Hiding today
Sometimes you don’t really become fully aware of how fast time flies until it’s too late. And in days like this, Robb could feel most of his life escaping like sand of an hour glass right through his fingers. Or more like losing down into the pages of the book he was holding tightly as he walked down the hall of the castle, heading towards the room where he had spent most of the day, submerged in papers and letters. The skin on his face suddenly caught a light warmness while he walked past one of the large windows and he then realized the sun was already setting.
Sighing, the King ran a hand through the red of his hair, tangling lightly his fingers into a few curls as a small smirk graced his lips in an ironic thought. I am getting old, was the first thing he could think of while analizing the hours spent in that room and with those pages. How amusing, I am sounding just like my father. He, who had always mocked the head of the Stark someway or another with his age, was now feeling as old as his father. As he kept walking, soon he reached the entrance to the Solar just down after a few stairs. Normally, he would have just walk past it without paying the minimum of attention, but that day one single presence in that room made him stop and carefully turn back: there, far into a corner and next to the window, sat elegantly one of the few remains of House Lannister. Myrcella Baratheon had always been a strong yet graceful girl who got more beautiful as she reached her womanhood, and that particular day Robb could see time’s trace within her features which were slowly leaving the childish sweetness and grasping a more delicate maturity.
His wife was quietly reading, softly rocking herself into the comfort of the chair, and his eyes got sight of a tranquility brought by the book resting against her hands as it spellbound her with it’s inked letters. Quite a picture actually, and the King decided we wouldn’t miss a single second from it; carefully, Robb got closer to the door, leaning his side util he rested against the cold stone, just the get a better look. Crossing his arms over his chest, the Young Wolf sought not to make a sound, just like a wolf who watches his prey silently before jumping. Tully eyes scanned the room, every color, every fold, every detail, and soon he felt the same pace invading his chest. His eyes blinked with the sound of the page turning and he memorized the soft smile tugging at the corners of the lioness as her emerald eyes set themselves on the black letters once again.
He followed the sunset light until it settled over her thick and long waves, highlighting even more the gold of her curls; he watched attentively how one of them playfuly slid down her shoulder, the contrast between it’s gold and the red of the fabric covering her shoulders -in an attempt to seek warmness that lacked in the castle- reminding him of the coulors of her House. Robb saw how her brow frowned slightly and he almost chuckled, thinking she might have found a sentence not of her liking. Just standing there in silence, the King just observed Myrcella reading, a sudden devotion making him forget about his duties and a certain warm little feeling taking hold of his heart.
There were days in Winterfell, when the sun would shine brightly and there was little snow, when it almost felt like it would be warm outside. It was never warm outside, specially not for one raised on the South, but inside the castle it was. The hot waters the ran inside the stone walls kept the castle warm, some times even hot in the summer. Days like that it felt more like home.
It was a crime to leave such a warm bed so early in the morning, but after enduring many side eyed looks and murmured complaints in order to be accepted as queen, Myrcella would not forget her duties. She pulled on her new dress, a deep red that reminded her of home, smoothing down the fabric over the small bulge on her stomach, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
She remembered her king's reaction when they learned the news, the brief moment of confusion and disbelief before he lifted her up on his arms. It made her smile every time she felt her stomach, whenever she noticed, she was excited that it was starting to become visible even through all the layers of clothes. Their precious child, still only a promise yet so loved already, she didn't mind the morning sickness she had endured during the last weeks if it meant she'd one day hold their baby in her arms.
She followed through the day's tasks thinking of her husband, wondering how his day was going. She was only allowed to deal with matters related to charity, something she didn't truly mind, specially since whenever there was an important decision to be made her King would ask for her counsel. The men would not have her at any regular meetings, too scared of her lineage to trust her, but Robb did, he always had.
Once everything was taken care of, all work finished, she retreated to her husband's solar. Tradition dictated she have her own solar or just a room to pass her time, but she had no children yet and preferred to be alone, so they pretended not to notice her casual use of her husband's study.
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She didn't hear anything but could feel his eyes watching her, turning her face upwards to meet her husband's gaze she spoke in a soft voice "Don't you know it's rude to stare?" Myrcella smiled, waiting for him to come "I missed you this morning"
