Disclaimer I do not own anything! Everything belongs to George R.R. Martin or the creators of the show. I only own the original characters.

Also this story is not edited, please try to ignore all grammatical errors.

Chapter 18

Tyrion took a large gulp from his cup and enjoyed the sweet taste of the wine against the back of his throat. He tried to ignore the two sets of eyes staring intently at him, one pair cold and the other was filled with poorly concealed nervousness and doubt.

"What is it you want from me?" He inquired, taking another gulp.

The female eyes on him narrowed and she said, "We want you as an ally."

The male's eyes flickered to her quickly before he turned his strong blue eyes towards her, his eye's growing more stern with each passing moment.

"We want you to. . ." The newly crowned King was picking his words carefully, "work for us."

"Spy for you, you mean," Tyrion corrected, cocking his glass in their direction.

"Yes," Robb agreed, his voice neutral.

Everra stood from her chair and walked towards Tyrion and spoke firmly, "After much deliberation, the King in the North and I decided that we wanted you as an ally. Someone to tell as what was happening in Kings Landing. Whom better than someone one would least expect."

"And you were so certain of my willingness?" Tyrion questioned, "of my abandoning my loyalty to my family?"

"We both know that the extent of your loyalty was to your brother and we both know that he has not returned the same courtesy," Tyrion visibly stiffened and tightened his hand around his cup, his jaw clenching.

Tyrion nodded at her words and took a few moments to consider.

Betray his father? His sister? His nephews and nieces? His brother? For what?

People he neither liked nor cared for. But then again, he did not care much for the majority of his family. They despised him and soon enough he learned to return the favour. Whom did he have now? His brother was the only true tie to his family. . .

His stomach tightened at the thought of his brother, the anger erupting in his stomach once more.

"Lord Tyrion?" Robb questioned, "Lord Tyrion?"

Tyrion snapped his forward and muttered, " Give me a few moments your grace."

He spoke the words without care and the King stiffened at the blatant carelessness, he was still new to being a King. After all, it had only been a few days. The injuries Tyrion had were more serious than Everra had thought.

"I'll do it," Tyrion announced, his voice final.

Robb nodded triumphantly until Tyrion spoke once more, "With one condition."

Everra paused for a moment before glancing back at Robb, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.

'My nephew Tommen and my niece Myrcella will be spared when the war is over," Tyrion said, staring straight at Robb.

Robb's eyes narrowed slightly before he said, "And?"

Tyrion hesitated before saying, "My brother will be spared as well."

"Absolutely not," Robb declared. He then stood up and said loudly, "He crippled my little brother because he saw your brother with your sister."

Everra walked back to Robb quickly and whispered something to him, which Tyrion could see stopped Robb in his tracks. He was frowning at her, his mouth slightly agape before turning to look at Tyrion and spoke reluctantly, "Very well, your brother will live as long as you honour your end of the alliance. If you fail to do, your brother, your nephew and niece and yourself will all have your heads on a spike."

Tyrion raised his eyebrows at the threat, wondering where the boy he had met at Winterfell so long ago went. He grew up, he thought wistfully before waving his hand at him, "Yes, yes, I know what will happen if I do not fulfil by end of the alliance. When do I leave?"

They looked at each other and then Everra spoke, "Tonight. You will leave alone. You will look as though you have been held captive by the hill tribes for the past few weeks."

When Tyrion raised his eyebrows at her in question she said, "When you were released from The Eyrie I bribed the hill tribes into saying they had you and provided them with a dwarf as proof. By now your father must know that they were lying. You must visit your father before you go to Kings Landing-"

"Why?" Tyrion interjected.

"Your father is still in the Riverlands for the time being, his army is in a slightly precarious position so it is highly likely that they will be leaving soon and fast. The faster you are put into. . . safe hands so to speak the less likely you are of getting killed. With all due respect, Lord Tyrion, but you are not the best swordsman."

"None taken," Tyrion replied flippantly.

He then stood from his chair and bowed mockingly saying, "I am at your service your grace."

No one laughed.

"You are doing what?" Catelyn said loudly, her face outraged.

"Letting Tyrion Lannister go is a mistake!" She cried.

Robb winced at her loud words, though he knew that her reaction would be like this. He didn't tell her about his promise about letting Jaime Lannister live, he did not like Lady Everra's suggestion, but he knew that it was the only way Tyrion would work for them. Let the Kingslayer live, but making sure that he was miserable for the rest of his days.

"We have more use for him at Kings Landing-"

"We have more use from his here! Use him as a bargaining chip! A hostage just like his brother. If we have two Lannister's as hostages we are more likely to get Sansa back! That is why we started this war in case you have forgotten to get our family back-"

"Its not that simple," Robb cried out, "I wasn't a King when I started the war. We went to war to get Sansa, Arya and father back. We have Arya and father is. . ." He drifted off at the sight of the sudden flash of grief and pain in his mother's eyes.

"I can't stop this war until all the Lannister's are dead. Then we can get Sansa back and we can go home. If I back down before then and go home my men will never rise again. I can not let that happen. "

Robb stood from where he was sitting and walked up to his mother and hugged her tightly, kissing her forehead.

"We will all be together again soon I promise," he said, his voice muffled against his mother's forehead.

"You've done so well," she said, her blue eyes staring into his own, "Your father would be proud."

She struggled to get the words out, overcome with emotion.

Robb smiled at her softly before making his way out of the tent, his heart heavy in his chest.

Everra and Tyrion walked towards the horse quietly, a bag hanging from Everra's hands.

When they reached the horse they turned to look at each other and Tyrion said, "There has been something that has been bothering me for quite some time. Something that I can not figure out."

Everra merely raised an eyebrow in question and Tyrion took it as a sign to continue, "How did you know about Tysha? The truth about what really happened."

"I didn't," she lied, "I merely assumed. Every brother has lied to another brother or has a secret that they would not tell. I assumed that Jaime was the same and fortunately enough I was right. "

"You assumed that Jaime was hiding something from me?" Tyrion asked.

Everra shrugged casually and said, "Believe what you wish Lord Tyrion."

They were silent for a few moments before Everra handed over the bag, saying, 'There is enough food in there for a few days ride, keep off the main road's and remember before you get to your fathers camp you leave the horse, make a few scratches and do not drink water for at least a day."

"Your concern for my wellbeing is truly astounding," Tyrion said, snatching the bag from her hands.

He then moved towards the horse and looked up at it helplessly and after a few moments he turned to look at her and said sheepishly, "I can't. . I can't get on."

Everra raised an eyebrow at him and then clapped her hands and almost immediately something behind him moved from the tree's. Tyrion could barely make out a long black figure creeping out and was startled at the sight of green eyes staring back at him.

"Andromache," Everra called out softly. The animal moved slowly at her command and came beside her mistress, staring at Tyrion.

Tyrion had taken a few steps back at the sight of her and muttered, "What does your. . . pet have to do with anything."

Everra looked motioned for the animal to go forward and she did, stopping right next to the horse.

"Well get on," Everra said.

At Tyrion's wide eyed expression she rolled her eyes and said, 'On the horse,not the panther."

Tyrion hesitantly grasped onto the horse's sale before stepping not Andromache's back and stiffened at the animals growl before pushing himself upwards and managed to put his legs on either side of the saddle.

"While we may not allow men to accompany you to your father's camp, you need some kind of protection. Andromache will be that for you," Everra said.

"Will it not look the tiniest bit odd if I go around with a panther riding beside me. After all, everyone knows that you have one, my father is not that stupid."

"She will be hidden, watching you from afar as she does with me most of the time. The moment you are within safety she will return."

"Your so sure of her allegiance to you?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation.

"Go, Tyrion and try not to get yourself killed."

He nodded at her and kicked the sides of the horse, grabbing onto the reigns and galloped away into the dead of the night.

Everra looked down at Andromache and said, 'Same goes for you too, you know."

Almost as if understanding her, Andromache nodded and leaped forward into the forest until Everra could no longer see her.

Jon sat by the fire quietly, taking a sip from his drink. The soldiers around him were talking amongst themselves nearby but he sat a small distance away from them, not in the mood for company. It had been a few days since his father's death yet it felt as though he just found out yesterday.

The grief he felt was still strong and raw and tugged at his heart like a stone had been thrust in its place, the weight dragging him down. Though there was anger too, anger so strong he felt as though it would consume him until the end of his days. Now however, there was only emptiness. A hollow feeling in his chest that numbed everything else in his body until he felt nothing at all.

The flames may have warmed him outwardly but he feared that nothing could take away the sudden emptiness in his heart.

Jon was too consumed in his own thoughts that he did not notice the girl whom sat a few feet away from hi, watching him closely.

When he eventually did notice it was because she was speaking his name softly, "Jon," Anna called out, "Jon."

He faced her, startled and said, "Apologies, my lady I did not see you."

"No need to call me my lady Jon, I am not one and besides I thought we were closer than that," she said with a soft smile. It slowly faded away when he did not respond, his eyes instead going to the flames.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "about your father. He was a good man."

"Yes he was," Jon said, still not looking at her.

"He would not want you to be like this," she said, "Distancing yourself from everyone and closing yourself up, he would-"

"With all due respect Anna I know your trying to help but I honestly could not care less about what you have to say," he snapped and then paused at the hurt look on her face and quickly apologised, "I'm sorry, that was harsh, I'm just. . . it's just hard and my brother seem's to be so calm and at ease with it, like it doesn't even bother him. I have not even talked to him since I found out."

Anna moved closer slightly and looked at him, saying, "Your brother and step mother grieve for your father the same as you, they simply do not have the luxury to show their grief. Your brother is not a King, he can not afford to seem weak. "

Jon nodded at her words and said, "It's still. . . hard." He was surprised when she said the word with him, her brown eyes looking at him with understanding.

"My mother died when I was young, she was the handmaiden of Lady Everra's mother. When she died, Lord Legrath gathered all of the servants that served them and tortured them and then executed them in front of their families. For no good reason. My mother was the best person I knew and when she died my father still continued on as if everything was normal, he went to work everyday, made the same food. He did not seem the least bit affected by her death and I was so angry with him. So frustrated with him and one day a few years ago I finally snapped. I yelled and screamed and asked him how he had managed to continue on working or a man that tortured and murdered his wife. That was when he turned to me, tears in his eyes and said that he had done it for me. To make sure that I wasn't killed as well." At Jon's appalled expression she said, "Make no mistake, Lord Everth Legrath was not above killing and raping children. My father knew that and he did not want it to happen to me, if he had shown he slightest bit of anger or hatred towards him I would have been killed as punishment. So believe me when I say I understand how you feel and I urge you not to hate your brother for what seems like him not grieving because I am sure that he is."

"I'm sorry that that happened to you," Jon said.

They were both silent for a few moments before Jon asked, "And you continued to serve the Legrath family, after everything they did to yours. Your the handmaiden of his daughter."

"I. . . it was hard," she admitted, "but it took me several years to realise that if I thought that what he had done to my family was cruel I wondered what he did to his own. His wife, his child. . . He had always wanted a son but rumour had it that he was cursed. That a priestess had said that he would only be allowed to have one child in his lifetime. He had tried, if I remember the stories correctly, with numerous noblewomen. Lords had brought their daughters and each time they all left without a child in their womb. It was only during the rebellion of King Robert that Everra's mother, a healer during the war became pregnant with his child."

"A healer?" Jon asked, " She was not a woman of noble birth?"

"She was, I believe, from a noble family in Essos. I do not remember where. . . I believe it was Volantis though it may have been Pentos. She was a kind woman, beautiful too. Possibly as beautiful as her daughter, if not more."

"Poor woman," Jon said, "For getting cursed to have to live with a man like that for the rest of her life."

He did not want to ask but curiosity got the best of him, "What happened to her?"

Anna swallow and looked around nervously before Jon said, 'I'm sorry I should not be asking-"

"No, no it is quite alright," Anna said.

"Talia Legrath was a kind woman. My mother always spoke high of her and she loved her daughter but I think that the cruelty she faced from her husband was too much for her and shortly after Lady Everra turned four, she through herself from the top of RedRun and plummeted to her death. People said that her head had crashed so hard on the floor that she was disfigured beyond the point of recognition and that it took several hours for people to realise that it was her. Other's say that Lady Everra herself was the one to find her and that she clung to her mother's body for hours and hours. Waiting for her to wake up."

"She obviously changed," Jon said.

"Yes," Anna agreed.

They continued on talking for several more hours, unaware of the green eyes watching them.

Robb stood as he watched the rest of his Lords walking away from him, their meeting just having finished. Lady Everra could not make it, as she was taking care of Tyrion Lannister and Robb noticed that the Lord's seemed relived at her absence.

He was distracted by his thoughts when someone spoke, "A word, your grace," Theon asked.

"You don't have to call me your grace when no ones around," He said.

"Its not so bad, once you get used to it," Theon replied.

"I'm glad someone's gotten used to it," Robb muttered bitterly.

"The Lannister's will not agree to whatever terms you send them," Theon said.

"I know that,"Robb replied, looking at him.

"You can fight them in the field as long as you like, "Tyrion exclaimed, "but you do not win this war until you take Kings landing and to do that, you'll need ships."

"My father has ships and men who know how to sail ships," Theon said eagerly.

"Men who fought against my father," Robb said.

"Men who fought against King Robert to free themselves from the south," Theon amended, "That is what we are doing now. I'm his only living son, he'll listen to me, I know he will. i'm not a Stark, I know that, but your father raised me to be an honourable man. Let's avenge him together."

Robb looked at him warily, he had no doubt of Theon's loyalty but of Balon Greyjoy's. He had not seen his son in years, what if he did not listen to Theon?

"Alright," Robb said.

Theon nodded and said as he walked out, "Remember your my brother in everything but name. Now and always."

"You summoned me, Your grace," Everra said, walking into the tent.

She was greeted to the sight of Robb sitting on a chair beside a table, looking down at numerous papers.

"Lady Everra," he said, standing up.

"Yes I did ask you here for a reason, please sit down."

Everra eyed him warily for a moment before taking a seat across from him.

"If I may ask, your grace, why am I here-"

"I agreed for Theon to seek an alliance with Balon Greyjoy."

Silence. He had spoken with a sudden nervousness, like he was a blushing boy and not a King.

"You did what?" She asked.

"Balon Greyjoy has two hundred ships, if we are to defeat the Lannister's we are going to do that at Kings Landing and to do that, we need ships. If Balon Greyjoy is going to listen to anyone, it is Theon, if we are to have any chance of an alliance-"

"Not with Balon Greyjoy. I don't say this because I hold a secret grudge against him before you accuse me of anything I say this because he is not trustworthy. he rose against your father and rebelled against a King. He is power hungry and-"

"I'm rebelling against a King now!" Robb said, "Theon will convince him-"

"Theon has not seen his father for years," Everra said, "He does not know him. He will be eager to please him and Balon will take advantage of that, he will manipulate him and Theon will let himself be manipulated. He grew up in Winterfell-"

"Precisely, he grew up in Wintefell, with me, and my brothers and sisters and my mother and father, we treated him like family. My father treat him like a son-"

"But he was not family, not really. He was a prisoner, a boy taken away by strangers and foreigners by strange men and was treated with kindness. He was not really one of you, despite what you may say. He knows that, deep down. So do you."

Robb looked down at his hands, trying to ignore the sudden bumpiness in his throat.

She was right, he knew that. He guessed he always knew, deep down. That did not mean that it was not hard to accept or admit. Theon was still like a brother to him regardless. . . Why should he trust her?

"Why should I trust you?" he said, looking into her eyes, "You killed one of your own Lords on your first night back in Westeros afetr a ten year absence, there are those whom would say that I should kill you."

"But you won't," she said, "Because you know I can help you.'

She then leaned forward and did something that surprised them both.

She placed her hands on top of his. They were cold and smooth against his warm and rough ones.

His eyes flew up to meet hers, startled.

"Tell him you changed your mind," she said softly.

Robb nodded hesitantly, dreading what was to come.

She then gently pulled her hands away from his, forcing and stood up, muttering, "Excuse me, your grace, I feel unwell of a sudden."

Robb nodded and watched as she walked out, unable to say anything.

"Guards!" He called out.

They immediately walked in and said, "Please bring Theon Greyjoy to me."

He still did not like admitting it.

Anna hesitantly snuck into the tent, her heart pounding. She had just said her farewell to Jon, they had been talking for hours on end until the camp had gone quiet and they realised that everyone had gone to sleep except for a few guards.

The warmth of the tent wrapped around her and she rubbed her hands together, eager for warmth.

"You did well," a voice said from behind her.

Anna whirled around, her heart in her throat at the sound of the voice.

"You scared me," she whispered, pressing her hand to her chest.

"How is he doing?" The person asked from the shadows.

"Better," Anna replied, "He trusts me now."

"Good," the person nodded, "Very good."

"And Everra? Does she suspect you of anything?" The voice asked.

"No," Anna said, "I do not think so."

"Good, very good."

Anna swallowed loudly and said, her voice small, "I'm not too sure I want to do this anymore-"

"I don't care-" The voice erupted, "You say anything and I will kill you too!"

Anna didn't say anything and instead just stood and watched fearfully, hating herself to her very core.

Theon stormed his way across the camp, ignoring all the startled glances he got.

His anger was running through his veins, he couldn't think clearly. All he could think about was the embarrassed look on Robb's face.

You're not a Stark. You're not trustworthy.

He had not said it aloud, but Theon could tell that was what he was thinking.

Foreign whore.

He then stopped in the middle of his tracks as he stared at the tent in front of him.

What was he doing? He could not do this now. Not in front of everyone.

He would wait. Patiently.

After he had stumbled back to his tent and lay down, he waited until the camp had gone quiet until he made his move.

He slowly stood from his cot, and slowly made his way out of the tent. There were no signs of life across the camp, only the sound of men snoring and fires crackling.

He then tiptoed his way until he reached his destination.

Theon hesitated only a moment when he reached the entrance of the tent, but the anger inside him surged once more and by the gods did it consume him. Every singe of inch of him. But with his anger, there was hurt and confusion and his wounded pride and it was all because of her.

He was careful when he snuck into the tent, he made sure that there was no chance of her being awake. No lights inside the tent.

He could barely make out anything in this darkness, but his eyes adjusted enough to see that there was indeed a small candle next to her bedside. She was sound asleep however, her eyelids shut closed and her raven hair let loose.

She even looked like a cold hearted bitch in her sleep.

This is for Robb, Theon assured himself, she is a liar and a manipulator and she'll kill him when she gets the chance.

He took a careful step towards her, making sure he made no sound whatsoever. It was at that precise moment that he realised he had no sword, no knife.

His hands would have to do. It would be less messy anyway.

He then took another step, his heart beating wildly.

He was almost there.

He then stood beside her and watched her, looking down at her cold, yet admittedly beautiful face.

Bitch.

She's had this coming to her since she arrived at Winterfell, he thought.

He then carefully climbed onto the cot, one leg on either side of her waist, he then reached out and placed a gloved palm onto her mouth.

One of his hands wondered down her body and lingered at her neck and he began to stroke it.

That was when her eyes opened.

For a split second, her eyes connected with his and Theon felt as though he was no longer in his own body, almost as if he was watching this happening from above.

Her hands immediately reached up to the hand at her neck and began to tug at it.

"Whore," Theon spat out at her, his hand reaching out to undo his belt, "Think you're better than everyone else do you? So uptight and cold, I think I'll change that."

Everra bucked her hips upwards, and managed to make Theon loose his balance enough that he placed a hand done to steady himself and when he did, she wrapped her arms around it and twisted it.

Theon cried out it pain and Everra took the opportunity to reach beneath her pillow and take out her knife. Theon had fallen off the bed, and was trying to get up. Everra leapt off the bed and walked menacingly towards Theon, gripping the knife in her hand tightly.

She then reached down and grabbed onto the collar of Theon's shirt, her eyes cold but triumphant.

Theon closed his eyes and braced himself for the blow, but when it did not come, he hesitantly opened his eyes and croaked out, "Why aren't you killing me?"

She regarded him for a few moments before saying, "I'm not going to kill, you now, when you'e here alone with me. First, I'm going to bring Ribb and let him see exactly what his closest friend from childhood really is and then I'm going to bring in Catelyn, whom raised you like a son. They are going to see how pathetic and worthless you really are, and then, Greyjoy will I kill you, but before that happens. . ."

She plunged the knife into his leg, cutting through the bone and her face twisted into a smirk at the agonising scream Theon let out.

"Guards!" She yelled. "Help Me!"

Robb could not believe it.

He wouldn't. Not Theon. Not his friend.

Not the boy whom he had known since he was only a boy. Not the grinning, blunt Theon whom swore loyalty to him.

Now and Always.

But the scene in front of him was indeed real. There was a bruised and blood stained woman and a crippled shell of a man with a knife in his leg.

When they had said that Lady Everra had been attacked, he had hurried his way out of his tent at once and almost began running to her tent, his guards and mother at his heels. It was only when he walked in and saw Theon bleeding on the floor did he. . .

He couldn't take his eyes off him and hone he did it was only to look at Everra, whom was sitting on a chair, a large fur coat incasing her. There were some bruises around her neck but otherwise she looked unharmed. Robb could see the edges of a blood stained nightgown peaking out from under the coat and it made his blood churn.

His mother was also shocked, her blue eyes wide and mouth open, her hand reaching up to cover it.

"What happened?" he found himself saying.

"Your friend attempted to rape and kill and her, in case you have not noticed," Daavos snapped, making a protective step closer to Everra.

"Daavos," Everra said softly, raising a hand. Daavos immediately stopped and looked down at her, his anger still clear on his face.

"It was no ones fault but his," she pointed at Theon, "fault. I stopped him before he could do any damage."

Robb nodded, relief flooding through him. It stopped when he heard a large cough coming from Theon and he looked at him.

"Robb," Theon protested weakly, "I did this to protect you, she would have killed you when she had the chance. She was poisoning you, she is now, can't you see that?"

Robb felt both disgust and bile rise up in his throat.

Someone tried to do this for him.

His closest friend.

"I'm your friend," Theon insisted, "I'm still your brother. Now and always."

Robb looked him in the eyes one last time and uttered, "You're no brother of mine."

He then turned towards Everra and said, "Kill him now, if that is what you wish."

She nodded at him and then muttered, "Thank you."

She then stood unsteadily, and said, "Tomorrow, in front of everyone. Let them see what happens to traitors."

Robb nodded in turn and then said, "I'll send a healer for you, my lady. I am truly sorry, this happened to you."

He then called out, "Guards, take Theon away and wrap a bandage around his wound. He can't bleed out."

They moved forward and reached Theon whom was beginning to fight back, "Robb!" He said pleadingly, "Robb!"

Robb didn't answer. He simply walked out of the tent.

"ROBB!" Theon was shouting.

"Catelyn please-"

"Don't" She warned.

Robb had to get away from there. His steps quick and sure.

Theon was still yelling and he still had not fully accepted what had happened.

Now and always.

A/N Hello guys! First, I would like to thank all of you whom favourited and followed , it means so much, we ware now over 120 follows! Eeek! That makes me so happy Please remember to review, I like to know what my readers are thinking. Do any of you have suggestions, corrections, ideas? Let me know please. Also, I would like to thank those of you who checked out my other story, The Perks of Being A vampire (post apocalypse). Don't worry people, I won't forget to update this story because I started another one, chances are I won't update it until I finish with this one. Who knows? Anyway, did you guys like this chapter? If you did, tell me why, if you didn't tell me why. Reviews are my motivation! Until next time guys.