A/N: Please don't hate me for this chapter, I feel bad enough as it is!
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Protector
The next morning Robb and I walked into the dining hall and exchanged a surprised glance when we noticed that Theon and Sansa were already seated. "Morning your Graces," Theon greeted, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. We both returned his greeting and sat ourselves opposite them instead of at the high table where we usually sat. I looked to Sansa when I was seated and she smiled widely at me, a small blush rising on her cheeks and I knew that whatever fears she had held about her wedding night had long gone. "So," Robb began; "how do you fancy a round in the tiltyard before you return to Radlan?" he asked Theon.
"You would drag me from my wife the morning after we are wed?" Theon countered amusedly.
"You have spent the night abed with my sister, the least you can do is let me beat you in the yard before you go," Robb replied.
"I don't remember me stealing you from the Queen's side like this," Theon chuckled.
"Ailsa's not your sister," Robb returned at once.
"She may as well be," Theon protested.
"You two are as bad as each other," I said incredulously, "honestly Sansa, can you believe them?"
"Unfortunately I can," she replied rolling her eyes and smiling slightly at Theon.
"Do you mind terribly if I teach your brother a lesson at archery?" Theon asked her.
"No," she smiled, "I still have to finish packing anyway"
"I won't be long," he replied, standing up from the table.
"Will you wish me luck?" Robb asked me as he too stood.
"No," I said simply and he laughed.
"A kiss then?" he insisted and I sighed.
"Very well," I said heavily, turning my face up to him so he could peck my lips.
"Is it really such a chore?" he smiled at me when he straightened up.
"I suppose not," I conceded and he rolled his eyes before walking towards the door with Theon.
"Sansa, how upset will you be if I kill your husband?" he called back from the doorway.
"Very," she pouted.
"Wound?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Wound him I wound you," she muttered darkly and the pair of them laughed.
"Same goes for you Theon!" I called out as they disappeared out the door.
"Men," both Sansa and I said in unison as we caught each other's eye.
We heard little from Sansa and Theon in the months that followed, except a letter to say that they had arrived at Radlan safely and a few other short notes from Sansa saying that she was settling in well and getting to grips with being a Lady of her own house. I wasn't surprised that we heard so little from them, when Robb and I were first married I had barely a moment to myself between doing my duties around Winterfell and doing my duty by him. He strode across the courtyard towards me one blustery afternoon as I was returning from the Maester, a huge smile spread across his face. I looked at him curiously for a second and he raised his hand in response and I saw a letter held in it. "Good news?" I questioned.
"From Radlan," he replied, taking my hand with his free one.
"Tell me," I urged as a teasing smile played at his lips.
"Sansa is with child," he told me and I felt my own smile spread across my face.
"She is not the only one," I confessed after a moment, tightening my hand around his.
"Are you …?" he began, but tailed off as I nodded my head happily; "I cannot believe it!" he exclaimed.
"Believe it Robb, our family is set to get bigger!" I said excitedly.
"Come here," he returned brightly, pulling me tight into his arms.
"I love you," I breathed out against him as he ran a hand through my hair.
"And I love you," he whispered, kissing the top of my head; "I love you so, so much."
I read Sansa's letter through carefully as we sat at dinner, aware that Robb's eyes were fixed attentively on me. When I reached the end of it I turned and smiled at him; "her baby will come a few months before ours I think," I told him quietly.
"I can't believe you're with child again," he said wonderingly.
"Hush Robb," I scolded, checking about us to make sure no one had heard him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, taking my hand, "I am just so happy"
"We both are," I assured him, squeezing his hand; "but you know we can't say anything until it stirs"
"I know," he smiled, lifting my hand to brush his lips across the back of it.
"The way you are behaving everyone will know soon enough," I smiled despite myself.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"The way you are looking at me Robb, people are bound to notice," I replied.
"How am I looking at you?" he questioned, his eyes clouded with confusion.
"Like I have just performed some miracle," I laughed.
"You are performing one," he said, glancing down at my stomach with a smile.
"You're doing it again!" I scolded.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it!" he said a laugh escaping him now.
"Try," I said firmly.
"If you let me take you to bed no one will see how I'm looking at you," he suggested with a smirk.
"Robb Stark! Is there anything you cannot use to get me to bed?" I asked incredulously.
"I have yet to find anything," he replied.
"I am already with child … what is your excuse?" I whispered, leaning in close to him.
"Do I really need one?" he answered back softly, gazing into my eyes for the longest time.
The next morning the news of my pregnancy seemed to have better sunk in to Robb and he was treating me more normally as we sat and ate breakfast together while he read though some letters the Maester had brought. Grey Wind was sat at my side and he kept looking up at me, his eyes wide; I watched him curiously for a while and I began to wonder if it was possible that he knew I was with child. I chewed my food slowly, still gazing at the wolf half suspiciously until Robb roused my attention; "this may interest you," he said, laying the letter he had been reading aside.
"How so?" I asked, moving my eyes from Grey Wind to him.
"The Imp has arrived safely in Pentos," he told me.
"Why would that interest me?" I questioned, furrowing my brow.
"Do you not think the Kingslayer would like to know?" he replied.
"Of course," I sighed, "yes … I will go and see him after breakfast"
"You don't have to," Robb said with a slight frown.
"I know I don't, but I want to," I smiled reassuringly.
"I still don't understand it," he admitted, and I knew he meant my friendliness towards Jaime.
"Perhaps you should stop trying," I suggested.
"Perhaps," he agreed heavily and I lay a hand on his knee gently.
"Do you know what I think?" I asked after a moment.
"What do you think?" he smiled at me.
"I think Grey Wind knows," I told him.
"Knows what?" he questioned.
"About the baby," I said, dropping my voice low.
"It wouldn't surprise me," he chuckled and I patted his knee affectionately before standing up.
"Well I trust he won't tell anyone," I said, raising an eyebrow before bending to kiss Robb lightly.
"I'm sure he won't" he replied teasingly.
"I will see you later," I told him as I began to head towards the door.
"Take care of yourself!" he called after me and I couldn't help but smile as I made my way out.
"Is Ser Jaime awake?" I asked Ralof as I entered the prison.
"Yes your Grace," he bowed to me; "I have just come from giving him breakfast"
"Good," I smiled; "I have news for him about his brother"
"We will be here if you need us your Grace," he smiled back.
"Aren't you always," I said teasingly before I made my way towards the steps. I descended them slowly, careful to place as much of my foot as possible on each step, determined that I would not slip and fall. I took a deep breath when I reached the bottom as I always did when I made it down them unscathed; it still amazed me that the guards ran up and down them without a second thought. Jaime was sat up against the wall of his cell when I approached and he smiled up at me as I came to a stop at the bars. "Good morning little Queen," he greeted.
"Good morning," I returned, "I've brought news for you"
"Who's dead?" he asked me.
"No one!" I said, aghast at his assumption and he laughed at me.
"Then I know it's not bad," he smiled.
"It might be," I countered.
"Is it?" he asked.
"No," I smiled; "we received word from your brother this morning, he has arrived in Pentos"
"Good for him," Jaime said testily.
"I thought you'd be pleased," I said.
"I am," he sighed; "I just wish he'd stayed here"
"If he had stayed here Robb would have lost patience with him long ago," I smiled.
"I suppose you're right," he chuckled. I laughed with him for a moment but we both stopped immediately as the sound of clashing swords drifted down the stairs. For a second I thought they were merely practicing but then I heard the sound of a man cry out in agony and fear rose instantly up into my chest.
Jaime was on his feet in an instant and at the bars of his cell; "let me out!" he insisted.
"What?!" I asked him incredulously.
"Do you mean to defend yourself?" he asked, looking me dead in the eye.
"I …" I began, unsure of what I was going to say.
"I will protect you!" he promised fiercely and I made up my mind in an instant. I grabbed the keys from the hook on the wall and spread them out, trying to work out which one it was as I heard the sound of footsteps on the steps. "It's that one," Jaime told me hurriedly and I fumbled with it for a second before I managed to jam it into the lock and turn it. He pushed open the door of his cell at once and in an instant had darted passed me and pulled a sword down from the rack, picking up a battered looking shield that was propped against the wall. He weighed them in his hand for a second before turning to glance at me; "stay well back, behind me!" he demanded and I managed to nod as the figures of three men approached us.
"What's this?" a gruff voice asked.
"A man protecting his Lady?" another added mockingly.
"Not my Lady," Jaime replied, "but I will protect her"
"You think so?" a third voice chimed in.
"I give him a minute," the first man said and the others laughed nastily. One of them came forward then and Jaime raised his sword in an instant; they clashed against one another for a few moments but then Jaime wrong footed the man and he collapsed to the floor, blood gushing from a slash across his chest. "Who's next?" Jaime asked menacingly.
They both went for him then and I backed away as far as I could until the top of my legs bumped into the table in the corner. Jaime seemed well able to match them but every clash of steel on steel made my heart pound harder and harder. I prayed that someone would hear the commotion and come to our aid; I did not even want to think of the fate that had befallen Ralof and Ivar at the top of the steps. I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably as Jaime's sword cut through another man's neck as easily as if it were butter, blood spraying everywhere. When the man fell he knocked Jaime slightly off balance and the third man managed to get passed him, his eyes fixed on me. "No!" Jaime roared, throwing himself at the man and managing to grab at his legs, sending him tumbling through the air, his head hitting the wall with a sickening crunch. Before I could react his lifeless body slumped to the side, the weight of him catching my shoulder and sending me flying. I tried to put my hands out to stop my fall but I was too late as I crashed into the table, an agonising pain ripping through my stomach, making me cry out before I had even hit the floor. Jaime was at my side in seconds but I already knew it was too late, I could feel the warm stickiness trickling down my thighs and I clutched desperately at my stomach, knowing that my baby was being torn from me. "Little Queen?" Jaime said concernedly, his hand coming gently to my cheek as tears spilled silently from my eyes.
"It's too late," I whispered. At my words he glanced down, his eyes widening in horror and I realised that the blood must be soaking through my gown.
"Don't say that," he told me fiercely, picking me up easily in his arms and walking towards the steps.
"My baby's gone," I murmured quietly as he climbed the steps, my hand still pressed to my stomach.
The next minutes were a blur, I heard voices as though from far away, instructions given although I couldn't work out what they were. Before I knew it, I was no longer in Jaime's arms but laying on my bed, Maester Luwin examining me as tears rolled silently down my cheeks again. I heard him sigh heavily and I blinked, focusing on his face that had just appeared above me; "I'm so sorry your Grace," he said softly and I managed to nod, I had already known the worst had happened, I had felt it.
"Where's Robb?" I managed to whisper after a while.
"He rode out this morning your Grace, he will be sent straight to you when he returns," he told me.
"Jaime?" I asked.
"The guards are taking care of him, but he is fine … just a few scratches"
"Ivar and Ralof?" I remembered suddenly.
"Ivar is dead your Grace," he told me heavily, "Ralof is badly wounded"
"You should be with him," I insisted; "there is nothing more you can do for me"
"I will stay until the King returns," he replied gently. I didn't have the will to argue with him and I turned my face away from him after a while as the knowledge that my baby was gone finally began to sink in. Eventually Osha came to my side; "your bath is ready your Grace," she told me quietly and I managed to pull myself up and out of bed. Her hand lay gently on the small of my back as I walked behind the screen, my hands shook as I tried to undo the ties of my dress and she came forward at once to help me. The blood was even more noticeable on my white underskirts and I felt sick at the sight, turning my head away and closing my eyes for a moment. "I'll get rid of them your Grace," Osha told me, clearly noticing my discomfort.
"Burn them," I said quietly, "I don't want to see that dress again"
"Of course your Grace," she agreed before helping me step into the warm bath. She helped me wash myself all over and I was grateful to her, wishing I had the words to tell her just how much.
I heard the door open and close as Osha finished helping me dry and I tied my robe about me, thinking that the Maester must have finally left. When I moved out from behind the screen though I froze, the Maester was still there and now Robb had joined him, his eyes clouded with confusion as they looked at me. He didn't know, that much was obvious; I felt tears sting my eyes then as I thought of how devastated he would be; "I'm sorry," I choked out, "I'm so, so sorry Robb!"
"What's happened?" he asked me softly, coming forward at once and holding the tops of my arms gently. I shook my head as tears fell even faster down my cheeks and I closed my eyes, feeling his hands try and brush them away. "It's gone," I managed to whisper after a moment; "our baby's gone Robb I'm sorry!" I was in his arms in an instant, his hands rubbing soothingly up and down my back as he moved me back towards the bed. He lay me down gently and stroked a hand through my hair as I grabbed his other tightly, not wanting him to leave me. "How did this happen?" he asked, looking not to me but Maester Luwin.
"It seems three Wildlings came into Winterfell your Grace … they killed Ivar and badly wounded Ralof before moving down into the prison. My best guess is they were looking to free some of their comrades you have imprisoned there, but we may never know as they all now lay dead," Maester Luwin began and I saw Robb's brow furrow in confusion.
"What has that to do with Ailsa?" he asked.
"Her Grace was in the prison visiting Jaime Lannister," the Maester said and I felt Robb's hand tighten around mine; "she let him out of his cell and he took up arms to protect her, at least that is what he has told us … I have not asked the Queen, it didn't seem the right time," he continued. Robb looked at me then, and I managed to nod my head slightly and he sighed heavily.
"Go on," he said to Maester Luwin.
"Ser Jaime says that he managed to best two of them but the third went for the Queen," Maester Luwin began again and I saw a murderous look cross Robb's features; "he managed to bring him down but in the commotion the Queen was knocked off balance and she fell …" the Maester tailed off and I felt Robb's eyes on me again. Eventually I managed to lift my own gaze to his and saw that his own eyes were full of tears; "what can I do?" he asked me desperately, "tell me what I can do"
"Hold me," I managed to whisper and I saw a tear slide down his cheek.
"Can you leave us?" he asked Maester Luwin and Osha. They both murmured their agreement and I heard them move about the room and then the sound of the door open and close. Robb lay down next to me then and pulled me gently into his arms, I clung to him, burying my face in his chest and trying to take comfort from his familiar scent and the feeling of his warm arms surrounding me.
A/N: I'm sorry, I felt so mean doing that but I think this story was due some tragedy. I also needed to move Jaime on a little more and I hope I have, please let me know what you think, this was a really tough one to write and I hope I handled the subject okay.