KINGDOM FALL
— 85. Now and Always

   Days passed on the boat and Annalys refused to leave her cabin on one of the ships. She, Torra, Jon, and Robb ended up on a boat that Euron wasn't on, much to their relief. Annalys refused to eat whatever was brought to her and that concerned Robb, knowing it wasn't safe for her or the baby. Their son. The son he had the feeling he'd never get to be a fat her to since Annalys insisted on marrying Euron.

Robb was standing on the deck of the ship with Jon, watching as Torra picked a fight with one of the Thenns. She was definitely her mother's daughter. She hated Thenns.

Robb and Jon ended up watching in shock as the nine-year-old girl threw the man overboard without a care in the world, none of the other wildlings doing anything to stop her. They watched as the Thenn, who didn't know how to swim, drowned and as they sailed away, he died.

Jon and Robb turned to each other, exchanging a shocked look. "I need to speak with Annalys," Robb finally spoke up, not being able to take being around the wildlings any longer.

Jon was able to endure it, seeing as though he had lived among the Free Folk for many months. Annalys felt the same way. Any time Robb had attempted to complain to her about something they had done, she waved him off and said it was fine, just before telling him to leave.

Every time he went to her room, she barely spoke. She just laid there, refusing to get up from bed. Robb began to realize that it must have had to do with the girl, Freyja. Something happened between them during the month Annalys had been beyond the Wall, Robb realized that.

With that, Robb made his way to Annalys' quarters on the ship before entering. He found Annalys actually out of bed for once, now dressed in an actual long-sleeved dress instead of Free Folk attire.

She didn't turn, however, when he entered, clearly wanting him to speak first.

"Did you love her?" Robb suddenly asked, causing Annalys to suddenly tense up.

Her eyes widened slightly and her mouth gaped open, clearly taken aback by the question. She remained silent for a moment, just before answering, "I don't know," She admitted in a whisper, refusing to turn to face him.

"How do you not know?" Robb asked in frustration, clearly wanting to know the whole truth.

In a way, however, it was the truth. Annalys didn't know if she ever loved Freyja. Of course, she cared for her, but Annalys never truly felt as though she loved her.

"I don't know!" Annalys practically yelled as she whipped herself around to face him, "I've only known one real love in my life and that was with you," She confessed softly, tears in her eyes as Robb tensed up, "What I felt for her was...I don't know, a sort of understanding. She understood how I was feeling. She knew what it was like to be a woman and a leader to thousands at such a young age. She knew what it was like to be a mother to children who were considered a threat to the world by being the offspring of two warring families."

Hearing Annalys' words, Robb frowned. He didn't understand. How could Freyja' children be the offspring of two warring families?

"What do you mean?" Robb asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"There's something you need to know, Robb." She told him quietly, the two of them taking a seat on her bed, "You've heard stories about your father's brother Brandon, right?"

Robb nodded, "He was supposed to be my mother's husband until he died alongside my grandfather in King's Landing after being burned alive with wildfire by the mad king." He explained in a calm tone.

"Yes, and he was known to be similiar to Robert Baratheon when it came to bedding women," She began to explain to Robb, who frowned in concern, "The father of Freyja's child was a member of the Night's Watch. He was a bastard, like Jon. A lot more like Jon than you might think."

"What are you saying?" Robb asked, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

"Torra's grandfather was Brandon Stark, your father's elder brother," She informed Robb, who was rendered shocked by the revelation, "Her father was one of Brandon's bastard children with a woman from the South."

"What?" Robb whispered, his eyes wide in shock.

"His name was Torrhen. He would have been your cousin if he was still alive," She continued to explain in a calm tone.

"Did my father know about him?" Robb asked Annalys curiously and she shrugged in response.

"I don't know, but I believe Torrhen wasn't the only bastard child of your uncle," Annalys admitted, despite having no proof to the claim.

"Why is that?"

"How much of a coincidence can it be that I'm not going to be raising the granddaughter of Brandon Stark?" Annalys questioned, a large smile on her face.

Hearing Annalys' words, Robb frowned in confusion, "What do you mean, raising her?"

"I promised her mother that I would protect her and treat her as if she was my own," Annalys informed Robb, who nodded in understanding, despite feeling uneasy.

"Do you think it's wise, to allow the child of the former Queen Beyond the Wall to live with you in the Westerlands?" Robb found himself asking Annalys, an uneasy look on his face.

"I'm not going to leave her alone, Robb," Annalys argued in a stern tone, "She's innocent."

"Innocent?" Robb scoffed, just before letting out a large laugh, "I just saw that girl take down five wights with a single dagger at Hardhome and just a moment ago, she threw a Thenn overboard after he didn't agree with her on something. And she's only nine!"

Despite how absurd it was, Annalys began to smile at the thought, "She's something else, isn't she?"

"If I'm being honest, she reminds me of you as a child," Robb admitted, earning a somewhat of an annoyed look from Annalys.

"Well, that's odd, since you're the one actually related to her," Annalys commented in a sarcastic tone.

"How is she related to me exactly?" Robb questioned Annalys curiously.

"She's your cousin's daughter so I think it would make her your first cousin, once removed..." She trailed off, both of them looking puzzled.

"What does that mean?" Robb frowned, a deeply puzzled look on his face.

"I honestly don't know," She admitted, both of them laughing at her response, "I do know she's Lyanna and Eddard's second cousin, though."

"How old was Freyja?" Robb asked, a curious look on his face.

"Our age," Annalys answered, causing Robb's eyes to widen in shock.

"And she willingly had an eight year old daughter?" Robb questioned in shock.

"She did," She smiled as she nodded her head in confirmation, "At fourteen."

"Fourteen?" He asked, both of them smiling as Robb's eyes widened, "Imagine if we had had Lyanna and Eddard at fourteen."

"I don't even want to think about that," She complained, both of them laughing as they stood up from sitting on the bed, "By the way we used to bed each other, I dare say we'd have at least six kids right now."

"What would we have named them?" Robb suddenly asked, causing Annalys to turn to him with a curious look on her face.

She remained silent for a moment, trying to figure out what he was up to her. After failing, she began to smile, deciding to go along with whatever he was doing, "The first two would be Torrhen and Joanna." She responded and Robb immediately recognized the names from their time in the Riverlands.

"I see what you did there," He commented, causing them both to laugh.

"What about the last two?" She asked Robb curiously, a smile on her face.

"If I had a say, which I most likely wouldn't since you're so demanding..." He trailed off, smiling in amusement when he saw the annoyed look she gave him, "I'd say Rodrik and Rickard."

Robb stared at Annalys, noticing the look on her face, "I like Rickard, but I wouldn't want Rodrik. I'd pick--" She began to say, only to hear Robb's commented.

"Here we go," He muttered, jokingly rolling his eyes as he prepared himself to hear the most Lannister-like name in existence.

"Tyland," She suddenly spoke up, causing Robb to furrow his eyebrows as he gave her an odd look.

"Tyland?" He asked, sounding almost disgusted.

Annalys began to smile at his reaction, but also looked a bit offended, "What's wrong with Tyland?"

"Why must it be so--" He began to ask, only to be interrupted.

"Lannister-like?" She asked before jokingly pointing her finger at him, "Watch yourself, King Robb. You're talking Queen Annalys Lannister, the head of House Lannister and Queen of the Westerlands."

"Annalys Lannister doesn't sound right either," Robb argued, but by his tone of voice, Annalys knew he was playing along with her joke.

Annalys moved closer to him, a daring look on her face. "Well then, what does sound right?" She asked him, raising a brow at him.

Robb moved closer to her as well, their faces almost touching, "Annalys Stark." He whispered in a low tone, smirking as Annalys' eyes widened.

Annalys playfully rolled her eyes as she turned away from him, "I'm still going to go with the name Tyland."

Robb grabbed her by the hand, pulling her back toward him. As she turned to face him, he placed his hand on her waist, pulling her closer until their chests collided.

Annalys looked up at him, tilting her head slightly in a daring manner, "Rodrik," He suddenly spoke up in a calm tone.

Annalys leaned a bit closer to Robb, smirking mischievously, "Perhaps we'd just have seven children. Then, we could have a Tyland and a Rodrik."

"Seven isn't too many?" Robb asked, the two of them going along with the whole scenario.

"Winterfell would be big enough and I'm told I have the perfect child bearing hips. I'd be more than capable of bearing scene children," Annalys smirked and Robb playfully rolled his eyes at her comment as his grip on her hips became tighter.

"You do have nice hips," Robb agreed with Annalys in a calm and quiet tone.

Annalys smiled playfully, nodding her head, "I do."

There was a moment of silence between them as they stared intently at each other. They wanted nothing more than to kiss each other, but they knew it was wrong. Robb quickly let go of his grip on his waist, allowing them to back way from each other.

"So Lyanna and Eddard would have Torrhen, Joanna, Rickard, Rodrik, and Tyland to play with," Robb continued on after awkwardly clearing his throat.

"That they would," Annalys responded, nodding her head in confirmation.

"Why only one more girl?" Robb questioned, raising a brow at Annalys.

"It's what the future has planned out for me," Annalys answered mockingly, a smirk on her face.

"Does it now?" He asked in a sarcastic tone, quietly chuckling in amusement, "Who told you that one? Was it...The Woodwitch of the Westerlands or the Red Woman? Perhaps both this time?"

"No, actually. There's a new witch in Westeros now, haven't you heard?" She asked in a sarcastic manner, smirking at Robb, "Her name's Annalys Lannister."

"Really?" Robb asked, jokingly scoffing, "That's odd."

"Why's that?" Annalys asked, continuing to go on with their scenario in a joking manner.

Robb grabbed Annalys by her hands, pulling her closer to him once more. He placed her hands on her face, looking down at her, "I heard her name is Annalys Stark." He whispered lowly, earning a playful eye roll from Annalys.

He really didn't give up with that, did he? She would be lying if she didn't like the sound of "Annalys Stark" more than "Annalys Lannister" but she wasn't going to admit that to him.

"Huh. That's interesting," She stated, beginning to speak in a mocking tone, "I heard Robb Stark climbed into bed with Margaery Tyrell and was planning to make her his queen."

"It's funny that you say that. I heard that he refused to climb into bed with her when she came to his room one night, intending to bed him," He suddenly informed her, causing Annalys' eyes to widen in utter disbelief since she could tell he was being truthful, "He told her that he wasn't ready to take their future marriage to the next level."

"When would it be?" She asked quietly, continuing to speak about each other in third-person.

"Never," Robb answered, shaking his head as he spoke softly, the two of them staring into each other's eyes, "He still dreams of having the love of his life back with him once more, even after everything."

"Love of his life?" She questioned, her eyes wide.

Robb nodded, "Yes. Her name was Queen Annalys of House Lannister, First of Her name, future Queen of all of Westeros?"

"All of Westeros?" Annalys questioned, shocked by his revelation.

"Yes, he was willing to combine their kingdoms, if it meant he could have her in his arms once more. Forever." Robb continued on, leaving Annalys utterly shocked.

"Robb, I--" Annalys began to say, finally giving up on their scenario to speak normally.

Robb nodded, a saddened look on his face, "I know. You can't."  He told her, nodding his head in understanding, "You must take the Iron Throne now that you'd laid claim to it. I also know that Stannis must die or you and your family will never be safe in Westeros. And you need Euron's ships to keep them safe."

"I don't want to marry him, but I believe I have to," Annalys confessed softly, tears in her eyes.

"Have you both..." He trailed off, referring to sex without saying it, "Since I left?"

Annalys remained silent as she nodded her head. "I think you know the answer, Robb." She told him softly, a saddened look on his face.

"And you don't care for him in the slightest?" He questioned Annalys curiously, causing her to shake her head, "Do you plan on spending the rest of your life with him?"

Annalys scoffed loudly as she shook her head, "Definitely not."

"Are you going to kill him?"

"Do you really want to know the answer to that?" Annalys found herself asking, causing him to nod his head in understanding.

Robb slowly nodded in understanding, "Sometimes I wonder how I fell in love with someone like you. Someone who was so evil at times that I begin to wonder if you have any regard for the lives of the people around you," He confessed, causing Annalys to tense up, "But when I think about it, I couldn't imagine myself with anyone who wasn't you. I love you so much, despite everything that's happened."

Hearing Robb's words, Annalys began to tear up, on the verge of crying, "How can you love me? After everything that's happened, after everything I've done?" She asked him softly, a devastated look on her face, "I'm a monster. I don't deserve to be loved."

Robb cupped Annalys' face in his hand, wiping the streaming tears from her cheeks, "I'll always love you. No matter what you've done in the past or what you will do in the future, I will always love you. No one else. You're the only one for me," He whispered to her softly, "Now and always."

"I killed her," Annalys suddenly confessed, causing Robb to frown in confusion, "I killed Freyja."

Robb remained silent, sighing in defeat. He already had the feeling that was what happened in the cave. He wasn't surprised.

"I know," was all Robb said as he nodded in understanding.

"She was hurting so much. She couldn't walk. She begged me to kill her. I refused, but she continued to beg me. I didn't want her to suffer anymore so I killed her," She continued on, trying her hardest not to cry anymore, "I killed her."

Robb pulled Annalys closer, hugging her tightly as she began to cry into his shoulder. She was devastated by what she had been forced to do. Robb could see that. Robb didn't know what it was like, to kill someone he cared about. He never had to do such a thing. He didn't know how Annalys felt. 

After a few long moments, Annalys pulled away from hugging Robb to look him in the eye. She smiled sadly, on the verge of speaking up when she felt her baby kick.

"What's wrong?" Robb asked, a deeply concerned look on his face.

"Nothing, just..." She trailed off, a genuine smile on her face as she was distracted from her sadness after feeling her baby kick, "The baby kicked."

Robb looked shocked by the revelation, causing Annalys' smile to become wider, "Do you want to...?" She trailed off, gesturing down to her belly.

Robb remained silent, looking hesitant to do so. Annalys continued to smile, holding her hand out to him, "Come on," She encouraged him in a soft tone, "Give me your hand."

Slowly, Robb extended his right hand out. Annalys grabbed it, bringing it closer to her before placing it on the side of her swollen belly. There was nothing for a long moment before Robb suddenly felt the baby kick inside Annalys' womb.

Robb's eyes widened and he quietly gasped, clearly feeling nothing like it before. It was amazing and indescribable. It also made him feel guilty that he was never able to feel the twins kick when Annalys was carrying them.

"Do you feel that?" She asked, beginning to smile once more.

Robb nodded, the two of them softly chuckling as he continued to feel the baby kick.

"He's a strong one," Robb commented, causing them to laugh once more.

"Torrhen," Annalys suddenly decided, causing Robb's eyes to widen.

Annalys knew she told her mother that she'd pick a name originating from House Lannister, but she couldn't help herself.

The duo looked into each other's eyes, smiling at the thought of the baby being named Torrhen. Torrhen. The name was common amongst the North and it was the name of the last King in the North that ruled before Robb centuries before.

Suddenly, Robb was reminded that what he was doing would only hurt him in the long run. He would never get to be there for the child. His son. Bonding with him while he was in his mother's womb now would only break his heart later on.

He slowly looked away from Annalys, avoiding eye contact. Annalys frowned in concern, her smile immediately fading. "Right..." He trailed off, pulling his hand away from Annalys' belly, "I should go find Jon."

Robb turned to leave and Annalys hesitantly watched him, clearly not wanting him to leave.

She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't take not being with him. It was destroying her. She needed to be with him. She couldn't be apart from him any more. Not after everything. He made her happy. Happier than any other person did.

He walked closer to the door and Annalys took a deep breath, just before speaking up, "Robb?" She called out, causing Robb to stop walking.

He slowly to face her as Annalys moved a bit closer to him. Her lips parted as she shook her head, "I don't want you to marry Margaery Tyrell." She confessed, her voice a mere whisper.

Robb froze for a moment, knowing what Annalys was doing. It was just like the night of their first kiss. He said almost the same thing.

The night of their first kiss and the night Annalys lost her maidenhood to him four years before, Robb had claimed that he didn't want to marry the Frey girl. It had been his way of declaring his love for Annalys and a way of telling her he wanted to marry her, no one else.

Robb slowly nodded in understanding, realizing what was going on. He walked closer to Annalys as well, a determined look on his face. "I don't want you to marry Euron." He responded in a low tone, "But you need the Iron Fleet."

It was as if the roles had switched since that night four years ago. What Robb had said was a lot like what Annalys had said that night when she spoke of the bridge Robb needed from Walder Frey all those years ago that forced him to be betrothed to Roslin Frey.

The two of them stared at each other closely, knowing what the other meant. It was a reminder of their first night together, that no matter what they did, they'd always somehow be back with each other. It didn't matter if they were on warring sides or betrothed to other people, they'd always come back to each other.

They could no longer endure being without each other, even if it meant ruining everything they had built for themselves. It meant nothing to them without each other.

Annalys shook her head slightly, a determined look on her face. She inhaled sharply, "Fuck the Iron Fleet," She suddenly spoke up as she rushed forward.

She wasted no time cupping Robb's face in her hands, kissing him passionately. She moaned into the kiss, tightly wrapping her arms around Robb as the kiss became rougher, hungrier after so long of being without each other.

Annalys removed her hands from being around Robb's neck as she began to untie the front of the shirt he was wearing, a smile on her face as they continued to kiss passionately.

  Robb tightly gripped onto her waist as she did so, refusing to break the kiss. He pulled away briefly, untying the front of her dress before he smashed his lips against hers once more. She completely took off his shirt and Robb tossed it to the side, on the ground. He grabbed Annalys by her right thigh, lifting it up to place at his waist while his left hand roamed underneath the skirt of her pulled-up dress.

They pulled away from kissing as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Annalys and Robb gradually began to smile at each other, panting for breath.

"I am yours. Now and always," She promised him in a confident tone, clearly being truthful, "I will be with none but you ever again. I swear it on the Old Gods and the New."

"And I, you," Robb responded, both of them smiling as they kissed once more before falling onto the bed.

____

Hours later, Annalys laid in the small bed in her quarters on the ship. Robb laid next to her, his arms wrapped around her as they spooned, completely nude. "I never thought we would have this again," He admitted in quiet tone, earning a small smile from Annalys.

"But we do. And none shall take it from us ever again," She replied in a confident tone, "Nothing will come between us ever again. I promise."

There was a moment of silence between them before Annalys turned around that they were facing each other while laying on their sides.

Robb lifted his hand up, stroking Annalys' cheek with his hand, "I love you. Now and always."

"And I, you." Annalys replied softly, smiling at Robb while staring at him with such love and admiration.

She leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to Robb's lips. She pulled away after moment, in order for them to finish their conversation, "When will we marry?" Robb found himself asking her out of curiosity as they intertwined hands.

"When I take King's Landing," She replied without hesitation, clearly already knowing the answer.

"Isn't that what you told Euron even though you never planned to marry him?" Robb sarcastically asked Annalys, raising a brow at her.

"I will be taking King's Landing within a month. I promise you that. We will marry in the Great Sept of Baelor," She paused, suddenly experiencing an odd feeling in her cut as she recalled what Bran had said, "There will be a large ceremony, many in attendance."

"Is there now?" Robb asked, a small smile on his face.

"Yes, and you will be King of the Seven Kingdoms. But I will be Queen Regnant." She informed Robb, who visibly tensed up at the fact that he would be king.

"Is this what you want, Robb?" Annalys asked uneasily, noticing the look on Robb's face.

"It is," Robb nodded, replying without hesitation, oddly enough.

"If you become King of the Seven Kingdoms, you'll no longer be King in the North and you'll most likely have to give up being Lord of Winterfell," Annalys continued on and it concerned her since Robb didn't seem to be bothered.

Of course, she knew it bothered him. But why was he hiding it?

"I understand," Robb replied, nodding his head once more, "And Bran will be Lord until Eddard comes of age," He paused, only to notice the odd look on Annalys' face at the mention, "What?"

"What if Sansa became Lady of Winterfell until Eddard comes of age?" Annalys found herself asking, causing Robb to frown in concern.

"Annalys--" Robb began to argue, but Annalys was quick to cut him off.

"Listen to me, Robb. Sansa has been through so much. She deserves it. She has a political mind, trust me. She learned many things in King's Landing. She is the one out of your siblings who's most capable to rule in your stead, trust me." Annalys explained to Robb, who continued to argue.

"I have two brothers," Robb argued, shaking his head.

"Aye, but she's the second born child. If you change the inheritance—" She began to tell Robb, causing him to interrupt her.

"Annalys, the Northmen would have my head. It's one thing to have it in the South, but the North is different. The line of succession will not change in the North. That's final." He told her sternly, which took Annalys by surprise.

She narrowed her eyes at him, wondering what suddenly had him being so stern. It was different. Robb looked back at her, noticing her reaction.

Maester Aemon was right. Robb shouldn't always agree with her. It was better when he didn't. She needed to understand that she wasn't the only one in charge. That wasn't how it worked.

Annalys sighed in defeat, knowing there wasn't any point in arguing, "Alright, fine," She replied, much to Robb's surprise.

There was a brief moment of silence between them, just before Annalys spoke up, "Is this truly what you want, Robb?" She found herself asking him, not knowing what he was so willing to agree to it all.

"I want to be with you. With you and our children. If that means, I have to live South in King's Landing, so be it," Robb explained to Annalys, a soft smile on his face, "I want us to be happy again."

"As do I," Annalys admitted, smiling back at Robb.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

It's official now. FOR GOOD. I promise. The plan Annalys has for getting rid of Euron is so fucked 😭she doesn't kill him, ofc, but she marries him off to someone in order to get revenge on THEM.

Who do you think it is? 😂