Rickon was in fact in awe from all that we told him, sitting with Shaggydog by his side in his old room at Winterfell, watching me as I explained everything there was that was meant to be told: my lineage as his older sister, the North rallying together and the South burning down villages to find us and stop us from becoming powerful. I even told him about finding, Arya, Sansa, and Jon after finding the ruined Winterfell and bringing it back to its former glory with the help of Gendry. Throughout the whole conversation, I could see Rickon try to embrace all that he was hearing, though it looked as though it was hard to swallow since I could see he was on the brink of tears every once in awhile as I told the story to him. If I thought what Arya went through for her age was bad enough, Rickon must of been the worst since he was still thought as a child. And he was, at least to me. But after I gave him the story, I saw him clutch onto his black direwolf, whom was nuzzling into him and showing him his own support. It pained me to see such a young and innocent child know all that he had was melting away at first, but I could see the courage seeping into his brain.

"Where's Bran?" Rickon finally asked, sitting on his bed in his chambers with Shaggydog's head on his lap and fast asleep. I was with Arya and Sansa, the three of us standing at the foot of the bed with Nymeria resting her head on the bed next to Shaggydog's head, her eyes watching her brother sleep and having me see her nose touch his.

"We are still trying to find him." Sansa reassuring him, seeing Rickon nod his head and having me shifted from one foot to another.

"The last time I saw him he was with Hodor, Jojen and Meera, heading to the Wall." Rickon explained to me, having me raise my eyebrow at him in confusion.

"Jojen and Meera?" I asked him to get it right.

"They're two people that found us, brother and sister. They were with us after we left Winterfell to the Wall." Rickon explained to the three of us, "I don't know how long ago it was since I saw Bran, but he wasn't alone."

"He was with Hodor and those two?" Arya asked him from her spot next to me.

"And Summer, he told me that if something happened to him then I would be the Heir to the Winterfell." Rickon said some more, and I could hear the brokenness in his voice as he replayed the memory.

"You know Bran, Rickon." Sansa started, her voice was soothing with a motherly pace to it, "If what you say is true: then we should find him at the Wall. He's a Stark: he'll make it home." I smiled in agreement, still seeing the hesitance in his face and how he was still unsure about it. It must of been hard for him to see his brother go off on another road without them, leaving him with questions that haste never been answered. I was in his shoes once with Sophia, when I walked away from her and not knowing if I was going to see her again, and I doubted if I ever would. Then I thought of Gaila, how she too had me leave her without a question to conversation in order to give me a better chance at survival.

"Summer will protect him." Arya added to the conversation, "You know how Summer is, he will hardly leave Bran's sight." Rickon only nodded his head, not saying a word. He blinked a few times, then yawning and I then knew that he was getting tired.

"Why don't you get some rest." I suggested to him, seeing him nod his head in agreement this time, he looked more content with the thought of going to bed in a regular bed.

"What about Osha?" He asked in a worried tone, having me think about his wilding friend that was with them.

"She'll stay in one of the guest rooms, I'll see to it." Sansa said to him in her motherly tone, having me see him sigh in relief and get ready for bed. By the time we were leaving the room, Rickon was under his furs, Shaggydog was curled against his head, and we closed the door in peace, knowing that another Stark child was back safe and sound.

"Thank goodness he's safe." Arya said in a breath of fresh air as the three of us walked down the hallway, having me feel relief as well since he was no longer in the wilderness and afraid for his life. He was never one to fight, not like Arya or Jon for that matter. No, Rickon had a gentler soul and a fragile heart.

"We still need to find Bran, do you think Jon must of missed him as he was coming down here from the Wall?" Sansa asked me as he was walking right next to me, worry was on her face.

"They must of missed each other, but we still need to find him and make sure he's alive." I explained to her aloud.

"Perhaps Jon can warn them at the Wall of Bran and his company." Arya suggested aloud as we descending the stairs into one of the main rooms, the three of us facing each other and talking logistics with each other.

"Jon will write to The Watch and alert them, and we will look along the coast going North." Sansa explained to us both, " As for the attacks of the villages, we can have some of the Brotherhood Without Banners locate to each Northerner village as protection protocol for future attacks."

"Have we heard yet from the South?" I asked her in wonder, she however shook her head.

"The Lannisters are not going to sit well with what we are doing with them." Sansa replied back to us, "But I am not worried about us not being able to handle ourselves here in the North. Winter has always bee kind to us."

"You ready for your lesson?" Anguy asked me as he walked over, his bow and sheath in hand as we were back in the training yard at Winterfell. Rickon was working with Jon Snow when it came to combat and defending himself. Thankfully Jon was careful and slow with him, going over the steps at a pace that Rickon liked. As he was practicing, Ghost and Shaggydog were playing with each other as Nymeria was with Arya, whom was practicing with Needle next to us with Thoros, the Brotherhood Leader.

"Yes." I replied, getting my own sheath that Gaila got me and then my bow ready, walking over with him as well as he loaded his bow. It was nice to have practice with Anguy once again, since the last time we were both together I was under their protection with the Brotherhood Without Banners. But now this time it was different, I knew now that I needed to learn some more in order to protect myself from anyone with the South who would want to bring my family and my House death.

"Try and hit these three target as many times in under a minute." he explained to me, having me load my bow and throw it up, aiming at the first target and wait for him to tell me when to go. Throughout the rest of that day, I was worked through the ups and downs of archery to get better and better, and then I moved on to working on how to wield a sword. Much to the dismay of Sansa, whom was helping me with how to run a Fortress and the negotiations with other Fortresses. Others were hearing about us being back to normal again, no longer in runs and they were in fact wanting to help us out in rallying against the South and staying together in the winter. There was hope being found in the North once more, hope for a better and safer future. I was feeling it under my skin as I wake up in the mornings, in Gendry's arms. I breathed it in the air as I walked around the fortress, helping whenever I could, and I saw it in the workers and lowborns who were willing to follow us in our commands and deeds. I had more hope in my heart than pain as I heard Angut give me the first order.

"Shoot."

"We have several houses in alliance with us." Sansa explained to me as we both were sitting in one of the studies that was in Winterfell. Astrid was at my feet, chewing away at a bone as I was watcher point out the several houses in the North that were now with us in a future Battle with the South. I made a better effort to help out with Sansa when it came to negotiations and how to handle the logic of house alliances and promises. Sansa was back to her normal self, the same kind of Sansa that I remember when we were younger and when I first met her: kind and gentle. However, she had a hardened heart in how to protect herself from the world around her, and I blame the South for that.

"House Glover, House Cerwym and House Reed are behind us. I received ravens from those regions and we have their full support. I am waiting to hear back from House Mormont, who has been our ally for years. The rest are still skeptical about our cause." Sansa explained, pointing to each castle as she said it aloud.

"What about the Rivverrun and The Vale territory?" I asked her with curiosity.

"Only the House of Arryn, since Robin is now in command and his advisors are still with us through family." Sansa explained to me some more, having me look back at the map once more and rub my head in both frustration and puzzlement. I was only a dressmaker, not a war general. I had a different mind that Sansa, whom was becoming more and more of a strategic general than a lady. I watched her as she sat back in her chair, looking at the map in front of her and having a sense of relief come over her like a wave against the shore. She was still beautiful, with her hair reflecting in the light in the room and her fair skin which looked more thick than the fair skin she once harbored before she was taken into the hands of the South.

"I only wish for Winterfell to be safe again, no longer in peril or in fear." She said aloud in a miserable tone, no longer sounding strong and stern but broken and fragile.

"We are close to having Winterfell be back to normal, Sansa. Don't loose faith yet." I reassured her, seeing her not move for a moment or two.

"It all happened within a moment, me staying in the South and watching our father die at the hands of the Lannisters, and all that happened after. There was no sense of hope left at that time." She explained to me, having me feel a tear coming down my cheek from hearing this from my younger sister. She saw our father get killed, and she knew of Robb and her mother. To think, she must of thought that the other siblings were just as dead, having her be forever alone. I gently took her hand in mine and patted it, feeling her grip my hand tight and trembling.

"There is still hope in this, Sansa. I see it, so does Jon and even Rickon and Arya. You need to be strong for them, and for me as well." I explained to her, seeing her have her own tear come down from her face, "You of all people know the hardships of the South and what they are capable of, but you are also proof that the North can not die so easily." Sansa looked over at me finally, and once she did, I saw our mother in her eyes and in her face. It was a rare beauty that she had, something I envied of her, and it even showed in her grief and tears.

"I will not let the South get anywhere near Arya or Rickon." She vowed to me, her voice was low and raw. I could tell she was afraid of what the South will do to the Stark children if they were taken to them. I was too, not knowing how they were going to be treated.

"We will protect them, Sansa. Rickon and Arya will not go anywhere near them." I said to her in agreement, "Jon won't let them close as well. We will stick together, I promise." She nodded her head and took out a long relief of breath when I heard the doors behind us open and we both looked back at who it was coming from. It was one of the Brotherhood Men, having Sansa and I stand as he bowed to us both.

"Apologizes for the intrusion, Princesses, but we have word that House Frey and Bolton are coming our way to fight us." He explained aloud, having me see Sansa's eyes narrow at the man with determination.

"What brought this news?" She asked with her authoritative tone, moving away from her chair to the man with me following her close by.

"One of out scouts saw the two Houses coming his way." He explained aloud to her, still out of breath from his intrusion.

"How many?" I asked him.

"Enough for us to handle." He replied, having me seeing Sansa smile slightly from her spot and then look over at me, the man as well.

"What is your move?" She asked me aloud. I was frozen in my spot, not knowing what to say or do at that point. She was asking me? Of all people? Who was she to ask em for something like this?

"Me?" I asked her aloud in confusion.

"You are the eldest Stark Child by blood, you have the authority over Winterfell." Sansa reminded me, having me blink a few times and realize that she was right. As the eldest, without Bran there as the eldest male son, I was the ruler of Winterfell technically. This was new to me, almost making me weak in the knees from the mere thought and discovery. I almost had to hold onto the chair next to me from collapsing. It was coming at me too quickly, but they were waiting for me to answer. So I had to hide my anxiety, and show that I was ready for what was about to becoming a start of war.

"Find them and kill them. Bring me the Head of each House alive."

I watched next to Arya, Sansa and Rickon as Jon got up on his horse, Winterfell Armor on and ready for battle as he and over half of the Brotherhood Without Banners, along with men from The Watch, were about to ride out to meet and take out House Bolton and House Frey. From what I knew, they were not the allies we needed. They were ruthless, and the Frey's were in fact in the scheme of killing Robb and my mother. So I knew they had to die, and die at our hands. Arya wanted to join, but I knew that she was a Lady now and she had no place with the men fighting, which angered her at first but she knew she could defend us at Winterfell. We were left with a handful of Brotherhood men and the workers of Winterfell. Brennon was informed about the situation that arose and he sent from of the Thedra Ascent men to help with the banner, and it filled me with joy to see the Thedra banners coming over the horizon into Winterfell.

James went along as well as Gendry, both were wearing armor and having their weapons on them as they walked to their horses. It was new for me to see Gendry wearing armor, a breastplate with the Stark sigma on the front along with his arms and legs protected. He had the image of a soldier, more than a Blacksmith now. That both fascinated and scared me, knowing that if he rides off, he might not come back to me again. I then knew what he was feeling when I rode off to find Sansa, I was in his position now.

Nymeria, Shaggydog and Astrid were by their master's sides as we watched Ghost and Koda trot over to their master, standing by the horses as I walked over to Jon, seeing him eye me from my spot. I looked back at my siblings, seeing Arya wrap a arm around Rickon who looked scared and Sansa folding her hands in front of her in her gown and her braided hair.

"We'll stop them from coming here to our home." Jon voiced to me, having me look back at him and see the sincerity in his eyes. I only smile slightly at him as he hugged me tightly, having me seek his armor against my gown and me almost trembling. I didn't want him to risk his life for me, since I knew that I could hold my own. But I had to stay, as a Lady and current ruler of Winterfell, I had to protect the fortress.

"Be safe." I reminded him as he pulled away and mounted his horse, having me turn my attention to Gendry, whom was holding his hammer in hand and looking at me with a serious look in his eyes. I felt my heart breaking once more, since we were going to be apart for a series of time, and that was going to be the hardest part in this. I immediately hugged him close, feeling him drop his hammer and hugged me back and dig his head into my auburn hair, breathing me in as I felt a tear in my eye rolling down to hit his armor that he was wearing.

"Please come back to me." I asked him in a pleading tone. Gendry pulled away and stared at me in the eyes, pushing a tear away with his finger and having me watch him for something, anything. It was killing him as well, I saw it in his face and how he was scanning my own. He never once wanted to leave my side, so this was new for the both of us.

"I won't leave this world without you." he vowed to me, the same vow I gave him before I rode off to get Sansa. I smiled slightly, seeing him lean in and give me a soft gently kiss on the lips. I kissed him back, feeling as though I was now one of the Ladies in the stories that Sophia told me as a child, the Lady whom was kissing her knight and shining armor goodbye before he left for battle. I was now living that story, both the good and back part of it. He pulled away and framed my face with his massive hands.

"I looked forward to the day I can call you wife." He said to me in a hushed tone, having me nod my head in agreement.

"And for me to call you husband." I replied, seeing him kiss me once more before leaving me and grabbing his hammer from the floor. Astrid trotting up to sit next to me as I watched Gendry mount his horse and the group of men ride off. Koda and Ghost were running ahead of them and having me watch as they disappeared into the land, leaving with a fear and worry of the worst. I now had to wait with my siblings.

Wait for the moment they returned.