Robb Stark

"Do you not think you are being a bit harsh?" Ana asked softly.

"No, he was supposed to watch Bran, and he didn't. We were lucky to come upon him in time!" I exclaimed. Rage was bubbling in my veins. "What was Theon thinking?"

"What does Theon ever think? He does as he pleases."

"Are you siding with him?" I demanded.

"No, honestly, I think you are more angry with yourself for leaving Bran and that spurs your frustration with Theon more than Theon himself."

I looked away, shaking my head ruefully. She cut right through to it, and it was maddening. "Applying logic, now are we?"

"Something I learnt from my husband."

"I wish you hadn't," I returned with irritation.

"Bran is safe. That is all that truly matters."

"Painfully logical." My tone sounded harsher than I intended.

"I am sorry," she apologized with a wide grin that I could not help but return. She kissed me softly. "I have lessons with Maester Luwin, so I must go."

"Healing again?"

"Yes, and sword tonight?"

The question turned my face upside down. She may have been right about the root of my frustration, but I was still furious with Theon. I didn't want to see him more than needed today. Ana nodded, sensing my anger returning.

"Yes, tomorrow then," she returned, walking away with a soothing smile.

I didn't want to let that affect me, but it was hard to look away from her. Despite the ice in my eyes, looking at Ana could still take me to another place entirely, one where there was no one else but her.

Shaking my head to release my thoughts, I hurried to the Great Hall to hear the grievances of our people. With each step, I stood taller. Bran waited, already seated to the right of my chair. I wanted to talk to him, make sure he felt fine, but this was not the time. I gave him a strong nod; Bran returned it weakly, and then I sat down.

The concerns were becoming commonplace, and I felt confident in delivering decisions and judgments. When the final dealing of the day came, I smiled slightly to myself, happy to move to my next task, but the story was far more troubling than much of the concerns I had heard.

"Whole fields burnt?" I reiterated.

The man nodded, "Yes, milord Stark. I know we are on the outskirts, but never have we had such trouble as this for us and our nearest neighbors on each side."

"No, not that I remember either. You saw no one perpetrating these acts."

"No," the man shook his head. "It was in the night. We saw no one."

"One field each night?"

"Yes, milord."

I sighed, "We shall find who is doing this. In the meantime, stay the night. Tomorrow, you shall take back some of our stores for your family and neighbors to replenish what you have lost."

The elderly man bowed deeply, "Thank you, milord."

With the final proclamation, I stood. I took a brief moment to glance over my shoulder as I strode out of the Great Hall. Bran watched me steadily, his eyes soft with disappointment. I knew I had changed. I used to laugh more, made light of situations, and I knew my smiles and jests were less frequent now. Bran had not yet accepted that, but once my father, brother, mother, and even my wife left me to lead on my own, I had to be different. Bran would accept that eventually. At least, I hoped.

Once I was nearly out the doors, Hal closed the gap between us.

"We need a scouting party," I said in a low voice.

"It will need to be a large party to cover so much land. A different field each night. Who knows which direction?"

"Take however many you want. You leave with the man tomorrow morning."

Hal left to select his men while I returned temporarily to my chamber. The door stood open. Inside, Ana sat at a table, pen in her hand, with her blond hair forming a sheet over much of her face, down her shoulder. I smiled at her from the doorway, surprised to find her there. Walking next to her, I brushed aside her hair and kissed her neck.

With a soft sigh, she smiled, "Hi."

"Hi. Writing a letter?" I asked, resting my head against her.

She nodded, adding sadly, "Yes, to my mother. There have been a few fires on the outskirts of my family's influence. I think she wants someone to support what actions she has taken."

"What actions has she taken?"

"She sent a party to look, but it's very small. It borders land with an ally, so they plan to rendezvous."

"That would be for the best."

She nodded again, "Yes."

"The same is happening on the outskirts of our lands," I added.

Ana cast her brown eyes up at me, her eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"There was a man representing a few farms, who came today."

I could see her mind working quickly, reaching the conclusion I already had. "That seems more than coincidence."

"How long until Willem returns?"

"He must stay for a fortnight at least. Barring something truly terrible that my mother cannot handle."

I watched as her already fair face grew paler at the thought. Placing a thumb under her chin, I lifted her head to look at me, "You have not made it more likely by saying it aloud. Ana, what will happen will happen."

A small smirk touched her lips, "You say that to a girl who can dream the future."

"Well spotted. But, this is not serious enough for him to return," I added, hoping to soothe her. I wanted to avoid having to talk her out of some ridie to King's Landing or Plenair or anywhere away from me.

"If the fires continue to spread or it becomes more serious…" Ana's voice faded away. I could tell from the darkness in her eyes that she had more to say but pretended to forget.

"We'll go."

"What?"

"If someone is purposefully burning our people's fires, the only reasonable explanation is to show we cannot protect our own lands. If we are patrolling and seen patrolling, that is what our people will respect."

Ana nodded her agreement, "We will need to bring aid as well."

"Then, we will, but let's see what our men or your family's men find. And if we need to go, we will."

"If…" The word dripped off her tongue in a way that made it sound like a certainty. It drove me mad sometimes, the way she seemed to know more but held back. It had its uses, but I wished she wouldn't take so much time in letting me into that world.

"You know you aren't going to frighten me away," I ventured. "If you were to tell me everything you've seen."

"Truly? Because sometimes, I'm frightened."

"I know; you woke up screaming last night."

Ana bowed her head, fidgeting with her fingers as some image flashing through her mind that she wanted to forget, "I saw Arya blind."

"What?" I exclaimed, taking my wife's hands.

She ventured a gaze at me, her eyes beginning to moisten and soften the longer she stared at me. Finally, Ana shook her head, exhaling deeply. "I am not a part of everything I see. Mostly, I am, but not always. I can see a brief moment or hours, but I can hardly keep chronology straight. I judge by how old people appear, but sometimes we look the same. What happens first and next, it…I can't figure any of it out. It's paralyzing. I have ideas, but if I can't truly place it in time, what good will it do us?"

"Whose land bordering your brother's is being attacked?"

"Lord Whyte's," Ana replied softly.

"If things continue as they are, we shall stop there in our tour as well. We can show our support for them and also get you help," I rubbed my thumb along Ana's palm as a soft smile spread across her face.

"I like your plan."

"Good. Because we were going to do it anyway," I teased, kissing her softly.

I pulled Ana into my lap, finally getting her to giggle. "You can finish the letter later," I stated.

She nodded, "Definitely."

I stood up, holding her in my arms, as she giggled again and kissed me while I carried her to bed.