A/N: KingsGraveCrew: The Freys mentioned are: Olyvar and Perwyn Frey who are Roslin's brothers who remained loyal and were uninvolved in the Red Wedding (in my story and in cannon). Perwyn and Olyvar are with their sister at Riverrun. But Olyvar might return to Robb's guard at some point. Margeary gave the teenage Freys the choice of execution or take the black. The ones I have mentioned are the Freys who took the black and are sympathetic to Alliser Thorne/Janos Slynt. I don't have specific names for them (there's a few Walders I imagine) because I am unfamiliar with the Frey family tree.
Twelve13: As long as Theon lives, the answer is yes she does. ;)
They stabbed Old Mormont now they have mutinied against my brother. Robb cursed himself for bringing Sansa along. She had screamed in shock and fear at the sight of Jon. No, no, he can't be dead. Robb had stood in shock like a deer until Sansa's sobs had brought him back to reality. She had been sitting at Jon's side ever since and was helping blind Maester Aemon heal Jon. Jon had been stabbed a couple of times, thankfully Ghost defended Jon from his attackers and Robb's host's arrival had surprised some of the men. Fat Bowen Marsh had tears streaming down his face muttering, "For the Watch, for the Watch…" Robb looked at them with disgust and fury. Some of the men of the Night's Watch had mutinied because Jon had allowed some of wildlings to join the Night's Watch and appointed a lowborn bastard named Satin the stewardship. Robb was unsurprised that the Freys were amongst the mutineers. Margeary should have killed them all. He itched to take Ice and finish the job his wife had started.
"Jon will live. He has to," cried Sansa holding Jon's scarred hand. She did not look away from Jon as she addressed Robb. "I don't regret coming here so you shouldn't regret allowing me to come." Robb remained unconvinced. Her stricken face as she exclaimed how much Jon resembled Father and the queer look on her face when Satin the steward had mentioned Jon's execution of Janos Slynt. She must be remembering Father's execution and being at King's Landing, he thought.
Robb was just as mulish and internally worried for Jon as he had when Bran had his accident. He was King in the North yet there had been no precedent for the situation. His predecessors as lords of Winterfell and Warden of the North had executed deserters. Lord Commander Jeor Mormont had been slain beyond the Wall. But this was personal. Maester Aemon had told him in the dim candlelit room that the men of the Night's Watch must remove all ties to their family through it can test them to break their vows. "No one ever thinks about the family of those men being tested just the same."
Two days later, Robb became worried enough to insist on going to the godswood beyond the Wall to pray. Sansa had come with him for once leaving Jon's side. He knelt in the snow before the heart tree and prayed to the Old Gods to allow Jon to live. "Father and Mother were taken from us. Don't let Sansa watch Jon die like she watched Father die. Please. Jon may be a Snow but he is the most Stark out of all of us. He is my brother. Let him live. Please watch over my missing brother Bran and the Reeds." That was the only comprehendible thing he said before he started to silently cry. Thankfully, Grenn and Smalljon Umber had kept a respectful distance as he and Sansa prayed. He prayed for his Margaery and Eddard's health and safety. If he left his wife with child again Robb prayed both Margeary and the baby would live through the birth. Robb prayed for Arya and Rickon's health and wellbeing.
He turned his head and saw Sansa was crying as well. He reached his arm around her shoulders and hugged her.
"I must be cursed. I wanted to be Joffery's Queen so badly and Father died because of it. Now I have killed Jon because I insisted in seeing him and to apologize for being so cold to him when we were children." Robb murmured refuting and reassuring remarks watching the snowflakes land in Sansa's bright red hair.
Unbeknownst to the two Stark siblings, the face of the heart tree was crying as they prayed. Far away, a broken boy cried with grief and longing for his family.
"The Drowned God must look upon you favourably despite the many years you have been away on land. Well according to Dampair. First you win the Kingsmoot, with my help obviously. Now it looks like you got yourself a greenlander wife, baby brother, one of them high and mighty Starks you lived with. She is a bit young to have been one of your previous conquests." Asha threw the letter at him. Theon picked it up and read it quickly. Queen Margaery had written of Sansa's assent to marry him.
"Ned Stark would have killed me if I went near any of his daughters like that. Plus she was a child last time I saw her." He was friendly to the other Stark children but Theon was only really close to Robb. Bran and Rickon were too young for him to be really close. Sansa Stark was too prim and proper as a child and Arya was downright annoying at times particularly around the sullen Snow. Theon smirked, Snow will be pissed I'm marrying his half- sister.
Theon was in a good mood that evening. In the first time in a decade, Theon Greyjoy finally had a fairly secure place in the world. He was no longer a hostage/ward of Lord Eddard Stark. He had returned to a mismatched family. His mother was not all that well in the mind but it was nice to hear one of his parents missed him. Asha was infuriatingly smug all the time but she was family. I'm Lord of Iron Isles and I am marrying Ned Stark's daughter. If Balon had been buried in the ground like they do on land, he'd be rolling in his grave. Victarion had accepted him as Balon's rightful heir and Lord of the Iron Isles. Theon's grin faltered slightly thinking of his Uncle Euron. He won't give up. Euron wants my throne. He's mad and likes to play games. Theon thought of his Uncle Victarion's third wife and how Euron had impregnated her. How Victarion had killed his wife. Theon stopped smiling.
Sansa will have to stay back at Winterfell for a while until Euron is killed. I'll marry her at Winterfell and hopefully I get her with child as quickly as Robb got his wife with child. I won't let Euron humiliate me like he did his own brother.
Asha was too sure of herself when it came to the threat of Euron while Theon felt wary and uneasy under his mask of cockiness. As he went to bed for the night the sounds of the waves crashing into the rocks did not soothe or fill him with happiness tonight. For once he missed the quiet of his old room at Winterfell and riding out to battle alongside Robb. His men were only his because Asha had relinquished her claim as sole heir of Lord Balon Greyjoy. Asha only needs me for my cock to make little krakens. If she had been Rodrik or Marron she would have killed me by now or banished me like Father banished Euron. Sure Asha loved him and was protective of her last and little brother but ambition is a wicked little beast turning the closest of friends or family into enemies.
Arya was still fuming that her sister had gone to the Wall with Robb. I'm Jon's "little sister", not Sansa. Sansa even tried to get Robb to allow Arya to come along as well, which made her only angrier. Arya had felt pity for her elder sister having to marry Theon. She had bluntly asked as she watched Sansa stitch a new gown for her wedding,
"Must you really have to marry Theon?" Sansa stopped her needlework and stared at her lap.
"Yes, I must do my duty as a Stark. Marrying Theon and giving him heirs will prevent any Ironborn raiding of the North. Every son I bear, won't attack their cousin Prince Eddard or any other children our brother and Margaery have. I'll make it sure of it. Theon will have a legitimate reason to join up with Robb in defeating the Lannisters in the Westerlands. I want to ensure our family's survival. I want everyone who has harmed our family to pay for what they have done." The North Remembers. Arya had thought about her own desire of never wanting to marry a prince or a lord or anyone. It had felt a bit selfish that her sister was sacrificing her happiness to protect their family. But that feeling went away as soon as Robb announced that he would be leaving for Castle Black and Sansa was coming. Why does she get to see Jon and I don't? It's not fair. She huffed and stomped angrily through the Wolfswood to avoid everyone. She wanted to go an adventure to see Jon. Arya wanted to show Jon how well she could fight and her water dancing.
Margaery had tried to make Arya feel better by mentioning Jon would come visit Winterfell like Arya's Uncle Benjen had. Brienne had followed Arya around everywhere to make sure she did not follow them. Arya had lost her What happened to Uncle Ben anyway? She was annoyed with Robb. She was annoyed with Sansa. She was annoyed with how much she missed Jon. Worst of all I lost Needle. Robb was a good brother but when he was at Winterfell he was busy with his kingly duties or being all lovey with Margaery most of the time. He watched her spar with Brienne and played with her and Rickon here in the Wolfswood. The sound of a twig or a branch snapping or being crunched by someone or something's foot, startled Arya. She unsheathed her small sword, looking around her.
"Brienne?" called out Arya scanning for the tall blonde in blue. She was too far from Winterfell for anyone to hear if she shouted for help. Remember what Syrio Florel's lessons. Do what Brienne has taught me. The bush rustled vigorously to her left and Arya whipped around so fast she tripped over a tree root, dropping the sword. Ow. Arya lifted her sore head and reached for the sword and looked at the bush. Two large golden eyes stared at her. At that instant Arya forgot about being angry with Robb and Sansa or missing Jon.
"Nymeria!" Nymeria had gotten bigger not as big as Grey Wind, slightly smaller than Shaggydog. Arya scrambled up and wrapped her arms around Nymeria's neck and stroked her grey fur. "Let's head back, before Margaery panics and has the whole castle looking for me."
Sansa rode alongside Robb as Grenn and Smalljon Umber led them back to the Wall through the Haunted woods. In a matter of minutes, Grey Wind had been growling and whining. Circling them and keeping close to Robb's side. Sansa swore it was getting colder and darker and the horses were getting skittish. Is this place actually haunted? Grenn stopped in front of Sansa. His eyes flickered around their surroundings in recognition and fear. Grenn cursed and uttered,
"White Walkers." Sansa paled thinking of Old Nan's stories. I can be brave. Robb must have heard also as he unsheathed Ice immediately. "Valyrian steel?" Robb nodded.
"Grenn, get Sansa to back to the Wall. Now!" commanded Robb in his king voice. "You as well Umber. Go Smalljon!"
"No, Your Grace I swore to protect you," argued Smalljon firmly. Grenn had quickly tied his horse to hers and got on her horse behind her taking the reins with one hand. His other hand carrying a torch, the proximity to the fire did not make it any less cold.
"Use your torch. Your sword is useless against them. They don't like fire," yelled Grenn to Smalljon. Sansa turned her head to look back at Robb but Grenn's shoulder blocked her view. She saw shadows but whatever it was and her horse was moving so fast, it could have been a trick of the light or her mind. Grey Wind's snarls and a harsh ringing noise reverberated in her ears. How Grenn knew the way back to the Wall in this mist, Sansa was not sure. The sound of a frightened horse was coming from her left. Sansa squinted with the torch's flames so close; Robb's rider-less horse was galloping at its full speed disappearing in the trees. No, not Robb. He can't be dead.
"We have to turn around. You have to save him," cried Sansa with tears streaming down her face.
"No, King Robb gave me an order to get you back to Castle Black, milady," shouted Grenn. "Hold on to my arm or the horse, before you fall off. Them damn dead things are still following us." Sansa clutched his right black leather covered arm. "His Grace'll be fine with that blade of his. Jon said once that you Starks are hard to kill." Thank the Gods, Margeary had pressed her grandmother to not only get me out of King's Landing but also Ice. They made it out of the wooded forest to the treeless stretch of land before the Wall, riding straight to the Gate. The Gate opened with a loud moaning of the metal as they approached.
"Urgh, my arm is about to fall off holding this," groaned Grenn putting out the torch after he dismounted as the Gate lowered. All three were breathing heavily. Sansa got off the poor beast and led it down the long zigzagging tunnel behind Grenn stopping only to open the three iron gates. Sansa kept looking back hoping the Gate would open and Robb would be coming through.
"Sorry about your hair, Your Grace. A bit of it blew into the flames by the wind. I'm told ladies like their hair," Grenn said awkwardly.
"What's a bit of singed hair compared to dying. I'm grateful you saved my life."
Margaery was tending her plants in the Glass Garden. Eddard and his wet nurse were there also. Tending to the plants relaxed Margaery from the stresses of the game of thrones. Her duties of listening to supplicants, managing the running of Winterfell, giving alms to the smallfolk, overseeing the welfare of her husband's siblings and their son was easy. The daily routine of awaiting news and planning their next move was getting to her especially when no news came from her own family. Prince Oberyn Martell had been slain in the trial by combat against the Mountain. He was a friend of Willas' despite the accident. Ser Gregor Clegane was also dead as well. Tyrion Lannister had avoided execution by escaping. The pudding of the whole drama was he not only escaped but also had murdered his father Lord Tywin Lannister and a whore. Margaery chuckled thinking of the chaos and stupidity that would follow with Cersei Lannister in control.
Margaery was no fool to know that Cersei would want to get her twin back. Ser Brynden Tully was bringing Jaime Lannister to Winterfell in chains in secret under the pretense of greeting his great-great nephew Prince Eddard. Word came that Stannis had finally left Dragonstone heading to Storm's End. Nothing unpredictable about that. More interestingly, Lord Baelish had married Lysa Arryn. He controls the Vale through Lysa and the sickly little Lord Arryn. Sansa had told her about how she got out of King's Landing and her grandmother's interference of Baelish's plans. "Your lady grandmother told me to never trust him." Sansa had made an off comment about Baelish's comparisons of Lady Catelyn and her. Why were some men so vile? Baelish was a more dangerous player than Cersei Lannister. How far would he go to get Lady Catelyn's lookalike daughter? Well I certainly won't let him succeed.
She watered the little seedlings with a clay jug. Margaery glanced at the blue winter roses that were across from her. They were pretty but they made her think of the dream she had the day she gave birth to Prince Eddard. Margaery shivered despite the warmth of the Glass Garden. I can't dwell on silly things like dreams. She turned her thoughts to her family. Willas, Grandmother, and Father had not written to her in awhile or had she heard any news of them. What are they doing or plotting? Is Father going to lay siege on King's Landing? The conditions of the poor people of King's Landing must be dire with Father's blockade of the Roseroad. Margaery felt a stab of pity for the Kingslanders. Father is likely not starving the Lannisters like he had Stannis Baratheon. Well not as rapidly. She took off her gloves and went over to her little boy. The wet nurse handed Eddard to her.
"You are getting so big." Eddard grabbed one of Margaery's curls and tugged it. She winced as she pried his little hand out of her hair. "You like Mama's hair like your Father does." Her face dimpled at the small rose bushes from Highgarden she had transplanted a fortnight ago remembering of her wedding night as she exited the Glass Garden. Robb had accidentally yanked her hair as he tried to help her remove all the petals from her hair the morning after.
Margaery had suffered through the bedding ceremony with grace and whatever dignity one could muster whilst men stripped her naked. She certainly fared better than her new husband who looked so awkward and uncomfortable. They stood in the bedchamber both naked as their nameday silently. Robb was obviously failing in trying not to stare at her naked body. Margaery was blatantly stared at her husband's brawny body. Especially his cock long enough that Robb took notice and blushed. She made a little noise of appreciation. He turned even redder but she could tell he was enjoying it.
"Husband, would you like a cup of wine?" He nodded distracted. She walked to the table and poured the decanter of wine. She handed him a goblet, which he finished quickly in one or two gulps. 'You are bedding me not going to your death.' Nevertheless, she smiled sweetly up at him. Margaery took his empty goblet and threw it behind her ignoring the clank it made. She guided Robb to sit on the end of the bed that had petals strewn all over it. Margaery made the first move kissed him long and hard. He kissed her back and his hands went to the small of her waist. Both were breathless when they broke the kiss.
Robb's face went red when his hand brushed her left breast in its journey to touch the side of her face. 'It will be morning by time he beds me.' She took his hand.
"Do that again, Robb," she said archly. Robb gulped and complied giving her breast a gentle fondle. His lovely blue eyes darken she made a pretty moan. He kissed her and squeezed her bottom a little roughly. Without breaking their kissing, Robb pulled her on his lap. As soon as she straddled him and Robb pulled them further onto the bed flipping them over with him on top. She touched his chest and muscled stomach. 'The wine must have emboldened him or he is not a green boy as everyone says he is.' She broke the kiss in a gasp of surprise and pleasure as she felt his cock harden against her thigh and his hands travel down her body.
"Make me your wife." Stroking his hardened appendage. He moaned her name his voice was deeper. She would teach him how pleasure her another night Margaery was not going to waste anymore time remaining a virgin or barren.
The Others came at them with such speed with their ice swords. They were tall, gaunt, and pale as the white snow. Their eyes were inhuman, Robb had never seen such deep blue eyes, and not even Brienne Tarth's eyes resembled them. There were three of them. His oak shield broke in half as he instinctively tried to block a blow to his chest. His horse had fled the moment he got off it. These Others sure know how to fight. Robb thought of an army of these Others invading the seven realms; killing his people and his family. They are the real enemy, the only danger that matters. Robb stabbed one of them with Ice in the stomach. Its flesh and bone shriveled into a massive ice puddle. One down.
Robb attacked the second one glancing once to see Umber parrying the third's attacks using the torch like a sword. The second one was seemed faster and better or maybe Robb was getting tired faster as they went around in circles. I need to kill this one fast and help Smalljon. Sharp screeching noises came from the third's sword as it brushed the flames. Grey Wind had been helping Smalljon by distracting the Other knowing Umber was less equipped than Robb. A flash of grey knocked the Other down from behind. Robb hacked it and it too became of ice in the snow.
"Grey Wind to Umber!" Robb ordered as he ran over to finish off the last remaining Other. Grey Wind snapped and snarled at the Other trying to get to the space between Umber and the pale blue eyed demon.
"We've got 'em, Your Grace!" boomed Smalljon with bravado. Robb had got within range seconds too slow. The Other impaled Smalljon in the gut. Umber's smile had faded slightly as he slumped forward.
"NOOOOO!" He is not dead. Umber is just wounded, not dead. I'll carry or drag you back to the Wall if I have to. The Other turned around quickly but Robb wielded Ice and jabbed in the same spot where Umber had been impaled. Robb dropped Ice on the ground and was about to push Umber on his back to assess the wound. Grey Wind snarled at Umber. The hope that Smalljon had only fallen due to a wound was futile; Umber's eyes were no longer brown. Deep blue like the Others.
"As your brother, I would burn the bodies of the dead. If you had seen what I have seen, you would too." Jon's words echoed in Robb's mind. He picked up the still burning torch as undead Umber began to rise and set Umber on fire. Tears streamed down Robb's face as he watched Umber's body burn.
"I'm so sorry." He unclipped Smalljon's swordbelt to give Lord Greatjon Umber as he would have no body to bury and sheathed Ice.
A/N: I wasn't going to kill Grenn like D & D did to Pyp and Grenn in the show. Sorry Umber fans. I looked for any errors/typos as best as I could. Leave a review that would make my day! :)