The godswood was cold and breezy, a light dusting of snow on the ground, but it was quiet, and was just what Eddmina needed, the perfect escape from the suffocation of Winterfell.

It was her first time taking Uther out there, so even though she was only really out there to get away from everything, it still felt a little special, if not overwhelmingly bittersweet. It had been a restless night, yet he was sleeping in her arms peacefully, so as she stared at the tree as she had done so many other times, for the first time in what felt like a long time, she felt a little pressure be lifted off her. She let out a long sigh, one that could have easily led to tears, but she'd decided from the moment she told Robb she'd be joining him that she was no longer allowed to cry. If she was going to accompany him to war there would be many men with them that would believe in her keeping out of their business, so the last thing she would need was her emotions getting in the way.

Still though, as she looked at her son, then to the weirwood, while sat on the log that usually belonged to her father, it was hard not to feel a lump forming in her throat.

"He will love you," she whispered to Uther gently, not wanting to wake him, yet still wanting to say the words. Even if her son didn't hear her, there was a chance the gods would, and perhaps they would listen to her for once. "He is the greatest of fathers, he will be the greatest of grandfathers too. You will meet him soon, I promise. He is wonderful, and kind, and strong. I can't wait for you to meet him."

She pushed a kiss to the top of his head, stroking her fingers through his thick dark hair. Leonette had joked only the night before that there was nothing of Willas in him at all, and though she was right and the younger Tyrell's had laughed, the older Tyrell's had seemed rather stern about it. Though, that was nothing unusual, everyone seemed to be stern and solemn, especially after Willas had told his family about their plan of going south. Eddmina hadn't been in the room to see their reaction, but she'd heard the argument that had ensued after, which only got worse after Garlan decided to also offer his support to Robb. Lord Tyrell and Lady Olenna had barely looked at Eddmina since, and Lady Alerie was incapable of conversation without getting tearful.

"I just want you to be happy and safe," she had told Eddmina the night before in an attempt to get her to agree to going back to Highgarden with the other Tyrell's.

"Nowhere is safe," Willas had replied, his hand firm on Eddmina's shoulder.

Willas had become so determined for the northern cause that sometimes Eddmina forgot that it was her who'd made the initial decision of going south. It had been him to go to Robb to declare their support, and he'd since spent countless hours in the library studying up on northern warfare, trying determinedly to learn everything he possibly could before the bannermen arrived. Gone was the man who read nothing but histories and nature books, and Eddmina couldn't help but think he looked older, as if their new venture had made him become more serious. He was still himself though, just as Robb, despite battle planning and assuming the role of Lord Stark, was still Robb. For that, Eddmina was grateful.

She'd not had another nightmare; yet. Part of her wished for another vivid dream, just in the hopes that it would give her a glimpse of what was happening. She wanted to see Sansa, or Arya, just to see them safe and alive. She wanted to see her father, just to know that he was alright. It was hard being so far, though she knew it had only been two days since Robb had called the bannermen, and nothing much would have really happened in two days.

"I can't believe I've been here so long yet I've never been out here," Leonette's voice called quietly as her footsteps crunched through the woodlands. "I'm disappointed in myself. It's beautiful here."

"Isn't it?" Eddmina couldn't help but smile.

"Everyone's looking for you," Leonette said, and when Eddmina turned her head she saw a badly disguised frown of concern.

"Of course," she shrugged. "Any reason in particular?"

"Your little brother said you'd promised to take him riding," Leonette told her, and Eddmina couldn't help but laugh. Even on the brink of war Rickon still wanted to play. "And there's going to be a Tyrell meeting that I thought you'd need to be there for. Loras has arrived with Lord Renly."

At that Eddmina rose from the log, possibly a bit too quickly given the cry Uther called out. She quickly rocked him back to sleep, though never taking her eyes off Leonette, trying to get a grasp of the situation based on her expression. Leonette looked how she had done for the last few days; hollow, concerned, tired. It was the lack of change in her face, and the flat tone of voice thst told Eddmina all she needed to know. Loras and Lord Renly had clearly arrived in Winterfell alone, save a guard, not accompanied by her little sisters.

Eddmina had known it was a waste to even consider that as a possibility. Willas had written to Loras, asking him to look out for the northerners, especially Sansa and Arya, and that had given Willas a little hope that upon hearing his brother was fleeing north, he would have Eddmina's sisters with him. His hope had been almost infectious, and though Eddmina was sure she never fully believed it, betrayal still stung.

"My father has written to me again," Leonette broke the silence of their walk, reminding Eddmina that she wasn't the only one with family trouble. "He has asked that I convince the other Tyrell's to reconsider their stance."

Apparently Joffrey becoming king was a far more difficult matter than they all initially thought. The new king's appointment hadn't just resulted in the northern conflict, but war was brewing in the South too. Stannis Baratheon had declared himself king, and many southern houses had already joined his side, the Fossoways included. Eddmina didn't know much about Leonette's family dynamic, though she had come to the conclusion that she wasn't particularly close to the Fossoways. She had married young, joining Garlan and the Tyrell's for love rather than contractual obligation without ever really looking back. Even so, family was family, and it was clearly difficult for her knowing her marital family was doing the opposite of her blood family.

"You don't have to do anything," Eddmina reassured her. "We don't even know what Lord Renly wants, he might be here as a spokesman for his brother. Then everyone will all be on one side."

"Apart from Garlan and Willas, the honourary northerners," Leonette replied, her voice weak. "I wish you were coming back to Highgarden with us. You and Uther would be much safer, you can't live in a war camp."

"I can't let Robb go alone," Eddmina sighed, saying the words for what felt like the hundredth time.

By the time they'd reached the study that was practically haunted by Tyrell disagreements, it was obvious another was well on its way. Honour was sat outside the door like a guard, and upon hearing a roar of laughter Eddmina braced herself. The two women slipped into the room barely noticed, everyone else still caught up in whatever they were discussing. Whatever it was, Garlan found it hilarious, though his opinion was clearly not shared by anyone else, everyone glaring at him save Lady Alerie who looked sad, and Willas, who merely appeared bored.

"I believe that is the single most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard," Garlan sighed, wiping his eyes, his voice still threatening to break out with more laughter.

"Stop laughing," Loras said, his voice firm while his arms were crossed. Margaery was sat by his side, nodding along with a scowl directed at her elder brother.

"Well it's a farce, we all know it, everyone else in the Seven Kingdoms will know it," Garlan pointed out.

"Farce it may be, it's still a better option for us, it's a far better side for us to ally with," Lady Olenna said, her usual tone of dismissive authority. She looked directly at Eddmina before adding, "No offence meant."

That was when everyone seemed to finally notice that Leonette and Eddmina had arrived. Garlan sobered for a moment at the sight of his wife, gesturing for her to join him. She obliged, and he quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder protectively. Eddmina considered then just how perfect the two of them were together, how greatly they complemented one another, and how Leonette's obvious upset had faded just by being in Garlan's presence. Eddmina, however, didn't cross the room to her own husband. He was sat off in the corner, his elbow propped up on the arm of the chair, his chin resting on his fist, and he'd shot her a tired, sad smile. Both of them had come to the point of exhaustion when it came to making others listen, so they merely went along with what was said, knowing what they were going to do was the complete opposite, yet that was fine while ever they had each other.

Lady Alerie, however, moved to her, and carefully took Uther out of her arms. She squeezed Eddmina's hand gently, giving her a nod before she slipped out of the room, taking her grandson with her. Eddmina didn't mind, she knew the baby was a nice distraction for her, a little slither of joy amongst the chaos, and without her son Eddmina felt as though she could think. She didn't have to worry about waking him, or scarring him by surrounding him in war talk before he could truly understand, and so she could be herself without concern.

"Do not worry yourself, I stopped being offended at your treatment of my family and the north a long time ago," she said coldly, ignoring how Willas moved slightly so his hand could cover his mouth, hiding the smirk that had grown. Garlan was less subtle, snorting a laugh.

It was obvious that whatever discussion was taking place, her presence had complicated it, so an awkward silence settled. That was until, surprisingly, Lord Renly came forward. He'd previously been stood on the opposite side of the desk to Lord Tyrell and Lady Olenna, both Margaery and Loras at his side, both of them watching him move warily. Loras' hand was on the hilt of his sword, as if instinct made him a protector, and he was watching him intently. It almost reminded her of the way Robb looked at Talisa, or the way that Garlan was looking at Leonette, or even the way Sansa had watched Prince - or King - Joffrey upon his arrival to Winterfell.

Eddmina remembered Bran thinking Lord Renly was the King when he arrived at her wedding. After meeting his late brother she really couldn't help but think he seemed a lot more regal, a lot more like how the stories portray monarchs. He was reaching out for her hand, and she refused to be rude as she gave it to him, allowing him to kiss her knuckles as she curtsied quickly.

"Lady Eddmina, it's good to see you," he greeted, courtesy thick to hide the lie. "I'm very sorry for the situation. Your father is a good man."

"If he's that good why did you leave him in the Capital to fend for himself?" she asked before she could stop herself, and upon feeling the flames beginning to brew inside, she looked behind Lord Renly to Loras. "Willas wrote to you. He asked you to look out for my little sisters."

"We did, but-" Loras began, and Eddmina noticed the way Margaery intertwined their arms, a sisterly gesture of solidarity.

"Then where are they?" it was Willas who interrupted, though speaking the exact words that Eddmina had been thinking. "If you'd really heeded my words then you wouldn't have left two children to fend for themselves in the most dangerous city in Westeros."

"They were hardly fending for themselves, it wasn't our fault their father decided to put his honour before them and overthrow the Lannisters singlehandedly!" Loras snapped back, though Lord Renly turned and gave him a look. He readjusted himself, especially seeing that both his brothers were glaring at him, as if he was still a child. "What I mean is, if we hadn't left when we did, we'd both be dead too."

"My father isn't dead," Eddmina said, surprised that her voice didn't shake considering the words felt like a knife to the heart.

"My Lady, we offered him support, I offered him the option that we could go in together, take the keep in the night while Robert was still alive, take out the Lannisters before Cersei ever had the chance to put her son on the throne," Lord Renly explained to her. "He refused."

Of course he did. It wouldn't have been very honourable to act in the night. Taking the keep at night would have meant going behind their backs, betraying them in a moment of weakness, it would have meant bringing the children into it, little Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella. They were Arya and Bran's age. None of it was honourable. It wasn't very brave either, to act in darkness rather than wait and confront the matter head on. Eddmina wasn't surprised her father had refused, but what he was surprised at was how conflicted she felt. Was she proud he had stood his ground, would she have hoped to have made the same decision? Or was she frustrated, knowing that if he had followed Renly's suggestion things would be highly different? Either way, she couldn't betray her father by letting her conflict show, so she remained stoic, breathing slowly.

"Good," she said eventually. "The King was his friend. The last thing he would've wanted to do was frighten his children, not while he was on his deathbed."

"You northerners, all the same," Renly scoffed slightly, rolling his eyes as he stepped back towards Loras and Margaery.

"Careful now, that's my wife," Willas said, his voice stern.

"Regardless, I'm sure my brother will want to speak with you," Eddmina said, her eyes not leaving Lord Renly, even when she noticed him shifting in his spot uncomfortably. "Our bannermen are due to arrive any day, we will be leaving for the south soon. I'm sure an agreement can be made, an alliance between us all, perhaps. At least that way you get to right your wrong to my father."

"I wouldn't worry, Edd, an agreement has been made," Garlan spoke sarcastically, sneering a grin as he looked to the two senior Tyrells. "Maybe someone would like to fill our dear sister in on what she has missed?"

There was an awkward silence, in which no one really wanted to meet anyone else's eye. Eddmina wondered if it was her, if they didn't want her present for family discussions. That was funny to her though, as everyone seemed to insist she was a Tyrell when it would benefit them, but the moment they had nothing more to gain she was an outsider again. She remembered them referring to her as 'the Stark girl' back in her early days at Highgarden, and she felt like that girl all over again, except they were in Winterfell, in her father's study, and she refused to be isolated in her own home.

"Tell me now, somebody," she said, and despite herself, she crossed the room to Willas' chair, perching on the arm as he immediately placed his hand on the small of her back, keeping her close. Perhaps if she was next to her husband they would all see her more as one of them.

"We are going back South to mobilise the bannermen to begin marching on King's Landing," Lord Tyrell spoke eventually. "You'll be relieved to know we've decided not to bend the knee to Joffrey, but instead to Lord Renly, or King, I should say."

Garlan snorted out a single laugh. Loras glared at him once more. Eddmina remembered her wedding, remembered how close her goodbrother seemed to be with the Lord of Storm's End. She remembered how closed off he became when she mentioned their friendship. Of course the Tyrells would ally with Lord Renly. He was rich, powerful, with a solid connection to the throne. Their unwillingness to tell her seemed to make sense too. If they still thought her an outsider of course she wouldn't be trusted to know about an alliance that was so obviously rooted in a forbidden romance. Yet, if it was forbidden, how would it be certified, how... Eddmina looked at Margaery, and things became a little clearer.

"You're getting married," Eddmina stated. No one spoke, but Leonette hushing Garlan's stifled laughter was enough confirmation for her. Margaery smiled, nodding, looking a little too much like her grandmother as ambition creeped through. "I feel I should congratulate you, but at the same time I wonder what this means for my family."

"It means that we are your family, and that we have decided it is not in our best interests to waste our time on a meaningless cause," Lord Tyrell told her firmly. Willas took hold of her hand, squeezing it three times.

"Tell me what is meaningless in going south when my friends are dead, when my little sisters are hostages, when my father is rotting in the black cells," she said, wishing she could be angry, yet all she felt was tired.

"This whole situation is a lot bigger than the Starks versus the Lannisters," Lady Olenna scoffed.

"Not to me," Eddmina shook her head. Willas squeezed her hand again.

"Then I suggest you open your eyes, dear," Lady Olenna said casually, as if it wasn't an insult.

"My wife," Willas repeated protectively, not casual as he had been before, but tense and tired.

"No one wants Joffrey as King except for the Lannisters, he shouldn't even be King," Lord Renly said, as if he thought he could be a peacemaker between the different Tyrell factions. "I'd heard whispers about what Jon Arryn and Stannis had been looking into, why do you think my brother fled the city before the Hand died? Your father knows something too, but even if he didn't... Joffrey is a stupid boy, not fit to be King."

"But you are?" Willas asked with a raised eyebrow, once again saying exactly what Eddmina was thinking.

"I'm not alone in thinking it," Lord Renly continued as if the interruption hadn't happened. "All of my own bannermen have sworn to my side, and the Reachmen too, the Oakhearts, the Fossoways, though only half of them, the rest have gone to Stannis."

At that Leonette let out a sharp breath as Garlan held her closer. If he was going to be fighting with Robb, and her family had split itself across Renly and Stannis' causes, then there really wasn't a side she could root for without also causing harm to her other loved ones. Eddmina felt for her, she truly did, but she had too much to think about without dwelling on Leonette's sad circumstances.

Eddmina rose from her seat, not taking her hand out of Willas' as he stood with her.

"Then it sounds as though there is nothing more to discuss," she forced a smile. "I hope one day our two sides may meet and be able to help each other, but for now I think you ought to be getting back to the South. I wish you good fortune in your marriage and your war. Hopefully the net time we all meet will be nicer circumstances."

With that she left, Willas at her side, and the door had barely closed before she could hear the disappointed sighs of Lord Tyrell and Lady Olenna, and the protective remarks of Garlan, and the frustrated comments from Renly and Loras. None of that mattered though, as Willas quickly spun her around to face him, placing one of his hands on her cheek as he drew her face to his, kissing her slowly.

"I love you," he said as they broke away, before kissing her again. "I'm sorry."

"I don't care," she promised, her forehead against his. "They don't matter. Only you matter. I love you, too."

The two of them headed to the library, drawing up further plans and strategies to present to Robb. The room was deserted, just the two of them alone, but that was fine, their desk piled high with books, parchment spread out across the surface as Eddmina took notes from what Willas read out to her, drawing out rough diagrams, circling the most important parts. They'd barely noticed the sky darken or their candles burning down until the door slammed, and suddenly Garlan and Leonette were stood opposite them.

"Hiding, I see," He joked. "Well? What do you think? Farce or what?"

"I'm surprised you'd not seen it coming," Willas said without looking up from his book. "It's a perfect plan. Grandmother and Father has been angling to make Margie a queen for years, at least this way it saves them figuring out a plan to get rid of Cersei and marry her off to Robert."

"That was a plan?" Eddmina exclaimed. She knew the Tyrells were ambitious, but there was far too much of her father in her to let that knowledge sit easily. She felt a little sickened.

"Apparently this was Loras' idea, Margaery told me," Leonette said, a sad look in her eyes. "We're all leaving tonight. I said I'd go to the wedding, even if it is in Storm's End, but then Alerie and I are going back to Highgarden. Eddmina, are you sure-"

"I'm sure," she said firmly, though forced a smile. "I will be fine. We will all be fine, back home before you know it."

Eddmina hated lying, but she couldn't help it. Of course she didn't turly believe that thinks would be fine so soon, but she thought if she said it, maybe the gods would hear her, and they would take pity and give them all a swift end to their problems. They hadn't listened to her much so far, but she refused to give up just yet.

True to Leonette's word, the Tyrells did leave that night. They had wanted one final talk with Eddmina before they went, one final chance to talk her and Willas out of their northern alliance, one final chance to convince them to go home and stay there, but she refused. There had been enough talking, and besides, she was too busy. Bannermen were starting to arrive, and she had to help Robb greet them, had to show them to their rooms and begin building bridges. There was plenty to be doing around Winterfell, helping in the kitchens, assisting the stablehands with the new arrivals, plenty enough to get her out of yet another chilly Tyrell meeting.

The distance she put between them and herself certainly didn't help when it came to saying goodbye. As she hugged Margaery tightly she began to feel terrible, wishing she had taken the opportunity to spend more time with her goodsister, who had been so kind and welcoming to Eddmina when they first met and who had never treated her badly.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy married life," Eddmina said as she pushed a kiss to Margaery's cheek, knowing it was the sort of remark she would say to her.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy war," Margaery replied, signature smirk perfectly in place. "You'll look after my brothers, won't you?"

Eddmina nodded, knowing that Margaery was too stubborn in her own way to express nerves, but that was as close as she would get. It was scary, knowing they were all on separate sides, and there were no words to reassure anyone, so instead Eddmina just hugged her again, tighter.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Lady Olenna said to both Eddmina and Willas, her face stern and bored.

"Look after yourself," Willas told her on behalf of them both.

There were no words from Leonette, just a teary hug for them both before she fell back into Garlan. Saying goodbye to Leonette hurt Eddmina the most, because she knew that if she wasn't her goodsister, she would be her best friend, and she didn't have many friends at all. She tried not to watch the exchange between her and Garlan, but she also couldn't look away, as she knew no one more in love than the two of them. Holding each other's faces close, Garlan whispering something so lowly only Leonette could hear, the two of them in their own little world.

There was no goodbye from Lord Tyrell. There was nods from Renly and Loras, but Lord Tyrell mounted his horse without recognition of the two of them. Eddmina wanted to not care, but she noticed how Willas' jaw clenched, and knew that no matter what she husband said, it hurt him. She wanted to say something, anything, but there was nothing to be said, nothing to be done but hope that they would meet again and their difficulties be put aside.

Lady Alerie, however, had hold of them both in a tight embrace. She kissed Willas' cheeks tearfully, squeezed both of Eddmina's hands before she held her face in her hands, looking at her as though she was her true daughter.

"Be safe, both of you, please," she said, her voice shaking, though she was managing a brave face. "Look after each other. Look after your brother. Look after Uther. I will see you all soon, I know it."

"I don't know if I can ever thank you for everything you've done for me," Eddmina didn't know why she was speaking, why a simple 'goodbye' wouldn't suffice, but her feelings appeared before she could stop them. "You were there for me when I needed someone, you'll never know how much it meant, how much it still means."

"It was my pleasure, dear," she beamed at her, her eyes shining. For a second she glanced behind to her husband, before she looked back at her son, taking hold of his arm and squeezing it. "Pay him no mind. It is about time you finally did what is right for you. He will understand eventually."

"I hope so," Willas said quietly, his guard dropping for the briefest moment as his mouth twitched, almost as if he was going to grimace and cry, but he stopped himself. "We will be home soon."

"You will," Alerie nodded, forcing another smile, before she pulled away from them, heading off to join the rest of the departing party.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Eddmina whispered to Willas, quiet enough so only he could here. The gates opened, and the party began to ride out, but it wasn't too late, not if he'd changed his mind.

"I'm sure," he said, his jaw clenched once more.

It was only when they were in the private of their own chambers, Honour curled up by the door like a guard, the two of them sat on their bed under the covers that a different story emerged. A book sat on Willas' lap, Eddmina was rocking Uther to sleep, but every time she glanced at Willas she could tell he wasn't really reading. He was looking at the words, but she knew what he looked like reading, knew his eyebrows creased together ever so slightly, while his eyes currently appeared glazed over.

As soon as she had set Uther down gently into his cradle, Eddmina took the book off him. His gaze didn't move for a moment, staring down at the spot where the book had been as if he hadn't noticed it's disappearance. He sighed, rubbing both hands across his face, before he moved to embrace Eddmina, holding her close and breathing in her scent, kissing the top of her head.

"We're doing the right thing," he said, though she knew it was mostly to himself.

"If you'd rather go home-" she began.

"No," he cut her off, a little harshly, though he sighed again. "I'm sorry. No. I want to do this, I want to be here for you. This is what you want to do, I promised to always protect you. I made you a Tyrell, promised to look after you, to care for you... but I never thought doing so would be at the cost of my own family, especially the family who once insisted this match was the best thing for me to do."

He loved her. She loved him. They both knew that, but it didn't matter how much love was between them. Their marriage was an arranged one, and sometimes that fact was an inescapable complication. They had both wed for the good of their family, and now they had started to put their needs and wants first, it had been surprisingly isolating, or at least it had been for Willas. Eddmina had it hard, she always knew she would considering she was the one who'd had to move south, but Willas had practically left his family for her. His sister was to be a queen, his brother and father marching off in support of a fellow southerner, meanwhile there he was, in the north, following a northern cause.

"It will be alright, one day," she said, though the words felt empty.

They all kept talking about 'one day' and 'soon', but the terrifying thought of it all just being speculation was creeping in. Eddmina knew Willas was thinking it, and that upset her more than thinking it herself.

"Look at me," she said, pulling out of his arms, kneeling at his side as she took hold of his shoulders, turning him so they were facing each other. She held his chin with one hand, while her other stroked his curls. "If you say the word, we will ride home. We will take our son and our wolf and go to Highgarden, and sit and wait for the war to pass us by."

"Neither of us want that, Mina," he whispered, his voice weak as he sighed.

"No," she agreed. "It hurts, knowing the actions which are best for us leave those around us disappointed or frustrated, but one day when we are safe and this is all over, when my family is all safe and returned home, when, oh, I don't know, Renly and Margaery sit on twin thrones in King's Landing, this will all seem like a bad dream."

Willas chuckled softly, leaning over and kissing her.

"Nothing is ever truly that bad when I am with you," he told her, and she felt her eyes sting. "We will come through this. We will survive."

"We will," she promised, smiling a little. "We need to."

***

The next week was so busy neither of them really had much chance to speak to the other, but that night was enough for them both to know that they were both each other's constant ally. Even whilst Willas worked in the library on battle plans and Eddmina was in the courtyard with Robb greeting new arrivals, they were still in each other's thoughts, and when they met in the evening for dinner and when they settled in their chambers for the night, there was no doubt of their devotion.

It was odd to see Winterfell so busy, even after the royal visit. It was a different sort of busy, there was more tension in the air because everyone knew what was to come. Still though, it almost felt more comfortable than when the southerners were there, there was less pretence, less manners and awkwardness. That was one thing Eddmina liked about northerners, there was no pretending about them. Those who had already arrived had been stoic and respectful in greeting, yet they had a dry sort of humour, a brash boldness about their remarks. It was refreshing considering how badly Eddmina had felt like she had been pretending while the royals were in attendance.

Eddmina and Robb had met most of the Northern lords before. Their parents had made sure that both of them, but Robb especially, knew the bannermen, knew the lord's names and the history of each house, and they'd often been in attendance if anyone had visited. It was different now though, because without their father, Robb was acting Warden of the North, making him their leader even with the severe age gap. There had been a few remarks regarding that, but Robb took it on the chin, laughed where appropriate, frowned when he found things distasteful, and overall Eddmina was rather impressed with how he conducted himself. They were all there for the same thing after all, some of the lords' sons had gone south with Eddmina's father, so even if they were there out of loyalty to their liege, there was always a personal vendetta fuelling someone.

The Glovers had arrived first, then the Boltons, the Umbers, the Cerwyns, the Hornwoods, and the Tallharts. Then came the Karstarks, distant relatives of the Starks attended to by well over two thousand men. Lord Rickard himself had led them, with his sons at his side. Eddmina considered what it would be like to see her brothers at the side of their father going into war, and it chilled her more than the thought of a rescue mission. Soon so many had arrived that Winterfell was filled to the brim, with more men camping outside the walls, and each of the local inns and taverns hadn't had so much trade in years. Eddmina was well and truly outnumbered by men, though that scarcely mattered the moment the Mormonts arrived, led by Lady Maege and attended to by her daughter Dacey who carried around an axe and a sword. Eddmina was amazed at them, and enjoyed their company whenever Robb feasted with them.

Robb was remarkable throughout it all, appearing strong and lord-like in the presence of his men. Yet when it came to the night time and everyone else had gone to bed, she saw that perhaps things weren't so simple for him. Maester Luwin had been gently trying to convince him to stay, and Bran had been less than gentle, demanding that none of them leave, telling them to just let the bannermen see to it. Rickon had become wild too, heartbroken that more people were leaving Winterfell, yet even with their brothers, Robb could hardly step down and allow the bannermen to take over. It would make him seem small, weak, he would be seen as nothing but a child forever, and so he had to continue, and with the banners all arriving in Winterfell, the days before they would be leaving were growing fewer.

Once everyone had arrived Robb decided to feast all the head of houses in the great hall. They had to move extra tables into the hall to accommodate everyone, though he manged to fit the majority of them around the head table. Robb was in their father's seat, with Theon and Eddmina sat either side of him. Robb had invited Bran to sit with them and so he was next to Theon, while both Tyrells were next to Eddmina. She'd seen both Willas and Garlan recieve a few frowns and the odd glare, and while she understood the northerners wariness she refused to allow either her husband or goodbrother to be mocked, especially given their loyalty to Robb. They deserved their seats at that table just as much as anyone. Three direwolves sat under the table, Honour, Greywind, and Summer all sat at their owners' feet, and it felt like each one of them had a protector, and as they were all in new territory it was a rather comforting thought.

The evening was going rather well, until talk turned to warfare. For most of the night Willas had been quiet, listening and observing how the northerners interacted, but when it came to battle plans and strategy, and Robb looked to Willas who had spent all his time researching historical battles, there was an audible murmur around the table, and one loud laugh coming from the Greatjon, the head of house Umber who was as outspoken as he was large.

"What does some broken southern ponce know about warfare?" the Greatjon boomed as he rose to his feet.

"I beg your pardon, my lord," Eddmina spoke coldly, noticing out of the corner of her eye how Garlan clenched his jaw. While all the other lords around the table seemed to be chuckling Robb and Theon were watching her carefully. Underneath the table Eddmina heard a low grumble.

"You heard me, my lady, I don't think these flowery folk have any business being here, least of all a one-legged one," he replied, and there was more laughter. Garlan made an attempt to rise to his feet, but Willas quickly stopped him, grabbing his arm and holding him down.

"Last I checked I still had two legs, just one doesn't work as well as the other, that is all," Willas said calmly, surprisingly wearing a small smile. "As for my experience, I accompanied my grandfather and uncles into battle a few times before I ended up, as you say, one-legged. I was knighted after my first battle. I might not be versed in combat the way you all are, but yet I am here, and I want to help."

He was a knight? Eddmina swore he'd never told her that, surely she would have remembered something as important as her husband being a knight. Perhaps he had made it up to appear more reputable amongst the northerners, but that wasn't like him, Willas didn't lie, and the north didn't really value knighthoods like the south did. Eddmina wanted to ask him why he had never mentioned such a thing to her before, feeling as though he had kept a part of himself from her, yet she couldn't betray her thoughts, lest it might undermine him, so she kept staring straight ahead, ignoring the looks of those across the table from her. Robb was watching with silent curiosity, Theon was giving her a questioning look as if wondering why she had never told any of them, while Bran was looking at Willas as though he was meeting him for the first time. Bran loved knights, Bran had wanted to be a knight, of course this would pique his interest.

The only person who didn't really seem to care was the Greatjon. He was still laughing, though no longer looking at the Tyrells. Instead he was looking at Robb. Eddmina was unsure if she was more bothered by the insults to her husband or the patronising gaze that had settled on her brother.

"You certainly don't share my experience, for thirty years I've been making corpses out of men, boy," he said, gloating, hie eyes never leaving Robb. "I'm the man you want leading the vanguard."

"Galbart Glover will lead the van," Robb responded, polite yet firm.

"The bloody Wall will melt before an Umber marches behind a Glover," Greatjon insisted.

"I did think I saw a bit of snowmelt when we were at Castle Black," Garlan retorted under his breath. Willas elbowed him sharply, though somehow Theon had heard and was covering his laughter with a cough.

"I will lead the van, or I will take my men and march them home," he told Robb, looking down on him as if he was a child.

In comparison to him, Robb was a child, but he was still a Stark. Eddmina clenched her jaw, considering if she should say something, but she felt Willas' hand on her knee, and knew they were both thinking the same. Robb was commander, not her, and if she spoke for him it would only make things worse.

She need not have worried, as when she looked to her brother, his hands were folded together in a fist, his chin resting upon it, and when he glanced up from the table he looked rather threatening. She'd only ever seen him like that when they were facing the wildlings. Child or no, he looked menacing, and a real force to be reckoned with.

"You are welcome to do so, Lord Umber," Robb said lowly with a nod, rising from his seat. "And when we are done with the Lannisters, I will march back North, root you out of your keep, and hang you for an oathbreaker."

That was the last straw for the Greatjon. He let out a roar as he swept his side of the table clear. Plates and cutlery went clanging to the floor, and if people hadn't been paying attention before, everyone was suddenly focusing on them now. Other Umbers rose to their feet, and any of the Greatjon's friends did too, but so did Theon, his hand on the blade at his belt. He and Eddmina stood at the same time, and Garlan wasn't far behind them.

"Oathbreaker, is it?" Greatjon bellowed. "I'll not sit here and swallow insults from a boy so green he pisses grass!"

Greatjon's hand went to the sword at his belt, and Eddmina's chest tightened. Out of instinct she moved to stand in front of Robb, Theon doing the same as he pulled out his own weapon, quicker on the draw than the Greatjon. Yet neither of them had chance to be any use, not as a snarl roared up from under the table and three wolves jumped up from seemingly out of nowhere. Summer pushed in front of Bran, guarding him, while Honour and Grey Wind leapt onto the table. While Honour stated in front of Robb and Eddmina, bearing her teeth and growling, Grey Wind had thrown himself at the Greatjon, the Wolf's bark and the man's scream melding together as they both fell to the floor. Eddmina recalled Honour tearing out her would-be assassin's throat all those months ago, and as she smelt blood she feared the worst.

Yet somehow and without command Grey Wind seemed to reappear at Robb'S side, his muzzled bloodied, and though the Greatjon remained howling in pain, he stood. He was holding his own hand, and everyone in the room could see that the wolf had torn two of his fingers off.

"My lord father taught me it was death to bare steel against your liege lord," Robb said without hesitation, his voice quietly threatening. "Doubtless, the Greatjon only meant to cut my meat for me."

"Your meat," the Greatjon spat, kicking his stool away, and there was a split second where Eddmina considered more conflict, but the man broke out in a smile, holding his bloody hand up. "Is bloody tough."

He broke into laughter, and it wasn't long before the whole hall was laughing, even Robb, the fearsome look gone from his eyes. Eddmina joined in the laughter, though as she glanced to the Tyrell's she could see them struggling with the events that had just unfolded, and how quickly it had come to an end.

"You northerners are an odd bunch," Willas whispered to her the moment she sat back down.

"I could say the same about you flowery folk," she hissed back to him with a wink.

By the end of the night it was clear that the Greatjon would become one of Robb's keenest ally's. When the food was eaten and the drinks gone, men began to retire, until it just left the twins, sat at the head table.

"I thought he was going to kill me," Robb told her quietly, his voice shaken. The disagreement had been hours before, yet he still seemed wary.

"None of us would have let him get close to you," she promised. "How much longer until you want to set off south?"

"Give it another day, we'll leave tomorrow in the night, best to set off in darkness," Robb said, and she wondered which bannerman had advised him that. "Are you sure you want to come? It'll be rather uncomfortable, for all of you."

"I'm sure, and Talisa had offered to accompany me to help take care of Uther, and she's an excellent healer so a great asset to have in camp," Eddmina explained, smirking when she noted her brother's slight blush at the mention of the beautiful eastern woman. "Dear me, Robb. You act like Sansa and her fairytales any time you see her."

"Be quiet," he brushed her away, though grew serious as he looked at her. "I need to ask you to do something for me, is that alright?"

"You know anything I can do to help, I will," she insisted, though frowned when she saw just how stoic he looked. "What is it?"

"I need you to write to mother, and to Aunt Lysa," he explained, and Eddmina suddenly understood why he had appeared reluctant to tell her. "I had Luwin write to them both, but I'm yet to hear back. Father always told us about the Knights of the Vale, and how they were some of the bravest and strongest fighters he'd ever known. Uncle Edmure's responded to me, he says that the Riverlands will fight with us, but if we really want to get an advantage over the Lannisters, we'll need the Vale on our side too."

"You're probably asking the wrong person for such a favour," she muttered, glaring down at the floor.

"I'm not, you're the person I trust most, with anything, let alone this," Robb sighed, taking hold of her arm and squeezing it.

"You do know that Aunt Lysa's sole emotion towards me is contempt?" she pointed out, forcing a laugh. Robb stared at her blankly. "Well, you wouldn't. I say this with all the love in the seven kingdoms, Robb, but you're the golden child. Mother adores you, if she has favourites you're certainly it. If you write to her then she will surely respond, so will Lysa."

"You're father's favourite," Robb mumbled, making her laugh, though he frowned at her. "I'm not kidding."

"No, Arya and Bran are father's favourites, you and Sansa are mother's," she shook her head. The two looked at each other with faint smiles that quickly grew sad. "Do you think we'll ever see them again? Mother? Father and the girls?"

Both of them let the façade drop for a split moment. There was a real fear in both of them, fear that they didn't allow themselves to show often for fear of being seen as weak, or childish. They couldn't afford for either of those perceptions, but when it was just the two of them, it was different. Robb wrapped his arms around her, and she buried her face into his fur cloak. She used to do that with their father, it used to make her feel safe. Part of her had forgotten what that really felt like.

"Write to mother?" Robb asked her again, and Eddmina ignored how he hadn't answered her; neither of them truly wanted an answer. "And Aunt Lysa? Please?"

Eddmina didn't like it, but she couldn't refuse him, so nodded, forcing a smile. She left Robb in the great hall and went to her chambers. Willas was still awake, watching Uther as he slept, barely looking up as Eddmina entered. She went straight to their desk, retrieving parchment and ink, though her quill remained perched over the paper, the words refusing to come to her.

"Do you want any help?" Willas asked in a whisper. Eddmina's head dropped into her hands. "Who are you writing to?"

"My mother," she told him, and it didn't take him long to reach her side, his hand on her shoulder. As soon as he was lose she recalled earlier that night, and without much thought she asked, "Were you lying earlier about being a knight?"

"No," he shook his head. "Before jousting, before tourneys, there was a bit of unrest in Oldtown, some of the smaller houses were causing trouble. I was squiring for my Hightower uncles, and when things got a little too rough and a battle ensued, they took me with them. I was only young, far too young, I was thirteen. At the time I thought it was fine, but now I think about if Garlan or Loras took Uther with them to fight and he was that young... Well my parents weren't impressed, but apparently the Hightowers were. They knighted me, and sent me home to Highgarden, and my father decided that me being a 'Ser' meant that I must be ready for something else, something that would bring glory. No one ever remembers I was once called 'Ser Willas' now though."

"I will remember," she promised, rising from her seat and wrapping her arms around his waist, kissing his cheek. "My brave, honourable, glorious Ser Willas."

Willas chuckled softly, looking at the floor in an attempt to hide the pink tinge warming his cheeks. He kissed her cheek too, moving his hand up to push her hair away from her face.  Things felt easier with him, while ever he was with her, Eddmina seemed to feel as though nothing was as dangerous, nothing was as awful as she once thought it was.

The two of them spent all night drafting the two letters, and come morning, she took them both to Maester Luwin to be sent off to the Vale. The next night they departed Winterfell, in darkness, but with each other, Eddmina and Willas' horses side-by-side.

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