Two days and one night had passed since Robb's arrival to the Reach and he was no closer to securing Renly's alliance than he was winning his sister's freedom. He was anxious, he was angry and he was also feeling desire for a woman that could never be his. That same night, Robb sat in his tent looking at the heavy chest that contained his father's remains with a lone tear trailing down his face.
"Why did you have to go south?" Robb whispered, hanging his head down as he took a deep breath. Never seeing Margaery enter his tent silently, dressed in one of the gold and black surcoats of Renly's squires and a helm to hide her hair. She removed the helm to let her hair fall down her shoulders when she was safely in Robb's tent.
"Robb?" she asked quietly, moving forward to shrug the surcoat off to reveal yet another stunning gown of hers.
"Margar-…you shouldn't be here…Renly will be-…"
"Renly is otherwise occupied, I am where I wish to be." She said silencing him with a few simple words as she sat beside him on his cot.
"I heard…" she said softly, throwing a small glance to the chest in the room.
"I want him to die, Margaery. He betrayed my father…" Robb said through gritted teeth as Margaery clasped his hands in hers.
"He will. Renly hates him, as does half the realm. He won't survive this war. I promise you. I hate him. The lecherous little worm." She said, cringing as she spoke.
"He just spoke to me outside, and tried to imply-…it's not important…he was right…but…no I shouldn't…" Margaery rambled, shaking her head as she spoke, until Robb placed his hand on her knee.
"What is it?" he asked so quietly and so sincerely that she went silent for a moment as they held each other's gazes.
"Renly is-…Renly is all they say he is. I am sworn to be his wife, his Queen. But he will not lie with me. He cannot. That is not his way, though a King needs a Queen and an heir. This is Westeros after all…" Margaery said bitterly. "I will honor Renly, I am sworn to do so. For he is my King and he is my husband. But he does not honor me in the same way. And…I-…when I imagined myself Queen, Robb, I never imagined that my King would not want me…" she said, tearing up slightly at the end of her explanation. Robb did not think as he put his arm around her to comfort her, she leaned against his chest and sniffed.
"You deserve far better…and I know for a fact that there are men, Kings who want you. But you…you are an honorable woman. As much as I wish we could both throw honor beneath us, you were right when you said this cannot be so. You are Renly's Queen. Not mine." Robb said quietly into her hair, before placing a kiss on the top of her head. Margaery sniffed once more before sitting up.
"I wish things could have been different." She said quietly.
"So do I." he swore, taking her hand in his briefly.
"I should go…this is…difficult." She sighed, rising from the bed to pick up the helm and surcoat once more. She gave Robb one last sad look of longing before she disappeared through the gap in his tent.
Robb did not sleep at all that night, and when he saw Margaery the next morning he could tell that she hadn't either. They exchanged one brief smile in the morning before falling into the masks they needed to wear. Renly had risen early for word had come from Storm's End of Stannis besieging the castle. He, Margaery, Ser Loras, Robb, Dacey Mormont and Smalljon Umber were in his tent discussing Renly's intent.
"I cannot allow this to happen. He has a naval advantage over us that cannot be ignored. I intend to ride with my full mounted force for Storm's End, leaving the infantry camped here at Bitterbridge. Will your Northmen join us?" Renly asked Robb, who greatly disliked the notion of riding further south from his main host and King's Landing.
"I think that you should consider your options before rushing off to battle Stannis. Storm's End may be his, but King's Landing could be yours if you continue your march. Tywin Lannister sits in Harrenhal and my host is exposed in Ashemark. These delays will cost lives, Renly. Maybe even ours. I urge you not to fall into Stannis' trap." Robb counseled, only for Renly to look at him for a long, long moment before finally standing to face Robb.
"Robb, ride with me to Storm's End and fight my brother, and we will unite with common cause to eliminate the Lannisters and the Greyjoys." Robb exhaled through his nostrils before shaking Renly's hand begrudgingly.
"Let us not waste time. Dacey, Jon, mount up."
Author's Note: Hope you guys are liking it so far. Would love some feedback :)
I'm really powering through at the moment, so let's hope this speed is consistent.