King in the North.

That's what Robb called himself now. The Young Wolf was also a name that was thrown around the encampment. Ashter rolled his eyes at the names, thinking that it would only add to Robb's ego.

It had been a while since he heard of Father's death by King Joffrey Baratheon, first of His Name. He'd done his best not to think about it. Mother had been trying to talk to him about it, but he wouldn't engage in conversation. He didn't want to put into words how he was feeling, and he didn't necessarily know how to. That was never one of his strengths.

The war continued on. Not that it was going to end in a fortnite, but it still raged on. Ashter already began questionining the point of it. He definitely had his fun in the battles and coming up with plans to decimate the Lannister forces but in the end, it would just end with a lot of dead people. Whether it be their side or the Lannisters.

Ashter chugged yet another cup of wine, sitting in a tent by himself. He hadn't been with a woman since before Father had been killed. The thought ran through his mind, but he just thought it wasn't right.

Since when did I care what Father thought? I just-No. I'm not going to explain to myself why I don't need a woman right now.

Ashter grumbled as he smacked the flask away, landing on the ground. Something just came to his attention. His new ward, Tytos Frey, the thirty-whogivesashit son was a rather quiet boy. He had to be a few years younger than Ashter himself.

He was less unpleasant to look at than most of the Freys, that was a relief. But he still didn't want to have to be responsible for someone else. He figured it was the time to teach him a few things, otherwise Mother would harp on him about not spending enough time with him.

What is he, a fucking dog?

Ashter ran his fingertips over the handle of his sword that was leaning against the table. He then stood up, grabbing the sword and rested it in its sheath. He looked in the mirror and saw that he was growing a bit of a beard, it was coming in rather nicely.

The Stark men always grew beards rather quickly. Ashter shaved rather often, but ever since the war actually started, he hadn't touched a razor. His hair was curly, he ran his hand through it, pushing it upwards. His hair was getting a bit longer as well. Ashter shrugged, he never really cared about how presentable he was and that shouldn't change now. He reached for an apple and bit into it, then rested his hand on the handle of his sword while using the other hand to eat the apple as he exited his tent. There was a lot of chatter, many men were walking around the encampment.

The worst part about it was during the night, whenever he'd try to sleep, he would hear men marching about and armor clinking as they did so. More often than not, he'd fold his pillow and push it against his ears to help him sleep. It was hard enough to sleep, with everyone going on.

He heard several different soldiers talking about the war, about gold, about women, so clearly it was just another day. Nothing was happening. He heard a rise in chatter as he walked by the soldiers, and Ashter immediately assumed they were talking about him, not that he could hear what they were saying.

Ashter ignored it, as usual, and just continued to walk.

Where's that damned boy?

Tytos Frey had been spending a lot of time in the forgery. The boy wished to forge swords and armor, or so he told me. He never received proper training for it.

I bet he'd prefer he was a ward for a blacksmith and not me.

Ashter respected his ambition. Blacksmithing is a respectable profession. He was glad that the boy didn't want to take up knitting or figure out how to run a tavern.

Ashter arrived at the forge in the encampment and saw Tytos Frey talking to one of the blacksmiths.

"M'Lord" A voice called out from behind him. Ashter turned his attention away from Tytos to greet the boy from behind him.

"What is it?" Ashter asked.

"Where is Ser Rian Caswell? Could you help me, I must-" The boy asked.

Does this boy think I know every damn fool in this camp?

"Get lost." Ashter merely said, turning away from him. He heard the boy start to talk again, but he didn't even push another word out. He heard the boy run away and Ashter turned back, and he was nowhere to be found. He shrugged, he felt a bit bad for turning the boy away like that, but he shouldn't known better than to ask him where some random knight was in an encampment of over 10,000 soldiers.

Tytos walked over to him, sword holstered a well. The boy had long, light brown hair, that reached down to his neck, his hair was quite thick, and he had a bit of hair above his lip, he was a bit skinny, but Ashter knew that he knew how to hold the sword at least.

"My Lord... I apologize, I-" Tytos began.

"Apologize? For what?" Ashter asked. Tytos scratched the top of his head, "I shouldn't have kept you waiting."

Ashter just shrugged, "I'm not in any hurry. I just... I suppose it's time to show you a few things for today. Before I forget, anyways."

Tytos nodded, a small smile forming on his face.

"Of course, my Lord."

"Have you made a few friends in the camp yet?" Ashter asked, placing his hands on his hips. Tytos looked down at the dirt and just kinda shrugged, "I suppose."

"You either did or you didn't." Ashter replied. Tytos nodded, "I've met a few. We're not... friends, I don't know."

"That them?" Ashter pointed to two other men who were both laughing to each other, drinking wine and eating bread. They were both wearing better armor than Tytos himself. Tytos had only chainmail over his shirt, and nothing to protect his legs. Not that there was a battle happening at the moment. Ashter just wondered if he actually had armor. Ashter hadn't bought him anything, although he assumed that might be something that's expected of him, having a ward and all.

"I know their names at least, Ser Rian and... Ser Garet." Tytos said. Ashter looked at them, and he remembered the small boy mentioning Ser Rian.

Huh. Someone must've told the boy he was over here. Oh well.

Ashter nodded, walking over to the two. As soon as Ashter went up to them, the two boys stopped laughing and just looked at him.

"Uh, my Lord..." Ser Rian said, adjusting his posture to appear more professional.

"Do the two of you know how to use those swords?" Ashter asked. Ser Rian and Ser Garet exchanged looks with each other and then turned back to Ashter. Ser Rian nodded first, while Ser Garet spoke up, "Yes, my Lord."

Ashter nodded, "Come with me."

Outside the encampment, Ashter took the three boys near a tree and some training dummies. He had planned a training session, and the more people participating, the better.

"All right, first of all, take off that armor, you don't need that at all for this. We're going to keep it simple. Your head may hurt after this, but it's worth it. Now... go on." Ashter nodded to Ser Rian and Ser Garet who began to take their armor off. Tytos simply lifted the chainmail from his shirt, around his neck and tossed it to the ground.

After a few minutes, the three men were no longer protected from armor.

"Your fathers' buy you that armor? That's not the kind we give out to our soldiers." Ashter said to the two men. Ser Rian shook his head, "No, sir, I bought it meself."

"No you didn't." Ashter shook his head and then pulled out his sword. Ser Rian wanted to speak up again, but he decided not to.

"Now... I'm gonna need a volunteer. Any one of you will do. I don't really care." Ashter shrugged. The three men exchanged looks with one another and then Ser Garet stepped forward.

"I'll volunteer, my Lord." Ser Garet said, confidently. Ashter nodded.

Might as well have some fun with this one.

"Now, this technique was invented by yours truly. It's a simple way to kill your enemy or stun them, but I imagine some of the honorable lords of the North wouldn't look kindly on what I'm about to do, or show you... but don't let that discourage you. This might save your life, after all. Honor won't." Ashter said to the three men. "Now... draw your sword."

Ser Garet followed his order, getting into a stance. The boy looked nervous. Ashter was no stranger to that look. He wasn't going to destroy the boy, but he wasn't going to go easy on him either.

Shitty stance. I could break his leg with him standing like that.

"Now... attack me." Ashter said, drawing his sword, but he kept it pointed down to the ground, not at all in a fighting position. Ser Garet inhaled and then lunged forward, not even hitting Ashter. Ashter almost laughed at how afraid the boy was of hitting him.

"Did I give you the impression this lesson was for you to show me how great of a fool you'd be? Hit me!" Ashter yelled, and Ser Garet inhaled once again and lunged forward, this time extending his stance. Ashter then dodged his sword, rolling against the ground, landing behind Ser Garet. Before Ser Garet could turn around, Ashter used the sword handle strike him on the back of the head and he fell forward, landing against the grass. He groaned in pain as Tytos and Ser Rian laughed. Ashter then sheathed his sword, and rubbed his hands together.

"Simple. But effective, as you can see." Ashter chuckled, pointing to the man on the ground who was still in pain. "Now, come on, boy, get up. I didn't hit you that hard." Ashter smirked to himself as Ser Garet brought himself to his feet.

"All right, that's probably enough for today. Go on, do whatever you want. I couldn't care less." Ashter waved his hand away. Ser Rian and Ser Garet both thanked him and walked away. Ashter then stopped Tytos very quickly.

"Please tell me you've got something other than just some rusty chainmail." Ashter said to him. Tytos shook his head, "I-I, no my Lord, it's all I have.. I can work for some if you'd like-"

Ashter rolled his eyes, reaching into his pack and grabbing a bag of coins.

"There. Buy yourself a meal as well, and get some protection for your legs. Maybe even a helmet. Now, go on, get." Ashter waved him away again. Tytos thanked him and he walked away. Ashter rubbed the top of his head and saw Theon Greyjoy walking over to him. Ashter grumbled at the sight of him.

"Have you done your good deed for the day?" Theon teased, his hands placed behind his back. Ashter shook his head, "If I had, the Gods wouldn't have brought you here to talk to me."

"Never took you for a godly man." Theon said, tilting his head. Ashter rolled his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Has Robb told you? Where I'm going?" Theon asked. Ashter nodded his head. Oh, he remembered. Why Robb was allowing him to go back to see his family and try to convince them to join the fight was beyond his comprehension. But at the same time, he was glad that Theon would be leaving.

"Aye. Must be a big moment for you. You'll be meeting your precious family again. How sweet. You love them so much, even though you don't really know who they were. Tell me, do you even remember when you used to live there? Before you were shipped away to Winterfell?" Ashter asked.

It was always the simplest thing for Ashter to aggravate Theon. Theon had no response. Ashter smiled, "Well, I appreciate the notice of the coming rebellion. It really warms the heart."

"There will be no rebellion. Robb is like my broth-"

"NO." Ashter quickly interjected, aggressively pointing towards Theon.

"You're not his brother. You're nothing. You're just a pathetic child trying to play at war." Ashter growled. Theon was surprised to see him drop the smart-mouthed act and dive straight into the threatening tone.

"What does that make you?" Theon asked. Ashter laughed, "You think I'm playing at war? You saw me at the Whispering Wood. I was the one leading men, destroying the Kingslayer's defenses. The only reason we won that battle was because of me!" Ashter snarled, "Not Robb. Me. And you? You stayed with the bulk of the forces to ensure your own survival. You think you're a warrior, but you're not. And there's nothing I hate more than a man pretending to be someone he's not."

Ashter began to walk away, but Theon spoke again. His tone wasn't as confrontational as before.

"You've always hated me. I know. I can't say the feeling isn't mutual, but this is the right move. I swear to you, I'm loyal to House Stark." Theon said. Ashter didn't even entertain the thought that he was telling the truth.

"Oh, you're just adorable." Ashter gleefully said, only to drop it a moment later, "Tell me, when was the last time you saw your beloved family?"

"I know what I'm doing, I can-" Theon began

"I'll ask you again, when was the last time you saw your family? Quite a while. They don't know you. They didn't raise you. And you don't know them. Clearly not, otherwise you wouldn't have even suggested going to meet with them to support our... cause."

"I'm not asking you to trust me." Theon said, not even directly answering him.

"Good, because I don't. And I never will." Ashter said, crossing his arms. He remained eye contact with him and then stepped closer to him, "You know what I think? I think as soon as you get there, you'll stay there. I mean, why would you come back? You've been a prisoner for most of your life. And now you finally get to go home. How wonderful for you. Let me get one thing straight, though, Theon Greyjoy."

Ashter reached for his knife and presses it against Theon's chest, just barely touching his cloak.

"I'm not Robb. And I sure as all the seven hells not my Father. If you betray my family, I will kill you. And it won't be a clean death. No. I'll flay your skin off, then I'll patch it back on and then take it off again and again and again and again."

"Aye. I know you would. Because you're a madman." Theon said.

Ashter smirked, titling his head as he put his knife away. He then punched Theon in the face, knocking him down to the ground. Theon grabbed his face, gritting his teeth.

"Then perhaps you should choose your words more carefully."

Ashter entered Robb's tent and saw several chess pieces on the war map, this had been the first time that he'd seen the tent empty (well, besides Robb himself). It was a welcome change.

"What?" Ashter said, annoyed that he was summoned yet again.

"Is that how you speak to your King?" Robb asked. Ashter chuckled, "Funny."

Robb couldn't keep a straight face and simply laughed as well. His amusement fell as he looked back up and Ashter waited for him to say what the problem was.

"There's a... problem... in Widow's Watch." Robb finally spoke. Ashter raised his eyebrow, immediately worried that something had happened to Joanna.

"The Quinns are stubborn and they haven't always held up their pledges, as you know quite well." Robb said. Ashter knew that both him and Robb had never been alive for when Lord Rutherford Quinn wasn't ruling Widow's Watch, besides... well, now.

"Lord Harold Quinn now rules Widow's Watch since the Kingslayer killed his father. And we need their support. We were waiting on their sellsword company, but apparently Lord Harold told them to not come to Widow's Watch, and they withdrew their troops. Not to mention, we need their craftsmen and they have more ships from anyone else in the North." Robb explained to him.

So where does this leave me?

"Harold's a bold man. He's lucky we don't hang him for treason." Ashter said, coldly. Robb shook his head, "Harold's a good lad. He's worried for his family. Arron Quinn is dead, too. He didn't survive his injuries. All the more reason for him to withdraw."

"This is war. People die. He has an obligation to the North." Ashter shook his head. Despite being Howland and Joanna's father, Ashter had never really gotten to know him. Rutherford was more of a Father to the two of them than Harold was. He never really seemed to be around his children that much, which led Rutherford to step in. And now, Harold's firstborn son was dead as well. Howland was the heir to Widow's Watch. Ashter figured he'd be happy about that, he knew there wasn't much love between Howland and his other brother.

"I summoned you here because I want you to go to Widow's Watch and do what you can to convince them to rejoin our cause, again." Robb said to him.

Oh, fuck.

"Robb, I-" Ashter began, immediately wanting to run out of the tent. He knew exactly what this meant. He'd have to see Joanna again, part of him felt happy about it, but another part wanted to rip his own throat out.

"I can't spare much men, and I'd rather it be someone I trust to carry this out rather than a simply messenger." Robb said.

"Why me? Why not Roose Bolton or someone more well-versed in diplomacy?" Ashter inquired.

"Because you're my brother." Robb said, in a kind tone. Ashter felt rather comforted by that statement. He wanted to smile but he still felt his heart beating out of his chest.

"No shit I'm your brother, but, I just... I didn't expect you to trust me with this, and..."

"The thought did cross my mind." Robb joked.

Ashter laughed, "I..." His laugh faded as Joanna plagued his mind once again, he was about to mention her to him but he decided to reprimand himself.

"-Why not Howland Quinn? He's the heir to Widow's Watch now.." Ashter suggested. Robb rested his hands on the table and shook his head, "Howland's not the man for the job. You are. You might want to take him and your squire - with you."

"Oh, great, the boy gets the exciting opportunity to follow me around to explore the greatest piece of shit in Westeros, the North!" Ashter scoffed. "I'm not actually a Knight, you know, I don't really think a 'squire' is the right term for him."

"When you come back, I say we change that." Robb said.

Ashter scoffed, "I don't need a bloody knighthood. It's useless."

"Perhaps you're right. You wouldn't know what to do with a Knighthood. It's not the right fit for you, but there's another thing.." Robb began and there was a brief pause.

And then he said it.

It took him a minute to process it.

"I'm going to name you as my heir." Robb said. Ashter felt like a gush of wind has just shoved him to the ground. He couldn't believe this.

"But Father-" Ashter began, but he was quickly cut off by Robb.

"Father's dead. I am the King in the North. Bran can't walk, Rickon is just a boy. You lead men better than any other men. Better than me." Robb said. Ashter smiled, "I won't deny that. Will Mother approve?"

"I suppose we'll find out."

"You haven't told her?" Ashter inquired.

"No. I only thought of it after I spoke with her."

That was very typical of Robb. It was one of the few things that Ashter and him had in common.

"Robb... I... Thank you. I've made.. a lot of poor choices, I know. But, I really don't want to fuck this up." Ashter said, he couldn't remember a time where his voice wasn't more sincere than it was right at this moment.

"Good. You should probably speak to Mother before you go. She'll be leaving soon."

Ah, yes, to meet with KING Renly Baratheon. So many fucking kings these days.

"Right. I will." Ashter nodded, preparing to leave the tent.

"I suppose I'll see you when you get back." Robb said and Ashter turned around. He nodded, smiling to him "See you when I get back, brother." Ashter departed the tent, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a place in House Stark.

Mother was preparing for her journey, tucking things into her saddlebag. Ashter entered the tent, looking at a few guardsmen who were waiting for her.

"Could I have a moment with my Mother?" Ashter asked. The guardsmen nodded, and his Mother turned around, giving him a smile.

"I suppose I've come to see you off." Ashter chuckled. Mother nodded, "It seems we both have a job to do."

"That we do. I... well, um... I guess I just wanted to say goodbye before I..."

Spit it out.

Ashter was never good at talking with his Mother. Seven hells, he wasn't that great at talking with most of his family members. It's a miracle that his conversation with Robb ended on a high note.

"What's the matter?" Mother asked.

"Nothing." Ashter immediately said.

"You know better than most that I can tell when something is wrong. And you're not a good liar, Ashter." Mother smiled.

"I'm not good at lying because I don't lie." Ashter joked.

"You've been quiet lately, my son. Ever since your Father..." Mother began and Ashter immediately looked down. He was ready to leave now. He didn't want to talk to her about Father. He didn't want to talk to anyone about him. He was probably rolling in his grave right now, not that he had one, thinking about how Robb had solidifed his position as the heir to the Kingdom of the North.

"I never asked to see how you were doing. I'm sorry, Ash." Mother said, touching his shoulder.

"You don't need to apologize." Ashter said, softly.

"I know the two of you didn't get along as well as the two of you had hoped." Mother regretfully said. Ashter sighed, "It's my fault. I never made it easy for us. I didn't make any effort to change."

"Your Father had hope for you. He knew you would turn yourself around someday and you have." Mother said to him. He was surprised at how much he actually believed it until his thoughts contradicted that.

Horseshit.

"No, I haven't." Ashter shook his head, avoiding eye contact with her.

"Yes you have. You're fighting for your family. You may like to hide it, but you have compassion. You always have. Your soul is good and true, as much as you like to deny it."

Why was she saying all this? Did she really believe it?

Did I really believe it?

"When I killed Lord Glover's son... you protected me. Father wanted to send me away, but you fought for me... convinced him. Why did you do that?" Ashter inquired. Sometimes he wished he had been sent away, exiled from his own home. But he was rather afraid of who he'd be if that had happened.

"What kind of ridiculous question is that?" Mother asked, holding his face, "You are my son. You are a Stark of Winterfell. Your place is with your family and your house. Your place is not across the Narrow Sea. That will always be true as long as you want it to be. Your father and you had your differences, but you were still his son. And he loved you."

And in that moment, Ashter felt like a child again. He remembered his Father teaching him to use a sword. He remembered the long, hearty laugh he did when Ashter frist swung a sword and fell flat on his face. He did his best to hold his emotions back, after all, he had a lot of practice.

He felt like bursting into tears, but he didn't. He held the tears back and said, "I'll never get to tell him how sorry I am. That I couldn't be the son he wanted."

Mother pulled Ashter close and hugged him tightly.

"You'll be strong. I know you will."

They pulled away and Ashter smiled, "Of course I will."

Mother chuckled, "Quite modest of you."

"Good luck, Mother. I'll see you soon." Ashter departed.