A/N: Hello lovely readers! New chapter for you, this one's a bit more action packed so hope you enjoy it!
Thanks to all reviewers/followers and everyone who's added this as a favourite or is just quietly reading.
Just another quick note, I've been doing a bit of beta work on a story called Firebird by If We Burn You Burn With Us123 which is a Robb/OC story which is pretty damn interesting so far, check it out if you fancy!
Onto the chapter now, as always your comments would be much appreciated.
:)
Into the Frey
Robb walked up to the room that he and Elissa were sharing whilst at Riverrun with a slight spring in his step, his Uncle Edmure was to wed Roslin Frey and he had decided that he and Elissa would attend the wedding at the Twins. He knew that Elissa missed her home and in particular her sister Ana to whom she wrote almost every day, he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when he told her they would be travelling there the next day. She smiled widely at him when he entered the room, pausing in packing away her things as he came towards her and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"We're leaving for the Twins tomorrow," he told her and she pulled back and looked up at him in surprise.
"The Twins?" she questioned and he smiled.
"For my Uncle's wedding," he confirmed and a smile came to her own face.
"Truly? We are going too?" she asked him and he nodded.
"I thought you would be pleased," he said happily and her eyes lit up.
"Thank you Robb!" she exclaimed, pulling herself closer to him, her arms tight around his waist, "thank you so, so much!"
Elissa couldn't keep the smile from her face throughout the whole journey back to the Twins, Robb jokingly told her that her face would crack but she just hushed him. She was going home, as much as she loved Robb and as much as she would never want to be away from his side she missed her home. She missed the noise although it drove her half mad, she missed the petty squabbling with her sister's and nieces and most of all she missed Ana. "Do they know we're coming?" she asked Robb one day as they rode closer to the Twins.
"Of course," he smiled, "we sent word assuring your father we would be there"
"I hope he's not told everyone … I really want to surprise Ana," she said.
"She will be glad to see you whether she knows you're coming or not," he said gladly, so pleased that his decision to attend the wedding had made Elissa so happy. It would be a celebration for the men as well, a few days of drinking and feasting before they marched back to the reality of war. They were almost at the Twins now after two weeks of travel, he could see the shape of them looming in the distance and judging by the look of delight on Elissa's face she could see them too. Instead of slowing the pace as he had done when they approached Riverrun, he quickened it, knowing Elissa was desperate to be home.
When they arrived at the steps Elissa slid down from her horse without waiting for Robb's helping hand, too impatient to see Ana again. Robb came to her side and she took his arm and they walked in step up to the main gate as it opened wide to allow them entry. Elissa wanted to fly straight up the stairs and burst in on Ana but she knew she had to wait and go and greet her father first and so she ignored the stairs and carried on with Robb into the presence chamber.
"Your Graces," her father greeted, for once getting up out of his chair to bow shortly.
"Lord Frey," Robb inclined his head courteously.
"Father," Elissa said, dropping into a small curtsey.
"You look well girl," he barked, "I see you already have her in pup," he smirked at Robb.
"We are blessed," Robb said evenly.
"If that's what you want to call it," Walder Frey almost snorted and Robb did his best to ignore him. He knew Elissa's father was crass by nature and he resolved himself to pay no mind to it, he was kin now after all. "Ana asked if you would see her when you arrived," Walder Frey piped up suddenly and Elissa looked up into his eyes and saw an expression that she had never seen on him before, he almost looked sorry but for the life of her she couldn't think why he would be. "I will go up and see her," she said softly before turning her gaze to Robb, "unless you have need of me?"
"Go," he said gently, "take as much time as you want I am fine here"
"Thank you," she told him sincerely, reaching up and placing a light kiss on his cheek before sweeping from the room as quickly as she could without running. She went up the stairs and hurried down hallway after hallway towards the room that she used to share with her favourite sister, bursting through the door without knocking, causing Ana to jump up and drop her needlework.
They stared at one another for a moment and then Ana dropped into a low curtsey; "your Grace," she greeted softly and Elissa's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!" she questioned with a laugh and Ana straightened up and grinned.
"I have no idea," Ana confessed and they both burst into laughter, closing the gap between them in an instant and embracing tightly. Elissa blinked furiously, refusing to let herself cry as she realised just how much she had missed her favourite sister. Eventually they broke apart and lowered themselves into the chairs by the window, looking out at the view before turning to face one another, wide smiles on both their faces. "I can't believe you're Queen Lissy," Ana said wonderingly.
"In the North," Elissa added, Robb never claimed the Seven Kingdom's.
"Is he good to you?" Ana asked concernedly.
"He is wonderful," Elissa smiled widely.
"Don't tell me you're in love!" Ana gasped and Elissa felt herself blush.
"I couldn't help it," she said softly and Ana felt her heart soar for her little sister.
"I'm so pleased for you Lissy!" Ana said honestly, taking her sisters hand; "and did he give you all these jewels?" she questioned, examining the rings that adorned several of Elissa's fingers before her eye was caught by the dire wolf necklace hung around her neck.
"He did," Elissa confirmed, trying not to look too pleased with herself.
"Gods you are lucky indeed," Ana grinned, leaning back against her chair.
"I am," she smiled, letting herself relax further, running her hands across her stomach.
"He must be pleased you are so quick with child," Ana commented.
"We both are," Elissa told her.
"You will be a wonderful mother Lissy," Ana beamed.
"Thank you," she said softly before sighing deeply, "Gods I've missed you"
"I've missed you too!"
Edmure and Roslin were married the next day, Elissa couldn't help but draw comparisons with her own wedding, seeing how everyone was there to witness Roslin's whereas there had been almost no one at her own. The feast was grander too, she tried not to feel bitter about it; she and Robb had been married in haste whereas there had been time enough to prepare for this wedding. She smiled slightly as she observed the newly married couple, Edmure seemed happy indeed as he held Roslin's hand tightly. Roslin looked paler than usual but Elissa supposed that she was worried about her wedding night and she felt a twinge of pity for her. Indeed, when her father stood up and called for the bedding Roslin's face completely blanched and Elissa felt even more sympathy for her.
Edmure didn't call for the men to stop as Robb had, Roslin would have to endure the humiliation of the bedding ceremony and Elissa felt herself approach her despite herself. "You'll be alright," she whispered when she reached her sister and to her surprise Roslin grabbed her in a tight embrace.
"They're going to betray you," she hissed urgently in her ear and Elissa froze; "the Rains of Castamere is the sign," she continued, "don't let it show that I've told you!" Elissa broke away then and somehow managed a smile which Roslin returned although her eyes remained wide and insistent.
Elissa stared after her as the men hurried her from the room, Edmure, surrounded by the women following on looking delighted. She looked for Robb then and saw him laughing with a group of men, if she told him now he would explode and there would be no telling what fate they would all meet, she needed to tell someone older and more experienced. Her heart hammered against her chest as she approached the Greatjon, who was thankfully sat alone, she dropped into the chair next to him and told him so quietly that she was surprised he heard her. He had heard her though, his face paled but then he managed to bring a smile to his lips as she had done for Roslin; "get to the King," he said out of the corner of his mouth and she rose up at once, not needing to be told twice.
The Greatjon moved quickly and quietly to alert his men while Elissa crossed the hall to stand at Robb's side, her eyes scanning the room, looking for where the attack would come from. Everyone seemed oblivious, all happily feasting and drinking and she found herself hoping that Roslin was wrong. Her eyes fell on the balcony above the high table then and she saw four men gazing down on the wedding feast, their expressions unreadable and her blood ran cold. The first notes of the Rains of Castamere sounded as she reached Robb and her heart pounded as her father stood up; "Elissa!" he called out, "come over here girl!" She turned to him and shook her head, his eyes met hers and he could see that she knew, his face paled but it was too late, Elissa saw the movement above him out of the corner of her eye and she let herself fall.
Robb dropped to catch her as she knew he would and the arrows flew inches above him and he snapped his head around as he lowered her to the ground. His eyes moved to Elissa then and she darted her eyes towards her father and back again; "traitor," she whispered and he felt his blood pounding.
"Stay out of sight!" he hissed at Elissa and she instantly rolled over and crawled under one of the tables. Robb glanced up at the balcony and saw the men reloading their crossbows, fury coursed through his entire body as he made towards the Greatjon who threw a sword to him at once as chaos ignited.
Stark men were set upon by Bolton men, Frey's seemed to fight Frey's and Robb just cut down any man who came at him, not stopping to admire the crest on their clothing. He was furious that Walder Frey could do this, could lure him to the Twins for his Uncle's wedding and then utterly betray him, he was kin, he was his own daughter's husband and he had turned on him completely. He would show him no mercy, he promised himself that as another wave of arrows rained down from the balcony, screams of agony flying from the mouths of the hit men.
Robb quickly scanned the scene as the man he had been duelling with fell dead at his feet, he couldn't be sure but it seemed like his own men were besting the traitor's and he allowed himself a seconds relief. It didn't last long though as he saw Roose Bolton slash at Lord Karstark's chest, he could do nothing but look on in horror as he fell to his knees, blood spilling everywhere. He went for Bolton then but he was waylaid by a pair of Frey men who appeared to have turned coat and he raised his sword up again, his blood pounding in his ears.
Elissa jumped as a body slumped onto the floor next to her, taking a deep breath to try and calm herself before she looked out at the fighting. Robb was there and he looked unharmed so she managed to take another breath as one of the men who was attacking him fell at his feet. Her eye was caught by movement closer to her own level then and she snapped her eyes to Lady Stark's, seeing that her mother in law was underneath the table opposite her. They locked eyes as another rain of arrows came down, one missing Robb by a whisper causing a cry to almost leave Elissa's lips. As one she and Catelyn turned their eyes up towards the balcony and then back to one another, silently agreeing.
Elissa grabbed the dagger that was limply grasped in the dead man's hand and began crawling at once up towards the top table. She could see her father's legs and she felt anger bubble up inside her, almost forgetting her original plan, wanting nothing more than to sink the dagger into his back, just as he would have done to Robb given the chance. She stopped herself though, glancing across to Lady Stark and nodding to her. As one they clambered out from under their tables and Elissa ran as fast as she could behind the high table, wrenching open the door that hid the steps leading to the balcony. She thought she heard someone shout her name but she ignored it, she had to stop this before any more arrows were loosed.
Catelyn was right behind her, her heart hammering as she followed the girl through the door, slamming it shut behind her. Elissa screamed then as a man came hurtling down the stairs towards her, he seemed surprised to see her and his footsteps caught and he stumbled down passed her, ending up in front of Catelyn. He wasn't confused for long and his hand went to his sword belt but Catelyn was quicker, plunging her own dagger into his chest. Elissa stared as the dead man fell against Lady Stark but the elder woman's eyes found hers; "go!" she urged her and Elissa didn't need telling twice, racing up the steps towards the balcony.
Catelyn managed to shove the dead man away from her and took off after Elissa, terrified of what could happen to the girl. There were three remaining men on the balcony and Elissa threw herself towards the nearest one as they let fly with their arrows again. She screamed in fury and anguish as she saw one hit Robb square in the shoulder, causing him to stagger backwards. Without a second thought she plunged the dagger into the back of the man who had shot him before either he or his comrades noticed her. His dying scream had them noticing her and Catelyn's heart pounded as they turned to Elissa, their expressions a mixture of confusion and fury.
Catelyn managed to dart in and plunge her dagger into one of the men's stomachs before he could draw his own weapon, feeling the hot blood spill all over her already soaked hands. The second man was too quick for either of them though and he grabbed Elissa pulling her back towards him and holding a knife to her stomach. "You've got an awful lot of fight for a Frey bitch," he snarled in her ear and she felt her blood boil, furious that one of her own father's men had her like this.
"Stark!" she spat out, struggling against his hold, he lifted the knife away from her stomach then, making to move it to her throat.
Catelyn seized her chance then, as soon as the knife was away from Elissa she pounced, grabbing the man's hair hard, making him cry out in pain before she sliced her own dagger through his throat, his knife falling from his limp hand onto the blood soaked floor. Elissa managed to turn then, staring down at the man who had held her, her stomach twisting horribly when she realised that she recognised him; "he taught me to ride a horse," she whispered, turning her wide eyes to Catelyn who had no words for her. Before either of them knew it they were holding one another tightly as though they were afraid to ever let go, tears of relief spilling from both their eyes.
Robb had had enough, he knew he shouldn't, that he should wait for a Maester to look at it, but having an arrow lodged in his shoulder was severely affecting the way he swung his sword and so he wrenched it out, growling out in pain. He inspected it for a moment, noting with relief that it had come clean out before tossing it aside and launching himself towards Roose Bolton, wanting nothing more than to see the traitorous bastard dead at his feet. Bolton smirked at him and brought his sword up to meet him, Robb knew that he was more skilled than Bolton; that he moved quicker and was less predictable with his footwork. But he was injured, he could feel his shoulder throbbing and he knew that if he wanted to finish Bolton he would have to do it quickly.
They matched one another hit for hit, their swords clashing furiously against one another but it didn't take long for Robb to notice where Bolton was weak. He seized his chance on the next hit, swiping his sword further left than Bolton anticipated and slashing across his shoulder making him scream in pain. Robb kicked him hard behind his knees then causing him to crumple to the floor as Robb raised his sword high above his own shoulder before slicing it quickly through the air and striking the traitor's head clean off. Roose Bolton's head rolled the length of the hall, stopping in front of where Walder Frey was still sat and Robb turned his eyes to his father in law, hatred pounding through him. Around him the fighting was coming to an end, many people realising that Robb had won, most men throwing their weapons to the feet of Robb's loyal soldiers.
Walder Frey stood slowly then as Robb walked towards him, his eyes fixed firmly on him, Robb could see the fear in them and it brought a smirk to his lips. "On your knees," he demanded and Walder Frey did as he was told for once in his life and knelt, trying to keep his eyes away from the severed head of Roose Bolton. "Mercy," he begged as the point of Robb's sword dangled dangerously close to him and Robb couldn't help the cold laugh that escaped his lips.
"You ask me for mercy after what you've done?" he questioned incredulously.
"We are kin boy," Walder Frey reminded him, his eyes darting towards Elissa who had just appeared from a door behind him with Lady Stark. Robb looked at her then too, she was drenched in blood, as was his mother, but he could tell from the ease with which they walked that it was not their own. He breathed a small sigh of relief as he saw the Greatjon move towards them and so he turned his own attention back to his father in law. "You would have seen me dead," Robb spat.
"It was Bolton's plot not mine!" he insisted.
"You seemed only too happy to aid him," Robb said.
"I had no choice … you have no idea … the Lannister's …"
"Would have paid you handsomely I'm sure," Robb cut him off.
"I had to protect my daughters!" he cried out.
"And what of Elissa?! Would you have protected her?!" Robb raged, his hands shaking with anger.
"They were ordered not to touch her, the Lannister's promised that they would do right by her!"
"What does that mean?" Robb hissed.
"They would have married her to one of the Queen's cousins," Walder Frey gabbled and Robb's eyes flashed dangerously at his words; "he would have been made Lord of Winterfell as a reward"
"And my child?" Robb questioned, his voice dangerously low.
"Elissa would have been allowed to keep a girl," he told him, his voice wavering.
"And a boy?" Robb asked, feeling sick.
"Would have been taken as a ward by the Tyrell's," he answered and Robb snorted.
"Put to the sword more like!" he spat, "are you really that stupid?!"
"Your Grace …" Walder Frey tried but Robb turned away from him in fury.
"Get him out of here," he demanded and several men came forward, "I want him in chains!"
A/N: So Walder Frey sold out his own daughter for a bit of gold. Who's surprised?
Hope you like my alternate Red Wedding (if only that's how it had really turned out!) The wedding may be over but there is still plenty of fallout from in coming up in the next few chapters!
Please let me know what you thought!
:)
