Robb looked at his mother and wife who were talking outside the tent , looking not so happy .
"Women shouldn't be allowed in here .." whispered Theon , looking in the same way as Robb .
"Say that one more time and in front of their faces Greyjoy . Lady Thessana will kick your arse and we'll all enjoy every second of it ." said GreatJon , all the men around him laughing .
"We need to focus on this war . Jaime Lannister has captured my uncle Edmure and has Riverrun . We need to get it back . Soon ." ordered Robb , looking back at the map .
"We need the Freys . Or at least their bridge . It's the only way to go to Riverrun . The easiest way .." remarked Brynden Tully , who came earlier with Catelyn , back from the Vale .
"My wife is Lord Frey's grand-daughter . That shouldn't be a problem .." stated Robb , looking at his wife once again .
"Frey is prickly , a real bag of shit and never he'll ally with you , no matter what bonds you with him . If he's not sure you're going to win never he'll let you use his bridge ."
"What if I go to the Twins with all my men ? Maybe then he'll let us cross the bridge ."
"We're talking about Walder Frey here .."
"We need that bridge . Gather a hundred men and we'll go there . "
Robb left the tent and joined the two women , who were still talking .
"Mother , we're leaving for the Twins , I rather have you stay here . Thess you're coming ."
"I'm going Robb . I am not staying here . "
"Fine .. Then get ready . "
"I'm going there by myself ." spoke loudly Robb , some of his bannermen behind him .
"Are you insane ? Go there by yourself and he could take you as a prisonner or even kill you !" said Catelyn
"I'm his kin !"
"I'll go Robb … I'm his family . Never he'll hurt me . Never . Let me go Robb . " pleaded Thessana . Robb looked at her , frowning , then looked at the Frey boy waiting for them .
He rode next to her and leaned over her . "Are you sure about this ?"
"He'll never harm me . Trust me ..."
"I trust you . Not him .. If you're not back before the night I'll send men I don't care if he's family . "
She nodded at him and Robb kissed her chastely and let her go .
She faced Walder Frey , waiting for him to speak . He was touching his young wife's arse and judging her with his narrow eyes . Last time she was there it was for his nameday and it was an awful day , full of insults against against herself , Robb and the unborn Tommen . One of his sons cleared his throat disturbing the silence .
"Father … Lady Stark is here because you asked her presence ..."
"I know that it's not because I'm old that I'm stupid ! I've seen many Kings and Queens , Lords and Ladies . Your mother was a wench so shut your mouth . Come here Lady Stark , I'm an old man after all ."
She walked to him and he kissed her hand loudly , in a disgusting way . She took a step back , with a forced smile .
"So what do you want ? My Lady .."
"As you probably heard , my husband Lord Stark is marching South to Riverrun with his bannermen . He asks you to let his men and himself cross your bridge ."
"The boy is scared to come here by himself so he sends his woman here ?"
"Can we talk in private ?" said Thessana calmly even if anger was rushing in her veins .
"You heard the girl ? Go find something to do ! OUT !"
Everybody rushed outside under the deadly stare of Lord Frey . She looked at the young wife , looking scared . She noticed the slight bump under her gown .
"They all wait for me to die … " whispered the old Frey .
"May the Gods let you live for several centuries .."
"I hope they all die before me .. So what do you want ?"
"Let Robb and his men cross your bridge ."
"That's pretty straight-forward .. I guess you , really , are a wolf . "
"Look outside and you'll see twenty thousand wolves ."
"Don't try to scare me girl . What should I fear you ? Because of your husband ? My sons could kill this brat and your son and you couldn't even do a thing ."
"You are my grand-father . Robb is your kin ."
"And I swore an oath to the crown too , if I remember well … I am sworn to King Joffrey and your husband is a rebel now . I should help the Lannisters hunt you down , you northeners ."
"Then do it . What keep you from doing it ?"
"Never I'll bend the knee to this piece of shit ."
"Then help us ."
"I always hated the Stark . And the Tullys , even if his Lord Edmure is my liege lord . They always looked down at me . And now you're here begging for my help ."
"I'm not begging . One day , sooner or later , you'll need to chose a side . Help us and you'll join the winning one . Stark and Frey are kins thanks to my wedding with Lord Robb Stark . I'm sure you're willing to join your forces to ours . If the Trident and the North join , we'll crush the Lannisters .."
"This is a weak bond though .. I'll allow your bannermen to cross under some conditions ."
"I'm listening ."
"You'll take two of my grandsons as wards . Some of your men will take them to Winterfell . Olyvar , my son , will be your husband's personnal squire . Arya Stark will marry one of my grandsons ."
"That's all ?"
"Oh no … You are Lady of Winterfell now . You are the one in the highest position , alongside your husband . Your son Tommen , future lord of Winterfell and warden of the North will marry one of my daughters or grand-daughters , as he likes . Those are my conditions ."
"I agree to them . All of them . But we can't organize a wedding right now , my Lord .."
"I know , I'm not stupid . After the war , when Arya will be back with you , we'll organize a double wedding . I give you my swords either . Except a hundred of them , I need to protect the Twins ."
"Fine . Thanks my Lord . Your help will not be forgotten . "
"Yeah yeah you may go now and tell your husband he can cross whenever he wants . My men will be ready in a few minutes. Wait for them in the yard ."
"Thanks again ."
Robb was sudying a map with his council , trying to find a way to beat Jaime . He was worried about Thessana and noticed that the sun was hanging low in the horizon . He dra his attention back to the map and the ideas of his men and mother when he heard his son calling him . He joined Tommen outside the tent and saw Thessana , riding her black stallion , leading hundreds of men behind her . Robb smiled widely as she stopped near the tent , letting a squire take her horse .
"Good job Thess .."
"You doubted me ? Not really good coming from you , dear Robb .."
"I never doubted you . What was his conditions ?"
"You need to send two of his grandsons , overthere you can see them , to Winterfell . They'll be wards . You have to take Olyvar as personnal squire . Arya has to marry one of his grandsons .. I didn't have the choice .."
"Arya will not be pleased by this but whatever . What else ?"
"Tommen has to marry one of his daughters to strenghen our bonds ."
"We can't tell him .. Not now . You know him , he's a romantic fool ." declared Robb , looking at his son .
"I know . But for how long can we hide the truth to him ?"
"Long enough . Once again , good job . I was so worried for you … "
"Don't be . I'll always be fine ."
"Come , I have to announce our agreement with the Freys to the bannermen and I'm planning the attack ."
"Let's go then .."
Lord Rickard Karstark and Brynden Tully shouted at her happily when she told them the news about the Freys .
"It's a good news indeed but we still need to plan this . Tywin is ready to fight us . Jaime has Riverrun . We can't fight one and let the other . "
"Split your army then ." said Thessana , looking at Robb .
"I can't . They'll be prepared and ready to crush us .. "
"You need to attack them by surprise .."
"Thousands of men marching south then dividing in two is easily noticed ." spoke Roose Bolton . Thessana shivered as always when he spoke .
"He's right ..." added Theon .
"But Lady Thessana is right too ." stated Maege Mormont . Thessana smiled at the old Lady then back at the map .
"What about .." started Theon but was cut short by guards coming in the tent , holding a young boy .
"What is it ?" asked Robb , looking at the boy .
"We found this one counting our men . A Lannister scout . "
Robb left Thessana's side and faced the scout . It was a young boy , younger than Tommen . GreatJon draw his sword and looked at him .
"How high did you get ?" asked Robb softly .
"Twenty thousand .. Maybe more ." answered the boy . He knew almost exactly how many men Robb had .
"You don't have to do this yourself Robb . Your father will have understand it .." spoke Catelyn . Thessana was looking at the map on the table , hidden by Theon and GreatJon bodies .
"Robb ..." Her husband turned , waiting for her to speak . "A Lord knows mercy .." and she quickly glanced at the map . Robb caught her look and under the cold mask he was wearing all the time when he was acting as Robb the Lord , she saw pride . She could feel it , almost taste it .
"My wife is right . Let the scout go ."
"Robb !" said Catelyn , ready to tell him how foolish he was . But Robb stared at her coldly and she sat back , looking at her feet . The other bannermen were way more angry , she could feel their auras .
"Tell Lord Tywin , Winter is coming for him . Twenty thousand Northeners marching South to find out if he really does shit gold ."
"Yes my Lord ..." replied the scout , shocked . "Thanks my Lord .."
And he left running . Robb turned , half smiling at his wife when GreatJon faced him , shaking with anger .
"Are you out of your mind boy ?!" he roared .
"Call him boy again …" said coldly Thessana , walking towards her husband and standing by his side . She felt her magic moving inside her , wanting to come out as always when she was angry . Her eyes weren't emerald anymore but bright green , shining in an unnatural way . "Go on Lord Umber ."
GreatJon looked at her , a hint of fear in his eyes and he left , cursing .
"I hope you have a great idea or you , letting that kid go , is the stupidest thing ever ..." declared Brynden .
"Oh don't worry Lord Tully . We have the perfect plan .." said Robb , smiling at his wife .
Thessana looked at the banners , at the direwolves , floating in the dark sky . All the men except a few were sleeping , getting their fill of rest before the battle . Robb was still working on his plan in their tent but she couldn't sleep . She was thinking about her son , Rickon , alone in Winterfell and how lost he was surely feeling . Thinking about Tommen , going to fight . What if he dies ? He was her first son , her favourite one even if never she'll tell him . She had a special bond with him . Then she thought about Robb . He left once for a battle but she didn't have any memories of it . Only that they weren't talking to each other so she probably didn't care that much . But now he was her husband , she cared the most about him . She wanted to weep and beg him to go back to Winterfell but she couldn't . She wanted to be weak but it would not help him .
"Are you fine ?"
She jumped a little but smiled softly as Robb wrapped his arms around her waist , burrying his head in her neck and the fur of her cloak .
"Yes , I was just thinking .. You should go to sleep Robb . You leave early tomorrow ."
"Promise me you'll stay here . Don't go after me . Stay with Ser Rodrik and mother .."
"I will .."
He started to kiss her jawline and taking her back into the tent , taking off her cloak and loosened the laces of her gown .
"Robb ..."
"Ssshhh ..."
She didn't sleep at all . The men were starting to wake up as the sun started to shine , low in the sky . Robb was still sleeping , his features softened , looking innocent . She rested her head on his chest , against the soft beating of his heart and enjoyed the last minutes of peace . She felt his fingers running on her naked back and she looked at him . He smiled , still half asleep then looked around like he remembered where he was . He didn't want to leave the warmth of his wife's naked body against his but he had a war to win , a father and sisters to rescue . Silently , Lord and Lady Stark dressed up . Thessana looked at Robb in his armour , ready to go and a tear rolled on her cheek . She quickly wiped it out and smiled at Robb .
"Go Young Wolf . And come back to me ."
"Always … "
He kissed her one more time then left , without a look back . She , quickly , joined Tommen in his tent and hugged him hard against her chest . She could feel his fear but he was ready to fight alongside his father . He promised her to be careful and come back then he left .
Thessana started to fear the worst at the beginning of the afternoon . She was pacing in her tent , Catelyn sat on the bed , lost in her thoughts .
"It's taking too much time .."
"This is a battle Thess .."
"What if .."
"No ."
Thess stopped talking but kept pacing .
"How was Bran ?" asked softly Catelyn .
"He's fine . He was worried for you of course but he was fine . He took some weight , sleeps well even if he has some nightmares . Rickon tries to change his mind all day . Or at least he tried until he learnt about Robb leaving .."
"Rickon is a good boy but he's still a child . He doesn't understand yet .."
"He told me Robb will die … He told me that he knew that never he'll see his father again... I never told Robb that of course .."
"Rickon is scared . Don't fear for Robb . He'll be fine and after all this is over , we'll go back to Winterfell ."
Thessana wished she had so much hope in her . She sat on the bed next to Catelyn and started to cry as a child . Catelyn held her against her and started to sing some old songs until Thessana cried herself to sleep .
Her sleep was restless . Old nightmares came back , darker than before . It was the same thing as when she was a child . A man with a wolf head . But he wasn't trying to kill her or anything and she felt fine at its side . She was in a field , on a hot summer day . But suddenly the sky turned black and it started to snow . The wolf man took her arm and forced her to look at him or it . "Winter is coming ..." . The voice was a low growl and it made her shiver . "You're the wolf not him .You're immortal , not him ."
Thessana stood , sweating and out of breath . Catelyn looked worried at her .
"Something happened or is going to happen .." whispered Thessana , looking lost .
It's been hours that Catelyn , Ser Rodrik and Thessana were waiting on their horses , near the forest where Robb and his men marched earlier . Catelyn was more and more worried and Ser Rodrik was angry and wanted to leave and go back to the camp . After Rodrik asked for the thousandth time to leave , the two women heard noises . Horses and shoutings . Thessana saw the Stark banner coming out of the trees and several men . But any sight of Robb or Tommen . Then she saw him , riding fiercely , his face covered in mud . Her son was back and alive . But as she held him against her , she felt something warm and sticky on her . Blood . Tommen was pale , sweating . He was wounded in his left side . She screamed for help as he let himself go against her .
She looked at his face while he was sleeping . His injury wasn't serious but she was worried sick . She brushed his blond hair off his handsome face and smiled sadly . He shouldn't fight , he should be home , safe with Rickon , thought Thessana . He wasn't an adult , Tommen was still a child . Then she thought about the other Tommen she knew . Tommen Baratheon . Unlike her son , he was safe with his family , carefree . Robb sat next to her and she stopped thinking about everything when she saw his face . He was suffering . Not physically but mentally . Robb wasn't build for war , he hated hurt people and yet , he had won today and even held captive Jamie Lannister . His mask of coldness and the control of himself , broke and he looked more miserable than ever .
"What am I doing Thess ..?"
"You're winning a war Robb . That's what you're doing . Your men need you . Your family need you . You can't afford to be weak now . Your speech earlier was great , you said the right words to keep your men faithful , you gave them courage . You are a good leader Robb , so don't doubt now . Please .."
"Thanks … I just talked to the Lannister .. He keeps calling me boy though .. Everybody does ."
"No Robb . After today nobody will ever call you boy . Everybody underestimated you and you showed them that you were here . That you were a real threat . Nobody will treat you as a boy , ever again . "
Robb kissed his wife and looked again at his son .
"I shouldn't let him go .." whispered Robb .
"No . Never Tommen would have stayed here so don't blame yourself . He wants to fight and he'll fight as a Northman , ruthless as a wolf . "
"You're right .."
"I'm relieved you came back safe .."
"You were more woried for Tommen .."
"Is it a reproach ?"
"No just a fact . Will you weep if I die ?"
"No . " said Thessana , looking at Robb right in the eyes . " I will weep and beg to spare the lives of my son but never for you . Because the day you'll die , I will die right after ."
Robb said nothing but tears rolled on his cheeks . He was speechless and overwhelmed by the love he had for her and the fear to lose her . He held her against his armoured chest , kissing her hair and telling her that he loved her , over and over . It was a sleepless night for both of them .
The day after , a dead silent reigned on the camp . The news reached them late in the morning , coming right from King's Landing . Ned Stark was dead . Killed on the orders of Joffrey . Robb was broken as Catelyn . Thessana knew it was the end . The purpose of this war was to free Ned . If he was dead , the Northeners only choice was to go back home . Or that's what she thought . She stayed all day at her son's side , waiting for Robb to come in and tell her they were heading back North . She was finally going back home , to her baby Rickon . But all her hopes vanished , at night , when she heard the men shouting "King in the North " .