Hi everyone, I'm back with another update! Sorry for the long wait. I plan on starting a part two of the story soon enough, and hope to be able to get back to writing regularly. Please review if you can x (i might rewrite at some point, idk i'f i'm happy - i wrote the first part quite quickly)


Margaery's POV

"Planning a royal wedding in a month is madness," Olenna said.

"It is," lady Catelyn recognized. "But a wedding is long overdue. Invitations are being drawn up as we speak."

Margaery, lady Olenna and Catelyn and Sansa were sipping tea on the balcony of the Tyrell's chambers. They had been invited midmorning.

"There is a lot to discuss. The dowry. The cost. The ceremony."

"Robb raised the possibility of a dual ceremony," Catelyn said.

"A dual ceremony?"

"A relatively private one in the God's Wood first. Then, the public one in the Great Sept of Baelor."

"This is uncommon," Olenna remarked. "Your family honours both the Old and the New Gods, does it not?" In this light, it seemed hardly necessary to wed in front of both sets of gods. They were in the south, after all.

"We do," Sansa replied. "But our bannermen will greatly appreciate it."

Margaery nodded, and exchanged looks with her grandmother. She knew some northmen would perceive her as too southern, and as Robb was now the king she wouldn't go up north any time soon and be allowed to prove herself. To earn their trust, showing appreciation for the Old Gods and the Old Ways was imperative. "A wonderful idea."

"So be it," nodded Olenna. "Does that mean we need two wedding dresses?"

"That seems hardly necessary," Catelyn replied.

The women continued discussing the more frivolous aspects of the wedding while Margaery drifted off. She observed her ladies in waiting, in the sitting room, buzzing in excitement. They were sitting where Robb had sat when he had asked for her hand in marriage.

Their hawking trip had been entertaining, but she had felt him a bit distant. He had attempted to be charming and kind, but she could tell he had been distracted. She hoped she wouldn't feel this way in the future. She wanted him to tell her what troubled him, to not feel alone. They needed to be connected. Love could grow in time, she was sure of it. First, she'd work on lust. Then on trust.

Sometimes, she wondered how Roslin and Alekyne were doing. They had ridden back to Hightower days ago, now, and would surely soon arrive. Were they talking at all? Sleeping in the same inn chambers? It was irrelevant to her, but she couldn't help but the curiosity. The situation had turned lucky for everyone involved. Alekyne had kept his head and Roslin had kept her virtue. Eventually, they'd get Brightwater Keep as a reward. Margaery was convinced she'd done Roslin a favor, or at least it's what she told herself in moments of doubt. She would never have survived King's Landing.

After a while, Catelyn and Sansa stood to take leave. Catelyn promised to come back the next day to continue planning. It seemed she enjoyed it, in a way, which relieved Margaery. She found it hard to read her future mother-in-law, and sometimes felt insecure in her presence.

Olenna went back in to order the ladies-in-waiting to find them a beautiful necklace, upon which they left in giggles. Margaery smiled at her friends while Olenna came back to sit with her. They were soon interrupted by Loras' arrival.

"Do you not have to guard some Stark, Loras?" Olenna asked as he walked in, opening the door to the terrace.

"I'm on duty after luncheon."

Loras smiled and embraced his sister and grandmother upon joining them on the balcony. "Where's father and Garlan?"

"Discussing financial matters. They'll meet with Robb Stark soon enough. Garlan is keen to accompany the Stark forces up north to retake Winterfell. Robb Stark should welcome him, considering the number of infantry men and knights we shall supply for the expedition."

"Quite a dowry, dear sister," Loras remarked teasingly, sitting down and grabbing a handful of grapes. "Your crown is costing us a lot." He pushed the grapes into his mouth, one by one.

"The association with the Stark name will do us great good," said Olenna, looking quite pleased. "Crown or not."

Loras attempted to nuance her statement. "They are exhausted through war. They're not particularly wealthy. They-"

"They command respect. The Starks have held the north for thousands of years. The loyalty of the Northmen is uncontested. They have no rivals and an infallible powerful reputation. Their house is strong and ancient, dating back to the Kings of Winter and the First Men."

"It didn't stop their liege lord from being murdered by a King twice in the last twenty years."

"Two mad kings. We are Tyrells, Loras. You two, at least. Were we ever kings, like the Lannisters, the Baratheons, the Martells? No, we were stewards. Stewards to the Gardeners and we happened to be lucky enough all the Gardeners were burned by Aegon the Conqueror. We have rivals. The Hightowers are a proud and Great House. The Florents like to whine about their superior claim to Highgarden. Do you think the Starks' claim to the North is ever challenged, even behind closed doors?"

"No," Loras said, reluctantly.

"No," Olenna repeated smugly, turning to Margaery. "Their shortcomings are where we come in. A fresh army of 80.000 men, of which a large cavalry eager for glory. More than enough crops and gold to breathe life back into the realm."

Margaery stole a few of Loras' grapes.

"It cost us Brightwater Keep, didn't it?" he asked.

"It did. But what is Brightwater Keep compared to the Iron Throne? Alekyne Florent has been denied a rich wife from the Reach with an army. He can keep the castle, our gift to him in a couple of years. We won regardless."

"Isn't it a problem," Margaery intervened. "That my husband will go north soon after our wedding? What if I'm not yet with child?" She had been worrying about this for a while, but in every conversation it seemed like no one acknowledged it.

Olenna nodded. "Your position will be delicate, yes."

"Can't he just send his mother and his bannermen to retake the north?"

"Robb Stark is a warrior. He could, but he won't. He has his pride."

Margaery sighed. She was afraid a fortnight wouldn't be enough to consolidate her position. Getting pregnant soon would be very important.

"Catelyn Stark was a Tully," Olenna said. "The Tully's were never Kings either. But the Riverlands are rich in food. She married into the Stark family and Ned Stark left for war a fortnight later. In a way, you and her might be more alike than you think."

"I don't think she likes me."

"She got pregnant, Margaery. Don't worry yourself about her liking you. You have far less time to get with child."

"What if he dies?" Margaery asked, her voice lower. She couldn't bear to look at her grandmother while saying it. "What if he dies fighting in the north and I'm here, all alone?"

"Then we shall pray by all the gods that he will have done you the courtesy of putting a son in you."

"It would be dangerous."

"I'll be here, sister," Loras said reassuringly. He'd be her King's Guard, protecting her at all times.

"It would be dangerous," Olenna confirmed. "But unlikely. He's survived this far. Do you think a few Greyjoys can stand in his way? It's surprising they've lasted this long. The North can't be held. I bet they'd even flee before he meets them in the field."

"She's right, Margaery," said her brother. "He'll be back before your belly even starts swelling. I am sure of it."

"You just worry about making an heir, dear. That is your part."


Robb's POV

"You look much better."

"You're getting married."

Robb stood, awkwardly. He opened his mouth but couldn't manage to find the words to speak. He had tried to reach Myrcella for two days, when he heard she had recovered, but she had sent Patrek away each time without an answer. So Robb had come to her chambers instead, in the evening, when he knew Arys was training Tommen.

"Yes," he finally said after a long pause.

"And soon," Myrcella added.

"Yes."

Myrcella didn't really react. She just looked at him. They were at an awkward distance, standing stiffly, as if they didn't know each other. Her hands were folded in front of her, in a very formal manner, and Robb looked to see if they were trembling. They weren't.

"I know I should've told you."

"You should have," she replied, very matter-of-factly.

"There's no excuse, I know. I have wronged you."

"Were you planning on telling me now?" It felt strange. Her tone sounded like she was asking him if he was going to eat mutton or chicken for luncheon.

"I suppose. I was going to tell you the day you fell ill, too. And the day in the woods."

"I see." She was theoretically looking at him, but it felt like she was looking through him instead. Her face was just blank.

Robb approached her, finally bridging the distance between them, but only halfway. He was almost scared to touch her. "I understand if you never want to see me again. I'd deserve it."

Myrcella didn't reply. He didn't know what he had expected, but he irrationally wished for some type of sign that she didn't want that.

"We need her men. We need her gold. We need her crops. I have to marry her," Robb said. He could hear him sound mechanical, as if he'd practiced it before.

"I understand that."

"I don't love her."

"Not yet you don't," she said after a bitter exhale, turned into some shadow of a grin. "But she'll share your burdens and your bed. She'll bear your children and comfort and care for you. She's beautiful and gentle and intelligent. You are too. It might take time, but there's no reason why you wouldn't love her eventually."

"Don't say that," Robb said, dismissing her words. He took a step towards her, cupping her face. Myrcella shook her head, and he could finally see some emotion in her face as her eyes became watery under her frown.

"It's alright," she said, her voice breaking, as she continued to shake her head in between his hands. "I knew it would happen at some point. I can't be angry about that."

"Of course you can be angry." He preferred it far more than seeing her cold and distant as only minutes earlier.

She continued shaking her head. "I tried, but I can't. I wanted to be proud. And brave. But I'm not." Robb pulled her in for a tight embrace as he heard her voice breaking. He pulled her very, very close, resting his head on hers as she steadied her breathing. Her hand gripped his doublet as she was muzzled under his chin. He could feel her crying softly. "I just… I just wasn't ready to lose you this quickly."

"You're not losing me," he said, pulling away from the embrace so she could see his face. He wanted her to believe him. Her eyes were big and green and glistering and hurt. She hadn't ever told him she loved him, but he could see it right there. He wanted to mend her pain so badly. "You're not losing me," he said, his voice lowering to a desperate whisper. "I can only love you, Myrcella. That won't change. Only you."

She gave him a weak, incredulous smile and he answered it by pressing a kiss onto her lips. She tugged his doublet and he buried his fingers in her hair as if it was even possible for them to be pushed closer together. Her lips then started moving, as she pulled back only to kiss him again, after which his tongue slid in between her lips and met hers for an embrace. He could taste the faint saltiness of her tears and all his need to make her pain go away made way for his need to sink into her. Her hands were suddenly in his hair and his lowered to her waist, pressing her body as close to him as he could manage. The feeling of her sent tingles down his nerves and Robb knew it would be impossible to let go of her.

His hands instinctively tugged at her dress, but as he was too consumed by kissing her, he could scarcely concentrate on taking it off and he frustratingly gave up. They clung to each other. It was everything, but it was not enough. Robb wanted to feel her skin, so he yanked at the back of dress, feeling it rip. Myrcella continued kissing him, leaving his lips to plant kisses on his chin, his cheeks, his ears, while he moaned at the warm feeling and pulled down her dress to her waist, baring her breasts. Robb hunched down, planting a trail of kisses down her neck and on her breasts. The taste of her skin was intoxicating. He circled her nipples, observing them hardening, before covering them with his mouth. Robb heard her gasp and he decided to scoop her up whilst meeting her lips for a new kiss. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bed without interrupting their tongues.

As soon as Robb had placed Myrcella on her back on the bed, she helped remove his jerkin and his shirt. Every move they made was eager, rough, almost, as if they couldn't risk a second of thinking things through. They both kicked off their shoes like they were a burden and Myrcella wrapped her arms around him, pulling his chest closer to her, to press against hers. While he chose to kiss her face increasingly tenderly, the sound and feeling of her heart beating at the same fast pace as his made him feel as though they were one. She was a delight for all of his senses.

Myrcella was the one who then felt the urge to keep the pace up. Her hands attempted to undo his belt while he sucked at her neck, hoping to leave a trace of him. He rose from the bed as a response, to take off his breeches and to pull down the rest of her dress, leaving them both naked. They stared at each other, green and blue eyes meeting, until they couldn't handle the distance anymore and their bodies met again, melting into each other. She had been eager and hungry up to that point, and even though she still was, he knew it was his turn to take the lead now.

Robb started kissing her soft belly, creating a trail downward. When he reached it, he allowed his finger to twirl a golden curl of her public hair. But he did not kiss her there yet, and he decided to plant his lips on her thighs instead. Myrcella's back curled, and he could hear her sharp inhale. She was becoming quite wet and the sight of it was maddening, making him rock hard. But he continued, trailing his tongue against her inner thigh, as her hips intuitively started rocking as a response. He figured he had to stop teasing her. His lips grazed her folds and he let his tongue slowly circle her clit as she gasped for air, her hips rocking harder. He could see she was trying to say something, but couldn't, so her fingers found his hair and tugged at his curls. They dug into his skull as he continued, enchanted at the sight of her reaching ecstasy.

"Robb…" Myrcella breathed, her hands pulling his face up to hers. "I want you inside me."

He wanted to respond, but he didn't know how. His lips plunged into hers as he happily obliged as every inch of his body was screaming for release. He positioned himself at her entrance and his hand reached for hers, their sweaty fingers intertwining.

"It might hurt for a second," he said, upon which she nodded, both hands on his face as she continued locking eyes with him.

Robb entered her and the sensation must've been better than any to be found in the seven heavens. He carefully watched her, as she gasped and squeezed his hand. He waited, going against his instinct, letting her body adjust to the new feeling.

"Are you alright?"

Myrcella stared at him for a moment, upon which she smiled and kissed him. She nodded, urging him to continue. He pulled out slowly, only to thrust in deeper again. She gasped, but less intensely, and he continued, every thrust seemingly easier for her as her hand loosened its grip on his. Her hips started to match his rhythm and her breathing became heavier as Robb decided to make his hand stimulate her at the same time.

They kissed again and looked at each other in utter awe. Myrcella came first, and the sight of her face was enough to make him pull out and climax as well, letting his seed spill on her thigh. They stayed there, listening to the sound of their breathing. He then rolled over onto his side, their legs still intertwined, resting his head in the nook of her neck. It was where he wanted to stay.