𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙴 ° robb stark

A Bannerman's Betrayal

Adaya knelt down in front of the two Lannister boys, who she had seen just the night prior, as they laid on a blanket in front of her. Dead.

Robb could see the hurt in his wife's eyes as she looked at the young boys. Sighing softly, he looked up at a guard near the door. "Bring them in."

The guard nodded and opened the door. Rickard Karstark, along with serveral of his men, were escorted in by Stark soldiers. There hands were bound as they were placed before the king and queen.

"Is that all of them?" Robb asked and the guard nodded. "It took five of you to murder two unarmed squires?"

"Not murder, Your Grace. Vengeance." Rickard said as if it was obvious, only causing Adaya's anger to grow.

This, also, seemed to anger Robb. "Vengeance? Those boys didn't kill your sons. I saw Harrion die on the battlefield and Torrhen-"

"Was strangled by the Kingslayer. They were his kin."

"They were boys!" Adaya shouted, looking up at the men from her place on the floor. She looked at the men with such hatred that it made Lord Karstark's eyes go wide; he had never seen the queen look at anyone that way before. "They were young boys! They didn't lol anyone! They were good and they were kind and your butchered them like cattle!"

Once the room had gone quiet again, Robb stern voice broke the silence. "Look at them."

"Tell your mother to look at them." Karstark fires back. "She killed them as much as I."

"My mother had nothing to do with this. This was your treason."

"It's treason to free your enemies. In war, you kill your enemies. Did your father not teach you that, boy?"

Before Adaya could attack the man again due to his remark, the Blackfish punched the Lord Karstark, causing Robb to immediately object. "Leave him."

Adaya slowly stood up, standing tall as the Karstark composed himself again. "Aye. Leave me to the king. He wants to give me a scolding before he sets me free. That's how he deals with treason. Our King in the North. Or should I call him the King Who Lost the North?"

The girl could feel her husband tense beside her as he heard his former bannerman's words. The king took a deep breath before speaking to his solders, not taking his eyes off the older man. "Escort Lord Karstark to the dungeon. Hang the rest."

As the soldiers moved to take the prisoners away, one of the men spoke up, his voice pleading. "Mercy, sire! I didn't kill anyone. I only watched for the guards."

Adaya sighed, feeling no mercy in her heart, considering what these men did to the poor boys. The innocent boys. "This one was only the watcher." She said softly, looking over at her husband. He could see what she was asking without her having to say it, so the boy nodded slightly. Adaya turned back to the soldiers and could see the slight hope in the prisoner's eyes. "Hang him last so he can watch the others die."

"Please! Please, no. They made me do it! They made me! They made me!" The man's pleas were heard even after the doors to the hall were closed, until they finally disappeared in general.

Robb sighed as he sat in one of the chairs at the large wooden table in the center of the room. The king placed his head in his hands as he thought. Adaya approached him slowly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as their uncle spoke up.

"Word of this can't leave Riverrun." Edmure advised. "They were Tywin Lannister's nephews. The Lannisters pay their debts. They never stop talking about it."

"Would you make me a liar as well as a murderer?" Robb asked, dumbfounded.

"It wouldn't be lying. We will bury them and remain silent until the war is done."

"I'm not fighting for justice if I don't serve justice to murderers in my ranks, no matter how highborn." The young kind paused before lifting his head and looking at his family in the room with him. "He has to die."

Catelyn immediately stood and started walking towards her son. "The Karstarks are Northmen. They won't forgive the killing of their lord."

Adaya sighed, looking down at her husband. "Your mother's right. If you do this, the Karstarks will abandon you."

Robb looked amazed at his wife's words. "You helped tend to their wounds. You brought them supper. Now they're dead."

"And more boys will keep dying until this war is over. You need Karstark men to end it, my love." She said. "If you kill Rickard, his men will leave and we will be vulnerable to the Lannister forces."

"Spare his life. Keep him as a hostage." Cat suggested.

Edmure nodded, agreeing with his sister. "A hostage. Tell the Karstarks that as long as they remain loyal, he will not be harmed."

Robb seemed to ponder what his family was saying, giving it a great deal of thought as he weighed his options. But he truly lost sight. And despite all the warnings, Robb beheaded him anyways.