Love beneath the Snow

25| 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔟𝔦𝔡𝔡𝔢𝔫 𝔞𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

𝔫𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔫 𝔯𝔢𝔤𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰

— THE MORNING SUN HUNG LOW IN THE SKY AS VALIRA MADE HER WAY THROUGH THE CAMP, HER THOUGHTS STILL LINGERING ON THE EVENTS OF THE PREVIOUS DAY. The tension between her and Robb had grown thick, almost palpable, and it left her with a sense of unease that she couldn't quite shake. She knew that something had to give, that the unspoken words between them would soon have to be brought to light.

As she walked, Valira found herself approaching Lady Stark's tent. Catelyn Stark had always been a figure of strength and authority, but also one of kindness and care, especially when it came to her children. Valira respected her deeply, not just as the lady of Winterfell, but as a mother who had fiercely protected her family through every storm that had come their way.

Yet, despite this respect, Valira couldn't help but feel a pang of apprehension as she approached the tent. Their last conversation had left her shaken, and she knew that another confrontation was inevitable. She needed to speak with Lady Stark again, to try and find some common ground, especially when it came to Sansa and Arya.

Taking a deep breath, Valira stepped into the tent. Lady Stark was sitting at a small wooden table, her hands busy with a piece of embroidery. The moment Valira entered, Catelyn looked up, her expression cool but not unkind. "Lady Stark," Valira greeted, her voice steady but respectful. "Valira," Catelyn replied, setting her work aside. "What brings you here?"

"I wanted to speak with you," Valira began, choosing her words carefully. "About your daughters. I know that you're worried about them, and I want you to know that I care for them deeply. I've always thought of Sansa and Arya as sisters, and I want to do whatever I can to help them... to keep them safe." Catelyn's eyes softened slightly at the mention of her daughters, but there was still a guardedness in her gaze. "You speak with sincerity, Valira, and I appreciate that. But you must understand, my trust is not easily given, especially in these times."

"I understand," Valira said quickly, her voice pleading. "But I promise you, I will do everything in my power to protect them. I won't let anything happen to them, not if I can help it." Lady Stark regarded her for a long moment, her eyes searching Valira's face for any sign of deceit. Finally, she sighed, a sound filled with both weariness and resignation. "I believe you mean well, Valira. And I'm grateful for that. But there are things you cannot change, no matter how much you wish to." Valira frowned, sensing that there was something more behind Lady Stark's words. "What do you mean?"

Catelyn hesitated, as if weighing whether or not to share what was on her mind. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice tinged with a sadness that surprised Valira. "Robb... he cares for you, Valira. I've seen it in the way he looks at you, in the way he speaks about you. But you must understand, he is a Stark, and his duty is to his family. He must marry for the good of the North, and that means he cannot follow his heart, no matter how much he might wish to." The words hit Valira like a blow, leaving her momentarily speechless. She had known, on some level, that Robb's responsibilities would always come first, but hearing it spoken so plainly, so matter-of-factly, was another thing entirely. The thought of him marrying someone else, someone he didn't love, left her feeling cold and hollow inside. "I... I didn't know," Valira whispered, her voice barely audible. "I didn't realize..."

"I'm telling you this because I care for you, Valira," Lady Stark said, her tone gentle but firm. "I don't want you to be hurt. Robb is a good man, but he has a heavy burden on his shoulders. He may care for you, but he cannot afford to let his emotions dictate his decisions." Valira nodded, her mind reeling from the revelation. "Thank you for telling me, Lady Stark. I... I'll keep that in mind." Catelyn reached out and placed a hand on Valira's arm, a rare gesture of comfort. "Take care, Valira. These are dangerous times, and the heart is often the first casualty." With that, Valira left the tent, her thoughts swirling with the weight of Lady Stark's words. She had always known that her relationship with Robb was complicated, but now it seemed even more so. The knowledge that he was bound by duty to marry someone else left her feeling lost and uncertain, her heart aching with a pain she hadn't expected.

That night, as the camp settled into the quiet of evening, Valira found herself walking toward the tent her and Robb shared. The conversation with Lady Stark had left her restless, unable to find peace in her own thoughts. She needed to see Robb, to speak with him, even if it meant confronting the feelings that had been growing between them.

When she entered the tent, she found Robb sitting at the small wooden table, a tankard of ale in his hand. The dim light of the lantern cast shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his expression. He looked up as she entered, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of surprise and something deeper, something she couldn't quite name. "Valira," he said, his voice rough from the ale. "I need to talk to you," she replied, moving to sit across from him at the table. She watched as he took another sip of his drink, the silence between them heavy with unspoken words. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Robb sighed, setting the tankard down and running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing," he said at first, but the look in her eyes made him reconsider. "It's just... everything. The war, the responsibilities, the expectations. I'm supposed to marry someone for the good of the North, but... it's not what I want. I don't want to marry someone I don't love." His words struck a chord in Valira, echoing the conversation she'd had with Lady Stark earlier that day. "Who are you supposed to marry?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A girl from a noble house," Robb replied, his tone bitter. "It doesn't matter who she is. The point is, I don't want it. I don't want to marry her." Valira's heart clenched at the pain in his voice. She had always known that Robb was bound by duty, but hearing him speak so openly about his reluctance made it all the more real. "I don't want you to marry her either," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. Robb looked up at her, his eyes dark and intense. "And who do you think I should marry, Valira?" he asked, his tone both challenging and vulnerable. Valira met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. The tension between them was almost unbearable, the air thick with the weight of their unspoken desires. "I don't know," she said honestly. "But I know it shouldn't be someone you don't love."

Robb's expression softened, a small, sad smile playing at the corners of his lips. "And what if I told you that the person I want to marry... is someone I can't have?" Valira's breath caught in her throat. She knew what he was implying, but hearing it spoken aloud made it all the more real. "Robb..." she began, but he cut her off, his voice low and urgent. "Don't," he said, leaning forward, his eyes locked on hers. "Don't say anything. Just... let me look at you."

The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand on his, her fingers trembling as they made contact. The touch was electric, sending a jolt of energy through both of them. Robb's hand tightened around hers, his grip firm but gentle. The look in his eyes was almost desperate, as if he were holding on to her like a lifeline. Without thinking, Valira leaned in closer, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She could feel his breath on her skin, warm and intoxicating, as he moved closer as well. The distance between them closed rapidly, the tension between them finally reaching a breaking point.

Their lips met in a kiss that was both fierce and tender, a release of all the emotions they had been holding back for so long. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the heat of the moment. Robb's hands moved to cup her face, his touch gentle yet firm as he deepened the kiss. Valira responded in kind, her fingers tangling in his hair as she pressed closer to him, her body yearning for the warmth and closeness that only he could provide. As the kiss grew more intense, all thoughts of duty, of obligations, of the world outside the tent, were forgotten. There was only the two of them, wrapped up in the fire of their own making.

A/N:
Every time Lady Stark talks to Valira the opposite happens ahaha
What do you think of this chapter?
Love you all!