𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴 ° robb stark

Walder Frey

The Starks, along with a few other lords, were standing on top of a hill overlooking the Twins. For the past few days, the soldiers had been shooting down any raven that were to leave the castle.

"lt's a birthday message to his grand-niece Walda." Robb said as he read the scroll Theon had just handed him.

"Or so Walder Frey would have you think." The ward quipped.

"Keep shooting them down." Adaya told her husband.

"Adaya is right." Cat said. "We can't risk Lord Walder sending word of your movements to the Lannisters."

"He's Grandfather's bannerman. We can't expect his support?" Robb asked.

"Expect nothing of Walder Frey and you'll never be surprised. Look." Greatjon said to the liege lord, nodding his head towards the two Frey riders approaching the group.

Robb just sighed. "Father rots in a dungeon. How long before they take his head? We need to cross the Trident and we need to do it now."

Theon rolled his eyes, annoyed with the little game Walder Frey seemed to be playing. "Just march up to his gates and tell him you're crossing. We've got five times his numbers. You can take the Twins if you have to."

"Not in time. Tywin Lannister marches north as we speak." Adaya said to the boy, glancing over at him.

"The Freys have held the crossing for 600 years, and for 600 years they have never failed to exact their toll." Cat told the group.

Robb nodded. "Have my horse saddled and ready."

Everyone was quick to protest to Robb's idea, including Adaya. "Enter the Twins alone and he'll sell you to the Lannisters as he likes." The girl said, unhappy with her husband's plan.

"Or throw you in a dungeon. Or slit your throat." Theon added.

"My father would do whatever it took to secure our crossing." Robb said to the other. "Whatever it took. lf l'm going to lead this army, l can't have other men doing my bargaining for me."

"I agree." Lady Catelyn said. "I'll go."

"You can't!" Someone said.

"l have known Lord Walder since l was a girl. He would never harm me."

Lord Umber scoffed. "Unless there was a profit in it."

•~•

The lords and Adaya were back in the command tent, planning out there next moves. Robb seemed distressed, however, and Adaya knew it was because his mother hadn't yet returned from her meeting with Lord Frey.

Robb stood behind the chair his wife sat in, his hands resting on the back of the chair by her head. The other lords were telling Robb their ideas, but the other lords would only be able to point out the flaws in them all.

"lf we do that, they'll never get back across." Greatjon Umber said to the group.

Before anyone could respond, Catelyn Stark entered the tent, causing everyone to turn to her curiously. Adaya could feel her husband shift slightly, standing up straight.

"Well?" The boy asked. "What did he say?"

"Lord Walder has granted your crossing. His men are yours, as well." Lady Stark told her son.

"Hmm." He hummed in response.

"Less the 400 he will keep here to hold the crossing against any who would pursue you."

"What does he want in return?"

"You will be taking on his son Olyvar as your personal squire. He expects a knighthood in good time."

"Fine fine." Robb said, looking up to see his mother still had more to say. "And?"

"And Arya will marry his son Waldron when they both come of age."

"She won't be happy about that." Lady Stark just nodded and tilted her head down, though she looked at he son through her lashes. "And?"

Catelyn's eyes drifted down from her son's face to Adaya, then back up at her son. She hesitated for a while before she gulped slightly and spoke softly. "And when the fighting is done, he wants you to marry one of his daughters. Whichever you prefer. He has a number he thinks will be suitable."

Adaya felt her husband stiffen behind her, and the girl didn't know what to think herself. The two's marriage was no secret; almost the entirety of the Seven Kingdoms knew of the Tyrell and Stark alliance.

"I have a wife." Robb told her lowly, his voice cold and emotionless.

"I reminded Lord Frey, but he insisted." The woman said, avoiding eye contact with her son.

"Walder Frey doesn't care about anyone but himself." Greatjon said to the young lord. "Him and his personal gain, that is."

"You cannot refuse if you want to cross." Cat reminded the boy.

"Then I will not cross." Robb said as if it were that simple. "I'm already married, mother. We'll find another way."

With that, Robb took his wife's hand and helped her up. The two of them then left the command tent to gather, heading towards their own. A silence had fallen over the two, both of their minds spinning.