lover's mercy - jaime lannister

THIRTY-THREE

            The Twins.

             It wasn't some great formidable building, but still, it had earned its name in the history books. And it would today...for a wedding. 

             Her uncle, Edmure, had complained the whole way and she shook her head as she looked at her mother, "You think he'd be a girl with the way he complains..."

                 Cat chuckled, "He certainly doesn't know when to stop, does he?"

                 As they approached the Twins, some of the Freys greeted them. They stared at her wolves.

                "Our father will see you inside," they said. "We'll find suitable pens for your wolves."

                 Elya galloped her horse forward a bit to be by Robb, "No. They are not pets. They are our companions. They will roam free."

                 "How do we know if they're tame?" a Frey argued. "We'd feel safer with them put away."

               Robb looked at the wild gaze in her eyes as Rheina started to growl a bit, picking up on her anger. So he backed her up (like he'd always do), "Like my sister said. They'll roam free."

                 "As Your Grace commands."

               And they rode through the gates. Cat smiled at the thought of her children. Robb and Elya. The twins had every good part that she and Ned could give them. She was so proud of them. She knew Ned would be, too.

              ____

             They now presented themselves to Walder Frey.

           "My honored guests...be welcome within my walls and at my table. I extend to you my hospitality and protection in the light of the Seven," Lord Walder said as bread was offered around.

               They quickly ate it. They had guest right now. Guest right was sacred and it was considered unholy to break it. They were protected in this way.

            "We thank you for your hospitality, my lord," Robb said. "I have come to make my apologies, my lord, and to beg your forgiveness."

                   "Don't beg my forgiveness, Your Grace. It wasn't me you spurned. It was my girls," Lord Walder gestured for his girls to line up. "One of them was supposed to be queen. Now none of them are."

             "This is Arwyen my daughter. My daughter Walda, my daughter Derwa, my daughter Waldra. My eldest granddaughters Ginia and Neila. Serra and Sarra, granddaughters, twins," Walder introduced. "You could have had either. Could have had both for all I care."

                Elya clenched her jaw. He treated his girls like prizes to be handed away. He didn't care.

            "My granddaughter Marianne. My granddaughter Freya. My granddaughter Wertha," he said and the girl shook her head. "Waldra. Waldina...."

             "I'm Merry," the girl said.

            "Fine. And here's my youngest daughter Shirei, though she hasn't bled yet. Clearly you don't have the patience for all that."

           "My ladies," Robb stepped forward. "All men should keep their word, kings most of all. I was pledged to marry one of you and I broke that vow. The fault is not with you. Any man would be lucky to have any one of you. I did what I did not to slight you, but because I loved another. I know these words cannot set right the wrong I have done to you and your house. I beg your forgiveness and pledge to do all I can to make amends so the Freys of the Crossing and the Starks of Winterfell may once again be friends."