Grey Wind was pacing the deserted courtyard until he saw Eddmina and Willas walking arm-in-arm. At the sight of them, the wolf let out an excited yip, one that was unlike his usual battle howls, and ran to them. He jumped up at Eddmina, placing his paws on her shoulder as he proceeded to lick her face with determined affection. With a surprised laugh, Eddmina wrapped her arms around the wolf, remembering how tiny he had been when she first met him.

"Hello, good boy," she grinned, scratching behind his ears as Willas petted his back.

'Where he is, Robb isn't far,' Eddmina thought, but when she looked around, her twin was nowhere in sight.

In fact, no one was in sight, other than the usual bustle of servants dealing with the aftermath of the new arrivals, seeing to the horses and packing away the returned supplies. She had seen the initial arrival through their bedroom window, she'd seen the hoards of horses and northern flags filing over the drawbridge of Riverrun, and though Eddmina knew it was expected for the King in the North to arrive home to an official welcome in the courtyard, she had left that to her Uncle Bryden and her mother. Instead, she had readied herself to meet with the returning King and his bannermen in the great hall, where he had called for a welcome meeting.

Her punctuality had slipped though, and she couldn't help but wonder what Robb thought to her absence. She didn't even consider how it would be naive to assume that he wouldn't care. She was his sister, his twin, surely it didn't matter if she was late, surely he would be overjoyed to see her regardless of when she arrived. She had thought he would have left Olyvar outside, his ever-dutiful Frey squire waiting to escort her to the hall, but she had also thought that wherever Robb went, Grey Wind followed. Realising that made a strange ache settle in her gut, and she couldn't help but think how quiet it seemed.

Willas clearly thought the same, as he looked around with a frown, surprised by how deserted it felt.

"I knew we were running a little late for the welcome party, but..." Willas remarked, one hand on his cane while the other was buried in the fur of Grey Wind's neck. Eddmina met his gaze and his frown instantly disappeared as he offered her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure everything is fine."

"Why aren't you with Robb?" She asked the wolf, who stopped his kisses to tilt his head to the side. He hopped off of her before he threw his head back and howled; from the other side of the keep, another howl could be heard. "Where is he, good boy?"

"Careful, that's a vicious beast," a dry, teasing voice called, one that made Eddmina grin and Willas gasp out a relieved laugh. "He might tear your face off."

Garlan strutted out of the shadows of one of the alcoves and into the light, and Willas bolted to him. He looked the same he had done the day they set off on the Western campaign, except for the new scar he wore across his right eyebrow, and the dark circles under his eyes. He looked older, more worn, but when he smiled he was still himself. His clothes and leathered armour were not as neat as one would expect of a rich southerner, but they were battle-worn and still far better clothes than most men would ever own, and Eddmina wondered how many bruises and grazes they hid. She remembered reading of his injury, and watched as he winced ever so slightly as Willas embraced him. Willas noticed, and as if reminded of his brother's mortality, held him tighter, as if to keep him with them in the realm of the living, where he belonged, where he was needed.

"You damned fool, stop trying to be a hero, you'll get yourself killed one of these days," Willas cursed him in place of a greeting, hitting him around the side of the head gently as they broke their embrace. With his free hand, he grasped his brother's arm, as if tethering the two of them together. "Do you know what mother will say when she sees the state of your face?"

"Unfortunately, brother dear, you swore me to a lifetime of gallantry," Garlan flashed a smirk, and it was as if he'd never been away, the two of them slipping straight back into their usual routine. "Besides, Leonette quite favours the rugged look."

"So that explains why you persisted on growing that patchy beard," Willas rolled his eyes, clearly relieved that they were joking and not discussing war.

"At least I didn't stop at my top lip until war forced me away from razors," Garlan hit back, tugging at the thick brown hairs on Willas' chin, the ones Eddmina thought made him look quite handsome.

"Boys," Eddmina called, hearing enough of their banter, though fighting a smile was impossible.

Still with his arm around his brother, Garlan looked across to her, and though he beamed excitedly, she saw something falter in his expression, as if he was suddenly remembering at least a thousand things he had to tell her, and not many of them good. He tried to make it subtle, but she saw his slight grimace as he sighed, and she noticed the almost sympathetic glint in his eye.

Whatever was on his mind did not stop him from beckoning her over, and her curiosity and twisting gut feeling of something being awry didn't stop her from wrapping her arms around him. He pushed a kiss to the top of her head, laughing as she held him tightly.

"My favourite goodsister, how are you?" he flashed her his typical smirk, and suddenly she was recalling the stranger who rode into Winterfell and winked at her. What a remarkable man he was, how lost would she be without him. "Are you well? I trust my brother hasn't bored you half to death yet? And Uther, how is he? Has he missed me?"

"Gods, slow down!" Willas scolded jokingly, rolling his eyes again.

"I'm fine, better than fine now, and Uther has barely slept since we told him that you were coming home, though that might be more to do with his teeth coming through," she explained, forgetting all about her worries as she spoke. Garlan always made things easy, he always made things seem manageable and safe. "How are you? How was... everything?"

Garlan faltered again, though his grimace was far more noticeable that time, and the smirk he offered them both was not a true one. He glanced down to Grey Wind, who was circling around their trio, sniffing at the cobbles. When he looked back to Eddmina, he was serious and seemed to be carrying around a few months worth of complaints and problems. That was the expression that told Eddmina how much work they had to do, and the way he looked at Grey Wind told her that all was not how it should be.

"Why did you call him a beast?" she asked, steeling herself in anticipation of facing whatever the issue was. "Why isn't he in the hall with Robb?"

"It is a shame you don't have Honour with you," he mused with a smirk, though it was not his usual one. This smirk seemed almost bitter and angry. "I am sure our new allies would have loved to meet her, just as much as they love Grey Wind. I dread to think what they would do if they met the full pack."

"Stop being vague," Willas said, serious too, catching onto what was happening.

Garlan didn't look at his brother. His focus remained on Eddmina, and while he was not hugging her anymore, he grasped both of her hands, squeezing them tight. The gesture made her look him in the eye, and it was a look at spoke a thousand words, all of them unreadable.

"I want you to see for yourself what has happened, but just..." he began, speaking calmly before trailing off, figuring his words out. "Do not lose your temper, and do not be angry at me. I told him it was stupid and foolish and you would not approve, so just... Whatever you see in there, take it in your stead."

Eddmina wanted to ask him how much in the war they had faced that she hadn't taken in her stead, but decided it wouldn't be fair. He clearly didn't want her to worry, and whatever it was wasn't his fault, so while her stomach churned and her chest tightened, she clenched her hands into fists and knew to carry on coldly, the way she always had done. With a glance to Willas, she saw he was exchanging a look with Garlan, a look of dread settling on his face. The moment he realised Eddmina was looking at him he tried to wipe it away, offering her a smile and his arm.

She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and the two of them made their way into the hall, Garlan following them. Grey Wind huffed and trotted off in the opposite direction in search of his sister-wolf, knowing he was not wanted where they were going. Eddmina couldn't help but feel a little angry, knowing how much time Sansa had spent with Honour, knowing how desperately her sister wished she still had her wolf. Robb had his, yet sent him away, and Eddmina couldn't help the bitterness on Sansa's behalf.

As they entered the hall, part of her wished Sansa was there with her, rather than in her chambers where Eddmina had advised her to stay until the meetings were over. Selfishly she wanted Sansa's reunion with Robb to be private, even if Sansa hadn't cared, but she had agreed anyway, and Lady Stark had been happy to keep her out of the public eye, even if the majority of people in the hall were to be trusted. She wished her own reunion with her twin was private too, but it was too late for that, as the hall was filled with bannermen and their sons, trusted soldiers and advisors, all of whom were looking to the front of the hall where Robb was stood with his guards, and their uncles. Eddmina caught sight of him and couldn't help the grin, nor the leap her heart did, thrilled to see him safe, relieved to have the other half of herself safely returned.

He did not see her though, not as he seemed deeply in conversation with their mother. That didn't bother Eddmina, and neither did the crowd that seemed to block her view of the rest of the top platform. She didn't really care who he was stood with, all she cared about was getting to him and hugging him. She had a million things to tell him, a thousand things for them to cry over, a hundred things for them to reminisce about. He might have been their King, but he was her brother, and that was all she wanted.

She couldn't get to him though, not as a line of bannermen stood in her way, all of them bowing their heads to her respectfully. It was Dacey Mormont who appeared first, and the sight of the Bear Island girl made Eddmina grin, and she dropped her hold on Willas to throw her arms around her.

"Princess!" Dacey gasped in surprise, but still sounded happy. "It is good to see you!"

"It is so very good to see you too," Eddmina told her sincerely, holding her close, and when they broke apart she looked her up and down, checking her for injuries. "Are you alright?"

"Do you think I would really let some Westerner cause me any harm?" Dacey remarked dryly, dropping her formality as she squeezed Eddmina's arm, offering her a genuine smile. "I am glad to be back though."

"It's good to have you back," Eddmina nodded, smiling too as she realised Dacey had become someone she cared a great deal about over the course of the war. "As soon as everything is settled we should spar. I've missed the practice just as much as I've missed you."

"I would love to, though I'm sure there is a great deal that requires your attention," Dacey's smile faltered, and her words sounded genuinely saddened as she turned her head to glance at the top platform where Robb was. When she turned back to Eddmina, there was a look on her face that she had never seen before. "Princess, do you know-"

Greatjon Umber shoved her way forward then to greet her, cutting Dacey off. Dacey clearly didn't mind, looking instantly relieved as if he had saved her from having to talk about something she didn't want to discuss. She bowed her head and quickly slinked away into the crowd, and Eddmina would have tried to watch where she had gone, had the other lords not followed the Greatjon. It was Lord Glover first, then Lord Forrester and Lord Cerwyn. Despite the distraction from Dacey, the sight of them all made Eddmina smile, relieved to see them all alive and well, even if they were standing between her and her brother.

"Princess Edda, you're a welcome sight after all these months away," Lord Umber smiled at her, nodding at Willas in place of a proper greeting.

"My Lord, I'm glad to see you," Eddmina said honestly, because it didn't matter that he had threatened Robb at the start of the war; the gruff man was a northerner, and she liked him. "I trust you showed those Westerners what the North has to offer."

"Aye, your brother did just that," Lord Karstark shoved through the crowd to get to her, his voice a bitter sneer. Behind him, his only remaining son Harrion trailed behind, at least a foot taller than his father. "Do you know? Have you met them yet?"

"The Princess doesn't know," Greatjon practically hissed at him as he noted Eddmina's instant confusion, though his voice never went below a bellow. All the surrounding northerners looked uncomfortable, none of them wanting to look at her, though Lord Umber looked at Garlan, still stood behind his brother and goodsister. "You had one job, Ser Gallant, did you not tell her?"

"I thought it best for her to find out for herself," Garlan answered calmly, though his words caused a chorus of outraged groans and curses.

"Well then, let her see for herself, go on, go see the King in the North," Lord Karstark sneered, gesturing for her to go, and while they muttered uncomfortably, the northerners moved aside, clearing her path.

Eddmina didn't look at Willas in case anyone noticed and thought her weak, but she squeezed her hand into his arm in the hopes that he would notice just how unnerved she was. Her throat had tightened to the point that she didn't know if she would be able to speak, but all she had been told as vague insinuations, and all she wanted was the truth.

As soon as the path cleared and she got a proper look at the top platform, Eddmina didn't want the truth anymore. She didn't want to know what her mother was doing curtsying to an obviously-southern young woman. She didn't want to know why her uncles were talking to men in armour marked with seashells. She didn't want to know why an older woman her mother's age was glaring over at her. Eddmina had wanted the truth, but as soon as she locked eyes with Robb and came face-to-face with what everyone had been hinting at, all she wanted to do was hide.

Still, she kept walking, hoping her instincts were wrong, hoping that what she thought she saw was not what it really was. Perhaps they were prisoners, perhaps they were captives from the campaign, perhaps...

No, because Robb would not look at a captive so fondly.

'He didn't even look at Talisa like that,' Eddmina thought with sinking dread, feeling as though she wanted to burst into tears. 'Beautiful, clever, kind Talisa. I miss her, I was an idiot to send her away. A Volanti healer would have been better than a girl from a family sworn to the Lannisters.'

Willas stopped in his tracks, meaning that Eddmina was pulled to a stop too. One look at his face told her that he had reached the same conclusions as her, and while she was in disbelief, he was furious. She was sure she hadn't seen him that angry for a long time, perhaps ever, as he clenched his jaw so tight she heard his teeth creak, and he glared at the floor to hide his face. She squeezed his arm again, knowing she needed him. She needed him for her to go on, if he gave into his fury then she was left without a chance.

"We need to carry on," she whispered to him, leaning her head towards his so that only he could hear.

"No, we don't," he muttered, his chest rising and falling so fast she thought he may collapse. "You're to leave. Turn around, go to our rooms, and gather our things."

"What?" She asked, her voice just as low, keeping her face forward so no one could notice them speaking.

"Gather your things, have Sansa do the same, we are leaving," Willas told her firmly, and though she didn't look at him she knew he was red with anger. "We're going home. We're not standing for this."

"You need to calm down," she hissed, because despite understanding, she couldn't just give up. She had a job to do, and she needed what they were seeing to be confirmed before she gave into her own despair and fury. "Please, Will. I need you to calm down. Please."

He did not look at her, but the slight nod he gave her suggested that he would try. Her heart pounding so quick she could scarcely hear anything, she gave his arm a gentle pull, and the two of them began walking again. Willas took his time though, and not because of his slight limp, rather, buying himself time to get his temper underwraps before facing his goodbrother. Their pace was noticed by the platform, and while the Starks and Tullys didn't seem to care, the newcomers seemed less than pleased, except for the young woman at Robb's side. She was looking nowhere but Robb.

"Brother," Eddmina called in greeting, managing a smile as she reached Robb.

Her smile was not mirrored, not as a guilty look washed over his face. At least he knew what he had done, at least he seemed uncomfortable with it, or at least he was uncomfortable with her finding out about it. He managed to step down from the platform to embrace her, though it was not the warm hug she had craved. It was not the reunion of souls that she had needed and expected, not as her whole body filled with pins and needles as she realised she had just lost another part of him. Over his shoulder, she saw her mother meet her eye, and knew even Lady Stark was not able to justify Robb's actions. Even she looked hurt, except she had more practice at hiding it, and she offered Eddmina a sad smile, as if asking her to pretend too.

When Robb dropped his hold of her, he offered Eddmina a quick flash of a smile. It was tired and full of nerves, and she somehow didn't feel an ounce of sympathy. She had spent the entire war feeling sorry for him, hating the pressures that were thrust upon him when a crown was put onto his head, but she felt nothing. He looked almost scared of her, scared of her finding out the truth of what he had gotten up to while he was meant to be away fighting, but she felt nothing. Her anger and upset boiled away, and she was left with a stinging void inside of her.

The same could not be said for Willas, who's fury reigned on to the point that he barely managed a nod in Robb's direction. Robb did not bother attempting a hug with him, and Eddmina wondered if the two of them had ever hugged. Had they ever even reached a stage of their relationship where an embrace was normal and expected, or had they just always been at odds, silently allied in their love for her but wary of each other?

Rather than focusing on Willas, Eddmina turned her focus onto the woman Robb was holding his hand out to, the pretty young lady who took hold of his hand and stepped down to his side for him to present to his sister. She was beautiful, Eddmina had to admit that despite everything. With deep brown hair that fell in gentle curls to her collar bones, and eyes the colour of chestnuts, she had a gentle sort of beauty that wasn't striking, yet was calmly pleasant. She was not particularly tall, and was fairly slender, though her figure was flattered by the light gold gown she was laced into, the colour far too grand for the tired hall of Riverrun. Despite the fact she was stood next to a king she looked down humbly, obviously shy, and Eddmina thought of all the bold and brash Northern women she had grown up with; this girl was very different, and very out of her depth.

The woman was beautiful, but Eddmina's insides twisted as the sad realisation hit her. She was beautiful, but was she really so good that it was worth them losing the war? One look at her mother told her she was thinking the same. She was beautiful, but would it be worth it when they were all dead?

"Edd, it's good to see you," Robb said, his smile more genuine, and she knew he meant it, even under the circumstances. He glanced at the woman holding his hand, before he looked at his sister once more. "This is my wife, Jeyne, of House Westerling. I married her after our invasion of the Crag, after she helped me recover from the arrow wound."

Hearing him say it still felt like a shock, even if she had known exactly what he was going to tell her. It still felt like a punch to the face, like someone had robbed all the air from her body. Somehow hearing him speak the words made it all feel real, and the pieces began to slot into place. Grey Wind banished to accommodate the newcomers. The northerners unhappy because their King had wed their enemy. Olyvar missing, because he was a Frey. In fact, one quick glance around the hall told Eddmina that it was not just Olyvar who was missing, but Garlan's squire too, and all the other Freys. That was what made her head spin, the thought of Walder Frey's deal being broken making Eddmina dizzy as she remembered the hours they had spent bartering.

'He will not be happy,' she thought, though it felt too dazedly simple, as if her mind couldn't comprehend it all from the shock.

No matter how she felt though, no matter how many terrifying thoughts of broken vows and the sickening feeling of breaking a centuries-old tradition of Starks always being dutiful and honourable, Eddmina kept her emotions in check. The whole war felt like it had just been a practice round, as facing her brother and his new wife became the real test, that and ensuring Willas remained in-check. She squeezed his arm again three times, hoping it was reassurance enough as she looked at Jeyne.

Eddmina did not curtsy for Robb's new queen, even though she should have. She nodded to her, and smiled, even if her face wanted to refuse such a gesture. Jeyne's family seemed to not like her lack of manners, not the men who were her father and brothers, who looked Eddmina and Willas up and down, and not the woman who must have been her mother, who was barely managing to hide her look of distaste. The only one who didn't notice the missing curtsy was Robb's wife, not as she beamed at Eddmina, her whole face relieved. She had not noticed that Eddmina was at war with her shock and horror of the situation, she merely saw the facade, and took the faint smile as acceptance. Eddmina wondered if she was stupid, or just young. She wondered if her brother was stupid too.

"Your grace, welcome to Riverrun, and welcome to House Stark," Eddmina spoke, forcing a smile, keeping her eyes fixed on Jeyne, not trusting herself to look at Robb. "I'm his grace's eldest sister, Eddmina. This is my husband, Ser Willas."

Willas said nothing, his jaw still clenched. He managed a tight-lipped smile, nodding his head, but that was as far as his courtesies went. Given his track record with his temper, Eddmina couldn't help but feel proud, yet she knew they were on borrowed time as he wouldn't be able to restrain himself forever. She had to stay calm for both of them, but that became harder when she glanced to the Westerlings stood to the side of Robb and immediately noticed that they were all staring at Willas, at his leg and cane in particular, and she knew he'd noticed too. She squeezed his arm before her hand snaked down and wrapped around his, intertwining their fingers together. Usually holding his hand felt too intimate of a gesture in public, in front of the bannermen especially, but she didn't care, not anymore.

"How wonderful to meet you both! His grace has told me so much about you, Princess!" Jeyne beamed at her. Eddmina tried to smile. "I'm sure we will be the best of friends, sister!"

'I don't have time for friends,' she wanted to say. 'Not when I've got your idiot husband's war to win.'

'I've already got sisters,' she wanted to say too. 'I would rather have had a Frey for a goodsister. I would rather have Talisa.'

"Yes, I'm sure," Eddmina actually said, hating herself for playing the part. She forced another smile before she looked at her brother again. "What is Grey Wind doing outside?"

At the mention of the wolf the Westerlings began to mutter amongst themselves. It was then that she noticed how quiet the hall was. The usually boisterous northerners had all fallen silent, desperate to listen in and hear what was happening. It was their silence that told her how unhappy they were with their new Queen, as they were obviously listening out to hear for their unhappiness to be shared by the King's Hand. They were listening, waiting to see if she was on their side.

"Grey Wind isn't allowed inside the keep anymore," Robb told her, though his voice told her he disapproved, and he was looking at her as if begging her not to create a scene. "He has become far too vicious."

"So was Shaggy," Eddmina reminded him before she could stop herself, remembering her littlest brother's beautiful black direwolf and how wild he was; he suited Rickon very well. "And Honour too, when that man tried to kill me. They're wolves, Robb, it is their nature, but they would never-"

"He killed two of my uncles," Jeyne informed her, a sad look crossing her face. Her interuption did not go unnoticed among the northerners, who all seemed to inhale sharply in offended surprise. Eddmina was one of their own, and they clearly didn't take kindly to her being talked down to. "I'd suggest you take similar precautions with your own wolf, Princess."

Summer killed the man sent to assassinate Bran. Shaggydog bit anyone who upset Rickon. Nymeria bit Joffrey. Honour bared her teeth to anyone who threatened Eddmina, Uther, or Willas. Jon had written about Ghost snarling at the Brothers of the Watch who mistreated him. How many enemies on the battlefield had Grey Wind maimed or killed, all to protect his master? The wolves had been sent to them to protect them, and thus far their instincts had been right.

'Gods, Robb, what have you done?' Eddmina wanted to cry.

"The Princess' wolf is called Honour, your grace, and she is currently watching our baby boy while he's sleeping," Willas told her with gritted teeth and a fake smile, though he clearly loved the shock and disgust he caused amongst the Westerlings. Jeyne's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open in slight fear. "The wolves are the Starks' greatest protectors, but not to worry, Grey Wind will be able to save the King's life from outside the hall, I'm sure."

"Perhaps the Princess' wolf should also be kept outside in future, I'm sure it would make everyone here feel safer," the lady Eddmina assumed was Jeyne's mother spoke, her voice self-righteous and smug. Her suggestion earned a chorus of unhappy and disgusted mutters from the northern crowd. "They are wild beasts, after all."

"Over my dead body," Eddmina said before she could stop herself, and though she heard the faint cheers and whispers of support from the bannermen, she knew she had been rude, especially as her mother shot her a look. "Respectfully. I trust my wolf, and my siblings' wolves, more than I trust most people."

She felt anger burn through her as she stared at Lady Westerling. Who was this stranger, who did she think she was, to suddenly appear at her brothers side and assume to instruct Eddmina about as if she outranked her? Who was she to tell a northern woman how to live her life, as if they weren't in a northern war camp? When someone upset Honour, all the hairs on the back of her heck rose to attention, and Eddmina could suddenly relate to the wolf, feeling like every instinct in her body was screaming to get as far away from that woman as possible.

Willas squeezed her hand then, and she tore her eyes away from Lady Westerling's patronising state to glance at her husband. His face was blank and unreadable, though he looked a little calmer than before. He was usually so mellow, so easy and laidback, but the moment anything provoked him or upset him he became harsh and short, burning a short fuse. She didn't like him angry, but not because he scared her or made her uncomfortable, rather she knew it was no good for him. She knew he didn't like it too, and his temper embarrassed him. It didn't matter how justified his anger was, it was something the two of them always wanted to avoid. War and Westerlings had made that impossible though.

It didn't matter if he seemed calmer, Eddmina knew he wanted to get away from the situation as quickly as possible.

"Your grace," Eddmina looked at Robb, forcing a smile once more. "There is a lot we must catch up on. Once you have finished here I would suggest you meet me-"

"No, you're right, we have a great deal to discuss," he cut in with a nod, as if he knew she was trying to escape from the hall. He looked up to the crowd. "That is all for today. We will meet again in the morning. Thank you."

He dismissed everyone, giving her no excuse to leave, and so she stayed where she was and watched as everyone else left, all except her family and the Westerlings. Jeyne stayed at Robb's side, her hand in his, while her mother, brothers and father watched Eddmina warily. She paid them no mind, instead turning her back on them to watch the northerners leave, nodding and smiling at them in place of proper farewells. Those were her people, her father's people, her brother's people. They were the ones she cared about, not some strangers from the Westerlands who had previously been sworn to Tywin Lannister. It was only when everyone else left that she turned back to the platfotm, and she shot Robb a look, one he somehow understood. He swallowed nervously, turning to Jeyne as he kissed her hand. Eddmina felt Willas' grip on her hand tighten.

"Perhaps you could leave us too?" Robb suggested, and the affectionate way he looked at his new wife made Eddmina want to cry. He looked as though he did really care for her, but was she truly worth all the mess they had caused? "We will not be long, I simply need to tell my family about the campaign."

"We are your family now too, your grace," the elder of the two young men spoke, clearly Jeyne's eldest brother, and his serious gaze flicked between the King in the North and his sister, then to Eddmina.

"It's alright," Jeyne smiled, as if nothing was wrong with the world, as if they weren't knee-deep in a war they were suddenly on the verge of losing. "We will go. Come find me when you are done."

Reluctantly, the Westerlings followed Jeyne's lead, even her Lord father and Lady mother, and though they shot wary glances to the remaining few in the room, Eddmina paid them no mind. Instead, she looked at her own mother, and her Uncle Brynden, and the two of them looked at her as if waiting for the cracks to show, waiting for her anger or her panic. She studied them and saw her mother desperately trying to hide her disappointment and fear, while her uncle looked almost amused at the turn of events, as if it was such a terrible farce all he wanted to do was laugh at the stupidity of it all. Garlan moved to stand at his brother's side swallowing uncertainly, and he watched Robb as if he had imagined the scenario play out a hundred or more times. Edmure looked unsure too, as if he didn't know what to think, as if he thought he didn't really belong in such a meeting. He looked as if he wanted to flee, and Eddmina understood completely. If it hadn't been for Willas stood firmly at her side, she would have wanted to storm out, but even as he let go of her hand she stayed where she was.

The door of the great hall slammed shut, and a beat of silence rung out between them all. It was broken by the sound of Willas stepping up closer to Robb, and his fist slamming into his face.

Willas had struck Robb before any of them had realised it was happening, hitting him so hard the sound echoed around the room and the King spun on the impact. Robb let out an involuntary gasp, his hands shooting up to cover his cheek and jaw as if to protect himself from another attack, and his noise of pain was quickly covered by Lady Stark's shriek as she rushed to his side, and Garlan's instant bellow of surprised laughter. The two Tully men remained silent, stepping back to let the scene unfold with themselves as spectators.

Eddmina, however, was incapable of moving, or reacting. She was frozen, feeling her heart break.

"Perhaps if you had not been foolish enough to send Grey Wind away I might not have a hand anymore," Willas practically snarled. He did not look at Eddmina, as if he knew he would only be met by the consequences of his actions when he saw the way her face had reddened. "Just as you have lost your Hand."

"To strike a king is treason, Ser Willas," Robb managed to say when he got over the shock, though he sounded dazed, falling back onto dutiful statements as if an other statement had been knocked out of him. There was no anger, no malice, nothing; unlike Willas.

"And killing your sister's husband is kinslaying," he glared at him, and for a moment even Eddmina was unnerved. "Not to worry, I will not stick around for much longer. We will be gone by nightfall."

"Ser Willas, please, there is no need for such-" Lady Stark began, trying to make herself a peacekeeper, but it was too late.

"You have been here these last few months, you have seen what my wife has been through," he turned to Lady Stark, speaking through a clenched jaw. To her credit she did not flinch, but she did glance at Eddmina ashamedly. "The pressures of this war have made her a nervous wreck. She has had sleepless nights and has worked herself to exhaustion time and time again. She has forced herself to deal with men who treat her like scum, she has negotiated with Lords and shown them respect that they wouldn't dream of showing her. When a deal was needed with the Freys, who was if that went? Who was it that put her life on the line and was insulted and degraded, all in the name of a crucial alliance? What is her thanks for all the work and the duty she has committed herself to? An alliance tossed to the side carelessly and a goodsister who's family is tied to the Lannisters. You think I'm just going to stand here and allow all of this to happen, all of this disrespect?"

"I didn't intend on breaking my vow with the Frey's," Robb spoke calmly. "I didn't mean-"

"Well you did, and we are all dead now because of it!" Willas snapped.

When it looked like he was going to hit him again, Garlan stepped forward and grabbed his brother's shoulder, holding him in place. That was when Eddmina broke free of her daze, and she felt her heart race, her stomach churn, her head spin. She felt as though she wanted to drop to the floor and sob. Either that or run, but they both felt like cowardly options. She refused to give in to her nerves as she had done so many times, and made herself turn to Willas, made herself take hold of his shoulders.

"Willas, please," Eddmina finally spoke up, turning to her husband. She had to force herself to look at him, mostly because she didn't want him to see how upset she was. "We need to remain calm, it is not over yet."

"Mina, think of yourself for once!" He sighed frustratedly, sick of seeing her putting others over her own well-being. "You have worked so hard, and for what? For one stupid boy to think with his cock and not his brain and throw away everything! Do you think the Lannisters will see this as some sweet love song, or will they have the bards write another reins of Castamere?"

"I married her out of duty!" Robb called in defence of himself, though Garlan choked on his laughter. Everyone turned to look at him, even Robb. "Do you have something to say, Garlan?"

"Apologies, your grace, but I did tell you this would happen," Garlan spoke. "And the statement of duty falls rather flat when you consider the whole situation."

"Why did you let it happen then?" Willas pulled out of Eddmina's hold to turn to his brother, who immediately held his hands up in a desperate attempt to convey his innocence. "You were there, why didn't you stop him?"

"This is not my fault!" he defended, looking to Eddmina for help. She wasn't even able to shake her head. "I told him I thought it was a bad idea! You think it's my business if a King decides he wants to get married?"

"When all of our lives are on the line, then yes, you bloody fool!" Willas exclaimed, his voice shaking. "If that King's wife will be the reason you never get home to see your own wife again-"

"Don't," Garlan cut in coldly, any amusement dying immediately. "Don't bring Leo into this."

"In your letter you told me to write to Loras, and I had been thinking of writing to father anyway," Willas explained, his voice still heated but a little more diplomatic. That changed when he turned back to Robb. "You have lost the Freys, I take it, and I can't imagine many of your men are happy. You want my father's men, my men, to ride over and take the Freys place? You want me to ask my own bannermen to put their lives at risk for this cause?"

"Our fathers made a deal," Robb pointed out, but he sounded resigned and tired, as if he knew he would only be met with more resentment. "They made an alliance."

"They did, but in that deal I had to make several promises, all of them revolving around maintaining the safety of your sister," Willas reminded him. "Those promises mean more to me than any cause or war, and I intend to uphold them. I am taking my wife, and we are going home to Highgarden, where we belong."

Willas did not say anything else, nor did he show any sort of courtesy as he turned and left the room. He was not one for storming out, his bad leg would not allow him that, yet as he left everyone watched in stunned silence. No one dared try to call him back, not Eddmina who felt the shattered pieces of heart torn between her brother and her husband, not Robb who was clearly embarrassed, and not any of the Tullys who had never seen that side of him before. Willas was rather good at coming across as laidback, meek and mild, harmless. Even Eddmina hadn't known him to be capable of such fury.

When the door slammed shut, the only person who broke the silence was Garlan. He let out a long sigh, before he looked at Eddmina, silently checking she was alright. He looked at no one else, especially as his head fell in his hands.

"Fuck," he muttered simply, groaning out another sigh.

With that curse he turned and followed in his brother's footsteps, practically running down the hall. It was not long before the door slammed again, and everyone turned to look at Eddmina.

"I didn't know he had it in him," the Blackfish remarked after a long silence with a slight chuckle. The way he rolled his eyes made Eddmina clench her jaw.

"That is not helpful," Lady Stark scolded him quietly, her arms still wrapped around Robb's shoulder. She looked at Eddmina, her expression bereft and uncertain. "You cannot go, not yet. We need you here. Go and make him see sense."

"Perhaps he already is seeing sense," Eddmina shrugged, feeling utterly numb, even as her stomach churned.

"You cannot be serious," Robb breathed out in surprise, looking as though her words had caused him more pain than Willas' strike. He pulled out of their mother's hold and stormed to her side, gripping her shoulders. "Edd, Edda, sister. I need you. I can't do this without you."

"Clearly not," she said, unable to look him in the eye as she instead stared at the floor. "You spend a few months without me and settle for breaking your vows and forgetting your honour."

"We don't need the Freys," he told her quietly, squeezing her shoulders as if urging her to look at him. She couldn't bare it. "We can still win this, we can still avenge them all and defeat the Lannisters, and then we can all go home."

"We don't have a home anymore, Robb," she breathed out, her chest tightening so badly she was unsure if speaking was even possible, especially as she realised just how sick she felt. "I still have Highgarden, though. I can leave here with my honour in tact, knowing I have done everything I could, knowing I fought for my family and my honour as a Stark. Maybe Will is right. Maybe it's time I find my honour as a Tyrell."

She could not bare to see his face. She wasn't even sure if she would be able to, not as her tears finally broke through and blurred her vision completely. She turned away quickly, refusing for anyone to see her spiralling state, and took the opportunity to follow in Willas and Garlan's footsteps. She kept enough sense to make sure she didn't run or rush, keeping a dignified pace, and it was only when she heard the door shut behind her that she keeled over and let out a grown of frustration that sounded more like a scream.

Her head was spinning, her body aching with agonising pins and needles. She steadied herself to try and figure out exactly what emotion she was feeling, which was when her stomach twisted again, this time irreversibly. The nearest privy was the one connected to her chambers, and so she rushed there, making it just in time as she keeled over and heaved. It didn't matter that no one else was there to see, she found it intensely embarrassing, knowing that shock and upset had driven her to vomiting. That was how she ended up sobbing, her hands burying her eyes as if to hide, knowing that the sick was merely the straw that broke the horses back. In truth the tears were her form of mourning, grief-stricken by the realisation that the tide was turning once more, and not in their favour.

Was Willas right? Was Robb's wedding really the end of them?

Not only had Robb broken his word to the Freys, losing one of their necessary allies, but he had wed a Westerling. For as long as the house had existed it had been tied to house Lannister. The Westerlings were a western family who didn't understand the northerners, and they had looked down upon her without even knowing her. Part of her wondered if they had heard the rumours, if they had heard her whispered nickname, and distrusted her for all the similarities to Tywin Lannister people claimed her to have. There was something about their family which had Eddmina reeling, and she just wanted them gone, wanted everything to be as it was, but that was impossible. Robb was King, and he had chosen to wed Jeyne.

Eddmina wondered how he had gotten over Talisa so quickly to marry another woman. There was an explanation behind the whole sitution she was yet to hear, but Eddmina realised it barely mattered. The story as to how he ended up married to a Westerling didn't matter, as it wouldn't change anything. They were still stuck, and there was no going back. They could not reverse the clock, not to get rid of the Westerlings, not to get their family and their home back, not to stop the war.

Perhaps Willas was right, perhaps they should flee to Highgarden. It would be safer for them all, it would show how frustrated they were with Robb's decision to forget his vows and his honour. Yet, Highgarden would not remove their place in the war. She had still been Robb's Hand, she had still made herself into a rebel traitor. It didn't matter if they went home, she would always carry the title of traitor, and the Lannisters could find her just as easily in Highgarden as they could in Riverrun or a war camp.

Fleeing to Highgarden also didn't save her from the burning need for revenge. It didn't stop her desperate want to see her enemies suffer the way she and her family had. The Lannisters would always want her, and she would always want them, and so she realised there was no escape. There was no way out, they were stuck in a mess of their own creation, and she had no choice but to stick it out and see it through to the end, even if that end was all of their deaths.

She wasn't sure how long she had been locked in the privy, nor did she care, until she heard huffing at the door, and scratching. With a sigh she sat up and leant to the door, pulling at the latch so Honour could barge her way in. The wolf sniffed around, letting out a low howl as she regarded the state of her mistress. With a gentle huff, Honour curled up at her side, forcing her head onto Eddmina's lap. Eddmina suddenly didn't mind crying, not as she buried her face into Honour's thick fur, wrapping her arms around the wolf.

She was so distracted by her tears and her own spiraling misery that she hardly noticed Honour sniffing at her. She did, however, notice when Honour began to nudge her snout into her stomach. When that caught her attention, Eddmina sat up, straightening her back as she looked down at her wolf, and down at what the wolf was prodding at.

'Only when I drank my panic away was I sick,' she thought, unable to stop the invading realisation. 'I am never sick, except..."

She leant over towards the privy and heaved again.

'No,' she thought, memories flashing through her mind so quick it felt like whiplash, panic instantly hitting her.

Desperate to ignore it, she kept stroking Honour, but she couldn't help the sudden awareness she felt washing all over her body, nor could she help how Honour's simple gesture had her head spinning as she unintentionally began to do sums in her mind. She counted back, trying to think when her last blood was, when her last time with Willas was, and though she was desperate to not reach the expectant conclusion, it was the one she was unable to hide from.

Gods, not now. Not when she had settled herself on the fate of waiting until they were safe. Not when she had just realised nowhere and nothing was safe. Not when there was so much horror and uncertainty ahead of them. Not something else to be torn over, to worry about and think the worst of. It had been bad enough with one child in a war camp, but a second, when the war seemed to be taking a turn for the worst, leaving then open for a whole new wave of assaults... They were more vulnerable than ever, and Eddmina even more so. She couldn't help but weep.

When her tears stopped, when the fog of disbelief and panic began to fade and she reconsidered all the events of the morning, it was only then that Eddmina realised she had not told Robb about Sansa. She had wanted it to be a moment of joy, a reunion fit for the songs their sister adored, but that was yet another thing the Westerlings had thrown off kilter. They had confused so much of what she had expected, and left behind so many questions.

There so much to do, and none of it would get done on the privy floor. Eddmina forced herself up, and knew she had two options. Either she paid a visit to Maester Vyman and had her suspicions inevitably confirmed, or she called upon her Lannister prisoner and gained some much needed intel on her new goodsister.
Eddmina Tyrell wanted to go to the Maester, but Princess Eddmina the Hand to the King in the North needed information more.

That was how she found herself sneaking into the prison cells.

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