Robb looked at the accounts before him and rubbed his eyes. This was exhausting. There were so many figures, numbers that stretched beyond anything he'd seen before. The one thing he could conclude was that it had not been cheap to host the King and the Royal Family. The main benefit had been that the King had provided a hefty dowry for Myrcella. A thought that Robb did not like to make but one that he had made.
Normally, Mother would be the one looking over the accounts, but Robb had decided that as the Stark in Winterfell he needed to know what was going on. Therefore, he'd asked her to spend some time with Rickon and with Myrcella, and he'd deal with this. Greywind lay curled up at his feet, fast asleep. There was a fire blazing, but the cold hadn't quite crept in.
Briefly he found himself wondering how things were going in the south. Father had sent word that they had arrived in King's Landing. But that had been some weeks ago. Jon hadn't sent anything. But he supposed that was normal, given all the responsibilities that he would have as a squire to the King. Robb hoped his brother was enjoying the role.
He pushed the book to one side and stretched.
"Hard work?" A voice asked. Robb blinked and saw Myrcella standing there before him.
Robb grinned and held out a hand, she came and took it and sat on his lap.
"I hope I don't have to look at the book again for some time." He murmured, burying his nose into her golden hair.
Myrcella snorted. "What was the situation like?"
"Let's just say we won't be able to host the Royal Family any time soon. We're not hard done by but we're going to need some time." Robb replied.
Myrcella hummed and turned to face him, he found himself getting lost in her eyes. They were the brightest green; her hair was the brightest gold. She looked nothing like her father, but there was more of a Baratheon in her than there was in her brother, the fool Crown Prince.
"How did things go with Mother?" Robb asked.
Myrcella hummed. "Fine, she was a bit concerned about Rickon."
"Why?" Robb asked.
"He kept trying to run toward the broken tower and he kept getting separated from us whilst we were out walking." Myrcella said.
Robb frowned. "The broken tower?"
"Yes." Myrcella said.
"I don't know why he'd want to go there. There's nothing there for a child of his age to want to see. He's not Bran." Robb said.
Myrcella shrugged. "Mother also told me something interesting."
"And what was that?" Robb asked.
Myrcella smiled then. "That when you were a baby, you used to like to run around without any clothes on. Apparently, you got quite dirty once."
Robb felt his cheeks heat and laughed. "A trait I share with Rickon I believe."
"And one that our future child might share as well." Myrcella said, placing a hand on her stomach.
Robb looked at her and then her stomach and asked. "Are you?"
Myrcella shook her head. "No, I had my blood this morning."
Robb nodded and placed a hand over hers. "It'll happen when the Gods will it." Of that, he was sure. They slept together every night; it was sure to happen soon.
Myrcella smiled in return.
Deciding to take her mind off that, Robb said. "I had a letter from Last Hearth, from the Umbers."
"Oh?" Myrcella asked. "What did they have to say?"
"They captured a party of twelve Wildlings who had somehow made it over through the defences of the Night's Watch. They claimed they were fleeing something, but they were found with weapons on their person." Robb said.
"What will be done with them?" Myrcella asked.
"Lord Umber gave them a choice, kneel or die. They chose to die." Robb said.
"Ah." Myrcella replied.
"But curiously they asked that once they'd been killed, their bodies be burned." Robb said.
"Why is that curious?" Myrcella asked.
"Because usually Wildlings like to have their bodies buried deep in the Earth. To keep themselves connected to the Earth and the woods." Robb said. "They believe that anything else would prevent them from communing with the Gods."
Myrcella nodded and asked. "What do you think caused them to ask to be burned then?"
"I do not know." Robb admitted. "But I have asked Lord Umber to keep an eye out for any other troublemakers. And I have also alerted the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch about this."
Myrcella nodded. "Well you've done what you needed to. Come and get some rest." She got off his lap and led him by the hand back to their room. When the door closed Robb grinned. He could do with some fun.