That night Robb and Joanna didn't speak a word to one another. Their chambers so quiet you could hear Greywind outside in the halls. Robb and Joanna were never seen as a pair to argue and fight- that's why they worked together so well because they were always a united front but after their rouse it seemed like the pair couldn't be on more opposite sides of the argument than ever.

Even sharing a bed they chambers felt cold. The very mattress Joanna rested felt cold and hard. Felt unknown. She turned her head to face Robb's back and even then it felt like a stranger to her. Every time she attempted to trace his back she reminded herself on how enraged she still was. In her mind she felt guilt ridden and ashamed. She always vowed that she would never have the marriage Robert and Cersei had to one another and now look- she's even too scared to hold her husband. Joanna wondered if this was a downward spiral for them - could this be the end of a fantasy for her.

She hoped not. Despite her current state of emotions she still loved Robb. She loved how his nose scrunched whenever he laughed, or how the corners of his lips curved before smirking, his warm chest that she fell asleep to as pillow and his voice - gods, the voice that sends chills through his body whenever he spoke. Joanna and Robb weren't the pair to overlay profess their I love you because they didn't need to.

Their love was shown through how they carried themselves. If not Joanna's rosy cheeks then Robb stammering over his words too enchanted by the sight of his wife. It was clear to anyone that the king in the North had fallen madly in love with the princess.

A knock at the door broke her thought. She felt Robb shift in their bed as he approached the door to open it. A guard standing on the other side of the door spoke

"Your grace, your presence and Lady Stark's is requested by the Blackfish."

"Why? Did something happen?" the guard carefully looked to Joanna's body lying in bed before shifting back to Robb's gaze

"It's about the Lannister boys." At the very word of them Joanna sprang alive in bed. She didn't hesitate to throw a sheet over her body and grab her grandfathers dagger that rested on the small desk across from her. She swiftly pulled her hair back before clutching Robb's arm and storming out.

They entered the Great Hall where Blackfish, Edmure, Catelyn, Arya and Isabella were already waiting for them. Their expressions changed when their eyes meet the blonde girls. She looked to her feet as her eyes meet the bodies of Willem and Martin rested beside one another. Her hands flying to her mouth as she gasped in distress.

Bayla speed walked to her friend as she held her from the ground preventing her from falling to her knees. Joanna felt the sobs escape her mouth as the salt water escape her eyes. She knelt down to their feet and took a great notice at how peaceful they looked. Like cups who'd just fallen asleep. Robb looked to his wife with deep concern as he turned to the guard

"Who did this?" he questioned his uncle

"Rickard Karstark and a few of his men." Brynden Tully answered

"Why would they do this? They ar- were just children. I don't understand..." Joanna spoke wiping her cheeks clean from the tears. Robb stepped closer to her as he held out his hand. She hesitantly took it but as soon as she felt his skin on hers she leapt to his chest burying her head in the crook of his neck.

"Bring them in." Robb demanded as he comforted his wife

"So this is the lot?" Joanna spoke hoarsely. Regaining control as she stood before the guilty men. She looked to Catelyn who tiredly only nodded yes. Joanna could feel her fists itching - they were aching for a fight. After marriage she never had the need to destroy her fists into walls or trees but now it all seemed so tempting

"It took five of you to murder unarmed squires?" The king interrogated. His face stoic as Joanna's as they looked to Rickard Karstark.

"Murder, your grace? Richard spat "vengeance."

"Vengeance? Those boys didn't kill your son. I saw Harrion die on die on the battlefield and Torrhen -" Robb spoke. Joanna looked to him slightly alarmed. She didn't think he'd taken her word after their spat but it seemed like her words left an imprint on him.

"Was strangled by the Kingslayer." Karstark interrupted him furiously. In pure disgust his eyes glanced to Joanna

"They were his kin." he spat

"THEY WERE BOYS!" Robb screamed at the Lord furiously and enraged. If there were two thing Robb would never allow is having loyalty be broken and most importantly no one, not even the gods, would ever be allowed to disrespect his queen. Robb noticed Joanna's shaking hand as she marched to Richard Karstark , her fist striking his face as she forced her dagger in his hand and holding it to her neck. The entire room seemed to go on alarm as the blade made contact with her flesh.

"I am sick and tired of men like you using my families name to create nothing but death and chaos. If you want your vengeance slit my throat and be done. Go ahead! WHAT BETTER FUCKING VENGEANCE THAN TO KILL THE KINGSLAYERS DAUGHTER?!" She shrieked as the Lord looked to her terrified. Arya shocked by Joanna's outburst looked to Robb who was all to calm.

"GO HEAD! DO IT AND BE DONE WITH YOUR VENGEANCE. KNOW THAT OUR BLOOD INNOCENT BLOOD CAN NEVER BRING BACK YOUR SON." The Karstark men remained silent. If anything they were frightened at the sight of Joanna. This was their first time see her express such violent and temperamental manners. The first time she'd ever raise her voice and if anything - the crazed look in their eyes scared them more than anything else.

Joanna scoffed as she lowered the dagger before walking back to Robb.

"Tell Lady Catelyn to look at your innocent cousins. She killed them as much as I." Karstark remarked as Catelyn looked down to her lap.

"My mother had nothing to do with this. This was your treason."

"It's treason to free your enemies. In war, you kill your enemies. Did your father not teach you that boy?" Hearing those words Rickards face was meet with yet another fist to his face by Brynden falling to his knees.

"Leave him." Robb commanded to his uncle as Karstark glared at the pair. Too tired he stayed on his knees

"Aye, leave me to the king." Karstark sarcastically remarked "The king wants to give me a scolding before setting me free. That's how he deals with treason. Aye, our king in the North. Or should I call them the King who lost the North?" He recalled as Joanna stepped forward but was stopped by her husbands grip on her arm as she stepped backwards

"Escort Lord Karstark to the dungeon. Hang the rest." Robb ordered in a stern tone. Joanna felt no shame and no grace. She wanted them to pay for what they've done. Every time she glanced to them all she could imagine was how terrified they must have been in their last moments.

"Mercy ser!" One of Karstark's men begged as they were dragged away "I didn't kill anyone. I only watched for the guards!"

"This one was only the watched. Hang him last so he can watch the others die." Robb commanded. At the kings words the guard pleaded repeatedly "Please! Please no! They made me do it! They made me! They made me!" His voice drowned in Joanna's ears as she bent down to kiss Willem and Martin on their foreheads.

Robb turned to take a seat at the head of his table as they approached their king. Joanna soothed her stomach as she approached her husband. Catelyn and her sharing the same look of worry as Edmure and Brynden. "Word of this can't leave Riverrun. They were Tywin Lannister's nephews. The Lannister pay their debts."

"As much as it pains me to say it he's right Robb. My father is not sentimental but when it comes to family - there will be blood spilt. That's a promise not even I can deny." Joanna confessed as she looked back to the young boys bodies.

"Do you make me a liar as well as a murderer?" Robb questioned his wife

"It's not a lie. We will bury them and remain silent until the war is done." Edmure pointed out

"Joanna, we're not fighting for justice if I serve justice to murderers in my ranks, no matter how high born they are. Isn't that why you've been fighting for us? Because even if they are your family you vowed to answer injustice with justice?" Joanna nodded her head. That was the wonderful thing about Robb, he remembered every little conversation that they had. Only now it seemed more difficult to argue herself out of it.

From the back Catelyn rose from her seat as she walked towards the rest of them. " the Karstarks are Northmen. They won't forgive the killing of their lord."

"She's right. Think about this - if we do this, the Karstarks will abandon you and will weaken the threat we pose."

"Just the other night you spoke with ferocity about sparing the life of innocent children. You were determined, more than anyone to have their lives spared." Robb replied

"And more children will die if we don't end this war. To win this war we need to keep our number advantage over my grandfathers. I don't want them breathing air but we need the advantage Robb."

The next day Arya's lessons continued. With swords drawn they readied themselves to spar. Arya readied her stance with her Needle in hand as Joanna gripped her sword.

"Ready?" Joanna asked Arya who seemed more than confident to begin. She nodded her head as they lunged forward . Joanna swinged her sword as Arya quick and swiftly side stepped the attack retaliating with a parry.

Joanna lunged backwards as Arya's sword cut past her stomach. The girl attempting to jab the other but both knew each other well enough to retaliate the other. Joanna struck her stuck at arm causing Arya to drop needle but Arya retaliated in grabbing the sword before landing with her free hand as she jumped forward striking Joanna's side. The small girl circling her as Joanna counted

five

four

three

two

Arya lunged to her as Joanna raised her sword - the two blades singing from the sudden impact with one another. Joanna pushes all of the weight in her arms attempting to force Arya down. Relucatantly she starts lowering to the ground but dashingly she kicks Joanna in the knee causing her to drop to the ground. As Joanna attempts to retaliate her shoulder is meet with the boot of Arya as she's kicked into the ground.

Breathlessly she smirks at the young girl. Arya extended her hand which Joanna took offer on. Their hands clamped around each other as she tripped Arya to the ground to rise and hold her blade against the young girls face.

"Never waver in battle. You took too long before attacking but other than that you're getting better Arry." She smirked helping her rise up. Joanna looked to her belly seeing that there wasn't even a scratch on it and immediately sighed of relief. Arya looked sceptically to her stomach before stating

"I've noticed a change in you. You're a lot more reserved when you fight especially around your middle. Care to tell me something?"

Joanna groaned as she brushed the dirt off her trouser. "Did your mother tell you?"

"She didn't have to. I'm sure everyone expect the men around here know. You're over emotional, you finished the entire breakfast table all to just rush to a chamber pot and you cradle your plat stomach as if you're already showing." Arya deadpanned. Joanna facepalmed herself , never considering how obvious it must have been for everyone around- well excluding Robb.

"That obvious, huh?"

"Yes, but for what it's worth I'm really happy for you two. So when do you plan to tell my brother?"

"I don't know. Things are complicated between us now." Arya sat down petting the grass as Joanna took a set next to her. They turned as they watched the sun set over the empty meadow, listening to the river move. Arya rested her head on Joanna's shoulder

"Is this because of Karstark?"

"Yes, no matter how many times I try to explain to Robb why it isn't wise to kill him - he just doesn't listen. If I had it my way I'd pass the sentence myself but we need his men. Sometimes I think Robb's oath to loyalty and nobility clouds his judgement." Joanna spoke defeated in her own words

"You're not going to be able to change his mind. I know my brother and once he's made up his mind, he's sticking to his choices. The best you can do is hope there won't be consequences to his - "

"Ignorance." Joanna confessed defeated that she knew Arya was right. In the hours they argued back and forth the previous night it became too apparent that keeping to his word was something Robb would never abandon. Even if it was for the sake of his own war.