I was infuriated.
What would it take for Robb to turn back home?
I did however feel a small amount of satisfaction when I noticed a few Kraken tokens on the mock battlefield the next day.
"We take the Crag," Robb says, moving the wolf to the word on the map. I sighed. "You are thinking in the short term, Robb. If you want to win this war, we need allies." He turns to me. "Where would we get his men, Annablyth?"
I shrug casually, which only seems to add to the flame of his annoyance. "I would say the Tyrells, but it is known that they are aligning themselves with the Lannisters." He continues to look at me with a slight glare in his stare. "The Martells, but it is known that Myrcella is going to marry Trystane. The Greyjoys, but Balon is obsessed with the 'iron price' or something."
I am slowly making my way around the table to where Robb stands. "The Arryns won't take a step out of their precious Eyrie. Besides, your aunt is a little insane." I am right beside him, and innocently place a hand on his chest and look up at him through my eyelashes. For this plan to work, I need to execute it perfectly.
"Then, of course, there are the Baratheons,"
Robb looks at me like I am mad, and I might be. But I am so sick and tired of war.
"What is wrong with you? Stannis is one of our biggest enemies." I look fully up at him. "Even enemies can turned into allies," I start to unlace his breeches, but he is occupied. "Stannis is my uncle," I say, "With enough persuasion, I could get him on our side."
Robb seems to now notice the pressure on his lower parts, and gulps. "His daughter, my cousin, Shireen Baratheon is around the same age as Rickon." My head starts to lower. "A betrothal, and a promise, and we could have the strength of the Stormlands."
I get on my knees. "Just consider it,"
• • •
I bit my nails nervously.
How long would I have to wait?
This was misery.
I, of course, couldn't go to the battle, but it still annoyed me that I didn't know what was happening to Robb. He could be dead or alive, and I didn't know.
I paced the tent, fiddling with my dress and sighing. I looked at the mock battlefield, and then at my current home. Eventually I just picked up the picture of Ned and I, and tried not to cry.
"Your Grace, the battle is over and won." I let the knight lead me to the battlefield, and into the castle hall. "Robb," I say, and hug him tightly. "You're hurt," I say. He shrugs. "I'm okay. I got patched up."
I laughed and kissed him. "You worried me." He shrugs again. "We won," he says lightly. "Oh really," I say, sarcasm creeping into my tone. "I thought that the Lannisters healed you."
Robb laughs.
• • •
When we reached camp, Robb immediately went to sleep in our tent. I followed suit, but was soon jolted awake.
My dream was gruesome to say the least. It was one of the strange dreams, but I hoped that I could change the future.
There was a wedding, and Robb and Catelyn were in attendance. It was between Edmure Tully and some girl. Then the musicians started to play the Rains of Castamere. Then, in an instant, the Starks were slaughtered. I watched many men get killed, and then Robb stabbed. Catelyn had then had her throat slit.
I woke up crying and sweating, and then ran out and retched up my dinner. I then ordered for a bath, and was now washing myself up. When Robb awoke to find me dressed in a turquoise gown and looking at the mock battlefield, all I said was, "We can't trust the Freys,"
• • •
Robb scoffed at me at first, but then I insisted that the Freys would be the end of us. "We have to break the alliance," I said, pleading with him, "if not, it will be the end of us."
He had sighed, not convinced. "We need Frey men," I shook my head. "We don't. If we go back North, to protect our home, then the Freys can go back to their home. We would be on the defences, not on the offences. We have enough men to take back our home."
He pursed his lips, seeing the point, and eventually sighed. "In a fortnight, we will turn back." I smile at him.
• • •
In a fortnight, just like Robb promised, the army started to head to Riverrun.
The journey was getting harder for me, and I had an idea why.
I decided to keep it a secret for as long as I could, not wanting to put stress on Robb. He would send me home in an instant. Which was ridiculous, since we would be home before the babe was born.
I hoped that it was a girl, but I wouldn't mind another boy. I only hoped that Ned and the new one would be good friends, but knowing my baby, they would.
We were at Riverrun, and Robb and I were escorted a large room. I thanked the servant boy, and when he was gone, I stretched on the bed. "Tired?" Robb asked. I nod, yawning.
He sat down on the bed next to me, and pulled off his boots. "Be a dear and call for a bath," I mumble, before drifting off to sleep.
• • •
I dreamt of dragons, and an army so large. I dreamt of Daenerys on her white horse, leading the expansive army as her dragons flew above a ruined city.
• • •
Robb shook me awake, saying, "Dinner is an hour away. I thought you might want to bathe." I thanked him, and did bathe in nice hot water. I chose a lavender dress, and accompanied Robb.
I put on my new crown, after I had lost the other one. This one was simple, simply a band of bronze that went around my head. It was a nice compliment to Robb's own crown, and really was a crown of the North.
The feast was grand, and I admitted to myself that I missed fish. I was also able to catch up with Lady Catelyn. We talked about Ned, and she gave me good advice. The way she looked at me told me that she knew that I was pregnant.
Thank the Gods she didn't dare speak a word to Robb.
