AN: I wanted to start this out with a warning, if you are a die hard Robb fan you may end up very angry with me for this chap and I wanted to defend myself ahead of time. Robb is still really young and is burdened with more than any man can usually handle, much less one so young. He loves Ella but he's frustrated and rightly so with her lack of understanding with what he must do to keep his family safe. My Robb is not exactly the same Robb from the book and show, I've made him more flawed so that he has more to overcome in this story. That being said Ella is also very flawed, because she is so young too and she feels she really has no power over her own life. Her loyalties are divided and she doesn't want to see anyone she loves die, much less by the man she loves. She isn't going to just sit back and allow him to hurt those she loves without a fight. Please remember that when you read this and I promise things will get better. They both have to make a lot of mistakes before they can learn from it, and hopefully become even stronger.

I also wanted to thank you for your kind reviews, and promise that I'll be posting the next chapter very soon!

Chapter 37

It was indeed a rare day that Ella ever thought she'd be seeing things through Cersei's point of view, but on this day when she awoke in the arms of her husband, she finally saw what Cersei meant all of those times when she told her she felt trapped in an unhappy marriage to a man she hated.

Was hate too strong a word? Could she hate the man she gave her heart to, the man she gave her body and soul to?

Yes, she could. Because this same man took her heart and broke it.

So when she awoke feeling his arms around her, and his slow breath on her neck, she wanted nothing more than to shove him off of her. But realizing that would likely end badly, she slowly and gently removed his arm and as quietly as she could. climbed out of the bed.

She didn't get two steps away before his voice scared the living daylights out of her.

"Trying to escape?" His voice sounded tired but alert, clearly he hadn't been asleep as she thought.

Ella pushed away the growing sense of dread as she turned to face him, and schooled her features to show none of the resentment she felt. Hostility certainly wouldn't get her anywhere, and it surely wouldn't help Tryion.

"No. I didn't want to wake you." His eyes traveled over her face, looking for deception... if he saw any he didn't let on.

"Please come back to bed. It's still dark out, I'd like to spend as much time as holding you as possible."

She nodded her acquiescence, as if she really had a choice in the matter and climbed back in bed. She faced away from him so that his arms wrapped around her from behind. She didn't think she could look into his eyes without showing how she really felt.

A couple of minutes passed before his hands moved under the shift she was wearing. She didn't remember removing her dress the night before, but she had been so distraught she wouldn't have noticed him removing it.

The hands she once craved found their way to her hips, gripping them hard as he ground his arousal against her backside. His lips found her neck where he placed hot wet kisses.

"I love you so much," the words whispered against her hair made her insides twist painfully, her throat tighten to the point of pain and her head to ache. One hand traveled to her thigh to lift it and her eyes closed tightly.

No. It was too much. She couldn't pretend to be okay and let him make love to her while he still planned to murder her family.

"Please don't." She whimpered out.

He suddenly released her, running his hands through his hair in a manic sort of way. She took this as the opportunity to escape the bed and fling herself as far from him as possible.

"You have to forgive me. I'm not doing this to hurt you, I'm doing it because I must." Robb's voice was strained and she could tell he didn't want to be having this conversation.

She scoffed as she grabbed the dress her handmaiden had laid out for her.

"You're doing this because you have to? Please tell me how Tyrion is a threat to you, because I'm failing to see what he's done to deserve death."

"You don't see it because you do not want to. It was his knife that was used by the assassin who tried to murder Bran while he lay unconscious and helpless. If it hadn't been for Summer he would have been slain in his bed as your family intended."

"Tyrion did not have anything to do with that!" She shouted back, frustrated that he didn't see the truth when it was so clear to anyone.

"He didn't? Did you ask him?" Robb returned, equally frustrated by how easily she believed that Tyrion was innocent.

"No, because I didn't have to! I know him better than I know anyone and I know he would never do such a thing. It was probably Cersei or Joffrey, but I can assure you it most certainly was not Tyrion." She swallowed and looked away from him. "Or Jaime for that matter!" She added half heartily.

This made him scoff back at her. "So the Kingslayer is too noble for such an act? You forget who pushed my brother from that tower? Noble isn't something that your brother is known for."

Ella gripped her hair in frustration as she growled back. "Okay, Jaime did do that, and he may have even been aware that there was an assassin hired, but not Tyrion! Punish Jaime and Cersei if you must, but Tyrion is innocent of any crimes against your family."

"I cannot leave him alive Ella! He may not be guilty of these crimes, but he has the means to come after my family once I kill Jaime. He won't care why I did what I did, he will look for revenge and I cannot put our family at risk like that. He must be taken care of before he has the opportunity!"

"Fine!" She screamed, but then took a few steps closer pointing at him."Kill him if that makes you feel safe, but know that I will never forgive you for it. And hell will freeze over before I allow you to touch me again!"

"Enough!" He finally said though Ella wasn't entirely sure if the command was directed at her or not. She tried not to gasp when, without warning, he closed the distance between them in a couple of steps and grabbed her by her arm, flinging her to the bed.

When he moved to climb over her she scrambled away, squeaking when he yanked her back by her ankle.

"No Robb!" He ignored her and began to attack her neck with sloppy, aggressive kisses.

Panic over took her and she fought back. "No!" When he continued she started to struggle harder."I said NO!" The slap she delivered to his cheek echoed throughout the room and left her hand stinging.

Robb froze and pulled away to stare down at her in horror.

"I…" he tried and she shoved him off of her and jumped from the bed. She didn't bother grabbing for her robe before she flung the chamber door open and ran out, unsure where she was running to. She was oblivious to the stunned guards who watched her run half naked down the hallway. One moved to follow when Robb moved to stand in the doorway, the look he gave them was enough to freeze them in place.

It was made clear just by a look that if this got out, the Young Wolf would be taking heads.

XXX

Ella ran down the hall, not caring that she may be causing a scene.

Robb had almost taken her against her will. The feral look in his eyes when he tossed her onto the bed had actually terrified her. She couldn't see the man she loved in those eyes and she wondered if this was her punishment for giving herself to a man so quickly that wasn't her husband. Did she bring this on herself? She gave herself willingly to him, never once considering her actions.

She finally ended up in a darkened stairwell that was hidden near the back of the castle, just outside the room that Catelyn was murdered in. It was ironic that she ended up here, when Catelyn had been the one who warned her in the beginning what her actions would cause.

All of the pretty imaginings of her happy future were gone, wiped away with the pitiful sobs and overwhelming sadness and self pity.

Had Robb changed or was it her who had never truly seen him? Did he truly have the capability to hurt her? Did she not mean enough to him or did his misguided sense of duty to protect his family mean more than her feelings? Would he really risk losing her love to ensure that Tyrion wouldn't be able to seek revenge upon him?

She knew without a doubt that Tyrion did not have anything to do with the attempt on Bran's life. But she did know that partly what Robb said was true. Tyrion loved and adored Jaime, always had and he would seek revenge against the man who took him away.

But deep down she knew Tyrion loved her too, and he would never seek to hurt her either.

Confusion swept over her and she knew she needed to speak to Tyrion before she did anything else. He would not lie to her, and if what Robb says is true, then that changes things.

If she had to choose between Tyrion and Robb then the answer was clear.

She would choose Robb.

So with that, she hastily wiped her tears and gathered herself up. She must speak to Tyrion, but first she needed to put on a dress before she caused more of a scene than she already had.

XXX

She was thankful to make it back to their chambers without being seen in just her shift, and even more thankful when she saw that Robb wasn't there.

She quickly laced up her dress and pulled her tangled curls into a braid, checking herself in the looking glass before leaving to find Tyrion.

She knew Robb had him moved frequently, and decided Edmure would be the mostly likely to let his location slip.

It didn't take long before she entered the west end of the Castle where Tyrion was being kept.

The guards on the other-hand refused her entry and swiftly sent for Robb as they ignored her screeched protests.

Robb appeared minutes later without a word and took her by the arm and escorted her back to their room. He said nothing after closing the door, and instead went to stare out of the window. With his back to her, she couldn't tell his mood and that made her anxious. The silence seemed to go on forever.

"Come here." Ella hesitated.

"Please." His voice was softer now.

She approached him warily, until she was just a few feet away. Enough space to run if she had to.

"You will not be allowed to see the Imp." He said bluntly.

The word 'Imp' infuriated her, and she knew he said it for that purpose.

"His name is Lord Tryion, he is heir to Casterly Rock so you should address him as such." She said spitefully.

"I'm a King and he is my prisoner. I'll call him what I like." His voice was cold.

"You're no King, if anything you're just another Usurper." She bit back.

His chuckle startled her and the mirth behind it had her inching further away from him. This was not the man she knew and even though she was furious, she wasn't stupid. If he wanted to he could easily snap her neck. She no longer trusted this man not to hurt her.

"Its funny you have the nerve to say that to me. You, who so easily spread your thighs for me, a man who is your father's enemy. If I'm a Usurper, you're a Usurper's whore."

With those hateful words, she knew there was nothing left for her to say. Whatever love he claimed to have for her was clearly long gone and dead. He would not be merciful and release her brother. Any pleading words would be wasted on him. They were done and so was she.

"I'm ready to go to Winterfell. How long will it be before we can leave?" Her voice was emotionless.

Robb hesitated and turned, but she didn't see it. She had already turned her back to him and was busy gathering her things that hadn't been packed yet.

He watched her move about the room as he struggled to control the anguish that had taken over him. He felt as if his soul was being torn away, the worst kind of agony a man can suffer. She hated him and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He would not, and could not pardon Tryion without risking his family, and after losing so many people he loved, he would not risk losing another member of House Stark.

He would pay the price for keeping his family safe. A large part of him was angry with her for not understanding, for not seeing that he has no other choice. She promised to stand by him, and her threats to stop loving him infuriated him. He would not apologize for making a difficult choice and he would not beg for forgiveness to his own wife, a wife who did not support him.

"You will be leaving after sundown." He finally responded. She froze in her folding and looked up at him in confusion.

"Sundown? Why would we leave in the dark?"

"I do not want your fathers spies to see you leave. The darkness should help with concealing you."

She nodded and returned to packing. Most of her belongings were already in her trunk so she didn't have much to do. Robb watched her out of the corner of his eye.

When she came across one of his older tunics that she often slept in, he held his breath wondering if she would take it. It was faded with age and thin but she told him it always smelled of him, even after washing it. She wore it when he wasn't able to come to bed, whether in battle or up late strategizing with his council. It always brought a smile to his face seeing her in it, along with the pride of knowing she was truly his, even if he wasn't there.

She stared down at it thoughtfully before tossing it aside as if it disgusted her.

He sucked in a breath as if she had punched him in the gut.

Hurt soon turned to rage as she carelessly pushed his things aside while collecting the rest of her things.

He wanted to hurt her like she hurt him.

Without thinking, he moved away from the window towards the bed, unlacing his breeches as he went.

"I'd like you to perform your wifely duty before you go. A King needs an heir and who knows how long it will take to win this war."

He watched as her back straightened, and for a second he thought she would out right refuse him. Maybe even attack him. He was shocked and even more angered when she took a deep breath and turned around. Her face was completely blank as she stripped out of her dress and moved to lay on the bed, not once looking at him.

He felt sick, and wasn't surprised that his member was just as sick with him as he was with himself. It was humiliating for her to finally look down at his flaccid cock and smirk at him.

That smirk was all of the encouragement he needed.

One hand moved to grope one of her breasts while the other moved between her legs. He expertly stroked her folds, secretly enjoying the look on her face as she pretended not to be affected by his touch. It didn't take long to prepare her and the feeling of her being so wet and tight was enough to make him hard enough to enter her.

He took her roughly, grunting with every thrust of his hips. The only noises in the room were his occasional grunts and the sound of his hips smacking into her. She was able to keep quiet, but he felt the way she clenched around him. She was enjoying it.

His smile infuriated her and she took control, pushing him onto his back and riding him harshly.

It was too much, and he started to lose control. His hands gripped her hips as he helped her ride him.

"Oh gods," she moaned and he nodded.

"Feel that? You're mine, you may not admit it but your body doesn't lie."

The glare she gave him for his words was almost comical. She gripped his hair and yanked his head back making him grunt in pain.

"You feel that?" She grinded even harder, and he idly wondered if it was possible to actually break ones cock.

"You will never.." she released the grip on his hair to grab his hands, moving them to cover her bouncing breasts. He was mesmerized as he watched her round pert breasts bounce..."Ever..." she used his fingers to tweak her nipples..."Ever..."she released his hands and let him take over fondling her. Her hand reached between them to rub her nub, "Ever..." he felt her walls clenching around him so tightly she almost pushed him out as she came. That was enough to push him over the edge as he started to let go."Have this again." With that she moved off of him, as he started to cum in quick spurts all over his stomach. He growled in disbelief and anger as she started to redress herself.

He lay in a sweaty heap on his back staring at her in shock and bewilderment. She dressed quickly and turned to him.

"Do not ever treat me as your whore. I may be your wife but I'll kill you before you ever force yourself onto me like that again. I sure as hell won't bare your children so you should probably pick up a mistress on your way home because you will never be inside me again."

With that she left, slamming the door behind her.

No one heard his shouted curse.

xxx

Ella refused to look at him as she walked through the doors into the courtyard. It was dark and she was glad he couldn't see her face. She considered begging him to allow her to say goodbye to Tyrion but thought better of it. He would not do anything to make her happy, especially after her performance just hours before.

Never had she been more insulted when he demanded her to bed him as if she was obligated to. Yes, she knew it was a wife's duty to lay with her husband to give him heirs. But she wasn't just some commoner who was treated like a meaningless whore. She was a Lannister, a lioness and she would never let anyone treat her that way. She'd cut his cock off if he ever tried to do that again. And though she said it, she would kill him in his sleep if he dared bring home a mistress. She didn't pity her sister often, but the one thing she did feel sympathy about was how Robert had brought women into their home and rubbed his infidelity in her face.

She knew Cersei allowed it after years of endearing it, and likely didn't care for him the way she cared for Robb. Even with all of her anger, the love was still there and she would toss any woman he dared to bring into their home out on her ass. Of course after she cut his cock off and shoved it down his throat.

Arya's voice interrupted her violent thoughts. "Why does Gendry get to ride on a horse while I get stuck in the carriage? He barely knows how to ride a horse!"

Ella sighed. "Sometimes life isn't' fair, and men often get what they don't earn." Her bitterness leaked out with every word.

Arya looked at her in shock before looking behind them to Robb who was glaring at their backs, following behind as he quietly spoke to the Hound.

When they reached the carriage, Robb hugged Arya and placed a kiss on her forehead as he helped her in. He held out his hand for Ella who was staring back at the castle. Panic started to overwhelm her as she realized she would never see Tyrion again.

She felt like she couldn't breathe. She started to take little gasps of air but her lungs felt as if they were closing. Dark spots started to dance across her vision.

"Ella," Robb's voice sounded worried. She turned and took a step to reach for his hand when her knees gave out and she collapsed. Robb's face looked frantic as he tried to catch her, but thankfully the Hound was closer and he caught her just before she hit the ground. He swiftly picked her up as she started to cry.

Robb moved to take her out of his hands when she suddenly started to scream and fight him, frantically calling Tyrion's name.

Everyone in the courtyard watched in shock as she kicked, screamed and cried as it took both the Hound and Robb to get her into the carriage. Arya moved to help restrain her until finally she fainted and they were able to lay her across the seat.

Once she was settled Arya turned to Robb, mouth open ready to yell at him for being such a bastard. The tears on his cheeks kept the words from escaping, and suddenly it was clear.

Arya saw the torment in his eyes. He didn't want to hurt Ella, it was killing him to do so. She knew Robb had changed from the man he used to be, the man their father raised to always do right, no matter what. Those principles their father clung to got him killed. Arya knew better than most his reasons behind his actions and she understood him. He was sacrificing himself and his love for Ella to keep them all safe.

And Arya found herself loving and respecting him even more for it. She only hoped to convince Ella the same before it was too late.