Chapter Thirty-One: New World

A/N: It's such a surreal feeling that this is the last chapter of this story. It's not overly long, but I feel that it ties up all the loose ends and finishes in a good place. It's been about 3 years since I put this story up on my profile - even longer since I started writing it, for those who remember it back in the day when it was on my joint account with CityGirl13.

I'm hoping to start a new Game of Thrones story in April when the next season comes out. It'll be called "Reign of Castamere" - take a look at my profile for what it's all about. Of course I'll also now be updating "From The Ashes" and "Iron Blood", those will take priority over my new story.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for everyone who's been reading this, and still reads this. I never thought by this point that I'd have amassed over 750 favourites and almost 1,100 follows. I really do hope you enjoy this final chapter :)

The ceremony of Mella's coronation was a more serious event than she had liked. Sansa had cradled little Willem as both Mella and Robb were crowned King and Queen of Westeros, as Tommen had made the wise move of abdicating the throne. It surprised her, to see how tall had little brother had grown. He was almost a man now, although it frightened Mella to think of that. Nonetheless, he was mature beyond his years, and she was so very proud of him.

She did not want to be a monarch like her father. Robert, for as much as she had loved him, had enjoyed it too much. Mella never wanted to feel as though she was comfortable in her role, always wanted to feel challenged. To her, being Queen was a responsibility and not a right. Neither did she want to be a monarch like her mother, who had used her power as a whip to frighten people into obedience. She was a woman grown, and she would decide what sort of monarch she wanted to be.

With Robb by her side, Mella knew she would rule wisely. He was the voice of reason at times when she had doubts, and he was nothing if not just and honourable. Across the table of the feast held in honour of the coronation, she observed all of those who had gathered for the occasion. Soon after this, Tommen would depart for Casterly Rock – he was their lord now, the Warden of the West. Mella knew in her heart that he would do a very good job of it.

He was not the only sibling Mella had present. Across the table, Trystane and Myrcella flirted obviously, clearly enthralled with each other. The two had recently married, with Mella's blessing, and had been all too happy to come to King's Landing. Myrcella had found Willem positively adorable, and spent a lot of time with her nephew. She and Sansa had become very close, something that pleased Mella greatly.

"The Prince wants his mother." Sansa walked over with Willem in her arms, gently handing him over to Mella. The baby was fretting, but he started to calm as Mella stroked his hair. Such a strange thing, that a tiny child such as him could be the heir to the throne. Yet Mella knew in years to come he would grow tall and strong, and have brothers and sisters. "I…I heard Robb talking. About legitimising Gendry."

Mella looked to the younger girl. Poor Sansa had been through so much hurt and humiliation despite her tender age. She deserved to be happen, and the way her cheeks reddened and she averted her eyes shyly as she mentioned Gendry made Mella smirk. She rested a hand on Sansa's arm.

"It's already done. He is officially a Baratheon. He is Lord of Storm's End now, you know. I thought it was nicer than Dragonstone, and besides, it's our family's ancestral home and he is family. You are family."

Sansa clasped her hands together and tears welled in her eyes like it was the sweetest thing someone had ever said to her. If anything were to happen to Willem – gods forbid – Gendry would become Mella's heir. The young man had been so gracious to have a house, title and land bestowed upon him. Yet to Mella, it made sense. Tommen was a bastard, and he had been given Casterly Rock. Why should Gendry, another royal bastard but from the other parent, not inherit?

"Thank you, Mella." Sansa stepped forward and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I know you will be a good Queen. Not like Cersei at all, you're nothing like your mother."

Mella smiled sadly at the mention of her mother. She had to admit that she grieved for the woman. She had loved her, and Daenerys had deprived her of the chance to say any final words to Cersei. It had been many months since they had last spoken, and right when Mella might have had the chance, it had been snatched away from her.

It was the first time they'd made love since Willem had been born.

Mella had been shy at first, very aware that her body had changed since she had birthed their son. Her breasts had become fuller, nipples larger and darker. Her hips had flared out and although most of the weight had shifted from her stomach, there were stretch marks there. But Robb had lovingly traced every imperfection and told her how beautiful she was, kissed her with such a passion that she knew his desire for her hadn't faded.

Mella had almost forgotten what it felt like. Her legs wrapped around Robb's waist, hands skimming down his sweat-slick back as he pumped into her. She arched her back and moaned louder as she drew closer to her climax, before her entire body shuddered. Robb finished only moments later with a loud grunt, burying his face in her neck to catch his breath. He rolled off her and pulled her close, offering her a satisfied smile.

"That felt really good."

Mella idly stroked back his dark curls, contemplating. Tomorrow morning, Tommen would be making the journey to Casterly Rock. In a few days, Myrcella and Trystane would return to Dorne. Although she understood that things were different now, that they were all growing up and it would have happened eventually, it was hard for her to accept that her family were going to live so far away.

"Mella?" Robb looked up at her, seeming to sense that her mind had wandered.

She offered him a small smile. "I'm just thinking about the future, Robb. Do you think we'll be great? Worthy of remembering, I mean."

"Of course I do." The blankets shifted as Robb sat up, taking her hands in his. "They will sing songs and tell tales, my love. The wolf and the doe. They will talk of a Queen who fought tooth and nail to claim her birthright, and how she was good and kind and merciful."

"I hope so." Mella closed her eyes as Robb pressed his lips to her forehead. She had not done this for glory or power. She had simply done it because it was what she was born to, because she felt both herself and the realm deserved some sort of justice. The justice had not been swift – it had taken her years to come so far – but it had been achieved eventually. She could be at peace with herself.

"I'm going to miss you." Mella clutched Tommen close, keeping her arms tightly wrapped around him. She did not want to let him go, fearing that it would be a long time before she saw him again. Beside her, Myrcella was sniffing and wiping away tears. She and Tommen were closest in age and she was also devastated to see her younger brother leave. Yet as kind as Robb could be, he was also firm – Tommen must go to Casterly Rock.

"I promise I will come to court when I can," Tommen said, offering his sister a brave smile. "I want to see my nephew growing up. I want to see what a wise and intelligent Queen my older sister is."

Mella drew back to allow Myrcella to throw her arms around Tommen. She kept herself composed, but she never made her mother's mistake. She never let being Queen prevent her from showing emotion. She would show sadness at her brother's departure, but she would not weep. She stepped forward, catching the hands of each of her siblings. Her crown, made especially for her and made to resemble a stag's antlers, glowed golden in the sunlight.

"Never let us forget this day." She glanced between them, Tommen trying so hard to keep a bright smile on his face and Myrcella weeping openly. "We will always be family. Our father, our mother…it doesn't matter. Well, I suppose it does, but…not to me. We share a parent and that's important enough."

Reluctantly, she relinquished the hands of her younger siblings. It was not easy task to watch Tommen ride west, not knowing when she would see him again. The same held true for when Myrcella sailed south only days later. But Mella had family in King's Landing – she had Robb and she had Willem. A husband who loved and respected her, and an infant son she absolutely adored.

The rest of the Starks eventually returned north, for that was where they belonged. There were tears to be shed there too – the Stark women were practically Mella's family too. She knew that all of these people leaving, she would see them again. The summers and winters would age them. Time would weather them. But there would come a day when they would return to the court in King's Landing. It didn't matter when, it just mattered that they would.

As much as Robb complained that the capital was too warm for his liking and that he missed Winterfell, Mella knew in her heart that there was no place he would rather be than where he was now: by her side.