"As discussed Ser Gregor will take five hundred of our men and lay siege to the Stark boys army. I have informed. The boy will easily fall for the plan dear brother. He knows that his true weakness would lie with the mountain. If arrogant enough – he'll come spearheaded first to kill him." Kevan Lannister explained to his brother who remained calculated in his seat.

Tywin knew better than to put faith into his brother but now – he seemed truly proud. The plan seemed impossible to fail, but Tywin knew better than to be arrogant. In the last few weeks Robb Stark has constantly proven that he was a force to be reckoned with.

"What about my granddaughter. I assume that she won't be killed in battle." Tywin questioned but given the tone in his voice it sounded more like a demand. Kevan looked hesitant to his brother

"You want her alive? After everything shes done – shes betrayed us!" He argued

"She's a Lannister. She belongs South, besides you and I both know my daughter would never allow us to harm her. I am above killing my kin. See to it that she be returned to us."

Word had travelled that the Lannister men were moving to the Riverrun. This would mean that with movement and being currently outnumbered the Starks would be able to cut Tywins men by half and still lay siege on Harrenhall. Joanna had requested to lead the battalion and many agreed. She had finally gained the trust – despite the select few who spat at her name now that the nature of her birth had been sent across Westeros.

Joannas hand petted a sleeping Greywind head. This was the closest shed come to Robb. The direwolf served as some sort of mediator between them. The tension between them was unbearable and the fact that Catelyn never allowed Robb to be alone made everything much worse.

She'd recited the words over and over in her head. How they needed to be friends and only that but selfishly Joanna didnt want to be his friend. She wanted to be more and hopefully he felt the same. Shed avoid him because she knew, she was not able to lie to him in his face – not without bursting into tears.

That's something Cersei never actually taught her – how to love. Her marriage to Robert had been so desolated and passionless that there was no point of filling Joannas head with princes who would sweep her off her feet. Joanna couldnt bear it.

The longing pain to wake up in Robbs arms and hear his voice next to her ear. Her fingers playing with his the chest of his hair. Joanna missed his smile – the same smirk that would send her heart into distress and leave her cheeks redder than a rose in bloom.

Robb gazed at Joanna as she petted Greywinds head. Even his direwolf had grown close to her. He constantly felt like his head was about to burst open – except when he was with her. Even though they hadnt spoken much for weeks even just the sight of her helped him.

He breathed out as he opened her tent. Joannas startled eyes looked to him as she stood and bowed

"Your grace." She formally greeted him

"Joanna, this is ridiculous. You know you dont have to call me that." He reasoned – the two standing across from each other at a respectable distance.

"Your grace." She emphasised

"I presume you want to discuss my strategy before I go into battle tomorrow. Very noble for you to care so much for a sol-"

"Joanna please stop." He sighed with guilt. Both looked to each other with saddened expression. The bare thought of his name not escaping her perfect lips was able to break his spirit. Joanna nodded her head to Greywind as he left knowing the two would want their privacy.

"I can't. If your mother even knew you were here..."

"Since when did you care about what she thinks?"

"Since I realised I – "She stopped herself. Suddenly it felt forbidden to even express how she felt and yet it was all that she wanted to do.

"Finish what you want to say, please."

"Your grace this is inappropriate. I can't." She shook her head as she looked down to her feet. She was dressed in trousers and could see the leather boots. They were dirtied from mud as still easier to look at than into Robbs eyes.

"Joanna, please." Robb begged as he reached out to hold her hand. She gasped at the sudden contact. His hand was warm and firm and as cliché as it may sound fit perfectly into her hand.

"Please what?! What is it that you dont want to do Robb?" She asked in outrage – rage from herself. Robb saw her trembling bare hands as he engulfed them. Her knuckles had scrapped skin and were blue – he could only assume that shed been punching solid concrete or trees again.

"Don't shut me out. I miss you –" Robb pleaded. Joanna opened her mouth but nothing but a wisp of air escaped before he interrupted her again

"No, listen to me. I care for you more than I have ever for anyone. Do you know what I would give just to be able to kiss you and make you mine? Joanna, I l-"

"Robb don't. Don't finish that sentence. Those words should be spared to Lady Frey. You cant just throw it around to anyone you please – I won't allow it." The tears left her eyes. Was it possible to love someone so much that it made your heart physically ache. Could love hurt so much that you rather have a sword pierced through the chest than not be with the one you love?

"I don't care. I only care for you but I will stop on one condition."

"What?" She asked irritably. Robb used his hand to lift up her chin – her eyes staring back into those Tully blue eyes. Joanna could feel the blush control her face and suddenly her breath felt shallow. He wrapper his arm around torso bringing their chest to one another. Their noses brushing against each other. Joanna keeping her lips in a thin line to avoid from what could happen – even though she wanted it to.

"Tell me you don't love me." He ordered. Joannas head shook in despair.

"I can't answer that." Her voice was hoarse and yet still she wrapped her hands onto his shoulders bringing them closer and closer feeling his chest against hers as his grip tightened around her.

"Why?" he quietly asked

"What would that achieve? You'll be betrothed to someone else and I'll be the woman who could never have you." The two sighed as she rested her head in the crook of his neck inhaling his scent. She closed her eyes and for a minute she imagined what their life could be. Being married – she wanted to imagine their life in Winterfell after the war. How theyd have little pups running around. Shed want them to look like her but have his eyes and hair, his bravery and her kindness. What a perfect dream that would be.

"I love you." She admitted as moved her head away. Robb looked ecstatic , but Joannas hurt expression suddenly made him feel different. Standing on her tip toes she placed a kiss on his forehead

"But I love you too much to put your life in danger and break another womans heart. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready please." She begged. Robb nodded his head as he left. She loved him – that much was said and what made it worse is he understood why she couldnt be with him.

She was thinking of the Freys – his mother and his safety. She cared more for their lives than her happiness and as infuriated as he should be he wasn't. If anything it made him realise how much he loves her more.

They left before the brink of dawn. Joanna was determined more than ever to win this battle. She needed to put all of her frustrations on something. She didnt allow herself to think of Robb and what happened. In truth she herself wasnt sure if she processed what happened.

They both confessed their true feelings for another but she couldnt allow it to go further. Not now at least. Three hundred of Robbs bannermen travelled with her, although the road felt lonely. Shae hadnt been with her, nor Robb or even Greywind. Made her realise more and more that she did not have much friends but then again she was never good at making friends as hard as she tried.

Joanna observed the grounds – it was quiet but almost too quiet. Come to think of it she had not even heard the sound of a bird. They were far from Robbs camp and Harrenhall was approaching with only three days of travelling left. Her spies reported that Tywin sent his men moving in their direction. Joannas eyes scanned the treelines – something smelled. She took her horse leading foreward. Slowly approaching the bushes she could see the wood was marked –

Blood

"Wait STOP!" She yelled but it was too late. Hundreds of hundreds of men in gold armour chased her. She was meet in field but the Stark men already surrounded. Taking her swords, she unseathed it.

Her men fought cutting through the first group as she rode through the Lannister army cutting through as many as she could. Her body jerked off when the head of horse was cut with one single swing. Grunted as she fell to the ground hard, she turned to see him.

His enormous size scaring the red out of her cheeks. There he stood Gregor Clegane at eight feet tall looking down on the daughter of Cersei Lannister. Joanna yelped as he picked her up by her blonde hair – her entire body lifting off from the ground. His cold and sinister smirk looking at her as dropped her to the ground.

Dropping his sword the Mountain kicked her in her stomach. Joanna screaming in anguish at the constant and brutal attack. The blood pouring from her mouth as she attempted to not lose consciousness. Laying in a pool of blood , in her now dented armour she turned her head to her men. Bodied on bodies onto each other. Butchered and severed onto the fields. Joanna looked in his eyes in fear knowing that she needed to surrender.

One horse, one single horse survived the massacre. It travelled back to the Riverrun where the lords and Robb awaited the news of Joannas success but alas.

The horse was frightened and bewildered. It carried a single back wrapped around its neck. Inside was the head of one of Shaes men. His eyes plunged out of the head and the tongue cut out of his mouth. Shae wailed as they soon realised it was one of her fathers advisors. They soon realised that the battle was a fail. There was no word of Joanna and they feared shed been killed as well. Robb refused to sit at the feast that night. The sight of food scaring him to what could have happened to Joanna and where she was.

Shae attempted to comfort him but he kindly rejected her care. All he wanted was to be alone. He sat alone in his tent with Greywind protecting the entrance and all he could think of was their last moments together. She confessed her love to him but also made it clear that nothing could ever happen.

He cursed the day he agreed to the betrothal and as much as he wanted to be furious with his mother he knew he was just to blame. Robbs patience grow. He yelled in anguish as he threw the map and every object off.

"My Lord!" Lord Glover came in running. His eyes widened with shock as he saw the young king destroying his fortress of solitude.

"WHAT?!" Robb yelled. Lord Glover remained calm – he could see in the boys face that he was at his breaking point. More clear than ever that they could beat him, torture him – even flay him but no one should ever dare hurt a single hair on Joannas perfectly blonde locks.

"Its about Lady Joanna. There are report that shes been taken by Tywin Lannister." He informed

"What? How do you know?" Robb questioned. Lord Glover stepped aside as a woman dressed in a blue cloak revealed herself. She was tanned with eyes darker than shadows – but still beautiful. Robb took notice of the necklace around her neck. It was Aryas –

"Who are you and why do you have that?" He asked her in a threatening tone. The woman stood her ground as she replied

"My name is Isabella and I have travelled a long way to find you Robb Stark."

"That doesn't explain why you have my sisters – "

"I know. You see I'm a former handmaiden to the princess and your sisters. After your fathers –" Robbs body stiffened at the mention of his fathers fate. Isabella stepped closer choosing her words wisely

"I know this may sound strange but I'm on your side. I was a handmaiden to your sisters in Kings Landing and served as a protégée to Lord Varys. Im sure you know who that is?"

"The Kings master of whisperers. How is it that you know of where Joanna might be? "

"Its not a case of might. Serving under Varyss guidance I learned a great deal from him. We have spies everywhere from Kings Landing to Braavos. May I take a seat so we can talk privately?" Robb nodded his head as he allowed her to take a seat. Lord Glover respectfully exiting the tent.

"How do you know?" He questioned immediately

"After what happened to your father many things changed within the Red Keep. As you know Joffrey was crowned as king but thats not half of it. There was an attack on your fathers men – I remember that day because I along with Sansas Septa searched the entire castle for Arya. She somehow managed to escape the castle but the Septa – I know you were raised by her as well so it grieves me to tell you – "

"She was murdered." Robb stated coldly. What about my sisters?

"Sansa was smart enough to keep herself hidden away but Arya never returned. As I mentioned I have spies everywhere. Varys had served a hand full of kings and he is very much aware that he is not the most trusted man in the seven kingdoms. He taught me much even though I was a handmaiden to the princess – because we share a common goal. We serve no kings or queen but only the realm."

"What does this have to do with Arya?" Robb countered irritably

"I've heard report that Arya managed to escape with a group of boys. The day of your fathers execution a friend of your uncle Benjen who was sent from the Nights Watch managed to get hold of her before the royal guards could see her. Shes been travelling North – I think she means to travel to your brother."

"Jon?"

"Yes, but I've been informed by a family of farmers Ive been living with the last few weeks that they were ambushed. Aryas current where about is the same as Joannas. Both have been taken by Tywin."

"Well then we can get them back can't we?" He asked hopefully but Isabellas face seemed depleted and at loss for his hope

"Not exactly. A handful of the boys did travel to Tywins current residing camp but Ive been told that The Lannister men also killed them. Theres a possibility that your sister could be – "

"What about Joanna? "

"During my last weeks within the Red Keep Ive heard talk that Joffrey requested in the kidnapping of his sister. He plans to have his sister returned to him and she be punished for her crimes of treason."

Robb felt vile, angered and humiliated. He humbly welcomed Isabella to his camp – even if her information was not as hopeful – it was still more valuable. Hopefully she could serve as help to their war. Shes proven that she could be a valuable asset – so why not allow her to stay. But that night he cried. Not only for Joanna but for his broken family. His brothers Jon, Rickon and Bran thousands of miles away from him. Sansa still trapped in the clutches of the Lannisters and now the mere thought that Arya could be dead.

He would risk his life, take her place as captive

as long as he knew Joanna was safe.