Author's Note: I've always loved House Baratheon's words the best so those play a significant part near the end of of this installment. Enjoy:)

Amarah made certain that her serving girl had left the room before she took out the missive she had received from Robb earlier that day. Since she had escaped King's Landing several weeks ago she had begun a secret correspondence with her cousin to keep him informed of Renly's activities, and in return he kept her apprised of his actions against the Lannisters. He had already requested that she leave Highgarden to return to Winterfell for safety, but she had denied him the request. She had given her word to Renly and she would not go back on it. She appreciated Robb's concerns, but they were not necessary. Also, after hearing news of Robb's betrothal to one of Walder Frey's daughters, she had no great desire to see him face-to-face. A correspondence with him was much less painful than watching him day after day, spending time in his presence only to see him marry another woman. No, it was better this way for them both.

For his part, Renly had proved a most faithful ally since their departure from King's Landing. When they had first arrived at Highgarden, Loras's father Mace Tyrell had not been in favor of keeping Amarah within their walls as he did not trust her to uphold her end of the bargain to support Renly's claim. However, Renly had convinced the man of her loyalty to their cause by stating that he would wager his life on her honesty, much to Amarah's surprise. Renly had always been kind to her since she had come to King's Landing those nine years before, but they had never shared a close relationship. When she had questioned him about his support, he seemed surprised that she would even ask. She remembered his words even now.

You are my family he had answered. Those who question your honor question mine as well. At his words she had felt a slight prick of conscience over her secret letters to Robb, but not enough to confess. After all, she was still loyal to her uncle as she had promised. In fact, she planned to write Robb in her next letter to propose an alliance with Renly. She knew Robb had no desire to sit on the Iron Throne any more than she did. He only waged war against the Lannisters in response to Ned's unfair arrest in King's Landing. If she could convince Renly to form an alliance with the Starks, they would be much better equipped to defeat the Lannister forces.

Mulling these thoughts over in her head she opened the letter to see what Robb had to say. His notes had been one bright spot in a rather dreary existence for Amarah since she had left Ned and her cousins to the mercy of Joffrey and his mother. She reasoned with herself that she had no other choice than to leave, but she was burdened with a tremendous amount of guilt all the same. It eased her mind considerably that Robb did not hold her accountable for Ned's imprisonment, but she could not absolve her self entirely of the blame. Pushing those feelings to the back of her mind, she began to read Robb's short note:

My dearest Amarah,

I hope this letter finds you safe and well. Our forces have met the Lannister's in the Battle of Whispering Woods where we have won our first victory. During the battle we were fortunate enough to capture Kingslayer himself, Jaime Lannister. We will try to use his capture as leverage in order to release my father and sisters from Joffrey's clutches in King's Landing. Again I beg you do not blame yourself for what has befallen them. Though you do not speak of the guilt, I know you, cousin. I have prayed to the Seven for their safe return and yours as well. Until I hear from you again.

Robb

After she finished reading, Amarah quickly burnt the piece of paper and watched the flames slowly curl around the frayed edges. She watched it burn as she thought over all Robb had said. It was shocking that he had managed to capture Jaime Lannister, but it boded well for their hopes of releasing Ned and the girls from King's Landing. For a bargaining chip in this war, they could not have asked for a better one.

At that moment the door of her chamber quickly burst open, jarring her from her thoughts of the caged lion. The intruder was the serving girl who had left just minutes before, but now her face was red with exertion and she was panting heavily as if she had just run a great distance. When she was finally able to catch a breath, she told Amarah the purpose for her interruption.

"My Lady…" she gulped in another breath of air. "King Renly wishes to see you in the Great Hall."

Curious as to why he would request her presence so early in the day and with such urgency, Amarah rose without hesitation to answer the summons. Since Renly had taken up residence in Highgarden, he had taken to calling himself King Renly. Amarah was not certain whether he warranted the title as of yet, but she decided it was more palatable on him than Joffrey. She would never call that sadistic shit King.

Her rooms were on the lowest level of the keep, so it did not take much time to reach Renly's chosen meeting place. She entered the chilly room finding the whole of the Tyrell family also in attendance. If that was not odd enough, she noticed that they all regarded her with somewhat pitying glances. Margaery Tyrell, with whom she had formed the closest acquaintance, looked the most sympathetic of all. Baffled as to why they should all be looking at her in such a way, Amarah finally located her uncle in their midst.

"What is it?" she asked him with an uneasy feeling beginning to grow in the pit of her stomach.

He didn't answer her right away, but first addressed all those that surrounded them. "Give us a few moments alone if you please." They obeyed the order without hesitation. Before she left the room however, Margaery came to give Amarah's hands a quick squeeze of comfort before departing with the rest of her family. Even more bewildered than before, Amarah turned back to Renly with a questioning gaze.

"There's been a raven from King's Landing" he began while staring into the cold, empty fireplace with his back facing her. Momentarily she was worried they might have received word or her correspondence with Robb, but she doubted that discovery would cause such strange behavior. So she waited for him to continue. Slowly, he turned back to face her with a strange look in his eye.

"Amarah, it's about Lord Stark." Her heart dropped to her stomach at his ominous words, but she said nothing. "I don't know how else to tell you this" he seemed to struggle for the right thing to say before finally finishing. "Joffrey had him executed this day past for treason and conspiring against the crown. He's dead."

"No" Amarah's mind instantly rebelled against the thought. "No that cannot be. Cersei is a mean bitch but she is no fool. She would never let Joffrey do something so stupid." She seemed to be trying to convince herself more of those words than Renly. With a sad shake of his head, Renly interrupted her denials.

"It all happened within a matter of minutes we were told. He was beheaded in the city square. Hundreds saw it happen. I'm sorry but there is no mistake."

Turning abruptly from him, she marched to the nearest window in order to take in lungfuls of fresh air to keep her standing upright. As her mind slowly accepted the horrifying reality of her uncle's tale, she felt as if all the air from her body had been sucked out and a large weight was pressing on her, trying to break her in two. Much the same feeling she had when learning of her father's death, but this was far worse. She had cared for her father, but Ned Stark was the man who raised her. The one who had taken into his home and treated her as his own child. Loved her as if she were his own daughter. He had been a true father to her when she needed it most and she loved him fiercely for that. And now he was gone. Never again would she see his kind, smiling eyes or feel his warm embrace. It was almost too much too bear.

"Amarah?" she heard Renly approach her cautiously.

She didn't turn to look at him. Refused to let him see her at her weakest. "Please leave me be" she whispered.

However, he ignored that request as he took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. She was taken aback by the fierce look in his eyes. "Don't let this break your spirit" he urged her. "I'm sorry for what the Lannisters have taken from you, but we will make them pay. I swear it to you."

Looking into his violent gaze, she realized that he truly meant what he said. Finding strength in his anger she began to feel the weight of sadness lift, replaced by a burning sense of rage. Rage was much easier for her troubled soul to bear than overwhelming grief. The Lannisters would pay for this, if she had to mount Joffrey and Cersei's heads on a spike herself. They would pay.

"Ours is the fury" she said remembering her father's command.

Renly nodded with approval and repeated the words more loudly. "Ours is the fury." Pulling her swiftly to his broad, hard chest, he repeated the words in her ear over and over again as if afraid she would forget. But as she tightly closed her eyes to shut out the image of her beloved uncle's death, she knew she would never forget. Mine is the fury. It was a promise she intended to keep.