Ella was able to get a craftsman to construct a brace to keep Ned on her back as she rode, almost like one would wear a pack on their back. He wouldn't be able to get out until someone helped him, or Ella took him out herself. It was simple enough to make, and the man finished it in a few hours.
She also sent a raven to Riverrun, telling them she would have to stay the night there, and to not make any fuss over them. They just needed some rest, and probably some food.
Ella wore the armor that the Martell's had given her for the ride. She didn't know how safe things could have gotten in the last six months since the end of the war, but she knew better than to think she would not need her bow and arrows. Even when things were peaceful people were attacked.
Daenerys saw them off, and wished them luck.
"Now, if you do take him back," Daenerys said. "You must have the wedding here. We will marry you in all ways possible."
Ella laughed. "It's too soon to think of that. It will take a long time to even think of that."
"You would be surprised." Daenerys told her.
"If you and Jon get married, I better be invited." Ella told her. "I will never forgive you if you do not."
"You are the princess, of course you will be." Daenerys said. "Stay safe, cousin."
"And you, my queen." Ella smiled, before hugging the young queen.
Daenerys dropped a kiss on Ned's head while he was in his carrier. He was excited to ride a dragon, which he called a "dwaga."
Ella hoped Ned would not be frightened; he had not seemed to be frightened of anything yet, except the dark.
Ella seated herself in the dragon's saddle, and looked over her shoulder for long enough to see that Jon had leaned down to kiss Daenerys lightly, and Ella had to look away to hide her grin.
Jon would be teased when they made it to Riverrun.
XXX
"I'm sorry I killed your uncle." Edmure Tully told Ella the moment she dismounted from her dragon.
"He knew he was going to die no matter what." Ella told him, her face blank. She refused to imagine this man cutting off Jaime's head; she could never forgive him if she did. "He just made his death mean something to me."
"You're going to Winterfell." Edmure nodded.
"How long ago did it happen?"
"Months. Robb went to take care of the Iron Islanders and left her here to stay safe. The day we got the message that you won the battle was the night that Jeyne was strangled. I only let him write the letter because I knew it would go to you." Edmure explained.
Ella nodded slowly. "And I thank you for that. His bones are on the way to Casterly Rock. He will be put to rest."
"And you have come to take your place as queen." Edmure stated.
Ella shook her head. "It is much more complicated. I believe Ned should know his father, don't you?"
"Of course." Edmure agreed as they walked inside.
Jon took Ned out of his little carrier, and held the little boy in one arm. He was already asleep for the night.
"If you like I can have one of the servants put him to bed while we speak." Edmure offered the princess.
"That would be most kind, thank you." Ella said, bowing her head slightly in thanks.
He nodded to one of the women standing against the wall. "Celeste, please."
The young woman nodded, and stepped forward to take the sleeping Ned from Jon's arms before taking him towards the direction of the chambers Ella and him had slept in during their stay at Riverrun.
"How was the battle? We had not heard much other than that you had won." Edmure said.
"No one won that war." Jon said.
"There are no winners in a war." Ella said at the same time.
"Then what do you call what you did?" Edmure asked.
"We succeeded in winning the throne" Ella answered.
"And getting our names put down as the victor's in the history books." Jon added. "But there has been so much death over it. We almost lost Ella."
"What?" Edmure demanded. "No one was ever told that."
"It was best to keep it quiet." Jon said.
"I didn't die anyway. Apparently the Lord of Light saved me, whatever that means." Ella said, before turning to Jon. "You didn't tell anyone?"
"There was nothing they could do, we would have sent word if you had died, but you didn't." Jon told her.
Ella nodded. "Well, bet keep it quiet all together then."
"How were you hurt?" Edmure asked.
"Poisoned arrow." Ella told him. "Shot from my mother's crossbow."
"I am sorry. A good mother would have never done that."
Ella looked down, before looking back up. "It is not your fault. It is my mother's."
"I also heard about your uncle and brother." Edmure said. "Can I at least express my regret for their deaths? They were too young to die."
Ella nodded. "On that we agree. Tommen wasn't even twelve, and Renly was just a few years older than me."
"I am sure his widow grieves."
"For her brother as well." Ella said. "She lost her brother and husband within minutes." In truth, Ella thought that Loras died because Renly died. Apparently they were more than Ella thought they were. They were in love, not just fucking each other. That only made their deaths sadder. So young, and yet Loras chose to die to be with Renly in whatever happens next. Beautiful. Sad. Heartbreaking.
"At least the realm is safe." Edmure said.
Ella and Jon nodded.
"And it will remain safe for the rest of our lives." Jon said. "This war has been enough for a lifetime."
"Agreed." Ella said.
"I think everyone agrees." Edmure said. "They would be fools not to."
XXX
They arrived at Winterfell on time, two days later. The sun was shining, a rare thing in the North. The breeze was still as chilly as always, but there was no snow on the ground. Rhaegal and Viseron landed in the courtyard, and they were greeted by the Starks.
Robb was only able to resist running to her for a moment before he ran to her as she got out of the saddle. He embraced her.
"I had hoped you would come."
Ella let herself give into the embrace. It was just an embrace, right? They hadn't seen each other for nearly a year.
"Don't crush Ned." She whispered before he let her go quickly, and touched Ned's face.
"He's so much bigger."
"And he looks even more like you." Ella said, taking his little carrier off her shoulders, and taking him out of it before leaving it on Viseron's back. She gave Ned to him.
Robb held his son, as Ned looked at him peculiarly, touching his cheek.
"This is your father, Ned." Ella whispered to her son, touching his hair lightly. "This is Papa."
Ned reached for his mother. "Mama."
Ella smiled. "That's right."
Ned reached for Jon, who was hugging his cousins. "Unca."
Ella nodded. "Uncle Jon." She agreed.
Ned patted Robb's face, like he was asking for a name from Ella. Who is holding me, Mother? Who is this man?
"Papa." Ella said softly, placing her hand on Robb's chest. "Papa."
Ned patted Robb's face again. "Papa?" He looked to his mother for confirmation.
"Papa." Ella confirmed.
Ned looked at Robb for a long moment, before patting his face again. "Papa."
Ella could see tears in Robb's blue eyes. "That's right, Ned."
Robb hugged Ned to him tightly, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
XXX
"You didn't tell me that Jeyne Westerling died." Ella said to Robb that night when Ned was fast asleep in his bedchamber. It was finally time for them to talk. They were sitting on a cushioned sofa, facing each other with only the fire in front of them as a source of light.
"Did you get my letter?" Robb asked.
Ella nodded. "I wrote it before she died. I figured if you wanted to speak to me, you could. I knew better than to think you would come back the moment she died."
Ella laughed without humor. "And yet I did."
"She died months ago." Robb said, looking surprised. "How did you just find out?"
"Dany promised me that I would witness my family's trials, and when I was poisoned-"
"You were poisoned?" Robb demanded. "Why wasn't I ever told?"
"Because it was taken care of before anyone needed to know." She explained. "But it left me weak, and it took me months to recover, so my family's trials were held off. She didn't send for Jaime until I said I was ready, and that's when I got a letter from him telling me that he killed Jeyne because she and her family were not to be trusted-I knew that already of course. She all but told me so once."
"What?" Robb obviously had been kept out of the loop of so much. "Why was I not told of any of this?"
"Because I am a stupid girl who is not good in relationships when she's been hurt." Ella told him. "I thought the only way that I could do it was to do it alone, but the moment I had a second to think I regretted it. I should have fought for you."
"No. I shouldn't have married her." Robb replied. "I shouldn't have fucked her. I don't even know what I was thinking. I can hardly believe it was real."
Ella sighed. "Too much wine?"
"More like I was living a nightmare." He replied. "You were taken from me. I just wanted you back. I only ever wanted you."
"Jeyne said you said my name when you were with her." Ella whispered.
"It has only ever been you." Robb whispered back. "You were the one who has haunted every moment of my life since we met."
"You still want me?" Ella asked
"Forever and always." He said.
"It's going to take some time to work through this." She told him.
"I don't care if it takes years." He said. "Just having you here is enough."
"Then, I think I'll stay."
A/N: So, all that is left now is the epilogue, which I will upload tomorrow.
DarylDixon'sLover: Well, she is staying. Thank you for your review!
CLTex: Thank you! Yes, they are friends and will remain so. Thank you for your review!
darkwolf76: Yes, and that's why he did it. He loves Ella, and he knows the Westerlings aren't the best people to have on the throne. Thank you for your review!
danceegirl92: He chose how he would die (because we both know Daenerys would be unable to let him go after he killed her father). Thank you for your review!
Kalyle07: Don't be late for class! Classes are good! I thought all classes were out for the summer, though..? Oh well. Thank you for being late just to read and review! Thank you for your review!
ladybluerose21: Yep, I'm pretty much going off what I know of the books with Jeyne, and it is canon. Thank you for your review!
Please review!
Kat
