Three
Carina,
Sister I find it hard to believe the letter saying that you are well even if it is coming from someone father has said is a good man. Mother has given her own conflicting reports though I find them hard to believe with what she has done. I wonder if you had been here if our mother would have been so foolish. She took Tyrion Lannister hostage causing all of the household guards in Kings Landing killed, negotiated a marriage alliance with a Frey girl for me, something I'm beginning to see had been foolish.
Her latest crime has seen her arrested with guards only I trust watching her. She released Jamie Lannister which caused the death of Lord Karstark's sons. I fear I can no longer trust her nor can I trust Theon. It is why I sent for Jon and named him my heir. It is why Jon is in Winterfell with Wildlings protecting our home and I have become accustomed to not trusting for too long sister so I beg of you that if you are well and alive send me a letter telling me only something we would know. I cannot make any alliance with Stannis until I know for sure it is you. I hope you know that if you are alive and well that I love you and it lightens something in my heart to know at least one of my sisters is well even if the other one is dead and one missing.
Your brother Robb
Carina held the letter tightly in her hands and sighed as she learned her mother was imprisoned. She could not fault her brother for taking the actions that he had to, especially knowing what her actions had caused but it broke her heart a little as well. She cannot imagine the pain of having two children held hostage and one missing but she has always known her mother is not necessarily a good person, her treatment of Jon showed the kind of woman Catelyn Stark was. She shakes her head before writing out a letter with something only her and her twin would know, as she finishes a knock sounds on her door and she calls out for the person to enter.
"Lady Stark," Stannis greets entering with his guard.
"Milord," she says standing up but he waves her off before she can bow.
"It was brought to my attention that you would like to go to the Gods Wood and I thought I might escort you," he offers.
Carina smiles seeing his softness and sincerity making her even more suspicious. She has been slowly feeling like maybe she is being courted but that no one wants her to know thinking she is delicate, something she has never been. She might need time and some gentleness would go a long way but she was not stupid or delicate. Carina doesn't want to come off as ungrateful and that there is a way and a time to say something but that is not now.
"I would like that milord. Maybe afterwards we could visit your daughter. I hear she likes old stories and I'm sure that are some of the North she would be interested in," Carina carefully suggests looking at his face.
She watched as something seemed to cross his features, almost looking like surprise before it disappeared just as quick from his face. Carina thinks he looks much better when he doesn't have to be on guard but it's what he chose when he chose to seek the crown. She doesn't blame him for it, the Lannisters really couldn't be trusted with the crown and the kids were not Baratheon's which meant the crown was rightfully Stannis'. Carina takes his arm choosing not to say anything wanting to not take what could one day be trust between them away.
"Many stories are conflicting about the North and not all are written or clear," Stannis says after walking a bit.
"Many stories are like that and sometimes they are not true I'm sure. Take the story of Daemon Targaryen. Now say what you will of many of the Targaryen's being mad but Daemon was devoted to Rhaeynera to the point it is said that he considered Jace and Lucerys his own yet the stories claim that he didn't die fighting Aemond and instead ran off with Nettles leaving his remaining children to suffer. I doubt that is a true story considering everything else that was told," Carina argues, "Sorry for bringing up the Targaryen's I was just making a point."
"A point that you are right about. Besides, Robert failed to realize that if he killed all dragonspawn he would have to kill our line off as well since we are in essence descended from Targaryen's," Stannis pointed out.
"So you think that killing Daenerys is not the right thing?" Carina asks, curious on his thoughts.
"I think that she is an enemy but only because my brother kept trying to kill her and I think she cannot be trusted but I will not send assassins after a girl who cannot cross the Narrow Sea and who has no army when I have Tywin to worry about," Stannis answers.
Carina hums glancing at him but she stops when she sees the Weirwood Tree, the face looking out of it and she lets go of his arm to step forward. Carefully she kneels down, she has mostly healed but there is still some soreness, and looks at the face of her Gods, of her ancestors. She remembers the way her father took her to the Weirwood in Winterfell and told her that the Old Gods know all. She lifts her hand slowly touching the face and gasps when she is pulled elsewhere.
The images come to her so fast she can barely keep up and it is as if someone is listening because they slow down and she takes it in one by one. She sees her and Stannis married, in love from what she sees. She sees Jon, sees him find out his true parentage, something that makes her gasp in shock. She sees Stannis, Jon and her flying on dragons and defeating Daenerys who seems to be mad. She doesn't understand the last one but she finds herself in Winterfell in the GodsWood when a voice speaks out.
"You are a descendant of Jaehaerys Targaryen and Sara Snow," a man's voice says.
Carina turns to see a man who looks familiar, he is a Stark of that she is certain but who is hard to come by. She thinks it doesn't help that she has had visions thrown at her and she isn't sure what to make of it.
"I am Cregan Stark child. Sara was my daughter and she was foolish but I loved her all the same. She fell in love with a man not hers and when he flew off to war she was left with a child. Up until the birth she remained hidden but my darling girl died in childbirth and so I claimed the child, a boy as my own and he would be who your line descends from," he tells her.
"That sounds like a familiar story. Are women always to blame when men cannot think with their heads. I mean sure Lyanna had her faults and should have thought but she was a child still but Rhaegar was a grown man who should have used his head," Carina says tired of all the stories about women being blamed while men were given a pass.
"I believe that knowing the prophecy ended up making him mad. The long night coming again drove him mad," Cregan tells her, "And if you are to survive what is coming you must heed the visions. Don't let our house fall to ruin like your father and mother have almost succeeded in doing. And make sure it is a northern woman Robb marries, not a Frey."
Carina opens her mouth but doesn't get a chance to say anything Cregan kisses her forehead and she is shown more. Tywin invading the meeting between Stannis and Robb, Daenerys showing herself to be a mad queen when she shackles her dragons for no crime other than fear, she sees Stannis and her so in love, sees her siblings safe but a shadow loomed over her family one that was more of a threat than she had seen. Carina comes back to herself with a gasp and finds herself in Stannis' arms. She grabs onto him, gripping his shoulders with her nails and leaning into him. She wants to find the irony in finding warmth in his arms with the visions she has seen but can't seem to catch her breath.
"She has seen something," Melisandre says, kneeling next to them, "I thought my god the only one but this magic is something else."
"Old Gods," she gasps out digging her nails into Stannis still trying to catch her breath.
"Breath child," the Red Witch says soothingly.
"I am breathing woman," Carina snaps regretting it but then sees her smile and her grip loosens a little on Stannis.
Carina slowly calms down and she realizes that she has laid her head on Stannis' shoulder and that he is running a hand up and down her back. She thought anyone touching her back would make her scream or jump but it's calming when he does it but she knows that this is something they must discuss and slowly sits back, though she keeps hold of his shoulders.
"We need to talk," Carina tells him, trying to stand only to fall feeling unsteady.
"We can talk inside where you can rest," Stannis says, catching her in his arms.
Stannis tries not to think of the way it feels to have her in his arms or the way he wants her gripping him tightly again though in a different context. He never loved his first wife though he was faithful and cared for her but he finds Carina Stark to be a woman he wants to love but he needs to focus on her visions. They finally make their way into Lady Stark's chambers, she insists on the meeting being between just them and the Red Witch and she sits down on her bed, Melisandre sitting next to her while he sits in the chair for her desk.
"What plans do you have for me?" Carina asks bluntly.
"Lady Stark," Stannis tries only to be interrupted.
"I can tell you what I saw or you can tell me first what you plan for me. I would prefer to know the plans first, Stannis," Carina tells him looking him in the eyes.
"Marriage," Melisandre answers, giving him a look.
"In my vision I met with Cregan Stark and he informed me that I am descended from Jaehaerys Targaryen and Sara Snow. It seems the story of the Targaryen prince loving Cregan Stark's bastard daughter is true. I also saw the future," she reveals pausing.
"We can continue," Stannis starts wanting to give her time.
"Stannis sit down and let me talk. Also stop acting like you are scared," Carina orders.
Stannis sees a fire in her eyes and he listens not wanting her to look away. He finds her gaze of him and wants to know what she has seen for them that she keeps looking at him like that. He waves a hand deciding not speaking is best.
"Right. First things first the story about Lyanna is a lie. I figured as much but well can never be too sure. She loved Rhaegar and they were married. My brother Jon is their son and you will not touch him because if we want to live and win then we need him. Daenerys will become mad and her dragons will abandon her for us. Also whatever meeting you have with Robb will be invaded by Tywin so beware and my brother needs to marry a northern woman. There's something or someone else though. The dead are a threat but the shadow that looms over is the true threat and I couldn't see who it is," Carina explains to them.
"Is that all?" Melisandre asks.
Carina shakes her head before standing up and walks over to Stannis. He keeps his eyes on her as she cups his face in her hands and looks at him with steely eyes. She looks every bit a wolf and fierce as she looks down at him.
"Our love will be more than imaginable but I will not be treated like a fragile thing and I want to see my family before I marry. Also I will only marry in front of a Weirwood so take that as it is or find someone else," she growls out not letting go.
"Anything for my Wolf Queen," Stannis says, agreeing as he stares into her eyes.
The smirk she gives makes Stannis wish the Red Witch were not present. He instead pulls her down for a quick kiss conveying his agreement as well as promises. He ends it quickly not wanting her to be tarnished nor does he believe she wants to be married without her family and he must make a peace with Robb Stark if that is to happen. And the warning about Tywin Lannister rings clear in his ears meaning he would have to make plans upon plans for every situation they faced and must figure out the looming threat hidden from view that needed to be dealt with.