Robb spurred his horse on, as he could see the outline of Moat Cailin in the distance. He was beyond happy to be back in the North, where he truly belonged. He had wanted to return home so desperately, also because his family needed him. But his grandfather's failing health had prevented him from leaving Riverrun for more than a month. In the end it had come as they had feared and Hoster Tully had taken his last breath in the presence of his son and oldest grandson. Robb had left not a day after the funeral.

But now he was finally back and he knew that he had his work cut out for him. With his father still interred in King's Landing, it would be upon him to lead the northern lords into war. He was the Lord of Winterfell now, at least until he got a chance to get his father released.

He was none too fond of the king at the moment and had the situation been any different, he would have opted to stay out of the war for as long as possible. But with his father and Sansa in King's Landing and Arya still missing, his choices were severely limited. But he knew that no matter what the future would bring, the northern lords loyalty to the crown was shaken now. Even if his own father remained as a friend of Robert Baratheon, the other lords won't be as enthusiastic about supporting the king as they had been in the years after the rebellion.

"Ah, the rundown ruin, how I have missed seeing it again," Theon said, a smirk on his lips, as he rode next to Robb. "You really should think about rebuilding it fully, it would keep many unwanted visitors away."

"And with what gold?"

"Right. Unlike those Lannisters, the Starks do not shit gold," Theon replied bemusedly. "But what a wonderful coincidence, you have one of those gold shitting Lannisters with you right now." He looked over his shoulder, back to the carriage, which had brought their guest to the cold northern lands.

"Are you suggesting that we should sell her out?" Robb did not like this idea. It was nothing little more than slavery of a different kind. Gold for a life.

"It is not unusual. Surely your ancestors have done it in the past. Someone is very likely to pay a good price to get her. Maybe the king could be tempted to part with a bit of coin, so he can get his hands on one of the dragon princess' most trusted confidants."

"I will not deal with Robert Baratheon in that way. All he will get from me is a demand for my father's release. And giving her to him would be the same as cutting her throat ourselves." It was obvious that the king showed little lenience to those who still supported the former royal family. He had seen how the king's men had burned down an entire camp filled with innocents, no remorse, no hesitation.

"Fine. But her grandfather will surely pay for her release. I doubt that Lord Tywin would miss the gold anyways."

"Just listen to yourself. You sound like some cutthroat or a common sellsword. We are of noble birth and men like us should know better, Theon," Robb chided his friend angrily.

"You are a lord, me... not so much anymore. When my father rebelled he lost everything we had. I am nothing more than your father's ward and squire now. A servant." Theon replied bitterly. It was a rather sore subject for the Greyjoy boy. All who remained of his family were either dead or on the run and wanted for treason against the realm. Only he and his sister were not wanted, but he did not even know where they had sent Asha. He had not heard from his sister since the day they had been taken prisoner.

"One day, Theon..."

"Pah, don't pity me, Stark. Maybe I really should have tried my luck with the loyalists during our stay in Highgarden. At least they would have given me a chance to regain what has been taken from my family." Theon spat, before he rode ahead.

Robb sighed, as he watched his friend leave. He knew that it would only take a few hours before Theon would be back to normal. It was always like this, whenever his birthright became a topic of discussion. But he would calm down eventually. A few hours. Less, if he found a brothel or some willing serving girl near Moat Cailin, though that was unlikely, as the Moat was most likely abandoned at the moment. He would have to change that soon. Theon was right, this was a formidable place to defend the North from southern invaders.

It was hours later, when Robb went on one last walk through the ruins of the moat, to clear his head. Much to his surprise, the place had not been abandoned at all. He had underestimated the ever vigilant northern lords as it seemed, because when he arrived, he was greeted by a hundred northern men, sent from Greywater and White Harbor. He had found out that his younger brother, Bran, had done well in his role as acting lord in his father's absence. Under the guidance of Maester Luwin, the boy had already called all the lords of the North and their armies to Winterfell and apparently the lords have followed that order.

But it only alleviated some of his worries. The rest still kept him from finding any restful sleep at the moment. The cool night air was refreshing, though. He had not liked the southern lands, especially Highgarden. It had been to warm, too crowded. He was not used to that and more than once he caught himself yearning for his home. Soon he would see Winterfell again. Two more days, maybe three, as long as they would travel fast.

Then he saw something. A hooded figure, moving fast towards the southern gate of the moat. It was definitely not one of the soldiers, not even one of the small crannogmen from Greywater. This person was far too slender to be any of them. No, he was sure that it had to be a certain young girl.

He hurried after her and reached her just before she had reached the gate. "I wouldn't go out there if I were you. Those swamps are dangerous and filled with countless things, which would not hesitate to eat you." He said.

The hooded person turned around, so he could see her face. He had been right, it was truly Joanna Lannister. He was not surprised that she had tried to run away, but he was surprised that it had taken this long for her to attempt this. He had expected that something like this would happen much earlier, when they were still in the Riverlands and closer to her grandfather's lands and sworn lords. But he also had to remind himself, that she had not felt well for most of their journey, still suffering from the aftereffects of her burn wounds. Most were healed now, the only exception being the deep scars on her right hand.

"You won't stop me. I will go back to where I belong." Joanna spat, as she pulled her hood down, so she could see better. The clothes she had taken were obviously too big and the hood had blocked her sight again and again, so she had little choice but the reveal herself, so she could talk to him face to face. And now that he could see her violet eyes, he could see the anger and determination in them. In the flickering light of the torches around them, they seemed like flames had been trapped in amethysts. It was as unnerving as it was fascinating.

"All you will find out there is death. Go if you want. If you prefer death now over the chance to see your family again once this insane war is over, then be my guest." Robb said, as he pointed towards the gate.

"Don't you dare to act all high and mighty here, Stark. Your family abducted me, but I won't take part in whatever plans you have!" She yelled at him, no longer caring about being unnoticed.

"Your abduction was never intended. I am trying to keep you safe and away from the war. Because it is the right thing to do. It is what my father would have done," It was the honorable thing to do, just like his father had taught him.

"Honor? I have seen the honor of your father and his best friend!" She raised her scarred hand and showed it to him, "This is the honorable way of your people. Just kill me and be done with it. Don't you dare to try and hurt my family by keeping me here!"

His expression grew cold, as he saw her scarred hand. He could understand why she was so angry, gods, he was angry himself. At the king, who had thrown away all morals and his friendship to his father, all for a minimal chance to kill the dragon princess. And he was angry at himself, for not staying by his father's side, because he had most of his father's men with him, who would have been able to make a difference, when his father opposed the king. And he was angry at himself, because now he had to realize that the stories of the honorable hero Robert Baratheon, who rose up to defeat the mad king and his dangerous ilk, were obviously nothing more than simple fables. There was little heroic about this king and even less honorable. All he had seen, was a fat man, who drank and whores all day.

"You can't go south. Not now. But you will get back to your family. You will see them again, I promise you that." He took one step towards the angry girl, his eyes never leaving hers in the process.

"I will not allow you to hurt my family."

"I won't."

"But you will. You will meet with your lords and march to war against my sister. Against my father. Against all the people I have ever known and loved. Your promise is an empty one, Robb Stark, and should you truly belief that you can keep it, then you are an even bigger fool than I had believed at first." The steel in her voice disappeared and in its stead sobs started to shake her whole body, as she fell to her knees.

It was in this moment, that Robb had to realize that she was still very much a child, like his own sister. And though he had been prepared for this for years, he himself also felt at loss in their current situation. She was right, he would be fighting against her family. He did not want to, but he had no choice. None of them had. They would fight their fathers' wars, conflicts that had begun before any of them had been born.

"Come, let's go back inside. Even with that cloak you are not dressed warm enough for being outside for long." He said, after a long moment of silence. He helped her up and lead her back towards the Gatehouse Tower, where they were staying for the night. He had wanted to clear his head with this walk, but in the end he had only ended up getting more worries. Oh how he cursed this damn war. How he cursed those who had started it all those years ago and those who were still unable to let got of their grudges.