Ella didn't show too many emotions as her baby left her body. She didn't cry, not even when the stomach cramps got really bad. She would vocalize her pain but no more. All she could think about was when the maester always said that she was so healthy. She was the healthiest pregnant woman that he had ever seen. What happened to that? What happened to her baby?
Robb couldn't talk any more than Ella could. After she had let anyone see her, she could see half-healed cuts and bruises on his fists, like he had been in a fight recently. She didn't comment on them, and neither did he. Winterfell was silent for the first time since Ella had gotten there, almost as if everyone was mourning the little lord or lady that never came to be. No one spoke of it. The young couple barely spoke to each other, even when they both tried to get things to go back to normal.
A month after Ella lost the baby, they laid in bed. Ella kept her back to him, curled on her side, facing the window. She watched the night. She watched the stars when she could see them, and the light the moon reflected on the clouds when she could not. She had been much meeker since the baby left her. She didn't know how excited she was for the child until the child was taken away from her.
Robb laid right behind her, his hand wrapped around her waist as he began to kiss her back and his hand slid down her to the place between her thighs. Ella's hand caught his wrist and held it still.
"Not tonight." She whispered softly.
"All right." He kissed her shoulder softly before moving away from her again. It was the first time she rejected him.
A few days later he tried again, with the same actions, and again she refused him. He left her alone without pushing her.
Ella resumed her activities around Winterfell, but when the baby's crib was delivered, all the color drained from the princess, and Jon was the only one able to see it.
"Get this away from here." Jon told two servants, stepping in front of the crib that he had watched Ella work on for days before finally sending it to a carpenter, making sure the measurements were to her specification.
"Excuse me?" The man looked confused.
"Get it out of my sight." She told a servant whose name she did not know. "Get it away from me. Put it somewhere no one will find it."
"Yes, milady." He said, bowing, before quickly doing as she bid.
"And do not speak of it." She told Jon when the man had left. "I never want to see this again." She swept out of the room, and the moment she was alone, she didn't cry, she didn't want to. Her breathing was ragged and uneven. She kicked the bench in front of her vanity, causing it to fall over.
Ella let out an animalistic, heartbroken, and raw yell from between her lips. She slammed her hands down on the vanity, causing her palms to tingle. Her chest hurt, like her heart was breaking. Her heart was breaking. Her heart was broken. She looked up into the mirror, she could see the tears in her eyes, and the red blotches on her cheeks, just above her jaw. Her fair skin didn't glow, she looked sickly. She hadn't been able to eat much since she lost the baby; anything she ate made her feel sick.
Ella brought her hands up from the wood of the vanity, and there was something stuck to her palm. Her mother's note.
Ella read that note again. And again. And again. Slowly she read between the lines.
I will always take care of you.
I will always do what is best for you.
You may not agree with me, but you will soon.
Ella could read between those lines, now. The sweets, there was something in them something that made her lose the baby. There had to be. Ella was the healthiest woman alive. There was no other way that she could have lost the baby.
Cersei poisoned her daughter. Poisoned her grandchild, and cost the child his life. Ella did not have proof. There was no way to tell what was in the cakes, and even if there was, they were long gone by now. All she had was a note. If Ella had thought her mother would do such a thing, she would have been able to tell anyone what that note said. The note said that Cersei was going to kill her daughter's baby, because it was best for Ella.
Ella knew exactly what her mother was thinking
Ella knew she should have known better.
Ella knew that no one would believe her.
XXX
"Not tonight." Ella said again.
"You always say that." Robb told her.
"Would you like me to say it again?" She asked. "Not. Tonight."
He moved away from her, but he looked like he was about to step into a battle. "What is your problem?"
There was a moment of silence. The calm before the storm. Slowly Ella sat up and faced him.
"My problem is that we just lost a child." Ella said slowly, as if talking someone who was an imbecile. "Something apparently you do not understand."
"I understand just fine." He said. "But I believe that you were the one who denied that you were pregnant for over a month, and didn't even tell anyone. You were forced to." Robb replied.
"Are you saying that I didn't want this baby?" Ella asked, sounding surprisingly calm.
"No. Of course not."
"Then what are you saying? You didn't carry him around for months, and then with one wrong bite have him die inside you!"
"Are you saying I don't care?" Robb replied. "I care!"
"But you do not understand!" She replied. "It's only going to happen again. We can't be happy. Not like this. Not with her around. I won't fall for the last trick again, but she's smart! She'll trick me. She always got her way. I always did what she wanted, but it was never enough. We can't have a child, Robb. She will just kill it." A tear fell out of the corner of her eye. A single tear.
"Who are you talking about?" Robb demanded. "No one can hurt you. I won't let them."
"But she did! No one can protect me from her!" Ella swallowed, closing her eyes. After one tear fell, she couldn't stop the rest. She felt lucky she could barely speak. "I have no proof, Robb. We can't do anything to her."
"Who are you talking about?"
"My mother. She put something in those cakes, Robb. I know it. I never thought she would hurt a baby like that, but she did. She hurt our baby. She killed him." She cried, covering her face in her hands.
Robb stared at his wife, telling himself that it wasn't possible, but he honestly didn't know if it was possible or not.
Either way, it did not matter. Robb pulled Ella into his arms, and they cried together. They held each other for the first time in over a month. They knew that they both were upset by this, they weren't alone. They could mourn for the child that never even took his first breath.
Sometimes shared misery could bring people together as well as shared joy.
XXX
"Maester Lewin?" Robb knocked on the old man's door.
"Yes, my lord?" He asked, standing up from his desk.
Robb stepped into the study and closed the door behind him softly. "Is it possible to give a woman something to eat that would cause her to have a miscarriage?" Robb asked slowly.
"Well, yes. It's called moon tea. Some women use it to keep from getting pregnant, whores mostly." The maester told him. "Why do you ask?"
"Just a hunch." He told the maester.
"You do not believe Ella would do that, do you?" The maester seemed disgusted by the thought. "She would speak to the child when no one was around. She was so concerned about hurting the child, she would speak to me about finding a midwife as soon as possible, just to have her around. She loved the child."
"Of course Ella didn't do it." Robb agreed. "But her mother sent her some food and Ella believes that something was in it since she was fine before she ate them."
Maester Lewin stepped towards a bookshelf and pulled out a book and put it on his desk. "How long after she ate them did she lose the baby?" The maester asked, opening the book, and flipping through the pages.
"I don't know. Probably a few hours." Robb told him.
The maester stopped, pausing a moment as he nodded. "Yes. That is possible. But do you think the queen is capable of such a thing?"
"Ella does." Robb said. "And she knows her mother better than anyone here."
"If it is true, what is there to be done about it?"
"I have no idea." Robb told him honestly. "This isn't exactly something I know how to handle."
"With the person you're accusing being the queen, think before you act." He told Robb. "The Lannisters and the Starks have never liked each other."
"That I know." Robb agreed, nodding. "I guess it's a good thing my wife is a Baratheon, then."
XXX
"I believe you." Robb told Ella, touching her hair softly. "I believe you about your mother. I just don't know what to do from there."
Ella was silent for a moment. "Neither do I. Never trust her again, obviously, but I want her to pay for what she did to me. To us."
"But we have to think before we act." Robb told her. "She is the queen, and the only proof we have is the note."
"I kept it." She told him. "I don't think we'll have a problem with getting people to not like her; no one likes her. I'm sure many would like to put 'baby-killer' on the end of her name."
"Maybe something will help us get there." Robb told her. "No matter what, she will pay for this, in some way."
"She will never pay enough." Ella told him. "Ever."
"That, we have to agree on." Robb agreed, running his hand down her arm, causing her to stiffen. "Are you ever going to let me touch you again?"
"Yes, but I just need some time, Robb." Ella said softly. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost another child."
"Don't worry about that. You're the healthiest woman I've ever met."
Ella smiled softly, turning around and laying her head on his chest, and her arm around his waist. "We'll find out one day, Robb."
Robb sighed, kissing the top of his wife's head. "I guess so." This was better than it was before.
XXX
"My lord, Urgent business." The maester said from the other side of the door. It was the middle of the night, and both Ella and Robb were asleep.
"Gods," Ella moved her pillow over her head. "See what's happening." She pushed on Robb's arm.
Robb sighed, standing up and putting on a dressing gown. "Fine." He yawned, as he moved towards the door. "What's wrong?" He asked the maester.
"I have just received a raven from your father. The king is dying. Your mother and siblings are on a ship back here."
"What?" Ella cried, sitting up in bed. "My father is dying? Why was I never informed of this?"
"This is the first we have heard of it, my lady." The maester told her.
"I need to go. I need to see him." Ella threw back the covers and stood, she didn't look sad, she looked like she had things to do and places to be. "How long are they expecting him to stay with us?"
"Not long enough for you to get to King's Landing." The maester stated.
"What is he dying of? Not an illness I take it."
"He drank too much-"
"Yes, so what else is new?"
"He was hunting, a boar ripped him open." The maester told him.
Ella paused, looking down. "Joffery is king then."
"I do not know." The maester said. "All I know is that Lord Ned has to stay at King's Landing. Two ravens can only carry so much information."
"Yes," Ella nodded. "Thank you for telling me what you know."
"Why are they on their way here?" Robb asked him. "Does it say anything about that?"
The maester shook his head. "But it says that they should be arriving on the coast tomorrow."
"We will send a welcoming party, and bring them home as soon as possible." Robb stated. "Is there anything else?"
"No, but I will keep you notified." The maester told him.
"Thank you." Robb stated.
"Goodnight my lord, my lady." He bowed before leaving them.
After Robb closed the door, Ella grabbed his arm to turn him to face her.
"Something is very wrong." Ella told him in a harsh whisper. "Something happened that we do not know about. Please tell me that your parents share everything."
"That I know of." Robb told her. "We will get more information when they arrive. All we can do now is sleep."
Ella nodded slowly looking down. "My father is dead." She wasn't particularly sad about this, mostly numb. Ella knew that she was her father's favorite; she always guessed it was because she had more Baratheon looks than the other children, who all looked like their mother. But her father and her never were close. She always thought she loved her father, and she would be sad when he died. But as she stood there, she realized she didn't even miss him in the months she had been at Winterfell. She didn't think of him much. He was just always around in King's Landing.
She wondered if not missing her father made her a bad daughter.
"Are you all right?" Robb asked her, rubbing her shoulder, hoping to comfort her a bit.
"I'm fine." She told him. "I was not as close to my father as you are to yours. It's just odd to hear that he is gone."
He embraced her. "It will be okay."
"Not with Joffery as king." She answered. "He will ruin the kingdom."
XXX
The Stark's must have arrived in the dead of night, because Ella awoke in the middle of the night to find her husband gone from their bed. The only reason he would not be asleep beside her was if something happened, and that was the only thing she could think of. She put on her dressing gown, and walked towards the parlor. She was going to go inside until she heard something that made her pause with her hand on the door handle.
"Joffery is not the king's son." Lady Catelyn told her son. "It is Cersei and her brother, the Kingslayer's son. A child of incest."
"How do you know this?" Robb asked. "Are all of her children that way?"
"I believe all but Ella. She looks too much like a Baratheon to not be one." Lady Catelyn told him. "She is the heir to the throne. Your father was going to serve as protector of the realm, but I doubt that it will happen, I tried to get him to come with us, but he told me he had to try. He's still with them, Robb. We have to go get him."
"Mum, there's more to it than you know." He told her.
There was a pause. "What don't I know?"
"We lost the baby." Robb told his mother. "And we think it is because she ate something her mother sent her."
"Moon tea." Lady Catelyn whispered. "How long ago?"
"Over a month." Robb told her. "It's been a hard time for us both."
"Then I am sorry to burden you with this." Catelyn said softly.
Ella entered the room. "Don't be. This has been brewing for a long time." She walked towards the sofa, and say next to Robb. "Now, what is the plan? What do we need to prepare for?"
Catelyn seemed a bit surprised. "You are siding with my family on this? You are not even thinking of going to your mother?"
Ella shook her head slowly. "She is nothing to me. My family is here now. The only one I beg you not to kill is Tyrion. He has always been a friend to me."
Robb weaved his fingers through hers. "We can make no promises. What we are speaking of is war."
Ella nodded. "I understand that. I will help where I can. If you wish for me to go to King's Landing, I shall. If you wish for me to stay by your side, I will. I suggest you keep me here. I can play the game of thrones better than anyone else here; I was raised playing it."
"And it has nothing to do with being queen?" Catelyn asked.
"No. It has to do with what is right." Ella stated. "I was happy here, and my mother took it from me. With Joffery as king the realm will crumble. If what you say about him is true, my claim to the throne is stronger than his."
"Do you think people will follow you?" Robb asked her.
"Stannis will. We should get word from him within a month after he knows."
"Ned sent word to him right after he found out." Catelyn told her. "This does not bother you?"
"Everything my mother has done makes me ill. This is no different." Ella told her. "Stannis is honor-bound. He will help me become queen. Renly has always loved me, and if he wants the throne, I will speak with him and he will eventually side with me." She would rather not blackmail her uncle, but if it came down to it for a short war, she would without difficulty. "Dorne hates Lannisters, I am sure we can strike an alliance with them. Your father is the high lord of the Riverlands. Your sister of the Vale. That leaves the Iron Islands, which I believe we have their heir in this castle, and the Westernlands. The Westernlands will side with Joffery, but with the numbers we could potentially have, we can march up to the gates without much difficulty."
Catelyn sat back in her chair, looking rather impressed with the young princess. "You are much more than you seem. That is the most I have ever heard you say."
Ella smiled, sitting back in her chair as well. "I do not give all my thoughts a voice, but I will let you know that I am just as clever as I am beautiful. I have read this histories of Westeros, I know of the battles and the wars. History can repeat itself, let us not make the same mistakes from our ancestors."
"And what are those?"
"We need to know exactly what we want before we make the first move. We make our alliances. We call our bannermen. I am the heir to the iron throne the moment my father passes. Let our names be put in the histories. Let them say that this is where our reign began."
"Our reign?" Robb asked. "Not yours?"
"I believe that no one person rules the seven kingdoms, but many. We will rule together. This is where it will begin. Tomorrow we will send ravens to my uncles." She squeezed Robb's hand. "Your grandfather and aunt. The Iron Islands are not to be trusted; they probably still hate the Starks for the farce that was their rebellion. We will keep them out of it unless the offer their aid, and even then tread carefully. No one is as honest as you all."
"So a rebellion begins today." Catelyn stated.
"No." Ella disagreed. "A repossession of the kingdoms of an impostor. If it is our history they will write; we will dictate what they call it. We will be the heroes."
"Are you so sure we will win?" Catelyn asked. "You make it sound easy."
"It will not be easy. It will be hard and people will die." Ella told her. "But if we get the numbers we hope for...we will concur."
"I hope this finishes quickly." Catelyn said. "Winter is coming."
A/N: I feel like I need to apologize for how sad these chapters are. I promise, it's going to get better. Even with the war. There are good and bad moments, and I will try to make it more balanced soon.
LunaEvanna: I'm sorry. I know you said she didn't get her daily dose of happy, and I'm afraid she's not getting any happy right now. Thanks for your review!
Kalyle07: I'm sorry. Yes, they were. Thank you for your review.
sassygirl9811: Ding ding ding. Yeah. Cersei's not the best mother. Thanks for your review!
CLTex: Yeah…about everything being all right…it's not. Thank you. I'm sorry for the sadness. Thanks for your review!
Naruhina1519: Yep. Pretty much. Thanks for the review!
danceegirl92: That will be a topic explored later, and I don't want to give it up just yet. Forgive me? Thanks for the review!
ZabuzzasGirl: Here you go! Thanks for the review!
kawaiixkisses: She did. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Thank you so much. There will be more sweet moments to come, especially with Ella coming to terms with her family secrets coming to light. Thank you for your review!
HoloArc: One thing I've learned about this site is that when there is cursing in a review, that means I did my job as a writer. Yes. The note should send up a bunch of red flares. Thank you so much, and thank you for your review!
Lady-Finwe: Thanks for your review! Here you go!
fairydaist777: Yep. She did. Thanks for your review!
metaladdict: I accept your point of view. I have no problem that you think that, and I am taking some liberties in my writing. But it is canon that Cersei aborted the child she would have had with Robert-which in my story is that baby that is Ella-so I don't think it's that far out of character. Also, in her mind, she is protecting her daughter, not hurting her. Thank you for your review.
Ojha: Here you go! Thanks for your review!
Patrick: Thank you so much! No, you are not wrong.
Please review!
Kat