THE KING'S DEPARTURE
A/N : As the story focuses on Visenya Targaryen, for the moment all the events will take place in the place Visenya resides until further notice. So yes, things in other places will proceed as they happened in the books but will not be written about or discussed until there is a letter addressed to such an issue being sent to Visenya. Hence right now the focus is on Winterfell.
NED
He had no such desire to be the Hand of the King but Cat had been worried for Lysa and Ned did want to know the reason fro Jon Arryn's sudden death and what role did the Lannisters play in it, if any, and so here he was - a days short of leaving Winterfell and with Bran bedridden and Jon ready to be a man of the Night's Watch. However, his biggest concern at the moment was Visenya Targaryen. The girl had been a ward of his since her birth and had lived in Winterfell for a long time, yet Ned knew that she was unsafe.
Firstly, any man who had lost someone to Aerys' madness held no love for Visenya. Secondly, Dorne was distant to the crown which meant that they could always be waiting for the right time to raise Visenya to the Iron Throne. And lastly, with him gone, there was no sure way of keeping an eye out for Visenya. Because nobody knows of the assassin who had come to kill Visenya when she was just a child of six. Not even Cat had been made aware of this.
The sole man he trusts for this job, is the one he has sent for.
"Father, you called for me?", Robb asks the moment he appears outside Ned's chambers.
"Aye. Come in son.", Ned answers and the two of them move to occupy the two seats in the chamber.
"I shall be riding for King's Landing soon. You are to be the Lord in my absence.", Ned begins and Robb is quick to reply, "I assure you father that I shall do my duty and serve the people rightfully."
"Good. But there is another you must serve Robb. Without any help from your mother or the Maester. Remember Robb, your mother shall not be bothered of what I am about to ask you to do."
"Is it about Visenya, father?", Robb asks and Ned realises that yes, his son is growing up and he is growing clever.
"Aye. When the time comes Robb, you shall protect her. She has enough enemies for no fault of her own.", Ned states because truly the girl is held accountable for sins committed by her grandsire and father, before she had even been born.
"I shall serve her as justly and nobly as possible, father. I give you my word that mother will not be bothered by Visenya at all.", his son pledges.
Ned tells his son about the stranger who came in the night to kill Visenya and at first, Robb is horrified of the incident.
"She was but a child.", Robb exclaims.
"Men who do wrong see no age or reason, son. I have kept her safe and now you shall do so. Do you understand me, Robb? Do what is necessary to keep her safe." Ned had an obligation to that girl, her mother had died in Ned's arms and he had vowed to keep her safe at the cost of his own life simply because the girl had no family she would ever know. The Dornish rulers were never an option for the girl.
ROBB
With his father and both sisters away from Winterfell, Jon having ridden for the Wall, Bran in a coma and his mother never leaving his brother's side, Robb is left to deal with Rickon, the Maester and the whole of Winterfell. Which is hard. His mother was supposed to help him, not just be at Bran's side. It appeared his mother had forgotten that she still had another child, little Rickon who is barely three, and who above all needed his mother.
The only one to help him through it all is Visenya. While Theon runs off to the whore-house regularly or is busy sword fighting, it is Visenya who helps Robb from time to time. She consoles him occasionally, tells him that Bran shall be fine, urges him to worry about the people of the kingdom before because his family is strong. She even takes little Rickon out and about, especially when all that boy is done is be wrapped around Robb's leg.
As he leaves to look for the Maester he finds Visenya, with little Rickon in her arms and his wolf pup at her feet as she sings to the boy. Robb is enchanted, completely mesmerised by the sight and lost in it until Visenya spots him and does a little curtesy, "My Lord."
Robb gives a wry smile before speaking, "Visenya, for the last time, stop it."
"For as long as you are ruling in your father's stead, you are the liege lord and I shall address you as such." She says with amusement. It has become a little joke between them ever since his father left for King's Landing. She addresses him as Lord because Robb does like the role and she often claims that he puffs his chest out everytime somebody addresses him as such and supposedly it is a sight to watch.
Rickon reaches out to Robb and so Visenya transfers the boy into Robb's arms before asking, "Have you heard from the Wall yet?"
"I do not believe they would have reached yet. They must still be a day or two away." Robb answers before giving his attention to Rickon. For a moment, Robb feels like this could be his life. Him as a Lord, Visenya as his Lady and a little heir of theirs. But that line of thought is cut off by Maester Luwin, who had come looking for Robb. And so Robb is taken away from Visenya and Rickon (whom he hands back to Visenya) to the real world.
VISENYA
The fire in the library and the attack on Bran had left a mark on everybody but none more so than Robb, Visenya notices. And so she visits him the night following the day of the attack. Lady Catelyn is asleep, passed out from the milk of poppy, so Visenya could have visited Robb in the day. But Robb is always so busy during the day and she herself is busy taking care of little Rickon that the night truly seems like the perfect opportunity to visit Robb and talk to him.
"My Lord, may I enter?", Visenya asks as she stands outside Robb's chamber and knocks.
Robb, bare chested and bare feet, opens the door and Visenya is quick to blush, realising that Robb was probably resting already.
"Visenya, is something the matter?", Robb asks, completely unfazed by his state of dress.
"I just wanted to see if you were alright.", Visenya answers and Robb moves aside signalling her to enter his chambers. If Lady Stark were here, she would definitely give them a lesson on propriety at the moment.
As Visenya moves to sit on Robb's bed, she hears him close the door to his chambers.
"Well… it has been hard," he begins before to ask her "wine?" and then pouring the two of them a glass each, "but I suppose I shall become used to this now."
He passes her the wine before joining her on the bed, "What of you? How are you coping? Is Rickon bothering you?"
"Oh no no. Rickon is a sweet boy, a bit wild, but sweet enough. I am more concerned about Lady Catelyn at the moment." Alright, to be honest, she held no love for Lady Catelyn and for good reason, but being attacked by a man could surely not have been good for the Lady and Visenya did not wish death upon her either.
"She is resting, which is good. She needs to rest and hopefully when she wakes up, she will realise that Rickon needs her. I must thank you for taking care of Rickon when you didn't need to."
"Oh no, no, Robb. Believe me I love Rickon. He and Bran are the only Starks who have never looked at me with any anger or hatred or misery in their eyes.", Visenya answers meekly. It is the truth. Lord Stark has looked at her with misery, Lady Stark with hatred, Sansa with envy, Arya with jealousy when Jon gave more attention to her and not Arya.
"They are not the only Starks. I could never look at you with anything but love in my eyes, Visenya."
It is a heavy statement from Robb and a very innocent one but they are interrupted by a knock on the door. As Robb answers, Master Luwin enters to tell them about Lady Stark's recovery and then asks to speak to Robb alone.
"I shall take my leave then, My Lord.", Visenya bows before scurrying out of the chambers.
MASTER LUWIN
Master Luwin has been at Winterfell for a long time and definitely reads people well, atleast he assumes it. He is the one who delivered Robb, who educated Robb and so he knows Robb well enough to know that the Young Lord holds a very dear place for Lady Visenya. He has seen it over the years, as they have grown together and now with Lord Stark gone to King's Landing, he has also seen just how close Robb and Visenya have grown. So close that people have started to whisper.
After all, when not doing his duty, Robb is always seen with Rickon and Visenya, be it in the godswood or the glass garden. And when Robb is away doing his duty, it is his wolf Grey Wind that is around Visenya. Suffice to say, questions have been raised about the nature of their relationship and as the serving Maester, it is his duty to remind the future Lord of Winterfell that love shall not come before his duty.
"My Lord, I have to talk to you about Lady Visenya.", he speaks after Lady Visenya leaves the chambers.
"What about her Maester? She looks well to me.", Robb speaks as he scrunches his face.
"She is in good health, My Lord. However, it is your growing acquaintance with her that I wish to speak of."
"Be clear, Maester. What is it you mean?", the young Lord before him asks and so Luwin answers, "My Lord, your growing affection towards Lady Visenya has not gone unnoticed. And it is not proper for a Lady to visit you so late in the night unless she is your wife or betrothed. I know for a fact that your father and mother would condone such an act, My Lord."
"You have little to fear when it comes to me and Lady Visenya, Maester. With father's permission, which I am sure he will grant, I have full desire to marry Lady Visenya and make her my wife. However, with everything that is happening here, I would prefer to keep this between ourselves until the time for festivities come. I hope you shall understand, Maester?"
"Of course, my Lord. As you shall wish."
Well, it was unsure whether Lord Stark would allow this union but Luwin knew for sure that Lady Catelyn would initially be reluctant to accept it. However, those were matters best addressed when the need rose and not any time before. And so the old man took his leave, promising to keep a secret for his Lord.