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Here's chapter 3 ... Please remember to review and let me know what you think ...Thanks!

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3. Royal misgivings. (Robert)

Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms. Strong. Brave. Courageous. Unbeatable. I won my rebellion, I beat the dragon, I am King by right. … And this is my reward? A wife whom I despise and cannot even find occasional pleasure between her legs. A wife who despises me and would rather sleep with her own brother than her husband. A father-in-law who owns me and pulls all the strings. A brother in law who would stab me with his sword given the chance. … Yes, I have three beautiful children: Tommen sweet and innocent, Myrcella kind and loveable, Joffrey strong and determined. He will make a great king after me. … Yet, I should have known … A beautiful wife with beautiful pale white skin, delicate features and golden hair. A brave and handsome brother in law with beautiful pale white skin, delicate features and golden hair. Three beautiful children with beautiful pale white skin, delicate features and golden hair … Who am I kidding? I should have seen this. Although, if I'm honest with myself, I have always suspected it. I've known it all along, I just chose to ignore it … But not any more. Not if they hurt my best friend.

By the time King Robert found Ned Stark again he was already in his tenth cup - well, he wasn't very sure, he had stopped counting by the fifth.

"Nedddd" he slurred. "We need to talk"

"Your Grace, with all due respect, I think you're in no condition to talk. Let me take you to your chambers."

"Nonsense Ned, you know I hold my liquor like a baby holds his mother's milk. I drink it, I piss it and I'm ready for more. Walk with me."

"Yes, your Grace."

"How does your wife fare?" Robert asked his friend as they walked out into the courtyard.

"She still sleeps Your Grace"

"Oh Ned. For fuck's sake, cut it with the Your Grace. I'm not gracious. I have a wife who would rather have her cunt stabbed by the whole Kingsguard than me. She probably even has it for her monstrous Imp brother, too. Your bastard is right Ned. I've known it all along. I just didn't want to see it. Look at my children. Do they look like me? Your children all look like you and Catelyn. Even the bastard has your looks. But not mine. There's nothing Baratheon about them. … I should have seen it. I never thought they would get so bold. Guests in your house, Ned, and they pull something like this. They try to kill your wife. That's not right Ned. I should just kill her. Kill them both. … Come on, say something Ned! What should I do? Should I have them executed? You're about to become my Hand, advise me" he ordered.

"Your Gr- Robert. I really don't know what to tell you. All I can think of right now is Cat. When we found her, I thought she was dead. I can't live without her. As for your wife and her brother, I don't know."

"We'll know more when she wakes up" said Robert as he unconsciously led Ned towards the crypts. "And she will wake up, have faith my friend"

"Faith is all I have right now"

"And faith has brought us to this place. Let's go inside Ned" he replied when they reached the entrance to the crypts.

They made their way in semidarkness through tombs and statues; Starks going back to the beginning of times.

"You have a great lineage, Ned. I hope you can continue it. Your children all seem worthy, even that bastard of yours. I should have been your family Ned, I should have married her" said Robert when they had reached Lyanna's grave. He started caressing the stone statue as if it were alive. "She was beautiful Ned. So wild. So strong. She was perfect for me, Ned. We would have had great children, just like you and Cat. Instead, look what I have" he sighed.

They just stayed there in silence, both immersed in their own thoughts. Finally Robert got up, kissed Lyanna's statue on the lips and urged Ned to go.

"Come on. The moment's finished. I need to go back to my reality. And so do you. Go to your children Ned. They need you. Leave this drunken King to his own misfortunes. I'll fix this. Somehow."

They made their way out of the crypts. Ned went back into the castle to look for his children and then go to his wife's chambers. Robert stayed around in the yard watching the squires spar.

"Ah, they look all so brave and courageous. Ready for another rebellion" a grave voice said behind him. He turned around to he see Cersei's dwarf brother joining him. "Judging by your looks, if we were to hold a drinking contest, I think that, just for today, I might lose. Any specific reason you should be drinking, Your Grace?"

"You know my reasons very well, Imp. What do you want?" Robert snapped.

"Well, first and foremost, I think we should all pray for Lady Catelyn to wake up. It would be most unfortunate if she were to die under such circumstances. Falling from a tower, such a mysterious accident. I would like to see what she says when she wakes up. If she wakes up, I mean. If she were my wife, I would keep her under constant guard. You never know when she might have another unfortunate accident."

"What are you saying Imp?"

"Nothing you don't already know, Your Grace. Warn your friend. You know your wife almost as much as I do" he said and walked away.

Robert walked back into the castle, he stopped by his chambers but his wife wasn't there. He washed his face, changed his clothes and made his way towards Catelyn's chambers. There he found something he knew he would never have. A husband perched over his wife silently crying and softly caressing her hair. A daughter praying and knitting what looked pair of gloves with a leaping trout, obviously a gift for her mother. She would make a great wife for Joffrey. Or not. Another daughter just looking at her mother intently as if she were wishing her awake with her thoughts. A young boy clinging to his mother's limp hand. Another boy, a bit older just sitting next to his father. An older boy, a little bit older than his own Joffrey, but obviously much more mature, who seemed to be the one keeping everything together. A family scene in which you could just feel the love these people had for each other. Conspicuously absent was Ned's bastard Jon. … And in a corner, his wife. Cersei was the perfect picture of grief and propriety: tears at the right time and soothing looks and comforting words. How honest was this show? Difficult to say.

Robert just joined them in silence sitting next to his friend, patting his back in a comforting gesture. They remained like that for hours. The Maester came and went, checking Lady Stark's injuries and reassuring them that she would be alright. It was just before nightfall when her eyelids started to flutter and she began to stir. Everybody got up at once.

"Cat!"

"Mother!"

"Mommy!"

"Ned?" she murmured softly.

"Yes, I'm here" he said holding her hand. "Take it easy" he said as she attempted to sit up and only managed to grimace in pain. "You've been hurt. You fell from the tower. Do you remember?"

She opened her eyes and nodded. Then she looked around and fixed her stare on Cersei.

"Lady Stark, I'm so glad you're awake" Cersei said apprehensively.

"You shouldn't be here!" snapped Arya. "Jon says you pushed her!"

"Arya, be silent, not now" her father admonished her.

"Jon said she pushed me?" asked Catelyn confused. "How does he know?" she continued, never taking her eyes off Cersei.

"He says you told him" Robb explained. "He and Bran saw you fall and they ran to you. He sent Bran to get help and stayed with you. He said you told him the Queen and her brother had pushed you."

"I did not do such thing!" cried Cersei indignantly. "Lady Stark, you must have been confused after hitting your head. Besides, we cannot trust the word of a bastard" she continued trying to shake off Lady Stark's penetrating glare.

"Cersei, shut up" ordered Robert. "Leave. Leave now."

"Yes, Your Grace. But I will not tolerate being slandered like this" she replied

"Leave" he warned again.

.

"How are you feeling, love?" asked a concerned Ned.

"Hurts" she whispered. "I remember. I fell on a pile of hay and I felt my side was on fire. Did I break my spine?"

"No, you fell on a rake."

"Is it true? Jon found me?"

"Yes, he did. He saved your life"

"I thought it was you" she whispered closing her eyes briefly.

"Lady Stark," interrupted Robert "I'm glad you've awoken. Your Maester said you would be fine. Do you remember what happened?"

"I was looking for Bran and I saw him climbing the tower"

"Mother I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I promise I will never do it again. I'm so sorry!" cried Bran.

"Bran, my sweet, it's not your fault. You did not push me. I went into the tower and found the Queen and her brother Jamie together in one of the cellars. Upon being discovered they flung me through the window" she told them, her eyes fixed on her husband looking for reassurance.

"Your boy was right, Ned. You take care of your wife. I'll take care of mine. Children, Lady Stark" he bowed respectfully and left the room.

TBC