A/N: Last but one before I go away, hope you all enjoy it!

unnamed visitor: Yes, that was certainly a better conversation than last time, and in some ways Jeyne is getting on with it. Thanks, glad you're happy, I already have a plan for the baby though, name and all, but thank you! Not sure what I'm going to do with Jon in the story just yet, it depends on a few details I haven't quite decided on yet! Thank you again, hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Urazz: Thank you. Indeed, Robb won't be sending her anywhere, because he can't but mainly because he doesn't want to. Oh yes, he is very much in love with her but he hasn't worked it out yet. He is confused as you said, and as Jeyne said in the last chapter, likely he would feel guilty for falling in love so quickly with someone else. Glad you liked Cat's advice, I think Jeyne needed to hear it!

Right-ho, on we go!

:)

XXI

Robb woke to her soft skin rising and falling gently beneath his cheek, his hand still splayed out against her stomach and her words still echoed in his ears. He sighed heavily and wished he'd said something. Not that he loved her. It still felt too soon for that, but something… That he cared, that she made him happier that he ever imagined that she could. That the fact that she was carrying their baby made him prouder and more excited than he had words for. He ran his fingertips gently over her flat stomach and imagined how much she would change over the next months, how much he was looking forward to it. Watching her every day and just looking out for the first outward signs that she was indeed carrying their baby.

Right now it just didn't seem real, that he could have all this right here under his touch. A wife. A child. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine they were back at Winterfell. He tried to imagine they weren't laying on a makeshift bed surrounded by canvas with thousands of other tents just outside their thin walls. At this moment he didn't want to be surrounded by tens of thousands of men laying siege to Casterly Rock, he wanted to be at home in his familiar room in his familiar bed, with his wife. He would shut the world out, let it just be them for just a few hours more. He could put off his duties just for a while and just lay there with her and wonder over her and the fact that she had their baby nurturing inside her. If only.

He sighed again, he knew he had to get up, to rise out of bed and dress himself and present himself before the lords so they could update him on progress. No doubt Lord Karstark had the ships moved into place by now and he was expecting a report on how things were faring in Lannisport. Regretfully he shifted his head up and moved carefully back up Roslin's body, wary of pressing his own against hers lest he rouse her. She shifted a little in her sleep, her lips parting a tiny bit and a quiet murmur coming from her as he moved to her side and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Thankfully she stayed sleeping and he took a moment to gaze at her peaceful features before he got himself fully up and stretched his stiff body awake. He moved around the tent quietly, pulling new clothing from the chest they were using as a dresser and cladding himself in them.

Looking around he saw his scattered clothing from the night before and began gathering it up so he could have it taken by the washerwomen later. He gathered Roslin's as well, tossing it all in a heap next to the tent entrance to be dealt with later. When he looked back towards the bed he saw she was still sleeping and he hesitated. If he left her now what would she think? Would she merely think he had left her to sleep so he could go and see his lords? That was the truth of it but likely she would think of it badly. He hadn't left her bed before she had woken since the night they had first arrived at Oxcross, the memory of it making him cringe slightly. Would her mind automatically go back there? Would she imagine he had left her bed before she woke because he was scared of facing what she had said to him last night?

He couldn't let her think that. Not now when he cared about her so much and when nothing else could be further from the truth. Hearing her say those words had been terrifying but thrilling in equal measure but he would never wish her feelings away. Knowing she loved him made him feel warm inside, made even more hope for their future well up inside him. He knew he still needed to confront his own feelings but knowing her own somehow made that all far less terrifying than it had seemed only yesterday. After another moment of just watching her he crossed to the bed and sat himself at her side, his hand coming to cup her cheek. The pad of his thumb rubbed at her softness and her brow creased slightly as she stirred awake.

In the next moment her beautiful, dark eyes were blinking sleepily at him and her frown deepened for a moment before the lines all smoothed away. "Have I slept too long?" she asked him groggily and he smiled, shaking his head. "Of course not," he soothed her as she arched her back to stretch herself awake, lying flat down against the bed again with a slight huff. "I have to go to the lords," he continued on as she yawned, "I just didn't want to leave without saying goodbye, since I don't know how long I'll be."

"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked him as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "You can join us later if you'd like, there is no hurry," he replied, brushing some of her hair back from her face; "I just want you to worry about you…and our baby," he couldn't help but grin when he said that out loud and her own lips curved up into a wide answering smile. "You ought not to go to the lords in this mood," she said teasingly, "we cannot tell anyone about the baby yet, it's too soon. Best you put your grim face on before you leave."

He laughed at that, bending his head down to kiss her for a long moment before he pulled back slightly and met her eyes. "What would I do without your council?" he asked her and she smiled again, her hand reaching up to cup around his cheek. He exhaled deeply at her touch, thinking that now would be the perfect time to try and explain some of his own feelings. "You make me so happy," he told her softly; "I never imagined you would make me this happy…and not just because of the baby," he added, not wanting her to think she was just a means by which he would secure his reign; "because you are the sweetest, most thoughtful wife I could ever have…I don't know what I'd do without you Roslin."

She encouraged him back down to kiss her then and he did as she wanted more than willingly, somehow wrenching himself away instead of sinking down onto the bed with her as he was longing to do. "I have to go," he murmured regretfully against her lips before he pressed a final kiss to her forehead and got himself up. "I'll send Ser Damon to you, best you get yourself dressed," he told her as he pulled on his doublet and fastened it up. "I'll join you later," she told him with a smile as he looked back; "I hope all goes well."

He smiled for her and she returned it before he turned away and pushed aside the flap of the tent to step out into the fresh morning air. There were clouds overhead but it was dry for now at least and he took a deep breath as he surveyed the camp. Smells of cooking were reaching him now and his stomach grumbled, really he ought to get something before going to the lords. It would do no good to sit in with them for hours on an empty stomach. He moved towards the makeshift kitchen area and smiled to the women who were cooking up breakfast. "It will not be long your Grace, will you and the queen be dining together?" one of the women asked him.

"Unfortunately not, the queen will dine in our tent as usual, I have to see the lords so I will have whatever you have at hand and be on my way," he told her and she nodded her agreement. "Of course your Grace," she said, moving to tear apart a crusty roll and put it on a plate for him. When he saw the thick rashers of bacon slapped into the bread roll his stomach rumbled again, the smell of it wafting towards him. "Is this enough for you, your Grace?" the woman asked him and he nodded, already reaching out for the plate she was about to offer. "Thank you," he told her warmly and she curtseyed slightly to him. He took the roll from the plate and left it on the side with the others, biting into his breakfast as he continued on his way.

As Robb walked and ate he couldn't help but notice Jeyne hanging bandages outside the Maester's tent. She wasn't alone, Ser Damon was stood not far from her and they seemed to be in conversation as she worked. Before he could help himself he was walking towards them, telling himself it was because he needed to send Ser Damon to Roslin since he would not be returning to her. When he heard Jeyne's laughter as he approached though he couldn't help the slight needle of jealously in his gut and he willed it not to show on his face. "Your Grace," Ser Damon saw him first, bowing shortly to him to which Robb inclined his head slightly. "Ser," he replied, keeping his eyes firmly on him and refusing to look at Jeyne; "the queen will have need of you shortly, if you would?"

"Of course your Grace," Ser Damon inclined his head and Robb mustered a smile. "Thank you Ser," he said, "my lady," he added, finally looking at Jeyne and nodding to her to which she curtseyed. With that he turned and walked away, finally heading towards the council tent. His mind was racing now, seeing Jeyne made him think that perhaps he ought to tell her about Roslin. Remembering the pain she had felt over swallowing down moon tea. She had done that for him, so he wouldn't have to live with the guilt over a bastard along with everything else. Surely it would be best if he told her himself about the pregnancy, lest she hear it in whispers from someone else or see it with her own eyes when Roslin's condition began to show. He shook his head as he approached the council tent. He would think about it later, right now he had to be focused on his lords and on this war.

Roslin wished, not for the first time, that Robb would lax the guard around her slightly. She did not object to the men stood outside their tent, in truth she found them to be a rather reassuring presence. What she did object to was sitting across from Ser Damon trying to make polite conversation while she forced down wave after wave of nausea. She would have to talk to Robb about it later, try and make him understand that she needed more privacy now that she was with child lest everyone find out about her condition. She didn't think that Ser Damon was one for gossip but just one word to the wrong person and the entire army would know. Lady Stark didn't even know yet, neither did Olyvar. It was just her and Robb and she liked it like that, the bonding secret they had making her almost want to smile despite the discomfort she was in.

Perhaps she could ask him to step out for a moment so she could change her dress? But then she would actually have to change her dress and she could not be bothered with the hassle of it all. Perhaps she could write a note to Olyvar and ask him to deliver it for her? She almost snorted at that, he would give it to one of the other guards to take and be back in her presence in seconds. Damn it. She was the queen, could she not just order him to leave for a moment? Why should she have to explain herself to him? He took his orders from Robb above her though, and doubtless Robb would have told him not to let her fob him off. Damn it.

She really did feel like she was going to be sick now, forcing it down was becoming near impossible. At this point she didn't even think she would be able to open her mouth to ask him to leave without it all becoming rather embarrassing for both of them. It was no good, she had to move now and so she did, almost diving across the room and just about reaching the chamber pot before her breakfast made a reappearance. Thankfully Ser Damon didn't fuss over her, he came closer, hesitantly kneeling down at her side before he pulled her hair out of harm's way. She wanted to thank him but she could get no words out as she choked up again, tears stinging her eyes as her throat burned. Again she retched but there was nothing left to spill from her and so she gasped out, her hand coming to rub at her eyes.

"Would you like some water my queen?" Ser Damon asked her and she managed to nod her head, rocking back away from the chamber pot and slumping her head against the end of the bed, the cool wood soothing to her. "Thank you," she managed weakly as she watched him pour her a large cup. When he brought it to her she drank it down almost greedily and hoped that she wouldn't come to regret that later. "I'm sorry about that," she said, meeting his eyes and feeling the blush rising up on her cheeks as she did so; "I would appreciate your discretion."

"Of course," he nodded his agreement, "I will not say a word to anyone my queen, I assure you of that." She thanked him warmly again at that and took the hand he outstretched to her to help her back up to her feet. "Perhaps I should dispose of that…" he glanced towards the chamber pot and she nodded her head again, embarrassment rising up in her as she crossed to settle down in her chair again. Ser Damon moved about, a rush of cool air coming into the tent and making her feel even better as he disappeared outside. She took some settling breaths as she sat there, her hands coming to settle on her stomach and rub across it lightly. Still she could scarce believe it, despite being affected so much by her pregnancy already there was no outward sign.

A slight smile came to her face as she thought of the little life growing inside her, her little prince or princess. She sighed heavily and hoped that Robb would not be disappointed if she did not bear him a son. She told herself it would be fine, and that there was no reason her baby wouldn't be a boy. Her own mother had borne five boys, perhaps she herself would one day be just as blessed. She shook her head, she was getting ahead of herself. Best just focus on this baby now and not think of any more until this one had come safely into the world. Roslin's prayers would be for that from now on, for the swift end to the war, Robb's victory and the health of their baby.

Ser Damon returned then, snapping her thoughts back to the present, and she mustered a smile for him which he returned before he moved to replace the chamber pot. "Would you pull back the flap of the tent a little?" she asked him, "I think I would benefit from some more fresh air." He agreed at once, moving to tie it back before he came and took his seat opposite her and smiled again. "Congratulations my queen," he said quietly and she couldn't help but smile widely in response. "Thank you," she said, her heart almost fit to burst with happiness.

Jeyne was at the back of the supply tent, rearranging the medical supplies on the shelves and making a list for the Maester of things that they were running low on. As she worked she suddenly had the strangest feeling that she was not alone anymore, her heart speeding up irrationally hard as her mind worked through all the possible things she could do or say. Should she speak up, make the unknown presence aware that she knew they were there? Should she say nothing and continue on in the hopes that they would just go away and leave her in peace? At first she had thought it might be Damon, he often snuck up on her and frightened her half out of her skin by playfully nipping at her waist. He would have done that by now though if it was him, and he was likely still guarding the queen.

She swallowed hard and shifted a few more bottles around, turning her head slightly to the side to see if she could see anyone. There was no one that she could see at the end of the row of shelves and so she took a deep breath before turning to face the other way. She tried to peer around a pile of blankets that were folded on the shelves that were now in front of her but again she could see nothing, the flap of the tent firmly in place. Perhaps she was just being paranoid, her imagination running away with her. She made to turn back to her own shelf and jumped as she saw Robb stood there at the end of the row with a rather sheepish expression on his face.

"Sorry," he said as she clasped her hand to her heart which was pounding even more quickly than before. "I didn't know you were there," she said when she felt she could speak; "your Grace," she added quickly, remembering her formalities. "There is no need for that," he smiled slightly wryly, "we are alone in here, we don't have to pretend we barely know one another."

Was she imagining his eyes looking her up and down? Was he remembering her bare as she often remembered him? Did he ever think of the time they had had, dream of it as she did? Did he wake up breathless and wanting as he remembered the blissful encounters they had shared with one another? Was it possible that he deluded himself into thinking that he could still feel her touch, her skin under his fingertips and her smell on his pillow? Or was that just her?

"Do you have need of me for something?" she finally asked him, not liking the silence that had fallen upon them, nor their close proximity given what had just flashed through her mind. "I wanted to speak to you," he said before he frowned slightly, opening and closing his mouth a few times as though he were working up the courage to say his next words; "to tell you something," he elaborated after an uncomfortable minute and it was her turn to frown. "What is that?" she asked him, her heart beating even more wildly in her chest. "Roslin," he said slowly and awkwardly; "I thought it might be best if I told you that Roslin…that she's expecting a baby."

He finished it in a gabbled rush, as though him saying it quickly would make it hurt less. Jeyne took a deep shuddering breath and clenched her fists hard by her sides, trying to remind the rational part of her that this was a good thing for Robb, for his future. "I see," she managed, her eyes finding the ground as she willed herself not to cry. Her eyes were stinging and she was furious with herself, wishing that she could just hold it together until Robb left her alone and in peace again. She wished he would go. She wished he would turn and walk away so she could collapse in on herself and let it all out. He didn't go, he moved closer, she could feel it rather than see it, but even so it was still a shock when his hand came to cup her cheek.

"Please don't," she whispered, tears definitely leaking from her eyes now as he gently moved her face up so her eyes met his. "I'm sorry," he murmured back, "perhaps I shouldn't have told you…I just thought it would be better to let you know, to save you finding out from someone else or noticing it yourself." She somehow managed to nod against his hand, taking in a shuddering breath and trying to force the emotion back down inside her. "Thank you for your consideration," she managed.

"Jeyne, I really am sorry," he said meaningfully and she clenched her trembling lips together and nodded again, his thumb brushing insistently against her cheek before his fingers moved to brush away her tears. "I said don't," she said shakily, tilting her head away from him and taking a step back, trying to ignore the look of hurt in his eyes. "I never wanted you to hurt like this," he said, guilt shining in his eyes that made her suddenly furious with him.

"Really?" she asked him, choking on an unexpected laugh of incredulity; "I sometimes wonder if that is not exactly what you wanted." His eyes widened at that, a frown coming to crease at his brow. "How can you say that? After all that was between us…" he was shaking his head as she shook her own. "Was," she repeated, "was, exactly. It's finished with. You married your Frey girl and don't you dare stand there and pretend that she doesn't make you happy because I've seen it Robb. I see it every day! I live with it every day! I live with the whispers and the stares and the men propositioning me and calling me vulgar names because I am nothing more than your discarded whore!"

"It was never like that!" she could sense his own anger now as his hand came to slap hard against one of the shelves and clench around the wood so hard that his knuckles turned white. "You know it was never like that!" he reiterated but she refused to look him in the eye. "You were the one who told me to marry her, you were the one who told me to move on. I offered you…I begged you and you refused me, tell me, what was I supposed to do?!"

"Not rub my face in it at every turn!" she snapped at him; "I knew it would be hard but you made it worse, whether you meant to or not…you made it worse…" her emotions were spilling up again now and she put her hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. "And now you tell me…" she choked out, "now you tell me…she…she is having…your baby and I…what am I supposed to…to…do with that? Am I…supposed to smile and…offer my congratulations…Am I supposed to…be happy…tell me…am I? Am I supposed to be…happy that it's her…when it could have…could have been me?!"

"If you wanted it to be you then you should have married me!" he shot at her, his eyes cold as she finally lifted her own up to meet his. "But I didn't…did I? To save your honour…so you could honour your promises…don't stand there and pretend that you wish I hadn't," she said quietly and he said nothing. He didn't need to say anything, it was written all over his face that she was right. Robb was far happier now that he had kept his promise and the overwhelming finality of it had Jeyne pushing passed him and down the row of shelves, rounding the corner in time to see the flap of the tent fall back into place, a whisper of silks glanced just before it dropped.

After a second where she remained stock still she practically ran to the flap, her heart sinking as he worst suspicions were concerned. "She heard us," she said in a panicked whisper as she heard Robb come up behind her. "Who?" he asked her as she turned to face him, his own hand pulling the flap even further aside. "The queen," Jeyne said, meeting his eyes, "it was the queen."

A/N: This was going to be my last update before I go away, but I feel mean leaving it on this note so I will update again on Friday just before I leave!

:)