Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related. It belongs to George R.R. Martin, the creator of this wonderful universe and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss who created the show.
01x07: You Win Or You Die/01x08: The Pointy End.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Bad News Arrives.
Unable to keep the smile from his face, Robb pressed a kiss to Sanira's stomach and thought about the baby that she was carrying; he couldn't believe that they were going to be welcoming their first child one day. He was so happy that Sanira was carrying his child right now and he couldn't help but think about the future with her and their child; it brought a bigger smile to his face.
"You have to stop smiling," Sanira whispered brushing her fingers through his hair, she looked down at him with a smile; she was pleased that he had taken the news of her pregnancy so well. It seemed strange to think that there was someone growing inside of her, that would depend on Sanira until she had nothing left to give; she was hopeful that she would give Robb an heir that he deserved.
The Stark-line rested on the child that Sanira carried, she wanted nothing more than to make sure that her pregnancy went well; she would do anything for it and she hoped that things were going to be alright. Robb shook his head and pressed another kiss to the flat stomach, he was so happy right now and he was sure that his parents would be thrilled to hear that Sanira was with child.
"How do you feel?" Robb asked staring up at Sanira, she looked beautiful in the fire light that lit their chambers and he was glad that they had some peace and quiet right now. He couldn't remember the last time that he had been able to relax like this before everything feel apart; he wondered when things would be able to go back to normal for them all.
"I'm fine," Sanira replied resting her head back on the pillow, she stared up at the ceiling and she hoped that things with the Lannisters would have settled down by then. Her dreams had been quiet as of late and Sanira was thankful for that, it allowed her to rest and focus on the child that she had been carrying.
Robb nodded his head, he was pleased that she wasn't waking up screaming anymore and he was hopeful that it would stay this way for the rest of her pregnancy; it was going to be hard enough without her night terrors. There was quite a bit of time before the baby was due and if Maester Luwin was right then the newest Stark would arrive in the New Year; something that the whole family would be able to celebrate.
"We should get some sleep," Robb mused softly, it was pretty late and he wanted to get some sleep before they were disturbed by some duty that needed doing. He wasn't sure what was taking his mother so long to return, her business in the capital was over and her actions on the King's Road had caught quite a bit of attention.
Taking a deep breath, Robb knew that things were going to be pretty intense after his mother's actions; it was causing trouble in the capital and had been the reason that Jaime Lannister had attacked his father when he had. Sanira watched Robb with a nod of her head, she couldn't remember the last time that they had been this relaxed and she hoped that things would stay this calm.
She still couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen between the Starks and the Lannisters and Sanira hoped that nothing would happen; it was something that she truly feared. Robb kissed his wife before settling down in bed next to her, he was happy and content for the first time in weeks and he honestly couldn't wait until he got to meet his child for the first time.
It was all going to be perfect and Robb just hoped that things would calm down soon; things were slowly starting to stir between his family and the Lannisters.
Knocking on the chamber door, Maester Luwin didn't waste a moment before he entered room and closed the door swiftly behind him; his hands clutching at the letter that had just arrived knowing that Robb would want to see it.
"I am sorry to disturb you my Lord and Lady," Maester Luwin murmured moving towards the bed, he hadn't meant to disturb them but this couldn't wait. Robb sighed running his fingers through his hair and looking to Sanira, he was far from happy that someone had disturbed them this early in the morning; he had hoped to get more rest after what had happened the day before.
"Urgent news from King's Landing," Maester Luwin insisted handing over the letter that he had just received, he knew that Robb had to hear of this first and he feared what this could mean for them. Sanira sat up a little in bed and frowned while she watched her husband read the letter that he had been handed, she wondered what could possibly require his attention this early in the morning.
Her stomach turned a little at the look that filled Robb's face and Sanira knew that something had to have happened to someone in their family; she prayed it wasn't more bad news that had come to greet them.
"Treason? Sansa wrote this?" Robb asked shocked at what he had read, he handed the letter to Sanira so that she could read what had been written; things were changing and he couldn't believe that this was happening. The news that King Robert had died yesterday afternoon had been shocking enough but to hear that Eddard had been arrested for treason was even worse.
"It is your sister's hand, but the Queen's words," Maester Luwin said gravely, this was much worse than he had expected and he truly feared what might happen to Sansa and Arya with Eddard in the dungeons. It didn't take much a guess to figure out that any Stark men that had been loyal to Eddard would have been dealt with when he was arrested.
Sanira stared at the letter shocked at what she was reading, she didn't believe a word of what had been written and she knew that Cersei had to be behind it; her stomach twisted at the idea that Joffrey was now King.
"You are summoned to King's Landing to swear fealty to the new King," Maester Luwin continued gently, he couldn't imagine what might be waiting for Robb when he reached the capital. This was the worst thing that could have happened and Maester Luwin wondered what the hell Eddard had been thinking when he had decided to take on the Lannisters alone.
Robb stared at Maester Luwin in disbelief, he couldn't believe this and he wished his mother would have arrived home like she had been meant to instead of disappearing off to the Vale.
"Joffrey puts my father in chains, now he wants his ass kissed?" Robb questioned with a shake of his head, he wondered if the new King was just plain stupid right now. He had arrested his father and now wanted Robb to come and bow down to him and kiss his ass; it made Robb furious that Joffrey was getting away with all of this.
"This is a royal command, My Lord. If you should refuse to obey..." Maester Luwin tried to reason, he didn't like this anymore than Robb did but it would be seen as an act of war if Robb didn't do as he was asked. King Robert had been fond of the Stark family but he was gone now and his son was King, Joffrey wasn't fond of anyone it seemed and was very close with his Lannister family rather than anyone else.
"I won't refuse. His Grace summons me to King's Landing, I'll go to King's Landing," Robb replied firmly, he wasn't going to allow this injustice to stand and he was going to right what had been done. Sanira tensed next to Robb, she stared at him fearing what might happen if he travelled to the capital alone; she didn't want him to end up in a cell like Eddard had, she had no idea what would happen when he did bend the knee to Joffrey.
Her cousin was not an easy person to deal with and once he saw someone as a threat to him then he would do everything in his power to cause them trouble.
"But not alone. Call the banners," Robb ordered moving to climb out of bed, he wasn't going to let this go and if Joffrey thought that he could get away with this then he had another thing coming. Sanira clutched at the bed sheets, a headache starting to form and she couldn't help but wonder what her husband planned to do with the banners.
The last thing that Sanira wanted to see was a war break out, she wanted Robb here when their child was born and she feared what would happen if he went up against Joffrey.
"All of them, My Lord?" Maester Luwin asked to be sure, he looked to Sanira seeing how worried she looked and he didn't blame her; this all couldn't have come at a worse time. King Robert's death had set off a chain of events and Maester Luwin feared what it might end with; he dreaded to think how this was all going to work out if Joffrey tried to push things further.
"They've all sworn to defend my father, have they not?" Robb asked already knowing the answer, he wanted to defend his family and he knew what was at stake if he messed up; he had a child of his own to think about now. It was his duty to sort this out and he didn't believe for a moment that Eddard had tried to take the throne for himself; it didn't seem like something that he would do, he had never wanted to be king.
Robb wanted to know what was going on and he was going to get his father out of prison and rescue his sisters who were being held hostage by the Lannisters at that very moment.
"They have," Maester Luwin agreed with a nod of his head, he hoped that Robb knew what he was doing and understood that if he failed that there would be consequences that wouldn't just affect him. Sanira was silent watching the exchange before her, she couldn't believe this and she couldn't shake the dreams that she could remember; it scared her that they all seemed to be coming true.
"Now we see what their words are worth," Robb stated firmly dismissing Maester Luwin, there was much to be done before the Stark banners arrived and he wanted to be ready. Maester Luwin left the room and hoped that this would work, he couldn't imagine what might happen if this wasn't successful; there were many houses that would be arriving in Winterfell to help them deal with this.
House Bolton, House Glover, House Hornwood, House Karstark, House Mormont, House Reed, House Tallhart, House Umber, House Cerwyn, House Dustin, House Ryswell, House Manderly and House Mazin would all be descending on the castle in the next few days.
Sanira moved to sit on the edge of the bed and looked to Robb when they were alone, she had no idea what might be going on inside his head at that moment; she feared that this could be the end for them. She didn't even know if her father would side with the Starks right now if this became a war, her mother was a Lannister which complicated things even further.
"Do you remember what happened the last time a father and a son from your family travelled south?" Sanira asked softly, she feared that Robb would suffer the same fate and she would be forced to raise their child alone without him by her side.
Robb took a deep breath and nodded his head, he wasn't going to die traveling south and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure that he would come home to her and their unborn child. His family was going to be complete again and Joffrey would learn to respect his northern lords.
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