𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 & 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙨, 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘣 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬

XX » DEAD MEN SING NO SONGS

"DON'T TRY TO FRIGHTEN ME, LADY TARGARYEN," Walder chuckled, "you've nothing to bring to the table."

"I do have one thing," Rhaene mused, "death."

With roars, Meraxes and Sunfyre swept through the open window and circled the room. They flapped down to their mother as she walked back across the hall, landing on either side of her.

"They will kill you," Rhaene said, "if I tell them to."

"You come into my home and threaten me?" Lord Walder roared, standing to his feet.

"Yes," Rhaene answered simply, "give me what I seek, and my husband, his army of twenty-thousand, and I will be on our way. I do not want bloodshed." She lay a hand on Meraxes' head. "I will not ask again."

≽ ∗ ≼

Robb paced the length of the command tent, waiting anxiously for his wife's return. It had been nearly an hour since Meraxes and Sunfyre had been released, and their bannermen had been, understandably, shocked.

His head snapped up as a piercing screech broke the tense silence, and his eyes widened as he saw Meraxes flying towards them. Behind her was Sunfyre, and beneath the two were Rhaene and his mother.

He breathed out a sigh of relief, a smile picking at his lips. "Well?" he asked when she got close enough, "what did he say?"

"Frey has granted your crossing," Rhaene smirked, "as expected."

"His men are yours as well, less the four hundred he will keep here to hold off any who would pursue you," Catelyn added, "your wife can be very... persuasive."

"And? What does he want in return?"

"You will be taking on his son, Olyvar, as your personal squire," Rhaene said, "I suspect this won't be much of a difficult decision." She clasped her hands together. "And I will take on one of his bastard daughters as a personal handmaiden. He expects a legitimization when the fighting is done."

"Fine, fine," Robb muttered anxiously, "and?"

"And... Arya will marry his son Waldron when they both come of age." Catelyn smirked a little, shaking her head.

"She won't be happy about that." He stared his mother down as she made a face at him. "And?" His voice had grown more nervous.

Rhaene sighed to herself. "He wants my Aunt and Uncle to marry into his family - and if they won't, then he wants my brother to marry one of his daughters, so that she might become Queen."

"Your Aunt and Uncle are halfway across the world," Robb muttered in confusion. "Your brother is thousands of miles away."

"I told him so, but the old bastard wouldn't listen." Rhaene placed her hands on the table. "Maekar won't be happy," she stated, "I haven't even heard from him since..." She ran a hand over her face. "Do you consent?"

Robb nodded. "I consent."

≽ ∗ ≼

The days after the crossing were all riding, and Rhaene took the time to get to know her new handmaiden. The girl was small, even smaller than the petite Princess. Her name was Mary.