A/N: Here it is! I'm so sorry for the wait, I honestly didn't realise how long it had been. Things have been crazy busy for me, work and personal life - exciting news is, I'm growing a human! So, I now have a set time before I'm going to be SUPER busy, and I'm going to do my very best to get this story finished before that time comes. There isn't a whole lot left, but I'm not rushing to finish, I want to end this properly and make it satisfying for you guys. Anyway, thank you all for being patient, and for leaving such great reviews on the last chapter - it's much appreciated.
Hope you enjoy this one, and thank you again.
:)
XXXII: Settled
Robb
He was utterly bewildered. They had come in like a storm, two had been sobbing uncontrollably and Herda had appeared to be shaking with suppressed rage as she told Robb that she and her maids had been dismissed. His head was spinning with the news that Myrcella had made such a decision and he finally managed to get out that he would speak with her. He sent Herda and her maids to wait in one of the parlours and sat still at his desk for a long moment, trying to get his head around what he had just been told.
Despite what had been said he could not imagine Myrcella taking such drastic action without good reason. Herda claimed to be completely ignorant as to why his wife had suddenly decided to be rid of her and the maids. It was only now, as he sat alone, that he realised that one of the maids had not been present. Was her name Jan? He thought it might be. Remembering back he recalled that Myrcella had told him once that though Jan seemed shy she also seemed the most kindly. Perhaps his wife had not dismissed all the maids, as he had been led to believe. He was now coming to realise that there was far more to this, and the only way he would get to the bottom of it was by speaking with Myrcella.
Robb rose up from his chair and made his way slowly out of his study. The last thing he wanted to do was upset his wife by sounding accusing, but he did need to know why she had dismissed them without speaking to him about it first. It was very unlike her, now he was really thinking about it, and it made him even more certain that she must have a very good reason. Gods. He hoped those women had not allowed any harm to come to his son. As that thought came into his head he took the steps two at a time and half ran down the hallways towards his and Myrcella's chambers.
On reaching the door he almost fell through it, heart pounding wildly in his chest. Myrcella looked up with wide eyes at his entrance, and he almost forgot his reason for coming when he set eyes on her. She looked radiant again, no longer pale and sickly. Her hair was shining and set beautifully, and to complete the image of perfection she was cradling their son in her arms as he fed contentedly from her breast. He blinked stupidly, trying to remember why he had come. Myrcella seemed to know though, and she shifted slightly in her seat, biting her lip gently before she spoke.
"You've seen the nurses," she said quietly, eyes set on him.
"Yes," he responded calmly.
She nodded, glancing at Etta and Jan before she looked back towards him, clearly trying to gauge his mood. "Etta, Jan," she spoke after a moment of appraising him. "Would you please take Ned back to the nursery and settle him – he seems to have finished feeding, and I'm sure he is ready to sleep."
"Of course, my queen," Etta came forward to ease Ned carefully from Myrcella's arms as Jan darted passed him to the door, holding it open as Etta bustled passed and out. Before he could say anything the door was closed behind them and he was alone with his wife. Myrcella stood then, smoothing her skirts before lifting her head and meeting his eyes.
"I suppose you want to know why I did it," she said.
"It would be nice," he replied. "I thought you would have discussed it with me first."
"I would have done, but I was so angry, I had to," she told him.
"Did something happen, with Ned?" he asked her anxiously, stepping closer.
"No, that's why I dismissed them, before something did," she replied.
"I don't understand," he frowned, grasping hold of her upper arms gently.
"I believe they had intentions to keep him from me as much as possible," she told him, meeting his eyes. "They were speaking about me in such a dismissive manner, and…well, they said that Ned was a northern child and not a southern brat. They did not want him influenced by me, and so I do not wish him influenced by them. I want them gone, I trust Ned will be well cared for by Etta and Jan when I am doing my duties."
"Gods, Myrcella," he shook his head before pulling her into an embrace, pressing a kiss to her hair. "You did the right thing. They are only lucky I did not hear this first hand, or they may well have found themselves in a cell rather than in a carriage back to White Harbour."
"People will talk," she sounded fearful as she pulled back slightly.
"And I will correct them, be sure of that," he said. "They ought to know by now that I will not tolerate disrespect to my queen."
"This only proves that not everyone has accepted me," she sighed.
"You will never gain the approval of everyone," he smiled widely at her. "Do you really think every northerner approves of me? So long as we hold the approval of the majority our family will remain in favour – but I think it impossible to be loved by everyone."
"I suppose you are right," Myrcella smiled back at him.
"It has been known to happen," he chuckled.
"Thank you, for believing me," she told him seriously.
"I'm your husband," he held her eyes. "I will always believe you."
Myrcella was insistent on seeing the matron and her nurses leave with her own eyes. Robb was wary of her health, but knew better than to deny her, only insisting that she must wrap up warmly. Winter was definitely subsiding now. Any snow flurries that came were short and light, and rarely settled. On the rare occasion snow did build up on the ground, it quickly melted away. There were only a stubborn few inches left now, not enough to impede horses or carts any more. Robb imagined that there would soon be a raven from Old Town declaring that winter was officially over. Following that, he imagined there would be an invite from the Capital. He expected it, but was not looking forward to it. The only good that would come from it would be Myrcella's happiness on seeing her brother again.
He turned his head to observe his wife as they crossed the entrance hall side by side. She looked beautiful in a green woollen dress that brought out her eyes, fine grey furs draped about her shoulders and the delicate gloves he had bought her many moons ago adorning her hands. Seeing her hands encased in them reminded him of the snow fight they had had, they had all been so carefree and happy that day. Sometimes he wished they could go back and stay in that moment forever. It could not be though, and despite the tensions that still lingered between Myrcella, himself and Arya, he now had a perfect son, and he would never wish him away. Not for the world.
He reached out and took his wife's hand as they approached the doors, the guards opening them wide to allow them through. They both voiced their thanks as they passed through, the doors promptly closed behind them as they made their way down the steps. Robb had insisted that the matron and nurses spend the night in the inn in Winter Town, not wanting them in the keep any longer. Their carriage was waiting by the gate, and Myrcella tugged on his hand slightly, letting him know that she would lead the way. He happily allowed her to take them up onto the ramparts, walking along the top of them until they came level with the carriage.
She came to a halt then, her hand squeezing his slightly as they watched Herda lead her flock back through the gates. The dismissed matron seemed to look about her warily before she ushered the maids up into the carriage. She then looked about again, this time finding him and Myrcella on the ramparts. Instead of looking at Herda he looked at his wife, seeing her eyes set and narrowed on the disgraced matron. It seemed that Herda gave up first, turning her head to the ground before hauling herself up into the carriage. He looked at Myrcella again and saw a satisfied smile on her face as she watched the carriage begin to roll away.
Robb squeezed her hand reassuringly, proud of her reaction. In that moment he truly appreciated that she was a real queen, and he was thrilled to be able to call her his queen. He moved closer, pressing a kiss to her temple as she watched the carriage disappear into the distance. "And good riddance," Myrcella murmured as he pulled her even closer.
"May I insist you return to the keep?" Robb asked her in an amused tone.
"Only if I in turn can insist you accompany me to the nursery," she smiled up at him.
"Gladly," he responded, leaning in and capturing her lips.
Her smile was even wider when he pulled away, and it was infectious, tugging on his own lips in the next moment. She allowed him to lead her away then, her hand still clasped in his as they made their way across the ramparts and down the steps into the courtyard. The guards opened the doors again for them as they approached and again they voiced their thanks as they walked into the entrance hall and made for the main stairs. They ambled happily towards the nursery, Myrcella insistent that he fill her in on all the news she had missed in the last few weeks as they made their way there. She was particularly pleased to hear that Ada's eldest boys were enjoying their time in the tiltyard with Arya.
They lowered their voices as they came upon the nursery, aware that Ned may well be sleeping. As they entered Robb sent a smile to Jan, who appeared to be alone. Likely Etta was on some errand or other for Myrcella. He knew his wife trusted her old handmaiden more than any other attendant she had here at Winterfell, and he knew he had made the right decision to write to Tommen and ask him to have her sent here.
"Where is Etta?" Myrcella enquired as she let go of his hand and approached the cradle.
"She went to the seamstress to enquire about new swaddling," Jan reported. "The little prince is growing so swiftly he will soon need larger cloths."
"The Maester is most pleased with him," Myrcella's response was almost a coo as she leant over the cradle. From her action Robb could only assume their son was awake, and so he moved closer himself. Ned was indeed awake, and inquisitive look on his face as he kicked at his blankets.
"Will your Graces be staying a while?" Jan asked.
"Yes, I imagine so, I always hate to leave when he's awake," Myrcella answered.
"Then I will take the laundry down to the kitchens, with your permission?" Jan responded.
"Yes, of course," Myrcella smiled, and Jan moved to pick up the basket and Robb moved to open the door for her. She thanked him as she passed through, bobbing into a little curtsey on her way through. He closed the door behind her and approached Myrcella again, placing his hand on the small of her back as they both gazed down into the cradle.
"I swear he looks more like you every day," she commented, and he couldn't help but grin. It was true, he could not deny it. Ned was his very image, his hair the exact shade and now his eyes too gaining his colouring. "Such a handsome boy," Myrcella cooed, her fingers stroking down the back of one of his little hands.
"I cannot help but take that as a compliment to myself," Robb said teasingly, and she laughed.
"Yes, you are most handsome, my dear husband," she returned in a similar tone.
It was his turn to chuckle at that, his smile widening as he watched Ned grip onto one of Myrcella's fingers. "That's quite a grip he has there," he commented, his own hand coming to settle lightly on top of his son's head for a moment.
"Strong indeed," Myrcella agreed with him proudly.
"He will be grasping a sword in no time," he continued.
"I can only hope he will never have to use one as much as his father did," she said seriously.
"So do I," he agreed. "I like to think I fought all those wars so he would not have to."
"Quite," Myrcella said happily, smiling at him for a moment before returning her attention to Ned.
"I expect we will be expected to visit the Capital soon," he commented, watching her reaction carefully and seeing her stiffen. "I thought you would want to go, to see Tommen again," he said gently, rubbing her back lightly. "And," it pained him to say it, "and your uncles."
"Tyrion will be at the Rock," she said, her tone almost cold.
"The Kin – Jaime," he corrected himself quickly, "will be there though, won't he."
"Yes, and so will my mother," there was definitely ice in her tone now.
"Myrcella, look at me," he coaxed gently. She obeyed him after a moment, and he determinedly met her eyes. "Your mother cannot harm us. For one thing, your grandfather is there, and he may not like me but he knows damn well that he'd have another war on his hands should anything befall me at the Capital. Your mother may hate me, but she would have to be mad indeed to think to touch me. Please don't worry, just think how pleased you will be to see your brother once more. Perhaps you could even put it to him that he might visit Winterfell when summer truly begins?"
"Yes," she nodded, her smile looking slightly forced. "Yes, that's a wonderful idea, thank you."
"There is no need to thank me," he smiled back. "I would do anything to ensure your happiness, anything at all."
Robb found himself in his study a few days later. He would rather we cosied up in his chambers with Myrcella and Ned but he had been neglecting his correspondence since the birth of his son and Myrcella's illness and could not put it off any longer. While news had been sent to the Capital – his mother had seen to that – he still had to send the announcement of his son's birth to his own lords here in the North and those in the Riverlands. He also wanted to write to Jon, it had been far too long since he had written him a proper letter, and also to Theon. His mood was so joyous that he did not find the endless writing tedious. He was also getting it into his head that he might throw a tourney when all the snows melted. A celebration of the new prince, and hope for a long summer.
He pondered it as he wrote his letters, so absorbed in his task that he didn't hear his mother enter the room until she spoke up. "I do not think I have seen you this happy in a long time," her tone was amused, though he jumped slightly on hearing her. "Perhaps ever," she continued, a broad smile on her face that crinkled her eyes.
"I cannot think of much that has ever made me this happy," he agreed with her.
"Do you have time to share a drink with your mother?" she asked him. "Or have you too much work to do?"
"I am never too busy to share a drink with you, mother," he smiled easily, and she crossed to the side table to pour them both a drink of wine as he finished the letter he was working on. He was stamping the seals when she approached, placing the glasses down before taking the seat on the opposite side of the desk.
He watched her for a moment when he set his letter aside, seeing her gazing in an almost wistful manner around the room. "It's almost as though he has just left for a moment, isn't it?" he said softly as he watched her. She smiled, nodding her head, and he could see the tears welling in her eyes.
"It's hard to believe it has been so many years," she sighed.
"I know," he agreed softly, reaching out and picking up his glass. "To father," he said simply, raising it to her.
"To Ned," his mother almost whispered, knocking her glass against his before taking a long drink. "Now," she said almost briskly when she lowered her glass. "I did not come here to speak of the past – how is Myrcella? I wish I could have visited her more but there has been so much to do."
"She is perfectly well again, thank the Gods," Robb told her, unable to disguise the relief in his voice. "And she asked me to thank you for taking on her duties, and I must thank you for trying to keep up with mine as well. I promise, things will go back to normal now, so you will have far more time to visit your grandson."
"Thank you, Robb," she said sincerely. "I do hope we will soon see Sansa as well."
"That would be most welcome," he agreed with her, thinking of how much his nieces had likely grown since they had last visited. "Though I am soon expecting an invitation from the Capital."
"Yes," her expression darkened. "Yes, I imagine you will. How do you feel about it?"
"I feel I have precious little choice," he confessed. "It has been many years since I stepped foot in the place, and I have had winter as an excuse. Now, though…well, I do not relish the thought, but at least I know that I'll have Myrcella at my side when I return."
"And how does she feel about it?" his mother asked, concern etched on her features.
"She's wary," he didn't see the point in lying, his mother could always tell. "Of her mother, more than anything, but she is glad to know she will see her brother again."
"Oh, the things I would say to Cersei Lannister given the chance," nothing made his mother sound so venomous than talk of Cersei. "Especially now, knowing what she has done to that poor, sweet girl. A woman like that does not deserve such beautiful children as Tommen and Myrcella."
"No," Robb agreed, taking a long drink from his own glass.
"Will you take Ned?" his mother asked.
"We must," Robb replied. "It will be expected. Besides, I cannot imagine Myrcella would want to be parted from him for so long, and if I am honest, neither do I."
"I can understand that," her eyes were soft on his. "Your father only ever mentioned you being fostered elsewhere once, I would not hear of it. If I'm honest, I think he was hoping I would refuse. I know he was stern, and tough at times, but he loved you, he loved you all."
"I know," Robb nodded. "I only hope I can be to my son what he was to me."
"You will be a wonderful father, you already are," his mother assured him.
"Thank you, mother," he told her sincerely.
"There's something I've been meaning to speak to you about," she said after a long moment, looking slightly wary. "It didn't seem like the right time before, but now that Myrcella is better and Ned is thriving…"
"What is it, mother?" he asked, amused despite himself.
"It's Arya," she began, "and these plans you are considering for her. I wonder…do you really think that now is the best time for her to be married? What with everything that's happened…it's just…do you not think you and Myrcella should make a real peace with her before she has to go elsewhere?"
"Do you not think she might be happier elsewhere?" he asked in turn.
"She's not as strong as she appears to be," she implored. "And she is thriving here, especially now she is training those boys. If she is sent away to be married then she will have to give that up."
"Perhaps," he sighed heavily, his mother had a point. "But…mother, you know it is passed time that she was married – the lords mention it at every council we have. With Bran unable to have children and Sansa only having daughters so far -"
"But you have a son now!" his mother cut in. "And you are forgetting Rickon. You have plenty heirs at your disposal, Robb, without pushing Arya into a marriage before she is ready. Please, Robb, she is regaining her happiness and in time I think she and Myrcella could be truly friendly with one another again. Please, just hold off for a while longer, I beg you."
"Very well," he sighed in defeat, "but when it gets to the point that Rickon is ready to be married then you know I will not be able to put it off any longer. You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes, and when that day comes I will support you entirely," she promised him. "But in the meantime I just want Arya to be truly settled here, she deserves that, you all do."
"I know she does," Robb agreed, "and she will be, I promise."
"So, Arya is no longer to be married," Myrcella raised her brows at him as they lay facing one another, Ned between them gurgling happily and waving his limbs around, clearly elated to be free of his swaddling for a while.
"She will be," Robb corrected her. "It is only put off, perhaps for another year or so."
"Perhaps it's for the best," Myrcella sighed, tickling at Ned's tummy. "She may be of an age to marry, but…I don't know, she just doesn't seem ready for it. It isn't what she wants."
"No," Robb agreed, watching her with a slight frown on his face. "But…well, I don't suppose you were ready either, I don't suppose it was what you wanted."
"Not at first, perhaps," she agreed with him. "But my apprehension was not lasting. I suppose all girls feel nervous before such a great change in their lives, but some handle it better than others."
"And you don't suppose Arya would handle it well at all?" he guessed.
"Do you?" she countered, and he smiled slightly.
"No, I suppose not," he said. "Arya is so stubborn that she would likely hate her marriage whether it was happy or not, just to spite me."
"She adores you really," Myrcella soothed him.
"I've disappointed her, though," he sighed.
"It happens," she said. "It is as you said the other day, you can never please everyone all of the time."
"You use my own words against me, wife," he mock scolded her and she smiled.
"Just reminding you of your own wisdom, husband," she returned teasingly.
He smiled in response, watching her intently as she turned her attention back to their son. There was nothing he enjoyed more than watching them together. Sometimes he let himself into their rooms so quietly that she wouldn't hear him. He could watch them together then, wonder over the adoration on Myrcella's face as she completely absorbed herself in their baby. She was a wonderful mother, and more than ever he could not believe that she had ever been worried that she would be awful, as he mother had been. More so, he could not believe that he had ever feared that she would be a younger version of Cersei, sent to him to make his life a misery.
"You're staring," she said in an amused tone, without looking up.
"I can't help it," he returned, unabashed. "Myrcella?"
"Yes?" she asked, attention back on him now.
"Are you settled here?" he asked, thinking about what his mother had said about Arya.
"Of course," she looked utterly bewildered at his question. "Why would you ask that?"
"I just wanted to be sure," he said.
"We may not have had a perfect start, Robb Stark, but I would not wish to be anywhere else in the world," she assured him. "Winterfell is my home now, and I love being here. I love you. I love your family, and I love the family we have started. Of course I'm settled, don't ever let me hear you ask such a ridiculous question again."
"Forgive me," he grinned. "I suppose that sometimes I cannot believe our luck."
"Believe it," she said firmly. "We're happy, Robb, and I will let nothing spoil our happiness. Nothing."
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this one - I'll do my best to get another out soon!
:)
