Author's note: So the official reuniting of our lovely couple! I hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own game of thrones, or anything you recognize form the show or books. I own Lyrina, that is all. Lyrics below are from Never too Late by Secondhand Serenade.
Chapter 16: The wolf and the fawn.
"This is the way I'll tell you I will leave you alone if you want me to but I've had enough of this life alone." "I don't deserve to tell you that I love you,there's nothing in this world I'd take above you."
Robb's P.o.v
They had killed most of the Lannister men headed for Winterfell, Robb had cut most of them down on his own. The killing helped subdue his anger, and he knew he could face his mother and soon to be bride without fear once more. He knew he could look at Lyrina and see her for who she was, not for who her family was. At least that was what he was going to keep telling himself, he needed to keep the thoughts Theon fed into his head out. He loved her, and his friend was trying to destroy that love. Robb could not allow that to happen, not after everything they had been through.
The men they had not killed, a small number of them really fifteen at the most, were to be brought back as prisoners. His men did not agree, but he would not allow for a complete slaughter , it would not be right. He knew they were angry as well, knew that they too wanted vengeance for his father's death and they would have it. The war was not over, he would make sure the Lannister's paid in blood for the murder of his father.
"We should reach camp by nightfall. Do you think she will be there?" Theon was once again right at his side, both men bloody and tired.
"I am sure she is. I will make sure I see her in the morning." He was too tired to see her. They had not stopped to make camp since the battle, they just rode on day and night to get back.
"Good, give yourself some time to get your head on straight."
"I do not need to get my head on straight, it is on straight." He was getting sick of Theon feeding him doubts. Theon knew Lyrina,so he could not understand why the boy was being so cruel. "You will stop speaking of Lyrina as if she was a traitor. Do you understand me?"
"Of course." That was the end of their talk, and Robb could not have been happier.
It was the middle of the night when they arrived back at camp, every man in his party tired and dirty. He secured his own horse before making his way to his tent, the others would handle the prisoners. He tried to avoid Jaime Lannister as much as possible, he would kill him if he saw him. His anger had subsided in general but his hatred for the Lannister's would never go away. He would never forgive them for what they had done to his family, for what they had done to their own family.
Much to Robb's surprise and dismay when he entered his tent it was not empty. Lord Bolton was standing his tent waiting for him. Robb did not know how long the man had been in there, nor did he care. He was tired, and dirty he just wanted to sleep.
"Lord Bolton, it is late. I am tired please leave." He would deal with whatever issue the man had in the morning.
"It's about the princess, my Lord." At the mention of Lyrina, Robb perked up a bit.
"What is it?" He tried to remain collected, he was a leader after all, he could not get a rush of boyish emotions over her.
"I believe there are a few things you should know about the king's sister." Robb sighed and began to strip off his armor.
"Speak." He was not going to inform anyone outside of the men he had with him of the marriage, he planned to make a formal announcement.
"She came with the hound, the man who aided in the arrest of your father." Robb's curiosity was peaked. Why would Lyrina bring someone who was a known Lannister killer into his camp?
"Did she give you a reason as to why she brought him here?"
"She claimed he was her personal guard, and he would remain as such until you stated otherwise." She did not need a guard in his camp, she was no prisoner. She was safe in his care, he would make sure she knew that.
"I will handle it tomorrow."
"She is a very proper woman, very demanding of what she wants, I would be careful." Robb almost laughed. He knew she put on acts of being a proper woman, but he knew she wouldn't demand things of him.
"I am sure she is very demanding, she is a princess." He could tell Bolton was not getting his humor, but he did not care. "Anything else, Lord Bolton?"
"Your mother told me to inform you that your father's bones, and sword have been returned to you." He knew Joffrey was sending them, and he knew it was not as a kindness to his family. It was a way for the prick to torment them, but all it did was fuel his anger. "That is not all that came with the girl."
"What do you mean?"
"She brought your sister with her, my Lord. Sansa is safe in your mother's tent tonight." Robb felt a weight fall off his shoulders. His last family member in Kings Landing was safe, safe with him. Lyrina had somehow gotten her family to let Sansa go, he would make sure to thank her.
"That makes me very happy, thank you for telling me. I will sleep easier tonight." But Bolton did not leave the tent, and Robb was beginning think there something else on the man's mind. "What else is on your mind, Lord Bolton."
"May I speak freely, my Lord?" Robb had finally rid himself of his bloody armor, and his shirt followed suit before he answered the man.
"You may."
"I do not trust the girl, my Lord. Yes her father was Robert Baratheon, a man we all willingly followed as our king, a man your father followed into battle but I do not believe she is to be trusted." Robb was getting sick of people not trusting Lyrina, but he himself had doubted her loyalty.
"What makes you think we can not trust her? She was a ward of my family for four years, she was like a child to my parents, a sister to my siblings." My love.
"I mean no disrespect to your family, my Lord. She is still the daughter of Cersei Lannister, Lannister blood flows through her veins. Her family was accused of having a hand in what happened to your brother, with the death of Jon Arryn and her brother killed your father. Can you really trust her?" She was not her family, and that was something he would slowly have to learn himself. It was hard to separate the two, when he himself was so connected to his family name.
"Lord Bolton, I can see where your concern comes from. I understand, but you are aware of why she was a ward for my family in the first place, correct?" He was sure most everyone knew the story by now, or some version of the truth.
"To be honest I am not, my Lord. At the dreadfort I don't have much time for the stories, I have other matters to attend to. With the loss of my only son, you can understand." Robb was aware Lord Bolton had lost his only heir and now he did now know if the man had any other children.
"My brother found her, passed out and half dead one morning. She had ridden all the way to Winterfell from the west, or so she told us. At first we were led to believe she was a runaway orphan child." Robb began to wash up with the water that was in his room as he spoke. "Four years later when the king arrived to Winterfell we learned the truth. Her mother had gone behind Robert's back and sent Lyrina to Casterly Rock, instead of her intended destination. Tywin Lannister abused the girl for years from the age of four until she ran away at ten. She fled north, because she believed my father would help her, save her from the abuse. Lord Bolton, the Lannisters have done nothing but harm her, they mean nothing to her."
"I was not aware of what her family had done to her, I am sorry." Robb knew his tone had gotten short with the man, but he was getting sick of trying to defend Lyrina. People should have known better by now that she was just as much a Stark.
"It is more than alright, I can understand your apprehension. I can assure you once you get to know her, you will like her. Well I take that back, you may not like her but you will come to understand she is on our side." Robb was ready to sleep, and wake to see her in the morning. Speaking about her made him miss the sight of her even more.
"I can understand, in that case I should let you get some rest." Robb turned his back to Lord Bolton as he was leaving, finishing his work of cleaning up. "Oh, she did ask for some medicine to keep an infection from a knife wound, I would check on her tomorrow if I were you."
Robb turned back to ask the man more about the wound but he was gone. Robb would make a mental note to ask Lyrina about it, he was sure she was alright. If it had been something major he was sure he would been informed of it. Lord Bolton had told him literally everything else, he was sure a giant knife wound would have been noticeable and worth mentioning. He laid in bed and for a moment he went to look for Grey wind, and then he remembered he had made sure the wolf was in Lyrina's tent. If he could not be there for her, he knew the wolf would bring her some comfort after all, she was the fawn and he was the wolf.
He did not know how late he had slept in the next morning but he was awoken by a very swift kick to his bed. Robb opened his eyes to find Theon standing next to his bed with a smirk on his face.
"Nice dream, Robb?"
"What are you talking about?" Robb could not remember having any dreams in particular.
"You were moaning her name in your sleep." Robb felt his face grow red, he would not have done such a thing.
"Liar." Robb got out of bed and began getting washed up. He would not listen to such talk from Theon Greyjoy.
"Don't believe me, but I am telling you that is exactly what I heard when I entered your tent. You were lucky it was me and not your mother."
"Shut up, Greyjoy. At least I haven't slept with half the realm." Robb was getting annoyed at the foolish way he was speaking.
"At least I've slept with someone." Robb did not see that as much of an accomplishment. He himself had almost slept with a whore, but in turn she gave him advice on love.
"Why are you here?" Robb began to get dressed waiting for him to answer, he was getting sick of Theon.
"Your mother is requesting your presence for lunch in her tent."
"Lunch? How long did I sleep?" He did not think he had slept in late enough for it to be lunch time.
"Late, but some men are still sleeping from last night so you are not the last one. I think your mother said Lyrina too is still sleeping." He could only imagine why she would sleep so late.
"I will head to my mother's tent right away. Can you do me a favor gather all the Lords and tell them we will be meeting tonight to discuss important matters. Also make sure the men from last night do not speak of Lyrina."
"Are you making the announcement tonight?"
"Among other things, yes. Now go, I must see my mother."
Robb finished dressing as soon as the boy left, and for a moment he stood there. He wondered if he had been dreaming of Lyrina, most nights he would remember the dreams he had. He hoped Theon had been joking the last thing he needed was the man holding that over his head.
He passed many of his men on the way to his mother's tent. A few stopped to ask him why the princess was in their camp again, he told them it would all be explained later. He decided after lunch with his mother he would go to Lyrina, he would have to see her before he told the men. He did not want her to be surprised by it, he did not want her to be overwhelmed. Which to his surprised is what happened to him when he stepped into his mother's tent, he was not even fully inside before his sister literally threw herself at him.
"Sansa, calm yourself." It was their mother who spoke but Robb didn't mind. He hugged his sister tight to him. He had not seen in her in close to a year, and he was so glad to have her safe.
"Look at how much you grown, look at you." He looked over his sister, she looked so grown up.
"I didn't grow up." He saw the blush creep onto her cheeks. She really had grown, her hair had gotten longer, straighter and she herself had gotten a little taller.
"Both of you come sit, so we can eat." Robb saw the smile on his mother's face,and for the first time since his father's passing he felt truly happy.
No one spoke at first, they all just ate and enjoyed their meal together. Robb kept looking over at his sister, making sure she was alright. He wanted to bring up Kings Landing, ask about everything that happened but he was afraid of what she would say. He knew he would not be able to control himself if she told him Joffrey had hurt her. He would want to kill the vile prick even more than he already did. So he was surprised when his mother brought it up first.
"I am so glad that Lyrina got you out of there Sansa." His mother was holding his sister's hand.
"I wanted to stay, I didn't want to leave at first. Joffrey was all I wanted, and when father said we were leaving I hated him. I hated him so much. When he got arrested for treason, I hated him then too. He had ruined everything, I truly believed he ruined everything." His sister was crying, and he could tell her words hurt their mother. "Lyrina helped me, she helped me realize my family came first. We bonded over things that we will never speak of because she is my family too."
"I agree, Sansa, Lyrina is just as much a part of our family as anyone." His mother was looking at him as she said it and Robb knew why.
"We helped each other, maybe I didn't help her in Kings Landing like she helped me but I did after the fact. We helped each other and we will continue to do so." Robb could sense there was a deeper bond between his sister and Lyrina, one that had not been there in Winterfell. They both had gone through something that only they could understand.
"Did Joffrey hurt you?"
"No, Joffrey never touched me." She held a conviction in her voice but Robb felt as if she was lying.
"Good." He knew there was more to the story, he would get it out of Lyrina.
"That is all over now, soon you will back in Winterfell." The thought of Sansa safe, back at Winterfell, far from any war made him happy. Robb had even thought about sending Lyrina there as well, until the fighting stopped at least.
"I can't." Robb looked at his sister in shock, while his mother looked concerned.
"Why not? It will be safer for you there than here."
"Joffrey still plans on marrying me, I have to go back. It will only be worse if I don't go back." She really believed they would let her go back.
"He will have to take you from me himself, you are never going back to Kings landing again. You will return to Winterfell in a fortnight, that is final." Robb had gotten up from his seat, anger rising inside him. Joffrey would not take his sister from him again, he would never allow that.
"It is my duty."
"That marriage agreement died with our father, as the new warden of the north I refuse to allow you to marry him. Stop this nonsense." His mother was looking at him with pleading eyes, but he didn't care. He was not going to let her act this way.
"You understand nothing. You don't know what will happen if I don't listen, if I don't go back." He could hear the fear in his sister's voice. He took a deep breath before kneeling next to her chair.
"Nothing will happen to you. Do you understand me, Sansa? I will never let anything happen to you. We are your family." She smiled at him, and he could not tell if she was happy or just appeasing him.
He sat back down, and continued to eat his meal, silence gracing the table once more. He was truly worried for his sister, she seemed conflicted. He did not know what kind of power Joffrey had, but it must have magic to make his sister doubt her own kin. He would kill the boy king before he would let him take her again, never again. The queen, her bastard son, they would never get their claws into Sansa again.
"Have you seen Lyrina yet? I wanted to check on her but I haven't gone yet." Robb looked over at Sansa who was talking to him.
"Oh, no I haven't seen her. We got in late last night, and I came here after I woke up." Sansa frowned, she seemed worried.
"Sansa, what did she need the ointment for? I didn't ask but it seemed important to her." Robb saw Sansa visibly tense at their mother's question.
"She just a cut on the way here, it was nothing too bad. We just did not want it to get infected." She was lying. Sansa was never good at lying, she never had to lie.
"Oh." His mother saw it too, the lie. Something had happened to Lyrina that Sansa would not tell them, something they were protecting for one another.
"She is alright really. She had a harder time before we left, truly." That caught his attention as well.
"What happened?" He took the pitcher of wine and poured himself a cup. He would slowly learn things for Sansa after all.
"I am only telling you this because I worry for her." Robb grew concerned by his sister's tone. "Lyrina told me briefly on our way here that someone had tried to kill her the night before we left, if the hound had not been there she would be dead."
"Why would someone want to kill her? Who was it?" His mother was the one to speak Robb sat there feeling his anger over flow. Joffrey wanted to take his sister, and someone had tried to kill the woman he loved.
"She did not say who it was, I don't think she even knew. It was an assassin. She wouldn't give me too many details, and the hound didn't speak on it."
"Well I am glad he protected her, maybe having him here won't be so bad." Robb disagreed. He did not care that the man saved her, he did not want a Lannister hired killer in his camp.
"He is nice, when he wishes to be, he never harmed either of us." Both women smiled at one another but Robb was fuming inside. He would not let them see it of course.
"Everything seems to have worked itself out, I am glad." His voice came out strained and he knew they noticed. But neither woman said a word, and silence struck once more.
They continued the rest of their meal in silence, the women seemingly happy. Robb was glad his sister was smiling, glad she was safe but he was angry. Angry that someone had hurt her, of course she denied it but he knew the truth. He saw it in her eyes, in her mannerisms, he knew someone had hurt her. Someone had tried to kill Lyrina, and he wasn't even there to protect her. There was also the issue of a supposed knife wound that Sansa was covering up, and Robb just had enough of it all.
"I am calling a meeting of the Lords tonight mother, I shall expect you to be there." Robb had gotten up from the table, he decided it was time to go see Lyrina.
"Of course, I will bring Sansa as well. I am going to assume it's about the marriage?"
"Yes, I would like to keep it a secret until tonight. I am going to speak to Lyrina about it now."
The walk to her tent felt like forever. He had to ask a group of men which tent was hers, he didn't even know where they had her sleeping. It turned out to be only a few tents away from his own, and he felt stupid for having to ask his men, she was his future wife after all. The hound was standing outside her tent when he got there, and for a moment the two men stared each other. He remembered the man from the king's visit to Winterfell, he was just as ugly as Robb remembered him. Back than he was the prince's personal dog, and now he was Lyrina's guard.
"Is she awake?" He did not wish to wake her.
"She is, and she has eaten lunch." Robb nodded and made to go into her tent but the man stopped him.
"Excuse me, I understand you are her guard, I am her friend. So please, stand aside. If you wish to remain her guard you will listen." The man glared at him before allowing him to enter the tent.
She must not have heard the two men talking because when he entered the tent her back was to him. She was wearing the dress he had given her, and it still fit her almost perfectly. He stared at her while she played with her seeming not to know what to do with it. Was she nervous to see him? He was nervous, he didn't know if she had read the letter. He didn't know if she was still angry with him.
"Hello, love."
Lyrina's p.o.v
"Hello, love." Lyrina was playing with her hair trying decide how she wanted to wear it when she heard his voice.
She spun around to see Robb standing just inside her tent a smile on his face. She smiled and just stared at him for a moment. It was different than the last time she had seen him, this time she was not going to hold back her emotions.
"Robb." They met half way between each other and shared an intimate embrace. To her surprise Robb lifted her off the ground, causing Lyrina to wrap her legs around his waist. The pain of her thighs coming in contact him caused her to wince.
"Are you alright?"
"I am fine, I am so fine." She just held on to him ignoring the pain as they embraced. After a moment he put her down.
"To what do I owe that greeting?" He was laughing and she blushed. He had been the one to pick her up, it was not her fault.
"You picked me up, so that isn't on me. Can't I just be happy to see you though?"
"I just mean that last time.."
"Last time I had to leave you, I don't have to this time." She stood there smiling up at him. She could not express how happy she was that she was there. Everything she had gone through was worth it.
"And I am so glad that we never have to be apart again." He took her hand in his and pressed it to his lips. She giggled and looked away. "Can we sit and talk? I feel we have much to discuss."
They both took a seat on her bed, staring at each other. Lyrina just could not stop looking at him. He looked tired, and warn from battle but he was so handsome. She wanted to reach out and touch his face, or just touch him but she didn't. He was staring at her with the same intensity she had, she was glad to know the feeling was not one sided.
"What would you like to talk about first?" He was the one who felt they needed to talk, she was sure he had somethings in mind.
"I missed you." She laughed at the sudden way he said it.
"And I missed you too. I read it, so you know, I read the letter."
"And..?" She did not answer him in words, instead Lyrina leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips before pulling away.
"I love you Robb Stark."
"I love you too,Lyrina." He took her hands in his and for a moment they just stared at one another. "Do you intend to keep him?"
"He is not a pet, Robb. I was going to leave the decision up to you but I would like to have him remain my guard." She could tell he did not like the idea, but she wanted Sandor to stay.
"Lyrina, he is a killer."
"He saved my life Robb, I would be dead." The assassin would have killed her.
"You don't need him here, I can protect you, I will protect you." He was still holding her hands tight.
"It's not that I need him to protect me, I just feel like I owe it to him. I don't know where else he would go." She would feel bad sending him away after everything he had done for her.
"We will discuss it later, we don't need to make a decision right away." She was glad Robb was being understanding, she could not imagine how hard it was all on him.
"Thank you."
They sat the for a moment again just looking at each other. She could not imagine not looking at him, she kept having thoughts that if she looked away he would be gone. All night her sleep was filled with dreams of someone taking her away, she didn't want to be taken away.
"So I had lunch with my sister today, all thanks to you. I don't know how you did it, I don't know how you got both of you out of there but Gods am I happy." She was glad he didn't know the price she had to pay. She felt like if he knew, he would look at her with disgust. "You brought my family back together Lyrina, I am so grateful."
"I couldn't save everyone." An awkward silence fell between them and Lyrina saw his jaw clench. "I.."
"It's not your fault Lyrina, let's not talk about it." His voice was calm but she could sense the anger behind it.
"Okay." She looked down, she was ashamed of herself. She could tell him, she should tell him. He couldn't protect her though, Joffrey would always find her, always.
They sat in silence, but it was comfortable silence. He just held her hands in his, and Lyrina kept her eyes on anything but him. She was fine, she felt safe but her mind was still a jumble of worry. She worried he would find out about what she had let Joffrey do, she worried he would hate her for it. She worried she would wake up one day and he would be dead. She needed him to go back to Winterfell, she needed him to give up on the war. She needed him.
"When do we go back to Winterfell?" She saw the confusion in his eyes as she asked him.
"What do you mean?"
"Robb the war is over for you, your family is safe. You can go home. That's what you wanted isn't it?" She felt her stomach sink when he left go of her hands so he could stand up.
"It's not that easy."
"Why not? Robb you told me that last time I was with you that you wanted to go home, you wanted your family. You have that, you have them and you have me. You can stop this." She didn't raise her voice, but she was begging him. She needed him to go back.
"They killed my father ,Lyrina, they killed him." He was angry with her family, but she didn't see anger in his eyes. His eyes held sadness, she knew he was lost without him.
"I know Robb, I know. I know you miss him, and I know it hurts. I lost my father too Robb, I watched him slowly dying, I know you are upset. Fighting this war won't bring him back." But telling the truth would.
"I can't let them get away with Lyrina, I can't let your brother just get away with killing him. I can't bend a knee to him, I am sorry."
"I was there, I tried Robb, I fucking tried." She was standing now too, but she was afraid to get close to him.
"I don't blame you, I don't. I know what you did, you risked your life to save him. You don't control your brother Lyrina." He stepped closer to her, as if to hug her but Lyrina stepped back. The whole moment was getting tense and she was getting scared. "Please don't be scared be of me."
"I'm not afraid of you,Robb." She wasn't afraid of him, she knew he would never hurt her. She was afraid of what he could do to other people, of what others could do to him. "I'm afraid for you. You can't win this, you don't need to."
"I can win this Lyrina, I know I can." But she heard the doubt in his voice. She knew he was uncertain.
"You don't need to, you can go home. Let my uncles fight for it, let them fight for the throne. We don't need it." She took a breath and stepped back toward him. She had to control her fear, he would not harm her.
"I am not fighting for the throne Lyrina, I don't want that. I want your brother to pay for what he did and I want the north to be free."
"Robb, by law he did nothing wrong. Your father was deemed a traitor against the crown, and by law.." She watched his body tense as she spoke.
"Do you think he was a traitor, Lyrina? Do you think he deserved that? Are you still stupid enough to think your mother didn't sleep with her own twin fucking brother?" Lyrina stepped back, his anger was getting the better of him. He had not allowed his voice to raise the whole discussion, but now he was yelling at her.
"I didn't say.."
"Answer me, tell me."
"I tried to save him, I do not think he deserved to die, but your father did lie. He himself took back what he said Robb, he took it back and claimed my brother to be king."
"Because he was going to die, he was trying to save himself Lyrina." She knew they would never agree on his father, not until he knew the truth.
"Robb..I have to tell you something." She had to take the risk, she had to tell him. "Your father.."
"Girl, these came for you." She interrupted by Sandor coming in with papers in his hand.
Lyrina took them from him, and thanked him. She knew they couldn't be from Winterfell, she had just sent her own ravens out just before Robb had come in. She inspected them only seeing the seal of her brother, and Lyrina felt chills cover her body. He had written her. The other letter was unmarked which just raised her suspicion even more.
"Lyrina, are you alright?" Robb was standing close to her now.
"I am alright, I shall read these later." She placed the letters on her desk, her body still feeling the shock of seeing his seal. She was just about to tell Robb the truth, and she just happened to receive a raven from Joffrey the Gods were trying to warn her.
"What were you going to say before you were cut off."
"Your father was a great man Robb, and he would be so proud of you." She knew it wasn't what he wanted to hear but she had to say something.
He didn't respond but instead he pulled her into his arms. She did not hug him back at first, her head was swimming with thoughts of what Joffrey could have said. Was he going to take her back so soon? She just stood there in Robb's arms as he held her tight, she knew he was aware of her sudden shift in emotion.
"He won't ever hurt you again. I don't know what he did to scare you and Sansa but he will never touch you."
"He didn't do anything." She was lying, and she was sure Sansa had lied to him too. They would never tell him of the horrors that took place there. She needed him to get out of the war, to go home, and she knew if he knew the truth he'd fight harder.
He didn't let her go, and finally she gave in hugging him back. She felt a sudden calm wash over her, and she almost let herself begin to cry. She wanted to tell him everything but she was so afraid. He could not protect her if he was fighting a war, he couldn't keep them both safe. How could he protect her, and his family from her family if he was busy fighting a war? She would have to protect them, she would have to lie and protect them. She would have to continue to play the game she thought she was free of.
"I am going to tell the camp of our impending wedding. Will you come when I tell them?" She buried her face in his chest, she was blushing. It was the first time they had mentioned the wedding.
"Would you like me to come?" She was nervous about the idea, she did not know if she could handle being around all those men.
"Lyrina, you are to be my wife but you are also the king's sister, I have to introduce you to these men. I need them to see you as something other than your family." She understood.
"Then I shall be there, just tell me when and I will come." He let go of her and for a moment Lyrina felt sad. She felt so good in his arms.
"I should get back, there are things I have to discuss with my men. Before I go, I do need to ask you something." Lyrina shifted uncomfortably, she was unsure of what more he needed to ask.
"Of course."
"What is this knife wound I keep hearing about? Are you okay? Where is it, let me see." Lyrina bit her lip and looked down for a moment before meeting his gaze.
"It was nothing, I tried messing around with the hound's sword and I cut myself. It is nothing too bad, I am fine love." She was smiling, brushing it off as nothing. She could not let him know, not yet. She still had no excuse of how she had gotten the cuts and scars.
"You shouldn't mess around with swords, my fawn. Have you even held a sword before?" She knew he didn't really believe her but she was thankful he was playing along. She smiled as he called her fawn, he was the only other person she would allow to call her that.
"That was the first time. I need to learn to though, if I am ever to defend myself."
"You don't have to defend yourself, not anymore. Love, I will keep you safe, don't worry." He kissed head but she did worry. He couldn't always be there but she smiled up at him.
"Of course, my wolf." She could get used to being his fawn, if he would be her wolf. But she still could not get used to being unable to defend herself. She needed to feel protected at all time. "Now go be the leader I know you need to be. I will be here."
"Meet me tonight at nightfall, you will see the large group of man gathered together." He kissed her cheek before leaving her alone.
Once he was gone Lyrina went to her desk and collapsed into her chair. It was a rush of emotions, and her body had yet to catch up to them. She was so happy to be with him, so glad just to be close to him again but it didn't kill the other feelings she had. She was upset that he wouldn't give up on the war, it was no longer his to fight. He was done, but he just couldn't let it go. She was scared because he wasn't always going to be there to protect her, he couldn't keep Joffrey from getting her. She was sure if her brother wanted to he could have a man sneak into the camp, steal her and not even Sandor could save her then. Without the thought of Joffrey on her mind she decided it would be best to read the letter he had sent her.
My dear sister
I hope this finds you well, and that you have not forgotten our arrangement yet. You need to convince your new man to bend his knee and go home, Lyrina. He needs to do this, and we need the north. I am also to tell you mother would like the release of uncle Jaime, since we have "returned" Sansa to them. I sent a letter to Sansa as well, to remind her of course of her role as well. See you soon, sister.
She took the letter and set it on fire. She could not risk Robb or anyone else finding it before she got to tell him of how she managed to escape Kings Landing. She would have to tell him soon, tell him of the apparent deal with her brother. She knew he would at least understand that part, the part of her lying to her brother to ensure their safety. But she knew he could not handle the fact that she had let her brother cut her, touch her, kiss her and threaten her for a month just to get free. He would see her like he saw her mother, an incestuous creature. But there was no incest, it was just an act, it was all an act.
Lyrina opened the second letter, and upon reading it she threw it down. There was no identifying marks to tell her who it was from but Lyrina was scared. The letter told her that she should not believe everything she reads, or everything she was told. The person told her that the assassin was not from her uncle or his men, and she would be wise to trust it. Someone wanted to kill her before she could claim her birthright, and she would not be safe until that person was dead. The writer did not inform her who wanted her dead, but they did tell her not to trust anyone. She grew more frightened as she read the letter, the person also mentioned the things her brother had done to her. Whoever it was knew things about her that no one else knew, and she had no idea who it could be.
She felt unsafe, she did not know who she could trust outside of Robb and his family. She did not know if she could trust the men in his camp, though she was sure most of them didn't know her apparent role in Westeros. She was sure they would only see her as the king's sister, the new wife of their Lord, and that was all she wanted. She didn't want them to think she was some queen, because she wasn't a queen, her brother was the ruler of the realm. She did not understand why someone would want to kill her, when she would never take the throne. Both of her brother's would have to die before she was even considered to be the heir, and she was sure one of her uncles would claim it first. She would have to burn that letter as well, she could not risk anything.
She sat in her room alone, shaking, and drinking wine until night came. No one had come to visit her, and she was sure Sansa was busy with her mother. She had time to apply more of the burning ointment on her thighs, which were looking much better than she expected them too. She was just enjoying being alone, alone with the her thoughts. She knew soon she would have to go find Robb, meet his men for the first time, and be introduced as his future wife. She should have been happy, she was getting what she wanted, but she wasn't. She was terrified of what the men would think, she did not want to cause Robb any issues, she was the king's sister after all and they were all against the crown. She just wanted to hide in her tent forever, and never come out until Robb would come to her.
"Lyrina, would you care to walk with me to meet them?" Lyrina looked up from her desk where she had just been staring to see Sansa. A small smile graced Lyrina's lips, she knew Sansa understood.
"Yes, please." She stood up and met the girl outside the tent.
They both linked arms together and began to walk through the camp together. Their conversation was carefree and innocent, neither speaking of the past. It was as if they had silently decided that none of it had happened and they would both keep a bright eye on the future. When they reached the large group of men and some women Lyrina stopped in her tracks causing Sansa to stop as well. She was nervous, she could not even imagine what the men would do. What if they wanted Robb to keep her as a prisoner instead of as a wife? What if they wanted to hurt her?
"It's okay, Lyrina." Sansa let go of her and found her way to her mother while Lyrina stood on the outskirts of the men. None of them turned to see her and for a moment she was grateful. There were so many huge men standing around of course she was to be intimidated.
She caught the eye of Robb who was standing in the middle of all the men, he looked so formal. He was in dark clothes, and his dark cloak made him seem so regal. He truly was no longer the boy she remembered from her time with him.
"Lords, Ladies, you know I have gathered you all here for a number of reasons and before we get to the heavier issues at hand I want to make an announcement. I know there have been rumors flying through the camp after the arrival of princess Lyrina and I would like to explain that to you further." She watched him speak, demanding the attention of his men. She smiled to herself, but the smile turned into something else when he held his hand out in her direction. "Lyrina, come here."
Everyone turned to look at her and the breath caught in her lungs. She stood there frozen unsure of if she should walk toward him or run in the opposite direction. No one glared at her, or even spoke but she felt their eyes judging her. She looked back to Robb who was still holding his hand out smiling at her, and she slowly made her way to him.
"I know many of you know her story, or some of it, I want you all to treat her with respect. Lyrina is not a prisoner here, she really isn't a guest either." He was holding her hand and she squeezed his tightly as men began to whisper. They wanted to kill her,she knew it. "She is to be my wife."
"That is an outrage, her brother killed your father." She did not know the man who spoke up, but he was huge. She shrank back, almost hiding behind Robb as the man yelled but Robb held her steady.
"She tried to save him, Lord Umber, this girl threw herself onto my father to save his life. What her brother decided to do in his private moments was beyond her control." She had never really seen Robb so dominant, so in control of a situation. "She is part of my family, she is not part of theirs. My father loved Lyrina as his own, and you will respect her as such. She is to be your Lady, do not forget that."
The man said nothing more, but she could hear the whispers of all the others. They were looking at her like she was some poisonous snake, and she could not blame them. Her brother had killed a man they all followed, all believed in. She was nothing to these people, and even if the Stark's claimed her as one of their own she would never be. She was a fawn, a stag, and even part lion, she would never be a wolf.
"Now that we have cleared that out of the air, we have other matter's to discuss." Robb leaned down after he finished speaking and told Lyrina she could sit if she wished, but she didn't. "We can go home if we wish, all of us, if we pledge fealty to her brother."
"Was that the crown's plan, to use a girl to get you to bend your knee?" More people were speaking up and Lyrina was beginning to shake. That was the plan, but she knew it would not happen.
"I do not plan to bend a knee to that prick, he is no king." Lyrina looked to Robb with anger in her eyes. He was not going to tell these men about the incest was he? "Many of you do not know the reason my father was arrested, many of you do not know the claims that got him killed. He claimed Stannis to be rightful heir of the throne, but most of you do not know why." She began to pull on his arm bidding him to be silent.
"Renly rides south to be king as well, we should follow him."
"Renly is no king, he is the youngest brother and has no claim to throne." Lyrina knew where this was going and she did not like it.
"Then who, who should we follow? If not Stannis, or Renly?"
"You can chose who you follow but there is something you all must know first.." Lyrina cut him off.
"Robb." Her voice was desperate but he just shot her a glance to be silent.
"My father was put to death for discovering that Robert Baratheon's eldest son and youngest two children were not his own. He only has one true born child." Everyone's eyes fell on Lyrina and she wanted to run away. It wasn't true, and she had wished Robb would stop spreading it as if it was.
"It does not matter who is king in the south, it does not matter who rides on the south for the throne. I will not kneel to a man, or a woman who knows nothing of the north." The man who outraged by the marriage spoke up once more, making sure to look to her. "I will not bend to someone who knows nothing of our customs, of our rules and our Gods. They sit there and pray to their seven but they know nothing of the truth. We are our own rulers and it is time we took back our claim to our own land. There stands the only king I mean to bend my knee to, Robb Stark, King in the North."
For a moment everyone was silent as the man took a knee before Robb. Lyrina clutched tightly to Robb's arm, there was no way he could take on being king. She needed him to return home, to stop fighting in a senseless war. As the next man stood up to kneel before Robb, Lyrina could not take it anymore. She could not be there, she could not stand beside him in this. She would not be his queen, if he did this everything would be ruined.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled to him before she ran past the kneeling men, just as Theon himself went to kneel, she could not follow him.
A/N: So emotions all over the place.