Analysa Stark

When we returned to Lord Whyte's house the next afternoon, I found myself in the courtyard with Robb and Theon. The initial plan had been for me to shut out Robb and Theon sword fighting. It was not quite as difficult as I had expected although it was fascinating to watch the both of them. Nevertheless, I closed them off quickly.

That was, until I felt a piece of wood hit my head.

"Who did that!?" I demanded.

Robb's eyes were wide, staring in shock at Theon while Theon merely shrugged, "It seemed this was too easy for you. I'm helping you."

I leapt to my feet, "You are an ass! Why are you throwing things at my head?"

"That was too far," Robb agreed, finally speaking out. It was clear he had expected this as little as I had.

"What did the old man say? Something about being so focused that even in battle, you hear nothing. We need to push her," Theon explained, defending himself.

I grabbed my sword, pulling it from its sheath, "Yes, let's push me, Theon."

Theon smirked as he stood ready, nodding for me to come closer, but Robb got in the middle of us.

"Both of you, stand down," he commanded.

The authority in his voice made Theon and I stop in our tracks. Something in his voice reminded me of Eddard and how he quickly he could command attention.

"Ana, we can work on distractions later," Robb suggested.

I glared at Theon for an extra moment; fire burning under my skin. Robb's cool voice took my attentions, though, "Why not try what Lord Whyte suggested –having something in hand?"

I felt as though steam might come from my body with this much anger but pulled myself away, "Until supper."

Turning heel, I strode towards our chambers. I could feel Robb's eyes on my back as well as the morose stare from Theon but refused to turn around. I hadn't gotten too far before Robb rebuked his friend for his actions. Theon said something in self defense, but it was clear that Robb was not terribly interested in excuses.

Pushing them away, I decided to focus on someone far away from me, trying to truly challenge myself. However, I was going the wrong way if I wanted to think about Willem.

Strolling towards the stables, I heard Chimera before I saw him. It felt as though he sensed my presence and was constantly irritated that we were not already racing off to some new destination.

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you," I said aloud as I stepped into his stall.

Chimera stood proudly, watching me with curious eyes.

"We're to stay here," I added.

As if in a pout, Chimera picked up his legs multiple times before setting himself down on the ground with a loud snort. I chuckled and lay down with him, resting my head on his big shoulders.

"I know Will gave you to me, but I'm sure you think of yourself as his horse," I commented.

Chimera seemed to avoid my glance, so I just shook my head and closed my eyes, letting myself focus on Chimera, Willem, and growing up in Plenair. I must have drifted to sleep, initially dreaming of racing across the plains. As I looked at Will's face smiling in front of me, something changed; we were suddenly standing in a tent, laughing and smiling. His expression faltered from his winning grin when he looked beyond me.

I turned to find Robb. His eyes shot icy daggers towards Will. I watched him in confusion, but before I could move towards him, Robb lunged at Will.

"Robb!" I cried.

"Are you insane?" he demanded, attempting to strangle Will.

Will for some unbelievable reason was laughing and coughing while trying to fight off my husband, "It was a good idea!"

"No, it—"

Almost as quickly as I was in it, I found myself awake as Chimera moved, trying to stand.

"Thanks, Chimera!" I exclaimed sarcastically.

With a sigh, I stood to go back to my chamber, trying to come up with reason why Robb would try to kill Willem and why Will would find it so amusing. I was nearly there when Theon got in my way. Instantly, the fire began to bubble up in my skin.

"You smell of horse," he stated.

The bubbling now threatened to explode, but I kept my voice even, "I was going to clean up."

"You ought to. We'll be in library," Theon returned, pushing past me.

"Wonderful," I returned and quickly escaped to clean myself up.

In the solar, the men poured over a map that outlined where each of the fires had happened. There appeared to be some pattern in the outline, but it was hard to determine.

"What is your next move?" Lord Whyte asked Robb.

He stood next to the older man, his hands gripping the table tightly. "We need a better strategy. There is clearly some pattern. The fires arise in places too far from each other for one person to be doing this each night, so there must be groups. And it's highly coordinated."

Robb pointed to two places on the map, "Here and here, we shall split our parties and scout independently for a few days before we rendezvous at this inn."

I stepped forward with curiosity, but the meeting was essentially over. The men began to disperse as Robb stood staring at the map for another moment before noticing me peering over his shoulder.

"It seems familiar somehow," I stated.

Robb shook his head, "I agree, but I can't place it."

"Perhaps we should sleep on it?" I suggested.

"We'll have a long ride tomorrow," Robb agreed, turning to follow me. "How did your other attempt go?"

"Well…" I chuckled a bit. "I think you are going to try to strangle my brother, and he is going to laugh about it."

Robb furrowed his eyebrows, "Sorry?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. I was awoken when Chimera moved."

"Well, that will be hilarious," Theon commented from the doorway.

"Interesting…I promise to only strangle Will if he truly deserves it," Robb added.

"I believe you. Honestly, Will seemed amused," I replied.

Robb's features knit together as he tried to think of possible explanations, but nothing came to mind.

"Where is Will? Should he not have left King's Landing by now?" Theon asked.

I shook my head, letting out an exasperated sigh, "Yes. I got a raven from him, explaining that he was hurt in the melee and convalescing, but he should be gone by now. I can't imagine what is keeping him there."

I heard my voice grow higher-pitched. He needed to leave sooner rather than later. From our early communication, he seemed so anxious, but there was something different in his messages now.

Robb put an arm around my waist to comfort me. "Nothing will happen to Willem there. I have to strangle him, remember?"

A begrudging smile grew upon my face. "I cannot argue with my own dreams."

I hoped to see more of my earlier dream as I lay in bed that night, but instead, I saw him at another time. Will and I sat, overlooking a field, littered with swords, arrows, and bodies. Men were being rolled away for burials before we would move on.

"We lost more than we should have," Will commented, staring down at everyone who lay below us.

"I think that after every battle," I returned.

Will nodded, "Maybe I've become too used to it."

"I hope we never do."

"Perhaps if you fought in a battle—"

"—I should be fighting!" I cried, standing up. My anger grew in my stomach. "It's ridiculous!"

"Take comfort in the fact that one person likely won't make a difference."

I shot him a look, "Oh, shall we test that? You can stay behind with me. What is one person?"

"Excuse me," Will returned with a laugh, "I meant that for anyone but a Samelson."

"And what am I?" I screamed.

"A Stark." Will was smirking at me.

I raised my eyes to the heavens but had to smile. Looking over at the dead, the seriousness returned to me. I was a Stark, but I was also a Samelson, and a wife, a daughter, a sister, and all these men…they were many things as well.

"What is the difference between a Stark or a Lannister?" I asked absent-mindedly as my eyes fell upon a lion banner.

"At present? Victory," Will suggested.

I awoke with a start, sitting straight up. Robb pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking at me with sleepy eyes. For a moment, I paused, running a hand on his stubbled cheek. Robb smiled softly, "What is it?"

"I know the pattern," I answered, leaping from bed.

I threw on the nearest dress without any undergarments and pulled on a cloak. Behind me, Robb struggled to hop into his trousers and a shirt, following me quickly.

"Ana?" he called, catching me halfway down the hall.

"In my dream, I saw a flag, and I realized the pattern," I explained.

When we stepped into the library, I found a pen and began to draw the completion: the stick outline of an attacking lion. It had been missing the connection between a paw and the body, an entire arm, and a few points in the tail.

Robb looked up at me with a grin, "Now we know where to send our groups. We'll just need to wait and catch them."