From Winter To Summer and Winter Again 3

Part 6

Rhaenyra waited beside her mother in law, standing between the barren trees of the Riverlands. She anxiously wrung her hands a she looked toward the field before her, desperately trying to hear any sound emanating from the distance. She was greeted with silence.

Her thoughts raced as she thought of the battle occurring miles away. She shut her eyes at the thought of Robb fighting alongside his men. Honorable, she thought. Rhaenyra silently muttered prayers to the old gods, begging them to keep him safe. Begging them for his return. Each prayer left her lips in a small whisper of a blessing.

The prayers lessened as she thought of her children, the two boys confined to the tent until she returned. Rhaenyra thanked the gods for her maid who watched over her sons. She then prayed for them, for their part in the war and their recent engagements. Her heart sunk at the thought of their marriages, but it was a necessity for their triumph.

Then, the sounds of horses hooves could be heard. Rhaenyra's eyes clouded with tears as she desperately searched the tree line across the fading field. Her eyes shifted over the familiar Lords, hoping to find her husband. Her heart nearly shattered before she was greeted with the familiar figure of her husband. From her spot, she saw the dents on his armor, the mud on his face and the blood that littered his clothes.

Rhaenyra ran down the hill, grateful she wore riding pants under her dress. She noticed Robb quickened his horse at the sight of her, a smile spreading across his cheeks. Both rushed toward each other.

Rhaenyra nearly pulled him off his horse to kiss him in a desperate embrace. Her lips crashed against his as her hand tangled itself in his hair. She pulled him closer to her by the collar of his breastplate, he was almost falling off his saddle. "I had never been so terrified in my life."

Robb sat higher on his saddle, looking down to her as he spoke. "I am here, love." His gloved hand rubbed against the crown of her head before he kicked the sides of his horse once more. Rhaenyra walked beside him, slowly edging up the hill with him.

Rhaenyra smiled as Robb hoped of his horse. He brought her to him once more, deeply kissing her as he did. She smiled into it, blessed to have him safe beside her. The two separated at the sound of rushed horses. Robb turned to greet his mother eagerly, Rhaenyra curiously watched as men holding her house's banners rode closer. There were two men on a horse, an odd sight. Perhaps one is injured, she thought. From the distance she could see one of the men was Theon, she saw his face harden as he spoke foully to the other men. She wondered why then realized the one tied in the back of the others' horse was a Lannister soldier. Her eyes noticed the shimmer of his red and golden armor, the lion's head on each shoulder shone underneath the sun.

"My Lord, my Lady!" Screamed Theon as he rode up the hill. "The Kingslayer." Rhaenyra's heart raced as the other man threw Jaime Lannister at her feet.

Robb walked around her, gesturing for Theon to sit him up. "By the time they knew what was happening, it had already happened." Rhaenyra's eyes met the Kingslayer's, his green eyes burned back. She moved back as a smile spread on his face.

"Lady Stark, I'd offer you my sword, but I seem to have lost it." She held back the urge to strike him.

"It is not your sword I want Kingslayer, give me my sisters back. My father by law back." Theon held the Lannister's golden hair tighter. But the smile never left his face as he watched Rhaenyra.

Jaime laughed, "I'm afraid I lost them too."

"Kill him, Robb," spoke Theon. "Kill him. Send his head to his father. He cut down ten of our men. You saw him." Rhaenyra shook her head to him, hoping her husband would agree.

Robb looked up from his prisoner, "He's more useful to us alive than dead."

Rhaenyra walked toward their new prisoner, crouching before him. "Put him in chains. Let him sit in his own piss and shit, let him suffer."

"We could end this war right now, boy, save thousands of lives. You fight for the Starks, I fight for the Lannisters. Swords or lances, teeth, nails. Choose your weapons and let's end this here and now."

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes and looked down to her dress, she ripped a thick piece of fabric from the ends littered with dirt. Theon continued to grip Jaime's hair while Rhaenyra pulled his jaw down to stuff the fabric into his mouth. "No more foolish comments from you," she stood up to join her husband's side. "Take it out once he is in his irons." Theon nodded to her.

That night, Rhaenyra and Robb laid together on their bed, limbs entangled. It was bliss, with furs tossed against their legs, hair wildly disheveled. They tenderly gazed at each other as both would whisper, "I love you." Their children were off with his mother, gods bless her.

Robb's head rested between his wife's breast as he listened to her gently hum. Rhaenyra's nails trailed up and down his bareback. His eyes closed at the soothing gesture. "On to sack Tywin's men?"

"Yes," he lifted his head to rest his chin against her chest. "Then to King's Landing. Hopefully, my aunt, Lysa will join us, but I am doubtful." Rhaenyra pushed his curls away from his forehead, giggling as they fell back into place.

"Maybe the Tyrells will," her head fell back onto her pillow.

"They're supporting Renly. Mace's daughter is his new queen."

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, "False queen." Robb adjusted himself onto his forearms, he gazed down at her. "The Tyrells only support Renly because of Loras."

"Aye," he rolled onto his side of the bed, bouncing against his pillow. "But if something happens to Renly where will they go?"

"Stannis, or worse Joffrey."

"Not to us?"

"Perhaps some will," she turned onto her shoulder to speak to him. "My father promised me to Loras once." Robb turned to her abruptly, a shocked look on his face. "I was nine at the time and Loras was sweet, older, and about to be knighted. He was gorgeous too."

"Careful," he teased.

Rhaenyra laughed, "We wrote to each other until our engagement was announced. We both believed we would be loyal friends but I am afraid we're enemies."