A/N: Hope you all enjoyed Robb's POV, Ailsa's back this time round though and she's not the only one ;)
Thanks: animafreak14, EMO-KID411, Some roses have steel thorns, I love damon Salvatore girl, everyone else who follows & anyone else who's reading :)
Return of the Ironborn
The next few months seemed to fly; we had little news from Robb but the letters that did reach us at least brought some comfort, the whole of Winterfell was uplifted by the news that he had captured the Queen's twin brother Jaime Lannister. I knew that he had been among the men that had attacked the late Lord Stark at King's Landing and I could not help but join in the celebratory feast that Ser Rodrik insisted on having. I was growing bigger with child every day and our people were overjoyed for me, almost every night toasts were raised to my health and the health of mine and Robb's baby. It seemed people were taking comfort from my child as I was, it was the happy news they needed to try and draw their minds away from the violent and unjust death of Lord Stark.
Bran and Rickon especially seemed to gravitate towards me, both fascinated when I allowed them to lay a hand over my stomach and feel the baby move. I was glad that the baby seemed to console them as it did me, we were all still desperately worried for Sansa and Arya but now that the Kingslayer was in Robb's hands we hoped that some kind of exchange could be made for them. Lady Stark had still not returned to Winterfell and I was glad that I had kept news of her return from the boys, it was hard enough losing their father; I did not think they could have stood the disappointment of their mother not returning as Robb had promised. I did find myself wondering why she had not come back sometimes but I told myself that it was likely that Robb needed her with him for the time being.
One night I excused myself from the feast early as I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to lay on my bed and close my eyes to the world until morning. I was crossing the empty hallway to the stairs however when a voice rang out which turned my blood cold. Fear rose in me as the familiarity of the voice that had growled my name shot through my body; I turned to face it despite my only desire being to run as far away as possible. "I thought it was you", my Uncle greeted.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, lifting my head, determined not to show fear.
"Is that any way to greet kin?" he returned, walking slowly closer to me.
"Don't come near me!" I told him, my hands dropping instinctively to cradle my growing stomach.
"You have grown bold Ailsa", he said, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"You have no business here", I said, managing to keep my voice steady.
"It is my business if I would see my niece!" he replied, his temper rising now I could tell.
"I would have you leave", I insisted, barely able to keep my voice from shaking.
"I do not take orders from you! You are nothing but a Stark whore!" he spat, flying at me so suddenly I had no time to react. I clawed at his hands as he closed them around my neck and tried to kick out with my legs but he crushed me against the wall and I was unable to move. I felt my breathing cut off and I spluttered, pushing with all my strength against his hands, terrified for myself and my unborn child. "Take your hands from her Grace's neck or I shall cut them from your arms!" a voice sounded in the hallway and I gasped in relief as my Uncle released me, taking great gulps of air and massaging my throat. "And who are you to command me? I am her Uncle!" he roared, turning to my saviour.
"I serve the Starks of Winterfell and you shall lay a hand on none of them", Theon told him, his sword pointed directly towards his heart and I saw my Uncle falter for a moment; "Your Grace are you alright?" Theon asked, his eyes on me but his sword still aimed firmly at my Uncle. I managed to nod, my hand at my stomach as I willed my baby to move, I felt it stir after a moment and relief flooded through me and I managed to focus on Theon, wondering why he kept addressing me as though I was a Queen. "Your Grace?" I asked, giving him a questioning look.
"I have reached you before Robb's raven", Theon said in answer.
"What raven?" I replied.
"Your Grace, Robb has been made King in the North", he told me.
"I don't understand", I said truthfully, it made no sense, how could Robb be King?
"His Banner Men elected him, they want freedom for the North, to be ruled by a Northman once more as it was before the Targaryen's united the Seven Kingdoms", Theon explained.
"And they chose Robb?" I asked breathlessly, barley able to take in his news.
"He is a Stark", Theon said simply.
"He is a fool!" I burst out, Robb and our family would be in even more danger now.
"He could not refuse", Theon said soothingly.
"I must go to bed", I said, wanting nothing more than to be alone.
"Your Grace …" Theon said desperately
"I will speak with you in the morning", I told him firmly.
"What of him?" Theon asked, gesturing to my Uncle.
"Cast him out", I said coldly before sweeping up the stairs.
I barely slept, it seemed every time I closed my eyes I could feel my Uncle's hands around my throat, or else I would see images of Robb lying dead on a field of blood, a battered crown at his side. The images terrified me and I rose at first light and descended the steps to the dining hall, I pulled my furs tight against me as I took my seat, the servants had only just begun lighting the fires. Osha approached me after a while and curtseyed to me, I gestured for her to take a seat at my side, unwilling to be left alone. "Are you alright your Grace?" she asked me, sounding genuinely concerned.
"I could not sleep", I told her truthfully.
"That does not surprise me", she said with a smile.
"You have all heard the news of Robb?" I asked, realising how she had addressed me.
"Yes your Grace", she replied and I groaned.
"'My Lady' was bad enough", I told her with a sigh.
"You are a Queen now", she said teasingly, smiling widely again.
"Do not remind me", I replied darkly.
"Is it really so bad?" she asked.
"As if Robb was not in enough danger, now he names himself King!" I said furiously.
"I am sure his Grace has his reasons", Osha tried to reassure me.
"Yes I am sure his Grace does", I replied sulkily and she smiled at me again.
"I should return to my duties", she told me after a moment.
"Yes, of course, don't let me keep you", I replied with a wave of my hand.
"Try not to worry your Grace", she said comfortingly before departing. I wished she had not gone, she was a welcome distraction from my imagination. Thankfully it was not long before Theon entered the hall, he made his way towards me when he saw me and bowed low to me before taking the seat at my side that I indicated to him.
"Good morning your Grace", he said as he settled himself in the chair.
"Must you call me that?" I asked heavily.
"I believe it is the proper way to address a Queen", he replied.
"And I suppose I have no say in the matter?" I asked furiously, my temper rising.
"Robb did not either your Grace", Theon said calmly.
"He could have said no", I stated bitterly.
"Do you truly believe that?" he asked me after a moment.
"No", I scowled in reply, "but that does not mean I am not furious with him!"
"He told me you would be", Theon smirked.
"Did he now?" I replied, seething.
"He bid me tell you that he loves you and not to worry about him"
"And how am I supposed to not worry when he has declared himself King?!" I demanded.
"He begs you, for your own sake and the sake of the child to not upset yourself", Theon continued.
"This is madness", I said, shaking my head disbelievingly.
"It was certainly an unexpected turn of events", Theon admitted.
"What were they thinking?" I whispered, more to myself than Theon and he seemed to realise it as he did not answer me; "what are you doing here anyway?" I asked him after a moment.
"Is your Grace not pleased to see me?" he replied teasingly.
"Of course I am, I just don't understand", I told him.
"Robb bid me come here and see you before I head home"
"To the Iron Islands?" I questioned, shocked.
"Robb needs ships if he is to take King's Landing and one thing my father has is ships", Theon said.
"When will you leave?" I asked, my heart sinking as I realised that he would soon be gone.
"Not for a few days yet, our horses need rest", he assured me.
The people of Winterfell were overjoyed to see Theon as he brought with him news of Robb's victories and told them all of how hard he was fighting for the North and how hopeful they were of victory. I did my best to nod and smile when person after person stopped me to tell me how brave my husband was and how proud of him I must be. Of course I was proud of Robb, he was doing his best to get justice for his father and return his sister's home; I just could not get my head around the fact that he had to do so as King. Robb being King scared me, it scared me more than the fact that it made me a Queen, I knew that the Lannister's would already have him in their sights but this would just bring more of their attention his way and I could not escape the terror that that instilled in me. I ran my hands across my stomach as I thought of Robb, I did not want him to miss our child being born, I did not want our baby to be fatherless.
As dark thoughts began sweeping into my mind I rose from the chair in my room and headed to the door thinking that perhaps a walk around the keep would help me sleep. I pulled my furs close to me with a shiver but no sooner had I reached the top of the stairs had hands reached out and grabbed me. One pulled tightly across my chest, the other clamping itself to my mouth so I could not cry out. My assailant moved me closer to the stone steps and my heart battered against my chest, the terror in me greater than I had ever felt it; "one scream and I will throw you down", my Uncle growled in my ear before his hand moved from my mouth.
"What are you doing?" I managed to whisper, more frightened than I had even been at his hands.
"Did you really think you could run from me and marry that Stark boy and live happily ever after?"
"I thought you would be pleased, Robb is a good match", I stuttered.
"Then you thought wrong, it was not your choice Ailsa, you are mine!" he said, shaking me furiously. I did not know what else I could say to him, my toes were hanging off the edge of the topmost step and I shook with fear as he held me there, the life of myself and my child in his hands. My mind raced, I had to escape him; I had to protect my baby. I could smell the wine on his breath and I knew at once that he was drunk, for a second he seemed to stagger backwards and I seized my chance, driving my elbow as hard as I could into his ribs and stamping down hard on his foot. He staggered further back in surprise, his grip on me loosening and I managed to twist myself away from him and dart away from the stairs. He looked up at me and his expression was murderous; "you think you can escape me?!" he demanded, massaging his ribs where I had caught them; "you think because you are married to that Stark boy you are no longer mine?! That crown he has placed upon your head will do nothing to protect you! It means nothing! Call yourself Queen all you like Ailsa, but you will always be nothing!"
Before I could stop myself I had flung myself at him, pushing my hands to his chest with all my strength, I could only watch in horror as tumbled down the stone steps, landing with a sickening crunch at the bottom. I clutched a hand to my heart, trying to steady my breathing, hardly able to believe what I had just done, I leant against the cold stones for a moment, my mind racing as I tried to think about what to do. Part of me wanted to turn my back and walk back to my rooms but instead I found myself inching down the stairs towards the body of my Uncle. I stood above his motionless form, unable to believe what I had done, suddenly though I felt a hand curl around my ankle and I cried out in terror, scrambling out of his reach. "Help me Ailsa", he gasped and my eyes widened.
"Please …" he groaned, his voice weak, his eyes pleading. My whole body screamed at me to run but instead I approached him, kneeling slowly down at his side, as soon as I was close enough he grabbed my wrist painfully and I could not pull it away; "you meant to murder me", he spat, and I shook my head in fear; "did you truly think you could rid yourself of me that easily?" he asked mockingly, tightening his grip on my wrist, twisting it until I thought it would snap; "you will never be free of me", he promised with an evil smile. In a flash I had pulled his dagger from his belt, holding it tightly in my other hand; "let go of me", I said venomously, holding the dagger threateningly above him, his eyes widened and his grip on my wrist slackened and I managed to pull it away, still holding the dagger above his heart. "You would not dare", he said softly, looking from me to the dagger mockingly, "you do not have the guts Ailsa, you are weak like your father was and he deserved the end he got"
"You are poison", I said, every word shaking with rage, "you are an animal and I wish every day that you had died in his place. You cannot touch me anymore. I am not yours, I never was. I am Ailsa Stark and you will call me your Grace!" I finished, plunging the dagger down into his chest. His eyes widened in surprise for a moment but then I saw something leave them and I knew he was dead, I let go of the dagger and recoiled from his body, wiping my bloody hands desperately on my night slip, not wanting any part of him on me.
I felt the sobs rack through my body as I sat with my back against the stone wall, unable to move as I stared at my Uncle's lifeless form, the blood still dripping sickeningly from his chest where his dagger was still embedded. How long I sat there I did not know but I could not even move when I heard footsteps hurrying towards me; in an instant Theon was knelt by my side and I threw my arms around his neck and sobbed against him. He held me for a while before gently pulling me to my feet; "what happened?" he asked me, gently but urgently.
"I pushed him", I managed to choke out and he rubbed my back soothingly.
"He tried to hurt you", Theon guessed and I nodded against his chest. "I am guessing he did not fall on the dagger", he continued and I shook my head, more sobs coming up through my body. Theon tightened his grip on me, and I cried in his arms wishing that they were Robb's. I heard the sound of more footsteps approaching and Theon released me instantly, pulling the dagger from my Uncle's chest just as Ser Rodrik and a pair of guards rounded the corner. They stopped dead at the sight that met their eyes but eventually Ser Rodrik found his tongue; "what has happened here?" he asked.
"This man attacked the Queen", Theon said.
"Who is he?" Ser Rodrik asked.
"He was her Uncle", Theon told him and the older man nodded in understanding.
"Remove him", he instructed the guards, "What happened?" Ser Rodrik asked again.
"He attacked the Queen", Theon repeated, "I had no choice but to kill him"
I looked up sharply at Theon's words but Ser Rodrik didn't notice as his attention was on the guards who were now lifting my Uncle's body between them. All three of us watched as he was carried away, Ser Rodrik turning to me when they had disappeared from sight; "is this true your Grace?" he asked. I opened my mouth, unsure of what I was going to say and my eyes met Theon's and he widened his eyes insistently so I closed my mouth and nodded to Ser Rodrik who sighed. "I will take her Grace back to her rooms", I heard Theon telling him and a moment later, he was tugging gently on my arm, encouraging me to climb the steps.
Once inside my rooms Theon crossed quickly to the dresser, pulling out another night slip and handing it to me. I took it wordlessly, my feet seemingly rooted to the floor, Theon tugged my hand after a moment and I managed to lift my eyes to his; "you cannot stay in those clothes, please your Grace, you have to change", he said softy but insistently. I managed a nod and somehow put one foot in front of the other until I was hidden from view behind the screen, slipping the bloody slip from my shoulders and letting it fall to the floor before stepping into my unspoilt one. When I emerged from behind the screen Theon looked at me concernedly and I felt tears sting my eyes again, I brushed at them furiously, unwilling to shed any more tears for that monster. I sat down on the end of the bed and Theon sat gently beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Robb can never know", I said after a moment and he nodded his agreement.
My hands caught my attention then, they were coated with dry blood and I stared at them in horror, Theon noticed my distraction and stood quickly. When he returned he had with him a bowl of warm water and a cloth, he knelt in front of me without a word and took my hand, gently washing the blood away. When he had cleaned one he moved onto the other and I saw the water in the bowl grow redder and redder, turning my stomach; "he was the last of us", I said after a moment, my voice hollow. Theon paused in the act of cleaning my hand and looked up at me, confusion clouding his face. "He was the last Ardenne" I explained, "there are no others, he was the last"
"You are forgetting yourself your Grace", Theon said softly, rubbing the cloth against my hand again.
"I am a Stark", I said, shaking my head.
"By marriage", Theon insisted, "your blood is that of Ardenne, of Radlan, and that blood will flow in your child also. Your line will continue your Grace, it will just be named differently"
"Thank you", I replied gratefully, Theon seemed to have a talent for making me see sense.
"Radlan is yours now, what will you do?" he asked me.
"I cannot think of it now, it is in near ruin and there is enough here to keep me troubled"
"Of course your Grace", Theon said, "but you should not give up on it, it is still your home, if anyone can make it great again it is you."
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed that! Robb's back next chapter then it will be all Ailsa for a while :)