"Your Grace?" A Northern voice boomed from behind the heavy door. Robb let out a heavy sigh, reflexively kissed Cersei lightly on the lips, then stood and stretched, missing the taken aback look on Cersei's face. Neither had slept after their tumble, nor had they talked. They had lain intertwined staring silently into the flames of the dying fire: Robb had seen the men he'd killed and the friends he'd lost in what had started as an effort to rescue his father, but had wound up so differently. He'd never wanted to be King in the North, empty title that it was until he'd retaken his land, but there he was, Cersei Lannister in his arms and an army at his back; now the brief respite their coupling had offered was over.

"What is it?" He asked the disembodied voice while shrugging back into his clothes.

"King Renly, Your Grace, he's asked that you join him in the council chambers." Cersei scoffed at the calling of Renly King, but bit her tongue from further comment.

"I'll be with him presently," he bent and retrieved Cersei's gown then smiled down at her and held out his hand, "My lady." She hesitatingly took his hand and allowed him to pull her towards him. Robb handed her the dress, "I'll escort you to your chambers. I'll keep my men at guard there for your own protection until I return."

"I'm to be kept a prisoner in my own castle," the words were out before she knew she had spoken, she had not meant to say them aloud.

"This isn't your castle anymore," his tone was shorter than he'd intended, but now that the excitement of taking King's Landing and Cersei was ebbing, his thoughts were already turning to the long march back North and the battles that awaited him. He softened his voice, using the same one his father had always used whenever Catlyn had been cross with him, "Try and get some sleep, I've already spoken to the septon and made arrangments for our marriage to go forward tonight. We'll be riding for Winterfell soon and there's still your father and the Greyjoys to contend with."

Cersei had been occupied lacing her gown and tidying her appreance but looked up at the mention of leaving the capitol. "How soon? I need to see my children, will they be traveling with us? Surely it's not safe." Her hand was tight on his arm and Robb placed his hand over hers in an attempt to calm her.

"You'll see them, I promise, but right now we must think of your postion, you won't be safe until you're under my protection by law, even then, the sooner we leave the South the better. As for your children, Myrcella will stay behind with Baelish. I'll see them wed before we leave to be certain of his intents and Tommen will be placed under guard in our caravan. Both of your brothers," he emphasized BOTH, "will be staying here under Renly's watch."

She'd been so intent on saving her children and herself that she'd forgotten Robb brought Jaime with him as a prisoner. Now though, guilt shot through her at the thought of Jaime locked away in some dark cell while she let the Young Wolf have her. "But they'll be killed!" Not that she cared if Tyrion were dead, but Jaime, surely he could be ransomed, returned to Casterly Rock. But, no of course not, nor could he confess to his crimes and be sent to the Wall with Tommen for Jaime could not confess without implicating her as well.

"The Kingslayer commited treason, he'll be executed just," he had been going to be say, just as Joffrey will, but stopped himself. No point in reminding her of what she must already be thinking of.

Cersei knew what he had been going to say and finshed his thought, "Just as Joffrey will be," she bent her head for a moment then looked back up at Robb, tears visible in her eyes, "Yes, I know. And I know there's no help for it, but if Jaime is guilty of treason then so am I." This time their father couldn't make everything better, soon his head too would no doubt grace the wall of The Red Keep.

Robb pulled her closer into the crook of his arms, "No one wants to see a woman's head on a spike, but that is another reason I want us gone from here as soon as possible. There are plenty of people who'd be only too happy to see the Lannisters wiped from the earth."

She stiffened and looked up into those kind grey eyes "And they've succeded, haven't they? The Lannisters gone just like the Raynes before them. Would that please you?" Why did she say that, she thought, Robb was being kinder to her then she had a right to.

"Yes, it would please me! My father is dead because of the Lannisters!" He knew he spoke the truth but instantly regreted laying that at her feet. It was Joffrey who'd killed his father and he desperately wanted to save this woman he loved from any pain where he could. His hand gently traced the curve of her cheek and his voice was softer as he spoke again, "but you'll have more children and your daughter will be married to one of the wealthiest lords in the land. The Lannister line is far from destroyed."

Cersei followed him through the familiar halls towards her chambers, her head held high and eyes clear of tears despite the nauseating feeling flooding through her. No matter that she had sold herself to save Myrcella and Tommen's lives, she had signed her own son's death warrant as well. She felt sick, her thighs were still sticky with the seed of the man who would be Joff's executioner; the man she was expected to play the blushing bride for that very night. She wanted nothing more than to lose herself in wine and tears. She couldn't though, not yet. For now she had to play along. How could she have let him touch her, how could she have been so welcoming, so responisive. She had wanted him every bit as much as he had seemed to want her.

"Enjoying yourself Stark?" Renly was sitting alone in the council chambers.

Robb entered smiling like he'd just bedded his first girl. "I don't want to hear it Renly."

The ceremony was brief and held in a small private sept within the Red Keep. Cersei stood stone faced before Robb and the High Septon. Images of her first wedding came back to her. Robert so handsome and she so happy, probably truly happy for the last time in her life she reflected. Now, she felt nothing but dread as Robb cloaked her in the Stark grey and white; the cloak that had been meant for Sansa.

All eyes were on Cersei as Robb escorted her to the dais; his hand was warm at the small of her back, pushing her forward. She held her head high knowing that most in the room wished her and her children dead. Come the morning, she thought, they'd at least have one of their wishes fulfilled. The thought of watching her son be killed by the same man whose child she could already be carrying made her sick.

Despite the warmth that had pooled in the pit of her stomach at Robb's touch, despite his kindnesses, she needed to hate him. The wine would help, it always did. By the time Renly leaned across Robb to speak to her, Cersei's vision was blurred.

"Your Grace," Renly sneered, "I believe it's time for the bedding ceremony." Robb glared at his southern counterpart. "Come on Stark, you understand why I insist."

Robb looked like he wanted to hit Renly but instead spoke through a cleanched jaw, "Very well." He turned to his new wife and took in her inebriated state; he hoped she could walk. "My lady, " he stood and took her hand, "I'm afraid we must." No use in protesting she thought, besides, it wan't as if Robb would be worse than Robert crawling into bed stinking drunk. He'd already proven himself a more than adequet lover and would at the very least call her by her name. No, it wasn't her young husband's touch she dreaded, it was the thought of Renly and all those smug lords watching Robb bed her.

Cersei shook her head, "I will not be bedded for Renly's pleasure." Robb understood that his bride was a woman unaccustomed to argument where her wishes were concerned, however he also understood the nessecity of proving his future offspring's legitimacy.

"This isn't a request," she felt the wetness and heat between her legs as he placed a hand on her thigh. Damn it, she thought, why does he have such an effect on me? Her body had already gone rigid in anticipation of his touch; the memory of his hands and lips on her still fresh. She nodded her head in aquiescence. With Tommen and Myrcella's survival still precarious, now was not the time to show her claws. Robb gave her thigh a reassuring squeeze then nodded to Renly before whispering in her ear, "I won't let them hurt you."

Renly stood as well and clapped his hands for attention, "My lords and ladies," he grinned, "Let us bed them!"

Robb steered Cersei towards her chamber with half the court in tow. His hands were around her waist but she stopped him as they reached for her laces, "No." Bad enough that Renly and his lords were watching her be fucked, she'd not give them the satisfaction of seeing her unclothed. Robb said nothing but kissed her hard and lay her down on the bed. She squeezed her eyes shut not wanting to see the leering crowd of nobles.

"Mother," Joffrey was filthy, his clothes were torn and blood spattered, "Get me out of here."

Cersei gave her oldest a tight smile, and handed a wineskin through the door, 'I brought you this."

"Have you lost your mind! I don't need wine! Open the door!"

She blinked back the tears and spoke through the lump in her throat, "Joff I can't."

"What do you mean you can't? I command you to release me!" She reached a hand out to smooth his hair but he jerked away, "Don't touch me!"

"Joff, please," she didn't know what else to say. "I'm so sorry my darling, but there's nothing I can do." The tears were coming now, slowly rolling down her cheeks. She shook her head, wiping them away, "I have to go." She turned but Joffrey grabbed at her gown.

All arrogance was gone and replaced by a panicked look, "Mother, please!" He was crying now, "Please, don't leave me!" His grip was tight on her trailing sleeve.

Her heart was breaking but she had no choice. She had done all that she could to save her boy and now there was nothing left to do but save herself and her other two children. "Joff, let go," she was puling at the fabric, "Joff, you have to let go." Her voice was stronger now, more commanding., and she jearked the sleeve from his grasp, turned and climbed the steps back to her chamber and her sleeping husband.

Robb woke to a pounding on the door. "Your Grace!" his guard's voice was cut short by Renly's.

"Open the door Stark!"

Robb was out of the bed with sword in hand, moving towards the door. A glance at Cersei told him whatever was happening had something to do with her, "What have you done?"

"What I had to," the indignant tone of her voice belied the wrenching guilt tearing at her. "I'm his mother, he was my responsibility."

He knew in an instant that Joffrey was dead, "You didn't have the right."

"I had every right!" She flung the words at him through clenched teeth and he could tell that she was fighting back tears. She was right, Robb knew it, but he didn't think Renly would see it that way. Renly would want Cersei's own head for depriving him of his prized prisoner's public execution. He thought briefly about what his father would have done in the same situation before realizing Eddard would never have been here to start with. Eddard Stark would never have let his lust get in the way of justice; he would have laid siege to King's Landing for a lifetime before making a deal with a Lannister, much less taking an incestuous adultress to his bed. But then again, Eddard Stark had let honor and justice tear the realm apart and lost his own head for his trouble.

Perhaps his father had been made of stronger stuff then he was, Robb thought, or perhaps he'd never felt the same searing ache he felt each time he looked at Cersei, but whatever strength he had in him, Robb knew he would use it to defend this woman who was now his wife, who was possibly already carrying his child.

He took a deep breath, "Can Renly prove anything?"

She shook her head, "No," she shook her head, "I used a secret passage, poisoned the wine. No one saw me or knew what I planned."

"Open the door!" Renly was shouting again.

Robb brushed a tear from her face, "Say nothing if you can," he opened the door. "Gods Renly, I'm trying to enjoy my wedding night!"

Renly tried to push past him but Robb stayed his ground, "Joffrey is dead, poisoned," he was glaring at Cersei, "I know you did it!"

"Fuck," Robb uttered and there was nothing feigned in the pissed off tone of his voice. "We've been otherwise engaged," Robb stated, "she couldn't have."

Renly looked from Robb to Cersei, "You know she had something to do with this Stark! Even if it wasn't by her own hand, she did this!"

Robb turned back to look at his wife and squared his shoulders, tightnening the grip on his sword's hilt, "Do you have proof?"

"Come on Stark!" Renly's voice had gone high in his indignation, "This is insane! It won't take five minutes on the rack to get the truth."

Robb pushed the door open wider so Renly could see the naked blade in his hand, "Come one step closer and you'll start another war," Renly swallowed hard and took a step back knowing Stark could split him in two before his guards could make a move. "She is my wife and my Queen and you will not touch her."