Believe me I have reasons why it took me so long to update but I'm sure you don't care and only want this new chapter (don't worry, I would too if I were you)

As usual, thank you for the support and the messages you sent, proving me once again that this story has amazing followers.

(WARNING: There are surprises ahead! ;) )

Chapter 31 : Yesterday & Tomorrow

His leg was feeling better. He no longer needed a cane and was sure that soon he would see himself in the battlefield again. Honestly, Robb had little patience with his own body. There was an imperious need in him to hurry, to get into battle and put an end to war soon. Maybe it was all to return home quickly.

Just the day before, news arrived that Tywin had become the new Hand. That meant he was confident that the King in the North was not the biggest enemy he faced, but that Stannis was rising with more strength than anyone thought.

He had heard everything there was to know about the failed attack to King's Landing and the new betrothal of Joffrey to Margaery Tyrell, after his own sister had escaped such horrible prospect. The only problem this represented for Robb was the knowledge that the two richest families of the Seven Kingdoms were now about to be united, and that only meant trouble.

He had to prepare for a new war, and he needed an ally that had a large fleet that could help him face Stannis or the ironborn.

"Your Grace," one of the guards interrupted his musing by opening the doors of his chambers without so much of a warning. This earned the poor and flushed man a glare. "I, I apologize, Your Grace. A dragon was seen flying above the camp."

Robb's eyes widened but soon he scowled and cursed under his breath. That damn woman couldn't follow an order, even if it meant another quarrel between them. Unluckily for him, his heart betrayed him by beating faster, longing for her like always.

Making a quick way out of the castle, Robb was soon outside, watching a much larger version of Drogon flying above them, like the frightening creature he was. By the way the beast moved, he knew she wasn't far away.

"Bring my horse," he ordered.

"Your Grace," a man warned, reminded him unnecessarily that he was still injured, still not as fast as he usually was.

"My horse," he replied with a voice made of ice.

As soon as he was on the back of his horse, he sped through the forest, not caring about the pain on his leg. He knew he could find her before she made her way to him, before she even saw it coming. Who did she think he was? Did she take him for a fool?

He slowed his pace as he hid behind the trees, soon seeing a party of four horses, and Drogon up in the sky. It was obvious that two of her companions were Dacey and the Kingslayer, he still had trouble understanding her trust in the Lannister but Robb knew quite well that as soon as Dany saw her trust misplaced, the Lion would end up burned to ashes.

Dacey as always seemed attentive to everything. She was the one whose brow furrowed first, sensing him behind the trees.

Irri in her own horse kept herself close to her queen, always the most loyal of her handmaidens and following Dany with her crazy plans.

What surprised him was the small boy sat behind Dany, holding his arms around her as they talked animatedly. As he looked closer, with more detail, Robb distinguished one fat boy who trudged behind, next to a young man about his age with broad shoulders and eyes that reminded him of a storm.

"Are we close?" Robb heard Dany's companion speak and his eyes widened. He recognized the voice almost instantly, always curious as he remembered, always fearless like he wanted to be.

About to spur his horse to let himself be seen, Robb suddenly felt the prickle of something cold and metallic against the back of his neck. His back stiffened, knowing quite well that a blade was threatening to cut his neck.

"Do not move," a terse voice said, laced with a quality that exuded experience and control.

"Are you going to be a coward and kill me without facing me?" Robb's words were filled with calm, even if he wanted nothing more than to unsheathe his sword and engage in a fight rather than stay put.

"Turn around, Young Wolf. Slowly," the man said, gruffly but with eerie confidence.

Facing the man, Robb saw the steely blue eyes full of knowledge. The long white beard and hair only served to make the man look older, despite his tall frame and strong body; the muscles of a seasoned warrior, Robb thought.

"Who are you?"

"A man who has made mistakes. Now, what were you planning to do to your Queen?"

Was he protecting Dany? Did she know about him? His wife surprised him every time with new allies and strange strategies that made her an excellent asset for his plans. But she was much more, she was a perfect companion.

"Greet her." His fingers searched for the handle of his sword, tentatively trying to be ready in case the man decided to attack. But before he could wrap his hand around the weapon, the old man had smacked his hand away with the flat part of his blade. "You think I'll hurt her or do you want to kill her?" he spat.

It was then when a blur of grey fur stood before Robb, growling at the stranger, showing his teeth like a threat.

"Robb!" Arya's young voice called before Robb could hear her small and light feet running towards him. "Robb," she called as she approached him, followed closely by the horses and the rest of the party.

Robb was barely able to turn his eyes to see his beautiful wife, as he was being menaced by the old man's blade placed right under his chin, close to his neck.

"Let him go." Dany's order was clear, and commanding as it had to be. She was a true queen, his queen.

"Do you trust him, Your Grace?" the unknown man asked.

Instead of Dany or Robb replying, it was the Kingslayer the one who spoke up. "Ser Barristan Selmy. Barristan the Bold," he exclaimed with enough irony to make everyone uncomfortable considering the tense situation. "You think she doesn't trust the man who is capable of giving her everything she wants?"

"Ser Barristan?" Arya mumbled.

The man was a legend even now that he was alive. He was one of the best knights the Seven Kingdoms had ever seen, one whose integrity was also to be praised. A man so skilled, despite his age, he was able to scare the likes of Robb Stark and Jaime Lannister.

"He's my husband. My Wolf," Dany called softly. "Let him go."

Drawing back his sword, Ser Barristan complied with her orders, just as Robb commanded Grey Wind to stay back before the animal could jump on the former Lord Commander.

"What are you doing here?" Jaime asked. "Not happy with retirement?"

The man glowered at the Young Lion. Only that made Robb liked him, despite everything that had just happened. Robb doubted the intentions of Barristan Selmy could be to harm them, since it seemed he was hell-bent on protecting Dany.

"Ser?" Dany prodded.

"My Queen," he replied reverently. "I've been looking for you, Daenerys Stormborn, to ask your forgiveness. I've sworn to protect your family. And I've failed." He sunk in one knee before her. "I'm Barristan Selmy, Kingsguard to your father. Allow me to join your Queensguard, and I will not fail you again."

-o-

Instead of outright refusing Ser Barristan Selmy's proposition, Daenerys told him that she would think about it. For Robb, everything seemed quite out of place. He did not want to show a divided front, and he feared that by having a Kingsguard and a Queensguard, people would believe there would be a war over power between them, sooner or later.

But he had time to convince her. He just doubted he had the means to do so, like she did.

They quickly returned to the camp and soon Robb was animatedly speaking to his young sister, asking her time and time again if she was fine and how she had managed to escape. She had so many stories that he knew he looked like a boy, eager to listen to all of them.

"Stop it," Arya breathed out between fits of laughter as he hugged her again to his hard chest.

She had grown and he had become older but they were still those children who used to run around the Great Keep, chasing their direwolves. Some part of him would always be the boy who enjoyed watching his sister use a bow and arrow instead of being a proper lady.

"Mother will be happy to see you. I sent a raven and as soon as Dany leaves, you can go with her," he said, and was about to open his mouth to say more when his wife interrupted him.

"I am not leaving. This is my war too, as much as it is yours, if not more."

"A war is not a place for a woman." Those were the wrong words to say in front of Dany and Arya. They were fighters and had always been. Regret invaded him but he did not know how to take it back without making a fool of himself. "Arya, go with your friends. Eat as much as you want and stay far away from Jaime Lannister."

Arya scowled but nodded begrudgingly.

Once the girl had left, Robb turned just in time to see the fire in Daenerys' eyes, the fury and sadness that fueled her spirit. She raised her hand and he did nothing to stop her from slapping him across the face.

"No place for a woman? I'm not just a woman. I'm a queen!" She barked through clenched teeth, looking up at him, in his eyes. "I'm your wife! And other women might let their husbands fight alone but not me."

"Daenerys, what I did before I left…" he trailed off.

"You were angry, just like I am right now." She spat with ire, almost shaking in her place.

"You risked everything I had fought for, my father, my siblings… I felt betrayed by the only person I had trusted completely."

Her eyes were clouded but he could see through them. He saw her breathing with more ease, sighing. "I can't ask for forgiveness because I did what I believe was right. I was afraid you would decide to kill Jaime, to face a worst scenario against Tywin and be blinded by your grief."

"Do you think that little of me? Have I not proved myself enough for you to see I'm not a child?"

"My own pain and thirst for revenge clouded my judgment, I admit. But that is why we need each other. We could be unbeatable if we worked together." She finally touched him softly, cradling his face in her hands, brushing her thumbs against his cheeks. His anger diminished and he let himself relished her touch. "My Wolf, do you expect me to stay home and wait? To not come to you when I hear you're injured? Our son is safe, if that's your concern. Your mother raised you, the best man I know, so I'm sure Iagan is in good hands."

"And the sooner the war is over…"

"The sooner we will be together as a family."

He reached for her braid, and tugged on it, freeing her platinum mane to comb it with his fingers.

She would look so beautiful with blue winter roses buds braided on her white hair.

"Do you think is easy for me to forgive you?" Robb asked her softly, still running his hands through her hair, closing the distance between them. "You can't even apologize."

"I wanted to take care of things because you are my family. I won't apologize for that, as you haven't apologized for treating me like you did." Her voice was a whisper, as soft caress to his sore ears. The sound of metal against metal, of men dying, and war, it all disappeared with her.

"My sweet Queen," he muttered before pressing a kiss to the crown of her hair. "I regret it. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting you. But if you play me again…"

"If you hurt me, Wolf," she threatened as her eyes fluttered close, her lips right against his chin as they both played a very dangerous game of control.

"If we fight each other, if we go to war against one another, not even all the Silent Sisters in the Seven Kingdoms will be enough."

"The world will burn with us," she murmured before he trapped her lips in a hungry kiss, tipping her head with force until he could sip freely from her mouth.

For the first time since he had left Winterfell, they both were ready for restful sleep, sated and in each other's arms.

Robb was invigorated thanks to her. He did not want a partner in the battlefield, but he knew she was right. As she ran her fingers idly over his chest, he thought her words were true. She was an excellent diplomat while he was a strategist, a warrior. She was hot-blooded and he could be in control.

She kissed his shoulder before laying her head over his chest. "Sleep," she commanded softly. "We have a big day ahead of us."

In that moment, he decided to be honest, to avoid possible fights in their future. "You need to know that the boy, Gendry, is Robert's bastard. He looks much like my father used to describe him when they were young and by what Arya said, it's very likely."

"He doesn't know," Dany responded. "And we shouldn't be forced to pay for our parents' mistakes. I can't blame him, just like you did not blame me for my father's madness."

He felt her tightening her hug, and he smoothed a hand over her naked back.

"Tomorrow. We'll make plans tomorrow. Now we sleep."