298 AL - The Fifth Day
ROBB VI
Robb needed Jon to wake up now. He shouted as much to his little brother's still sleeping body when he had luckily found Arya absent the following day from the room. And soon Robb found himself talking to Jon as if he were awake, finding it oddly comforting to do so.
"You were always better with them than I was. I've always counted that just being the eldest would be enough for me..."
"Mother didn't believe me when I tried to tell her this morning that it was all a lie. Before I could even finish explaining, she scrunched up her face and said, 'Bran would never lie.' Of course, her precious Bran never would... and yet he did, right to her face. And as far as I can tell he doesn't regret it one bit. Father didn't even want to speak to me this morning… as soon as he broke his fast he was out of the Great Hall and into the courtyard. And when I tried to track him down, I heard he and Jory had taken their horses and went out for a ride in the Wolfswood. Mother doesn't believe me, Father doesn't seem to care about any of it, and our little brothers and sisters try every way they can to get rid of Theon. If they're not careful they're going to actually turn Theon into the very thing they say he is. I know he's capable of turning his cloak, I guess I have to freely admit that, but there's a difference between might and have."
"Most of all, though, I simply can't believe they lied like that! I think you would not believe it either if you were awake… at least I hope you would. Either way you'd at least know what to say."
Robb left his last words hang in the air, hoping they might somehow tempt Jon out of his long slumber to answer him. But they did not.
Not too long after that, the door to the room opened and Robb turned his head to find his sister Sansa standing in the doorway.
As she entered she asked, "Any change?"
"N-no" was Robb's only response.
Sansa then crossed the room and sat on Jon's bed, brushing his dark hair from his face. "He looks so much younger when he's asleep. I believe it is due to him not having to hold such serious a countenance."
"Aye, he loses at least three years," Robb conceded
Sansa then abruptly stood, sighing as she said, "But when he wakes, they all come flooding back-no matter how he may appear otherwise."
Robb got the impression that they weren't just talking about Jon now.
"I know it's hard to understand, Robb, that we still look the same, but aren't. It's just something you're going to have to make your peace with."
"I'm not Rickon, so speak not to me that way!" growled Robb, indignant at her condescension.
"I know not about that! Ofttimes you resemble him even better than he does himself. At least he'd hear me through to the end." And as Sansa was about to cross the threshold, she stopped, turned, and said, "Oh one other thing, Mother's locked Theon in his rooms. I thought you should know."