They walked back to the caves slowly, hand in hand Myrcella felt like she was walking on air. The feeling evaporated when they entered the cave's clearing and found Toby, Griffin, Jay, Petey, and Greatjon sitting around the fire. Dacey was nowhere in sight. Greatjon stood, glaring at the two of them before his gaze settled on their intertwined hand slowly his frown turned into a mischievous grin and he held up his writing tablet written in big block letters was a single word FINALLY! The others around the fire burst into laughter and Myrcella felt her cheeks begin to burn glancing over at Robb she swore he was blushing as well. The merry laughter died as Dacey emerged from the cave, her face completely void of any emotion. Myrcella's heart began to sink. Dacey pointed at Myrcella.
"You. Come with me." Her tone left no argument and Myrcella hesitantly let go of Robb to follow the older woman back into the caves. Dacey didn't speak as Myrcella followed her deeper and deeper into the cave system until they reached the cavern with the painting. When Dacey turned grabbed Myrcella by her elbow.
"What the fuck were you thinking last night?" She practically roared. Myrcella winced. "How could you be so fucking stupid as to go after him? You know what he becomes you've seen the damage he can do. That fucking monster he becomes!" Once again tears began to burn the corners of her eyes. "Bloody say something!" Myrcella yanked herself from Dacey's grip.
"Stop yelling at me!" she screamed back "And don't you ever fucking call Robb a monster." She growled, anger the likes of which she had hardly ever felt suddenly coursing through her veins. Dacey took a small step back, Myrcella wiped her eyes. No more crying. She thought to herself.
"You saw-"
"Shut up!" She shoved Dacey; the other woman stumbled back. "Yes, I saw! Trust me I bloody well saw! And it's because of you, me, and Greatjon and that accursed witch that Robb's like that." Her anger was an inferno now, "Ever since that first damned moon we abandon Robb to suffer that curse alone. To suffer every bone in is body breaking again and again. To lose his mind, to lose control to something I cannot even begin to comprehend and then put himself together again the morning after. It hurts my very soul. He thinks himself a monster I won't let that become true.
"Your feelings for Robb are blinding you then!" Dacey shot back. "He almost killed you."
"But he didn't!" Myrcella yelled back. "He stopped himself! A part of that wolf was still Robb, he recognized me and he stopped!"
"Then why does he recognize you? Why not Greatjon, why not me? We've been by his side since the beginning." The fiery anger disappeared as quickly as it had come at the hurt and sadness in Dacey's voice. Why did the Wolf only react to her, and not Robb's oldest allies. Suddenly Myrcella felt exhausted and sank to the ground burying her face in her hands. Dacey silently sat down next to her.
"I don't…" She trailed off. "I really don't know." The two women sat in the darkness for what seemed to be an eternity. Before Dacey spoke.
"I'm sorry." Myrcella turned to her, "I was scared, and worried, and I lost my temper and took it out on you. You are right. Robb isn't a monster, but seeing that last night… it terrified me because it was a reminder that all of this is true. And if a man can be cursed to turn into a wolf by the light of the moon, then, then what else might be out there?"
By the time Dacey and Myrcella emerged from the caves, the others had all started going about their business for the day, only Robb remained near the fire. Myrcella placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Go clean up and rest, everything is fine." Robb looked over at where Dacey sat, worried.
"Are you sure?" Myrcella smiled kindly.
"Yes. Dacey is done lecturing me." After Robb left, Myrcella went about preparing their breakfast, porridge and dried apples. By the time Robb returned, she had finished off her own bowl and was sitting next to the drawing in her sketchbook, she used it sparingly, but, today she just felt the need to draw. He grabbed his bowl and sank down next to her, without a word, their shoulders brushing together.
When he was finished he put the bowl aside and wrapped an arm around Myrcella's shoulders, Myrcella's eyes slid shut as she relaxed in the embrace. Soon the pair drifted off to sleep in the cool glow of the Autumn sun.
Robb and Myrcella's relationship changed little at their camp. There was a fair bit of teasing about 'taming the wolf' as Toby often said. Jay had swiftly cuffed his brother's ear and told him to let them be. Often the young couple would sit out late into the night wrapped in Robb's cloak talking, telling stories from their childhoods and truly for the first time opening up to each other like they had in the Riverrun Gods Wood all those moons ago. When the next full moon came. Robb pulled her aside as the sun began to set. Which was beginning to happen earlier in the day. Another reminder that winter was creeping closer.
"What can I say to convince you not to come with me tonight?" He asked.
"Nothing. I'm coming with you." Myrcella tried to brush past him but Robb placed both hands firmly on her shoulders. Forcing her to look at him.
"Myrcella, I cannot begin to describe how grateful I am that you are willing to stay by my side. The thing inside me, the Wolf, it calms when you are nearby; but I don't trust it."
"Robb-"
"Myrcella please." Robb cut her off. "Let me speak. His hands slid down her shoulders until they grasped her hands. "If you must come with me promise me that before my change starts you'll return to the caves." Something in Myrcella told her that this was a battle she could not win. She huffed and squeezed his hands.
"Fine. But I'll be out there as soon as the sun begins to rise." Myrcella went with Robb into the woods, as they left camp Toby tried to make another joke only for Dacey to give him a swift kick in the rear to shut him up. They reached the clearing Robb favored and waited for the moon to rise. Soon darkness fell, Robb turned to her.
"Time for you to leave." He said softly.
"At least let me take your clothes with me so they'll be nice and dry in the morning." Robb smiled at her; it didn't reach his golden eyes. He then pulled her in for a sweet kiss and stepped back pulling off his tunic and handing it to her before beginning to unlace his trousers. Myrcella felt her cheeks heat and a twinge in her core, she quickly turned to give him privacy. While sometimes their kisses became quite heated they had never progressed into anything more intimate. Part of her wanted to go further, but another part was scared to take the plunge. A hand touched her shoulder, brushing a stray curl to the side. Myrcella jumped and turned back to Robb, careful not to look down. Robb handed her his wadded-up pants and suddenly all Myrcella could think was how after all this time he still couldn't properly fold his clothes.
"It's really time for you to leave now." It was almost a plea. Robb could feel the moon rising, the Wolf could feel it. Myrcella took the last of his clothes.
"I'll see you at dawn." Myrcella turned to leave, but stopped. She turned back, "Robb, One last thing."
"What?" He asked. Myrcella leaned up and pulled Robb down for one last kiss. Robb grabbed her waist and pulled her flush against him. Heat radiated from his body, and all Myrcella wanted to do was get lost in it. But she forced herself to pull back and looked up at Robb.
"Tomorrow I'm going to teach you how to fold your own clothes." She stated. It was easy, Petey had taught her how. Robb couldn't help but laugh as Myrcella grinned up at him. The moment didn't last, however. The Wolf was done waiting and the moon was rising. With a deafening snap, his spine broke and began to realign Robb screamed and collapsed. Myrcella stumbled back. Robb curled in on himself as something else broke within him.
"Go." He gasped and Myrcella forced herself out of the clearing. Robb's screams chasing after her.
The next morning Myrcella left the caves just before dawn, bringing Robb's clothes along with a water skin and some hardtack. She reached the clearing just as the sun began to color the sky in the east. She settled down against a tree and wrapped her cloak tighter trying to stave off the morning chill and nibbled at her own biscuit. Eventually the sun rose and Robb appeared. This time Myrcella didn't avert her eyes, her cheeks still felt flush as she took all of Robb in. He really was very handsome, lean, with chiseled, well defined muscles. In fact, all of him was rather proportionate. Myrcella began to feel that knot of arousal in her core, shifting in her seat she took another bite of the hardtack as Robb collapsed next to her.
"I told you I'd be waiting." She said handing Robb the water skin and his clothes. Robb rinsed his mouth and then took a long drink from the skin before turning to his clothes.
" I knew you would." He paused. "The wolf stalked you from the cave." He said darkly. A frown marring his fine features.
Myrcella felt a shiver run up her spine. She'd had no idea she was being followed on her way here.
"What were you doing?" She asked hesitantly.
"IT." Robb bit out, there it was again, Robb separating himself from the beast within him. "It was just watching you."
"Did it want to hurt me?" Myrcella already knew the answer even before Robb shook his head. The wolf would never hurt her. "Robb do you think you and the wolf-" Robb cut her off and stood abruptly.
"I'm tired Myrcella, lets return to the cave.
Myrcella grumbled under her breath but stood to follow Robb. They would talk about him and the Wolf at some point, in depth, whether Robb liked it or not. Myrcella had a feeling, if Robb stopped separating himself from the thing inside him, he would be able to control the curse, just like Maggy said.
For the next several days Robb was distant, not just with her but with the others too. Myrcella feared that he was trying to cut himself off again. Clearly, the wolf stalking her had shaken Robb. It was with that in mind that she pulled Robb into the small cavern she had made hers.
"Robb, what is wrong?" She questioned. Gripping his arms tightly. "You've been distant again." Robb looked pained before hanging his head.
"I don't want to hurt you." He whispered. Myrcella smiled sadly and cupped his face with her hands, gently running her fingers across his stubbled jaw.
"You won't hurt me." She paused. "It won't hurt me either. I think deep down you know that too." Robb shut his eyes and leaned into her soft touch. He didn't deny it. She leaned up and pressed her lips to his. Leaning back, she saw Robb open his eyes something flashed in their depths. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him. This time their lips crashed together. Myrcella buried her hands in his hair. Her heart racing as their tongues battled for dominance. Heat once again was rushing to her core. Robb's hand's traveled from her waist down to her behind. He lifted her easily, Myrcella wrapped her legs around his waist, her core rubbing deliciously against the hardening arousal in Robb's pants. Then, they were on her bedroll. Robb began trailing kisses from her cheek down to her neck. Myrcella closed her eyes, lost in all the sensations. One of Robb's hands was pushing her tunic up while the other played with the ties of her trousers when suddenly:
"Ouch!" Myrcella gasped as a sharp pain blossomed in her neck. Robb shoved himself away from her in the blink of an eye he was on the other side of the cave; looking at her horrified. Myrcella reached up to her neck and felt the warm stickiness of blood slowly dripping from a cut made by Robb's sharp canines.
"I shouldn't have done that." Robb muttered. "The Wolf…" Panic was starting to grip him. Myrcella raised her hands.
"Robb it's fine. I'm fine. It's just some blood and a small cut." Myrcella said trying to calm him.
"No, I shouldn't have done that to you Myrcella. I, I lost control. I need to go."
"Wait, Robb!" But he was already gone. Myrcella looked around her small cave chamber.
"Fuck!" she yelled before collapsing onto her bedroll.
Myrcella decided to pretend that the whole affair hadn't happened. That Robb hadn't left her so very unsatisfied and so very wanting. She had ended up taking her own release, but after Robb. It was less than what she wanted. It didn't help that Robb went right back to staying away from her. It hurt, it hurt a lot. So Myrcella decided there was only one other person she could go to for help with Robb.
"What do you know about sex?" Dacey, who had been taking a drink from her water skin, choked and spluttered at Myrcella's rather unexpected question. Gasping she clutched at her chest and stared incredulously at her friend.
"What did you just say?" Myrcella suddenly looked rather embarrassed, her cheeks coloring.
"I want to learn… about… coupling…"
"Didn't you have a Septa or something to teach you this back in the Red Keep?"
"My mother actually." Myrcella paused. "And in hindsight she probably wasn't the best person to tell me about it."
"Considering she hated her husband and carried out an illicit affair with her twin brother producing you and your brothers, then yes, she's probably not the one you want to teach you about sex." Dacey stated. "What exactly did she tell you?"
"That a woman's power lays between her legs. Men only want one thing and that is their own release, that it's painful and unpleasant and that when I marry I'll just have to lie there and take it." Myrcella said, recalling the strange and frankly, somewhat terrifying conversation she'd had with her mother not long before leaving King's Landing. Dacey sat in silence for a moment then sighed.
"Can't believe I'm saying this. But she wasn't exactly wrong." Dacey paused, "What brought this on Myrcella?" Dacey already had a feeling she knew exactly why.
"Robb, I, he's… we…" Myrcella sighed and buried her face in her hands. "It's hard to describe. I've never felt like this about a person before. I want him, that's never happened before. When I was a hostage I fancied him a bit at the beginning. But this is something different. Then, last week we got intimate, but before anything actually happened he accidentally bit me and, well, he panicked. Now he's back to treating me like he used too and it hurts and I'm so confused."
"You're falling in love with him." Dacey said bluntly, "And you don't know if he feels the same way about you. And you think that learning more about sex will somehow help you figure that out." Myrcella slouched further. When Dacey put it that way,
"If what I'm feeling is just lust-"
"It's not." Dacey cut her off. "You're in love with Robb and he's in love with you. A person would have to be blind to miss it." Myrcella sat back up.
"Really?" Dacey nodded.
"He's always had a soft spot for you, it's only grown since we've been here. Maybe that's why the Wolf won't hurt you." Myrcella reached up and touched her neck, the tips of her fingers running over the small scab that had formed where Robb's sharp canine had cut her.
"Maybe that's why he panicked when he cut me." She said softly. Dacey shrugged and took another drink from her water skin.
"Maybe." She stated. "Or maybe he's just worried about dishonoring you. He is a Stark after all. And the fact that his last lover was brutally murdered at a wedding may mean he fears being intimate again because he may lose you to some horrible violent thing like he lost Talisa."
"Right…" Myrcella trailed off, Dacey had a point but she really did not want to think about Robb's former betrothed right now "Seriously though, I know you're not a maid. You've had lovers, how do I go about seducing Robb?" Dacey sighed.
"Well the first thing you need to know is that when it comes down to it, men think with their cocks, not their brains." Myrcella leaned forward eager to learn what Dacey knew.