KINGDOM FALL
— 9. Goodbye For Now

That night, Annalys hadn't slept at all. When dawn came, she immediately got up from bed and readied herself for the journey. She forced herself to wear the same dress she attended the Red Wedding in. It was stained with blood, which was perfect for the story she had made up for when she arrived at King's Landing.

She stood at the window, taking a deep breath before she bent down. She grabbed the ends of her dress, about to rip it. Before she could, a feeling grew in her stomach that made her feel the need to puke.

Annalys' eyes widened, covering her mouth with her hand as she frantically glanced around for something to throw up in. She soon found a large tin basket and ran over to it. She wasted no time throwing up into it, finding herself feeling a bit better after doing so.

Robb became confused when he was woken up to the sound of someone vomiting. He immediately sat up in concern. He found Annalys on the ground in a kneeling position, throwing up into a metal basket.

Robb wasted no time climbing out of bed and rushing over to Annalys. He sighed in defeat, kneeling next to her. He grabbed ahold of her hair, moving it out of the way before she could throw up on it as well. He had no idea what else to do. His mother once told him about her being plagued with something called morning sickness when she was carrying him in her womb, but never thought Annalys would get it too.

He didn't even know what it meant. Husbands in the Seven Kingdoms never bothered to learn anything about pregnancies. They usually just let the wives handle it themselves with the help of their handmaidens and midwives. Robb, however, refused to do the same. Annalys was going leave that day. She would be dealing with the pregnancy all on her own for the next few months.

He refused to sit back and allow her to endure it on her own when he was still around to help her. Annalys flinched and nearly jumped in fright when she felt someone place a hand on her back and grab ahold of her hair, but soon calmed down when she heard Robb's soothing voice telling her that it was going to be okay, that he was there for her.

Annalys had no clue why she was sick, in all honesty. She had no one to tell her what it was like to be pregnant. Her mother wasn't around and Robb was the only one besides herself to know about the pregnancy. Annalys refused to tell Catelyn about the pregnancy, in fear of complications happening that made her miscarry.

Here, Annalys knelt on the ground, not having the slightest clue what was in store for her while being pregnant. She didn't know about morning sickness. She didn't know about the fatigue she'd feel. She didn't know about the nausea she'd feel. She didn't know that she'd have back pain nor that she'd have odd cravings. She knew nothing. She would be forced to keep the fact that she was pregnant from everyone, including her own mother, in King's Landing.

At nineteen years of age, she'd be forced to endure it all on her own without knowing what was normal during pregnancy and what wasn't.

As she finally stopped throwing up, Annalys began to silently cry, tears streaming down her face. She found herself feeling scared for herself and the babies. She hadn't realized until that moment how stupid she was being stupid for not telling anyone else that she was pregnant, even more so for allowing herself to get pregnant during a war in the first place.

She slowly turned to Robb, who was kneeling next to her. He lifted his hand, which held a napkin. He helped her wipe her face, just before tightly hugging her. She began to cry, realizing just how lonely she was going to be. Robb continued to hug her, allowing her to cry into his shoulder.

Hours had passed and Annalys was finally feeling like herself again. It would be noon soon and they knew that mean be it was time for Annalys to leave. However, they also knew a few things had to happen before she could leave.

Annalys sat on a chair by the fire in the chambers she shared with Robb at Riverrun. Robb knelt in front of her, grasping the ends of her dress tightly, "Are you sure?" Robb asked Annalys for what felt like the hundredth time.

Annalys remained silent, slowly nodding her head. Robb sighed in defeat, just before he ripped open the skirt of her dress until the tears went all the way up to her mid-thigh. Annalys stared down at Robb, who looked scared as she held out her dagger.

Robb felt uneasy. He didn't want to do what came next, but he knew he'd rather himself do it than one of his men. Annalys couldn't do it herself. She could mess it up and accidentally stab herself in the eye.

Annalys noticed how hesitant Robb was, causing her to sigh in defeat, "It must be done," She reminded Robb in a calm, yet stern tone, "The message sent to Tywin states that I'd been wounded as they tried to restrain me, but it wasn't life-threatening. You must do it."

"But why does it have to be your face?" Robb asked as stared up at Annalys while kneeling in front of her, "Why not somewhere else?"

"Because I don't want them tearing off my clothes to tend to the wounds," Annalys replied as if it were obvious, "In case I'm showing by then, I don't want them to see that I'm pregnant." She paused, still noticing how hesitant Robb still was, "Please do this for me, Robb. You're the only one I trust enough to do it."

Robb sighed in defeat, knowing she had a point. He hesitantly grabbed the knife from Annalys' grasp before standing up, "What if I hurt you?" Robb asked Annalys uneasily.

"You're cutting me across my face with a sharp knife, of course you'll be hurting me," She bluntly remarked, only to groan in annoyance when she realized how what she seemed to make matters worse, "Perhaps I'll ask Arya to do. Needle will do the perfect trick."

"No!" Robb exclaimed loudly, his eyes widening in alarm at the thought of Arya cutting into Annalys' face with her sword, "I'll do it, alright?"

Annalys smirked in satisfaction, but also found it quite amusing how worried Robb got at her words. Robb moved even closer to Annalys, standing directly in front of her. She lifted her bottom up slightly, placing her hands under her so that she could sit on them. In truth, that was done for Robb's sake. Whenever in danger, Annalys always had survival instincts that she usually had no control over.

They were both worried that while he was cutting her, Annalys would punch him in the face or something remotely close to it, "Don't bite me, alright?" Robb warned Annalys softly, not wanting Annalys' usual M.O. of biting someone to kick in since she had trapped her hands under her.

Annalys smiled slightly, deciding to make a dirty remark about the comment, "I thought you liked when I bit you," She playfully asked, causing Robb to quietly laugh and shake his head.

Robb slowly lifted his left hand, using to hold the right side of her face. He inhaled deeply as he waited for Annalys to close her eyes, "Close your eyes," He demanded, but Annalys shook her head, "Please. I can't look you in the eyes as I do this."

Annalys began to feel saddened by what Robb said. Despite her telling him to, Robb was scared to do what he was about to do. He didn't want to ever want to hurt her. Annalys slowly nodded her head in understanding before she found her eyes closing. She took a deep breath, becoming motionless as Robb prepared to wound her.

The feeling of the cold metal soon touched her check soon enough, but no pain came with it, "Do it," Annalys demanded in a stern tone, "Now!"

Annalys winced as she felt the tip of the blade stab into her skin, just below her cheek bone. She didn't cry out though, not even as she felt the knife drag down her cheek. She felt the blood spilling down her cheek as well. Still, she didn't cry out.

Robb winced himself as he finally stopped just a few centimeters away from her mouth. He quickly pulled the dagger away and removed his hand from the side of Annalys' face.

Annalys' eyes fluttered open, only to watch as Robb wiped the streaming blood from her cheek. She flinched at the painful sensation she felt when his hand brushed over the large cut, leading to him quickly retracting his hand.

"Did you get the paste from the Maester I asked for?" Annalys asked Robb curiously as he placed the knife down on the table next to them.

"Yes," Robb responded, turning away from Annalys before walking over to get it from the small table next to their bed, "I still don't understand why you need it. It's not like you can put it on your--"

The sound of Annalys crying out in pain immediately caused Robb to whip his body around to face her. His eyes widened in horror as he found Annalys sitting in her chair with the knife he used to cut her face now embedded into her right shoulder, "Seven hells!" He exclaimed in shock, rushing over to Annalys, "What did you do that for!"

"The cut on my face wasn't enough," Annalys replied in a calm tone, wincing in pain as she ripped the knife out of her shoulder, "Now, get the paste before I bleed to death."

Robb quickly turned away from Annalys. He picked up the paste before rushing back over to Annalys. He tore open the fabric covering her shoulder but made sure that her breasts weren't exposed. He wasted no time applying the paste to the wound, knowing it would be sure to cover up the wounds and stop the bleeding until she reached King's Landing. However, she wouldn't be either to bathe until then, either.

"I've married and fallen in love with a madwoman," Robb commented, a small smile on his face as he continued to rub the paste onto her wound.

"And don't you ever forget it," Annalys retorted in a jokingly mattered, trying her best to conceal her cries of pain as he applied the paste.

Once he was done, Robb looked down at Annalys, who looked exhausted. She was staring down at the ground, her eyes droopy as she staggered a bit, "Perhaps you should rest before you leave," He tried to suggest, but he knew it was no use.

Annalys slowly looked up at Robb, trying her best to not look tired in front of him as she shook her head, "I'm fine. I must leave at noon if I want to make it to the Twins in time," She reminded him and as Robb opened his mouth to speak, she quickly cut him off, "Don't even think about asking me if you can ride with me. You're not. You must stay at Riverrun. No one can know that you're alive until it's time to take Casterly Rock."

It was impressive, believe it or not. Robb and Annalys were able to know what the other was about to say or what they were feeling with just one look.

Robb sighed in defeat. He nodded, knowing she was right. They both had sad looks on their faces, a part of them fearing they'd never see each other again.

_______

At noontime, Annalys stood outside, readying the horse she'd be riding to the Twins on. Catelyn had already come to wish her goodbye, warning her to be careful and that she'd be waiting for her to return in one piece.

"You're really going back to King's Landing?" Arya suddenly asked as she made her way over to Annalys, but the blonde female made no attempt to turn to face her.

"It must be done," Annalys responded, sighing in defeat as she tried her hardest not turn around, "Anything you want me to bring back?"

"Meryn Trant's head," Arya suddenly said, causing Annalys to immediately look up from making sure the horse's saddle was secure.

Her eyes widened at Arya's demand, clearly taken aback. Her eyes soon lit up and her lips curled upwards, immediately enjoying the thought of killing Ser Meryn Trant, "I can have that happen," She paused, turning to face Arya with a smile on her face, "That bastard has had it coming for many years."

"Make it painful," Arya surprisingly said and Annalys nodded, only to be cut off as Robb walked over before she could actually respond.

Robb looked down at Arya, giving her the look that told her to give him and Annalys some alone time. Arya sighed in defeat, looking toward Annalys, "Don't die." She found herself saying to the elder woman, not knowing how she'd say goodbye.

"I'll try my best," Annalys replied, quietly chuckling as she watched Arya run off.

Once Arya was out of sight, Annalys turned so that her back was facing Robb, continuing to ready her horse, "You ready to go home?" he awkwardly asked her, causing Annalys to roll her eyes.

"King's Landing was never my home, Robb," She reminded him in a frustrated tone, "I always felt like an outsider. My family may have been there, but it was never home to me."

"I would tell you to be careful, but I know there's no point. You're never careful with anything you do." Robb commented, moving closer to her with a smile on his face.

"Careful now, I'm about to leave," Annalys complained, a pouty look on her face, "You should be nicer to me."

Annalys quietly laughed as she turned to face her husband. Robb grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer. She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. A sad look grew on her face as she leaned forward, pressing her lips against Robb's.

She broke away from the kiss, she and Robb looking into each other's eyes with such sadness, "We will find each other again. I promise you," Robb found himself promising his wife in a determined tone, "I don't care if I have to litter the entire south with Lannister dead all the way to the gates of the Red Keep, I will find my way back to you." He paused, cupping the woman's face with his hands, "I love you, Annalys."

"And I love you," Annalys replied softly, leaning forward to kiss him once more.

Before she could do so, Annalys stopped herself, giving Robb a warning look, "But don't fuck up while I'm gone, alright? That's all I ask of you." She warned him and Robb couldn't help but chuckle at her.

"I'll try not to," He jokingly responded, just before he finally leaned forward.

Robb pressed his lips against Annalys', causing Annalys to tighten her hold on him as she deepened the kiss.

Annalys was the first to pull away from the kiss, her eyes filled with tears as her forehead pressed against Robb's, "I'm doing this for you, you must know that," She confessed to him softly, tears threatening to spill from her, "This is all for you, Robb."

"I know," Robb admitted and deep down, he felt ashamed of himself for it, "I know."

Annalys leaned forward, kissing Robb one last time before she turned away from him. She forced herself not to look back, knowing it would be too painful.

Alone, Annalys climbed onto her horse before she began to ride in the direction of the Twins. Robb stood in place, watching sadly as Annalys rode away.

  Deep down, he hoped for her to look back at him one last time, but he knew Annalys well enough to know she'd never do such a thing.

Tears filled Annalys' eyes as she rode away on her horse, but she forced herself to hold back the tears. There was no need for her to cry. They would see each other again.

Or, at least that was what they hoped.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Last part of the first act!

Robb is so gonna fuck it all up, we been known that 😂
I mean, every time Annalys has told someone, "don't fuck up." they've fucked up, it's bound to happen. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But it may not be in the way you guys think. After all, Annalys is about to be spending SEVERAL MONTHS with her family and the people Robb and his men are planning to kill.

You all saw how Annalys became when it came to her family in the last act of Lion Among Wolves. (Peep the title)

She's a Lion Among Wolves, but she will always be a Lion.

Robb seems to have forgotten that, so has Annalys. But spending time with her family, I have a feeling Annalys is going to begin to remember who she truly is 🤔🤔