Epilogue

10 Years Later

DAVOS

It was a long time, after the wars and after the rise of a new era in Westeros that Davos Seaworth finally found himself at peace in the later years of his life. War had scarred him, many times over, deep down to his soul. It took and took until there was little left in his heart except what love he had left for Selene. He watched her grow from child to woman, and now from a woman into the ruler the people needed.

Ten years had passed since the Battle at Winterfell. Stannis Baratheon, driven mad by the sacrifice of his youngest daughter lost in his attempt to battle his eldest. Selene, still devastated by the loss of her sister, allowed Brienne of Tarth to exact her revenge on the Stag King in her place. Davos did not inquire into the man's death, though part of him wished it was by his hand that his once friend found his end. Instead he held Selene in his arms as they both grieved Shireen, the tenderest of souls.

He had heard the Lady Selyse had dealt with her guilt by her own hand, taking her life before Stannis pulled what was left of his army to march on Winterfell. Davos tried to find pity in the woman's death but he felt only disdain.

The Red Woman found her end by other means, taken prisoner by the Night's Watch during her attempt to flee the losing battle, and executed by the hands of the Queen who sentenced her to death for her crimes. It was the last day Selene wept for her sister.

It was a full year before Selene gathered the force she needed to march on King's Landing. By then Davos was made Hand of the Queen and King of Westeros a position he was reluctant to accept even as Selene pleaded that he do so. But he could not refuse her, the last of the Baratheon's he held dear in his heart.

And it was there he stood, by her side ten years since they'd made a pact to move on from that wretched day they so longed to forget.

The ship was a beauty, the most respected vessel in the kingdoms and Queen Selene was its sole captain. Winter's Fury was finally returning to White Harbor after a year across the Narrow Sea and the elation was written on his face as he saw land on the horizon. Selene no longer hid her smiles either, and she allowed herself a full grin, teeth bared, as she saw her homeland once again.

The Queen had returned.

STEFFON

"Father!" the boy shouted, standing atop the castle gates, shouting down towards where his father stood talking with Lord Manderly in the courtyard. He looked up towards his son curiously. "I see her. I see Winter's Fury!"

"Well," his father replied with a chuckle. "Shall we go out to harbor to meet her captain?"

Steffon wasted no time in descending the castle gate wall, taking the steps two at a time as he leapt down them with wild abandon and excitement at the prospect of seeing his mother again after so long apart.

Steffon Stark had seen his mother's ship a dozen times in his near eleven years. The ship was a thing to behold and it had been the reason he'd been determined to know as much about ships and sailing the seas as he possibly could. One day he would be King, it was a burden he had been dealt by the gods and a responsibility he hoped it would be many years before he ever had to take on. In the meantime he would learn everything he could about the skills needed not only to wear the crown, but also to rule the seas.

The harbor was crowded as they approached on horseback, Lord, Ladies and commonfolk all huddled around the docks as the ship dropped anchor. Steffon dismounted, his father and Grey Wind at his side. The large direwolf yipping with the same excitement pulsing through Steffon's veins. Steffon reached an impatient hand up to his brother, Ned.

The boy of eight would be an accomplished horseman one day, at least that's what their father had said. And yet still Ned had trouble dismounting without stumbling slightly. Steffon didn't mind helping his brother save face in front of the other Lords even if at times his brother's boasting would irritate him to no end.

"Come on Ned," he muttered under his breath, trying to hurry his brother along.

"I am, Steffon!" was Ned's frustrated reply, plopping down into the mud, his boots causing a splatter that soiled both of their cloaks. Steffon only frowned. "What about Ben?"

"Ben's with Papa, now let's go!" again Steffon grabbed his brother's hand, leaving their father and their younger brother Benjen far behind them. Grey Wind raced at their side, yipping happily as his tongue flopped outside of his snout.

Steffon ran as fast as his legs would allow him, ignoring the complaints of his brother begging him to slow down. He searched the boats as they flooded in, each rowboat containing her mother's best men with jolly smiles as they neared land for the first time in weeks. Steffon's legs slowed as they reached the edge of the docks, letting his eyes fall over each figure as he waited for familiar eyes.

"Do you see her?" Ned asked, shading his eyes as he too looked for their mother.

"Not y…" Steffon started but then he heard the cheers of the people shouting excitedly and he jerked his head towards the direction of the excitement and there she was.

Selene Baratheon, their Queen, and their mother.

ROBB

Robb carried his youngest son through the cheering crowds, each of his subjects moving aside, bowing briefly as they cleared a path for him to reach the edge of the docks where Steffon and Ned were jumping and waving excitedly. He didn't spot her until he neared their side and Benjen shouted out "Mama!" in pure elation.

He hadn't seen his wife in nearly a year since her departure towards the Free Cities as Queen to the Northern Kingdoms. He had been going mad without her by his side having sworn to never be parted from her for longer than necessary.

But this journey had been necessary, he reminded himself.

Ten years after the exhaustive war he'd waged, he once again faced the terrifying threat of battle. This time, if possible, the danger was more significant. This time, there seemed little hope of winning. And so, with three-thousand men from the Northern Kingdoms, Selene sailed to the Free Cities alongside wardens of all the Kingdoms of Westeros. And there, he'd heard, they had met with the feared Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.

Ben squirmed in his arms as they approached, Grey Wind barking out loudly as he spotted his mistress, and his old friend Angus. The old hound was grey and tired, but still he sat at Selene's side with a loyalty strengthened by all their years together. Robb put Benjen down, allowing him to run to his brothers who were now waving to their mother.

Her boat finally docked, Brienne and Davos at her side as well as her cousin and Warden of the Central Kingdom still known as the Stormlands. Edric Storm was now Edric Baratheon, the carrier of Selene's family name that would live on with Edric's young sons. They would likely never be kings in their own right, Selene had told him once, but at least there would be Baratheons to see what became of this land after they were long and buried. And to her, that was all that mattered.

Robb's attention snapped then to his wife as each man and woman around the royal family knelt down on one knee. She emerged then, back on land and she was not granted a moment to stabilize herself as their sons pounced, gripping onto her. She knelt down to their level, holding all three of them as best as she could, kissing their faces as she held them to her chest. It was several moments before she looked up, before her eyes met Robb's.

She stood slowly, patting Grey Wind on the head as he yipped at her side. Robb counted three, four, and finally five steps until she reached him and all decorum was lost as he reached his arms around her and pulled her off her feet. Robb didn't hear the crowd's cheers as he placed his lips against hers, laughing as he saw a blush creep over her cheeks. Despite her embarrassment her arms wrapped around his neck and it was she who deepened the kiss, unwilling as Robb, to let go of that moment.

When they finally did part, however, it was to his Uncle Benjen's throat clearing hint and both Selene and Robb had been reduced to giggles like inseparable adolescents. Selene acquiesced the request but did not let go of Robb's hand as they faced the masses, her other hand occupied by her youngest son's.

"Do you come with good news?" he asked her, his voice low and was pleased when her eyes met his without her expression changing.

"There is hope to be had, My King," she told him, placing the back of his hand to her lips. "But let us discuss such things later. Let me revel in this moment until I am sick with joy."

"Lady Brienne," Robb shouted out behind him in faux distress. "I am certain you have misplaced my wife, and found this here woman to replace her. Surely my Queen would have no use for folly."

Brienne, Selene's appointed Lady Commander of her Queensguard could not stifle the grin on her normally composed expression. She replied, clearing her throat to regain her usual continence, "I can assure you, My King, that no one could strike fear into the hearts of her crewmen like My Lady the Queen."

"Ah indeed, it must be her then," he teased in reply and laughed as Selene stared back at both of them aghast.

"I should have you both put in irons for such insolence," countered Selene, laughing as she did so.

Robb had very much despaired at the idea of Selene leaving Winterfell months earlier. Ten years prior he had told her he would never let her out of his sight again, for fear of what more separation would bring them.

In the ten years since, Robb and Selene worked together to reshape the kingdoms as they stood today. It had taken less convincing than he'd anticipated, changing Selene's mind. He had thought it an impossible feat when the wardens of Westeros met at the peace summit, in the midst of the harsh winter at Winterfell's hall. Selene never spoke of her plan to liberate the kingdoms, she and Willas never had the chance when each man stood before her and bent a knee, calling her Queen on the Iron Throne. Robb told her to break the kingdoms now might cause more turmoil.

For the first time since he'd known her, she agreed.

She and Willas stood behind closed doors for what seemed like hours before they emerged, both in agreeance that the kingdoms must remain under the rule of one. Robb could see now that this was a burden she long dreaded. She wanted to sever the ties to one throne in order relinquish some of the responsibility that would fall on her. But it was her duty, she'd told him. And it was a duty she meant to uphold.

So she was Queen of the seven kingdoms, the capital of which was now his home and his seat in the North. She and Robb would rule equally, neither as consort. Together they would share the burden.

Her first command as Queen after the upheaval of King's Landing, was the destruction of the Iron Throne. No one would sit on the monstrosity of death, she said. It had been forged in bloodlust and destruction. She intended to be a just queen, but a fair one. No one questioned this of their new queen as her Baratheon temper had been heard of far and wide.

And so there was a coronation. Two crowns, one court and six wardens were appointed as the new realm of Westeros. Per her agreement, Victarion Greyjoy kept his crown though through many hours of dealings between the two sea captains, the agreement was made that the Ironborn would no longer be able to raid the shores of Westeros. They would trade and help to provide the Kraken King with supplies and nourishment for his people, under the agreement that the Ironborn would protect the western coastlines from outside invaders.

Ten years later, Victarion had kept his vow.

And he'd named his firstborn daughter, Selene.

Now the kingdoms sat in peace, waiting for news of their Queen's meeting with Daenerys Targaryen, the threat that had long sat across the Narrow Sea, biding its time with stories of dragons hanging over their heads. And from the smile on Selene Baratheon's usually straightlined face, it seemed clear to him that perhaps the threat would at least be appeased.

SELENE

She had longed for this, she thought to herself, wrapped neatly at Robb's side beneath the furs of their bed. Her trip to the Free Cities had been taxing from the moment she'd set foot on their shores. She had heard many things about Daenerys Targaryen and was pleased to find that most of them had been generally fabricated. But the legends of her dragons had not been false.

She had seen the skulls of dragons in the Red Keep as a child. She had read about dragons in Shireen's history books. But nothing told of how she would feel when she glanced upon the great beasts that stood at the Dragon Queen's back. They towered over her and it took all of her strength to hold her composure in the face of the woman who wanted to take her throne.

Things had been difficult at first and after weeks of hearing Daenerys' lineage, built with title upon title as the would be queen of Westeros, it was clear the woman's distaste for the Baratheon name would not be easily altered.

It took months of negotiation before the mutual respect began to grow and more than once Selene's fury was only deterred by Ser Davos' attentive glances of disapproval. Somehow he always knew exactly when she was ready to explode with frustration at the girl who was only a few years younger than Selene herself.

She had thought about telling Robb it had been easy to win the girl over. But Robb could see right through the facade that was Selene Baratheon's awful attempts at lying. Instead she told him of their arguing and clashing temperaments. But both held the same desire to do what was right and to seek out what was best for their kingdoms.

Daenerys had been reluctant, but eventually Selene was able to convince her that the Kingdoms were safe in her hands and in the hands of the Stark and Baratheon bloodlines. Baratheon may have usurped the Targaryens in Robert's Rebellion, she'd said, but Selene was of a different breed. She would see the return of honor to all the great houses of Westeros, including Targaryen should the Mother of Dragons wish it. Selene reminded the woman of the greatness she had accomplished in the land of Essos and how it was her responsibility to see them rise into greatness, not abandon them for a dream that had long passed.

This, of course, had been the most difficult for the Targaryen Queen to understand. Of course she wanted to avenge her family, avenge the murders of her blood and take back what was hers by right. But she had admitted to Selene that it was the plan of a naive young girl with dreams of a home she'd never lived. Now she was one of the most fearsome rulers in all the lands, known for her strength and her compassion. To abandon them now, she'd agreed, might only dishearten the people she'd spent a decade trying to liberate into a new era.

Six months after this realization began more negotiations, dealings which proved exhausting for both queens until an agreement had been made. There would be no war, no threats and Daenerys' dragons would not fly across the Narrow Sea. Selene would open trade routes from all major harbors to the same opportunities previously only afforded by the Free Cities and their ships. Together they would create a new world, one that would unite their bloodlines and Westeros would enter a new era of greatness.

Selene was less certain than perhaps she had hoped that Robb would agree to what had been demanded by Daenerys, under the thin guise of compromise. Steffon was young still, she thought, her heart clenching at the woman's request. But if it was the only way for peace, she thought, then she would abide it.

Steffon would marry Daenerys' young daughter, when she came of age and together the Stark, Baratheon and Targaryen bloodlines would reign for decades to come.

She was a sweet child, mischief in her eyes that Selene could tell the child tried to mask for her mother. But it was that light that gave her hope, hope that her son and husband would forgive her for forcing them into an arrangement Selene had hoped to avoid.

Robb had been disappointed for his son, but he agreed she'd done what was best. Steffon was to be king one day, and even the boy knew that an arrangement of such magnitude might be thrust upon him. He had not fought her, simply nodded solemnly before taking her hand in his own and pressed the palm of it to his lips.

"Perhaps our son will find the same joy as we have," he whispered and she had smiled through the ache in her chest.

Now, it was only hours before dawn and soon preparations would begin for the feasts to celebrate the young prince's betrothal. But she would not bother with such things now, as she lie awake next to her husband's sleeping body. She let her hand, trace over the scars on his bare chest and she was reminded momentarily of their wedding night when she had been afraid to touch them.

Now she had no such fears. His skin, the small patches of auburn hair that curled under his collarbone and those lips of his that were bruised from their hours of passion, those belonged to her as she belonged to him. His breathing changed and Selene watched his eyes open slowly, his mouth turned upward in a sleepy grin and she felt his arm snake around her back as he pulled her flush against him.

This was bliss, she decided. In Robb Stark's arms there was no fear and no worry, only bliss. And she would be forever thankful to the gods not just for the kingdoms she ruled, but that it was at his side that she did so. For his love and for the life they'd built together. For Robb, her husband, her love...always.

-

A/N: Wow, so this finally came to an end didn't it? It's hard to believe I am finally saying goodbye to Selene and Robb especially after so long with them in my mind. I can only hope you all enjoyed reading them as much as I did writing them. No story is perfect and after every story I finally complete I feel I have grown into a new writer. Thank you all - readers, reviewers, PMers who encouraged me and wrote some of the most beautiful and kind words about my story and the characters I've created. And thank you also to those of you who gave me constructive criticism, it has honestly helped me become better and for that I appreciate you so much. So now it's time for a final goodbye. You're all so lovely for sticking with me through all the long waits. Love to all of you! xLola