✅️ The Last Velaryon - Robb Stark

22 - The Fire of a Best Friend

Arching my back I did my best to slow my breathing once Robb and I had finished our duty as husband and wife.  Laying underneath the thick furs I ran a hand through my messy hair watching him.  Robb rose from his lying position on the bed going over and began slipping his clothes back on.  He hadn't said a word to me after he had come in and said we needed to perform our duty to one another.  Regardless I knew he wasn't happy with me, luckily he hadn't found out about what me and his mother had done with Jaime yet.  Finally not being able to take the uncomfortable silence I spoke up. "Is this how we're going to be from now on? We share a bed like we have romantic attachment for one another but outside the tent you pretend as if everything is fine around your men."

"You seem to understand the plan quite clearly.  I don't see a need for us to discuss it any further." He said bending down and began tying the strings of his boots.

Moving my body more upright against the pillows I snapped back. "Robb, I don't want that kind of life with you.  I love you but not the way you are currently acting like."

"So I'm just supposed to act like everything is fine when my wife has lied to me.  When I had completely allowed myself to trust you from day one of meeting you.  I believed you weren't a threat and now I can't look at you without thinking about him."

"Then maybe I was a fool to think you ever loved me  at all." I blurted out regretting my words that had come out of my mouth.  Robb looked over his shoulder, an instant hurt showing all over his face.  "Robb, I didn't mean to say that.  I just-"

The tent flap opened revealing a guard who addressed us. "My king, my queen, the Frey woman are arriving."

"Thank you, Ser.  I'll see you later." Robb picked his sword up from the table without another word to me.  So I had no choice but to get dressed and go see the young girls I believed I could help find a husband they loved amongst our houses.

A large carriage came riding down the road coming towards the edge of the camp.  The House Frey banners flapped in the wind until the carriage stopped in front of where I was standing.  The door was swung open by the driver revealing the five girls I would take under my wing.  Merry, who has  dark brown eyes and blonde hair.  Next standing beside her was Freya with hazel eyes, and blonde hair.  Shifting my gaze past the two ladies, the other two joining them was Marianne and Giana.  Marianne was born with light blue eyes, and long, dark curly hair while Giana has brown eyes and light brown hair that was in simple wavy curls.  "You're grace." All the young women gave me a curtsy after they had exited the carriage.

"Before we go any further let's get one thing straight.   While we are together you don't have to address me as your grace or my queen.  I was never raised to find those tiles acceptable.  I'm simply Haelesa and all of you are simply high born ladies looking for some guidance from me that I am happy to provide."

Freya cleared her throat asking a question I didn't expect. "Haelesa, the baby that you lost was it your husband's?"

"I think it's best that I answer that at a later time."

Marianne tilted her head to the side. "Could you teach us how to ride horses?"

"Yes, that I can do." I waved them all to follow me, ordering the guards to put all their belongings in the available tent we had prepared for them.  Regardless of Robb and I having some conflict at the moment I knew I needed to focus on making these girls prepared for the world and comfortable while living in our camp.

Robb's pov

"Have we heard anything from Lord Velaryon yet?" I asked my less bannermen that were standing around the war table with me.  We needed his men and ships if we were either going to take Casterly Rock or take King's Landing from the Lannister family and their bastard children.