Robb~
I am making my way towards you as we speak, I am escaping the palace and making my way as far North as I can. Don't worry about me, or the baby, we're fine and we'll be at your side soon enough, but there is something I have to do first and I think you know what that is. Thank you for everything and I promise I'll be there soon, with love~Rhaella
Robb was shocked, to say the least. He didn't think or know if she would make it out alive after what they did to his father and now? To hear of her survival, of her impending return to him after what he had agreed to. How could he face her? How could he look her in the eyes and tell her of his betrayal? But he'd be lying if he didn't say he felt betrayed in turn. Perhaps they weren't wed and he wasn't the father of her child, but he still loved her, gods know why because it was a tortuous love he felt, knowing she loved another. But he loved her all the same.
Robb kept the news to himself and the weight it bore on him was visible. Between planning a war, having the Kingslayer in captivity, the Freys, his mother and now her inevitable return. Robb felt spent.
Perhaps it was what caused Theon to present his plan to 'his King'.
"Robb, are you doing alright mate?" Theon asked as he sat and dined with his friend.
"As well as can be expected I suppose" Robb answered dryly, taking another sip of wine from his goblet.
"It must be hard, planning a war, your sister's and child captives of the Lannisters, your mother breathing down your back, being named King in the North..."
"Your point Theon?" Robb asked, not having the patience for Theon's games.
"I want to help, let me serve you as a friend, as a brother," Theon said soft and slow, sensing Robb's agitation.
"How?" Robb asked, only slightly intrigued by the prospect of help. It seemed he had to do everything himself these days, and it was working. Robb didn't know if his luck would vanish if he let someone help carry his load.
"Let me sail to Pyke, my father has dozens of warships and I can talk him into helping us. With them, we'll be able to storm King's Landing within a month" Theon explained, a hopeful look in his eyes.
"Theon, you're like a brother to me, you know that. I need you here to help me with my armies not to go searching for empty promises in the Iron Islands" Robb sighed, feeling a need to rub his forehead from a stress headache he was getting.
"At least think about it" Theon answered back, continuing on with his meal.
And think he did. Robb spent the rest of the morning weighing out the pros and cons of Theon's departure. He wasn't a real Stark so he wouldn't be much value and was unlikely to get captured along the way. He was a Greyjoy and in theory heir to the Iron Islands, which might sway his father to lend Robb their fleet. The more Robb thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed to sound. Why not send Theon off on a diplomatic mission? To his blood relations no less, the worse they would do to Theon is say no, right?
So later that day he told Theon to go and send a raven when he received an answer.
"You will not regret this" Theon answered happily as he rode off, towards the sea.
"Are you mad?!"
Robb's headache only grew at the sound of his mother's scolding voice.
"What is it now mother?" He asked, trying to be patient as she stormed into his tent, anger written all over her face.
"Do you really think it wise to send Theon off on his own to the Greyjoys?!" his mother asked as if the answer were obvious.
"I do, he thinks he could get his father's fleet for us which would have a huge impact in the war" Robb answered simply, not quite having the energy to yell back at his mother, not yet.
"He is a Greyjoy! They cannot be trusted!"
"He's lived with us for years mother, raised as one of my brothers and I trust him as such"
"Robb"
"Mother! I am a King now, it is time I started acting like one and King's don't go running to their mother for every little decision that needs to be made!" Robb snapped, not in the mood for any more negotiating.
"I'm not trying to puppet you Robb, I only want to help guide you and offer my advice" she answered quietly, with patience.
"And I appreciate that, but sometimes I need to listen to my own mind" Robb replied back, standing up from his chair and exiting his tent, leaving his mother to her own worries.
Robb walked towards the wooden cage, separated from the other captives of war, where two guards were in place. Greywind followed him obediently as he typically did and Robb was glad of it. To have a companion that was loyal and didn't offer advice, only comfort. It was a luxury Robb didn't take for granted. When he approached the gate both guards gave him a respectful nod of their heads.
"Leave us" Robb ordered, which felt strange coming off of his tongue, give orders outside of battle instead of requests. Both men nodded and walked off, leaving Robb and Greywind to enter the cage where the Kingslayer was held captive.
"Ah, well if it isn't the boy playing at war. I hear they're calling you a King now" Jamie Lannister said with his smug smile.
"I've come to hear what news you have from King's Landing" Robb replied.
"Ah, come to hear whats become of your sisters and Lady love?" Jamie answered with the same smug smile, with a hint of sarcasm hidden behind his eyes.
"Do you have news or no? Or maybe 3 more days without food or water will loosen your tongue" Robb replied menacingly.
"Just like your father, cruelty in the manner but not in the action, one day boy that will get you killed"
Robb continued his glare, losing his patience.
"Alright, you've persuaded me" Jamie replied with a half-laugh. Robb waited as Jamie readjusted himself.
"Last I saw your sisters are safe and if my sister was smart she would keep them safe and sound until the moment arrived when she had use of them, a bargaining chip, means of persuasion" Jamie replied emptily.
"I'd expect nothing less, and my wife? What of her?" Robb asked, happy to hear his sisters would be kept safe, for now. But what he desperately wanted to know was the fate of her.
"The white-haired girl with the big stomach?" Jamie asked with a smile, causing Robb to roll his eyes.
"Well, for her...I'm not too sure. Cersei might have her killed seeing as how she's Targaryen, she's a threat to Joffery's crown. She might wait till the child is born to make her move, she might carve the child out of the girl's stomach, the possibilities are limitless, but all of them result in the girl's death. But there is one option that might save her if Cersei chooses to use it..." Jamie mumbled thoughtfully.
"What option would that be?"
"Release me, abandon the North and bend the knee to my nephew, beg for her life by giving up yours or by taking the black. Abandon this foolishness you've started and be smart. Or not and lose your child, your Lady and let her fade away from your mind until she becomes a distant memory" Jamie said, cruelty in his voice. Robb couldn't help but smile.
"Well then, I suppose my choice has been made," Robb said, confusing Jamie with his happy manner.
"Really?" Jamie asked skeptically.
"Really"
"And what choice is that?"
"Get a fleet of ships from the Greyjoys, lead the bulk of the North against Cersei and Joffrey and all of King's Landing and take their heads and yours when I'm finished" Robb replied, cruelty and anger flowing off of his tongue and into Jamie's ears, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Have you heard nothing of what I've just said? Or are you so heartless you'd lead the girl to her and her child's slaughter in King's Landing?"
"Who's to say she's still there?"
Jon never had many problems with the cold. To others, some days it was unbearable, while other times it was just a mild inconvenience. But that was back at the wall. Beyond it was different. Beyond the wall the cold winter winds were merciless, and the snow fell in sheets and piles. The morning frost covered everything. Despite its beauty, it was a silent killer. He was a fool, to tell her to come this far North, even if it was beyond the wall, it was still a living hell. Her inability to handle the cold? the wrights? Wildlings? What in seven hells was he thinking?!
Jon's thoughts raced as he fiddled with the ring on his finger, thinking about her. The one thing he couldn't leave behind, or seem to escape. Deep down he knew why he invited her to come North. He needed her, her and their child. He needed to see them, to hold them both in his arms, to give him the strength and warmth he needed to survive. He couldn't live without her, he knew this now and she knew it before they both left.
They needed each other like one needs a heart. They were each other's hearts, life sources, souls. She carried him with her every day, even more so with their child. And he did the same, in his heart and mind, and with the ring, he wore on his left ring finger. He fiddled with it from time to time but dared not take it off for fear of it becoming lost. As if somehow losing his ring would result in him losing a little bit of her.
"Snow, why don't you join us inside?" Commander Mormont requested as some of the other brothers started entering the home. They had stopped their journey at Craster's Keep, a wildling who was a bit of a friend to the Night's Watch. Rangers would always stop by for a night on their way out scouting.
"As you wish Commander" Jon answered, stopping his task of unloading the wagons and began walking towards the building if it could be considered as such. Jon was surprised it could even stand at all. The inside was only a bit better than the outside. It was drafty and a bit overcrowded with all the women and men of the nights watch. But there were fires, and a roof over their heads, so it was better than being out in the open.
Lord Commander Mormont began questioning Craster, about the abandoned villages and homes they had come across during their journey. Craster gave only half answers and was blatantly rude towards the Commander. Jon could feel his temper starting to rise and tried his best to keep himself in check, but the Commander wasn't defending himself! None of the other men dared to raise their voices in defense of the Commander either so...Jon blurted out his contempt. Craster's tone quickly turned harsh and fierce, Jon realized his mistake as Mormont begged forgiveness and promised to keep Jon in line and offered up gifts for repentance.
Soon after Jon was led out of the shelter by the Lord Commander and tossed roughly away.
"Do you want to lead someday boy?!" the Commander spit at him, catching Jon off guard.
"Well do you?!" The Commander pressed, looking at Jon with daggers in his eyes.
"Yes sir" he answered. His suspicions of being chosen to tend to Mormont as being groomed to lead confirmed.
"Then learn how to follow!" The Commander snapped, crudely explaining to him once again all that Craster has done for the Night's Watch, even if he is vile he is the reason for our brother's survival.
That night Jon found a small sheltered spot under a pine tree and laid there with Ghost, thankful for his warmth. But as he laid there waiting for sleep, his mind started to drift once more to her. Was she a prisoner, hostage of the Lannister's like his sisters probably were? Did she escape? How was the child? But the question that kept coming back to his mind was, is she still alive? This question shook Jon to his core. He'd like to think he'd know somehow, through some divine force if she had perished. He would have felt it in his heart if she was dead. But something was nagging at him. Something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it could be. Out of the vast amount of possibilities of what could be wrong, it was something he had not yet thought of, and this troubled him and his dreams.
I was losing all sense of direction, or at least that's how it seemed. We'd been traveling for weeks, but for as much riding we did I thought I would feel colder. I had a suspicion we weren't traveling North, or at least as far North as we should be traveling. Marian wasn't the best traveling companion in any capacity. She was always rushed and treated me like a porcelain doll, which in some ways it felt like I was. I was large with child, a child that seemed like it could appear any day, which only made riding harder and slower. Marian pressed me though, despite the pain I felt in my spine or the sickness or discomfort she pressed us on. When we broke for the night I almost fell off of my horse from fatigue. We had run out of food awhile ago and were living off the land, meaning anything Marian could find or kill.
It was during these times that Marian was kindest. Full of concern and keeping her eyes fixed on me as if waiting for the moment I was to snap. She began an older sister during the night and a master during the day.
Tonight though she was especially caring as if knowing how much pain my body was going through.
"Can I get you anything?" she asked, a question she would ask often. Winter had gone off hunting for herself, another nightly ritual.
"My satchel please," I asked weakly, setting aside my skin of water. She walked over to my horse and grabbed it, along with the blade, which she carried for me, saying it would better protect us because of the Valyrian steel.
As if knowing what I would do with my satchel anyways she pulling out the Dragon Egg, wrapped carefully in its silken scarves. Delicately she pulled the scarves away and handed it to me.
"I still don't understand why you insist on holding that rock everytime we make camp" she scoffed as she would every night I asked this of her. To which I replied.
"It's not just a rock" which I repeated every night as well, like clockwork. She rolled her eyes and returned her focus back to the pair of rabbits she was cooking.
I held the Egg in my hands, trying to emit heat from my hands into the core of the egg. I could feel something in there but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't wake it.
"How much longer until we reach Castle Black?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the egg, waiting for it to hatch. It was the first time I asked about our destination and Marian was eerily quiet. I looked up and saw her staring at the rabbits, intently as if she was blocking out everything else but those rabbits.
"Marian?" I asked again. After a long silence, she answered.
"We won't" she muttered softly. I sat up in surprise.
"Are we making a detour first, to Robb?" I asked, slightly angered that she would change our plans without telling me. But I was also upset with myself for not knowing about the subtle change in direction.
"No" she answered again, silently that I almost didn't hear it.
"What?" I asked, my voice on the verge of breaking. She remained silent.
"Then where the hell is it we're going?!" I asked suddenly full of rage. Her eyes remained on the rabbits, not daring to meet my gaze.
"Answer me!" I shouted, the flames leaping up from the fire, coming close to burning Marian, forcing her gaze to meet mine.
"East"
"East isn't a place!" I snapped back.
"No, but there are ports and boats, boats that will take us across the Narrow Sea and to Daenerys" she answered simply.
"No, NO! I wrote to Robb and Jon, they're expecting me! I can't just leave!"
"They won't be expecting you..." she whispered with a heavy sigh, looking back down at the rabbits.
"What do you mean they won't be expecting me?"
"I mean those raven scrolls you wrote will never be delivered...they've been replaced with forgery's" she answered calmly.
"W-what do they say? What do they think I've written them?!" I shout. She sighs, pained and sad.
"Notes, from your deathbed. And after that a short writing from Vary's about how you and your child died during childbirth, they'll have been sent by now, no one is waiting for you," she said, looking up at me with a determined look on her face. But I only looked back at her with horror in my eyes.
"No...No I have to go see Jon...and Robb, and...and" I started to panic, feeling pain shoot through me, making me close my eyes and cry out softly.
"I'm sorry Rhaella, but Varys and I both thought it was best...and you promised Ned you would leave, that you would cross the Narrow Sea and leave" she reasoned. I opened my mouth to reply but pain shot up my spine instead, making me scream and drop the egg to the ground, my hands moving instinctively to my stomach.
"Rhaella?!" Marian shouted, fear in her eyes as she ran over to me.
"It's the baby...she's coming" I answered through gritted teeth, pain overtaking all of my senses. I screamed again from the pain and began to weep. This wasn't how it was supposed to be...this wasn't how it was going to happen...I wasn't supposed to be alone...this wasn't how...this wasn't how...