FIRE AND ICE - ROBB STARK X TARGARYEN OC

seduction and plans

In the Gardens by the Cliffside Robin Arryn stands stiffly by the sea wall, watching gulls wheel above the waves. He’s taller now, less frail than in his youth, though still slender and pale. Margaery approaches, her gown fluttering in the breeze, her smile warm but measured.

"Lord Arryn. You seem deep in thought." The beautiful woman tells him.

Robin who glances at her, then back to the sea "The Vale. My lords send ravens every day, pressing me to return. They think me too young to linger here among kings and queens."

This prompts Margaery to step closer, tilting her head "And what do you think?"

This time Robin hesitates "I think… they still see me as a boy. But I am not a boy. I train with sword and shield, I sit in council. I will not be ruled by maesters and bannermen forever."

Margaery ,smiling gently agrees with him. "No, you will not. You are heir to the Eyrie. The falcon of the Vale.", She  pauses, her eyes lingering on him, "But even falcons must choose where they will land."

This causes the young Robin tp frown slightly, defensive "You mean to say I cannot rule alone?"

Margaery laughs softly, shaking her head. "No one rules alone, my lord. Not kings, not queens. Even dragons need wings to carry them higher." Then she leans a little closer, her voice dropping. "And you will need a partner who believes in you. Someone to steady you, to make the lords see the man you are becoming."

Robin studies her carefully, his jaw tightening as if to show resolve "And you think that partner should be you."

Margaery smile deepens, though her tone stays calm "Who better? A Tyrell rose twined with the falcon of the Vale. Beauty and honor. Fertility and strength. We could give the realm something it has not seen in years: unity."

Robin pauses, now shifting slightly torn.
"You speak well, Lady Margaery. Too well. My mother once warned me of pretty words."

Once she hears this her eyes soften, and she touches his arm, just briefly. "And did she warn you also of kind ones? I would not flatter you, Robin. I see what you are becoming. Stronger. Wiser. Worthy of the Vale you will inherit."

Robin's  lips twitch as if fighting a smile, but he pulls back slightly. "Perhaps. But I will not be hurried into promises. Not by my bannermen. Not by you."

Margaery bows her head gracefully, hiding the glimmer in her eyes. "As you wish, my lord. I will not press you. But I will walk with you again tomorrow. Perhaps the sea will whisper differently by then."
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At the Godswood in Winterfell, Bran Stark wargs into a flock of ravens to fly over the Wall into the Land of Always Winter. Through the ravens, he sees the army of the dead led by the White Walkers and the Night King, traveling south towards Eastwatch-by-the-Sea. His reconnaissance continues until the Night King sees the ravens, at which Bran severs the connection. He then tells Maester Wolkan that they need to send ravens at once.
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In the crownlands Cersei's hand  has made a deal with the golden company to get sellswords and elephants.
She remembers well what Jaime told her when he returned defeated, yet alive from the Riverlands.
So now she needed to focus on getting more men and weapons to deal with the dragons.
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Later, at the Chamber of the Painted Table, Jon tells Robb, Rhaenya and Daenerys that a raven had arrived from Winterfell.
"Well is it good news?" The Targaryen women ask almost at the same time.

"We thought Arya was dead. We thought Bran was dead." Jon says as his and Robbs face show no sight of happiness.

This makes the women wonder "we are happy for you and i am sure Rickon will be too." Rhaenya said but still she shared a look with her aunt almost as if asking why the two mem were not happy.

"You don't look happy." Dany says looking at the scowls in their faces.

"Bran saw the Night King and his army marching towards Eastwatch. If they make it past the wall....." Robb speaks but is interruoted by Varys who tells them that the wall has kept the knight king and his army out for thousands of years. So maybe it can still keep them out. But he is also interrupted by Jon.

"We need to go home." Prompting Robb to nod.

Dany however notes that they doesn't have enough men to fight the army of the dead and Robb tells Rhaenya to join him.

"As soon as i leave  for the North Cersei will come back." She stated worried.

"I thought i was your king consort and as such i think the problem in the North takes precedence over Cersei Lannister." Robb said starting to get frustrated.

"Yes that is what you are my consort. Which means i still have the final word in the matter." Rhaenya raised her voice.

Tyrion sensing the fight erupting proposes bringing a wight south to King's Landing in order to prove that the army of the dead is real and convince Queen Cersei Lannister, so they can come to a truce.
Bring one of these things down to King's Landing and show her the truth.

"Anything you bring back will be useless unless Cersei grants us an audience and is somehow convinced not to murder us the moment we set foot in the capital." Varys states as he sees this as a suicidal mission.

"The only person she listens to is Jaime. He may listen to me." Tyrion proposes.

"And how would you get into King's Landing." Robb asks the Hand, now more calm.

Everyone in the room stops and looks at Davos.

"I can smuggle you in but if anyone recognises you im telling you im not much of a fighter." Davos, says as the only one who might be able to smuggle Tyrion into King's Landing, reluctantly agrees, but also thinks such a mission is risky even for a smuggler like him.

"Then it is settled, Ser Davos will smuggle Tyrion into the capital while we get the white" Robb stated receiving a nod from those in the room. Not realising his wife's apprehensive look.