Chapter 10
The king in the north sat with his mother, uncle and the blackfish on one side of a table and opposite them were two of Walder Freys sons, Lothar Frey and Black Walder, the two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while before Lothar got to business, "our father has told us that our alliance with the north can continue if his demands are met, he requires a formal apology for your violation of your oath to marry one of his daughters"
"of course he deserves as much I was in the wrong" Robb said
"as restitution for this betrayal he demands Harrenhal and all its attendant lands" Black Walder told them
"I don't th…"
"we are fighting for the north Harrenhal is not in the north" Robb cut his uncle off, "and it is his once the war is over and we have no further need of it"
"and there is something else" Black Walder spoke up
"we will do whatever we can to give Lord Frey what he needs" Robb told them
"not what who" Black Walder looked at Edmure
"what" Edmure looked around at everyone staring at him before he got it and started to disagree
"our father requires Lord Edmure to wed on of his daughters Roslin"
"how old is she?" he asked
"19" was his answer
"can I see her first?" Edmure asked
"you want to count her teeth?" Black Walder asked in reply, "we leave in the morning, we need an answer by then and a wedding not a fortnight after or this alliance is at an end"
"your father does realise we are at war?" blackfish asked
"father is old it would put his at peace if he could see her wed to a good husband" Lothar said
"and his recent experience has made him wary of long engagements" Black Walder finished
"please excuse us while we discuss it" Robb said as the two left the room
"why should I let that old ferret choose my bride at the very least I should be offered the same choice as you" Edmure started to protest as soon as the door closed behind the two
"he is proud and we have wounded him" Robb said
"I didn't wound him my answer is no"
Blackfish stood up from his chair and walked over to Edmure, "listen to me and listen carefully you…."
"the laws of gods and men are clear no man can compel another man to marry" Edmure interrupted the blackfish
"the laws of my fist are about to compel your teeth"
"it's alright you heard him" Robb broke the two up, "if you refuse our alliance with the Freys is dead"
"he's wanted me for his daughters since I was 12 he won't stop now" Edmure told them, "he will come back and offer me the same choice you had"
"you want to risk our lives for the chance at a prettier wife" Catelyn said
"I have a war to fight, we can't win it without them and I have no time to haggle" Robb looked his uncle in the eyes, "you said you wanted to make amends for the stone mill"
"I had something less permanent in mind"
"I have won every battle but I am losing this war, if we don't do this then we are lost" Edmure held his head down before he finally gave in and agreed, "you're paying for my sins uncle it's not fair or right, I'll remember it"
Robb walked out of the room to find Eshan waiting for him "so how did it go your grace?" he asked as he followed the king
"the alliance can continue but Edmure must marry one of Freys daughters"
"well he must not be happy about that"
"we managed to convince him but I still don't like our chances even with the Freys"
"don't worry Robb, leave that to me" Eshan told him, "didn't I say I would win you this war"
"then get to it" Robb said before leaving the Volantene, "we leave tomorrow morning"
The army had been marching for the twins for about a week, the rain had slowed them down, when Robb called Eshan in to his tent, "what is it?" Eshan asked as he entered and sat opposite the king who looked like he had lost sleep
"I have been worried about this for a few days" the king told him
"I told you to stop doing that but what is it?" Eshan asked genuinely worried about the king
"Talisa told me that she is pregnant"
"well her mother will love that"
"I need to ask you a favour if I am to die in battle…"
"then you want me to protect Talisa and your child in case your bannermen won't follow them" Eshan cut the king off, "I would have done so without you asking"
"how did you guess that I would ask?" Robb asked
"it was obvious but didn't I tell you that your bannermen would follow anything with the name Stark even a baby" Eshan watched as the king chuckled a little, "just don't die your grace I fear I'm the only one who would have to flee"
"only if you promise not to die either, I need someone to make me laugh" Robb joked
"is that all I am to you, your grace, a jester" Eshan looked offended
"well you could be entertainment at the wedding"
The two talked for a while before Eshan left to practise with his men leaving the king to his thoughts.
The northern army had reached the twins and Robb stood before Walder Frey and his children apologising for breaking his oath and holding himself back as Lord Walder made jokes about his wife but he managed to get through it and Walder accepted his apology and granted the hospitality.
That night the ceremony was held. Robb stood at the front as he watched Walder Frey lead a veiled figure up the aisle, Walder stopped in front of Edmure and removed the veil allowing him to finally see his beautiful bride, she bowed before him, "Lord Edmure I hope I am not a disappointment to you" she said
Edmure stood her up and looked her in the eye, "you're a delight to me my lady" as soon as he said that the ceremony began but Robb spent most of the time looking at Walder Frey who was staring right back at him
After the ceremony had concluded everyone attended the wedding feast; there was music, dancing, laughter and conversation but the entire time Robb Stark could fell Walder Freys eyes on him even as he laughed with his bride.
"where is Eshan?" Talisa asked, "he would love this"
"really would he? He didn't strike me as the party type" Robb said
"not when he's sober, I remember one founding day after a few too many he attempted to climb the black walls" she recalled laughing
"did he make it?" Robb asked laughing at the story
"no he barely got a foot off the ground before he fell down and we had to carry him home"
The couple were laughing together when Lord Walder called for the bedding ceremony to which Robb agreed and watched as his uncle and his uncles bride were carried off with their clothes being thrown as they went. After the two had been carried out of the Talisa commented on how starnge the custom was.
"well it would seem strange from a foreigners prospective" the king replied
"so it's normal to you?" she asked
"it's tradition" he told her, "without the bedding ceremony there is no real proof the lord and lady consummated their marriage"
"there are other ways of providing proof" Talisa said putting Robbs hand on her belly
"boy or girl?" Robb asked
"I don't know" Talisa admitted, "but if it is a boy I know what we should name him"
"do you?" Robb asked slightly amused, "I think a father should have some say in his sons naming"
"Eddard" she told him the name catching him off guard, "don't you want to teach little Ned Stark how to ride"
"I do" he said before pulling her in for a kiss
That was when he heard the doors to the hall shut and the music suddenly change, "rains of Castermere" he thought, "a bit dark for a wedding"
Lord Walder stopped the music and addressed Robb directly, "your grace, I feel I've been remiss in my duties I have given you meat and wine and music but I haven't shown you the hospitality you deserve, my king has married and I own my new queen a wedding gift"
As the feast was going on out in the corridors Eshan was marching towards the hall with half his men when they bumped in to the blackfish, "what are you doing?" he asked looking at the fully armoured men suspiciously
"I need you to trust me, can you do that?" Eshan asked, "we don't have much time"
"what do you need me to do?" the blackfish asked sensing the seriousness of the situation
"get together as many non Frey or Bolton men as you can and disarm the Bolton and Frey men" Eshan told him, "and release Grey wind"
"fine you can count on me" the blackfish walked off to get his sword
Eshan marched off and as they started to hear the feast they heard the doors shut and rushed to get there.
Robb looked up at Walder Frey as he spoke and felt that something was not right and as lord Frey finished his speech he heard his mother slap Lord Bolton and the doors to the hall burst open and Eshan and his man marched in fully armed.
"what is the meaning of this?" Walder asked as the musicians were killed
"take all the Frey men in to custody make sure none of them get away" Eshan ordered as his men grabbed all the Frey men as threw them to the floor
"what is the meaning of this?" Robb asked as Eshan marched past him
"I believe you should be asking that to Lord Bolton" his mother said, "he is wearing mail"
"it seems that Lord Bolton and Lord Frey were planning to kill you and everyone in this room" Eshan told Robb
"we found crossbows" one of Eshans men shouted down holding one up
"and we found knives" another man pulled a knife out of one of the Frey men's' sleeves
"what is the meaning of this Lord Frey?" Robb asked looking at the old man
"this is ridiculous he planted all of those" Walder protested
"fine then let's interrogate one of his sons" Eshan snapped his fingers and Walders Eldest, Stevron, was brought before him and Eshan put his blade to the Freys throat , "tell me Stevron what was your father planning?"
"he was going to kill the king and collect a reward from Tywin Lannister" the man shook fearing for his life
"thank you" Eshan lowered his blade before he turned to Walder, "now Lord Frey I think you are guilty of treason along with Lord Bolton here"
Eshan paced around the now restrained Lord Bolton, "you think you scare me boy" Walder looked down on them
"I would fear the judgment of our king instead" Eshan turned to Robb who had been standing there taking it all in
"Lord Walder Frey in the sight of gods and men I condemn you to die for the crime of treason against the crown" as Robb said it he took a sword and marched up to Walder and then he sliced the old mans throat
"why did you betray us Eshan?" Lord Bolton spoke up, "we were in this together, you came up with the plan"
"I was always planning to betray you I only joined you to know what exactly your plan was and to earn the respect of the Bolton men" Eshan explained his plan
"my men will still slaughter half the northern army"
"no I had the blackfish and half my men take care of them and with you dead I'll tell them the plan went horribly wrong and that they should follow me and pretend to have no knowledge of the plot keeping the army intact and all traitors dead" Eshan told him as he walked closer to the lord
"then it seems I didn't play my card right" Lord Bolton said before Eshan stabbed him in his gut
End of chapter 10