The Wolf's Wood was surrounded in a mist of fog that rolled around the tree roots and slowly climbed the trees trying to find a way to escape from the forest and consume to small villages and farms surrounding Winterfell. Robb Stark was huffing in dismay as he slipped once again on a root or stone that he could not see hidden under the white mist. His grunt of annoyance brought a smile to my lips as I kept my bow held within my left hand lightly and an arrow within the fingers of my right hand. Another bow was held within Robb's hand and his quiver of arrows lightly resting against his right shoulder ready for him to reach.
"Why I ever let you persuade me to come hunting is beyond me." he grumbled leaning against the tree as he sighed in defeat and ran his right hand over his face. I looked at my husband and rolled my eyes before turning my head back into the forest waiting for some sigh of movement, some type of prey.
My ears perked up at a snap of a twig but I sighed in frustration when I realised it was one of the men Robb had ordered to come with us. There was no way the King of the North would leave his home with his wife and go out hunting without some form of protection.
"And why I let you bring your men is beyond me," I muttered to him as another one his men stepped on a branch scaring away any animal within the area. It was frustrating for me to be hunting with so many people; if it was just Robb and I then I would have found this hunting trip more relaxing rather than frustrating and annoying. The whole point in us actually coming out here was for us to get away and to relax a little but Robb over-reacted and had to bring his men with us totally ruining whatever chance at peace and quiet we had. "Would it kill for you all to watch where you step and to be quiet?"
"They're soldiers Evie, not hunters," Robb started staying in his place leaning against the tree as he held up a hand for his men to stop following us deeper into the forest. "Set up camp here, we'll rest and she can continue doing whatever it is she's doing." He added nodding in my direction as his men dropped their weapons to the ground and collect any piece of wood that would benefit to the fire.
"I don't know what you plan on cooking Robb; a few rabbits won't fill that lot." I told him glancing at the fifteen men he had ordered to come with us. It was a stupid act on his part and I knew he regretted it slightly by the looks he kept sending my way as we made it deeper into the forest.
"And I don't know why you are taking this so seriously, you've never hunted before in your life." he mumbled under his breath hoping I wouldn't hear him.
"And I question why I love you on your bad days." I whispered as I stepped away from the group and listened closely as my eyes darted around the clearing in front of us in case I spotted anything worth shooting.
The clearing in which I was looking out at was a small meadow, just long grass, colourful flowers which were surprising considering we were in the north and no sign of trees apart from those that surrounded the meadow.
I could hear the chirping of the birds over the noise Robb's men were making and looking up at the surrounding trees to try to spot them, it was harder looking for them than it was to listen to them. Maybe Robb Stark could live with the fact that he had to kill his wife because she shot fifteen of his men. I could not stand the sound of them making loud noise when we were meant to be hunting.
"Don't go too far out; I want to keep you within my sights." Robb called out as I stepped into the meadow. It was beautiful out here, the colours of the flowers were nothing what I would have expected up north, I could only remember seeing flowers nearly as bright as this at The Twins surrounding the gardens and along the footpath leading into the Godswood.
I don't know how long I spent standing in the meadow bow clutched within my left hand with an arrow ready to be released if I caught sight of any prey. I knew enough time went by that Robb's men had started to cook the three rabbits we had caught as the smell was starting to waft in my direction and I couldn't help the rumble my stomach gave once the smell of the cooked rabbit reached my nose.
I was about to turn to grab a piece of the cooked rabbit when movement in the distance caught my eye. I had no idea what it was I just pulled the arrow on the bow and released it without a second thought. It could have been a deer or even a wolf but all I cared about was the fact that I had shot something. And I had shot it considering a loud yelp could be heard.
It was that yelp that allowed me to know that my prey had not been a deer or wolf but instead was a human, hopefully not one of Robb's men, hopefully not anyone really but it was undeniable that I had hit someone.
Robb was by my side in an instant, grabbing hold of my arm as I stepped forward to see what I had shot. His men were on the move as well reaching the area in which the yelp could be heard; now all we could hear was hissing sound of pain.
"Robb you can let me go, I can obviously protect myself." I snapped giving him a pointed look making sure he would release my arm. He did so reluctantly and I knew that because he hovered close by my side as I stepped through the meadow and over to Robb's surrounding men.
As we go closer I could tell that whomever I had shot wasn't a likeable person with the northerners and had a bad feeling that maybe I had just condemned this person to their hell. Robb took the lead as we stepped into the gathering of his men – it reminded me that he was a confident Lord from birth and seemed to take his fate as King lightheartedly and had far from few qualms with it.
"Ser Grosset, tell me if we know of the intruder?" Robb called out to his lead solider as he pushed his way toward the front still not being able to see the intruder yet as his men were still blocking them from view.
Ser Grosset, a man in his thirties had the usual appearance for a northerner yet he had slightly lighter hair as he came from The Twins and was originally one of my father's men before becoming part of Robb's army and then moving up north after the war. I had a feeling he was keeping an eye on me for my father and reporting everything back just to keep on my father's good side.
"Ay Your Grace, you do know of the intruder!" Ser Grosset spat pushing the men that stood between Robb and the intruder out of the way. Once Robb stepped into the welcomed space I followed hoping to catch a glimpse of the intruder before anything happened.
Familiar blond hair appeared to me and before I could control my actions I was pushing Robb to the side ignoring the looks I received from his men and stood in front of the man looking down at him with wide eyes.
"Jamie? What in the seven hells are you doing here?" I asked forgetting that I didn't believe in the seven gods, but had been brought up with the saying at The Twins. Many of my siblings had been brought up in the light of the seven gods but my mother had an old belief and brought me up in the light of the old gods. With my experience with my strange dreams I had a belief that the old gods were in fact true belief and the seven gods just made up to bring some change into the world.
"Evie!" Robb warned not liking that I would carelessly curse the seven gods even if they weren't are gods. That was one thing Robb had yet to get used to with me, I may not had done it often but when I tended to be shocked in startled I would curse the seven gods. Arya had seen me do it a few times when stitching when I accidentally pricked myself with the needle.
It was a bad habit I had picked up from my sister Ayleth – as she was the fourth youngest daughter she never really got what she wanted and tended to take her frustration out by cursing. Robb told me that if he ever meets her he will curse the day she taught me how to curse like a true northerner.
"Excuse me Robb for uttering words I had no control over," I muttered to my husband turning to look at him before looking back down at the man who had once saved my life. "What are you doing here Jamie?"
The Lannister flickered his eyes to each of Robb's men who had all now retrieved their weapons out and had them ready if needed. I could tell he was looking for the one that had shot him and it would be possible for it to have been one of them seeing as a few were holding swords, axes and bows.
"Who hit me?" he asked answering my question with his own. At his words Robb stepped forward making sure Jamie's eyes wouldn't settle on me and gave him a stern look.
"Does it matter who hit you Lannister? My wife asked you what you were doing here and I would like you to answer!" Robb ordered not forgetting who this man was and what he had previously done to his family.
Jamie lifted his eyes to mine and it was then that I noticed they were remarkably like my own yet I knew we were not related – well I think there was no relation between us. I could see so much through his eyes when he looked up at me and I felt obliged to help him. Maybe it was because of the time where he helped me when I was still pregnant with Eddard and I couldn't help but be thankful he helped bring my son into the world.
"Let's take him back to Winterfell, I'm sure the council would love to question him Robb." I muttered hoping I could buy some time for Jamie before any rash decisions were made and I couldn't stop them.
GOTGOTGOTGOT
"How did your hunt go?" Tyrion asked as he stepped out of a room and joined me in the hallway as I got Eddard from Catelyn's chambers. I looked down at my honorary uncle and rolled my eyes at his question.
"I'm sure you know how the hunt went considering your brother was brought back surrounded by fifteen men and had an arrow sticking out of his shoulder." I replied letting Eddard move in my arms so he was also looking down at Tyrion.
"What my brother Jamie Lannister was brought here? I wonder how that managed to get past me." he muttered changing his features into those of a shocked man. I rolled my eyes at his pretense and ran my hand through Eddard's hair as we stopped outside my chambers.
"Your sarcasm is deeply annoying Tyrion." I told him opening the large wooden door and stepping in before turning back to face him. "Jamie wishes to see you and I recommend you go do so before my husband does something stupid." With those last words to Tyrion I shut the door and walked over to the chair by Eddard's bassinet so I could feed him.
Once Eddard was nursing I looked out of the window which was right next to me as Robb insisted I have something to occupy my time when feeding Eddard. The courtyard in which the window opened over was full of Robb's men practicing with their swords and bows as villagers rushed past with wide eyes after bringing their trade to the castle. This was going to be normal at Winterfell now and I could only hope that when Eddard was able to walk and was big enough to run around in the courtyard with Rickon I would be safe for him to run around without me having to worry about him getting hurt.
When Eddard finished nursing I looked down to see he had fallen asleep. He was very much like his father with his dark hair and strong facial features he was growing into already. I knew that when he got older he would take after Rickon and Bran more than he would Robb because he was already looking like them according to Catelyn.
"Your father is a very complicated man Eddard," I muttered to him as I settled him down in his bassinet and covered him with the furs as I stood over the bassinet watching over him. He was getting too big for his bassinet and he would soon outgrow it. Time was flying by fast and soon Eddard would be walking and talking and learning new things and I don't think I would be able to watch him grow that fast.
"Is he asleep?" the rough voice of my husband asked as he walked into the chambers and closed the door lightly.
I turned at his voice and noticed that he looked tired yet angry at the same time, a look I was hoping I wouldn't have to see often. His face reminded me of the time we stayed at Riverrun and he was going back and forth in battles and was waiting for Tywin Lannister to die.
"He just dropped off," I mumbled stepping closer to my husband as he leaned against the door, his eyes closed and breathing deeply. He looked exhausted and I knew it had something to do with our days activities – maybe hunting and then capturing an intruder that just happened to be Jamie Lannister and then walking through the Wolf's Woods to get back to Winterfell in a rush so he could make sure his prisoner was safely behind bars in the dungeons wasn't a good idea especially when you wake up before the sun has properly risen to set out. "What have you been doing for the last hour?" I asked him running my hands through his hair as I stopped in front of him and leaning against his body lightly.
"Questioning Jamie Lannister, speaking with Jon about what to do next and then I came here to see my wife and son only to find that my son has already been settled down and my wife standing guard over him." He told me opening his eyes and looking down at me with a small smile as he teased me about watching over our son as he slept.
"You went to Jon? Are you questioning your abilities as King?" I whispered to him as I placed a kiss on his jaw hoping to ease the tension in his body just a little bit to help him relax. That was what today was meant to be about, us relaxing not running around trying to figure out why Jamie Lannister was in the north.
"I needed a clear mind to help me decided what to do next. Jon suggested I order the council together so we can decided as one what is best to do about Jamie." He muttered wrapping his arms around me and pulled me closer so that our bodies were pressed tightly against each other's, I could feel his warmth through his attire.
"We should put Jon on the council," I mumbled leading my kisses up his face lightly placing them on his lips before moving them away when he tried to deepen the kiss. "Although that would be difficult when he goes back to The Wall." I added pulling away and looking into his eyes which where shining brightly with want and need.
"I think I can work something out with Jon." Robb stuttered running his hands over the layers of my dress as he pulled them up to rest on my hips as his hands rested on my thighs and then lifted me up also. My hips wrapped around his own as he lifted me to make sure I wouldn't fall even though I knew Robb wouldn't let that happen. Robb moved slowly as he turned us around so that I was resting against the door instead of him.
"We shouldn't be doing this." I moaned as his lips trailed along my collarbone and his hands unlaced his breeches. Robb looked up as he struggled to pull my stockings over my hips so he could finish what he had started.
"Of course we shouldn't," he started pulling the stockings successfully off my hips and down my legs where they stayed hanging from my shins. Robb's hands loosely unwrapped my ankles so he could remove the stockings before wrapping them back around his hips. "But I am your King and I order you to lie with me." he groaned out proceeding to press his manhood into my entrance without waiting for my reply. I sighed in content as he filled me and couldn't help but agree that he was right when he suggest – more like ordered in fact – for me to make love with him.
"We aren't exactly lying together are we?" I groaned as he pushed inside me repeatedly keeping a steady rhythm as he fulfilled both our needs. Robb managed a chuckled as he slowed down and moved us over to the bed.
Once we were settled on the bed Robb's hands run over my thighs as he slowly started his rhythm again as he kissed his way up my neck. My hands tangled in his hair before running down his shoulder to his shirt where my fingers fumbled over the buttons so I could pull of the cotton material that kept my husband's body hidden. Robb's arms lifted so he could help me remove the shirt before returning his arms around my waist so he could hoist me up and turn us so that he was now resting his back against the pillows in a half-sitting, half-lying position.
From this new position it was easier for me to move but it also allowed him to reach for the laces on my dress and unfasten them. As soon as the dress was loose enough Robb pulled it off of my body so I was left in just my slip which was clinging lightly to my body from our sweat. The tearing of my slip was louder than Robb thought as he pulled away in surprise as he watched as the material fell from my shoulders and fell on the bed behind me.
"I'll get you a new one." he mumbled bringing his lips down to mine as I gave him an accusing look. If he wished to rip all my clothes when he made love I would have none left. I sighed softly as he pulled me flush against him and ran his hands over my back before twisting us again so I was lying under him once again. His lips were fierce as they parted mine so our tongues could fight for dominance as his hips moved against mine and his arms rested on my hips. I wound my arms against his neck pulling him in closer to deepen the kiss.
GOTGOTGOTGOT
Robb's arms pulled against my waist pulling me toward him as I rolled out of the bed so I could dress again for the council meeting. A meeting we were meant to be at by now yet we had dived in to fulfill our needs beforehand.
"Why are you leaving?" Robb groaned attempting to pull me against him and under the covers. I pinched his arm lightly and he cried out in surprise pulling his arm away and freeing me from his grasp.
"I have to dress for the council meeting you called an hour ago – meeting we should already be at." I told him pointing out that we should have in fact been there already. Robb groaned against as he stumbled out of the bed and over to his breeches that had somehow been flung across the room. "I would love for you to go to the meeting like that." I sighed watching him as he stood naked turning his breeches the right way before pulling them on. He turned to me as he laced them up and gave me a small smirk.
"And I would love for you to go like that but it would be a distraction for me." he replied coming over and placing a kiss on yum shoulder before pushing me over to the chest so I could grab a new slip. I rolled my eyes at his words before pulling on the thin material and grabbing my stockings from the floor.
"Can you wake Eddard please?" I asked pulling my dress from the end of the bed and pulling it over me with difficulty as I watched as Robb slipped on a button-less shirt and tucked it into his breeches.
"I'm surprised he didn't wake with your screams." Robb teased as he picked up his son who was still asleep but slowly opened his eyes as his father lifted him from his bed. My cheeks flushed at his words but I ducked my head as I pulled on my boots.
"I did not scream." I stated firmly as I tied the laces before walking to join my small family by Eddard's bassinet. I reached out for my son and was handed over the sleepy babe before turning to allow Robb to lace my dress. "Eddard will be needed a bigger cot soon," I added turning my eyes to the small bassinet before rested them on Eddard who was now awake but still drowsy. "I'm taking him into the meeting with me."
"You think he's growing too fast?" he asked knowing I was thinking about the same thing earlier. "Evie we knew Eddard was going to grew up and if it makes you feel unhappy I can give you more children." He assured me running his hand down my side and rested it on my hip as he pulled me back against his chest as his lips pressed against my temple.
"One day all our children will have their own children Robb, you can't keep on getting me pregnant to keep me feeling better." I told him a smile on my face as he tried to keep me from feeling upset by promising me more children. "Although I do wish for us to have a few more children before Eddard grows too old." I added turning my face so I could place a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"I'll work on it then." He chuckled taking my hand and pressing his lips to it lightly before kissing Eddard's head.
I knew that once we stepped into Robb's study that our afternoon activities had caused a bit of an annoyance with the King's council.