"Have all the men been fed?" Lady Valiente walked around the tables and sitting stumps many of the recently returned men sat upon. Her eyes roamed as she spoke, detecting that everyone happily munched into their meals with gusto.

"Yes, your grace," one of the kitchen wenches spoke up. Her arms were placed at the front of her apron and she looked down. "Should I serve you now?"

Victoria did not answer at first, silently turning her head once again to assure everyone was fed before nodding. "Very well, I'm starved."

"As you wish, your grace, I'll bring it to the table beside the King." She whispered like a mouse and walked off before Victoria could intervene.

Vic sighed, crossing her arms as she looked over to see the table with Robb had a few empty seats, one for her and Elaine. Sir Trout was already sitting and eating, Commander Monterroso as well. They both looked her way and awaited her response.

She realized that her argument with Robb would have to be placed in the back of her mind as now they would have to act like a happily engaged couple.

"I could bring your meal to your tent," Elaine offered from beside her.

Vic huffed lowly, "no, it's quite alright. We can't ignore one another forever."

Elaine silently agreed and followed behind the Queen, they passed many tables with soldiers muttering the usual, "your grace," to the Lady. Victoria was ever regal as she nodded her head and smiled at them. The name of her future title still sounded like a taunt but at this point what could she do?

Lord Glover stood from where he had ripped into a mutton leg with happiness, he used the back of his hand to wipe the grease off. With a broad smile he extended his hands, "My Queen! You truly are a wonder, after a most glorious win over those putrid lions you've prepared quite a feast for all."

Victoria pulled her hands over the dark green of her dress, placing them on her hips as a prominent smile fell upon her lips. "Oh, Lord Glover, you are quite a man. Thank you for placing such admiration on me but I must confess it was not my hands in the kitchen. I just provided the meat and mead for such valiant soldiers, each of you and them deserved a proper feast."

He wiped his greased hand with the black of his pants and extended out his palm. The brunette curiously lifted her small palm into his dirty one and watched as he bowed and placed a kiss on her knuckles, the dense hair at his beard tickling her delicate skin as his thin lips stretched and kissed. He smirked as his head lifted, "such a gracious women, you watch her with great care my King. The next war you fight will be over her."

Lord Glover led her to the chair beside Robb and pushed it out for her, Victoria curtsied in a polite manner before taking her seat, "you humble me, my lord."

Robb surprised her by taking the same palm placed against the table and lifting it to his lips, his kiss was much more tender, something that had once sent butterflies into Victoria's stomach. With his brilliant smile and contrast of his sea green eyes she wondered if the kiss was intentional or something of show. Robb held her hand, "trust, my lord, Queen Victoria is worth more to me then even you could imagine. Thank you, my Queen, you and your people have certainly spoiled us with your food."

Victoria managed a tight lipped smile at him as his words from earlier sounded in her mind. "On the contrary, you and every northerner have spoiled my people and I. We were all so thankful of your accommodations towards us, I figured a gesture of good will from one side to the other was exactly what we needed."

The Lords seemed to enjoy the exchange and went on with their conversation, eyes detaching themselves from what was suspected to be a hoot couple, no one noticed when Victoria quickly pulled her hand away and pretended to start cutting her meal up, well no one except the trust few and Lord Bolton.

Victoria noticed the Lord's quiet demeanor, suddenly taking in interest in the man. Her fathers words rang silently in her head, the Leech Lord, they called him and the sudden urge to itch her forearm became prominent. He hadn't said much to her, more of an advisor to Robb then anything else. She knew he had lost it wife and legitimate son, only left with a bastard in place.

She adjusted in her seat and grasped her wine cup, taking a large gulp. Robb eyed her for the moment but she ignored his prying eyes and smiled instead, "Lord Bolton, how is your meal?"

Bolton's eyes did not brighten the way every other Lords has, in fact he was the only one to have not yet praised anything she did and perhaps this is why her interest peaked. It wasn't like he didn't like her, maybe he just saw her no different to anyone else.

The Lord sat his tableware down, "quite well, your grace, like our King has stated, you are much to kind."

Even with that praise her suspicions had not calmed, it felt like he had simply restated Robb's words.

"So, how are your men? Any particular concerns I could help with," she tried to seem animated, to keep her voice friendly.

"We are all quite alright, your grace as of now many of my men are watching over the captives from war." Bolton explained.

"Captives?" Vic adjusted in her seat and looked at Robb, "we are taking captives?"

Robb seemed invested in the conversation now, "yes, I feel it's in our best interest we keep whatever men alive so they keep Sansa and Arya safe."

Victoria hummed and nodded her head, understanding but turning away from him as she noticed Bolton's eyes divert. "And what do you say, Lord Bolton."

"Our King, has made a fine point— we keep the prisoners safe and so our his sister." The Leech Lord recited perfectly.

Victoria clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "Lord Bolton, everyone here is entitled to an opinion. Just because, your King hear now where's a crown does not mean your thoughts are silenced. If we are going to work and win we must all be able to speak freely, otherwise, well— we might as well join hands with the Lannisters and have a feast."

She leaned back into her chair with the sweetest of smiles and and clasped her hands together and she knew her point was very valid and by the side eye Robb had given her, it wasn't one he was too keen on.

Lord Bolton however seemed to have agree as he set the tableware and down, "the captors are of some use, they may prove to help us end this war with their information. That is—if we manage to get it out of them."

Victoria hummed, "and how would we do that?"

"Torture, I find it to be the most efficient method." He simply stated as if they were discussing savage animals or the next meal.

Victoria leaned back in her chair, aware that plenty of eyes were on her and although the discussion had only involved lord Bolton, the King, and her it seemed that more had attached themselves.

She lifted her hand as a thoughtful look was placed on her face and she trailed a finger across the tip of her glass, it was filled to the brim with wine and she gingerly took a sip as she worded her response carefully. "Lord Bolton, you are a clever man indeed. My father once told me that skinning the tip of any mans fingers would force him to give up his own children if properly done."

"A good phrase," he chimed in with agreement.

It felt like Robb's eyes were the heaviest, but she proceeded, "however, he also explained to me that the most valuable player in a war is the least likely to be found on the battlefield. Now," she readjusted in her chair and leaned further in as she became ready to prove a point, "our King here has proven that to be false but do you really expect the Lannisters to put Joffrey in the field? Or better yet, to put Tywin Lannister of all people on that bloodpath. I agree that torture is the only way to get truth out of a dying man, but it must be the right man otherwise you'll get nothing but short prayers to the mother and silent goodbyes to their families."

Slowly Robb's angry glare had diminished and now all the prying eyes had looked away as if to ponder her response, Victoria hid her triumphant smile well by lifting the cup back to her lips and smirking as she drank.

"Fair point, your grace," was all Lord Bolton could respond.

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"You're a conniving little thing, aren't you, my Queen ?" Robb asked his intended as the two walked silently through the plethora of tents that surrounded the camp.

Victoria smirked, keeping her eyes ahead as she felt Robb's grip on her looped arm pull her closer against his body. After the conversation with Lord Bolton the table had begun its friendly conversation once more, it was only until Victoria had felt a soft yawn escape her lips did she wish to excuse herself. Robb however had beaten her to it and stood, announcing to the Lords he would be walking his queen to her tent and then coming back. The Lords hadn't even given them a double look when he extended his hand out to her, of course it was the King's rule and no one was going to stand between them. Besides, these were times of war and no one would deny a man the pleasure of sharing the bed of a beautiful women. Victoria had taken his palm and walked out, smiling all the same.

Now the two strolled behind the many tents, Trout and Elaine both walking the main passage together as they prepared to sleep.

"Well, I was just wanting to make an impression. Maybe that will stop, Lord Bolton the next time from ripping the skin from a man." She hummed.

"For a moment there, I almost expected you to agree with him." Robb admitted.

"Then you do not know me at all, my King," she returned the truth. "I agree with you, these men who fight and die on the battlefield know nothing of war strategy. They are like ants only serving the purpose to survive, we need the one yelling out the orders."

"And what do you propose we do?" He questioned.

"Well Jamie Lannister is of no use to us now, it's been months since his capture. He won't know where his father mindset is exactly but maybe he'll have some inclination. Greywind is quite good at scaring the hell out of anyone, maybe use him." She offered with a smile as if even imagining her precious wolf intimidating a person would be comedy. She'd seen that young wolf hide under the covers as a cub when he was too cold, nothing he did now would frighten her. Even now as he padded alongside them, dark fur blending into then shrubs and trees beside them, she could never imagine him even frightening her. Her fingers ran through his hair and his brilliant golden eyes looked at her, head tilting back to relax into her touch.

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder if they should be calling you King." Robb joked.

"Nonsense, Robb, you and I make two halves of the same coin. You're as much brawns as I am brain, besides I don't think a dress would look to great on you." She winked at him and leaned her head into his shoulder with a comfortable hum.

Robb surprised her by spinning her and pushing her against one side of her tent just as they'd arrived, concealed by the night he kissed her, hands pressing against her face with slight hurry. His lips crushed hers with urgency and kissed her with a passion she'd nearly forgotten, this was her Robb Stark, the boy who had picked her daisies at twelve and secretly whispered how happy he was to have the most beautiful bride.

She smiled into the kiss and nearly lost her mind as his hands lifted the thick material of her skirt and skidded up her bare leg, cold hands hiking one over her hip.

He pulled back for a second, gaining control of her face by pressing his thumbs to her cheeks, he breathed deeply and stated, "I love you, Vic, I love you."

Something about the way he phrased it, with such desperation and almost disbelief, like repeated not only for her benefit but for his as well. There was something in that way he said, her skin suddenly crawled and she didn't want to kiss him because her mind has been wrong. He didn't love her, he loved what she was when she agreed with him.

Robb seemed to have no intentions of stopping in the midst of the open air, where anyone could walk by and see them. She pushed his shoulders back. "Robb—Robb, I think we need to stop."

"No," he practically growled and pushed her closer. "I need to feel you."

"Robb—Robb, this isn't right," she mumbled but to no avail. A slow breath escaped her as she looked for some solace or escape, "my moonblood has come."

"I don't care," he responded pressing his lips to her collarbone. "We've done it before, it's alright."

She shook her head and finally managed to shove him off, long enough to cross her arms over her chest with a glare. "We cannot afford to buy my new sheets right now! I've been careful this far! We can't be careless just because you want sex, not when there's men sleeping on straw beds!"

Robb immediately seemed to boil with anger as he knew his opportunity was closed and he turned, "fine. Be that way."

"Robb, don't be angry," Victoria reached out and grasped his arm. "You must understand."

He yanked his arm away from her grasp, "you won't even let me touch you anymore, Vic. It's not my fault out fathers died but I am trying to correct it, and you won't even give me a kiss without pushing away."'he breathed deeply as if to call himself. "I think it's best if we just stay away from one another, at least until I'm not this angry and you're—you're my Vic again."

When he walked away and she was left in pure silence, completely aware of every second that had just passed she nearly wanted to scream. Such anger boiled inside her she didn't know who to direct it at, she blamed Robb, she blamed herself, she blamed the bloody Lannisters most of all, and she secretly blamed her father for catapulting her in this mess the moment he promised her to a Stark.

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I start school today... send help...