Reunion of Wolves

Robb remained quiet as he and his personal guard made their way back towards the Westerlands to continue the campaign there. Things seemed to be falling into place, but he felt worried, as if something were going to happen. He didn't know why though or what made him feel this way.

Ser Brynden was besieging Harrenhall with the aid of Lord Blackwood.

Lord Bracken was marching north with two thousand men to join with Lord Mallister.

Jon had secured the victory necessary to that make his risky gamble pay off for now.

Lady Mormont and Lord Bolton had finally taken the Crag.

And his mother, according to the letters had just arrived at White Harbour and was taking a boat up the White Knife and should arrive at Winterfell in less than three days' time.

Everything seemed to be falling into place.

Yet he was still worried, and so were the Old Gods. He could feel it as he prayed to them, they were worried about what was to come, but something was seemingly stopping them from communicating to him about what.

Putting it out of his mind, Robb instead focused on the here and now. As much as he could stress about what could happen, he had already done that at Riverrun. No, now it would be best to do as Margaery had advised and focus on what he could do to win.

And that was another matter that worried him.

Margaery Tyrell.

The woman was intent on seducing him, he had known that much. Even if his mother hadn't told him about it, he could figure it out plainly. The soft touches, the beautiful smiles, the dresses, everything she did seemed to draw his attention and it was driving him wild. There were many times in which he would be in his war room or in his chambers thinking deeply when she would arrive.

Dutifully knocking and waiting for him.

He could claim ignorance that he didn't know it was her, but he did. It was only she that knocked quietly and never said who it was, everyone else was loud. And Grey Wind would always look up, his tongue lolling out as he panted heavily, no doubt expecting treats.

And like every other time, Robb would open the door and let her in.

Her revealing dresses and gowns were gone, the cold, dreary weather of Riverrun at this time of year did not suit such clothing. Now she instead wore simple dresses and a fur cloak, as if she were from the North. And as much as he hated to admit it, he loved her dressed in those clothes, even more so considering they were in the colours of House Stark.

The worst part was, even when dressed in those conservative and modest clothes, it only served to conjure up images of her dressed in the gowns she wore when he first met her.

And it only further served to drive him wild.

Part of him wanted to as Smalljon said, claim her, especially when she moved close, her hands and body brushing against him. Even more so when she looked up at him with those doe eyes, acting almost as if she was innocent and unaware of the affect she had on him.

Robb wanted so badly to take her, every night his blood would pump furiously as his eyes followed her around the room, watching her lips move as she spoke. Sometimes he couldn't even remember what she said. Just intent on committing the sight of her lips moving in such an alluring way as she spoke.

But each and every night, just when he was about to take her, he would force himself to stop. Somehow, he imaged that when the Old Gods told him to forsake his honour, he doubted they meant it in that way.

"Grey Wind!" Margaery called out as the large Direwolf rushed off into the foliage.

"It's alright, my lady." Robb said as they continued to move along the River Road. "He's probably found a deer or some rabbit that he wants to hunt. He'll find us when we make camp."

"And when will we be setting camp?" Margaery asked, shifting uncomfortably on horse. She had ridden a horse before, many times in fact. Never as often or as long as she had since joining Garlan on his journey to meet Robb Stark.

"Why, are you uncomfortable, my lady?"

"I admit, I'm not quite used to travelling for so long on horseback. I was quite a…spoiled child growing up." Her teasing words seemed to make him smile which she was glad for, Margaery quite liked making him smile, even if it was only a small one.

"Perhaps, you should go riding more often."

Margaery smiled. "Is that an invitation, your grace?"

"It could be."

"Then I of course would be honoured."

The moment was broken when they heard the howling of wolves, followed by a deeper, stronger howl. The latter being one they were all familiar with.

As he heard the howls, Robb brought his horse to a halt and looked towards where they had heard the howls. "Your grace?" Ser Robar Royce asked, questioning why they were stopping. They had heard the howls as well, but they had also seen Grey Wind in action, they were more than confident that the Direwolf would be okay.

Tugging on his reins, Robb dug his heels into the side of his horse and started galloping in the direction of where the howls had come from. He rushed through the forest, the trees blurring past him as he focused on the connection he shared with Grey Wind, his personal guard struggling to keep up with their King.

Eventually he burst out into a small clearing to see Grey Wind staring up at another large wolf stood on a boulder with a number of smaller wolves surrounding it. Yet, Grey Wind was not growling or snarling, instead he whining as if recognising a long lost loved one.

It was when Robb took another look at the large wolf that he realised that it was not a wolf at all. But instead, it was as he realised with dawning realisation. One that despite being much bigger than he previously remembered, was one he recognised.

"Nymeria?" He muttered his voice carrying over the clearing and drawing attention to him.

The other wolves, including Nymeria snarled and growled at him, some moving forwards to him. But Grey Wind put an end to that, moving round and releasing a deep growl that caused the wolves to move back with whines of fear.

Not surprising because as big as Nymeria was, Grey Wind was bigger.

"Your grace!" Ser Emmon exclaimed as his personal guard burst in after him, but Robb raised one hand.

"Stay your blades." He ordered firmly, dropping down from his saddle. To match him, Nymeria jumped down from the boulder, growling at him threateningly. As to appear less dangerous, Robb unbuckled his sheath letting it and his sword clatter to the ground.

He then took off his right glove and extended it out as he moved forwards slowly.

"Your grace, I must protest, it's not safe." Brienne spoke, warily looking at the wolves before her, one hand resting on her blade.

"Ah, it'll be fine. Don't you recognise what the big wolf is?" Smalljon asked.

"Feral?" Garlan quipped earning a few smiles.

"It's a Direwolf." Dacey spoke from beside Margaery. "And the only recorded Direwolves in Westeros south of the Wall…"

"…belong to House Stark." Margaery finished, turning back to look at the King to see him fearlessly walk forwards, not even flinching as the unidentified Direwolf snapped its jaws down, mere inches from Robb's fingers. The act caused many of Robb's personal guard to grip their blades anxiously, Margaery could even her the sound metal scrapping against the sheath as if they were about to unsheathe it fully.

"Nymeria, you recognise Grey Wind." Robb said to the she-wolf before him. "You must recognise me as well?"

Nymeria didn't growl, which Robb took as a good sign and as his hand landed on her snout, the she-wolf sniffed his hand. There were a few moments in which all she did was smell him, as if trying to recognise his scent once more and when she did, there was small whine that escaped her throat.

Smiling in relief, Robb reached round and took her large face in his hands and leaned down to rest his forehead against hers. It wasn't his sister, that much he knew, but just like Grey Wind it was a part of her and that felt like a victory to him. He was reunited with something connected to his sister and that elevated some of the guilt and sadness that had rested on his shoulders.

Then he found his mind elsewhere.

He didn't know where he was, and it also passed too quickly for him to realise what was happening. But when it passed, Robb pulled his head away and stumbled back. He ignored the panicked shouts from his guard as he raised one hand to his face, eyes looking wide at Nymeria.

"Arya?" He whispered in shock.