A/N: I just want to start by sincerely apologizing for the long delay. After I got back from the funeral, I had to work quite a bit (read as no days off) to make up the time. Then I got strep throat so I missed more work and had quite an interesting fever. Then my first day back at work, I cracked a rib. But I'm still working because we just had someone quit with no notice right as season kicks in here at the beach. Anyway, I'm definitely not abandoning this story, but my real life sucks right now. So I do apologize profusely again and this chapter might not be my best but I wanted to get something out there so everyone would know I was still alive. And thank you to everyone for your suggestions. Oh, and I still don't own anything, that's all GRRM. I'm writing for fun, not profit, so don't sue me as I have nothing despite all the overtime.

Catelyn III

Robb and Daenerys's crowns had come straight from the forge of Riverrun. Their blacksmith had done good work, Catelyn thought as she admired the circlets. The man had given Robb's crown the hammered bronze runes of the First Men and the iron spiked longswords that had adorned the crowns of the Kings in the North. Whether his crown truly looked like the old king's crowns, none could say, but it matched the description that the Maester had given them. Daenerys's crown was the more traditional crown. It was a slender circlet of gold adorned with seven different gems, styled after the crown of Jaehaerys the Conciliator and worn by a number of other Targaryens, including most importantly Rhaenyra Targaryen, the only other female Targaryen to claim the crown. Catelyn thought it was a wise choice to have the northern crown for Robb and the other for Daenerys as it united the two aspects of their alliance. What Catelyn was not too pleased about was that it had been Daenerys idea. The sweet young girl that Catelyn had raised had all but disappeared now. All that was left was a queen who seemed quite determined to gain the throne for herself and Robb. That frightened Catelyn quite a bit.

Now the two young would be rulers sat in the Great Hall of Riverrun awaiting the prisoner. Robb was twisting his crown and pushing it around on his head as though the weight of it was too much. Catelyn supposed that it was not an easy thing to be a ruler at sixteen. However, Daenerys seemed quite composed and comfortable in hers, despite the fact that she due to give birth this month. As Catelyn watched, Daenerys leaned over and whispered something in Robb's ear and he stopped fidgeting. He sat up straighter and had Olyvar bring him his sword, which he lay bare across his knees. He also called Grey Wind to his side just in time for the captive to be brought in.

"Kneel before the king and queen, Lannister," Theon Greyjoy, who was clearly enjoying himself, barked as Ser Cleos Frey was brought in. The prisoner was the son of Lady Genna Lannister, but he had none of the fabled Lannister beauty, he looked like a Frey through and through to Catelyn, and his time as a prisoner had done nothing to improve him. He seemed nervous and did not seem to be able to stop blinking.

"Rise, Ser Cleos," Robb said sounding much older than he has. Catelyn supposed that his crown and this war had aged him quite a bit.

"Thank you, my lord," Ser Cleos said nervously rising to his feet.

"Your Grace," corrected Lord Umber, the Greatjon, ever eager to prove his loyalty to his newly chosen sovereigns.

"Yes, Your Grace," Ser Cleos said quickly. "My pardons." Catelyn wondered if they would have ever been able to get his cousin, the Kingslayer to agree to that title, she thought it was rather doubtful.

"My queen and I brought you from your cell to carry our message to your cousin Cersei Lannister in King's Landing," Robb said. "You'll travel under a peace banner with thirty of my best men to escort you."

The prisoner looked thrilled to hear it. "I should be most glad to bring your message to the queen."

At the last word, Grey Wind began to growl at Ser Cleos. The man gulped nervously, no doubt thinking of the men that the direwolf had killed during the last battle. Daenerys smiled as she reached out to touch Grey Wind and said, "We do not acknowledge the usurper's wife as queen here in Riverrun, Ser Cleos. And I am afraid that we are not granting you your freedom. You chose to fight under the banner of the lion at Whispering Wood, that makes you a Lannister, not a Frey, and therefore our enemy. We require your pledge, on your honor as a knight, that after you deliver our message you'll return with Lady Cersei's reply, and you shall resume your captivity."

His eyes still on Grey Wind, Ser Cleos instantly replied, "I do so vow."

"Every man in this hall has heard your vow," Catelyn's brother Ser Edmure Tully said from where he stood. "If you do not return, the whole realm will know you for a liar."

"I will do as pledged," Ser Cleos said shakily. "What is the message?"

"It is an offer of peace," Robb said as he stood and the crowd grew quiet. "Tell Cersei Lannister that if she meets these terms, I am willing be generous to her family and spare their lives."

Catelyn sought out Lord Rickard Karstark in the back of the hall, she knew that if there was man here that was against the end to the fighting, it would be him. But he stood still at the back of the hall, a cool smile on his lips. Catelyn realized that she must not have been present for a meeting, no doubt while she was tending to her father, because all of this seemed to have been rehearsed. She felt a swell of panic rise up in her as she realized that she had no idea what this offer was to be.

"Olyvar," Robb called. "Bring me the paper." The young squire hurried over and Robb sheathed his sword to hold the parchment. "First, my sisters must be released and transported to White Harbor. It is to be understood that Sansa's bethrothal to Joffrey Baratheon is at an end. When I receive word that my sisters have returned unharmed to Winterfell, I will release Cersei Lannister's cousins, the squire Willem Lannister and your own brother Tion Frey and give them safe conduct to Casterly Rock or wherever she desires them delivered. Secondly, my lord father's bones must be returned to us so that he may be laid to rest at Winterfell as he would have wished. The bones of the men who went south with him and died in King's Landing shall also be returned to us."

Catelyn felt the familiar pang in her heart at the thoughts of Ned's death. He had gone south, and just like his father and his brother before him, the only thing coming home were his bones. And now his heir wished to go to King's Landing as well. She could only pray that Robb was victorious and able to stop the cycle of the Stark men dying in King's Landing.

"Third," Robb continued, "my father's greatsword Ice will be delivered to my hand at Riverrun. Fourth, Cersei Lannister will command her father Lord Tywin to release the captives he took in the battle of the Green Fork of the Trident. When he does, I shall release my own captives, save for Jaime Lannister, who will remain my hostage for his family's behavior. And lastly, Joffrey Baratheon and his mother will henceforth relinquish their claims on the crown. They will be permitted to go into exile or join the Night's Watch or the Silent Sisters. My queen and I are willing to offer them their lives, something that they did not offer my father, but their reign is at an end. If they go willingly, we will be generous to the rest of their family, Lord Tywin will remain the Lord of Casterly Rock, though he will no longer be the Warden of the West. Joffrey's brother and sister will be allowed to remain free and no harm shall be done to them. We shall see that Myrcella makes a good marriage and Tommen can inherit Casterly Rock. They must acknowledge that it is our son who will sit the Iron Throne after us. Maester Vyman has drawn up our agreement. We also require the Lannisters to deliver us ten highborn hostages, to be mutually agreed upon, as a pledge of peace. They shall be treated as honored guests and as long as the peace is kept, I shall release two hostages a year. These are our terms. If she meets them, the fighting can stop, if not"- he whistled and Grey Wind moved forward from Daenerys snarling- "We shall march south and give her another Whispering Wood."

Catelyn was shocked to her core at the audacious demands, but the men in the Great Hall bellowed their approval. The men, led by the Greatjon began to chant Robb and Daenerys's names, screaming out "Targaryen" and "Stark" and "The Wolf King" and "The Dragon Queen." Grey Wind howled his approval.

Ser Cleos's face had turned to the color of sour milk. He managed to stutter out, "The queen, I mean Lady Cersei shall hear your message, my- Your Grace."

"Good," Daenerys said with a sly smile. "Ser Robin will see that you have a good meal and clean clothing. You ride at first light."

Ser Robin Ryger, the captain of the guard at Riverrun nodded in agreement and said, "It will be as Your Grace commands."

"Then we are done here," Robb said assisting Daenerys from her chair. The men in the hall all bent their knees as Robb and Daenerys left the Great Hall with Grey Wind prowling behind them. Catelyn hastened after them.

She caught up with them in the galley that led off the Great Hall where they were giving Olyvar their crowns and laughing with Theon. Catelyn did not know what bothered her more, that they were able to laugh after that peace offer, or that the offer had been made and was soon to be sent off the King's Landing.

It was Theon that acknowledged her first. "How do you think Cersei Lannister will like those terms, my lady?" he asked with a smile.

"We'll be lucky if she does not kill Ser Cleos for bringing them to her in the first place," Catelyn exclaimed.

"He's her couisin," Robb replied. "That's why we chose him for the job."

"How could you possibly offer those terms, Robb? You know Cersei Lannister will never take them. It's not an offer for peace at all. She and her son will never surrender the Iron Throne. Why even bother?" she asked.

"We know she won't accept, my lady," Daenerys replied with that same sly smile. "We just needed her distracted by the offer. We need her to think we want peace while we gather more support."

Catelyn once again felt like she was lost. Judging by the smiles on the faces around her there was much she did not know. Had they been withholding information from her? Perhaps this was the punishment for telling Robb that Daenerys should not be at meetings with me, now she was the one being left out of council. She managed to curb her anger and frustration in and simply said, "Explain."

"We did not want anyone going to King's Landing to know, but we have gained more supporters. Some forces from the Vale are marching to Riverrun right now," Robb said looking pleased.

"You heard back from Lysa?" Catelyn exclaimed. "I did not think she would wish to spare men."

"She didn't," Theon said with a smile. "Some of her bannermen did though and they are sending Robb and Dany ten thousand men. Apparently not all of the Vale is happy with your sister's rule. Some of the bolder men have turned against her. It is said that she is unhappy and that she has sequestered herself and her son in the Eyrie."

"I didn't want to tell you," Robb said looking rather sheepish. "I did not want to cause conflict between you and your sister. She is none too happy with me right now."

Catelyn was shocked, but she knew for certain that Lysa was a terrible ruler. It did not much surprise her that some of the older and more powerful bannermen had moved against her. "Is there more?"

Daenerys smiled and said, "We have received a raven from Doran Martell. He seemed surprised that I would seek the crown instead of supporting my brother, but he asks after our plans. It is not much, but it is a start. We also plan to send an envoy to the Iron Islands."

At that Catelyn gave a start and looked instantly at Theon. She hoped Robb was not foolish enough to send him back to his father. Balon Greyjoy could not be trusted. That was why Ned had taken Theon as a ward in the first place. If they lost Theon, they would have no hold over Balon Greyjoy to keep his behavior in check.

Theon seemed to understand her look. "Robb asked me if I wanted to go, but Dany asked me if I could stay with Robb for a while longer. She fears for him in battle without me watching him."

"We were hoping you could suggest a suitable replacement for envoy, mother," Robb said.

Catelyn was pleased that he had planned to include her in some of her plans, but she was still uneasy at the thought of those particular allies. "What do you plan to offer him? Surely you know that he wants to be a king himself," she asked hoping not offend Theon.

"We don't plan to offer him anything," Daenerys said with that infuriating smile. "We merely ask his assistance in defeating the Lannisters as allies. If he wants to crown himself King of the Iron Islands, he must do that himself. We hold no sway over the Ironborn. And I doubt Balon Greyjoy would take kindly to any offer insinuating that we do."

"We do not sow," Theon said in a smug way.

"What about your offer of peace to the Lannisters?" Catelyn said thinking of her girls in King's Landing. "Was your offer meaningless?"

"No, mother," Robb said looking stern. "I would end this war if I could, but we all know that the Lannisters won't surrender, and most of my men would leave if I really tried. I had to assure Lord Karstark that we would still get vengeance on the Lannisters before our meeting with Ser Cleos. And many of my men want to fight the Lannisters just as much. But if my offer does nothing else, perhaps it will begin negotiations to trade for the girls. I know you want them back."

Indeed she did, but truthfully Catelyn wanted an end to the fighting. She wanted to go home to Winterfell and see Bran and Rickon. But she wanted Arya and Sansa there as well. And she would like nothing more than to see Daenerys and Robb awaiting their first child happily and peacefully. But she might as well wish for Ned to still be alive, that was just as likely. Daenerys and Robb seemed determined to win the throne and there was nothing she could do but pray for her children's safety and try to help them win this war.

She composed herself and forced a smile onto her face. "I shall think on who would be best to send to Pyke. For now I would like to be with my father." Truthfully, she needed time to think to herself and conquer her fears. Everything felt like it was changing too fast, at least her father still needed her even if Robb did not. It seemed it was on his way to truly being a king.

A/N: Next chapter will be the birth. Thank you to everyone who suggested a name. And as to expanding the POVs, I think I might add one or two from Tyrion as I think I'd like to show some King's Landing but he definitely won't be a frequently used POV character. I just hope I can write him. I hope everyone enjoyed. I will try to update sooner, I've just got to get back into a routine of writing. And we will hear about Viserys and Renly and Stannis. That's all coming up. I just thought I had enough in this chapter. Thanks for reading!