DAGGERS TO THE HEART Part 1 - GAME OF THRONES

Robb III

Robb Stark crossed the threshold into his private chambers, where an ambient glow of warm orange emanated from the hearth, casting its flickering dance across the chamber. A solitary candle on the bedside table added its soft luminescence to the atmosphere. The bed, adorned with the pelts of beasts hailing from the North, beckoned, urging him to take refuge from the pressing thoughts of the imminent Lord's Progress. Shedding the cumbersome weight of armour and duty, even if for a fleeting moment, became a ritual of liberation.

The evening's events lingered in the corridors of Robb's mind—a complex mosaic of alliances and the delicate threads of loyalty for mother and sister, both. The visage of Sansa, her tear-streaked face and the determined expression she wore while discussing her husband, Jon, painted a poignant picture. Robb's emotions engaged in a nuanced dance, a tangle of familial responsibilities and the intricacies of love.

Slipping beneath the cosy furs, Robb released a weary sigh. The northern air, carrying the chill of the region, seeped through the robust stone walls, an ever-present reminder of the world beyond the sanctuary of his chambers. With closed eyes, he sought solace in the comforting darkness that waited to envelope him, a momentary respite from the demanding responsibilities awaiting him.

As the clutches of sleep ensnared him, Robb Stark's musings pirouetted between the imminent Lord's Progress and the distant silhouette of his erstwhile half-brother, now his brother-in-law, Jon. The upcoming comet, a celestial omen marking both their journeys, personal and political. Robb pondered the winding path that stretched ahead, fraught with challenges that would test the very resilience of the North, against a potential foe who was likely to betray their family for personal gain.

Excitement should have coursed through Robb as he contemplated embarking on his Lord's Progress. Throughout his life, he had been building towards this pivotal juncture. Approaching the age of eighteen, on the cusp of manhood, it was the time to forge connections with his bannermen. However, the prospect did not evoke enthusiasm. In truth, he faced it with a sense of dread, a sentiment compounded by various factors. Foremost among them was the impending separation from his sister and mother who were currently at crosshairs. As the most senior male in the house, it was his responsibility to keep the peace. A sense of urgency to repair the damage before it escalated was his immediate task.

Robb clung to a steadfast determination to support Jon and his sister against the impending tide of their mother's opposition. For Lady Stark aimed to maintain her children as her pack, she would need to reconcile herself with the presence of the dragon. But that would be for the morrow, for now, sleep awaited.

Come the morning, Robb summoned his mother to Sansa's solar, desiring an intimate discourse shielded from prying gazes and curious ears. The sacred tenets of House Tully—Family, Duty, Honour—demanded indelible inscription upon Lady Catelyn Stark's consciousness. The solar provided a sanctuary, free from intrusive eyes and attentive ears, affording Robb and his mother the seclusion needed. Meanwhile, Sansa, engrossed with the Master Stone Mason, busied herself with the redesign of Queenscrown Keep, contemplating materials and the practical aspects of the construction.

As Robb awaited his mother's arrival, he took a seat by the fire, a horn of ale placed on the table beside him. With the impending departure for the Lords Progress, he delved into last-minute preparations, with Last Hearth, the residence of House Umber, being his first stop. A tricky manoeuvre as House Umber was foremost affected by the changes he was to propose.

Catelyn Stark entered the room, her long blue woollen dress gliding across the stone floor, yet the tone of her footsteps were a sign of a less-than-sunny disposition.

"Sit, Mother. Have some ale," Robb invited.

Seated opposite him, Lady Catelyn's Tully blue eyes locked onto his, mirroring the shade of his own. Yet, while Robb's eyes radiated calmness, his mother's exuded a fiery intensity, reminiscent of the auburn hue of her hair.