Monster // Petyr Baelish

34. Trouble

I Think He Knows / Viserys Targaryen out now!

"You need to go," Rieka begged but her smile said otherwise. Petyr took a step closer and her hands fisted his lapels of his jacket pulling him closer. "You are going to get me in trouble, I'm leaving and supposed to be falling out of love with you, not you spending the night in my bed." Rieka reminded him. Petyr took another step closer and Rieka laughed out. 

"I hate that you are leaving." Petyr declared. 

"I hate it." RIeka agreed. "I'm going to miss you... but hell we went all those years ravening, we can be raven pals again."

"I can never go back to just ravening you Rieka, not after I have seen you, held you, kissed you." Petyr corrected. "You and I... that was magical and I hate that we have to be do far away... but I do understand. I hate it but I understand." 

'lord stark a moment,' renly requested. 'alone if you will?' ned followed Renly off. 'he named you protector of the realm. She won't care. Give me an hour and I can give you 100 men.'

'what can I do with 100 men?' ned questioned.

'attack, in the night, we take joffrey into custody. every moment you delay gives cersei time to prepare. By the time Robert dies it will be too late for us.'

''what about stannis?'ned questioned.

'save the seven kingdoms from cersei and give them to stannis?' He asked incredulously. 'You have odd notions of protecting the realm.'

'stannis is your older brother.' Ned corrected.

'the line of succession doesn't matter, it didn't matter when you rebelled against the mad king.' Renly reminded him. 'It shouldn't matter now. what's best for the kingdoms what's best for the people. We know what stannis is he inspires no trust or loyalty. I do.' Renly told him.

'Stannis is a commander. He's lead men into war twice, he destroyed a Greyjoy fleet.' Ned reminded him.

'yes he's a great solider so was Robert tell me do you believe good soldiers make good kings?' Renly countered.

'I will not honor Roberts last hours by shedding blood in these halls'. Ned informed him. 'And dragging frightened children from their beds.'

Ned went to Rieka only to see Petyr at her door. He looked at the smile on Rieka's face as she bid Petyr goodnight and watched him head down the hallway.

"I hope that just a goodnight." Ned warned and Rieka jumped.

"Father! Don't sneak up on me." Rieka declared a hand over her heart.

"I didnt sneak up on you, you were just otherwise focused on... someone else." Ned offered, Rieka grumbled an answer. "I have never seen you look at anyone like that." Ned remarked softly. 

"Was there a purpose besides bringing up my nonexistent love life?" Rieka offered as she stepped back in her room. 

"Nonexistent?" 

"I'm going home remember, we all are, my union is broken and I'm... loveless." Rieka offered. 

"You are not loveless, you are young and you can find another man back at winterfell." Ned assured. 

"I know, its just... I really like Petyr." Rieka admitted. "Avalon likes him too... for what its worth." 

"I wont force you to go home." Ned assured. "You can stay if you wish it but I would love it if you went with your sisters." 

"I know and i want to go, to keep them safe although I think Arya might be better than I at this rate... I miss Robb but..." Rieka sighed. 

"You know what Benjen says," Ned recalled. 

"Nothing you ever say before the word but really counts." Rieka agreed. 

"Petyr?"

"Petyr." Rieka agreed softly. "How about this, hear me out." 

"I'm listening." Ned agreed as she hugged him. 

"The north can be free and independent. The six other realms can deal with the damn lannisters." she suggested as Ned kissed her forehead.

"I love you." Ned reminded her. "I dont think  i say it enough, but I do, I love you so much Rieka." 

"I love you" Rieka echoed.  "Daddio, I love you so much. This place is toxic. I miss the snow and Robb and Bran, Bran woke up and we need to be there for him." Rieka didnt know if she was trying to convince herself or Ned.  "Then tell Jon the wall is stupid and he needs to come home. We can tell mother that Arya has to do her swordplay with the boys or else she will start chopping off heads in outrage and Sansa... find her a dornish prince perhaps?" Rieka suggested.

"My smart girl." Ned whispered. "It's late, I will see you in the morning." Ned hugged her again and she sighed into him. "You and Robb..." he stopped himself.

"What?" Rieka countered.

"You two are close." Ned offered. 

"Yes." Rieka agreed confused. "He's my twin, I don't like being this far away from him. from any of them." Ned knew his girl wasnt like the lannisters, because Rieka never looked at Robb the way she did Petyr right then and there.

"I love you Rieka," Ned whispered kissing her forehead.

"I love you." She echoed as he left.