Seven

Carina felt the hands of her ladies doing her hair and stared out in front of her seeing nothing. This was what she wanted or at least she wanted Stannis; the crown that came with him was just a necessary evil, yet she was suddenly nervous. Maybe it was because her mother was on her way here to face trial and the prospect of potentially having Stannis order her mother's death was not something she was ready for or maybe it was because the sneered words that haunted her from her beatings. Hands placing something on her head make her wince and she looks to see Robb placing a crown of flowers on her head.

"These aren't winter roses but either way I remember you saying that you wanted a crown of flowers when you married and I remember you forcing Jon and I to promise to make it happen," Robb says smiling at her.

"I seem to remember that Jon was the one promising to make it happen while you just laughed and said I would never marry," Carina said laughing as she gave him a sad look.

Carina used to think that they never should have left Winterfell but then she had met Stannis, the visions and she knew her life had a purpose that she could be great and happy. She feels pain at having lost her sister and how naive she was but she blames her mother for that, she remembers how their mother used to put stories in their heads of their husbands protecting them and of princes and knights. Carina hadn't let herself be corrupted, she read the stories and when one looked deep enough knew it was not as simple as a husband protecting his wife, not always.

"Leave us," Carina ordered, needing to talk to her brother.

"Rina?" Robb questions when she starts pacing.

"Is it wrong of me to be angry at mother and father?" Carina asks not stopping her pacing.

"No I don't think it's wrong but I also think it depends on why you are angry," Robb says because he has his own reasons for being angry at their mother, valid ones but he thinks he is not capable of being angry at their father.

"Father knew the type of games played at court. He even warned us yet he trusted everyone and he even went to warn Cersei before ensuring that his daughters left the Capital. He knew what happened to Elia Martell and her children. He should have made damn sure we got out first. Mother filled our heads with so much shit. She made it seem like women had to constantly be protected and that we never had to worry because our husbands would protect us except she should know better. There are thousands of stories showing she should have known better. She should have known that Tywin would never release us and neither would Cersei I mean she killed Robert's bastards," Carina finishes sitting down in front of her vanity.

Robb waited letting silence fill the room and really what could he say to that. He already knew his mother had faults but it seemed his sister thought their father did as well. Maybe it's naive to expect honor and maybe Eddard Stark forgot that in the years since fighting but Robb knew it well now but he thinks their mother is the worst of all.

It isn't to say she doesn't love her children but the things she has done and said are too much to forgive at least for him at the moment. For a woman of a great house to be so foolish it's unthinkable and maybe he and Carina could forgive her but adding so many things up and there wasn't a way and it doesn't help that from the reports they have heard she doesn't believe little poor Petyr Baelish could be anything but kind. Robb walks over to where his sister sits and places his hands on her shoulders before he leans down to kiss her forehead. No words are spoken and none need to be but the acceptance of what she feels is enough. A knock on the door draws them out of their quiet acceptance and Shireen Baratheon enters with the Hand, Davos Seaworth.

"Hello Shireen," she greets smiling at the girl who holds something wrapped in her hands.

"You look nice," Shireen says looking down.

"How can you tell when you are looking down?" Carina asks.

Shireen looks up at her in surprise and maybe seeing the smile helps because she smiles shyly. The girl steps towards her to hand her the present and Carina takes it from her looking at her curiously. It seems the girl is still shy enough and not so confident that she doesn't speak so Carina decides to take pity and open the gift. She finds a necklace that has both a stag with a wolf sitting on top of it.

"So you can have your new house plus your old one," Shireen explains, rocking on her feet nervously.

"It's beautiful," Carina tells the girl who blushes.

Carina doesn't say a word when the girl then runs out of the room and Davos smiles at her before running after the princess. She and Robb share a look, smiles in their faces but Carina can't help the thought that pops in her head. She needs to do something to make sure Shireen can not only take care of herself but also is loved. Her mother made them feel loved but if it hadn't been for her stubbornness Carina would never know how to fight. Before she can think more on it or even formulate a plan it is time for the wedding and the small feast afterwards. It's small because she wasn't going to let the smallfolk starve not like Joffery would have and she had thought Stannis would argue but he agreed, though whether it was because he didn't like attention or because he actually agreed was a different story.

Later after the wedding, sitting next to Stannis at the high table she thinks it is because he doesn't like attention. He had danced once with her and Shireen but refused to dance any further and it made her smile. She wouldn't say he is shy, more just different, that and probably all the things Robert did made Stannis hate big feasts. She sees Robb come up looking at her and she glances over to see Stannis nod and try to smile at her so she stands and takes her brother's hand for a dance.

"He seems unsettled by the attention," Robb comments.

"Is that such a bad thing? He seems better than his brother and Joffrey," Carina argued.

"Don't worry Rina I don't say it as a bad thing," Robb tells her as the dance ends and he leads her back to the table.

Carina smiles as she sits down hoping that this would help the North accept Stannis as king. Northerns are always seen as simple and savage and while yes simple is true, savage was not true though considering southerns like to twist things. Just because the North was simple does not mean they are stupid something most Southerners don't realize. Suddenly shouts are heard and she hears a word that makes her freeze in fear.

"Bedding!"

Note: I have not forgotten about this story. i just am working a lot more and going through some stuff so be patient.