"Your Grace! Your Grace!" The Maester ran as fast as his brittle legs could let him in the stormlands.

The brunette beauty stopped at the sound of her new name, well technically it wasn't just yet but since Robb had declared her his queen everyone seemed to call her that now. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and turned, Elaine stopping as well and keeping her lips pressed together to prevent the smile.

"Maester Calderon," The Lady greeted him with a smile. "How is your morning?"

"We had a session scheduled, your grace, I grew worried when you did not show." He spoke softly, blinking around to see if any of the guards were listening.

Victoria pressed her lips together, oh right, she thought to herself as the vague voice of Elaine reminding her as she awoke came back. Her eyes travelled to the blonde who seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Apologies, Maester, I thought since I had no more symptom we could get on with more important matter." In actuality the brunette had simply not wanted to go, it'd been weeks since her miscarriage and while everyone seemed to be concerned over her health the brunette had wanted to move past it as quickly as possible. While most in the know had asked her to stay in her bed the brunette had flat out refused. After a few days the pain had become bearable and all that was left was her moon blood which seemed endless but that she could deal with.

"Your grace, I'd still like to assure that all is well," the older man spoke to her and broke her from her thoughts.

"Quite well, Maester Calderon, now if you'll excuse me I do have pressing matters to attend to. Until later," she excused herself very quickly, her long dress trailing behind her as she turned and left the old man in his footsteps.

"I still think it would have been a good decision to do one last checkup, your grace," Elaine spoke the last part sarcastically as she walked alongside her Lady.

Victoria did not even care as she eyed the brunette in a half amused, half annoyed manner, "I'm fine, I don't need to keep thinking about the past. From now onwards I'd like to move forward. And if you start calling me that then I'll really begin to feel crazy."

Elaine's amuses laugh followed as the two walked through the camps, "well it is a rather hilarious thing. You're not even queen yet and these men bow to you, the other ladies in waiting bow to me as if I'm some sort of god."

Victoria rolled her eyes at the last part, she knew many women who followed their camps were hoping she'd pick them for another lady in waiting and while she knew Elaine had a rather demanding job being her sole handmaid she still preferred her privacy. Elaine also seemed to find annoyance in these girls as most of them only wanted the title and not the job.

"Yes well, a queen does more then pace around in a graceful manner. I'd like to feel like i earned the title." She muttered and walked towards the thickest of the tents. "Have we gotten word yet?"

"Yes, looks like we just might have enough food to spread through all our men. If the Lord Commander manages to smuggle in more from Dorne then the men might not starve." Elaine responded, restating the same words she'd had told by the Commander.

"Well it's good the men won't go hungry, what about dying? Have we got something for that?" She went on, trailing towards what is known as the medical tents. She had set it up with the direction of the Maester and Elaine, much of it was simple care for the men and other was for tally's of necessities.

"Well men won't be dying in there sleep because of a cold night, that's for certain." Elaine explained. "Dying on the battlefield, well that's not something we can easily help, is it."

"Quite right," Victoria quipped and turned to see a few of the men were looking her way. She walked over to them, a small fire brewing between the middle as they all straightened out. The dark of their armor told her they were Stark men, although she didn't know their face.

"Your grace," they all said one by one, and they stood, bowing their heads in respect.

Despite the name she smiled brightly, leaving them all breathless as she came closer and the dirt clinging to most of their armor stains her lovely deep green dress. "How are you all doing? I would apologize for the weather but I can't do much about it now can I?"

They all found themselves laughing at her jokes and Victoria felt herself relax as they slowly grew comfortable. One of them, a dark haired fellow with brilliant green eyes looked her way and asked her. "Would you like to take a seat, your grace?"

Victoria nodded her head fast, happy to see that she was growing on them and she quickly bounded over, she too growing comfortable. The men were slightly surprised as her nose did not upturn at the smell of their dirty clothes nor did she keep a safe distance. She sat right alongside them, adjusting and crowding so her handmaid could take a sit. "Right well, I should probably introduce myself properly to you all since I believe this is the first time we are meeting. Formally, I am Lady Victoria Valiente, of House Valiente, first of her name and soon to be Queen of the North. And this is Lady Elaine Snow, but you all can call us Vic and Elle if you'd like."

One of them coughed a laugh and shook his head, sipping his ale, "I don't think the King would like that very much."

"And your name?" She tilted her head in his direction, to which the man stared at her blankly.

"Lucky, your grace." He responded after a brief pause.

She smirked, "and how does one go by acquiring such a peculiar name."

The men around him began to laugh while his cheeks reddened as he looked down and stated. "I don't think that story is one for a lady, your grace."

Victoria pressed her lips together and leaned back, looking towards Elaine who seemed rather silent as the two women shared a look as if to debate the next words. The brunette raised an eyebrow while the blonde seemed to narrow her eyes a hit, meanwhile the men stared in expectant silence.

After another silence the brunette looked back up to the men and smiled, "anyone care for more ale? I'd like to drink like a man if this story is as good as I'm expecting."

All too soon as the men began to relax the commander of her armies appeared, Monterroso made his way straight towards the brunette and each soldier stood and crept away but not the would be queen, she finished her drink and looked up at him. A smile suddenly appeared, "care for a drink?"

Monterroso nods his head, "nice night for a drink, your grace."

Victoria resists to roll her eyes and instead nods her head, "I suppose my night isn't going to be as nice anymore is it?"

"They've caught a spy, the King wishes you attend as they meet with him." He informs her.

This peaks her interest and immediately stands, "well now that sounds like it's worth a walk, shall we go?"

He nods, "goodnight soldiers."

"Goodnight soldiers," Victoria followed after as the men bowed and left her with another "your grace."

Her nose upturned in slight annoyance at the words but said nothing, until Monterroso noticed. "I take it you're not quite fond of the name just yet."

Victoria eyes him for a moment before explaining. "It's not the name that's a nuisance—well it wouldn't be had I been married to Robb. I'm sure there's some law about calling a women queen before marriage."

"The King declared you queen in front of all those men that night, marriage or not you are now queen to them." Monterroso explained to her in a very polite way despite her eyebrows knitting together and lips pursing as if the answer did not satisfy her.

"I suppose," she hummed lowly and looked off to the men that walked past her. The first few days after Robb's rule had been announced had certainly been strange. She woken that morning still reeling from pain from her miscarriage and hoping the world would disappear. In truth she had nearly forgotten the declaration had it not been for Elle who had come into her room with a nervous smile and had whispered in her ear there were new guards outside her tent. Her eyebrows had immediately shot up then and the pain had moved to the back of her head as she remembered the previous nights events. Elaine had then commented that there was a sudden increase in women wishing to be her ladies in waiting. The daughters of well known lords and even some bastards had been looking to see if they would be by her side. Of course Elaine had been the only one she allowed into her tent for the first few weeks until any traces of blood or marks were gone and then she'd taken on a few more ladies in waiting.

Victoria had become quite annoyed at the idea but Catelyn has reminded her that now more then ever she needed to show the people she was a northerner which meant allowing more of them by her side. The daughters of many wealthy lords sat with her during early morning breakfasts and some chatted with her about silly things but mainly Elaine was the only one she fully trusted. She had more knights that followed behind her at all times, some even walked a few feet back at the moment but it didn't matter, Ser Marcos was still the one she walked with. Life had changed for not only the Starks but for the intended queen as well.

"I take it you still aren't accustom to your ladies in waiting." The knight commented as he noticed how only the pretty little blonde walked behind them instead of the dozen blushing ladies he'd seen in the morning, her blue eyes looking anywhere but at his eyes.

"I never really liked having to many people around me, I prefer Elaine, Ser Marcos, and you." She respectfully responded.

"Well it's going to get worse once you actually marry the king." The Commander notes and the brunette refused the idea to groan as she knew this herself, although actively avoided the idea.

Robb's tent was full of commotion as they walked up but once one man caught site of the future queen they all grew silent, pushing and shoving to make a way for her and the Dornish group she brought along. The dark armor and steel contrasted deeply against the Valiente's bright yellows and it wasn't hard to make them out just like it wasn't hard to find Robb amongst the noble Lords and brave knights. The table they say upon was rounded, almost shapes like the foot of a horse and dead center was Robb and Lady Catelyn, an empty chair next to Robb.

"Your grace, we have been waiting for you." Lord Manderly spoke up to the brunette.

"Lord Manderly," she nodded her head towards him respectfully. "Apologies for my tardiness, I've been tending to the medical camps."

"You're much to kind, my queen," Manderly smiles. "You've brought our armies so much from your lands not even the Tyrells could compete."

Victoria smiled, she knew that he only said this because of her role but even so it was nice to hear. She didn't do it for their approval now or even the new title bestowed upon her but she did it because those men deserved as much as any Knight or Lord.

She walked past him, and many lords who bowed and muttered, "your grace," once more as she walked past them and nodded her head as a friendly sign despite her hands fisting underneath. The title now, it nearly mocked her every time it came from someone's lips.

She curtsied as any lady would in front of a king and bowed her head, "your grace," she whispered only loud enough for Robb to hear. It was a strange sensation, to think that he was no longer the boy he stole her first kiss behind the horse stables or apologized for it later that night when they had snuck out to watch the stars on a particularly warm night. Robb was now not a Lord but a King, and proud was she of him for this. Her eyes looked up and she caught the ghost of a smile appearing behind his fist, she could tell he found it funny that she now had to speak to him in such a way. She missed this, Robb and her hadn't exactly spoken since the day of their fathers executions. While Robb had drowned himself in affairs of a King, Victoria had gone in the other direction— she cared for the common people, for the soldiers who fought for them, and for the families who's homes they may have passed.

Robb stood and pushed the chair for her to sit, finding that nearly all eyes were on him. "My queen, how beautiful you look."

She eyes him, and yet again the mock of a would be title passed through her thoughts. Queen he called me, she thought, and yet a marriage does not rest upon my heart.

She smiled despite this dark thought, "you're far too gracious, I have been out and about all day."

"And yet you look as radiant as ever," he respondes softly.

She took her seat, smiling at Lady Stark and adjusting to her chair. Elaine took her place beside the rest of the handmaid farther back and Monterroso and Sir Trout stood behind her chair. She cleared her throat as the Lords went back to their private conversation and instead ducked her eyes to her hands as she avoided Robb's eyes. she knew there was so much they needed to discuss, so much that was still left to be said but alas, she couldn't find it in her heart to talk about.

Her fathers and child's death was something she hadn't dealt with and was actively avoiding, they were however like the monsters from the tales of a child, always lurking in the shadows. She kept them at bay, with sleeping potions and long tasks throughout the day it seemed like the grief could be kept as far away from her, but when she looked at Robb she knew that eventually they would talk. Robb Stark had this knack about getting things out of her, wether they be private or not he always seemed to be able to deduce the worst and force her to bring them to light. And he would do it with her fathers death, she knew he would which is why she kept her distance.

Instead her eyes focused on the Lords like Glover who was drinking excitedly from down the table, seeming giddy at what was to come. Manderly still hadn't taken his seat as he was talking animatedly with anyone who would listen. Bolton was closer to the Starks then most, much to her surprise as he sat beside Catelyn, a silent observer as always. Karstark was looking behind her, his eyes on Elaine who was entertained by the Lord Commander, their silent whispers were like mush amongst the loud chatter of other men. Victoria pursed her lips to this. She knew Karstark must have felt like salt was being rubbed into a wound every time he saw the daughter he had rejected. She was soon to be a Queen's Lady in waiting, a direct link to the crown and he had shoved her aside years ago.

He had tried to push a few of his sons and even daughters upon Victoria's side, acting as Ladies or even guardsmen but she had kindly decline. After one look at Elaine's tensed face and she knew no good would come of it and besides the Karstarks tended to act a big like snobs, and she detested that in any person. After a few days the girls grew tired of the chores that were sent to them, which were simply only to help the future Queen into her dresses everyday, and the men grew intimidated by her own armada that guarded her tent. Soon enough she was left free of the Karstarks, except for the hateful glare the Lord sent his bastard daughter. Nonetheless it didn't matter, he would sooner bite his tongue off then to spew a nasty word towards one of the Queens confidants.

Victoria's thoughts are interrupted by the presence of Stark guards dragging in the spy, Lannister red coated his dirty ensemble. Idiot, no wonder he was caught, Victoria sneers as she notices the cut across his cheek and the fear in his eyes.

The Dornish women suddenly flares her nostrils at the man, and oddly enough she feels hate brewing in her. She did not know him, this was the first time they'd met in life but one look at the green of his eyes and the red colors that tainted his clothes and she felt nothing but hatred. It was odd how one persons actions effected everyone near them, even odder that this poor boy who clearly had nothing but the name of her enemies could rile such a blood thirst within her. She did not know wether it appealed or disgusted her quite yet.

"You're Ser Alton Lannister?" Robb spoke to the man

The boy, Alton, swallowed tightly as his eyes travelled around the tent filled of men ready to kill. He was hesitant to answer but knew it better to respond then ignore a Kings words. "I am, Your Grace."

Robb didn't nod or acknowledge his response as he went on, "I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms. First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones must be returned to us so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell. And the remains of all those who died in his service must also be returned. Their families can honor them with proper funerals."

Alton was wise to answer the short pause. "An honorable request, Your Grace."

The King however was not finished and this request had him leaning forward, his hands wrapping against the wooden table as fury brew in his voice. "Third... Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to dominion of the North. From this time, till the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom."

Alton looks at him wide-eyed.

"The King in the North." Ser Rodrick proudly stated.

The rest of the men sounded off as well, "King in the North."

Robb seemed to absorb the energy they gave him, using it to fan the fire of his next words. "Neither Joffrey nor any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father, only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me."

"These are... Your Grace, these are..." Ser Alton could not form a proper sentence this time. Victoria trusted that the words had made a proper impact.

"These are my terms. If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not, I will litter the south with Lannister dead."

Alton had only one thing to say to this. "King Joffrey is a Baratheon, Your Grace."

"Oh, is he?" Robb mocked and Victoria found her head was now swimming with confusion. What did Robb know? What was happening? She fidgeted in her seat and knew that it might be time for her and Robb to have a word.

"You'll ride at daybreak, Ser Alton. That will be all for tonight." Robb dismissed the man like any king would and the men filed out, Alton being dragged between guards.

"Robb..." Victoria spoke to her intended, hoping to get a clearer answer to what was occurring.

"—we'll speak tonight, my love, there's something's you and I need to discuss." Robb cut her off again sounding more and more like the kind he was.

Victoria nodded her head, lips pressing together at his shortness, heavy was the head that wore the crown, she supposed.

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So sorry this took forever to get out, has been written for a week and I couldn't find any time to edit it with work.