When Winter Comes

Ned

They had been travelling south down the king’s road for nearly two weeks. With no inns or other lodgings for dozens of miles, the North was truly vast. The royal party had made camp in a clearing off the main road.

Ned was just about to drift off into a restful sleep when he had received a summons from Robert. Alyn, his Ice Guard for the night, roused Ned from his slumber. Shade, his sour Shadowcat, had lazily hissed at the intruder from her position at the foot of Ned’s bed, baring her fangs. He had groaned, climbing over a very naked Triss and Yennefer, and made his way out of his tent on stiff legs.

There he saw Fang, his mighty black direwolf, wearing his saddle, with Robert mounted on a horse beside him. The king wore a heavy fur cloak with a large hood. Ned thought he looked half like a bear sitting on a horse.

“Come Ned!” Robert’s voice boomed. “Up! It’s nearly dawn and we’ve matters of state to discuss.”

“By all means, your grace.” Ned opened the flap of his tent, trying to entice Robert into relative warmth and comfortable chairs, rather than ride out into the misty morning. “We can talk in my tent.”

“No, Ned.” Robert answered him, his breath rising in great clouds of steam. “The camp is full of ears. Besides…” he laughed “I want to see some of this country of yours.”

Now the sleep was leaving Ned’s eyes, he could see that two of Robert’s King’s Gaurd, along with a dozen gaurdsmen stood behind him, waiting. It took barely a few minutes for Ned to wake up properly, get dressed and mount his direwolf.

Robert’s horse was clearly made uneasy by the close proximity to Fang, Ned couldn’t blame it. Even though it was a large warhorse, bred for it strength and size, Fang near dwarfed it. Ned’s direwolf could rip the horse’s head off before it could blink… and the horse knew it. Thankfully, Robert kept a firm grip on his mount, setting a quick pace, driving his destrier hard, Fang easily matched it. Shade was probably his fastest mount, on land. But trying to rouse his Shadowcat from sleep would be a risky venture.

Ned could feel the fear in Robert’s horse, not only was this wolf much larger than it, but it could seemingly easily keep pace with it too. Even when it was nearing a full sprint. Ned reached out and soothed it with his mind. His warging abilities had always been useful when dealing with animals that feared Fang.

Ned called out a question to Robert as they rode, he either did not hear Ned, or chose not to answer. Robert lead them off the kingsroad and through the mist, across plains and over grassy hills.

Their guard had fallen behind, out of earshot. Only Hagman’s eagle flew overhead, Ned knew his Ice Guard were watching over them, even though Robert did not, yet still Robert pushed his horse to go faster.

The first touches of dawn broke as they crested a ridge, golden light reflected off the thin layer of snow and frost, turning their breath into shimmering clouds. Robert finally drew to a stop as he gazed into the rising sun, partially hidden behind thick clouds, Ned urged Fang to stand next to Robert’s horse.

“Ohh, fuck me!” Robert laughed. “I feel twenty years younger! It’s not dragon riding… but it’s the next best thing. I swear by all the gods Ned, winter will come and go, and come again before we get back to King’s Landing.”

Robert had his sympathies, at least he and Sansa could fly on their dragons when riding with the royal party got too boring. Even Arya had Nymeria to ride. The king, however, had to keep his feet firmly on the ground, riding a horse. Robert had never been a patient man and he did love to fly on dragonback. “That fucking wheelhouse… Every hole, every bump in the rode, it navigates them as if it were made of glass.”

“Considering how many times it’s broken down, I wouldn’t doubt it.” Ned snarked.

“Ha! Neither would I!”

Multiple times Ned or Robert had been asked to lift the massive wooden structure, so parts of it could be repaired. His and Robert’s magical enhancements had given them the strength of many men, the ladies of the court certainly seemed to enjoy when they showed it.

“I promise you, if that wretched thing breaks another axel, i’m going to burn it and Cersei can walk!”

“I’ll gladly light the torch for you.”

“Good man!” Robert clapped him on the shoulder with a hearty laugh. “I’ve half a mind to leave them all behind and just keep going.” That sounded like the old Robert.

“I do believe you mean it.”

“I do.” Robert answered. “What do you say, Ned? Just you and me: Two vagabond knights on the kingsroad, our swords at our sides and the gods know what in front of us… Maybe a few wenches to warm our beds at night.”

“We have duties now, Robert… to the realm, our children and our wives…”

“Easy for you to say.” Robert grumbled. “You’ve practically got three wives, and each of them better than Cersei… Though you’ve always had luck with the ladies.” Robert barked out a laugh. “Was it Evelyn Arryn I caught you fucking behind that tree, or the other one?”

“I think it was Evelyn.” The both laughed. “We are not the boys we once were.” Ned added sadly, mourning the the carefree days of their youth.

“You were never the boy you were.” Robert was back to grumbling. Then he paused, gazing off into the misty sunrise thoughtfully. “Stormbreaker isn’t as young as he was either…” he finally said. Ned shifted in his saddle. Robert hadn’t come north riding his dragon, meaning his dragon wasn’t even able to fly the distance anymore. It was a sad thing. Ned’s mind thought back to Cannibal at the end of the rebellion. How the once mighty beast had become a shadow of itself. Once the tyrant of the skies, it was a shell of a dragon, too easily slain by Snowsong.

“He used to have a roar that shook the very foundations of the Red Keep.” Robert cleared his throat. “Now, the most he can manage are croaks and growls… He spends most of his days sleeping in the dragonpit… Every day, I think ‘This is as well as he’s going to be, he’ll only go down from here.’”

“Don’t think like that Robert.” Ned urged his friend, knowing how much he cared for his dragon. “It’ll be good for him to see Snowsong again.”

Robert gave Ned a sad smile. “Aye. He’ll like that very much.”

Wanting to change the subject to something happier, Ned cast his eye over the plains they were overseeing, dawn’s sunlight. “The barrows of the First Men.” He pointed them out to Robert.

Well, maybe not happier…

“Have we ridden onto a graveyard?” Robert frowned.

“There are barrows everywhere in the North, your grace.” Ned told him. “It is an old land.”

“Aye, a cold one too...” Robert pulled his cloak tighter around him. They sat on their mounts in silence for a time, before Ned broke it with a question.

“What did you bring me out here for, Robert?”

“There was a rider in the night, from Lord Varys in King’s Landing.” Robert told him, pulling a paper from his belt and handing it over.

Thoughts of Lysa’s message ran through Ned’s mind as he wondered what Robert’s spymaster had sent him. Relief washed over him when the message made no mention of Lysa.

“So Daenerys Targaryen is to marry a horse lord.” Ned said, dismissively. “What of it? Do you want me to send her a wedding gift on behalf of the crown?”

“A knife, perhaps.” The king frowned. “A good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.”

Ned was too tired to feign surprise. Robert’s hatred of the Targaryens was a madness that had gripped him at his core. Ned had long since buried Rhaegar Targaryen and his mad father, Robert should have done the same by now.

“Your grace, this girl is little more than a child.”

“She’s older than we were, when we took the Iron throne. This girl , as you call her has had two decades to plot her revenge.”

“You don’t know that.” Ned retorted. “She’s innocent of her father’s and brother’s crimes.”

“And how long will she remain an innocent?” Robet’s mouth hardened into a thin line. “Soon she’ll be spreading her legs and start breeding more dragonspawn to plague me… Her mother’s been doing the same. After she fled to Essos, she took up with some sea captain and gave her daughter two more sisters.”

“Then why would Rhaella Targaryen risk what little she has left by trying to take back Westeros?” Ned asked Robert.

“Revenge Ned!” Robert thundered, storm clouds gathering overhead, making his horse uneasy. “Gods! You can be blind sometimes.” The king breathed in and out slowly, dispersing the clouds before they became heavy rain. “That Khal Drogo is said to have a horde of a hundred-thousand. What do you say to that?”

“I say a hundred-million Dothraki are no threat to the realm. It matters not how many there are, when they’re on another continent.” Ned replied, calmly. “The barbarians have no ships. They hate and fear the open sea. Not to mention the fact that they seem to have an aversion to wearing proper armour and using any other strategy than ‘Charge head-long into the enemy in an unorganised, undisciplined horde’. The Dothraki are made for vast, open and temperate plains. They wouldn’t last three moons in Westeros, come winter time.”

Robert walked his horse around Ned a few times, clearly trying to find weaknesses in his argument. “That may be so…” he said, finally. “There are still those in the Seven kingdoms who call me Usurper. Give them half the chance and the scum will join a Targaryen who lands on out shores with an army.”

“Of course,” Ned answered Robert. “Because the lords of the Seven kingdoms will unquestioningly follow a girl, who’s never set foot on Westeros. Who leads a foreign army that will almost certainly raid their lands and kill their people.”

“You shouldn’t be sarcastic, Ned.” Robert stated, after a time. “It doesn’t suit you… Come, let’s ride.”

He kicked his horse into motion again, galloping up over the barrow, raining down earth behind him. For a moment, Ned did not follow, he ran his hands through Fang’s thick black fur, scratching his direwolf behind his ear.

He wondered what he was doing going south, if it was possible for him to succeed and save Robert from the Lannisters and himself. Jon Arryn had failed to curb Robert’s wildness and teach him wisdom.

Do I have much of a chance? He asked himself.

The answer did not matter. He knew he belonged in Winterfell, with his wives and children. A man cannot always be where he belongs, Ned. His father’s words rang through his head. With a sigh, he put his heels into Fang’s side, setting off after Robert.

—————————

More than three weeks passed before the royal party reached Moat Cailin. It had been many years since Ned had laid eyes on the North’s gatehouse. Lord Rogar Martark and his family had greeted them. The Martarks were a cadet branch of house Stark that had been gifted Moat Cailin for their loyal service. They presided over one of the most important and formidable castles in the North.

Not only did Moat Cailin stand in the path of the only road out of the Neck, it also stood at the halfway point of the Great Canal, between White Harbour and the Blaze keep. Given it’s great strategic importance, control of Moat Cailin was an absolute necessity. It had thrown back countless invasions from the south since it’s creation. Ned needed to make sure it could throw back more.

The Martarks were not the only old friends Ned had met with when the got to Moat Cailin, Howland Reed had been there to greet him. Ned had throughly enjoyed seeing the man he had called a brother again. Howland had given them scouts so that they could safely find their way through the Neck.

It had taken them three weeks to cross the marshland, rumbling down a crooked causeway through an endless dense bog. The air had been damp and clammy, the causeway had been so narrow, they could not even make a proper camp at night, they had to stop on the kingsroad. The only ways that their dragons could land was to rest on half-drowned trees that were sticking out of the marsh. More than once, Snowsong fought a swamp wyvern that thought it could take a bite out of the column.

Huge flowers bloomed in mud and floated in stagnant water, drawing travellers off the path. Leaving it would take them to quicksands that waited to suck unweary people to their deaths. Snakes slithering along the reeds and lizard-lions floating half-submerged like black logs with eyes and teeth. All these dangers made Ned keep a close eye on all his people as they traveled.

It was little wonder, Ned had thought, that the Neck was as good as the Wall for keeping out invaders. The very land itself tried to kill all travellers, and that was ignoring the inhabitants of the Neck. The Cranogmen and the Lizardmen of the Neck were loyal to house Stark and some of the deadliest hunters in Westeros.

In the past, multiple invasions of the North had been defeated before they even reached the walls of Moat Cailin, thanks to the inhabitants of the Neck.

None of these dangers had deterred Arya, however. One day, she had come back with a massive grin, her hair was tangled and her clothes were covered in mud. She had been clutching a ragged bunch of purple and green flowers for him. He had hugged her and thanked her for the gift.

She’d told him she’d seen a chameleon skink when she was picking them. Ned had told her that if there was a chameleon skink, it was very unlikely that she actually saw it. Chameleon skinks were the best hunters of the lizardmen, practically undetectable and very deadly.

Unfortunately, it had turned out that the flowers had been called “poison kisses” and Arya got rashes on her hands and arms. After that, Ned had quickly put a stop to her explorations until they had left the Neck. Hoping that she would be kept out of trouble.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Arya

It had been three days since Arya and Nymeria had run off into the woods. Three days of no hot food and sleeping cuddled up to Nymeria’s fur. The woods had grown dark and cold in the night. Arya shivered as she pressed herself against Nymeria.

Joffrey is evil. Was the only thought going through her mind.

She’d been playing with Mycah, the butcher’s boy. If Alyrianne had come with them, she’d have been practicing with her younger ‘twin’ instead. She’d been practicing for when she would use Needle, the sword Jon had given her before she went away. It was a long and skinny sword, of the Braavosi style, made from pure black Uru.

Her and Mycah had been using sticks to practice sword fighting by the river when Joffrey and Sansa had happened upon them. When Arya had first seen the prince, she’d thought he was a smarmy shit, he quickly proved her to be right.

Joffrey had attacked Mycah, then her, when she’d tried to stop him. Sansa had been screaming at him to stop when Nymeria had saved her. Her horse-sized direwolf had near ripped Joffrey’s arm off. Arya had thrown his sword into the river and run off into the woods, with Sansa calling after her.

The king’s going to be so angry. She thought.

Attacking a prince could mean death. They’d kill Nymeria, maybe even her too, if they found them. She’d been sitting by a tree with Nymeria when she’d heard Lannister men searching for them, she’d quickly mounted Nymeria and rode deeper into the forest.

A cold breeze went right through her dirty clothes, cutting right to the bone. Arya pressed her face to Nymeria’s fur again, finding comfort in the warmth of her direwolf.

Nymeria was alert as she sat on her haunches by a tree, her eyes were open and her ear were pricked up. She was weary of any who would come to harm Arya. On the second day, a couple of Drowners came of out the river and tried to eat her, but Nymeria had easily despatched the slimy blue Necrophages. Her uncle Beric had taught her all about them, the North was too cold for most types of Necrophages, but Beric, in his travels as a Witcher had seen his fair share of them.

“What is it?” Arya asked her wolf, as Nymeria suddenly stood up, looking at an outcropping of birch trees by the riverbank. She placed her hand on the back of Nymeria’s neck and used her warging connection to expand her senses.

Leather… mead… ink…?

They were familiar smells Arya knew… The Chosen Men!

“I’m here!” She called out to them and quickly enough, all six of her father’s Chosen Men came out from behind a bush.

“Princess!” Harper called out, throwing open his arms as she ran into them. Arya felt truly safe for the first time in three days, in Harper’s arms.

“I said, I saw her.” Hagman said in a wry tone, smiling at Cooper. “You doubted my eagle.”

“And I never shall again.” Cooper responded, smiling.

“Are you hurt, Princess?” Harper asked her as he pulled apart from her and knelt down, looking her up and down.

“N-no.” Arya managed to stammer out.

“Your father’s been worried sick, Princess.” Harris said, earnestly. “Him an’ your sister were on their dragons day and night looking for you.”

“We’re going to take you to your father now.” Harper told her as he stood up. “And give her some food lads and a cloak, she’s starving and cold as anything.”

Cooper, removed his cloak and wrapped it around her. Perkins took a hunk of bread out of a pouch and handed it to her. Arya thanked him before hungrily bitting down on it, tearing off a chunk with her teeth. Bread had never tasted better.

“W-what about Nymeria?” Arya asked, mouth full of bread. The six men looked at each other, unsure what to do.

“The queen’s not likely to look kindly on the pup if we bring her back.” Harper said. “Let’s have her wait out here until we can send someone to… take her home, perhaps.”

“I won’t leave her!” Arya shouted, as Nymeria gave a small whine, looking from Arya to the men.

“Listen, child…” Hagman said, kneeling down. “She’ll be fine out here: She’s a direwolf. There’s no way they’ll be able to find a direwolf that doesn’t want to be found. We can take you back to your father, then we’ll send someone out to get her.”

Arya took a long look into Nymeria’s golden eyes. “You’ll have to stay…” she told her wolf, who whined again, nuzzling her tears. “Please…” she begged. “Stay here. We’ll come back for you...”

With that, she went with her father’s guards. Nymeria followed them for a few steps, then Arya had to shout at her, telling her to run. Arya hated herself a little when Nymeria had slunk away, her head hanging low.

It was a long ride to the keep, Harper told her that the royal party had taken up residence in the castle of Ser Raymun Darry in the days they had ben searching for her.

Eventually, they reached the castle and were stopped at the gates by a King’s Guard in pure white armour and near twenty Lannister men. The Chosen Men closed ranks around Arya when they got off their horses.

“So you found the girl.” The man in the white armour said. Arya couldn’t help but compare him to her uncle Arthur in her mind. She found him lacking.

“Aye…” Harper answered the knight, standing in front of Arya. She tried to look around him but Cooper and Isiah got in her way, shielding her from the Lannister men.

“The queen has ordered us to bring the girl to her and the king.” The kinght’s cold voice boomed from his helmet, he was trying to intimidate them.

“…Has she? Well… Princess Arya’s father, the Warden of the North and Hand of the King, ordered us to bring his daughter to him when we found her.” Harper answered nonchalantly, placing a hand on the hilt of his ice sword.

“The queen has ordered that the Stark girl be brought to her.” The King’s Guard emphasised again, his own hand going to the pommel of his own sword. The other Lannister guards around him began to straighten up, itching to reach for their weapons.

“Did she? Well that’s grand… But I take my orders from the Stark of Winterfell.” Harper affirmed, much to the knight’s clear frustration.

“Give her to me!” He shouted, before making a grab for her. The hilt of Harper’s weapon hit the knight’s white helmet with a metallic clang, knocking him back a step.

“Lay a hand on her and I’ll put one through your eye…” Hagman threatened. The tall, thin Chosen man drawing and arrow with his weirwood bow before anyone could react.

“I am a knight of the King’s Guard!” The knight roared, Arya could clearly see he was horrified that his authority meant nothing to Harper. Perhaps he was also worried that Harper had actually managed to hurt him. The King’s Guard went through all manner of magical enchantments, making them super-human, even more so than regular knights… But so did the Chosen Men.

“I’m sure your father is very proud… Let. Us. Pass.” Harper answered, glowing blue ice slowly extending from his sword hilt, turning into a blade of pure ice.

“You’re mad… There’re twenty of us and six of you!”

“True…” Harper said. Arya saw him looking at the Lannister men, then the Chosen Men. “…We’ll wait for you to round up a few more friends, so it can be an even fight.” The Chosen Men chuckled as they slowly drew their weapons.

“You’ll die for this.” The knight threatened, drawing his own blade, golden runes glowing along the hilt.

“Lovely weather for it…” Hagman said, solemnly, as the light rain began to fall.

“You’d die for a little girl?” The knight asked.

“Ned’s little girl.” Harper answered, simply.

Arya felt her heart beat faster in her chest. The Chosen Men were strong, but against twenty knighted men and a King’s Guard, she doubted they would win. The tension grew as both sides stared each other down, weapons being drawn. Low thunder rumbled over-head, rain beginning to fall heavier. The silence was broken by a voice from behind the Lannister group.

“Well well well, what do we have here?”

Arya would recognise her uncle Arthur anywhere. The group of Lannister men shifted to the left and right, letting him walk right through them. He wasn’t wearing his armour, but he held a glowing white Dawn in hand. The greatsword of house Dayne resting over his shoulder.

Father had once told her that the sight of Arthur Dayne holding Dawn was enough to put the fear of the gods in any man. Arthur walked among the Lannisters without fear, his gaze dared them to try and attack him. Each of them would look away and pretend to not exist when he laid his eyes on them. Arthur slowly made his way over to Arya, not even acknowledging the other King’s Guard.

“Are you well, Princess?” He asked her, putting a hand on her shoulder, Arya nodded in response. “Where’s Nymeria?”

“Safe.” Harper answered Arthur for her.

“Good.” Arthur said, then he turned around, facing the King’s Guard. “Now… Ser?”

“Ser… Meryn Trant.” The white knight answered.

“Ahh yes… Meryn Trant. We can do this the difficult way… Or the simple way…” Uncle Arthur warned, his hands tightening around Dawn. This was going to end in bloodshed, Arya knew. She had to do something to stop it.

“T-take me to the king.” Arya said suddenly, they all looked at her, she mustered all the courage she could. “Get a message to my father, he’ll come quickly.”

“As you command, Princess.” Harper said, before they set off to see the king.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Ned

Ned’s mind was racing as he and Sansa closed in on the holdfast they had been staying at. Hagman’s eagle had flown up to him while he was flying Snowsong over the Trident, looking for Arya. The eagle had been carrying a note from Harris, telling him they’d found her, but were being forced to take her before the king.

Ned had quickly called to Sansa, who was riding her own dragon and they both made haste to the keep. A cold rage gripped him, as the keep came into view. For three days he’d been searching, not getting an hour of sleep.

Both he and Sansa landed their dragons outside the castle walls and quickly dismounted, both still wearing their riding leathers. Ned was aware of the eyes that followed them as the walked through the castle yard, muttering of what he might do. Fang, Shade and Borgger came bounding from the trees to trot along beside them. Lady had been confined to the kennels by order of the queen, Fang had been… less inclined, to follow orders than his pup. They hadn’t even tried to get the Shadowcat and the Snowbear into kennels. Ned and Sansa were flanked by his beasts as they made their way into he keep.

The king had appropriated Ser Raymun’s audience chamber and that was where Ned found them. The room was crowded when they burst in. Too crowded, he thought; left alone, he and Robert would probably have been able to settle the matter amicably. He could see Robert was slumped in Darry’s high seat at the far end of the room, his face closed and sullen.

Cersei Lannister and her son stood beside him. The queen had her hand on Joffrey’s shoulder. Thick silken bandages still covered the boy’s arm. Arya stood in the centre of the room, surrounded by the Chosen Men, Arthur and Beric, every eye upon her.

“Arya!” Both he and Sansa called, Sansa breaking into a run, taking her little sister into her arms as they both sobbed. Ned was quickly behind them, wrapping his arms around the pair of his daughters.

Fang, Shade and Borgger walked around the edges of the room, teeth partially bared. Men shifted uneasily around the beasts as they padded by, scared of what the direwolf and his friends might do to defend it’s kin. Arthur, Beric and The Chosen Men stood around Ned and his daughters, trying to give them some privacy.

Arya was shaking. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed, “i’m sorry, i’m sorry.”

“I know,” Ned consoled her. Both of his daughters felt so tiny in his arms, they were practically still children. It was hard to see how they’d caused so much trouble.

“Are you hurt?” Sansa asked Arya before he could.

“No.” Arya answered. Her face was dirty, her tears leaving pink tracks down her cheeks. “Hungry some. Perkins gave me some bread, that was all he had.”

“We’ll feed you soon enough.” Ned promised. He rose to face the king, donning his ‘Lord’s Face’ as Cat called it. “What is the meaning of this?” He thundered, his eyes sweeping the room, searching for friendly faces. Not counting his own men, he found few friends in the chamber. Ser Raymun Darry guarded his look well. Triss and Yennfer were standing to the side, with his men. Lord Renly wore a half smile that could mean anything and old Ser Barristan was grave; the rest were Lannister men and hostile. Arthur and Beric stood on either side of him, the former King’s Guard and the legendary Witcher were quite an imposing pair. “Why was I not told my daughter had been found?!” Ned demanded, his deep voice ringing through the chamber. “Why was she not fed and brought to me at once?!”

Ned had been speaking to Robert, but it was Cersei who answered for him, shrilly. “How dare you speak to your king in this manner?” At that, the king stirred.

“Quiet, woman!” Robert snapped, then straightened up in his seat. “I’m sorry Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. It seemed best to bring her here and get the business done quickly.”

“And what business is that?” Ned put ice in his voice and lowered the temperature of the room, turning their breath to steam, a cold shiver ran through the room.

The queen stepped forward. “You know full well, Stark. This girl of yours attacked my son. Her and her butcher’s boy. That animal of hers tried to tear his arm off.”

Fang snapped at that, certainly putting fear in the Lannister woman’s eyes.

“That’s not true!” Arya said loudly. “She only bit him a little. He was hurting Mycah.”

“If a direwolf had really wanted to rip Joffrey’s arm off, it would be gone.” Ned affirmed.

“Joff told us what happened.” The queen said. “You and the butcher boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him.”

“That’s not how it was!” Sansa said, Ned put a hand on her shoulder.

“Yes it is!” Joffrey insisted. “They all attacked me, and she threw Lion’s Tooth in the river!” Ned noticed that he did not so much as glance at Arya as he spoke.

“Liar!” Arya yelled.

“Shut up!” The prince yelled back.

“Enough!” The king roared, rising from his seat, his voice thick with irritation. Silence fell. He glowered at Arya through his thick beard. “Now child, you will tell me what happened. Tell it all and tell it true. It is a great crime to lie to a king.” Then he looked over to his son. “When she is done, you will have your turn.” Arya began to tell her story, Sansa giving Arya her support. When she got to the part where she threw Joffrey’s sword into the Trident, Renly began to laugh. Robert bristled. “Ser Barristan, escort my brother from the hall before he chokes.”

Renly stifled his laughter. “My brother is too kind, I can find the door myself.”  He bowed to Joffrey. “Perchance later you can tell me how a three-and-ten year old girl the size of a wet rat managed to disarm you with a broom-handle and throw your sword in the river.” As the door swung shut behind him, Ned heard him say “Lion’s tooth” and guffaw once more.

Joffrey was pale as he began his very different version of events. When his son was done talking, the king rose heavily, looking like a man who wanted to be anywhere but here.

“What in the seven hells am I supposed to make of this? He says one thing, they say another.”

“They’re both lying. Can’t you see it?” Cersei said. “I want her punished.”

“Seven hells,” Robert swore. “Cersei look at her, she’s a child. What would you have me do? Whip her through the streets? Children fight, it’s over. No lasting harm was done.”

The queen was furious. “Joff will carry these scars for the rest of his life.”

Robert looked at his eldest son.  “So he will. Perhaps they will teach him a lesson. Ned see to it that your daughter is disciplined. I will do the same with my son.”

“Gladly, your grace.” Ned said as relief washed over him. Robert started to walk away, but the queen was not done.

“And what of the direwolf?” She called after him. “What of the beast that savaged your son?” The king stopped and turned back.

“I’d forgotten about that damed wolf.”

“We found no trace of the direwolf, your grace.” Harper said quickly.

“No? Ah well...” Robert did not look unhappy with the news.

“A hundred golden dragons to the man who brings me it’s skin!” Cersei raised her voice.

Fang growled loudly at the Lannister men, ready to attack at a moment’s notice.

“Control your beast!” She ordered Ned.

“You threatened his pup.” Ned answered coldly.

“The wolf is gone, woman.” Robert repeated.

“I see one right in front of me and we have another in the stables.” Cersei said, her voice was quiet, but her green eyes shone with triumph. It took them all a moment to comprehend her words, but when they did, the king shrugged irritably.

“As you will… But not Ned’s.” Was all Robert said.

“Robert, you cannot mean this.” Ned protested, grabbing Robet’s arm. “The direwolf is the symbol of my house. Direwolves are given to us at birth.”

Clearly Robert was in no mood to argue. “Enough, Ned. A direwolf is a savage beast, get her a dog, she’ll be happier for it.”

“He doesn’t mean Lady?” Sansa asked in shock. “Not Lady, she didn’t bite anyone. She’s good!”

“Lady wasn’t there!” Arya shouted. “You leave her alone!”

Robert was walking out of the chamber, his footsteps heavy as lead… Until Fang, Shade and Borgger blocked his exit, all three beasts growling at the king. Ser Barristan put his hand on his sword hilt.

“If you do this…” Ned told Robert. “You can find yourself a new Hand and a new bride for your son. I will take my men and my daughters and return to Winterfell.” And leave you to your fate. He nearly added. That certainly got a reaction from Robert, who turned and went straight for Ned.

“Ned.” He thundered. “I need you down south. With me!”

“If you let this pass, you’re no brother of mine.” Ned fixed him with an icy glare. “…But I am prepared to compromise. I can send my beasts with Lady back North, where they belong.” They would find Nymeria and bring her home too, but Ned wasn’t going to tell Robert that.

“Fuck.” Robert gritted his teeth, looking off to the side. “Have it your way. Send them North. I’ll hear no more of it.”

“Robert!” Cersei raised her voice.

“I’ll hear no more of it!” The king repeated and left the room.

Ned quickly followed Robert with his daughters, wanting to get the beasts away quickly, before Cersei got any ideas. Arya and Sansa bid a tearful goodbye to Lady as she left with Fang and the others.

An hour after they left, they heard the howling of wolves in the night. It was Fang, telling them that they had found Nymeria and were heading home with her.

For first time in days, Ned went to sleep, wondering how in all the hells he would be able to save Robert and stop the Lannisters.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jon

A thin layer of freshly fallen snow covered the ground of the godswood. Steam was rising from the hot pools by the Weirwood. Jon stood with Robb and Alysanne in front of the heart tree, dressed in white and grey, the colours of their house. They were waiting for their partners to arrive: It was their wedding ceremony.

Lords and ladies from all over the North had come to Winterfell, to see the marriages of the three oldest Stark children. Four weeks after the king’s party had left Winterfell, all of the guests had arrived and they could finally begin.

The ceremony was being held in the godswood, before a weirwood heart tree as the sun set. Their wedding guests stood in two columns, with a gap for their partners to walk down. There must have been hundreds of them in the godswood. Jon could see lord Wyman Manderly, lady Galadriel of the mage’s Guild, lord Dhalark, lord Ryder and many more.

At the front of the crowds stood their mothers, their siblings, their aunt Lyanna with uncle Benjen and his family. Jon and Robb’s birth-mother, princess Catelyn was standing next to Rickon, with Bran in a chair as he was still unable to stand. Alysanne’s birth-mother, princess Ashara was standing next to Alyrianne, Arthur and little Alaric. Elia was standing between them, beaming them proudly.

Their direwolves all stood together silently, off to the side. Jon was wondering when their partners would arrive, so they could begin. He did not need to wait long. Before he knew it, they were walking down the isle, side by side.

Val and Ygritte took Jon’s attention first, obviously. They were both more beautiful than he had ever seen them, wearing dresses of black and gold, their house colours. Both Val and Ygritte had their hair done in an elaborate braid that went down their backs. They both fixed him with their clear blue eyes and smiled as they advanced forward.

After them, Jon saw Rhaenys. She was a vision of divine beauty, her jet-black hair falling in a cascade over her orange and yellow dress. Her flawless tanned skin seemed to glow in the firelight.

Finally came Sigorn Thenn, Alysanne’s husband-to-be, wearing a finely made tunic of grey and bronze. In their father’s absence, Robb and Jon had needed to give Sigorn a talking to before he could marry their sister. It seemed only fair as Jon had to endure several from lord Ryder and all of Ygritte and Val’s older siblings. In Jon’s opinion, entirely unfairly, Robb had managed to avoid getting a similar talking to. Mostly because Rhaenys had no living siblings, a dead father and her mother had been a third mother to them for all their lives.

Much to their chagrin, it was difficult to dislike Sigorn as he was such a nice person. He had proved himself worthy of Alysanne’s love many times over and in spite of Sigorn marrying Alysanne, Jon was happy to call him brother.

The harper’s harped and the minstrels sang as they all walked down the isle to their respective partners. Vows were exchanged before the heart tree, each of the marriages sealed with a kiss, to the ruckus applause and cheering of the wedding guests. Jon saw his Tully mother weeping happy tears throughout the entire ceremony, his Dayne mother putting a comforting arm around her.

After the marriages were sealed, the group made their way over to another part of the godswood, where the final ritual to joining house Stark would be carried out. Eventually, they arrived at the direwolf den, where their partners would need to find their own direwolf. The Winterfell pack knew what was happening and as they had done so many times before, they brought their pups out of the den and put them into two groups of male and female.

Together, they all watched as Rhaenys, Ygritte, Val and Sigorn all searched among the piles of furry pups to find their direwolf. After some time, most of it they spent playing with various direwolf pups, each of them made their choice and came back with a pup in their arms, smiling and giggling all the way.

—————————

The great hall was full to bursting. After the ceremony was completed, the feasting had begun. The newly claimed wolves had been given back to the pack, where they would remain until they had grown old enough.

The hour had grown late and all of Jon’s younger siblings had gone to bed, only he, Robb and Alyanne remained. As they were the Starks getting married, they were the main event of the feast. There was an almost never ending line of people who wanted to ask them to dance, or bring them gifts, or wish them well in their marriages.

The hall was bustling with noise, the air heavy with the smell of meat and mead. Song and merriment was felt throughout the hall, through all it’s guests. Jon felt like he had danced with a hundred partners already.

Guests from all over the North had come to Winterfell. From the furthest reaches of the North, to the southernmost point of the Neck. Children of the Forest had come from deep in the wolfs wood. Dwarves and mountain clansmen had come from their mountain strongholds in the Craggy Mountains.  Giants had come from the far north and were sitting at their appropriately sized tables.

Even the Greybeards, masters of the Thu’um, had come down from their monastery on Greatpeak Mountain, the tallest mountain in Westeros. Jon’s father had always held great respect for the Greybeards, even going to them to be taught in the ways of the Thu’um. There were guests that were even more interesting to Jon than the Greybeards however: the Children of the Sea.

They held kinship with the Children of the Forest, but they could live underwater and warged with the creatures of the sea. Jon had been fascinated by them ever since he had heard of them in his tutoring with Druid Luwin.

They were once Children of the Forest that lived on a large island off the eastern coast of the North. Through magical means, their island had been sunk, but they had also gained the ability to live happily under the sea. Since then, the Children of the Sea, as they called themselves had rarely stepped on land, only coming when called upon by the Starks.

Unlike their land-dwelling cousins, they had only one skin tone as far as Jon could see. They all seemed to be light blue, with long dark hair. In spite of their differences they all seemed to be sitting happily with the other guests, singing and drinking together.

More than once, had attractive noblewomen asked Jon for a dance, then proposed he take them outside for some “air”. He was with one of those women right now, fucking her against one of the walls of Winterfell’s corridors.

“Fuck me Jon! Fuck your whore!” Rayya Dhalark panted as he thrust up to the hilt inside her.

Rayya was the oldest daughter of house Dhalark, one of the Stark cadet branches. They had been founded by a bastard son of queen Alysanne ‘Kraken’s Bane’ Stark and a lover of her’s from the Summer Isles. The Dhalarks all had dark skin and dark hair from their Summer Islander heritage. Rayya’s own skin was looking erotically flushed from the excursion of fucking Jon while still wearing her dress.

Both of them were almost fully clothed. She had only unlaced his breeches and fished his cock out so he could fuck her. Rayya had lifted up her skirts, showing Jon she wore no small clothes at all and bent over for him.

They’d been frantically having sex in the corridor for nearly ten minutes by Jon’s reckoning. Neither were trying to draw out their lovemaking. This was a quick and dirty affair, just the way they liked it.

Jon was holding Rayya up against they wall now, with her bare legs wrapped around his waist as he ploughed her. She moaned into his embrace as they kissed, their tongues hungrily fighting for dominance.

“Keep it down.” Jon chuckled when they pulled apart. “We don’t want people to hear us.”

“You’re fucking me in… uh, ah! …In a corridor…” Rayya moaned in response.

“It was your idea.”

“You weren’t complaining…”

“A beautiful woman was asking me to fuck her, what did you expect?”

“Oh shut up and suck on my tits.” Rayya laughed as she pressed his head down to her cleavage.

Jon wasn’t too displeased by that. Her large, dusky breasts had bounced out of her bodice, exposing her coal-black nipples to the cool air. Jon eagerly took one into his mouth and began to suck as he thrust harder.

That did it.

Within seconds Rayya was coming to an explosive end around him, her head tilted back, biting her lip as she trembled. Feeling Rayya’s cunt tighten around him, made Jon climax quite soon after. He jammed his cock as far as he could and sent forth a torrent of his seed, filling her womb with potential Stark bastards. The idea made him laugh.

“It’s the day of my wedding and here I am, fucking you...”

“Maybe next time you can bring your wives.” Rayya gave him a wink as she unwrapped herself from him, standing up straight, neatening her rumpled dress. “I miss Ygritte’s tongue.”

They both made themselves presentable again before they returned to the feast. They walked back into the hall together, then separated to go back to their tables.

Jon saw both his mothers and his aunt talking and laughing with lord Dhalark as Rayya was walking towards them. He decided to quicken his step, lest they work out what he had been doing with Rayya. She would no-doubt be very amused by his mother’s disappointment in him fucking another women before he’d even lain with his brides yet. Not mention lord Dhalark scaring Jon a little, though not so much that he wouldn’t fuck his daughter again, given the chance.

It was a short distance back to the main table, where Ygritte, Val, Robb and Rhaenys sat, eating their food. It seemed they were still on the main course of the feast. A great stuffed boar sat on a platter in the middle of the table. Rhaenys had torn off a leg of the boar and was chomping down on the well-done meat.

“That’s the fourth so far.” Ygritte smirked up at Jon as he sat between his new wives.

“You better have a least some left for your new brides.” Val purred, giving him a sultry look as she brushed her hand over his lap.

“I don’t recall Jon ever having that problem.” Rhaenys stated, looking up from her meal across the table.

“Robb neither.” Ygritte added.

“It’s a Stark gift…” Robb laughed, taking a wine goblet to his lips.

“One i’m sure the women of the North a very grateful for.” Rhaenys joked.

“Absolutely!” “Yes we are!” Both Val and Ygritte agreed, sending the whole table into fits of laughter.

Jon had noticed the empty chairs of his sister and her husband. “Where’s Alys?”

“Other end of the hall.” Jon followed Val’s pointing arm and saw his sister dancing between a green-skinned Child of the Forest and a Child of the Sea.

“Sigorn’s gone to relive himself.” Robb said. “And our sister’s gone hunting…”

“What’s wrong with that?” Val asked them. “She’s a true Stark after all.” This time it was just Val, Ygritte and Rhaenys laughing.

“I miss Myrcella…” Robb said, taking a bite out of Rhaenys’ boar leg as she tried to elbow him away, telling him to get his own food. Jon had introduced Myrcella to the rest of them the night after he had fucked her. He took Myrcella to Robb’s room, where he found him in bed with Rhaenys, Ygritte and Val. Jon had woken them all up and they’d descended on Myrcella like ravenous beasts. The five of them had passed Myrcella around like a cheap whore and she’d loved every second of it.

“Me too.” Val agreed. “That girl was born to lick cunts.”

“Yes.” Ygritte added, “She had a lot of skill for a beginner.”

“Still nothing compared to you though.” Rhaenys winked at Ygritte, who laughed and blew a kiss in return.

“She needed to return with her family.” Jon told them.

“Easy for you to say.” Val laughed. “You got to fuck her more than the rest of us did.”

“Still… I imagine we’ll see her in the future. And we’ll all get to fuck her again.” Jon hoped.

“I miss Tyene.” Rhaenys said. Her cousin had left, shortly after the king’s party had set off for King’s Landing. She had promised to bring all of her sisters on her next visit to Winterfell. The prospect of meeting more of her Martell family had greatly excited Rhaenys.

“If I might disturb you for a moment.” Monfryd Gunn interjected, they all turned to see the grey skinned dwarf holding two large wooden boxes. “I come bearing gifts for the princes.”

“We graciously accept your gifts, Guild Master.” Robb said in his “prince voice”.

There had been many gifts given and accepted throughout the night, from all the lords and ladies of the North. Though none of them would be able to compare to the gifts his father had given him, Jon thought. A flaming Valyrian steel blade and a Gradungr cub he had ironically named Toothless. Eventually, the antlered, lion-like beast would grow as big as a direwolf. Jon looked forward to seeing Ghost and Toothless at his side together.

Monfryd paused for a moment. “It is probably best that you see them in private, my princes.”

“Alright, we’ll go to my solar.” Jon said, both he and Robb rising from their seats, intrigued about what Monfryd had brought for them. It was a short walk to his solar, when they got there, Monfryd placed the two wooden boxes on a table.

“I know you are aware of what my colleagues and I have been making for your father over the last few years.” The dwarf began. It was true, they were some of the few people their father trusted with the knowledge of the blackpowder weapons the North was making. “However, what I have in these boxes, even your father doesn’t know of.”

“You’re keeping things from my father?” Robb asked the dwarf.

“They were meant to be a surprise.” Monfryd explained, “But I could not finish them before he left for King’s Landing.”

“I think you’ve kept us in suspense long enough, Monfryd.” Jon stated, curious about what Monfryd’s gift was.

“Then allow me to present to you: the mini-thunderers.” Monfryd said as he opened the two boxes.

Both Robb and Jon eagerly looked inside, where they saw two curved pieces of wood and metal in both boxes. Monfryd was right, they looked like miniature versions of Thunderers, except they had handles instead of a stock to brace against the shoulder. Both were made from pure white wood, with grey metal accents, runes were engraved into the metal barrels and on the wood itself.

“Where’s the wick.” Jon asked. Thunderers needed a wick to provide the spark to light the black powder, these mini-thunderers did not have them.

“Ah, that’s the genius of these beauties.” Monfryd said, taking one of them out of the boxes. “Thanks to some experimentation, we have discovered a way to trigger a small fire in the barrel using runes! We combined the mechanical and the runic! There’ll be no need for a wick anymore. All that will need to be done is to put some black powder down the barrel, then the lead ball in afterward and it’s ready to be used.” The dwarf proudly proclaimed.

“Well that’s certainly good news.” Robb smiled, as he took two of the mini-thunderers out of their box, holding them in his hands. “We both get two?”

“Yes, of course.” Monfryd answered, handing the one he held in his hands over to Jon, so he could inspect it. The mini-thunderer felt heavy in his hands.

“It would still take a while to load them.” Jon surmised as he looked over the weapon in his hands.

“True.” Monfryd agreed, “Two mini-thunderers gives you two shots, then you’ll have to reload. Certainly not the most easy thing to do in the middle of a fight.”

“The barrels are much shorter.” Robb noted.

“Yes. So they’re most accurate at close range.” Monfryd explained.

Both brothers thanked Monfryd for his gifts and congratulated him on finding a way to improve upon his original designs. They left their gifts sealed in the wooden boxes in Jon’s solar and went back to the feast together.

Once they returned, there was more feasting and merriment to be had. Jon and Robb danced with a number of different women, including their mothers and wives again. Speeches of congratulation were held, with wine, mead and song flowing in equal measure.

As the hour grew later, the bards began to play “The Queen took off her sandals, and the King took off his crown.” And calls for the bedding ceremony could be heard throughout the hall.

Soon enough, the men and women of the feast descended on them, the women to Jon, Robb and Sigorn and the men to Rhaenys, Ygritte, Val and Alysanne. Not for the first time in his life, Jon was surrounded by women trying to take his clothes off.

The women ohhh’d and ahhh’d when his cock was finally freed from his breeches. Wynafryd Manderly was the first to wrap her hand around his cock and give it a few playful pumps as they nearly carried him to his chambers. Lady Dustin even bent down and gave his cock a few licks. Thankfully, she was hidden by the crowd of women around him, who all cackled at the lewd display.

Eventually, Jon, Ygritte and Val were deposited into their bedchambers. For a few moments, they all stood in their nakedness, looking at each other. Then all three burst into laughter as Ygritte went to the wine cabinet, to pour them three goblets.

Robb and Rhaenys came through the door that connected Robb and Jon’s room. Both of them just as naked as Jon and his wives, they did bring their own wine.

“I see you’ve not started without us.” Robb smiled as they walked into the room. It had been their plan for the wedding night, they would fuck their wives all together, as they had hundreds of times before.

Rhaenys walked over to Val, taking to the blonde woman in her arms and kissing her deeply, then she turned to Ygritte and did the same. Jon threw a fireball into the hearth, setting it ablaze, filling the room with it’s warm glow.

All three of the women turned to the Stark twins. Both of them eyed the three women’s naked bodies like wolves looking at a lamb.

Rhaenys stood between the Ryder twins, her arms around both their waists. Her darker skin contrasting beautifully with the two fair skinned women. All three were arching their backs slightly, emphasising their massive breasts as they gave the Stark boys sultry smiles.

All three were beautiful in their own ways. Val was regal, like a proud lioness standing tall, her golden mane of honey-blonde hair falling past her arse. With high cheekbones and icy blue eyes, Val was the definition of a northern beauty.

Rhaenys was fully Dornish and exotic, her dark, smokey eyes promising endless pleasure. Jet black hair fell in ringlets down her body, framing her beautiful face.

Ygritte was wild and fierce. Free as the wind and fiery as her hair, a wild mess of thick bright red curls. She was noticeably shorter than Val and Rhaenys, her teeth were a little crooked and her nose was broken. All these things gave her an enticing, savage beauty in Jon’s eyes. Being of the Ice Guard, she was the most toned of all three women, her body tight with muscle.

“So…” Robb smiled. “Who’s first?”

“I think we’re going to take turns sucking your big hard cocks. Do you agree?” Rhaenys asked Val and Ygritte. Both of them nodded in agreement.

“We should be sitting for this.” Jon chuckled as he picked up two heavy wooden chairs and gave one to Robb before they both sat down. Both the Starks sat side by side, their cocks rigidly pointing upwards, throbbing at the sight of the beautiful women in front of them.

Val walked straight towards Jon and kelt between his legs, Jon saw Rhaenys doing the same for Robb. Ygritte followed the other women, standing between them, watching as they took the cocks in hand.

“Now… each of us are going to get a turn sucking you both.” Ygrittte purred, Jon felt her hand in his hair, he looked and saw she was doing the same for Robb. “Be sure not to spend yourselves too early, we’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

With that, Val and Rhaenys began to suck the cocks in front of them. Jon knew Val’s tactic before she even started. She gripped him firmly at his base, then slapped his cock against her pursed lips before extending her tongue, taking long licks along his member.

Jon smiled as his head fell back onto the chair, basking in the feeling of Val, languidly sucking his cock as Ygritte ran her hand’s through his hair. Before long, Val was bobbing her head up and down on his lap, her large blue eyes staring directly into his has she drew his cock deep into her throat. She didn’t gag while taking him into her mouth anymore, not after years of practice with both him and Robb.

Jon’s blonde wife sealed her lips around the head of his cock and began to suck as hard as she could, her tongue circling and caressing his cock-head all the way. Feeling Val’s golden tresses intwined in his fingers, he pressed her head further down onto his cock, as he thrust up his hips. That drew a muffled chocking sound from Val, but she quickly recovered, beginning to suck even harder.

“I guess we still know who’s better at sucking cock then.” Ygritte laughed next to him.

Val shot her sister an annoyed look and tried to pinch her, Ygritte nimbly danced out of the way. She stood just out of Val’s reach and began to shake her arse, goading Val into leaving Jon’s cock. Robb reached out a hand and gave Ygritte a firm spank, making her yowl as he and Jon laughed.

Glancing over at Robb and Rhaenys, Jon saw that she was frantically rubbing Robb’s cock with both hands, as she sucked on his balls. Rhaenys always loved to play with their balls. She said they housed her future children, so she would nurture them as much as she could.

“It’s time now.” Ygritte said, rubbing her reddened behind. She knelt down at Robb’s cock, Rhaenys came over and took Val’s place between Jon’s knees. Val stood up, a trail of Jon’s pre-seed falling from her mouth.

Jon saw Ygritte practically inhale Robb’s cock in one go, her nose was buried into Robb’s crotch as he moaned loudly.

“She really is good at that.” Rhaenys’ words drew Jon’s attention back to her. She was slowly jerking his cock with one hand that didn’t even fit the whole way around his cock, licking his cock head daintily.

Rhaenys’ eyes were two pools of deep brown, sultry and seductive as she fellated him. She pursed her lips and gave Jon’s cock head a big wet kiss, then another and another.

“You’re killing me, Rhae.” Jon moaned as she continued her agonisingly slow pace.

“Now now, my dear…” She tutted, licking her lips. “All good things come to those who wait...”

As Rhaenys continued her ministrations, Jon looked over to Robb again. He saw Val holding Ygritte’s head all the way down on Robb’s cock.

“Fucking use this ginger slut’s throat.” She growled to Robb.

Val was trying to make her choke, but Ygritte was taking it in her stride, much to Val’s annoyance. Eventually, the teasing became too much for Jon, who grabbed Rhaenys’ dark curls in his fists.

“I’ve waited long enough.” He growled, before slamming her face down onto his cock, thrusting his hips up to meet her.

Jon skull fucked his twin’s wife mercilessly, her tongue and throat massaging his member, drawing it deeper into her. Drool began to spill from her mouth and down onto her massive tits, that bounced happily in time with her movements.

Once he released Rhaenys from his cock, she gasped for breath, with a smile on her lips and lust in her watery eyes, she dove right back onto his shaft, taking it deep again.

“It’s time.” Val declared.

Ygritte vacated her place on Robb’s cock, making way for Val, but it seemed Rhaenys wasn’t quite ready to let go yet. Ygritte shuffled over to the both of them on her knees, as Val got to loudly sucking Robb’s cock behind her.

“That’s my cock you’re sucking!” Ygritte pinched Rhaenys’ nipple and twisted, causing the dornish princess to yelp and move to the side a bit.

Ygritte settled next to her and they both sucked Jon’s cock together. Rhaenys’ mouth going up and down one side, Ygritte’s going up and down the other. They weren’t in sync with each other, not like Val and Ygritte would have been.

Occasionally their mouths met around his cock head, where both their tongues vied for dominance around it, swapping it in between their mouths. Jon was in a world of pleasure as the two beautiful women eagerly sucked his cock together. He held their heads in place on either side of his cock as he fuck their lips.

“Fuck off. It’s my turn with him now.” Ygritte told Rhaenys after a time. She pouted, before giving Jon’s cock one last lick and getting to her feet. “All mine now.” Ygritte gave a toothy grin before she deepthroated his cock again.

Ygritte was far and away, they best cock-sucker in the North. The skill and power she wielded with her mouth was second to none. Her head was a blur as she sucked up and down his shaft, her small hands gripping it tightly. Jon let out a low moan as Ygritte put all the right pressures on all the right places. Jon’s cock was an instrument and Ygritte was a master musician, who played Jon’s tool with the highest ability. Looking over at Val and Robb, then Ygritte, Jon couldn’t help but laugh.

Rhaenys joined him in laughter. “Twins sucking off twins...” She giggled. It wasn’t the first time Ygritte and Val had fucked Jon and Robb at the same time, the novelty hadn’t worn off yet. Jon doubted it ever would.

“Fuck.” Jon gritted his teeth as Ygritte sucked him deeply, he was getting close. From Robb’s moans, Jon guessed he was too.

“I think they’re both about ready to pop.” Rhaenys giggled happily, kneeling down on the floor. “Come on girls, let’s make sure they both can cover all three of us.”

Val and Ygritte both shuffled over to either side of Rhaenys as Robb and Jon stood up, their cocks aching, yearning to be released.

“Are you going to paint us?” Ygritte asked innocently, smiling up at them. Both the Stark twins began to jerk their cocks, directing them at their wives.

“Look at these tits.” Val cupped up one of Rhaenys’ tits, offering it to them. “Don’t you want to cover them with your seed?”

“My big strong Stark boys.” Rhaenys moaned for them. “I love your massive cocks… Paint me with your seed!”

All three of them opened their mouths wide expectantly, sticking their tongues out, awaiting their gifts. Soon enough, with a mighty groan, both the Stark men sprayed their seed over the faces and breasts of their wives. Both Jon and Robb aimed to get most of their seed in Rhaenys, Val’s and Ygritte’s mouths, they eagerly swallowed what was given to them.

When the Stark twins were done, their wives wives were completely covered in their seed. Each of them swallowed a healthy helping of seed and there was still enough to cover their faces and breasts. They began to kiss and lick each other, cleaning off the mess their lovers had made of them.

All five of them panted together, Robb and Jon looking down on their wives. The next moment, the women were on their feet. They all knew what to do, they’d done it together many times before. As one, the group moved to the very large bed that stood against the wall.

Robb mounted Rhaenys at the head of the bed, she was on her back as Robb ploughed her. Ygritte and Val got to their hands and knees on the other end of the bed, their faces just above Rhaenys’. The three women began to kiss each other, alternating between each of them. Marvelling at the two peachy arses in front of him, Jon wondered which he should fuck first.

Settling on Val’s bountiful behind, Jon eased his cock into her silky sheath. Val pulled away from kissing Ygritte to moan loudly, her head dropping low as Jon rocked against her.

“Fuck her Jon!” Ygritte moaned as he put two fingers in her cunt and one in her arse, she always loved having both holes used at the same time.

“Yes! Fuck them Jon.” Rhaenys added. “I want to see their faces when you make them finish!”

The Stark brothers rutted their women on the bed. Ygritte, Val and Rhaenys kissing, moaning and fondling each other. Rhaenys seemed to particularly enjoy when Val and Ygritte shoved their tits in her face, her own massive, tanned tits bouncing in time with Robb’s thrusts.

“Gods Robb! I can feel you in my stomach!” Rhaenys squealed as her quivering thighs indicated her coming to a strong climax.

“Fuck me! You fucking massive cocked god!” Val moaned, slamming her wide hips against his pelvis, the wet slaps of flesh echoing through the room.

“Come here Ygritte, I want to taste you.” Rhaenys told their red haired lover, who eased herself off Jon’s fingers with a moan, then sat on Rhaenys’ face.

“Can she even breath under that thing?” Robb chuckled, smacking Ygritte’s fleshy arse.

“It-ah! Doesn’t feel like she-ah! cares that much…” Ygritte moaned in response. “Get up here Val, we weren’t done.” Jon pulled Val’s hair so her torso was upright against Ygritte. Val didn’t have the strength to hold herself up any other way.

One sister held up the other as their tongues danced, their huge breasts mashing together. Ygritte’s mouth silenced Val’s moans, mostly, but Jon could tell from her quivering, that she was coming to her end.

Within a few dozen more thrusts, Val was coming undone around him, gasping her pleasure into Ygritte’s face. Ygritte had clasped a hand tightly around Val’s throat, depriving her of air and whispering utter filth into her ear as Jon ravaged her through every inch of her climax.

Val fell limply to the bed with a soft thud when Ygritte released her. Jon locked eyes with her for a few moments. He was still hard as a rock, his cock throbbing as it pointed straight at her. Ygritte gave him a toothy grind as she dismounted from Rhaenys’ face, the dornishwoman’s eyes rolling back as Robb thrust deep inside her.

“So… Jon Star-ah-k!” Before Ygritte could say some witty remark, Jon picked her up and threw her onto her back. Nothing could stop her giggles as Jon nestled between her thighs and speared deep into her cunt with the whole length of his cock.

Next to them, Robb had left Rhaenys in a haze on the bed. He’d moved around and mounted Val from behind, taking her up the arse as he pulled her honey-blonde hair.

“You will be silent.” Jon growled at her, clamping a hand over her mouth. “You’re going to lie there and take my cock. Do you understand, Fuckmeat?” Ygritte’s eyes fluttered as her cunt quivered around him. Jon could tell she nearly peaked right there. He’d used the special name she begged him to use on her. Ygritte was incredibly submissive in bed, she wanted to be used, treated like a cheap whore. “Do you understand?” He demanded again.

She nodded quickly in response.

Jon didn’t wait a second before he began to pound Ygritte’s cunt like there was no tomorrow. The wooden frame of the bed yawned and moved under the force of the thrusting going on on top of it. The Stark twins were ploughing the Ryder twins, as was their right. There were some Children of the Forest who believed that it was a privilege to carry a Stark babe, to be a lover of a Stark was a high honour to them. The loud clapping of Jon’s balls on Ygritte’s ample arsecheeks filled his senses.

Only he and Ygritte remained.

Her cunt became the world around him. The vice-like pressure of her cunt squeezing his cock was maddening. The walls of her cunt massaged him as he dove deeper and deeper into her.

Ygritte’s large breasts bounced in time with Jon’s thrusts, her small pink nipples hardened to diamonds. One of Ygritte’s nipples was pierced, a small piece of metal with a jewel, glinting in the fire light of their room.

Jon took the pierced nipple into his mouth, sucking it greedily. These were the breasts that would feed his children one day. While they weren’t quite as massive as Rhaenys or Val’s monumental tits, that Jon was getting an excellent view of as Robb pulled her body up. Ygritte’s were still large and perky. Jon thought back to the time Ygritte had first shown him her breasts.

He had been sparring with Daryn Hornwood in the training yard at the time. Ygritte had stood in Jon’s line of sight and called his name, opening her shirt and revealing her naked breasts. Jon had been enthralled by the sight, as had others who were in the training yard too.

He’d been so enraptured by the sight so much that he hadn’t seen Daryn’s strike coming.

The blow turned his helmet into a bell. Jon had lost the match, but it had been the start of his and Ygritte’s relationship, so it was a sacrifice he was happy to have made.

Afterward, he had found out that Val and Ygritte had made a wager on who would win his and Daryn’s sparring match. Val had been very cross with her sister for cheating. A stifled moan from Ygritte drew him from his memories.

“I told you to be silent.” Jon growled at her. “Why did you not follow my order?” He gave a particularly hard thrust, making Ygritte grunt, worsening her offence. “It isn’t that hard to follow orders, is it Robb?”

“No, of course not.” Robb answered, thrusting into Val as she squealed. “Val’s great at following orders.”

“I’m sorry, daddy.” Ygritte pleaded.

“And now you speak? I have punish you now…” Jon pulled out of her as she whined at the loss. Walking over to a cabinet on the other side of the room, Jon retrieved a plywood paddle and walked back to the bed.

“Arse up.” Was all he said to Ygritte, she knew his tone demanded she obey his commands.

Quickly, she got onto her knees on the bed and bent over, sticking her fleshy arse into the air. Robb had gone back to the head of the bed, he was going to watch as both Val and Rhaenys sucked his cock together. Jon ran his hand over the globes of Ygritte’s behind, appreciatively squeezing the flesh. Ygritte had the best arse out of all three of their wives and she loved to have it punished.

“Now…” Jon said, raising the paddle into the air. “You are going to count for me and thank me after every one. Do you understand?”

“Yes daddy.” She answered, quivering. He brought the paddle down on one arsecheek. “One! Thank you daddy…” Ygritte whimpered. He brought it down again, this time on the other, making her arse wobble with every impact. “Two! Thank you daddy…”

Smack!

“Three! …Thank you daddy…”

Smack!

“Four! Thank-you-daddy!”

Smack!

“Ah! Fu-Five! Thank you! Daddy!”

“Half-way there now. You’re being a very good girl…” He patted her hair, then pressed her head down onto the bed.

Smack! Smack! Smack! He hit her arse three times in quick succession.

“Ahhh! Si-fuck-Eight! Thank you daddy!”

“Ohhh Ygritte…” Jon tutted, brushing the paddle over her reddened arse, making her moan. “You didn’t count properly… So i’m going to have to start again!”

Smack! Smack! Smack!

By the time he was done, Ygritte’s arse was as red as her hair, she was quivering from climaxing several times during her punishment. The bedding was soaked beneath her.

Jon took his cock in hand and shoved it deep into her arse without warning. Ygritte jerked up at the sudden and unexpected insertion. Setting a relentless pace, he pounded Ygritte’s arse as she whimpered beneath him.

“Who’s Fuckmeat are you?” Jon demanded, pulling Ygritte’s hair, fucking her like the bitch she was.

“Yooouuuurrrrrssss!” Ygritte whined as she climaxed around him again. Feeling Ygritte find her end forced Jon to his own, with a loud roar, he filled Ygritte’s arsehole with a seemingly  unending blast of his seed. Hearing Robb moan, he knew Val and Rhaenys had sucked the seed from his cock.

After a brief rest to recuperate, they were back at it again. Jon, Rhaenys and Val were on the bed. Rhaenys was riding Jon’s cock as Val rode his mouth, the two of them kissing each other deeply. Robb had taken Ygritte out onto the balcony to fuck her as she leaned over the the barrier.

Rhaenys rode Jon’s cock with experience and grace. Her hips fluidly moved back and forth, then around in circles, then up and down.

She’d been riding a dragon for years, a cock wasn’t difficult.

Jon’s tongue dove into the depths of Val’s cunt, she tasted like honey. Both women moaned wantonly as they rode him, moving their hips in a stilted rhythm.

“After I give Robb a son,” Rhaenys moaned “you’re giving me one too.”

Jon chuckled into Val’s cunt as he pleasured her. Rhaenys loved to rave about how she’d get both Stark twins to give her babes when they shared her.

“Mayhaps Robb is giving your babe a sibling right now.” Val said, biting her lip in pleasure. They heard a cry from Ygritte as Robb spanked her arse.

“That babe would have very red hair.” Rhaenys laughed as she lifted her hips up and down Jon’s cock. Thinking she was taking too long, he started thrusting up to meet Rhaenys. “Oh fuck!” She moaned, trying to balance herself as Jon fucked her from below.

Val was beginning to pant and quiver as Jon flattened out his tongue and licked the whole length of her cunt lips. She leaned forward and took one of Rhaenys’ dark nipples into her mouth, sucking gently on the breast, her hand groping the other.

It seemed the sensations of Jon fucking her cunt and Val playing with her breasts became too much for her. With a loud cry, Rhaenys climaxed on Jon’s cock, as she had hundreds of times before.

The feeling of her cunt squeezing him and coating his cock with her release made Jon find his own peak. He filled Rhaenys’ cunt with his seed as she moaned happily, smiling like a cheshire cat.

A few moments later, Val was on her back with Rhaenys riding her face and Jon ploughing her cunt. Val was skilfully eating Jon’s seed as it flowed from Rhaenys’ cunt. Rhaenys was resting her hands on Val’s massive bosom, pinching her big pink nipples.

With his hands hooked under Val’s knees, holding her legs up, Jon set an even pace thrusting in and out of the warm embrace of Val’s tight cunt. Val’s fingers were curled into the furs of their bed in pleasure.

Relentless, Jon speared deep into Val’s core, withdrew, then thrust deep inside her again. Pressing the backs of her knees onto the bedding beside her angled her cunt just right for him to thrust down into her, going as deep as possible, filling her entire being.

With a muffled moan into Rhaenys’ cunt, Val utterly surrendered to Jon, just like she had done a thousand times before. His tree-trunk of a cock battering down the walls of her womb, sinking deeper into the wet warmth of her cunt.  Plundering her depths, Jon plunged even deeper into Val’s body, claiming her completely.

The familiar, warm sensations of feeling Val’s tight cunt welcoming his cock again and again had Jon thanking every god he could think of. Val could do naught to stop him, not that she ever would. All she was able to do was moan into Rhaenys’ cunt as Jon used her curvy body.

His eyes drifted along her body, very familiar to him after years of intimately getting to know it. Her wide hips and thin waist gave her an exquisite behind, that was unfortunately hidden from Jon at the time. Going further up, she had a flat, toned stomach after regularly training in the yard.

Further still took Jon to what was widely considered to be Val’s best feature, her breasts. Rhaenys was still playing with them as Val pleasured her, no doubt to reciprocate the pleasure for one of her oldest friends.

“Doesn’t she have such amazing tits?” Rhaenys teased Jon, she’d clearly noticed him staring at Val’s breasts.

“Both of you do.” Jon drew Rhaenys in for a kiss, their tongues went back and forth for a few moments before Rhaenys yelped. Val had reached up to pinch one of Rhaenys’ nipples.

“Ohh, is that your game?” Rhaenys taunted. “I think I may have the advantage here.” She said as she sat down hard on Val’s face, beginning to gyrate her hips.

She’s trying to suffocate Val with her arse… I suppose there’re worse ways to go…

Soon Rhaenys was beginning to moan more heavily as Val added her fingers to her ministrations, stuffing two up Rhaenys’ tight arse. Jon picked up his pace, thrusting harder and suddenly both Rhaenys and Val were reaching their peak together.

As Jon was nearing his end already, Val’s quivering cunt pushed him over the edge. If Val wasn’t already pregnant, Jon was certain that she was now, with the amount of his seed he deposited inside her warm cunt.

The night carried on much longer for the five lovers. Jon and Robb spent themselves in all of the holes the three women offered them, multiple times. Ygritte, Val and Rhaenys all took both Robb and Jon in their arses and cunts at the same time, at one point or another throughout the night. Ygritte was always the one who enjoyed getting taken by both twins at once the most. After many hours more of fucking, they all finally fell asleep in a messy pile on the bed, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

Until a loud banging on the door roused them from their slumber.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Catelyn

After their children had been carried from the hall, there were few guests left at the feast. Catelyn was moving a small potato around her plate with a fork when her wife nudged her.

“To think, not too long ago, they were babes at our breast.” She was right, of course.

Where did all that time go? Cat asked herself. It seemed one minute, her little twins were learning to walk, now they were married men. Robb with his own babe on the way.

“They grow up so fast.” Cat said, wistfully, looking over the remaining guests as some filtered out of the hall. “Too fast…”

Ash then took her hand. “What’s on your mind, my love?”

“This is how it begins...” she said, melancholily. Her hand drifted to her stomach, thinking of the babe she’d only found out about earlier that day. That had been part of the reason she’d been weeping tears of joy all through the wedding ceremony, Ash with a comforting arm around her. “Soon enough, the rest of our pups will grow and leave.”

“Don’t be like that, Cat.” Ashara said with a kind smile, her dazzling indigo eyes looking straight at her. “We still had plenty of time with them… and besides, I reckon we’ll be having a few more pups soon.” They both laughed softly together. Cat knew that Ash was pregnant as well. We could give birth to twins again, like Arya and Alyrianne. “From what Marei says, our auspicious king may have given her a parting gift as well.” Ash gossiped.

“That woman must want child from every man in Winterfell.” They both laughed some more, then Ash leaned in closer. “…What do you make of Elia’s exit earlier?”

Cat hadn’t really thought about it, Elia had been having bouts of ill health early in the day for a week. During the feast, she’d had one such bout when the fish had arrived…

Wait…

“You can’t mean…?” Cat asked, eyebrows raised high in surprise.

“I think she might be.” Ash nodded.

“We should talk to her.” Cat said. If Elia was really pregnant, they would have to talk about it. Becoming a mother again after so many years would surely be difficult for Elia. That was an cruel thought. Cat realised. Elia had been a mother to the children of Cat’s womb, and just as much for Ash. The actual pregnancy and birth would be the real issue. She’d heard stories from Ash and Elia of her very difficult births. Mostly they had told her as she was giving birth, or just after Catelyn had given birth herself. She stood up from her chair, a little too quickly. “Oh.” She groaned, a full evening of standing, dancing and feasting had taken it’s toll on her. She was sore all over.

“I have an idea…” Ash smiled mischievously. “I go get Elia and we meet you in the nice, soothing waters of the godswood hot springs.”

“You make me sound like an old woman, needing to bathe in hot water for my aching joints.”

“Well… You’re an old soul. You and Ned. That’s why I love you both.” She leaned in and placed a kiss on Cat’s lips.

“Go get our Elia.” Cat smiled to her wife after they pulled apart.

“We’ll see you later, Tits…” Ash winked, Cat tried to swipe and Ash’s arse for using that nickname. She missed, making Ash giggle as she sauntered away from her. Ash had often called her “Tits” in private. Unsurprisingly, because of her massive tits, that everyone seemed to love.

Cat made her way to the godswood, the air was dead and quiet as she got to the pool in front of the Weirwood. In the distance, she could hear the howling of the direwolves, Redmane was with them.

The air was cold on her naked flesh when she divested herself of her dress. She welcomed the warm embrace of the water when she dived in. Many nights she’d spent swimming in the godswood, under the stars. Those nights mostly ended with Ned fucking her and the rest of their lovers against the Weirwood.

At least four of our children were made here.

She smiled to herself as she swam in the pool. Her childhood had been spent swimming in the cold rivers next to Riverrun. By comparison, swimming in the hot springs of Winterfell was luxury.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a twig snapping. Cat quickly stood up in the pool, the cool air making her shiver as she peered into the dark wood around her. Then there was nothing.

Must have been an animal.

They were safe in Winterfell, safer than Ned was, going south with the Lannisters. She wished for Ned to be home. She wished for her daughters to be home. Their family belonged in Winterfell.

Together.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“There you is…” Catelyn whirled around to see a small dirty man in filthy brown clothing looking down at her as she bathed. She did not recognise him, he was gaunt, with limp blonde hair and pale eyes deep-sunk into a bony face. He had a dagger in his hand.

“Who are you?” Her voice was tight and her shoulders tensed. She silently thanked the gods that she chose to become a skinchanger in the tradition of house Stark. If he was an assassin, she would be able to to change into a wolf and rip his throat out. Cat had never actually killed anyone before, she hoped she didn’t have to. “Who are you!?” She repeated with gritted teeth.

“Needed t’wait ‘til yer were alone…” He ignored her question, taking a few steps closer to her. “Had t’wait a while…” Cat could see his beady eyes roaming her form. Repulsed, she covered her modesty as best she could.

“Leave this instant! Or i’ll call the guar-urgh!” She wretched and coughed after the man threw some kind on powder right into her face. Cat’s eyes and throat burned as she fell into the water.

“She said would wouldn’t be able t’change if I used the dimer-itini-munum.” He clearly mispronounced dimerituim. It was a magic suppressing material that rendered her skin changing useless. “She wanted me t’give you’s a message first…”

“Fuck off!” Cat stumbled out of the pool, making a break away. Towards the castle, towards the wolves, anywhere but near him. She sucked in a hoarse breath, nearly choking as the dimeritium dust burned her throat. She screamed “Guards! Guards!” at the top of her lungs.

Barely out of the water, he tackled her to the ground, she was kicking and flailing, but half-blind and gasping for breath, she could not escape.

He was on top of her, pushing her face into the snowy ground. Cat twisted her head to the side, managing to get a piece of his flesh between her teeth. She bit down hard into his palm.

“Argh! Bitch!” The man grunted in pain. The taste of blood filled Cat’s mouth as she kept tearing at his hand, eventually he let go.

“Redmane!” She screamed again, hoping her wolf would save her.

“Come here! Whore!” He growled, grabbing her hair and pressing her face into the ground again. She felt him wriggle around on top of her, trying to remove his breeches with one hand. She thrashed and screamed, kicking out again.

“I’m t’enjoy you’s, then kill you’s, then yer bitch wives too…” He laughed. “She wanted me t’say: Who’s ugly now you peasant-fucking Arrrrrggg!!!” He didn’t get to finish his sentence as over a dozen massive snarling blurs leaped at him, dragging his screaming form away, tearing him limb from limb. Catelyn was showered in a rain blood as dozens more howling direwolves flooded the clearing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Good girl.” Catelyn whispered as Redmane, padded up to her, covered in the attacker’s blood. Her wolf began to lick her bloody hands clean. It tickled. Whether from shock or relief, Catelyn began to laugh hysterically as she was surrounded by the wolf pack.

That was how Ash and Elia found her. They wrapped a blanket around her and lead her back to the Great Keep, to their chambers. Old Nan helped her with a hot bath, washing her clean as Redmane and Starlight stood guard at the door. Ash and Elia had sent for Druid Luwin and Sabrina to check her wounds and make sure she didn’t get dimerituim poisoning.

They were all together in the prince’s chambers: Ash and Elia sitting next to her on the bed. Benjen and Lyanna were standing with Robb, Jon and Alysanne, who were pacing across the room, fuming with anger, their wolves just as restless. Cat felt sorry for them, being robbed of their wedding nights for such horrible news. Luwin and Sabrina were packing away the medicines they had brought. Rodrik Cassel and Hallis Mollen, the captain of the Ice Guard in Harper’s absence, stood by the door. They all knew what had happened.

“Who was he?” Cat asked.

“The wolves tore a lot of him away.” Hallis told her. “But none could name him. He was no man of Winterfell, m’lady, but some says they seen him about the castle these past few weeks.”

“He didn’t sound like a northerner.” Cat informed them.

“So he was one of the king’s men.” Ash ventured.

“Or one of the Lannisters’ creatures.” Elia added, looking worriedly at Cat. Lysa’s letter rang through Cat’s mind.

“Perhaps,” Hallis agreed. “Winterfell’s been so fell of strangers of late, half a hundred banners came with the king.”

Cat went over the  attacker’s words in her mind. “He said…” Cat began, then paused. Ash took her hand. “He said ‘She’ sent him. And that ‘She’ wanted me to hear a message before he… killed me.” Her children didn’t need to hear the whole truth. They were full enough of rage as things were. Cat did not wish to add to it.

“What was the message?” Luwin asked.

Catelyn shifted on the bed a little. “It was: Who’s ugly now…”

“That spiteful bitch!” Ash seethed, rising from the bed in a fury.

“Who?” Alysanne asked, confused at her birth-mother’s outburst.

“The queen.” Elia answered icily, through gritted teeth.

“How do you know?” Jon questioned, standing with his arms crossed, just like Ned did.

“She was being rude on their first night here.” Elia explained. “Cat put her in her place.”

“When I get my hands on that vicious harpy…” Ash’s fury was broiling.

“Ash, we should try to stay calm.” Elia tried to sooth her.

“No! I will not stay calm!” Ash thundered. “The queen sent a man to murder my wife!” While it certainly warmed her heart to see her wife so ready to commit to acts of violence to defend her, Cat knew getting angry and raging would solve nothing. They needed to know all the information they had, so they could plan their next move.

“Not just me.” Cat added, her voice was smaller than she would have wanted. “He said he was supposed to go after you two next.”

“Well if Cersei wants to take our lives, she can come try and fucking take them herself!”

“Princesses please…” Sabrina tried to clam the situation. “We don’t know for sure if the queen did it… yet… We should look at all the evidence before he jump to a first conclusion .”

“There’s more?” Cat asked.

Alysanne nodded. “Yes. I smelled horse on… What was left of him. I ordered the guards to search the stables. They found where he had been sleeping and three-hundred silver stags in a leather bag buried under hay.”

“At least our lives were not bought cheaply.” Cat said bitterly.

“Princesses,” Ranger Rodrik said, producing the dagger the man had worn. “There is also the dagger. The blade is Valyrian steel, the hilt dragonbone. Far too fine a weapon for a man like that. Someone must have given it to him.”

“So what do we have? We have a large sum of money… A Valyrian steel dagger that could only have been given to the attacker by someone with money and means to own it… The one who sent him knew how to combat your skin-changing as well, with dimeritium… And the killer’s own confession that a ‘She’ sent him to kill you.” Benjen laid out their evidence.

“The only thing we had that could directly tie the queen to this attack is dead.” Lyanna added. “Leaving your word against hers.”

“What I am about to say must not leave this room.” Cat told them. They all nodded and gave their oaths of silence. “Some of you know this already. My sister believes the Lannisters murdered her husband. If the Lannisters are willing to murder a Hand’s wife over something as trivial as this, I believe they would willingly murder a Hand too.”

“Did the attacker speak the queen’s name?” Sabrina sat on the bed as she asked.

“No.” Cat admitted. “And though I am eternally grateful to the wolves, as Lyanna said, they have killed the only real evidence that could be pinned to her.” There was only one place where the truth would be found, Cat knew this. “Someone must go to King’s Landing... Find the truth there.”

“I’ll go.” Robb, Jon and Alysanne all volunteered at the same time. She was so proud of them.

“No” She said, firmly. “I am the one who must go. I have friends in King’s Landing. Petyr Baelish, the Master of Coin was fostered at Riverrun. He’s been a little brother to me. He will help me.”

“I will go with you.” Elia said. “I have a matter I need to discuss with our dear Ned.”

Cat nodded in agreement. “Ser Rodrik will accompany us to White Harbour on the morrow, where we will hire a ship to King’s Landing.”

And then, we shall see what we shall see.