Apparently, last chapter caused a bit of controversy, and I do not feel the need to justify my decisions but I do think I should explain some points.

Firstly, the misunderstading about Arya's feelings towards Gendry; let's consider this is told from POVs which means the things someone construes from what he/she sees might or might not be true. More so, I've never implied that Gendry has romantic feelings for Arya (which I think it's a little creepy given the age difference at the present time). I must say, though, my plans for Gendry's future might not be even close to what you could imagine at this point.

Secondly, about the strong nature shown by Dany. It is valid and true that a woman behaving like that would have probably received a punishment of some sort. Perhaps a king should not allow to be treated that way. But let's remember Robb does not allow anyone else to be his equal at this point, but Dany. In my mind, he needs the challenge to keep his feet firm on the ground. Besides, all of this is kept private, just between them and we all know that in GoT every character enjoys different kinks.

Lastly, this is following the TV show storyline (even if most of that was already lost).

Oh! I don't forget to say: Thank you! :)

Chapter 33 : Brothers Beyond Blood

There was little territory separating his forces with the ones attacking from South. Randyll Tarly had successfully led his men north, to join Robb's army, even if there were still lingering forces who supported the Tyrells from Highgarden. Once they achieved that goal, they would have the Crownlands surrounded, since Roose Bolton was waiting to attack from the north of said lands. From there, they would move south to attack Stannis if he happened to refuse a truce.

Robb knew that once he had control of what he hoped so, defeating the Lannisters would take no time. And even if he wanted to avoid the killing of innocent people in King's Landing, it would prove to be impossible. As a king, he could not exchange the lives of one city for the rest of Westeros, for his people and the men who had loyally followed him from day one.

In this moment of musing, while he was alone in his quarters, staring at the map with corners already torn, Arya found him.

It was quite painful to think that even if he wanted to spend more time with her, to give her back the sense of united family, he had not had time to sit with her and talk, not even to eat together. Honestly, not even for Dany had he had time which was a pity, considering she still felt hurt by his omission about Talisa.

"Are you busy?" his sister asked.

He certainly couldn't help but smile with relief at having an excuse to breathe and rest his mind.

"When am I not lately?"

She smiled and took this as a cue to join him, sitting in the chair next to his right. With great interest she observed the small wooden figurines on the map, indicating where each army was at the moment, according to the scouts.

"Tywin Lannister did not do this." She gazed at him and for a moment Robb was reminded that his sister had actually been serving their enemy. "He usually spoke about plans and reasoning, about… how you would act."

"What did he say about me?"

"That you have no fear because you haven't lived enough to know it, because you have won every battle."

"To trick him once, I lost thousands of men. You call that a victory?" He heaved a sigh and leaned back on his chair, waiting for her reply.

He was glad to see her shaking her head. "Father would not consider it that. I would hope you wouldn't do it either."

"Glory does not pay for lives." He watched Arya toying with the carved wolf on the map. "They might sing songs about me, but the dead remain unknown. We build kingdoms on top of bodies. We shall not forget that is the highest price to pay."

Silently nodding, Arya just kept him company for a few moments more. Grey Wind soon approached her and laid his heavy head on her lap, waiting to be petted, which Arya happily did. She was one of them, wild and fearless; she was probably the truest of the Starks.

It was his little sister the one who broke the silence with a question that had been nagging at him for a very long time. "How do you think Jon is? Do you think about him?"

There were times when he thought about what Jon was doing, where he was and how the life as a man of the Night's Watch was. Robb sometimes wished that Jon hadn't left before he had declared war so he could be his second in command. Despite everything, they were brothers and there was no man in the Seven Kingdoms in who he could trust more.

He smiled at their sister. "He must be fine."

"Have you heard from him?" she asked in a little voice, as if she had no right to wonder about their brother. It was their mother the one who could not see him, but Arya and he were the ones who had always been close to Jon.

Shaking his head, Robb sighed. "I should've made time to write but… it's been busy around me." He looked at Arya and smiled encouragingly. "Do you want to write? I'll make sure a raven is sent to The Wall if you wish so."

"Really?"

He chuckled before his hand ruffled her short, boyish hair. "Really. You send him my regards."

She smiled in that way he had forgotten children could smile but it also reminded him that Arya did not have long for being a child. She would soon become a woman, and as such she would need to fulfill the agreement they had reached with Lord Frey. There was no way he could tell her about this and for her to take it well.

"I need to let you know something." She nodded in understanding. "You won't like it but remember that at the time my concern was to free you, Sansa and Father from the Lannisters." At this Arya scowled. There was no reason to say more, to offer a more detailed explanation because the results would be the same. "You've been promised to marry one of Walder Frey's sons."

"What?!" she screeched and jumped out of the seat, startling Grey Wind. "You've given me away like currency."

"Arya, please understand me. I would have been married off long ago wasn't that I was married already."

"It doesn't make it better!" she refuted before she folded her scrawny arms over her chest.

"And there's no need to worry yet, since you… well." He cleared his throat and felt how heat rose up his neck. It was not supposed to be like this. It was not his duty to speak with Arya about this but he did feel it was the right thing to do. "You are not a woman yet."

She eyed him warily and then the tiniest smile appeared on her face. "You look red in the face."

Frowning, Robb only limited himself to pull a face at her, which provoked some giggles like the ones he used to hear back when they knew nothing about war more than what they heard in stories; back when their father was alive.

"You're right," Arya finally said, after putting an end to her fit of laughter. "Many things could happen until that day arrives. He could die! Or he could meet a lady," she mocked with a voice that made him chuckled. "You could make me a member of the Kingsguard."

"Or I could ask you to be part of the Queensguard," Daenerys interrupted which earned her the attention of both siblings.

Robb sighed, knowing there was little he could do to argue with them. Those two girls had in common that stubbornness and they were hot-blooded. A true dragon and a true wolf, both women who he felt were not as submissive as others were.

"I like that!" Arya exclaimed. "I could ride a dragon like Bran and Rickon. We'll need more dragons, you know?"

Daenerys smiled. "You sure? They might take you away from the Gendry. Your duties wouldn't allow-"

Arya pulled a face, and Robb felt like he was looking into a mirror. They both were angry and a little disgusted with Dany's implications.

"I do not like him like that!" Arya spat, furious. "He has helped me. I owe him for all the times he save me, and all the others he did not hand me in exchange of freedom." He turned to Robb and her eyes turned softer. "He reminds me of Jon."

In one glance he took at Dany, Robb knew it was difficult for her to understand. No one could, perhaps. How to explain that Jon was more than the bastard son of their father? Most lords tried to hide their mistakes while Eddard had embraced them. It was honor, Robb believed, even if it had caused so much pain for their mother.

Also, Robb couldn't help but to feel a small bit of jealousy. He should have been the one doing the rescuing and offering help, and yet a stranger had filled the part. Now, he couldn't offer much more than scarce words and poor advice.

"I understand." Robb stood up and motioned for her to do the same. "You told me he's a blacksmith, aye?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he'd like to do that? We need weapons more than ever. Is he any good?"

"He is very good. You'll see." Arya grinned at him and wrapped her arms around his waist briefly and tightly. "Thank you. Better for him to be forging a sword than yielding one." After she let go of him, Arya looked up at him. "I have many duties to fulfill, Your Grace. If you excuse me," she teased.

"Go." He nudged her to leave and she was quick to make her way out.

Dany was left a bit surprised by the girl. She was scowling at the floor, as if she hated she was wrong about Arya and Gendry. It was at least comical, but Robb doubted it would be by the time Ayra was fifteen and betrothed. The girl would never want to get married.

"I was forced to marry. Twice," Dany said, quietly approaching him. "I did not like my husbands before but… I learned to be a wife. She seems unwilling to make the sacrifice."

"Did you know how to use a sword when you married the dothraki king? When you married me?"

"No," Dany replied with curiosity laced to her voice.

"There you have it. I believe Arya has nothing to worry about. No man would like to marry a woman who could kill him before the bedding, my Queen."

She laughed at how silly he had sounded. "Maybe I should have had."

"You needed no more weapons, for I remember I was terrified by your beauty. I still am. Men have lost kingdoms for a woman." Robb stood before her and gently threaded his fingers through her silver hair, caressing her cheek with his roughened thumb.

"But you'll win more than one, Wolf. We both will." She let him kiss her. It was soft but demanding, a kiss meant to leave her breathless and longing for another. One of those kisses that tasted like promises and summer wine from Dorne.

"Tomorrow should be the final battle before we attack the Crownlands. Each day home is closer," he murmured and they both sighed.

He knew that as much as she craved the crown, as much as her blood pulled her to sit in the Iron Throne and be queen, she disliked war. As he did as well, Dany hated to see children and families losing everything because their liege lords could not offer safety against invaders.

Like his father had told him, being a lord, or king, was like having thousands of children all of which he had to protect and keep happy, well fed and healthy. Dany was already a mother who cared for their son, so he could only believe she would do the same for their people.

"I'm ready."

"Promise me you will be careful," he called gravely, scared of what could happen but she only smiled before pecking his lips playfully.

"We'll meet after battle, my Wolf. We will prepare for the next step in our plans."

-o-

Battles always were a haze, a blur of images that made him lose his sense of space and time, but knowing Dany was there changed everything. Robb was painfully aware of where she was at all times. She had thankfully agreed to stay near him, but he did not know how long that would last and he was afraid he couldn't be fast enough to protect her in case she needed it.

The sight of men running and screaming in agony from the two dragons and the direwolf were enough to send a message. The Lannister and Tyrell army was surrounded from the north by Robb's forces and from the south by the allies led by Randyll Tarly. It was bloodshed and everyone knew from the moment Drogon screamed from the air, the fear was palpable.

A few feet away, Robb saw Dany throwing knives with an accuracy that made him proud, plucking each scale from her cincher, elegant even at that moment. Around her stood Dacey and Ser Barristan, both doing a fine job on their own. The old man surprised him with his strength and agility.

The stench of burnt flesh and blood filled his nostrils, fueling his anger and energies.

A fight was needed for the men because they grew restless, they lost drive. Now, with this victory they would not only have another kingdom under control, but they would become the strongest of them all.

As the fight dwindled, Robb had more time to study the field and he did not like to see Dany kneeling on the ground. He hurried to her only to notice Dacey's body lying on the dirt, an arrow on her right shoulder and a big gash on her left thigh. She was barely conscious after losing so much blood.

"Your Grace," Dacey whispered before smiling at Dany. "Don't tell him anything," Robb believed he heard when Dacey gently placed a hand over her stomach, right before the man hurried to take her with the healers.

Helping her to stand up, watching Daenerys had no more than dirt on her clothes and Dacey's blood on her hands, Robb asked bluntly, "To who and what you are not supposed to tell?"

"It is none of your concern," Dany replied curtly.

"Daenerys," he warned. "If she has a lion inside her-"

"A bear," Dany hissed. "They are children of The Bear."

They looked into each other's eyes. Robb knew it was better not to have that talk in the middle of a battlefield, where anyone could hear them. Besides, his suspicions led him to believe that Jaime Lannister would not be thrilled about this news; much less if it reached Cersei's ears. He hated to think about Dacey's unborn babe as currency but Robb knew quite well that if the moment arrived, he would need to do it.