"Tonight?" Theon asked, staring at Will in shock, bewildered by the idea of losing him so soon.

"No," Robb, Will, and I answered. I'd always been able to communicate to my brother without words, and he clearly understood already what I had seen.

"What happens?" Theon asked.

Will shot him a look, his brown eyes turning on him in a warning, "I don't want to know!"

"You don't?"

"No."

"Do I die?" Theon asked, turning to me with a paler face than usual.

"You aren't there," I answered.

Theon breathed a sigh of relief, but a moment later, his relaxed expression grew nervous and he was quiet for once in his life, lost in thoughts about what that meant for his future. I looked back at my brother, watching as he nodded slowly to himself for several moments, trying to think through what I was saying.

I broke from Robb's arms and buried my head into my elder brother's shoulder. His arms tightened around me. Will had been there from the moment I was born, imagining life without him began to eat a hollowness into my stomach. I kept my head on his shoulder, staring at the ground in wide-eyed fear and unable to say a word.

"We say our peace, and we leave tonight. Nothing more," Robb spoke up.

The command in his voice pulled me from my thoughts as I looked up in surprise.

"An hour, no more, and we are gone. We have much to do that is far away from Walder Frey," he added and walked quickly out the door.

Inside, Will, Theon, and I looked between each other all at a loss for words. Will looked fearful, Theon utterly confused, and I could feel the hurt on my face as I questioned how Robb could just turn away like that. It was Will who spoke up first.

"He's right." He almost sounded sincere although his voice carried a strange airy quality. He coughed once and added, "It's nothing to worry about now."

"Will," I called as my voice broke on his name. I began to step towards him, but he quickly walked away.

I stared after him for a long time before I felt Theon stepping next to me.

"I'm sorry," he stated.

With a raised eyebrow, I turned to look at him. Theon ventured a small smile, his hazel eyes soft with a sympathy that was rare to see in his eyes.

"Nothing is set in stone," I stated, brushing away the tracks of warm tears on my face.

I started to walk away, following my brother and husband with my head high as they had just done, jaw set firmly, but Theon grabbed hold of my wrist.

When I looked back at him, he squeezed it, adding, "Ana, if you need anything, ask."

I nodded to him and exited the tent quickly, managing a measured interchange with the Frey family before we were on our way. Robb wasted no time. He was civil and managed enough laughs to suggest a true friendliness, but the moment we were on our way, his manufactured smiles fell from his face as his blue eyes grew colder.

"Lord Stark seems angrier than before if possible," Lord Whyte commented to me as we rode on.

"I would not want to be a Lannister right now," I returned.

"No, although I cannot imagine this is merely about Tywin Lannister, or even his father. Men usually cool over the course of a few days even after losing their fathers; your husband, however, seems to have grown with more fury," Lord Whyte returned.

I shook my head, silent for a moment. "You have to help me channel it now."

The elder man raised an eyebrow, "I thought you were getting better at that."

"I am, but I still must improve. I must make it so we never have to return through the Twins."

"Ah, so that's it. That's the place that frightens you so badly."

"Yes," I answered simply, which seemed to surprise him. He had not anticipated such honesty.

"Well, let us see how this first altercation with the Lannisters goes. No use doing so much work if we may not even live out the next few days," he returned gruffly.

I found myself chuckling lightly. Somehow, in the face of all of this, I needed a laugh – even if it had to be one from cynicism. I glanced towards Robb, who rode ahead with Will at his side and the Greatjon. Grey Wind padded along as well.

There would be little mirth in front of me. I could see with each step we took that Robb grew more impatient, filled further with rage and pain.

"He does care, you realize that," Theon spoke up, drawing me from my thoughts. He could see the confusion on my face and added, "About what you saw."

I nodded, "Yes, I know."

We rode in silence for a long time. It was only after a measured sigh that I forced myself to say something more.

"When my father and sister passed, I was miserable and hurt, and yes, angry, but not driven to revenge like this," I replied.

"Were your brothers?" Theon asked.

I shook my head, "No, Philip was too young, and Will…" My eyes followed him as I spoke. Will ran a hand through his brown hair acting nonchalant, but his brown eyes told a different story as they darted about, ever on edge. I had done this to him. I should never have said so much.

"What of Will?" Theon pressed.

"Save for the one I killed. Will put his sword through every last one of those people who hurt our family."

"So perhaps revenge was not so far from his mind. He finished everyone he felt was responsible."

"I hope Robb does not feel he must do the same."

"You don't want the Lannisters to get what they deserve?"

"Of course I do, but I shudder to think how long this war will last if he does not get past revenge and think more carefully."

Theon smirked, "Is that not why he brought you? You temper him."

"I used to." I watched the back of Robb's head, willing him to turn around, but he kept his eyes fixed forward.

Theon cast his eyes to the heavens and with a disinterested sigh, added, "You are being overly dramatic."

"I know he is only trying to protect me, keep me from seeing how angry he is, but I see through it. It's useless. Just as it is useless for him to tell you not to take me into the woods or train me or put me in danger."

"I am not putting you in danger!" Theon exclaimed in frustration.

"I know!" I answered with equal passion. I took a small breath to calm myself, seeing the anger in Theon's hazel eyes. Quietly, I repeated, "I know, Theon. I trust you, and you seem to understand that I will be out there. One day I will. You're making sure I'm prepared."

"I suppose we are both trying to protect you. Just in different ways," he added.

We came to a stop as the darkness set in. Up ahead, I saw two of our scouts convening on Robb, pulling my attention from my present conversation. Robb turned to make a signal for camp, and quickly dismounted, stepping away from most of the men to hear the reports.

"Come on," I said to Theon, beckoning him to follow me towards Robb.

"So we thrash them on both sides!" The Greatjon exclaimed, smacking Lord Karstark on the back. He did not seem as amused.

"But Tywin is expecting us," Robb stated. "All of us. With the Kingslayer positioned where he is…"

"You will still need a strong force to face Tywin wherever he is," Catelyn pointed out.

"We just need enough to hold them," Will returned.

I glanced towards Robb, hoping he might explain what the scouts saw, but instead, he just looked at me, his blue eyes piercing into mine. I could see his hesitation for what Will was saying, but also I could see his mind turning, realizing that was the best course of action. From the seriousness, I knew that he felt whoever was going into Tywin's domain was lost.

An emptiness began to tug at the pit of my stomach as I realized quickly why my father had to bring such a jovial spirit to everything. If this were an every day decision in war, someone would have to in order to keep the rest sane.

I nodded to Robb and instantly he turned to his guard, "2000 to Tywin. The rest with me. We march through the night. Let's hope the element of surprise can do something. Have the men prepared for battle."

The men dispersed to tend to their orders, and Robb broke away to have his squire put on his armor. I watched after him as Catelyn did the same by my side.

"I've often thought this is the hardest part of being a woman," she stated. "Seeing the men you care most about off to battle."

"At least we shall be close to know when they come back," I answered.

Catelyn offered a small smile, appreciating my using the word when. It felt like a lifetime before the men were truly prepared and ready to ride into the night, to break upon the Lannisters.

I had wrapped my furs tightly around me, trying to stay warm, when I sensed him. As I turned my head and my eyes fell upon him, I couldn't help the smile that grew upon my face. Somehow, even in the midst of all of this, he still looked so breathtakingly handsome.

I stepped forward, putting my hands on Robb's arms as he brought a hand to cup my face.

"Please be careful," I whispered, standing in front of him.

He looked handsomely disheveled. His armor was unsullied, shining like a knight in a tale, and I for once understood why Sansa had swooned so much for those stories.

But this was no fairytale.

"I will come back to you," he swore.

My stomach knotted tightly as I nodded, wanting more than anything to go with him. My chest felt as though it might cave in, but I showed him strength.

"I know you will."

I hugged him tightly, my head against his heavy armor. I saw Grey Wind at the ready by his side. He watched us with calm eyes, which started to put me at ease as well. I pulled away and looked up at my husband.

"The Lannisters won't even see you coming."

Robb smiled, "That's the idea. We'll just be a whisper, and by then, it will be too late."

As we swung up onto our horses, I realized suddenly that I had this conversation before in a dream, but already, pieces were changing.