ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀꜱ ʙʏ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ

05

Robb II

"Lord Frey is asking for Robb to take one of his daughters to wife. One of his bannermen and my son will also take a squire." Lady Catelyn said, addressing Robb's council.

"Is that all he wanted?" Lord Glover asked.

Robb's mother sighed. "My daughter Arya shall also wed one of his sons and two wards shall be sent to Winterfell to be with my son Brandon," she added.

Robb frowned. "I said that I alone would answer Lord Frey's demands," he said, trying to keep his annoyance out of his voice. "I did not agree to give up my sister or fill my home with Frey's."

Catelyn grimaced. "Those were his demands, my lord. There was no changing the man's mind."

Robb shook his head. "My lords, I would have your thoughts."

"I say fuck him." the Greatjon spat. "If he wants to take advantage of us, I say fuck the old man."

"Must we deal with this again?" Galbart Glover said gruffly. "We need the damn bridge if we are to deal with the Kingslayer."

Robb growled. "My lords, I will take one of the man's daughters, and as my sister is still trapped in King's Landing, there is still time to change the man's mind on giving her hand away. All I can ask of you is this: who here is willing to take on a squire?"

"I will, my lord."

All eyes turned to Ser Rodrik, who had stepped forward from his place in the corner of the room. He nodded strongly to Robb and his mother.

"I will take on a squire if it helps, my lord."

Lady Catelyn was beaming at the elderly knight, while Robb just smiled at him. He nodded. "Thank you, Ser Rodrik. I accept your offer. I have no doubt the boy will learn much under your tutelage."

The other members of the council voiced their agreement as well. Rodrik Cassel had been a sworn sword to the Stark's for generations, and the old knight had proved his mettle time and time again. It also made sense that, since he was an anointed knight, he should take on a squire.

"Mother, please make sure a message is sent to the Twins letting Lord Frey know that I accept his deal," Robb said. "We will be marching out on the morrow, my lords, and we must be ready to deal with the Kingslayer."

"We will be hard-pressed fighting the Kingslayer with his father lurking at Harrenhal." Lord Hawker pointed out. "Tywin will not allow his son to be attacked so boldly. He will sniff out our plan if we march our entire host west to Riverrun."

Robb nodded, the gears in his mind already working. "Quite right, my lord," he said. "We must keep the Old Lion distracted while we strike quickly at his son."

"What would you have us do?" Lord Karstark asked.

Robb frowned thoughtfully. "two thousand footmen will march south and bring Tywin out of position," he said, thinking through his words while speaking.

"Tywin will not be easily tempted by two thousand men." Mormont pointed out.

Robb now smiled mischievously. "He will if they are bearing banners and banging on drums. We will make them look like the entire northern host marching on Harrenhal."