"

Tell me again."

Sansa, Bryden and Joanna stood in the war room around the table of the map of the North. No word has reached the Boltons that Joanna was with the Tully's and she preferred to keep it that way and though her anger soothed that did not mean her mission has.

Blackfish moved mounts of each house on the table "As it stands house Glover and Karstark swore to Roose Bolton, who has been named Warden of the North. His son Ramsey has travelled to take Moat Cailin leaving Winterfell defenceless." He informed as Sansa's eyes scanned over the map

"And what of the Eyrie? Has there been any news since?"

The Blackfish remained quiet as both Sansa and Joanna waited for an answer. He let out a dry cough "I'm told that Lysa Aryn has remarried."

"To who?" Sansa ask her cheeks were flushed with anger "To who is she married?" Sansa demanded

"I'm told Petyr Baelish."

A silence fell the room as Joanna sat down soothing her belly. She moved the mount of the Eyrie off the map "I've known Petyr Baelish since I was a child. We can't trust in him or the Vale to have our support." Joanna replied as she noticed the uneasy look on Sansa's face

"Sansa, are you all right?"

"Yes. I'm fine." She lied. She had not spoken a word to Joanna about Petyr and his plans to have taken her out of the city as well.

Petyr had always been an extremely calculated and discreet person, but news that he held the Eyrie not only shocked her but frightened her. What was to stop him from reporting to the crown that she had fled?

"What about our spies in Winterfell? Has anyone taken notice of them?" Sansa quickly asked avoiding the topic of conversation that was Littlefinger.

"None that managed to report to Roose Bolton." Joanna replied

"I've decided to rotate them, can't have unfamiliar faces too long under Roose's eye. Someone would take notice but those who have reported back to came with very aggravating news." Her face stoic as she gripped the handle of her chair

"How so?" Blackfish asked

"That sly cunt is pregnant with his bastards son. It's only a matter of time before Shae produces the Boltons with a fucking heir." Joanna gritted her teeth as she realized it was more than just Shae causing her physical pain

"He's been legitimized meaning he will take the North should Roose die and if they have support of the Northern houses - what will be left for us to fight with?"

"So how do we move forward?" Sansa questioned as she looked to her uncle. Since returning she had been taking lessons with Joanna, teaching her all about the Northern bannermen and their armies. Sansa, at first was hesitant making it clear to Joanna that she was no fighter but Cersei taught Joanna your womanhood and mind will making a bigger threat than a sword.

"For now Winterfell has nothing but guards. Ramsey and Roose are hoping to settle peace with those at Cailin. I've already sent a small group of men to attack we'll start small take away foods and water, main sources. Isolate the guards and attack but leave enough so the Bolton fuckers think its bandits. While their distracted, our men will lead them to the dungeons where they'll be in for a slaughter."

"And how do we know they won't trace it back to us?" Joanna sharply questioned as she hissed standing up. Her face sweaty and pale "How do we have the guarantee Roose won't send his men here?"

"Because none of my men will be returning." Blackfish answered "They all are aware of the risks and are willing to take them. They'll lead whoever finds them further North. With any luck there'll be some Freefolk and Thenns roaming the lands."

"Freefolk, what do you mean?" Sansa replied "I thought they weren't on this side of the wall."

"Aye, but some have been sighted attacking some villages close to Castle Black. With Roose's men head that direction no one will suspect us, and as far the Boltons are concerned there's nothing left of House Tully after the red wedding."

The door opened as a young boy delivered a scroll to Blackfish. Opening it up he chuckled as he faced Joanna. "News from Kingslanding."

"What is it?" Joanna fearfully asked

"Tywin Lannister is dead." Joanna's fist slammed against the table as she screamed of anguish and pain. Sansa rushing to her as she held Joanna by arm, a clear liquid staining the floor. The three frozen as Joanna cried clutching her belly "That babe! The babe is coming!" she cried

Joanna rested her head on Sansa's shoulder as her good sister sat behind her supporting her weight. Joanna's cries was all that could be heard through the castle walls as Blackfish paced the room.

Removed out of her gown into a bare shift as the pain of her child was becoming unbearable.

With the Maestor and handmaiden around her, Joanna felt as though the room was suffocating her.

"Get away from me! Stop circling around me, I can't fucking breathe!" Joanna heaved pushing a few maiden away from her. She huffed as she pushed again on the Maestors command.

"I can see the head, but you have to push harder your grace!" The Maestor encouraged to which Joanna cried louder

"Fuck!" She screamed as she forced herself to push harder "I can't-" her dry throat spoke "I don't want to do this! Please, I can't do this!" she cried as sweat and tears mixed down her cheeks.

The seven hours of labour were too much, Joanna too scared to close her eyes as it felt as though Death had his hand on her shoulder. "I can't... Sansa..." Joanna pleaded as she rested her head in the crook of Sansa's shoulder. Both girls cheeks stained with tears.

"Joanna please, I can't lose you!" Sansa begged "You're all I have left!" Sansa cried as she wiped the sweat stained strand of her hairs out of her good sisters face

Looking into Sansa's sweet and young face was then that Joanna realized how much she needed Cersei with her. She may have had her flaws, so many of them but that was still her mother. The woman that guided her, protected her unconditionally.

She didn't just need Cersei, she wanted her mother by her side. Joanna sobbed as she thought over and over to how she held her mothers hand when she birthed her siblings. How Cersei forced herself through the hours of pain to bring life to her greatest loves. She needed to be as strong as Cersei.

"Are you ready my lady?" The Maestor asked as she felt her babe crowning

Joanna nodded her head as she sat up against Joanna, saying a silent prayer as she pushed again. Joanna held Sansa's hand so tightly that it was losing colour but Sansa did not complain as Joanna's screams grew louder and louder

Her tears falling down as she heard the cry of a babe. "She's here! It's a girl my lady!"

Joanna sighed of relief as both her and Sansa took pause. Sitting upwards as a handmaiden gently placed the babe in her arms. As soon as she made contact with her mothers skin her cries grew quiet.

Joanna placed her girl on her chest as she let out a sob, salivia down her lip as she couldn't control her emotions anymore. She looked deeply into her babe's eyes and saw only Robb's eyes look back at her. But it did not last as Joanna felt a sting in her body.

"Sansa take her, somethings not right..." Sansa stood up as she gracefully took her niece in arms. Joanna felt pain rush through her body as her hands clutched the bedsheets "Fuck! FUCK! I THINK-!" Joanna cried as pain pierced through her skin

The Maestors face looked to Blackfish, pale as a ghost "It appears she's expecting twins my lord." Joanna shook her head violently, unable to imagine going through the pains of labour again

"NO FUCK YOU!" She yelled as she felt her second child crowning. This time her cries were joined by her baby girl

"One more push my lady! One more-"

The Maestors word becoming deaf preaches to Joanna as she screamed her throat raw from pain. It wasn't until the wave of relief washed over her that she realized her labours were done. "A boy." The maester handed her second babe as she reached her arm to Sansa. Joanna held both her babes to her falling in love with every detail of their tiny faces.

"Everyone leave, please." Joanna's hoarse voice demanded "Everyone except you Sansa." The chamber grew quiet as Sansa sat next to Joanna as each of the babes held Joannas thumb.

Joanna felt pure love as she looked at them. They had Robbs eyes though her girl had his dark curls and her boy had thin blonde hair. No matter their differences she would love them with every fibre in her being. She would die for them- she would kill for them. Her sweet babies.

"Have you thought of a name?" Sansa quietly asked as Joanna nodded, the tears remaining in her eyes as she knew how and when she had thought of her names. The very night the great love of her life was ripped away from her arms she had shared her desired name with Robb.

"Boy or girl?" Robb curiously asked, a warm smile spreading across both their face to what their future might entail with the baby inside of her.

"I don't know. I haven't given it much thought. I didn't even see myself ever marrying let alone have child." Joanna laughed as she sat closer to him. Her fingers playing with curls of his hair

"You must be the first girl I've ever met to not think of having a husband or children." Robb laughed thinking to how Sansa would have the names she wanted to give her children alphabetically memorized in her head.

"Well, I do have one idea should it be a boy." Joanna teased

"Oh, you do?" Robb chuckles "Isn't it supposed to be who names our son, unless you wear the pants in this marriage." He places a kiss to her cheek and snuck one to the collarbone of her neck as Joanna laughed keeping his hands at bay, away from her skirt

"Yes..."

"Eddard, his name will be Eddard." Joanna faced Sansa as both placed their foreheads against one another "I promised Robb I would honour your father and I intend to keep my word." Joanna and Sansa pulled their heads apart as Eddard cooed in his mothers hand.

"And my sweet girl will be named Alina." she kissed her babies foreheads "I want both of their names to be from both Robb and I's families. So Eddard and Alina."

"That's beautiful Joanna."