Queen of Ashes [ASOIAF]

―robb.

          Robb had not been the only one to discourage Amina from the trip. His mother had suggested Amina's appearance might be construed as a slight and warned she would need to contend with Walder Frey's insults. But Amina insisted she was a Northerner and her skin was thick. Ser Aylward had all but begged her to remain at Riverrun with him as her guard. The man had lost one king and did not intended to let his queen march herself into danger. Amina was softer with him, but still her answer had been no.

          In the end, Robb was glad she'd come. Amina had been more herself these past few days than she had in all the weeks beforehand. It's the North, he thought, she feels the pull, same as I. But perhaps it was her sister too. Amina would wake with stories of lands far away and whisper them into his ear in the dead of night. When she smiled, he hoped his promise had been forgotten. If her vision were to come true, if this war were to end with him losing his head, Amina would not die by his side. She could hate him for it if she wished, but she would live.

          Robb told her knight as much, and they made plans. Ser Aylward would give his life for Amina, and if any attack came, he would see that she made it to safety. These were the plans he made behind his wife's back, but with her he made other plans as well. "Seagard is as safe a place as any, the castle has never fallen to the Ironborn, and it's been untouched by the Lannisters."

          "And Cat wouldn't be lonely there. Lord Mallister's daughter is there raising her son." Robb nodded. Lyman Darry's castle had been taken not once, but twice. He'd hardly managed to escape the second time, but he had. His wife and his heir were safe, while he and his remaining men fought alongside the Northmen.

          "We'll send Lyman with her; it would do him some good to see his boy."

          "We left Lord Darry at Riverrun," Amina reminded him. Of course, he'd given the man leave to stay behind. Lyman was no Northman. He had no business fighting Greyjoys when his castle was occupied by Lannisters. "But we could send a raven from the Twins." Robb nodded absently. Amina gave him a soft, fond, smile. "Where is your mind?"

          "There's something I need to ask you, about the matter of heirs." He shifted uncomfortable. This was a conversation he'd avoided for years, and even now with Amina as his wife, the question still scared him. "If something were to happen to me, you would be our child's regent. The lords and ladies believe in you as much as me, so I can't imagine they would trouble you, but if–"

          "I do not want to have this conversation," she said, curtly. It took him a moment to remember her vision, to remember the promise he made that he would never keep.

          Robb took a breath and tried again. "If we are gone, our son will need a regent, and an heir, until he comes of age."

          Amina did not look any happier about this line of reasoning, but she nodded. "Sansa would be the reasonable choice, if only she weren't married to Tyrion Lannister." She looked at him for a moment. "You have someone in mind."

          He held out a folded piece of parchment, she took it warily and opened it. "I'd like you to sign it as well, in the event that your sister does take the throne." Robb had to admit he was not as convinced as Amina in her sister's ambitions. But still, he was king, and he had to plan for everything. "The North would remain a sovereign kingdom, out from under the control of the Iron Throne." He was rambling, to fill Amina's silence. Her eyes were staring at the parchment as if she'd forgotten how to read.

          "This is...This legitimizes Jon," she whispered. "You've legitimized Jon."

          "If I die, you should take another husband, and I think it should be Jon." He took the parchment from her fingers. "Now you can. Just like you always wanted." It took half a moment for Amina to register his words, when she did her eyes flicked up to his, wide and confused. "I've always known."

          "Oh, Gods." Amina looked horrified. "Robb–"

          "It's all right," Robb assured her. "Sign the letter."

          "We were kids, we were senseless. Or at least, I was. I suppose in the end, Jon was the only one who had a clear head about it. I'm beginning to realize that I have a tendency to rush into things, at least in matters of the heart. I asked him to run away with me over and over, until finally he ran away from me. Even if I'd been able to offer him that letter then, I don't know if he would have taken it."

          "But you loved him," he pressed. Amina did not deny it, so he continued. "Then give yourself a chance at the future you wanted before all this. I want you to be happy, no matter what happens to me."

          "You promised," she reminded him.

          "Amina, I would fall on my sword if it meant saving your life. I made you a promise I never intended to keep, and for that I'm sorry. But I will not apologize for loving you."

          She was quiet for a moment, and then finally she took the letter from his hands. "I'll sign, but not because I still dream of that future. I haven't for a long time. But if something were to happen to you, and to me, Jon is the only person I trust to protect our child and our home. This is the right choice."