𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴 ° robb stark

The Nurse's Tale

Talisa walked next to Adaya as the two women strolled towards the command tent, the young Lyanna Stark sleeping in her mother's arms. As they passed, the soldiers would bow to their queen, who smiled brightly when she greeted them.

"They adore you, Your Grace." Talisa said, shocked at the kind things and gestures given towards the Stark girl. "You're so kind with them, even the ones who might snap at any point."

"All it takes to win a man's heart is a little bit of kindness. At least that's what my father used to tell me." Adaya said, giggling softly. "Besides, they are my people; they are mine to look after, kind or cruel."

The two women finally approached the tent where the King and Roose Boston were meeting. Adaya pushes aside the tent flaps, smiling as she saw the two men rising from their seats.

"My Queen." Roose said, bowing his head. "My lady." With that said, the lord bid his farewell to Robb before ducking out of the tent.

"How are you?" Talisa asked the king curiously as Adaya went over to sit in the chair beside her husband.

"How am I?" Robb asked, clarifying the question to himself. "I've had to arrest my mother. The Lannisters have my sisters. The man I considered my closest friend has seized my home and my brothers. I'm fighting a war and I don't know if I should march south or north."

Adaya gently placed a hand on Robb's arm to calm him, resulting in a soft exhale of breath from the boy.

Talia looked down as she shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry. It was a stupid question."

"There's no need to apologize, Lady Talisa." Adaya reassured the nurse, looking over at her friend. "My husband is just under a lot of stress is all."

"You'll have to forgive me, my lady." Robb agreed, realizing the way he snapped at Talisa. "You were being kind. I had no right."

"You have every right. You're a king." Talisa argued.

"That's not the kind of king I want to be."

"What kind do you want to be?" The nurse asked curiously.

Robb took a second the think before he answered. "I don't know. A good one?" The boy said as he chuckled, resulting in smiles from both of the women present before he continued. "Most kings grew up as princes. They spend their whole lives preparing for the crown. I was raised to be Lord of Winterfell."

"And you're doing a wonderful job considering the circumstances, my love." Adaya reassures her husband, squeezing his hand gently.

Talisa sighed softly before she spoke up. "I was raised to be a proper little lady, to play the harp and dance the latest steps and recite Valyrian poetry."

Adaya smiled as she looked away from Robb and over to the foreign girl. "I'd like to hear you play the harp."

"No. No, you wouldn't." Talisa argued playfully, causing the blonde Stark to laugh.

Robb stood slowly, pouring a glass of wine for himself and Lady Talisa, knowing his wife doesn't partake. He handed one glass to the nurse, who accepted it with a smile, before the king returned to his seat. "How did you go from reciting Valyrian poetry to sawing off men's feet?" The boy asked curiously.

Talisa looked down into her wine glass, swirling its contents before she started telling the married couple her story. "When I was twelve, my mother and father went to a wedding. Weddings in Volantis last for days, you know. And they left me with my little brother. The second afternoon they were gone was the hottest day in the three-year summer. We couldn't bear to be inside, so we ran down to the Rhoyne. Every child in Volantis was in the Rhoyne that day. The rich, the poor, we were all there. Naked, screaming, racing to the little islands." The lady smiled as she remembered the fun days of her childhood, placing the cup down before she continued.

"Drummers were playing for coppers on the east bank. I was treading water, talking to a friend, when I realized I hadn't seen my brother. I called his name. Then I started screaming his name. And then I saw him floating face down. My heart just stopped. I was I dragged him from the water. My friend helped me, I think. I don't even remember. He was so little." Adaya could see the look of pain in the woman's face and reached across the table, holding the nurse's hand gently. "Then we pulled him onto the riverbank. And I screamed at him and I shook him. And he was dead. Just dead."

"A man ran over. He had a fish tattoo on his face. In Volantis, the slaves have tattoos. So you know what they are without having to talk to them. And this man worked on a fishing boat. And he pushed me out of the way. You have to understand, for a slave to push a highborn girl, that's death for the man, a terrible death. But he pushed me out of the way, and he started pressing on my brother's chest again and again and again, until my brother spat out half of the Rhoyne and cried out. And the man cradled his head and told him to be calm."

"Sounds like you were very lucky that man was around for you and your brother, my lady." Adaya said softly, earning a soft smile from her friend in return.

"I decided two things that day. I would not waste my years planning dances and masquerades with the other noble ladies. And when I came of age, I would never live in a slave city again." The woman looked up and realized all of what just happened. "I'm sorry, Your Graces. You told me of your problems and I've blathered on."

Adaya smiled gently at Talisa, reassuring the woman. "It's quite alright, my lady. You have nothing to apologize for." The young girl glanced at her husband before looking back to the foreigner. "It was Robb and I who were curious."

"Adaya is right, Lady Talisa." Robb said, backing up his wife. "Thank you for sharing with us."

Talisa smiled at the two before she stood, brushing off her dress. "It is getting late. I will leave you two to get your rest." The nurse bowed slightly before standing tall again. "Goodnight, Your Grace. My Queen."

With that said, Talisa turned and left the tent, leaving the small family alone with nothing but their thoughts.

Author's Note

I really do apologize how long it took this update to come out. I've been pretty busy lately and haven't really gotten around to it.

Anyways, I will be writing this book like crazy for the next couple of days, seeing as I really want to finish it.

With that said, I will be ending it in Season 3 (we're almost done with season 2) and I think you know how it will end, sadly 😢

But for now, hope you enjoyed this long awaited part!