𝙸𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙰 ° myrcella baratheon

THIRTY FOUR

I, as much as I didn't want to be, sat in a chair beside the large map table inside the war tent. My older brother stood at the end, looking emotionlessly at the young man who stood by the entrance, surrounded by guards. "You're Ser Alton Lannister?" Robb asked, despite the answer being clear.

The man nodded. "I am, Your Grace."

The new King in the North nodded absentmindedly. "I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms." He said sternly. "First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones must be returned to us so he may rest beside his brother and sisters in the crypts beneath Winterfell. And the remains of all those who died in his service must also be returned; their families can honor them with proper funerals."

"An honorable request, Your Grace." Ser Alton said meekly, seemingly afraid of the young northern king.

"Third," Robb continued on, acting like the Lannister had never spoken. "Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to domain of the North. From this time, till the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom."

I smirked proudly as Ser Rodrik spoke up. "The King in the North."

"King in the North." The rest of us replied softly.

My brother paused, studying the wide-eyed look he was receiving from Alton before he spoke again. "Neither Joffrey nor any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father, only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me."

The Lannister man seemed at a loss for words. "These are...Your Grace, these are-"

"These are my terms." My brother said, cutting him off. "If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not, I will litter the south with Lannister dead."

His words caused my heart to skip a beat. A brief image of Myrcella came to my mind. Only, it wasn't the smiling girl I knew. She was cold and lifeless as she laid on the floor, her own blood pooling beneath her. The thought was quickly gone as Ser Alton spoke again, causing me to swallow the lump in my throat and turn to look at him.

"King Joffrey is a Baratheon, Your Grace." He said.

"Oh, is he?" Robb asked, earning a confused look from the Lannister. "You'll ride at daybreak, Ser Alton. That will be all for tonight."

With that said, I stood with everyone else and started making my way out of the tent. As I walked out into the brisk air, I saw a guard leading Ser Alton back towards his cell. The folded parchment I had in my pocket felt weighted as I turned and rushed towards them.

"Maris!" I called to the guard, causing the two men to halt and turn to me with confused looks.

"My lord." The guard said as I got close, bowing his head slightly in respect. "What can I do for ye?"

"You're dismissed." I ordered with an emotionless face. "I shall escort Ser Alton back to his pen myself."

"But, my lord-"

"You're dismissed, Maris." I said, my voice turning cold as I glared at the man. After a minute, he nodded and bowed his head before leaving me alone with the Lannister. I quickly grabbed his arm and continued the walk towards the pens.

"To what do I owe this walk, my lord?" The man said curiously.

I glanced around us before slowing my brisk walk, my eyes trained ahead of me. "I need you to deliver something for me while you're in the Capitol. Or get someone in the city to do it for you."

"A...a message?" He stammered, trying to clarify what he heard me say. "To whom?"

I reached my free hand into my pocket, grabbing the note, before shoving the parchment into Alton's hand. "To Myrcella Baratheon." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

This seemed to confuse him more. "Th-...the princess?"

"Yes." I said coldly as we started nearing the pens. "Do this for me and I will see that you are treated better upon your return, Ser. I swear by the old Gods."

Before Alton could reply, I shoved him lightly through the open door of his pen and locked it up. Shooting him one last look, I turned and marched away from the cell, but not before seeing the Lannister pocket the small, folded piece of parchment.