"I'll send the fucking raven myself, Ned." Robert Baratheon, already 5 ales deep, proclaimed. "Fuck Frey. The shit fucks his own daughters I bet you. You want Rob to be married to a woman with a cunt used by her dear old dad?"
Robb and Theon remained silent as Robert spoke. "I have already promised my son to marry a Frey daughter and so it shall be. I don't make a habit of breaking oaths and I do not intend to start now."
"Oh come off it, Ned. Sansa will be married to my son and Robb will be married to Cersei's cousin. You will have two of the most powerful houses as an ally. Do you the think Frey will have the guts to say something that might cross you?"
"If you can convince Lord Frey that the arrangement needs to be broken in order for Robb to marry the Lannister girl then so it shall be done. I give you my word, but until then no such arrangement will be made."
"Oh, I can convince Frey to call off the engagement to whatever monster he has intended for Robb." He raised his cup before guzzling down the rest of his contents.
"If I recall, Thahera the Harpy was never too fond of you Robb." Theon joked under his breath to his friend. Robb remarked by elbowing him in the rib.
"Robb?" Ned questioned. "Do you have anything you would like say?"
Quickly clearing his throat, Robb answered. "No father. Whatever arrangements you and our king deem fit, I agree to as well. I'm afraid I must retire now." He said standing from the table. "Your highness." He said bowing to Robert. "Father. Good night."
Theon followed suit and was quickly by Robb's side. Robb was walking briskly to his chambers wanting to avoid conversation with Theon. "It seems as though you can't catch a break, my friend. First engaged to an offspring of Frey's then to the Ice Queen's ugly duckling of a cousin. I will pray that your wedding night may not be your last."
"Father had no choice in who he was to wed and he and my mother are more in love than any two people in the seven kingdoms. Definitely more in love than you and the red-headed girl who just so happens to live by the brothels."
"Complete coincidence."
"But of course."
"All I'm trying to get at is that you could maybe just sneak away. Go live amongst the direwolves and wildlings."
"I suppose the two are better than my two present brides." Robb joked cracking a smile.
"Do you remember how much we hated her? Poor girl nearly threw herself off a tower trying to get away from our cruel pranks." He laughed only for a minute before catching himself. It only had been a week since Bran's fall and he still has yet to wake from his sleep. "Robb, I didn't think-"
"No." Robb said halting outside of his bedroom. "I know you would never purposefully intend to mock Bran's accident. Just don't mention anything to father. He would be sure to have your head." Theon simply nodded in agreement. "Frey is never going to agree to break the arrangement. No matter if it was by father's orders or Robert's. I'll see you tomorrow, Theon."
"See you in the morning." Theon said as Robb opened his chamber door.
As he undressed and readied himself for bed, Robb could not help but to recall the last time he saw the Lannister girl. She looked like anything, but a Lannister. She had wild, curly brown hair that often got in the way of her face. The Lannister's were known for their poise and beauty and Thahera would often be teased that she tripped over air and her beauty was nowhere to be found. At the time of her first and only trip to Winterfell, she was growing quite awkwardly into womanhood. She was only 11 when she came to meet the Starks in hopes for the two families to make an arrangement, but because of the two constantly fighting and nearly trying to kill the other, no arrangements were made and the intentions forgotten.
Robb picked up the direwolf that had been nipping at his ankles and placed him on the bed. Although his father thought it was uncalled for, Robb liked for the little beast to sleep at his feet.
Turning down the lanterns and getting himself settled into bed, he could not help but shake the image of the horrid little girl that his father wanted him to wed so long ago. His possibilities of future brides were looking quite dim.