CHAPTER TEN
word count: 1516

          The letter trembled in Robb’s hands. Words danced on the page as he read it over and over. Reeling, dizzied, Robb collapsed into his father’s seat at his desk. When Maester Luwin arrived with a raven’s message from King’s Landing, Robb’s heart had skipped when he recognised the familiar curve of his twin sister’s hand. Joy turned to ash in his mouth, snuffed out like the cut of a sword, when he read Alys’ words.

The letter was vague to anyone other than the Stark twins, who had spent years communicating in their own way. Alys wrote in code to conceal her message from unwanted eyes. Robb could hear her voice through the paper, her fear for their whole family. He had received too much terrible news in the last few days. First he wrote to the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and learned Uncle Benjen was still missing beyond the Wall. Then a message arrived from his mother at the Eyrie: she did not know when she would return, and she had taken Tyrion Lannister as prisoner. (Robb hadn’t told Taryn about that, yet. He wasn’t sure if had received the news from her family — he hadn’t seen her to ask.) Alys’ letter was the worst news by far.

Jory Cassel and two more members of father’s guard had been murdered by the Kingslayer. And Father had been injured in the fight: his leg was shattered. Alys explained that Maester Pycelle had given him milk of the poppy, but… No. Father would wake soon, then he and the girls would come home. Surely.

At the end of her letter, Alys promised that she, Sansa and Arya were safe and asked Robb not to worry Bran and Rickon. But she wanted to come home, and Robb wanted nothing more than that. Alys explained how Father had been acting mysterious ever since they arrived at King’s Landing — she had tried confronting him, but he wouldn’t tell her what was going on until he had the answers. Robb wondered what Alys knew about the assassin. He had told her very few details, things that could not be picked apart by spies in the capital. Had she seen their mother in King’s Landing? Did Alys have any more pieces of this puzzle?

Robb didn’t know what to do. It was too late in the night to rouse half the castle for counsel. But suddenly Robb rose from the desk, letter in hand, and left the room before he really knew where he was going.

Robb found himself outside Alys’ door. It was Taryn’s room now. (After Tyrion Lannister’s visit, Robb had Taryn and her ladies move into the Stark quarters — it was unfair to keep Taryn so far away. He hadn’t seen her alone enough to ask how she was settling in. They seemed to always slip through each other’s fingers.) Standing outside the door, Robb wasn’t sure whose company he sought. He was drawn here like a moth to the sun, a beacon in the night. But he needed someone. He knocked on the door, loud and desperate. Only when he heard Taryn, stumbling about inside until she opened the door, did Robb realise how late it was.

Taryn appeared, her blonde hair like a frizzy mane. Her white nightgown made her look like an angel. Robb stared at her, exhausted and mesmerised.

“Robb?” she mumbled, head resting against the doorframe.

He blinked. “I’m sorry. I…I needed you.”

She looked at him puzzled, swaying on her feet like she was about to fall back to sleep. “Me? Why? It’s late. Are you alright?”

“I can’t do this alone anymore. I need help. Please.”

Taryn pushed her door open wider, which Robb took as an invitation to come inside. As the door shut, Robb felt as though Alys was back by his side. (Or maybe that was the ghost his sister claimed haunted her room.) The room was tidier than Alys’ had ever been. The only visible traces of Taryn were her books and yesterday’s clothes. She kept her things packed away as if she thought she didn’t belong there.

Robb had no idea where to start. He watched Taryn as she looked at him — her soft eyes, face broken in concern, her lips. Robb could imagine kissing Taryn’s lips for the rest of his life. He thought about it all the time. That was if she wanted to marry him. He wouldn’t blame her if she wanted nothing to do with him anymore. He just had to find the right thing to say before he lost Taryn for good.

“I miss you,” he said, “and I need to apologise to you. There’s so much I have to tell you.”

“There’s nothing to apologise for,” Taryn countered. She sat back in bed and invited Robb to sit with her. He paused before moving in closer to her. Taryn tucked herself back under the blankets and hugged her knees to her chest.

“There’s plenty for me to apologise for. I’ve been distant and unfair. I thought I could do it — being Lord, handling things by myself. I’m sorry I pushed you away.”

Taryn gave a little smile. “I missed you too.”

“There’s more,” Robb added. “Why I withdrew. Why I’ve been secretive.” He started by explaining the freshest news — of Father, Jory, and the Kingslayer, and of Mother in the Vale.

Taryn sat more stiffly, her eyes more alert. “Why in seven hells would your mother kidnap and arrest my uncle?”

“It’s a long story.” The truth came out like a dam splintering in a river. The mystery of Jon Arryn’s death, Bran’s fall, the assassin. Robb tried to weigh lightly on blaming the Lannisters, but they were at the centre of everything. With no tangible proof, just Alys’ letter about Jaime Lannister attacking his father, Robb watched Taryn’s softness fade from her face. “I wanted to tell you, I swear. But I… we weren’t sure if we could trust–”

“Me?” Taryn rose from the bed. She put as much space between her and Robb as she could in the small room. “You thought I was involved in this?” Taryn curled her hands into tight fists. Even though she hid it, Robb could see her flinch of pain. “What could my family possibly gain from pushing a ten year old boy from a window? Why would they murder the Hand of the King?”

“I don’t know,” Robb whispered.

“They wouldn’t,” Taryn said with utter certainty. She crossed her arms tightly. “It can’t be true. Why would they do this? What proof is there?

“That’s what my mother went to find out.” Robb stood up, walking around the bed to be closer to Taryn. “She received a letter from her sister, my Aunt Lysa, where she accused the Lannisters of poisoning Jon Arryn. And no one saw the Kingslayer the day Bran fell from the tower. And the assassin’s dagger — it was Valyrian steel, someone powerful had to have hired him.”

Taryn shook her head, backing away. “No.”

“I didn’t want to tell you until I knew the whole truth. My mother asked me not to involve you in any of this,” Robb explained, he could hear the desperate edge to his voice. “I don’t want to blame your family, or you. I just want justice for Bran. And my father. Wouldn’t you have done the same if this happened to any of your siblings? Wouldn’t your family do the same as my mother?”

Taryn fell quiet, weighing his words. “If any of this is true, it will not be forgotten. Robb, do you understand how dangerous this is?”

Lannisters and their fucking debts, Robb thought. “Please believe me.” He reached out for her. He took her hand and Taryn didn’t pull away. I want to fix this. Tell me how to fix this. I can’t lose you too.

“But,” Taryn started, her voice turned small and it felt like a knife to the heart, “why didn’t you trust me? What have I done to lose your faith?”

“I do trust you. I just had to be sure.”

“Sure that I wasn’t plotting against your family? I would never hurt you.”

Robb felt deflated. This was far from what he wanted to happen. Perhaps he should have expected it. “I’m sorry.”

Taryn pulled away, but Robb saw the sad shine in her eyes. “It’s late. I want you to leave.”

“Wait, Taryn–” Let me fix this. Let me fix this.

“Please.”

Robb listened because it was all he could do. If there was a ghost in Alys’ room, it was probably laughing at him. He returned to his room, where Grey Wind waited for him by the fire. Robb kicked off his boots and laid down in bed with a wretched sigh. The wolf gave a whine and padded across the floor and hopped up onto the bed to nestle beside Robb. He rested his head against Grey Wind’s thick fur and spent the rest of the night figuring out how he could fix things without losing everyone he loved.

AUTHOR’S NOTE.

happy new years eve!! i'm so so grateful for the love on this fic the last few months, i never expected to get to chapter TEN by the end of this year.

this chapter was not supposed to be this angsty 😭 it got very out of control. i'm sorry. but i hope you enjoyed it!! maybe tarynrobb will have some joy in 2025 🫶

thank you for all the love & support. see you next year!! 🤍