A/N: Sorry for the delay; this should have been done 2 days ago. My excuses, from most to least legitimate, are that 1) I've had bouts of electricity loss for a few hours a time, 2) I'm in a European city, 3) especially since I'm in a European city, the World Cup hype has really gotten to me. Subsequent chapters should come up faster, since the finals are tonight! Go Croatia :D
ROBB VI:
"Is something the matter, Robb?" asked Jon after a spar in the yard. Jon had won this time, as usual, though today the gap between them was wider than usual. Truthfully, Robb had been on edge since the day Father announced the incoming party of Lannisters. And despite his talk with Sansa - perhaps in spite of it, really - his discomfort and rage had not been quelled in the slightest.
Leave them alone? Damn them. I cannot do it! He sharply thrust his practice sword into its scabbard, nearly knocking over all the other equipment on the stand. Groaning, he knelt down to put back the scattered swords and shields.
"Robb!" Jon shouted, sending him an insistent glance yet joining his brother in the endeavor of cleaning up after himself.
"The Lannisters," Robb replied, "I'm worried about them coming. Especially the Kingslayer and the Imp."
"Father always said the Kingslayer was a very dishonorable man and far from a true knight worthy of the Kingsguard," Jon conceded, nodding gravely. "He said the Imp was an alcoholic and had vast...appetites," he added, reddening slightly at the last word and its implications. "I know nothing of the others."
"The others aren't what I worry about," Robb muttered in reply. It was true: the Lannister cousins, from what he could remember from the war, were likely near the age of his younger siblings. They had been compliant, reasonable hostages. As for the prince, well, a boy of five could hardly be a danger. Though even as he thought that, Robb realized how wrong he was. Very likely Joffrey was still quite a terror at that age. Still, he knew Tommen was a far cry from his older brother. "It's the Kingslayer I'm most worried about," he confessed in a lower tone.
"Look, Robb," Jon responded quietly, "if it would make you feel better, we can keep an eye on him, you and me. Make sure he doesn't hurt any of us. And he would be stupid to do so." His brother clapped Robb on the shoulder, an earnest expression of camaraderie on his face.
It hurt to keep such a secret from him. He needs to know, Robb thought not for the first time. He remembered when Sansa first told him of Jon's parentage - Robb's immediate instinct had been to go tell Jon immediately, but his sister warned him against it. She had been right in saying that no one would believe it.
No one would believe Robb, that is.
There was only one person whose words would be understood and acknowledged on this matter.
"Jon, I think I may talk to Father about this. See if he has any other thoughts," he remarked, his mind whirring.
"Smart; he could also have these concerns," his brother replied, nodding, "I'll join you?"
Well, blast it. His brother's eyes were opened wide, cheeks tinged with red and a sheepish look on his face. It pained Robb to see that despite the years of friendship between himself and Jon, his brother was still insecure of his status and thus unsure of his place in the household. How can I refuse this face.
"Of course, you're always welcome," Robb replied with a smile he hoped didn't look too fake, turning his face away. Gods, I'm awful at this mummery, he thought, reminding himself to ask Sansa for help on hiding his feelings. The thought of his eldest sister reminded him of their argument two nights before, and Robb had to suppress a groan upon that recollection.
He and Jon made their way to Father's solar, which fortunately was silent from behind the door. Knocking, the two of them creaked the door open.
"Robb? Jon? Boys, what is it," asked their father. Though he did not look occupied at the moment, Robb could see lines of worry - more than usual - streak his father's forehead. He's stressed, Robb thought, and I can clearly see why.
"Father, apologies for interrupting. We were talking today after the fight, and, well-" Jon began, then gesturing at Robb to convey the crux of the problem.
"We are both worried about the arrival of the Lannisters, especially the Kingslayer," Robb summarized, watching his father's face intently. The older man let out a long sigh, massaging his temples.
"You are not wrong to be concerned," he finally remarked. "I had planned to keep an eye on him myself."
"Robb and I were thinking something similar - each of us keep an eye on the Kingslayer when we can, make sure one of us is around him all the time," Jon supplied. Their father nodded wordlessly, his face showing no hint of surprise at the suggestion.
"Leave this task to me and Jory and a few other trusted men," Father responded. "You are able at the sword, both of you, but this is a job for men, not boys," he stated firmly. "I understand you want to protect your family," he added in a softer tone, "but I want to hear no more of this talk."
Robb nodded, nudging Jon to do the same. Truthfully, he was relieved that there would be little delay now to discuss the real topic he wanted to bring up to his father.
"Jon, I need to ask Father about some errors in the accounting books, but I can meet you in the tiltyard soon," he spoke, turning to his brother. Jon, thankfully, got the hint and bowed out of their father's study, closing the door behind him as father and son faced each other.
"Well, what are these errors in the accounting books, eh?" Father chuckled, seeing through the ruse immediately. Blast it, I really need to get better at this, thought Robb with a grimace. "You are not a good liar, and thank the gods for that. It suits you to speak plainly."
That's right, I'm truly a terrible liar. And that thought led him exactly to his strategy: utter frankness.
"Father, you should tell Jon about how his mother is your sister and his father is Rhaegar Targaryen."
Silence.
Though he was already worn with the burden of the incoming party, Ned Stark looked like he had aged ten years in a single moment. His eyes, usually so calm and stoic, had grown wide with panic; his mouth slack-jawed with surprise.
"I heard you talk to her once in the crypts," he lied, figuring it sounded plausible enough. Let that be a better lie than the last, he pleaded, or at least let Father be in such a state of shock he can't tell. Fortunately, there was no increased skepticism on Father's brow, so Robb felt that was good enough lying practice for now.
"Robb, I-" his father spluttered, shaking his head vehemently. "Jon can't know," he muttered. "I promised her no one would know-"
"But Father, I know already," Robb stressed, "and Jon has a right to know the truth. He can keep it secret, you know he can!" He's honorable, Robb thought, the exact copy of Father. And if Father could keep his word...Jon can, too. It would be a difficult truth to take in at first, of course, but Robb was fairly sure that Jon would end up accepting it in stride. And then there would be no more painful secrets between them, and they could go back to being brothers and comrades in a way that would no longer eat at Robb's conscience. Of course, there was the small matter of Robb and Sansa being sent back in time and keeping that hidden from the rest of their family...but somehow, Robb did not feel bad about lying about that. It's for everyone's good, he thought. If I can keep on believing I'm doing the honorable thing, I can keep secrets.
Hiding Jon's parentage from the boy in question, though, was not honorable.
His father let out a long breath, rubbing his temples again. He seemed to be calming down, processing the shocking revelation from his son with grace. Soon enough, his usual stoic expression had returned.
"Am I to take it that you will tell him if I do not?" he asked. Robb wasn't planning on doing that, but he nodded resolutely in hope that it would help his case. His father looked at him for a long moment and sighed. "Very well, I will tell him."
Yes! Robb couldn't help letting out a slight grin.
"However, I will wait for the departure of most of the Lannisters," his father added solemnly. "I cannot risk them having even a slight suspicion of the truth."
"I understand, Father," Robb replied, once again lamenting the arrival of the Lannisters, especially so soon. All he could hope for now was that the Kingslayer and the Imp would not overstay their welcome, regardless of how Sansa had vouched for them.
Exiting his father's solar, Robb sighed. It was time to have another conversation with his sister.
He only hoped they could reach an agreement this time.
A/N: I know, this was a bit short. In my defense, more stuff should have happened, but it ended up taking too much space and so I've split the chapter into 2. Next up: still Robb, followed by Sansa, followed by a new POV :)