Going to King's Landing seemed to be the only option that they had. Tyrion had agreed that it might be the best option. They were due to meet with the other Houses of the Seven Kingdom, but they had no idea how the meeting would go. Jon had insisted on returning to Winterfell on their travels. They were retreating and it was considered necessary for them to pick up supplies. Furthermore, he wanted to see Anya. He was missing his wife more than he cared to admit, needing to see her and make certain that she was well. Jon had been informed by Daenerys that Anya had been sent there for her own safety.

Seeing the walls of Winterfell, Jon felt his stomach begin to churn. Anya was in there. She would be safe in there. He rode into the city walls and jumped down from his horse as soon as he was able to. He handed the reins of his horse to a stable boy before looking around. His army behind him were willing to camp outside of Winterfell and in the town wherever they could find shelter. Men were brewing around everywhere and the army looked impressive, but Jon knew better. This would not be enough to defeat what was waiting beyond the Wall.

"Jon."

Looking to the side, Jon noticed that Sansa was making her way towards him. Her hands were clasped against her stomach and her hair was pulled into braids at the back of her head. Looking over to her brother, she walked towards him, embracing him tightly once he was in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and Sansa pulled back, holding onto his upper arms through the layers of furs he wore.

"What has happened?"

"We are on our way to King's Landing, but we need to rest for an evening," he said to her. "I thought that it would be best to rest here for the evening before we set off."

"I see," Sansa responded, nodding her head. "And you still intend to ask Cersei for help?"

"We need help," Jon clarified for her. "If she does not help us then there will be nothing left of the Seven Kingdoms for her to rule over. We have one of the creatures with us for her to see for herself. If that doesn't change her mind then nothing will."

"This is dangerous, Jon," Sansa said. "I know Cersei. She is consumed by power."

"But her advisors are not like her," Jon replied. "If she does not see sense then they can perhaps make her see sense. We have to do something, Sansa."

"Fine," Sansa said, sensing that there would be no use in arguing with him. "Well, if you intend to stay here then you should go and find Anya. I believe she is still resting in your chambers."

"Aye," Jon agreed. "I will speak with you over dinner, Sansa."

"Of course," Sansa said.

Jon moved away then, heading through the corridors towards their shared chambers. He greeted people who he passed in the corridors before coming to their room. Pushing the door open, he found Anya already there. She was knelt over the chamber pot and coughing loudly. Jon's nose wrinkled as he heard her retching. He moved to kneel down beside her, his layers getting in the way and the end of his sword digging into his stomach.

"Anya," he spoke her name gently and she turned to look to him, eyes wide as she was full of shock. She coughed into her fist as Jon patted her back. He looked concerned as she shoved the pot away from her and collapsed back onto her legs. "Are you sick? What is it?"

"I am fine," Anya promised him, holding onto his arm. He looked to her with concern and she smiled softly, her hand running up his arm to his cheek, holding it in her grip. She felt the stubble of his beard and continued smiling, unable to believe that he was here.

"You were being ill in a pot, Anya," Jon said to her. "I should summon for the maester."

"No," she urged from him, voice soft. "He has already been to see me, Jon. He told me what was wrong, but I did not want to tell you like this…after emptying the contents of my own stomach."

"What is it?" he wondered from her.

"I'm pregnant," she said to him and Jon was surprised then. He watched her as she managed to move to her feet. Jon stood with her, arm around her waist to help her to stand upright. He kept his arm around her and she watched him. His face was neutral, impassive. She could not read what he was thinking. "Say something."

"I don't know what to say," Jon admitted to her. "I don't know what I can say."

"That you're happy," she urged from him. "That you want this baby?"

"Anya, of course I want this baby," Jon said, sounding slightly upset by her question. But he had been quiet. That was probably not the reaction that she had wanted from him. He moved his hand down to her stomach, resting his palm flat against it. He felt a slight bump, but nothing too prominent. "I want this baby."

"But?" Anya said, questioning him. She knew that something was wrong, but she knew what that would be. He didn't need to say anything. She already knew. Nodding, she answered her own question. "But this is the worst timing possible."

"Yes," Jon agreed in a slow drawl with her. "You are my wife and I have thought about starting a family together, Anya, of course I have. I am just worried…I am worried about those things beyond the Wall. I am worried about what might happen…not making it out of this…and the idea that I might not see my child scares me."

"I know," Anya said to him. "I know…I should have thought. I am sorry."

"Do not apologise," Jon urged from her, still keeping his hand on her stomach as he looked down to it. "If anything this makes me even more determined. I have to do this for you and our babe. I have to keep us safe."

"Be careful," she urged from him, needing him not to get himself hurt during all of this. The idea that that could happen terrified her, but she knew that it was possible whenever he rode into battle. But he would not change. He would not change so long as he was King in the North.

"Always try to be," Jon said to her, bending down to kiss her, but she placed her hand over her mouth, stopping him. Shaking her head, she leaned back in his grip, hair falling down her back as she angled away from him.

"You are not kissing me when my breath smells like this," she said to him sternly.

"Then you had best do something about that because I am not waiting much longer. I have one night here before I go to King's Landing and I do not intend to waste it."

…

Anya laid under the furs, eyes closed despite not being asleep. She rested in the crook of Jon's arm, hair tickling against his neck as she laid on her side, hand balled into a fist on his chest. She gathered her breath before feeling Jon kiss the top of her head.

"Daenerys had said we should take the ships down to King's Landing," Jon whispered to her. "She said it would be quicker."

"She is right I imagine," Anya said. "Well, whenever we were on a ship it felt quicker than walking."

"It is," Jon confirmed. "I will leave for port tomorrow and the majority of the army will stay here until we return."

"As you say," Anya said to him, peering onto him with her chin on her hand on his chest. "Why can I not come to King's Landing?"

"Anya, I do not want to risk you," Jon said to his wife. "While Cersei might agree to meet us, the journey is long and I do not want you anywhere near her, not after what happened last time."

"I know," she said, "but I do not like the idea of being without you."

"Nor I you," Jon assured his wife on that matter, "but I will be home soon enough. I promise you. Besides, you are the Queen now. You should stay here."

Anya scoffed and shook her head. "Jon, we both know I have no idea how to be Queen," she responded. "I'm some wildling from beyond the wall who has no idea about how to rule. It is your sister who is the real Queen…Sansa helps me more than you know. Without her then I'd be lost."

"Don't be so harsh about yourself," Jon urged from her, squeezing her shoulder. "Anya, you might not know about the practicalities of ruling, but you have kindness…compassion…all of these are things that a good Queen needs. You can learn the other things."

"And is that what you want me to do?" Anya asked from him. "Do you want to remain as the King in the North when this is all over?"

"I don't know," Jon responded and Anya bit down on her bottom lip. She had thought about it quite often, but she had not discussed it deeply with Jon. She had taken on responsibility, but she did not know if it was something she wanted to keep. She felt like an imposter. She was only where she was because of her marriage to Jon. "What do you want?"

"Honestly?" Anya asked from him. "I want the peace and quiet, Jon. I want us to be together…but I do not know if I would feel right acting as a Queen."

"You know that it doesn't bother me," Jon said to her. "I never wanted the crown. I would be happy living a quiet life, just you, me and our babe…but I need to keep Winterfell safe too."

"Perhaps these are discussions for another day?" Anya asked from Jon.

"Aye, they are," he agreed with her, kissing her again and forgetting about everything just for a night.

….

Anya stood with Sansa in the library, peering out of the window. Jon had left an hour ago and already Anya was worried. Sansa had tried to calm her, urging for her not to panic before they had any news from King's Landing. The two women were seated in the window seat on opposite ends.

"I do not trust Lord Baelish," Anya said to Sansa, looking to her. "I have seen the way he watches us and it worries me even more than before, Sansa."

"I know what he is plotting," Sansa said and Anya's brows furrowed. "I found out from him…well…not entirely from him, but he made his points very clear. He wishes for me to be Queen in the North."

"Excuse me?" Anya asked from Sansa. "I don't understand."

"I know how Lord Baelish works," Sansa said to Anya. "He longs for power himself, but he knows that I can be his pawn to that. I have always been his pawn and after speaking with him…telling him how Winterfell is mine…it became clear."

"You…what did you say?"

"Anya, I lied about all of it," Sansa said, moving to hold onto Anya's hand, squeezing it. "I would not betray you or Jon like this, but I am telling him what he needs to hear for me to catch him. I told him how a Wildling should not be Queen and a bastard King. I told him that you were not fit enough to take charge. He agreed."

"That…I…what does he intend to do?" Anya asked, fear in her voice.

"He sees you as a threat now that you are pregnant with an heir," Sansa said and Anya moved a hand to her stomach. "I told Jon that I would protect you while he is gone and I intend to do just that. I believe Lord Baelish would see that you are removed from the picture…especially your heir."

"Sansa, this is not doing much to appease me," Anya said, voice shaking.

"I promise nothing will happen to you," Sansa said, squeezing her hand. "Motions are now in place to catch him, but I need more evidence. Lord Baelish's crimes go far beyond plotting against us, but I need to prove them."

"And do you think that you can?"

"I know I can," Sansa said. "I just need to keep him onside long enough."

"Sansa, I do not want him to hurt you."

Sansa's lips quirked upwards in a soft smile. "He won't," she said, voice confident. "I know exactly what to do."

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think!