"It is Stevron," Cassandra complained as she paced around the tent. Her hand was on her back and another was on her stomach as she held it, the feeling of her baby kicking something which caused her to straighten up.

Catelyn was still sat down, her head in her hands as she thought about everything that had just happened. She should have told Robb not to bring Ser Stevron with them. He was not to be trusted, and to think that Cassandra thought he was different from his father made her feel ill. Cassandra had never felt like such a fool before.

"I do not know how he could do this," Catelyn shook her head. "We gave him a second chance. You trusted him. Why does he do this?"

"He is desperate for an heir," Cassandra shook her head. "I did not think it possible that he could be so venomous. The child is not his. Why can he not accept that? Why can he not simply leave it be?"

"He is a Frey," Catelyn said, offering Cassandra all the reason that she needed. "Tywin has made him a good deal. He would be a fool not to take it."

"And what of Robb?" Cassandra wondered. "Even if he does surrender, do we honestly believe the word of a Lannister? Why would Lord Tywin keep him alive?"

"Robb has the entirety of the North behind him. If he surrenders then the army return home to their ways. The war stops. That is what the Lannisters want," Catelyn drawled out, running a hand down her hair. She watched as he daughter continued her pacing.

"Sit down, Cass," Catelyn urged her. "You need to rest. Think of your child."

Cassandra sat back down beside her mother, her hands twitching on her lap. She thought of all that had just happened, guilt eating up at her as she did so. She wished that she had told Robb to keep Stevron in the dungeon in the Twins. It would have been for the best. It would have been safer, that much was for sure.

And then there was Theon.

She knew that Stevron would not take kindly to him. She only hoped that Theon was able to hold his own against Stevron. That was all that Cassandra could hope for.

...

Arya lurked at the back of the congregation. Her brother had sent his guard with her, choosing to keep her away from trouble. She had sulked for a long time, wishing that her brother would come back to ride with her. She was still scared of all that could happen. Her sister and mother were in lion's clutches. It was too dangerous for them.

Theon had rushed off with some other men. Arya had glared at his back as he left. She still didn't trust Greyjoy. She never would. He was too rude and brash. He wasn't right for a Lady like Cassandra.

Arya's thoughts consumed her until she noted a raven above her head, circling around them. She glanced to the guard next to her, daring to make a noise as she did so.

"The raven," she spoke as it squawked above them.

It wasn't until a moment later when she saw Stevron Frey begin to lurk near the back, his eyes intently looking at the raven above them. Arya moved her horse as she saw the bird began to move down the air. The guards complained to her as she shook her head, urging the raven to move closer to her.

"You need to get the raven," Arya demanded them. "It could be important."

"Stay here, my lady," one of them said and moved off further along the congregation. Arya did as she was told before a yell moved down the ranks. The horses stopped their movements, everyone looking around. Arya tried to crane her neck to see more than she could at that moment in time. She looked around with haste before seeing her brother enter the ranks.

She slid down her horse and rushed around the guards, moving closer towards Robb, her intrigue taking hold of her.

"What is this?" Robb demanded as Arya stood near his horse. His eyes were firmly set on Stevron, the parchment in his hand as he glowered. "You intend to turn on us when we reach Riverrun?"

"No," Stevron lied. "Lord Tywin was trying to make me...he said that I could have Cassandra back if I did this...he promised me that..."

"How foolish can you be?" Robb barked. "You were sent a raven in broad daylight. Did you think I would not find out?"

"You haven't found out before," Stevron snarled to Robb. "I was negotiating to save you! Lord Tywin has promised you peace if you surrender."

"You mean he has promised to keep us locked up in Winterfell?" Robb simply replied. "He intends to keep my family from me."

"It would keep them safe," Stevron snapped. "Do you think you have any hope in winning this war? Do you think you can beat the Lannisters?"

"I can give it my best go," Robb assured him. "You have betrayed us. Cassandra told me to keep you. She told me that you would not go against us, that you were not like Walder Frey. I cannot help but think how wrong she is."

"Lord Tywin will only make this offer once. He insists it is for the best. You need to surrender, Stark-"

"-That's your grace to you," a voice interrupted quickly.

Robb turned to look down to his sister. She stood there with her hands clenched into balls, clearly not intending on backing down on the situation. Arya was glaring at Stevron, her eyes narrowed as she held Needle in her hand. She wanted to do nothing more than ram it through Stevron herself.

"Arya," Robb drawled, his hand resting on her shoulder. She looked up to him;

"You cannot yield. You cannot let him win! Cassandra cannot go with him! And...Sansa...even though she's annoying..."

Robb nodded once, knowing full well what he had to do.

"Call the Frey banners," Robb demanded one of his men. "Tell them that their service is not needed. Make sure they are apprehended and left behind. They can go home freely."

"Yes, my King," one of them said and moved off on his horse.

Robb turned his attention back to Stevron, realising how he could play this to his advantage. He had the chance to turn the tables on Lord Tywin.

"Reply to Lannister," Robb demanded. "Write to him to tell him that the plan shall go ahead. He can bring his men to Riverrun. He can be defeated in battle."

"Do you think you think you have any chance against him?" Stevron wondered from his horse. "He has a mass army."

"I have more of a chance than you think," Robb replied. "Now do it...and then I shall decide your fate."

"You have to see why I did it," Stevron protested as Robb demanded for some parchment to be brought to him. "I want to keep her safe. Cassandra can never be with Greyjoy. She needs me...I need her...I need an heir..."

"The fate of the Twins is no longer in the Frey's hands," Robb shook his head, his jaw tightening. "You no longer have a say in any of this."

"Lord Tywin has your sister and mother," Stevron reminded Robb. "What do you think he will do to them? Do you think he will keep them alive if you don't agree to the terms?"

"Lord Tywin will not be leaving Riverrun once battle has started," Robb promised Stevron as a man handed him the parchment and ink. "Now write your letter."

...

Theon had been travelling hard and fast, following the Fork with as much might as he could muster. He knew that he had to get Cassandra before Tywin could do anything deadly. He rode with the men, doing his best to keep them on side. They still looked at him with distaste, and Theon knew why. Turncloak, they whispered. Theon knew what he had done, but he knew that he couldn't set it right.

It would be the second day when they found Lord Tywin's encampment. It was slowly emptying, men rushing around as word of war came upon them. Robb Stark had reached Riverrun sooner than they had expected. Theon and the men lurked behind, noting how the camp had emptied in record time. Theon prayed to the Gods that Robb would be safe in battle.

"Do you think they're in there?" one man asked from Theon.

"There is only one way to find out," Theon said nonchalantly, his hand on the hilt of his sword as he moved. He only wished he had been able to have his bow and arrow with him. He was much more nimble with that. He took a few steps into the encampment, looking around with wide eyes for any sign of noise.

Yells could be heard from further in the camp, the banners of the golden lion looking down on them as they moved deeper into the tents. Theon turned his head around the corner, noting five men who stood outside one tent, clearly guarding something important. Why would Lord Tywin leave five men behind? He wouldn't. It would serve no purpose for him.

"There are five men," Theon said, looking back at the six men that Robb had given him. "We split up and take them on both sides."

Three men moved off, stalking through the tents as Theon waited for a few moments. He moved silently, drawing his sword as the guards finally noted him. They drew their own swords and it wasn't long until metal was clashing against metal. Theon grunted out as he dodged the blades, doing his best to keep out the way as the men remained outnumbered.

Cassandra looked up from the table as she heard the noise from outside the tent. She glanced to her mother; the elder woman arched her brow and stood up hesitantly. Cassandra followed her mother, the pair of them moving towards the entrance of the tent. She listened intently to the noise of grunts before a man tumbled through the entrance to the tent. Cassandra squealed as her mother pushed her behind her, walking back into the tent. She kept Cassandra's hand in her own as they waited for someone to present themselves.

A moment of relief came over Cassandra when she saw him again. She dropped her mother's hand, moving it over her mouth as her eyes widened and she felt a tear roll down her cheek at the sight of him.

Theon stood tall, his armour scratched and a cut located on his chin, but he wasn't injured. He dropped his sword to the floor as other men entered and bowed down in front of the Starks.

"Lady Stark," they spoke.

Cassandra ignored them as Catelyn allowed her daughter to rush over to Theon, eagerly wrapping her arms around his neck as he held her tightly to him. He wound his hand into her Tully red hair, his other hand on the small of her back.

"Theon," Cassandra whispered. "You came."

"Of course I came," Theon pulled back to smile at her. He moved his hand to run it down her cheek, pushing her hair over her shoulder as he did so. "Your brother sent us as soon as Arya said you were missing. We need to leave here and head towards Riverrun."

"We need to get to Robb," Catelyn was the one to speak. "I need to send him a raven. Ser Stevron intends to betray him. He has been plotting with the Lannisters for too long."

"What does he intend to do, my Lady?" Theon wondered, doing his best to restrain himself in front of Lady Catelyn. He wanted to do nothing more than take Cassandra at that moment in time.

"He and his bannermen will turn against Robb during the fight. He will be outnumbered...asked to surrender. Ser Stevron intended to take Cassandra back to the Twins to give him an heir. Lord Tywin wants the war to end."

"Robb would never surrender."

"He would if his family was threatened," Catelyn said gravely. He was too much like his father sometimes. "If this plan is to prevail then Ser Stevron shall search for my daughter."

"What do you suggest we do?" Theon wondered.

Catelyn took a moment to think about what she should do. She didn't know what could happen. She didn't know what the future had in store. But she did not know if Robb would survive the battle. And if the Gods were cruel then Cassandra would be in the clutches of the Freys again.

"Take her somewhere safe," Catelyn demanded Theon. "Wait until word of what happens reaches you. Hide at an inn somewhere. No one shall recognise you."

"And what of you?" Cassandra wondered from her mother.

"I will ride to Riverrun for my son," Catelyn declared. "If the raven does not reach him then I must try."

"I could come-"

"-No," Catelyn interrupted her daughter. "Gods be good, I must be foolish to send you away with Theon again. Somewhere you will be safe...and if the worst...well...I am sure I can trust Theon to keep you safe."

"That you can, my Lady," Theon promised, keeping hold of Cassandra as he waited for something to happen.

"Mother-"

"This is not up for discussion, Cassandra," Catelyn said, stepping forwards to peck her daughter on the cheek. "Go, before it is too late."

Cassandra nodded, remembering the words of the Tully's. Family. Duty. Honour. She had to do as her mother told her. It was her place to do so.

"I love you, very much," Catelyn promised her daughter. "Now go."

Catelyn rested a hand on her daughter's cheek as Theon took her hand into his and led her from the tent. Placing a hand over her mouth, Catelyn stifled a sob as she wondered if she would ever see her daughter again.

...

Theon had managed to book both of them into an inn by the Kingsroad, posing as a farmer who was travelling down to King's Landing. Cassandra had dutifully stood by his side, holding his hand as she thought about everything that was going to happen. He walked her to their room, looking at the simple room with an arched brow. What did he expect? He knew that he wouldn't be staying in luxury. He pushed the windows to shut along with the shutters and lit the room. Cassandra remained stood by the bed, unsure of what to do. Theon didn't know how to appease her, sensing that it would be difficult to do so.

"Robb will save them," he whispered to her once he was sure they were secure in the room. "He won't let anything happen."

"You don't know that," Cassandra whispered. "None of us know what will happen."

"We need to have faith," he urged her. "Cassandra, you need to believe in your brother."

"I do," she assured him. "I'm just worried...about everything..."

"And I would be shocked if you weren't," Theon replied, moving to stand opposite her. He bent down to her height and pushed her hair from her shoulder, his hand curling around her neck. He heard her sigh as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

"I promise that I won't let anything happen to you," Theon whispered as she wrapped her arms around his thin waist. He took a moment to move his arms around her delicate frame. "Everything will turn out as it should. I know it, Cass."

"I wish I could know," Cassandra whispered to him. "What do we do, Theon? If we have to flee...where do we go?"

"I don't know," Theon said, moving to rest his hand on her stomach. "I will do what I need to for you and our child. I promise you that."

"I know you will," Cassandra smiled wanly at him. "You've changed, Theon...you're not the cocky boy who I grew up with..."

"Thank the Gods," Theon scoffed. "You couldn't stand him. But you haven't changed."

"I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Cassandra grumbled to him, her hand moving to rest over his on her stomach. Theon said nothing in response as he felt something press against his stomach. He jumped back, his eyes widening as he felt the baby kick.

"I think it knows you," Cassandra smiled at him.

"It just kicked."

"That it did," Cassandra concluded, noting the wonder on his face. He looked completely at ease with the entire situation.

Theon looked back at her, a smile breaking over his pale features before he pressed his lips to hers, determined to keep her and his child safe, regardless of what happened to them.

...

A/N: I know I haven't updated in a while, but thanks to anyone reading and to those who review! I hope you let me know what you think!