Hera hadn't spoken to Robb in days. She couldn't face him without feeling guilty about the secret she was keeping, or being embarrassed because she had finally realised her feelings for him. She was afraid that if she spoke to him, she would reveal that her siblings were alive, which was dangerous for them. She trusted Robb, but she didn't know what he would do with that information.

Her feelings for him had grown the past days. She had never thought about him in any other way than being friends, but now that her brother had mentioned it, she realised that he was right. It would explain why she felt so saddened when he agreed to marry a Frey girl. It would explain why he was the only one who seemed to make her feel better and smile no matter what. She knew she could never act on her feelings though. Not when he was promised to another.

No, it was better to just ignore him. He had noticed her change in behaviour, which she knew. He kept sending her questioning and concerned looks, but she always pretended like she didn't see them. When he confronted her about it, she shrugged him off and told him that she was fine. She wasn't.

She grunted slightly as her sword connected with the sword of one of the soldiers in camp. She needed someone to fight with so she could think about something else, and also get rid of the stress that consumed her mind. The soldier had offered to fight with her, which she was thankful for.

She didn't hold back, instead giving the fight everything she had. She would admit that the boy was a good match. She blocked his blow, which were aimed at her head. When he was distracted, she hit him on his shoulder. The blow didn't appear to hurt him that much. They were both out of breath, but neither wanted to be the one to give up. His movements were getting slower as he was growing tired, which she took advantage of. With one swift motion, she used all of her strenght to knock him on his butt. While he blinked up at her in shock, she held the tip of her sword to his throat.

They both grinned then, before she extended a hand and helped him up. "It was an honor sparring with you, my lady." The soldier brushed dust off his trousers.

Hera gave him a small grin while wiping sweat from her brow. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Hera." Both her and the soldier's attention turned towards the direction of the voice. Robb stood there, his hands clasped together in front of him as he looked at them both. Hera's smile dropped, and the soldier bowed respectfully. "Can I have a word with you?"

Hera sighed and glanced at the soldier, giving him an apologetic look. He gave her a small smile in return, before he scurried off to join some other soldiers who were talking with each other. She glanced back at Robb and forced a smile on her face. "Of course, your grace."

Robb frowned. "You don't need to call me that."

Hera didn't answer, instead walking in silence all the way to his tent. When they entered the tent, Hera lingered by the entrance while Robb walked over to the table which held all his battle plans. He studied it for a moment before he turned around to look at her. He furrowed his eyebrows when he noticed that she was still standing by the entrance, her eyes casted to the ground. "Aren't you going to come inside?"

She slowly walked further inside until she stood beside him by the table. She avoided his gaze, because looking at him hurt. It hurt knowing that she couldn't be with him, even if she wanted it. And it tore her apart to keep the secret of her family from him. She heard him sigh. "Are you angry with me?" At his question, her wide eyes snapped up to meet his. She didn't want him to think that she was upset with him, that was the last thing she wanted.

"Of course not, why would you think that?"

"You've been ignoring me for days. When I ask you what's wrong, you dismiss it like it's nothing." The hurt was clear in his eyes, and it made Hera feel even more horrible than she already did.

"It's not you. I've just had a lot on my mind." She spoke truthfully.

"What is it? You know you can talk to me." He sounded so vulnerable that it made Hera want to tell him everything. But she couldn't. I promised my brother, she reminded herself.

"I know," she sighed. "But there are some things I have to keep to myself. I'm sorry that I've been ignoring you, I just needed some time to think."

Robb looked like he wanted to say something else by the look on his face. He scanned her face before he nodded softly. "If you ever need to talk with someone, you know where to find me."

At that, she gave him a soft genuine smile. "I know."

*

Robb had summoned the Lords to a meeting. They were all huddled inside a tent, listening to Robb speak. A cousin of the Queen and the Kingslayer stood in front of him, looking frightened. Hera didn't blame him. She was sure they all looked terrifying in the dimly lit tent.

"I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms." Robb spoke. "First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones must be returned to us so he may rest by his brother and sister in the crypt beneath Winterfell. And the remaints of all those who died in his service must also be returned. Their families can honor them with proper funerals."

"An honorable request, your grace."

"Third, Joffrey and the Queen regent must renounce all claim to the dominion of the North. From this day till the end of time, we are a free and independent Kingdom." At his words, some of the Lords in the tent started chanting The king in the north.

"Neither Joffrey or any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father, only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me."

"These are..." the Lannister boy started stuttering for and answer, which caused Robb to stand up.

"These are my terms. If the Queen regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not, I will litter the South with Lannister dead."

Hera felt a strong sense of pride at hearing his words, and a small smirk appeared on her face. A baffled expression appeared on the Lannister boy's face. "King Joffrey is a Baratheon, your grace."

Robb lifted an eyebrow. "Oh, is he? You'll ride at daybreak, Sir Alton."

As everyone left the tent, Theon and Hera remained by the table. Hera sipped on some wine while Theon walked up to stand beside Robb. "A word, your grace?"

"You don't have to call me your grace when no one's around."

Theon gave him a half smirk. "It's not so bad once you get used to it."

Hera drank the last remains of the wine, before she stood and walked over to the boys. "I'm still not used to it" she commented with a half smile. Robb chuckled softly at her words, while Theon jokingly rolled his eyes.

"I'm glad someone has gotten used to it" Robb said to Theon, his humor gone from his voice.

"The Lannisters are going to reject your terms, you know."

Robb gave a knowing nod of his head. "Of course they are."

"We can fight them in the fields as long as you like, but we won't beat them until you take King's Landing," Theon spoke. "We can't take King's Landing without ships. My father has ships and men who knows how to sail them."

Robb didn't look convinced. "Men who fought my father."

"Men who fought King Robert to free themselves from the yoke of the South, just like you're doing now. I'm his only living son. He'll listen to me, I know he will," he paused and glanced at both Robb and Hera. They both held conflicted looks on their faces. "I'm not a Stark, I know that. But your father raised me to be an honorable man. We can avenge him together."

Robb seemed to really consider his words, but Hera still wasn't convinced. It didn't even matter what she thought, because she wasn't the one who controlled the army.

She sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I need more wine" she muttered to herself before she walked back to the table and filled her goblet to the rim with the red liquid. She drank it all.