The next morning was filled with the sounds of people moving around Thedra Ascent, moving and getting things back in place. apparently I overslept and Gendry gave out order for what needed to be fixed and what needed to his shifted around, in which I was grateful for him to step up. With the new small band of men that came to our Aid in the northern realm and fortress, I was finding myself working less and helping more, since the men were more convinced that I didn't need to lift a finger since I was a Lady. It kind of was a pain, but then again I still helped out when I could. Of course, the three direwolves brought up some fear amongst the new recruits, but then again the direwolves knew not to harm them and only followed Gendry and I around. Koda was more a large black shadow behind his master, as Astrid was more elegant and swift as she stayed close to me. I found happiness in Astrid, learning to give her more commands to remember and to see her as another set of eyes and ears for me, since she never once left my side once and would growl at anyone who would come near me.

Brennon woke up once more, still looking frail and rather worn out to pieces. But I got him back to his health, although for him to be completely healthy once again would be awhile for him. He explained to me what happened as soon as he got his voice back in range. After we were separated from the ambush in the woods, he followed us to Harrenhall, making sure that I wasn't going to be harmed and was going to try and get both Arya and myself out of there before we would be killed. Before he could do that, however, he found some allies from Braavos and old friends, whom were free men and had no ties anywhere in Westeros. One of them was the same man whom was with us in the caravan and befriended Arya, whom gave her the coin that she held close to her heart. After telling the man of the situation, the man did try to help us as Brennon went to talk to some more friends.

"Why did you have to recruit?" I asked him aloud in wonder as I sat by his bed, seeing him look down at his worn out hands and then back at me. Since out last meeting in the woods months before, he looked aged and as if he could fall asleep within seconds: no longer youthful or suave as he once was. But it was the same Brennon that I made, the man of honor and a good head on his shoulders.

"I knew of men who wanted to bring the North back to its glory, and whom fought alongside Ned Stark or had respect for him." Brennon explained to me, having me sit and watch in wonder, "Words and rumors spread all along the North of you being the missing Stark child. If I knew that were to be true, then I knew that you needed protection as the Heir of Winterfell." He tried to get me a army in order to protect me and make sure that my life was not in vain. The more I realized about my lineage and my family, the farther down I was going in this vast abyss of life. My life was worth more than to myself, it was worth plenty to others whom never wanted the Lannisters to reign.

"After I got some men on board, they told others and more were convinced, but not all of them came." He explained to me, taking in a deep breathe before going on.

"You expect me to fight the Lannisters in the South because of the fact that I'm the last Stark child?" I asked him in wonder and disbelief.

"I expect you stay alive." He replied back without a ounce of hesitance in his voice. I eyed him, seeing his serious look on his face, "You are the true heir, and you have the right to live a long life because of that since you are not meant for death."

With Gendry, my heart was slowly warming to him in such a new manner that it was hard to ignore. From the nights we would spend together in each others arms, or even when we would hunt together, I found myself being drawn into the mass spell that was him. For a small moment I wondered if it was the same for me, if he felt the same way for me? But who was I to be foolish enough to think so, since he would show me nothing but pure devotion, friendship and love whenever we were together. It was nothing new for me now, since we were acting more like a married couple than ever. Would that even be in our future? Could I see him as my husband, and as myself as his wife? I knew for certain that where we both stood when it came to blood, it wouldn't of made sense for the both of us to be together. Then again, if he was the Bastard Son of the Fallen King Baratheon, then he would of been a high born or he was legitimized. But what hope was there in that? I didn't need that, and I knew he didn't need that either. WE only needed each other, plain and simple.

I found the leader of the group of men that came to the realm and devoted their services to me: James. He was born and raised in the North and once worked for the Baratheons as a guard. It baffled me that he showed loyalty to the Stark realm since Stannis Baratheon, according to my own opinion, was no too pleased with the Starks. But I was wrong, since I got to talk to him through one of our meals in the late night after a long day of work and getting the fortress back in order.

"He was keen with the Starks." James explained to me as he ate from his own plate of food. Gendry was talking to the other men away from us at another table, but I saw him stare at me from once in awhile as I would talk to James. Gendyr's look on me was mostly of concern and if I wasn't going to be hassled in any way or form. But from how the conversation was going, James didn't want any trouble. Astrid layed down at my feet, her head on my feet and eyeing the people around us as we ate and talked.

"And you stayed with the Baratheon House for a long while?" I asked him in curiosity.

"Not very long. I'm not one to stay in once place for far too long. I found more work in my favor in Braavos, where I found your friend Brennon and whom told me about you." James explained to me aloud in his deep voice.

"What did he say about me?" I asked in a shrug as I drank from my cup.

"He spoke of the last Stark child. I wasn't convinced at first, since I knew of the death of Robb Stark and both of the Stark Lord and Lady." he said to me, pausing and seeing me shift uncomfortably in my seat from their mention, "and there had been no mention of either Stark daughters, nor the other Star sons. So to hear that the missing Stark daughter rose from the ashes of Winterfell and lived this long, you can say that it stirred hope."

"Hope." I repeated, as if it was foreign on my tongue.

"Aye." He replied, eyeing me, "Starks were never cruel to me when I would go in for favors. They were well liked and well seen. Everyone in the North knew of the first Stark girl and how she was taken from Winterfell, killed in the night as a babe." I cringed at the thought, thinking of how so many people were fed the lies that were told as mere whispers and wise tales.

"But you are alive, showing that the wolf is never one to die easily." He explained some more in his rough voice, "And people are talking about fighting for you.'

"I don't want war." I countered back at him, seeing him eye me suspiciously from my spot.

"No one wants war." He said in return to me in his calm but gruff tone, "The ones that do are asking to die at the hands of those who don't wish it. You're a Stark, and those loyal to the Starks will fight for the Starks. Whether you like it or not, you have a war on your doorstep, all because of the blood you carry and the name you wear."

"I doubt I could win a war." I said in a lower tone, feeling unconvinced of myself.

"Not alone you can't." he said to me as he ate some more, having me eye him with curiosity as well as intrigue, "In this case you are not. It's rare to see one direwolf roaming the lands, but with three who listen to every one of your commands, that already makes you a threat."

"Wolves shouldn't make people tremble." I remind him.

"But it's what the wolf is, the wolf being a animal of survival and bloodshed, along with power and reign." He explained to me some more, having me look over at Gendry whom was talking with some men with a small smile on his face, having me hear them laugh as he was petting Kods, whom was sitting upright, next to him and his tongue out in delight from Gendry's petting on his fur.

"He's a good lad." I looked back at James said it aloud, looking at Gendry as well, "Loyal to you to the bitter end, along with being a bit on the hard headed side."

"He's a bull." I said to him, seeing him look at me and having me grin at him from saying it aloud, "But he's good. We both come from poor childhoods, so we've learned to rely on each other. We've kept each other alive these past months."

"And you stole his heart." I paused as he said it, having me see him eye me as if he was reading my mind, "I see it in his eyes and how he is around you. Love is something all can see, even those as common as the lowborns and those of royalty. He is willing to fight for you." I looked down at my lap, wanting to find a way to change the subject and talk about something else, anything else.

"I need to find my sisters: Arya and Sansa." I explained to him, seeing him shift in his seat as I spoke about it, "I don't know where they are. Arya, when I saw her last, was with the Brotherhood Without Banners. Sansa was still in King's Landing, and both of their lives on at stake."

"And what of your brothers?" He asked me aloud.

"It's been months since I have seen both Bran and RIckon, and it was at Winterfell, which is now in ruins." I explained to him some more, "If what you are saying is true, and that I have a war on my hands, then the rest of the Stark children need to be safe and together."

"And you suppose that doing a random search in all of Westeros would be the best answer?" He asked me aloud, having me see that he was unconvinced about the situation.

"It's better than having me be here alone and die. The more Starks in once place, the better chance of survival. We need to find them and get them here." I said to him in more of a bolder tone, showing that I did in fact care about the rest of the family and where they were. We may have no parents, but we can still survive together and in one piece. James eyed me up and down, having me think that he was not going to buy it.

"I know some Braavos men in King's Landing, working there as merchants. I can send a raven to them and see what we can do about Sansa. Arya though, she is going to be tricky." He explained to me aloud.

"You know of people in the Brotherhood Without Banners, allies?" I asked him aloud.

"Only 2 of them, in which I had no idea where they could be. But we shall try to find the rest of the Stark Clan." He explained to me, having me see Astrid sit up and rest her head on my lap and look up at me with both worry and wonder. I stroked her fur, thinking more of a solider now than a dressmaker. I was getting more strategic in how I was going to stay alive, since in the past I would be running around try to be alive. This was more tricky and more complicated now that I had men who were going to work for me, and willingly fight and die for me. That scared me, but I had no more moments of being scared, I had to grow up. I had to be the heir of Winterfell.

"We need to find the rest of the Stark children, and we need to reclaim the North."