steal some time - (Reader x Robb Stark)
summary: You gave birth to your first son a few months ago, but your husband Robb wasn't there. Robb is at war. You cannot bear the thought of watching your son grow up without knowing his father. And even though Robb strictly forbade it, you decide to take matters into your own hands. words: 4.888 warnings: war themes, angst, fluff a/n: Based on this request. Thanks, anon. I hope you like it🩶.
no use of Y/N //English is not my first language// not proofread
requests are open / main-masterlist/ got- masterlist
The snow crunches under your boots as you walk across the castle courtyard. The soft fur of your cloak tickles your cheek. The sun shines weakly through the clouds, a breeze blows around you, carrying the scent of home.
A home you will leave in a few minutes, without knowing exactly when you will return.
"Robb forbade it," Maester Luwin insists as he hurries across the castle courtyard beside you. He doesn't even try to hide the worry from his voice. He hated this plan from the very first second and you can even understand why. However you can't waste your time trying to smooth the heart of Winterfells Maesterst right now. Your thoughts should be focused onyour departure.
So you turn back to him. "He said no pregnant woman in a war camp," you insist. You point to your now flat stomach. "And I'm not pregnant anymore."
Luwin sighs wearily. For days you two have been going over this a thousand times. Ever since you announced your journey south.
You both know Robb didn't mean it literally. He wants you to stay here in Winterfell. Safe and far away from the war.
"But Bran and Rickon-"
"They are goingt to be just fine under your leadership. Besides, Bran is almost a man. He doesn't need a skirt to hide behind anymore." it breaks your heart to leave them both here. But it also breaks your heart to be separated from Robb even longer. Without him ever knowing his son.
"My Lady. Please, I beg you, stay and wait until Robb comes home," Luwin starts again.
"Robb is at war." you stop abruptly in your steps to look at him. "He fights battles and he could die. He should have held his son in his arms at least once. So that he knows what he's fighting for. So that Edd could at least look into his father's face once. I pray to the gods every day that Robb comes home safe and alive. But I can't risk it."
The Measter closes his eyes for a moment, looking so much older than he actually is. You have to swallow your guilt.
"He will be furious. Will probably hang me for treason because I let you go."
"He won't hang you. He will cut your head off." you try to cheer him up. But it fails. You take his wrinkled hand in yours. "You tried everything to stop me. If something happens, it's not your responsibility. And if everything turns out well and Robb still gets the idea to punish you, I will of course speak for you. My husband can rarely deny me a wish."
Now you finally manage to coax a slight smile from Luwin. "That's true." The Maester not only watched you both grow up, but also saw you fall in love, grow into your betrothal, and finally be happily married beneath the Heart Tree in Winterfells Goodswood. You can hardly believe it hasn't even been two years since then.
And now you are not just Lady Stark, but the Queen of the North. Still a strange thought.
"Your Grace, we are ready." one of the maidens approaches you, your beautiful boy in her arms. You squeeze Maester Luwin's hand once more before reaching out your arms to your son. He smiles at you, nestling against your chest as you gently embrace him. Your perfect little Eddard.
You are glad you named him in Ned's honor. Did he ever find out about his grandson's birth before he died? Was he happy that you named your son after him? You'll probably never get an answer.
Edd chuckles softly in your arms and you kiss his forehead. "Are you ready to meet your father?" you whisper gently. He chuckles again as if he agres with you.
Shaggydog and Summer coming out of the castle. Summer stays sitting next to you while Shaggydog immediately goes to investigate the carriage waiting in the courtyard. Rickon also comes running out from inside, with Hodor and Bran just a few steps behind.
Robb's youngest brother runs to you, clutching to your skirt of your. "You can't go too," he says, wiping his cheeks dry on the fabric. You shift Edds weight onto one arm and kneel down to bring yourself down to Rickons eye level.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. But we already discussed it, my puppy. It's unfair that we know Edd so well, but Robb, his father, doesn't know him at all, is it?"
Rickon nods, trying to be brave. "Yes, that´s unfair."
You gently stroke his cheek and kiss his forehead before straightening up and turning to Bran. He doesn't look at you, but over Hodors shoulder.
You exchange a glance with Luwin. "Bran?" he doesn't react. "Look at me." slowly, he turns his head. Gods, your heart aches painfully. You long to take him in your arms, wrap him in a soft blanket, sit with him in front of the fireplace, and tell him that nothing bad will ever happen again. However you are not a liar. And you have to leave. "You are now the Lord of Winterfell." you remind him.
"But I don't want to," he says defiantly. You almost have to smile.
"I know," you say, going to him and ruffling his brown hair. "I know, my little one." you sigh.
"If I am so little, then you can't leave us alone either."
"You will always be my little one. Even when you are an old man in your castle surrounded by your grandchildren and great-grandchildren."
"I would have preferred to be a knight," he says sadly.
"I know." everything inside you screams to cancel your trip, to bring everything back into castle and stay here. You call yourself to order. "I have to go now. Edd and I have to go to Robb. You understand why I have to leave, don't you?"
Unlike Rickon, who is still too young to understand everything, you talked to Bran about your worries and fears. You asked him what he thought you should do. You discussed it with him. Bran can no longer be a knight, but he will not be without a purpose. If he cannot serve his house and the North with his sword, then he can serve them with his mind. He will be a good advisor when he's older. And it's important that he grows up now.
Bran seems to consider for a moment, then his expression turns serious. "Yes," he answers. "Don't worry. Winterfell is in good hands with me." his tone is solemn, and you smile at him.
"In the very best. I'll be back soon."
Bran nods and you stroke his cheek again. "Be brave," you remind him, as if he weren't already the bravest of you all.
Even if you wished you could, you can't save his childhood. It was probably already lost when he fell from that tower.
Bran strokes Edd's cheek and whispers something in his ear before you turn away, hug Rickon tightly one last time, and then finally climb into the carriage.
Riding a horse would be faster, but that wouldn't be the best way for either you or Edd to travel south.
The carriage lurches into motion, and you gently cradle Edd in your arms, looking back towards the courtyard of Winterfell. Bran, Rickon, and Master Luwin stand there watching your carriage depart. Shaggydog runs after you all the way to the castle gate.
You take a deep breath and try to memorize the sight of your home. You close it up tightly into your heart and hope that you will be back soon.
So far, something bad has always happened whenever a member of your family has gone south.
Maybe that was a bad idea after all? You look at your boy in your arms. Are you putting him in danger?
He is the Prince of the North, the future of the North should anything happen to Robb. The thought makes acid rise in your throat.
To you, he is just your perfect little son.
You love him so much. And you know Robb loves him too. Even without knowing him. But you want him to get to know him so badly. Even if it's just for a short time. Robb should be able to hold Edd in his arms just like you can.
Watch him sleep. Look into his perfect blue eyes, mirror images of Robbs own.
You take a deep breath. Still doubt rises within you. Maybe this was a stupid idea after all. Robb didn't decide you should stay home for no reason.
To be safe. You have talkt about it again and again.
You tried to convince him to take you with him, or at least to wait until your child is born.
Even on the day he left, you tried to convince him. The memory is bittersweet as it returns to you.
"Robb, you can't do this." tears burn in your eyes as he walks through your chambers and grabbing his last things. You place your hand on your swollen belly.
Your husband looks at you and his gaze softens. "My Love," he sighs. "You know I must go. I cannot ask my bannermen to march south to free my father if I don't ride ahead."
You know that. He had said it a hundred times since he called his banners. You understand him. But he can´t leave right now.
Not so close to the birth of your child. Maester Luwin says a few weeks.
"I can't do this without you," you say, panic grips at you at the thought of going through birth without your husband by your side. It's your first child. He should be with you. Thats not how you imagined it. Robb didn't either, you know that. It shouldn't be like this!
"My mother-"
You raise your hand. "Not again. I know your mother got through her entire pregnancy and birth without your father," you interrupt him. "But she also had her family around her."
"You are at home here like she was in Riverrun."
"But you are my family, Robb." since you came here to Winterfell at the age of 7 to live as Catelyn´s ward you and Robb have never been apart from eachother for more than a few weeks.
"I have to go."
"Then let me come with you," you almost beg.
"I'm not bringing a pregnant woman into a war camp." his voice becomes sharp, Robb's jaw tenses.
"But-"
"No! No discussion. Not again." he had never raised his voice at you before. You flinch. Robb tenses, runs his hand over his face and takes a deep breath. He had never shouted before, but you have also never seen him as stressed as he is right now. Slowly, Robb approaches you, holds out his hand. You take it and let him pull you toward him. He places his warm hands on your cheeks, wipes away your tears before he kisses your forehead. "I'm sorry," he says. "Please, my Love, I don't want to argue right now."
You lean into his arms, breathe in his scent deeply and banish the thought that the scent of home will soon be nothing more than a memory.
"I don't want to argue either," you sigh. "But you can't be angry if I don't like the idea of my husband going to war."
"Of course not. I'm not angry, my Love but -"
"You have to go. I know."
You lost that argument the second Robb got the news of his father's imprisonment. You knew he was going to war this second.
Your baby is moving inside you and kicking. You breathe through the familiar pain. Robb gently strokes your belly. Your baby calms down again.
He kisses your lips before kneeling down and speaking to your belly. "Don't trouble your mother so much. I'll meet you soon, my little puppy." he kisses your belly and you giggle as your heart races. You want to hold this moment in your memory forever.
Robb gets back to his feet. He lets his gaze wander over you, you see him swallow hard.
"I have to go now." his voice shakes. You reach for his hand and squeeze it gently.
Robb rests his forehead against yours, you close your eyes and snuggle against him. You want to hold him tight, to have him near you forever. Home and safe.
"I love you," he whispers. Tears well up in your eyes again, you swallow them back.
"I love you."
He leans down to you and kisses you. You're surprised by the intensity of the kiss and lean into it. You bury your hand in his curls and feel his warm hand on your hip graps harder.
You forget the world around you. Robb draws you even closer, you are filled with love for him.
This moment is just you. You don't want this moment, this kiss, to end. You don't want to go back to reality.
As you break apart breathlessly, you see the tears on his cheek. You gently wipe them away.
“Are you coming downstairs with me?” his voice trembing as he looks at you with tormented eyes. It´s just as horrible for him as it is for you to leave.
"Of course," you say, squeezing his hand again. As if you weren´t savoring every second you have with him.
Robb closes his fingers around yours. His eyes sweep over you, he looks at you as if you were precious, as if he'll never see you again. Your heart aches painfully. You rise onto your tiptoes and press a soft kiss to his lips. Your heart pounds in your chest.
You push away the feelings of fear, uncertainty, and worry and try to enjoy these last moments with Robb. You love him so much, can't imagine what it will be like when he's not here.
You want to lock him up here and not let him go to war. But you can't.
He doesn't want to leave and you don't want him to go.
But Robb will go to war and you will see him off with a smile on your face.
You have to blink back your tears. Your heart aches painfully. The longing for him is almost tearing you apart. But not for much longer you remind yourself, soon you will be with him again.
The journey is more tiring than you expected. Edd cries a lot, you are exhausted. As you leave the north for the first time in your life you become unusually restless. However, you try to remain calm for your sons sake.
"It won't be long now and we have made it," you say, gently stroking his soft cheek.
The carriage rattles along the uneven road. You hear shouts outside, look out the window. You see soldiers, banners, tents. Eddard starts to cry. But you rock him back and forth, whisper soothing words. Even before the carriage stop he is already smiling his toothless smile again.
You take one last deep breath. You have spent the whole journey trying to imagine Robb's reaction. You hope he will be happy, however you are also a little afraid that he is going to be furious.
"Ready to meet you, Father?" you smile at Edd. Your hands are sweating with excitement as you climb out of the carriage, squinting against the sun's rays. You hold your son tightly against your chest. You feel the soldiers' eyes on you. They bow their heads before you. You try to smile, looking around the camp, recognizing a few familiar faces.
"I want to see my husband." you try to keep your voice neutral, straightening your shoulders.
"Of course, Your Grace. This way." one of the guards leads you through the camp.
You see dirty soldiers' faces, their wounds, their scratched armor, and suddenly you find it hard to breathe. This war suddenly becomes reality.
You gently cradle Edd in your arms to ground yourself. But even your baby can't fight the rising nervousness. Soon you finally see your husband again. You are more excited than you've been in a long time. Soon everything will be alright again.
Your family will be together for the first time.
You are led into one of the tents. Inside it looks as if the Lords are discussing important matters. You disturb them you immediately realize. Edd and you don't belong in this war.
Robb has known it all along, and you're painfully realizing it now.
But all of that becomes irrelevant as your gaze falls upon Robb. The whole world around you disappears until onl Robb, Eddard and you are existing.
Your heart leaps in your chest, butterflies dance in your stomach and your whole body tingles. You desperately want torun to him. You feel the stress caused your separation melt away.
War made him grow up. Dressed in armor. He's taller than you remember, more muscular, and wears his beard and hair longer now. He is still handsome.
Robb lifts his head, eyes widening as he recognizes you. For a moment he simply gazes at you, a soft look in his eyes, filled with love for you.
Then he blinks. Realizing what´s going on. "No. No, absolutely not," he says. His jaw is tense, gaze hard. He is angry. You have to swallow.
"Robb." your voice trembles. "Let me explain."
"You can´t be here" he says, but his voice lacks the sharpness you expected. He takes a deep breath. "Everyone out." this tone is unfamiliar. You remember that he is a king now. The Lords around you grumble unintelligibly into their beards, but clear out the tent.
Theon is the only one who gave you a quick smile before he also leaves.
"I-" you begin as sonn as you are alone, but all the words fly out of your mind as Robb comes around the table and stands before you. You want to throw yourself into his arms. You breathe in his scent and your whole being calms down. His scent envelops you, and you feel like coming home. "Robb."
"You can´t be here," he repeats, his eyes on you as he raises his hand and gently strokes your cheek. Eddard in your arms lets out a soft squeak. Robb's gaze shifts to him in your arms as if he's only just now noticing the bundle. He gasps.
"I so badly wanted you to meet him. I couldn't bear the fact that you didn't know our son," you say.
Robb swallows, looks at you, and then back at Eddard. "Can I-" he begins in a trembling voice, raising his hand but flinching back before he can touch him. "He's so tiny."
You laugh, but your chest aches painfully. Eddard has grown so much in the last few months. Robb has missed that out. "He won't break," you say. "Do you want to hold him?"
Robbs gaze snaps back to you. He nods. "Yes." You carefully place your son in his arms. Robbs eyes are glued to his little face. His features soften, and you see tears welling up in his eyes . "He is perfect," his voice trembling. Eddard reaches out his small hand, and Robb offers his finger. Edd immediately grasps it, holding his father tightly. Now you have tears in your eyes. This time you let them run down your cheek. Robb gently rocks him back and forth while Edd chuckles softly. "Hello, my little prince," Robb whispers, kissing his forehead. "I'm so happy to finally meet you. I'm sorry I haven't been there"
You watch the scene unfold, your heart nearly bursting with happiness.
Your little family bliss is finally complete.
Finally, you're all together.
You can't suppress your own sobs. Your husband looks up.
"Hey hey my Love. Don't cry," he says, shifting Edds weight to one arm to wipe the tears from your cheeks.
You take his hand and kiss the palm. "I'm just so happy."
Robb lets out a soft laugh. The sound makes your heart leap in your chest again. You never thought that a simple laugh from him could bring you such joy.
Your gaze sweeps over his face. His beautiful blue eyes are more serious that you have ever seen them before, darf circkes under them. Still they sparkle with love as he looks at you. Even now he is the most handsome men you have ever laid your eyes on. Robb rests his forehead against yours. You carefully start to caress the curls at the back of his neck. He takes a deep breath and relaxes under your touch.
"I can't even be really mad at you because I'm so happy to see you," he says, a single tear runs down his cheek. "My Love. I missed you so much, I missed Eddard without even knowing him."
Your husband leans down to you, your lips meet in a gentle kiss. Your whole body is ablaze as you feel tears of happiness streaming down your cheeks. You don't even understand how you could endure months without the feeling of his lips on yours.
"Thank you. Thank you for Eddard. Thank you for bringing him here," Robb whispers, pulling you closer by your hip. He kisses your forehead. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there. You were right, I should have stayed."
You bite your lip. You nod and lean even closer into his arms. "Now we're together," you say.
Robbs chest rises as he sighs. He pulls away slightly to look at you.
"You, both of you." he nods slightly in the direction of your son. "You can't stay."
Your heart clenches painfully. You can't bear the thought of being separated from him again. The time you spent apart of eachother was so painful. Now that he stands before you again, that you can look at him and touch him, hear his laughter, feel his heart beating in his chest, you can't possibly leave him, only to return to that pain!
Before you can even answer, Edd starts whimpering in Robb's arms. Robb flinches at the sound and looks down at his son in alarm, pure worry reflected in his face, bringing a smile to your lips.
"He is fine," you say. "Don't worry, he just wants to be cradled. I'll show you-" you want to pick Edd up to cradle him, but Robb gently pulls his arm away.
"Wait. Let me try it. Please."
Your whole body is flooded with warmth. "Of course. Hold him like that." you reposition your son in his arms a little. "He likes it best when you take a few steps and rock him like this." you gently move Robbs arm. You feel the muscles that weren't there before. Your husband starts pacing back and forth in the tent, cradle your son. It takes a moment, but Edd calms down.
Robb grins proudly at you.
If only it were always that simple. Robb hasn't yet experienced any of his screaming fits that kept you up all night.
You have to swallow hard at the thought. Robb can't afford to be kept awake all night. He must fight this war with focus. He cannot be distracted. He must be rested. One decision too late, one movement too slow, one moment of inattention and it would cost Robb his life.
You have to swallow the rising acid in your throat.
You feel like the most selfish person in the world.
You didn't think about the consequences at all. You just wanted to go to Robb.
But your decision could cost him his life. You don't want to pay that price. You are not ready, will never be.
You bite your lip, your guilty is eating away at you.
"Hey my Love." Robb gently strokes your cheek to get your attention. "What's worrying you?" he has always been able to read you like a book.
"You were right," you admit.
Robb's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "I've never heard you say that before." a smile danced around his lips.
You almost roll your eyes, but you don't fight back your grin. A heartbeat later, your expression turns serious again.
"We can't stay."
Robb looks at Edd and then back at you. His expression is utterly sad. "No, you can't," he sighs.
"When we are here, we distract you too much. You can't fight a war and take care of your wife and child at the same time." you run your hand through your hair. You suddenly feel stupid for even coming here. "That was a stupid idea."
You look around in the tent because you are so ashamed of your stupidity and selfishness that you cannot look at him.
Robb gently places two fingers under your chin, lifting it so you have to look at him. His blue eyes bore into yours.
Butterflies flutter in your stomach as they always do when he looks at you like that.
"It wasn't a stupid idea. My Love, I'm so grateful you came. I missed you so terribly that my heart broke a little more everyday. And seeing Edd, you gave me the greatest gift of my life. If I die now-"
"Don't say things like that!" you interrupt him sharply. A cold fear rises within you at the thought.
"- then that's fine with me," he simply continued. "You gave me our son, and there's nothing in the world I could ever want more than holding him in my arms." he sighed. "But it's too dangerous for you to stay. Our camp could be attacked at any time. If the Lannisters find out you and Edd are here, they'll hunt you down. I feel sick just thinking about it."
You stretch to kiss him because you can´t risist it and because you haven't been able to kiss him for so long.
Howecer you can't just leave this tent and go home now. You just got him back, just got your family together. "Give us a few days," you plead, feeling tears welling up in your eyes again.
Robb narrows his eyes for a moment. You still sees the pain in them. He shakes his head slightly. Then he looks back at Edd and sighs defeated.
"Fine. A few days," he agrees, smiling at his son. He strokes his cheek and then places his hand back on your hip, pulling you back into his arms. "I'll speak to the soldiers in a moment. I'll assign you a guard."
"I brought men from Winterfell," you say. you would never claim soldiers he so desperately needs. Rested, battle ready men.
"Thats not enough. You will be under constant protection."
You close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath so you don't react annoyed. You don't need constant protection!
"Robb no! You need your men. They don't have time to babysit Lady Stark."
"You are their queen," he reminds you. "It's an honor."
“I don’t need-”
“Yes, you do need protection.” he turns his gaze back to your boy in his arms. His eyes soften, and you see him swallow. “You both need protection. If something were to happen to you, I wouldn’t survive. You, him, both of you are my life.”
“You can’t fight a war without men,” you remind him once more.
Robb chews on his lower lip, as he used to do when he was deep in thought. “Fine. No men, but Grey Wind,” he decides. “He will always be by your side.”
Robb whistel once. Edd flinches and squirms in his arms, but Robb rocks him back and forth to calm him. The tent canvas behind you rustles softly as Grey Wind pushes his way inside. He immediately comes over to you and presses his wet muzzle into your palm.
You begin to scratch him. “Hello, my little puppy,” you greet him. He has grown gigantic.
Grey Wind emits a deep rumble. “I missed you too. The bed is cold and empty without you to cuddle."
“Hey, you didn’t say that about me,” Robb complains, but without looking at him you know he’s grinning.
Edd squeals with delight when he sees Grey Wind and reaches out his hands to him. The direwolf lifts his nose for a brief moment and sniffs, then his tail begins to wag and he goes to Robb to gently press his wet nose against Edd's hand.
Without hesitation Robb bends down a little so that Grey Wind can see Edd better.
“This is Eddard, my son. He’s perfect, isn’t he? You will protect him for me. Him and my lady wife. Understood, my boy?”
Grey Wind is buzzing softly. You don't doubt for a second that he understood Robb perfectly.
Your husband straightens up. “So, Grey Wind and Theon. They will protect you at all times.” you open your mouth to protest again, but Robb doesn't allow it. “Please, my Love, don't fight me on this.” he looks at you with those bright blue eyes you loved longer than you can remember, and your heart leaps into your chest. As if you could deny him a wish when he looks at you like that.
"Fine. I won't fight. Constant protection. Got it."
"And don't sneak away again." his lips curl into a smile.
"I won´t." you promise.
