ᴛᴡᴏ ♚ broken dreams and silent screams

[wolfskin]

Is there naught we can do but sit and wait for this... affliction to run it's course?

[ Robb fears he knew the answer to this question before it ever left his mouth. By his tone he is by no means pleased. (But who is?) The background a low rumble can be heard, heavy foot falls soon joining them as Grey Wind paces the room.

The line across his neck was the first to appear, spreading like greyscale. Then the heart... bleeding words as if that sword had truly pierced his chest. Robb covered them with scarves and leathers, but it did little to hide the stains. They simply bleed through as if the fabric had never been there to begin with.

The padding suddenly stops with a bestial groan. Grey Wind plops down at his feet, quite literally on his feet. Thanks bro. ]

Alright boy, lets go outside.

[ Neither wolf nor king seem to be good at sitting, so outside they go. With journal in hand and stains for all to see. ]

Comments

[songsandstories]

[She would try and answer them if she could. He is one of the few people she could not keep the truth from, even if she wanted.]

Then it the same as the others. I met a young man with a cross cut into his arm. He was bleeding and needed help, but he said he felt nothing.

[wolfskin]

If there is some twisted purpose to this, it is not to inflict pain.

[ Robb would stomach that. He would swallow it without thought, without hesitation. ]

[songsandstories]

People seem to be speaking of regrets, of the past.

[There is supposed to be comfort in their words. Sansa doesn't find any. Alayne has no past, and Sansa's is to broken to ever feel comfort.]

[wolfskin]

[ No, there is no comfort in them. Robb brow furrows and he looks away, turning slightly in a failed attempt to keep the bleeding heart on his chest from view. ]

And almost every man has something in his life he regrets.

[songsandstories]

And woman. [She adds, her voice softer. It's gentle, quiet even. Her hand withdraws from his arms.]

You are king though. You've none to apologize to. [Her faith in his judgment is still devout. To her he's done nothing wrong. He was betrayed.]

[wolfskin]

[ Undying loyalty and faith despite everything. Sometimes Robb wishes that they stop it, just sometimes. He is just as much a fool as he is a king. ]

I do have some to apologize to. [ Though apologies are nothing but words and words are wind. ] The families who lost loved ones at the Twins, all because I thought the wound could be repaid with my uncle marrying in my place. [ The words spill out against his wishes, as if some force opened up the flood gates to everything he has kept to himself. ]

Had I listened to Mother it would not have happened, had I listened to Grey Wind I would have known before the first bolts flew. But I did not and my men paid for it.

[songsandstories]

[She takes his hand to try and ease his worry. They all have regrets. She cannot tell him she told the Queen Father's plans. He would surely never speak to her.] You were betrayed. You could not have known what the Freys were planning. It is not your fault the North wept for their men that day. They will pay.

[She's quiet as she looks at their hands.] I do not abandon you, not ever. For as much as the dye reminds me of who I am not-- for all I've denounced you in court, I never meant it.

[wolfskin]

Grey Wind knew. [ His expression tightens. ] He tried to warn me when we arrived at the Twins, but I did not see I did not listen. [ He is king, he should have seen the potential threat. He should have known the slight would not be so easily repaired. ]

I understand. [ For what little he knows of what happened in King's Landing. ] You had no choice, you did what you had to do in order to survive. [ He remembers the letter, written in Sansa's hand but with the Queen's words. ]

Forgive me, sister, for I never rescued you.

[songsandstories]

[She doesn't know what to say. She remembers when Tyrion told her the news. She stood as silent as the grave, staring out. She thought of Winterfell, of times when her family was whole. Her father, her brothers, her mother, Arya... she pictured them all with smiles. It was the only thing that could stop her from crying in front of him.

But no, he would not see her tears. He would not comfort her. But now? Now it hurts so much to think of all she lost at the Twins. Her blue eyes look up at his, dotted enough with tears she tries to blink back, not for fear that he would see them, but she tells herself she must be brave like him.]

You need never apologize to me, Robb. You did all you could.

[wolfskin]

[ His mouth opens to argue but the words fall short, she may think him not needing to apologize but he believes he does. One day his thoughts may change, but for now they are rooted firmly in place. He is her brother, it was his duty to save her from the clutches of the Queen, from King's Landing itself. Just as it was his duty to save Father and Arya too. Both of who he also failed.

Her tears both silence and stab him in the heart. He pulls a hand free to try and wipe them from her eyes. Don't cry, please. ]

If only it had been enough.

[songsandstories]

[She tries not to cry. She tries to be as brave as she wants to be, but after all that has happened, after the nights of prayer, the dashed hope that he would come, and losing her family, it's hard not to. Not with him.]

You should not think that. You fought for me valiantly.

[wolfskin]

[ Would that he could go back before this all started and stop them from ever leaving Winterfell, he would not hesitate. But such wishes are foolish and he knows it, he cannot change what happened or what followed. ]

Forgive me for my doubts. [ For they as many as they are heavy. ]

[songsandstories]

[She takes his hand gently in hers, smiling lightly despite the tears that dot her face.]

I am sorry you have them to begin with, especially the ones you have in me.

[wolfskin]

Do not apologize, Sansa, you do not have to apologize. You have done nothing wrong.

[ Nothing at all. She did what she must to survive, like the rest of them. ]

[songsandstories]

The way you all look at me--

[She dips her head down, hair soaked with dye that falls in her face.]

Arya will not even speak to me now.