We rode into the village that was closest to us, having a couple of horses and men behind me as I rode in with James on one side and Gendry on the other side. We were going to try and rally our troops and allies together, village by village and with the hopes that we would get more people under our wing. I knew that war was going to come, whether I liked it or not or whether I was ready or not, but it was the fact that I mostly wanted to find my siblings and make sure that they were alive. They had to be somewhere around the North, at least my brothers. Would they be healthy? Would they even be alive still? It was all too much for me to handle alone, and I was beyond thankful that I had a support system now.

WE rode into the village, seeing the people coming out of their homes and watching us as we rode into the square. Their fascination was on Astrid and Koda, both of whom were trotting next to their masters, and Nymeria behind me and my horse. I was dressed in my tunic and trousers once more, but I had it more fitted and less loose and my red hair flowing in the wind behind me as I heard murmurs from the crowds around me. This was my first showing as a Stark in front of these people, showing them who I was and where I hailed from. The men behind me had the Stark banners high in the sky, showing the white and gray in the sky as we got into the middle of the center square. The bitter cold air and snow was cascading down onto the horses and wolves as I saw all of the villagers come out and point to our banners. I didn't even say anything as people were talking and being both shocked and filled with fascination.

"We have come to ask for hands." James said aloud, since I made him a officer for me since he knew a thing or two about warfare. Gendry was another advisor I had, since I had no one else but him and Brennon when it came to trust. Trust was still a issue for me to feel for others that I just met, but I was convinced that James was not going to betray me. If he did, he had three wolves to answer to.

"The North is going to return to its glory, before it was taken by the South by the death of the Stark Family." He explained some more, having me look over at Gendry and see him eye the crowd with his hand on his hammer. But once his eyes were on me, I felt lost in them since they were showing so much lightness in the darkness that I was feeling. He nodded his head at me once and I smiled slightly at him as James continued to talk.

"The talk you are hearing is true: The Stark child that was lost years ago does live." The murmurs were louder then. People were talking to each other in both astonishment and wonder as I watched from my horse, seeing Astrid pace in front of my horse and watch the crowd as they pointed at me as if I was on display.

"She is the one?" One person asked aloud, "The one whom we thought was dead."

"I am." I said to him aloud, hearing the silence in the area as they listened to me, "I am the heir of Winterfell, the Eldest Stark Child and I have survived the South. I am in need of assistance to find both Bran and Rickon Stark, as well as Jon Snow." I scanned them all as they said nothing at first. I knew this was going to happen as they were watching me, as if they were waiting for me to command them all to be slain. Were they afraid of me, on how I looked with three direwolves and a small army of men behind me?

"I only wish to find them, and to not bring harm to you or your homes." I explained to them some more, seeing more sincere eyes on me than fear, "The South has killed my mother and father, along with my brother Robb. But if they wish to kill the rest of my kin, they are going to be proven wrong. I want to bring the North back to its place in Westeros, and to show that we will not be defeated." I felt more like a warrior from that speech, but it was true. They had to know, that I never wanted anything else but my family back in one piece and keep them away from harm. I was born in the North, it ran in my blood and through my skin, I knew the North like it was a part of me: and the North was my home through and through.

"We will help you Lady Stark." One person said aloud, having me look and see a man step through the crowd and the others nodding their head in approval. He lowered his head at me once, and then stared at me straight in the eyes with no fear. I had to get used to the fact that people were going to bow to me and call me Lady Stark.

"We don't have much, but we can help in any way we can. Since the death of the Stark Household, we have been suffering in such ways, it's only fair that we help bring back the North." I nodded my head at him once, showing that I respected him as James hopped down from his horse, walking over to him and talking to him about the plans in the future. The plan was going to motion, slowly but surely. I was trying to find a way to make this all work with new allies and a new mindset.

The mindset of a Stark

That night I was mending one of my dresses that I wore in the past, sitting on my bed and Astrid laying on the bed with me, her head against my leg and sleeping soundly as I worked away. After we met at that one village, we came home and had a few more people under our allegiance. They had no news of my brother though, which was not what I wanted to hear but then again I knew it would be a longshot.

I paused, seeing the dress in my hands and then feeling the sense of the past coming back to haunt me. It was the same dress I wore when met the Starks, back when I had no clue where I came from and who I was. When they showed me kindness and hospitality, not letting me feel less of a servant and more of a guest. It pained me, thinking that it was that one moment I had with them that was going to one be it: a moment. Something inside of me wanted to go back in time and tell them who I was and that I should of saved them. I wished I did, more than anything.

A knock was at the door, having Astrid look up and wake from her nap and me placing the dress on the bed. The door opened as I rested my hand on Astrid's head, seeing a head pop in and my heart leap in my chest: Gendry. Astrid's tag wagged as he walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Milday." He said aloud, having me sigh and shake my head.

"You know, you can call me just Nora." I reminded him, seeing him smile and nod his head and stand ad bit away from me. I tapped Astrid on the back of her neck, seeing him hop off the bed and move over to the corner of the room before trotting to Gendry and licking his head. She then got to her spot and curled up in a ball, going back to sleep and having me watch Gendry once more.

"You're getting more friends on your side." he said in more of a statement and comment than anything else. I nodded my head as he walked over and sat down across from me on the couch.

"I only have two friends here, they are more allies." I explained to him, seeing him pause before looking at me directly in the eyes, having me see that he was in fact in deep thought.

"Are you ready for what is coming?" He asked me, having me think about what he was talking about. It was coming, and I had no idea when and at what manner. But no doubt about it, It was coming and I had to be ready for whatever was ahead of me.

"I have no choice, Gendry. I started this, and I have to finish it by finding my brothers and sisters and making sure we have a legacy behind us." I explained to him, seeing him watch me.

"But must this is your fight?" He asked me aloud, having me raise a eyebrow at him.

"This is my family, Gendry. I never knew what it was like to have a family that wanted and appreciated me from a true nature, no one other than Sophia. I knew of the Starks growing up, hearing stories of their compassionate heart for the North and their need of Family. I saw nothing but kindness in the family and pure joy, along with loyalty and protection for one another, and I wish to keep that sacred and not stained. If I can do that, even it means that I am sacrificing my life for it, then it has to be so. I will not let the Starks die."

"But you? Why not anyone else?" He asked me having me see that he was getting agitated from what I was saying, "I don't like the thought that you are going to throw yourself into something that would eventually kill you in the end, because that scares me, Nora."

"You think I want this?" I asked him aloud, not feeling myself getting heated from his need to protect me, "I never wanted any of this to happen to me. But I find myself with a small army of men who are under the belief that I can lead them to victory when I am a frightened little girl who was only a dressmaker with nothing else to live for—"

"That is a lie." Gendry retorted in a bold tone, having me pause and hear him talk some more, "You are not just a frightened girl, Nora. You are more than that: you're brave and daring to help those who are in need, and you are filled with a compassionate heart. But I am not willing to sit on the sidelines as the young woman that I fell in love with goes off and might not come back alive." I was frozen in my spot as he said this, having me loose my thoughts and rethink of what he said to me. He said something, something that made me freeze and not thinking of anything else, not even my siblings and my family.

"You love me?" I asked in disbelief and in wonder. He looked at me, scanning my eyes and having me see that he was telling the truth. But I thought it was a trick, something he was saying to only make me feel better. He pressed his lips against my own and I kissed him back in a hard manner, hearing him groans and grip my neck gently yet tightly as we kissed on my bed. This kiss was more passionate and more inciting then the ones we would have together. He was showing me, trying to show me what he wanted to tell me.

He pulled away, but still close enough for me hear him berth erractly. I watched and saw how dilated his blue eyes were thing, of both fascination and passion with a hint of lust. HIs fingers were on my back and I saw the black in his hair was a bit lighter from the light in the room. He licked his lips, which were plump and red from our kissing as my breathing was shallow and my heart was bursting out from my mouth. I was beyond happy from what I heard and how he kissed me, as if it was our last moment together before death. He was desperate, as was I.

"I love you Nora Stark." He said to me, having me smile and simply reply back without hesitation.

"And I love you, Gendry Waters."