There we go another chapter for this story. Sorry t was a long absence life was crazy but here we are. Hope you will like it.
Chapter 2: Duty and Resilience
Dark eyes were looking at him with so much passion he moaned and kissed her once more once entering her body making them both gasp in pleasure. Robb looked at her face. Her beautiful eyes were looking at him with love and lust.
"I wont marry her. Talisa. Tomorrow ill make you my wife. Ill make you my Queen." Robb said as he was thrusting slowly making her gasp and tremble holding into him and panting in his ear.
"I love you Robb." Talisa gasped out and kissed him as he fastened his pace.
"As I love you my Queen."
There was a knock on the door startling him reaching for his sword and ready to kill anyone who dares to fight him but Robb relaxed when he saw Olyvar his squire. The Frey Sqire who reminded him everyday of the promise he made. Robb sighed and looked at the boy who had no fault in what happened and the promises he made.
The boy was just ten and two when he came here. He was a skinny boy with blond hair and blue eyes. He was very pale. He looked fragile but in his service at Winterfell the boy grew up and put in weight and will be a handsome boy.
"Your Grace, is there anything else I can do for you?" The boy looked at his King with a little smile on his face.
"Can you tell me about your sister Elaine. I am to marry her and yet I do not know anything about her." Robb looked at the boy his eyes softening for the first time in many days.
"My mother died when she gave birth to me so I do not remember her Your Grace but Elaine and I had the same mother. Elaine always played with me. She was the first one to play sword fighting with me and took my riding. She loved riding Your Grace. Father was always mad at her cause she could be gone days at a time and her horse was not there. Father was always nicer to her as well. He said that she was one of his kids that were like him." Olyvar said and Robb nodded and a grimace appeared on his face. His wife will now always remind if of the man that he hated and had no respect for.
"Your Grace please forgive me for being so froward but please do not hurt my sister. She always had the most beautiful laugh. I do not want her to lose that." Olyvar said bowed and left the room and Robb closed his eyes and looked around the room and his eyes fell on Grey Wind and who looked was looking at him with yellow eyes.
"Lets do this boy. Lets meet my betrothed." Robb said and the wolf got up whines and nuzzled Robbs hand as they went to the Great Hall of Riverrun where the welcoming feast began.
The feats was grand. The tables were creaking from the weight of the food. The music was jolly and wine and ale flew plenty. Lord and ladies were all laughing and talking. Everyone who had any power was here to see the King in the North marry his Frey girl. After all he was now one of the richest man in Westeros.
Olyvar gave him a goblet filled with ale and he began to drink when he saw the two Frey girls walk into the Hall with their Frey father. The man looked around the room with ugly smile so did the girls. Roslin looked at it with awe in his eyes. They sparkled with excitement and she had a small smile on her face. She had a light blue gown on her and her light brown hair was free safe the two small braids tied at the back of her head. She was very pretty Robb must admit and that fool of his uncle will be a happy man.
He watched as Edmure came over and gave her his hand and walked away in the crowd talking. His eyes then landed on his future wife. Her hair was in the same fashion as her sisters and she had a dark blue gown on. She was shorter than he though not more than 5 feet it seemed. She unlike her sister had no smile on her face but still looked around. She wasn't ugly. She was rather very pretty. Prettier than her sister and her dark cold eyes were big and rounded. In normal circumstance he would be would be happy to marry her but he already gave his love away. He had none left give.
Either way his mother raised him right and he walked over to his betrothed and bowed to her as she curtsied.
"My Lord My Lady. How are you faring tonight?" He asked and Lord Frey have out a cackle.
"My boy I am very well. I smell alcohol and cunts all around the room, I will go and take advantage of it." He said and he left them. Robb shook his head at the man that disgusted him. Elaine closed her eyes and the humiliation from her father.
"My lady would you like to go for a walk with me." He had in a hard voice.
"It would be a pleasure Your Grace." She said in a small but cold voice. They walked out of the Great Hall and down the corridor before they walked into to a balcony looking upon a river.
Elaine stood there looking at the river and smiled it was very beautiful. The moon was out and the reflection of it was in the river. It was a very peaceful evening.
"It is very beautiful out here. Very peaceful. My sister would love it here very much." She said the looking at river.
"Winterfell looks different than this my lady." Robb said and Elaine nodded
"I am aware of that Your Grace. Always wanted to see snow. Never seen it. Heard it was beautiful." Elaine said looking at her betrothed.
He was very handsome with his red hair and big blue eyes. He was very muscular and towered over her smaller frame. She should be happy that she was too marry the King. She would be Queen. She will have a whole Kingdom to rule over. A frozen Kingdom. She was to move to a cold and hard land. Cold just like her future husband. Cold just like her.
"I hope you will find Winterfell most appealing." Robb said with a quick look at her.
"If I may Your Grace, I know you gave your heart away to someone already. I know the look cause I have seen it before. On my own face every morning. I also gave my heart to someone who was forbidden to me. All of my heart. But unlike you I had to watch my love fall in love with someone else and making a life with another woman. Another gave him a son. From where I am standing your Grace we need to make the best of our situations." Elaine said and looked at Robb and left him on the balcony. She walked away from the man who she felt completely nothing towards. Yes he was handsome and yes he was the King yet she felt nothing towards him. She was completely indifferent and she felt that Robb felt the same for her.
When she entered the Great Hall she saw her sister with Lord Edmure they were speaking to each other and laughing and Elaine smiled. At lest their betrothal was a successful one. Her sister will be happy. Elaine was younger but she was stronger than Roslin. As much as she hated she was more like her father. She was adventurous and never liked to stay in that bloody castle. She was a good rider and she was a good fighter. She was was a good hunter. Never liked all the things that young ladies were always meant to be doing. Even with all of that she knew her duty and that was to have a husband and have his children and she will do just that.
Looking at the people before her who were all drunk and merry it is hard to believe that just one year ago they were all raging war with each other. A war were many people lot their lives. A war that was won by her husband and Stannis. A war were whole families were wiped out from the face of the earth and some who benefited greatly from. Like her family. Like the family she will enter to.
Elaine pinched the bridge of her nose a she felt panic rise in her chest thinking about what she needed to do tomorrow. She will have to give herself to another person. A stranger will enter her body. A stronger will she her vulnerable. She became vulnerable once before. It was her choice. She was not afraid of the pain. She never was. She was a fighter pain was a part of it but when she gave her heart away and It was broken the pain was something she thought she could not bear.
She closed her eyes and remembered the greenest eyes she had very seen. Greener than the forest she grew up in. The jet black her darker than the night. Those lips she kissed so many times. She remembered all of the nights they had spend hunting and camping in the forest. She remembered those night when they would find pleasure in each other. They never made love but they were other ways to do please the person you love. She remembered how she would tremble in his arms. She also remembered how they told each other that she loved him and he loved her. How they planned to run away and get married. The plan was too good to be true. They were careful. Oh so careful. She packed for days in secret. She did not need much. She made sure no one knew or so she though. On the night where they were meant to run away her brother asked her to see her father in his solar. When she entered the chamber she saw her father sitting in the middle with an angry look on his face. Two of her brothers were holding her beloved by the arms. He was limp. His face covered in blood. He was barely concious.
"I am so sorry my love." he rasped out and fainted. She looked at her father with tears and anger in her eyes.
"You though you can run away with some commoner! My daughter!" Her father began to shout but she did not hear anything. All she saw as him close to death and their plan failing.
She was escorted to her room and was not not let out of it for two moons. When she did leave she looked for him. Off course she did but when she found him he was on one of the keeps. He was not alone though. A raven haired woman was there as well and he kissed her. Like he was supposed to be kissing her. She felt her heart break and tears rolling down her face.
He found her later on that day in their secret meeting place.
"I am so sorry Lana. I had to. I had to look after my family. You father said that he will throw out my family. My parents are old." he said and she nodded. She never looked at him, she stared into space. He stood there for a minute before leaving. Only after that she let her tears fall and sobs wrack her body. She felt used and set aside. She felt broken. She cried herself out until Roslin found her and took her back to the castle. She slept in her room for a fortnight. Each night she whispered how strong she is and that she will survive this.
Elaine had no choice but to go on. Even when she saw his wife's belly swell with his child and a raven haired boy being born. She left the day after she saw that child and now she was meant to be Queen.
Elaine could feel a tear falling down her face before she wiped it away furiously. She was not going to cry for a man who was enjoying the life he had with his wife and his son. Elaine felt something wet and cold on her hand and she gasped opening her eyes to stare at deep yellow eyes of a direwolf. It was almost eye to eye with her and it was growling softly under his breath.
Elaine stood rooted the ground. Her heart near enough beating out of her chest. She was scared but she dared not to look away from the beast. She was not going to show weakness. As much as she was scared she admired the beast. It was beautiful. It was large and imposing. His fur a smoky brown colour looked soft. His yellow eyes dark and dangerous. She felt a rush of fire run through her as her hand slowly moved to touch the beast. Her heart pounding in her chest but she was not going to stop. Yes she might die tonight but she did not care. She wanted the rush. She wanted the fear. She wanted the fire to run through her veins.
She softly touched the beast marvelling at the soft fur before she began to scratch it behind the ear and the beast gave out the sound of content and meeting her had at every scratch.
Elaine gave out a breath of relieve and as smile began to form on her face as she felt herself connecting with the wolf.
"You are just a pup ain't ya. Your master does not like me much but you do. I do not like him very much either. Just do not go around telling my secret." Elaine said scratching the head and kissing the beast head. They came to an understanding today. The beast likes her unlike its master. And unlike his master she liked him too.
When Elaine looked around the room she spotted Catelyn and Sansa Stark. Her future mother and sister and she made her way toward him the beast fallowing along. She needs to get to know her soon to be family.
When Robb walked into the Great Hall she saw many people in cups. All of them were dancing and laughing. All of them were happy. They were celebrating a marriage of their Liege Lord and their King.
Robb scanned the room and his eyes fell in his betrothed and his mother and sister all talking and laughing with each other. They seem to like her just fine he thought. What shocked him was that Grey Wind was with them as well and Elaine was stroking his fur and the beast seemed content. It shocked him as the beast was not very friendly. Just like its master it was cold and ruthless to strangers. But with Elaine the beast was merely a pup that was looking for some affection. Robb felt a little jealous and betrayed but before he could ponder on those feeling he was King Stannis walking toward him with his wife Margery holding onto his arm. She had a smile on his face where as his was a face of stone.
"King Stannis Queen Margery I am glad to see you come to my wedding." Robb said his pleasantries
"It is only fair as you have been at mine and it does well to see that the Kingdoms and the King are united." Said the man in a hard tone as always thinking about the bonds of the kingdoms.
"Off course it for the best. Congratulation on the Crown Prince." Robb said to Margery who smiled at him. Prince Steffon was his name and the folk said he was a handsome babe,
"Thank you so much King Robb. I was merely doing my duty as a wife and a Queen to present my husband with an heir. I hope to give him more princesses and princes along the way. I must congratulate you as well on your bride to be she is splendid. May the Gods bless you with a Crown Prince as well." Margery said and Robb looked at her with a tight smile. He was tired of people telling him he was lucky to have a pretty bride. Especially since she was a Frey after all.
"Your Graces I will take my leave. I shall go and speak to the future Queen and Queen mother." Margery said and left the two men. Both were uncomfortable and uptight men and they were looking for a topic to converse about. It seems that when battle tactics were not involved the men had nothing in common.
"So how are thing back in the North." Stannis asked and Robb looked back at the man.
"They are better than ever. Bolton and their men are taken care of and my brother will take over their castle." Robb said and Stannis nodded with a tight smile.
"Being now the richest family in Westeros must help. Which brother will take the Castle?" Stannis said and Robb looked uncomfortable. When he destroyed the Lannisters he took all of the Gold. There was a lot of Gold. More than he ever needed but he took it anyway. It helped him rebuild Winterfell.
"Gold helps to take care of my people. Rickon will take Dreadfort. Bran will take the Eyrie as it was my family who ruled there. He will marry and move their next year. He was a great Lord of Winterfell in my absence and he will be a great ruler of the Eyrie." Robb said and Stannis nodded
"I hope everything goes well for you my friend. I know you do not love his woman. I never loved my wife I do however love the daughter she gave me. Men like us always stand by our duty and do things we do not want to." Stannis said and looked at Elaine left Robb alone.
Robb went to get some wine and drank it in one go. Robb never did what he wanted. How could he? He was the Lord of Winterfell then he was King in the North. He always did what was expected of him and he will do so now. He will never stop.
Elaine stood in front of a full length mirror looking at herself. She looked pretty if she may say so herself. She had a grey dress that was far more better than any other dresses she had ever worn. Her hair was in a styled in a southern fashion with flowers in her hair. When she looked upon her face she was deathly pale, no colour on her face whatsoever. She looked into her eyes. Her dark pools of brown were cold and had no emotion in them.
"Must you look so pale my dear sister." Roslin came over to her. She on the other had was radiant and looked beautiful in her blue dress, her hair was flowing behind her and she walked over to her. For the first time Elaine behave her age. She looked at Roslin with fear in her eyes.
"I am scared Roslin. Scared of going to Winterfell. Scared of leaving you. Scared of becoming Queen. Scared of the wedding and the bedding ceremony." Elaine said and tears welled up in her eyes. For the second time in her life Roslin acted like a older sister to Elaine and walked over to her and wiped the tears that spilled over and held her face in her hands.
"You do not need to be scared dear sister. You are the strongest and most resilient person I have ever known. You will be the greatest Queen that Westeros have ever seen. Better than I every could be that is for sure. You were always interested in the intrigues and the politics like father. All the spying and eves dropping you did will now pay off." Roslin said and both sisters chuckled. Elaine nodded an smiled t her sister and kissed her cheeks.
"I will miss you so much sister." Elaine said and Roslin looked at her now hear own tears were about to spill from her eyes.
"As I will miss you. Greatly. You must write to me every week. And come and visit us and I will visit you." Roslin said and Elaine took Roslin hands into her own.
"I will Roslin I promise." Elaine took a deep breath and she saw Roslin take one too.
"Now lets blushen those cheeks. You cant get married looking like you are about to fall over." Roslin said and pinched Elaine's cheeks as they both laughed.
The wedding was a blur for Elaine. She faintly heard the Septon conduct the ceremony. She remembered as she herself said something and before she knew it she was looking at her husband cold blue eyes her own brown looking at him.
"You may now kiss the bride." Septon said and Elaine closed her eyes and felt those cols lips against hers and held back the tears. She felt nothing for this man. Nothing at all ad neither did he. She opened her eyes and looked at the folks around her. She was now Queen in the North the Trident and the Iron Islands.
Soo there we go. The bedding ceremony will be next. How will that go? Well read and find out.