A/N: I'm posting this up sooner because I am going away tomorrow and won't be back until next week. Hope you guys enjoy it!

helewisetran: I do think that if Robert had to go he would have wanted to go out the way he did. Thank you so much, hope you enjoy this next one!

Anthony: It was supposed to be a surprise that's for sure. I haven't actually given a specific name or background to the squire, it was essentially just a tourney accident.

ItsLiz: Thanks so much for catching up, I'm glad you've enjoyed the chapters, and yes, your suspicions about Amy may well be right. Thank you so much again, hopefully some of your questions will soon be answered!

Boramir: I live to surprise. Honestly I never gave much thought to the squire, tourney accidents are tourney accidents in my mind. At this point I can't see any gain for Renly in trying to rebel, too many people are with Steffon. The Targaryens may come into it later but I need to consider it carefully. Robert's death was certainly an accident and yes, you would be right about Amy. Thank you so much as always.

Right-ho folks, onwards!

:)

Grief

"Mother … mother, please," finally she heard Steffon, his desperate voice as she sobbed against his chest. Finally she managed to stifle the next one and look up at him, his own eyes shining with un-spilled tears. Her little boy. She shook her head and he looked at her in despair. "Come back with me mother, come back to the keep with me," he urged her but she only shook her head even more vigorously. "I can't leave him," she managed to whisper and a tear escaped his eyes that were so like his father's. He was so like Robert, every inch his father's son. Somehow that just made it all worse and she succumbed to a fresh wave of tears, burying her head back in his chest. "Karenza and Eleanor need to be told," he said gently and she cried even harder at the thought of telling her sweet little girls that their papa was gone. "They need you mother … I need you, I don't know what to do," he sounded so vulnerable and somehow his words stopped her crying.

Finally he had said something that triggered something inside her that gave her the strength to stop. To step back from his embrace and bring her hands up to wipe away her tears. Steffon was right, her girls needed her because they would be devastated. Her son needed her, her big, strong son needed her because all of a sudden he was King. Only eighteen. Only just a man and only just starting to aid Robert and understand how the kingdoms were governed. He needed her. They all needed her. She reached her hand up to wipe the few tears from his cheek, swallowing determinedly. "We will go to the girls together," she said and he nodded, "and then you and I will come down to the Sept and -," she cut off, struggling with the words as she took a great shuddering breath to compose herself. "And then … we will go and be with your father."

"You don't have to mother, I can do it," he told her but she shook her head.

"I don't want you there alone, I want to be there with him," she said determinedly.

"If it's what you want mother," he agreed and she nodded, turning away from him and seeing her father stood just behind her.

"He's been moved to the Sept, Jaime has seen to it," her father said and again she nodded.

"I'm going to the girls," she said.

"Things need to be dealt with … word sent. The death of the King -," she had to stop him.

"Do what must be done," she snapped, "write as many letters as you want, but do not trouble me with this today. Not today," she shook her head, "he may have been the King, but he was also a husband and a father and I need to be with my children."

"Very well," he said calmly and she took another deep breath before stepping passed him and down from the royal box.

Steffon followed her down and as soon as they were away from the tourney ground he slipped his arm around hers and she squeezed her hand reassuringly around his forearm. In her mind she still couldn't accept it. Accept that her husband was dead, leaving their precious boy as King. She didn't want Steffon to be King yet. She wasn't sure if he was even ready to be King yet and it had been thrust upon him. She would be utterly furious with Robert if it weren't for the fact that losing him felt like someone had rammed a sword into her heart and another into her gut. For a long time she had known she loved him, it was only now she was realising quite how much. "I knew it was a mistake," she whispered, shaking her head as they approached the keep. "I knew he shouldn't have ridden in that damned tourney."

Lanette couldn't even find the words to thank Jaime as he set a glass of wine down in front of her. They were all in the parlour bar Tywin. He had gone to send out word to all those who needed to be told about the King's death. Cersei and Steffon had come in just moments before and ushered the Princesses away before anyone could utter a word. Jaime had made to say something but his sister had shaken her head vigorously before turning abruptly and taking her girls away. Steffon had lingered for a moment, thanking them for keeping an eye on his sisters before he went after them. Lanette couldn't quite believe what had happened. None of them could. Looking round she saw everyone just as pale faced and wide eyed as she imagined she was. Jaime sat at her side then and took her limp hand in his own. Somehow she managed to squeeze it lightly, her free hand coming to pick up the wine he had poured her and gulping down half of it in one.

"It's awful," Geanna said quietly after a long moment, "is he really …?" she trailed off as Robb grimaced slightly and Tyrion nodded his head heavily. "The poor Queen," she whispered then and for once Lanette agreed with her. She met Robb's eyes for a moment but had to look away. Amy was ashen at his side, the glass in her hand not touched as she stared at the floor. Lanette didn't think her daughter had ever been quiet for so long in her waking life. She hadn't uttered a word since the King had fallen and she hadn't let Robb out of her sight, her hand laced firmly with his now as they sat there. "Should we do something?" Tyrion asked after several more minutes of silence. "Like what?" Jaime asked dully and Lanette increased the pressure on his hand. "I don't know … offer to help, something," he shrugged his shoulders and Lanette sighed, looking at him sympathetically. "I think it best not to intrude unless we are invited to," she said gently and he nodded his agreement.

The door opened then and she looked towards it as Tywin strode in. He surveyed the scene and she wondered what he was thinking, moving his hands to clasp behind his back but not before she had noticed them shaking. "I've written to the Hand of the King, also to Lord Stark," he began and Robb snapped his head up at that, his eyes confused. "With Robert gone Steffon's marriage will have to be brought forward," Tywin continued and Amy looked up at that, her eyes flickering to Robb's, an almost concerned expression on her face. Lanette frowned slightly at the exchange, wondering if something was amiss. "It will take the Starks a month to travel to the Capitol if they leave immediately. Plenty of time for Robert to be laid to rest and happier arrangements made," Tywin went on and Lanette smiled sympathetically at Geanna who looked horrified. She would come to learn in time, as she had, that Tywin was not all stone, although he did a marvellous impression of one most of the time.

"Given what has happened here I think it only appropriate that we travel with the funeral procession to the Capitol and stay for the royal wedding," Tywin said and Robb looked towards him again, looking as though he were working up the courage to say something. "I think Amy and I should return to Winterfell," Robb finally said and Lanette raised her brows, although not as highly as Tywin did. "Given that my father will be escorting Sansa I think it only appropriate we return to take over duties," Robb continued and Amy was looking at him incredulously but Lanette could feel Jaime shifting uneasily at her side. They both knew damn well why Robb really wanted to take Amy back to Winterfell. "Do you not have a steward at Winterfell?" Tywin asked then, his eyes boring into Robb and Lanette was impressed that her good-son managed to hold his gaze unflinchingly. "Yes," Robb said after a long moment and Lanette could sense everyone holding their breath. "I'm sure he is more than capable of running things for a few months," Tywin said pointedly and a muscle in Robb's jaw twitched.

"Surely we can discuss this later?" Lanette had to step in before an argument broke out. The last thing they needed were things being blurted out in the heat of the moment, especially with emotions and tensions running so high. "Perhaps now isn't the best time?" she went on, looking at Robb pleadingly. Thankfully he nodded after a long moment, his stance relaxing somewhat. Tywin looked irritated when she glanced at him but she looked at him insistently and he sighed heavily and moved to pour himself a glass of wine. He took a long sip of it before moving back to them and raising his glass. "To Robert Baratheon," he said and everyone else raised their own glasses, echoing his words before they all raised them to their lips.

Amy set hers down almost immediately and stood up abruptly, her hand coming to her mouth as she went for the door. "Amy?" Robb stood up, moving to go after her as she wrenched the door open and practically fled down the hallway. Robb went after her at once and Jaime made to rise up as well but Lanette moved her hand to his thigh and encouraged him back down. "What is wrong with her?" he asked in a slightly panicked tone. "Likely just the shock of it all," she told him soothingly and he looked faintly placated. Lanette glanced back at the door then, she had an inkling as to why her daughter had had such a violent reaction to the wine and it made her want to smile despite all the horror of the day.

The Maester had cleaned him up the best he could but Cersei could still see the blow on the side of his head that had killed him. She was sickened by it but somehow she couldn't seem to look away from it. She had seen his helm too, the men weren't quite quick enough in hiding it away. She had seen the dent in the strong metal and she could see the blood dripping sickeningly from the inside of it. Then she had seen her husband and she had known at once that there would be no saving him. At least it was quick. Painless for him at least. For her the pain was all too real. Her daughters had been distraught as she had known they would be and in the end she had had to call the Maester for them. He gave them something to calm them, something that would make them sleep and she had been grateful when they drifted off in her arms. She hoped their dreams would be peaceful. A heavy sigh left her then and she felt Steffon's hand come to her shoulder.

"He was so proud of you," she murmured, her voice still echoing eerily around the vast Sept.

"I know," he replied quietly.

"With good reason," she whispered, reaching her hand up to lay on his.

"I can't believe he's gone," he said disbelievingly then.

"No," she agreed, her eyes going to Robert's but only seeing cold stones there.

After a moment she stepped forward to take his hand. It felt heavy in hers, and cold. There was still a hint of warmth there though and she clung to it, lifting his hand up to his lips and pressing a fierce kiss to the back of it. "I love you," she whispered, "Gods I loved you … I loved you, I did …" tears came for her and she had to stop, shaking her head before pressing kiss after kiss to the back of his hand. "Mother don't torment yourself," Steffon placed both hands on her shoulders and prised her gently away. "Perhaps you should go and see the Maester yourself, stay with the girls tonight and have some peace for a while," he urged her quietly, "you have to be strong. Remember what you always taught me when I scraped my knees in the yard or cut my hands on the barnacles down at the Blackwater? You taught me to stand up straight and not let the pain beat me. You taught me to be stronger than the pain because I was part stag and part lion. You're a lion mother … you can do this."

She nodded determinedly, turning to face her boy. Gods, when had he grown so big and wise? She reached her hand up to affectionately pat his cheek, a half smile tugging at her lips as she looked at him there, every inch his father's son. He would make Robert proud, in that moment right there she was certain of it. She turned away then, back to Robert, taking his hand in hers again before she slowly prised the thick sigil ring he wore from his finger. The metal still felt warm to her and she took a great, shuddering breath, determined that she wouldn't cry again, before she turned back to her son. "This is yours now," she told him quietly and she saw his eyes shining as he hesitantly held his hand out to take it. "Things are going to change so much for you," she met his eyes, "but you have to remember what you just reminded me of. You are going to be a good King Steffon I know you are, because you have a good heart underneath all your bawdy antics and your fondness for girls."

"Mother," he groaned and she had the strangest urge to laugh as she saw his embarrassed expression. "You will have a wife soon enough Steffon," she met his eyes again and his expression became serious, "a young girl who will be leagues from home and all she knows. I endured your father taking other women to bed for the first years of our marriage and even though I loved him I could never bring myself to admit that all the time he whored. Don't make the mistake of giving your wife any reason to feel anything but love for you. I know it will be hard, and you will be tempted but promise me you will try Steffon."

"I promise," he nodded slightly, "I promise to try mother."

"That's all I ask," she smiled.

"It's getting late, you should try and rest," he urged her and this time she gave in.

"As your Grace wishes," she said and a small smile twitched at his lips.

She turned back to Robert again, taking his hand in hers and squeezing it, her heart aching when she realised she would never feel him squeeze it back again. Forcing herself to stay composed she leant forward and touched her lips lightly to his. "Goodnight my love," she whispered, wrenching herself away, her hand finding Steffon's on her way out. He squeezed her hand tightly and she felt the cool metal of the ring against her palm. She let his hand go then and walked slowly out of the Sept, forcing herself not to look back. Forcing herself to stand up straight and be strong.

Amy was irritated as she sat at the vanity. Irritated, so irritated with Robb who was clearly avoiding her gaze every time she looked at him the mirror. She was irritated that he was irritated and even more irritated that his mood meant she couldn't share her news with him which was ready to burst out of her at any moment. If she told him then she wouldn't be irritated with him anymore and right now she wanted to be irritated with him because he was being a complete pain. Finally he met her eyes in the mirror and she narrowed her own at him. He sighed heavily and she had an overwhelming urged to throw something hard at him. She resisted. Just about. "You're annoyed with me aren't you?" he said heavily and she slammed her brush down on the vanity. "What gave it away?" she snapped and again he sighed. "What is the matter with you?" she demanded, rising up from the vanity and rounding on him; "and don't you dare say it's the King because you've been acting strangely for days. What is it Robb? Have I done something?"

"No of course you haven't," he almost groaned at her, swinging his legs off the bed and rising up to come towards her.

"What then? You've been avoiding me, just tell me why," she urged him.

"I'm not avoiding you, I spent all day with you," he protested and she had to try very hard not to stamp her foot in irritation.

"Not up there you haven't," she tapped his forehead slightly harder than was necessary.

"Amy," he sighed, coming to rest his hands on her shoulders but she shrugged away from him.

"Don't do that, I'm annoyed with you," she said, taking a step back.

"I'm sorry," he said; "honestly, there is nothing wrong. I was tired and nervous about the tourney, and now what has happened to the King -,"

"Exactly," she cut across him, "it's awful, and as kin we ought to be there for his family but you would go back to Winterfell. Miss your own sister's wedding! My grandfather's right, it is only a few months and the steward is more than capable!"

"Amy -," he started.

"I'm going," she stated, looking him dead in the eye, "you go back to Winterfell if you want but I'm going, I can come back with your mother and father when everything is done with."

"You would go without me?" he asked her and she felt guilty when she saw the hurt in his eyes but she was too wound up to apologise.

"I don't want to go without you Robb, but if you're going to be stubborn about this then you're not leaving me with much choice," she told him.

"We shouldn't be arguing," he turned away from her, his hand coming to run through his hair, "we shouldn't be arguing like this, it's not what we do."

"I'm hardly relishing it myself," she snapped and he turned back to face her.

"You wanted to tell me something earlier," he stated.

"Don't change the subject," she returned.

"What was it, tell me," he urged her.

"No, I don't want to tell you now, not when I'm annoyed with you," she said indignantly.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because if I tell you I won't be annoyed anymore and I am annoyed because you won't listen to me," she said, again trying not to stamp her foot.

"Fine," he said exasperatedly, "we'll go to the Capitol, are you happy now? Now will you tell me? Amy? Amy?!"

She shook her head, her hand coming up to her mouth as the urge to be sick overwhelmed her. "Are you going to be sick?" he asked her and she nodded her head vigorously, trying to force it down. Robb darted across the room, grabbing the fruit bowl and unceremoniously throwing the fruit out of it before bringing the empty bowl to her. She took it, sagging to her knees and choking up the bile and water. Robb's hands came to her hair to hold it back and she wanted to swat him away. She had never felt so undignified in her life and she hated him seeing her like that. Her eyes were streaming as she choked up again, her throat feeling raw as there was nothing left to come up. Finally the urge to gag faded and she took several gasping breaths, her hand coming to shakily wipe across her mouth. She turned away from the contents of the bowl, seeing Robb looking at her in concern. "I'm fine," she said weakly but she knew he wouldn't be placated with that. "I'll get you some water," he said as he rose up to his feet, holding his hand up to help her to her own.

"Thank you," she said quietly, perching herself on the edge of the bed and wiping her eyes, taking a few more grateful breaths as Robb took the bowl away into the washroom. He went to the side table to pour her a large glass of water then and came back towards her. She took it gratefully and drank half of it down at once. She swirled some around in her mouth then to rid herself of the sour taste before drinking the rest down. Once she set the empty glass down on the bedside table she chanced a glance at Robb, seeing him stood with his arms folded. "I'm sorry you saw me like that, it wasn't very ladylike," she told him and he frowned slightly. "You shouldn't still be sick," he said; "you've barely touched any wine these past days, I think you ought to see the Maester."

"I'm fine," she shook her head, "please Robb just leave it."

"When something could be wrong?" he raised his brows, "Not a chance, I'm going to fetch him," he turned and went towards the door and Amy jumped up at once.

"Robb don't!" she halted him just as he went to open it, "I've already seen him Robb there's no need."

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" he asked her slowly as he turned around.

"Yes," she said, suddenly nervous as his blue eyes danced with a mixture of suspicion and confusion.

"Amy -," he started.

"I'm with child," she said quickly before he could say anymore and his eyes widened.

She blinked then and in the next moment he was in front of her, his hands coming to her waist and lifting her into his arms as he laughed in a slightly dazed manner. Amy could only wrap her arms around his neck, burying her head in the crook of it, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. He spun her around and she lifted her head, slapping at his shoulder in protest until he put her down. She had never seen such a smile on his face as he looked at her in wonder, his eyes roaming from her face down to her stomach and then back up again. "Are you happy?" he finally asked her and she nodded her head, tears beginning to spill from her stinging eyes now. "Then why are you crying?" he asked in an amused tone, his fingers coming to gently brush them away from her cheeks. "I wanted it to be perfect when I told you," her breath hitched as she swallowed down a sob and to her surprise he laughed. "Amy, it could never have been anything other than perfect," he said, leaning in closer to her and pressing his lips to hers.

She kissed him back softly, pulling away after a long moment and meeting his eyes. "Are you happy?" she asked him quietly. "No," he said and she frowned slightly; "I'm elated," he said, kissing her forehead, "overwhelmed," he added, kissing her cheek. "Terrified," he said, kissing her other cheek and she giggled slightly. "Excited," he kissed the tip of her nose before pulling back; "all at the same time," he smiled, "Gods Amy, I can scarce believe it." She smiled widely in return, feeling sheer relief and a happy, warm glow settling about her heart. "You're not too upset it won't just be the two of us anymore then?" she asked him teasingly, cocking her head to one side. "I still have you to myself for a while yet wife," he teased right back, "and I intend to make good use of that time."

"Do you now?" she asked as he nudged her nose with his own.

"I do," he confirmed, kissing the corner of her mouth before trailing down her neck.

"Robb wait," she said and he pulled back at once, the concern back in his eyes.

"Do you feel sick again?" he asked and she shook her head.

"It just doesn't feel right, after everything that happened today," she replied and he nodded.

"The King wouldn't begrudge our happiness," he told her softly, placing his hand on her stomach.

"No," she agreed, resting her hand on his, "would you just hold me tonight?"

"I'd hold you forever if I could," he told her and she smiled, "I love you Amy Stark."

A/N: It was mostly solemn but hopefully the last bit cheered you up. I'll get more to you as soon as I can when I get home next week!

:)