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Quick Author Note: I will going on Vacation very soon so this may be the last chapter before I leave for Vacation. That means updates will be delayed.
Three days later Rae sat in a chamber staring at the maps. Tyrion stood near her trying to help her plan her next move. They were debating what do. Tyrion thought it best to bring the rest of the Westerlands under her and Robb's control. That made sense to her but she was still worried that she had heard nothing from the Eyrie. If Baelish would side with the Lannister in King's Landing it would end badly unless she called her sister from Essos. Now they had the ships to it but. Her mind was also on Bran and finding him. She was pretty much focused on anything that would not make her think that Robb. The fact there was no word from him and no one had heard anything as of yet.
"I want to send men out," Rae said finally.
"Who and where?" Tyrion asked sipping on his wine.
"Two of my Kingsgaurds, Ser Tobas and Ser Rolland Storm, Ser Tobas I would send to the North to help with the hunt of young Prince Bran. And Ser Rolland I will send to the Vale to meet with Lady Lysa Arryn or Baelish now I don't know what her last name is now and Petyr Baelish. I want to speak with them in person and if they refuse this meeting. Then after I'm done with Casterly Rock and before I take what is rightfully mine. I will come and forcefully remove them from power with my dragons. And he has the fire of my dragons and knows what they can do. And he can get my letter to Lord Royce who can alert the other Lords of Vale," Rae revealed.
"You want to threaten Lord Baelish?"Tyrion asked in shock.
"He knows the game. He is sitting in the background waiting to cause chaos so he can climb higher. He will realize I mean my threat when Ser Rolland tells of me burning Stannis alive. He will come. And when he comes we act like we want his help. Let him think that he is playing us while in reality we are playing him. And when the time is right we will forcefully remove him."
"You don't like him do you?"
"He had a hand in Ned Stark death I'm sure of it. He made me uneasy for years and the fact is as the crown became poorer he became richer. I would not be surprised if he thought he could use me to get on the Iron Throne. Also the more I think about my father, Lord Arryn's, death more I question his involvement. Even if Cersei found out that my father knew. She would have done what did with Ned not poison him. And poison is not Jaime's style. I don't believe that the squire I watched die had anything to do with it. As Lord Varys has suggested to me," Rae explained
"You have thought about this a lot," Tyrion teased.
Rae turned pacing away from the table. She walked over to the window looking out on the Riverlands. She let out a sigh as her hands cradled her growing baby bump. She looked back at Tyrion over her shoulder.
"I think about a lot of things anything that will keep my mind off the fact that my husband is not here and may even be dead," Rae confessed with tears in her eyes. She turned back to the window.
Tyrion sighed. He had to admit hearing nothing was troubling but if Tywin Lannister had succeeded in killing Robb. They would have heard something by now. So no news in his mind was good news. Tyrion came over to her looking out on the river as Selaera, Rhaenys and Visenya looped.
"We would have heard something if he was dead. I'm sure he is making his way here and if the first raven reached him before the battle I am sure he marching his army right now. The Twins be damned. To him, and let's face it to most of the lords in Robb's army, you are more important. Especially now that you carry the King's heir"
"Heirs twins it was confirmed before Robb left," Rae told him.
Tyrion eyes went wide as he stared at her. The last set of Twins he knbesidesJaime and Cersei was her two kingsgaurds Hectar, and Howar. Twins were rare and normally dangerous more so for the mother. He could only imagine what Robb was feeling.
"He will be fine," Tyrion reassured.
Rae smiled at him. Even if she really wanted to believe Robb was returning to her unhurt. The facts of the matter they rode to a war zone. Gods knew what trap Tywin could set for him. A knock sounded on the door waking her from an internal agreement.
"Your Grace, Lady Olenna" Ser Markas said opening the door.
"Thank Ser Markas send her in also send me Ser Loras, Ser Rolland, and Ser Tobas please," Rae ordered.
Tyrion looked at her in shock when she asked for Ser Loras. She raised her eyebrows at him. He watched as she pointed at Harrenhal. Tyrion understood why she wanted Ser Loras. They needed Garlan and his men. She picked up a fig looking at maps as Lady Olenna entered the chamber. Tyrion sipped on a goblet of wine. Her eyes were focused on the Westerlands. Tyrion and Rae agreed that Casterly Rock would be their next target. It gave them an advantage that Tywin was not expecting. And if they could capture Lannisport it was a major victory for it was a major port and thoroughfare water wise. And it was closer to the Iron Isles so if they wanted to capture them they could. It gave would give no relief to King's Landing. Lady Olenna came forward staring at the map.
"Any news, Your Grace, on his grace or my new grandson," Lady Olenna asked.
Raenera looked up for a moment before looking back down at the maps. Tyrion could almost see the shine of tears in her eyes. Tyrion looked up at Lady Olenna.
"None Lady Olenna, what can we do for you?" Tyrion answered.
"I can help you, Your Grace. The reach has a bountiful harvest. It supplies the capital with food. With you order I can stop that starving them out," Lady Olenna offered.
Raenera looked up at Lady Olenna. They regarded each other. Tyrion watched them neither of them spoke for a long moment. Rae looked at Tyrion for a moment for his thought on her suggestion.
"Lady Olenna thank you but for now, we will hold off on that. I would not have those poor people suffer more than they are suffering already. It could be many moons before we are ready to take King's Landing. They call me the people queen what I kind of people queen I would I be if I starved the people of King's Landing months before I plan attack?" Raenera asked.
Lady Olenna looked at Raenera for a moment bowing her head. She smiled at Rae for a second.
"I understand Your Grace. My granddaughter has just told me some exciting news. She is with child," Lady Olenna told Raenera.
"I'm sure Lady Margaery worried like I am for her husband quick and safe return," Rae said.
"As we all pray for his grace return," Lady Olenna said
A a few hours later Raenera stood on the balcony of the castle. She watched Ser Loras, Ser Rolland, and Ser Tobas ride off in different directions. Ser Markas stood by her side. Arya came running up to her. Rae turned smiling at Arya.
"Rae, I decide which pup I want," Arya exclaimed.
"I thought you did already," Rae said questioningly as they walked toward Rae's chambers.
"I like the white one at first but the dark grey one has wormed his way into my heart. Since I lost Nymeria I do not a female. So if it is alright with you I want the dark grey one," Arya explained.
Arya and Rae looked at each other for a long moment. Rae laughed as they walked into her chamber where the pups were playing. The two silvery grey pups and the white pup were tussling with each other. The dove grey one was cuddling up to Starlight. The golden one and dark grey one were wrestling. Arya giggled as the pups all ran up Rae when they noticed her sitting down near the bed.
"I assume you have a name picked out," Rae said picking up the dark grey pup.
"Of course, I want to name him Storm. He looks like a storm cloud. And storms are strong and fierce like he is and like me," Arya said taking the pup from Rae.
"Well, that three with names now," Rae said off-handedly.
"Three?" Arya asked as pup licked her chin.
"Yes, the dove grey one is Sansa's .She named her Winter. She said something about she would always being a Stark no matter who she wed so this way she could her house words with her always. The golden sand color one I gave to Evalyne. She named him Achilles after her grandfather best hunting dog. And you just named the dark grey one, Storm" Rae said.
"What are you going call the others?" Arya asked looking at the other pups.
"I was thinking of naming the two silvery ones Artemis and Athena. The one with the little white moon marking would be Artemis. But I don't know for sure. I was waiting to for Robb to name them" Rae explained.
Rae's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about what could have happened to Robb. The white pup that wormed his way into her arms starting to lick her face offering her comfort. She started to laugh as she pulled the little pup from her face.
"You are going to be a terror aren't you," Rae teased the little white male pup.
The pup let out a little yip in response. Rae pulled the little guy to her chest cuddling the small pup. Arya placed her hand on Rae's shoulder. It caused Rae to look at Arya.
"I'm sure Robb is fine. Rae, he is not about to leave you. I've seen him with a few crushes in Winterfell. But they have nothing on you. He will fight back with all he has to get back to you and his baby" Arya comforted Rae.
Rae smiled at Arya putting the pup down. She pulled Arya into a tight hug. Well, as tight of a hug as Rae could give with her swollen baby bump.
Ser Tobas rode north for about less than four hours when he spotted Stark Banners. He pulled his horse from a gallop to walk. He started to head in the direction of the banners. He was greeted by a Karstark soldier. He instantly recognized Ser Tobas. He helped him to dismount. Seeing Ser Tobas away from Queen Raenera stab a great number of men. They all assume that could only mean one thing, Raenera was dead. The soldier led Ser Tobas to the meeting tent.
Robb sat in a meeting tent waiting to hear back from his scouts. Maps were laid out on the table. Edmure, Jaime, and rest of Lords were all around the table offering ideas how to best to breech Riverrun to help defeat Stannis and his Red Woman. Robb stared at the map. Until he heard Mace and Greatjon gasp when they saw Ser Tobas. Robb's blue eyes went to Ser Tobas's face. They were wide at the sight of one of his and his wife kingsgaurds. To most of the Lords in the tent realized this did not bode well for their Queen.
"Ser Tobas what are you doing here?" Robb asked finally getting his mind to function as thoughts of what could have happened to Rae flashed in his mind.
Ser Tobas came farther into the tent bowing before Robb. He knew that he had to tell the good news and bad news. He bowed his head taking a deep breath. He was stealing his soul for the news he had to deliver.
"I'm on my way North to Winterfell on the orders of Queen Raenera. I am to aid in the search for your brother, Prince Bran, Your Grace, who has gone missing," Ser Tobas answered.
Robb mind quickly tried to process the information. He looked to Greatjon with a look of shock on his face. Greatjon wore the same shocked expression on his face.
"She is alive?" Greatjon questioned in shock.
"Yes,to" Ser Tobas answered.
"What of Stannis?" Randyll Tarly asked.
"Dead along with his Red Woman" Ser Tobas replied.
Robb nodded to soldier to bring him Ser Torrhen Karstark. There was one thing for sure Robb knew. The North was vast and dangerous. And most northern did not trust southern so sending Ser Tobas was not going to work, loyal to Robb or not. He would send Ser Torrhen instead. He knew the wildness and would not fail him. He heard Stannis was dead and the red woman too. He did not how that was possible. Yes, he had no doubt that his queen was capable of being war general but he could not see how she could destroy that powerhouse that was Stannis.
"How," Robb asked finally.
"It was quite a short siege, Your Grace," Ser Tobas laughed. It was quite funny how quickly she had destroyed Stannis. Robb did not look amused. Ser Tobas regain his composer. "I'm shocked you have heard what has transpired there. I was told that news would spread like wildfire. No one will dare mess with you or your Queen. She has shown the world she is a true Dragon Queen. The last time people saw what she did was when Aegon conquer Westeros. She had Stannis burnt alive with dragon fire from Selaera. The red woman was picked up by Rhaenys and Visenya took to over the deep part of the river before they dropped her and then they blew fire of the water; boiling the water, thus drowning the red woman. Stannis's men were quick to swear loyalty to Her Grace Queen Raenera and Lady Shireen Baratheon," Ser Tobas finished.
Robb laughed then he wondered if the word had reached Casterly Rock or King's Landing. He could only imagine what Tywin Lannister would do when they learned that Raenera's dragons were growing larger and capable of taking out most things put their way. Stannis made a good stand at Blackwater before the Wildfyre was unleashed.
"Lord Karstark when your son Torrhen get here. Send him with Ser Tobas to Winterfell to find Bran," Robb ordered.
"Yes, Your Grace," Lord Karstark said
"Lord Jaime, Lord Tarly, Lord Umber, and Lord Edmure let saddle our horses. I think we will rest in Riverrun tonight," Robb said with a smile.