It's so crazy to think that this story is already on Chapter 50. So I know I've been missing in action for the past couple weeks and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. The reason I wasn't updating was because I was super busy out there in the real world, and also because I spent a lot of time pre-writing! The bad news is that I'm three chapters away from finishing all the pre-writing and coming up with the ending. But the good news is that there's still a lot of chapters I still have to post, so this story won't offically be ending for some time!
Thank-you: guest (Hana), guest (Maddie), Bloom1234, Tarias, sapphira1526grey, Enjolras123, iShouldBeaDisneyPrincess, Stylin'Fire, darkwolf76, The Cynical Nerd, Daybreak96, All Star Imagination, CLTex, guest (Carley) ZabuzasGirl, Sparky She-Demon, DarylDixon'sLover, and the other guest who reviewed. Honestly I can't say thank-you enough for all your kind words, they inspire me so much! Oh! And I'm glad you're all satisfied and ecstatic Baby Stark is still alive! :)
So this chapter isn't my best, but I felt like I just needed to get it out there, since it's been so long since I update. Sorry about the quality, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway.
Chapter 50
It had taken some time for Iseis to gather herself up to see Sansa. She was nervous to see the girl, and a bit guilty. She had no idea how Sansa would react to seeing her, or if she wanted to see her at all.
But regardless, after a bit if coaxing from herself Iseis travelled down the halls of the Red Keep. The news her un-born child was still alive brought some happiness to Iseis, but it only further reminded her that Robb was dead and not coming back. It also created an immense build up of fear inside her as well. Iseis knew if her mother, Joffrey, or grandfather were to find out, they would kill her child after she had it. Iseis didn't doubt that she would even have hold her child before it was whisked away and slaughtered.
She cringed when she thought of it and put her hand on her stomach, as a way of protecting it as she walked. Iseis couldn't lose her baby, it was all she had. It was all the North had, the last remaining Stark was growing in her belly, and it was up to Iseis to protect it.
As she walked, Iseis passed a Kingsguard, who looked up at her and suddenly smiled. His smile was almost as bright as his shinning armor, and when he saw her his eyes lit up.
"Iseis!" He smiled and walked forward to her.
Iseis was taken aback, wondering who this blond-headed stranger was. He seemed familiar, but Iseis couldn't exactly remember.
"They said you were back, but I knew I wouldn't believe them until I saw you with my own eyes!" He really did have a dazzling smile and an attractive face, there was no point trying to deny that. "It's been a long time," The stranger added.
Iseis only starred blankly at the man, not saying anything while trying to figure out where she knew him. It has been so long ago, Iseis was shocked on what all had changed and all the people she had forgotten.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" The man sighed, his smile fading and disappointment instead of joy flashed in his brown eyes.
"No, of course I know who you are!" Iseis lied, knowing that his name was right on the tip of her tongue "You're... You're Aries Roth." She finally remembered the name.
Good gods, she had not thought of him for some time. In fact, the moment she was away from the Capital he had completely slipped her mind. Her mother had once wanted him to court her, wanting a marriage to come out of it after they came back from Winterfell. Yet Iseis did not want him, he always bored her and she never felt the connection with him after she felt such a strong one with Robb.
"I thought you didn't remember me," He smiled again
"Yes, well..." She cleared her throat "Like you said, it's been a long time."
"You've changed." He pursed his lips and Iseis could tell he was trying hard not to look at her stomach, which was obvious was with child. "I heard about what happened, about Robb Stark taking you as his prisoner."
Iseis sighed as she began walking, to her displeasure he was walking with her "Yes, it seems the entire realm has heard about it,"
"He made you his Queen, didn't he? He forced you to marry him?" Aries meant it as an innocent question, but it offended Iseis. Her mother had sunk her claws so deeply into everyone, making them believe Robb forced her against her will.
"Listen," Iseis said with some coldness in her voice "I don't know what lies you have been told, and I don't care either. But my husband did not force me to do anything."
Aries nodded, looking a bit surprised "Well then, I'm sorry how everything turned up."
Iseis almost scoffed, because she knew he wasn't sorry. If he was sorry he wouldn't have continued talking about it and inflicting more pain upon her.
"I just never expected you to turn your back on your family," He shrugged as they kept walking. Iseis only wanted to get rid of him, she didn't want to talk to him; especially since he was a past suitor.
"Yes, one does funny thing for love, I suppose" Iseis said plainly, only wanting to change the subject.
"Love?" Aries almost snickered with a laugh "You actually loved him? It wasn't just to become Queen?"
Iseis stopped and looked at him, anger in her eyes. He looked back at her completely unaware what he had just said and naivety and ignorance washed over his features. "Of course I married him for love! In fact, I am offended that you think I am so shallow, just like every other person in this city, that you thought I married the man I loved for a title and for a crown." Iseis almost hissed, not caring to be polite of descent.
Aries almost seemed taken back by her answer, Iseis could tell he wanted to say something but he only put his head down and swallowed "I'm sorry, my lady."
"I'm not your lady, Aries." Iseis corrected him "And if you call me that; at least call me by my proper titles. I'm sick of people insisting on calling me 'Princess'."
"Your proper title?" He frowned "Which is what? Surely you don't expect people to call you the Queen in the North?" He almost laughed and Iseis felt a burning in the pit of her stomach as she almost felt disgusted by him.
"My proper title is Lady Stark and I'd appreciated it if one person at least called me that." She continued to say coldly as she continued walking
"You really have changed..." Aries said again "Did the Northerners have that much of affect on you?" Iseis supposed she was being rather rude, but she didn't care.
"My time with the Northerns has made me different." She agreed
"You're more bold than you used to be. But I don't mean it as an offense, my Lady... Erm, Lady Stark... I like it actually."
She was sick of him. Not only did she not want to talk to him in the first place, but he insisted on continuing a conversation she did not want to be in. Iseis almost rolled her eyes, "You are a Kingsguard, are you not?"
"I am." He nodded, confused
"Then why don't you do your job and actually go guard something?" And leave me alone, she wanted to add. Iseis would prefer if he stopped following her like a lost puppy. He did this even before she left North, and it was just as annoying back then as it was now.
"I am guarding something. I'm guarding you." He smiled
"I don't need guarding." Iseis said sharply
"Then what do you need?" He asked her, stopping in his tracks
"Peace and quiet." Iseis grumbled, all she wanted was to be left alone.
"Then you shall have it. Good day, Princess.. Er, I mean, Lady Stark." He bowed and began to walk away, finally leaving Iseis to her herself.
Yet when Iseis was by herself the thoughts came back and her walls yet again came crumbling down. She wasn't strong, she was broken. Her mind focused on the pain and Iseis only wanted to see a face she knew and trusted...
She sighed and then continued to Sansa's chambers. She continued walking until she reached it, looking at the door with a blank expression.
Her heart raced as pain creeped back in, and Iseis felt tears well up in her eyes as she thought of what she could possibly say to Sansa.
Iseis took a deep breath, still staring at the door and then raised her hand to knock. Iseis swallowed in fear as she thought of turning away, knowing she couldn't possibly look at Sansa in the eye.
Only moments ago, Iseis acted as though she had it all back together when she saw Aries, but she really didn't. She had only acted that way so he would not question her more. Because Iseis truly couldn't bear to talk about it. Because talking about it only made her re-live it.
The door suddenly opened and Sansa stood there, looking more beautiful than Iseis even remembered. She had grown so much and Iseis realized just how much she looked like Cat, seeing her brought tears to her eyes.
"Iseis?" Sansa asked. She looked pale and as though she had not slept for days. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and Iseis knew she was suffering just as much as she was.
Suddenly the two embraced like sisters and both girls started crying. Sansa held Iseis tightly as they both sobbed and Iseis held her back.
"I'm so sorry," Iseis sobbed, "I'm so sorry, Sansa! It's all my fault. It's all my fault." She voiced what she had known all along "If I hadn't... Oh gods, its all my fault."
Sansa pulled away and shook her head "You didn't know. I'm... I'm just glad you're alright."
Iseis nodded and Sansa gripped her arms tightly, "Please, come inside where we can talk."
Iseis followed her in and Sansa led her to the patio where a table was set. Iseis sat down across from Sansa and rubbed her face with her hands "I'm so sorry, Sansa." She whispered "I know that all of this is all my fault. If I had just stayed away from Robb this never would have happened...I should have died the day Roose Bolton took me prisoner."
"Did my brother love you?" Sansa asked, her voice cracking slightly
Iseis whispered "He did."
Sansa took her hand as tears fell down her face "Then I know he didn't die for nothing." Iseis only released another soft sob as she continued to hold Sansa's hand and the red headed girl looked up to her "What happened? Please, Iseis... I need to know."
"It was just a regular wedding," Iseis shrugged, wiping away some of her tears "Walder Frey wasn't happy, I could tell... But I never thought he would do something like that. The music changed and they closed the doors, but I didn't think much of it and Robb was paying attention to me..." Iseis choked as she remembered all the thoughts flooding back to her "I-I was the first to fall under the knife," Iseis's voice shook as she told her "They stabbed me in the stomach, hoping it would kill our un-born child. Then it was a massacre and our men began to fall. Robb was hit by two arrows, and your mother was struck as well... Everything was just a flash of red and I remembered holding on to him and feeling so helpless." She tried to say without crying again "And they pulled me away so I could watch as Roose Bolton stabbed Robb in the heart." Iseis voice filled with hate and starred blankly as she tried her very hardest not to run through it in her head. 'The Lannisters send their regards' was the last thing he said and Iseis turned back to Sansa as the words continued to play in her head over and over. Each time it was like she felt the knife enter he body again. "And I remember nothing after that." She lied. She could not tell her about the Grey Wind's head on his body. Though doubtless, she had already heard of that happening, it seemed to be some big joke in King's Landing.
Sansa had big tears rolling down her face and Iseis saw her taking a shaky breath in, trying to appear stronger than she was. "I didn't even know you were pregnant," Sansa said quietly
Iseis nodded and tried her best to smile slightly, trying to cheer the girl up "Robb was so happy about it. He would stay up at night and talk to it while we laid in bed... He would rest his head against my skin and tell it stories, or read from a book... He used to sing to it too." Iseis tried to laugh as she remembered
"Robb used to sing to it?" Sansa had a small smile on her lips as she laughed though her tears.
"Yes," Iseis also laughed as she cried "He was so awful, but I didn't mind because every time he did that I just loved him more and more. You have no idea what a good man he was, Sansa. And he tried so hard to get you back; he really did." Iseis had tears falling down again.
Sadly, Sansa only nodded and whispered "I know..."
Iseis looked at her and dapped at her tears with a napkin "You know, I think the worst part is that I don't even know who to blame for it all. Was it my grandfather, who order the attack? Or Joffrey for wanting it? Walder Frey for seeing it out? Or was it Roose Bolton for the knife? That's what I hate, I hate not knowing who is more responsible..." Iseis told her
"They all are, aren't they?" She asked "They each had a role to play,"
"Then I will make sure that I am there so see each and everyone of them die." Iseis told her and looked out into the gardens "Only you can relate to the pain that I feel... And it's unbearable, isn't it?" She asked her
"I try not to think about it. I keep myself busy with needlework and other things... But it doesn't always work." She tried to explain.
Iseis looked out and saw the sea, but instead if finding it beautiful she found it hideous, she didn't want to be anywhere near it. She didn't want to be anywhere near this place. She wanted to be in the North, or at Riverrun.
"You hate it here?" Iseis asked suddenly
"It's my prison." Iseis felt as though she was the only one Sansa has been totally honest with for a very long time.
"As it is mine." Iseis agreed "There was once a time I would have done anything to get back here... Now all I think about is getting away."
"I begged my father to let me stay here. Perhaps if I left and did as I was told things would have ended differently. I was just a stupid little girl." Sansa had a bitterness in her voice that Iseis had never heard.
"Its a dangerous place here. But given you have survived this long, you already know that."
"What are you going to do? Surely your mother isn't pleased you're back."
"She was at first," Iseis told her and looked back at Sansa, a pain shot to her heart as she thought she was talking to Cat for a split second "But then she realized what had actually happened."
"She wasn't pleased?" Sansa asked her
"No," Iseis scoffed "But I don't care. I don't care about her anymore, not like I used to." She admitted
Sansa only pursed her lips "I assume you'll be going to the feast tonight?"
Iseis almost grimaced. Joffrey was throwing a feast in her honor, he said. But really what he was throwing it for was for Robb's death.
"I will go," Iseis nodded "But I will not be happy about it."
"I'm sure Joffrey will use it as a way to celebrate his new victory." Sansa said in a quiet voice and picked at a sting on her dress
"I'm sure he will," Iseis nodded "I'm sorry, about everything he's put you though. I should have warned you, I should have told you in Winterfell what he was like." She said regrettably, knowing she could have saved Sansa.
Sansa took her hand and shook her head "I wouldn't have listened. I was so focused on being Joffrey's wife and the idea of being Queen... I thought it was what I wanted... But I didn't realize that what I wanted was already in front of me."
Iseis took her hand from Sansa and put it in her lap. She inhaled the scent of the hot air and she could smell the salt from the ocean. Iseis looked out to the garden and kept her voice leveled "I don't know what is going to happen to me..."
"What do you mean?"
"I am—was Robb's wife." She corrected sadly and pursed her lips "I betrayed my family, I committed treason. My mother knows I loved Robb, and likely more people will know as well. I have no idea what's going to happen to me." Iseis choked up "And I'm not afraid to die...I wanted to, before..But I need to stay alive now." Iseis turned to her and the desperation was noticeable I'm her voice "I need to get out, before they know the truth. If you know anyone in this city who is loyal to you or your family... Please, you must tell me."
"Why? What truth do you speak of?" Sansa asked worriedly with a concerned tone "Iseis?"
Iseis only bit her lip "I came from Maester Pycelle's laboratory before I came here... My child, Robb's child, still lives. And if it's a boy my family will not allow it to survive." Iseis whispered, knowing ears were everywhere. Even if it was a girl, she was sure her family would kill it. Iseis couldn't bear it if that happened. She would drift into a pit of sorrow of which she would never recover.
Sansa face paled "I'm sorry," She apologized "But I know of no one. No one here is loyal, they have no honor... I'm a prisoner here as well. If I knew someone, I would have been gone by now."
Iseis nodded and sighed remorsefully "That was what I was afraid of."
"But I am happy to hear of the news. I always wanted to be an Aunt."
Iseis gave her a soft smile in response "But you don't seem surprised to hear it..."
Sansa shook her head "I had a dream about it." She didn't go further into depth but Iseis wondered if Sansa dreamt the same way Robb did. If she had wolf dreams and dreams that turned to be true "This going to sounds bad and selfish..." Sansa licked her lip and continued "But I am glad you're here. It's good to know I have a least one friend in King's Landing... And you're the only one I have left."
Iseis turned to her "And you're all I have left as well."
I promise I'll update next once I get a chance. Hopefully you all liked this chapter. I promise the next few wI'll be super interesting!
Next chapter hint: Iseis has a nice little chat with her mother, and Joffrey announces Iseis's 'welcome home' present...
Thanks for the support,
-Amelia
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