[Musebox] The Court of the Stag King

[thekittenqueen]

[ooc: After this.]

It had been three years since the forces of Baratheon and Stark united. Three long years of war and hardship, soldiers that went off to fight but returned either on a stretcher or not at all. The land was fractured, near beyond repair, as the Lannisters dug their claws into King's Landing, refusing to relinquish what was theirs. No matter the battles they lost, they denied terms of surrender time and again. It was only when the mighty Tywin Lannister died from heart failure that a light appeared in the distance.

Stannis had been the easier foe to defeat, not for lack of military cunning and tenacity, but because slowly his forces abandoned him, trickling to Renly's cause and swearing fealty to him. Storm's End was sacked and Stannis fell in battle, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the men that remained, showing true honor and bravery.

The Lannisters had no such pride. Know their cause was lost, Cersei and her children fled the capital, looking to retreat to Casterly Rock. Sansa had been with them, her life hanging precariously in the balance as an unhinged Cersei threatened to kill the poor girl should any try to overtake them. They were caught on the road by the Stark army, ambushed during the night. Sansa had been safely freed and delivered while Joffery had been killed by a stray arrow. Cersei and the rest of her children were conveyed away, taken to Renly who would decide their fate.

During it all, Margaery had been taken to High Garden, secured and protected by Renly's Rainbow Guard as she carried his heir to term. He had been so certain the child would be a boy, a sign that his victories were due to his own luck, rather than to the help that Robb Stark provided. However, when a daughter was born, he took the news calmly and with his usual nonchalance.

"Next time will be a boy," he declared, laughing alongside his men. Margaery knew, however, that beneath his smile was frustration and chagrin. There would be no other children. He may have enough luck to win the war, but he could not summon the ability to bring about another pregnancy. The gods were not kind enough to allow a second opportunity for Margaery to conceive.

The news of her pregnancy was lost to the Kingdoms, swept up alongside the rest of the news regarding the war. It was not announced as joyfully or loudly in Robb's camp, as there was nothing to prove among his men. The rumors about Renly did not extend that far. Eventually, it was all overshadowed by Tywin's death until there was no more talk but about the end to the war.

***

After three long years of struggle, Renly was crowned in the Sept of Baelor and named King of the Seven Kingdoms. Despite his promise to Robb, he did not remove the North from among his possessions. Not publicly.

Thankfully, there was no outcry or challenge to that insult, as the Wolf King was away, attending his wedding to Roslin Frey. He had kept his word to Walder Frey and secured peace in the Riverlands, only furthering Renly's unease and wounded pride.

Now that there were no more adversaries among the Lannister camp or Stannis, Renly had become acutely aware of how dangerous Robb Stark truly was. He held a large section of the Kingdom and he had an advantageous match in the Riverlands. If he wanted, he could displace the Stag King, and unknowingly already was. It was not Robb Stark that stood to inherit the throne after Renly's death.

With the matter of his marriage at an end, Robb was summoned to King's Landing, both to meet and finalize the terms of treaty with Renly, but also to see that they were truly honored. Word had finally reached him about the titles that the Stag King boasted and the challenge that he was making towards Robb. The conflict was not yet at an end, it seemed.

***

Robb's arrival was met with celebrations and festivities, an elaborate show of wealth meant to display the resources available to Renly. All was calculated to make Robb feel ill at ease, even the scene that greeted him in the courtroom.

Margaery was seated at her husband's side, uncomfortable with the display and the ease that Renly used her to make a point. Her daughter was with them as well, not usually paraded out before visiting guests, but done so this time. The reason well known to Margaery, though never spoken of. A young girl with Tully hair and the sharp blue eyes of her father. Rumors had never involved her, much to Margaery's relief. There were enough red heads in her family to not raise any measure of suspicion.

Renly was seated upon the Iron Throne, forcing Robb to approach him as though he were a supplicant or unequal. Silence filled the Throne Room as the court waited and watched to see what response would be given. Margaery's eyes were locked on her lover, amazed at how kind the years had been to him and how well he kept his composure. Despite the trouble it might cause, she offered him a look of kindness and apology, hoping that it would be enough to keep his temper at bay.

"Lord Stark!" Renly called out with a charming smile, masking his distaste. "Welcome to my court!"

Comments

[thekittenqueen]

She knew he didn't love Rosalin, but she still felt as though she had won a small victory. He had always been in her heart, but when she had carried his child, growing larger as the months passed, she became more certain about where her heart truly lay. There was no way for her to leave Renly now. For all intents and purposes, their marriage was consummated. If she should challenge that now, the kingdoms would be torn back into war.

The Tyrells would side with their blood, but the chaos was not good for the people or for the crops. She needed to endure a loveless marriage with a man that was angry at her for bedding a rival king. Her only companion being her daughter, one that might never know the truth.

Despite knowing he was right, she knelt beside his chair, placing her hand over his. "No, I shouldn't." She said gently. "Say all that you wish to me. Inflict your anger and displeasure, if it helps ease your mind. I deserve it for keeping this from you. It won't change my feelings for you."

[kingofthenorth]

He's silent for a while, avoiding her gaze and unmoving once her hand is placed upon his resting upon his thigh. Robb could practically feel the gaze of Grey Wind upon them and he silently wonders if he's passing judgement against him.

"I could never do that, nor do you deserve any of it. You had done the right thing." The war probably would've been far, far worse if this had come into play. Robb could see the mental play of him losing his men and the disappointment from his mother and Sansa, accusing him of finding the wrong time to go against his own judgement. "There wasn't anything else you could do."

But he had so many questions. "Is Renly a good father?" If anything, he could at least see that, but men tended to be territorial over something that wasn't theirs. Robb has seen first hand of Renly doing exactly that.

[thekittenqueen]

"I was afraid that you would abandon your plans and vows, wishing to spare me from bearing our child outside of the bonds of marriage." Their marriage specifically. As he likely knew, she and Renly were not truly wed. His bed was occupied by another. "You are honorable, Robb Stark and I believe that you would have tried to spare my reputation from any possible rumors." Or perhaps he would have done it because he loves her. He had never said it, but she believed it as strongly as she had known he desired her that night.

She wanted to give him reassurance, to tell him that Renly loved the child as though she were his own. She wished she could promise him that Cassana was valued and cherished by the man that the world believed was her father...but they both knew it was a lie.

"He doesn't visit or speak to her. When she was brought to the throne room, it was the only time that publicly displayed her." She said, resting her face in her hands, exhausted by the matter. "He wants a child to present as his own, but not a rival king's."

A part of her didn't want Renly to know Cassana. He had never taken the time to bond with her as Margaery had during the war. Her first few years were spent in High Garden, dependent entirely on her mother's love and the doting affections of the Tyrells. Robb deserved to know his child. Were she able, she would bring Cassana to visit him, but this would have to suffice. "She loves honey suckles and honey cakes." Her smile growing soft and fond. "She has a sweet tooth and loves to sing. Her favorite color is yellow and she enjoys visiting the hounds in the kennel."

[kingofthenorth]

Robb couldn't help the small, sad smile that formed on hip lips. All this time, he had a child and didn't even know. And how he wondered about the judgement passed by his father if he had known. In that sense, Robb had failed him, but at least it was from the heart.

"She sounds lovely." Robb commented softly, though his features fell back into one of neutrality as so many emotions washed over him.

"I'm sorry I haven't been able to help you, but even if I had known..." It wasn't possible. They both knew that much.

[thekittenqueen]

"She reminds me of you," she told him gently, rising once more to her feet. "I didn't tell you this to bring you shame or guilt, Robb." Stark honor had always been a bit beyond her understanding. She knew he carried it deeply, almost like a burden to his life, driving him to perfection. It was something she loved in him, even if she couldn't fully understand it. She wasn't a Stark, she never could know what it was to fulfill these expectations.

All she could do is to try to alleviate them somehow. "I wanted you to know so that you could understand what that night meant to me." She had wondered how he held it in his heart. Was it something he regretted? Or did he still carry the token that she had given him?

"My feelings for you were never more clear than when I learned I carried her in my belly." She was toeing the line of propriety again, but she would never have another chance to tell him this.

[kingofthenorth]

He simply responded with a nod. How else was he suppose to answer? There wasn't anything he could do to make the situation any lighter without entirely disrupting his purpose of being here. But he had kept her token, having it stitched inside a pocket within his traveling cloak where no one could find it unless they had a purpose of searching for it. However, that is his secret to keep.

Rising to his feet, he gently places a hand upon her arm. "Thank you for the offered quarters and your hospitality. I'm sure I'll rest well tonight." He wouldn't; he'd be lucky to even sleep at all. However, she had spent quite some time here and he was growing paranoid there would be whispers in the hallways. Or perhaps his mind was overthinking all this new information.

He needed to be alone for a while.

[thekittenqueen]

For a brief moment, the voice of doubt whispered in her mind, leading her to wonder if she had done the right thing in telling him about Cassana. The news wouldn't be easy to bear, especially for such an honorable man. Yet, there was nothing else she could do. This was his one time to know of her and the life he had given Margaery.

She didn't protest as he slipped back into formalities, rising from her place beside his chair. She couldn't compromise herself any further, as she didn't doubt that Varys was still spying for the crown.

"I pray that you do, your grace." She offered a small curtsy. "I hope our paths cross again outside of the audience chamber." She would leave him to seek her out, if he wished and when he was ready. Pausing at the door once more, she glanced back at him, giving him a small smile before disappearing back into the halls.