Did anyone see this coming? Of course I'm going to draw the tall skinny/fat short villain duo.
They're like if Rook and Bishop were 40% more evil and 2% more flammable.
I based their pose on the little icon that appears in their trial. I thought they looked a little fruity. Like, you guys seem awfully close. Why are you leaning into your bro like that?
Requested by: Anonymous
Wordcount: 4572
Summary: With your father being a sick Lord, he’s set up many potential suitors for you to meet so you can hopefully fall in love and be married before he’s gone. Robb Stark is next in this line. Also slightly based on Aladdin.
Taking a carriage up north was not nearly as glamorous as it might have seemed. The roads were bumpy, and my maids were complaining the entire time of the smell of the horses seeping through the thin curtains. Indeed, you would much rather stand in the stables full of manure than hear another word of their complaining - but alas, if you asked them to quiet down, they would report it to your father who had a hard enough time as is. He was stressing himself out about finding you a proper husband, or even finding one that you liked. His heart was yours, so he would never force you to marry, however, time was running out. Your father was growing more ill by the day, and he wanted you to be well taken care of after he was gone, despite the fact that you had told him you could take care of yourself.
‘It is just not society’s way for a young lady,” He told you, much more than one time. You were exasperated with it, but didn’t argue with him. You didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his health even more.
You had met with the sons of lords in Dorne, but found them too arrogant and sex-oriented. Almost too free - you wanted a man who wanted you and only you. You had met with the sons of lords in Bravos but found them too stuffy and focused on money. You were bored of meeting men, but you had promised to give this Robb Stark a chance. Given the land that they lived in, you thought that perhaps he might be too cold for you.
“I hear this man is particularly handsome,” One of your maids said, looking up from the mending that she was doing on one of your gowns to pass the time.
“Extra handsome is what I heard,” The other one said, looking at you with a spark in her eye.
“Then we should have come down in the Summer so I could have seen him with his shirt off, swimming in the lakes!” You said, sarcastically. “If looks were the only thing that mattered, I would have married that Dorne.”
“It’s easy for you to say, Lady y/n, for you are beautiful yourself,” The first maid stiffened up, realizing that she had upset you. You sighed and offered her a comforting hand, which she took and began to rub. “It would be easier to fall in love if he is easy on the eyes.”
“Crystal blue, I heard,” The second maid chimed up.
“Are you ladies alright in there?” Your father’s best friend and advisor lifted up one of the curtains while his horse trotted alongside the carriage. You could see his smug-looking face. You never really liked the man, and always felt like he was up to something. He always seemed to be right where you didn’t want him to be, or eavesdropping on every conversation. That was proven now.
“Why would anything be wrong?” You asked, putting your hands on your lap like a good little Lady. “Why, I am on my way to meet the man of my dreams! Who would have thought that he would be a Northerner! But now that I’ve heard about his crystal blue eyes...”
The younger of your two maids giggled as the advisor sneered and let the curtain drop down again. You rolled your eyes and then went back to what you were doing. Attempting to draw your father. You didn’t want your memory of him to ever fade, so this was your hobby whenever you had a spare moment. You still had another few hours ride until you arrived at Winterfell, and you were going to use your time wisely.
-
Your first glimpse of Winterfell wasn’t the most impressive. It wasn’t the first place that came to mind when you thought of what you would like for a future home, but it wasn’t all that bad. Your father insisted you give the place a chance and so you would. But still - you weren’t sure what you were expecting but this wasn’t it.
The carriage came to a stop within the castle courtyard. The skies were grey, and there was a bit of frost upon the grass but no snow yet. You could see your own breath and yet you did not shiver, not even when you stepped out of the confines of the carriage and out into the open weather. There were still some trees around which was lovely, though most of them looked like saplings.
“It is my honor to present to you-” The advisor’s voice caught your attention and you realized that there was a group of people looking at you. He put his arm around your waist which made you instantly uncomfortable. “- Lady y/n!”
“Excuse me just a second,” You said, curtsying as kindly as you could, then looked towards your father’s friend. “Get your hands off of me, please,” You said the last word through clenched teeth.
“You’re embarrassing your family in front of our hosts,” The advisor said with a pasted grin.
“Actually, you’re doing a fine job of that yourself, especially considering you are not actually a part of this family, now let go of me,” You hissed. The advisor finally did so, stepping away and getting stern looks from your two maids who were off to the side. Once that was dealt with, you looked back to the Stark family with a smile.
“Bit of a feisty one, isn’t she?” The one who would find out was a ward, Theon Greyjoy, said. You chuckled at that.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s a pleasure to meet everyone,” You used your best manners that your father had taught you as you were introduced to the family.
Eddard Stark was a man. Not just your average man but he was a MAN. He looked like a knight out of the fairytales that you used to be told as a child, though older of course, more worn out. His wife, Catelyn, was a beautiful woman, though it was a cold type of beauty. She had the face of a mother, as in she only seemed to smile at her children and not another person. Their Ward, Theon Greyjoy looked the goofy sort, and apparently was due to the comment that he had made. He might be a fun person to have a pint of ale with, one day. Sansa Stark, the eldest of the two girls, had the promise of beauty in her pointed face and her lustrous red hair. She was looking at you curiously, as if you had stepped out from another world. Then there was Arya, the second of the girls. She had the sort of face that looked like it faced impossibilities every single day. The two younger boys looked to be just about the same age, and neither seemed all that interested in what was going on. They looked like they wanted to go off and play.
And then there was the man that you had come here to meet, Robb Stark. The rumors about him that your maids had heard were accurate, he was a very handsome man. He has a square jaw, very masculine, with a few days stubble upon his cheeks and chin, and below his nose. His blue eyes were deepset, hidden beneath a forehead covered with dark brown curls. He didn’t seem to look at you though, but beyond you.
“Robb Stark, at your service,” He said, stepping forward. You struggled to keep in a sigh. Yes, he had the looks but you couldn’t tell if he had anything else.
“Lovely, thank you.” You said, with a small curtsy. “I’ve never been this far north before. I would love to be shown around.”
“It would be our pleasure,” Eddard Stark said, and immediately put his wife and eldest daughter to the task.
-
“He sure is a handsome one, ain’t he?” The older of your two maids said as she unpacked your gowns. The younger was helping you to let your hair escape the plaits that you had put them in for dinner. “Even the dad is a good looking man. They’ve got good genes, the Starks does.”
“He’d make a good husband,” The younger of the two said. You winced as she pulled out a particularly stubborn strand of hair, your scalp feeling it.
“How could you say that?” You asked, trying your best to sit still. “All that we know about him is how he looks. He could be cruel, he could be boring, he could be a number of bad things. He hasn’t shown his personality at all.”
“Nothing wrong with the strong silent type.”
“Better than a lad who gabs on and on forever.”
Once your hair was free from it’s braided confines, you stood to your feet, went to your wardrobe, and took out your warmest cloak. It was the same color as your eyes, with a fur hood on the top. You’d never had much use for it before but Winterfell was the perfect place. You draped it over your shoulders and secured the ties.
“Where are you going at this time of night?”
“Your hair - it isn’t proper for it to be loose like that while you’re out of your room-” The maids both fussed over you but you gave them your sternest look.
“I’m going to go and see that my horse is properly stabled. I think you will agree that it is a rather responsible thing to do. And do not try to stop me, I need the air terribly.”
The hallways of the castle were silent, as most people had turned into bed after the welcoming feast. You had been tempted to go straight into your own bed, but the need to get away from the maids for a little while, even from their snoring, was enough to send you out tonight. You emerged into the cold night air, which felt strange since you were so used to the warmth of the cities. You tightened the cloak around you and stole to the stables, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
The stables were in the courtyard that you had been inside earlier. The smell brought you right to them, but you didn’t find it unpleasant. In fact, hay was a very calming scent in your opinion. You liked the earthiness of it. Your horse was a pure white one, a gift from one of the Lords who had tried to win your hand. You had rejected him but kept the horse, for she was a beauty. Your father had chided you for that big time, but you stood up for yourself. A gift was a gift, and only dishonest people asked for them back. “Well, good evening to you too,” You said once you heard her light neighing.
“You shouldn’t be here,” A voice said, and a figure emerged from the back of the stables, carrying a pitchfork. You reached for one of your own to defend yourself, but then saw that it was Robb Stark that was approaching. He saw that it was you rather than one of the common people, and put his weapon down quickly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that it was you.”
“So you would just attack anyone who came in here?” You asked, your breath still out of sorts from the fright.
“If they had the intention of hurting or stealing the horses, then yes,” Robb said, taking a few steps closer. That was his mistake, for your horse, which was beside him, had felt your fear and lashed out, raising herself on her hind legs and came down on the gate keeping her inside, causing some of the wood to splinter.
“Whoa girl, it’s okay, whoa,” You said, going to her immediately. At the sound of your voice, she calmed a little, but still showed her teeth in aggression to Robb. You let out a deep breath to calm your nerves, then lightly put your hand on the nose of your horse, feeling her breathing. “What are you dong out here anyway? Do you have so little faith in your guards that you stand watch over the stables yourself?”
“What - of course I have faith in the guards,” Robb said, struck by how blunt you were with your thoughts and questions. “I came out to go on a ride. I - I admit, I’m having trouble sleeping.”
“I see,” You said, stroking the horse. “I’m hoping my interruption won’t stop you.”
“No, of course not,” He shook his head, that same look on his face of looking almost into you rather than at you. Beyond what he could see on the surface. “What are you doing out here so late at night? It’s my duty to inform you that-”
“It’s not proper?” You suggested, making him nod. There hadn’t been a smile in this stable the whole time, you realized. Even at this little joke. “I know, I’m well aware. I just missed my horse and wanted to see that she was stabled correctly. I do have faith in your guards as well, and your stable boys, but it’s just something I like to take on for myself. But the job was well done, as I can see. So there is not much more for me to do except for enjoy the cold air. It’s a lot nicer than the humidity I’ve encountered in other places.”
“Would you like to come with me, on a ride?” Robb asked. You looked at him carefully for a moment, trying to figure out exactly what it was that he was asking. Was he about to offer to get a carriage out at this time of night? Rather than say anything else, he left the spot he had been standing, and went to a horse that was across from yours. Chestnut brown and absolutely gorgeous. The same color as Robb’s curls, you noticed.
“Like on the backs of our horses?” You questioned. Your eyes went from Robb to your horse, who was intimidating to say the least. You hadn’t had experience actually riding in quite some time, especially not in a gown.
“We can both take mine. He’ll carry us both.” Robb lugged a saddle from the ground onto the horse and did up the harness and took hold of the reins. He them held out his hand out to you, offering to help you up. He hadn’t waited for you to say yes before he made the second offer. You looked around to see if there was perhaps a maid spying on you, or a Stark ready to jump out and tell you that it was all a joke. But the night was silent, even of crickets.
You took his hand with a leap of faith. “I warn you, if I fall off, I will tell everyone that my broken foot is your fault.”
This finally brought a chuckle to the young Lord. “Agreed.” He helped you to climb onto the stirrups and hoisted you up so you were sitting side-saddle, given your gown. You would have had to raise it quite a bit in order to get comfortable with your legs around the beast, and that certainly wouldn’t have been a good impression. He climbed up after you, putting his hand on your hip to keep you in place as the horse left the stables.
“And you’re sure he can hold us both?” You questioned, holding onto the saddle while he took hold of the reins with his free hand.
“Positive,” Robb said. You didn’t even mind the hand on your hip for it helped to keep you steady. Out of Winterfell the two of you went, heading up north further until you reached where the ground below had frost and a light snow was falling from the night skies. You couldn’t see any stars, which was a shame, but the cold had it’s own sort of beauty.
“It’s like a whole new world out here,” You gasped, seeing mountains far away, or perhaps it was the Wall that you had heard about. It was massively different from anything else you’d ever seen before. Even the society in Winterfell was different from that in the big cities. You almost felt like consenting to the marriage to Robb now, for the scenery alone.
“It’s a great place to think,” The horse slowed from a quick walk into a slow trot. “-and it is very nice tonight.”
Before too long, the horse came to a stop. Robb jumped off and then held his hand out to you to help you get to the ground safely. You slid onto the ground with his aid and looked around at all of the open space around. Winterfell could still be seen, and was comfortingly close, but there was barely so much as a passage through this weather, through these valleys, save for the tracks left by the horse.
“Do you come out here often?” You asked him, happy that you at least found out one interesting thing about him. He took rides out into the middle of nowhere to think. Now, if only you could find out what he thought about.
“Every night lately,” Robb admitted. He looked down at you as he spoke now, while you continued to look out at the scenery. “Mother wanted me to get married to one of the Frey girls, until your father reached out.”
“Is there anything wrong with the Frey girls?” You questioned. You hadn’t come across them in your tour of the Seven Kingdoms to search out a suitable husband.
“Not particularly,” He said, but grimaced a little. You could hear it in his voice. Before you could ask more, he reversed the question onto you. “Is there anything wrong with the Lords you met before me?”
You smirked at the question. Oh yes, he was beginning to get interesting. You liked a guy who challenged you. “Yes,” You said with a nod, showing honesty rather than politeness. “They were boring, arrogant, narcissistic men who cared more about appearances and money than anything important. I believe that I have a right to pick the man that I’m going to spend my life with, and that there should be love involved. I could never love those men.”
“So is there anything wrong with me?” Robb asked. Once again, you decided to choose honesty over politeness. You walked around him in a circle, tapping your chin in thought as you sized him up. You could see a few beads of sweat gathering on his forehead. You liked that you were making him nervous. You stopped in front of him, and looked into those steely blue eyes of his.
“On the outside, you’re just about perfect. Don’t go blushing or acting modest, even my maids have been commenting on what good stock the Starks have since they found out that we were coming here. But as you may have figured out about me, it’s not what is on the outside that counts.”
“Yes, I figured that out pretty quickly,” Robb said, standing straight with his hands clasped behind his back. It was a very lordly pose. “What have you figured out about the inside?”
“Only a couple of things so far. You’re not a man of very many words, Robb Stark,” You continued to look him in the eye, refusing to shy away. “You care about your family a lot. I think you would have agreed to marry a Frey girl if your mother really wanted you to. And you look fondly upon your little siblings, you don’t squabble much with them. You’re sort of a peacekeeper when they fight amongst themselves. They look up to you and you take pride in that. You take after your father in more than appearance as well. Though perhaps you’re not as ... cheerful as him, if you don’t mind me thinking that. You don’t smile much, but when you do - it means that you’re really happy. You’re very loyal to him and to Winterfell and it would break your heart to have to leave it. Does that ring any bells?”
“You’re more observant than I thought,” He said, eyes wide open at your analysis. “Spot on, actually.”
“I may have been watching you at dinner,” You admitted. “And this trip says a lot about you as well.” As you continued to look upon his face, you started to see a smile growing on it. True happiness, just as you had predicted.
“That, I noticed,” Robb let his arms drop to his side. He then took hold of the reins of the horse and began to walk a little deeper into the plateau. You stayed by his side, matching him step for step. “Because I was watching you as well. I learned a couple of things. One is that you’re extremely stubborn, though everyone picked that up during your first impression. Your father’s advisor - does he touch you like that often?”
“I’m under the impression that he wants to marry me myself. And if I don’t pick a husband soon, he’s going to talk my father into it,” You sighed, releasing the thoughts that had been in your mind as of late. “And not because of any sort of love, of course not. But because he’s always envied my father’s lands. It’s times like this I think that it would not be so bad to be a woman of no fortune or lands. At least then I’ll know for sure if someone cares about me. I’d have nothing to offer but myself.”
“If you permit me,” Robb said, slowing down just to circle and face you. “Anyone who thinks that it’s not enough is but a fool.”
-
The rest of the week had passed by quickly. You had gotten to know each of the Starks, and there had been plenty of time to see Robb, as orchestrated by his parents. You were seated beside him at meals - and you snuck out each night and you two rode to the snowy valley and had your talks. The latter of which somehow had stayed a secret, even your maids hadn’t known after the first night.
You two talked about everything. It was easy to open up to him. He seemed to know the exact time to reply, and the right time to be silent and just listen. He spoke to you about his half-brother, Jon Snow, who had joined the Knight’s Watch. He spoke to you how he felt guilty that he was getting all of the lands after his father, and that was a main reason why Jon had left - because he was a bastard, he got nothing. He spoke to you about how he was worried that Sansa might be wed to the Baratheon boy one day, and he didn’t like that idea at all. You spoke to him about your father’s illness and how difficult it was to stay true to yourself during this time. You spoke to him about how you didn’t trust your fathers advisor whatsoever, and how you wanted him out of your life the second your father’s passed. It really seemed like there was nothing that you didn’t speak about. You grew fond of him, though the strong, silent type was not one you thought you would fall for. And you grew fond of Winterfell, and the surrounding area. The cold was refreshing.
It was during the last dinner that you were supposed to make your decision. This was the first time that you and Robb sat apart during the meals. Your father was on one side of you, and his advisor on the other, The latter of whom had a smug look on his face that you didn’t like the look of at all. After the delicious food had been eaten, and everyone was jolly with wine and ale, your father cleared his throat to get the attention of everyone. “What a wonderful visit that has been!” He said, raising his tankard. “But we came here for a reason and that is to find out the answers to some important questions! Lord Robb Stark, what think you about my daughter, y/n?”
The attention of the room was drawn to Robb. He looked especially handsome tonight. The curls clung onto his forehead and he surprisingly had a smile on his face. All eyes were on him, but his were on you. “I think I should let the lady go first,” He said, motioning to you, but your father urged him to go on. “Alright - if Lady y/n finds me worthy, I would be a very lucky man. That is my opinion.”
Cheers went through the people in the room. Theon clapped Robb’s back, and they both grinned over at your direction. You knew what was coming, and so you got to your feet when your fathers addressed you. “Will you marry Robb Stark?”
You’ve been asked this question before, about different men over different dinners in different cities. You never hesitated in your refusal before, despite knowing that there were going to be dirty looks and whispers about you after you left. But there was no thought of declining this offer in your mind.
“It has been an honor to explore Winterfell and to get to know the Starks,” You said, crossing your hands in front of you. You could feel the disgusting stare of the advisor behind you. “And I thank you with my entire being for welcoming me into your home, and for being so kind. You really are a wonderful family. And Robb-” You froze for a second, his eyes meeting your own. “-yes. I would be honored to marry you and become a Stark, and to make this place my home. I’ve made my decision, father, and I have never been happier.”
Robb’s smile was the biggest that you had ever seen. Now his father was also congratulating him, and his mother smiled kindly at you. Your father gave the biggest sigh of relief and collapsed into his chair. Once he was seated, he took your hand and kissed the top of it, a heavy burden released from his mind now that he knew you were going to be taken care of, and the lands were going to be in good hands. Only one person in the room did not share in the happiness, and that was fine. It was worth sitting next to the black cloud for the rest of the night, because his disappointment made you feel all the better. Sitting here in Winterfell - you felt as if you had come home at long last and you never wanted to venture out again.
Imagine scaring Robb Stark with your own White Walker mask.
Big bad Robb wasn’t scared of anything, so he claimed. And as his lucky betrothed, you were going to put that to the test today.
You bought a piece of wood from a carpenter, and some paint from an artist and worked through the morning on your makeshift White Walker mask. You remembered the tales told to you by your parents when you were growing up, and they had been very descriptive. The dead walking, frozen by the icy landscape in the North, barely being held together. Constructing a simple garment out of rags was easy too, though you knew the laundress would be annoyed by it when she found it in her washing the next morning. A bit of squished berry and beet created red stains that could pass as blood as well. It was time.
Tying the wood around your face with tough twine, only two small slits in the painted eyes for you to see you, you made your way to the stables where he was no doubt tending to his horse. They reacted appropriately, getting uncomfortable with the new sight, their breath coming through their noses in quick spurts, stepping here and there nervously. Robb turned to see you and instantly went looking for his sword. It wasn’t attached to his belt, since he hardly expected a fight today. You held your arms out and made some groaning noises, trying not to laugh at yourself.
Only when he picked up a pitchfork and ran towards you did you spin out of the way and remove your mask, showing the broad smile on your face. “Y/N!” He announced, dropping the farm instrument. “I could have killed you!”
“The look on your face was amazing,” You chuckled, moving in close to him and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. He looked at you with disbelief, and shook his head, though he didn’t push you away. “Come on, if we’re to be married for the rest of our lives, it’s best to see your every emotion.”
“I ought to stab you anyway,” He chuckled, leaning in close to nibble at your ear with affection.
“You might as well, since we’re alone,” You smirked, leaning closer to him. “Unless you’re ... scared?”
Requested by: @disneyprincessbuffyannesummers
Wordcount: 3485
Warnings: Mentions of incest.
Summary: You’re one of Craster’s daughters and end up getting pregnant. You have the willpower and strength to escape, and find yourself in the company and protection of the handsome Lord Stark.
You had been brainwashed throughout your whole life to be thankful to have a roof over your head, a fire to keep you warm, and food in your belly. You had been told from the moment that you were born that as long as those things were given to you, you could and should put up with everything else that life gives you, because you were one of the lucky ones on this side of the wall. And life had given you a lot of bad over the years. You were the prettiest of the Craster girls, according to your father, and he paid very special attention to you. It was the sort of attention that you didn’t want, but some of the other girls grew jealous for they wanted what you were getting. You would have given anything to escape from this place - but things changed when you found out that you had grown pregnant from your father’s seed. Knowing that a girl would have to endure what you did, or that your boy would be sacrificed, it gave you no other choice than to try to suck up to your father to keep the little one safe from harm. You didn’t mind getting eaten by wolves or attacked by whatever monsters were out there in the dark forests, but being with child made you have to think for two.
The father of your child, your father, may have favored you above the others but that didn’t mean that he was going to listen to you. You were told that things would go on as they always had - your little girl would grow up like you, or your boy would be put into the woods to die. It felt like the fetus had turned to snow with how cold those words had made you. Once he had said that, then sent you to his bedchambers to wait for him, you started to form your plan, knowing that you had to do something, even if it could potentially kill you. For the first time, you were seeing things as they truly were. You didn’t care if there was a roof keeping the snow off you if it was someone disgusting keeping you warm under the covers. You didn’t care about the food in your belly with the cost of it being your obedience.
So you found your father’s sword in his room, and you held the hilt in your hands, feeling the powerful weight of it against your weak arms. He walked in, expecting you to be in his bed, but instead he found you holding the blade close to his neck. “Don’t ever, ever touch me again, you filthy man.” You spat on the floor by his feet. He dared to try to take the sword from you, but you swung it ever so slightly and the sharp edge cut the palm of his hand. “You have some nerve, I should cut your fingers off, and that little cock of yours too.”
“This is going to be your death, y/n,” He roared, coming towards you again. Lightly, you took two steps back and swung the sword without really looking. It sliced through something, but with your eyes clenched shut, you weren’t able to see what. A splash of something warm was on your hands. You didn’t dare drop the sword but kept swinging it, though this time, it was only hitting air.
“You’re not going to ever hurt me again, and you are never going to meet our baby. I’ll tell it lies. Your name will never be known to him or her. Once they are old enough, I’ll tell them that their father was a hero who died protecting the realm, because that is the sort of father that they deserve. But if they are anything like you, I will hold it under the water until it dies, your blood with them.”
You finally opened your eyes but kept them up or forward, rather than look at where your father had been standing. You grasped the hilt even tighter, and slunk out of the room, closing the door behind you. Some of your sisters would be furious with you if they had known what you had done. The longer that he stayed hurt and hidden, the better for you.
You had a room with five of your sisters, but most of them were hunting for tomorrow’s breakfast, since they hadn’t been called to your father’s room for services. Keeping the sword in your hand, although it was dripping blood which would definitely be noticed on the wooden floors, you packed up a bundle of things into your bag, put on your warmest furs and prepared yourself mentally for what would be the biggest decision of your life.
-
The land on the other side of the wall was like everything that you had dreamed. A kind man on the Knight’s Watch had helped you through to the other side, but once again, you were on your own. You still had your father’s sword sheathed to your waist, but it stuck out uncomfortably, and you were always hitting your elbow against the hilt. Your stomach had grown into a pouch, only slightly showing beneath the rough-hewn dress that you were wearing. It was still cold over here, and you still required your furs, but there were signs of nature here that you didn’t see back home.
What was better is that the kind knight had given you some basic directions that would take you to a city called Winterfell. You weren’t sure where you were going to live there, but surely with your hunting and cooking skills, you may be able to find something. Working wasn’t going to be ideal while pregnant, but what other choice did you have?
You did manage to find employment as a maid for the Starks. Catelyn Stark immediately sympathized with you once she heard your story, but she didn’t lessen any of the work, making sure that you earned your small quarters and your dinner. You grew to find pride in your work, since you knew that as long as you were here, you were safe.
“Robb!” You heard a voice from behind you as you were scrubbing the tables in the dining hall. You looked up for a brief moment to see Catelyn and her eldest son Robb were in the room, the latter dressed in his full battle attire. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to King’s Landing to protest Father’s arrest.” The young Lord of Winterfell said to his mother. He looked very determined to do so, and realizing that this was not your place, you started to pack up your things to leave the room temporarily.
“There is no need to leave, y/n.” Catelyn said, gently, bringing Robb’s attention to you. You stopped what you were doing, caught eyes with the Lord, and then slowly resumed your work, one hand on your stomach as the baby inside of you was causing you strain. “Who will take over as the Lord of Winterfell in your absence, then? Bran is bedridden and Rickon is just a boy-”
“What do you then suggest?” Robb asked.
“I will go in your stead and plead for his release.” Catelyn said, head held high. You tuned the rest out, knowing that it was none of your business, and as just a maid, you shouldn’t be listening to such things. Instead, you focused on the splashing of the water on the wooden table, and the scrubbing of troublesome wine and gravy stains. You were paying so much attention to that, you hardly noticed your name being called.
“Y/N, is that your name?” Robb was asking you. You looked upwards to notice both him and Catelyn looking at you. A flush went across your cheeks, since you weren’t used to being noticed here.
“Yes, Lord Stark,” You bowed your head.
“I’d like you to accompany me to my chambers. There’s a mess of cobwebs that needs cleaning.”
You looked over at Catelyn who nodded her head briskly. You looked back at Robb and nodded. Another maid came to relieve you of your dining room tasks and you followed the handsome man to his room. He closed the door as the both of you entered, making you blush all the more. This was the first time that you were alone in a room with someone who was not your father, and you were entirely unchaparoned!
He lead you to the spot where the cobwebs hung on the wall. You had to stand on a stool to get at them, but it was an easy enough tasks. The spiders had long ago departed, and had left only their wisps. “You’re not from Winterfell, are you?” Robb asked, sitting on his bed, taking off his boots.
“It is that obvious?” You asked, swiping a rag across the dusty area. Since Catelyn had been the one whom you told your story to, you did slightly assume that she kept it to herself. You had thought that she was a good woman to keep secrets, especially one as heavy as that one. “Do you want anything else cleaned, while I’m in here?”
“There’s some more cobwebs in the other corner.” You heard the sound of one heavy boot reaching the ground, and then another. He then stood up, as you could tell by the creaking of the bed. There were indeed more cobwebs in the room, and you stepped off of the stool, picked it up and started to walk into the other corner, but you bumped right into the lord himself. Your stomach brushed against his, and you knew that he felt how swollen it had become. Even now, apart from the monster who had raped you, you still felt a little shame.
Robb steadied you, hands on each of your arms. They were trembling, you noticed, and when you went to catch eyes with him, you saw that he was looking at your stomach. “You’re with child?” He questioned now.
Instead of answering verbally, you nodded, head back to looking downwards.
“The father?” He asked, acting very curious for a man of his standing.
“Why does that matter?” You muttered, not wanting to explain to him your situation. You had felt completely degraded when you had told Catelyn about it, you weren’t ready to tell another person.
“Because I need to know these things.” Robb countered. He put a finger under your chin and pushed it up so that you were forced to look at him. Even so, you couldn’t hide the emotion that was in your eyes, and he read some of that in them, his blue eyes looking dark in the dim light from the dying fire. “You were forced against your will,” He determined. All you could do to that was nod. “Y/N, is he dead?”
You shrugged. When he heard nothing coming from your lips, he insisted once more that you tell him. Although you didn’t want to, he was your Lord and he wasn’t to be disobeyed if you wanted to make your life here. “When I saw him last, I had left him for dead,” You admitted. You didn’t know if your father had actually died, or if he had survived it, but you were hoping for the former. Robb frowned at this, then let go of your chin. A strange cold came over the spot, and you hadn’t realized that he had made you feel so warm. “I’m leaving my past behind me, Lord Stark, as best as I can. I don’t intend on hurting anybody else, or disturbing a thing. I just want to work hard to make a life for me and this child, and look towards the future.”
His eyes looked you up and down, taking in your determined jawline, your hands which were growing calloused from all of the work that you were doing, and your stomach which was protruding through your simple dress. He nodded, and moved out of the way so that you could attend to the rest of the cobwebs. “You’ll be safe here, and will always have a home as long as a Stark rules Winterfell,” He told you. You could still feel his eyes on you as your back was turned to him, and addressed your cleaning. A tear came to your eye that you wiped away with the back of your hand because for the first time, you did truly feel safe.
-
Happily, you had become the most envied maid in Winterfell. That was because Robb Stark had taken a shine to you, and you were the only one who would attend to his room from now on. He usually stayed in there with you, replying to correspondence while you made his bed and swept the floor.
What had begun as just a maid and Lord relationship had turned into a friendship, and soon he started requesting your presence even when the room was clean. It was great for both parties, since he had someone non-biased that he could confide in, and you felt a strong sense of security being close to the Stark man. Robb, unknowing to you, had even started to feel like he was falling for you, but he couldn’t let his feelings show. You were due to give birth within the month, and you were considered to be a wildling. He knew there was no way that his mother would allow you two to be together.
On a dreary Tuesday, you were sitting by Robb Stark’s fire, finishing the embroidery on a baby blanket that you were customizing for your baby. A maid, whom you were meant to be supervising for she was new to the castle, was making the Lord’s best, while the man himself was having a meeting with the other important men of Winterfell and the surrounding areas. You pricked your finger on the needle, and stuck it into your mouth to suck the blood off, but another pain came from deep inside your stomach - a much sharper pain than the needle.
Everything started to happen at once. The door opening as Robb returned from his meeting with a look of anger, the maid seeing the look of pain and surprise on your face and rushing towards you, and the liquid gushing from between your legs as your water broke. The maid took hold of your hand as you came to the realization that your water had just broken.
“We must get her to the surgeon.” The maid said with wide eyes to the Lord.
“No, there’s no need to create a fuss,” You said, slowly getting to your feet and pressed your hands on your small back after the contraction had subsided. You had seen your sisters and nieces give birth enough to know what to expect, and what you should do. “I’ll return to my own room and attend to myself-”
“Nonsense!” The maid complained. You looked at her, blinking with disbelief. “I’ll stay with you, I’ve helped my sister give birth before, I know how to help - as long as Lord Stark has no problem with excusing me from my duties.”
As soon as his name was brought up, both you and the maid looked over at Robb, who looked absolutely bewildered. “Your father is here.” He said, making a sharp pain go through your stomach as you suddenly felt an immense amount of stress and fear. You had assumed that he had died, considering he had waited months to come and find you.
“We must get you to a bed, and call a midwife,” The maid insisted, taking hold of your hand. You squeezed it tightly, and gave no further complaint as you were lead to your room like a child. You were much too full of thoughts of your father rushing in and stealing the baby from you. That was worst case scenario. That was the worst possible thing that you could imagine happening.
Your room was quiet, and away from the hustle and bustle of the castle. You could feel a pain unlike any before as the baby started to crown, wanting to come out as soon as possible. Roughly only an hour or two had passed from the time your water broke to when you were laying in bed, your knees bent, and the young maid holding your hand and encouraging you to push. Someone must have sent for the midwife for she was there with you, between your legs, encouraging you also.
The pain nearly made you pass out. There were a couple of times when you swear you lost minutes, going in and out of consciousness. But the pain continued to pull you back to reality - and with a loud cry from both you and the maid, you gave the final push. There was a moment of pure silence, only the sound of the wind outside against the window could be heard.
And then the room was filled with the loud cry of the baby in the midwife’s arms.
-
The baby might have left your body - your son, you smiled as you looked upon his little face and cradled him close to yourself to keep him warm - but the stress did not. You knew that your father was still out there somewhere, and could come charging in at any moment. The maid dozed on the floor next to you, sitting with her head resting on the foot of your bed, and the midwife had departed after the cord had been cut. All was quiet and calm until a knock came at the door.
Your heart sank into your stomach. The maid by your feet looked up, her hair askew from her sleeping position, and started to head towards the door.
“No - please.” You pleaded with her, but she opened the door nonetheless. Instead of your worst fear, your father, Robb Stark stood there, sword in hand, dressed in his armor like he had been when you two had met in the dining hall.
“Your father is gone, he was turned away from the castle doors,” He told you, the sword falling with a clang onto the floor, laying forgotten as he took steps towards you. “You didn’t tell me that he was-” His eyes went to the baby that was in your arms, and then again at your face. “He talked about you and the baby with such pride, it was revolting.”
“Can you understand why it was better for me to come here with nothing, than to stay there?” You whispered, tucking the blanket around your son. The maid excused herself and left the room, closing the door so you and the Lord were left with privacy. “I couldn’t tell you, I thought you might have-”
“Exiled you?” He asked, coming closer. He stood by your head and looked down at the baby in your arms. Reaching down with a gloved hand, he lightly stroked the chubby cheek. “Never. But him - yes. If he sets foot inside of Winterfell, he will be executed for his crimes. I promise you, nothing is going to get you and the baby.”
“Why do we mean so much to you?” You asked, your eyes glazing over with tears. You looked up at his handsome visage, admiring the way that his blue eyes looked in the candlelight. “I am just a maid, and he is just a bastard.”
“I’ve fallen for you, my lady,” He kneeled down beside your bed to get a closer look at the two of you together. The tears left your eyes and streamed down your face, for it was the first time that you have ever been called a lady. It felt like a burden had been lifted off of your shoulders with just those words. “And I told you you will always have a safe place here.”
Despite your sweaty forehead, the ratty hair, the condition of your room and the fact that you probably didn’t smell too great at the moment - you leaned into Robb for the first kiss. He returned it, and the both of you got utterly lost in the moment until your son gave a great wail. His little hands beat against your chest, and his legs stretched out to kick at Robb. You pulled away, chuckled then shushed your baby, rocking him gently. “I shudder to think about what your mother will say.”
Imagine modern day Robb Stark taking you to the movies to see a horror film, reluctantly.
The movie had more blood in it than anything Robb had ever seen, and he considered himself to be pretty educated in bloodshed from the books about war and strategy that he was always reading. There was nothing strategic about a bunch of piranhas in a lake trying to eat everybody. In 3D of all things!
“That’s what you’re into?” He asked, looking uncomfortable as he got into his beat-up old car that had belonged to his father and he had proudly inherited. He had opened the door for you and held your hand as you got in but the grimace didn’t leave his face. “All that senseless blood?”
“It’s kind of funny,” You shrugged. “If it bothered you that much, we can watch one of those medieval war films you like so much next time.” You suggested.
“I’m done with piranhas, that’s all I know.” He muttered, starting up the car. You chuckled and put a hand on his knee and your head leaned onto his shoulder.
“You’ll survive. If you have nightmares, I’ll be right there.” You cooed.
Imagine surprising Robb Stark with your strong sense of strategy.
You waited until you were pretty sure that everyone was asleep and snuck into Robb’s tent. You didn’t care about Robb himself, you had no intention of waking him up, but you had heard some things that had bothered you earlier. Laid out before you was a map of the Seven Kingdoms, and the last known whereabouts of different important people and enemies. Some of the figures were in different spaces because of Robb’s strategies.
You licked your lips and picked up the little wolf figure, which meant Robb Stark. You were about to put it down when you heard his voice behind you. “Why are you interfering?” He asked. You turned around and slowly put the figure down.
“Because you’re making a mistake.”
“How so?”
You beckoned him over to the table. He looked at you incredulously, but stepped forward anyway. “It would be easier for the Lannisters to head this way, that’s true, but they don’t always take the easy path. They’ll most likely come from this way, to try to bring about a surprise ambush and get Jaime back. If I’m right, then we’re in danger if we proceed as we are. We need to take a little risk and assume that they are doing the same, and head to where they may be coming through. Surprise them as they intended to do to us. No offense meant Sir, you do have a good plan.”
Robb looked a little surprised, and then reassessed the map. “I think you may just be right, Y/N.”
THE ROBBS – ’Bittersweet’ / ’End Of The Week’ (Mercury 72641) Jan 1967
The Robbs | Bittersweet | (Mercury) 1967 | I was doing a bit of internet surfing the other day and learnt that Dee Robb from The Robbs died in February 2008. It’s always sad for me when I read that 60s songwriters/musicians die. Fortunately their music will survive a lot longer.
Dee Robb was the lead singer and chief…
