TRUTHS UNVEILED
A/N : I know this is a really late update but college has started again and my exams are coming up soon so from now on I will go for weekly updates only, i.e. one chapter per week. Can't help it! I am really, really sorry.
ROBB
As the morning light filters through the small window in his chambers, he turns away to hide his face from the blinding light only to spot the bare back of a human. It is then when the events of the previous night flood back to his memory. It had taken little persuasion before Visenya had accepted his offer of marriage. A quick ceremony at the Sept, followed by very clumsy coupling. There had been a lot of fumbling, hands and nails digging in the wrong places. It had been awkward and he had hurt Visenya while taking her maidenhead but after all that was done, he had whispered apologies before sleep had finally claimed her.
Now, in the morning, she was here, in his bed, as his new bride. It was unbelievable truly and nothing short of a dream come true. He had desired to marry her for so long and now he can finally got her. But they were in the midst of a war and it did sour such a happy occasion.
He thinks of waking her up but quickly decides against it. After last night, perhaps it would be best to let her rest. As he moves around to wear his clothes, a knock comes on the door, followed quickly by his mother calling out to him. The noise even wakes Visenya and he tells his mother to give him a moment.
"It is my mother.", he tells Visenya and moves to hand her his robe to dress in.
"Come in mother.", he calls out once his wife is covered in his robes.
His mother's anger is evident on her face. "I had gone to pray in the Sept this morning when I heard of a certain event having taken place last night. From the looks of it, I believe it is true now. What were you thinking, Robb?" So his mother got to know of the marriage.
"No, do not answer that. You were clearly not thinking. Do you realise what you have done? I gave my word to Lord Frey and you said you would follow through."
"Mother, I…" Robb began to explain before his mother interrupted. "No, Robb. I said do not explain anything. I thought better of you Robb, I am disappointed."
His mother does not even bother acknowledging Visenya as she walks out of the door.
"Robb…", Visenya starts to speak but Robb doesn't pay much heed.
"I have to go. I'll find you later, alright?" Robb answers before leaving to chase his mother.
She had almost reached her own chambers when Robb catches up to her. "Mother, I… It had to be done."
"No Robb. It didn't.", his mother replies as they enter her chambers.
"You were going to send her to Pyke and marry her to Theon!" Robb exclaimed.
"Yes. And she would have been happy with him.", his mother states and Robb has a millions reasons in his head as to why Visenya would not be happy with Theon.
"We love each other." Robb states clearly, providing the biggest reason for the marriage.
"Robb, my boy, this is a war. Love has no place here.", his mother urges, "I was sold to your father in the last war. I didn't love him and he didn't love me. That is why marriages take place during war. To form alliances and strengthen armies."
"But this is Visenya, mother." Robb argues. It had never been a secret that Robb loved Visenya. The whole of North knew it, his mother knew it.
"Your father wouldn't have done something like this." His mother answers and Robb doesn't truly believe it. His father sired a bastard even when he was married.
"I am not father. I have made an honest woman of Visenya before sleeping with her."
As Robb looks his mother in the eyes, he sees what she is imagining and who she is imagining. She sees his father in him, sees him break a vow to the Frey just like his father broke a marriage vow when he brought Jon home. Even worse she sees his aunt Lyanna in him and Rhaegar Targaryen in Visenya. But they aren't them. Visenya and Robb have married each other, nobody was kidnapped or raped. It was all honest between them. And he wants his mother to really understand that, to see the difference.
His mother finally sighs, "You have done it now and I shall treat her as my Queen but I still do not accept it." Resignation, he sees resignation in his mother's eyes and he realises that it is the best he can hope for.
So he doesn't argue back, doesn't protest and simply nods. There is not much to do for now.
THEON
He was going to leave for Pyke at dawn but reports of the King's marriage had delayed the occasion. He is not surprised by the whole ordeal. He knew that there was no way that Visenya would be going to Pyke with him, not if Robb had a say in the matter. He thinks of paying a visit to his King but changes his mind the instant he spots his new Queen. Now she would be a delight to talk to.
"My Queen." Theon addresses her when she is barely five steps away from him.
"Theon.", she answers wearily.
"I suppose I shall congratulate you. Though I am truly heartbroken that you have called off our marriage." Theon jests and the roll of her eyes is the only reply he receives.
"So how is it? Being the queen as in?", he asks as they walk together, having easily slipped into the friendship of old times.
"Well the people have been treating me better all of a sudden,", Visenya remarks. "which is of course, surprising."
"Is it truly, though?", Theon asks before explaining, "The Northern men are loyal to a fault. You became their Queen the moment Robb slipped a cloak around you and took you as a bride."
"But I am also a Targaryen."
"Things of old, my dear. Now you are just the wife of the King in the North to them and they will treat you as such." Theon is envious of her at this moment. Even after being a ward of the North for so long, even after having fought with Robb, people do not treat him the way he deserved. He was the heir to the Iron Islands but he wasn't still treated the same and now Visenya, a girl who was hated even more than him was suddenly respected simply because she had married Robb.
"Why haven't you headed to Pyke yet?", Visenya asks him suddenly and before Theon can answer, two men walk by, both addressing Visenya as 'Your Grace'. Envy, that is all he feels.
"I was about to leave when I heard talks of a marriage. Middle of the night, very sneaky of you two. But I have to ask, is Robb any good in bed?"
The blush on her face answers the question. "My, my, lucky you, my Queen." Theon winks. Well, atleast Robb would get some action in the sheets now.
DAENERYS
She knew she hadn't imagined it the moment Drogon had looked in the same direction as the fire raged on. It was that girl again. Dany had seen that girl all of four times now. First, when Dany had been ten. The girl had done nothing. The girl, with silver hair and dark indigo eyes, had just looked at Dany and smiled. That was it. The second time had been the night that Viserys had talked of dragons. She had dreamt of dragons that night and she had seen that girl ride one of the dragons. Again the girl had not spoken a word or even acknowledged Dany. The third was immediately after Dany had married Drogo. This time however, the girl had spoken but no sound was heard by Dany, she had only seen the movement of the girl's lips. And the fourth time had been at the funeral pyre. She had seen the girl again and this time Dany knew the girl was not just an imagination, even Drogon had wailed in the girl's direction and Vision had even tried to move towards that girl. That girl was real, Dany knew. That girl had to be real.
So she finally decides to ask Ser Jorah Mormont whether he saw anybody in the flames with her. A part of her is disappointed when he says he didn't.
"Why, my Khaleesi? Did something happen in the fire?", Ser Jorah broaches the subject and Dany decides to be honest with him.
"I saw a girl, the same girl. I have seen her before too you see. In my dreams, Ser, I have seen her in my dreams."
"A girl, my Khaleesi? What girl?"
"I do not know her or who she is. But she looks so much like me. She almost looks identical to me." She sees Ser Jorah's eyes flick to the ground and in that instant she knows that the knight is hiding something from her. He has been around her enough that she can finally read him to a certain extent.
"Ser, what do you know?", she asks clearly with a hint of anger in her tone.
"I… It may not be her, Khaleesi or it may be her too. But… I believe your brother told you about King's Landing. About what happened to your family."
"Yes…" Her brother had taught her all he knew.
"Well. While your mother and brother had been sent away to Dragonstone, you know Princess Elia was not shown the same mercy, right?"
"Yes. She died during the Sack, with her two children." Dany remembers this story. Viserys had told her of the brutality of the Usurper and his dogs very clearly.
"Yes. Two children. Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon. However, there was another, a child. Princess Elia died giving birth to her daughter. Princess Visenya, she was named. Eddard Stark found her and took her to Winterfell as his ward. I saw her only once, when she was about six or seven perhaps. During the time Balon Greyjoy rebelled against the Usurper. I had gone to Winterfell at the time. Princess Visenya had favoured her father in looks - silver hair, indigo eyes. A true Targaryen in appearance."
"But my brother never told me of her…" Dany muses. She would have known. Viserys wouldn't hide this from her.
"It can be that your brother did not know of it. He was child during that time, I do not think he would understand that Princess Elia was with child. And even if he did, he might have assumed that the child died before birth. However…"
She senses his hesitance and so assures him, "Do not be afraid, Ser. Please, speak freely."
"After your father's death, your brother claimed himself King and heir of the Iron Throne. And upon your brother's death, you became the heir. However, um… as the sole surviving child of your father' firstborn, that girl's claim to the Throne is stronger than your brother's and yours. Your brother would know of it and might have felt challenged."
"Where is that girl now?", Dany asks unsure of how to take this news.
"I do not know for sure, my Khaleesi, but the last time I heard of her, she was still in Winterfell as a Stark ward."