Lady Catelyn had disappeared. Jacqueline was forced to stay in bed for two days and by the time she was allowed to walk out of the stuffy room the lady of Winterfell was gone. Which Jacqueline found especially strange since Bran had awoken. But anytime she asked about Lady Stark's absence she was awarded with vague cryptic answers. After a few tries, Jacqueline gave up and never mentioned the lady again.

With Bran Stark awake, Jacqueline expected the tension around Winterfell to dissolve and it had but not the degree it was before the boy had fallen. Whether that was due to the reason behind his mother's disappearance or his inability to walk, Jacqueline wasn't sure. Little Rickon spent less time in her arms now through he remained just as uncooperative. Now, the youngest Stark spent the majority of his time in Bran's room.

With his mother and father gone, Robb had assumed control of Winterfell. Jacqueline herself had never run a holdfast but she could tell the young man was a bit overwhelmed. Through she supposed it would was a good learning occasion for him. Despite his young age and inexperience, Robb Stark was certainly doing better than King Robert. Her brother was good at war but when it came to ruling a kingdom, or even the Red Keep, he was insensible. Not because he was stupid but because he didn't care. He left the boring business to the Small Council while he was busy drinking and whoring. At least the Stark boy took an interest in his duties.

A couple of weeks passed without incident and without a sign of Lady Catelyn. Jacqueline kept to herself, not wanting to get in the way of Robb's new responsibilities. Her day to day activities were not much different from what she would be doing if she were in the Capitol but despite this she still missed the distant city. She wanted to return home to her own bed. And she missed her brothers. Perhaps Stannis has returned from Dragonstone by now, she thought one morning.

Finally, after nearly a month alone in the North, Tyrion Lannister returned to Winterfell from his journey to the Wall. He arrived late in the afternoon on a particularly cold day with his two guards and a man dressed in all black. Robb sat in the large, ornately carved chair atop the raised dais with Maester Luwin sitting to his right. Jacqueline stood off to the side next to the Greyjoy boy as she watched the slightly tense and awkward encounter between Robb and Tyrion.

"I must say I received a slightly warmer welcome on my last visit," Tyrion stated, taking note of the direwolf that laid on the dais in front of Robb.

"Any man of the Night's Watch is welcome in Winterfell." Robb said, meaning the grimy looking man dressed in all black. The man nodded his thanks.

"Any man of the Night's Watch but not me. Eh, boy?" The dwarf's voice took on an angrier tone.

To which Robb matched, "I'm not your boy, Lannister. I'm Lord of Winterfell while my father is away." If she had heard a recount of the exchange secondhand, Jacqueline would have found the whole conversation amusing. But the room was filled with this strange tension that she could not find a reason for and so she was unable to see any humor in the situation.

Thankfully, before the conversation could get any more heated, the door in the back of the small hall opened up and young Bran Stark entered. Just as Maester Luwin had predicted, the fall left the young Stark without the use of this legs. Since he could no longer walk, the boy was carried everywhere by a giant of man named Hodor. Whether that was his actual name or if they just called him that since that was the only word he ever said, Jacqueline was unsure. Hodor entered the hall with the boy in his large arms and stood quietly in between Tyrion and the dais. Jacqueline couldn't help but notice how the boy's legs dangled uselessly in the air.

Tyrion noticed as well. "Hello, Bran. Do you remember anything about what happened?" He asked in a much kinder voice than the one he used on the older brother.

The maester answered for him, "He has no memory of that day."

Tyrion made a face at the information before continuing, "You like to ride, Bran?"

"Yes," the boy said strongly. "Well, I mean I did like to."

"The boy's lost the use of his legs," Luwin reminded.

"What of it?" Tyrion said a bit too sharply in Jacqueline's opinion. "With the right horse and saddle even a cripple can ride."

"I'm not a cripple!" The boy stated defiantly.

"Then I'm not a dwarf. My father will rejoice to hear it." The Lannister then pulled a scroll from his person and handed it to Bran, who removed the string and unrolled it to reveal detailed plans for a custom saddle. Tyrion went on explain the type of horse needed.

The act forced the Lord of Winterfell to reassess his hospitality and after a moment of silence Robb finally offered Tyrion to stay in the castle. But Tyrion had had enough. "Spare me your false courtesies, Lord Stark. There's a brothel outside your walls. There I'll find a bed and both of us can sleep easier." Tyrion turned for the door before remembering the real reason he was in Winterfell. "We leave at first light, Lady Jacqueline." He called over his shoulder without so much as a glance at her. "If you are joining us, don't be late."

I'm so sorry about the extreme wait between chapters. I'd like to say I have an adequate excuse but I do not. Laziness got the better of me. I know this is a bit of a filler but I promise the story will begin to move along in the next couple of chapters. Thanks for reading and reviewing! :) - Madison