Chapter 16

Conflicts

Robb looked at Talisa's tomb in the dim light of few torches hanging on the walls. He was a little drunk, although he hadn't meant to drink so much at dinner. He simply hadn't been able to face his wife. On the other hand he had been annoyed by her rejection, but he had also understood how foolishly he had acted. Like a spoiled child.

Unfortunately she wasn't a toy; he couldn't play with her whenever he felt like it. Why not? She was his wife; he had every right to ask her to fulfill her marital duties. He had made sure that she enjoyed it; he hadn't been rough or forceful. What more did she want from him? Poetry? Declarations of love? Love… His eyes watered up as he touched the marble statue of Talisa.

"I miss you so much, my love," he murmured. "Can you ever forgive me for betraying you?"

The cold marble stayed quiet. It offered him neither solace nor judgment.

"Things shouldn't be like this. You should be here with me. Our son or daughter should be here. Maybe he or she would have a sibling already. Why can't you be here?"

Again the only answer he got was silence. He would never hear Talisa's voice again. He would never hold her again and feel her warmth. He would never see the love in her eyes again. Wine. He needed more wine. He needed to numb his pain before it would destroy him. Or maybe it already had. He couldn't feel the warmth anymore, only cold. He was nothing but a shell of the man he had used to be.

How could he give his new wife what she wanted? He wasn't blind; obviously he had noticed what she hoped from him. She wanted what he had given to Talisa. How could he give that to anyone else? He couldn't. He had never wanted a new wife. No, but he still had a wife and he was very much attracted to her, at least physically. He had betrayed Talisa. The conflict in his head was driving him mad. He was too drunk. No. He wasn't drunk enough. That was something he needed to fix right now.

Minea flinched when something startled her out of a deep sleep. She blinked sleepily, but she was fully awake immediately when she saw her husband hovering over her. His fingers were caressing her cheek.

"My lord…"

"Stay there," he murmured. "You look so very… warm lying there."

He was drunk. Very drunk. She swallowed, trying desperately to stay calm. She didn't really succeed. Carefully she tried to get up, but he placed his hand on her shoulder, laying her flat on her back.

"Stay there," he repeated. This time he wasn't asking, he was demanding.

Her heart was beating like a drum and her mind warned her not to aggravate him.

"Sure," she said, forcing a smile on her face. "What brings you here, my lord?"

He didn't reply, he simply kept staring at her and running his fingers over her face.

"Such a pretty girl you are," he murmured. "Why do you have to be so pretty? So very…seductive."

She swallowed, trying to stop herself from trembling.

"This would be easier if you would be ugly," he continued. "This lust I feel for you… I don't want to feel it."

She didn't say anything; it seemed that he was talking more to himself than to her.

"You see what you've made me do? I've betrayed Talisa." He paused and grabbed her chin. "Does that make you happy? Do you enjoy my misery?"

"No, my lord," she replied quietly.

"I think you do," he snorted. "Why else would you be here?"

She wanted to tell him that she didn't want to be here, but she had enough survival instinct to stay quiet when he was like this. Who knew what he would do to her.

"Perhaps you should go to sleep, my lord," she said as calmly as she could. "We can talk more in the morning."

His lips curved into a joyless smile.

"I don't want to talk. I want what you denied from me."

"It's very late, my lord," she murmured tensely. "I'm tired."

"Of course you are," he snorted. "You think you can control me by closing your legs? Are you trying to manipulate me?"

"No, my lord, I simply ask you to come back tomorrow."

His eyes darkened and for a moment she was sure that he was going to hit her. He didn't. He got up and almost lost his balance.

"You… You did this to me. You made me betray Talisa."

Minea got up as well and backed away when her husband started shouting at her. He threw a table against the wall and cursed before falling on his knees. He was a mess.

"Talisa…" he murmured.

Minea hesitated before approaching him. Maybe she should have escaped, but something was stopping her. The pain in his eyes. Despite everything, she felt sympathy for him. Cautiously she knelt beside him and touched his shoulder. His reaction startled her; he grabbed her and wrapped his arms tightly around her, leaning his head on her shoulder.

"Talisa…"

"It's alright," she murmured.

He pressed her tightly against his chest and buried his face in her hair.

"My love… Stay with me."

She tried her best to calm him by rubbing his back. He was about to pass out.

"My lady?" Lord Jon's voice said from the door. "Is everything alright? Your handmaiden came to see me and…"

"It's good you are here, my lord," Minea cut in. She couldn't move, her husband held her so tightly that it was painful. "I think my husband needs to lie down, could you help?"

"Yes, of course."

She heard Lord Jon's footsteps as he approached them.

"Robb? Robb?"

There was no answer; Minea could tell that her husband was almost asleep.

"Alright… Let's get you to bed," Lord Jon stated.

He tried to lift his brother, but Lord Robb tightened his embrace.

"No… Talisa stays with me."

"I'm right here," Minea said calmingly and continued rubbing his back. "Please, let me help you."

Together she and Lord Jon managed to get Robb to his feet and guide him to Minea's bed. He fell asleep almost immediately.

"Are you alright?" Lord Jon asked.

Minea nodded.

"Thank you for your help."

"No need to thank me."

Minea felt exhausted as she pulled a blanket over her husband.

"He really loves Talisa," she murmured.

Lord Jon didn't say anything, but he touched her shoulder. She appreciated his gesture as well as his help. She felt that she had at least one friend here.