𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴 ° robb stark

The Walk

Robb walked arm in arm with his wife, the lady Talisa walking next to them. The three of them decided to break away from the camp and take a stroll in the woods nearby, wanting to enjoy the scenery while the weather was pretty warm. They were discussing Bran's betrothal to the Frey girl, something that the two Starks knew the boy wasn't happy with.

"Is she beautiful?" Talisa asked curiously.

"I've never met her." Robb answered honestly.

"What's her name?"

"Frey, I suppose." Adaya sighed. "We don't know her first name."

Talisa nodded in understanding. "I'm sure they will be very happy." The three young people shared a glance before they erupted into soft laughter. When it died down, the nurse spoke again. "And you're giving your little brother way for a bridge?"

"An important bridge." Robb corrected. Talisa nodded, signaling the king to continue. "It was before they killed my father. I still thought I could march south and rescue him in time, but only if I crossed that bridge."

Adaya could sense Robb's sadness, though he did a good job at hiding it. She gentle squeezed her husband's arm, causing him to smile softly at his wife. She smiled back reassuringly before Talisa's voice drew them back into the conversation.

"When I speak to people from the North," She started. "They all loved your father."

Robb nodded at the nurse's comment. "He was the best man I ever met. I know children always think that about their fathers, but-"

"Children do not always think that about their fathers, believe me." Talisa interrupted, sparking Adaya's interest. She would have to ask the nurse about that another time.

The king sighed before he spoke. "He once told me that being a lord is like being a father, except you have thousands of children and you worry about all of them. The farmers plowing the fields are yours to protect. The charwomen scrubbing the floors, yours to protect. The soldiers you order into battle."

The two woman listened to Robb's words as he continued on. "He told me he woke with fear in the morning and went to bed with fear in the night. I didn't believe him. I asked him, "How can a man be brave if he's afraid?" "That is the only time a man can be brave," he told me."

Talisa sighed softly, just as Robb had done moments ago. "I wish I could have met him."

Adaya smiled at the foreigner. "He would have liked you."

This caused the nurse to giggle softly, shaking her head ever so slightly. "Most lords worry more about their gold and their glory than the charwomen scrubbing their floors."

"He didn't care much about gold or glory." Robb corrected her.

"And you?"

Robb stopped suddenly, causing the two girls to come to a halt as well. The young king turned to face the nurse, a look of curiosity covering his features. "You think I'm fighting this war so they'll sing songs about me? I want to go home. I want my wife to go home. I want the men following me to go home."

"Then why don't you?"

Adaya shook her head gently, causing the tanned girl's attention to go to her. "Because we'll never be safe until the Lannisters are defeated. And because we believe in justice."

"Chopping off Joffrey's head, you mean." Talisa said slyly.

Robb nodded. "That would be a start."

Before one of the three could speak again, the sound of hooves hitting the ground became apparent to the group. They looked up just in time to see a rider approaching, coming from the direction of the camp.

"Your Graces. Milady." The soldier said, nodding to the three respectfully before turning his attention solely to the king and queen. "The Kingslayer escaped in the night."

This news shocked Adaya. Her eyes widened as she felt her husband stiffen next to her. "How?" The boy asksed. When the rider didn't answer, his tone became harsher. "How?!"