"You are so reckless! No, if anything your self righteous arrogance is starting to cloud your judgement! We can't have him killed!" Joanna shouted from across their chambers. It was finally the day of Rickard Karstarks execution and even though Arya's word sunk deep in her mind she needed to hope.

Hope that Robb would have a change of heart

Robb stood from his desk to his wife who cloaked herself in one of his furs. They've been at it for hours and she refused to give up on something he would not change mind of.

"Yes, it's what's right. He murdered those boys and needs to pay for his crimes. I thought this was what you wanted - to serve justice." He spoke calmly having no further indulgence in their argument.

"I did want the boys alive with our forces in tact! Robb, please don't do this." She begged

"If I do that then I might as well excuse Joffrey for killing my father! I won't allow it!" He yelled. Joanna slowly approached her husband. She was shocked to see how tired he was. His complexion near pale and his eyes laid heavy. Neither of them were in their best of shape and it showed. From Robb's exhausted eyes to Joanna's bruised knuckles.

"Robb as your Lady, your most loyal advisor I am deeply urging you not to go through with this. The North does not need it's men to turn against each other."

"Joanna, " he soft spoke. She stood in front of her husband but did not dare to touch him. The tension was too sensitive and temperamental between them. She longed to be held by him but she needed to stand up for what she believed in, even against the one person who's input mattered most to her.

"I can't. I have to pass this sentence for the crimes they committed. It's how my father raised me. This is the way of the North and he understood that more than ever. Whether you like it or not Karstark will meet his due." He replied. Joanna looked to him to him with utter disappointment. She shook her head in turmoil. Robb was untouched by her tone as he kissed her cheek.

She gasped at the sudden contact. She pulled her face away stepping backwards as she clutched his cloak.

"I love you." he said before leaving.

Rain poured from the skies and Joanna was sure if Old Nan were here she'd tell them a tale of how the sky pouring a one of the gods weeping from agony. The skies were so grey that it made her red gown look like a drop of blood in snow. Joanna stood between Brynden and Arya as they watched Robb approach the Lord Karstark who was already placed over the pedestal waiting for the sentence to be passed.

Joanna was more than just worried for Robb. His soaked curls hung over his forehead but the fierce danger and command on his face is what worried her. It was impossible for anyone around not to be scared of him - and yet she... she didn't fear him but rather feared for him.

She didn't want to see the consequence of his actions unfold but it was inevitable.

"The blood of the first men flow through my veins as much as yours boy." Karstark spoke "I fought the mad king for your father, I fought Joffrey for you. We are kin, Stark and Karstark."

"That didn't stop you from betraying me." Robb responded with a deadly tone "And it won't save you now."

"I don't want it to save me. I want it to haunt you till the end of your days."

"Kneel, my lord."

Karstark lowered his head as he positioned himself ready. Joanna felt at like she was the edge of her nerves as she was the sword being unseathed.

"Richard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, here in sights of Gods and Men I sentence you to die. Would you speak a final word?" Robb allowed him to speak one final time

"Kill me and be cursed! You are no king of mine!" He yelled. Joanna remained calm and poised when she witnessed the sword cut through the mans head. His head dropping to the ground as if it were a stone. She turned her to see Arya sternly look to her brother but noticed a tear escape her eye.

She still thought of her father

Joanna looked back to her husband and saw his fists ball as he marched away from the execution sight. Joanna felt more afraid than ever for her husband. If it wasn't more obvious than ever they were losing this war and Karstarks death would be the first of the trial of defeat to come. She could feel it.

Joanna tossed and turned in the empty bed. It had been a week since she and Robb shared the same bed. He kept himself secluded with his councilmen - what was left of them - and when he returned to her at night he kissed her cheek before turning his back to her.

She woke up to the sound of Greywind's whining at the foot of her bed. She adored the direwolf butt even he could see the strain in their marriage. All he wanted was for them to at least share a room together again. Greywind was now like a child caught between his fighting parents. Joanna kicked the sheets off her legs as she crawled over the bed to pet the direwolves' ears

"I know boy, I miss him too." She cooed

Joanna with all her strength in her tired body rose from the bed as she approached the council. To no surprise Robb stood at the table overlooking the map of the seven kingdoms.

"Come to bed love, please?" her timid voice asked

The door creaked open to reveal Robb who by the day looked more exhausted than ever. He stood admiring the view of Joanna. She was a natural beauty but seeing how much of the North she embraced reminded him further how truly lucky he was to have her in his life and that he couldn't afford to lose her.

"You were right. The Karstarks are gone." He threw an army piece to the floor gripping the table. "Almost half our forces are gone. Tywin Lannister knows what he needs to go to make us unravel. Nothing. Only wait." He spoke as Joanna came to join him at the battlemap.

"Well then we shouldn't let him."

"What can we do Joanna?" He asked in genuine need for advice "Attack Kings Landing? There's nothing he'd like better. He'd crush us us in a day."

"True. What if we ride back north. Take back Winterfell from the Greyjoys. Wait out the winter?" she suggested as her hand interlocked with his. The first form of the contact the pair have made in weeks.

"Winter could last five years. Once my bannermen are home again, sitting by the fire, surrounded by their families, warm and safe, they'll never ride south again." Robb disagreed

"When we gathered our lords together, we had a purpose, a mission. Now we're like a back of bickering children. I can see everyone growing tired of one another - even you love." he spoke as he turned to her

"What do you mean?"

"You don't sleep, you barely eat and if you're not trying to conceal your bruised knuckles, you're biting down on your nails." Joanna light-heartedly smiled. She thought of their child. He'd make such a good father because he cared so deeply and passionately.

"Give them a new purpose."

"Like what?"

"Well we can't force them to meet us in the field and we can't attack them when they're at their strongest so how about attacking them when they're not." her eyes examined the map. Her eyes darted to her grandfathers refuge

"Casterly Rock."

Robb took the wolf piece and placed it on the battlemap turning back to his wife "So we take their home from them."

"We don't have the numbers."

"But what if we had the men to replace the Karstarks?" he asked. Joanna slowly agreed but was not overwhelmed by where the conversation was going

"Casterly Rock isn't far from Riverrun and if Tywin had gotten word of it he still wouldn't reach it in time. "

"Wait- there is one man who hasn't sided with Tywin Lannister. Someone with the strength in numbers to give us an advantage to attack." He pointed to the map and Joanna immediately disagreed

"No, not him. Anyone but him." she declined

"The man who's daughter I was supposed to marry. Walder Frey." he continued. Joanna rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms in refusal.

"Robb, we broke an oath to him, remember? The day you married me. Does that sound an alarm to you?" she rhetorically answered

"He'll fight for us if we give him what he wants. A husband for one of his daughters." Robb spoke optimistically. Joanna didn't trust his eagerness in the man they embarrassed across the North. She was too tired to continue onward so she cupped his cheeks as the kissed. The kiss was deep and intimate but it wasn't riled with lust but rather love and care. Her lips melted into his as arms laced around her middle. Biting her lip , seeking entrance Joanna moaned as he placed her on the table knocking off the pieces. She lied back to her back as her legs wrapped around her waist. Robb bent to her as their foreheads rested against each others

"No, we'll think of something else." she moaned as she felt his hands travel up her legs

"But Joanna..."

"Robb, tomorrow please. Just make love to me tonight." she begged.

The next day Joanna was glowing from the previous nights activities. They went at it for hours and hours and hours to the point where she couldn't get out of bed in the morning. Her body covered in his handprints as he grabbed her during the night - not that she minded. She wouldn't play maiden and say her husbands back wasn't filled with scratch marks.

Joanna and Bayla walked along the grounds until they stood at the very top of the castle overlooking the view. It was beautiful to see the sunrise. She felt her body awaken when it beamed over her skin.

"Motherhood agrees with you." Isabella said as she too soaked in the sun pulsing through her body.

"Let me guess, Arya?" Joanna snorted as she opened her eyes

"It accidentally slipped out of her mouth last night when I braided her hair. Now tell me, how is it that your husband doesn't know yet?" Bayla laughed which she joined along too.

"I'm waiting for the right moment. With everything going on I haven't found the chance to tell him." She reasoned. Isabella understood as saw first hand how much strain Karstark had on their marriage.

"Gods, I just realised something!" Bayla gasped as she took hold of Joanna's Lavender scented hands. "Can you imagine Shae's reaction to the news. This at least means she won our bet."

"You two bet on us?" Joanna laughed dramatically holding her hands to her cheeks in betrayal "How rude of you." The two women laughed like children before a sullen silence breached them. Isabella's face faltered as she turned back to overlook the grounds. Joanna knew her friend better than anyone and whenever she became too far and distant she knew she had reason to be scared

"What happened?" she asked

"It's Shae..." Bayla replied. Joanna's eyebrows furrowed at the mention of her friend "I haven't heard her since she left. Not even my little spies can find her. I'm worried for her." Bayla confessed

"What do you mean your spies can't find her?" she cautiously asked, Isabella turned to look at the princess. A sense of fear and danger amongst the two shifted

"Last week I was suppose to receive word of her whereabouts and all that was delievered to me was a raven with a tongue and an eye tied to it's legs." Joanna near vomit - due to breakfast as well as the news. Bayla looked terrified to the princess - more than she ever knew she could be

"Something is stopping my spies from getting their messages to me. I don't know what is going on in the North anymore. Any news I have is from the South but that doesn't concern us now. Joanna, something is wrong in the North and they don't want us finding out about it..."