"Your grace! Your grace! Your…"

The guard's calls were slowly devolving into terms less friendly than "your grace" as I raced back towards camp. My horse was not in any danger of being caught by our men. The fastest horses were with my brother, and he was back at camp, preparing to go after Jaime.

Returning to camp, I tried to push away my competing thoughts that ran through my brain as fast as Chimera raced across the hills.

I was furious with Theon, unable to understand how he could be such an idiot and even consider betraying us, but then I would think about if my father had put me in the same position. I would like to think I would hold to what was right, but I knew how strong blood ties were. I could not forgive him, but I did not want to forsake Theon either.

I could not even think about Catelyn and what she did, but again, it came down to the same moment. What you are willing to do for family is not always right, and yet for her too, I did not want to talk to her now and I could not imagine when I would next.

I was cursing myself for feeling betrayed by Jaime. He owed me nothing. He would choose his family, and I should have expected it. I felt a fool, and I wanted to catch him to make up for it.

It was not hard to find Will. Even amongst all of the people, it was easy. He had assembled the two best trackers and three best fighters of Plenair in his company and was working to find the last few members of his team.

"Will," I called, riding to him with assurance.

My brother raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. His profile looked just as our father's, strong and confident.

"No, Analysa," he said simply, already guessing at why I came to him.

"I have not even asked," I returned as I dismounted.

"You do not need to know. I know what it is you want, and you cannot come with me."

"I need to help find him. I feel responsible for letting him go."

Will sighed deeply, "Do you? And how is that? It was Lady Catelyn."

"I let my guard down."

"Gods, Ana, not everything rests on your shoulders," Will countered in irritation.

I scoffed, "You are one to talk. You ride around here as though you can master anything."

"I can. That's the fact of the matter."

"I have to go after him. I cannot stay here and do nothing."

"Do nothing? Is that what you think? Or, is it just that you want to do something to keep you occupied?" Will countered.

"As if there isn't enough to do here."

"Exactly. Robb needs you and you are trying to run off."

I bristled under his directness, "Your wife is pregnant and needs you and you would have a death wish. So I am sure you are thrilled to run after Jaime Lannister."

"He has one hand now, Ana. If I can't beat him, we have larger problems to contend with."

"And Brienne. She still seems capable."

"I will manage," Will said, shaking his head and casting his eyes upwards.

"Why do you say that with such a flippant tone? Because she is a woman?"

"Don't start with me, Ana. Robb sent me, not you, and it was for a reason. Do not go running into this with me. You will be making a mistake."

Will turned away quickly as I scoffed in response. It did not take me long to realize, though, that I was not scoffing at Will. I was doing so at myself.

I was not trying to make amends. I was running. I wanted to have a purpose that was black and white – get Jaime Lannister. That was easy. To stay at camp, to handle the rebukes against Catelyn, our men's demand for justice, and to figure out just what to say about Theon…how would we even begin?

That was far more terrifying than riding off with my brother to capture the Kingslayer.

"Will!" I called after him.

I saw his shoulders rise as he inhaled deeply, trying to remain calm, before turning around.

"Be safe," I said softly, closing the distance between us to hug him tightly.

Will wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me in a hug that reminded me almost of our father. "You too," he said softly.

As he walked away, his confidence seemed to return in his walk and manner. No doubt he could see that the men were beginning to take notice of our conversation. I glanced at our onlookers for a moment, challenging them with a glance as I tried to regain my composure.

It was not easy. I hated to watch my brother walk into something unknown, and everything about this was unknown – how far he would have to go, who he would come upon. It left my stomach in knots, and it did little to help subside the anger I still felt within me.

I wasn't quite sure where my feet were taking me until I arrived at Catelyn's tent. There was a guard stationed outside, which seemed utterly ridiculous to me. She was not about to run although I suppose he was there as much to keep others out as her in.

"Your grace," the guard acknowledged me and stepped aside to let me through.

Catelyn's auburn hair swept aside quickly as she turned her head. "Oh, it is you." She turned back, staring at the table she was sitting at. "I thought it would be Robb."

I could not tell from her tone whether she was happy or disappointed that it was not.

"How could you do this to him?" I demanded in a voice that felt not my own. It was shrill and biting.

Catelyn's eyebrows rose under the tone before taking a downward bend. "You would not understand."

"No, how could I?" I cried, suddenly next to the table. I gripped it, bending down to try to force Catelyn to look at me. "Do you have any idea the position you put Robb in?"

"Arya is trapped somewhere in King's Landing! My daughter is hostage there—"

"—We do not know that. We have heard nothing from her. Do you not think if the Lannisters had her they would not have sent something in her writing to prove it?"

"You have no idea the lengths a woman would go for her child because you have none!" Catelyn exclaimed, rising to her feet. "And you probably never will! You must be barren."

My mouth dropped open for a moment, leaving her with enough time to get in one more hit.

"You and Robb have accomplished nothing, you have made no progress in returning my daughter, so I had to take matters into my own hands. Just as Bran-"

I scoffed, "Through Jaime Lannister…that is so wise."

"My hand was forced."

"No one forced your hand," I returned, tasting the venom on my tongue. "You did this of your own accord and dug Robb's grave while you were at it. He cannot truly punish you, so his men will not feel justice. All you have done is hurt the only child you have that you can still protect."

I could see Catelyn's resolve, her response forthcoming, but I left. I was not proud of what I had said. I was not happy walking out of her tent. Everything I had said was unnecessary, but I seemed to be incapable of saying the right thing today.

I pulled myself away from our people, hiding in Robb and my tent. I could not give myself the opportunity to say anything else.

"I upset your mother," I said lamely when Robb walked in.

He looked up at me with his mouth just slightly open, his eyebrows raised. After a moment, he shook his head, chuckling despite himself. "She upset every person here."

"She is your mother."

Robb shook his head ruefully, "Of that, I am keenly aware." The smile was now gone from his lips.

I swallowed hard as he sat next to me. He did not meet my gaze, but he set his hand on mine, interlocking his fingers with mine.

"What did you do with Theon?" I asked quietly.

"Nothing," he answered.

I expected him to pull his hand away as he tried to explain himself, but he did not. He held on tighter. Grey Wind padded into the tent further, sitting as a sentinel next to his master.

"I listened to him, and I hit him. Probably five times, more. I cannot remember, but I am so angry with him and yet the idea of sending him away…I blame him and I yet at the same time, I don't hate him. He was not there, but he outlined the plan. I don't know what to do with him," Robb explained, finally looking at me.

"So what have you done?" I asked.

"I left him on the outskirts."

"With who?" I demanded.

"The only men who have already seen him." Robb shook his head, his blue eyes searching mine for an answer. "I don't know that they will keep the secret. I have mandated it, but…short of your brother…I don't know who can keep their mouths shut."

"They will not betray you."

"Not intentionally," he agreed.

"So what do we do now?" I asked.

"We leave, at dawn, we leave. I cannot send more men after the Kingslayer, and I cannot wait here to find out if Will finds him or not. All we can do is continue to free the Riverlands, combine our forces with my mother's people, and pray that we figure out how to manage these unknowns in the interim."

I raised an eyebrow at my husband. "Unknowns as in Theon and your mother?"

"Yes."

"Will you—"

Robb cut me off, "No more tonight. Please. Ana, I can't—"

He was shaking his head, staring towards the ground as he stood to walk away from me. I caught his hand and pulled him back towards me.

"Shhh," I whispered, running a hand along his cheek. "We will be fine."

Robb's blue eyes searched mine as I stared back confidently. For a moment, his face softened, "I love you."

Smiling, I leaned in for what I thought would be a chaste kiss, but Robb had other ideas. He pulled me tight against him, almost crushing my waist with the force of his hands. For a moment, I stood stunned; only moments before he had looked so defeated, but now…

Robb pulled back for a moment, looking at me again when I did not kiss him back. Now, he looked determined. His eyes seemed to both question and command me at the same time, but he wouldn't move until I did.

I wanted so badly to forget the day too.

My lips crashed into his and within a few moments, Robb lifted me onto the table, lifting up my dress and pulling it off of me hurriedly. My fingers moved rapidly, pulling off his shirt and pants, before I brought his lips closer to mine.

He moved quickly, and as he pushed into me, I cried out.

"Are you alright—"

"—Yes," I interrupted quickly, nodding him on to keep going.

He moved a little slower after that, but with each moment, I could him letting go a bit more of everything that happened. As I melted into him, I was able to forget too.