a wolf and a stag // r.stark 1.

3.5 The Funeral

"I'll miss you as well." Alec pulled away and chuckled.

"Write me letters. Don't mention my name. Just tell me how you live." she smiled with tears in her eyes.

"Of course. Oh, I have a present for you." he took out a little box. Arabella furrowed her eyebrows and took it. She opened it. It was a pin inside. On one side there was a metal stag and on the other a dire wolf.  "I told a smith to to it. This is who you are. Never forget that, friend." he smiled.

"Thank you. It is gorgeous." she nodded with grief stricken face.

"Hey, Alec!" one man yelled and both of them looked there. "Let's go!"

"Well, I have to go." he walked over to his horse and sat on it. "Farewell, Arabella Stark. I'll miss you."

"Farewell, Alec Snow." she nodded few more tears escaping her eyes. He smirked, kicked his horse and rode away.

Arabella felt this emptiness inside as she watched her best friend leave her. "Bella." Robb walked over to her. She faced him. "Were you crying?"

"He left." Arabella breathed out looking at her husband.

"Alec? Oh, I knew." he said silently, as though he felt guilty for not saying the news to her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Arabella asked getting angry. "Did you make him go there?"

"What? No." Robb shook his head. "I didn't tell you because he wanted to do it himself. Come, we are moving. Riverrun is near." he smiled.

Arabella got onto her horse. "Where did you get that pin from?" Robb asked looking at it. She pinned it on her clothes.

"It was a farewell present." she answered not looking at her husband.

"You need to have a new guard." Robb started and she looked at him annoyed.

"No. All I need right now is to be alone for a while." with those words she started riding.

They reached Riverrun. A soldier helped Arabella get off of her horse. Robb walked over to his wife. "Are you angry at me?" he whispered with a blank face himself.

"No." she shook her head. "I'm just upset..."

Two people walked out among with other castle's people. They all bowed down to Robb and Arabella.

"No need." Robb said loudly. "Rise."

Everyone did as was told. Catelyn let out a laugh and hugged one of the men. "This is Edmure. My uncle." Robb said to Arabella silently as she watched around. Then Catelyn hugged an older man. "This is..." Robb wanted to introduce the man but the man himself was faster.

"Brynden Tully." he bowed his head to Arabella. "The uncle to your mother-in-law." he smiled and looked at Robb. "Oh my, and here is our king." he and Robb shook hands.

"Uncle." Robb looked at Edmure. They shook hands.

"My queen." he kissed Arabella's hand. "They say truth about your beauty..."

Arabella didn't get pleased and neither did Robb.

<...>

Hoster Tully was laying in a boat, ready to sail to heaven. Robb and Brynden pushed his grave and started walking to where Catelyn and Arabella stood.

Robb stood in front of his wife and touched her hand, discretely. She smiled and focused on the funeral.

Then Edmure came down with a bow and arrows. He lit one of the arrows and put it up. He stretched the bow and fired the burning arrow. But he missed to lit his father's remains. The arrow went into the water. Robb looked down at his mother, who had a blank look on her face.

Edmure took another arrow and fired it. Yet to miss again. People started whispering. Robb looked down and let out a laugh, but got a look from his mother. Arabella stood there still looking at Edmure fail yet another time.

Brynden Tully had enough. He grabbed the bow out of Edmure's hands and pushed his nephew away.

Brynden lit the arrow and looked at the flag, that was moving from the wind. He then fired it and left.

The body started burning. Catelyn closed her eyes. Robb was silent as well. He looked at his mother, who had her head down.

Brynden left with Robb following after him. Arabella walked over to Catelyn and asked for an arm.

Catelyn nodded and they linked their arms. The walk was quiet but it wasn't uncomfortable. Both of them had a lot in mind.

They came back to the Castle. "My queen. The king is expecting you in the big hall." Nora walked over.

"Alright, thank you, Nora." she nodded. "Excuse me, m'lady..."

"Catelyn." the woman smiled. "I'm Catelyn."

Vote, read, comment.