[Musebox] - An Arranged Marriage

[thekittenqueen]

Set after this.

[Somehow Robb had defied her expectations and kept his word about the marriage. Despite what his council had said and his mother had feared, he had pressed on with the alliance. Strangely, it was the people that seemed to rejoice publicly once the news had leaked (though the source was never found.) She'd always been loved and admired by the populace, but it was the first time that it had been displayed before the Starks.

It was comforting, showing that she had value...beyond financially.

The Tyrells were naturally pleased at the match, offering more than a generous dowry. Harvests, money and men were given to the Starks, a small price compared to their sudden rise in favor.

Margaery had accepted it all in silence, coming whenever summoned by Robb and offered him a gentle ear and pleasant conversation. Despite the time they passed together, they had not yet breached the walls raised between them. They were unfamiliar to each other, strangers, yet soon they would wed. Sooner than they had imagined.

When the day actually arrived, Margaery felt out of sorts, lost in a daze. Once more she was placing her head on the block. She was going to be a queen again, facing discord and suspicion once again. As she approached the godswood, she found herself wondering about the man that Robb Stark truly was. She had seen the King and the shadow of his father, but who was the man? Who was he going to be when they were alone in his rooms?

She looked calm and collected, but inside, she was apprehensive and uncertain. Everything was out of her control...him and their marriage. She never had lost control before, but somehow, it was wrestled away from her.]

Comments

[wolfhead]

[ His thumb is still tracing small, idle circles. He could get used to this. Having her close and pressed against him. In another time and place, he might be awkwardly, embarrassingly trying to hide arousal, but right now, he's simply oddly content to sit and talk like this.

It makes everything easier. It makes him feel comfortable.

Robb shakes his head in response to her question. ]

It was nothing. Not important.

[thekittenqueen]

[It created an odd sense of peace within her, feeling his hand gently caress hers. The proximity of him filled her with warmth and comfort, as though she were in a safe place and at home. After the stress of the day and the anxieties of what their life could be, this was comforting.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, taking a deep breath as she began to relax and grow comfortable so close to him. The smell of leather was still fresh on his skin, a musk that she could grow used to and learn to love.

Whatever was on his mind, it piqued her interest now.]

No, truly. Tell me.

[wolfhead]

[ Leather and wool and sweat. Horses. It's the smell that men carry with them when they ride off to war and they bring it back. It never quite fades. She, on the other hand, smells of soap and oils and flowers. That's how it is, though. Men and women have different places in this world and that's how it will always be. Right? ]

I just-

[ She's managed to convince him to open up. ]

I thought winning the war would make me happy. Make things right. But I just feel tired. Tired and more alone than ever.

[thekittenqueen]

[It was a good smell, something that she didn't know she missed. She'd been married to a boy and a man that preferred other men. There was never anyone like Robb. He was a warrior, strong and masculine. He was everything she didn't know that she wanted. The crown seemed almost a secondary entity now. It existed alone and Robb...well, he became something bigger.

It was gratifying, as though it confirmed that she could grow to feel something for him instead of duty. She wanted a fondness to exist in their marriage, something that made the bedding and life that they would share easier.

She wanted the sort of marriage that she had heard Catelyn and Ned had shared. Sansa spoke of how they loved each other and grew devoted. Save for the beginning of their marriage, Ned had never strayed. While Margaery had been raised to expect these things, part of her hoped that Robb would never allow his eyes to wander.

Though he didn't seem the sort to bed other women...given his revelation.]

It's never so simple as that. All you need do is look at the men who fought in Robert's Rebellion. They were all so tired and grim. War brings out a darkness that can never really leave.

[It wasn't comforting, but it was true. Raising their entwined hands to her lips, she placed a kiss on his fingers.] You aren't alone. You can tell me anything. Don't spare me from what you think or feel. I want to share it.

[wolfhead]

[ Robb has an aversion to fathering bastards, born of cold experience with his half-brother and his mother. That's something he may confide in her at some point or perhaps not. Seeing how Jon was treated by his mother was enough to make him swear that no child of his would ever be a bastard. That haunts him and informs some of his decisions on straying or possibly bedding a woman beyond the marriage bed.

That remains something secret for now, though. Something locked up for him to know and no one else. Instead he focuses on the feel and the smell of her and how this moment, as awkward as it feels, is still somehow right. He laughs and it's a low, quiet sound. ]

They don't tell you what war is really like. It's terrible, but I'm good at it. Maybe I should take some comfort in that.

[ In, out, and he feels as if he belongs here. Even if he's still feeling this out. He glances up at her as she presses a light, soft kiss to his fingers and after a moment of hesitation he nods. ]

I... will try. And I would like you to do the same, if you can.

[thekittenqueen]

[She had grown up knowing that men sought women outside of their marital bed. While her father had never been that sort, there were enough bastards bearing the name 'Flowers' in the Reach that she was aware of the nature of men. She had even experienced it in Renly. It was a grim reality, but one that she had been prepared for by her mother.

It didn't stop her from hoping that she might have a husband that was loyal to her. She was beautiful and intelligent, kind as well. These were qualities that she hoped would be enough, but it was hard to predict the way the heart would lead them.]

The stories and songs make war seem romantic and stirring. Renly treated it as though it were some great tournament. [Which was why he probably died.] It wasn't until King's Landing that I saw how devastating it can be, especially for the children.

It's why I pushed you. I didn't want them to suffer anymore.

[She smiled, glad that he was not frightened of this intimacy or of the gestures of affection she offered him.]

You may be shocked by some of my thoughts and opinions. I'm not a passive creature.

[wolfhead]

Oh, no, I gathered that much already.

[ His reply is a touch sarcastic, but the look he gives her is affectionate. After what he'd heard from Sansa and his own experience, there is no way he can ever mistake her for someone who is passive. ]

I... think I am glad for that. I prefer to have someone to talk to and someone who's willing to share an opinion or a viewpoint. I don't need someone to tell me I'm right all the time.

[ He slowly lays back, flopping onto the mattress and furs and blankets that are spread out over the bed. His hand stays in hers, although he gives it a small tug, urging her to join him. ]

So, share some of your opinions with me now.

[thekittenqueen]

[She laughed in response. Even if Sansa hadn't told him about Margaery, she imagined he would have figured out that she was opinionated from that first meeting. She hadn't withheld her thoughts from him then, perhaps even going a bit far. Somehow, he didn't seem to let that bother him. He married her, after all.]

So long as you remember that for when you disagree with me.

[He had a mind of his own as well and that stubbornness was likely to clash with her own at a later date. For now, they seemed to get on well enough together...for the short time that they were in each other's company.

She followed his prompting, lying back against the furs and pillows as well. She rolled to her side, allowing her a better look at him, her proximity still close to his own.]

I think...after we settle matters here, we should consider traveling to each of the Seven Kingdoms before we return to Winterfell. It would let the wardens see you and swear fealty to you in person. You would also better see the realms that are yours.

[He hadn't told her that he was considering the Iron Throne, but it was his by right, whether he wanted it or not. He asked for her opinion and she gave it fully. He should be King.]

[wolfhead]

[ He can feel the heat from her body and he rolls onto his side so he can return her gaze, eyes searching her face for a sign of... something. He's not sure what. They've come this far, they've tied themselves together for life, and now they're discussing things he hasn't really spoken about with anyone. His brow furrows as he considers. ]

That will delay our getting home for a long, long time.

[ There's also a few other things he's not so sure about it. ]

I doubt they'll want to swear fealty. And part of me is still inclined to let them go...

[thekittenqueen]

[It was a beautiful sort of trust developing between them. It couldn't be easy for him, opening up in this way, but he was making on effort on her behalf. She was far from used to sharing her mind, it had always been too dangerous for that. Yet he asked her and she was happy to offer him her thoughts in return.

She squeezed his hand, cradling it close to her heart as she watched him. He was analyzing her, looking for something. She happily tilted her face towards him, letting him look to his heart's content.]

I think they will. They want the wars to end as much as we do. Consider who each of the wardens are. The Eirye is your aunt and the Riverlands is your uncle. You have my father in the Reach and you control the North. That leaves Dorne, the Westerlands and the Stormlands. Both the Westerlands and the Stormlands need to be dealt with as it is, but I doubt that they will oppose you, as much of the realm is now yours.

[She understood and expected his hesitation.]

It's the most logical action. You are the best hope for peace.

[wolfhead]

[ A part of him wants to say hang the rest of the kingdoms, he's going home. But he can't do that. He has a duty now and a responsibility. He'd never really be able to face himself if he just ran away from it.

That's his problem, of course. Too honorable for his own good, just like his father. ]

Let me sleep on it. I'll... probably go around and show my face, if only so I can speak to them all in person. I can get the measure of them, at least. It isn't like I'll be spending that much time down here in the future anyway.

[thekittenqueen]

[It was a small victory to at least get him to consider the idea. Not wishing to press her luck, she silently agreed to let him sleep on it. Somehow she knew that he would agree in the end. He knew it was the right thing to do and it was his duty to these people. This wasn't something he could walk away from, as he seemed to want to do with King's Landing.]

You might want to consider visiting King's Landing more often. Confining yourself to only one section of the realm is unwise. A king should be seen.

[But these were things to discuss at another time, once he grew used to the idea of actually ruling Westeros...if he ever did.]

Are you tired?

[wolfhead]

It is a very long journey and I can't very well leave Winterfell without it's lord, can I?

[ He has the unpleasant feeling that he'll be making the journey far more often then he would like. He sighs and almost absentmindedly lifts his hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear with a little, distracted frown on his face. ]

No, not at all. Feeling a bit heavy from the wine, but... not tired. Are you? Would you like to get some rest?

[thekittenqueen]

You are lord of more than just Winterfell now.

[But that was as far as she would go with that thought. The sudden gesture of sweeping a hair from her face had caught all of her attention. She felt herself leaning into that touch, her face burning hotly under his eyes. She had always found him handsome, but with his brown eyes drinking her in, she almost felt as though she were melting beneath the sun.

It was hard to feel anything but wide awake at the moment, no matter the day that they had had and how draining it had all been. She was shot through with energy, all by that touch.]

No, I'm fine. The wine went a bit to my head too. [It was the only way she could explain the fog that was drifting over her and the humming of her body.]

[wolfhead]

It's my home.

[ There's something plaintive in those words. As if he can make life so much simpler than it really is. He knows he can't, of course, but he can't imagine living a life away from Winterfell. It's what he's trained strove to become his entire life. But things get complicated. What people want isn't always what they get.

His eyes search her expression again; there's been a change in the room. The energy has shifted and he can feel something electric working it's way up his spine and out into his limbs. It's a nervous, tense feeling and it's stretching and stretching and eventually, it's going to snap. ]

...may I kiss you?

[ It's a silly question. He asks anyway. ]

[thekittenqueen]

[She heard the plaintive sound of his voice, but let the matter rest there. She had given her opinions and he would consider them. Whatever he might feel, she knew that he would decide what was best for him, as well as the kingdom. She didn't doubt his ability to think clearly and reasonably.

What's more, the subject had fallen by the wayside. With his eyes searching over her and the sudden tension in the room, she found herself thinking of nothing but him. She had worried that everything would become awkward and rushed, but it feels natural the way he touches her.

The question manages to catch her by surprise, though she realizes that it shouldn't. This is entirely Robb.]

Yes.

[wolfhead]

[ The answer is... not unexpected, but he still manages to look slightly flustered. ]

I - thank you.

[ That's ridiculous. He shouldn't thank his wife for that. But he does anyway. And then he's not thinking about much else, because he leans forward slightly and kisses her. It's a soft, tentative kiss. He's exploring, trying to figure out what's allowed of him. And it's also not a very good kiss, because it's really one of the first romantic kisses he's ever had. ]

[thekittenqueen]

[It's all so painfully sweet. With the confidence he had displayed in their first meeting, she would never have suspected that this was a first of many things for him. He hadn't said as much, but the kiss alone was indicative of that. Even the simple act of asking to kiss her was charmingly boyish. It summoned a protective instinct in her, wanting to help teach him in a way that wouldn't insult his pride.

Gently, she placed her hand against his cheek and guided his kiss. She took the lead, allowing him to learn by her example and to match her movements. He was intelligent and showed that he could think quickly.

He would pick up kissing with rapidity, so long as he enjoyed kissing her.]

[wolfhead]

[ He feels more than a little awkward; here she is having to give him a brief lesson in kisses, in how to properly be with a woman. But where else is a man meant to learn, if not in his marriage bed? At least that's how it works for Robb. Others might propose a whore-house, but... it isn't in his character.

No, he's focused on her and trying to figure out how to do this all properly. He presses himself a bit closer, arm draping over her to grip at her shoulder. His lips part, his clumsy kiss starting to become something a bit more practiced as the tension starts to bleed out of him.

He can enjoy this. ]

[thekittenqueen]

[His awkwardness was drifting away, their tension drifting into something else, something more enjoyable. He was adapt, quickly learning how to deepen the kiss and how to spark further desire between them. She felt there was no reason for her to continue instructing him, instinct was spurring him on.

She wrapped an arm about his shoulder, pressing closer to him as her lips parted for him. A tremble worked its way up her spine, causing her limbs to quiver against his own. Her heart beat frantically in her chest.

She pulled back, only for a moment, taking a deep, ragged breath. Her eyes swept over his face, lingering on his gaze in awe and amazement. Gently, she leaned forward once more and returned to his kiss.]

[wolfhead]

[ in some ways, Robb is still feeling this out. He knows what he's supposed to do and how this is supposed to work and he can't deny the pleasant tension and the warm thrill that runs straight through him as their kiss deepens and he feels her trembling against him. It is instinct and desire and a thousand other things. He comes a touch closer, tugging her close until her breasts are pressed against his chest and his arms encircle her, holding her tight.

As she kisses him once more, his lips part and he finds his teeth running down her lip in a little love-bite. It's experimental for him, something new to try, and he hopes that he's not about to hurt her. His face is flushed, breath just a touch ragged when he pulls away again and he looks at her, feeling slightly sheepish. ]

This is... more than I expected. Better.

[thekittenqueen]

[It comes as a surprise when she feels his teeth against her lower lip, but not an unpleasant one. She finds herself melting against him, her hands roaming over the expanse of his back until coming to tangle in his hair. Her tongue peeks out from between her lips, teaching him how to further deepen their kiss. He wasn't shy or opposed to the lust that raced between them. Feeling safe in her actions, she pressed her hips to his, wanting to be flush against him.

The sheepish smile on his face earns a breathless laugh from her. This was so far removed from how she feared their first night would be together. He had managed to awake something in her that she hadn't felt for some time. It certainly wasn't something she could happily share until now.]

I feel the same. I don't know if it is the wine or...this, but I can't seem to stop shaking.

I think it is this.

[wolfhead]

Well. I'm glad we understand each other a little bit better then we did a little while ago.

[ It's a weak joke, but he's not sure what else to say. Something romantic? He's not sure if he's actually in love. He's... not unhappy, but they've only just married. He's known her all of a few weeks. Whatever this is is going to take time to untangle. But for now, he's fine with leaving it a bit of miss, especially when she curls against him and he can feel how warm and soft she is. He breathes out slowly and lowers his head, tentatively planting a kiss against the curve of her throat. He's exploring, feeling out what he can do. What's comfortable. He's still in that awkward phase where he's not quite sure what is actually appropriate. ]

[thekittenqueen]

[She laughed, breathless and giddy from it all. Again, it was unclear if it was the wine that brought on these feelings or whether they were natural. She wasn't in love, it was far too soon for that, but she desired him and knew that with great certainty. He was handsome, kind and honorable, the sort of man that she could admire and enjoy being around.

The way he touched and kissed her, it made her heart skip a beat. She more than enjoyed being with him. She wanted to chase this as much as possible, her mind already awash of their future nights together.

She tilted back her head, granting him further access to her throat and skin. Her fingers tightened in his hair, silently encouraging him to continue.]

You learn quickly.

[wolfhead]

I... try.

[ He laughs, still feeling a touch nervous about this. How could he not be nervous? But he is the Young Wolf and he's still a young man and that brings with it a certain eagerness and readiness to leap headfirst into this sort of encounter. He runs his hand down her side, hand settling on the curve of her hip as his lips find more of her skin to kiss and bite and mark. ]

You're beautiful.

[ It's a quiet little compliment, breathed more than spoken as he ghosts his lips over her collarbone. ]