Robb Stark was staring out the same window his wife would normally occupy – he had been staring at the same spot for the duration of the day. Maybe he could have stopped Evie from leaving, but he was just as stubborn as her. He was trying to prove a point to her and instead she proved a point to him.
Robb was focused upon his thoughts and missed the knock on the wooden door separating him from the rest of the world.
"Your grace; Lord Umber wishes to see you." A young squire asked entering the chamber and attempting to draw the attention of his King. The young squire went by the name of Rodwell Stone; he had helped Evie once during the attack on the way to Riverrun. The young King didn't answer but turned and followed the squire out of the chamber and into his study.
Surrounding the large table that had a map of Westeros placed upon the dark wood were many men. Robb recognized a few of them and one he acknowledged was Lord Umber; he had taken the seat on the left of Robb's usual seat.
"Stannis Baratheon will be arriving shortly your grace." Lord Umber told the King as he entered the room and made his way toward his chair. He glanced at the map and noted that there was now a Stark sigil moving up to Winterfell; so many reminders of his Evie.
"What does he want?" Robb asked settling down into his chair and looking around the table at his bannermen. There were six in total if you excluded himself and Lord Umber; if Robb was being honest he had none of their names. That thought made him regret becoming King; if he could learn the names of his men where was he heading?
"He wants his throne; plus he needs to thank you." Lord Umber replied lifting a cup of wine to his lips before ushering the squire to pour one for their King. Robb picked up the cup and took a sip of the sweet wine, which reminded him of his wife's lips; everything always went back to Evie.
"We shall wait then."
GOTGOTGOTGOT
Stannis Baratheon, looked very much like his late brother; Robert Baratheon. The real heir of King's Landing wanted his throne back and he wasn't going to let and bastard, whore or traitor get in his way. Robb had spent most of the evening staring at the other end of the table where Stannis sat planning and discussing battle plans.
"You can have 8,000 men travel down to King's Landing. Think of it as a gift from the North." Robb finally muttered pausing all the men in their actions as they all looked up to the silent King of the North. Stannis stood tall from the bent position he had been in previous and peered down at the young man. Stannis blue eyes – much like the eyes of a boy Robb knew – peered round at the other men before connecting with the blue eyes of Robb Stark.
"I'd like to speak to you alone." Stannis expressed keeping his eyes on Robb not afraid if he seemed intimidating; He was a man that got want he wanted through force. Robb's men turned to face their King waiting for his reply; they wouldn't leave him without his order. Robb's eyes flickered to Lord Umber's for a brief minute before flowing back to Stannis.
"Leave; I'll be fine." Robb told his men nodding toward the large direwolf perched on the rug by the burning fire. The six men followed Lord Umber and Stannis' men as they left the chamber leaving the two King's in silence. Robb held the gaze that Stannis had started and waited until the older man spoke; Robb could be intimidating as well when he tried.
"You're King of the North; I plan to be King of Westeros." Stannis started leaning against the table staring down at Robb as if he was some small child that had misunderstood something.
"I think you meant you would be King of the South; I have earned my title. You would be King of Westeros if you fought in the battles, if you have lost thousands of men fighting for something you had already lost. I will keep my title if you want that throne!" Robb hissed straightening in his seat as he spoke; Greywind rose from his resting place by the fire and stood hackles raised by his master's side. Stannis' eyes flickered between the young King and his direwolf and shrunk back into his seat; you would never step in between a direwolf and his master.
"Your words are true; I wouldn't be this far into getting that throne if it wasn't for you. You can keep the North; The Wall to down to the border between The Crag, Riverrun and Saltpan. Anything below that border is mine including the Stepstones and the Free Cities; you want to send someone into the Free Cities you ask my permission." Stannis suddenly uttered as he peered over the map in front of him before looking up at the man.
"Why do you give me so much land?" Robb asked scrutinizing the older man with curiosity; what did Stannis have to gain from such a loss? Stannis gazed down at the map before looking at the boy of ten and eight; he was so young yet he had already gained a lot.
"You protected the people this far south from the Lannister's if they haven't already pledged to you then they soon will. What man would willingly pledge them to me when I wasn't there to fight in the battles? I've been hiding away waiting for the right moment to make my move; I've been waiting for you to succeed. I'll be made King because of your work; no my own." Stannis told the boy moving a stag sigil down to King's Landing and knocking over the current loin sigil. "You also happen to have Tully blood in you veins; it would be stupid of me to take over a household dedicated to its heir and King."
"And I should just take your word for this? How do I know you won't go back on your word?" Robb questioned leaning his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands as he stared at the man with inquisitiveness. Stannis looked at the boy with a half-hearted smile before gazing at the direwolf again.
"There is a boy; Gendry Water he's known as. He's was a bastard of Robert; I want to legitimize him, make him a Baratheon. I know he's with your wife; take him on as a ward. He will be all you need to know that I keep my word; one day he may need to take over the throne." Stannis looked up at Robb and noticed the wide-eyed expression upon the boy's face; he had a feeling Robb already knew. "Teach him the ways of a true King; I've already failed him but you won't."
"I had a feeling he was Robert's son; it's his eyes. He has the Baratheon eyes; and the looks." Robb stated moving one of his hands and running it through the fur of his direwolf; Greywind still seemed on edge.
"He is a stag; he is my heir." Stannis looked around the chamber as he spoke before turning his head back to Robb who had now stood and was collecting a few papers surrounding the table. "Your wife is due to have a babe soon; you should be with her. You wouldn't want to miss the birth of your child; especially your first child." Robb looked up at Stannis' advice and sent a nod toward his wolf.
Greywind having understood the meaning had immediately set off in the direction his master's mate had last been seen. It would take him less than a day to catch up with her and by then his master would already be in his way.
"I knew that already; I was planning on leaving in the morning." Robb muttered as he rolled the papers and held them in his hand; his eyes settled on Stannis. There was something within the man's eyes; sorrow and pain.
"You shouldn't wait for the morning if you really love her; you should leave now." Stannis whispered staring into the fire and ignoring the intense, curious gaze Robb was sending him. Robb shook his head when he understood that the man wasn't going o pay him any attention and left the room, headed back to his chamber where he would pack his things as leave.
GOTGOTGOTGOT
The woman followed Robb Stark as he wandered out of the castle, though the courtyard and into the open stable; she didn't want him to go. Robb reached for his black stallion, running his hand through his rough, dry mane as he cooed softly to the animal. The horse was already saddled as if someone knew their King was going to leave in the quite of the night. When it looked like her King was going to climb onto the horse she stepped forward and announced her presence.
"You're going after her aren't you?" the woman asked stepping forward into the light so her King could see her. Robb spun around at the soft words and found himself looking down at Lady Talisa. She was dressed in a dark nightdress; her dark hair falling over her shoulders in a soft wave.
"She's my wife; I was bound to join her." Robb muttered turning his back to his horse and facing the woman full on. He could remember the last time he was left alone with this woman; it hadn't gone the way he had planned. Last time Lady Talisa had spoken to Robb she had declared her feelings and asked him to leave Evie for her. He didn't understand where her feelings had bloomed, but he did know he would never leave Evie.
"I don't want you to leave; she doesn't deserve you. She left you, her duty is to you." Talisa put forth hoping her words would make him think and change his mind.
"I have a duty to her as well; my mother was and still is a Tully. The Tully words are Family. Duty. Honor. She's my family, it's my duty to be with her and it's an honor." He told her taking hold of the horse reins in his hand as he led the horse out of his stall and into the wide space where he would mount the horse and race after Evie.
"You don't belong to her Robb; you need someone more worthy." She replied stepping closer to him as she ran her fingers over the laces of her nightdress. Robb's eyes flittered down to where her fingers rested as he took in deep breath and swallowed. Talisa's fingers unwove the laces as she stepped closer to her King; Robb's eyes shot up from the woman's breasts and looked into her dull brown eyes.
"I think you should go back to your chambers Lady Talisa." Robb stuttered to the woman as he dropped his gaze to the floor. His vision was focused on the light straw that covered the stable floor; a dark nightdress soon dropped into his sight. Robb couldn't help but lift his head; his eyes flew over the tanned skin of Lady Talisa. A warm blush clouded Robb's cheeks and he cleared his throat, quickly closing his eyes. "I really think you should leave." He whispered placing a hand over his eyes afraid that he would stare; his heart belonged to Evie. He didn't need this woman making out he had betrayed his wife. Robb heard a slight shuffle and hoped she had followed his order and left him alone in the barn.
"I can't do that." he heard before feeling rough lips press against his own. Robb's hands rushed to rest on her shoulders as he opened his eyes.