A/N: GRRM still own everything and I'm just still writing for fun while I'm waiting on the next book to come out. I had some technical difficulties with this one, namely that our internet has been on the fritz. But here it is. I did deviate from canon a bit on this, which was fun for me, and hopefully will be believable for you. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!
Daenerys VI
When the march had started south, Daenerys had felt a mix of dread and excitement. She dreaded that they were going to war and that men would die. She was particularly worried for Robb and Theon, but she knew that many of these men were leaving behind a wife, or a sister, or a mother who worried for them as much as she worried. She could only pray that the Lannisters were easily defeated and that they were able to secure the safe return of Lord Eddard, Sansa, and Arya. Anytime she worried about the potential cost of this war, she reminded herself that they were marching to free the man who had saved her as a baby and had raised her with his own children and let her join his family. Though, as Theon liked to remind her, it did somewhat please her that they were fighting the Lannisters. They had destroyed her first family and Dany would do anything she could to help make sure they did not do the same to her new family.
She had also been excited to get to travel though. She knew that she was born on Dragonstone and had been taken to King's Landing, but once Lord Eddard had agreed to take her to Winterfell, she had never really left the castle. She'd only gone to the nearby winter town and occasionally gone riding in the Wolfswood. Dany had always dreamed of being able to see other places that she had only heard about in Maester Luwin's lessons, but it had not been possible while King Robert was alive. Now, she was on the march heading south and she intended to enjoy it as much as she possibly she could.
So far though, they had only seen Moat Cailin as everything before that had been just small villages as they travelled down the Kingsroad. And Moat Cailin was not a wondrous sight in itself. Dany remembered her history and she knew that there were once supposed to be twenty great towers at the former stronghold of the First Men. Now, however, all that remained were three towers, the rest was all in ruin. Robb had assured her that it was much more impressive than it looked as the three towers commanded the causeway and anyone who wanted to get through would have to pass through an impenetrable bog. She believed him, but she was glad that they were only staying long enough to meet up with the Manderly forces.
They had only had to wait at Moat Cailin for a few days when the Manderly host arrived, and with them were some surprise guests. Dany and Robb had been in their rudimentary chambers in the Gatehouse Tower discussing what his men had just said in their war council when Theon had appeared at the door to announce that they Manderlys had arrived and brought Lady Stark. She and Robb had been shocked by that as they had both thought that Lady Catelyn would return to Winterfell as soon as she was able, but they had barely had enough time to remark on that when Lady Catelyn herself entered the room.
They both stood and Robb cried out, "Mother?" as though he did quite believe that she was there. But soon enough, Lady Catelyn had crossed the room and had both of them in an embrace. Dany was most assuredly glad that she had arrived after the war council as there was no doubt that Robb would have been humiliated to be hugged by his mother in front of his bannermen.
"Oh Robb," Lady Catelyn said when she released them, her voice thick with emotions, "you've grown a beard. And Daenerys, you look lovely, you're handling your pregnancy well. But what are you both doing here?"
Robb looked faintly ashamed by that, as though he was expecting a scolding. But he stood up straight quickly enough and said, "Father would have lead the men south himself and so shall I. And Dany refused to stay behind." Lady Catelyn looked ready to protest at that and Dany was more than ready for her. She would not be sent home like a child, but Robb beat her to it by saying, "There's no need to argue, Mother. I assure you, I tried them all. She's travelling in a litter and we've brought along a midwife and she's agreed to stay in Riverrun once we secure the castle. And we could use her if we're to attract allies on the way."
"I see that you have both grown in my absence," Lady Catelyn said with an odd look on her face. "I am proud of you both, I only wish that there had been no need. You are both so young."
"Well," Dany said speaking up for the first time, "you and Lord Eddard raised us well my lady. We are ready."
"Tell me Mother," Robb asked as though to cut off any more talk of them being too young, "do you still hold the Imp captive? He would make a good hostage to use in a trade."
"No, I wish to the Gods I did," she answered. "My fool of a sister freed him after forcing holding a mummer's trial by battle. Nor will Lysa agree to send any of the Arryn forces to aid you. We received your raven and while all her bannermen were eager to join our cause, Lysa insisted they stay put. The only knight I've brought from the Vale is my uncle Ser Brynden Tully, though he is the best of them."
Dany was dismayed by these words, and she could tell that Robb was as well. They were relying on being able to use Tyrion Lannister as a hostage. It was after all the best they could make out of a bad situation. Dany had to fight the urge to ask her good mother why she had taken him captive in the first place, something that had begun all the fighting in the Riverlands. Instead, she managed to ask, "Have you heard the news about Lord Eddard, my lady?"
"Yes," Lady Catelyn said looking deeply troubled. "Lord Manderly told me about the raven he received when I arrived in White Harbor. Have you any news of your sisters?"
"There was a letter from Sansa," Robb replied as he retrieved the crumpled letter from the desk and handed it to his mother. "You received one as well but I did not think to bring yours with us."
Lady Catelyn read the letter and Dany watched the various emotions flicker across her face. She seemed to settle at last on fear as she looked up and said, "This letter might be in Sansa's hands, but these are Cersei's words. The real message is in what is not in the letter. All this talk about how kindly the Lannisters are treating her… I know a threat even when it is a veiled one. She is being held hostage and they mean to keep her there."
"Yes, I know," Robb said sadly. "I had hoped to be able to trade the Imp for the girls. If they even still have Arya. Did you notice that Sansa did not even mention her?"
She could see that Lady Catelyn heard the anger in Robb's voice as well. Dany knew that the anger was rooted in fear for his little sister, the same fears that she and Lady Catelyn surely had. Dany put a hand on Robb's arm and gently said, "Perhaps Cersei purposely had Sansa leave any mention of Arya out of the letter in order to frighten us." She did not know if she was right, but she felt the need to reassure him, though judging by the look on his face, he saw right through that ploy. Still he kissed her on the head and merely said perhaps.
"Do you have a plan Robb?" Lady Catelyn asked. "You've called the banners and led the men south, but are you prepared to do what needs to be done even if it means putting your father and sisters in peril?"
Dany could see that Lady Catelyn was testing her son, but she would find that he was a man now, despite the fact that he had not yet seen sixteen name days. Dany had been there to see it happen and to help him along. She knew he was scared, but he also knew what had to be done. She had even been to some of the war councils with him and she knew that Robb was truly his father's son and that he was prepared to fight this war.
Robb smiled slightly and said, "Yes mother, I have a plan. I had hoped to have the Imp as a hostage and that the Arryns would join us as we moved south, but we have a plan, and we will march now that the Manderlys have joined us."
He then proceeded to tell him mother of their plan to split his force in two, one led by Roose Bolton to make Lord Tywin think that they were moving on him, while the main force, led by Robb himself, would surprise the Kingslayer as he lay siege to Riverrun. Dany was pleased to note that he even gave her the credit of suggesting that Lord Bolton engage Lord Tywin and not the Greatjon like Robb had initially wanted, her husband was nothing if not honest. The two forces would split once they met the Freys at the Twins, who Robb hoped would join them as they were bannermen to the Tullys.
Dany could see that Lady Catelyn was impressed. All she really had to add was that Robb would need to be careful of Lord Walder Frey, that he was as wily and as untrustworthy as his reputation suggested. After he was finished explaining his plans, he said, "I will order an escort to see you home to Winterfell. I am sure you are as anxious to get back to Bran and Rickon as they are to see you, Mother."
But Lady Catelyn surprised them again by saying tearfully, "I am not going to Winterfell. My father may be dying and Riverrun is surrounded by enemies. I am going south with you."
Dany could see that Robb was not pleased by that, but she knew that he would not be able to deny her if he had allowed his pregnant wife to accompany him. "Very well then. I must summon another council to tell them the news you've brought, Mother. And I'd like to meet your uncle, the Blackfish is definitely a welcome addition to our cause. But please, rest here with Dany. I shall have them send food up and see to it that chambers are prepared for you." With that he kissed his mother on her cheek and kissed Dany briefly on the forehead and departed.
Dany opened her mouth to inquire if she could get anything for her good mother, but Lady Catelyn beat her to it by saying with a wry grin, "Do not trouble yourself, Daenerys. You are the one with child, you should rest."
"Thank you, my lady," she replied and with a surge of affection she took Lady Catelyn's hands and said, "It is good to see you, my lady."
"Despite the fact that I was unexpected?" she asked smiling. "I was worried for you both, but I see that I should not have feared. You and Robb are both truly Starks, that gives me comfort in these troubled times."
Dany felt herself smile back, it gave her comfort as well.
A/N: I will try to pick back on Wednesday when we will get to see the Freys. I'm going back to work on Thursday so I think I'm going to try to get back on my original updating schedule of Wednesdays and Sundays. Anyway, I hope everyone liked it and please feel free to leave a review. And thank you for reading/reviewing/following/favoriting the story so far. You guys are amazing!