┏━ tribulation.
( SCENE 1 ) ━┛

EVER since Darik had assumed the role of King in the North, Robb had taken up many more duties than he might have preferred. Hearings, management of Winterfell, the effort of trying to reconnect with his daughters mother. Even with his responsibilities demanding action in his ears, lords calling for his undivided attention, he still found that Evolet was the hardest challenge of all.

The older and lesser lords who were unable to attend the war came to Robb with problems that he often was unable to fix. Smallfolk came as well, asking for relief from the war and the things that had been taken from them, such as grain, horses, homes, and even themselves. Robb listened to their complaints on the main hall of the keep, where he sat with his back to the crackling fire place. Maester Luwin flanked left, while Evolet sat to the right.

Robb was aware that many of the lords were trying to understand how Lord Henrik Estemore's daughter found a seat at the side of Robb Stark, now the lord of Winterfell after his brother's ascension to royalty, let alone why she was present at Winterfell at all. The rumor of his bastards birth had floated among those dwelling in the Keep as expected, but it was obvious it'd reached beyond the walls of his home.

He knew from the way they looked at Evolet, perhaps annoyed that a woman was in the presence of them all, that they scrutinized not only her, but him. He knew the lords whispered not only of him, but of her, most likely proclaiming her the euphemistic model of Winterfell that had worked her way toward the top. They seemed to believe that she was scarlet letter of his existence. She was nowhere near such a thing to him, little did they know.

She'd given Laila to Osha for a short break that day and had chosen to participate in the hearing, for she had not much else to do. He saw nothing wrong in her presence, yet the other lords did. It angered him.

"The walls of my Holdfast will not stand the winter," a lord both Evolet and Robb forgot the name of was telling Robb. "The stones were last mortared in the time of King Aerys, and I'm afraid the masons today are not fit to carry their fathers' hammers. When I was a boy, I remember seeing them put up a new tower at Torrhen's Square in a summer. Men worked back then. Today, my Holdfast looks like it was built by drunk children. At night you can hear the wind howling through the gaps. And the Gods forbid it rains. Why, I might as well sleep beneath a waterfall."

"Maintenance of a Holdfast generally falls to the lord of that Holdfast," Maester Luwin replies from Robb's left.

"Generally, yes," the lord replies. "But I've sent all the young men off to fight Lord Darik's war."

"King Darik," Robb corrects. "And it's not his war. He didn't choose it."

"Maybe not, My Lord, but he called in his Banners, and took the men."

"Joffrey killed his father, your liege lord. Do you remember your vows, Ser?" Evolet spoke up at Robb's side. It earns the shocked looks of all in attendance as well as the beginning of hushed murmurs.

"Of course I remember!" The lord exclaimed, angered.

"We can spare four masons for a week, My Lord. Will that be sufficient to repair your walls?" Luwin asked.

The lord hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I—I believe it will."

The lord then departs, leaving room for the next person to step forward. Luwin leans towards Robb to speak.

"We didn't want him here all day, did we?" Luwin commented.

"I didn't like the way he was talking about Darik," Robb muttered angrily. "It seems as if no one understands why he is fighting this war. Is isn't because of pride or glory. He's fighting to keep our damn freedom."

"You're right," Evolet agreed, earning the looks of both Robb and Luwin. "But listening to people you'd rather not listen to is one of your responsibilities as Lord of Winterfell. These are things you'll face. Criticism, anger, vile insults, and more." She sighs. "It's easier when you allow people to help you."

Luwin nods in agreement. "Perhaps we should be letting Lady Evolet listen to the hearings more often," the Maester heated towards Robb. "She has a level head. You don't let go of her, boy."

When Luwin turns back toward the next lord, Robb looks to Evolet ominously.

"You're welcome here, anytime," he tells her softly. "I suppose your help wouldn't hurt."

She looks away in contempt, most likely wishing he would disappear. The thought was wounding to him. He wanted to pull her face to his, to apologize for everything he'd ever done. Yet, it was not the time. Nor would she listen to him. A frown tugs at the corner of her lips as Evolet gets to her feet. Slipping from the great hall, she makes her way back to Laila, Robb looking after her in regret.

Another lord steps forward, drawing his attention toward the man. Robb didn't know this lord, who most likely a vassal of one of House Stark's greater vassals. Either way, he would learn who this man was, sooner rather than later.

"Lord Connery, m'lord," one of the attendees announced for Robb. The man who had just been announced steps forward. He is gray of hair, the obvious reason as to why he wasn't warring under Darik's command, with a body as brittle looking as an ice shard. His physical features didn't seem to hinder his spirit, it seemed.

"M'lord," the man speaks up, a voice that doesn't seem to fit with such a brittle man as he. His blue eyes focus on Robb. "Lordship befits you."

Robb is surprised at first to be complemented by the tough looking man when her previously expected a sort of criticism, but accepts it.

"Thank you, m'lord. I'm pleased to serve under my brother and keep Winterfell running as it always has."

Lord Connery nods. "Will your mistress be attending these hearings now? The other lords, I included, wonder what a woman's place is in a man's court?" He doesn't ask in a cross way, seeming spitefully curious more than anything. It is what has Robb reeling.

Silence fills the room as tensions begins to rise. Robb scoots toward the edge of chair with his back straightened. Luwin looks over to Robb with an expression of worry, the thoughts of the young man starting a feud that is entirely unneeded.

"Forgive me, but what are you saying, Lord Connery?" Robb utters, his Tully blue eyes seemingly a shade icier than normal.

"I mean no offense to you, m'lord, but a woman's place is not in the command of Winterfell," Lord Connery states mattarfactly. His gaze does not waver.

"Lady Evolet does not have command in Winterfell," Luwin dejects. "She is merely a guest here."

"She has a day in hearings, which means she has more power than you realize. She's might be a guest here, but she is a guest with a bastard babe, I hear," Lord Connery counters. Many in the room were beginning to wonder what would become of this man once Robb unleashed his anger. "Born within these walls. I hear it is a girl. Will she be assuming command soon as well?"

"Lord Robb's personal business has nothing to do with the likes of you—," Luwin begins defensively, but quiets once Robb rises to his feet.

"I will hear no more," Robb seethes. "Get out. Everyone. This hearing is over."

Many nobles and peasants alike begin to complain, but their complaints don't last long as the Stark house guard begins pushing them toward the exit. Lord Connery shoots Robb one last glare before disappearing with the door closing behind him.

❆

IN his sons' tent, Lukas playfully swung Rowan around above him as the little boy let out squeals of excitement. Damon jumped up and down at Lukas' feet, demanding that he get his turn. It was nearing their bed time, and after being able to escape his duties for the night, he'd immediately made his to the tent where Ana Frey watched over the boys. Lukas was beyond thankful that she was around to care for them in the times that Ismene was absence, off to pray or clear her mind.

"Daddy!" Damon cried with arms outstretched. Lukas went to set Rowan gently to the ground before he looked to his eldest.

"Ever so demanding are you, my little wolf?" Lukas smirks. Damon grins like a fool, for he loves being called that by his father. He looks to Ana, who awaits command. "Thank you, Ana, you're dismissed for the night."

The Frey girl dips her head before exiting the tent.

"And Ima fox!" Rowan declares happily. "Where is mommy?"

"Of course," Lukas asserts. He swipes Damon up and spins him around just two times before planting him back on the ground. "I believe she is asleep right now, son. She'll see you in the morning, I promise. Now, you two have had your fun, it's time for bed." 

The two look disappointed, but they obey their father as they both scramble onto their designated cots. The thought of them not having actual beds had bothered Lukas a time or two, but he realized that they were content with anything and very easy to please. The only thing he hadn't been able to get over was that they never truly seen their home, Lakewell, and that a life lived in tents was all that they knew.

He makes his way over to Rowan first, where he tucks the furs and blankets over his little body so snuggly he looks as if he's a fuzzy caterpillar. Rowan giggles happily as he manages to yank out his arm and place them on Lukas' cheeks as he plants a kiss on his head. "Goodnight, little fox."

"Goodnight, daddy," Rowan grins.

Lukas then turns toward Damon, who's grinning. He tucks Damon in the same way, making him tightly wrapped in the blankets and furs. He plants a kiss on top of his copper curls. "Goodnight, little wolf."

Looking between them, he says, "I love you both, with all of my heart," he grins as they each the same.

He leans up and wanders toward the exit to leave the two sleep. Just before he's about to leave the flaps of the tent, he pauses and looks at them both. Rowan's green eyes are already closed, but Damon gazed at him with his stormy eyes.

"You get to sleep now," Lukas whispers. When Damon nods in understanding, he exits.

As Lukas steps out into the cool night air, he feels the warmth seep away. It seemed that his true escape now a days was with his boys. With each step that took him further away from them, he felt the weight return. With Ismene deep in a wave of depression, she often slept more than she was awake. He felt sorry for her.

Their tent was next to his boys', but he wasn't ready to sleep yet. Sometimes, he'd sleep alone, for Ismene would sometimes slip out at night to walk under the moon when she wasn't in a dead sleep. She never went alone, with Fenrir always following close behind. He knew it was her way of grieving her father's death still but the site still pained him.

His feet took him in the opposite direction, past the groups of men who huddled together around a fire where their eyes watched the second most powerful man in the north trudge by. It was not a secret that Ismene had abandoned the largest of her wifely rules, and many looked down on her for it, but even more scrutinized him for not taking control of it. He ignored their looks as he continued on, until he stumbled upon Darik.

The King was standing just inside the entrance of the cage that contained the prisoners, including Jaime Lannister. Lukas felt alarmed to see Darik confronting the enemy at such a strange hour, so he made his way over. Aubrey was nowhere in sight, which was strange, considering the two had been stuck at the hip since their wedding. It was likely a good thing, considering Darik hadn't been very kind to prisoners as of late.

As Lukas grew closer, he saw that Jaime was disgusting, to say the least. Covered in grime, piss, shit, and anything else that could have accumulated upon his body and rags in the months that he had been held captive. The smell further worsened it as Lukas stopped just inside the cage beside Darik.

"I keep expecting you to leave me in one castle or another for safekeeping, but you drag me along from camp to camp," Jaime Lannister looks up to a gaze of distaste, which shifts to Lukas as he comes into view. "Have you grown fond of me, Stark? Is that it? Is your wife not enough?"

Lukas watches Darik snear down at the disgraced knight. "If I left you with one of my bannermen, your father would know within a fortnight and my bannerman would receive a raven with a message, "Release my son and you'll be rich beyond your dreams. Refuse and your house will be destroyed, root and stem.' That is not a very convincing thought, Ser."

"You don't trust the loyalty of the men following you into battle?" Jaime jested, and it plumed Lukas' anger. "Perhaps they seek after your queen."

"Watch your tongue," Lukas snarled angrily and it caused Darik to glance back. Lukas notes how Darik seems to have changed since he married Aubrey, even more confident than he'd been before and walking with pride. It was a fresh site compared to his demeanor when Ned Stark had been executed. He wished Ismene would have taken the same approach.

"Oh, I trust them with my life. Just not with yours," Darik utters. Lukas was well aware that Jaime was wonderful at playing mind games, just as every Lannister seemed to be. Lukas despised the Lannister's with all his being, for everything they'd done to the North and more.

Jaime looked impressed, but it wasn't enough for what would come. "Smart boy."

Lukas noticed the way Darik stiffened.

"What's wrong? Don't like being called 'boy'?" Jaime made the face of a grimy child and stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "Insulted, Stark?"

Suddenly, a low growling could be heard. Lukas watched as Luna came sauntering up towards the back of the cage, her bright golden eyes sticking out in the surrounding darkness. Jaime's expression dropped, a look of fear coating his features as he strained to look over his shoulders for the source of the menacing growls.

"You insult yourself, Kingslayer," Darik smirked with triumph. "You've been defeated by whom you call a boy."

Lukas watched with mock amusement as Luna began stalking around the cage, her fangs bared and her hot breath billowing into Jaime's face. He looked horrified and Lukas was feeding off of it.

"You're held captive by a boy. Perhaps you'll be killed by a boy." Luna entered the cage, her sides brushing against Lukas and Darik as she stalked, causing Jaime to look extremely nervous in her presence. "Stannis Baratheon sent ravens to all the high lords of Westeros. King Joffrey Baratheon is neither a true king nor a true Baratheon. He's your bastard son."

"If that's true, Stannis is the rightful king. How convenient for him," the lion muttered, yet his eyes were still locked on the dire wolf that was merely inches from him.

"My father learned the truth. That's why you had him executed," Darik said lowly. Lukas noticed that Darik was stroking Luna's long back, and with the slightest command he could easily have Jaime shred to pieces.

"I was your prisoner when Ned Stark lost his head," Jaime stated.

"Aye," answered Lukas. "But your bastard had him killed so the world wouldn't learn the truth about who fathered him."

"And let us not forget how you..." Darik paused, most likely remembering what happened to Bran. "How you pushed my brother, a boy of ten, from a window because he saw you fucking your sister."

Luna grew slightly closer to Jaime.

"You have proof? Or do you want to trade gossip like a couple of fishwives?" The Lannister mocked.

"I'm sending one of your cousins down to King's Landing with my peace terms," Darik states.

"You think my father's going to negotiate with you?" Jaime appeared amused by this. "You don't know him very well."

"No, but he's starting to know me."

"Four victories don't make you a conqueror."

"Aye," Darik smirked. "But it's better than four defeats."

Luna stepped forward until she was inches from Jaime's face. With that, Darik and Lukas left the cage and disappeared back into the night to allow Luna to instill fear back into Jaime.

"By what I'm told, Cersei Lannister would never accept such terms as these," Lukas states after they'd been walking a few moments.

"Of course she wouldn't," Darik agreed. "She's to vain of a woman to do so. If she's anything like her brother, I most definitely want to dethrone her and that bastard king. It's obvious that that boy is not coming up with these roads of action all on his own. We know who truly runs the kingdom right now."

"How do you think he goes about it all?" Lukas asked in mock amusement. "Y'know, fucking his twin sister and all. It's such a nasty subject, truth be told."

Darik let out a slight laugh. "Oh, hells if I know; I could never conjure such a thought about Ismene. Only a wretch would think such things."

Lukas laughs before letting out a sigh. "I must say, Darik, you've changed. For the better, because of Aubrey."

Darik looks over with a glint of genuine pride before looking away, his gaze returning to the ground once more. "Oh, I know, Lukas. I know."

❆

NOT long after the confrontation with Jaime, Darik called a meeting with the lords in the briefing tent. It was obvious that he was going to follow through with the plan he'd expressed to Jaime earlier, which was to send the young Lannister they'd captured to King's Landing to address his peace terms with the enemy. Lukas was weary of the bold actions Darik was carrying out, but even his words of reason could not stop him. Among the lords there was a noticeable absence, which was the one of the only two ladies in the camp who were involved with the politics of war. He believed her to still be sleeping.

Surprisingly, Lukas' wife made a sudden appearance as she filed through the gathered lords, they parting to allow the king's sister to pass through. They dipped their heads to her as she made her way over to plant herself at Lukas' side.

"How are you fairing?" Lukas asks her, feeing a new sense of energy fill him to have his wife present. He yearned desperately to stave her wounds that were still healing, the ones caused by the death of her father moons ago. The only death he'd ever personally faced was that if his father's father, Eddrick. He'd only been a boy at the time, but he still remembers how it affected his father.

"Better, I'll admit," Ismene tells him. "How are the boys? Were they behaving today?"

"By what I can tell, Ana was exhausted when I'd visited their tent, so I would assume not," he grinned. She smiled as well, which made his heart leap with joy.

Lukas feels a wave of relief wash over him as one of his arms wrap around her in comfort. They stand together ready to listen to whatever Aubrey and Darik had to say. Many of the lords seemed to approve of Darik's queen. It was obvious no one else could have filled the role except her.

Nearby, Darik towers over the young Lannister, who looked up at the northern king that was rumored to be able to turn into a wolf himself. He was rumored to have an army of wolves at his back and was said to be indestructible. Whenever Lukas heard the uncanny rumors, he would smile to himself. At least the rumors were spurred by fear, the fear of their unrelenting victory.

"You're Ser Alton Lannister?" Darik asks as the audience of the tent quiets down to watch. The young lion gulps, not nearly as fearsome as his cousin who was in chains.

"I am, Your Grace," he utters.

"I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms," Darik continues. "First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones will be returned to us so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell. And the remains of those who died in his service must also be returned so their families can honor them in a proper burial."

Alton nods in understanding. "An honorable request, Your Grace."

"Thirdly," Aubrey speaks up. Since her new title had been put into place, she had as much say as Darik it seemed. Lukas knows she is about to unveil the term that would be the deal breaker, meaning she and Darik had more than likely discussed these terms in private. "Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to dominion of the North. From this time, till the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom."

Alton looks between Aubrey and Darik wide eyed, as if he were beyond shock. Lukas grins to himself as he watches.

"King in the North," Dalton Ryswell grins, with the rest at the table echoing the same words proudly.

"King in the North."

"Neither Joffrey nor 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 do not need a servant to do my beheading," Darik continues.

"These are..." Alton stutters. "Your Grace, these are..."

"These are our terms. If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, we'll give them peace. If not, we'll litter the south with Lannister dead," Darik states.

"King Joffrey is a Baratheon, Your Grace," Alton says.

"Oh, is he? You will ride at dawn, Ser Alton. That is all for tonight."

With a wave of his hand, Alton is dragged away, with the other lords filing out of the tent as well. Ismene reaches up to plant a kiss on Lukas' cheek.

"I'm going to check on the boys," she murmurs before walking away. Once she is gone, Lukas wanders to Darik and Aubrey.

"A word, Your Grace?" Lukas asks.

"You don't need to call us 'Your Grace' when no one's around," Aubrey teases as all three of them take a seat in a chairs.

"We are bound by blood, after all," Darik says while reaching for a pitcher of wine to pour himself a chalice. "How are they, the twins? I apologize for not having to time to visit them much in the past moons."

"Growing like weeds," Aubrey smirks with pride as she slips her arm into Darik's. "I dare say they may be the most wily boys I have ever seen."

Lukas smiles slightly at the mention of his sons, the two little people he seemed to love more than anything in these times of hardships. They were both so smart and intuitive and so open to the world around them that Lukas almost believed they wouldn't need him when it came time to face the world on their own.

"Fatherhood is a blessing," Lukas smiles. "It's unfortunate they are growing so fast. It seems like just last moon that they were born."

"I'm glad to hear so. Now," Darik pauses to take a sip of wine. "What is it you wanted to speak of?"

"The Lannister's are going to reject your offer, you know that?" Lukas says plainly. It was beyond obvious. They never agreed to anything that wasn't what they offered and always worked behind the scenes to gain what they wanted. It was sadly their one tool that had always worked.

"Of course they are," Aubrey nods. "We are aware, Lukas."

Lukas' brow furrows in confusion. "We can fight them in the fields as long as you like, but we won't truly beat them until we've taken King's Landing. And we can't take King's Landing without ships."

"I know. Theon has already come to me with this. He claims his father Balon Greyjoy has ships and men who know how to sail them," Darik says.

"You mean to trust the words of a Greyjoy?" Lukas retorts. "I mean no offense, Darik, but they can be far worse than the Frey's. Balon fought our father's."

"Yes, men who fought King Robert to free themselves from the yoke of the south, just like we're doing now," Aubrey tells him. "We've made our decision on the matter, Lukas. We're sending Theon to the Iron Islands."

Lukas was suddenly enraged by Aubrey's words. Sending Theon home was one of the worst ideas he could think of, considering not only who Theon was as a person, but who his family was. They had fought against Eddard and Henrik during the Rebellion, when they'd decided to side with the Targaryens. Not only that, but they'd spurred their own rebellion when they wished to style themselves king's before they were rightfully put down. Ever since, they'd remained on their spits of land and were marked as cravens.

"You are sending the kraken home?!" Lukas utters.

Darik nods with a frown. "We hate it as much as you do, but Theon is his only living son. If anyone can get through to Balon, it'll be him. I have never liked Theon, but my lord father raised him to be... somewhat of an honorable man. We can avenge my father name, Lukas, if we play the game right."

Lukas watched the way Darik's eyes glaze over with pain and grief that he knew he could only imagine. It was apparent that Darik had been struggling for the past moons after the death of Eddard had been worsened by the toils of war, moons that seemed to drag by with each day. Ismene still faces the same troubling pain as Darik. Lukas tries to understand how he is feeling, but he struggles.

"...we can avenge my father," Darik continues after gathering his emotions. "But only with the help of the Iron Islanders."