Thank you to everyone who is keeping up with story and sharing their thoughts with me. I really appreciate your feedback!
I've noticed some readers are becoming impatient with Narcissa's indecisiveness but it will all soon unfold, I promise! Most of you won't be happy with this chapter, though. Sorry. It's rather plot-heavy and I feel like the scenes don't follow each other smoothly, but the content is important.
Hope you'll still enjoy!
The tent was plunged in darkness and the night had brought silence to the camp. The past weeks had been filled with battles. Though successful, they still took their toll on the men and the incessant riding and travelling that had followed didn't allow for much rest either. This was the first night in their new camp. Robb had promised his wife they'd rest for at least a few days before moving again.
"You woke me up", Narcissa groaned with annoyance before turning her pillow around so she could lay her head on the cold side.
"I'm sorry." Robb chuckled, lying on his back as he stared at the tent's ceiling.
"What was so funny anyway that got you laughing in the middle of the night?" Narcissa inquired.
"I was dreaming." He replied, and even with closed eyes, she knew he had that dumb boyish smile of his on his face.
"Your unconscious seems to be a great comedian," she sighed, before turning on herself so she could look at him in the darkness. Narcissa had been right, he was smiling. "What was it about?"
"I was dreaming of us in Winterfell," he murmured and then turned to his side so he could look at his wife. Her hair was disheveled and she appeared to be losing the fight to keep her eyes open.
"Is picturing the both of us in Winterfell that funny?" She whispered. Not even sleepiness could subdue her sarcasm and Robb had found himself loving that part of her.
"You were running in the snow," he susurrated and she felt his breath tingle on her cheeks. "Running after our son who had just escaped from your arms." Narcissa's eyes shot open at once, now truly paying attention before shoving his shoulder so he'd continue retelling the story.
"And then you tripped on a loose stone in the courtyard and fell face first into the snow." Robb deadpanned before he could no longer suppress his amusement and laughed.
Narcissa rolled her eyes with a groan, before turning on her other side once again, facing away from her husband. "You're impossible, you know!"
"Aye, but you should have seen your face!" He teased, the image still fresh behind his eyelids.
"Did you at least help me back up?"
"Yes." Robb replied hesitantly after too much time had passed and Narcissa playfully kicked his legs with her foot. He immediately responded by sliding an arm beneath her waist and keeping her prisoner in his embrace, as she kept on fighting for freedom but he quickly manage to pin her legs beneath his own. "You know it's treason to strike a king." He murmured into her ear and now they laughed together, both finding that rule utterly ridiculous.
"Anyway, your dream is highly unrealistic." Narcissa said quietly, biting her lower lip and hoping he couldn't see her discomfort.
"And why is that?" Robb said teasingly against her neck before placing a kiss on the back of her shoulder.
Narcissa almost said the truth that night, but at the last moment, decided against it. Robb had been in low spirits for the past three weeks, still mourning his father's death and then meeting with his bannermen for hours today, discussing how to establish the North as a free dominion. She wasn't about to kill his joy the first time he'd smiled in weeks. "Because, dear husband, the only time I run, is from my problems."
Robb chuckled behind her, his breath tickling her skin gently before freeing her arms in order to let his hands roam her chest and slide between her tights. Robb had been so busy with his duties as a king and as a commander, he'd almost forgotten of his duties a husband. Yet now with his hands on her soft silky skin, he didn't understand how he'd managed to be without her for so long.
"Please stop," Narcissa whispered quietly next to him, gently removing his hand from between her legs.
"Don't you want to make little princes and little princesses?" Robb asked huskily with a tint of amusement, hoping to coax her into it.
Narcissa grabbed the hand she had previous pried away from her body and brought it to her lips to kiss it. "Not tonight, I'm too tired." She murmured apologetically.
Robb didn't insist. Instead, he rested his hand on her waist and squirmed a little behind her before finding a comfortable position to sleep in. Within minutes, he was softly snoring behind her, fast asleep. She knew he was just as tired as she was, if not more though that hadn't been the reason why she had refused.
Narcissa had expected them to have reached King Landing a long time ago but instead they were still in the Riverlands. Eddard's death had changed everything and they had had to abandon the idea of marching straight into the Capital. They should have parted ways long before the question of children could ever come up. She had never expected to spend so much time at Robb's side, having to lie to him for so long and each day that passed would only make their inevitable parting harder.
She woke up every morning a little less keen to leave him than the day before. But too much time had already gone by and she still hadn't gotten any news of Gloria and Piero, hadn't heard of her father in ages. Did he even know where she was? She knew she had to leave on her own, the sooner the better in order to minimize the heartbreak on both sides.
She felt uncomfortable in his arms then, too warm of all sudden but it wasn't only due to his unhuman body heat. It was guilt eating away at her soul and she had to keep telling herself he'd be okay once she was gone. He had his mother, and Catelyn was more comfort than anyone could hope for. Soon, he'd have his sisters too and before long, he'd be rejoined with his brothers in Winterfell and Robb would be so happy he'd forget all about her in an instant. She held on to that thought though it made her heart ache to think that before long she'd be nothing more than a faded memory to him.
-/-/-/-
Narcissa had intended to go to her tent after the game. She didn't know whether Robb would be there already or if he was in for a long time in the council again. Since he had took on the title of king, Narcissa barely saw him during the day though she knew deep down it was for the best. For each more second they spent together, she was well aware she'd suffer ten more once they were apart.
Without wanting to, her steps soon brought her to the edge of camp where Jaime Lannister's pen was. Light was scarce in there but her eyes were getting used to the dimness and she had no trouble making out the Kingslayer in the dark. His neck was chained to the bars and he looked like a peasant who had walked under a sewer pipe. She found much enjoyment in seeing him like this though no smile crossed her face to show it.
"Are you going to stare like that for much longer?" He spoke and she noticed he had turned his head to look at her. It was enjoyable to feel herself towering over him, but even after so much time, the arrogant smirk hadn't left him. "I know I'm handsome, but it's rude."
Narcissa merely cocked her eyebrows and he went still once again. She didn't know she wanted to say anything at all until the words left her mouth. "You don't live up to your reputation." Narcissa stated matter-of-factly, oddly poised though she hated this man with all her might.
"My father, he's the richest man in Westeros. You'll be paid your own weight in gold if you let me go." And there it was, the Lannister signature move by a Lannister himself. His voice might have been weak, but the green eyes still shone fiercely even after all these weeks spent as a captive.
"The Lannisters really do shit gold," Narcissa concluded with a short laugh before taking a golden flask from the inner face of her coat and throwing it inside the cell. "Your dry voice is unpleasant."
Narcissa sat down on a wooden box and observed as Jaime jumped to the flask at once and drank all the wine it contained. He looked like animal, but then again, all men and women were animals in pretty clothes. "A woman with a sharp tongue who's not interested in gold," the Kingslayer commented once his thirst was quenched. He way eyeing her up and down, as if judging the worth of his opponent. "I know who you are."
Internally, Narcissa felt herself flinch but on the outside, her face remained stoic. "Humor me, then."
"You're Narcissa de Medici. The girl from the inn my brother told me about. The only woman Tyrion showed interest in who wasn't a whore." Jaime smiled as if he had just discovered the truth behind the universe itself. Narcissa was actually surprised he hadn't figured it out sooner, he knew her name and there were only so many Narcissas in Westeros after all.
"And you find amusement in that?"
"I just never expected him to like a woman who resembles our father so much." Narcissa looked down at the prisoner but couldn't quite make out if the words had been meant as an insult or with respect.
"I never expected a brother fucking his sister would start a war in which I would find myself become a queen, but here we are." Jaime wanted to laugh, somehow amused by her choice of words but the stern look she addressed him made him sober up instantly.
"If you hate me such, why did you come to see me?"
"Because despite our mutual hate, you and I want the same thing: Go to King's Landing."
-/-/-/-
She spent the next day attending to her usual tasks. She directed the cooks and made sure the prisoners were looked after. Narcissa was aware Robb was receiving many doubtful stares from his bannermen at his choice of keeping enemy soldiers as prisoners instead of executing them. She wondered if she'd do the same were she in his shoes, and she wasn't quite sure that she would. Yes, it was merciful and truly honorable like Stark men always were, but practical it was not and that was the only way she had ever been taught to think.
Narcissa arrived at the council tent panting after having hurried across the entire camp. She had only found out shortly ago that they were sending a messenger to King's Landing and at those news, she had immediately run to her tent to write Tyrion a message. She was afraid Robb would already have sent off the messenger, but as she approached the council tent, she heard voices still coming from the inside.
"Third, Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to the dominion of the North. From this time until the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom." Robb spoke with confidence on the other side of the canvas and his council members immediately followed with a chorus of 'the King in the North'.
"Neither Joffrey nor any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father. Only, I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me." Robb spoke fiercely.
"These are, your grace, these are," Alton Lannister stuttered.
"These are my terms. If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not, I will litter the South with Lannister dead." Narcissa became so entranced by her husband's assertive tone she would have fallen down if the wooden pole hadn't been there to keep her upright. Listening to him speak like that, her thoughts had drifted to very intimate and inappropriate musings, and her skin was warming up.
"King Joffrey is a Baratheon." The Lannister messenger said hesitantly.
"Oh, is he?"
She was still so inflamed by her husband's tone, she almost missed Alton Lannister exiting the tent but managed to grab the back of his jacket just in time and dragged him into the darkness.
"You will give this letter to your cousin, Tyrion." Narcissa instructed the messenger as she handed him the roll of paper.
"Whom from should I say it is?" The blonde man asked as he accepted the letter. Narcissa was glad he didn't know who she was.
"An old friend from the inn."
Narcissa watched the Lannister man disappear before she made her way across the sinews alleys of the camp to their tent, hoping to find her husband in there so she could have her way with him, possibly for the last time. She reached the canvas shelter and noticed candles were burning inside. With a smirk, Narcissa opened the flap and stepped inside, just about to say something suggestive when she noticed her husband wasn't alone.
Catelyn was the first to notice her presence and the red-haired woman sighed with relief, hoping his wife at least would be able to knock some sense into her son's head. "Robb wants to send Theon North so he can get Balon Greyjoy's fleet," Catelyn complained with exasperation before both mother and son turned to look at her expectantly, awaiting her opinion.
"Theon might be your friend, Robb, but he's a little rat and I don't trust him," Narcissa replied curtly before heading to the table and pouring herself a large cup of wine. She exhaled discretely, leaning her back against the post. She had intended to have her way with her husband, and now she found herself in the middle of an argument.
"If I trade the Kingslayer for two girls, my Bannermen will string me up by my feet." Robb told his mother through clenched teeth.
"You want to leave Sansa in the Queen's hands?" Catelyn blurted out with incredulity, shaking her head as Robb looked at his feet. Narcissa knew he deeply respected his mother, and going against her wishes was never easy for him. "And Aria? I haven't heard a word about Aria. What are we fighting for if not for them?"
"It's more complicated than that, you know it is!" Robb shouted and silence followed, burying the tent.
Narcissa poured herself more wine. She didn't knew what to add to the conversation, she wasn't even sure she was welcome to. Yes, she was the Queen now, but she had found that her daily life hadn't changed much with the new title. Maybe if they had been in castle, yes, but here in a war camp? She wouldn't know where to start even if Robb's men were to follow her orders, which she seriously doubted.
Catelyn looked down with a sigh before sitting on a wooden stool. "It's time for me to go home," Catelyn eventually said and Narcissa almost choked on her drink. "I haven't seen Bran or Rickon in months. And you have your wife now."
Narcissa's thoughts became hysterical though much to her surprise, it wasn't visible on the outside. She couldn't let that happen, Catelyn had to remain. It was one thing is she left Robb, it was a whole other thing if they both left him. That would just be cruel.
"You can't go to Winterfell," Robb objected softly and Narcissa wholeheartedly agreed though she remained quiet.
"Beg your pardon?" Catelyn exclaimed with raised eyebrows, stopping dead in her tracks.
"I'll send Rodrick to watch over the boys," he decided and Narcissa found herself nodding in agreement with her husband, walking over to him and placing her hand on his shoulder, showing support. "Tomorrow, you will ride South to the Stormlands."
This time, she did choke on the wine and Robb immediately turned to her with worry, ready to help but Narcissa motioned him not too. She moved away and coughed up the wine on a napkin as Catelyn and Robb continued arguing. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, Narcissa thought with panic. Catelyn couldn't leave.
"Why in the name of all the gods would-"
"Because I need you to negotiate with Renly Baratheon. He's rallied an army of a hundred thousand." Robb explained sternly, rubbing his temples. "You know him, you know his family."
"I haven't seen Renly since he was a boy. You have a hundred other lords." Catelyn protested loudly and Narcissa wondered if she was about to yell at her son.
"Which of these lords do I trust more than you?" Robb argued, standing up and walking over to his mother. "If Renly sides with us, we'll outnumber them two to one. We'll get the girls back and we'll all go home. For good." Robb hugged his mother, but he kept his eyes on Narcissa who was having a hard time trying not to flinch.
"I will ride at first light." Catelyn finally conceded, hugging her son back who used their height difference to place a kiss on her forehead.
"We'll all be together again soon, I promise."
"You've done so well. Your father would be proud." Catelyn murmured as she stared at her son's eyes with motherly affection and Narcissa saw Robb's jaw twitch from the corner of her eyes. If Catelyn's absence was temporary, then she could accept it.
"Send Renly my regards." He called after his mother when she about to leave the tent.
"King Renly. There is a king in every corner now."
Robb stood still, looking at the spot Catelyn had disappeared from with a sense of guilt. He hadn't intended to speak this harshly to his mother but if he had the Greyjoy's fleet and Renly's men, there was nothing stopping him from winning this war.
When Robb turned around, Narcissa was already getting undressed for the night. He watched as the dark gown slid down her body and revealed her back to him. He couldn't help notice with a smirk that it was rather defined for a woman's, but then, Narcissa was also stronger than most women.
He approached his wife slowly before hugging her from behind and was surprised at the coldness of her skin. "I saw the look on your face when you entered the tent," Robb whispered into her ear, brushing back her hair.
Narcissa smirked, leaning her body back against his and she was pleased to find she wasn't the only one who was worked up. "And what look was that?" She purred, tilting her head back to expose her throat to him.
"The one of a wanton wife." Robb smiled against her skin.
-/-/-/-
"I heard my husband visited you two nights ago," Narcissa stated matter-of-factly, announcing her presence to Jaime Lannister.
"He did." Jamie confirmed as she handed him some water through the openings of his pen. "Though I have to say I much prefer your company."
Narcissa chuckled drily at the comment before sitting down on one of the boxes again. "I take it you will find it in yourself to travel me then."
"Indeed, I think I will."
She had him explain her way to King's Landing then, writing down all the villages they would come across during their travel on a small piece of paper. Jaime had been wary to share this information with her but she told it was her guarantee in case he decided to leave her stranded along the way. Jaime complied, understanding the woman's caution before making a list of the supplies they would need: Food, water, horses, a sword and an armor for him. Narcissa wrote it all down carefully before folding the paper and hiding it inside her bodice.
"How do I know you'll even get the keys to set me free?" Jaime asked suspiciously when she had stood up, ready to depart.
"I sleep in the King's tent," Narcissa replied curtly. "I'll come for you on the third night. Be ready."
She spent the next couple of days gathering up the supplies, discretely enough so no one would notice. The most difficult part would be leaving on horseback without anyone seeing her but over the past few weeks, Carmel and her had bonded sufficiently for Narcissa to be sure the horse would follow her orders with no resistance.
In the end, the hardest part in her plan was the one which on paper seemed the least difficult. And yet, when Narcissa carefully released herself from her husband's arms on the second night, she had to fight back the tears. She knew he wouldn't wake up, he was a heavy sleeper Narcissa thought with a sad smile. Did she want him to wake up and tell her to stay?
He looked so peaceful when he slept, younger and carefree in a halo of auburn curls. Catelyn had told Narcissa just before departing to the Stormlands that war had melted all the softness from his face and left him hard and lean. She had found herself agreeing with her mother-by-law, Robb's face had toughened since his father's death and he had become king. Even Narcissa who hadn't known him before the war noticed the change. He spoke to his men with confidence and inspired cold respect. Though all that vanished when he joined her in their tent in the evenings and took off the armor. Beneath the steel, Robb was the kindest and most affectionate husband.
Tears glided down her pale cheeks as she fastened the long coat around her shoulders, but she kept her eyes on him, wanting his sleeping image to never leave with her memory. It was with a heavy heart that Narcissa placed the letter on the desk and exited the warmth of the shelter.
She mounted her horse, hoping not to have packed too heavily for the poor animal and rode away from camp, forcing herself not to look back. Travelling alone scared her but she'd rather face those fears than go behind Robb Stark's back and free his prisoner.
Okay, I know this looks bad but I promise you it will be fixed in the chapter. Please bear with me!
I do have a question for you: Would you prefer I keep this story relatively short or should I write beyond what's included in the show (things that happen between episodes) and make this a full-length story? Let me know.
New chapter on Thursday! Until then, eat all your veggies.