"When do they have to leave ?" asked Robb , frowning .

"Tomorrow morning since night is falling . We should all clean ourselves and wait for more informations ." answered Ned .

"We can't spend the night here if Asgard is threatened !" shouted Thor .

"Oh please Thor if dwarves wanted to attack Asgard , I think they can manage to protect themselves . Tell me what use you'll be by leaving into the woods at night , finding a portal that might not be here . Spend the night here , plan a strategy , rest well . That's what we all need ." said Thessana , rolling her eyes .

"She's right Thor .." agreed Sif .

"Then let's plan a strategy … "

Thessana looked at Thor as he left inside and sighed . Robb patted her shoulder , smiling softly . She followed her sister inside , to their rooms and they cleaned themselves .

"You shouldn't have talk like that to Thor .. He doesn't like it when you're right ."

"Sorry if my purpose in life isn't to please Thor all the time . I can't believe he'll be king one day .. "

"Shut your mouth . What if somebody heard you ?"

"So what ? Thor isn't that stupid . He perfectly knows that I think he's an oaf . "

"No he's not !"

"Right he is not . Can I ask you a question ?"

"Sure .."

"You never tried to search who were our parents ?"

"No . Is it that Robb who put ideas like that in your mind ?"

"Don't change the subject . You were older than me . Why haven't you search at least their names ?"

"Because the AllFather told me that they weren't that known and if I wanted to join the warriors I had to stop asking all those questions ! So don't start this neither ."

"You put your career ahead of your origins ? "

"Oh because you would give up your place in the palace to know them ?"

"A thousand times Sif . "

"I don't like Robb ."

"I thought you found him nice and attractive .."

"Not when he put stuff like that in your mind ."

"Too bad for you , I like him . Same for Jon Snow ."

"He is a bastard . He's worst than filth ."

"Do you hear yourself ? What is wrong with all of you ? Jon is a person as you , as me . His birth isn't his fault ."

Thessana put her cloak around her shoulders and was ready to go but Sif stood in front of the door .

"Where are you going ?"

"Spend time with the Starks . After all , they'll become my family soon ."

"Thessana if you leave this room I will .."

"Do not threaten me Sif . I am more powerful than you . Never forget that ."

And she left . She found Robb in the library and sat next to him . He was reading a book about the oldest families in the realms .

"What are you looking at ?"

"You . Or at least your family . Don't you have any hints ? Anything that might help ?"

"Your uncle Brandon gave to my mother a necklace with a direwolf on it as a wedding gift ."

"Uncle Brandon … He died before mother and father married … Come ."

"Where ?"

"The crypts . You told me that you shielded yourself . Which means that you had enough senses and intelligence to understand the situation and that you needed to be protected . Maybe seeing Uncle Brandon might trigger somehting in you . "

"But I never met him ."

"Maybe your parents talked about him .. Worth a shot ."

She followed him in the dark crypts . It was gloomy and kind of scary . She shivered and stayed close to Robb who held her hand , carrying torch with the other ."

"That's my grand father , Rickard . He died , killed by the Mad King Targaryen before the rebellion , alongside Uncle Brandon . This is Bran the Builder , our ancester . We come from him and he was first King in the North . "

"It was the Targaryens who decided to rally the north to the rest and make Starks warden right ?"

"Indeed … Karlon Stark founded the Karstark family , our direct relatives . This is Lyanna , my aunt . She died of a fever . It's because of her that the Rebellion started . She was betrothed to King Baratheon but Late King Targaryen kidnapped her and all started … "

"She looks beautiful ..."

"Apparently she was . Father told me that King Baratheon doesn't want to marry anyone because of her .. She's the only woman in the crypts .."

"Do you have any uncle or aunt left ?"

"Uncle Benjen . He's the youngest and he's in the Night Watch . That's Brandon .."

She looked at the tomb and the craved face . She touched the cold stone and stayed quiet . She turned to say something to Robb but he was gone . She called him several times but nothing . Only a soft howling and the noise of a sword being scratched against stone . She made a ball of light and walked towards the noise . There were several empty tombs , with any inscription on it . Only one was craved with a wolf head . She couldn't read the name on it , like it was in a foreign language . She heard steps behind her and turned , thinking that Robb was back . She wanted to ask him about that but words didn't come out . Instead she screamed at the top of her lungs and felt backwards . She crawled back , tears rolling on her cheeks , knowing that her death was coming . She was stuck in a corner and closed her eyes , burrying her head in arms . But instead of pain , a strong and warm embrace surrounded her . She opened her eyes , her breath ragged . She burried her head in the fur of Robb's cloak and cried even harder as he held her tight . She clutched his cloak and looked behind him .

"Is he gone ? Please tell me he's gone ..."

"Thessana nothing's here ..."

"There was a man ! He was wearing black clothes with a cloak , black too . But he had a wolf head instead of … He had a wolf head sewed on his neck ..."

"Thessana look at me . There was nothing . No one is here . You looked at Brandon's tomb and you began acting weird . I called you several times but it was like you couldn't hear or see me .."

"No one is there ..."

"No . You're safe . I am here to protect you . Don't worry anymore .."

She stood and looked around . No one besides the two of them . Robb took her back upstairs . Dinner was served and they both acted as nothing happened . Thor was mad at Thessana , it was obvious but she did not give him the pleasure to notice him . Same for Loki .

After the tense atmosphere of the dinner , the cosiness and calm of the library felt like a shelter . The Stark Library was a real treasure , Loki was right . It was almost as great as the one in Asgard . She found what she needed , sat near a candle and started her reading .

"Need help ?"

She turned and saw Loki . She sighed and turned back to her book .

"Symbols and Meaning of dreams . Really ?"

"Did you come to laugh at me ?"

"No , I came to apologise . You're right , Snow is a person as you and me . "

"What happened ?"

"He said to Thor that his plan sucked and if he wanted to die he'd happy to kill him right now ."

"No he did not !"

"He totally did . Thor's face was priceless . Of course , the boy was scolded but to be honest , I don't think he cared that much ."

"So now you're like best friends ?"

"No , you have this spot . Let just say that in the future , i'll be nicer to him . "

"What about Robb ?"

"What about him ?"

"I saw how you looked at us when we were together ."

"Thess we grew up together . I don't want to see you waste your life with somebody that doesn't deserve you ."

"You don't know him ."

"Oh because you do ?"

"No . Of course not . But I saw glimpses of him and I liked it . I don't know if i'm going to love him in the future or anything but right now I don't complain about it . I know I could get worst . Way worst ."

"Your kindness will lose you one day … Anyway . What happened ? Bad dreams ?"

"Remember when we were children ? We were doing those weird dreams .."

"The dream where I saw a woman getting stabbed in the stomach and heart ? "

"Yes . And I was dreaming of this wolf-man .."

"A lycan ?"

"No … It's ..."

"That awful ?"

"A man , wearing black elegant clothes . But instead of a head he had a wolf's head . And his chest was pierced with arrows and he had a wound where the heart is . "

"I remember it indeed … Kind of disgusting in my opinion .. You dreamt about it again ? "

"No . I saw it . For real . I was in the crypts earlier with Robb and I saw him . Robb told me I was sort of hallucinating . I probbaly was . But I could bet that it was real .."

"How did you react ?"

"How do you want me to react ? I was scared as shit . But more I think about it and how he looked … Gods it sounds stupid …. So so stupid ."

"Thess … Tell me ."

"He looked like he knew me . Like he was trying to talk to me . I could swear that he recognized me Loki ..."

"What happened next ?"

"Nothing . Robb was next to him , trying to calm me down ."

"You think he could be Robb ? "

"Why ?"

"Well , the Stark' sigil is the direwolf … And the monster was replaced by Robb so .."

"Impossible . I did this dream every single night during years when I was a child . I did not know Robb back then . "

"Right … Found something in the book ?"

"Well , first of all , a man without a head means freedom or death . According to the arrows I saw and the wounds it's more likely about death . Then it's written that if there's a wolf head it means that the person with it , will try to do things , accomplish actions beyond his means . So if we put all these meanings together the man in my dream will die because of his ambition and dreams … "

"Or because of his ambition he'll free others but will die in the process .."

"It still means death ."

"Do they have books about the old Targaryen's stories ? I'm not sure I saw one last night .."

"There's one right there .." she pointed at it . Loki took the large volume and sat back next to her .

"What are you looking for ?" she asked .

"This wolf man reminds me of something … A story mother used to tell us but i'm not sure where it comes from . And since her favourites were from the Targaryen's lame prophecies ."

"If they're prophecies , aren't they supposed to happen ?"

"Obviously they did not see that they'll all die .. So that's bullshit ."

"I can't fight this argument ."

"Ah ! Found it ! Look !"

She took the book and looked at the title . " Old stories from the Late Targaryens " . She opened it and saw awful drawings , full of red and black . But the story Loki showed her didn't have any drawings .

"Too awful to draw obviously .." he muttered .

"Farther on she came upon a feast of corpses . Savagely slaughtered , the feasters lay strewn across overturned chairs and hacked trestle tables , asprawl in pools of congealing blood . Some had lost limbs , even heads . Savaged limbs clutched bloody cups , wooden spoons , roast fowl , heels of bread . On a throne above them sat a dead man with the head of a wolf . He wore an iron crown and held a leg of lamb in one hand as a king might hold a scepter , his queen by his side , guts out , holding a dead baby ..."

She closed the book and looked at Loki .

"Mystery solved ." he declared with a smile .

"I had those dreams because of a story .."

"I bet mine are about the queen . "

"That's .."

"You expected something more adventurous dear Thess ?"

She said nothing , just looking at the book . It was too plain . It couldn't be from this . And why the man looked like he knew her .

"Stop overthinking it Thess . You're worrying yourself for nothing . You should go to bed , we leave early in the morning tomorrow ."

"Yes , right … Have a goodnight Loki .."

She let the book on the table and left the room silently . All the castle was asleep but she didn't felt like going back to her room and face Sif . Instead she went in the Godswood and sat there in front of the tree and started to pray the Seven Gods , specially the Mother and the Crone to give her peace and wisdom in this strange situation .

Thessana did not sleep that night . She stayed in the woods , alone , waiting for the dawn . After a quick breakfast she followed the Asgardians , ready to leave .

"It was a pleasure to see you Thessana . Here's a fur for you , the wind is blowing hard today .." said Catelyn , holding her in her arms .

"Thanks a lot for all of this . I wish it ended better .."

"Nobody can predict a war . And I am sure this is not the last time we see each other .. " she said , winking .

"Robb is a nice boy . Take care of him .."

"Oh he thinks he's old enough to take care of himself .."

"What are you two talking about again ?" asked Robb smiling .

"Oh your mother was giving me some advices for the journey back home ."

"And i'm going to give the same advices to your sister !" she said leaving .

"You were talking about me ?" asked Robb , cocking an eyebrow .

"You're not the center of the attention you know ?"

"Oh I thought I was … Anyway .. Farewell Thessana .."

"See you soon I hope Stark ."

He looked at her , smiling softly and she hugged him .

"Take care of yourself okay ? "

"You're the one leaving for a realm which is at war … Just saying ."

"I am not actually fighting this war though .."

"Such a shame you'll be better than anyone ."

"Stop flattering me .."

"I am trying to charm you actually but shame on me i'm bad at this .."

"You're techniques are awful . Seriously . I'm not joking ."

"Okay I got it ! They're leaving . You should ride your horse ."

"You disturbed me !" she said , riding her horse and ready to follow her fellows .

"So goodbye for real now .."

"I like you Robb . Really like you."

And she left .

"I like you too Thess ..."

"Why again are they declaring war at us ?" asked Thor .

Thessana and Loki sighed heavily as they looked at each other . It has been three days that they were back in Asgard and that the Dwarves had done anything against them .

"They're angry because they said that we abused them . They want to rule themselves ."

"But you're the AllFather !"

"I think it's time for them to remind it .."

"A real King doesn't have to scream that he's the king ..." whispered Thessana .

"I let you come in the War Council because you have obvious skills in strategy and leadership . Don't make me regret this decision ." snapped back the AllFather .

"I rather be on the battlefield ."

"With your leg ?"

"My leg is fine ."

"A battlefield is no place for a Lady ."

"What about Sif ?"

An uncomfortable silence reigned in the room .

"It's time for all of you to do some training before the departure tomorrow ."

"Fine Father ." said Thor , leaving , followed by the Warriors Three and Sif .

"I rather stay here with Thess looking at the last strategies once more ." added Loki

"Fine son but do not stay too long . Thessana when our new soldiers will arrive i'll sent them here and you'll brief them ."

"As you wish your grace ."

She turned and face the large map she pinned on the wall earlier . With her magic she put several dots on the Nidavellir map , a different color for each group of soldiers .

"You think it'll work ?"

"I am a hundred per cent sure . But it's sending people to a butchery if we do this . The group which will attack North will certainly die . "

"But the others will live and end this stupid meaningless war ."

"I can't believe we're fighting against dwarves .."

"Welcome to the club .."

"By the way when he said soldiers . New soldiers he meant who ?"

"If I recall he sent ravens to the other realms for some help . He rather sent people from another realm than his own men , to face a certain death .."

"This is wicked .."

"Once again , Welcome in the War Council of Asgard .."

"In which realm he did send ravens ?"

"Vanaheim , Alfheim , Westeros ..."

"Which part of Westeros ?"

"Winter is coming for those dwarves ."

Thessana closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose . Loki smirked and patted her shoulder .

"Always a pleasure to see you Greyjoy .."

She turned and faced the Northeners , Robb heading the group .

"Shall we start Lady Thessana ?" he asked smiling .