Author's Note: Thank you all again for the reviews, I love them. Getting to this chapter took sometime, I wanted to do it perfectly. I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones, or the A song of Ice and Fire books. I own only Johanna. Lyrics are Falling for you by Chester see.

"I don't wanna tell you that I long to see your face

I'm scared it might scare you away

and I don't wanna tell that sometimes I think of you and smile

cause with you is time enough for now."

Chapter 8: A test of a marriage.

Robb

Johanna Baratheon could not be trusted, at least not yet. Robb was unsure of his marriage more than ever after the attack on his brother's life. He had sat with his mother, and listened as she told them the tale of the Lannister involvement in the death of Jon Arryn. He listened as she warned him against the Kingslayer, warning that she believed he was the one to push his brother from a window. His father too had warned him not to trust the Lannisters as he left for Kings Landing. It was clear to him, that Johanna was the one he could not trust. She had the name of the House Baratheon but her looks were that of a lion. And the lion and wolves had never mixed in harmony.

"My son, you can not distrust her so blindly." His mother was leaving, her hands wrapped from the wounds she gained from the attempted killer.

"Why not mother? She is of Lannister blood, she was there the day Bran fell and she happened to go North before his attack?" His tone was dark.

"I did not say blindly trust her, either, but we are not always what our families are. She sat beside his bed with me everyday, she cared for Rickon. I saw you falling, don't stop yourself because you are afraid."

Robb was not afraid, not of her. Johanna was fragile, and he could break her if he had wished to. He could not trust her, he could not fathom trusting her, not any longer. He helped his mother upon the horse, taking her hand once more and kissing the bandages. He watched his mother leave, Ser Rodrik at her side and he cursed. He should have been the one on the road, he should have been the one going to King Landing but his mother was stubborn.

In his mother's absence it was like nothing had changed, he had to run Winterfell. Before she left, before the attack on Bran's life, he had to do the same. His mother had not moved from his brother's bedside, even after being told he was out of the dark. Robb too worried for Bran but he was a strong boy, and he would rise when his time came. His true concern was the Lannister guardsmen that had been left in Winterfell. The Queen refused to leave Johanna with them without guards of her own family, and with Johanna being at the Wall her guards had been left to roam. He did not like them, and he had to keep them far from Bran.

It had been three weeks since his father had left, and a week after his mother's departure, when Bran finally opened his eyes. Robb had been working in his father's old solar when the word reached him. He dropped his work and almost ran to his brother's side. He found his brother alone in his sickroom, his face blank and pale.

"Bran, how are you feeling?" Robb took a seat on the bed beside his brother.

"I can't feel my legs, Robb."

They had all known of the possibility, they all knew it could happen. Bran had fallen from a height that most would have never survived, and Robb knew if his lost only his ability to walk he would be blessed.

"I know Bran, I am sorry."

Robb saw his brother wanted to cry, and he could not blame him. He was a boy of ten who had his whole life ahead of him but he would never walk again, and never ride again. His brother had dreams of being a knight, a bannerman for Robb, and the Lannisters had taken that from him. They would pay for the damage they had caused.

"I wish I had died, I should have just died."

"Don't say that, don't you ever say that again." Robb's voice held a fire, and he went to say something more but they were interrupted by Maester Luwin.

Robb took his brother's hand once last time before he left him, and found his way outside of the castle walls. Robb had a storm brewing inside of him, and nothing could quell the feelings inside of him. The Lannisters would pay. As he entered the courtyard he spied the two Lannister guards mounting a cart and riding from Winterfell.

"Where are they going?" Hallis had been standing in the courtyard, and Robb sought the man out.

"I was coming to find you, my Lord, but with word of your brother I thought the news could wait."

Robb eyed his new guard captain with suspicion. He had not been told of any news reaching Winterfell, and he knew it first would go through Maester Luwin. Hallis did not speak on the news, he just handed Robb a parchment with elegant writing written across the page.

"It's from the Lannister Imp."

Robb was left standing with the parchement, his eyes scanning the words. His anger started to fire up again as he read, but he fire was put out as he read the last few lines. A fear rose in him, a fear he had never felt before. Robb was not afraid of many things, but he did fear failure. He was the oldest son, the oldest child, and he never wanted to fail his parents, but he also never wanted to fail his own child.

The raven held the words of his impending child, among other news, and Robb could not believe it. He knew of course it would happen, he knew that in his marriage he would have children but never had he thought it would be so soon. Johanna was already on her way back to Winterfell, his small child forming inside her womb. He had much to think on before she reached Winterfell, much to decide upon. He would seek the solace of the Old Gods, seek their wisdom on the matters beyond his own control.

In the weeks after the news and Bran's awakening Robb had found no time to think. He had to look after Bran's needs and he looked out for Rickon, who still clung to him. He had matters to attend to with his mother and father leagues away, and Maester Luwin barley gave him a break. He still had to find a steward to replace Poole and his wife would be arriving home at any moment. Robb was still unsure of where his trust would lay when it came to her, but she was with his child. He could not bring a child into a home where two people did not speak, trust or even care for each other.

Robb found some time alone in the solar. Rickon was no doubt with Bran, and no one else came to find him. He used his time alone to think about Johanna. His mother was right he had felt himself falling for her, falling for her eyes and her sweet nature. He found himself entranced by the way her lips felt pressed against his, and the way her skin felt under his fingers. Johanna was a beauty to be envied, and her nature was something proper women would strive for but Rob had seen a different side. She had snapped at him, she had yelled at him, and he knew he was the only one who rose her voice. His only question was why he brought that out of her?

He wanted to find a piece of her to trust, he wanted to find a way to remove her family from his image of her. She was not truly a Lannister, her mother was, Johanna was not her mother. But her blood carried that of a lion, and she wore a lion pendent around her neck. Robb wanted to separate the two, find peace in who she was, but until she showed him who she was he would never find comfort in her. He would never fully enjoy the comfort of her embrace, the love in her kiss, until he knew who she was.

"Lord Stark, Lady Johanna is approaching the gates." Hallis Mullen found him, breaking his peace.

"Thank you, I will be down in a moment."

Robb stood from his desk and ran his hands over his face. He was not exactly ready to face his Lady wife but he had no choice. If he did not greet her, he would be just as bad as she was and he would not stoop to her level of coldness. He made his way through the halls of his home, only silence met his ears. He did not doubt many of the castle were busy preparing dinner, and he had no doubt Rickon was with their brother.

When Robb reached the courtyard he found he had been wrong, his little brother was not at Bran's bedside. Instead, Robb found Rickon standing in front of Johanna, a smile upon both of their faces.

"I sure did miss you Rickon, there are no men quite like you that far north."

Robb watched as she bent down to kiss his brother upon his curly hair, and as she stood their eyes met. Robb tried to hide his emotions from her, but when he saw the look in her eyes he felt his heart shake. She looked tired, and ragged even if her looks had not faltered a bit. Her green eyes showed him all he needed to know of her journey.

"Robb." Her voice was softer than he remembered it to be.

"Johanna."

Robb did not make a move to embrace her as they stood just a foot apart. They stood their watching each other, neither speaking. He did not know what to say to her, he did not know what he even thought of her.

"Princess Johanna, my brother is awake. You must come see him." Rickon pulled on her dress.

"Bran has awoken?" The question was posed to Robb.

"Yes, Bran woke a few weeks back." He went to say more but she was gone before he could.

He watched her walk past him in a flurry of golden hair and pale skin. She seemed weak on her feet, and unsteady as she walked. He went and found one of her guards, he was sure they would know of how she was feeling.

"How was my wife on the journey?"

"She is doing much better than we were told she had been going north, she is just tired, Lord Stark."

Robb found a comfort in knowing his wife was well, more for the child inside her than anything else. He would find her for dinner and they would discuss other matters, matters that would calm his nerves. He would find more about his wife, and he would find her connection to the fall of his brother.

Robb did not get what he wished, for days after her return Johanna would not leave Bran's side. He would see his wife only when he made the trip to his brother's sickroom. He would find the two whispering as he entered, laughing as their eyes caught his. Robb could not deny the joy it gave him to see Bran smiling, to see his brother's eyes light up again. Bran no longer spoke of wanting to die, instead he once again had dreams of being a great man, a great Lord.

She ate all her meals with Bran, she even slept on the bed that had been left in there by his mother. Robb was unsure if she was avoiding him, or if she truly had missed his brother. Rickon too would spend all his time with her now, leaving Robb to his work. Robb was left to run Winterfell while his Lady wife took care of his siblings, and sometimes as he walked by the sickroom he would find himself stopping outside the door. She would sing, and as her voice came muffled through the door Robb would find himself standing there listening to her.

"Lord Stark, you need to come with me." Robb had been sitting at his desk when Hallis entered the room, his face contorted in worry.

"What happened? Has someone come for Bran again?" Robb was up and ready to rush to his brother's side.

"No, M'lord, it's your wife."

Robb followed behind Hallis, worry in his gut. He did not feel the need to be concerned with Johanna's well being, she was the one he was worried about when it came to Bran's well being. He had never imagined he would get a hurried beckoning to go to her side. But as they walked to his chambers Hallis told him nothing, and when he saw Maester Luwin outside the door Robb felt his heart sink.

"What happened?"

The Maester eyed Robb with concern, his old eyes heavy and a frown was on his face. He knew then that it was not his wife but their child he should have been worried about.

"Lord Robb, I am sorry." Robb did not need the Maester to say anymore, he knew. "It should pass in a few days, she wasn't sure what was happening at first, but when the pain came I was summoned. She won't get out of bed, I am truly sorry."

She had lost their child, and Robb felt his heart break. He had not even gotten to speak to Johanna about their impending child, he hadn't spoken to anyone of how he felt. He wanted their child more than anything, he had always longed to be a father. He was afraid, and worried, but he wanted to bring a child into the world.

He entered his chamber to see a tub sitting filled with untouched water, and his wife curled in the bed. He could hear her softly crying, but the second she heard the door shut he heard her stop weeping.

"Johanna."

"Get out, just get out." Her voice once more rose against him.

"I am not leaving." He made his way to the metal tub, touching the water, it was still warm. "Get up, and get in the bath."

The golden haired beauty did not move, but he heard her hiss in pain, he could tell she was fighting her emotions and pain. She did not wish to weaken herself in front of him, and he would not allow her nonsense to continue. Robb was an honorable man, but he was also her husband, she could not play her games with him.

"Johanna, get out that bed and get in the tub. You can not just lay there bleeding."

"If you are more concerned with the blood on your sheets, I can fetch a maid to fix that for you."

Her voice was cold but she held the bite of a lion in her tone. He had never heard her speak to a single other person in such a manner, he really questioned why he could get such a rise from her. He let out a sigh, the blood was not his issue. Robb made his way to the bed, standing beside her.

"One last time, wife, get out of the bed." He had not spoken to her since her return and her behavior angered him. She was very much a stubborn child.

Johanna did not move, she continued to lay there looking at the opposite wall. Robb cursed under his breathe, praying for the Old Gods forgiveness before he snatched his wife from the bed. He made the woman stand on shaky feet. He held her up, feeling her body shake under his large hands. Her face was turned to the ground, and all he could see was a veil of golden curls. He held her at arms length, looking down at her white slip. A blood stain had formed between her thighs, and he could tell she had no small clothes beneath.

"You are getting in the tub, Johanna. I know you are upset, but you will listen to me."

Robb had never imagined he would have to chastise his wife like a child, but if she wished to act like one he had no choice. She stood still, her face still turned to the ground. Once more Robb asked the old Gods for forgiveness as he removed his wife's slip from her body.

"I don't want to have to put you in the bath myself, so please just help me."

He heard a small sigh of defeat leave her lips, the pink lips that had felt soft on his own. He watched as she stepped into the bath, a sigh of contentment leaving her lips. He was sure the water felt good on her body.

"Why are you being so cruel to me? Do you hate me now because I have killed your child?" Her tone was deadpan, and when she looked up at him he saw the sadness in her eyes.

"I am angry, but not at you. I know you are feeling something, something you won't show me because you think it's weak. You think showing me how this is effecting you, is weak." He knelt down beside the tub, taking the cloth and dipping it in the water. "It isn't weak. I am showing you how I feel, I am angry and I need you to let me see how you feel."

He ran the cloth along her arm that rested on the edge of the tub. He was gentle, and let his touch linger on her skin. She did not look at him, her eyes were fixed at the water that surrounded her body.

"What do you want me to say?" Her voice was no longer harsh.

"It's not what I want you to say, Johanna, it's what you need to say. You can't pretend this isn't hurting you."

Robb ran the cloth over his wife's neck, letting the water drip down her back. He wanted her to feel comfortable, he wanted her to feel safe. He put his trust issues to the side for a moment, and allowed himself to focus on them. It was a test of their marriage.

"You can send me back, you know. I am the reason your child is dead." Her voice sounded so dead.

She honestly believed she was to blame, he could see it. He put the cloth on the edge of the tub and gently placed two fingers under her chin. Robb lifted her face so her green eyes met his blue ones, a look of calm on his face.

"I am not going to send you back to your family because you did not cause this, Johanna. Riding north did not kill our child, you didn't cause this. This happens more often than you think, we will have more children."

He finally saw the tears fighting in her eyes fall, it was a silent cry but he saw the sadness in her eyes. Robb let go over her chin and instead leaned over the tub to embrace her upper half. He did not care if he got wet, or if she even wanted him to do so, he wanted to feel her embrace. He pulled back from her and continued to help her wash. She sat still, the tears falling from her eyes. She let him see her weakness, and he knew it was hard for her. He knew from what he had heard from his father that the Lannisters held their pride above everything else. For Johanna to let that go, he knew it was important for them as a pair.

"I spoke to Jon a lot on my journey north, my intention was to learn more about you but I failed. I spoke more of him then we did of you, and I am sorry, I learned only one fact I did not know."

It took some time for her to speak to him, and it was not until he was brushing the knots from her wet hair that she did. He was sitting on a stool behind the tub, her head bent back as he ran a comb through her golden hair.

"And what did you learn about me?" He was truly curious.

"That apparently you have a jealous side, I denied Jon's words of course, I have never seen you act jealous."

Robb smiled to himself, of course his brother would warn her of his jealousy. He wondered what would cause such a topic to arise between the two.

"Why was my brother telling my wife such things about me?" His tone was joking.

"After...an incident, I asked Jon to sleep by me and he said you would be jealous."

He knew the incident she spoke of, her uncle included it in the raven. The thought of it again made his blood boil. If had been there he would have cut the hands off the men who touched his wife, and even that was too good of a punishment. He silently thanked Jon in his mind for saving her.

"Johanna, that too was not your fault and I can tell by your tone that you believe it to be." He finished brushing her hair and stood up. "I promise you that what they did, what they tried to do, was not you fault."

He helped her from the bath, and as she stood he saw a tinge of red mixed with the water. He knew what it was, he knew what she was going through and he felt horrid. He wished he could take the pain from her, and as she stood before him he watched her wince. The warm water had no doubt helped the pain. He dried her off, neither speaking again of the incident on the road. He did not doubt it was something she wished not to speak of.

"I have to go speak with Maester Luwin. Would you like me to send someone in with some food or drink."

He had helped her into bed, covering her with the furs to keep her naked body warm. She looked at him and a real smile graced her lips.

"Tea please, I have not had any since my journey home. I had the best cup of tea made in the last inn, but yes, a cup of tea and maybe a lemoncake."

"Of course."

Robb went to leave but her voice once more reached his ears.

"Robb, I am sorry." Once more she was apologizing.

The young Lord made his way from the door back to their bed, finding a small spot next to her. He took her hand in his own.

"I already told you this was beyond your control, my anger and sorrow is not a result of you."

"No, I am not saying sorry for our lost child. My apology is for my actions prior to my departure, after our wedding and before. We had something that first night we met, I know we saw something in each other, but I became cold to you and you didn't deserve that." She bit her pink lip as she looked up at him. "I should be nicer to you, and I am going to try to."

He thanked her with a smile before he left her in their bed. He bid her guard,who stood watch outside, to remove the tub from his chambers. Robb found a kitchen girl to bring his wife food, and tea before he made his way to the Maester's quarters. Robb knew that matters such as miscarriage happened, but something inside of him was not settled correctly. He needed council.

Maester Luwin was pacing around his chamber's when Robb found him. A small box was held in the older man's hands, and Robb felt his own worry rise. When the Maester saw Robb he placed the small wooden box down.

"Lord Stark, what can I do for you?"

"Maester, what is in that box?" Robb countered the old man's question with his own.

The Maester picked up the box and handed it to him. Robb inspected the inside of the box and all he found inside were herbs, the same herb to be precise. It was a yellow flowering herb that Robb had seen before but he could not name.

"Herbs?"

"In a sense. I took this box from the room of the Lannister guards, it was among the things they brought with them on their journey." The Maester took the box from Robb's hands. "Do you happen to know if Johanna had any tea while returning home?"

Robb was brought to hos previous conversation with Joahanna, and the tea she mentioned.

"Yes, but I do not see what is so important."

"I do not have proof, and these things can happen naturally, but if a woman is given a strong dose of tansy she will miscarry her child." Robb knew of the tansy flower, it was of moon tea. "I have reason to believe the guards put these herbs in her tea."

Robb felt his blood run cold. Someone had poisoned his wife just so she would lose his child, the child she carried in her womb.

"I want those guards thrown in the dungeon, immediately, I will learn if they have done what you fear." His voice was dark, and his body rigid.

"And what will you tell the Princess? I do not think acting so swiftly will do any good, m'lord." Always the voice fo reason, but Robb wanted to no reason.

"I will have Hallis arrest them, and I will deal with my wife. Maester, send a raven south. I want the Lannister Queen to know her daughter has suffered, and if that woman had a hand in her daughter's mishap I want her to know the child of hers is suffering."

Robb could tell by the look on the Maester's face that he found him unwise, but Robb did not care. His mind was full of anger, and he was furious. He left the Maester to write the raven while he searched out Hallis. The man was not unwilling when Robb found him, and he knew it would not take long for the Lannister guards to be in the cells.

Robb knew his trust for Johanna was still uncertain, but knowing there was a possibility that the Lannisters had a hand in the miscarriage made him worry he was being too hard on her. If her family would disregard her for the vendetta against his family, then they truly had no care for their own blood. He would pray and then find his wife. Robb would lay with her, and hold her as they both dealt with their loss. In the morning he would find out for certain if the Lannisters killed his unborn child.

A/N: Sorry...I had to do it...