"Is that too much to expect? That I would name the stars
for you? That I would take you there? The splash
of my tongue melting you like a sugar cube."- Richard Siken
Chapter 16
Despite reconciling Robb and Mal spent most of their time apart as the days grew on. Mal put her sole focus on tending to the needs of Torrhen, Bran and Rickon while Robb dealt with his lordly duties. He was getting a better hang of it but he still fell into his moods when things seemed too difficult. Mal had taken to spending her days in Bran's room with baby Torrhen. Rickon would sometimes find his way into the room but most of the time Bran's room was a sort of secret oasis for Mal and Bran. Mal had figured out early on that Bran was old for his age, even before the fall, but it was as if she was talking to her father. And Mal found that strangely comforting.
"Do you think you'll ever see Dorne again?" Bran asked one morning as he absentmindedly looked out the window that overlooked the courtyard. Mal looked over and saw Robb overseeing Bran's new horse that was to be fitted with his custom saddle.
She shrugged. "I don't think so, Dorne is a long ways away from Winterfell. Your mother left Riverrun and she never went back."
Bran frowned at the reference to his mother. "My mother's not there now."
"She had to go away for a bit, but she'll be back... soon."
"She shouldn't have left in the first place." he gripped as he adjusted his blankets. "She shouldn't have left me."
"Bran-" Mal started but was cut off by a harsh look from the young Stark.
"Do you miss your father?" he asked suddenly. Mal was almost taken aback by the quickness the boy managed to pull off when it came to changing topics.
Mal was silent for a few moments as she thought about his question. "It's difficult to explain. My father is nothing like yours, Bran. I spent more time with my uncle and cousins than I did with him. He's a very reserved man, but I learned a lot just by watching him. He's the Prince of Dorne. Thanks to him Dorne has prospered these last few years. There's peace now and peace is a wonderful thing to have."
"But do you miss him?" Bran asked again.
Slowly, Mal shook her head. "No," a sad chuckle left her lips. "I don't miss him."
Bran nodded. "Good. I don't miss my mother either." He flopped back onto his bed and rolled over facing away from Mal. She took that as a cue to leave Bran's room.
Stepping out of the room Mal made her way down to the courtyard where Robb was still looking over the new horse. "If you stare at that horse any longer people may get the wrong idea about you."
Robb quirked an eyebrow but didn't take his eyes off the horse as he checked the mane for bugs. "And what's the wrong idea."
"You'd rather spend your time looking at a horse instead of your wife. Perhaps his lordship prefers animals to women?" she teased.
Robb made a quick jerk away from the horse which caused Mal to break out into giggles. Robb glowered at his giggling wife. "You of all people now that I am deeply fond of my wife." he kissed her cheek in front of the entire courtyard.
"Good to know." she said after she was relieved of her giggling fit. Mal glanced at Bran's new horse. She was very beautiful, a young and spirited filly with a gorgeous mane. "Do you think he'll ride her?"
Robb gathered her in his arms, uncaring that the entirety of Winterfell could see them. "I hope so. It's my greatest wish to see Bran happy again, and I know that this is the way to do it. I can't give him his legs back, no matter how hard I pray for him, but this, this I can do."
Mal stared up at her husband sadly. "Bran will turn around, as long as we continue loving him and supporting him. He'll dig himself out of this dark hole he's fallen in, don't fret, my love." She discreetly kissed his cheek and cuddled deeper into his arms.
The pair stayed together until Theon came upon them. "Robb, banners have been seen not far from Winterfell.
Robb pulled away quickly. "Banners?" he frowned, "Whose banners?"
Theon shook his head. "We don't know. No one is scheduled to visit."
"With our luck that damned Lannister is back again. Open the gates to allow them entry." He took Mal by the hand and led her into the Great Hall to receive their guests.
They stayed seated in their chairs waiting for a while before the great door opened and their visitors entered. Upon viewing them, a huge smile broke out on her face. She quickly rose from her seat to address the visitors. "Gerris!"
The man known as Gerris took off his helmet emblazoned with the sun and spear of Dorne and grinned at her. He shook his head of blonde curls and bowed lowly. "Princess." he murmured. He stood straight and bowed to Robb. "My dear Lord and Lady of Winterfell, I have come straight from his esteemed grace, Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, to bring words and gifts of congrats."
"We are honored by the gesture, Gerris, but you need not have come all this way. A letter would have sufficed."
Gerris Drinkwater shook his head. "Forgive me, princess but it is an honor to do so. I personally volunteered to do this task."
"Did you?" she asked with a cock of her head. Mal and Gerris were old playmates. They grew up together and romped in the water gardens with one another. If they were honest they would say they were childhood sweethearts. Gerris gave Mal her very first kiss. She had not seen him years. Last she heard of him he was keeping her brother Quentyn company at Yronwood where he was being fostered.
He gave her a warm smile. "Of course. How could I deny myself this pilgrimage of beauty? Knowing that you were at the end of this quest is a very sweet prize. There are rumors all across Dorne that our littlest princess has bloomed in a most beautiful and gracious lady here in the North, and I am proud to say that the rumors do you no justice, my lady. You have grown far more beautiful than the tales told." he ended flirtatiously.
Robb's grumble broke through the flirtation. "This is all well and good, but why are you here. I have a castle to run and I prefer not to waste my time with all this Southron talk."
"Ah, yes. Forgive me, Lord Stark. I bring good tidings and congratulations on the birth of your son and heir. Since this is Prince Doran's first grandson he sent some goods as a token of good faith. Also, now that the marriage has gone on for close to two years he has sent the rest of Princess Mal's dowry." With a snap of his fingers, several men entered the hall carrying what looked to be heavy chests. One by one the men opened the chests revealing spices, silks and in a few of them filled with gold and silver plate.
Robb stepped down from his seat and inspected the contents of the chests. "You can report to my good-father that we're honored by these gifts."
Gerris laughed wholeheartedly. "These aren't the only gifts he sent you. Take a look outside for the rest." Robb looked confused before reaching his hand out for Mal to come down from her seat and go with him outside.
The pair along with Gerris went out to the courtyard were soldiers upon great Dornish horses. "200 of our finest soldiers."
"What use have we of soldiers?" Robb asked incredulously
"For the protection of the little prince of course." Gerris replied in that easygoing way that came so naturally to him. He turned to address Mal. "By the way, where is the little prince? I wish to see the bonny lad. I'm sure Prince Doran would like a report on the little prince's development."
"Torrhen." Robb growled out between gritted teeth. "He's not a prince, he's a lordling. The future Lord of Winterfell."
Gerris practically laughed in Robb's face. "Forgive me, my lord but he has Martell blood in his veins. Descended from both Queen Nymeria and the Targaryen dragons. Surely, his title should match to his breeding."
Mal could see the color rising in Robb's face and decided to intervene before anything could happen. " We are grateful for all that my father has sent to us, Ser Gerris," she inflected in order to get Gerris to pull away from the pissing contest he entered with Robb. "Allow me to show you and your men to your rooms, unfortunately it's a little too late to throw a big feast but I'm sure the kitchens will be able to come up with something." She sent him a pleading look.
Bowing low, Gerris turned to follow Mal away from a fuming Robb. Mal did her duty and showed Gerris' men to their rooms until it was only her and Gerris left.
"You should not have teased him like that." She told him over her shoulder as she led him up one of the many staircases to his room.
"Oh, come now, little princess, I had to see the infamous Stark humor in action. He did not disappoint either. Is he always that humorless. He must bore you to tears"
"The men of the North are nothing like the men of Dorne. You should have a care, Gerris." she said slighted exasperated.
"Why shouldn't I give your bridegroom a hard time? I have to make sure he is deserving of you." he said lowly.
Mal stopped her ascent and turned to face her old companion. "What happened between us is because we were young. We said things we shouldn't have said. You were sweet to me and I was kind to you. Now Robb might not be perfect, but he's my husband and I love him. So you can report back to my father or my uncle or my sister or whoever you're reporting to and tell them that I am content with my current state."
Gerris' face clouded over. "Do you think so little of me to believe that I was sent here to spy on you?"
"All I know is that I sent letter back home for months after I first arrived and not a single word was sent back. Not even when my son was born, and now all of a sudden you are here. What should I make of that Gerris?"
"I volunteered to see you, because I care for you. Your father is not the warmest of men and things have been hard for him." He said his eyes looking more downcast by the moment. He realized this meeting would not turn out like he expected.
Mal stuttered. "His health?"
Gerris shrugged. "He has been spending most of his time in the Water Gardens. The people of Sunspear rarely see him."
Mal faltered as she continued to go up the staircase. "Will he survive this winter?" she asked fearing for the worst. For as long as she could remember her father was not the strongest of men. Before Mal had left Dorne he had been confined to a wheelchair. The maesters feared that he would never walk again.
Gerris did her the favor by not answering her, he just fell silent and continued walking behind her. When the pair reached Gerris' room, Mal silently opened the door and prepared to leave without another word. Before she took her first step down the stairs Gerris stopped her. "I did not come here to antagonize you or your family. If you wish it, I will leave at first light."
Taking a breath she slowly shook her head. "You are a guest here. Perhaps our reunion started off on the wrong foot. I am happy that you're here Gerris. It is nice to see old friends from home. Now, get settled in and I shall see you later tonight at dinner." Turning from him she made her way down the stairs and back to her rooms where she found Robb fuming on the bed.
"I hope you housed him somewhere far away from us. It would do me no good to have rumors floating around the castle now that my wife's paramour has arrived." His tone was serious but the smirk on face said otherwise.
Mal lightly shook her head before helping Torrhen out of his crib and letting him crawl around the the floor under Grey Wind's eye.
"Does all the flower-y talk really work in the South? It must take hours to for a lad to tell a lady he fancies her. That's what you call it in the South, yes? 'fancying'" He finished with a smug smile.
Mal walked towards the bed and slapped his shoulder. "You are nothing but a cur, Robb Stark." Torrhen, who had been watching his parents interaction with wide eyes, let out a small cry and crawled towards his mother as fast as his little body could take him. Mal gently lifted the growing boy and placed him on Robb's chest. "I do hope our son grows into a gentleman, unlike you."
Robb lifted Torrhen and raised him above his head, play-acting that the boy was flying. Torrhen's giggles filled the room as Robb smiled at his son. "I fear that he'll grow to a true Northerner. No pretty words for him."
Mal climbed on the bed and sat near her family. "I seem to recall a boy with many pretty words for me when I first arrived in Winterfell."
"Yes, but now that I've wedded and bedded you, I have no use for pretty words." Robb's answer earned him a slap to the chest.
"Northern cur." Mal grumbled as she flopped on the bed lying parallel to Robb.
Robb gently lay Torrhen on his chest and the boy quieted down and relaxed in his father's arms. Turning his head, Robb stared deeply into his wife's eyes. "Are you angry with me, little love?"
Rolling her eyes Mal turned to lie on her side and curl up into Robb. "Furious."
Smiling gently, Robb lifted his head to kiss Mal deeply. "Still mad?"
Mal tried to hide the grin on her face but it was pointless. Instead she hid her face into Robb's side and ran her hand through Torrhen's brassy curls. "We'll need to cut his hair soon." Robb rumbled trying hard to not disturb the now sleeping boy.
"I love his curls, it makes him look so much like you."
"If it grows any longer he'll look like a girl."
"Good, he'll be as pretty as Sansa." She turned her head to look at him with a wide smile.
He gave a indulgent shake of his head which chuckling before closing his eyes and settling down. Mal studied his face for a moment weighing an idea in her mind before opening her mouth. "Torrhen is going to have his first name day soon." She commented.
"Pity my father won't be here to celebrate it." He grunted his voice was laced with sleepiness.
"It's hard to believe that he's getting older, soon he'll be walking and talking." Robb responded with a light murmur as he was failing deeper into sleep. Mal rolled her eyes lightly and continued. "Now that he's getting older it makes me miss when he was just a tiny babe." Robb's eyelashes fluttered as he struggled to stay awake to listen to his wife.
"Robb," she cajoled softly, Robb grunted he opened his eyes focusing on his wife's face. "I think I'm ready to have another baby." Mal was worried the Robb was too tired to understand when she told him. His face was blank for moments afterwords before a smile broke out on his face. He gently lifted Torrhen off his chest and placed him on the bed.
"Are you sure?" he asked trying to keep quiet for Torrhen's sake but his excitement was affecting his voice.
Nodding her head Mal let out a small laugh. "Yes, I would like another babe. Preferably I would like to have one by the time Torrhen is walking and talking."
Robb rushed forward to kiss her with everything he had. "You've made me so happy, love."
She giggle while pushing him away to look at his face clearly. "I'm not even pregnant yet. It may take a while."
"That's no problem at all. More opportunities to try for one." He said with a lewd look in his eye.
Mal narrowed her eyes at him. "Seven hells, whatever shall I do with you, Robb Stark."
"Love me, and make hundreds of babies with me, Mal Stark." he said softly, no hint of teasing in his tone.
Leaning in, Mal gave her husband a deep kiss before pulling back to address him. "Done."
A/N: Hello, Hello! No I am not dead and no, I am not abandoning this story. I've been so busy with school and work that I have zero time to myself. I swear this chapter has been sitting on my computer half-finished for month and it's not even that good :/ It's definitely a filler chapter. Sorry about that. As always I appreciate your support. I'm actually surprised people are still following this story, but know that I haven't abandoned you and I'm currently working on chapter 17 which I am hoping to finish and have up in the next couple weeks. Until then, SS