Quick note, as always thanks to those of you who reviewed: Trulzxoxo(the ending was my favorite part as well) awake untill day brake(glad you like the story) brandibuckeye(You should be concerned about Jamie, but there is a plan and this isn't going to be a tragedy) 97hollster(thank you!) rikka21(thank you for the compliment!) I meant to update sooner but haven't had the time, hopefully the length of this chapter makes up for it!
Chapter 21
They had been traveling for two weeks, they hadn't gotten very far due to the size of the party. With every mile, Freya seriously considered ignoring the King's order, jumping out of the carriage, stealing a horse and tearing back to Winterfell as though the demons of the seven hells were chasing after her. She had a strange sense of forboding, that only grew stronger the closer they got to King's Landing.
Jamie had stayed as close as he could during the trip, telling her stories, gossip, news, anything to keep her amused and interested in the capitol. She was excited, there was no doubt about that, but she wanted to go back, she wanted to go home.
Freya wanted nothing more than to be back in the cold of the North sitting next to Robb, his hand in hers as they wandered around. She tried to make the best of the situation, but her sadness over leaving her fiance was obvious.
Freya stood listlessly outside the inn the party had stopped at. Sansa wanted to take Lady for a walk, but Freya wanted to find some paper and write a letter to Robb. She'd promised to write to him, and all his brothers, but had not had a chance to do so. The carriage was to bumpy, and she barely slept without Robb there with her.
"Are you sure you don't want to come," Sansa asked her again eyeing the ladies of the court. People thought it was inappropriate that the Stark girls had direwolves for pets, Freya knew that Sansa felt judged for it. She didn't love Lady any less though.
"No, I've got to write to Robb, I miss him," Freya admitted.
"I know you do," Sansa pointed out. "I won't be gone long, if you see Arya, tell her we are supposed to ride with the Queen today."
"I'm sure the two of you will have a wonderful time," Freya said easily. If Sansa and Arya went with the Queen, perhaps she could convince Lord Stark or Jamie to let her ride with one of them for the day.
"You're coming too," Sansa said quickly. The Queen made her nervous, having the Queen's half-sister with her would be an advantage and take some of the focus off of her.
"She didn't invite me Sansa, I'll ride with Jamie, it's fine," Freya said shifting anxiously from one foot to another. "Go for your walk, Lady needs to stretch her legs."
Sansa nodded at her before setting off, Freya watched her as she walked away. She was to far for Freya to overhear the conversation Sansa got caught in with the Hound and then Joffrey though. Freya hated the way her nephew looked at Sansa, she was not a piece of meat. Freya noticed that despite her intention to walk her direwolf, Lady got left behind as Sansa walked away with Joffrey.
"Lady, to me," Freya called. Lady immediately came over and Freya gave her an affectionate pat. She could her the ladies of court twittering, but she leveled them with a steely gaze bringing them to silence.
"And who might I ask is receiving that glare," Jamie asked as he approached her. "It looks to be quite deadly, I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that."
"Ladies who don't know when to mind their own business," Freya said waving her hand toward the women. "I'm used to it though."
Jamie glanced briefly at the women, his gaze matching hers exactly. They gaped at him, stunned that he was staring at them so angrily before silently looking away. "Now, what are you up to little lioness," Jamie asked.
"I was going to write a letter actually," Freya admitted.
"Ah, missing the Stark boy already, don't worry we'll find you someone to distract yourself with soon enough," Jamie said lightly.
"I don't want to distract myself," Freya replied. "I love him."
"You're sixteen little lioness, what do you know of love," Jamie asked.
"I know that I love him, and that's all that matter."
"At your age, I'm sure it is, but as you get older, you'll learn that there is more to love than love alone. For example, have you considered what sort of life your children would have? The sons and daughters of the Lord of Winterfell and the Lannister bastard. I don't say this to hurt you little lioness, I say it to point out the truth, your children will be bastards as well," Jamie explained.
"If I'm married to him, Robb will claim them all as his own," Freya snapped. "They will be Starks, not Snows."
"I'm sure he will," Jamie said with a roll of his eyes.
"Don't do that," Freya cried when she saw his reaction to her words. "I know you don't approve of him, but..."
Freya trailed off and looked away from Jamie, she didn't know what to say to him. She didn't know how to make her brother understand. "You want me to like him," Jamie asked carefully.
Freya's gazed snapped to his. "Yes, I do, I want you to like him, I want you to see how much he cares for me, and I want you to see that there isn't more that I could hope for in a match than Robb," Freya replied.
Jamie heaved a sigh and glanced around the camp. He knew that if he agreed to try, she would be less likely to suspect his plan. If she trusted him, she wouldn't suspect him when the relationship fell to pieces, which it would, it was only a matter of time in Jamie's opinion.
"Fine," Jamie said curtly. "I will give him a chance, but know this little lioness, if he hurts you, I will hurt him ten times worse."
A bright smile spread across Freya's face. "He won't," she said confidently. "Your offer is appreciated though."
At that moment, Sansa burst into camp shouting for help. Freya didn't hesitate, she immediately grabbed Jamie's arm and pulled him toward the girl. "What's happened," Freya demanded.
"I don't know," Sansa cried frantically. "Please, Joffrey's been hurt, we have to help him."
"Where is he," Jamie asked.
"By the stream," Sansa replied. They tore off in that direction, quickly finding Joffrey sitting in the grass, tears running down his face and blood on his hand and arm.
"Hells, were you attacked," Jamie asked as he helped his nephew to his feet.
"Her sister's wolf, it attacked me, her sister as well and that boy, the butcher's boy," Joffrey pratically shrieked.
Freya glanced at Sansa to see if the story was true. Sansa's face gave away nothing but fear and worry though. "Arya Stark attacked you," Freya asked carefully.
"Yes, the little bitch attacked me, are you hard of hearing bastard," Joffrey shouted at her.
"Call her that again and I'll give you a black eye to go with your bloody hand my prince," Freya said firmly. Jamie raised his eyebrows at her.
"Careful sister, your inner lioness is showing," Jamie warned.
"No," Sansa replied. "Its the direwolf that protects its own so fiercely."
Jamie pursed his lips and shook his head before returning his attention to Joffrey. Several others had joined them in the clearing by this time. Men moved forward to help Joffrey back to camp. Freya grabbed Sansa's arm and turned her. "Where is your sister," Freya whispered. No matter what the truth was, Freya knew Arya was going to be in a lot of trouble when they found her.
"She ran off, that way," Sansa said pointing in the direction Arya had gone.
"You go back to camp, find your father and tell him what has happened, I'll see if I can find her before anyone else does," Freya said quickly. Sansa started off to do what Freya had told her.
"Sansa," Freya called after her. Sansa turned back for a moment. "I suggest you remember what happened and prepare to deal with the consequences."
Sansa nodded at her before heading back to camp. Freya hoped she could sneak off to find Arya without being noticed. "Not so fast little lioness, where are you going," Jamie asked as he caught hold of her arm.
"I have to find her before someone else does. She could get hurt out there by herself," Freya exclaimed.
"And you tromping around the woods by yourself and getting lost is going to do so much good," Jamie said sarcastically. "I'll come with you. It will be faster."
...
More Lannisters joined the search, which had been going on for most of the day at this point. Freya leaned against a tree for a moment and glanced around the woods, she knew Arya was good at hiding but this was getting ridiculous.
"I've got her," a man shouted. A short scream came in response as the man roughly grabbed the little girl and yanked off the ground from behind a tree.
Freya darted forward and knocked the man's hands off Arya. "Don't touch her," Freya shouted at him. "She is a Stark of Winterfell not a common criminal, you will treat her with the respect that is due a noble lady."
"I don't have to do what you say bastard," the man snapped.
"If you want to continue to be employed by her family you will do exactly what she says," Jamie said venomously. "She is more of a Lannister than you will ever be, and that alone deserves respect. You will treat her with respect or I will kill you myself. Is that clear?"
"Yes my lord," the man said bowing his head to Jamie. "My apologies my Lady."
Freya simply nodded in response before looking over Arya. "Are you hurt," Freya asked. She could tell something was wrong though. "Winter?"
"I'm fine, winter is gone," Arya explained. Freya hugged Arya tightly knowing immediately that 'winter is gone' meant her direwolf had gone.
"Someone needs to tell her father we have found her," Freya said to Jamie.
"We have orders to bring her directly to the King, the Queen commands it," one of the other soliders informed her.
"Fine, but her father should know of this," Freya said her frustration evident. She took Arya's hand and led her back to camp, knowing things were not going to end well today.
...
Freya stood behind Arya, her hands on the girls shoulders. She had been listening to the stories from both Arya and Joffrey for sometime now, and she knew exactly who was lying. She could look at Joffrey and see it. She didn't even have to hear his words.
The door at the back of the room opened and Freya could tell by the tense silence that Lord Stark had entered the room. Freya moved to the side and let him see his daughter.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Arya said quickly.
"Are you hurt," Lord Stark asked.
"No," Arya replied.
"What is the meaning of this? Why was my daughter not brought to me at once," Lord Stark demanded of the Queen and King.
"How dare you speak to your king in that manner," Cersei said easily.
"Quite woman," Robert snapped. Freya saw a flash in Cersei's eyes, she could see the hatred and anger Cersei felt in that moment, but just as quickly it was pushed back down. "Sorry Ned, I never meant to frighten the girl, but we need to get this buisness done quickly."
"Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son, that animal of hers nearly tore his arm off," Cersei explained.
"That's not true, she just bit him a little," Arya cried. "He was hurting Micah."
"All of the Starks' direwolves are peaceful animals, unless provoked, your grace," Freya said quickly.
"Joff told us what happened," Cersei said ignoring Freya's statement. "You and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him."
"That's not what happened," Arya snapped.
"Yes it is," Joffrey cried, tear coating his tone. "They all attacked me and she threw my sword in the river."
"Liar," Arya said.
"Shut up," Joffrey cried right back. Freya let out a sigh at how childish the prince was being.
"ENOUGH," Robert bellowed. "He tells me one thing, she tells me another, seven hells what am I to make of this? Where's your other daughter, Ned?"
"In bed asleep," Ned said quickly.
"She is not, Sansa, come here darling," the Queen called sweetly. They all turned to watch the other Stark enter the room. Sansa stood there nervously avoiding the gazes of her family and Freya.
"Now child, tell me what happened, tell it all, and tell it true, its a great crime to lie to a king," Robert said firmly.
"Yes Sansa," Freya said giving the younger girl a level stare. "Tell it true little dove." Freya knew the use of Cersei's pet name for her would set the Queen off. She smirked at her half-sister, knowing Sansa would tell what she had seen, she was many things, but not a liar. Freya was determined to play Cersei's game just as well if not better.
"I don't know, I don't remember," Sansa said haltingly. "Everything happened so fast, I didn't see."
Aray immediately struck her sister in the back of the head. "Liar," Arya shouted repeatedly as Freya and Lord Stark attempted to seperate the girls.
"She's as wild as that animal of hers," Cersei said coldly. "I want her punished."
"Better a wild daughter than a flower of a prince," Freya said lowly. Her comment did not go unheard and Joffrey glared at her angrily. Cersei too gave her a menacing glare.
"What would you have me do? Whip her through the streets? Damn it, children fight, its over," Robert said casting a glance in Freya's direction. He had heard her comment as well.
"Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life," Cersei said quickly.
"You let that little girl disarm you," Robert asked. "You are a flower." Freya choked back a laugh as Robert returned his attention to Ned. "Ned, see to it that your daughter is disciplined, I'll do the same with my son."
"Gladly your grace," Lord Stark said as he turned to usher his daughters from the room.
"And what of the direwolf? What of the beast that savaged your son," Cersei demanded. Freya clenched her jaw and stared at Cersei in disbelief.
"I forgot the damned wolf," Robert admitted. He turned to his guard to see what he had to say.
"We found no trace of the direwolf your grace," the man informed him.
"No, so be it," Robert said with a nod.
"We have another wolf," Cersei claimed.
"Oh gods," Freya said realizing which wolf she meant.
"As you will," Robert said starting to leave the room.
"You can't mean it," Lord Stark asked.
"A direwolf is no pet, get her a dog she'll be happier for it," Robert said before leaving the room.
"He doesn't mean Lady does he," Sansa asked. Freya grabbed the girl hearing the panic and fear in her voice. "No, not Lady, Lady didn't bite anyone, she's good."
"Lady wasn't there," Arya shouted, she had lost her wolf, despite her anger with her sister, she didn't want her to lose hers as well. "You leave her alone."
"Stop them don't let them do it, please, please, it wasn't Lady," Sansa screamed.
"Is this your command," Lord Stark demanded of King Robert. Freya drew in a ragged breath as she waited for his words, she knew what she would do if it were, and it killed her to offer it. "Your Grace?"
Without answer, Robert strode from the room, it was his command. Sansa disolved into tears and Arya moved to her sister out of instinct. Freya wrapped an arm around each of the girls.
"Where is the beast," Cersei asked.
"Chained up, outside your grace," a guard informed her.
With a sickening smile on her face Cersei issued her command, "Ser Illyn, do me the honor."
"No," Lord Stark said. "Jory, take the girls to their rooms. If it must be done, I will do it myself."
"Is this some trick," Cersei demanded.
"Do not doubt Lord Stark's honor," Freya snapped as she moved away from the girls and squared off with her sister. "I've a dog, take mine, let Sansa keep Lady. The wolf did nothing wrong, Sansa is a good girl, a true match for your son, take my dog instead, I beg of you."
The implication in her words did not go unnoticed by Cersei, they both knew that Joffrey was lying and that Sansa had also lied for his sake. "Your dog was a gift from your family, I would not deprive you of that," Cersei said with a smirk.
"Her wolf was a gift from the fates, would you deny her gods? The gods of the north," Freya shot back immediately. "Cas is old, he has lived his life, I forfeit his for Lady. I trust Lord Stark to do this."
"The dog is of the north, I will do it, he deserves better than a butcher," Lord Stark said.
"Have it your way," Cersei said coldly. Lord Stark immediately strode from the room and Freya stepped around Sansa as the girl dissolved into tears. Jory stepped past Ser Illyn and pulled the girls into his arms. Sansa reached out a hand to Freya but she pushed it away.
"Don't," Freya said firmly before striding out of the room. She got to the door and threw it open, sucking the night air in. Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her around angrily.
"What in the hells were you thinking," Jamie demanded as Freya came around to face him.
"I was thinking that Sansa should not be punished for standing by the man she is betrothed to, I was thinking that if I could spare that little girl the sadness her sister is experiencing at this moment over losing her own wolf that I would, I was thinking that... if Robb were here, its what he would have done," Freya said her voice breaking and her tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry Jamie, I love him, I do, but if he can save Lady, then so be it."
Jamie pulled Freya into his arms, his heart breaking at the sound of her sobs. "Let's go say goodbye to him," Jamie said pulling her away from the would-be throne room and to the kennel where Cas was being kept. Lord Stark was already there waiting for them. The years had been good to Cas, but as of late he had developed a limp and had trouble seeing. Freya knew that it would be hard to be without him, but she felt she had made the right decision.
"I hope your daughter appreciates what Freya has done for her," Jamie said coolly.
"She does," Sansa called as she approached them. "I appreciate it more than you can know."
Freya simply nodded before dropping to the ground next to Cas. "I'm sorry, I am so sorry for this, but I love you, I love you more than I could possibly say, and I will miss you so very much, but you've lived a good life and Lady's is just starting. Sansa will need someone to look after her in the capitol, she needs Lady. I need you too, but I'm older and... I have Robb, I'll tell Grey Wind you gave him strict instructions to look after me. He'll do a good job, not as fine as you, but good enough. Nothing will ever replace you, nothing," Freya said through her tears. She desperately wished Robb were there to hold her hand through this, but she clutched Jamie's instead.
"Ned," Freya said weakly. Lord Stark glanced briefly at the girl before nodding. He pulled out his dagger, which Cas clearly saw, but he did not shift away. Cas made no sound, he did not move, except to drop to the ground. Freya let out a shout before burying her face in Jamie's chest and sobbing openly. His arms immediately wrapped around her and he lifted her off the ground.
"No, I want to stay with him," Freya cried. Jamie knelt back down and allowed Freya to sit next to her dog. She ran her hands over his fur, whispering soothing words until the life was gone from him. At that moment, Lady let out a gut wrenching howl, and unbeknowst to those with her, Grey Wind, Ghost, Nymeria, Summer, and Shaggydog joined her in their cry for their fallen friend.
Freya turned and looked at Lord Stark, he immediately pulled the girl into his arms, holding her as he would one of his daughters. Sansa and Aray joined him, the three of them forming a wall around Freya as she sobbed. Jamie clenched his jaw and started to stride away but a hand caught his sleeve. Freya peered at him from within Lord Stark's arms and clutched his hand. She needed him too now, she was trying to keep her family with her. Jamie held her hand until the others released her, then he tugged her into a hug. Holding her as she continued to cry, Jamie lifted her into his arms and silently carried her to her room.
Jamie managed to push the door open, but when Freya saw Lady sitting in the room she was sharing with the Stark girls her sobbs started all over again. "I can't," Freya cried as she struggled away from Jamie and out the door. "I can't be around her right now, I just can't."
Jamie smoothed down her hair and shushed her as he would a child. "Then you'll stay with me tonight," Jamie said firmly. "I've two beds in my room, you can stay there if you want."
Freya nodded silently, not thinking about the nightmares that had been plagueing her sleep, or the fact that she would probably keep him up all night crying, she needed to be away from Sansa and Lady for the night. The Starks were coming up the stairs as Freya turned back toward the room to gather her things.
"Sansa," Jamie said grabbing Freya's arm to keep her from going in the room. If she didn't want to see the wolf, she shouldn't have to do it. "Can you gather some of Freya's things for? She's going to stay in my room tonight."
The look Lord Stark gave him at that statement, made Jamie wonder if the man could see his soul. He stared coolly back as he waited for Sansa's answer though.
"Of course," Sansa said meekly, she knew how upset Freya was with her. She quickly entered the room and gathered Freya's things, placing them in a small bag, then handing them over. "Freya... I don't know what to say other than I'm sorry."
"I don't think that means much right now," Jamie said as he glanced at his sister.
"It doesn't, but I appreciate the thought Sansa," Freya said not wanting to cause a rift between the two of them. "Jamie, can we go please?"
"Of course," Jamie said before wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading the way to his room. He opened the door waving Freya in first. "You can pick whichever bed you want, have you eaten today?"
"No," Freya said shaking her head. She sat down on one of the beds and buried her head in her hands. "I wish Robb were here."
"Well he's not, but I am. What would Robb do if he were here," Jamie asked.
"He'd make me eat something, ever since I got sick with the fever they're all afraid I'm going to get sick again."
"That I can do," Jamie said as he headed back toward the door. "What do you want to eat?"
"It doesn't matter," she said giving Jamie a small smile. "Thank you, you don't have to do this. I have a feeling Cersei is going to be mad at you for this."
"Let me worry about her, you have enough to deal with right now," Jamie smiling back at her. He started toward the door again, he opened it and turned back to look at her. "I don't mind taking care of you, I'm your older brother, its what I'm supposed to do, that opportunity got taken away from me, but now that I have the chance, I intend to make the most of it."
Freya smiled at him, a full, bright smile. "I look forward to it," Freya said sounding almost like the little girl that he remembered.
"As do I little lioness," Jamie said as he left the room. "As do I."
Let me say that I am sorry first, I have to admit that I started crying while writing this chapter. I hope this doesn't upset anyone too much. Anyway coming up we have the arrival in King's Landing, a letter from Robb, a new character, a puppy, and some interesting conversations. Things are going to start getting complicated for our young lovers.