Catelyn was back, she had arrived early this morning, going straight to her youngest children. I had yet to see her, but I thought she would enjoy some alone time with her sons, sons she had not seen in months. The same boys that had lived without their mother in a time that they needed her. Robb left me early this morning as soon as the sun hit the horizon, to welcome his mother back and to also discuss the matters behind her departure. He left with a passionate kiss and a promise to finish what had started this morning tonight.
Lily had arrived not long after he left and ushered in a few maids to fill the tub with rose scented water. Two of the girls seemed more appealed with staring at me instead of focusing on their task at hand. There were hushed whispers as the filled the tub and small glares sent my way.
"Why do they glare Lily?" I asked my handmaiden turned friend as she laid out a clean slip and red cotton dress. Lily looked up as she set my boots down next to the bed and gave me a soft smile.
"A few of the younger maids watch Robb fighting with Theon. It seems they are quite fond of him and are displeased with the way Robb acted upon the mater." she replied looking over at two of the maids that were glaring at us. "If you don't want me reporting back to Mara you better start treating your Queen with respect Jocelyn. You should know better Lynn considering you have worked for a king before." Lily scolded the girls causing them to scurry out of the tent. I looked up at Lily and she frowned at me when she saw the smile on my face "What?"
"Nothing it just seems to me that you are turning into Mara. When did you grow a backbone Lily? You should have seen their faces when you told them off." I explained laughing a little as I stepped out of my nightdress and sunk into the warm water.
GOTGOTGOTGOT
I was soaking in the rose-water, eyes closed, head back when Catelyn entered the tent. I knew it was her because she called out for me when she entered.
"She's bathing in the tub Lady Stark." Lily mentioned as she was tidying up the tent while I was relaxing.
"I'll come back when you are dressed Evie." Catelyn called out and I could hear her turning, the rustling of her skirts brushing against the floor as she turned.
"No don't leave, I've finished I'll be two minutes changing." I reassured her rising out of the bath and reaching over for the cloth to dry myself off. "Could you pass me my slip Lily." I asked her as I dabbed dry my skin. I turned as I heard her footsteps come closer and was surprised to see Catelyn instead.
"Lily popped out to replace the furs, something about you needed clean ones." Catelyn explained noting the expression on my face. I nodded my head in reply and took the slip from her hands. I turned to the side cover most of my body from Catelyn's view and removed the cloth from around me and went to replace it with the slip. As soon as I had the slip over my head and settled down my body I turned back to Catelyn and who had a curious look plastered on her face.
"Is something wrong Catelyn?" I asked setting the cloth down on the thin wall that hide the tub. Catelyn tilted her head to the side as she looked me over and small smile appearing on her face. It looked like she hadn't smiled in a long time and by doing so it made her look much younger.
"I'm curious about your relationship with Robb." she admitted her eye alight with an emotion I'd never seen before. I frowned at her not understanding where she was going. "Come sit with me Evie." Catelyn took my hand and led me to the edge of the bed where she perched and gently tugged me down next to her. "What I meant was how is your marital side of the relationship?"
"Umm, considerably good, better than what expected what with a war going on." I answered feeling my face heat up with embarrassment at her question. "Do you mind me asking why you want to know?" Catelyn smiled in return and it seemed like she wanted to give a little laugh.
"I'm sure you understand how things work Evie so I won't go into an explanation. I noticed earlier when you got out of the tub that certain parts of your body have grown. There was also a glow to your skin, a glow not caused by the sun." Catelyn was looking at me with hope, hoping that I would catch on to what she was saying.
"I don't understand." I uttered allowing the confusion to be heard as I spoke. To me it sounded like she was talking in riddles.
"You and Robb have been married for what, nearly two months now? I assume that you consummated the marriage the night of your wedding and have done so since then right?" Catelyn stated turning slightly to face me on the bed. I wasn't entirely sure where she was going with this and looked up at her with a waiting face. "What I'm trying to say is I think you are with child."
"Wh-what?" I stuttered staring at her with my mouth open. I couldn't be possible. If I was with child I wouldn't still be getting my moon blood. Wait when was the last time I was getting my moon blood? I think it was before Robb and I wed so that would have been around two months ago. So I hadn't received my moon blood in two months. "It's not possible, I would know."
"I thought that when I was pregnant with Robb. Funny thing was, Ned was the one who knew before me. He noted things like me being sick all the time, gaining weight, mood swings, my breasts growing bigger. I felt foolish for not know, I seemed to reacted the same way as you." She replied smiling at the memory. "I should get Maester Steel to see you before you tell Robb. You don't want to alert Robb and then be wrong."
"Mmmm, good idea." I muttered not really paying attention to what she was actually saying anymore. If I had paid attention I would have noticed her leaving and would have also noticed her arriving again five minutes later with Maester Steel.
"How are you feeling Lady Stark?" Maester Steel asked breaking me from my thoughts and causing me to jump. I looked over at him with wide eyes before managing to calm down when I realised it was only him.
"Confused, scared, happy, hopeful." I muttered shrugging in response to his question. I saw both Maester Steel and Catelyn smile at my answer before they stepped further in the tent.
"You don't mind lying down and cover the lower half of you body, while you lift your slip do you? I need to be able to see your stomach." he stated setting down in the edge of the bed and helping me lift a fur over my lover half. I lifted my slip up to under my breasts and jumped in surprise as his cool fingers pressed into my stomach gently.
He focused on what he was doing and brought his fingers down to my hips and pressed around there for a few seconds before removing his fingers and standing up with a smile on his face.
"So is she with child?" Catelyn asked sounded and looking far move excited than me. Of course she would be excited this would be her first grandchild and it would be nice for her.
"It seems that she is with child. I would expect you conceived on your wedding night or a few days after considering you are already starting to show." Maester Steel affirmed with a light nod of his head. "I want you to start eating more meat to allow your body to get all the right minerals. I also want you to have a glass of milk with every meal and to eat as much vegetables as possible with lunch or dinner. If you have any problems just come straight to me."
"Umm when should I stop feeling sick?" I asked quietly sitting up in the bed, pulling my slip down as I did so.
"Considering you are only two or so months now I'd give it a couple more weeks, but every woman is different when carrying a babe." he replied before leaving the tent a bounce in his step. I sat there in silence thinking everything over when Catelyn joined me on the bed once again.
"Are you happy Evie?" she asked cupping my clasped hands in hers. I looked up at her with tears in my eyes and she brought me into a hug. "You're not happy?"
"No, I am happy. It's just a surprise, when Robb talked about having children he always said he wanted them when the war was over." I told her as I pulled out of her hug and looked into her blue eyes, eyes that reminded me of Robb. "What happens if he doesn't want a babe now? He'll hate me for it." I cried wiping the tears as they flew down my cheeks with each word.
"Don't be silly Evie, Robb will be over the moon. You just need to go tell him right away. You understand don't keep this from him, the longer you hold off the harder it's going to get. Plus it's better to tell him when your emotions aren't flying around the place clouding your judgement. Losing control of your emotions is the worst thing about having a baby." Catelyn replied kissing my forehead in a motherly gesture before pulling me to my feet as she stood. "Robb is in the main tent."
I nodded thanking her quickly as I exited the tent, bare foot and dressed only in my slip. I slowed my pace as I walked past a few of Robb's men, all staring at me with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.
"Your grace." a voice called stopping me in my tracks. I turned slightly to the side to see Theon stood there with a curious expression on his face. His face was unrecognisable. Robb had told me he hit Theon but this looked like he had attempted to kill Theon. His left side of his face was covered in bruises, purple, black and yellow. His lip was split and fat as well as his left eye. His right cheekbone was bruised as well and he seemed to be limping as he stepped forward.
"Robb told you not to come near me when no one else was around." I pointed out placing my hands on my stomach. As I took in that information I noted that I was already growing overprotective of our unborn child.
"There are plenty of people here with us Frey." He replied nodding to a few of the men that had gathered around to watch us. As he spat out that last name I felt like there was a wolf inside me - well there was but I don't think the babe counted - wanting to rip out his throat.
"It's Stark, Theon unless you have already forgotten. I am your Queen and you won't speak to me as if I'm some handmaiden you have your way with!" I spat authority of a commander showing in my voice. It must have shown that I was sounding like a queen and not the wide-eyed girl many of the men in camp thought I was.
"It seems you are showing yourself up with your appearance Stark." Theon replied looking me over in my thin, loose slip. I glared at him before looking around at the other men and noticed that they were also staring at me.
"Did anyone ever tell you it was rude to stare!" I snapped at them all before stalking off to the main tent in search for Robb.
When I arrived at the tent Robb was sat at the head of the table, in his usual seat with a few of his banner men and Lord Umber looking over a map. It seemed that they were planning out a battle attack for when we arrived at Riverrun. From what I could see they were setting up watches around the castle as well as planning an attack on the Lannister men.
As I walked in the tent Robb's head popped up for a second then looked back down. It took him a couple of seconds to actually realise that I was there and he wasn't imagining it as he looked back up and was out of his seat in seconds.
"What's wrong? Is it Rickon? Bran? Mother?" he asked as he rushed over to me grabbing my arms in his hands in a tight grip as he looked down at me.
"Nothing is wrong Robb." I muttered in a calming tone hoping he would believe me if I sounded calm. He looked down at me confused before flicking his eyes over to the group of men. I turned to look over as well and noted that they were all glancing at my sparse amount of clothing.
"Do you gentlemen mind giving me and my wife a few minutes alone." Robb pressed out frowning at them all as they flushed in embarrassment and looked down in shame. Lord Umber led the men out and as the last one left the tent Robb looked down at me with a frown. "What have I told you about walking around the camp in little clothing?"
"I forgot." I uttered hoping if I gave him a soft, sweet smile he would forget my lack of clothing.
"Do you enjoy it when other men goggle at you as you go searching for your husband?" he grunted walking over to his chair and dropping down in it leaning his elbows against the table and resting his head in his hands.
"I've never thought about it. I forgot to dress properly as I was trying to find you." I expressed softly placing my hands on my stomach without a thought. Robb looked up at me through his locks of hair that covered his face. "You need a hair cut." I stated reaching over and pushing his hair back. He leaned his face into my hand before kissing my palm.
"What did you want me for?" he asked softly bringing a hand up to keep my hand cupping his face. I smiled down at him wanting to drag out the answer to see if it would be like Catelyn trying to explain it to me.
"Your mother came to me as I was bathing. She seemed interested in our marital relationship inside the bedroom. She only asked that after looking over my body." I said walking around the table and stepped into the space between him and the table. He removed his elbows off the table as I walked round and leaned back in his chair giving me a horrified look.
"My mother asked you if we were having sex? This was after she stared at you when you?" he asked sounding horrified his eyes wide with fear and mouth slightly open.
"I wasn't naked you fool, I had a cloth covering me. She was interested in how often we made love." I muttered rolling my eyes at him. God Robb was such a man when it came to expressing love-making.
"Oh I thought you were going to say she was interested in you." he stated looking revealed at my words. I looked down at him with scolding look which he tried to get away with by giving me his most adorable smile.
"No! Anyway we had a conversation about things that can happen in a marriage, you now important things." I hinted hoping he would understand what I was talking about now that I was on the subject of marriage.
"I don't understand where you're going with this." he mumbled closing his eyes as he leaned against the back of his chair. I laughed quietly and crossed my arms against my chest. It seems as if Robb and I are alike when it comes to finding out your wife can get pregnant when making love.
"Catelyn spoke with Maester Steel and he came to the tent to see me." I added hoping he would link the dots together if he thought about it carefully. At the mention of the Maester Robb opened his eyes and frowned at me.
"Have you been sick again today?" he asked sounding concerned about me being sick once again.
"No, I'm fine we were just talking over some stuff." I started giving him a small smile to reassure him that I was in fact fine. "Actually he explained something to me that explains why I have been getting sick." Robb just stared at me with raised eyebrows and I knew then that he knew. I waited for him to say something yet he continued to stare at me.
"Well what did you learn?" he finally asked sounding impatient. It was my turn to stare at him with an open mouth of disbelief. He really was stupid, how could he not understand what I was telling him? I gave him all the facts.
"What is wrong with you?" I asked glaring at him now removing my arms from my chest to rest against my hips as I stood straighter against the table.
"What? Nothings wrong with me, is something wrong with you?" he replied looking and sounding confused by my outbreak. It was right what Catelyn said about the emotion thing; it was horrible losing control of them.
"Yes something is wrong with me and it's your fault!" I snapped with a growl noting how I was resembling Greywind when he was angry. Robb sat straighter in his chair as he peered up at me.
"My fault? What have I done to you?" He inquired sounded confused yet intrigued at the same time. I threw my hands in the air as he kept asking stupid questions.
"I'm with child Robb!"