*Willem's POV*

"You're spending an awful long time with him, my lord…neglecting your own wife," Sansa's voice called to me with a slight rebuke in her tone.

I turned my typical, flashing smile to her, which she couldn't resist.

"Neglecting my wife?" I asked in shock as I ran the brush along my horse's shoulder. "Never."

"You have servants for that," she stated, nodding towards my brush.

I motioned her over, "You are not the biggest proponent of horses."

She laughed, "Ah, you've gathered that?"

I took her hand, placing it between mine and the brush. "Yes, somewhere in our time together, but you are a Samelson now. Horses are our family. The reason we spend so much time with them is that we realize these horses are not just animals to bear our burdens, carry us, be the conduit to battle. They are partners. I spend time with my horse because I need him to know me, so when we fight together, the bond is instinctively. I can worry less about telling him what to do outright because my body signals will guide him. It keeps both of us safer in battle."

Sansa stood in front of me, her head bowing at my last sentence. I dropped my head closer to her ear, asking softly, "You do not want to hear of battle."

She shook her head, "I just found you."

"I know," I whispered, kissing her cheek.

Sansa smiled but only for a moment before it fell away. She took back her hand and stepped away from me. I looked into the eyes of my horse, Chiran.

"You still love me, right?"

The horse gave a whinny, which I took as positive support. With another pat, I hurried after her. Since we received the raven from Winterfell, Sansa had been a mess, alternately crying for her father, her brother, and me. I tried as best I could to comfort her, but I could occasionally hear hollowness in my own voice as I thought of my last visit with my sister. She saw something happening to me, and it left a sinking feeling in my stomach that threatened its stability each time I thought too seriously. So, I tried to keep light of heart and charm my way along.

I had bought some extra time; Robb said I could meet him on the road to King's Landing. But now, that day had come, and I was going to leave Plenair again.

I hurried after Sansa, who had not gotten very far. Our courtyards had turned into veritable villages, set with tents that forced us into a very definite course, blocking most alternatives.

"Sansa," I called after her.

She slowed her pace, which made me chuckle. Even in her frustration, she played the part of an obedient wife. When I caught up to her, I tucked her arm in mine, holding her close. She kept her head high as we passed by the men, but I could see her fighting back tears.

"I'm sorry this has happened," I said once we were clear of the tent.

Sansa glanced aside and tried to force a smile as one of the men passed by, but she had little luck. As much as I loved my home, it was becoming irritating to hardly have any privacy with the open air passages. We ultimately had to return to our chamber to have any real discussion.

"There is nothing you can do," Sansa began. She turned her back to me as her fingers wrapped around the back of a chair. "You have to go. I understand that. I just wish…"

"What?" I asked, stepping towards her.

"That it was not so soon," she answered with a sad smile, shaking her head.

I cupped her face, leaning in to kiss her softly, only pulling away to rest my forehead on hers.

"We have tonight, and half a day tomorrow," I reminded her and lifted her off the ground, kissing her again.

Our half-day was not as pleasant as that evening. It was custom for family to see the men to battle. Sansa gingerly took her seat sidesaddle as we began to ride off. For a long while, we rode in silence, stealing glances at each other but unsure what to say. It had always been so easy with Sansa, but today, it was impossible. There was nothing to make her feel better, nothing to stop this growing lump in my stomach, and nothing that could stave off the inevitable.

"You know Ana will be with us," I began slowly as we drew closer to the place where I would have to say goodbye to her, my mother, and Philip.

Sansa smirked slightly, "Do you believe I would be as good of an addition to the cause as her?"

"Absolutely," I said with such honesty that for a long moment, Sansa was completely disarmed.

Her expression softened even further, threatening to fall into tears. She managed to curl her lips in an attempt at a smile, "You must be in love with me to believe that."

"I must be," I agreed, feeling the lump grow bigger.

I slowed our pace and turned my horse to face my brother first. "I know you will be lord of our house while I am gone, but don't you dare think of stealing my wife's affections."

"Will!" Philip exclaimed in embarrassment, his cheeks bright red.

"I need that promise."

"I promise!" He cried, mortified and giving apologetic looks to Sansa.

I turned next to my mother, who was already in tears. "Please don't."

"I can't help it when my son is going to war."

"Negotiations," I corrected her.

My mother raised an eyebrow with a scoff. "You sound so like your father."

"I hope so," I replied, feeling a swell of pride as I thought of him, hoping that I would lead his men well. In truth, the company I brought owed me little except for a commitment to a memory of a man they respected and trusted as much as I did. I couldn't let them down, nor could I let her down. I turned to Sansa.

"I will be back," I swore, feeling that hollowness in my stomach.

Sansa nodded, "You had better. I want you home before it happens."

"Before what happens?" I asked.

"Before I have our child."

My mind went blank for a moment as I stared at her. "Are you – are you certain?"

Her face grew bright red. "I've missed my bleeding, so I—"

She had barely had the words out before I swung down from my horse. It was against tradition, but I couldn't care less as I slowly brought her down to her feet and kissed her fiercely. I was laughing when I pulled away as was she.

"You shouldn't be riding a horse!" I exclaimed.

My mother spoke up, "She will be fine, Will."

I could tell from her tone that she was beaming, but she couldn't have felt as happy as I did. The hollowness was completely gone; in its place, I was filled with such excitement, such joy and anticipation. I had to come back. No matter what Ana saw; I would come back.

"I will see our child," I promised.

"Will…" she whispered, hugging me tightly once more. I kissed her auburn hair as she clung tighter to my neck, tears rolling down her face.

"I will come back, Sansa. I swear it." Brushing her tears away, I kissed her again, pulling this moment deep inside of me to remember while I was away. I helped her back into the saddle and with a final nod and an "I love you," I turned away.

My second quickly joined me as did Lord Whyte. Even his grimaces couldn't keep the smile from my face.

"There is nothing to be so happy about, boy. Something is coming," the elder man said.

I nodded, "Yes, my child."

And with an extra kick, I set the pace to reach Robb Stark and get this moving. The sooner it started, the sooner it could be over, and I, home with my wife.

We made quick time, soon finding the Stark banners with the sigils of lesser houses intermixed. For a moment, I sat in amazement, looking at the vast array of tents. There were scores of men, and yet, how many of us would return home to our families when this was all over?

"You won't want to be sitting here all day, boy. You'll miss the war," Lord Whyte spoke up gruffly.

"Lord, not boy," I corrected him and galloped off before he could say anything further.

I'd barely spend three days with the man, and I had already grown tired of him. I spurred forward, though, towards the largest tent of the group, knowing that was where I would find Robb and Ana.

They came out to greet me, and in a rush of sisterly affection, proper turns were forgotten as she threw her arms around my neck well before Robb had gotten a word in.

"You made it," she whispered in a tone that I could not tell was happy or sad.

"Well, I thought I ought to. I did swear any oath after all," I replied with a shrug.

Ana's brown eyes gazed upward as she shook her head. She could not help but smile though, bringing a blush to her fair skin. She looked so like our mother except for that blond hair with a touch of red, that was Father.

"We're glad to have you, Will," Robb added, stepping forward.

With a strong embrace, I grinned widely, "Brother."

"What is it?" Ana asked.

"What's what?" I returned, already cursing her inwardly. She knew my tones too well.

"That was the sound of you having a secret."

I ran a hand through my hair as I took an extra step back from Robb. After he strangled me when I arrived in Winterfell with his sister, I had no idea what his reaction would be to this.

"Sansa is with child," I spewed out, my smile growing across my face.

"Will!" Ana cried, again hugging me tightly. "That is wonderful news. Oh, Will."

I glanced beyond her to see a strange look on Robb's face, some mix of anger, excitement, sadness. Each emotion seemed to share an equal time on his face before it settled into a warm but measured smile.

"Congratulations," he said.

"You two must have been doing little else but be in bed," Theon added.

Robb shot him a look, "That's enough out of you."

Theon just smirked to himself as Robb's direwolf cast a curious glance toward the Ironborn. He soon turned his attention back to his master as Robb took hold of my shoulder, "Come, we have much to discuss."

"Much indeed."

We all turned our heads quickly to see Lady Catelyn Stark standing at a slight distance.

"Mother," Robb said, walking towards her.

Her face was a sea of emotion as she pulled her son close to her, embracing him so tightly I thought she might choke him. Robb seemed unaffected by that, just smiling widely as he pulled away.

"I managed to sneak through relatively unnoticed because of the Samelson lot," Lady Catelyn added. "We'll need to work on your guards' signals to you."

"We will," Robb agreed, turning an eye towards the man I could only imagine was in charge of these things.

The poor individual quickly glanced around, began pointing to two other guards and barking orders to speak to the men at the outskirts.

"Ana," Lady Stark added, opening her arms to my sister. She fell into the hug, both women squeezing each other in some sort of silent communication.

Then, the matriarch's eyes turned to me. They were initially a cold blue that made me uneasy.

"And you!" she began, walking towards me.

I stood my ground, ready to accept the second strangling from a Stark, but instead, her face softened as she reached me.

"You saved my daughter," she stated, hugging me.

I breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled a bit, "I couldn't leave her. Unless she had asked me to, I – I couldn't leave the woman I love in that place."

"Thank you," she added.

"And he got her with child!" Theon added.

Ana smacked Theon's arm with a loud thwack as Lady Catelyn's eyes grew wide. She stared in shock before a true laugh came to her lips, "You…you did? I am to be a grandmother?"

"Yes, yes, she just told me. I'm sure she will write to you as soon as she can."

"Well, we must write to her. But, after we discuss our plans," Lady Catelyn added, remembering herself as she turned a glance back to Robb.

He stood again with a sad smile, along with my sister, that made me suspicious. Ana only shook her head as I raised an eyebrow, though, and we walked into Robb's tent, ready to breath in the map of Westeros laid out before us in some hopes of ending this so we could all soon return to our families.