Across the bridge, a cold northern breeze swept through the outdoor halls of the southern tower of the Twins and reddened Olyvar Frey's cheeks and nose as he walked to the main hall. The added chill from being in such proximity to the cold spray of the mighty Trident made the young man quicken his step. An alliance with Robb Stark and a new Lord of the Crossing! Old Walder will most likely not be attending the next Frey family reunion, he thought cheerfully. He had always respected his eldest half-brother, despite the age difference and the fact Lord Stevron had been lucky enough to be the firstborn while Olyvar had been Walder's eighteenth son. Stevron had taken the time to familiarize himself with each branch of their family and Olyvar had always admired Stevron's loyalty to his family, a trait that Olyvar had endeavored to emulate throughout his life. In his eighteen years Olyvar had few memories with his lord father, the Late Lord Walder. Olyvar was the fourth son to Lord Frey's sixth wife, Bethany Roxby. His eldest brother, Perwyn, had just come back from his time with Lord Stevron and the Northerners to ensure the safety of Catelyn Stark while she treated with Walder Frey.
Olyvar stepped past the household guards and entered the tower to see two of his elder brothers waiting for him. Perwyn, in his late twenties had a gaunt face with a big nose; stood straight with his hands folded behind his back beside Olyvar's other elder brother, Benfrey. Only younger than Perwyn by five years, Benfrey was already married with two children to their cousin Jyanna Frey.
"Brothers," Perwyn began. "It would seem that our new Lord Stevron has joined our house to Robb Stark's cause. Our sister, Roslin, has been chosen by the Lord of Winterfell to seal the alliance between our houses in the form of marriage. He has also agreed to take Olyvar as his squire and marry Elmar to his sister Arya,"
Olyvar's jaw would have dropped if years of living life as a Frey of the Twins hadn't long since taught him to keep a cool face. Squire to the Lord of Winterfell! Olyvar thought hungrily. He had been officially recognized as a man grown for two years now, well overdue for a knighthood.
"How soon do we march on the Lannisters?" Benfrey asked eagerly. Of course Benfrey had been quick to prove himself, Olyvar noted shrewdly, ever since Perwyn had outlasted him at the Tourney of the Hand at King's Landing.
"When's the wedding?" Olyvar asked mildly. Since they had been children, Olyvar and Roslin had been as close as brother and sister could be. The fact that she would now leave the Twins forever brought a slight pain to Olyvar's chest.
"Lord Stevron is mobilizing our forces even as we speak, by dusk most of our strength shall march with Robb Stark south to wherever he commands," He regarded Olyvar passively. "The terms of the agreement call for the pact to be sealed once the fighting's over," He stepped closer to a window. Olyvar followed his gaze down the lower banks of the Trident where a laughing Roslin was walking with an auburn haired young man of a similar age to her. "Though I suspect that the Stark boy will want to give Roslin her wedding sooner than that,"
"They are getting along well, then?" Olyvar prodded.
Perwyn inclined his head out the window, gesturing to Robb as he gently helped Roslin off of the muddy shore and back up onto the grassy path that led back to the Twins. Olyvar gave a closer look and noticed the great direwolf Grey Wind a little further up shore, sniffing around in a great circle around the young pair. "They've done nothing but talk and walk since Lord Walder was held attained. Stark's army is almost fully across the Trident, however. The time to leave will be soon. Olyvar, Lord Stevron is on his way across the Trident from the North Tower. He will meet you in Water Tower and give you further instructions before we leave. Benfrey, kiss Jyanna and the children good bye and prepare your horse, I'll meet you in the stables," Perwyn paused to look both of his brothers in the eye, finally grasping both of them softly at the base of the neck and gently joining their foreheads together.
"We will all be facing danger in this war, but I promise you both that we will all see each other again," They broke apart and headed in separate directions. Olyvar exited the tower and climbed the stairs up to the walls. I can't believe I'm actually going to squire for a Stark of Winterfell! When the ravens had arrived with news of the Kingslayer's invasion, the Roxby Freys had voiced in favor of answering Edmure Tully's call. Being children to Bethany Roxby, Lord Walder's sixth wife, gave them significantly less favor and influence at the Lord's court and they were usually looked over. Olyvar opened the door and was greeted again by the wind. Robb Stark has brought the winter chill with him, he thought. He had heard stories that the boy of fifteen kept a direwolf at his side, A great grey beast that had ripped the fingers off of one of Robb's bannermen when the fool had challenged his liege lord's leadership.
Olyvar made his way onto the wall of the great Crossing, walking past scores of Frey archers nervously eyeing the Northern host making their way across. Some of the archers he passed were trading japes with northmen who had climbed the walls to catch the view. It was quite a sight indeed, eighteen thousand men marching across the Twins with the mist from the mighty Trident catching the sunset light in an orange glow. When he reached the stairs down into Water Tower, the great tower in the middle of the bridge, he took the steps two at a time to get to the seat of House Frey faster. When he opened the doors he found Lord Stevron sitting in the chair that Lord Walder had occupied only mere hours before. Remembering his courtesy, Olyvar bowed respectfully and stepped forward. "You sent for me, my Lord?"
The seat of the Lord of the Crossing was a large chair of black oak with the back carved into the shape of two towers joined by an arched bridge. Lord Stevron rubbed his thumb slowly into the oak as if savoring the feel of his seat. "Young Olyvar as I'm sure that you have undoubtedly already heard our family has joined Robb Stark's cause. You will serve as his squire and Roslin will join him in marriage. I'm leaving my son, Ryman, as my heir with five hundred men to hold the Twins. The rest of us are leaving at once to march on either Lord Tywin or the Kingslayer. I expect you to serve Stark faithfully in the coming campaign,"
Olyvar inclined his head respectfully, allowing himself a small smile. This would be his first time marching in a host to war, every young man's dream of proving themselves would soon be his reality. "Of course, my Lord. Will Roslin join us or stay here?"
Lord Stevron gave a small smile, looking more grandfatherly and reminding Olyvar again of the vast age difference between the two brothers. "Though it has only been mere hours since they met, it would seem that in the time that the northern force has taken to march across the bridge, Stark and Roslin have become quite inseparable. I have no doubt that your sister will want to accompany us, though she will of course remain at a safe distance during the fighting. That's also what I want to talk to you about, Olyvar. Our lord father arranged for you to be squire to the heir to Winterfell to bring prestige to our family. For you, this is an excellent opportunity for you to earn the respect and trust of both Robb Stark and his bannermen. There are those in our family that would say our marriage to the Lannisters should come before Roslin's to the Starks and that our loyalty should be to lions. Either way, our first and foremost loyalty should have been to Ser Edmure when he called Lord Tully's banners. His capture will be blamed on the consequences of our absence in the battlefield. We must prove our loyalty to Robb's cause to bring honor to House Frey. We must be watchful for traitors in our ranks, I don't have to tell you that our family's numbers have not bred many cooperative feelings,"
"Of course, my Lord," Olyvar shook his head agreeably. Stevron's words were firm and sincere, already a leader that Olyvar could follow faithfully. "I will serve in any way that you ask,"
"The only task I give you is that you remain a loyal squire to Robb Stark and learn as much as you possibly can from him," Lord Stevron's eyes softened. "You will be around him more than any Frey in his host. Your loyalty to him will reflect on the family. I know you will make us all proud, Olyvar. For this honor to be granted to a Frey is a rare thing. Lord Walder gave our name a reputation to be spat on. Our contribution to the Stark's cause will change that. I only hope that the boy knows what he's doing," Lord Stevron gave a sigh and leaned back in his chair. "That will be all Olyvar. Gather your things and your horse and find Stark, your sister and him haven't stopped talking since he proposed. I'd certainly say that they're getting along well,"
So would I, Olyvar thought happily as he bowed again and exited the room.
Robb could feel the warm blood gush into his mouth as his jaw squeezed around the fox's throat and his teeth met soft meet. His kill squirmed for only a few more moments before going still as more of his blood soaked into the mud of the riverbank. Howling in loudly and slowly victory, Robb then set about enjoying the meatier parts of the fox's body, namely the tender hind legs, the soft belly and entrails, and at last to the tough chewy meat of the shoulders. Thousands of scents and sounds cascaded through the wolf's nose and ears as Robb cracked the bones for the marrow. One of the pack was close, he realized as a passing breeze pushed a familiar aroma to him. A short distance to be sure, perhaps she was stalking outside of one of the nearby villages, but there was no denying that the wolf could sense one of its littermates within a great many leagues. Robb felt legs strong with sinewy muscle bound through the forest with the chilly morning air rushing against the fur on his face.
He hadn't been running for an hour before the scent had become so thick that it seemed the air was dripping in it. Robb sniffed at a pile of droppings near a large elm. Definitely not his littermate, he decided, more likely his smaller cousins. It seemed at least several dozen wolves had been following his littermate. He was about to pad off and follow the trail of the scent when a the faintest of snap from the breaking of a small twig gave him reason to pause. Heads rose from the tall grass and brush and surrounding the lone direwolf was the large pack that he had undoubtedly just been tracing.
A deep growl rumbled from the bottom of his throat as Robb showed teeth to the ones right in front of him. The wolves didn't move from their encirclement, only stared silently at their quarry. From the silence, a long sorrowful howl broke the dawn sky and Robb's ears remembered.
The pack cleared a way for their leader, the large grey she-wolf padded forward with her head high and her tail up. Robb's growl ceased as his littermate licked him across the face.
Robb woke from the dream wiping his face. He turned his hand to reveal it was dry. Only a dream, He thought sleepily. Though it felt so real. I could have sworn that was Nymeria at the end. He didn't feel the usual warmth across his legs that would usually have indicated Grey Wind had guarded Robb when he slept, his tent empty. A knock at his tent flap came, "Please, enter," Robb quickly slipped into his trousers as his mother walked into his tent.
"Robb," her voice was cross but her face was calm. "I had hoped to speak to you in private," She took a chair and sat beside his bed.
Slipping on a tunic, Robb looked at his mother in the eye. "Of course, mother. What's the matter?"
Catelyn took a sigh. "Walder Frey is not a man to trifle with, much less trick. I don't appreciate how you used my parley with him as a trick," her words carried an anger that Robb had seldom heard.
Robb frowned. "Uncle Edmure called all of the banners of the Riverlands. Walder Frey's troops could have changed the tide of his battle against the Kingslayer. I could not allow his crime to go unpunished,"
"I gave my word, Robb," Her tone had gone from angry to almost... what? Indignant? Betrayed? "My word that he would be safe joining our cause. If anything, his arrangement was generous to us since he let you choose your bride. And you return his generosity with treachery,"
"Generosity?" Robb almost spat. "Your brother is in chains because Walder Frey couldn't decide who he owed loyalty to. I will not be cowed by Walder Frey and I will certainly not allow a man like that to dictate terms to me. If my bannermen saw that Walder Frey could do that, it would only be a matter of time before they challenged my position,"
"For years, your grandfathers used me as a pawn in their game," Catelyn's voice had gone cold. "I will not let my eldest child use me in his,"
The air was still between them. "You want to leave," Robb said simply.
"I've been away from Winterfell a long time," Catelyn suddenly, only for a moment, gave up her icy stare. "I haven't seen Bran or Rickon in months and if you're going to deceive any treaty I make in your name, then I refuse to act as your emissary any longer,"
Robb put his face in his hands. This wasn't happening. "Mother," he began, but stopped short. He looked into her eyes. He had hurt her, truly. "You know Father would have done the same thing. Would things have been better for us, this army, or for Father and the girls in King's Landing if I had allowed Walder to continue his reign? A man who abandoned his liege lord so he could hear a better offer from the Lannisters? I don't want a man like that watching our backs and you shouldn't either."
He went to the map of the Riverlands. "Right now, I've sent Lord Roose with the foot and some of the horse has gone south along the eastern bank of the Trident to stall Lord Tywin at the Green Fork," he took one direwolf wolf piece and placed it so, in front of the lion's piece symbolizing Tywin's host.
She stood by his side, looking at the map. "This will give you time to lift the siege of Riverrun?" She moved a second direwolf piece across the map, knocking over a second lion's piece placed over the castle.
Robb frowned. Put the lion's piece back where it was and grabbed the direwolf piece, "Not exactly," he moved his army's piece and placed at Tywin's flank.
Catelyn looked shocked. "You're going to engage Tywin Lannister? Robb, that's what he's expecting!"
"Lord Tywin is expecting me to march with all my strength to the Green fork and fight his troops face to face. He thinks I'll want to prove myself in battle by taking the mighty Tywin Lannister head on. A flanking maneuver isn't what he'll be expecting. Once we take his host out of the game-" he knocked Tywin's piece over on its side. "we'll march on Riverrun and free Unlce Edmure,"
Catelyn's frown deepened. "If you're captured in this battle, our war is lost. I don't have to remind you what Tywin Lannister did to the Reynes, the Tarbecks, or the Targaryen children. You're a man grown now, Robb. If this is the path you wish to take, I won't stop you. But I won't stay and watch while you play dice with our family's lives. I ride for Winterfell at first light tomorrow," She stormed out of his tent without another word.
And then the ravens from King's Landing came.
Sansa's handwriting had always been the best of the Stark children. But the words carrying their father's execution on charges of treason.
Ned Stark. Lord of Winterfell. Warden of the North. Hand of the King. Traitor.
The scroll crinkled and crumpled in Robb's clenched fist after he had read the note. Sansa's words of how their father had claimed Jofferey was a product of incest between the Queen and the Kingslayer, but took back the lie with his last words before the King's Justice removed his head at the Sept of Baelor with Ice. Cut down by the blade of his own House. Sansa's writing. But more of the Queen's words. He had sent Olyvar away after he threw Sansa's letter into the fire and angrily and marched. Away away away, running to a small grove outside of the camp. Hot tears were forced back as the troops he had led in to battle rose in respect as he passed by them. Taking out his sword, he decided to find a tree as big as his anger and imagine that standing before him was the bastard Jofferey Waters.
It felt like days that he had been cutting away with his sword. He paid no mind to the burning in his arm and shoulder until finally a voice brought him back.
"Robb," he turned to see his mother and Roslin standing before him. His mother looked as if she had been trying get his attention for several moments and Roslin's face looked... concerned? Worried? "You've ruined your sword," Catelyn's words had seemed so far away at but, half sobbing half panting, he dropped his sword nonetheless. His mother opened her arms and he walked into her embrace warmly. "My poor boy,"
"I'll kill them all," Robb sobbed. He couldn't look at Roslin, not now.
"My boy," She soothingly patted the back of his head. "They have your sisters. We have to get the girls back,"
"And then we will kill them all," Roslin's voice had a surprising coldness to it. Perhaps she won't be as uncomfortable in Winterfell as I thought, Robb began breathing deeply and calming himself as Roslin's hand squeezed his shoulder.
"You have a battle to win," Catelyn said, slowly taking the dull sword out of his grasp. "You'll need a new sword if you hope to be any use on the field," Her voice carried a chiding amusement, their spat earlier that morning having been forgotten.
"Come away, my Lord," Roslin spoke up. "Your bannermen are preparing for war. They need to see you are ready to fight,"
"I would say that I am quite ready," Robb dried his eyes and made his voice steady itself. "Quite ready indeed,"
The trio made its way back to the camp and Robb made his way to the armory, finding a new longsword and sheathing it in his scabbard. With Catelyn excusing herslef, Robb and Roslin made their way to the eastern bank and sought out Lord Bolton.
They found him saddling his horse. Seeing them approach, he stopped immediately and bowed. "My Lord," his voice was just above a whisper and Robb found himself almost leaning in to make sure he heard him.
"Are the men ready, Lord Bolton?" Robb asked.
"We've packed enough food for a week's journey and I've been told the men are spoiling for a shot against Lord Tywin," Cold and chilled, Roose's voice contained no excitement or sign of warmth of his own. The ghost of a small smile graced his lips. "You're looking lovely this morning, Lady Frey,"
Roslin curtsied convincingly enough to where Robb could barely tell she had taken the compliment at face value. "Thank you, Lord Bolton. I see you've packed quite the abundance of knives,"
It was true, his horse's saddle had no less than a dozen knives and daggers sheathed. "Never hurts to have extras, and my page needed something to do all last night," He gestured to a boy of nine saddling his own horse not far away. The boy's face gave Robb reason to squint.
"Elmar," Roslin breathed calmly to Robb's ear. "Arya's betrothed, once we get her back,"
"Boy knows his way around a wetstone," Roose said. "We'll make a proper squire out of him yet,"
"You've already been made aware countless times of my father's laws concerning flaying, Lord Bolton," Robb said sternly.
"Of course, my Lord," Roose said. "I simply pack these in case the fighting gets extremely close and I lose my sword,"
"Are you expecting to be a great distance away from the blood, Lord Bolton?" Roslin spoke in the voice that Robb had learned was her getting a feel for someone.
Roose's smile grew, Robb noted, like a poisonous flower blossoming after the chill of the morning dew had passed. "Quite the contrary, my Lady," He mounted his horse, which neighed in fright. "We'll be right in the thick of it,"
"Light fires along the bank of the Trident just before you begin you meet the Lannister host," Robb said. "That'll be the signal for us to begin our attack,"
"Of course, Lord Stark," Roose inclined his head and made his way to the barracks to order his men to begin their march.
"You'd best get yourself ready as well, my Lord," Roslin squeezed Robb's hand tightly. "Lord Bolton and his men may make the Green Fork by sundown,"
"Yes, yes of course," Robb said. "Have you seen Grey Wind this morning? He wasn't in bed when I woke up."
Roslin shrugged. "No, he must have gone hunting. I'm sure he's just out hunting," Roslin could see that Robb's mind was elsewhere. "Is something wrong, my Lord?"
Robb shook his head. "Only a strange dream,"
"A dream?" Roslin's voice sounded playfully amused. "What did you dream of?"
"I dreamed I was seeing the world through Grey Wind's eyes. I, er, we hunted for awhile and then a pack of wolves found us. The leader was a big she-wolf. When I looked into her eyes I saw something..." His sentence trailed off. He shook his head.
"What?" Roslin gently inquired.
"Familiar." They walked in silence for awhile, back to Robb's tent where Robb began putting his armor on over his tunic.
"Do you resent me for what happened to your father?" Robb finally asked as he slapped on his greaves.
Roslin was silent for a moment. "My lord father treated his family as livestock, particularly the women," She hung her head only for a moment, contemplating her words carefully. "I am grateful to be out of the Twins and away from him,"
"He made a vow to House Tully, Roslin," Robb began earnestly. "My lord father taught me it was death to break your vow to your liege lord,"
She sighed. "I know, Robb. My father had twenty two trueborn sons and seven daughters. And his sons have sons and there sons have sons and on and on. There are many factions within House Frey. Growing up in that bridge certainly keeps you on your toes,"
Robb frowned. "Will these factions turn against me?"
Roslin looked up. "Some will conspire against you, yes. Lord Stevron will have quite the task of keeping them in check,"
"Which Freys should I be concerned about?" Robb had finished his armor and finally was taking a closer look at his new sword.
"You're aware that Lord Stevron's younger brother, Emmon, is married to Tywin Lannister's sister, aren't you? Either way, Emmon's line cannot be trusted. Olyvar has told me that he's stopped no less than half a dozen messages from Tywin to Walder's second son. He is one of your biggest adversaries in House Frey," Roslin stood and handed Robb a shield.
"Anyone else?" Robb accepted the shield.
"Lothar Frey, my father's steward at the Twins. He's a sneaky man, I wouldn't trust him. Hosteen Frey's mother was a Crakehall, a house sworn to the Lannisters, yet he's still certainly loyal and absolutely the best fighter in our House. Make him your friend, for he's not the brightest man, and he'll follow you anywhere. Do it fast, though, before someone else makes a friend of him first," Roslin said.
"My Lady... these are your kinsmen," Robb began. "If I've put you in a position of discomfort-"
"Then it'll have been worth it to keep you alive," Roslin cut in. "There are many Freys, my Lord. There certainly shan't be any harm should a few go missing. Especially if they would sell you to the Lannisters," she closed the distance between them and put her hand on his cheek. "You have no idea, do you, Robb? Everyday I lived at that bridge I wanted throw myself into the Trident. Olyvar was my only friend, Perwyn and Benfrey were always too busy. You saved me, that day you chose me to be your bride and I will protect you from them like I know you'll protect me from everyone else. You can fight the Lannister with sword, mace, and lance. My weapons will be words, my shield will be courtesy, and I will use all of them to make sure you don't end up a corpse like other proud lords that have defied the Lannisters,"
Their lips met in a soft kiss, then Robb mounted his horse. Squeezing her hand one more time, Robb galloped off to meet Lord Karstark with the Northern horse, and began there march.
Chapter two is up! I think the five review per one chapter is a pretty fair price. Any criticism or improvements that you, the reader, think could be made would be more than welcome. I'd definitely put changes into existing chapters for the sake of continuity, grammar, or story-telling effectiveness. Also if anyone knows of a good beta, that would also be appreciated. It killed me that we didn't even really get any mention of Robb having wolf dreams the way we got Arya, Bran, and Jon's, I'd appreciate any ideas, thoughts, concerns, or criticisms. The harsher the better, bring it on! I hope that you all enjoy this chapter and again, please review!