I Can Do It With A Broken Heart / Joffrey Baratheon /Rieka Stark (2.6)

22. Take the Win

"Right now," rieka declared. " we take the win. I'm so grateful for all of you rallying around us and rallying around whats right. You were also willing and ready to fight for all of our homes. And I cannot thank you enough for it." Rieka declared. "So raise a glass," she rose her own. "This is to us! All of us. We are a family. We are stronger together. Ding dong the bitch is dead!"

"The bitch is dead!"

Jon smiled leaning back in his chair. The people so easily loved rieka. She was loveable. They were chanting and cheering clinking glasses.

"We save the north from another monster tomorrow, tonight we take the win!" 

"He touched me!" Bran shouted pulling up his sleeve to reveal a scar burned into him. "The night king..."

"You are no longer safe here." The three eyed raven warned.

"Got enough?" Rieka questioned.

"I'm going to send it back up to winterfell. Set up camp." Jon agreed. "Can I expect my queen to join us?"

"Yes." Rieka agreed hugging him. "Take whatever men you need, we have more." She added.

"Thanks Rieka."

"Be careful Jon."

"Hey," Sandor said coming up to her.

"Hey." She answered. "I was going to send gregor up to winterfell. I'm really proud of you two not killing each other."

"Thanks." Sandor murmured. "I'm... I want to go south with you if the... um... offer is still open."

"Of course." Rieka agreed.

"I have been guarding my whole life, I dont know anything else."

"You can just be Sandor, you dont have to be the hound." Rieka assured. "You dont have to guard, but a man with your skills is always welcomed."

"I want a pay raise." Sandor added.

"No problem, I will get tywin to shit you a bonus." Rieka agreed winking back at him.

"Thanks, Rieka. You are not bad.''

"I think that was a compliment Clegane." Rieka realized. He almost smiled.  "Careful you are going make people think you actually like me. Your tough guy attitude is going to-"

"Shut up." Sandor countered walking off.

"Shut up, your grace!" Rieka corrected.

"You ready?" Joffrey questioned his hand slipping into hers. Him touching her in just the slightest ways had become so natural. Rieka nodded giving his hand a squeeze. She didnt know when she went from hating every breath joffrey took to actually enjoying his company, welcoming it. She was glad for the change, they both had changed.

She thought when she first was forced into this union that she was going to die of a broken heart, or worse, live with a broken heart and push out evil spawn for Joffrey. Now the future excited her. Why did they have another monster to face?

"I'm proud of you, wait until the people hear you vanquished the-"

"i dont want them to know it was me." Joffrey added quickly as they set sail.

"What do you mean? We wanted her dead, you-"

"They already think me a killer." Joffrey countered. "A monster."

"You want to me say I killed her? I will." Rieka assured.

"They dont need another reason to hate me if they supported the Targaryen reign over my own."

"They are fools and we dont care about them." Rieka countered. "But whatever you want, you are the king." Rieka assured.

"Thanks."

"But the knights will talk." RIeka added.

"I know." Joffrey agreed. "But I dont want to advertise it."

"Your mother will want to know and we both know she's a gossip." Rieka added. Joffrey shrugged. "Okay Joff." Rieka agreed leaning over the railing. "You are a good man. I'm proud of you my little bad ass." Joffrey bumped his hip into her.

"Rieka I love you." She smiled into him.

"I love you."

"Why do you always hesitate?" Joffrey questioned. "When you say i love you..."

"Because it still crazy to me maybe." Rieka admitted turning to him as dragon stone became smaller and smaller. A few men stayed behind to burn the bodies. She could see the fires from the ship. "You know we had a rough start."

"Yeah." He drawled.

"It's just crazy to me at times that i do love you. It's just something i never expected from us. But i do. So I'm sorry that i hesitate. It's just new and different falling for you." Rieka added running her hands down his chest. "I love you. But let's get back home so I can snuggle tommen and rickon and oh Joffrey!"

"What?" Joffrey countered urgently.

"Our hideous baby doll will have missed you so much!"

"You are rediculous."