When Catelyn departed to visit upon her good-daughter, her son was consumed with plots and discussion with her Uncle as they spoke of lions and fires and of things in battle too often men felt concerned women little. Robb spoke to her, of course, and the Blackfish hailed her counsel as sound, but they were men at war, and it was no place for women. Her Father had ceased speaking so openly with her on such matters once Edmure lived to an age to prove himself an heir, but Ned never had. Ned spoke openly and freely with her and had she ever shared the battlefield with him as she now shared it with their son, she had little doubt Ned would have discussed freely with her then also.Â
She wondered if Robb would ever engage his own wife so truly in matters of war and, if he did, whether Jeyne would be ready for such a task. The girl had not been given a boyâs schooling in her youth as Catelyn had, and had not been raised as heir apparent; the child could heal and tends wounds well enough to save her son, but of maps and battle strategy, Jeyne seemed to know little. That would have to change if she was to be Queen in the North. A heavy title for one so young. She and Robb were both so very, very youngâŚ.
Her visit to the girl, talking at her bedside, holding her hand as she sent for the Maester, only served to prove Catelynâs suspicions and she had watched as the dark chestnut eyes widened in innocent surprise, and she witnessed relief their also. The same relief she herself had felt when she had found herself to be carrying Robb.Â
Now, after sending him to see to his wife, informing him there were matters which the young Queen wished to speak on, Catelyn waited in the privacy of her chamber for her son to return with the realisation he was to be a Father. Another title upon his shoulders but one which she prayed would bring him considerably more joy than all the rest.
the meeting and discussion of battle plans had gone much longer than robb would have thought. he was fully intrigued with the way riverrun worked as it was vastly different from the land locked winterfell. robb wanted to know about everything, how it all worked and how it all connected together. the curiosity was getting the better of him and neither knight nor king realized how much time had passed until they left the underground. the blackfish continued to speak of the measures to be taken and robb took note of everything. as much as he needed the blackfish to stay, he needed him to go to the vale even more.
leaving brynden to finish his preparations to leave, they left on parting notes, robb having brynden swear to send word that they were coming with men so they could prepare for the onslaught that would happen. his mind was reeling with information, reeling with different ideas and strategies now that he saw how all the pulleys worked. it would work. the lions had little idea of what was happening below and had little idea that the wolf from the north could work those tools. mayhaps now they finally had a one up on the lannisters.
just as he was going to draw up plans in the solar, jeyneâs maid came to tell robb that his presence was requested in their room. slightly concerned, robb thanked her and made his way towards their room. he knew that she had not been feeling well this morning and robb hoped it was nothing serious. there were a few different thoughts running through his mind but he figured it was jeyne who best tell him what was happening. closing the door behind him, robb saw a delighted expression on her face, one that was much different from when he left her this morning.
the words that she had uttered, iâm with child, ran through his ears. that was definitely not what he was expecting to hear. robb wasnât sure how to react. was he excited? nervous? scared? uncertain? all of them rolled into one? as the words began to settle on his shoulders, robb laughed and smiled, taking his wife into his arms and placing a kiss upon her lips. it was exactly what they had been trying for, exactly what they had wanted. robb needed an heir but he also wanted a child. mayhaps not this young but it was everything they had been wanting.
just as with his great-uncle, time ticked away all too quickly and robb left jeyne to rest when she said she wasnât feeling well again. they had both agreed to tell no one yet asides from those who needed to know. her maid, the maester, and his own mother, whom already knew. they would keep it a secret until they were certain there would be no complications.
âyou know this morning, didnât you?â robb asked, a happy air about him as he stepped into his motherâs chambers after she had opened the door. âthatâs why you wanted to see jeyne.â