Remember to read the changes made in chapter 18 before reading this chapter! I don't own anything. This story is not edited, please try to ignore all grammatical errors.

Chapter 19

Smoke rose into the sky, making the once clear sky murky and dark, a shadow in the stars. Screams filled the air, soldiers crying out for their mothers, children crying out for someone, anyone to come and help them.

Everra looked around, her sword limp in her hands. Her eyes were wide, filled with something she had not felt in a long time.

Tears.

A sob escaped her mouth and her hand quickly rose to cover her mouth.

What had she done?

"My lady?" Daavos asked, his voice waking her from her sleep.

Everra raised her head from where it lay on the table, her raven hair tumbling down her shoulders.

"What is it Daavos?" She asked, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"The King wishes to speak to you about Theon Greyjoy."

"Does he now?" She replied, standing from her chair.

She had not changed her clothes from the night before, her legs were sticky with blood that had soaked through her nightgown. She felt slightly sick, her bones felt fragile as she raised her hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.

"Should I send for your handmaiden?" Daavos asked gently.

"Yes," Everra replied, taking a sip of water from a nearby cup, "You do that."

He then began to turn away, before stopping and walking near her, speaking softly, "My lady are you well?"

She folded her arms across her chest, her green eyes cold and aloof.

"Yes quite alright Daavos, thank you," she replied. "Tell the King I will be there soon."

He frowned at her, and then moved away hesitantly, nodding, "As you wish my lady."

"My lady which dress do you wish to wear?" Anna asked from behind her.

Everra placed her down her comb, turning around to look at the two dresses played down on her cot.

"I could quite a dress that covered your neck, my lady," Anna said, moving forward, "but if you wear a cloak-"

"Why would I want to cover my neck?" Everra said frowning. Her neck was covered with bruises shaped like fingers, the blue and purple a stark contrast against her otherwise pale skin.

Anna faltered in her steps and stuttered out, "I-uh, I thought it may be more. . . comfortable for you, if your uh- your uh-"

"My bruises were covered," Everra finished for her, her green eyes hardening.

"Yes," Anna squeaked out.

"Thats a sign of weakness Anna, that shows that it has affected me, the bruises, the. . . attempt," She struggled to find the right word.

"No," she finished, "No covering them. Help me put it on."

When Everra tugged off her nightdress Anna could not help but hiss at the sight of her neck again. The nightdress had covered the nail marks on her shoulder.

Anna then passed Everra a wet cloth, Everra snatching it out of her hands and wringing it. She then placed the damp cloth by her thighs and began to clean herself, the blood leaving her skin.

When she was finished, she simply dropped the cloth onto the floor and lifted her arms up. Anna then grabbed a dress from the bed and tugged it over her head, Everra's raven looks disappearing under the thick silk.

After Anna was finished, Everra stood there for a few moments, her arms hanging limply at her sides.

"Tha. . ." she drifted off, turning around to face Anna, "Thank you."

Anna did not quite know what to say, it was only a rare occasion where her mistress showed any sign of any emotion, let alone gratitude. She understood what she meant somehow, though. Her mother had done this for Lady Everra's mother years ago. Same bruises. Same conversations. Same positions.

The servant and the lady.

"Your welcome," Anna replied.

"Lady Everra," Robb said, rising from his chair.

Everra was about to answer when she caught sight of the male sitting next to him and instantly stiffened.

"You asked for me, your grace," she replied.

"Yes, Lord Bolton," Robb said, looking down at the Lord whom was staring at Everra intensely, his blue eyes unwavering. "If you do not mind leaving Lady Everra and I to discuss certain matters."

"Yes of course, your grace," the male replied, standing also and making his way out of the room.

"I'm very sorry about the attempt on your life, my lady. I hope the culprit is brought to justice." He had stopped right in front of her, their eyes meeting each other in a frosty glare.

Everra merely nodded in response, waiting until he was out of the room until she said anything.

Robb made his way towards her, stopping when he was close enough. He hesitated, his blue eyes conflicted and just as he was about to speak her voice broke the silence of the room.

"You don't want me to kill Theon do you?" She said. Her green eyes were like glass as she looked at him, hardened and reflective.

"Yes," Robb replied, his voice weak. He felt weak, desperate to explain himself.

"I-"

"I know," she said, "You can't risk upsetting Balon Greyjoy and starting another war. I thought about it too, it makes sense."

"I want to bring him to justice," Robb said desperately, "I do, but I can't-"

She raised a hand, stopping him with a halt.

"Risk starting another war, I know, your grace," She finished off for him.

"When the war is over, you may have your justice," he said.

"When the war is over, I may not be alive," she replied.

They were silent for a few moments, Robb still felt a desperate need to somehow appease her, to make it up to her somehow. She had almost been raped and murdered because of him, in his name, not that she seemed bothered. She was her usual emotionless self, never letting anything in, never letting anything out.

He admired her strength, the power she held within herself, the immediate respect and aura of authority she had around her. If he wanted to be King, a good king, he needed that.

"Is there any other reason you wished to speak with me?" She asked.

"Yes," Robb admitted, walking back to his chair and saying, "Please have a seat, my lady."

She follows his lead, sitting in a chair across from him.

"Someone needs to sit on the iron throne by the end of this war," Robb started, clasping his hands together, "It is not going to be me. It is most certainly not going to be a Lannister, but we have the two options of Renly and Stannis."

"In this war, to secure your victory, Renly would be the best option. He has the Tyrells supporting his claim to the throne and a hundred thousand soldiers at his beck and call. Stannis relies to much on the red priestess of the Lord of Light."

"Lord of Light?" Robb asked. He had heard of it before from Maester Luwin, but that had been years before.

"A deity worshipped throughout Essos," Everra replied, taking a sip from the drink in front of her, immediately putting the cup down as the wine went down her throat, grimacing.

"Do you not drink wine?" Robb asked.

"No, it meddles with my thinking," she replied shortly, "And my mind must be clear. Especially when we are at war."

Robb's amusement disappeared almost immediately.

"So you think we should ally with Renly?" He asks.

Her eyes lifted up to meet his, "He's the more. . . dependable option."

"Dependable?" Robb asked incredulously.

"Stannis is to rash, too cruel. To much like Tywin Lannister, Renly is a more ambitious version of the late King Robert except unlike him he is not motivated by love."

Silence once more.

Robb looked at her, observing her closely and called her out, "You don't want either one of them to sit on the thrown do you?"

Everra's face snapped up, being careful to mask her surprise.

"I don't believe that either of them are capable of being good kings, yes," she replied carefully.

"Do you believe that you should be the one to sit on the iron throne?" Robb asked curiously.

"No," she replied.

"Why not?" Robb asked, surprised, then quickly asked after, "What do you think a good King should be like?"

She looked at him strangely for a few moments, hesitating before saying, "I believe that a good King should be both feared, loved and respected. If a King is simply feared, by use of force and threats, he holds no true power over his people."

At Robbs curious expression, she continued, "Say, if you took away Joffrey's guards and his high walls, and you let him walk around and be surrounded by his people, they'll kill him. His guards represent the fear that strikes in their hearts, not him. They fear the executioners block, not him. Take that all away and all you have is a hateful coward. A real king should be both feared and respected, feared enough that no one rises up against him but respected enough that if someone does they all rally to his defence."

"And what about a King being loved?" Robb inquired.

"Many associate love with weakness while it is in most cases, if. . . used in the right way, love can be a major advantage to any ruler."

Robb shook his head at her, a small scoff escaping his lips.

"What?" Everra asked, her eyebrows drawing into a frown.

"That must be one of the coldest things I've ever heard come out of anyones mouth," Robb said, his voice laced with shock and just a little bit of pity.

"That must be one of the truest things you've ever heard come out of someones mouth," Everra corrected.

Robb shook his head at her, his disbelief growing.

"Your grace," Everra said, "You brought me here to discuss about Renly or Stannis Baratheon, you wished to tell me something. What was it?"

Robb shook his head, clearing his head of his thoughts. He did not know why he was so bothered by her cold and callus opinion.

"I'm sending my mother to discuss an alliance with Renly, she leaves at First light."

Everra nodded and then stood up, nodding.

"May I leave?" She asked

Robb nodded at her and she walked calmly out of the room.

This would not be the last time they were frustrated by each other.

Her by his fixation with honour and doing things the 'right' way.

Him by her coldness and ruthlessness.

"He is not doing what?" Daavos spat out furiously, pacing up and down. He swung his sword at a nearby tree, yanking it out.

"Calm down, Daavos," Everra instructed.

"You are telling me that Robb Stark allowed an attempted rapist and killer to live? The honourable and noble Robb Stark?" Daavos asked disbelievingly.

"It would appear I've already begun to influence him," Everra said quietly.

They were a small distance away from the camp and were taking a much needed walk by the edge of the forest, a few guards trailing behind them. ]

"You told him not to kill Greyjoy after what he tried to do to you?" Daavos asked incredulously.

"No," Everra admitted, "but it makes sense if he does not. If Robb killed Theon he would be allowing Balon Greyjoy to rebel against him as the Starks would no longer have any leverage to prevent him from doing so."

Daavos swore loudly and grumbled out angrily, "I should walk up to that boy king and yank the stick out of his ass."

Everra was silent for a few moments, waiting for him to calm down.

"Threatening your king is treason," she reminded him. "You would be wise to keep thoughts like those to yourself."

Daavos nodded in obedience, his cheeks were still red with anger however, and his fists were still clenched at his sides tightly.

"I know, Daavos," Everra said, grabbing onto to his elbow, "I know."

There was a reason why he was the only person she could honestly say she cared for. She may not love him the way he loves her, or love him at all, but she did care for him. That meant something.

Love was the greatest advantage one could have over another.

A/N Okay guys. . . sorry this chapter was complete and utter crap and to put it quite simply, a filler chapter. The next chapter should pick things up again, I can't really decide on what I want to happen in this story yet. I come up with one thing and then I change it to another.. . But don't fear! I will finish this story and upload the next chapter as soon as I can. These characters are stubborn. Anyway, did you guys like this chapter. A lot Robb/ Everra interaction in this one, as well as Everra/Daavos. tell me, what do you think of each relationship? Going to fast? Too slowly? Would you like more backstory? Thanks again for your support guys! Remember to tell me your thoughts in your reviews. Until next time!

Fiona Kevin 073