Chapter VIII: Changing Winds

A/N: Many thanks to GilfachGoddess-18 for her beta help. Now, for a view of things going on in other parts of Westeros. Enjoy the chapter! SSD


He knocked on the door and waited for an answer. That Red Woman was staring and smiling at him again. Something about her did not sit right with Davos Seaworth. She was just unnatural. He fumbled with the small letter in his hands as Stannis invited him in. "A raven from Winterfell has arrived, my Lord Stannis."

Stannis took the letter and read it quickly. "What is the news from Winterfell, my Lord?" Davos asked.

"Ned Stark is now Hand of the King, Marina and Robb Stark are now married, and the king is returning South." Stannis read further down the letter before continuing, "And it seems that the second youngest Stark boy, Brandon took a fall while climbing."

Davos was silent for a few moments. Things were going on around Dragonstone. Ravens were coming and going at all hours of the day and night. Stannis was contacting what bannermen he had. Men had been gathering at Dragonstone for days, starting their training almost the moment they arrived. Stannis was preparing for a war. But why? The realm was at peace.

Knowing that Stannis was a man that appreciated straight talking, Davos asked, "Are you preparing for war, my Lord?"

"Yes, I am." Pausing for a moment, Stannis asked, "Have you ever noticed Davos that out of the king's reportedly legitimate children, only one of them having the Baratheon look?"

Davos thought for a moment. Though he hadn't met any of the king's legitimate children, he had heard about them. Only the oldest girl, Marina had the usual Baratheon look, with black hair and blue eyes. The other three favored their mother, with their blonde hair and green eyes. Deciding to make his reply, Davos said,

"I have heard talk that only one of your brother's legitimate children has his looks. What of it?" Noticing that Stannis's face had darkened considerably, he said, "I take it that there is something afoot with the other three?"

Taking a deep breath, Stannis said with barely restrained anger, "My brother has been cuckolded by the queen. The three that favor their mother are bastards born of incest with her brother, the Kingslayer."

Shocked, Davos asked, "Are you sure, my Lord?"

"I'm positive. I've seen some of my brother's own bastards, along with my niece. All of them have two things in common: They were fathered by my brother and they all have the Baratheon look."

Turning back to gaze into the flames, Stannis continued with, "I'm glad that Marina is in the North. The Starks won't allow anyone to harm her."


It had been a week since the King and his new Hand left for the south. Winterfell seemed quieter now; the walls seemed to echo more when someone broke the silence. With Lord Stark, Sansa, Arya, Jon Snow, and much of the general population around the castle gone, Marina found herself spending more time with Lady Stark and Bran, hoping for his recovery. She was unaccustomed still to the amount of alone time she had with her husband. Her husband, it had scarcely been more than a week since the wedding. It was hard to believe. Already she had taken over some of the duties as Lady of Winterfell while Lady Catelyn grieved, prayed, and attended to Bran. He still hadn't woken up.

Marina was on her way to the library when a hand reached out and pulled her into an alcove. It was Robb.

Before she could say anything more, Robb dove in and kissed her.

This was not the first time he'd done this. The day after the king and the entourage left, Robb had actively ambushed her in the library. They'd nearly had sex right then and there, were it not for Theon walking in on them. Naturally, he had been predictably lewd.

After a few moments of kissing, Robb pulled back so they could get their breath back. He noticed that Marina had a worried look on her face. Concerned, he asked, "What is it Marina?"

After a few moments to think it over, Marina murmured, "I worry for both Arya and Sansa."

"There's no need to be concerned for their safety, Marina," Robb started but Marina cut in saying, "It's not their physical safety I worry about. It's their emotional safety that concerns me. Sansa has already convinced herself she's in love with my brother and thinks he's the golden prince of her dreams." Marina took another breath before continuing, "I tried to warn her about my brother but she wouldn't listen. I don't like the way he looks at her, like a piece of meat."

Robb nodded in agreement. He'd seen how Sansa was looking at Joffrey already. And he didn't like how Joffrey looked at his sister, like she was a prize mare.

As a way to distract herself from thinking any further on her brother, Marina turned to Robb and asked, "Why don't we play some chess? We haven't played in a while."

He could tell that Marina was no longer in the mood for sex. There would be time for that later.


Later that night, Robb and Marina were discussing supplies for the coming winter. Just as they finished up, a guard came up to them saying, "My lord, my lady, there's a fire in the stables."

Robb turned to Marina and said, "I have to go and check that out. Why don't you go and see my mother and Bran?" With a quick kiss on the lips, Robb left with the guard.

"Something is not right." Marina thought. Just for good measure, Marina brought Moonrise. She hoped she wouldn't need it!

Once she got to Bran's room, Marina could hear that there was a scuffle going on. Rushing forward, she opened up the door and was stunned. There was an assassin in Bran's room and Catelyn was fending him off with her bare hands! It was obvious that the man had been sent to kill Bran, but why? Bran was an innocent child.

Not stopping to think anymore, Marina rushed in, drawing her sword. The sound of the steel being drawn got the man's attention. Turning from Bran and Lady Stark, whose hands were bleeding, he said with a sneer, "Princess Marina. I was told that if I was able to kill you as well, I'd get a bonus."

"You can try." Marina said coldly. Using the greater range she had with her saber, Marina knocked the dagger out of his hands as he came at her, sending him back a bit. Not thinking any further, Marina slashed his throat. He bled out quickly.

Marina looked at the sword, which was covered in blood. Then she looked at the assassin who'd nearly killed Bran and Lady Stark. He'd also said that once he was finished with them, he was going to have gone after her.

Causing death wasn't something to be made light of, even if it was in self-defense.

A short time later, Robb arrived. He took in the scene quickly. His mother needed to see Maester Luewin to bandage her hands. Marina's face was completely ashen. She was holding Moonrise in a death grip, with blood slowly dripping off of it.


A/N 2: What did you guys think?