The Songs of Winter | Robb Stark

Chapter 3

Jon Snow

Robb and I sit in front of the fireplace, the warmth of the crackling flames filling the room with a soft, flickering light. The heavy silence between us is broken only by the occasional pop of the wood and the quiet clinking of our mugs as we sip the hot cocoa in our hands. The steam from the cocoa curls upward in lazy spirals, disappearing into the dim light of the room. Since I told Robb everything Iridessa and Sophie had revealed, he hasn't spoken a word. His eyes have been fixed on the fire, his expression unreadable, lost in a world of thoughts I can't penetrate.

I clear my throat, the sound feeling unusually loud in the stillness. Setting my mug down on the hearth, I turn slightly towards him. "She may still be alive," I say quietly, my voice carrying the weight of both hope and fear.

Robb remains silent for a long moment, his gaze unwavering on the dancing flames. The orange light casts sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his jaw. Finally, he nods, his expression resolute, but there's a depth of pain in his eyes that he can't fully hide. "Aye," he says, his voice rough. "Which is why we have to go get her."

I sigh, having expected this response. "How? How do we get her?" I ask, desperation seeping into my words. I've been turning this question over in my mind endlessly since Iridessa and Sophie dropped their bombshell, and every answer I come up with feels hopelessly out of reach.

Robb's response is immediate, as if he's already been planning his next move. "We call in the bannermen again," he states with a certainty that belies the enormity of the task.

I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. "Robb, calling in the bannermen who have already returned to their homes after the war is nearly impossible. They've tasted peace and won't be eager to march into battle again." I rub a hand over my face, weariness pulling at me. "How many men were left after the wedding?"

The mention of the Red Wedding casts a shadow over Robb's features. His eyes darken, and when he speaks, his voice is a low, strained whisper. "Not many. But if there's even a chance she's alive, we can't just do nothing."

"I agree," I say, my voice steady as I turn to face him fully. "But you can't just leave and call the bannermen again right now. We need to give them time. The only advantage we have is that few people know you're alive, and for now, it should stay that way. Gallivanting around declaring another war isn't the way to go."

Robb turns to me then, and the firelight catches the raw mix of anger and desperation in his eyes. "So you want us to stay here and wait it out? We don't know what's happening to Aida right now, and you just want us to wait?"

I meet his fiery gaze, feeling the intensity of his anguish. "I don't want to wait any more than you do, Robb. But rushing in without a plan will only get us killed and make Aida's suffering in vain. We need to be smart about this."

Robb clenches his fists, his knuckles turning white. The tension in his body is palpable, and for a moment, I worry that his anger will drive him to act recklessly. "Every moment we wait, she could be—"

"You don't think I know that?" I cut him off, reaching out to place a hand on his arm, trying to steady him. "I know, Robb. Believe me, I know. But this needs to be played carefully. This whole thing failed once; it can't fail again."

Robb nods, but the resignation in his posture tells me how much it costs him to stand down. He lets out a large sigh, the weight of his emotions evident. "You don't understand how badly I've been trying to keep it together. If she's dead..." His voice trails off, the fear in his words striking at my own heart.

I see the pain in his eyes, the raw emotion threatening to spill over. His walls are crumbling, and the only thing holding them up is his determination to save Aida. I grip his shoulder firmly, trying to offer some semblance of support. "You didn't fail her," I say, my voice steady, trying to reach through the fog of his guilt. "The Lannisters did this, not you. We'll get her back."