Thank-you mariihamadeh, thebeezekneeze,Hana (guest), sapphira1526grey, Anna Katheryn, iShouldBeaDisneyPrincess, darkwolf76, Sparky She-Demon, Tarias, Daybreak96, Carley (guest), Enjolras123, Stylin'Fire, CLTex, ZabuzasGirl, and DarylDixon'sLover, for your lovely reviews! It really brings a smile to my face whenever I read your kind words.

I wasn't planning to post tonight, but alas, Netflix is not working for me so I figured I should update since I'm sick in my bed and can't do anything else. This chapter probably could have used a little bit of work, but I wasn't feeling up to it. However, I am quite happy with the Iseis/Tywin faceoff. I feel like I really nailed it, but maybe that's just my opinion.

Oh, and there's a bit of a game changer near the end of the chapter, and I'm hoping it all leaves you dumbfounded. Ahaha, I really am cruel. Things are definitely about to get interesting ;)

Enjoy!


Chapter 51

Iseis knew something was wrong even before she entered the door to her chambers. She felt something gather up inside of her like an instinct and it rose up from the pit of her stomach.

Iseis opened the door only to see her mother waiting inside for her. She was sitting on one of Iseis lounging couches, a book across her lap. Cersei's eyes looked up and stared at her eldest child, noting Iseis had been crying again. It was obvious by her red eyes and her shaky hollowed out breathing.

Iseis stared at her mother and looked up at her. Cersei had always been told that Iseis looked like her, but as she saw her now she knew that was not the case. She looked like Robert, no one could ever doubt she was his daughter. Iseis stared at her with a stoney glare and pursed her lips together, wondering why she was there.

"Do you remember this book?" Cersei ran her hand over the leather cover that read in immaculate gold writing that said 'A Tale of Spring,'

"Of course I remember it," Iseis nodded. It was always her favourite.

"I used to read it to you when you were younger." Cersei had a small smile on her face, remembering.

Iseis remembered that. But after Joffrey was born her Septa read it to her instead. Her mother didn't have time for her after that, all she focused on was Joffrey.

"You were such a good girl growing up, Iseis," Cersei said "The perfect little Princess, always doing what you were told... You never did anything that was unexpected. I think that was what hurt the most about you falling in love with the Stark boy." She licked her lips "Because I didn't believe it. I refused... I wanted to think that you wouldn't betray me. I wanted to think that doing what you knew was right would outweigh what you wanted... That's what stung the most, it was so unexpected of you."

"Mother—," Iseis started, she wanted to tell her to get out. Iseis wanted to be left alone, and she had come to detest her mother. She hated everyone in the Capital, they were the reason she was a widow and she had suffered so much,

"What was it that drew you to him? What made you go against us?" Cersei interrupted her and inhaled deeply before reaching for the goblet of wine on the small table in front of the lounging couch.

Iseis swallowed and realized she didn't even really know what drew her to Robb. She just knew that she wanted him and loved him. There was no specific quality that stood up above the rest, "Because for once in my life I met someone who wasn't looking for their own personal gain." Iseis told her mother "I met someone who cared about others more than themself... Someone who wasn't drawn to power like everyone here in the Capital is. Robb never wanted to be King."

"Everyone wants power, Iseis." Cersei stated before drinking more wine. She never used to drink as much as she did now, and Iseis knew that things were not as easy for her as she would like people to think.

"Not Robb. Don't speak about him like you knew him." She hissed

"Everyone wants power Iseis." Cersei said again "Everyone. It doesn't matter how honourable or noble they are. If they are in this game of thrones they have one thing on their mind... And look where it got them. Your father, Jon Arryn, Renly, Ned Stark, your husband... They're all dead because of the power they wanted."

"My father is dead because you wanted him like that... You made sure that Lancel kept giving him that wine. You're the reason he's dead."

"Not exactly..." Cersei had a small smile "It was the boar, it killed him. In turn it killed him because he was too slow from his drink; he was too drunk to react fast enough. He really did love his wine." Cersei tapped her goblet with her finger as she thought "That's always how it goes, the thing you love the most always kills you. Robert was killed by his, as was your husband..."

Iseis was taken aback by what her mother said.

"You want to know who's more responsible for Robb's death?" Cersei said "Well there's only one person who's responsible, and that's you. You killed him."

"That's not true." Iseis said shakily, barely able to speak because she knew deep down it really was her fault. The thought of that killed her, it ripped her apart from the inside and it hurt like nothing she had ever felt before.

"You know it is. If you had kept your legs closed he would still be here... If you had left him to marry the Frey girl he would still be alive. You are the reason for the North's downfall." Cersei almost said proudly, knowing it was her daughter to cause the North's destruction. It was funny that a mere girl was the reason such a powerful revolution, and man, was ended. No doubt that if Robb had not married Iseis, the Frey's would not have turned against him. The Starks would have won the war in the end, but thanks to Iseis, they were entirely annihilated.

"I want you to get out," Iseis hissed as tears gathered back in her eyes because she knew it was true.

Cersei stood up "I have a reason why I'm here." she said.

"Other than to torment me?" Iseis's voice was bitter.

Cersei did not answer, but instead she said something else entirely that chilled her heart "I know about your child. I know that it lives... If you think that you'll find a way to escape the inevitable than you are wrong,"

Pycelle, that bastard, she thought to herself. She should have known that as soon as she let him go, he would scamper to her mother. She should have slit his throat when she had the chance.

Iseis swallowed but found her courage and spoke up to her mother "Then you might as well kill me now. Because I'm not living in a world without it."

Cersei finished her goblet of wine "No, Joffrey has plans for you... No one is going to kill you just yet. Now get ready, the feast is in two hours and I don't want people to think my daughter is a sad, suicidal, drab who would rather kill herself than withstand our company."

And like that she left. Iseis stood there wondering what Joffrey's plans were and if she should be worried. She knew she should be, because the last time he 'had plans' for her, he sent a man to rape and kill her. She was sure he would gain pleasure from watching her suffer, but she would not give him any. No matter what he did, she would hold her head high and carry herself with dignity. She would not give her enemies the satisfaction of watching her break again...


The last place Iseis wanted to be was in the throne room. Hundreds of people seemed to be gathered around, waiting for Joffrey to make his announcements before the feast began.

Iseis stood near the throne, Sansa was across from her with her Uncle Tyrion and she tried to give her a small smile. At least she felt some sort of relief and comfort, knowing that Sansa was near and she would not have to suffer such torment alone.

Iseis was soon brought out of her thoughts when someone stood beside her. She chose not to acknowledge their presence, hoping that if they realized she wasn't going to speak or show curtsies, they would go away.

"Iseis," Lord Tywin Lannister spoke first and had no trace of friendliness or warmth in his voice.

"Grandfather," She did not look at him, only stared straight ahead and remarked in the same icy tone he reflected at her.

"A lovely day for the celebratory feast of your return." He nodded as he looked around, staring at all the people gathered in the hall, awaiting Joffrey to come in and address things.

Iseis scoffed "You honestly think I buy into that this feast is to celebrate my return? This feast is to celebrate the death of my husband, nothing more..."

"Your past husband," Tywin informed his voice seriously, trying to intimidate her. "And we will no longer address Robb Stark as your husband. If anything, we will forget that marriage ever happened. I hear you've been telling people you married the boy by choice..."

Iseis smirked "Of course I have. What? Do you expect me to lie?"

Tywin looked down at her with a hard look in his cold eyes "From now on, if people ask, you tell them you were kidnapped, raped, and forced into the marriage. You will not speak of him with any love, kindness, or any form of adoration. You have shamed this family one time too many, and now it is up to me to fix the bloody mess you created."

Iseis's face became stony as she glared at the old man "I will not turn Robb into the villain." She hissed

Tywin reached out and grabbed her wrist. His grip shut down on it like a snake biting into her flesh, but Iseis did not show any form of discomfort, she only yanked her hand away. "You will do as I tell you to. There are enough members of this household ruining our reputations enough as it is. You will continue to unacknowledge the fact you and the Young Wolf ever had a loving relationship, and if you don't, you shall regret it."

"There is nothing you can do to hurt me. Everything I love I have already lost." Iseis' voice was cold and it cracked like a whip. However, it was a charade and she had hoped that he did not know that her child lived.

Tywin Lannister was said to never smile, but he did smirk still. And it was not a warm or friendly smirk, instead it was barely twitch of the lips. But it was sinister, and as his lips upturned a chill settled in Iseis's bones that made her want to recoil in fear. "As I have come to understand... You still have one last thing that you love." His eyes flashed down to her stomach "And it's growing inside you as we speak."

Iseis thought her eyes were about to fill up with tears, but instead she pushed fought them off. If there was only one person, besides her mother and Joffrey, who Iseis worried more about learning the truth if her child; it was Lord Tywin.

"Are you threatening my child?" She hissed with ferociousness, turning her face so she could stare him right in the eye.

He chuckled "Look at you! Apparently your time with the wolves have turned you into one. With that snap of tone you gave me, it was like a regular mother wolf, protected her pup. I had heard you changed from the docile, quiet, girl you once were. Now I believe it, that barbarian Northman turned you into a savage." His voice the entire time sounded steady and had no angry tones, that way he could insult her with people near by not knowing he was doing so.

Iseis grit her teeth and growled "That barbaric Northman was my husband, and no matter what you threaten, I will not bend to your whims. I will not say anything about Robb that is not true. And I am no savage... But if you threaten my child ever again, or harm it, I will show you what it truly means to become one. And then you will see what an actual savage is..."

"Oh? You think will be the one to harm your pup? You have it wrong Iseis. You see when I comes to the blood of newborn babes, that is one thing I prefer not to stain my hands with. No, your child's fate will be left to another..." He said with a sadistic smirk, and left without speaking another word.

Iseis paled when she heard that and the first horrific thought that came to her mind was the Mountain. He was going to get Gregor Clegane to kill her child. Iseis almost felt faint at the horrible thought of her child's head being bashed against the wall. With the thought of it'd skull shattering, Iseis felt she would be sick, and she placed a hand over her stomach, and leant forward slightly to try to catch her breath.

Before she could pass out from the brutal horrors running through her mind and her heart slamming against her chest at too fast of a rate, Margaery Tyrell came beside Iseis and helped her stand straighter. She smiled at her kindly "Are you alright, my lady? You look pained, do you wish to sit down?"

Iseis felt her mouth go dry, but she swallowed a regained some of her feelings back, as well as her ability to speak "No," she shook her head

The Tyrell girl smiled at her. She truly was beautiful, and she was wearing some ridiculous dress that showed more skin than it covered and her hair was in some complicated style. But she looked kind and gentle, but Iseis knew she must not have been so bright if she was going to willingly marry Joffrey.

Iseis was dressed nothing like her. She wore the deepest shade of blue she could find, almost black. Unfortunately her mother removed all black articles of clothing from her wardrobe, she wouldn't allow Iseis to express her grief. The sleeves were long and so was the train, and Iseis's hair was down, left in its flowing waves, except for two small braids on the side that pulled back and joined together in the back of her head. She would continued to show her support by doing a Northern style, not a silly Southern one.

"You're Iseis Baratheon." she smiled at her "I'm afraid we haven't had the pleasure of officially meeting since your return,"

"Stark," Iseis corrected. They had taken everything away from her, they wouldn't take her name too. Iseis wouldn't let people forget who she was. And she wouldn't let her grandfather scare her into pretending she was abducted and forced by Robb to marry him. She would wear the name proudly, so no one could doubt the feelings she had for him.

"Ah yes, I forgot you carry the name Stark still. Forgive me. My condolences, I know what it's like to have lost a husband."

"My condolences as well. Renly was a good man,"

"And so was Robb Stark," She told her "They both only wanted what was best... Anyway, I hear we are to be sisters soon." Margaery looped her arm through Iseis's, but Iseis pulled her arm back as though she had been burned.

Iseis was shocked to see Margaery smile so widely "And you're happy about that? How can you smile knowing you are to marry Joffrey in three days time?" she asked in disbelief

"How can I not be happy? I'll be Queen." she said but Iseis just thought she seemed like a foolish little girl

"And you think being Queen is worth a life time of torment?" Iseis scoffed

Margaery said nothing after Iseis asked her that. But only looked down at her shoes and cleared her throat, "I'm sorry," she said quietly, knowing it was not her place to speak so outright to Iseis yet. She knew she of all should not be speaking about being the Queen to a woman who once was a queen herself.

"You have nothing to apologize for. But be careful, do not fool yourself into believing being the Queen will make you happy. Power always has a price, and especially in troubling times such as these." Iseis had paid with the life of her love, and no doubt Margaery would pay with the cost of her happiness. The poor girl was living a delusion.

Suddenly the entire hall fell into some form of a trance and no one said anything, suggesting the King had entered. The court grew silent after Joffrey came in and walked to his place at the Throne. He didn't sit down though. Instead he stood standing with a sly grin plastered to his face. Roose Bolton, Varys, and Tywin stood at his side by throne, making it obvious they were his most loyal subjects.

Iseis scowled when she saw Roose Bolton, knowing he was getting special treatment for what he did and his treachery. She hoped he would betray Joffrey, just like he did to Robb and put a knife through his heart.

"We are here today for many reasons," Joffrey smiled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword "My sister had been returned to us. But that is not the reason for celebration. We are celebrating because the war is over! Robb Stark is dead and the North is no longer in revolt!" His smile grew even more as the sound of clapping and cheering was heard.

Iseis wanted to be sick, knowing they were cheering because of Robb's downfall. No one seemed to consider her in this situation and how it affected her.

"It seems to me that I should reward then men who helped me achieve this victory. To my grandfather, I have nothing to honour you with besides give you my enteral thanks. Thanks to your planning, the Northern rebels have been decimated. To the Freys, I give them the Riverlands, and make them the Warden of the East," More cheering was heard and Iseis dug her nails in the palm of her hands and bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from screaming in anger "And to the Bolton's, who ended the rebellion with a single thrust to the heart," Joffrey looked at Iseis as he spoke, as though he was purposely trying to hurt her "I give then them North and name them as the new Wardens."

Iseis paled as Joff spoke, and she wanted to fight and protest. The North was the Starks... It should be Sansa's or hers. But she knew Joffrey would never allow either of them to be control in the North. Especially her, since she was a traitor and an enemy. Iseis could not imagine the people of the North agreeing to Roose Bolton as their liege lord. But then again, he might frighten them all into submission.

In that moment, she realized the North was truly lost. There would be no saving it, and the people would suffer under Bolton's rule. They didn't know winter like the Starks did. They didn't have ice running through their veins, and only a Stark could hold the North. If Iseis some how kept her babe alive, the North would rally behind it once it came of age. She would see that her child would one day control the North, and she would see the end of the Bolton's. But is she failed, the North would forever be oppressed.

"But that is not all..." Joffrey continued and knocked Iseis out of her vengeful thoughts. "I wish to cement this newly found friendship with the Bolton's from this day on. My only wish is for our houses to grow closer, and for us to remain allies."

Iseis's face fell, and she knew what was coming next. Joffrey's following words sent a chill down her spine, and a fear greater than anything she's ever known to well up in her belly.

"To ensure this friendship endures, I have decided to create a merge between houses by having Ramsay, Roose Bolton's bastard son, marry my sister, Iseis... It's time that she experienced what a good marriage was like." Joffrey smirked as he spoke his words, and an evil look settled in his eyes.

Iseis paled hearing those words, and suddenly she wanted to faint. Iseis felt her blood rush everywhere and her heart felt as though it had been set on fire. She suddenly wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. She felt as though she was suffocating and couldn't breathe.

She was being sold to the son of the villain who put a knife though the heart of the man she was in love with. Iseis felt as though her hands would detach from her wrists from how badly they was shaking. Red clouded her vision, and she was engulfed in a feeling of hate. In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to rip Joffrey's heart right out of his chest.

Joffrey came over to her and she looked at him, breathing heavily and trying to keep the tears in. "Joffrey, you are my brother. Why are you doing this? Have I not suffered enough?" Her voice cracked, and she cussed at herself for looking so fragile. But he had caught her in a moment of surprise and terror, and he was using it to his advantage to make her feel even weaker.

"Not nearly enough for your treason, sweet sister." he scoffed "In fact, I'm being merciful. I'm letting the Bolton's deal with you and Robb Stark's heir. If I had my way, I would cut his whelp out of you right now, and leave you for dead. Or perhaps I would let Clegane deal with it? Wouldn't that be a pretty sight for me to see? The fucking King of the North's heir's head, splattered up against the wall... " Iseis looked at him with her eyes filled with a dark form of despise and hate, but he only smiled "Aren't you going to beg me? Aren't you going to get on your knees and beg me not to make you marry the son of your husband's murderer?"

"I don't beg for anything anymore," She told him, gritting her teeth. Starks do not beg, and she would damned if she were to do so in this moment.

"If I remember correctly, Bolton told me how you cried and screamed an begged for the life of your lover." Joffrey was a having fun constantly bringing up Robb.

"I don't beg anymore," Her jaw clenched "Because it wastes my breath. I would rather just tell you that when you die, I'll make sure to be there watching... And I will smile at the sight, just like you are smiling right now."

Suddenly his smile disappeared at her comment and he scowled, "Enjoy your lifetime of torment at the Deadfort, sister... "


What can I say? I just love plot twists! So how many people saw it coming that she would be sent away to the Dreadfort?

... Needless to say, it'll probably be past 300k words by the time I'm finished this story now that things are heating up. Now that I think about it, I probably should have made this story have a sequel, rather than just meshing it all into one large story. Ah, well! Too late to turn back!

Next chapter hint: Iseis gains and ally, and we get to see a little section and of Robb's thoughts (it's really quite cute! And I thoroughly enjoyed writing it) rest assured nothing bad will happen to him in the next few updates.

Until next time,

-Amelia

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