Hey guys! I don't honestly know what to say, other than it's been a hell of a year. To illustrate, I've had five jobs this year, dated three guys, had a mental breakdown, had to deal with my mom having a stroke, and am currently dealing with a messy breakup. It's been the best and worst year of my life. I've honestly been too busy and completely uninterested in writing for a while. I was going through a phase where I was starting to get out of some of my trauma responses and actually live my life. I lost interest in writing at the time and chalked it up to not needing it anymore because I was starting to heal. I don't want to stop writing though.
I want to give a HUGE thank you and shout out to everyone who has reviewed, followed, and favorited, or even just read this story while I was on hiatus. You guys are the absolute best! Just randomly getting emails every once in a while with notifications from you guys is amazing and makes my day. Knowing you haven't forgotten about this story makes me want to get back to it. So thank you a thousand times over.
I don't even know what this chapter is. Lol. I started with a general idea ages ago but when I started writing again, I couldn't really remember what I was trying to do. So the result is kind of crazy and all over the place. It also came out a lot longer than I was originally intending, but I thought you guys deserved that after waiting so patiently this long. I'm also really excited because we're almost to the heart of the story and all the political intrigue. I'm super excited to write that and hopefully dig a little more into worldbuilding Ciroth.
I really hope you guys like this chapter. As always, please follow, favorite, and PLEASE review! I miss hearing from you all! Much love!
P.S. I know some of you are really going to love Miriel in this chapter. :D Also, my writing is really rusty cause I haven't written anything in ages, so please be kind and if you notice mistakes or inconsistencies, please leave a review and let me know, but please be nice. Thank you!
Four Weeks Later
The Mother gives the gift of life,
and watches over every wife.
Her gentle smile ends all strife,
and she loves her little children - A Storm of Swords
Miriel's gaze was directed at nothing in particular. She sat very still, observing the slight drip of moisture lining the glass ceiling of the Glass Gardens. It fell with a patter and a clip, forever lost in a sea of green and steam. Its sound was gentle and soothing, a much needed reprieve to a scorned mind.
In four weeks, nothing had changed. Robb and Miriel resolutely ignored each other, oftentimes even in an official capacity. The strain could be felt over the whole of Winterfell. Those who tried to speak reason with the young monarchs were subject to varying degrees of hostility and silence.
Miriel had lashed out in anger to both the counsel and Catelyn to the point where it was considered futile to continue probing. Robb was slightly more reasonable, but there was little he was willing or could do. He considered Miriel outside of his realm of control and mercifully granted her the freedom she needed to vent her frustration and anger.
With Thalion's threat hanging over his head, Robb dared not intervene for fear of Miriel's powerful father dropping valid retribution on House Stark as his son did by demolishing House Frey. The thorough destruction of the house that attempted to betray the North never failed to cause ripples of fear through his veins. House Ciroth may have been a noble and small house, but their blood could burn hot and their reach was long.
At a stalemate four weeks later, Miriel contemplated the series of unfortunate events that had left her sitting in silence and solitude pondering the will of the gods.
Little more than four weeks ago, Robb Stark raped his wife. No one tried to justify it or defend either party. Words were spoken in hushed tones, but never was there a sentence passed or judgment given by either the royal family or the bannermen.
It was as if the whole incident didn't happen. As if Miriel's screams in the night were only nightmares. As if the child growing inside of her wasn't conceived from anything other than love.
Cursed be the Stark seed. Cursed be the seed that allowed life to grow from an act so revolting and pained.
Miriel at last had the upper hand though. She had a bargaining chip. Perhaps Robb did not love her, but she was finally able to give him something that his former lover was denied. And she finally had something from him worth keeping. At least, that was what she told herself as the tears dripped down her face and her eyes screwed shut in pain.
Her memories of the night were hazy, mixed between memories and nightmares. Her mind fighting to forget, to erase. As if nothing ever happened. Yet, she would flinch when Robb entered the room, or someone reached to touch her too quickly. Responses without reasons.
The pain had remained for several days, followed by crippling fear. She remained in her bed long past the time necessary for healing. Refusing entry to anyone but her own people. She wouldn't eat, her sleep was haunted by nightmares and screams and the slight hint of rosewater wafting through the air.
As the scars in her mind attempted to recede, she allowed entry to her northern ladies and the Stark girls. Arya silently glaring at the door with Needle in her lap and Sansa quietly carrying on a conversation while working a needle and thread. Miriel did not ask for Catelyn and Catelyn did not attempt to speak with the queen.
Miriel held no ill will to Lady Catelyn, but neither did she deem it necessary to carry on speaking to her currently. Perhaps somewhere in her broken mind, she blamed Catelyn for what happened. Or perhaps she simply reminded Miriel of the man who broke her trust.
A slight breeze fussed through the gardens, rustling through greens and dispelling mist. Miriel's lax gaze rose to Sansa, tripping lightly over the path, skirts delicately held in one hand and something small fisted in her other hand. Her eyes alighted on Miriel's seated figure and immediately rushed over, delicate movements lost in a sea of skirts and rushed limbs.
Clear grey eyes rose to the bright red head of hair bent in submission and gazing down at her hands.
"What is it, Sansa," came the tired reply, a voice worn from care and exhaustion, ready to take on the weight of yet another burden.
"This arrived from Ciroth," Sansa's broken voice answered. Reaching out, she handed the tightly wrapped scroll to the seated queen. Miriel hurriedly unwrapped it as Sansa remained standing, staring down in controlled anxiety.
The eyes traced scrolls and curls with abject and growing fear, her eyes shifted to Sansa quickly, the paper being folded and crumpled slightly in one hand.
"Where's Robb?" came her chilling reply, voice broaching no argument or question. She remained seated, waiting for Sansa's hesitant reply. A quirk of an eyebrow enough to summon Sansa's quick tongue.
"He's in his study," she replied, stepping back quickly as Miriel shot to her feet and rushed past. "But, Miriel, what's so important that you'd be willing to talk to him after four weeks?"
Her answer was either lost in the quick patter of footsteps and raindrops, or she never bothered to reply to Sansa's probing question.
Robb's concentration was broken from one of the many recent letters from Renly by the slight squeak of the door opening and a silver head drifting into his study. Her shoulders straight and tense, she closed the door quickly and wasted no time coming to stand in front of his paper littered desk.
She said nothing as she held his gaze and reached out a folded and slightly crumpled paper. Breaking her gaze, he swallowed slowly and took the proffered letter.
"Did you know?" she intoned, voice low and quiet, not a hint of fear in his presence or concern for his reaction.
Robb stiffened in response, eyes taking in each word slowly, tracing them, and taking his time to comprehend the overarching meaning behind the damning words written in blackened ink. The paper creased and ripped due to weather stains and elements.
"I received a letter from him a few weeks ago, he made no mention of his health, nor did his mind seem diminished in any way," he replied, waiting for the vocal accusation. When she only nodded in return and silently took the letter from his outstretched hand, he mentally prepared himself for the argument he knew was coming.
"I will leave for Ciroth by the end of the week. I would like Sansa to take up some of my duties, the rest can be left to your mother and the council. I will make sure to leave clear instructions and complete any tasks before I leave," she replied, taking a seat as Robb sighed, dropping his curly head into his hands a moment and pressing against his throbbing forehead.
"Is something wrong, your highness?" she asked, scorn coloring her voice and a quiet threat running through her words. Her rock hard gaze didn't break from her husband's defeated face.
"The Maester informed me you saw him this morning," came his quiet reply, his gaze still firmly rooted to the scatter of papers. Miriel stiffened in response, shifting in her seat uncomfortably and pulling her shoulders back further.
"What of it?" she responded tersely, her grey eyes taking on a stormy depth and challenging Robb's conflicted expression.
In return, Robb dropped his eyes, staring at the outlines of words scratched hastily on fading paper. The calm whistle of the wind could be heard dimly through the thick stone that enclosed them in warmth and light. The dimming of the sun cast the hallow room in the gloom of evening, even though mid morning should not have come yet.
"Miriel, I cannot allow you to go traipsing across the North in the middle of Winter bearing my heir," he, at last, responded, meeting her gaze sternly. The tension rose as Miriel silently stood, crumpling the note in her hand with strong resolution.
"I wasn't asking your permission," she stated, broaching no argument and turning to walk the few steps to the shut door.
"Miriel-"
"He's my father. You wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for him, safe and warm in your little castle surrounded by your family and embracing freedom. You owe him this last request."
Robb closed his eyes, breathing deeply and heedless of his wife's glowing eyes on him. Deeming himself calm, he rose to his feet and met her gaze, flinching slightly by the range of colors and emotions streaming through them.
"The North needs stability and the surety that its heir will be safe," he stated, a softness to his own in an attempt to appease his fiery bride.
"Then don't say anything until I'm safe in Ciroth. It wouldn't be the first time a Stark heir was raised under another House," she replied, granting Robb her full attention and equal calmness. Her determination was not wavered, however; she would have her way.
"And if you lose the child? If you can't travel back to Winterfell? What then?" asked Robb after a moment's hesitation. He dropped his gaze, cautious about the insinuation he was making.
Miriel didn't reply immediately. Her eyes blew wide and memories surfaced. Breath racing and head spinning, she fought for control in her dizzying mind. Bracing herself, she reached the surface and took a deep breath.
"I won't lose the child," she spoke, her voice quiet and soft, desperately trying to convince herself.
Robb sighed and sunk back into his chair. Leaning back, he wrung his hands through his lengthening hair, pulling slightly at the errant curls. His clear blue eyes flickered to his wife attempting to regain control of herself before dropping again, allowing her the privacy to contain herself.
"I can't allow you to go, Miriel. That's my final word," he replied, feeling defeated. His eyes traced over her hands that curled into resolute fists. Up they went to tense shoulders and finally onto a cold calculating face. There was fury buried and etched over stretched skin. Her voice was cold when she responded, her words just as chilling.
"My father may be on his deathbed, but if I informed him of certain circumstances involving the North's current king, he would send an army to remove me, forcibly if necessary, from Winterfell and back to Ciroth. Which would you prefer? I leave peacefully with your permission? Or Winterfell burning from Ciroth's retribution and the North's only heir ruling from another kingdom?"
She paused a moment, watching the wave of change coming over his face, first a slight narrowing to his eyes, then a widening, then the slits confirming his surrender and defeat at her hands.
"I will leave with or without your permission if I must, Robb. You can't make me stay. You'd have a war on your hands if you tried."
Robb stared at her, wondering if she'd actually do it or if she was bluffing. What was to stop her from saying something when she did leave. Hell, Rychard probably had his spies stationed throughout Winterfell already, he most likely knew more about the ancient castle than Robb did.
Caught in between a rock and hard place, Robb did not expect to play political chess with his wife. She wasn't the North's queen anymore, she was a diplomat of Ciroth. She was the tie he had to arguably the most strategic ally he had. She was right, he wouldn't be sitting on his throne today if it wasn't for the sweat and blood of Ciroth.
"I'll arrange for your travel. I can spare some Karstarks for a few months," he answered, fiddling with some papers and preparing to write orders.
"No," she interrupted, walking a few steps closer to the barrier between them. "I'll travel with my own men and under my own terms. I'll accept no other conditions."
Robb gazed at her, recognizing perhaps for the first time the quiet strength in her come roaring out like a lion. She held the stern line of Targaryen queens in her stance. Perhaps the legends were true, perhaps the Ciroths did have some of that legendary blood flowing through them.
"Very well," he replied, admitting defeat and relinquishing control to his queen.
Miriel nodded in reply, taking a moment to gaze at the man she had called husband for more than two years. He was a warrior, the battlefield was his domination. The finer rules of diplomacy and political chess were ill-suited to him. A master tactician on the wrong battlefield.
With quiet footsteps echoing in the heavy room, Miriel crossed to the engraved door. Robb's hesitant voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Miriel," he paused, making sure he had her attention. "Will you return to Winterfell?" he inquired, hesitant and stiff, a note of longing perhaps filling the emptiness surrounding him.
Miriel bowed her head, gazing at the twisted handle tightly gripped in her hand. It would be so easy to let silence be her answer. Truthfully, what was her answer? Turning, her eyes directed at the furrowed floor, she answered what she believed to be the truth.
"That will depend on you, Robb," she dared to let her eyes rise to his face. Taking in the stare that trapped her against her will. He nodded once and broke, allowing her on her way.
By the following morning, all of Winterfell knew the queen was leaving for her homeland and her dying father. Through it all, Miriel resolutely went about her tasks in numb anticipation. She took time with the Maester, the council, and Catelyn. Relaying and assigning duties as she saw fit.
It wasn't until evening, when she entered the feasting hall, that the realization of leaving hit her.
She met Sansa's eyes first. Sansa, the poor girl who had been through so much for such a young age. She was biting her lip in careful concentration, a slight shudder to her gentle features. Arya was a calm mask of nothing as usual, though there was a slight intensity to her eyes.
Catelyn was a mess of pity and guilt, as usual, her eyes taking on a more mournful quality than they were wont to recently. Robb's face was downturned and disinterested, a hint of defeat clung to his slumped shoulders, he didn't look like the victorious young wolf today.
To Robb's left, Davos Seaworth sat. Ser Davos had come down from Queenscrown and his post in the North for a few days to relay to Robb the current conditions regarding the Wall and the containment of the Wildlings.
Miriel smiled widely at the old man. His own greeting was warm as he rose from his seat as she approached. She had been unable to greet him when he arrived and their paths had not crossed since then.
"Ser Davos," she intoned, her voice warm and comforting, a picture of the hospitality of a Northern lady.
"Queen Miriel," he replied, bending and kissing her pale hand. "How pleased I am to see the queen looking so radiant."
Rosy lips pulled in a bright smile of gratefulness. Miriel paused a moment, taking in the man who had been so instrumental in keeping this old castle in her hands. In the days after the battle, she spent many hours in the presence of him and Jon Snow. She enjoyed their company, a stranger and yet more suited pair did not seem to exist.
"I heard your trip was difficult. Has the winter truly hindered travel so severely?" she inquired, hesitant in her words. Robb glanced up from his seat, a hint of concern masked behind guarded eyes.
"I'm afraid it has, my lady. Travel may soon become impossible," the older man replied, his eyes an unspoken warning.
Miriel's eyes, which had dropped in thought, shifted to Ser Davos' clear gaze. She met his concern with resolution and no fear. A glint of fire shifted through the grey depths, sparking and catching through the smoke.
"Indeed it may, Ser Davos," she replied with a slight smile gracing the corner of her lips. "I wish you safe travels on your return journey to Queenscrown."
A quirk and a quick jerk of his lips was Ser Davos' only answer, Miriel did not give him a chance to speak as she moved past him and Robb's tense, upturned face. Taking her seat next to her husband and Sansa, she ignored the former and turned to the latter.
The clear blue gazed back with a hint of water blurry the brilliant color. Arya's expressionless face peaked out behind her sister as she learned across the table to also meet her good sister's gaze. Miriel turned away, a slight regret and hint of shame blurring through her mind for what she was about to do.
"Miriel," started Sansa, her voice low and hitching slightly. The silver-haired queen turned sharply in reply, taking in the soft faces before her. Biting her lip lightly, she took in each face slowly, taking her time to etch them to her memory.
Leaning forward and lowering her voice, she responded after the dragging moments.
"Not here, come to my rooms later. We'll speak," she stated, adding a small smile to reassure the twin pairs of eyes. Sansa dipped her chin and turned away, Arya's gaze stayed though. The small girl was not deterred from watching the chill pass through her good sister. Like that of a skilled hunter, she tracked her prey.
Toasts were made that night wishing for the recovery of the lord of House Ciroth and for their queen's safe travels. A hint of foreboding filled the air but remained silenced in the face of forced optimism. The queen would return, and she would be unharmed.
No word was spoken of the expected child. Robb had told no one.
With the fire raging in it's own contained inferno and Robb nowhere to be found in their shared rooms, Miriel relaxed within the confinement with her good sisters. They enjoyed spiced milk in the silence, taking in each other's presence, unheedful of the coming parting and in no rush.
Interrupting their peaceful bliss, Miriel slowly set her cup on the floor next to her chair and rose gracefully. With purposeful steps, she crossed to a single chest resting in a corner, tucked away from the shadows and engraved with carved figures and scenes. It was old and full of dents and scratches, each one telling a tale.
Miriel lifted the lid reverently and pulled two small items wrapped in embroidered silk from its haven. With a soft smile toward their bewildered faces, Miriel approached Arya first. She reached out and offered the small bundle to the young girl, her face full of gentle love in its arches and lines.
Arya hesitantly unfolded the silk, a brief twitch to her unsteady hands. From its depths, her hands rested upon a magnificent Valyrian steel blade.
"This is a blade made for the assassins of House Camion. Each blade is forged to symbolize its owner. Thalion gave me this for my fifteenth name day. House Camion guards the members of House Ciroth and has for centuries, so it is fitting for us to have their blades.
"But I think it's time for you to have it," Arya gazed in unadulterated awe at the foreign queen, the blade sitting in her lap forgotten. A glint of white teeth peeked from behind rose-colored lips as Miriel stooped to wrap Arya's hand around the slender blade.
"Don't worry, it won't bite, unless of course you upset it by not introducing yourself," she whispered in the girl's unsuspecting ear. That was all the encouragement the girl needed to handle the glinting weapon. Sansa smiled at her sister's enjoyment.
Turning to the lady seated among the wolf pelts, Miriel passed her other bundle. Sansa smiled warmly as Miriel took her seat, her eyes were soon taken by hurriedly unwrapping the tightly bound package.
"That," Miriel stated, leaning over and lightly touching the shining pendant. "Is mirror metal. The men of House Fyshe like to prove their courage by diving to the depths of the clear shoals and bringing back a chunk of the glass-like metal."
"It's beautiful," Sansa exclaimed, a solitary tear dripping down her pale cheek. Her thin fingers stroked the pretty star-like design as she eyed it curiously, admiring the craftsmanship.
"I wanted you both to have a piece of my homeland. Not only to remember me by, but because I have a proposition to present to both of you," Miriel stated, both the girls perked up at her words, their attention immediately drawn from the shiny trinkets to the woman immensely more valuable.
"Sansa, within a few years, you will be married off to a high standing lord," a slight shiver passed through Miriel. "Potentially to create a better alliance. Marrying you in the South would be a considerable achievement, hence your need for time as a ward of a Southern court. I would like you to spend time in Cirtothiel where you may learn the art of diplomacy and become more than a political pawn."
Sansa's eyes blew wide at Miriel's pronouncement but she made no reply. Not hesitating, Miriel moved on and turned to Arya.
"I know you would like to learn how to use that pretty blade and your Needle. I could arrange for you to spend time with the trainers of House Camion. You could be trained by the most prestigious assassins Ciroth has, perhaps even become a trainer yourself."
Arya gazed at Miriel with her eyes narrowed and face drawn. The hard gaze of a skeptic rallied to her call. Miriel flinched slightly under the hard gaze scrutinizing her and looking for answers.
"You're not coming back to Winterfell," she stated. Sansa jerked in response, her eyes flickering between her sister and the queen in shock.
Miriel made no response, biting her lip softly in thought. She didn't confirm or deny Arya's statement, allowing the girl a moment's hesitation. Arya didn't hesitate though, she continued to root the queen in her chair, those eyes sparing no pain.
"Miriel?" invoked Sansa, a fear-laden and tear-stained voice echoing and rising through the haze. Miriel's stance broke and she shook herself free of the cobwebs. Her own voice was quiet and unsure when she did finally reply to the probing statement.
"I don't know."
YAHOOOOOO! That had a lot of twists and turns. I like this chapter but I don't. I want to do a major rewrite of it, but I don't have time currently. So, I hope it's okay? I'm feeling too squirreling and incapable of paying attention to reread it right now anyway. I did enjoy writing the confrontation with Miriel and Robb, it took some work, but I feel fairly satisfied with it.
That part with Arya at the end and the whole assassin thing was an interesting addition that hit me in the middle of writing the last part. I wasn't sure how I wanted to end the chapter and the whole gift thing just kind of appeared out of nowhere. I'm trying to get the story involved with other characters because they do become rather important in their own way later on.
I know I've got a couple of chapters worth of reviews to respond to, so I'm gonna dive right in!
Chapter 9
NachotheDrake: Lol. Uhhh. Maybe he learned something? Agreed. It can be so hard to share something you spend hours slaving over. We writers need so much encouragement since we're our own worst enemies. I hope you're still reading this story and thank you so much for your encouragement. I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
kmhappybunny240: Right? Being a royal can be such a pain and so tragic. I'm honestly just winging half of this, I don't know if the need for an heir would cause this much strife or not, but I'm going with it. Artist's freedom, right? :D Yeah, I think she probably could too. Technically, I guess she has. Things get a hell of a lot more interesting for her later on. She's going to be a fun character to develop. Yes, Robb would have brought Talisa and their child back to Winterfell if she lived. However, even though we haven't dealt with this in the story yet, I will let you know that Talisa didn't know Miriel existed until shortly before the Red Wedding and she was NOT happy with Robb about it. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you so much for sticking with the story.
FanfavBBC: Thank you so much! I'm trying to consider character interaction more thoroughly. I'm a character-driven writer, so I try to make the relationships as real and interesting as I can. I don't always feel like I'm succeeding, but I'm really glad you're able to tell I'm trying. I hope you like the direction the story takes later on. I feel like you may enjoy some of the coming content. I hope you like this new chapter and thank you so much for reviewing!
PadfootCc: I'm so glad you enjoyed the update! I hope you continue to read and enjoy! Thank you so much for your review!
Melmela: Thank you so so much for your beautiful and touching review! I remember when I first read it and wanted to reply so much to it. Covid has gotten so much crazier since then. I'm just done with the whole thing. I have a really bad breathing and swallowing problem, so I can't really work in a mask for too long without having it seriously affect me. I'm just ready for it to be over, sadly, it most likely will never fully be over, but I have hope. I wish I could have updated more during the lockdown, but when you work in food, you're considered a necessary employee and you don't get time off. I hope all is well in Italy and I hope you're still reading this and this update brings you some enjoyment! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Guest2: This is quite true! Robb is starting to lose support from his family. It will be curious to see how that develops further into the story or if it will develop. Miriel does clearly have the potential to lead better and she was born into a family that has been the chessplayers of Westeros for centuries. She's educated and intelligent. I honestly haven't gotten that far into the show, I'm planning on working on it when I have the time, how did he turn his back on his family motto? I hope you enjoy this update and thank you so so much for your reviews. Your last one was one of the things that got me back into writing this.
kankananime123: Hehehe, yeah, she's got some fire in her. I enjoy making her a bit feisty, though it's a bit more difficult to write her that way, cause she's that way from trauma, not normally. So I have to write it as a trauma response when she's scared or emotional, etc.
firstofhername: First off, can I just say how much I love your username? Seriously a cool name! Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy this update and thank you so much for reviewing!
Chapter 10
kmbunnyfunny240: LOL. YOU READ MY MIND. For real though. I know some people are gonna be like, Ciroth couldn't take on the whole North, they're too small and weak. Assassins, need I say more? Rychard pretty much has total and complete power over the entirety of Westeros and beyond and no one realizes it. Makes Ciroth OP, but it's kind of fun to walk that line. :D I really hope you like this chapter, I was hoping to do more of the rape aftermath, but that just wasn't working and was kind of pointless, so I moved on. Thank you so much for reviewing!
Lalyh17: No offense taken! I appreciate you honestly pointing that out. I don't know how to fully explain without giving the plot away, but their relationship is complicated and never really gets any less so. You can have a pairing without having the pair be super in love. Love comes in many forms. I do hope you stick around till the end and give me an honest review of it when it does end. I'd be curious to see what you think then. I'm super excited about it. I'm very happy with the end I've chosen. Thank you so much for your review! I hope to hear from you again!
NachoTheDrake: Mwhahahaha! I feel so evil, lol. I know, it's a big shock, I even shocked myself when I was writing it, I didn't intend it to get that intense. I'm glad you stuck through the chapter! I know it was a hard one to read. I hope you like this chapter. Poor Miriel, she just can't seem to get a break. Thank you so much for reviewing! I look forward to hearing from you again!
mrs Tall Blonde and Dead: I adore your username. Just gonna say that now. :) It's. . . I'm not gonna say one way or another, but it's really complicated. You'll see and I hope it lives up to your expectations. I didn't realize what a monster I've made and now I'm scared I'm not gonna be able to save it and keep the story going the way I want it to, lol. I can say you're probably not gonna be expecting what I've got planned. I would love to hear Catelyn's explanation. I don't know if we'll get to it or not. Maybe in a later chapter. I'll try to remember and add it later if it becomes relevant. It most likely will. I hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you so much for reviewing!
Katie: Hey wifey! Thank you so much for reading it! I'm really glad you liked it. I really appreciate your kind words. Thank you so much for reviewing! Love ya, girl!
Guest 1: Thank you for not hating me! And I mean, I agree. Robb does kind of deserve to die. It's kind of hard for me to step away from my characters and view them with the level of emotion and anger I know my readers have right now though. I really wish I could read it from your point of view. I'd be curious if I'd still believe or like Robb later on or not. Thank you so much for your review! I hope you like this chapter and I hope you leave a review and let me know how I'm doing. :)
Guest 2: LOL. I don't think groveling will help either! At this point, I don't know what will help. These two are going to have a lot to go through in the coming chapters. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! I really appreciate how much everyone is investing in the story and the characters.
kankananime123: OOOOOO. I'd pay to see that! Things are definitely going to get interesting. Thank you so much for reviewing! I hope you like this new chapter.
anabell1856: THANK YOU. I completely agree with you! Personally, I don't like happily ever after anyway. They're not realistic. Granted, going through the messy breakup I'm going through right now, God, I wish they were. lol. But for real, I hope you stick around till the end and let me know what you think of it. It's definitely not a happy ending, but I think it's memorable and inspiring even. Very tragic though, at least, it will be if I can pull it off. It's gonna take some delicate writing. Thank you so much for your review though! Makes me happy someone else doesn't think it should be a happy ending either.
Guest 3: LOL. Uhhhh. Sure... He doesn't really deserve the North and his crown though. He needs a little humility and reminder of how he got that crown and not a stab in the heart. I'm going to have a lot of fun and headaches with his character development I think. Thank you so much for your review! I hope you like the new chapter. :)
Guest 4: Uhhhhh. Lol. I'm actually happy to see how upset you are. Means I'm actually doing this right! My writing seems so wooden and emotionless, and I can never tell if I'm actually invoking the emotions I'm wanting to evoke. It's a pretty messed up situation though. Thank you so so much for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Radio Free Death: Thank you so much for pointing that out! I completely forgot about that author's note. When I first started this particular story, it was just supposed to be a collection of one-shots, not the actual story, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew what was going on since I wasn't planning on explaining anything. This morphed into my actual story much later and I forgot about that author's note by the time it did. Thank you so so much for pointing that out! I'm trying to get it fixed, I'm not sure if I'm having much luck with it or not though.
laisrmartinelli: AGREED. It feels like a form of Stockholm Syndrome or a rape kink. I strongly dislike both when used in fanfiction, especially when it's used as a positive thing. As for their relationship. It's WAY more complicated than that. I'm hoping you'll continue reading and see what I mean, I'd like to explain, but I don't want to give anything away either. It's going to be tough to write for me because I'll have to walk a very thin line, but I think it will be worth it. Thank you so much for your review!
Guest2: Thank you so so much for your kind review! I knew people were still reading this story, but hearing from one of my readers and knowing you're taking the time to actually check it makes me so happy and gave me just the push I needed to get a new chapter out! I haven't seen enough of the show to really like or dislike Talisa. I don't dislike her, per se, but I find her to be a weak character and a plot device really. Which is what I'm trying to use her for. I may actually try to develop her character a bit later in the story. And to be honest, she doesn't know anything about what's happening. Robb is the one to blame, she's mostly just a victim. I am curious about those theories though. That makes a lot of sense. It's strange how she just shows up from an entirely different continent just to help out with a war that has nothing to do with her. It's weird. Agreed. I'd love to do a gag chapter where Ned just does a running commentary in the background over how stupid his family is. Fair. I'm not a huge fan of Jon. I like him of course and I think he's a cool character, even if he does give me headaches to write, lol. But I do like Robb. Probably just because I'm a big fan of Richard Madden and saw Cinderella before I ever got into Game of Thrones. You will see a lot more of Jon in later chapters. He becomes a very big part of the story and a huge motivator. Honestly, I'm more proud of the plot and political drama than I am of the romance in this story. I adore the plot I was able to weave with the actual story. I feel like I was able to keep true to the original plot and feel while still being able to change it the way I wanted to. I'm really happy with it and can't wait to share it with you! Thank you again for reviewing and I hope you love this chapter!
Okay, that's about it. It's late, I'm tired, I have to work tomorrow, but I finally got this done!
If you guys wanna check out and see what I'm doing or have been doing, I actually just started a blog this Fall. You can find me at 22andlivingnow dot com. And if I have any readers who like to game, you can find me streaming some games on twitch at twitch dot tv slash mirielstark (Yes, I'm using my OC's name as my username. ;)). I'm in the process of trying to use both of these to make a living. I hope to see you there!
Till then, happy reading! And as always:
Winter is coming
Maria de Sanctos