Shout out to CLTex and Katheryne B for reviewing on the last chapter! Sorry, this chapter is somewhat uneventful, but it sets the stage for more things to come! Please don't forget to review, follow, and favorite!

Chapter 12

The next morning Lady Catelyn requested Iseis to join her for breakfast. Iseis graciously accepted of course, happy to have company. After all, she was still a prisoner and when Robb was away she was quite lonely.

"I take you were quite surprised to see your uncle yesterday?" Lady Stark asked her.

"Yes," Iseis looked down after she swallowed a bite of her toast "I was. To be honest, this was the last place I ever expected to see him. Robb told me he was able to disarm him. I have never known my uncle to be disarmed before. I've seen him drill and compete in tournaments probably a hundred times, I've never known him to lose his sword."

"Robb is a very skilled swordsman, but I doubt he could have done it all by himself. I suppose I should be grateful Ned let the children keep those Direwolves." Cat said while sipping her tea.

Iseis nodded "You must be very proud of him. He's acting Lord of Winterfell while leading an army."

"Yes, I am. I only wish it under different predicaments where Ned and the girls were not prisoners. Tell me, when did you leave the Capital?" She asked her

"Ohh, umm... It has been slightly over a month." Iseis answered. Has it truly been that long? It certainly didn't seem that long. She had only been traveling for a week before she was captured by Roose Bolton, and she was his hostage for nearly two weeks. The rest of the time Iseis had been Robb's prisoner. It seemed like only yesterday that she was back in King's Landing... But yet at the same time it seemed like an eternity.

"You saw my husband and daughters before you left?" Catelyn looked sad as she spoke of them.

"Not exactly, I do not know what had become of them. Your lord husband had only been imprisoned for one day when I left King's Landing. I didn't see Sansa or Arya either, but I am sure they are alright."

"Sansa did not mention Arya in her letters," A sadness edged Catelyn's voice and Iseis felt bad for her. She could not even begin to wonder how the poor woman felt.

"I am sure she is safe..." Iseis whispered, though she didn't believe it herself.

"I pray to the gods, old and new everyday for their safe return." The auburn haired woman said quietly. Iseis noticed how Robb favored his mother in his looks. His mother had the same color of auburn hair and blue eyes as he did. "And that you would be returned to your family as well."

Iseis smiled "Thank-you,"

"I imagine it won't be long until you go home. Now that we have your uncle you will most likely be traded to your family."

Iseis nodded "It will be good to be back home," Though she wondered how much would change if she ever was returned to her family?

"Robb would miss you," She grinned sweetly at the girl. Iseis's stomach dropped and her heart pounded in her chest. Did Cat know how they were involved? Had she found out?

"W-what do you mean?" She stuttered slightly. Oh gods, how did Cat find out? Both Iseis and Robb were being extremely careful not to be seen.

Catelyn laughed "Surely you have noticed the way he looks at you?"

Iseis sighed in relief "No, I can't say I have..." She lied

"He's looked at you like that ever since Ned gave him the news."

"What news?" Iseis frowned

"About the betrothal."

"Betrothal?"

"You don't know?" Cat asked, frowning.

"Who's betrothal are we speaking about?" Iseis felt worried. Was Robb really betrothed and simply did not tell her?

"Your father must have never told you," Catelyn took a deep breath and straightened her fork and knife in front of her. "Or your mother at least?" Though Catelyn knew Cersei wouldn't tell Iseis.

"Told me what?" Iseis had stopped eating completely to listen to what she had to say.

"Your father wished for an alliance between House Stark and Baratheon."

"I know that," Iseis nodded "Joffrey and Sansa were to wed... They might still be, I cannot be sure. When I left the Capital they were still betrothed."

"Between you and Robb," Catelyn corrected

Iseis mouth almost fell open with shock. Why did no one ever speak of this before? Why didn't Robb tell her?

"Oh, I had no idea..." Iseis said rather breathlessly, her heart was beating quickly at the thought. She was to marry Robb? Why the hell did no one ever tell her?

"Your family did not tell you," Catelyn put the pieces together "Your mother didn't want to leave you in Winterfell. She didn't want you so far away from her. Sansa was sent for House Stark instead."

"Oh..." Iseis wished it wasn't Sansa and Joffrey.

"I'm surprised you were never told."

"I as well, I always thought my father would tell me. My mother, I can understand why she didn't... But my father was far more open about these things."

"It would have been a fine match," Catelyn grinned and Iseis smiled back.

"Yes, it would have."

"It would have been a difficult transition, but you would get used to it in time. And everything gets easier as you expect children."

"Did it get easier for you after you had Robb?"

"It did, and it's hard not to become attached to the father of your children after that."

Iseis pursed her lips "Clearly that wasn't the case with my mother..."

Catelyn didn't know what to say to that, so she changed the subject. "Robb cares for you. Did you know that? I've never seen him act like this around a woman before. I think he would have greatly enjoyed being married to you."

"I care about him as well," Iseis nodded "He's very honorable, I would have been lucky to be betrothed to him."

"Yes, he is." Catelyn smiled slightly and agreed "It's difficult for him though. He's too young for all of this responsibility...I fear he is too much like his father."

"You say that as though it were a bad thing."

"Depends on how you look at it. When I first met Ned I thought he was cold, stubborn, pig-headed northerner; after all I was supposed to marry his brother Brandon originally... But after a little while I grew to love Ned, and I realized there was more to him than just those qualities. I even grew to love his cold, stubborn, pig-headed northern part of him."

"Are you saying your son is also a cold and stubborn northerner as well?" Iseis laughed

"Yes. But he's also passionate, and protective, and gentle on the inside. He puts his entire heart into things, much like Ned did. Like I said, it is neither a good nor bad thing... It simply depends on how you look at it."

Just then, Iseis had the overwhelming desire to see him. She had to speak to Robb about the betrothal, and ask why he never mentioned it before. Iseis stood up "Excuse me, Lady Stark."

"Yes of course," She nodded and Iseis walked out of the tent.

She needed fresh air and room to breathe. Iseis found herself suffocating in there, unable to get the air she needed. Reality hit her when she realized just what Catelyn Stark had told her. Iseis couldn't believe she did not hear the news before. What was worse was no one even asked her on what she wanted! She would have said yes in a heartbeat had her father gave her an option of staying in Winterfell.

The entire thing had 'Cersei' written all over it. Of course, her mother thought she was doing the right thing by keeping it from her. She was afraid she would lose her daughter, and Iseis smiled as she thought of her mother's love she held for her. Cersei was forever looking out for her oldest daughter, it made Iseis's feelings for Robb to become difficult. She was feeling conflicted again, and as though she was betraying her mother. She didn't want to betray her mother, nor anyone else in her family.

How could she continue with this without the guilt eating her up? The thought killed her. But what hurt her even more was giving up Robb, after everything they experienced and all she had felt for him.

One thing was for sure, she would have to choose soon, she couldn't be wavering towards sides. She would inevitably have to choose one or the other.

The thought frightened her more than she had previously feared.

Iseis entered Robb's tent only to find no one there. She sighed and knew she would have to look around the camp for him or wait there.

Iseis had no idea how long he would be out so she turned around to go back to Cat. After all, she was not sure even if she was ready to face Robb yet, not after learning the news she had just found out. What would she say to him even? Was she mad that he didn't think to tell her? Iseis wasn't even sure how to feel about it herself. It was just better not to mention it at all until her head was cleared up, or least when she got the chance.

When Iseis turned around to head back to Catelyn her eye caught on something. She turned her head and spotted Robb not too far off, walking towards his tent.

Robb smiled when he saw Iseis and she smiled back.

"Hi," He said

"Hello," Iseis answered, still grinning. Her insides still flipped around nervously when he looked at her like that.

"Can I help you with anything?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, actually. I need to speak to you about something."

"Let's go for a walk then." Robb replied and nodded.

They weren't in the concealment of his tent and now Iseis had to be sure it wasn't obvious she interested in him in a romantic way since they were in public. But the thoughts of what Cat just told her was still fresh in her mind.

"How are you this morning?" Robb inquired politely, asking after there was a brief silence.

"Well, I just finished having breakfast with your mother."

"And? How did it go?"

"Good, I really like her company." Iseis smiled.

"I hope she hasn't told you any embarrassing stories about me." A smirk played on Robb's lips.

Iseis laughed "No, I'm afraid I haven't been so lucky. You don't have to worry just yet, I have no blackmail stories I can hold against you and tell all of your Bannermen."

"Well I suppose I should thank the gods for that." Robb chuckled and he looked over to see her smile. He loved seeing her so happy.

She noticed him looking at her and she turned away. A silence was between them again as the two said nothing. Robb felt the need to break the silence though, not because it was awkward, but because he wondered why she had sought him out.

"How do you feel? From the other night?" Robb asked, wondering how she was healing and if she was still sore from their first time.

"Better, it doesn't feel as painful as it did. I think I'm almost healed."

"That's good,"

"Robb," She stopped him suddenly. He looked at her and saw something was troubling her.

"What is it?" He asked her with a concerned expression. His mother must have told Iseis something that bothered her.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about the betrothal?" Iseis asked finally.

His face fell and he knew he should have told her. Oh gods, he should have told her. Robb shouldn't have kept the news about him having to marry Lord Walder's daughter after the fighting was over. Iseis must hate him now. He couldn't believe he went so low as to bed her and not tell her of what was to happen in his future. He had taken her innocence without her knowing that he belonged to another. An incredible feeling of guilt built inside of Robb, and he knew he would lose Iseis. The thought pierced his heart like a knife. He didn't want to lose Iseis, not now, and not ever.

"Iseis, I'm so sorry. I should have told you." He said quickly, completely regretting not telling the truth. Robb should have just told her from the start. Now everything was going to be such a mess. And Robb couldn't even blame her for hating him for it.

"Don't be sorry," Iseis smiled, "You don't have to apologize, Robb."

"What?" Robb was so confused. Iseis was taking the news of his betrothal surprisingly well. Which is odd, because he always thought Iseis was the jealous type.

"I get why you didn't want to tell me, I understand. I only wish my family told me first." She frowned

Something told him they weren't on the same page exactly. He was talking about the Frey's... What was she talking about? "Your family?" Clearly his mother must have told her something...

"My father always said he'd tell me when he thought about setting a betrothal. I can understand why my mother didn't tell me, she's very protective. But my father?... I don't know why he kept it from me. He had no reason to." Iseis was talking about their betrothal! Thank the gods, he was so close to giving away what happened with the Frey's. He would tell her eventually, but not in this matter. He needed it to be the right moment, and this wasn't it.

"They never told you?" Robb frowned.

"No," She shook her head.

"Well, it was never official. I guess they just didn't want to bother you, or cause you to worry."

"I wish they did," She said

"Would—...If they gave you an option, would you have said yes?"

She thought for a second and then Iseis nodded "Yes, I would have."

Robb grinned widely "Even if you had to be taken away from your King's Landing that you love so much?"

"Well, I don't know. I don't really miss it that much anymore." Not since the night they had spent together. In fact, if Iseis had to leave right at that moment she would have been heartbroken to be taken away from Robb.

"You wouldn't mind going to Winterfell then? You wouldn't mind staying with me?"

She shook her head "No, I wouldn't."

Robb could hardly believe his ears that Iseis wanted to stay with him. For the first time he wondered if she loved him like he loved her."I'm sorry for not telling you."

"It's fine,"

He looked around and sighed "We'll be leaving soon,"

"How soon?" Iseis didn't like traveling. The last time they moved from Moat Cailin she was sore from riding for so many days.

"Tomorrow, we leave early in the morning."

"To march where?"

"Riverrun, and then King's Landing."

Iseis's face dropped and she turned to say something and closed her mouth.

"What?"

"Nothing," She shook her head

"Iseis, please don't lie to me."

"I'm afraid you won't get to King's Landing on time..." She whispered

"What do you mean?"

"Robb, I didn't want to tell you before because I didn't want to crush your hope. But Joffrey, he's... he's not right." Iseis said, looking up into Robb's eyes "He's too eager to prove himself as strong. He's always been cruel and sick, I'm worried that if we make too much haste on King's Landing that he may do something foolish. And if we don't make enough haste... Well, he may do the same thing anyway."

"You mean—..." His face fell and Robb couldn't continue.

"The only reason your father is still alive is because my mother is keeping him that way. Joffrey is an idiot, but he is the King so his actions can't be questioned."

"You think he'll..." Robb couldn't finish what he was about to say, not with his throat tightening at the thought.

"I don't know what he'll do. But perhaps he truly does have affections for Sansa and she pleaded for mercy."

"That doesn't give me comfort." He shook his head "He would kill my father even as I held you and your uncle prisoner?"

"Joffrey has no love for me, nor my uncle." Iseis said as she kept walking "I don't even think he has a heart to love with, to be honest. He could care less about us."

"But surely your mother would never let anything happened to the two of you."

"My mother can not control him for long," Iseis said regretfully "Had my father still been alive this would have never happened. I hate him."

"Don't say that, you don't hate him."

"I do! He was whoring drunk who barely cared at all for his children. He would hit my mother, what honorable man would lay a hand upon the woman he said his vows to?"

"If it hadn't been for him I wouldn't have found you again," Robb said sincerely "So I am grateful to him."

"You mean, if it hadn't been for him being so drunk a pig gutted him?" She scoffed

Robb said nothing.

"My father never taught Joffrey to be king." Iseis said regretfully "Not that he knew how to be one himself, but it would have put the boy in line... Your father spent all his time preparing you to be the Lord of Winterfell... My father spent his drowning himself in a bottle."

"Your father was a strong warrior,"

"Strong warriors do not always make good kings though. Your father would have made a good king, my uncle said he gave it up though. He said the Iron throne was all his, no one opposed him... Yet he held it for my father."

"My father had no wish to leave Winterfell,"

"The Seven Kingdoms would have been a better place if he only reached out and took it." She shook her head as they walked into the woods, going out of the sight of everyone. Iseis scoffed "I used to dream of sitting in the Iron Throne,"

"You did?" Robb chuckled

"Yes," She laughed "I thought of ways I could get rid of Joffrey. I imagined trapping him in a box and sending him to Dorne so the throne could be all for me. Then I one day told my father of my schemes, he howled in laughter and then told me that even if I did successfully get rid of Joffrey I could never sit on the Iron Throne because I had been born a girl."

"I think you would have made an excellent ruler, my lady." He pulled her in his arms and held her body against his.

"Robb, someone might see." Iseis scolded as his hands gripped her waist. Of course, they were shielded by the forest but Iseis didn't want to risk it.

"Let them see, I'll go mad if I have to wait a minute longer without touching or kissing you."

Iseis smiled as he leaned down to kiss her and their lips touched. Robb's hands gripped her hips harder and their mouths clashed together. Their tongues wrestled together heatedly as they continued with their kiss. Iseis pulled him closer and pushed her lower body into his , desperately trying to remove the space between their bodies.

He pulled away and pressed his forehead against hers "Visit my tent tonight?"

"Why? What would we do, Lord Stark?" Iseis smirked playfully.

"You'll just have to wait and see." He teased her before kissing her lips once more.

Cersei had never wept as she did now. She wept and wept and wept like never before. Hearing Jaime had been captured was her last straw of sanity.

Her daughter and now her lover; they were both held hostage by the Stark boy.

She sat there with her knees under her chin, her fingers ran through the sheets of Iseis's bed. She laid down on the pillow and smelt the scent of Lavender, which was always Iseis's favorite.

She couldn't even remember how many times Jaime had sat in this very spot with her, holding her, kissing her gently as they watched little Iseis sleeping.

They were both gone. And damn her, she had tried so hard to be strong; but she had wept like a child.

She sniffed as she wiped tears away and wondered where the two were now. Where they together in a cell? Did they have each other like she hoped? Was Jaime being tortured and was Iseis too? Was Iseis, as she feared, being raped by Robb Stark or other northerners?

Not knowing was the worse part. She had heard nothing from her spies about how they were being kept and how they were doing. Varys was the only reason she knew about Jaime, but she did not trust the eunuch.

Trust. The only person she had ever trusted anything with was Jaime. Everyone else she pretended to trust, but never did. It was what kept her alive for so long. It was her survival. It was the difference between her and Eddard Stark. She knew how to play the game of thrones. She knew how to win.

Joffrey had taken Eddard Stark's head that day. He had doomed Jaime and Iseis for certain. Joffrey had placed their heads on the chopping block the very moment he did Ned Starks.

He was such a stupid boy. Where had she gone wrong in raising him? Perhaps she had favored him too much?

She looked at the small plush lioness on Iseis's bed. She had long ago thought Iseis had gotten rid of that thing, but all along she had kept it in her closet. Iseis put it on her bed the day she left, she must have known Cersei would need it.

She held the little lioness to her chest and she remembered the day Jaime had given it to Iseis. It was her third name-day and Iseis loved it more than anything. Cersei smiled remembering the look on her face when she opened it and how happy she was.

Jaime had always been there for Iseis, she hoped he was there for her now. Though Iseis was not one Jaime's children like her other three were, he was more a father to her than Robert ever was. It was clear Robert also loved her, he just wasn't meant to be a father.

Jaime, on the other hand, he was so good with the children. She knew he had a soft spot especially for Iseis and Myrcella, he was forever spoiling the girls. She had once asked why he adored them so much and he had responded that it was because they were 'mini-Cerseis'.

Cersei, of course, had only laughed and said the two girls were nothing like her. Jaime replied that she was right, Iseis was far less malicious and Myrcella much more gentle. He explained he could see a part of her in them though. Iseis had her intelligence, cunningness, and thirst for power. Iseis played the part of the pretty flower but truly she was the serpent underneath it, concealed by the flower's thorns. Myrcella had her determinedness and grace, as well as her knack for politics, it seemed. Myrcella would grow up to play the game just as well as she did, maybe even better.

Even as she thought of that, it did not bring her comfort. Nothing comforted Cersei as of late. She didn't eat and barely slept, she was afraid of what her dreams might bring. She had seen Iseis getting hurt, her beautiful face plagued with bruises. She had seen Jaime getting tortured and questioned. Terrible pictures filled her unconscious mind and she did not know if any of the dreams were true or not. She had woken up with a cold sweat every night, her head spinning and her heart racing while she was out of breath. The night did not bring her peace.

"Mother?" A tiny voice croaked.

"Myrcella?" Cersei looked up and saw the little blonde girl in a nightgown. "What are you doing out of bed, sweetling?"

"I couldn't sleep," Tears ran down her fair skin "I miss her too much."

Cersei wiped her eyes and put down Iseis's old stuffed toy. She would be strong for her youngest daughter. "Come here," She held her arms open and Myrcella raced to her, not caring about a lady-like fashion.

As Cersei held her she was not Queen Regent and Myrcella was not the princess. It was just a mother and daughter holding each other, grieving for those they loved who were lost to them.

"I keep having dreams." Myrcella croaked "They keep hurting Iseis. I hate them, I want them to stop so terribly. But no matter how much I yell and scream they never stop. They keep hurting her, no matter what I say."

"Iseis is fine," Cercei lied "They wouldn't hurt her."

"Would they hurt Uncle Jaime?" Myrcella sobbed

"No," Cercei lied again

"But Joffrey cut off Lord Stark's head... Will the northerners do the same to them?"

Cersei's heart raced and her palms were sweaty. "No." How many more lies must she tell? When will the lies stop? And when will she finally have all of her children returned to her safety?

Cersei knew the answer. Never.

She feared she would never get Iseis back.

Alright, so as a bit of an April Fools I led you guys on to thinking Iseis would find out about the betrothal to the Frey's. And are you guys just as pumped as I am about season 4 airing on the 6th!? I'm pretty much just counting down the hours now. I'll try to update on Saturday before-hand, so you guys can get one more chapter in before season 4 hits!

Hint for the next chapter: Maybe another sex scene (I'm still debating on it! Let me know if you guys want it to happen or not.) And a certain someone finds out about Robb and Iseis's relationship!

Thanks,

-Amelia

Don't forget to review, etc...