Baths were such a waste, they took to long too construe, made quite a mess, and put hard labor on the already tired soldiers but everyone insisted that as acting Queen she could have all the baths she wanted and it would be okay.

It was really not.

Victoria sighed as she sat in the warm bath, steam rolling off the tops of water as she sunk in, bare body adjusting to the warmth. Elaine was behind her, running a brush through her wet hair and assuring that the knots were out of her thick dark waves.

"Baths like these are really a luxury everyone should experience once in their life, but not during war." Victoria commented as her eyes closed and she relaxed, God's she could fall asleep right there.

"Baths like this are for lords and ladies, queens especially. It's why your uncles have sent only the best herbs and potions to relax you." Elle pointed out, amusement in her tone as she dipped her fingers into the and pulled more hair from the water. The smells of cinnamon and lavender, bright honey with a hint of coconut mixed into the air. The blonde has never smell such items before and it wasn't until Victoria had shown her the collections of hers ground up into little salts did she become aware of each distinguishing item.

"Relax?" Vic snorted with a low laugh. "I haven't relaxed since the day we left Winterfell. Relaxing is only what the common people get to enjoy."

"Oh you're blind." Elle retorted. "The common people worry about more things then anyone else."

"What about the commoners who grow their own food? And live deep in the country, where weather is fortunate and the soil is flourishing." Victoria questioned.

"Those people still worry about powerful houses going to war." Elaine admitted. "And those powerful houses trampling everything they've worked for in life."

"I suppose you're right, so nobody in the bloody realm relaxes."

"The dead do," Elaine pointed out in a very matter of fact way.

Victoria rolled her eyes and softened her tone as the idea was still tended, "they relax because they no longer deal with us all. It must be nice."

Elaine pulled the brunettes hair softly, using the comb gently to pull any knots out as the brunette relaxed. Robb Stark was to come later on in the night which meant Elaine would have to spend the night sleeping in the dingy cot next to Sir Trout. The Knight was a trustworthy man, he never gave her reason to be wary when she stepped into her quarters and he always gave her privacy, even going as far as offering the warmest furs when she slept in the cot next to him. Despite his silence the handmaiden could admit he was a decent friend to her, and his company wasn't terrible.

As of late however he has taken longer then normal shifts at the entrance to the future Queens tent which not only meant that Elaine would have the tent to herself but she was very likely to have to defend herself if any of the men decided to get a bit too close. The blonde pretended not to worry too much as she reassured herself with the blade strapped to her thigh, right where her riding boots ended and at an easy access. She hoped tonight would be different though and Ser Trout would walk her to his tent, if anything just for security.

"Elaine, have you fallen asleep?" Her lady called out in amusement and the blonde jolted in her seat as she realized her hands had stopped.

"Apologies," she whispered in amusement.

Victoria didn't mind as she adjusted in leaned further back, looking up to see Elaine's thoughtful face. "What goes on in that head of yours. Is it a knight? A lord? Has my handmaid found a match?"

Elaine rolled her eyes and laughed, shaking her head, "oh Victoria, men never stare at me. They all want the queen, the lady with territory and claim, not the daughter of some whore."

Victoria lifted sat up and turned her body, hand outreaching, "You are not the daughter of some whore. You are Elaine Snow, daughter of a Karstark and as of late, the closest confidant to a queen. If men don't see that then they will never be able to grasp tour true beauty, from the golden blonde hair of a crown to the deep blue eyes of winter you possess. One day there will be a man who you will love and choose, because you will marry the man you want, I promise you. And he will be kind as you are."

Elaine's cheeks warmed and she dropped her gaze to the ground as she thought over the lady's words. She had never imagined herself as anything more then a whores daughter, perhaps she would find work in the aid of some maester or just a simple kitchen wench, she would maybe fall for the stable boy or a passing travelled and have a baby. Maybe he would be a beautiful baby boy and she would grow to love and adore him, that boy would be epicenter of her world and he could grow into a lovely man, maybe even a knight. Her mind had never filled to think of anything great for her, just the modest life but sometimes Victoria has this way of speaking that mad even the most negative of person keen on listening.

Unfortunately, she had no way of responding as the tents flaps pulled back and in walked the king himself.

Elaine immediately pulled herself to a stand and curtsied at the new King, her eyes ducking low as she respectfully addressed him, "My King."

Victoria on the other hand did not move a muscle, she even deepened herself into the warm bath and looked towards Robb, smirking despite her numerous nerves. She raised a brow of certainty and spoke, "you're late."

Robb bit back a small smile at her sarcasm and nodded at the handmaid, "you can have the night off Ms. Elaine, I'll make sure Lady Valiente dries off and is ready for bed."

Elaine only eyes the brunette for a moment as she wondered if Victoria was up for anything surrounding sex because the King sure seemed keen on consummating the night. Victoria however did not look her way and instead nodded her head, "goodnight Lady Elaine, we'll see each other at dawn."

Elaine walked out hastily, muttering a quick goodbye to the king and his future queen.

Victoria felt her stomach knot at the idea of sex or even Robb seeing her naked again. She's once been completely comfortable with the use, the body was just like anyone else's after all and freedom in Dorne had no bounds. Her stomach now has dark lines, not the white stretch lines she'd once only grazed and the skin had not pulled back entirely. Maester Calderon had told her lower regions had nearly completed healing but she should be wary of intercourse still.

She wondered how she was ever going to get out of this one.

"Mind if I join you?" Robb stated after a small pause as he began to pull back his long coat.

Victoria sat up further and adjusted her legs, "the waters getting old and we have matters to discuss, wouldn't want any distractions?"

Robb nodded as a small laugh left his lips, "believe me, I welcome a good distraction. Since being named King it feels like every night is work and every day is more work." He walked around the bath tub, running his hands over her exposed knee just over the surface of the water and barely patting her soft thigh. Victoria held her breath as he disappeared behind her and suddenly his hand was on her shoulders, he squeezed softly enough to earn goosebumps around the women's skin. Victoria gasped slightly as she awaited his next move and as a slow silence filled them she suddenly saw his palm extended towards her.

She turned back, hair just barely touching the water to find him holding her Robb and a warm smile on his lips. His sea-blue eyes were shining brightly, but not in the usual way that he would whenever he'd show up after hours. In fact, despite her taunt earlier he was rather early for their usual moments.

Victoria couldn't help but smile back and take his offering hand, mindful of his eyes on her wet body and the way he licked his lips as she stepped out of the tub and stood bare in front of him.

Her arms crossed over as Robb's eyes went from her bare legs, savoring the wet tanned skin and slowly trailing up like he was mesmerized. His hands moved quickly as they unravelled the robe and held it out for her to step in but even so he couldn't stop staring and his grin grew even wider. "Believe me, love, I would want nothing more to ravish you until dawn but you're right—business first."

Victoria decided to turn and extend her arms into the warm robe and feel as the warm furs began to dry her away. Robb looked his arms around her waist and tied the belts, pulling his hands slowly against her hips and then trailing them up to push her hair out from underneath. He pushed some away from her ear and kissed just underneath the lobe and Victoria huffed.

Resist, she told herself as her fists balled and the urge to kiss him became abundant. She would always love Robb, he was to be her first and only lover and she supposed that's why every time she was near him it became that much harder to resist but now one thing kept her at bay. She rolled to the tips of her toes to keep from thinking of his kisses and his magical touch and so she thought of their dead child,and how she couldn't afford the same trauma.

So she twirled around and smiled in a very friendly way, cutting the mood short. "Business you say? Is that what we are calling war?"

Robb was immediately distracted as he sighed and suddenly he was no longer the overzealous, sexually crazed teenager who wanted nothing more then to put his lips on her body now he was a King at war with a bitter rival hell bent on repeating the atrocious acts he'd just committed. She could almost nearly see the crown weighed heavy on his head as his shoulders slumped and he led her to the bed where he practically fell on top of, bribing her with him. She adjusted and sat up, back to the plush pillows as Robb began to take off his outerwear. Lady Valiente didn't feel on edge about this act, Robb was no longer intent on sex anymore.

"Where to start..." he mumbled and looked towards the open air, thick brows furrowing as his hands pressed together. "Stannis Baratheon sent a letter to our camp, he's declared himself the rightful heir of the Seven Kingdoms. In his own words he states that Joffrey and his siblings were born of incest, Queen Cersei and her twin brother."

Victoria crinkled her nose slightly as she commented, "well that certainly explains Joffrey—he was a righteous twat."

"So you believe him?" Robb questioned.

Victoria leaned forward and began unlacing the woolen sweater he had, "I believe that Stannis wants the crown and would do anything to take it but this is one lie that even the dead King's brother could bare. There must be truth to it."

"I thought the same as well, that's why I confronted the kingslayer." Robb muttered.

Victoria stopped what she was doing and looked him in the eyes, deadly serious as she had nearly forgotten about Jamie Lannister. Truth be told he was the least of her concerns these days but hearing of his name did bring a haunting reminder of how close the enemy was.

She pursed her lips, "what did he say?"

"More or less the same thing Cersei is likely telling her council and son." Robb scoffed and turned his head so their faces were near one another. "There's something else."

She adjusted her position because something spoke to her and said whatever occurred next was not to be taken lightly. Robb's eyes had this haunting look in them, the one with thousands of worries between the blue of them and fears crowding the messy green. She placed her hand over his where it sat in his lap and squeezed firmly enough to let him know she was with him.

"After the meeting Theon pulled me aside and told me about his fathers ships, he said if I allowed him to then he would sail to the Iron Islands and convince his father to ally with us. We could have ships sailing to take King's Landing." Robb explained and Victoria felt her skin pale.

She swallowed the doubt and spoke her thoughts calmly, "Balón Greyjoy? He's the same man our father went to war with when we were young children. The same man who's children were killed and then taken from him? Is Theon in his right mind? Are you?"

"You sound like my mother," Robb huffed and leaned back, he used her body as support as if it was the only thing keeping him up much like the conversation. The young king sometimes saw Victoria as the sturdiest weapon he had, with her clear head and tactical mind there was no one he'd rather sleep beside and lay his worries. As of late things had been distant with them, and even though he spoke with complete trust to her she had yet to talk with him about her own issues.

"Well maybe your mother and I can see what you cannot," she brushes his hair back and felt the sweat and dirt brushing against his light colored curls. She suddenly regrets not allowing him into the bath as dunking his head into the coconut and lavender smelling water was ideal. "Theon is as much my friend as you are to be my husband but the chances of his father even allowing the thought to pass his mind is wide."

"Theon is his only heir, the last son of Balon. He has every right—"

Victoria silenced him, "the salt throne is not inherited but earned. They are savages, good gods Robb have you completely forgotten all these stories the Maester spoke to us? Greyjoy is much more likely to aide the Lannisters then our side!" She shivered as her mind thought of all the stories from the salt wives to the rapes and murders of innocent lives. Her nose lifted into disgust as she added on, "seriously, Robb, I can't believe you've even considered the idea."

"Well if it doesn't work then Theon will come back and you can gloat to him as well, with my mother by your side." Robb's reply was low and his narrowed eyes told the Lady Valiente that she had pushed one too many buttons.

Victoria however knew that silent observers and quiet protestor did nothing but poison a king until he was surrounded by nothing but traitors. "I won't be gloating or even yelling, Robb, I'll have to fix the situation beside you. Just because you're a king now doesn't mean I won't stop giving you my opinion, wether I find you right or wrong—you'll always have my voice like it or not."

Robb went silent as he doubted anything he wished to respond with would end well. Since the commencement of war Victoria was no longer just the pretty girl with plausible answers to questions only asked to men, she was in her own right a protector of her family name and the heir to her castle, which made her opinions that much more necessary. The borders of Dorne hadn't been protected and kept strong through conquests and rebellions for nothing, the blood of the Valientes was much like its name meaning in their native tongue, valiant, and he saw it in her eyes every time they spoke lately.

A sigh left his lips as he decided there was no time for argument and with her eyes growing heavier he wished to fall asleep peacefully, so maybe ending the night on a happy note would be best and he knew exactly what to say for it.

"My mother spoke to me about other issues," he moved on and Victoria decided to remember this conversation for future references.

"Oh?" Victoria hummed and pressed her neck to his shoulder, relaxing into the embrace. "And what has the Queen mother said that's got those worry lines deepening in your skin, my love."

"She's wants us to marry, says a marriage would strengthen our alliances with your family and put further pressure on the Lannisters. An heir to the Stark would ensure the North's solitude. We could do it tomorrow at twilight."

Victoria suddenly pulled away, sitting straight up and setting her hands on her lap. Despite Robb's sudden smile and brightening look her heart told her something out, and as her eyes dropped to her arms she debated what the best way to explain her stance now. Marriage and children hadn't been much on her mind since things had taken a turn for the worse but now with the idea on the table there was only one real stance she could take.

Robb saw the sudden drop in her mood and he lifted his hand, cupping her cheek softly, "what is it?"

Victoria moved away, moving off the bed, leaving Robb confused as she walked towards the small table where she had fresh wine always. He watched as she served two chalices and drank from one, her eyes closed as if she was resisting her emotions before slowly turning his way.

"We can't marry, not in the middle of war. I won't do it." She stated suddenly, eyes clear and abrupt.

"What? I thought marriage was what you wanted? We would be married in less then a few months if things had gone according to plan, what's the difference now?" Robb stood and she met him halfway, handing off a glass as if it were an olive branch.

"The difference now is we no longer are in the same position, Robb, our fathers are dead—we are fighting a war we had no idea we'd be in when we first decided to marry. Your sisters are being locked away in our enemies chambers and I... I have no one of blood relation that will stand by my side. My uncles are in Dorne, begging me to go home because they won't take part in this at all. And most of all we are marrying for nothing more then to spite the Lannisters, don't you see? Our marriage won't be what we want anymore, Robb I love you but I won't do it this way. I won't marry you until this war is over and we can be sure our children won't be breathing the same air as those filthy lions. I cannot bear to lose another person to them, not again."

She held back her tears as best she could because the longer she spoke the harder it was to conceal the darkest truth she had. Her fathers lifeless body ran through her head? What had they done to his body? They'd labeled him traitor and they received a public execution. The idea of him walking to his death had haunted her dreams many times, she could see him walking up the stones steps of King's Landing, stripped of his fine clothes and soft linens, face dirt he must have looked like a common their, not the proud lord and kind man he was. She could see his head held high as he accepted his fate with dignity and no doubt would he be sad to leave his child but also joyous to see the women he's only ever loved.

Victoria felt her heart construe at the loss once more and what was once Robb's initial response to bicker halted as he realized what was happening.

He walked forward and brought her into his arms, allowing her the small hiccups that left as she silently wailed at her loss. They would very likely never have a direct conversation about both their fathers' deaths but this would suffice. He had grieved in his own way the day he's nearly broken his sword in two and perhaps he still continued to do so with every Lannister man he cut down but Victoria—well she wasn't really the type to ride into war nor was she the type to confide in her emotions.

"No no no," Victoria softly wailed and pushed her hands away until there space between them. "I can't, I can't do it, not like this."

And Robb understood, despite his own reservations with her theory he did because he loved her as much. Perhaps he had always loved her from the first memory he had of her, ironically the first memory he could remember as well. He loved her, and sometimes love requires patience and understanding, even if both were confusing.

He nodded, "alright, we won't be married now."

Victoria nodded her head, suddenly conscious of the idea that their nights usually ended in a different format but with tears still fresh in her eyes and her breath short the last thing she wanted was sex. And so she led him back to the bed, when Robb leaned in too kiss her, perhaps to end the night on a better note then before. She pecked him softly on the lips and pulled away, intertwining their hands.

"Maybe tonight you can just hold me, yeah? Maybe tonight we just lay in comfort?"

And Robb obeyed, even though this only further proved to confuse him he decided to comply because love must have been this way? He was giving her everything she wanted, despite his opposing arguments he wouldn't disagree, not tonight at least.

And so the King and his future Queen pulled the sheets back and curled under the covers as two young adults, bound by war and love, inevitably headed for worse with those two hanging in the balance.

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So I decided to change the FC to this fic to Nathalie Kelley, I just love her and there's so many more gifs of her. Also this has not been edited at all because I have no time