Not quite in the mood to write, but not quite in opposite mood either. So, here we go. Hopefully, at least some people will like it.

I guess this is the only chapter which I find hard to write despite the set goal being accomplished.

Forgive me if this chapter doesn't quite live up to standards. It is all moving pieces, I was in a weird mood.

Disclaimer: I don't own GOT or any characters except those I made up - I make no money what so ever .. blah blah blah.. applies to all other chapters too.

Jon stayed at white harbor for ten more days, going to pier every day, asking around any and every ship coming in to port for any news or stragglers. Lord Manderly tasked his sons with finding ships for lord Stark. The Manderly sons included Jon in all their dealings, surprisingly, they seem to give him the same regard as they do for any other Stark children, despite the rumors flying around Jon planned this attacks on Stark children by plotting with lord Reyne.

The captain that rescued Jon seemed intent on helping him out, letting him know all kinds of gossip that Lords did not know, but small folk did. Jon vowed to give the man a position on his fleet when it came about. Like lord Reyne said, capable men are not to be lost. They do not come by easily. He set out at top speed to winterfell once the ships are arranged for.

For all his bravado, Jon is apprehensive as he entered winterfell. He did not think he could bear it if his father did not believe in him. Lord Stark received him warmly. Jon felt relieved, then ashamed for not trusting in his father. Lord Stark would never have believed in those rumors about him. He is not a person moved by hearsay. Even so, he is scared for Freya's fate, rather than his own.

"We have lot to discuss Jon. Let us adjourn to my solar." lord Stark told him without further ado.

Lady Stark is not in the company that welcomed him. Neither is Sansa. Arya and Rickon were waiting for him, both delighted with his return. The household seemed to be taking their cues from lord Stark.

Jon followed his father silently.A thousand questions are whirling in his head, yet, he did not let single sound escape his lips. There is no point to all thousand questions, if his father does not trust him. It is Lord Stark's choice, not his. So, he waited patiently for lord Stark to speak.

"What is the word from White harbor, Jon?" his father asked.

Jon gave his report as precisely as he can, all the while resisting the urge to ask what freya's fate is to be.

Lord Stark nodded, as he finished his report.

"You have done well Jon." his father told him with genuinely.

Jon relaxed slightly. Whatever he may have thought he had seen, his father would have put his lord face on if it were bad news. Freya quite possibly is not as bad off as he imagined.

"We have a lot to speak about…" his father began with that.

He told Jon of Freya's confession. He is given a choice to break his betrothal to Freya, but Jon refused before his father can so much as expand on that. He had known what Freya can do. He had not expected that she is as powerful as she is, but it is a matter he had already made peace with. Lord Stark seemed to have realized Jon's feelings for his lady ran far deeper than he imagined. In the end, he gave in with a smile.

Freya is to be kept under house arrest until such a time as Lord Stark or Robb returns, if neither of them do not return, she will stay their prisoner for ever. Jon did not think it all that bad. After all, chances of both his father and Robb not returning are low. Either one of them will return, then they will carry on with their future just as they imagined. He had faith his father will bring Robb back even from end of the world if need be.

Secondly, he will be the Stark in winterfell. He always dreamed of this moment. In his dreams, he has been honored and proud his father trusted him with such a task. In his dreams, all of his family, including all his brothers stood beside him. Yet, the reality of the moment couldn't be worse. He is Stark of winterfell, because there's no one else left to do the job. He did not feel honored, he felt oppressing presence of duty on his shoulders. He felt foreboding shadow of the tragedy, that always waited in the shadow to swallow Starks as whole.

Lord Stark left to white harbor next day. Jon gave him farewell to Ned Stark as acting lord of winterfell. Lady Catelyn avoided him like plague. It is as if he went back to being bastard of winterfell in her eyes. Jon did not think her rejection would hurt him as much as it did. He liked her hugs, as rare as they are. After he came back from that debacle in white mountains, Lady Catelyn had always been nice to him, if not motherly. Even when he was taking the place of Robb as heir. Her counsel had been wise, she even checked upon him as she did on Robb every morning. Now it's back to avoiding him. Worse yet, he can't even go to Freya for advice, as she's confined to her chambers.

Days went by in a blink, while nights felt longer than usual. Jon worked tirelessly, gently denying mad accusations from Lysa Arryn, enduring petty jealousy from Theon with clenched teeth. He is the acting Lord of winterfell. It just wouldn't do to punch a some one the face because he is annoyed. It all went to hell in a basket when a they couldn't find Sansa one evening. Jon searched castle by himself first, then with growing panic, he had the guards search the entire perimeter. Sansa is nowhere to be found, in addition to that, neither is Rickon. Lysa Arryn is the first to seize the opportunity.

"What did you do to them, Bastard?" she screamed at him. Lady Catelyn stood in the corner, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Where are my niece and nephew? Did you kill them? Did you kill them to become LORD of WINTERFELL?" She probably would have continued well into the night with her tirade.

Jon Stood frozen in front of her when she started her tirade. Until she said lord of winterfell. Those words snapped him awake like a bucket of ice cold water in face. He is the lord of winterfell now, Jon reminded himself. If he panics, so will entire castle, if he breaks, so will entire castle. Winter is coming, he repeated to himself. Winter is coming and Starks will endure. I will see our family through this crisis come what may, he resolved within his mind. When he spoke, it is not as a boy, but as lord of winterfell.

"Guards." he called in his coldest voice.

The guards snapped to attention as if a whip is cracked.

"Take lady Arryn to her rooms. Make sure she stays with in until she calms." he said.

Perhaps it is the ice in his voice, the guards rushed into action, dragging a screaming Lady Arryn away. If Catelyn Stark is offended, she did not show it, or she just did not notice it at all in her grief at loss of another two of her children.

"Willem, bring Arya here." he ordered youngest guard of the lot.

"Hullen. Go to wintertown and ask for bear hunters and hounds of Tills. Gather as many as you can." the guard left with his orders.

Only ser Rodrick and Jory remained in the room, looking at Jon expectantly. Jon is surprised they both are actually looking to him for orders instead of telling him what to do.

"Ser Rorick, gather as many men as you can, divide them into groups of fifty, two bear hunters for each team. We will meet at the gates in two hours of time, or when you have at least a hundred men." Jon told him. Ser Rodrick looked at him approvingly, nodded and left.

"Jory, set up a night patrol on every road leading out of winterfell, small, big, obscure and otherwise. Tell them to check every wagon entering and leaving, look for any signs of movements in the trees. Come back to me when you arranged that." Jon told him. Jory left with his orders.

Lady Stark now looked to be calming a little. Even if she alternated between accusing and unsure as she looked at Jon. She hasn't uttered a single word this night. It is at this moment the guard Jon sent for returned with Arya. she looked like she has been sneaking into kitchens.

"Arya Stark." Jon motioned her to sit.

Arya's eyes snapped into attention at his tone the same way guard's did, as if she realized it is not her brother before her, but lord of winterfell. Her eyes darted between her mother's tears, maesters blank expression, the guard who looked a little cowed, yet proud, as if he suddenly realized he is doing some important work. Jon dismissed the guard.

"I called you here, to apprise you of current situation. Sansa and Rickon are missing. Do you understand what that means, Arya?" Jon asked her seriously.

It hurt him to place Arya in such a position, she is but nine years old. He, himself could barely hold it together, it seemed too much to expect Arya to understand share the burden of the situation. Yet, it must be done. Arya shook her head uncertainly. Jon kneeled in front of her.

"If anything were to happen to me little sister, you will be the Stark in winterfell. Currently, you are the heir to winterfell." he told her.

"But you will find them, Jon! Won't you?" Arya sounded absolutely sure.

"I will do everything within my power to find them." Jon told her.

"I will help you. I know every hiding place and " Jon stopped her before she could get ahead of herself.

"You will not be helping the rescue efforts. You will stay with in the castle, with in eyesight of guards."

Arya looked like she is about to protest until she looked at Jon's countenance. Jon knew he looked too cold and frightful, he is probably strong arming his little sister into confinement, but there's no other choice. Arya nodded sullenly. Jon's not finished yet.

"You need not attend your lessons with septa from tomorrow onwards. Instead, you will attend lessons with maester Luwin in the morning, with ser Rodrick in weaponry in the evening. Arya, you will stay in the castle and with guards, until such a time as you are informed otherwise. Do you understand? " Jon asked her mildly.

Arya looked like her name day has come early, but a little guilty for not helping to find her siblings, a bit angry about the constant guards. In the end, she nodded her head and repeated the instructions Jon has given her, promised to follow them to the last letter.

Lady Catelyn looked on with red eyes. She still hadn't spoken a word, her eyes are glued to the window.

"My Lady." Jon called her gently.

She turned away from him. Jon had no idea what she's thinking, but there's little comfort he could offer. It will probably be different if Robb is here, he would have most definitely done something that made her feel better. Jon felt all his insecurities come back for a moment, but he ruthlessly pushed them in. He had to stay strong. He must stay strong for his siblings. His father has given him a responsibility, he can not fail.

"I will bring Sansa and Rickon back if I have to turn over every stone and dig out every tree in north, Lady Stark. This, I vow." Jon told Catelyn Stark.

For a moment there, he thought she is going to run out of the room without turning and facing him. Lady Stark turned towards him very hesitantly, as if she couldn't half believe his words. Then, she gave a slow nod and left him. Jon let his fears take him over only after Lady Catelyn left. Lady Stark's eyes were swollen, her cheeks blotchy. In all his years at Winterfell, Jon had never seen her that distraught. For all that she hated him, for all he found her uncomfortable, he had relied on her as much as her own children did. It jarred him to see her crumble.

There are times Jon Arryn forgot Robert had been a commander of utmost calm before he brought out the storm during battle. He has almost forgotten Robert Baratheon the force of nature that they followed to the greatest battle that changed ruling dynasty. He has completely forgotten Robert the boy, who is never tricked by any feint or whatsoever, but could make others fall for every trick in his book. There used to be times when Jon Arryn stopped and wondered if that is the dragon blood in him showing. However, ingenuity of these moments is almost always mixed with an utterly cruel motive, worrying Jon that perhaps a hint of Targaryen madness passed on to Robert too. As he grew, those moments showed less and less, Jon Arryn let go of his worries too. That is, until this moment.

"Come now, Jon. The girl is as ugly as aurochs. We need a foothold in westerlands." Robert argued.

Robert Baratheon wanted to marry Brienne of Tarth to Sandor Clegane. Jon supposed it made strange sort of sense in Robert mind to match an ugly and impossibly tall girl with an ugly and impossibly tall man. If that is all king wanted to do, Jon would have let him. The girl is not the kind to be beaten down easily. The king wanted to send the married couple, newly legitimized prince Gendry, and ser Barristan on a tour of stormlands across border of westerlands.

His assumption is Tywin Lannister will send mountain to deal with them, where upon, the three knights will kill him, with help of prince Gendry. Provided they succeed, Both Gendry and Brienne will be knighted. He expected at least some of them to die, but between them, they will also manage to kill or maim Mountain. Provided mountain died along with hound, they will claim clegane lands through Brienne. Even if she died in the fight. As far as prince Gendry goes, well, a man who can not fight could not be a leader. Robert wanted to see if his son has enough fury in him to be called a Baratheon. Jon Arryn wondered just what kind of madness has taken over the king, that he has become willing to put his own son's head on sword with such little regard.

When Jon Arryn raised this point, Robert simply replied I have enough sons to replace this one if he fails. Edric at Stormsend has been instructed to go on the fight too, just to cull one of the bastard princes. There are other children of king being gathered too, even as the queen's womb quickened again. Jon hoped the queen gave birth to a boy at least this time around.

"This .. This is madness Robert. Lady Brienne may not seem much to you, but her father loves her beyond measure. I know the man. He is one of your firm supporters. This could very well turn him against you." Jon Arryn said disapprovingly.

"That is it Jon. I want to know my loyal subjects from traitors and turncoats. I want to shake off bad apples early." Robert said passionately.

The argument eventually concluded in King's favor. After all, Tarth is sworn to Stormsend, not eyrie. So, in the middle of the night, Brienne of Tarth is called from her station of guarding the queen, informed she is marrying within the hour. Similarly, Sandor clegane is given the same spiel, only with far more mentions of Mountain, and Sandor's duty to bring him down. Then to the horror of both parties involved, they are married with in hour. After that, they were put on horses along with their charge Gendry, looking like he has no clue what he is doing here, and Ser Selmy, who looked only all too happy to go on this journey.

With in almost first hour of the journey, Gendry decided if this is what being a royal, he absolutely doesn't want to be one. Hound and Brienne fought like cats and dogs, it is not the kind between lovers. Both of their ideals and beliefs are as far as as they could be from one another, they clashed like waves on a rock, forever in a state of conflict. Making every other person's lives as noisy as the sea. Just as both of them calm, Ser Baristan made one statement or another, which set of both of them again. During all this drama, Gendry is still expected to continue his education, learning of the sigils, merchandise, crops and a great deal of other shit. It all came to head when some poor bandits tried to attack them, thinking they are but poor farmers. The stupid shits didn't stand a single chance. Before they can say so much as mercy, Hound is pounding through them in fury. Brienne and Ser Baristan joined him, those bandits did not stand a chance.

Gendry retched in nearby bush when it is all over. Hound laughed at him, while Lady Brienne patted his back, assured him he will get used to it in due time, there's nothing wrong with his reaction. Ser Baristan nodded in answer. They killed all but one of the bandits, this one fell on his knees shaking like a leaf. Brienne is all for giving the corpses a burial, whereas hound is all for taking their heads throwing their bodies to vultures.

"Let the Gendry decide." Ser Baristan said when he realized the fight will go on till sundown.

All the eyes in the camp turned to him, including their prisoner's.

"Take their heads, bury the bodies." Gendry said, caving in to both Brienne and Sandor. They would have argued more, if not for Ser Baristan.

"You heard the man." he said as soon as Gendry finished talking, cutting off any protests. The camp as one moved to do his bidding, even as Gendry stared at them slack jawed. Is this what it meant to be a prince? He could tell great knights to go take a shit on opposite side of river, they will do so without question? The power excited and scared Gendry at the same time. For now though, he washed off his mouth with remaining water, took spade to start digging alongside everyone else.

"M'lord, you will get dirty." a servant girl tried to stop him, but Gendry shook her off. He will not be one of those highborn who only watch, do none of the work.

Once they are done, the remaining boy is interrogated about the bandit base. Between the knights, it's decided they will bust the hole, just to get Gendry to have some experience. Gendry firmly objected to having or needing any kind of experience, but he is shushed. Shushed till all the high from his earlier on decision leaked away. He guessed he will only ever get to make the decisions which will get him whacked in the behind by both parties. Soon, they are all trudging a bandit stronghold with no backup what so ever. They were damn lucky, for it seems the remaining in their camp has chosen this particular day to get roaring drunk. They tied up all they can, remaining, they could take care of easily. All the action Gendry got is a man running at him his axe raised above him. Gendry dropped at the last minute, swung his hammer full strength. The man fell along with axe, hitting his head in the process. He did not get up again.

They continued their journey in that vein, with bigger and smaller mishaps. Most notable of mishaps being the fight between hound and Brinne. They beat each other almost black and blue, and all for what? Long hair it seems. Hound had the stupidity to challenge his wife to a spar, then bet her she has to grow her hair out like a girl if he wins. Brienne accepted, saying if she wins, hound have to do the same. Needless to say, the resulting spar is bloody. Hound dislocated his shoulder, where as you can't see a single inch of lady Brienne's face or torso that's not bruised. She lost, but vowed on stranger one day, she will win. Given that she is only sixteen, she most probably might. Ser Baristan ripped the two a new one, Gendry stayed besides him and snickered at hound and Lady Brienne all throughout. They stopped at one of the little villages to allow both of them to recuperate. It is there they heard the rumours of a mysterious band of bandits, which destroyed every thing in their path, whose leader is as big as a giant.

Then they ran. Gendry asked them to run, and so they did, though Lady Brienne and Sandor clegane protested something fierce. How ever, both of them are injured, Gendry did not believe he and ser Baristan alone could take on mountain, how much ever good they are, so he decided they should run. It still amazed him that they listened to him. They went towards Marcher Lord's lands with his party. Gendry would have continued running to ends of earth if it meant he could escape, but Brienne and Sandor have recuperated, he could see they will burst with anger if there's any more of running. Thus he decided to make his stand. There's no point in running any more. However, he is not a knight, so he will take all his weapons to the battle unlike the stupid trio.

When he is about to embark on this journey, he hurriedly woken up Lady Lyanna to say his goodbyes. She couldn't find a favor to give him like he asked, so she gave him something else instead.

"Gendry, people say poison is a woman's weapon. They would be right. How ever, there are people in this world whom even the kindest woman wouldn't forgive. Use this for those cunts who should never live to see another day. Run when you don't want to fight, regardless of what those courageous shits say and Live! What ever else you may do, stay alive! " she told him, as he gave him a poison bottle. Just a hint of it on the blade, a man will freeze up like a clam. He could take the antidote before the fight. For some strange reason, that little poison bottle has been his greatest comfort throughout this journey.

When the encounter did happen, there couldn't be a worse fight. The mountain is truly ferocious enough for thirty knights, it took all of Ser Baristan's skill to keep him distracted. Sandor cleagane and Ser Baristan could only fight him to a standstill, even as Brienne and Gendry drained the reserves. Mountain had not come alone, he came with ten other men, all of whom proved to be as awful as men can ever get. Gendry talked to two of the huntsmen in the village to hide and shoot the men with arrows, if not for that, they wouldn't even have stood chance. Between as the second of the men fell, Gendry took out one of his finger knives, flicked it expertly towards mountain's knee. After all, he is wearing full plate armour, there's no gap other than knees, even that, is only available because Ser Baristan cut the Brace on the side earlier trying to cut Mountain's knees. It made contact, Gendry knew. A knife found it's way into his side meanwhile. Gendry swung his hammer in response, caved the man's skull in.

Lady Brienne already killed her opponent, and moved on to next, even as one of the men dragged out a hidden hunter. Another Arrow found it's way to the man's skull, freeing the hunter. The man joined the fray without hesitance. There's more singing of arrows, as another man fell. That's four down among the remaining eight. Gendry started to feel hopeful. Before they could move another step, one more man was down to an arrow. They were able to take care of rest of them easy easily enough. Just in time too, to see ser Baristan drive his sword into Gregor clegane. They both they both left Gregor lying around on the grass, bleeding. The Hunters came around to look at the man.

"Is that mountain who rides?" they asked, curiously.

"No, Goodmen. He is only an imposter. I saw the mountain once in kingslanding, he is bigger than even this monster." Gendry answered, before one of them could even get an word edgewise.

If his stint in kingslanding had taught him anything, it is to not make himself too visible. A bastard made prince, is a threat. However, a bastard prince who could kill Mountain, with or without help is a threat that must be eliminated immediately. He knew his father's plan to knight him for killing mountain tentatively, he will just have to wait for that. Gendry had enough people trying to kill him already. Aye, the maesters taught him to read and rule, Jon Arryn taught him to be honorable and wise, but it is Lyanna Stark who taught him the true way to live. She is the only one who told him truth, that he is king's bastard, who could have died a thousand different ways, to a thousand different assassins. The only way he has to live is to lie low, avoid one death at a time. It is a teaching he took to heart like no other. So, he spun his story, of a man who is twice as tall as a normal man, thrice as fierce as even the most vicious hell beast. Eventually, The men left believing it is simply an abnormally big man who died, who tried to pretend to be mountain.

"What do we do with him?" Lady Brienne asked eventually.

"I say we leave him to wolves." Sandor answered.

Ser Baristan looked at Gendry expectantly. They seem to be doing that a lot now a days. First time had been amazing, but the sight is slowly getting on his nerves. He dearly wanted to say fuck me if I know, but he could not. He is a prince now. He has to think long term, whatever that means. For now, Gendry will be happy if no talk of this ever came out. Where could he take the mountain that word would not get out? What would he, himself would do if he sent assassins against someone? He will be waiting for word. What will he do if everyone who can send a word died? He will either have to send a man along with the assassins to watch them in action, or collect rumours. They could not do anything about a man who was hiding, for they see no other men than the ones who died here today. If someone is that good at hiding and watching, Gendry will have no luck catching them. So, his only option is avoid rumors. He decided his course of action.

"We take prince's pass, to Dorne. We sell this body to Martells." he gestured to Mountain's body.

"That is, if you don't have any objections, My lord." he added looking at Sandor.

Sandor just stared back at him with empty eyes. Lady Brienne, who almost never did anything female like at all, held his hand, telling him it's over. Sandor just nodded back at her equally out of it.

They eventually burned the remaining bodies, collected all the coin on dead bodies. Ser Baristan and Lady Brienne both disapproved of the deed, but Gendry just shook his head at them and told them to leave it be. While both the Lady and Knight did not obey, they both backed off a little. There is a certain respect towards him in all of them after the fight, though it's mixed with a hint of disapproval in case of Ser Baristan. Gendry decided not to think about it much. For now, they will take the body to Dorne, explain how he died, demand some gold from them. Hopefully, then the people will say it's sellswords that killed Mountain, rather than him. He may be taking off glory from Lady Brienne, but she didn't look too upset about it. Somewhere along the Journey, Lady Brienne and hound fucked, but Gendry tried extra hard not to think about it at all.

Eventually, they reached Dorne. Even the inviting of Martells to meet and see the stinking rotting dead body is all exciting. For the first time, Gendry believe he could be royalty. After all, what other Fleabottom boy could go on such adventure? When Doran Martell told him they can have anything of him they wished, it is Gendry who took control again.

"We ask for not one, but two things my lord. We ask you let go of any resentment you hold towards Starks and Lady Lyanna." he told firmly.

Both Martells heads whipped towards him at that, but Gendry held his ground.

"What would be other but gold? It has been tiring and bloody annoying to get this big lump all the way here. Give us whatever you think a fitting reward, mylords." Gendry told him.

In the end, Martells gave them a ship. A sturdy and stable one, so they need not make tiring and annoying journeys to drag bloody big lumps to Dorne, prince Oberyn said. Gendry just laughed at it, and thanked him just the way he learnt, taking the ship and setting sail almost immediately to Tarth. They discovered Lady Brienne is with child even before they met Martells, she wanted to be at Tarth to give birth. It amazed him sometimes how well Sandor and Brienne had come together, given how much they hated each other in the beginning. It's not even the love hate thing they had, they were just too different people, who held to opposite ideals. Yet, they both were able to find peace, if not love, contentment. Perhaps, it is wrong to say they both held to different ideals. They both believed in the same moral code, Hound in the impossibility and non-existence of those morals in the world, whereas Brienne believed there are still some who held to that strict and idealistic morals. Even so, Sandor took care of his wife just because she is his wife, and Brienne genuinely cared for him, not because he is a husband, but he is a valued comrade. Eventually, it worked out just fine.

Their Journey to Tarth wasn't eventful. Lord Selwyn glared at him as if he wanted to kill him when he introduced himself as Robert Baratheon's son. However, Over the course of next days, he thawed seeing his daughter is happily married, if not in love. She is pregnant, her husband listened to almost every one of her whims, even if grumbling to high heavens. After few days, Lord Selwyn even smiled at Sandor at times, or so Gendry thought. Any which way, life was peaceful, if painful, for his lessons become threefold. All the men in the household had taken training him as their sacred duty, in other words, All the men has looked forward to using him as punching bag to relieve their stress about the pregnant woman driving them up the hill.

Gendry did not mind. Even if he is having same kind of education, having it at the Tarth is easier than doing the same thing at Kingslanding or on road. Then, one fine day, Lady Brienne gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter. If one did not know hound before, they would probably think the man is father made flesh, for he spent more time taking care of his daughter than wet nurse and her mother combined. Lord Selwyn, who was spitting nails on the day they arrived, grew more and more impressed with the king's decision as days went by. He once told Gendry, it is not Robert Baratheon is so good at reading people, it is more some deity took a bucket of luck and poured it on his people relations. It is impossible otherwise to know hound and his daughter made a good match. Gendry knew it is not so much as they made a good match, it is more hound and Brienne are two determined and good people who forged a relationship one brick at a time. Now, Looking at their little daughter only made Gendry miss his little sisters all the more. It is time for Sandor to swear his oaths as lord of clegane lands, so, off they sailed, into the snakepit called kingslanding.

Val woke up before Robb did, she is still tied up. She got rid of ties fast enough. Her eyes fell on him as she raised her knife to stick it in his heart. He is a handsome lad. She put her knife down, stared at his face. Not even out of puberty, yet, a leader. Too pretty, too unscared, too soft to be a wildling. Will it be so bad to be married to him? She wondered. Val is surprisingly a maiden. Not for others not trying to relieve her of her maiden head, but she decided it will be she who steals her husband, and takes him, not the other way around. She could steal this one. However, he already stole her. No matter what she does, it will not erase that shame of first defeat. It is then she heard it. That scraping sound of something dragging over snow. Dead men, walking straight towards them.

She tried to kick him awake. He wouldn't wake up no matter what she did, so she did something no wildling with any sense will do. She ran towards the dead, tried hacking them off one by one. It is then she realized, the dead are paying no attention to her even as she is hacking of their heads and limbs. They are all heading towards the sleeping boy paying no attention to her whatsoever. Her uneasiness increased at that. There is something profoundly unnatural about this entire thing, and it is not the dread that stole over them in presence of dead. Who the fuck is this wolf king? All her questions came back to her magnified. Then, she saw a boy, directly in the path of dead. Val screamed for him to get away, but the boy doesn't seem to hear her.

"Robb! Robb, wake up" The boy screamed, as he ran towards wolfking.

"Bran, don't!" a girl screamed after the boy.

Val stared at the boy and girl, who seemed to shimmer red, like wearing a cloak of fire. The wights almost reached wolfking, are raising their weapons over him.

"NO." the girl with firecloak said coldly.

Fire seemed to fly as tendrils from her hands, struck the dead man raising weapon over Wolfking.

Val stared in muted surprise, the tendrils of fire stretched out from the girl bathing all snow around them. Val automatically took a step back to avoid the fire, but it seemed to pass over her harmlessly. She stared after the tendrils as they spread out. Even in the day, it is easy to see those tendrils of fire. In naught but steps away from another fire sprouted, from a wight she did not see at all. The girl vanished, but the tendrils of fire danced in the air, occasional fires sprouting as far as she could see. It is then Val's legs gave out. The boy that is trying to wake up wolf king looked up at her sadly. Then he slowly faded away. It is then Val decided. She is going to call this man her husband. Whoever he is, wherever he is from, he seems to be having some serious protectors. She would rather have that protection on her side, rather than opposite her. So, when her legs came back to life, she walked over to her husband, stood watch.

Robb woke to pale blue eyes boring into his skull. He automatically smiled at the pretty girl, tried to reach to cup her face. The angel of his dreams snorted in answer, gave him a swift punch in the stomach. He sat up with a yelp.

"Wha?! How did you get out of bindings?" he asked dumbly, even as he scrambled backwards, trying to free his weapon at the same time.

"That's not for you to know, husband." Val snarked, watching her husband stop in his tracks with the weapon half drawn. He looked up at her, his blue eyes full of questions and hope.

"Husband?!" he asked.

"Yes. you did steal me, did you not?" Val said sarcastically, before adding gesturing for him to move.

"Just like that?" he asked, even as he sheathed his sword, which is such pitch black, it seemed to absorb any and all light in the area.

Val nodded her head in answer. She could feel his glances as she walked.

"What is it?" she snarled when she couldn't bear any more.

"Aren't we supposed to .. you know?!" he asked, blushing.

That is when val knew. This boy is not a wildling. She had an inkling before, but now she is absolutely sure.

"What? Fuck? What are you? A southron? Or a maiden?" she asked, stopping and getting in his face.

"I am the man who stole you." He answered back, moving ahead of her.

"Not a man, A boy." she grumbled, but there's no heat to her words. He stole her fair and square. No denying that.

"Well then, Congratulations on being stolen by a boy." he snapped at her. Val decided not to raise to the bait.

"There are hotsprings a day's walk ahead from here. We can make our camp in the caves." she told him, hiding her own blush. She knew technicalities of what happened when a man loved a woman, but not quite. She kissed boys before, but always with caution. Her sister Darla is the one more daring one. Val has always been too beautiful, she knew all too well what happened to beautiful girls with not enough caution. She trained two times as hard, is three times as cautious than others, for beautiful girls only ever met awful fate among wildlings without right kind of protector. It is truth. For all they said they are spear wives, they can live without a man's protection, no one can be awake at all times of the day. Then, for all her prowess, she got stolen by a boy. No, not a boy. A man. She told her self as she saw wolfking's gait change as she shook himself of sleep. He is a warrior, it shew in the way he walked. She assumed his sleep is a one off thing, he has been keeping watch over her for too long.

"Tell me of your home." she told him as she started to walk beside him.

"I don't want to talk about it." he told her.

She would have pushed it, but it seemed like genuine sadness in his voice, so she left it alone.

"Well, tell me how you got that sword." she said.

That got him talking. And what a tale it was. Of lands far off, his voice magical, his words poetic as they described distant lands where it is eternal summer, shadow daemons that are almost as frightful as others. Val listened with rapt attention. Then he asked her to tell him of her home. Val smiled as she described her home, the water that ran so fast, it could cut a stone in half, cold so deep, it could freeze a wave as it rises, icicles breaking into thousand little pieces as water bashed them together. Of the blind minnows that sparkle as starry sky in the deep caves she saw once, of the stories her grandmother used to tell her of a summer priestess and winter priestess. He laughed at her supposition of him being kissed by fire, that a fire priestess that protects him most fiercely. He told her he knew of no fire priestess, those are but tales like white walkers and skin changers.

"The others are not tales. They are stirring again, the dead walk again." she told him. He could hear what she did not say. How could you not know this?

"I will believe them when I see them." he told her.

"If I were you, I will pray I never have to. They have it in for you, wolfking. Whatever did you do to them?" she asked.

She has been curious and she has held it in long enough.

"What? I am just a man. I never saw dead walking or others." he told her. Though plenty of men in his own camp told him of the same tales and they seem to believe them too. Hard men who are not prone to be scared of simple things.

"They are afraid of you." Val breathed out, looking at him in awe.

"I thought others are afraid of nothing." he answered, smirking at her slightly.

"Of course they are afraid of you. You are not just kissed by fire, you are protected by fire priestess." she said half to herself, half to him.

"Val! There is no such thing fire priestess." he assured her.

"You know nothing, Wolfking." Val said, smiling at him and pinching his cheeks as if she is looking at an adorable puppy.

Robb pouted for a second at being treated like a kid, then just pulled her into an embrace catching her lips in a kiss.

Val responded eagerly. Her hands found his neck, even as his found her ass. They both came up gasping for air.

"Look! We are almost here." val said pointing to the mountain in front of them.

They both eagerly ran for the hot springs. After all, they have a marriage to consummate.

Lady Catelyn has stopped eating and drinking and Freya is still under house arrest. Arya, for her part, tried to hold everything together, but she is starting to understand how tough it is to be her mother. The servants took care of most of things by themselves, but as she looked over them, she wished she listened to her mother more when she tried to teach how to look after a household.

It is slightly better because at least Jon is there as acting lord of winterfell. In a short span of two weeks, winterfell has gone from the bustling castle to silent as grave yard. There's no Bran to chase around any more, because he is in eternal sleep. There's no Sansa to fight with any more, because she went missing on her way to godswood. There's no rickon to complain about not playing with him, because he went after Sansa and did not come back.

Jon is around from morning till evening, but he has become so serious. He listened to every last petitioner, but as soon as he finished, he set guards on her, went searching for Sansa. Hell, even Flame is not around any more, because Jon needed the lion to help him with the search. Arya promised to herself that she will treat her siblings better when they come back.

On the third day, they were almost losing hope for finding Sansa and Rickon. It is then they were found. It is quite the tale too. Jon wanted to search the area near godswood once again, just to make sure. It is then they found one of the hidden caves, which is covered up too well. If not for the bones of rabbits at the mouth, No one would have thought it more than a mound of dirt. Jon went poking around it with a stick, found it to be a ditch, which led into a cave. He got one of the children to crawl inside, they found Both Sansa and Rickon inside, Rickon fainted with hunger, whereas Sansa is almost about to lose her consciousness. They brought both of them back, Maester Luwin is checking them. Arya, could never be more happier than she is at the moment. She will never ever wish for Sansa to go away again. Even if she calls her Arya horseface for rest of her life.