Disclaimer! I own nothing. This story is not edited, please try to ignore all grammatical errors. Thank you.

A/N THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE RESPONSE TO LAST CHAPTER! It means so much to me. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thanks again. Remember to tell me your thoughts ! :) Until next time.

Chapter 25

"I'm fine Daavos," Everra said from where she sat upright on her bed, looking at the grey eyed man sitting on the chair by her bedside, "It has been two weeks, the Maester said I would be fine by now Daavos."

Daavos frowned at her words, running a hand across the stubble on his chin. He still wanted her to wait a few more days, just to be sure.

"Besides, we have urgent matters that need to be handled," Everra added, watching as Daavos face twisted into a scowl.

"I suppose you are still not in favour of the alliance?" She asked him.

"I still think it is unwise," Daavos admitted, looking her in the eye, "It does not benefit us-"

"How so?" Everra challenged, shifting her body so that it was facing him, "The alliance offers my house and my lands a permanent and powerful ally for years to come. Yes, the bloodlands may begin to recognise Robb as their King, but I am still its leader."

At the displeased expression on Daavos's face, she added, "All I have to do is sign a piece of paper, I could have had to marry one of them."

"No, they'll just force you to marry another man anyway," Daavos added sarcastically.

Everra looked at him coldly, raising an eyebrow at him, "I will have to marry someday, Daavos, if I am to have an heir. Besides, I volunteered to marry Loras Tyrell, though that obviously did not end as expected."

Daavos snorted at this, looking slightly amused.

"If it had not been for your behaviour, there would not be this issue in the first place," she reminded him. Daavos's face instantly soured at her words, his face looking as though it had swallowed something bitter.

When she had first awoken, she had been bombarded by Daavos, Maesters, Youngbird, Jon, Anna, Lord Edwin, even Lady Catelyn and Roose Bolton had come to see her. She had only seen Robb once, when she had first woken.

Robb.

The suspicion she felt whenever one spoke of him or mentioned him had not fully gone away, though the words he had spoken continued to ring in her ear.

"I don't want you to die."

"I need you."

She had indeed been right, the Stark did indeed feel something for her and yet she did not feel triumphant or pleased as she thought she would. Granted, controlling him would be easier for her in the long run, but somehow she could not bring herself to mention what he had said to Daavos. They had only spoken of it once, before Jon had interrupted them, bringing them news of the alliance pact they intended to have her sign.

Jon had become something different for her. . . something that she could not simply use anymore. She had never had a brother before, never knew what it felt like. Though there was an inevitable truth, he was her brother, though illegitimate, if she did die, he would be her heir. She would not leave her home in the hands of Lord Edwin or Lord Yullian.

Now, the only matter was telling him- and Robb.

"My lady?" Daavos was asking, a frown on his face.

"Yes?" Everra said, bringing her attention back towards him.

"What are you going to do?" He asked hesitantly, watching her closely.

Everra knew what he meant and stiffened, watching him closely as well.

"He didn't want me dead Daavos," she said softly but firmly, watching his eyes tighten with frustration.

"There was a shadow that tried to kill you, with his face on it!" Daavos hissed at her, "He's going to get you killed. This alliance will be the death of you-"

"Then do your job and protect me," She cut him off, staring at him intensely.

Daavos nodded, defeated and stood, bowing, "Sleep well, my lady," then stalked out.

Everra sighed softly, looking over at Andromache who was lying near the foot of the bed.

"I know what I'm doing," she said, her eyebrows drawing into a frown, "I've been making my own decisions since I was seven."

Somehow, that didn't ease her nerves.

"A feast?" Robb repeated, looking at Roose Bolton, his eyes leaving the man in front of him to quickly glance across the room, watching how the other Lords either shifted uncomfortably in their seats, or looked at him straight in the eyes.

"We're fighting a war," Robb said coldly, "Not playing a game."

Roose Boltons jaw tightened at his words but before he could say anything a voice broke out from near them, "Your grace, if I may?"

Robb turned around, surprised at the familiar voice. He rose from his seat, his mouth opening slightly as he looked at her.

"Lady Everra," he said, his voice slightly wavering.

He could see the other Lords rise out of the corners of his eyes and he could feel a lump form in his throat at the sight of her. She looked better, healthier, like she usually did. Not like that pale, fragile version of herself that had haunted his thoughts.

The other Lords seems to echo his words, bowing their heads in respect.

"Thank you," she said in their direction, though her cool gaze did not leave his.

Her eyes, however, then flickered in Roose Bolton's direction and though she did not show it, Robb could practically feel her stiffen at the sight of the man.

"Lord Bolton," she said, taking a step forward.

"Lady Everra," he acknowledged, taking a step forward as well, grabbing her hand and placed a quick kiss on it, "Words can not describe how. . . delighted I am that you are well and with us once more."

She merely nodded in response, not even attempting to make an effort at looking flattered.

"Your grace," she then said, her firm voice silencing the room, "I understand that you have a pact for me to sign."

Robb could feel himself nod before clearing his throat, "Yes, as a matter of fact, my lady, there is. Lord Bolton was discussing us throwing a small feast or celebration in light of this fact."

Robb's eyes drifted towards Lord Bolton watching him closely.

"Though Lord Bolton's intentions are good, I'm sure, perhaps throwing a feast may not be the wisest idea. It would be a waste on all of our resources and make us vulnerable to an attack. The Lannister's are not as far as we make them out to be. Now, in light of recent events, Stannis is now also an immense threat."

Robb felt slightly triumphant at her words, but was careful not to show it.

"However, perhaps we should have some sort of celebration or ceremony," she added, her eyes flickering to look at Lord Bolton.

"Wonderful idea, my lady," Lord Bolton said.

"It is up to his grace to decide."

"What?" Daavos asked, gaping at her.

Him, Youngbird and Lord Edwin were sitting around the table, with Everra at the head.

"There will be a small celebration held in two days time to honour our recent formal alliance with his grace," Everra repeated, looking at Daavos warningly.

"Would that be the wisest idea my lady?" Youngbird asked, looking at her curiously.

Everra's eyes moved to look at him and stated, "His grace and the rest of the Lords seemed to wish for it."

There was a moment of silence, before a dark look crossed Everra's eyes and she clasped her hands together, her eyes flickering across the faces of the three men across or beside her.

"That, however, is not why I summoned you all here," she announced, watching as they all frowned at her.

"The both of you have been lied too," she said, her eyes glancing between Lord Edwin and Youngbird, "About my attacker. It was not a man that attacked me but a shadow that took a form of a man. A man whom we all know. The King."

Everra watched their eyes widen with alarm, ignoring Daavos's attempt to make eye contact with her, no doubt shocked at her actions.

"As far as it seems, the king made an attempt on my life, how so and how it was possible I do not know and though it may seem as though he did try to kill me, I have reasons to believe that he has been framed. However, this. . . ceremony will be the ultimate test."

Everra watched them all glance at each other suspiciously, wondering what she meant.

"All of you have proven your loyalty to me throughout one scenario or another, have passed the test that I have set up for you, now, I am providing the King with the chance to do the same. The celebration will be in public, which may be the perfect time for an assassin or an attempt on my life to take place. The more people who know that no one is invincible the better. Fear is the ultimate power and with the death of the woman who fooled the great Tywin Lannister fear by your hands. . . you will be considered invincible. Especially if your a king."

"My lady," Lord Edwin started, "If someone does indeed make an attempt on your life and you survive, what will you do?"

"Kill them all," she replied coldly.

"The King," Youngbird started, "does not seem the type to want to kill an ally my lady. Let alone try to have them assassinated at the union of their houses."

"Never underestimate those around you, Youngbird, you'll end up being killed if you do."

"This is a mistake!" Daavos broke out when the other two males left the room, looking at her desperately. "You've almost died already because of him, now you putting yourself into situations-"

"I've been put myself into life threatening situations since I was a child, Daavos and somehow I have survived all of them," Everra interrupted.

"Not this time," Daavos said pleadingly, "My lady, the woman herself said that the shadow appeared to those they intend to kill, as the person whom wants them dead the most, how can you possibly defend-"

"I am not defending him, Daavos," Everra interrupted yet again, her voice coming out in a harsh whisper, "I am merely withholding my judgement until we have further proof-"

"What more proof do you need?" Daavos asked, bitterly.

Everra did not answer, instead, she sighed softly, her eyes narrowing as she thought of a response.

"Though he may be changing, Robb still clings to his dreams of honour and doing things the safest way possible, trying to make sure that the least amount of people get hurt. He wouldn't send someone to kill me, its not in his nature, Daavos."

"As you say, my lady," Daavos muttered, rising from his chair and when he almost reached the exit of the tent, Everra called out.

"Don't ever question my decisions this much ever again, Daavos, my word is final."

Jon entered the tent hesitantly, his nerves growing with each agonising second. He had seen her a few times whilst she was bedridden, but never alone.

He wondered momentarily what he was here for.

"Jon," he heard her say, and his attention was then drawn to her. She was behind a screen and Jon swallowed nervously, his hands fidgeting.

"My lady," he responded, trying to keep his nervousness out of his voice.

Jon could hear her move behind the screen and he waited patiently for her to fish. When she emerged she was dressed in a thick beige robe, her long raven hair dripping down her front.

"Sit down," she said, gesturing to a chair, "Please."

"I think I'd prefer to stand my lady, if you don't mind," Jon retorted, his voice firm.

She nodded at him, and something very akin to nervousness flickered in her eyes for a brief moment, before disappearing.

"Your-"

"Why-"

They both fell short on their words, looking at each other uncomfortably.

"Your loyalty during a time in need has not been forgotten," Everra stated, looking directly into Jon's eyes.

"My lady-"

"You are no longer an apprentice," She finished, "You are now a master in your own right, Jon. You are now allowed to accompany Daavos and I to your brothers war councils and will now be allowed to sit on my own personal council."

Jon looked down, shocked at her words.

"My lady, while I am flattered, I'm not to sure why your doing this- if you don't mind me asking," He added, not wanting to insult her.

"You've earned it," she said simply.

Somehow, it didn't feel like it.

"Anna," Jon called out, catching her by the elbow.

"Jon," she said, smiling up at him. Jon could tell that it was not real by how her eyes tightened nervously when she looked at him.

They had not seen each other in two weeks, whenever Jon came into the same room as her, she left as fast as she could. She was avoiding him, plain and simple. At first, Jon understood, he was frightened too, but now he was getting angry. She taught him to deal with his emotions and not to run from them, now she was the one running.

"You've been avoiding me," Jon told her softly, still holding onto her elbow.

She fidgeted at the accusation, her eyes drifting downwards and Jon could see her swallow uncertainty.

"Let go of me," she whispered, her eyes flying up to meet his.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Jon whispered back.

"Let. Me. Go." she hissed at him, her eyes flashing and before Jo could comprehend what was happening, she had yanked her elbow out of his grip and was stalking away from him.

Perhaps he should run too.

"Lady Everra." Robb said, looking at her nervously.

"Your grace," she countered, walking towards him.

Robb rose from his chair but did not move otherwise, waiting for to reach the other side of the table.

They were silent for a while, not quite knowing what to say. The tension that had dimmed was suddenly returning in full force, making the air around them almost suffocating.

"I am glad you are well," Robb started, his voice limp.

One of her eyebrows rose questingly at his words and Robb almost flushed down to his toes. He was acting like a bumbling fool, not a like a King.

"I just wanted to thank you for your cooperation in this whole alliance fiasco, I just wanted you to know that I never once doubted your loyalty towards me," Robb said, his voice growing stronger with each passing moment.

I need you.

The words sprung into Robb's mind suddenly and he could feel his cheeks begin to flush though he was determined to keep it down, fidgeting where he stood.

"I never once thought you doubted me, your grace," Everra said. The lie was thick on her tongue and for the first time in a long time, she could not figure someone out.

What are you up to Robb? She thought.

"Is there something else you wished to speak with me about your grace?" Everra asked coldly.

"I-uh," Robb started, looking at her.

"No," he confessed.

"Then I think we are done here," Everra said, taking a step back and turning around, walking away.

Robb found himself springing forward, his heart in his throat, "Everra-"

She was gone.

What am I turning into?

Robb did not even want to know the answer.

Anna laid out the dress on the bed neatly, waiting for Everra to rise from the bath.

Everra looked at her from where she lay in the bath, her eyes narrowing as she realised that she had not seen much of her handmaiden in a while. There was something different about her, Everra noted, her eyes had a lingering look of frustration and nervousness and she constantly had a worried look on he face, as if she thought someone was about to jump up and kill her.

Everra rose from the bath, her body dripping and reached for her robe and slipped it on, tying it at her waist. Anna hurried over to her quickly, her voice rising with panic.

"My lady you must be careful! The Maester said that you still needed some help-"

"I can put a robe on perfectly fine Anna," Everra interjected reaching up to remove the tie from her hair, allowing it to tumble down her shoulders.

"Do you wish for your hair to be up or down?" Anna asked excitedly, reaching for the wooden brush.

"Doesn't matter Anna," Everra muttered, her mind distracted by her thoughts.

Perhaps Robb would not strike today as she thought, perhaps he would not even wish to strike at all.

"My lady?" Daavos asked, entering the tent.

Everra's back was to him and all he could see was the back of her red dress and her raven locks bellowing down her back.

She turned around at the sound of his voice, shoving her dagger her sleeve.

"You look beautiful," he said, slightly mesmerised.

She looked at him, unimpressed before shaking her head slightly.

"Are you ready?" She asked quietly.

Daavos stiffened at her meaning.

"Like I said before, my lady, I am prepared to die for you if that is what me. . . tasting your food is," Daavos said calmly, looking at her.

Everra nodded at him, her eyes blank at his confession.

"Let's go," she said, walking past him.

Daavos's heart sunk in his chest.

"Everyone," Robb announced, clasping his hands together in front of his body, "Today we are here to celebrate the union of House Stark and House Legrath. Through the hardest and darkest of times, our houses will be able to rely on the other till the end of times."

The crowd clapped appropriately, waiting for him to finish.

"May I present the head of the Legrath house, Lady Everra," Robb finished.

Everra entered the tent at his beckon, Daavos, Jon, Youngbird and Lord Edwin behind her. Two warriors were behind them as well, carrying a golden platter that held two golden cups.

When they reached Robb they all bowed with Everra saying, "Your grace."

Her eyes were on Robb whilst she bowed, rising carefully.

A wooden stand stood nearby, with a long sheet of paper and two quills laying next to it. The pact.

"These are two cups I brought from my travels in Essos," Everra started, gesturing to the cups, "I hoped we could toast with them, to our newfound alliance."

Robb nodded at her, smiling slightly taking a step towards her.

"With wine from my home, we will toast to a new beginning!" Robb stated, watching as the crowd clapped enthusiastically.

Everra watched as two servant boys hurried forward to fill the cups with wine and she could practically feel Daavos stiffen behind her.

Before they made their way to them, Daavos quickly stepped forward and sent Everra a questioning look. Everra nodded and watched as he took a cup from one of the servants, taking a sip. He nodded at her and moved forward, handing her the cup.

Robb was growing at her when she turned to look at him and by that time the other cup had made its way to his hands.

"To our new beginning," he stated, raising his cup.

"To our new beginning," she echoed, bringing her cup up to her lips before being cut off by the sound of Daavos violently coughing.

On impulse, she dropped her cup and distantly heard it clang when it reached the ground. She whirled around, looking at Daavos whom was continuing to cough violently his eyes bulging. Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest, and she was distantly aware of someone pushing the cup out of Robb's hands. By now, foam was beginning to form by Daavos mouth as he fell to the ground, convulsing.

She hurried forward towards him, watching as a healer surrounded him.

"Save him," she snarled.

Rage was pounding through her veins as she turned to look at Robb, the chaos surrounding them matching the emotions whirling inside of her.

"Now!" She yelled and distantly heard the shrieks as numerous of her unsullied barrelled inside the tent, their swords and spears drawn as they came in and shielded her from the other side. The northmen's swords were drawn and she could distantly hear them shouting towards Robb.

"Lady Everra!" Robb called out, managing to pull himself from the fray of guards surrounding him.

"We didn't do this!" He called out, looking at her desperately.

"We should have killed her when we had the chance!" A lord yelled.

Everra snapped her eyes away from Robb's, her rage becoming uncontrollable. She caught sight of Jon and before she could even comprehend what she was doing, she punched him in the stomach, and then turned him around him so that he was facing Robb and pressed a knife to his neck.

"Let us leave peacefully and no one will get hurt," she said, pressing the knife against his neck tighter.

"My lady please-" Jon said.

"Let him go," Robb demanded, looking at her coldly.

"I helped you," Everra said coldly, "I wanted to keep you alive and you try to kill me in return."

She smirked bitterly and said, "So much for not wanting me to die right?"

She watched as Robb's eyes widened at her words, as he realised that she had indeed heard what he had said to her. Not that it matters now.

Robb eyes drifted towards Daavos, whom had stopped convulsing and had managed to stand next to her.

"Why would I want you dead?" He questioned urgently, looking at her, "I have no reason whatsoever, no motive. I want this alliance, I need this alliance to win this war. Why would I jeopardise that?"

He watched as her raged filled eyes begin to soften slightly as she begun to realise what he was saying.

"Think, Lady Everra. Your perhaps the most intelligent person in this room, whom did not want this alliance to happen?"

He watched as she let her grip on Jon go and watched his brother rub his neck, glancing up at Daavos.

Jon stood, his brown eyes widening with shock as he addressed Daavos.

"It was you," he said.

Everra froze, not looking at Daavos somehow managing to keep her gaze on Robb's.

"He never wanted you to side with Robb, he was the one whom objected to the alliance the most," Jon continued.

No. Everra thought.

It couldn't be.

"Daavos would never harm me," she insisted fiercely.

"You weren't the target," Robb found himself saying, "The alliance was."

"Daavos," Everra asked, turning to look at the person whom she was closest to trusting in this world, "Is what they say true?"

Daavos's grey eyes flickered with anger but then slowly but surely, grew unapologetic.

"This alliance would have cost you your life, my lady," He said, " I could not let that happen."

Everra's eyes grew cold and she could feel her heart tighten in her chest and every single wall that he had ever come close to breaking down shot right back up.

"This treachery will cost you yours," she uttered coldly.

"Tie him up to a tree," she commanded and watched as two guards dragged him away, her heart tightening with every step they took.

"Stand down," she muttered to her soldiers and then stalked out of the tent, aware of Robb coming after her.

"Everra-"

"Tomorrow," she promised, turning around to look at him, "Tomorrow."

It was raining.

Everra stood stiffly, her face cold and aloof as she watched Lord Bolton scratch Daavos with his knife, watched as the blood seeped out of the wound. It was the twenty third cut out of twenty five. The twenty fifth ending with her. Her subject, her responsibility.

She was aware of Robb watching her closely but she refused to look back at him.

Blood was pouring from Daavos's mouth and she watched as he coughed, blood splattering on the grass beneath him.

She watched as Robb walked to him, drawing out his own dagger.

Twenty four.

Detachment was key, she reminded herself. She loved nothing. Loved no one. Caring was for the weak.

She was soaked to the bone but she did not shiver even though her wet hair clung to her skin as she moved forward towards him, drawing out the sword that wound end his life.

Thump.

Her heart was still beating.

Thump.

How could she do this?

Thump.

Grey eyes met her green ones and she swallowed slightly, careful not to show any vulnerability.

"Be strong," he whispered.

Love is weakness she thought, as she plunged the sword into his chest. For a moment she was glad it was raining so that no one heard the small gasp she let out.

She watched as Daavos breathed his last breath and when he sunk over, his grey eyes becoming lifeless, she broke.