"The way you slam your body into mine reminds me I'm alive, but monsters are always hungry, darling, and they're only a few steps behind you, finding the flaw, the poor weld, the place where we weren't stitched up quite right, the place they could almost slip right into through if the skin wasn't trying to keep them out, to keep them here, on the other side of the theater where the curtain keeps rising."- Richard Siken
Chapter 14
Mal was walking towards Bran's room when she heard it. It was soft, but as she listened closer it started growing louder and louder, yet she was still unable to decipher what the sound was. She tilted her head as she tried to to peer down the dark hallway where the sound was coming from but she couldn't make anything out. Changing her path she began walking down the darkened hallway. "Hello?" She got no reply except for the strange sound that continued at the end of the hallway. Getting closer she could tell that the sound was of something growling and she saw that something was curled up under a window at the end of the hallway, thinking that one of the direwolves was hurt Mal lowered her voice as she got closer. "Grey Wind, Shaggy? It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you, I'm here to help." Mal was shocked when she finally reached the end of the hallway. "Rickon!?"
Rickon was curled up like a little wolf pup and was growling at Mal like he was a true wolf. He even managed to curl his lips back for emphasis to show his little baby teeth.
Mal huffed as she crouched down to speak to him. "Rickon, enough of this." She extended an arm to help him up but Rickon merely continued to growl at her and then he opened his mouth and tried to take a bite of her hand.
Quickly pulling her hand back, Mal was flabbergasted. "Gods' blood! What are you doing?!"
It was then that she heard a deeper, more feral growl behind her. She turned back to see what it was but the only thing she managed to see was a black mass before she was knocked to the ground. Gathering her senses, Mal heard Rickon's laughter as he and Shaggydog ran back down the hallway she had just come from.
"Rickon Stark, get back here!" she yelled as she got back up on her feet. She was incensed, ever since Lord Stark had left, Rickon had been acting increasingly erratic. At first he would start crying for no good reason and then he would follow Robb around wherever he went. But now he was starting to become violent. Robb and Mal had tried helping Rickon as well as they could, but with there increased responsibilities around the castle, they were having a hard time raising their own child, much less trying to help deal with Rickon's tantrums. Truth was, the boy needed his mother, but Lady Stark was was still indisposed with Bran, and had been for more than a month. She and Robb were going to meet in Bran's room to confront her but she was side-tracked by Rickon's latest outburst.
Infuriated, Mal started to chase after Rickon and Shaggydog, she was in such a mood she didn't even notice the body she collided into.
"What is the matter with you," Theon grabbed hold of her arms and pushed her away from him. "Have you finally gone crazed?" Theon lightly shook her.
Mal roughly pulled away from Theon and glared at him. "Rickon, did you see him?"
"Rickon?" Theon had a confused look on his face. "No, I haven't. Why?"
A sound of frustration left Mal's mouth as she looked down some nearby halls. "He's absolutely uncontrollable. It's getting worse."
Theon let out a harsh laugh. "If you can't control a six-year old, how are you ever going to help Robb run Winterfell?"
Letting out a huff Mal took a step closer to Theon. "Don't you ever question my skills as a caretaker and Lady of the household. You have absolutely no respect for anyone but yourself. If Robb ever heard you talking to me like you do he would-"
"What is that?" Theon interrupted her as he looked over her shoulder. She was about to question him when he briskly walked back down the hallway she just came out of. He stopped in front of the window Rickon was crouched under and peered out.
Following behind him she put a hand on his shoulder to lightly push him away so she could see too. "Theon, what is it?"
"Fire, the library's on fire!" Theon jumped and started to run down the hall.
The low-burning flames were quickly picking up speed and it would only be a matter of time before the whole library was burned down. Feeling her heart rate pick up Mal started to feel worried. "Wait, where are you going!"
"To alert the rest of the castle. We have to put the fire out." He shouted as neared the end of the hallway.
Mal grabbed the back of his doublet and pulled him back. "We have to alert Robb!"
Just then Robb came running down the stairs and ran by them before doubling back. "Theon, there's a fire." He had a panicked look on his face.
Theon nodded solemnly. "Let's go."
Robb turned to Mal and grabbed both of her hands and kissed them. "Go to Pup and stay in the room until I return." He leapt forward and gave her a deep kiss. Breaking the kiss, Mal held onto his hands. "Robb?" she asked, all the adrenaline was clouding her mind and causing her to become fearful as she tried to understand the situation.
"I have to go, love." nodding to Theon, Robb released himself from Mal's hold and starting running to gather some help and put out the fire with Theon following close by.
Mal shook her head to gather her thoughts as she looked around. "Rickon." Knowing that the boy had a penchant of ending up somewhere where he didn't belong or somewhere where he could hurt himself, Mal worried that he would try to run towards the fire. Jetting off through the hallways she burst into Rickon's room. "Rickon!" she yelled as she looked underneath the bed and in the closet. She practically turned the room inside out before accepting the fact that he wasn't in the room. Racking her brains Mal steadied her breath so she could think clearly. He would be afraid of the flames if he saw them. Where would he go if he was afraid? The answer popped out at her quickly, making a beeline towards Bran's room. At the top of the stairs she heard a horrible yell. "Lady Stark!" she quickened her pace and opened the door to take in the scene before her. Lady Stark was trembling on the floor with a man's body bleeding out nearby. Bran was motionless, the uproar didn't waken him, but his wolf was lying on the foot of the bed with blood drying on his muzzle.
Snapping into action Mal went to Lady Stark's side. "My lady." She took her hands into her own to assess the damage. There were deep cuts going across her hands and were bleeding profusely. She quickly ripped two strips of fabric from the bottom of her dress and started to wrap them around Lady Stark's hands to stop the bleeding, all the while keeping an eye on the dead man. Lady Stark was silent throughout the entire process, Mal feared that the attack had left her dumb. Placing her hands on Catelyn's cheeks, she slowly turned her head so she was staring right into Mal's eyes. "Can you hear me, my lady?" She felt the slightest motion as Lady Stark nodded her head. Mal let out a relieved sigh as she dropped her hands to her sides. "What happened here?" she asked in a broken whisper.
Lady Stark eyes cleared a bit as she stared at Mal. "B-Bran, he came for Bran." she told her in a shaky voice.
"Why would he go after Bran?" she whispered as she turned to look at the sleeping boy. At that moment one of Lady Stark's maids came into the room and let out a shriek. Mal turned back around to face the squealing maid. "If you're quite finished with your caterwauling then I suggest you find Lord Stark and Maester Luwin immediately." she barked at the girl who sobered up quickly and ran out of the room.
It took only a few moments until Robb came barreling through the door, his breathing was harsh as though he ran the entire way from the library to the Great Keep. Maester Luwin came shuffling after him. The maester let out a small gasp as he rushed to Lady Stark's side.
"What happened here?!" Robb asked as he took Mal in his arms and checked her over.
"I'm fine, I came upon the scene after it had already happened." she rubbed Robb's chest in a comforting manor. "I'll tell you what I know, but first I have to get to Torrhen and find Rickon." The shock of the entire situation was wearing off and Mal's concern was now for her son and good-brother.
"Rickon was hiding in our room." Robb told her distractedly, half of his mind on his wounded mother and the other half on his comatose brother.
"And Torrhen?" she asked relieved that Rickon was safe and sound.
"I have him." Theon said from the doorway. He was awkwardly holding the baby in his arms.
Mal nearly ran to the doorway and took Torrhen from Theon after letting out a small thank you.
Maester Luwin went up to Robb and began speaking lowly. "Your mother is in a state of shock, I suggest having her drink some dreamwine and letting her sleep this off."
Robb slowly nodded his head before addressing the entire. "I want guards to search the entire castle. If this man had any accomplices with them I want them found and I want them found now. Double the guards around all our rooms. I want the maids to escort my mother back to her room and help Maester Luwin clean her wounds and ready her for bed." He turned to Theon and Mal. "Theon, I want you and me to make rounds around the castle," Theon nodded solemnly. "Mal, go back to our room and stay there." There was a finality in his tone that told he was in no mood for games.
"Robb, I-" Mal started to speak but was quickly interrupted by Robb. "No, go to the room and take care of our son. That should be your first priority." he finished with a glare.
He turned back to look at the man lying on the floor. "Get Ser Rodrik in here to clean this mess up." he said to no one in particular before exiting the room with Theon trailing behind him.
Mal knew better than to start a fight with him in front of everyone so she held her tongue and curtseyed to Lady Stark and Maester Luwin before leaving the room.
Upon returning to the room Torrhen started to become very fussy. Nothing Mal did seemed to calm him down, his cries just grew louder. "Don't say you're angry with me as well." Mal asked a little frustrated. She put her hand on his forehead and felt a small fever. His cheeks were a bright pink as he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Poor love, you're not feeling so good are you?" She quickly took off his clothes and wet a rag from a nearby water basin, and started to gently rub his body with the cool cloth. She hummed softly under her breath to calm the fidgeting baby. After a while of doing that Torrhen finally drifted off to sleep. Mal dried him off and put a clean napkin on him but kept the rest of his clothes off. His fever had gone down a bit and she said a little prayer to the gods that it would be gone completely by the morning. She gently set him down in his crib and went about straightening up the room.
Sometime after midnight Robb arrived back to their room looking tired and frustrated. Bits of ash flaked his clothes. Mal silently closed the book she was reading and rested it on the side table. She didn't say anything to him as she watched him walk to the water basin and clean his face and hands. He shrugged off his clothes and put on a fresh tunic. There was a tension there between them and Mal knew that. She wanted to wait for him to say something but by the firm set of his shoulders she knew she had to be the one to bring it up.
"You disrespected me in there, you know that don't you?" she asked him softly but there was still in edge to her voice. She glanced at Torrhen's crib to make sure he was still asleep.
Robb scoffed but didn't turn around to address his wife as he filled a goblet with wine. "An intruder made his way into the castle with the intent to kill my brother and in the end attacked my mother, and all you can think about is how I disrespected you?"
Mal jumped leapt from the bed and confronted Robb. "Don't you dare say that. I was terrified for your brothers, both of them- Rickon and Bran. When I saw your mother there... with all that blood-" She trailed off lightly before remembering what happened. "And then you treat me as if I did something wrong, like some pest to brush off."
"You did a stupid thing, did you know that?" he questioned mockingly.
"I tended to your mother's wounds as best as I could." she countered, feeling her temper starting to rise.
Robb rolled his eyes and turned away. "I'm not talking about that." he said lowly.
"Then what are you talking about?" She folded her arms across her chest.
She heard Robb's growl before he threw the goblet in his hands across the room. "That man was dangerous, Mal! You did a stupid thing by rushing into that room, what if he wasn't dead?!"
"He was dead, Robb. I had to help your mother, she would've bleed out from her wounds."
"I told you to stay in the room. I told you to go to the room and stay with Torrhen until I returned and you disobeyed me!"
Mal looked incredulous. "Disobeyed you!? Who do you think you are?!"
"I am your lord and your husband, dammit!"
It was then that Torrhen awoke and started letting out ear-piercing screams. Mal rushed to his side and lifted him out of the crib and began bouncing him in her arms to calm his cries.
"You may be my lord and my husband, but you are not my master. I don't have to follow everything you do."
Robb let out a huff of laughter. "I am trying to keep you safe, I am trying to keep everyone safe. A man I do not know and have never seen infiltrated this castle. What if he had friends? What if they saw you running around the castle like a madwoman, alone?! What if you entered Bran's room and the man had already killed Bran and mother, and was going to kill you too?! It would be my fault!" Mal watched as tears formed in Robb's eyes. With each word she felt her anger towards him dissipate and started to feel pity instead. "Father left me in charge, he believed that I could take care of the castle and everyone inside of it. And look what's happened, Mal. You could've died, you, mother, Bran and who knows who else! What would I have done if you'd gotten yourself hurt or gods forbid, if you had gotten yourself killed," the tears in his eyes began streaming down his face as Torrhen's cries reached their breaking point. " It would've been my fault." he repeated, the fire seemed to go out in him as he sat on the bed and crumbled over to hide his head in his hands.
Slowly, so as not to disturb him, Mal went to Robb's side with a now docile Torrhen in her arms. "You could not have known what was going to happen. You saved the library from burning down. You had know idea that there was a man hiding in the shadows with the intent to do your brother harm. Even if your father were here he'd have no idea. You did everything you could Robb. I took a chance when I entered your mother's room. I should've had a guard go with me, but I was so worried that I wasn't thinking clearly. But I'm fine, Torrhen is fine, Bran is fine and your mother will be fine. I'm sorry that I scared you, but you can't keep thinking about these 'what ifs' you'll go mad, Robb."
She sat quietly as Robb let out a few shuddering breaths. When he calmed down some he lifted his head and spoke. "It's been a long day, let's just go to bed. We'll talk about this in the morning." He took Torrhen from her arms without another word and carried him over to his crib. Before setting him down he gave the baby a long hug and kissed his forehead. After the kiss he rested his head on Torrhen's and let out a deep sigh. Mal was silent throughout the entire exchange. She felt her heart hammering underneath her clothes. She had no idea how to fix what had happened between them.
After he finally placed Torrhen in the crib he went to his wardrobe for a fresh pair of breeches. Mal was alert as she watched him pull on the breeches. "Where are you going?" she asked feeling slightly panicked.
"I'm going to sleep in Bran's room. I think it'll be best for the both of us." Robb told her without turning around to look at her. He made his way to the door to exit the room but before he could open the door Mal called out to him.
"Robb, we're fine aren't we?" She felt angry at herself when she heard the desperate tone in her voice.
Robb still didn't look back at her as he opened the door. "Go to sleep, Mal." he sighed as he exited the room shutting the door behind him.
Mal let out a choked sob as she fell back onto the bed. You've done it this time, you little fool.
Lady Stark was in an induced sleep for a few days after the attack. During that time Mal would sit in with Bran, knitting clothes for Torrhen and reading while a guard stood by. Security had been upped since that night and now Mal had a guard trailing after her like puppy wherever she went. Things between her and Robb were still tense. He returned to their bedroom the night after their fight but he always made sure that he was as far away from her as he could be. It hurt her, to know that Robb was so angry with her. But at the same time she understood why he was doing so, he was afraid. He let his fears take him over and brought him to the point where he was a sniveling, crying mess. It made him feel ashamed to lose control in front of his wife and child like that. She thought about voicing her thoughts to him but she knew that Robb would come to her when he was ready.
One day when she was returning from Bran's room one of Lady Stark's maids came upon her and told her that her good-mother had awoken and was requesting her presence down in the Godswood. Mal quickly made her way to where Lady Stark was waiting for her. When she go there she found that she was not the only person her good-mother had requested to see. Maester Luwin, Ser Rodrik Cassel, Theon and Robb were circled around her. Mal nodded her head politely to all the men, Luwin and Cassel offered her kind smiles while Theon ignored her and Robb stared at her wide-eyed. She stood next to Robb as she waited like the others to learn why Catelyn had rounded them all up.
"What I am about to tell you must remain between us. I don't think Bran fell from that tower. I think he was thrown." Mal's breath caught in her throat and Robb's jaw tightened.
"The boy was always sure-footed before." Maester Luwin reasoned.
"Someone tried to kill him twice... why? Why murder an innocent child? Unless he saw something he wasn't meant to see." Catelyn seemed both determined over her theory and sad over the thought of someone trying to hurt her child.
"Saw what, my lady?" asked an uncharacteristically (uncharacteristically for Mal anyway) concerned Theon.
"I don't know, but I would stake my life that the Lannisters are involved. We have already reason to suspect their loyalty to the crown." Lady Stark looked even more sure and determined.
Mal's eyes narrowed, there already was bad blood between her family and the Lannisters, she didn't put it past them to do something so devious and cruel. But she thought they were idiots for starting something with the Starks, especially with Lord Stark serving as Hand of the King.
"Did you notice the dagger the killer used? It's too fine a weapon for such a man," Rodrik unsheathed the blade to display it the group. "The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragon bone. Someone gave it to him." He placed the blade back in it's sheath as he finished.
Robb looked down at Mal and reached for her hand. Mal gripped his hand hard and which he returned tenfold.
"They come into our home and try to murder my brother. If it's war they want-"
"Robb!" Mal gasped out loud. Getting revenge on Bran's attacker is one thing but starting a full-fledged war is another matter all together.
"If it comes to that you know I'll stand behind you." Theon swore.
"War? Is there going to be a battle in the Godswood? Too easily words of war become acts of war, we don't know the truth yet," the boys looked ashamed as Luwin scolded them. After giving them a final look he turned to Lady Stark. "Lord Stark must be told of this."
Catelyn shook her head. "I don't trust a raven to carry these words."
"I'll ride to King's Landing." Robb offered.
"No, there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go myself."
Robb looked incredulous. "Mother you can't-"
"I must." Catelyn interrupted.
"I'll send Hal with a score of guardsmen to escort you."
"Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I don't want the Lannisters to know I'm coming."
"I'll go with you, my lady," Mal stepped up but Robb tugged at their still clasped hands trying to pull her back. "This is not a journey you should take alone. Especially after what you went through."
Catelyn gave her good-daughter a faint smile. "Thank you, my dear. But you have a young son and dare not ask you to leave him. I also need you to look after my sons while I am away."
Mal nodded and silently swore to Lady Stark that she would watch after her sons as best as she could while she was away.
"Let me accompany you at least," Rodrik compromised. "The Kingsroad can be a dangerous place for a woman alone."
Catelyn nodded her consent but Robb was still unconvinced.
"What about Bran?" He asked shocked that his mother was so adamant upon going
"I have prayed to the Seven for more than a month, Bran's life is in their hand now." Catelyn said with a resigned finality that made Mal's heart break a little for her.
There was some talk between Lady Stark and Ser Rodrik over when they would leave but Mal paid no mind to it. She pulled Robb away from the group so they could talk discretely.
"Are you alright?" she asked their hands still intertwined. The tension from the fight had drifted away once Lady Stark had informed them she was going to travel south.
"I don't know what I'll do if mother leaves." Robb answered sounding very far away.
Mal reached up and put her hands on his cheeks and made him face her. She was reminded that she did the same things to Lady Stark after she had been attacked. The thought brought a chill up her spine. Coming back to the present she looked deep into Robb's eyes.
"Listen to me, I love you. I believe in you and I trust you. Yes, your father is gone and your mother is leaving, but she will be back. We'll be fine. You'll be fine. We were always going to be lord and lady of Winterfell one day, it's just that day has come sooner then we planned." she finished rather pathetically and dropped her hands. She was unsure of what to do or say to make him feel better.
"I love you, but this will be hard on both of us. We'll most likely have more nights like one we just had. But I do need you, Mal."
Mal smiled lovingly at him, joyful at hearing those words leave his lips. She was thankful that whatever black cloud that was hanging over them was finally lifted. "And you have me... forever."
A/N: Now we're getting into the the thick of the show. About time right? You may have recognized that in the last part the lines were taken directly from the show, S01E02. As of now Robb and Mal have been married for about 14 months so the honeymoon phase is definitely started to fade, but there still will be tender moments between the pair. Baby Torrhen is about 4-to-5 months old, it's hard to gauge a correct time because of how GRRM writes, I never know how much time has passed from one book to the next, or from one POV to the next, so I have to guesstimate and sometimes make things up. Anyway, did you guys hear that Oberyn Martell has been cast. At first I wasn't so thrilled at the choice but I've grown on it. I mean at first I didn't love who was chosen to play Yara/Asha's but now I love Gemma Whelan! I mean that final scene with her and Balon during the season finale, ugh so good. So I have faith that this guy will do Oberyn justice. I can't wait for Arianne and the Sand Snakes to be cast. Bring on more women of color! :)
Back to the story- as always thank you guys for reading, reviewing, adding this to your favorites. It's super nice of you guys to do so and I am always incredibly thankful (even if I don't show it with my inconsistent updates)
Happy early 4th to my American readers and Happy Canada Day today for my Canadian pals. For everyone else not in either of those countries, Happy first week of July!
My birthday is next week but I'll try to have another update up by then. Have a great week, guys!