Chapter Twenty-Five

"Hold him!"

"Keep his arms down!"

"I said hold him!"

"Robb, please stop!

The shouts bounced all over Nyra's room as the Master and his squires worked on Robb. His fever was high, causing him to thrash and hallucinate. The Maester could barely hold him. The squires were having an even worse time. Both of them together only managed to make a hundred pounds. Nyra tried to squeeze his hand and keep him still. Sometimes, the squeeze only made him worse.

The Maester suddenly poured some liquid down him. Nyra knew it was most likely milk of the poppy. She hated that stuff. But Robb needed it. She caressed his hand gently as he suddenly stopped moving. One of the squires pulled his tunic off and started for his shirt.

"My lady, perhaps you should wait outside," the Maester said, watching Nyra closely.

"No."

The sudden rip of the cloth made her jump as one of the squires pulled his shirt off. She thought his name was Peter, but she didn't know or care at the moment. She thought of looking away from the wound, but she couldn't bring herself to. The wound was deep with a bright, red ring around it. The scab was black and seemed to be oozing some sort of dark puss and blood. Nyra felt bile rise in the back of her throat as the other squire started to scrape the wound clean. Blood started to seep from it as the boy dug deeper.

"Stop!" she screamed.

The Maester looked up at him. "My lady, it must be done."

"He's digging too…"

The words faded as Robb suddenly jerked forward. Nyra grabbed for his shoulder, trying to push him down, when the knife the boy had slipped. She saw the blade go across Robb's arm, and the blood was suddenly everywhere. Nyra felt arms pull her away as she fought back a scream. She struggled but only for a second, until she realized it was Mariek.

"Come, my lady," he whispered.

"I can't leave him," Nyra sighed a little.

"Just stay over here for awhile."

Nyra did as she was told. She watched desperately wanting to be closer. Robb was calling out for his brothers again. Nyra felt tears running down her face as he let out another anguished cry. The master pulled out another glass of milk of the poppy, pouring it down Robb's throat. His body stilled, and he quieted.

The night passed slowly as Nyra stood in the corner, watching helplessly. It was close to dawn before the Maester finally left Robb's side. The bed sheets were soaked in sweat, blood, and medicine. The men had changed them after they had dressed the wound. They left Robb without a shirt so that the wound could breath.

Nyra sat in a chair by the bed, holding his hand and fighting sleep. She could feel the fever even in Robb's fingers. She rubbed them gently, hoping that he would wake, if only for a moment. The Maester had told her that an arrow had gone through his shoulder and been plastered poorly.

"My lady," a voice called softly as the sun started to rise.

Nyra awoke to find one of her maids standing there with a large tray of food and a large bowel of water. Nyra stared at the girl for a moment. She must have fallen asleep but only for a short time.

"What is it?" she asked, looking at the girl.

"The master sent me to clean his wound and give you breakfast."

Nyra felt her head nodding as she stood. Her legs were so stiff along with her neck. She stretched, feeling all of her muscle protest that she had moved from her spot. She walked over to the table as the girl took up her chair. The food didn't seem to taste as she ate slowly.

"Is there anything else you need, my lady?" the girl asked as she finished with Robb.

"Have Mariek come up here." Nyra said.

The girl scurried from the room. Nyra went over to the window and looked out. Robb's chargers was still in the courtyard and seemed to be as nervous as he was the night before. Nyra sighed as she sat on the window seat. The battle had to be close for Robb to ride here. She wondered if his men had noticed he was gone. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a knock.

"Come in," she called as she got up.

Mariek walked in the room, giving her a low bow. Nyra quickly raised her hand so that he would rise. Mariek gave her a soft smile as he walked closer. He could see that she had been staring out the window.

"That horse will barely let anyone touch him," Mariek said, watching her.

Nyra nodded a little. "Do we have enough men to send out scouts?"

"Scouts, my lady?"

"The battle had to be close," Nyra started as she poured them both a glass of wine. "Robb could never have ridden that far unless the battle or his camp was close. I need to get word to his men and his mother."

Mariek could only nod. "I will send out scouts as soon as I can. Is there anything else you need?"

Nyra looked over at Robb. His breathing was shallow. It had been all night. His fever had not even come down all night. She turned back to Mariek. "Pray to the old Gods and the new."

Mariek bowed and then turned to her. "My lady, we need to talk about something."

Nyra took a drink of her wine and motioned for him to speak.

"The Kingslayer is causing trouble," Mariek started. "He attacked two of the guards yesterday."

Nyra growled under breath. She sat the wine glass down with a slam and left the room. The walk to the dungeon seemed longer than before. She walked in, slamming the doors open. Jamie sat in the deepest and darkest part of the cells. Nyra walked up to the door and pulled on it hard and loudly.

"Get up," she growled.

Jamie moved before he said anything. The chains rattled loudly as he walked toward her torch. She stared up at his long, shaggy hair, trying to fight back a laugh. How the regal lion had changed.

"What can I do for you, Nyra?" he asked with his typical swagger.

"You can start by not touching my men ever again."

Jamie smiled at that. Nyra watched him closely. She knew if she got too close that he would have the upper hand. She watched his chains as he leaned against the door.

"You look like you haven't slept all night long," Jamie observed.

"It doesn't matter what I look like. You better hope I never hear of you touching my men again."

In a flash, Jaime had reached out, grabbing loose shirt. Nyra let out a small scream as grabbed the bars. His gripped tightened as he tried to pull her against the cell harder.

"Let go!" Nyra hissed.

Jaime moved closer as he pressed Nyra harder against the bar. Nyra bit back her gasp of pain. The bars were cold and smashing her breasts as tried to pull away.

"I think it's time you start listening to me," Jaime growled against her ear.

Nyra felt as if her arm was breaking as he pulled her tighter to the bars. She was glad that she didn't have the keys or a knife on her, so there was nothing that he could use on her.

"You are still the one in chains," Nyra snarled.

The white-hot pain that shot through her head as she slammed into the bar was blinding. She tried to keep her senses as she started to slip to the floor. Jaime yanked her up hard. She could feel his fingers, trying to find something he could use to get free. He started to pull her against the bars again when there was a loud snarl. Nyra hit the floor hard and slid toward the back wall when she turned to Nightshadow tearing at Jaime's arm.

The chains held him, making it hard for him to get away. Nightshadow, released his grip enough that Jaime finally got free. But the wolf didn't stop. He jumped and clawed at the bars as Jaime moved away. Nyra go to her feet slowly.

"You'll pay for that," Jaime snarled.

"You first," Nyra said as she got to her feet. "Next time, I'll let him in."

Nyra patted the wolf's head as they started up the stairs. The guards were standing close by. One of them reached for Nyra as she came up the stairs. She shook him off and walked up to her room.

She was not surprised to find Grey Wind laying next to Robb. Nightshadow went over to the fire and stretched out. Nyra sat down next to the bed. Robb's breathing had improved, but his skin still felt hot.

"Robb," she whispered softly. "Don't stop fighting. Not now."

Robb moved his head, but only a little. He was dreaming again. She held his hand tightly, watching the wolves in the room. Grey Wind was watching her too. He let out a small whine.

"Do you miss your brothers?" she asked the wolf.

Grey Wind looked at her strangely. She wondered if he understood her. And some part of her wondered if that message had been true. She knew that it would not be easy to kill the Stark children while they had their wolves. They boy still had theirs. She knew it. She sighed. It wouldn't matter. Once Robb was well, they would go back to Winterfell. She would avenge what Theon did. At that thought, she gave Robb's hand a gentle squeeze and felt him return it. She looked up at him to see his eyes flutter a little.

"Robb?" Nyra moved closer to the bed.

He mumbled something, but his eyes stayed close. Nyra put his hand to her lips, gently kissing it. She wanted to say a thousand apologies for her foolishness, but the words wouldn't come while he slept. She touched the wound as she stood. She wondered if her father was the cause of this. She ran her hand through Robb's hair.

"Nyra," he said so softly that she barely heard it.

She looked down to see that he still slept. She touched his forehead, feeling the fever that held him so tightly. Nyra wasn't the type to pray. She could hear each prayer in her head now as she looked at him. She knew Robb was old of the old Gods, and if she had weirwood, she would fall to her knees now in front of a heart tree.

"Nyra," Robb breathed out again. "Don't leave."

"I'm right here," she whispered. "I'm not going to leave you, Robb. Not again."