The Rains Weep O'er Their Halls

[kingnamedstark]

Who: Robb Stark and YOU
Where: Outside of a bar
What: Arrival
When: 5/8
Warnings: Mentions of death and violence, ptsd. Drunken sex, NSFW.

[He isn't in the best mind frame as he's told where he is and that he is here for a reason. In his mind, he can still hear the "Rains of Castamere" and hear the screaming of his men. He can hear his mother begging for his life and see his wife on the floor. His death wrapped around him like a cloak, leaving him in a deep fog as he wanders, searching for something and nothing at the same time.

Eventually he finds somewhere that looks close enough to a tavern, but the act of opening the door is too much for his body, still sore and aching from his wounds. They may have healed, but he could still feel them. Some things couldn't be erased. With his hand on the door, he stands for a moment, staring at it, as though expecting it to warp and change.

There was someone next to him, but his thoughts are so jumbled, it's hard to make them out from the corner of his eye. He has to shake himself to remember he's blocking the entrance.]

I'm sorry. Am I in your way?

Comments

[kingnamedstark]

[Three? Seven Hells, Robb only had one!]

No, I wouldn't think you'd have heard it. It was when we were boys and Theon started visiting brothels. [It's not like that was much of a secret, right?] Jon always said he didn't want to father a bastard and didn't see a point in getting married.

[How much things have changed. Not that he begrudged his brother that happiness. He just wished that he had his still as well.]

You found a way to earn coin?

[toivory]

[She has to smile at the mention of Theon. Of how he used to be.] Those days are far behind both of them now, it would appear.

I have! Inesa designs clothing, and I help to sew and embroider. I've done some leather work, as well, but I confess that is much harder.

[kingnamedstark]

[He's not about to smile over Theon.]

So long as Theon keeps out of my way, I don't care what he's like.

[But trade was a better topic.]

It would be something you'd excel at. I never would have thought about you using it for coin though.

You will have to make me something.

[toivory]

[It pains her to hear that, though she knows his feelings on him are anything but sweet. She says nothing, though, lets no emotion pass across her face.]

We will need to speak of him, one day. Not today. But soon.

[That's all she's going to say on the subject of her boyfriend.]

I would be honored to make you something. What would you like?

[kingnamedstark]

[He tugged at his tunic. There was still dried blood on it and holes from the arrows and dagger. He wasn't going to be picky about what else he could wear.]

Something clean. After, we can burn this.

[It might be cathartic.]

[toivory]

Consider it done. Though- have you checked your room? Some clothing is provided for us. [She gestures at herself for further explanation. She's dressed more what she's learned is modern, though she still prefers her long skirts. Now, though, she wears a short-sleeved blouse. She'd embroidered flowers along the collar.]

Then we'll burn it. And, I think, with the four of us here, we should take time to honor those not with us.

[kingnamedstark]

I didn't spend much time in my room. [He can remember going in, looking around, being overwhelmed and then leaving just as quickly. If there were clothes, he missed them.] Are they anything similar to what we have at home?

If you want. [It's not a bad idea, but he'll need a few drinks before to prepare himself.] There are no Weirwood trees are there?

[toivory]

More or less? They are... less elaborate than we are used to, surely. The women's fashion is much different, I find.

No, I am afraid to say. But we will find something.

[kingnamedstark]

I suppose it doesn't matter. It suits you though. Is this one of yours?

[Something was better than nothing.]

If there is enough magic here to bring the dead back to life, there should be a way to find a Weirwood tree.

[toivory]

It is! Do you like it?

[She spins for him, showing off her work as she would have when she was a child.]

Then we will try.

[kingnamedstark]

[He at least knows how to compliment dresses *cough*Jon*cough*]

I do. You were always skilled when you were a girl, but this is better than when I last saw your work.

[He smiles, getting a better look at her and how much she changed. It hurt to consider what he might have missed, but she seems to have thrived.]

Mother would be proud of you.

[toivory]

You should have seen my coronation dress.

[Oh, yeah. Did she mention she's the Queen?

Sansa beams with pride.] I pray she would be. Her and father both.

[kingnamedstark]

[He blinks. There are so many questions to follow that.

At least the North was in Stark hands, but it wasn't a position that he wanted for Sansa.]

There is no joy in ruling. [The sad and unfortunate truth.] You always wanted to be queen.

[He squeezes her hand.]

They would.

[toivory]

[All will be infodumped in time.

She squeezes his hand back.]

It is a difficult task. But I hope to lead the North into a new period of peace, now that Spring has come.

[kingnamedstark]

I didn't leave you a stable realm to manage or men to believe in our House.

[He knows his crimes and the stain of kinslayer that remained.]

[toivory]

The Stark name still holds power in the North. Jon and I were able to unite what was lest of the North, as well as the Vale.

Forgive me- I know there's so much to tell you and it all must be overwhelming for you.

[They arrive at her dome, and she excuses herself for a moment. She comes back a bit later, holding a plate of lemon cakes.]

For you, Robb.

[kingnamedstark]

It is overwhelming. [He doesn't mind admitting that.] To think that so many I knew died, that there was nothing left, it made my death easier to accept. Hearing it was a lie, it makes so much else meaningless.

[The lemon cakes have no flavor against his tongue. Everything seemed drained of color and life now. Only Sansa seemed to glow against their backdrop.]

Thank you.

[toivory]

Robb- [She's harsh with him, turning to look at him. She allows her face to show her emotions, her eyes soft though her brow was furrowed. Her mouth is a thin line. Honestly, she looks like their mother. And what she says next only furthers the image.]

Do not say that. Your death was not meaningless. To say that- we fight in your name, Robb. The North remembers. And my children will learn of their uncle Robb, the Young Wolf, who's statue rests in our crypts. They will learn you were brave and honorable- not just a true knight but a true King. You mean so much to so many. It pains me that you do not even realize.

Even in the bed of a Lannister, I cried for you whenever I dared. Your death was not meaningless. How could it be, when you meant the world to me?

[kingnamedstark]

For you, it meant something. [He'll concede that she loves him and he knows she mourns him. The North would be outraged, but without a common enemy, they would speak about King Robb Who Lost the North. He would be a joke in later stories, the fool that trusted the wrong men and was killed for it. It was a bitter thing.] I tried to march south to save father and you, but everything I did, all the choices I made, the men I killed, what did it achieve?

Father was killed, you were saved by someone else and our House was betrayed.

The North might remember, but they will remember how useless I was in the end. How I failed father, Jeyne, you, mother. I was a shit king, Sansa.

[toivory]

[She's very frowny right now, looking at him seriously, so much their mother.]

Joffrey was a shit king. Robert was a shit king. You were young and inexperienced. You didn't do things to be cruel or because you wanted to show the world you had power. The Bannermen chose you, Robb. They followed you willingly. As they followed Jon and follow me.

They sing songs about you. And they will never call you useless.

You tried. And every victory brought new pains, but I knew you were getting closer to me. You gave me strength.

There are young boys running around the courtyard of Winterfell that bare your name, you know.

[kingnamedstark]

[It's not much of a comfort. Sansa had always been stubborn and could push and push when needed, but this was one tree that could not be uprooted. He felt guilt and shame to such a deep level that it was difficult to find his way out of the abyss. There was only giving in to it. The memory of his mother, desperate and begging for his life, and the sight of Jeyne being stabbed repeatedly removed any soothing Sansa might attempt.

Boys were named for him? What about his own son? The son he should have cared for and protected? So many boys lost their fathers following him and for what in the end? He accomplished nothing.

He's fatigued and it shows. Now, all he wants is to find a bottle and crawl inside.]

I think I should rest.

[toivory]

[She's said too much. Robb deserves comfort, to rest. He'd made it clear he didn't want an information overload, and yet she'd done just that. She swallows, looking down at her feet for a moment, feeling very much like the little girl that had left Winterfell on that long ago Summer day.

She nods, and holds out the plate of lemon cakes.]

Very well. Take these, Robb. Sleep, eat well. We're safe here where there are no Lannisters, or Boltons or Freys. Rest.

[She leans over and kisses his forehead, the proud sister.] You deserve it.

[kingnamedstark]

[His hand goes to her hair as he leans in to kiss her brow, not letting her pull back just yet. He knows he hasn't exactly been the best companion tonight and likely won't be tomorrow either. But she was here and she was safe. That had been his driving goal for so long. Sansa had been his entire focus in the war. Seeing her again was a bit of a balm, even if it was set against his failure.]

So do you.