robb answered distractedly, his mind still on the map and the fight to come. "A little anxious and a little nervous but ready."

"It was a smart plan to have Olyvar help you with your battle armor before the meeting," his mother nodded, her face thoughtful. "They definitely – "

Theon suddenly burst into the tent, his eyes dancing and a giant smile on his face. "Sorry for interrupting," he began, not sounding sorry in the least. He actually sounded like he was trying to hold back laughter. "Our sentries have spotted four riders heading in our direction. You'll never guess who it is."

Robb frowned. "Well from the shit eating grin on your face, it's more likely friend than foe," he muttered while trying to think, sharing a bewildered glance with his mother. "Who is it?"

Theon's grin grew. "Come see for yourself. I can't tell if she's really brave or really stupid," he answered, actually snickering before leaving the tent again.

"She?" His mother questioned quietly. Something dawned in her eyes a moment later and with a curious look on her face she followed Theon.

She….From Theon's reaction it was obviously someone that he knew, and that meant it was probably someone that he himself knew. Really brave or really stupid… There was only one face that popped into Robb's mind, but there was no possible way that she would disobey him – with an inward snort, knowing that's exactly what she would do, Robb hurried out of the tent.

His heart was pounding in anticipation, torn between hoping that it was her even though she would be putting herself in serious danger. He walked as quickly as he could without breaking into a run, heading for the the center of the camp, his eyes flicked from face to face dismissing them each in turn when it wasn't the one he was looking for.

His head snapped around as the sound of horses echoed through the camp and there she was, her beautiful, proud face searching for him just as he had been searching for her. For a moment he worried about her reaction to him, remembering that the last time they had seen each other, she had been furious with him and he had blurted that he loved her. When her brown eyes met his, a chill ran down his spine and when her face split in a radiant smile, his heart positively soared.

Feeling strangely breathless, he watched her pull her horse to a stop and gracefully slide off him. They stared at each other for a moment, both of them drinking in the other eagerly. The rest of the people surrounding them faded into the background, and Robb only had time to take in her strange, form fitting dress complete with leggings before the moment broke and they started towards each other. It started out as a walk, but as the distance between them closed, both of them broke into a run until they collided with one another, her arms wrapped around his neck and his aroud her waist.

He buried his head in her neck, breathing in the scent of her and hardly daring to believe that this was happening. But he could feel her body pressed against his, could feel her hair as one of his hands twisted in it, pulling back only slightly so he could crash his lips to hers, and seven hells he felt that all the way down to his toes. He kissed her soundlessly and thoroughly, until both of them had to pull away, gasping for air.

It was only then that he became aware of the catcalls and wolf whistles from the dozens on men watching, most of them led by Theon. Still holding Maliya close to him, Robb couldn't stop the grin on his face as he waved at them for silence. "Alright, you dirty bastards, that's enough. Hope you enjoyed the show, but we have a battle to prepare for and win!"

As the men began to cheer once more, Robb wrapped an arm around Maliya's waist and led her to his tent. Maliya briefly glanced around, her mouth splitting into a smile as Greywind trotted up to her, licking her hand as she bent down to pet him, tongue lolling out of his mouth as she scratched behind his ears. "Bloody hell, Greywind, what has Robb been feeding you, hmm?" Maliya murmured, pressing a kiss to his nose. "I think you've grown twice the size since I saw you last."

Robb couldn't take his eyes off her. "I think he's missed you just as much as I have," he told her, watching his wolf nuzzle his wife.

Maliya stood at the sound of his voice before turning to face him. "I know that you're probably furious with me, but I don't follow orders very well for one and for another I needed to – "

He cut her off again with another kiss, his hands cupping her cheeks, quickly falling into her, drowning in the taste and feel of her and feeling incredibly intoxicated by it. He wanted nothing more than to rip this odd outfit off of her, but there was no way he could forget about the impending battle.

"You shouldn't be here," Robb panted, pulling away and pressing his forehead against hers. His eyes fluttered shut when her nails scratched lightly against his scalp as she sweetly pressed her lips to his again, slowly sucking on his lower lip and making him groan, clutching at her hips.

"I disagree," Maliya smiled lightly, her voice soft as she played with the hairs on the back of his neck. She looked up at him, her eyes serious as she tilted her head to the side. "Wherever you are is wherever I should be."

Robb's gaze softened. "We're about to march into battle, Maliya – "

"I couldn't just stay behind, locked away when I didn't know what was happening to you, Robb," Maliya interrupted, her voice slightly impatient. "You can try and send me back to Winterfell, but it will have to be in chains because I swear to you right now that I will escape every single time."

Robb couldn't help but shake his head in admiration at the apparent passion in her voice and the fire blazing in her eyes, even while frustration at her disobedience ran through him. "This discussion isn't over, wife," he promised, his voice firm. "But now isn't the time. I have to lead my men into battle and I'm going to need you to stay here. Safe."

Maliya nodded in compliance and Robb paused, looking down at her suspiciously. "Really?" He asked, perplexed. "I was preparing myself for a fight."

Maliya's hands fixed his hair and straightened his armor. "No fight as long as you give me the chance to convince you to let me stay when you get back safely." Her eyes were blazing once more. "And you better come back to me safely, do you hear me?"

As soon as Robb left the tent, a slightly dazed look on his face and his lips significantly more swollen than when he had entered, Maliya had her bags fetched and used the distraction of the men preparing for war to her advantage. She felt a little bad that she was lying to Robb yet again, but she was also going to do everything she could to help keep him safe. She fished out the chainmail and leather armor that Julina had smuggled for her and slipped it on, tying her sword around her waist like a soldier would. After making sure that her hair was tied back and hidden in her armor, she slipped out the back of Robb's tent and headed for Shadow, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible.

She swiped a helmet lying on the floor on the way, and while it was a little big for her, it would do the job of covering her face perfectly. She looked like all the other soliders now, albeit a small, skinny one. The horse whinnied nervously as she approached, obviously not recognizing her. "Easy, boy," Maliya murmured, approaching him slowly and holding out her hand for him to sniff. "That's it, Shadow, it's just me," she whispered as he nuzzled her hand and allowed her to pet his neck.

"Hey!" One of the guards shouted when she utied Shadows reigns from the nearby post. "What are you doing with Lady Maliya's horse?"

Maliya's heart sped up, praying that the guard wouldn't recognize her. Clearing her throat, Maliya deepened her voice and said, "Lady Maliya has requested her horse be brought to her so that she can see her husband off to battle." The guard still looked unconvinced and Maliya pushed a little further. "Do you want to go and question her? I'm sure she would – "

"No," the guard cut in gruffly and Maliya had to suppress a grin. She wouldn't want to question her own orders either. "Hurry up and be on your way."

Maliya saluted the man, making him frown, and went on her way. It was only when the guard was out of sight that she swung her leg up over Shadow's saddle. She urged him forward, easily slipping into the ranks of Robb's men as they started forward into the night, silent for once as they prepared for the big fight.

And what a fight it was. She had never seen such a large group of men and horses move so silently through the woods or wait so quietly for the signal to attack. She could smell the sweat, the excitement and the fear from the men surrounding her as they waited in the darkness. She kept a safe distance from Robb, but close enough that she could keep an eye on him and when a horn sounded, the men around her surged forwards, raising their swords as they moved to attack the group of several hundred men who had just entered the woods.

War was far different than she had imagined. While the adrenaline did pump through her body at a startling rate, in the beginning it was slightly difficult to block out the sounds of the men's dying gasps, groans and screams. She had to try harder than she thought she would to block it from her mind, concentrating on surviving.

The battle didn't end up lasting long at all. The Kingslayer's forces were significantly outnumbered, and when he realized this, Maliya saw him rally his men around him and begin to cut through their opponents, headed directly for Robb. "Kill the Young Wolf!" He shouted, spurring his horse forward. "Kill him!"

"Not a fucking chance," Maliya grunted, gritting her teeth as she sliced her sword through her opponents neck before swinging Shadow around and moving towards Robb. She cut her way through the crowd, desperately trying to move faster, cursing everyone in her way as she watched the Kingslayer kill several of Robb's lords and personal guards. She heard Greywind before she saw him, leaping from opponent to opponent, his muzzle bloody and his snarls loud. The horses shied away at the sight of him, and more than one rider was thrown.

Maliya urged Shadow forward as the Kingslayer killed yet another northerner, blocking his way as he tried to get to Robb, who was dealing with two men of his own. Jaime Lannister snorted when he saw her, clearly dismissing her as an easy kill. There was nothing that she appreciated more than the look of shock on the face of the man who had murdered her grandather. His eyes narrowed when she successfully blocked and parried each of his swings, though it only took a few seconds for her to realize that the Kingslayer was just as good of a fighter as her Uncle Oberyn.

She would need every inch of her wits about her and she knew she wasn't as skilled at combat on horseback as he was, so when their swords locked, Maliya pushed against him with all her strength and launched herself off Shadow's back, tackling the Kingslayer off his horse, both of them landing hard on the ground.

Maliya immediately rolled out of the way, half her vision obscured by the too large helmet that had twisted sideways on her head. Left with no other choice, realizing that she was now fighting for her life, Maliya tore the helmet off with her free hand and took a deep breath.

The Kingslayer was already on his feet, a look of confusion on his face. He pointed his sword at her, frowning. "Aren't you the Young Wolf's wife?" He questioned, tilting his head to the side as he tried to place her face.. "Why are you dressed like a man?"

Were they not in the middle of a battle? "It's a new fashion style that I thought I'd try out," Maliya retorted, twirling her sword and tensing her muscles.

The Kingslayer smirked at her. "You were much more appealing in a dress," he taunted before springing forward and engaging her once more. It was very much like fighting her uncle – his moves were more advanced than hers and he was faster and stronger than her. It took all of her strength and skills to keep him at bay, and even with that she was on the defensive more often than not. Her breath hissed through her teeth as his sword sliced right through the leather she wore, cutting into the bicep on her left arm and she staggered back, panting. "You're good, My Lady," The Kingslayer complimented, and she was gratified to see that he was out of breath too, at least. "Trained by your uncle, I presume. What a pity that you're just not quite good enough."

Maliya looked at the blood trickling down her arm, gritting her teeth against the pain. "You're lucky that wasn't my sword arm," she seethed as he started forward once more. A hair raising snarl came from her right and Greywind came skidding to a halt in front of her, snapping at the Kingslayer with his hackles raised.

The Kingslayer stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide as both he and Maliya became aware of their surroundings once more. Robb, Theon, Lord Umber and several other lords stood in a circle around them. "It's over, Kingslayer," Robb announced, gesturing to the area surrounding them, strewn with bodies clad in Lannister red. "Drop your sword and surrender."

"Never," he snarled, lunging forward once more, but Robb's men converged on him, kicking his sword from his hand and throwing in more than a few punches until they forced the Kingslayer into submission, blood running down his face.

"Bind him," Robb ordered. He was wearing his emotionless 'Lord Robb' face, but a quick sweep with her eyes told Maliya that he was generally unharmed and that sent a wave of relief through her. His men hurried to follow his orders, putting the Kingslayer in chains and leading him away. "Gather the wounded and bring them back to camp," he continued, and a sinking feeling spread through her when she realized that Robb hadn't looked at her once.

"Robb – " She tried, taking a step forward, but freezing when she saw his jaw clench at the sound of her voice and his eyes harden. She had never seen him so angry and she wondered if she had officially pushed him over the edge.

Robb turned to Theon. "Escort Lady Maliya back to camp and see to it that someone stitches up her arm. I'll deal with her later."

Maliya had to physically bite her tongue to stop the retort from leaving her lips, knowing that it would just make him angrier and undermine his authority in front of his men. So she said nothing, sheathing her sword and turning away, brushing her hand along Greywind's head. "Thanks for the assist, Grey," she murmured before following Theon back to Shadow and back to camp.

"You know, for a woman you have a bigger pair of balls than most men in the Seven Kingdoms," Theon commented from where he stood on the other side of the tent, his arms crossed and his ever present smirk on his face. Theon had brought her to Robb's tent and ordered an infirmary nurse to treat her. The nurse had helped her out of the leather armor and then cut off the sleeve of her shirt to protect her modesty and gain access to her arm.

"That's not exactly difficult to do," Maliya retorted, rolled her eyes then wincing as one of the women who ran the infirmary finished stitching up her arm, which surprisingly didn't look as terrible as it felt, and began to bandage it.

"You know you're in some serious shit, right?" Theon continued, sounding completely unconcerned. "You should have seen the look on Robb's face when he realized that you not only were fighting in the battle but were dueling against the Kingslayer. That was some fancy fighting, by the way, not many people would last that long against him."

"It was incredibly stupid that's what it was." Robb was suddenly standing at the entrance to his tent and the look on his face was thunderous. "Leave us. Both of you."

Theon sent her a sympathetic look as the nurse bowed her head to Robb before they left and then it was just the two of them. Nerves fluttered through her stomach and Maliya had to fight the urge to fidget uncomfortably. "Alright I know that you're furious with me – "

"Furious?" Robb repeated in a strained voice, his blue eyes flashing. "I am so beyond furious with you, Maliya! You disobeyed me again, putting your life in danger again!" His voice rose several octaves and with it her own temper. "Why can't you just do as you're told – "

"Because I don't follow orders, Robb, least of all from you!" Maliya snapped, leaping to her feet and curling her hands into fists, ignoring the sharp pain in her arm as she did so. "How many times do we have to go through this?" She yelled, wanting to shake him. "We are supposed to be partners in this marriage – "

"How are we supposed to be partners when you lie to me and go behind my back?" He bit back, voice rising as he strode across the room towards her. "How am I supposed to trust you, when I'm constantly worried that you'll do something stupid and put yourself in danger? I'm only trying to protect you Maliya, to keep you safe - "

"And I need you to be safe!" She shouted, interrupting him once more. "I couldn't stand being left behind at Winterfell while you were out here fighting, not knowing whether you were alive or dead! I would drive myself insane thinking about it and I had nightmares of your death!"

"Maliya – "

"No, you're going to shut up and listen for once," Maliya ordered, shoving him back so that he was forced to sit on the bed as she began to pace in front of him, trying desperately to gather her thoughts. This wasn't how she pictured doing this, but she needed to make him understand. "You left me Robb, you told me that you loved me and then you left. You have to understand that love was never something that I wanted or expected with our arranged marriage, and you caught me off guard. I didn't know how to respond and I didn't know what to think for a long time. And then… then I couldn't sleep without you holding me, I couldn't stop worrying about you and what you were doing. You consumed my every thought, Robb, and it wasn't until I saw you die in that dream that I realized what had happened. I would rather risk my life here with you, by your side, than live a half life without you because I love you, you stupid wolf," she cried, throwing up her hands in exasperation. Robb slowly stood, looking stunned, and Maliya felt all the fight leaving her body, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her. "Maybe love is a risk," she murmured, walking up to him and putting her hands on his chest. "But it's a risk that I am willing to take. I never thought I would, never thought I could love someone like this, but I fell in love with you. I fought it. It's the first battle I didn't mind losing."

The anger was erased from Robb's face, and this time his eyes blazed with triumph, a look of awe and wonder etched on his face. His right hand tenderly brushed against her cheek, the other sneaking around her waist to pull her closer. "I have missed you so much, Princess," he murmured in a hoarse voice, bending down to kiss her.

Maliya pushed against his chest, evading his lips as she quirked an eyebrow, looking up at him and feeling happier than she could ever remember. Her body felt light and warm and she couldn't believe that her heart felt so full. "Is that all?" She teased, unable to stop herself from smiling.

His eyes were full of warmth and love as his fingers clutched at her hips and he said what she needed to hear. "I love you, you stubborn, impossible woman," he told her in an anguished, honest voice. "In an all consuming way that completely defies reason."

"Raqnon ao," Maliya murmured, linking her hands behind Robb's head and lifting herself onto her tiptoes and sighing contentedly as his lips met hers. They had defeated the Kingslayer and they were reunited once more – together, there was nothing that they couldn't accomplish.

Author's Note: I personally am very pleased with the way this chapter came out and I hope you guys are too! I may or may not have been crying when writing the scene with Rickon, that poor little boy just breaks my heart.

Next chapter is the last one in season 1 already! It's going to be a big one too: Maliya and Robb get… reacquainted, they receive some news from down South, Robb tells Maliya about the Frey deal and Maliya has an unlikely friend. Oh and there's also a special scene from Dorne as well as King's Landing :) Is there anything you guys would like to see happen with Maliya in season 2?

Guest 1 – No you're amazeballs, haha thanks for reviewing! I'm so happy you're enjoying my story and I hope you liked this chapter too!

Samantha – Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you're pleased with Maliya's decision to join Robb and his army, I wonder what she'll change….

Guest 2 – Thank you! We'll catch a glimpse of Dorne's reaction next chapter, promise! As for Rickon – I hope you didn't cry as much as I did! I just felt so bad for him and so mad at Maliya!

Boramir – Good point! I hadn't thought about it much until I read your review, so thank you for that! We wouldn't want anyone to be fed to Grey Wind lol.

louise – Thanks for your review, I'm glad you loved the chapter! I hope this chapter captured your short attention span as well haha. As for the dragon – I'm not giving any hints!

Guest 3 – So glad you loved the chapter! Thanks for your review!

Guest 4 – I'm sorry you feel that way and I know many people aren't pleased that Maliya isn't pregnant – then again, I'm not here to please everyone. I'm here to tell my story as I imagine it and while I of course want everyone to enjoy it, I know that it is not possible. As far as her character development…. You are the first person who has mentioned that you think she is obnoxious, and I have to admit I don't quite see it. The only thing I can say to that is we are only 15 chapters into this story. Maliya has flaws and they are not going to change that quickly. I hope you continue to read the story, but if not, I understand.

Guest 5 – Thanks for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and hope you liked Robb's reaction to seeing her!

Guest 6 – Thanks for reviewing, I'm so glad you love the story and am grateful for all your kind words. I can't tell you how happy I am that you feel Maliya's character changes and grows. You are also the first person who thinks I made the right decision regarding her pregnancy! Maliya knows that if she were to become pregnant, she wouldn't be able to accomplish half of what she wanted to. Don't apologize for any mistakes – I can't wait to see what you think of this chapter!