Duty, a Matter of the Heart.

Chapter 8: Once in a Lifetime.

Victoria
It had been a fortnight since me and Robb went to the glass gardens of Winterfell. We had been sneaking around from everybody, to be together, but I was growing anxious. My grandfather and the Tyrells were arriving today, for my birthday that was tomorrow. I was looking forward to see Margeary, I missed her so much. I felt that I could really talk to her about anything, she doesn't judge and there was a lot that I needed to discuss with her. She isn't like those pompous ladies that my mother insists that I call friends, little does she know that I am aware that they are her spies. It's always fun to play with the information that my mother receives.
I was dressing myself, I didn't want to have my hand maidens with me today, when Robb stormed in. "Are you mad!!??" I say grabbing the fur blanket from the bed to cover myself. "I'm sorry Victoria!" He says looking away. I roll my eyes and laugh, as I move towards the screen to finish dressing myself behind it. "What's troubling you?" I question Robb. "How do you know something is troubling me?"
"Your brows are furrowed and you are blushed in anger. Plus, it isn't like you to just storm in." I say looking at him as I finish dressing my self. I step out from behind the screen and Robb watches me intently. He looks me up and down, and bites his lower lip as I walk and sit in the dressing table to apply my jewelry. "I guess you do know me quite well." I smile at him through the mirror, as he sits on my bed. "What's wrong then?"
"What if it doesn't go as we planned it? What if you are forced to marry Willas?"
"I am Victoria Baratheon, if you think I will be one of those girls that is dragged into a sept against her will, you are very mistaken. We will elope and get married before they can even realise what has happened."
"No I won't have my princess marry like that Victoria. You deserve the world, I want to give you everything you could possibly want and need, no Lady wants a wedding like that."
"I want you Robb, if what it takes for you to be mine and I yours forever, is for me to marry you in the nearest village I'll do it. It doesn't matter where we are married just as long as we are bound into one, in the presence of the gods."  Robb stands and kneels in front of me as I am still sitting on the dressing table. He takes my face into his rough hands and brings me close to his face. He smiles, nervously. "Victoria, every day that passes I'm more certain than ever that I belong with you. I love you. I love you more than words can explain. And there will never be a day that I won't show you how much you mean to me, because a woman like you only comes around once in a life time and I hope that you will stay in mine for as long as it may last." I couldn't stop the tears of joy slipping down my face, Robb was what I had been praying to the gods for, and here he was declaring his love for me. He wipes one of my tears with his thumb as I smile down at him. "Oh Robb, I love you. I love you so much, it hurts. I don't want you to think I am saying this because you said it, I guess you found the words before I could. You make me so happy, and you make me happy because, I chose to love you. I wasn't forced into loving you, its beyond emotional what I feel for you. I want you to know that I will choose to love you even when the stars stop shinning in your eyes because I know that if I love you through your pain and you through mine, the stars can shine brightly again." Robb smiled up at me and stood taking me with him. We stood closely, he rested his forehead on mine and caressed my cheek with one hand and pulled me close to him by my waist with the other one. Robb laughed and quickly moved his lips onto mine. He kissed me in a teasingly desperate manner and I felt unstoppable, as my hands roamed his chiseled back. I yearned for his skin, and as he picked me up and sat me on the dressing table and delicately explored my curves I knew he felt the same way. Robb quickly moved onto my neck, as my hands grazed over his body dangerously low.
Before my hands could move an inch lower, there was a knock on my door. "Victoria, are you in there?"
"It's Sansa!" Robb stated, whispering and pulling his rough lips from my certainly bruised neck. The loss of his heat made me want to just pin him against me, and never let him go. "Just a moment please!" I stated breathless. I looked myself in the mirror and quickly fixed my messy hair. I dismissed the blush on my cheeks, since I couldn't do anything about it. Robb was regaining his composure, he straightened his back brushed a hand through his hair and placed his arms behind his back. "You may come in Sansa." Sansa swiftly opened the door with her usual smile on her lips. Her eyes looked surprised at the sight of Robb. "Robb!? I haven't seen you all morning what are you doing in here?"
"I was just discussing with my - I mean, Princess Victoria, about how we should spar again. I'm keen on learning more about her... Skills." He said smirking at me, as I blushed with his words. He respectfully bowed and left me and Sansa. "So what can I do for you sweet girl?"
"I was wondering if you would be so kind as to help me with my hair. I want to look good for the new arrivals and Joffrey." She said beaming as she mentioned his name. I couldn't help but feel sad. She was so beautiful and naive, Joffrey didn't deserve her. She deserved someone who would cherish her innocence and not wreck it. "Look, Sansa, you are a true northern beauty, and I want to think of you as a baby sister. So, trust me when I tell you that Joffrey is not the husband that you deserve." She looked confused, and simply knitted her eyebrows together and looked down. "Please, sit my darling." She sat in front of the dressing table, her back facing me. I began to comb my fingers trough her long red waves, they felt like the sun. Warm and shiny. "All I meant to say is that, perhaps Joffrey hasn't shown his true colours just yet."
"But he's so handsome and gallant. He's a prince and your brother! How can you say such things!?"
"I say these things because I've seen how he is! He's a monster, he's cruel and he amuses himself with torture." She looked conflicted, as she blankly stared at herself in the mirror. "I've seen him beat up Tommen, in the courtyard. If your mother had not intervened I..." She looked scared now. "I can't count the times I had to come between him and his poor victims. To think that my father took down a mad King from the Iron Throne, so that another may place it's ass on it."
"There is nothing we can do about it, I'm already betrothed to him."
"Betrothements are easily broken. Joffrey will never settle, unless he has something to play with or unless he finds something that can control him. As long as he has a prettier girl he won't care. I'm sorry." She looked upset for a moment. "You don't think I can control him?"
"No Sansa. It would  take a more, uhm, seasoned woman. You deserve better, please understand that I am only saying these things to protect you." I say finishing her hair. I did a simple southern style that I hoped would catch Willas's attention. "I know Victoria, it's just that I was looking forward to be married and to be a queen. Thank you. I love the what you did with my hair!" I hugged her feeling relieved at her disposition to let go of Joffrey. "You look lovely. I promise you that you will be happy, happier than any queen could ever be."
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Hey guys! Sorry for the small chapter I promise that the next ones will be much better. It's just that I had some wisdom teeth removed and I have loads of work. I hope you understand, but please brace yourselves for the next chapters. Muahaha ;)
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Xoxo
Mary