Lady Catelyn sleeps for several days after the attempt on Bran's life. If Ellie hadn't seen the dead man and wrapped the bleeding gashes on Cat's hands, she might have thought it was all a hallucination brought on by exhaustion. There is no reason for anyone to want Bran dead. He's ten years old and has been unconscious for weeks.

The man was no one that Ellie, Robb, or Ser Rodrik knew. Bran couldn't have known him either. Someone suggested that he was sent there to commit the murder, but that raised more questions. Who would want a child dead?

There is plenty of time for Ellie to mull over that issue. Robb has decided that Bran is not to be left alone at any time and his wife is the one usually left to watch over him. Her days have been confined to Bran's sickroom, watching him sleep while Rickon plays on the floor. Old Nan is usually the only person to relieve her of the job. When that happens, the princess hurries to the godswood and hides in the peace and fresh air, but she's had no opportunity today.

The young Lady Stark is patching a hole in Rickon's breeches while sitting at Bran's bedside when the little lord exclaims in excitement.

"Mother!" Rickon has jumped up from his toys on the floor and rushes into the arms of his mother.

"Cat!" Ellie stands as well, surprised to see her awake, but truly relieved. "Have you just woken? Are you feeling well?"

"Yes," Cat answers as she hugs Rickon tight. "I'm feeling better."

"And your hands?" Ellie moves closer to her mother-by-law to examine the wounds still bandaged.

"I'll be fine," she assures. She gives Ellie half a hug as she continues to hold her son.

The two women speak very shortly. Cat hardly answers any of Rickon's questions, but she gives him some of the love he has been craving. Ellie assumes that she will return to her place by Bran's bed, however, Cat has other plans.

"I must find Maester Luwin and Robb. I'll be back shortly," she tells her daughter-by-law. She turns before leaving and looks at Ellie graciously. "Thank you for caring for my boys."

Eliana is confused why Catelyn would leave her boys so soon, as is Rickon, but she doesn't argue. She just stares at the empty doorway left behind.

…

Catelyn does return that afternoon to take Ellie's place in the sickroom. However, that's the last time she sees her. The following morning the princess finds Rickon sobbing.

"What's the matter, sweet boy?" Ellie questions in bewilderment as he wraps his arms about her waist tightly.

Through his crying, he tells her that his mother has left Winterfell like all the others.

Ellie works nearly an hour to get Rickon calmed. In the end, he falls back asleep, clearly not having slept well the previous night. After carrying the boy to his bed, she finally goes in search for answers. When she finds her husband, he's busy going over things with Maester Luwin and Theon. A proper wife would walk away and not disrupt a man while he's working, but Eliana is in no mood for propriety.

"I need to speak with Robb alone," she announces in a true Lady of Winterfell tone.

Maester Luwin bows, not even considering arguing, while Theon waits for nod from Robb before they leave.

"I found Rickon crying this morning, Robb. Where is your mother?" Ellie demands without skipping a beat.

"She went to find answers," he says, looking away from her.

"Where? For what?"

"For Bran," he tells her plainly. "Someone tried to kill him twice. He couldn't have fallen from that tower and that assassin was hired by another."

Ellie couldn't disagree. Bran falling from the tower was suspicious, but not impossible. However, a man coming in his room with a knife is unarguable.

"Where is she going for answers? Why wouldn't they be here?"

Robb looks away again, "She's going anywhere she needs to."

"What does that even mean?" Ellie demands.

"It means she's not going to stop until she gets answers. I have a lot of work to do, Ellie," Robb says by way of dismissing his wife.

"Oh, have you?" she scoffs. "Do you know what I've been doing every day, Robb? Caring for your brothers! Now, your mother has left Winterfell. She didn't explain why or even bother to say goodbye to me. I think I'm owed more of answer than that."

Robb sighs, but doesn't dare to ignore her, especially after seeing the blue of her eyes blazing.

"The knife was too nice to belong to the catspaw. Whoever hired him gave him the knife. She's looking for someone who recognizes it in order to find Bran's killer. She'll be back when she knows the truth."

…

Eliana has been unbelievably angry since Lady Cat left without a word. She's angry with her mother-by-law. One, for leaving her young sons, one of whom is very much affected by her absence. Two, for leaving without a word to Ellie. She thought they were close. She looked at Catelyn like a mother and felt far more of a connection than she had to Cersei throughout her childhood. Now it seems the same can't be said for Cat. The princess was a foster daughter, not a true daughter.

She is also angry with her husband. He's keeping something from her, she's sure of it. The young Lady Stark just isn't sure what or why he would hide anything. What about Bran's near murders needed to be secret from the person who was taking care of the unconscious boy?

As Ellie ponders the thought in the peaceful godswood, she's interrupted by a breathless maid who looks as if she's run quite a distance.

"F-forgive me, milady," the girl gives a wobbly curtsy as she tries to catch her breath. "The little Lord Bran, he's awake!"

Ellie is on her feet and rushing towards the castle the moment the words leave the girl's lips. By the time she reaches Bran's chambers, she more breathless than the maid. From the doorway, she sees the boy barely propped up by his elbows with his wolf licking his face. He stares at Ellie blankly, his expression void of the innocence he once held.

"His name is Summer," he speaks for the first time.

The princess gapes at him. She had hoped and prayed with everyone that he would wake up, but now she's not sure what to do or say. The same maid appears beside her, shaking her from her disbelief.

"Go find Robb and Maester Luwin, please," she tells the girl. She moves towards the bed, tentatively sitting beside the boy as his wolf returns to his position laying at his master's feet. "Bran, how do feel?"

"I can't move my legs," he says in empty tone.

Ellie conceals the horror she feels at his words. Maester Luwin said it was a possibility, but for a boy to never walk again…what kind of life is that?

"Maester Luwin is coming to help," she tells him weakly. "Do you remember anything?"

"No."

She doesn't know what to do or how to help. Ellie grabs his hand and squeezes. She suddenly wishes for tears like Rickon gives her because she can hug him until they fade away. Robb and Maester Luwin arrive soon after with the same questions and empty answers. Maester Luwin confirms their newly found worst fears: Bran most likely will never walk again.

Bran doesn't cry. He barely reacts.

"Where's my mother?" Bran questions of Ellie.

Prickles of anger return to her as she looks to Robb. "Go ahead, tell him where your mother went."

Robb gives her a careful look before explaining that Lady Cat went to find answers to what happened to Bran. She wonders if there would be more details if Ellie wasn't in the room, but she pushes it to the side for the time being.

For now, they must tend to the boy who has just awoken to a whole new life.

…

Eliana wakes later than normal. Fatigue has been getting the better of her, making it hard to keep her eyes open throughout the day. She probably would have slept longer if her stomach weren't in knots. As she sits up to drink some water, her stomach flips. She throws herself to the floor to find the chamber pot before she vomits everywhere.

It takes nearly an hour before her belly feels calm enough for her to move. Even then, she simply sits at the small table in her marriage chambers and sips water. It isn't until her handmaiden arrives to take care of the room that she finally begins her day.

She moves a bit slower as her stomach still feels sensitive, but she finds her way to Bran's chambers where she assumes Rickon will already be playing. However, all she finds is Old Nan asleep in the chair beside an empty bed.

Worried, Ellie gently wakes the old woman. "Nan, where is Bran?"

"Oh, my lady," she laughs tiredly. "I must have dozed off."

"That's alright, but the boys?" Ellie presses.

"They sent for him to meet the guests in the Great Hall."

"What guests?"

"Oh, I'm not sure, my lady. They don't tell old women such things," Old Nan laughs again.

By the time Ellie reaches the doors outside of the Great Hall, she finds Theon watching a small group of men on horses leaving. In the distance, she can see a smaller figure standing out from the others.

"Is that my uncle?" Ellie demands.

"Aye, he's off to the brothel," Theon says casually.

"That's my uncle and no one thought to tell me he was here?" She snaps angrily.

"Robb said you didn't sleep well, he didn't want to bother you," Theon lies. Ellie's certain it's a lie because she had a dreamless sleep with her exhaustion.

In a fury, the princess storms away, not even bothering to speak to her husband or anyone else.

…

After refusing any responsibility for the entire day, Ellie emerges from her hiding spot – Jon's old room. As angry as she feels, she didn't want to see or speak to anyone. She definitely didn't want to risk taking her frustration out on the children. Instead, she stews in fury until the sun set and then went onto the stables to ready her horse.

The stable boy doesn't dare question the princess when she asked her horse to be saddled. Perhaps, something on her expression warned him against it. She feels slightly guilty. Any flaming looks in her eyes should be saved for her husband. Her temper flares as she thinks of Robb, but she pushes it to the side.

Though the stable boy knows she's leaving, she still pulls over her hood to conceal herself. She rides slowly to the town outside of Winterfell. Ellie has never seen the brothel but finds it easily enough. She ties her horse off and carefully avoids the drunk, reeking men stumbling about the alley. When she enters the small establishment, she's taken back by the smell. It stinks of perfume, sweat, and what she can only assume it unwashed sex.

Ellie is a bit shocked by sights she sees as well. She's a princess, she's lived in a castle her entire life, despite fighting her constraints, she still carries an air of propriety. Seeing naked women walking around, sitting on men's laps, or on their knees in front of those men are not familiar or comfortable sights. She's careful not to keep her gaze on anyone for too long and tries to hide her face from the people glancing at her.

She doesn't see her uncle anywhere, but she does see his men. The young Lady Stark decides to just ask them where Tyrion is when she hears his familiar laugh behind a closed door. Ellie feels silly knocking, but she does it anyway before entering the room.

There are two women in different states of undress lying on the bed with her uncle and giggling at whatever story he's telling. Tyrion, thankfully, is mostly dressed. The trio looks up at the young lady with unworried expressions until she removes her hood. Being the new Lady of Winterfell, she's easily recognized and suddenly they are all sitting up straight.

"Ellie," Tyrion greets in surprise, but not displeasure.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Uncle. I was hoping to speak alone, though," she says.

Her uncle's whores vacate the room after Tyrion insists they will finish later. Once he's better dressed, he invites Ellie to sit on the bed. She eyes the spot skeptically, knowing it can't be clean, but sits anyway.

"This is no place for a princess, beloved niece," Tyrion tells her. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't know you were in Winterfell until you were gone. I wanted to see you," Ellie explains.

"You didn't know? Your lord husband said you were feeling unwell," he says with a challenging brow.

While it's not a lie, Ellie was feeling ill in the morning, Robb was not aware of the fact. He was gone before she woke and had to deal with her upset stomach.

"Not unwell enough to willingly miss your visit, Uncle."

"A bit of morning sickness?" Tyrion asks with a humorful smile.

"Yes," she answers automatically, but when she sees his brows shoot up, she realizes what he meant. "No! No, not that. I've…I've just been tired."

"Of course," Tyrion grins. "Well, I'm glad you came to visit. I imagine you would have been the only one happy to see me in Winterfell. Your husband was less than pleased."

"Forgive him. Things have been…strange."

"Yes, they appeared very strange. Tell me, where is Lady Stark?"

"Haven't you heard, Uncle? I am Lady Stark," Ellie jokes weakly, desperate to mask the anger bubbling to the surface.

"Right," Tyrion chuckles. "Where is Catelyn Stark, Ellie?"

The princess sighs, "I don't know. They won't tell me."

"What?" Tyrion doesn't mask his shock. "What do you mean?"

Ellie hesitates, wondering if she should share what she knows, but she's not sure why it should remain a secret. "Someone tried to kill Bran before he woke up. Cat and Bran's wolf stopped the man, but they don't know why or who sent him."

"So, she went looking for answers outside of Winterfell?" he presses.

Ellie shrugs. "I guess. I didn't find out she was gone until Rickon told me."

"That is very strange," her uncle agrees. "Does she suspect anyone in particular?"

"Uncle, I'm getting my information from a six-year-old. I have no idea what she suspects."

"Fair enough," he says. "Well, I hope she finds her answers. I can't imagine why anyone would harm the child."

"I can't either."

"Well, you've had quite the start to your marriage. I'm sorry for the issues you're facing. Robb is a true Stark, stubborn as can be. He's a good lad, but he's just that, a lad. He'll learn how to be married in time and so will you."

Eliana feels slightly better. Being able to tell someone of the things frustrating her and that person agreeing that it's frustrating soothes her anger. She's able to push all those issues away to address something she's even more desperate to know.

"You really went to the Wall, Uncle?"

"I did," he confirms.

"Did you…did you talk to Jon Snow or see him at all?"

"I did, quite a lot," he says with a knowing smile.

Ellie's deep concern for Jon has her ignoring his expression. She doesn't care what he thinks, she must know. "How was he? Was he happy? Did he like it?"

Tyrion sits up a bit, his smile transforming to something a bit sad. "Do you want to know what he told me to tell you or the truth?"

"Well…both," Ellie says in confusion. "What did he say to tell us?"

"Not the others. His message was specifically for you, Ellie."

"What did he say?"

"He wanted me to tell you that he loves it, that he's truly found his place, and he knows he'll be happy," Tyrion conveys.

"And the truth?" she asks as her heart sinks.

"He was disappointed. It seems the people around him, aside from the two of us, weren't honest about what life is like there. He had some difficulties when we first arrived, but things were better before I left. He made friends and, though he may not be certain yet, I think he has truly found his place. Or will soon enough."

His place is here, with me, a voice in the back of her mind insists. She forces the thought away.

Ellie swallows, absorbing the information and trying to ease her worry and fear. "Thank you for telling me, Uncle."

"Ah," he murmurs gently like he's discovered something new. It looks as if he's read her mind. His little hand covers hers suddenly. "You're in love with Jon Snow."

The princess' eyes widen and she quickly glances around the room to ensure they are truly alone. Her heart pounds in her chest, afraid of some punishment coming with her uncle discovering her secret.

"We talked a bit, Ellie. I figured out that he was in love with you, but he never said you felt the same way. You do, don't you?"

"Yes," she whispers brokenly. "I don't know how to let him go."

Tyrion wraps his short arms around her to provide the comfort she so urgently needs.

…

When Eliana returns to Winterfell, she is stopped right at the gates.

"Forgive me, my lady. Lord Stark has been looking for you," the guard tells her.

Someone takes the horse for her while the guard escorts her to the Great Hall to find Robb pacing. He cannot mask the pure look of relief on his face when he sees his wife. For a split second, Ellie feels guilty for hiding and leaving without a word because only someone who truly loves her could look at her like that.

"Where have you been?" He demands as soon as they are left alone.

"I went to town," Ellie answers simply.

"I went to town and couldn't find you," Robb returns.

Ellie is slightly surprised that he left the castle grounds to search for her, but she doesn't let it show. "I went to the brothel to see my uncle since you wouldn't allow him to stay here or even speak to me."

Robb grimaces. "Why didn't you tell anyone where you were going?"

"Why didn't you tell me my uncle was here?"

"He wasn't here very long."

"Long enough to go get Bran and Rickon," she argues.

Robb sighs as he realizes his wife has no intention of dropping the subject.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why are you hiding things from me?" Ellie presses. "First with your mother, now with my uncle, what is going on, Robb?"

"There's nothing going on, Ellie." He sighs again.

"You can't even look me in the eye when you say that," she spits. "There is a reason why you didn't want me talking to my uncle, there's a reason why your mother left without a word to me, there's a reason why you won't give me a straight answer about where she's gone."

"Ellie," he shakes his head, ready to lie further.

"I am your wife!" She nearly yells. "Tell me the truth, Robb. Tell me everything."

"I didn't tell you about your uncle because I don't trust him. I didn't want him here, but I knew you'd have him stay," Robb finally explains. "I'm sorry for keeping that from you."

"And your mother?"

"It's not that simple," he says.

"I don't care," Ellie says with a shrug. "Where did she go? I know she didn't go off to the town to interrogate everyone over a knife, so where is she?"

Robb appears torn, but his wife doesn't waver. Once he realizes that she will not back down, he concedes.

"She went to speak to my father about what's happened and our suspicions."

"She went to speak to your father…in King's Landing? She couldn't send a letter?"

"She couldn't risk anyone else finding out," Robb explains.

"Finding out what? What exactly are her suspicions?" Ellie questions. "You suspect someone specific of hurting Bran?"

"Yes," he says with a guarded expression.

"Who?"

"Ellie, she didn't want you to be hurt."

"Who, Robb? Who is responsible?"

Her husband swallows hard, looking at her squarely. "The Lannisters…"

Ellie freezes for a moment. She's not sure how to feel. Anger at the audacity to accuse her family, fear that it may be founded, frustration at her own doubt. As Robb regards her carefully, watching every emotion play out in her fierce blue eyes, she chooses how to react.

"The Lannisters," she mutters, the incredulity dripping from her words. "It's a big house, Robb. Who exactly are you blaming? My Uncle Tyrion? Uncle Jaime. My mother?"

"We don't know who exactly yet," he tells her.

"House Stark and House Lannister have never been friends, but that doesn't mean they are responsible for the misfortune that occurs to you!"

"That's not why we believe it's them," he sighs.

"Why then? Why do you believe your own wife's family is responsible for trying to kill your little brother?" the princess demands.

"After Jon Arryn died, my Aunt Lysa sent word to my mother," Robb begins a familiar tale. Ellie's blood runs cold. "She said Lord Arryn did not die from illness, he was murdered."

Ellie can't look at him as the hypocrisy dons on her. She once promised not share anything with the man she was marrying and now she's mad he's done the same.

"She said the Lannisters were responsible," he continues, revealing a detail Ned Stark wisely left out.

"Why? Why does she believe it was them?" Ellie asks as her heart beats out of her chest. "Why would my family want Lord Arryn dead?"

"I don't know, she never said," Robb answers. "But be honest, Ellie. Jon Arryn dies suspiciously and his own wife believes it was the Lannisters. Then, not long after they come to Winterfell, my brother mysteriously falls from a tower and then has another attempt on his life. They are a common factor."

"So are the Baratheons! So are the guards! So is everyone in my father's company!"

"We didn't want to upset you or hurt you, but this is what we suspect. My mother went to King's Landing to find answers, not to make any accusations until we're certain."

"You think my own mother and uncles are murderers, that they would kill a child for any reason. That does hurt me, Robb."

With that, Ellie and Robb's conversation comes to an end and she leaves her husband alone in the Great Hall.

Hello!

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! I know there were a lot of different parts, but I'm trying not to make their time in Winterfell drag. I almost included one more part...but I'll wait until the next chapter!

Tyrion mentioned talking to Jon. Is anyone interested in that conversation because I could write it from Jon's view if you'd like for the next chapter?

I hope everyone is safe and healthy!

Please review to let me know what you think! Your feedback is so important to me.

Thank you for reading, favoriting, and following. Special thanks to my amazing reviewers!

Hope to hear from you,

-V :)