Duty, a Matter of the Heart.

Chapter 21: South.

FINALLY!!! FORGIVE ME GUYS!

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Victoria slowly opened her eyes, readjusting to reality, she stirred in bed her body gently regaining its consciousness. She could sense an orange gray, light pierce through her windows. It was the sun rise, gods I was tired what a long nap. She thought. Victoria spread her arms in bed, still slightly buzzed from sleep, trying to feel Robb. He wasn't in bed besides her, he must have had to rise before dawn. She sat in bed, feeling rather indisposed and felt it was better to take a small stroll, alone, around beautiful Winterfell, before she broke her fast.

Victoria decided to go to the Glass Gardens and just enjoy the warmth inside it, it felt like being back home in the gardens at the RedKeep. Once she got there, Victoria simply sat on a bench and contemplated how much her life was about to change. Two children, of my own. She smiled to her self as she stroked her stomach, she knew mothers often had a preference over boys or girls, but right then and there all she wanted was for her twins to be developing healthy. Master Luwin couldn't assure her, whether or not she was carrying twins, but Victoria knew. She felt it, in the kicks.

"There you are." Robb panted as he sat in the stool in front Victoria. "Everything alright with our wolf cubs?" Robb asked in a distracted manner as he watched Victoria caress her stomach and smile at the gifts she was growing inside. "They're restless today, more than usual... Do you think we'll have one of each, a boy and a girl?" Robb smiled sorrowfully. "I don't know..." He answered gazing emptily at Victoria. It was then she noticed the heaviness of his look, the dark circles under his eyes.

"Something's wrong, you're not telling me something." Victoria said making Robb feel the weight of the news he had for her. He feared above all loosing the woman he loved, to the crown, to the game but above all he didn't want to loose sight of the life they had planned and that only hours ago seemed so certain.

Robb placed his head in his hands, making Victoria feel nervous. "What is it?"

"Victoria..." Robb whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion as he stood, pacing from one side to the other, trying to find the words that would least shatter Victoria's heart. "Robb!" Victoria exclaimed impatiently, gazing into his eyes and noticing their glossiness. He looked grim and dark, paler than usual. "Please..." Victoria mutters fear prickling at the back of her neck and overwhelming her senses. It was palpable, the tension and uncertainty floating in the air, but all that was covered by a veil of fear in both Robb and Victoria.

He sat besides her,grabbing her hand abruptly as well as the back of her neck. "Remember, please, that how whatever you feel our babes feel it too. I love you Victoria and I'll always be there with you, during every step of the long way. You're not alone I promise you." Victoria was already in tears, her mind raced with the numerous possibilities, her lips quivered in fear at each and every scenario, but somehow as Robb uttered the words she felt shock strike her. The air was slowly being knocked out of her lungs as every word hit her like a punch. "A hunting accident happened. I'm so sorry, but your father, he-he didn't make it... He's dead, Victoria."

She flinched, as if Robb had hit her, the next thing Victoria realizes is the unceasing sobs escaping her. She gasps for air, not even feeling Robb's arms around her as he tires to calm her, all Victoria felt was the emptiness she was being swallowed into, her tears overwhelming her every sense and her heart racing with every blow the words caused. She felt unarmed, cold and strangely aware of her aloneness. My father, the only real family I have, dead. Victoria thought. The only person to ever truly care and understand me, cold and lifeless. The man who raised me, rotting away in a crypt. I will never hear him call me his little warrior again, and he will never meet his grandchildren... Each and every thought agonized her every fiber.