I still own nothing. GRRM still hates fanfiction. I'm still working on this. I just want to say thank you to everyone who's bothered to read this, especially those who are following this story, or who have listed it as a favorite. And a special thanks to Robin4 and KnightofHolyLight for their reviews! And sorry if this chapter is a little dull, I'm still laying the ground work for the plot.

Robb

As the royal party streamed into Winterfell's courtyard, Robb Stark wondered how they would accommodate all the people. The castle was already more crowded than he had ever seen it with all the guests of the Northern households descending for his wedding to Daenerys.

It was an odd thought that he would be married tomorrow. He did not object to it, after all he had known he would marry Daenerys for as long as he could remember. Still though, they were both still very young. He had only turned fifteen recently and Dany herself was still fourteen. He wished they could marry on their own terms instead of when the king dictated. He did not wish their wedding to be marred by Dany's fear. And Robb was afraid she would think that he did not want to marry her, but was only doing to so because he was ordered to. He hoped their stolen moments together in the past month during the preparations for this visit had convinced her. Theon teased him mercilessly for writing her poems and gathering flowers for her, but Robb wanted her to know how he felt about her now. He wished they had had a normal courtship, meeting and falling in love the way other couples did instead of being raised together with the knowledge of their wedding every present between them. He knew he should be grateful that they got along well and were not coming to this marriage as strangers, but Robb still wondered what it would have been like to meet Dany and come to love her without royal orders.

Daenerys herself stood at his side, clutching his arm nervously. She was dressed all in grey and with her silver hair done up in an intricate braid he thought she looked like a vision of the Maiden come to life. When he had complimented her on the choice of colors, as grey and white were the colors of House Stark, she had thanked him but in a much more distracted way than usual. He knew she was afraid and he wished he could do anything to alleviate her fear.

He searched the riders for the sources of her distress. He recognized Jaime Lannister first with his gold armor and his white cloak of the Kingsguard. He rode into the courtyard looking confident and bored. However, he was not the source of Dany's main distress. Robb searched for his father's oldest friend, King Robert Baratheon, but he could not see anyone matching the description father had always given him when telling stories of his youth in the Eyrie, or tales of the Robert's Rebellion, or the more recent Greyjoy Rebellion. Then he saw two other knights of the Kingsguard towards the rear of the procession guarding a hugely fat man wearing the black and gold of House Baratheon. Surely that was man not the king. Father had always described Robert Baratheon as something akin to the Warrior made flesh. All Robb saw in front of him was an old fat man with red cheeks.

And yet it seemed he was the king. "Ned!" the man that Robb now realized was King Robert Baratheon roared out. "It is good to see that frozen face of yours." The king grabbed Robb's father in a bone crushing hug.

He felt Daenerys beginning at the sound and volume of the king's voice. Robb was unsure how to best comfort her, he met Theon's eye over the top of Dany's head. Theon gave Robb his usual lazy grin and leaned down to Dany's ear and whispered something about dragons to her under his breathe. Robb felt Dany's shaking subside and felt a surge of gratitude for his foster brother. Theon had a better understanding of what Daenerys was going through than Robb did. After all, Balon Greyjoy had fought this king as well and Theon was as much of a ward as Daenerys. The knowledge had made the two close, something Robb was happy about as he felt Theon was as much a brother to him as Bran, Rickon, and Jon were.

"Your Grace," Eddard Stark said to the king, "Winterfell is yours."

The king and his family then began to walk down the row of Robb's family for the introductions. He greeted Robb's mother first and embraced her like a long lost sister. He then moved on to little Rickon who was holding his mother's hand to keep the unruly four year old under control. Then the King reached Robb.

"Well look at you!" King Robert boomed. "You've grown into a man! And a better looking one than your father! Har!"

"Your Grace," Robb said with a bow, "it is an honor to meet you at last. Allow me to present my betrothed Daenerys Targaryen and my foster brother Theon Greyjoy.

Daenerys curtseyed and Theon bowed instantly. The king lost the jovial expression in his eyes as he stared at the top of Daenerys's head, and yet he said nothing to her. Daenerys stayed in her curtsey, clearly terrified to meet the king's eyes. Robb was trying desperately to think of something to say to break the tension when the Queen said, "Robert, my love, you are holding the line up." The king quickly moved on to the other children, complimenting Sansa's beauty, telling Arya that she looked like her aunt did in her youth, and admiring Bran's muscles.

Robb bowed low over the Queen's proffered hand, grateful to the women, but the Queen also only had eyes for Daenerys it seemed. She did not seem angry, but rather thoughtful, although she said nothing to Dany and moved on. They were then introduced the crown prince, Joffrey Baratheon, who was tall for a thirteen year old and would have been handsome were it not for the expression of contempt on his face. They then met Joffrey's sibilings, Myrcella and Tommen, who seemed shy, though they seemed to be more polite than their brother.

After all the pleasantries were exchanged between the two families, King Robert asked to go to the crypts to pay his respects. His father had instantly called for a lantern and the two proceeded on despite the Queen's objects. The rest of the party was invited inside the castle to warm up by his mother and everyone began to move indoors.

Yet Robb did not feel Daenerys relax even minutely. He kept hold of her arm and escorted her indoors wondering if he should take her back to her rooms or to the godswoods so she could compose herself.

But before he could Theon, leaned over and remarked loudly, "See, that went well. Neither one of us was executed on sight. I would say this royal visit is going quite well."

Lady Catelyn turned and gave Theon an icy glare over her shoulder which Theon acknowledged with his usual sardonic smile. The Queen's other brother, Tyrion Lannister, called the Imp, however gave a loud guff of laughter at Theon's impudent remark. Daenerys seemed to come to at the sound of laughter. She looked up at Robb and gave him a small smile. He was quite suddenly struck at his luck to be marrying her. She undoubtedly the fairest girl in the seven kingdoms with her white blonde hair and deep purple eyes. But more importantly to Robb, she was brave enough to be able to meet the enemy of her family and still smile.

Feeling extremely proud of Dany, he escorted her over to where his mother was making polite conversation with Queen Cersei. He would help Daenerys get through this royal visit in anyway that he could. Though he had not yet wrapped his cloak around her shoulders, he would offer her comfort and protection all the same. They would get through these pleasantries now, then the welcoming feast tonight, and their marriage on the morrow. Then their real life together would begin in the North without any fear of kings and what they might do. All would be well for them, Robb would see to that. And he knew for a certainty that Daenerys would help him too.

A/N: Next chapter is the wedding so hopefully it'll be more exciting. It should be up tomorrow or Tuesday, I'm just polishing it right now.