Chapter Thirteen: A New Rival

Robb's Point of View

Loras's words cut through me like a knife. He said he hates me. I know he doesn't mean it, but it still hurts. I never thought I would hear those words come out of that boy. He was angry, I get it, but he didn't have to say it.

We were wrong to make him move without telling him first, but it had to be done. I should have warned him. I should have offered to keep him at my house to protect him from this. I promised myself I wouldn't let Renly hurt him. I failed.

Loras and Renly are sitting on opposite ends of the table at supper. The ambassador is sitting in the high seat and that pretty boy Aeron or Aegon whatever is at his right and Loras is at his left. I am beside Loras. Renly is at the end of the table near Gendry and Arya and the three of them are laughing and flicking food at each other.

"Renly and I had sex," Loras whispers.

I thump him in the back of his head.

"Ow, what was that for?" Loras asks.

I thump him again.

"He broke up with you, idiot."

"We can still do it," Loras whispers.

I roll my eyes. So this is how it's going to be is it. I won't be here to pick up the pieces of his broken heart. Yes I will. Who am I kidding?

"So you're Robb Stark?" asks Pretty Boy.

"That's right."

"Are you the one who holds Lady Meera's heart, my lord Robb?" asks Pretty Boy.

If he calls me "my lord" one more time I am going to thump him on his pretty head.

I put my arm on the back of Meera's chair. She is chatting with Margaery and Sansa and not paying attention to our conversation. The three girls giggle every so often which bothers me because I think they're talking about Pretty Boy.

"I am."

"Then it is you I envy. She is a treasure."

What is with this guy? Why does he talk like that? He doesn't even have an accent. He can take those good looks and shove them up his ass. He is so phony I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't his natural hair color. I'd like to shove him head first in a toilet to find out.

"Yes, but she's my treasure."

"What is with you, Robb? Stop acting like a jerk," Loras elbows me in the stomach.

I wipe my mouth clean on a napkin, thank the ambassador for a wonderful meal and excuse myself from the table just the way Loras taught me to do when dining with the Lannisters. I never forgot that. He trained me until I couldn't stand it anymore. Now I do these things without thinking about it.

I walk away from the table. I need to get away from that guy before I punch another hole in his perfect ears, which might as well be pointed.

"Are you alright?" Arya asks.

"No."

I sit down on the bench in the foyer near the door. A maid or serving girl or whatever they call the slaves forced to work with them keeps staring at me. Arya pops a squat beside me. I put my arm around her.

"Is this about Loras saying he hates you or how ridiculous you look in that?" I hate these stupid clothes they gave me, but they had nothing else available that would fit me.

I laugh.

"A little of both I guess."

I tug on her pony tail then give her a squeeze. She wenches her way lose from my clutches. She was always very good at that.

"He didn't mean it. He looked really hurt after he said it. He loves you."

"When did you get to be so observant?"

"When you live with Sansa you develop hobbies to keep from stabbing her."

"That would do it."

We both laugh.

"Are you going to the ball?" Arya asks.

"Meera is making me. Are you?"

"Well I want to ask Gendry, but I need your permission."

"You don't need my permission. Go ask him."

"You were really upset when he kissed me."

I kiss the side of Arya's face. She doesn't wipe it off. Instead she stares at me with those large gray eyes. They are so full of affection. The more I look into them the more I see Jon and that makes me sad.

"You can ask Gendry. You're thirteen now. Besides Sansa is the one I have to worry about."

"You'd have to quit school, looking after Sansa is a full-time job."

"Oh I know. Besides it's not my permission you need, its Dad's."

Arya pats me on the hand. I give her another squeeze. We sit for a while making fun of the Targaryen boy and take bets on who he is going to kiss Margaery or Sansa? My money is on Sansa because Margaery prefers girls, but in this case I think she will make an exception. Arya is right he does look like a girl.

Renly and Gendry join us. Renly leans against the wall and Gendry pulls up another bench. I nudge Arya to ask him to the ball, but she just turns as red as Sansa's hair and starts arguing with Gendry over something ridiculous.

Renly taps me on the shoulder. I meet his eyes. He jerks his head in the direction of the Tea room. The tea room has many couches and many small end tables. It is where the Ambassador entertains guests. Its dark in there, we don't bother turning on any lights because we are not technically allowed to be in there.

"You okay?" Renly asks.

"No. I'm not."

"He loves you, Robb. He never meant those words."

"I know that. I KNOW! It's not whether or not he meant it it's the fact that he said it. Never mind. I'm making a big deal over nothing."

Renly kisses me on the cheek. I usually hate when Loras does that, but I have never spurned him. It surprises me when Renly does it.

"Why did you have sex with Loras?" I ask.

I stare Renly down. I have never been afraid to speak my mind with him. We have always been upfront with each other over Loras.

"I wanted to be with him one more time. We're not going to get back together so soon, but I figured we could date."

"No. I don't think that's a good idea."

"I don't either, but I have to see him, Robb. I can't cut him out completely."

"You're going to have too if you want this stupid plan of yours to work. I never wanted you to date him in the first place, but you two fit together and who was I to deny Loras happiness. I am so mad at you for doing this to him I can't even think straight. You will not get his hopes up again. He's acting like he's okay right now, but as soon as everyone leaves he's going to fall apart. We both know it."

"I'm sorry. I have to do this now so I won't need to later."

"I get it. I get why you're doing it, Renly, I just don't like it."

"You're a good friend, Robb. I always was so jealous of you."

I walk away from him. Arya and Gendry are arguing. I roll my eyes and laugh at them. I think about breaking it up before it gets out of hand, but thankfully Renly does that for me. Arya kicks Gendry in the shin.

"To think I was going to ask you to the ball, but now I'd rather take Sansa." Arya shouts.

"You were going to ask me?" Gendry says. His face has gone white. He stops fighting with her and sits back down. Arya turns her back to Gendry and folds her arms. I leave them to their fight and locate my girlfriend who is dancing with Aegon in the common room.

Her body is pressed so close to his you couldn't get a coin between them. She is staring into his stupid purple eyes. He is looking down into her green eyes. They are both smiling. Her right hand is in his left and her other is on his shoulder. He has one arm around her waist a little too close to her butt for my liking.

The urge to deck this guy overwhelms me. I know if I do I could get kicked out of here and probably arrested. I don't need that. I shouldn't even be here. I should be with Torrhen. But if I left this creep might make a move on my girlfriend and that is something I will not allow.

"You are as good a dancer as you are beautiful, my lady," says Aegon when he pulls her in closer. Any closer and I might have to call this guy an ambulance.

"Thank you, my lord."

"Call me, Aegon, my lady."

She giggles. He lifts her face toward his. She smiles. Sansa and Margaery gasp. He is dangerously close to being carried out of here on a stretcher.

"I can't explain how jealous of your boyfriend I am," pretty boy says.

"Why?" Meera asks.

"You are truly beautiful, my lady."

My fist punches an expensive looking ceramic sculpture of an ugly bird. It falls to the floor and shatters. I shake the pain out of my fist and glare daggers into the side of this guy's stupid face.

"Robb!" shouts Margaery. Meera jumps out of Pretty Boy's arms.

"My lord, forgive me, I was teaching Lady Meera how to dance," says Pretty Boy.

I am taller than this guy. I step between him and Meera. I can sense Sansa somewhere behind me trying to reach out to me. I wouldn't if I were her.

I can't think of anything witty or nice to say to this guy so I whip around and look at Meera. She seems frightened. I have never hit her and I never will, but I am pissed beyond belief right now.

"I'm going to take you home."

"Okay, Robb."

Meera grabs Margaery by the hand and the two girls leave the common room.

"Young master, would you require a ride home?" asks Illyrio.

"I don't plan on walking."

"Robb, may I speak to you for a minute?" Loras asks.

He takes me by the hand but I refuse to leave him alone with my sister. Renly gives me a nod and steps into the room while Loras and I step into the hallway. Loras pulls me further down the hall out of earshot.

"What is wrong with you? You're being a jerk."

I stare into Loras's brown eyes. Never have I wanted to punch him so badly. I stop myself by remembering he's my best friend. I take a deep breath.

"I'm having a bad day."

"Oh. Well maybe you should go home and get some sleep. You look tired."

As if you're not part of the reason for my bad day. I need to get out of here.

"Are you going to be okay?" I ask.

"Don't worry about me. It's not like Renly's seriously going to leave me here. I give it two days and he'll come back."

I pat him on the shoulder. I admire his optimism, but I abhor his ignorance.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow," I say.

I bite my tongue on everything else. I feel so bad for Meera, Sansa, and Arya on the ride home. They are never going to hear the end of it. Meera comes back dressed in her uniform. The sight of her bare legs causes stirrings within me. Gods, those legs. I want to be mad at her but I don't have it in me.

"Are you leaving so soon, my lady?" asks Pretty Boy.

"Yes, I have homework and I am sure Robb wants to get home to Torrhen," Meera says pulling her backpack on her shoulders.

"Is Torrhen your dog?" Aegon asks.

"No, he's my son."

"But he's not my son," Meera says quickly.

I will pretend she never said that.

"Oh, my lord, I never knew you had a son. How old is he?"

"A bit over a month old," I say.

"It has been an honor to meet you both. I hope you will come to my ball on Saturday," he says in that pompous voice. I want to hit him so hard his ancestors will feel it.