Monster // Petyr Baelish

30. Do You Feel Honored?

"Rieka," petyr declared running up to her. 

"Hello Petyr-" Rieka's smile faltered though at Petyr hesitant face. "What happened?" Rieka demanded. 

"Its your father, he was attacked".

"What?" Rieka spat suddenly her chest was tight and she couldnt breathe. "Is he... is he..." 

"Come with me." Petyr requested holding a hand out for her. He held onto her as her legs became weaker with every step. He clung to her as she peered in on the maesters hard at work on her father. She sobbed into Petyr. He held onto her making false promises that everything would be alright.

It was two days of in and out of consciousness. High on the poppy for the pain. Reika sat across from Arya and Sansa as they piled into her bed each night filled with worry. Rieka told her sisters to take a bath and get cleaned up, the room was starting to smell, she did the same. 

Rieka was brushing her hair before bed when there was a knock at the door. She jumped up the brush clattering to the ground in hopes that it was good news. she threw open the door to see Petyr.

"Rieka, my darling... I just wanted to offer you my deepest condolences and if there is anything-" petyr began.

"Hes fine right? He has to be." Rieka whispered as she hugged him. "He's not dead. Don't tell me he's...." Rieka couldnt breathe again petyr felt her chest rising and falling rapidly against him. 

"The maesters are hopeful but I know this must be hard for you and your sisters. If there is anything you might need... just ask. I will do it, it shall be done." Petyr whispered kissing the top of her head. 

"Thank you Petyr" Reika whispered. "Thats really kind of you." He bid her goodnight but she didnt let him go. "Could you stay? I dont want to be alone."  Petyr eagerly came in and he held onto her as she fell into a fitful sleep but it was still the best sleep she had gotten since her fathers attack. 

+

"Pardon your grace I would rise but-' ned adjusted in bed, he had hoped to see his girls and he didn't try to hide his disappointment as Robert and Cersei entered.

'Do you know what your wife has done?' Cersei questioned incredulously. Ned remained silent

'I didn't think she had it in her.' robert laughed out.

'How dare she lay hands on my blood!' cersei spat.

'I am the kings hand I was keeping the peace.' ned reminded her

'You were the kings hand.' cersei corrected. 'You will be held accountable-'

'Will both of shut your mouths!' Robert shouted. 'Catelyn will release tyrion and you will make your peace with Jaime.''

Rieka woke up in Petyrs arms, he had things he was supposed to do but he couldnt even fathom leaving her bed, she looked to perfect curled up into him. Avalon lay asleep at the bottom of the bed, Petyr noticed throughout the night, whenever Petyr woke up that Avalon watched him curiously for a moment before falling back asleep. Avalon was protective and Petyr knew that would be good for the war that was destined to come. 

She opened her mouth to say good morning and thank you and I'm so scared he's not going to live when there was a knock on the door. Arya wanted to go see father, wanted Rieka to come with her, so instead. Rieka kissed Petyr quickly before heading out. 

'he butchered my men.' Ned reminded Robert. defensively.

'Lord stark was returning drunk from a brothel when he attacked Jaime.' Cersei told Robert aggressively.

'Quiet woman,' Robert sneered.

'Jaime has fled the city.' Ned remarked. 'Give me leave to bring him back to justice.'

'Justice, how dare you talk to the king-' cersei spat.

'Hold your tongue.' Robert demanded as the door creaked open. Rieka peered in but saw the king and queen, she debated pulling the door closed again but Jaime lannister had attacked her father, she was going to bring the hurt to all lannisters. 

'He attacked one brother and taken the other I should wear the armor and you the gown.' Cersei told Robert and he slapped her across the face. Rieka squeaked out a breath as she tried to contain a laugh as she clamped a hand over Aryas mouth to keep her from laughing as well. 

"I shall wear this like a badge of honor.'' Cersei sneered. 

'wear it in silence or I will honor you again.' Robert threatened as cersei stormed out. Ramming into Rieka and Arya as she left.

"Do you feel honored your grace?" Rieka pondered. Cersei huffed a breath as she kept going. "Fuck you too lady." Rieka grumbled. 

''see what she does to me my loving wife... I should not have hit her, that was not... that was not kingly.' Robert remarked but there was no remorse in his eyes.

''if we don't act, there will be a war.' Ned told Robert seriously as pain shot through his leg. But his gaze shifted to his girls.

'So tell your wife to return that little shit of an imp to kings landing. You hear me send a raven and put an end to it!' Robert demanded.

'what of Jaime Lannister?' ned questioned reaching out for Rieka she ran to him. "Hi sweetie." he whispered, Arya followed hesitantly around him as she kept a weary eye on RObert. 

''What about Jaime?'' Robert scoffed. 'I'm half a kingdom in debt to his father. I don't know what happened between you and those yellow haired shits and I don't want to know. This is what matters. I can't rule the kingdoms if the starks and lannisters are at each other's throats.'

''Robert we need to talk,' ned rasped as Rieka hugged him tight.

''No I am sick of talk, I am going on a hunt tomorrow; whatever you have to tell me can wait until I return.'' Robert assured him.

'What are you doing about Daenerys Targaryen?' ned questioned softly. Ned tried to ignore the way Robert was staring at Rieka but it was hard when he was so blatantly staring at her. Rieka ignored the king all together as she held onto her father. 

"Don't worry about that, it is done.' robert informed him pulling his gaze from Rieka momentarily. 'the last of the targaryens will be dead.' He spat and Ned swallowed the lump in his throat.

'of course... as you wish your grace. With your permission I will take my leave and return to winterfell. With my girls." Ned remarked. Arya stared back at him, he couldnt be serious? She had her lessons, her mother would never allow it back home. And what of Rieka, she was engaged to Petyr, would they leave her here? Arya looked to Rieka and knew that Rieka was thinking similarly. 

''piss on that.' Robert told him. 'send a raven, I want you to stay. I am the king I get what I want. I never loved my brothers,' he admitted 'sad thing for a man to admit but it's true. You were the brother I chose.' Robert reminded him. Ned was liking his eldest friend less and less these days.

''why Robert? Why do you want me as Hand if you do not listen to my advice?' ned questioned

''Somebody has to run the kingdom.' Robert said honestly. 'you're the hand again, you take this off again and I pin it to Jaime fucking Lannister.' Robert told him throwing the hand pin down onto the bed.

Riekas heart plummeted as she kneaded her hands together once the door closed behind robert. Either her sisters left her father left and she stayed and married Petyr, a man she did love or they all left, or they stayed and Ned knew that wasnt an option, it was dangerous here, lions and wolves.

"What happened-" She rasped.

"I'm fine." Ned assured.

"Yeah the hole in your says that too." Rieka agreed. 

"Did Petyr find you?" ned questioned. 

"Yes, he... yes." Rieka answered softly. "Is this all about what mother did? The lannisters rage?" 

"Jaime wants his brother back, I understand that." Ned offered. 

"Well, he is a bit extreme." Reika added.