"Your lands must be extremely successful," Lord Whyte commented.

"Yes, I believe so," I replied.

"They would need to be to support these costs," he returned.

Nodding, I found an excuse to speak with some of the other lords and ladies. That man made my head want to explode. The other lords were supportive, sharing their approval of Willem, how he would certainly carry on the family in a way fitting of our father.

Will had been making the rounds as well during the feast, and I saw him speaking to Lord Whyte just before we met again.

"Does he make you want to disappear?" Will asked quietly.

"Yes, I assume the tunnel escape is still in tact?"

"Of course, I would think just about every castle has escape passages if you know where to look. Have you found the one in the Great Hall of Winterfell?"

"Sorry?"

Will raised an eyebrow, "I was there hardly more than a fortnight and you have been there more than half a year. How have you not found it?"

"You found it?"

"Most every castle has hidden passages, tunnels, escapes, especially when under pressure from the Others…" Will waved his fingers at me, getting a smirk from me.

For a brief moment, an image of a tapestry with two towers united by a bridge in a hall I did not know flashed in my mind. Yet, I felt I was running towards it, trying to get beyond it. I grabbed blindly at Will.

"Ana?" he asked, steading me.

"Passages…" I whispered. The words came unnaturally in my voice, tying around the thought of that tapestry mounted to the wall – blue towers.

"Ana," Will led me aside to a long table along the edge. "You're ghastly pale."

"I'll be fine."

"I'll get you water," he walked away, leaving me to the bench as I tried to refocus on the feast.

By now so many were drunk and dancing that my episode went unnoticed by all but one.

"I have seen that expression before," Lord Whyte stated. "Are your ears ringing, small spots in front of your eyes?"

I watched him steadily as he sat down. I raised one eyebrow to question him.

"Your father, he often had moments of shall we say, clarity. Rarely in public settings, but one or two of us came to realize from his cryptic warnings and uncanny ability to say exactly what you needed to hear, that there was more to Lord Samelson than the boisterous laugh and vociferous quality of speech."

I hesitated for a moment. My mouth opening and closing multiple times as I internally fought with myself. If I said too much, this man may truly think me insane, but if I said nothing, I would never know.

"My father saw things too?"

Lord Whyte nodded, "Yes, it seemed a blessing and a curse. He bore it well enough. I'm sure you learn to pick your battles with that sort of information."

"It is hard to know things to come."

With a rueful smile, he replied, "Yes, I can understand that. This is I would imagine why you called this feast."

"Is it so wrong to have a feast for friends?" It was an innocent question, but I knew instantly that I was not fooling this man.

"Yes, a feast for friends…shortly after the royal family visits Winterfell, that Stark boy is hurt and then the royals leave, and you run home to host the largest feast the plains have seen in years with every lord who followed your father. Do not think us fools, Analysa Stark. Something is rumbling in the distance, and I'm sure King's Landing will take note of this."

"I will support King Robert to the ends of the earth."

"I don't doubt that House Stark will support King Robert…but after him…"

"And if King's Landing were to ask, what will you say?"

"That although I may not like its lord, House Samelson is led by a charismatic, capable young man connected to the strongest house in the north through a conniving sister with vision. But above all, I would tell them to think carefully before upsetting the Starks and Samelsons."

"Conniving," I laughed. Clearly, my charm was not as impressive as Lady Catelyn thought.

"I would have said the same of your father to his face. Whatever alliances you're seeking, they remain, but you must also tread very, very carefully. There are eyes everywhere. You're not safe anymore – not even in your house."

A coldness slowly crept up my spine as I met his eyes with a challenge.

"I won't hurt you. Why would anyone not choose the side of someone who can see future events?"

Willem returned with water in hand. His eyes studied the man across the table with wary appraisal. Theon stood behind him, his hand unnaturally at his hip, close to a dagger.

"Do not worry about me. You have your ally, Lord Samelson."

As he stood, I called out, "Wait! My father, could he control what he saw?"

"It seemed to an extent."

"How? Did he talk to you about it?"

"To the first, with vision, and yes, to the second."

The idea of truly being able to focus my energies on knowledge I wanted and desparately needed, made my heart start to pound in my chest. If I could apply more control, maybe I could truly make a difference and have an active effect on what was to come.

"Can you teach me?" It was merely a whisper as it escaped my lips.

Lord Whyte nodded, "Yes, but it is not the time yet. I leave tomorrow, and unless you wish to return with me…unlikely, and to be truthful, I'd rather you not…I am afraid we haven't the time. I trust, however, from your flying to Plenair for this feast, that we will see each other soon enough. Then, I will help you."

"Please, you must give me something," I begged.

My heart seemed to lodge in my throat, almost choking me. I needed some piece of information, something to help me. If I had foolishly put my family and our people in danger with this feast, I wanted to see what was coming so I could warn them.

"You must learn to shut everything out and concentrate on what you truly wish to know," he replied.

I could feel my face squishing as his words repeated in my mind. I always believed myself to be good at focusing in the midst of difficulty.

"What is he talking about?" Theon asked as the elder man strode off, disappearing amongst the revelers.

"I need to go," I replied, standing quickly to get to my chamber.

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind at once. Why had my father never mentioned that he had dreams and visions? How on earth was Whyte the person that he had confided in, and mostly, I wanted to start focusing on what mattered.

Every attempt that night to think of House Bolton and the woods and that tapestry were interrupted with thoughts of my family and most of all, Robb. I had missed him throughout my travels, but now, my stomach twisted into knots and I grew nervous.

Winterfell was not as safe as we thought. That much was proven when Bran was pushed from the wall and later attacked. I had come to find an army for Robb, but as pleased as I was to think I might have found some answers for myself, I was naive for thinking it would be simple. So incredibly naïve.