According to the Greatjon he had left Maege and Galbert behind to ride ahead in his haste. They commanded several hundred as well and they joined the march as they finally met. Maege had congratulated Criston on his victory and hugged him fiercely. Her eyes shone with sadness to see him marching to war.

They were a mere hours ride away when a lone man was a hundred paces from his host on the road. They had been delayed by some Ironborn stragglers attacking their supplies when they camped. Over 150 Ironborn fell upon them at night, all were dead but so were 38 of his own. Criston, Greatjon, Maege, and Galbert rode to greet the man, who once in view was wearing the Twins upon his breastplate.

"Someone you know, Jon?"

"Aye, His Grace's squire. Olyvar Frey, only Frey I wouldn't call a weasel."

"Hail, friend. I am Criston Stilwood. Have you come as an advanced party to greet us?" Olyvar's face was panicked, his cheeks sunken and he was quite pale. "Are you well? Has something happened?" He looked to Jon and he shrugged his soldiers.

"Everything was fine when I left, Olyvar, what has happened?" Jon's voice had never sounded so serious, and it made Criston very nervous.

"A… A w-word in private my lords!" Criston yelled for everyone to take a ten minute rest while the four of them went off to speak.

Olyvar had tears in his eyes by the time they had gathered. "Speak to it boy, what has happened?" Maege said, her impatience shining through.

"My own family imprisoned me in my chambers a day ago. I do not know what they're planning but I overheard my father and Lord Bolton speaking in hushed tones. Something about a promise from Tywin Lannister. I fled as soon as I could to meet the host that took Moat Cailin." He took a deep breath. "I can't say for sure what is going on but I fled through the great hall and saw several crossbows being snuck onto the musician's balcony. I fear that my father has took His Grace's slight against him very seriously… I worry what the feast will bring."

They all stood silently, pondering his words. Criston spoke up, his alight with a fire they have not seen. Even Maege could not place the anger. "I can imagine the Karstarks are against us in this. Their Lord executed, what am I to say? That Robb committed several blunders? Lost the Karstarks? Angered the Frey's? What else is there to add? Married a damn Westerling whore?"

Jon looked to speak up, his face turning red and his anger coming to a head.

"I have marched 5,000 swords, spears, and horses to join such folly? I will beat that man I call my brother when I see him, and do you know why?" None responded, "The lot of you have not advised him wisely! You let a southerner be his greatest advisor."

"Careful! Careful damn you! You are speaking treason! You would dare say such words about Lady Catelyn!" Jon roared at him, spittle flying onto Criston's face.

"I do dare! Catelyn Tully is not of the North! She has been in our realm for almost twenty years! She confided in me herself that she felt she did not belong!" Criston roared back, while the Greatjon wasa a head and a half taller than him, Criston was still a Mormont. He was tall, and he was strong. Bears do not bow to any man. "Jon, you have looked after your past Lord's son admirably and I respect that. You also however have condemned that man's son to death by naming him King!"

"The North had been starved for vengeance! We have strived for independence for years. The dragons are gone, nothing can hold us back now. For the love I held for your father boy, I will not beat the Gods out of you! For that you are lucky!"

"There is only one thing Tywin Lannister could promise Walder Frey, Jon." He looked at each of them pointedly. "Kill the man who slighted him, and Riverrun."

Jon looked as if he had been struck by a bull. "You don't mean.." Criston nodded.

Maege finally spoke up, "If we find Harrion Karstark we can turn the Karstarks to our side. They have 7,000 swords alone. 3,000 of which are at the Twins, who knows how many survived after Harrion went missing." Criston put a hand to his chin in thought.

"My son is there…" Jon grumbled lowly to himself. "If something happens to my boy! I swear upon the Old Gods! I will wear Tywin Lannister's balls around my damn neck!"

"We gather the lords, we gather Robb. Either way we go about this will result in a battle. We are going to arriving just in time for the feast to begin. We will have only an hour to be able to get any sort of cohesion ready for the battle. Time is not on our side. We need to go now!" Criston was already galloping back to his troops.

"Everyone! We make for the Twins! As fast as you can! Don't exhaust yourselves!" He had sent several riders to give orders and inform them of the coming battle. It had taken them two and a half hours for them to arrive at the forest, his entire host making sure to stay hidden. He was glad to not have informed more people than necessary about his troop number. He had told Robb to keep it to himself. All for safety.

Everyone was waiting in the slight darkness of the forest. It would be night time when the battle would be over, or at least he hoped. One thing he could count on was not all of the Karstarks siding with the traitors. He had an inkling, a hope; that some Bolton soldiers would stay loyal.

The Greatjon gave the crannogmen an idea of ways to sneak into the feasting Hall. It would be a calculated risk to get over a dozen crannogmen ready to eliminate any threats among the Hall's musicians. That was also considering if there were any threats to begin with.

What is Dacey doing? She was moving erratically, as if pursued by the Others themselves. She was almost sprinting by the time she caught up to the Frey man who had shrugged her off. A slap rang out, the music was drowning out everything.

He turned sharply after hearing several gasps behind him, his mother screamed towards him.

He did not hear.

Pain slammed into him and it took him off his feet, What is happening? He craned his head towards Talisa and choked on the breath he was holding. He could hardly move, several crossbow quarrels sprouted from his body. Yet he crawled towards his fallen wife, who had been stabbed several times in the stomach.

He tried to speak to her, to say anything to her. To ask her if she was okay, yet she was gone. His mother screamed, her voice hoarse; the glinting dagger in her hand threatening to pierce the neck of the Frey man she was holding hostage.

Mother…. She was still screaming, her back to him. She's trying to bargain with Walder Frey… It will be our last time… He grabbed a solid hold onto the overturned feasting table, it took all of his strength to raise his body to it's full height.

"Heh, the King in the North arises! Heh, heh." Walder Frey sipped from his goblet, the wine dribbling down his chin. "That looked difficult, Your Grace. I apologize for my wedding gift. Mayhaps it was a bit extreme, and for that I am truly sorry. Heh, very sorry indeed." He sipped again.

"Lord Walder! Please!" Catelyn screeched upon the top of her lungs.

"Quiet!" Walder did not have to raise his voice, for it was already deathly quiet other than the clashing outside. "A Tully, groveling in my Hall. Now this is a sight, heh. It truly is a shame, my lady. For our time here is at an end."

The distant sound of battle grew closer, a wolf howling filled the air. Screaming men and the clash of blades grew closer. Walder sent out several guards and Ryman Frey led his men back outside.

Robb stepped towards his mother. "Mother…." his voice rattled out, "Grey Wind…." A man in a pink cloak approached from the side very slowly. All sound ceased from outside. A loose dagger was at Robb's feet, he struggled to bend over and pick it up while all attention was on the noise outside.

A roar of a great beast shook the hall. The great doors trembled as if a tremendous weight was against it.

"The door! The door damn you!" Walder yelled at any who would listen.

Another roar, and the doors fell to the ground. The dust that rose was stifling, making visibility almost none. The dust settled mere moments later. Five tower shields stood abreast where the door once did.

Robb turned towards the commotion and Roose Bolton came to stand before him. "Jaime Lannister sends his reg-." He was cut off as a dagger was thrust into his neck. The last of Robb's strength left him and he crumpled to the ground. Catelyn continued to scream as her dirk tasted blood.

"Kill them all!" A voice roared behind the shields, and a beast replied in kind. Dozens of arrows whistled through the air, many towards the shields and several found their marks among the musicians as the shadows came alive.

Robb saw it all in the corner of his eye, crannogmen… Criston is here… At least I killed that bastard... Then he closed his eyes.

- End chapter 3