A Mother's Love

Janna was nearly asleep, the rhythmic sound of horse's hooves padding on the ground below her, the motion of the horse almost like a mother rocking her child. She leaned back further against the warm, fur covered chest behind her to get more comfortable. Her eyes felt heavy and she was tempted to let them finally close, knowing that the arms that encircled her would never allow her to fall.

"Janna," Robb whispered, his head leaned down. His breath warmed the side of her neck, forcing an involuntary shiver to come over her. "We're nearly at camp now."

Janna nodded lazily and yawned, bringing a closed fist up to her mouth to smother the sound. "How long have we been riding?"

"Nearly a day," said Robb quietly. "Mother should have already arrived at The Twins by now. We will meet halfway - Gods willing she'll arrive with good news."

Lady Catelyn had gone to negotiate with Old Walder Frey. Janna knew from stories of him as a child he wouldn't be a pleasant man - she had never heard a good tale about Late Lord Frey. Janna, too, prayed for good word to be sent.

"He would be a fool to refuse my King," Janna encouraged, a small smile on her face. "The old man will grant you passage, Robb. If not we'll beat his bald little head like a war drum and go through after."

A breathy laugh left fell from his lips, and Janna felt the scratch of his beard when he leaned closer to her than before, his lips on the shell of her ear. "Your tongue's grown sharper than my blade of late, Janna."

"War does that, I suppose," Janna quipped. "As does sitting on a horse for hours on end."

"Aye," Robb chuckled. "I supposed it does."

Finally, long after night had fallen, they reach a place to make camp. Robb climbed down from the horse, then turned to lift Janna from the beast as if she weighed no more than a feather. His hands were strong, but firm on her waist, and he didn't release her until he was sure she had her footing. His warm hands ran from her shoulders to her elbows and then back again.

"We'll camp here for a few days, let our troops rest while Mother charms Lord Frey. You will be in my tent," Robb told her gently, "separate cots, if you wish it."

Janna's cheeks burned with the heat of a thousand fires. "What is your wish, my King?"

"My wish is for you to be safe and happy behind the walls of Winterfell," Robb admitted quietly.

Janna felt her shoulders drop - did he not want her here with him to witness his wins and help him recover from the losses of war?

"Oh," she breathed. She could find no other words.

Robb's smile lengthened as he continued to speak, his eyes glazed by an emotion Janna couldn't name. He was looking at her, but she suspected his mind had traveled back to his home.

"My wish is for you to bear me many sons and daughters and sit beside me in our home, to grow old with me. Janna Stark, Queen in the North."

Janna felt herr throat tighten at his words, but could not fight the beaming smile that threatened to split her face. "Your wish is for us to wed?"

"Of course it is," Robb hummed.

Janna reach her hands up to his face, stroking his thick beard with the tips of her fingers. Tears collected in her eyes, and as hard as she tried to blink them away, a few found themselves down her cheeks. Janna lurched forward and Robb responded quickly, his arms wrapping themselves around her with vigor. Without a care as to who was watching Janna pressed your lips to his hungrily.