Over the past week I have just been a writing machine, I'm actually afraid how long this story will be. Thanks to Stylin'Fire, Her,ioneandMarcus, ZabuzasGirl, Sparky-She-Demon, CLTex, Naruhina1519, notsmaug, Rhatch89, and DarylDixon'sLover for your reviews on the last chapter, it's very much appreciated. Hopefully you all like this chapter, i'll admit it's not my greatest.

Chapter 25

Tyrion saw that Cersei was not pleased. She didn't yell or shake or give anything away when she was angry, she only sat tall and had a fire raging in her eyes. Tyrion found that if she would yell and were to shake with rage it would be less terrifying than if she just sat there.

When she was like this, cool and collected, nothing about her betrayed what she was thinking. She could be hatching any plot and someone would never know. That is what terrified him about his sister, is that she was always plotting.

"Sister," Tyrion said as she looked down to him from the chair she sat at the head of the table.

"Little brother," She said sweetly, but the fire still burned in her green eyes.

Tyrion noticed all the food on the table. Cercei seemed to be having a fine dinner. "You summoned me?" Tyrion didn't want to waste anymore time. It was difficult being the Hand of the King, and very time consuming. Besides, he wanted to see Shae that night, he only hoped this meeting would likely be short.

However, he knew he wouldn't be so lucky. Cersei was angry, and he knew this meeting wouldn't be over any time soon.

"Varys informs me that Cleos Frey has brought terms from Riverrun."

Damn that Varys, Tyrion should know better than to tell him a single thing. Tyrion was sure the eunuch was his, not Cersei's. Oh well, he would have to make sure he was more careful what he said and who visited him from now on in Varys's presence. He didn't want the spider to say too much to Cersei.

"He has." Tyrion nodded and sat down across the table from Cersei. He absent-mindedly played with the knife and fork at the place set in front of him, straightening them out.

"And why have I not been informed of this?" She grit through her teeth.

Tyrion sighed and clasped his hands together "Because they were peace terms."

"Peace?" Cersei seemed surprised; suddenly she laughed "Isn't that odd. The boy's winning and yet he requests peace. Clearly Stark's victories must not be so glorious as they seem."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because, if they were truly winning they would not sue for peace." She took a sip of wine. "What were the terms?"

"Ridiculous, that's what they were." Tyrion answered curtly; really the terms were quite unreasonable.

"I want to know what he requested." Her jaw hardened again.

Tyrion shook his head "It doesn't matter. They were unmeetable anyway; I sent back terms of my own."

"You little idiot." Cersei didn't yell it, she still showed no signs of her rage. Her eyes only flickered and darkened "I could have had Jaime and Iseis back by now."

Tyrion shook his head "That is why I have not told you... There was disturbing news that Frey brought with him." And disturbing it truly was. Tyrion had been in shock when he first heard the news, and he didn't believe it for nearly two days. Frey's words echoed in his head over and over that night and it kept Tyrion awake.

"What news?" Cersei inquired

"Stark did not mention trading Iseis and Jaime back in his terms. He said he would keep from trading Jaime to ensure father won't continue fighting. He said trading Iseis was no longer an option at all..."

Cersei's heart broke. 'No longer an option', what did that mean? Would she ever see her sweet daughter again? "Why?" She asked

"Because," Tyrion breathed in deeply "She and Robb Stark have wed. She's the Queen of the North now."

The words rang in Cersei's ears over and over that her daughter and Robb Stark were married. Cersei's hands shook as she gripped the armrests of her chair violently, "There must be some mistake," Cersei insisted and shook her head.

"There isn't. Robb Stark announced it himself; Cleos Frey said that Iseis was there. She looked well, and beautiful with a crown resting on top of her head..."

"She... You don't think..." Cersei couldn't even form her thoughts "She must have been forced into it," That was the only logical explanation.

Tyrion shrugged "I don't know. Only, what if she wasn't? What if Iseis has betrayed us?"

"She would never!" Cersei snapped

"She might if she loved him."

"Iseis doesn't love him! She's his prisoner!" Cersei was yelling by now. The fire in her eyes grew and grew until they were blazing "Iseis would never betray us! He has Jaime as a prisoner and he's killed many of our men. Stark raped her! How could she love him?!"

"I'm only saying what we are both thinking. I know Iseis just as well as you do, I know she loves her family. But we need to consider all the options..." Tyrion stated calmly.

"There is no option! Stark isn't trading her now!" Cersei stood up and placed her palms on the surface of the table.

"So what can we do? We go on fighting. There's nothing else to be done about it to get her back."

"You would continue to wage war on my daughter?" She hissed

"Like I said," Tyrion took a sip of wine "There's nothing else to be done."

Cersei saw something in his face though. She's seen it before and she knew that he was up to something "You have a plan?"

"Of course I do." Tyrion smiled cockily "I always have a plan, sweet sister."

"Tell me." She ordered. Her jaw line was tense and her posture was rigid, she didn't want to look entirely un-composed, and give away the thought of Iseis being a Stark killed her.

They made her into one of them, Cersei realized. What else could be worse?

"Iseis might love him, if that is the case there is nothing we can do. However, if what you say is true and she really had been forced into it, I have a plan that will work. I'm sending in three men to help Jaime and Iseis escape."

"When?" Cersei asked

"Soon, I'm hoping."

Cersei nodded and began walking over to Tyrion calmly. She stopped and peered down at him. "You're my brother, and even though I may not like it you're also a Lannister. I think you have some uses, you've proven yourself to be some-what clever... However, should you ever withhold any information from me about my daughter again... I will have your throat slit in your sleep." Cersei threatened at almost a whisper, instilling fear in him.

Tyrion swallowed "Very well."

"Now get out." Cersei ordered and turned around. She didn't turn back around until she heard his footsteps trail further away and the door close.

As soon as she heard him leave a tear fell down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away. The realization that Iseis may have betrayed her hurt more than a knife wound. Cersei didn't want to think that Iseis betraying them was an option; but she knew it was.

She had seen her with the Stark boy, she had seen them dancing and laughing. Cersei saw the way they were together when they were in Winterfell. She saw the way Robb's hand sometimes found its way into Iseis's. Cersei noticed the way Iseis would lean into him to whisper something in his ear during a feast.

Iseis had fallen in love with him long ago, and Cersei realized only now. The idea killed her.

Yet she knew she could not abandon the idea of her daughter that quickly. She had to believe that Iseis really did marry Stark because she had no other choice. Cersei was sure Tyrion's plan would work, and Iseis would be returned along with Jaime to her.

Yet she knew nothing would ever be the same between her and her daughter. Even if Iseis was doing all these things to survive, Cersei could not forget what had happened if she was returned. Cersei could not forget that Iseis had indeed slept with the enemy and that Iseis was his wife, and meant to give him heirs.

No, nothing would ever be the same. And was nothing Cersei could ever do to change that.

Iseis bit her lip as she stared at the piece of parchment in her hand. She put off reading it for two days. She couldn't put it off any longer; Iseis could no longer ignore the little piece of paper that was sent with a raven. She wanted to ignore, while at the same time she didn't.

For two days she struggled on whether she should burn it or read it. And now she was there, sitting in an armchair by the fire and she was still hesitant about reading it.

Iseis remembered when her father would send her ravens during the Greyjoy rebellion. She wrote to him almost everyday and he would sometimes write her back. She loved him for that. His letters mainly consisted of telling her about the battles, but she didn't mind. Iseis was happy just to receive word from him.

She remembered running everyday to Maester Pycelle, a wide smile on her face. She would forever be tripping on her dresses or stepping on them when she ran. Septa Elena would yell at her for that, but Iseis didn't care. She would run to that old man everyday with high hopes her father had sent something to her. Iseis would never be disappointed when he didn't send something back, she knew something would appear eventually. And it always did. Sometimes it took weeks, but she didn't mind.

As long as her father wrote everything was fine.

She felt indifferent when Robb sent her a letter. At first she worried it might be a letter written by someone else saying that he died in battle, but surely everyone would be talking about it if it did truly contain such information.

People were terrible at keeping news like that. No doubt she would find out even before the letter got to her.

But then she worried it wasn't about Robb, but rather was from him. Was he still angry at her? Did he hate her? Did he no longer want her?

Iseis folded her knees under her as she sat in the chair. She wore nothing but Robb's robe that he had left for her and her hair was soaked from the rain. Iseis had been out walking for hours when she stumbled upon the place Robb had taken her on their wedding night. Once she found the Weirwood trees she found the little house where they made love in.

She went in to take shelter from the rain and she saw it was exactly how she remembered it. Only this time Iseis pictured the entire thing in her head. Iseis saw themselves undressing by the fire. She saw the way he looked at her with want. How Iseis rested her head on his bare shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her as they just spoke about how things would have been had they not met each other. She then replayed when he had kissed her and gently took her to the floor. She remembered how his hair was wet when she ran her hands through it. She remembered how hot his skin was, even though she was freezing.

Iseis recalled the way the light cast shadows over his skin. He was kissing her over and over and over again, making her his for the first time since they were married. She remembered how he groaned and called her name when he entered her. How they moved so intimately together, how his hips rolled into hers. He begged her to release for him, so he could give her pleasure just as she was about to give him his. She felt the warmth of his seed traveling up her and his hot breath on her shoulder after he collapsed on top of her. How he held her in his arms after that, and how he took her again and again and again throughout the night. Neither one of them were fully satisfied until they had multiple rounds that lasted until morning, neither one of them could get enough of each other.

Iseis had tears appear in her eyes as she remembered all of it. She felt her heart clench up and her head pounded even more. She remembered Robb saying that he loved her several times that night. Iseis recalled how he had whispered it in her ear and kissed her head right before she fell asleep.

To her it meant more than any other time he had said it. Iseis wasn't sure why, but it just did. Perhaps it was the tone of his voice, or the way he said it. But it just sounded so sincere, as though he truly and definitely meant it.

As Iseis thought of all that she knew she needed to return to the castle of Riverrun and read the letter he had sent.

And there Iseis was, staring down at the little piece and wondering if she should open it. Finally she thought to hell with it all and opened the letter. Iseis was shocked to see how little was actually written on it.

I miss you, you're all I can think about.

Was all it said. Iseis had expected more, yet she was content with it. Though she wasn't sure what she should write back.

At first she thought she should write him a lengthy letter, but then what was it compared to his? She didn't want to seem like she missed him too much and put in too much effort. It was obvious he put little to no effort in his, no matter how sweet it was.

Finally Iseis got up from her chair. She thought of burning the letter again, even though she knew what it said. But she couldn't make herself do it. She walked over to her desk and set it on top of it as she got out more parchment and ink.

Her hand went to the Direwolf hanging on her neck and she gripped it tightly. She would always do that when she had her lion necklace. For some reason it just made her feel better. Iseis then sat in the chair and thought of what to write, and if she should write back at all. She was still mad at him, after all. Essentially less mad than she was before, but still slightly pissed off.

Iseis sighed and leaned back into the back of the chair. She then began to just scribble something down with her messy writing. She always hated her writing, especially after her Septa chastised her so long for it. 'That isn't the writing of a princess!' She would exclaim, but no matter what style or new technique Iseis used her writing somehow still always looked messy.

Her writing looked like her father's. It was meant to be a man's writing, simple and nothing fancy. Not a princess's, which was supposed to look elegant and graceful, as though the ink danced along the parchment. That was what her Septa told her, at least.

Iseis quickly wrote down,

I have good news for when you return.

Keep safe.

Iseis was tempted to write more, but she wasn't exactly sure what else to say. She could add a 'I love you', but for some reason it didn't feel the same writing it on paper and saying it face to face. It almost lost some of its meaning in a way. It was meant to be said in a certain matter, not just to be thrown around.

Iseis folded the paper, leaving it at that and stood up. She quickly threw on a dress and placed Robb's robe on the bed. When Iseis head to the door to deliver the note to the Maester so he could send a raven, she opened the door to find a strange man. He had his hand up ready to knock, he put it down as soon as he saw her.

"Your Grace." He bowed respectfully

"Can I help you?" Iseis frowned and looked to her sides to see if she could find any of her guards that Robb ordered to be posted outside their bedchambers. The guards were nowhere to be seen.

"No," The man shook his head "But perhaps I can help you instead..."

"I'm sorry?" Iseis frowned, she wasn't getting what this man was saying.

He leant into her and whispered "Meet me at midnight in three days time, in the Sept."

Iseis frowned even more "Forgive me Ser, but I don't know you nor do I trust you. And if you do not leave, I will call my guards."

"What guards?" He smirked and looked around "But never mind that, princess. Your Uncle Tyrion sent me." He handed her a letter he had tucked into his sleeve

"My Uncle Tyrion?" Iseis's eyes widened in surprise.

The man nodded. Suddenly a noise was heard and he looked down the dimly lit hallway and squinted. There was definitely someone approaching. The man quickly turned to her again and quickly muttered "Remember, midnight. The Sept. Three days time. I have no time to explain, princess." He then turned away and quickly walked off into the shadows.

Iseis stood there and wondered if the man was ever truly there. She held the letter in her hands along with the one to Robb. Iseis looked back up to where the man had disappeared to, wondering if he would reemerge from the darkness.

"Your Highness?" Her guard's voice rang out and she jumped.

"Yes, Ser Dellon?" She didn't even realize he had snuck up on her

"Are you alright? You look as though you've seen a ghost."

Iseis looked down to the letter again and then looked back on the direction the mad faded, not once looking at her guard, just continued staring down the hall.

He frowned "Your Grace?", wondering if she was alright.

"It's nothing, Ser Dellon." She shook her head and quickly turned around back into her chambers. She closed the door tightly and then turned around and pressed her back against the wood. She sank down it until she was sitting on the ground.

Iseis looked at the letter in her hand from her uncle, forgetting all about the one she was going to send Robb.

The man's visit had troubled her. Mainly because he was sent by her uncle, who was technically the enemy. Iseis ripped open the seal to see what the words on the page said and saw that it included escape plans for her and her Uncle Jaime. After she read it she put it down, confused. Her suspicions were correct, the man's visit was not good. Iseis found herself even more troubled after she read the letter.

And now she was torn. Torn between her family and torn between doing what she knew was right and being loyal to her husband.

Iseis was yet again forced to make a decision, and she was sick of it. She hated being the one to make the call on things. But perhaps this was the only way this game was played; maybe she had finally begun to understand just how the game was won.

In the end, there could be no 'happy ending'. There could be no happy ending because no one with morals or any type of justice could ever win this game. That was when Iseis knew that Robb would never win the war. He was too honorable and she knew he didn't have it in him to do whatever was necessary to win at any costs.

She did though. Iseis knew just how the game of thrones was won.

It was won by betrayal.

Personally, I thought that was a pretty decent ending; it ended at such an intense part. I'm so excited for the next chapters to come! I'll be updating much faster now that I'm so far ahead with pre-written chapters. But what do you think Iseis will do? Stay loyal to Robb or help her Uncle Jaime escape?

Next Chapter Hint: Robb's perspective about being away from Iseis.

Thanks, and I'll try to update as quickly as I can.

-Amelia