She was roused out of her sleep before the sun was up. Someone shook her leg and her eyes flew open to see Robb. It was her first night in an actually bed in weeks and now he was waking her
"Why won't you Stark men let me sleep?"
"Something has happened"
She sat up fast and stared at him, wide eyes and full of fear
"Who?"
"My mother's father. I know you want to go but my mother is going to need you. You're her confidante and she is going to need a shoulder to lean on"
"It's okay. I'm not going anywhere until she says so"
"If it's any consolation. It's not far"
"Of course I'll stay on" she shook her head and her messy dark curls flew around her "Does she know yet?"
"Haven't had the courage to tell her. I'm building up to it"
"I may take a few minutes and I'll change and go with you"
"That will be good"
They sat there on her bed for a minute or two staring at each other. She reached over and held Robb's hand and smiled sweetly at him
"It will all work out"
"Do you really believe that?"
"I have to Robb. We've been through too much hardship. Things have to start going our way and I mean not just in battle. I mean in life"
"Where your courage comes from, I will never understand"
"Courage?" she laughed "I'm scared all the time"
"But you keep take care my mother and the men. Me when you're allowed. You keep going"
"Because I have have too and your father would be so proud of you, for the king you are. I'm proud of you"
"Then why wont you stay with me?"
"You know why"
"The Riverlands are too far"
"Not when you're back in Winterfell"
He wanted to argue but he knew there was no point. She would have an answer for everything. His grip tightened on her hand and brought it to his lips.
"I don't want to say goodbye to you"
"You don't have to yet" she told him as she brushed his face gently with her hand "Let's get your mother through this and then we can figure out what we do next"
Robb smiled at her and kissed her hand once more, just because he could and if he kissed her on her lips then he knew that he wouldn't be able to stop.
#
They were on the road again and Maelona realised she was longing for a carriage. Horseback riding was losing its appeal and she was fighting a losing battle to keep her eyes open. Until surprisingly, the queen was by her side. She was the last person Maelona thought would be her travel companion.
"How is Lady Stark?" she asked Maelona
"As good as a daughter can be after losing the father she loved"
"Did you love your father?"
"I'm father never deserved my love" Maelona said coldly "Nor my mother. They brought me into the world and that is it. The woman I am today is because of Cat and Ned, not my blood. I love them for that. For showing me the difference"
"Northerners love like nothing I have ever seen"
"Your husband is your king. Your king is your husband. No greater love then that. It might be the only thing that makes sense in this goddamn mess we find ourselves in"
"And what of your love for my husband?" Talisa asked finally looking at Maelona. She shook her head at the queen and looked at the road ahead.
"Robb is my friend. I don't care if he is a king, a lord or a commoner. We have laughed, we have loved, we have fought and we have lost"
"Let me speak plainly, for I believe you have misunderstood my meaning"
"You're asking me if I am in love with Robb"
"Yes"
"I love him" Maelona admitted " I always loved him and I always will and will do long after we are both gone but if you are asking me if we had laid together. The answer is no, my queen and the fact that you are asking means you don't know your husband at all"
"It's not my husband's love for me that I am questioning but your love for my husband"
Maelona shook her head and took a deep breath
"What are we doing here my queen?" she asked "Playing a game of riddles? I will not play mind games with you and I surely doubt that you could win them against me. I've been living in Kings Landing for too many years and have been playing such games with people more skilled then you. You see me as a threat and I don't plan on being one for you. If you think that I am going to steal Robb from under you. You are wrong"
"Maybe it's the kings brother you love"
" I fear, my queen that I am not meant to love anybody. I believe it is my fate to be alone. My heart has always wanted the things it can not have but I have been taught morals and these morals will not let me lay with another woman's husband. So you may sleep easy my queen"
Maelona rode ahead and left the queen long behind her, leaving the lies she had just told, where she had told them.
Maybe she was meant to be alone.
Maybe she was right.
Her heart always had wanted the things she couldn't have.
This she now understood