#talisa maegyr

[bumblesimagines]

Imagine:

Being the Frey girl betrothed to Robb Stark

Request: Yes or No

Did not intend for this to be long

~~~

It was supposed to be the perfect day. Many little ladies dreamt of their weddings, dreamily wondering about their future husbands and the family they'd create together. Your dreams of the perfect wedding had been brief, crushed quickly under the boot of your father, Walder Frey, and you were forced to accept that you'd be marrying out of duty rather than true love.

There'd been some hope and a spark of relief when your sisters had rushed to your bedchambers, giddy and eager to speak of your betrothed: Lord Robb Stark of Winterfell. He had visited briefly and been allowed his pick of the litter, but when he provided no response, your father chose for him. You knew of the Starks of Winterfell. They were an honorable family and close as could be. And from the accounts of your sisters, Robb was a handsome man. Young, handsome, eyes blue as sapphires, pretty brown hair, and incredibly polite. You hadn't seen him as you'd been occupied the day of his visit, but everything your sisters told you filled you with glee. An honorable, kind husband who you'd surely fall in love with.

Or so you thought.

You'd been there when one of Walder's men had requested his time and spoke of Robb. The words that followed had sent you reeling, stomach twisting and heart shattering. Robb had a lover. A healer from Volantis named Talisa Maegyr. Your father's rage had been brief, calming when the man assured him Robb still planned on wedding you. He hadn't broken his promise to House Frey, and that had been enough for your father. You shouldn't have been surprised. Walder himself had fostered many bastards throughout his countless marriages.

"A man has needs." He'd said, curling his bony fingers around his ale and bringing it to his mouth. He cared little for the tears forming in your eyes. "I cannot fault him for that."

You spent the rest of the day weeping in your room with your sisters around you, murmuring comforts and trying to brighten your day.

"You'll be Lady Stark and Queen of the North soon, dear sister." One had attempted, a brush delicately going through your hair. "His mistress will be just that. A mistress."

But it hadn't been that. No, you wept because a mistress before the wedding had even been planned meant a loveless marriage where you'd have to battle for your husband's attention, battle to ensure you had his child first. You'd seen firsthand how much a loveless marriage affected a bride. Your father had many wives after the death of your own mother, each of them young and full of light that dimmed with each passing day until they were a hollow and empty shell. You wept for what could've been a happy future far from the grim place you called home.

But the sadness turned to bitterness and anger over night. The Stark's prided themselves on being loyal and honorable, sticking to their oaths and promises even if it meant putting their own happiness aside. Why couldn't Robb done that for you? Why had he taken a lover so quickly after the announcement of your incoming wedding? He hadn't cared about how shameful it would be for you. How humiliating. You'd be known as Lady (Y/N) of Winterfell, the woman who'd been cast aside before ever meeting her husband.

The wedding date had arrived sooner than later, something you loathed. You stared at the reflection in the mirror as both maids and kin tended to you. They brushed your hair, powdered your face, and tightened the wedding dress to your body while fawning over how beautiful of a wedding it'd be. They praised you at the end, gushing over how pretty of a bride you'd be. They hadn't thought to realize that Robb would be envisioning his little healer in your place when you walked down the isle.

You ensured to keep a stoic expression throughout the ceremony, not even mustering a smile for your husband when he lifted the veil and took in your appearance. His eyes, as pretty as described, had widened considerably and flickered over to the pews where his family sat. The ends of his mouth had quirked up into a smile and he muttered a soft 'my lady' before turning to the Septon. You would've scoffed if it weren't for the stare Walder gave you.

The ceremony went by in a breeze and you kept your stoic, cool composure, even when your father had lowly whispered for you to smile after being seated. He no longer had control over you. You relished in the thought. The only good thing that had allowed for you to have an appetite as Starks, Freys, and other allies celebrated. You spent most of the celebration searching for her until you noticed Catelyn Stark speaking with a young woman who stared at Robb hopelessly. Talisa, you presumed from the frankly exasperated look on Catelyn's face. She was pretty, you'd give him that.

"Are you feeling well?" Robb asked quietly and reached for your hand, delicately placing his over it and staring at you with knitted brows. You pulled your hand away swiftly and set it on your lap, eyes moving onto your beloved sisters to keep your emotions in check.

"No." You answered after a brief pause. Robb was handsome, incredibly so, but his presence alone irritated you. You had to act quick before the bedding ceremony took place, a tradition your father insisted on keeping alive. "I feel unwell, Lord Stark. I'm afraid I'll be retreating early."

"Shall I go with-"

Rising from your seat, you shook your head, still refusing to meet his eyes. "No, My Lord. That will not be necessary." You carefully lifted your dress and breezed past your father, ignoring the glare he speared into your back as you glided down the steps and toward the exit.

Slipping out into the familiar halls, you exhaled deeply and released your gown. It dragged along the stone floor, dark gray clashing with white. You itched to get out of it as soon as possible. The thought of burning it crossed your mind but it felt too childish, too improper of a lady.

"My Queen." A voice echoed down the hall and you halted. Queen of the North and Lady Stark of Winterfell. Right. Your new titles. No longer one of Walder's many overlooked daughters. You looked over your shoulder, spotting her auburn hair first, a signature trait of the Tully family. Catelyn Stark.

"My Lady." You greeted her, turning to face the older woman. She smiled sweetly, gazing at you with the warmth of a mother. Catelyn grew closer and took your hands into hers, smile turning into a shamed smile.

"I am deeply sorry for what my son has done." Her voice sounded sincere, full of guilt and shame. She shook her head. "I taught him better than that. He knows better than that. But rest assured, that woman will not cause problems for you."

You'd nearly forgotten. Eddard Stark had returned home from the war with a bastard son called Jon Snow and raised him as a trueborn alongside the rest of his children. You remembered the murmured rumors of how Catelyn detested him and had fostered a particular dislike for bastards. Perhaps that dislike extended to mistresses.

"She may share his bed, that is true. But he is my husband now, and as his wife, I have duties that I will not forget. I can assure you, Lady Stark, I will give your son an heir and do what needs to be done for House Stark to prosper, just as you have done these many years." Her eyes softened considerably, fingers lightly squeezing the palms of your hands.

"Oh, sweet child." Catelyn cooed gently and brought a hand to your cheek. You yearned for your mother's embrace, her soothing words. You pressed your lips together to keep them from trembling. "You shall make a wonderful queen and a wonderful wife. I... I will ensure Robb does his duties as husband. You need not stress over Talisa."

"I appreciate it, Lady Stark. I'm afraid I'll be heading to my- our bedchambers for the rest of the night. Please assure everyone that I am well." You pulled your hands from hers and lowered your head in respect to the monarch before turning and resuming your walk down the hall.

Another deep breath and you reached the one of the many guest bedchambers. Most of your belongings had been packed up for you, likely already sitting in Robb's tent out on the field. You dismissed the servants that offered to help you ready for bed, only agreeing to have a warm bath drawn so you could relax after the day's events.

Slipping out of your wedding dress, you watched it slump on the cool floor and stepped out of your shoes. You released your hair and ran your fingers through it as you dipped one leg into the bath and then the other. The water dug into your skin, easing away at the tension in your muscles. A soft sigh of relief escaped past your lips, shoulders dipping below the surface. You leaned your head back against the wall of the tub, eyes fluttering shut and mind forgetting about the day.

You would've stayed in the tub for the rest of the night, even slept in it, if it hadn't been for the sound of the door creaking open. Your eyes snapped open and you lifted your head, gazing down at the water as heavy boots stepped across the room. Robb passed by the tub, shedding his coat and draping it over a chair. You brought your knees up to your chest when he turned.

"I thought you would've been asleep by now." He spoke softly, undoing the buttons of his vest. "Are you feeling better?"

The consummation. You nearly grimaced. "No."

"Should I call for a maester?"

"It's likely nerves, My Lord."

"We're husband and wife now. You may call me Robb." He gave a boyish smile and you turned to look at the towel perfectly folded on the stool beside you. You reached for it and let it unravel outside of the tub, eyes jumping back to the Stark. Robb's fingers had paused on the last button, attention trained fully on you but when he noticed the icy look, he turned his back. You stood, the water sloshing around as you dried yourself and retrieved a nightgown.

"I would like to sleep in my old room tonight. It's likely the last time I'll see it."

"I'd like to believe that, (Y/N). But I am no fool. I am your husband, you may speak openly with me." Your jaw clenched at his words. He claimed to be no fool yet remained oblivious to your anger. "And I hope you'll grow comfortable enough to sleep at my side."

Picking up a candle, you lifted it to the lantern keeping the room lit and pulled away once the fire flickered onto the end of the wax. "I believe your lover would prefer otherwise, My Lord. I bid you goodnight."

He blinked. "(Y/N)-"

"I bid you goodnight."

[kingofwinter283]

i actually hate talisa maegyr. i think her whole plot with robb was so stupid. like in the books robb’s marriage with jeyne is this tragic situation that’s really a culmination of the stress and grief that robb has been going through and unable to truly process because he is a child trying to lead his people in a war. he gets injured and then learns that his former best friend has just betrayed him, captured his home, and killed both of his younger brothers which adds to growing list of loss in his life. his father got executed, his sisters are being held hostage, his best friend betrayed him, and now his brothers are dead. so while he’s injured and kind of being consumed by his grief, jeyne westerling is there to comfort him and they do the deed and this only makes things worse because of how robb was raised and instilled with his father’s honor, as well as seeing how jon was raised, robb feels compelled to marry jeyne to preserve HER honor which ends up being his downfall. but nooooo in the show robb falls in love with foreign beauty talisa maegyr and dies because he’s an idiot and couldn’t keep it in his pants. like don’t get me wrong i love robb’s scenes in the show richard madden call me i just think the story could have been so much better and been true to the tragedy that it is in the books.

[axelsagewrites]

Can i request a Robb Stark x wife reader x Talisa Maegyr threesome smut?. Reader and Robb have a threesome with Talisa, but reader gets left out (not on purpose) so she sneaks out of the room.

Robb Stark*Attention You Deserve

Pairing: Robb Stark x Tailsa Maeger x afab!reader

Word count: 1598

Warnings: mentions of war, mentions of injury, f!recieving oral, nipple play, threesome mxfxf, feeling left out, insecurity, smut 18+

Masterlist Here

With war raging hard and the constant battles stress was at an all-time high, so you explored different stress relief options with your husband, Robb. At first all the pent-up stress turned into angrily smashing up bushes and trees with your swords, then later drinking, and now, well, now you fucked.

It truly was the best stress reliever of them all. Considering all the atrocious things happening outside your tent what happened inside the tent could get very hot and heavy quickly. Honestly at this point you screwed Robb more times in a day than you ate. Not that you were complaining.

Right now, fighting was far from your mind as a healer, Talisa, helped you with the gash across your arm from a Lannister stray arrow. Robb was beside himself when you got hurt, insisting you return to the North. “I’m no safer in Winterfell than here,” you said, grimacing as Talisa applied lotion to your wound.

“Keep a close eye on that,” you heard the king instruct in a low murmur to her, as if you could not hear him.

Over the next week she really did. She checked your wound each morning and night, applied her lotions with a gentle touch and a sweet smile, and even made you laugh a few times. Seeing how quickly your injury had healed almost made you sad as you had less of an excuse to see her.

Robb had begun to notice the lingering stares you gave her, but he didn’t mind. After all, back in Winterfell it hadn’t been uncommon to invite a third party into the bed for a night. You couldn’t help the light blush on your cheeks when he suggested it to you in a hush whisper in bed that night. “Only if she wants to,” you insisted after eventually agreeing.

-

When Talisa showed up to your tent that night you couldn’t help but be a bit nervous. After all it had been some months since you shared your husband, though the prospect was quite thrilling. She snuck in after the soldiers had all fell fast asleep with a light smile. “Your graces,” she curtsied.

“There’s no need for titles here,” Robb smiled softly, approaching her cautiously before taking her hands, “We are all equals in this room tonight, okay?” he asked staring deeply into her eyes. She nodded, a dumb struck look in her eyes, “Use your words,”

“Yes, sir,” she said softly, before leaning up to kiss him. The kiss was passionate but brief as Talisa pulled away to put her attentions on you. Her rough hands cupped your cheeks, slowly pulling your lips to hers until they melted together.

Your hands slipped to her hips, guiding her closer to the bed. Robb stood behind her, unlacing her dress which you soon pushed over her shoulders. Gods she was gorgeous. You laid her down, laying beside her so your fingers could softly brush across her nipples making her moan softly into the kiss.

You heard Robbs tunic hit the floor with a soft thud before feeling the furs dip as he laid on her other side. She broke the kiss, taking his lips captive now as her hand grasped yours. Their kiss was more passionate though so instead you moved your lips to her shoulder, kissing along it gently till you reached her collar bones. You wanted to go further but her hand had dropped yours, moving instead to Robb’s hair.

It was the first time you’d felt a pang of jealousy since your courting days. You tried to push it to the side but with her body turned you had barely any contact with her let alone your husband. Robb pulled away, her lips chased his but instead he turned to you with a grin, leaning over her to kiss you.

He broke the kiss far too soon for your liking. His lips moving to kiss her tits and down her stomach. You felt your core ache as he kissed her thighs. Her head turned to you. You brushed the hair out her face, leaning down to kiss her but Talisa suddenly pulled away when Robb placed an open kiss to her cunt. Her lips parted, a small moan leaving them. you tried to chase them but the longer it went on the less it seemed you were needed as you noticed your husband grinding himself down into the bed for friction. When you tried to play with her tits she gasped, pushing your hands away as it all must have been too sensitive.

As you lay there you realised you were the only one still dressed and the only one not having any fun. You felt tears welling behind your eyes. You’d done this before, but this time felt so different. Especially when they did not notice you stand and didn’t hear you leaving due to her moans.

Your feet carried you away quickly so no one would notice the tears slowly spilling down your cheeks. If anyone had seen, you leave and heard the noises they would easily assume the worst and you couldn’t have that. Robb’s honour didn’t need to be sullied because of your insecurity. Grey wind had been laying outside the tent and followed you as you walked out so you weren’t worried about bringing a guard anyway.

Instead, you perched yourself on one of the fallen trees the men had sat upon when eating supper and stared into the starry sky as the dire wolf sat his head in your lap. “My queen,” the voice made you jump, quickly whipping the tears away as you turned to see one of the Karstark boys who had been on guard tonight. Worry was etched on his face, “Is everything alright?”

“Quite alright yes,” you said with a forced smile, “Just one of those nights,” you tried to brush off.

“I could stay your grace,” he stuttered, he mustn’t have been older than eighteen and white as a sheet, “To protect you, or company if you need- “

“That’s alright,” you assured him, stroking the wolf’s head “I have my own personal guard tonight, Though thank you for your valour, it is always appreciated.” He nodded curtly, looking into the distance but not moving, “Perhaps you should return to your post?” you gently suggested.

He nodded quickly, turning to leave mumbling a thousand goodnights. Your attention turned back to the sky as tears now fell again. A few minutes must have past when you heard twigs crunching behind you. “Lord Karstark, I assure you- “you sighed, turning around but stopping when you caught sight of Robb.

He was more dishevelled than usual, his hair a mess and a cloak hastily thrown on over his shirt and trousers, “You left,” he said, face scrunched in confusion.

Your eyebrow raised, “You noticed?” you asked before turning your attention back to grey wind.

“Of course, I did,” he said, rushing to sit beside you, “Are you okay? Why did you go?”

“I wasn’t needed,” you said, choking back the tears again when you faced him.

His shoulders deflated and he tried to reach for your hand, but you pulled it back, “Of course you were. I always need you,”

“Really? Cause you seemed quite satisfied with just her,”

“I was just trying to make her comfortable, like you asked,” he said, trying to make eye contact but you kept looking away, “Was it me? Did I do something? -“

“It was both of you,” you snapped, “She basically pushed me away and you jumped right into it with her, and I was just sat there! Fully clothed and pushed to the side,”

Robb shuffled closer despite your protests, putting his arms around you, “I didn’t mean to,” he murmured into your skin, his head dropped into the crook of your shoulder, “I’m so sorry my love. We just got carried away. When she told me you were gone, we stopped instantly- “

“She told you?” you said, not sure whether to be angry he hadn’t noticed or grateful she had.

“Yes, I couldn’t really see,” he admitted, his cheeks going red, “But that’s my fault,” he said as he grabbed your hands, “I should’ve noticed, I should’ve made sure you were okay. You are always my priority,”

You sighed, allowing Robb to hug you tighter as he kissed your shoulder, mumbling how sorry he was. Then you heard more footsteps approaching. “Your graces?” Talisa’s voice was sheepish as she approached. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

Robb looked at you before he answered, “Maybe you should- “

“She can sit,” you said, cutting him off. She did as you said as you gathered your thoughts, “I’m sorry, I should not have run off- “

“Don’t apologise,” Talisa said, reaching out for your hand, “Its my fault for pushing you away. I didn’t mean to I was just- “she stopped as her skin grew red, “too in my own world. I am truly sorry,”

“You don’t need to be,” you mumbled.

“But I am,” she said, squeezing your hand gently, “You have no idea how much I looked forward to spending tonight with you, both of you but you especially my queen,”

“Then truly I have ruined this,” you sighed.

“Not at all,” Robb said, kissing your cheek, “In fact why don’t we make it up to you?” Talisa noddled eagerly at his idea. “Show you the attention you deserve,” that mischievous spark was back behind his eyes. It made you shudder with excitement. You were in for a long night indeed.

Taglist here

General Taglist

@itsmathilda @tessakate @ravenmoore14 @obx-josie18 @427120lxld @meg-ro @headinfantasy @strvngestark @jjkjbhj @perla434 @urmomsgirlfriend1 @selenestar78 @randomstory56 @qardasngan @im-the-fucking-lunar-prince @luvdella @bryandechartisasmolbean @glorywielder101 @tiinkerbell @the-holy-pidgeon @andreaxxx44 @winterklls @bdudette @f1uveryysblog @ellamarvete @pear-1206 @mushupork4u @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @mbruben-stien

Game of Thrones Taglist

@bdudette @mysunflowerspace @3lisia @sashadevil766 @lonely-girl2423 @qardasngan @cookielovesbook-akie @thirteenth-fangirl @ladygrimmx @hopelessromantic727 @carpinchootaku @ladtoffandoms

Robb Stark Taglist

@kimm4710

[elycetellsall]

asoiaf women get behind me

[greenalicent]

TALISA MAEGYR in GAME OF THRONES — 3x02 "dark wings, dark words"

[unabashedllamamusic]

I’ve done it. I’ve found the point when it became irrefutably, stupidly obvious that D&D didn’t care about the material they were adapting, and it’s a lot earlier than I thought.

When Robb marries Talisa in S2 (leaving aside how much it fucked with his character and motivations to marry Talisa and not Jeyne, because that’s a whole other story), they get married by a septon! Their vows are said in front of a big-ass tree, but it’s the Seven whose names they recite!

It took me a few rewatches to realize why this bothered me so much: neither Robb nor Talisa follow the Faith! He’s a Northerner who believes in the Old Gods, and would have a totally different ceremony. Talisa’s a Volantene, who probably follows the Lord of Light.

Not to mention- where are the cloaks? The very famously important part of weddings in all three of those religions? What’s up with the strip of cloth thing instead??

If they were going to character assassinate the King in the North himself, they could’ve at least paid the slightest bit of attention to the lore that they ended up spending 8 seasons driving home. We must see, like, a half dozen on screen weddings. Religious differences are the reason for a good chunk of the show’s plot lines. They even bothered to send Robb to the Crag (to accept a surrender of some sort? Still not sure what that was about) but couldn’t remember the characters’ religions?

[westerosiladies]

"Difficult Damsels" -Nikita Gill

[rhaenin-time]

If Mirri Maz Duur was right then so was this guy.

I'm sure if Robb had lived, he would have been very merciful. I'm even more sure that if his foreign bride had somehow survived both him and the trauma of the assault that killed her not-so-innocent-baby, she would have been very understanding about the man who saved the poor serfs of the Riverlands from being terrorized by yet another savage King in the North.

[echos-muses]

i want to infodump to someone SO BAD

[dipperscavern]

if i was roslin frey and i was betrothed to robb stark only to find out he married some sexy woman from volantis id genuinely tweak out. you’d never hear from me again because i would have gone into cardiac arrest before the raven even arrived with the news. i’d feel it in the air. she gettin that dick every night💔💔

IM IN TEARS RHE WAY YOU WORD THINGS 😭😭 but no you’re so right cause it’s like that one old woman married to aaron taylor johnson…. she gettin that dick every night 💔

and seeing both of them when they come back to beg your grandsires forgiveness makes you more mad. caude look what you could’ve had…… and even worse she’s so pretty. you don’t know if you wanna be in talisas place be talisa or be WITH talisa (you would’ve seen my face on the news)

[bumblesimagines]

was any of it real?

i can't go on without you.

Robb Stark

was any of it real?

i can't go on without you.

pronouns: he/him, male

The tales of chivalry and romance you'd heard growing up never spoke about heartbreak. They never mentioned how it was to feel as if someone forced you into a tub full of ice and water or how it felt to feel your heart slowly shatter into pieces. Maybe if they'd mentioned the devastating ache of such a betrayal, you would've forced yourself to turn away from Robb Stark of Winterfell. You wouldn't have returned the kiss that fateful night by the godswood and you certainly wouldn't have continued to meet him in secret, away from lingering eyes and nosy ears. It'd been fun for a while. Sneaking around Winterfell, sharing knowing looks, stealing a quick kiss during the daytime. 

And then the war came. And with it Talisa Maegyr. 

It was hard to hate her. How could you when she hadn't known about the long romance between you and Robb? Talisa was beautiful with her sunkissed skin, long chestnut locks that cascaded down her back, and sweet eyes that soothed the injured she tended to. Despite her kind and gentle nature, she had a fiery tongue that you'd grown to be amused by. And apparently so had Robb. In fact, she'd amused him so much, he'd gone ahead and slept with her. The bitterness, anger, and cold betrayal you felt had solely been reserved for the so-called King in the North.

You carefully ran a wet rag over your bloodied sword, the cool dampness digging into your skin as the cloth changed from white to red. He'd been silent since the moment he'd entered your tent, lingering by the entrance with a look of deep shame. His mother, the beloved Catelyn Stark, had already given him an earful for sleeping with her, but the light scolding had turned into a long lecture when Talisa revealed she carried the result of their night together. 

"What is it, Your Grace? You've been standing there an awful long time without saying anything." You murmured, watching the sword gleam in the light of the lantern. If it'd been anyone else, you would've been tempted to put the blade through their skin. But Robb was a Stark, a King, and the heir to Winterfell. Your family had sworn their loyalty to them and you'd be damned to break an oath over a foolish man. 

"(Y/N), I swear by the Old Gods and-"

"That means nothing to me, not anymore. You said those same words by the godswood before we marched off to war when you claimed to harbor real love for me. Was any of it real? Or did you see me as a simple bedmate?" Your head snapped in his direction, voice low and full of fury ready to be unleashed. Robb's frown deepened and he stepped further into the tent.

"Of course it was real, (Y/N). I've loved you since we were children. The moment Lord Manderly brought you to Winterfell, I knew you were the only one I'd ever want."

"And yet, Talisa is expecting your child. I don't desire your love if it's so easily ignored the moment someone opens their legs for you." You spat and Robb dipped his head again, looking like the young boy you once cared for so deeply. Rising from the bed, you slid the sword back into its sheath and set it aside. "House Manderly has been indebted to the Starks for many years. Ned Stark had been like a father to me. I fight this war for him and the injustice he faced at the hands of the Lannisters. I'll continue fighting with you, but not for you anymore. Perhaps this is a sign to accept Father's marriage proposal to Jeyne Westerling."

At the mention of marriage, Robb's head shot up, his blue eyes widening into saucers and filling you with some satisfaction. "What? Why was I not made aware of this proposal?"

"Why was I not made aware of you sleeping with Talisa until now?" 

"Because I can't go on without you, (Y/N). It was a mistake. I never should've allowed it to happen-"

"It happened, Robb. You're no longer a boy. You're a king. It's time to face reality and start behaving like one. You can start by marrying Talisa and saving her from shame... and by forgetting about us."

[redrikki]

In both the books and the show, Robb breaks his betrothal with a Frey girl to marry a bride of his choice with disastrous consequences. The brides, though, are very different women in very different circumstances. Those differences change our understanding of Robb’s character and storyline, and also play into both stories’ overall themes in very different ways.

In the books, Robb marries Jeyne Westerling, the oldest daughter of Gawen and Sybell Westerling. She’s gentle, sweet, and eager to please with a good heart and better hips. She’s pretty, but not beautiful. She’s not politically important or particularly accomplished. In short, she’s just some girl, loved by those who love her, but no one special.

They meet when Robb took her castle, killing at least one member of her household. He was wounded and she nursed him in her own bed. When he received the news his own castle had been conquered and his brothers were dead, she “comforted” him with sex. The next morning, he married her, feeling it was the only honorable thing to do after deflowering his maiden captive and possibly impregnating her. All of this happens “off screen” and is recounted to us after the fact by Robb as he tries to justify his behavior to his mom. His decision to marry her not only destroys his alliance with the Freys, it also places his new in-laws in grave danger from their former lord. The entirety of their courtship, from meeting to marriage takes place in less than a month.

In the show, Robb marries Talisa Maegyr, a foreigner from Volantis and she’s not like other girls. She’s a trained healer following Robb’s army and caring for soldiers on both sides. She’s plucky, witty, competent, compassionate, and independent. After a slave saved her brother’s life when she was twelve, she decided to never live in a slave state and to not waste her life on the activities of typical noblewomen. 

They meet when Robb helps her as she amputates an enemy soldier’s foot. Afterward, she gives him a lecture about how his war is dumb. We watch their courtship play out over several episodes as they get to know each other and fall in love. We see as Catelyn reminds Robb of his existing obligations. He and Talisa repeatedly discuss his betrothal. Their initial sex scene takes place during a less emotionally charged moment. Robb doesn’t marry her immediately the next day. He discusses finding love in arranged marriages with his mom before ultimately deciding to marry Talisa in secret later that night. The exact timeline is unclear, but their courtship seems to take place over the course of several months.

The Robbs who marry these two women are very different people. Jeyne’s Robb is an impulsive, yet well-meaning teenager who did something dumb under intense stress and then made everything worse in an attempt to fix things. He has sex because he loves her and needs comfort, but he marries her because it’s the only honorable thing to do. This is consistent with his earlier characterization. He calls the banners in anger upon learning about his father’s arrest and then keeps doubling down on war in the hopes of a solution. He’s shown to be a lot like Catelyn with her tendency to make impulsive decisions (kidnapping Tyrion, freeing Jaime) and like Ned with his insistence on doing the right thing even if it’s not politically expedient. 

The Robb who marries Talisa is a fundamentally less honorable and more selfish person. He knows it’s his duty to marry the Frey girl. He’s reminded of it and discusses it more than once. Despite this, he repeatedly seeks Talisa out. Their pre-sex conversation isn’t “comfort,” it’s all about how neither of them want him to marry his betrothed. He marries Talisa because she matters to him more than his oaths. He’s the king and he does what he wants. That he marries her initially in secret makes him seem dishonorable in addition to selfish.

Fundamentally, I think Jeyne is a more interesting character in the way that her circumstances play into some of the wider themes of the narrative. For example, the fact she starts out as Robb’s captive plays into the existing themes of captivity and consent seen with Sansa, Jeyne Poole, and Theon Greyjoy. The fact we don’t ever get Jeyne’s side of their courtship fascinates me. She clearly loves him by the end, but when did that start? Did she enthusiastically consent to sex, or just not say no to the king in her bed with an army outside her door? Did she even want to marry him? She said “I do” or the Westerosi equivalent, but so did Jeyne Poole and Sansa. Is coerced consent real consent? Is Robb even aware that it’s potentially even an issue? Everyone else in Westeros seems to think it’s a given that people are loyal and obedient to their captors, or at least should be.

The Westerling family as a whole, especially in terms of Lady Sybell, play into existing themes of trust and conflicting loyalties. Robb is repeatedly screwed over by people he assumed he could trust based on the assumption he holds their primary loyalty. Lysa, Theon, Catelyn, Karstark, Bolton, and Frey all knowingly betray him for their own ends, while Edmure inadvertently does. Everyone has their own agenda. Robb consistently fails to look for it and consistently pays the price. That his mother-in-law is also doing it is par for the course. The fact Sybell also betrays and alienates her daughter and inadvertently causes her oldest son’s death in the name of saving her family makes her a fun parallel to Catelyn.

Jeyne and her just-some-girlness also plays into the recurring theme that everyone matters. She doesn’t have to be a great beauty or politically important to shape history. Her honor as an enemy captive matters just as much to Robb as anyone else’s. By contrast, the fact that Talisa has to be a Cool Girl medical badass following armies to perform meatball surgery while sassing a king and denigrating conventional femininity in order to be seen as a worthy love interest certainly fits the show’s existing themes of how it treats female characters.

Leave a comment at AO3

[elycetellsall]

game of thrones queens

[inncorrect-starklings]

Talisa: You deserve a reward for putting up with me.

Robb: You are my reward.

*meanwhile*

Jon: You deserve a reward for putting up with me.

Val: True, you can be really difficult at times.

[bluemoon-nymph]

The king now lies on a bed of stone. Without a crown, without a home.