Chapter Twenty-One
Robb sat in his tent, thinking. He could still hear his fight with Nyra in his head. He had not meant to be so cruel and cold to her. He knew that he needed the men, but not at the cost of losing her. He stood, pulling on his cloak.
The camp was quiet except for the men that were gathered around watch fires. He looked toward the borders, knowing that the sentinels were there in the shadows. He started to walk that way but stopped. There were others things he needed to do besides think. He moved to a large tent and stopped when Theon Greyjoy stepped out.
"Your majesty," Theon said with a low bow.
"Rise," Robb replied snappishly. He didn't like being so angry with everyone.
Theon quickly stood, taking a step back from Robb. Robb sighed deeply. He motioned his head so that they would walk. Theon fell in step next to Robb, watching him closely. Robb stopped when they walked up on the river.
"I need your help, Theon," Robb said as he looked up at the stars.
Theon nodded to him. "Anything you need, your grace."
Robb took a deep breath and looked at Theon. He knew that this was a bad plan, but he needed to do it. He would need all the strength he could muster if he wanted to win this.
"I need you to go to you to go to your father and convince him to join me."
Theon stared at Robb for a moment. He knew that Robb needed his Father alliance and strength, but he thought he would send Nyra or some other noble to do his bidding. He didn't have to think on it long.
"When do you want me to leave?" Theon asked, trying to hide his smile.
Robb sighed. "At first light. I'll need the men soon."
Theon nodded. "It will take time, Robb. I have not been home in many years, so I will probably have to make my father trust me again."
Robb started to say something when he noticed Nyra coming out of her tent. He watched as she walked toward the edge of camp Nightshadow at her side. He couldn't figure out at first where she was going, then he realized she was walking toward where Jamie was. He turned back to Theon.
"Take as much time as you need," Robb said. "But you should probably get ready to ride out."
Robb didn't wait for Theon to protest. He walked off, shadowing Nyra from a distance. He watched as she moved silently toward the guards. She turned aside and walked over to one of the guards. It was Mariek. Since his son's death, he had taken watches as a sentinel. Robb watched Nyra for a long time. He already knew that she was staying in Hardenknot. He couldn't even bring himself to talk her out of it.
Suddenly, Nyra started up the hill, looking right at him. He started to say something when Nyra just shoved past him. He reached out, touching her arm.
"Nyra," he said it softly.
"Don't," she growled.
Robb released her, letting her walk a few steps away. He caught up to her from behind. She turned to him with anger and hate in her eyes. He felt as if something in him broke. He stepped back from her.
"That crowns weighs heavy doesn't it, Robb?" she sneered.
Robb thought of rising to her taunt, but he stopped. He didn't want to fight. He pulled free from and stepped back from her. Nyra stood there for a long time. Robb tried to read her expression, but it was too cold. He looked down at the ground; he was out of things to say.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Nyra looked up at him. She could feel the tears in her eyes. However, she was done shedding them. She started to say something when she noticed her father standing outside his tent. He was watching them closely. She shook her head and walked away from him.
Robb watched her for a moment. It was then that he noticed Harker too. The man was half turning from them when he looked at him. He took a deep breath and started walking again. He didn't know where he was going until he was there. Jamie Lannister sat in front of him.
"Well if it isn't," Jamie Started. "What is your name again?"
Robb rolled his eyes. "I'm Robb Stark. The one who caught you."
Jamie nodded. "The wolf that Nyra so desperately wants."
Robb growled as Nyra's name came from his lips. No matter how angry he was with Nyra, her name from his lips made him want to cut Jamie's head from his shoulder. He stared at the Kingslayer for a long time. The cut that Nyra made had not healed well. It had a thick scab on it now that didn't seem to be healing.
"Nyra leaves quite a scar doesn't she?" Jamie said, watching where Robb's eyes fell.
"You're lucky she didn't kill you," Robb said, looking down at him.
"You would not have let her."
There was that tone. That tone every Lannister had when they knew they were right. Robb almost turned away. His fingers touched his sword hilt; he wanted to draw it. He could kill him so easily here.
"You want to kill me don't you boy?" Jaime asked with that certain smile of his.
"You have no idea what I want to do to you," Robb growled.
Jaime couldn't resist rising to the challenge before him. "Then do it boy. Draw your sword and kill me right here."
"You'd like that wouldn't you?"
Jamie didn't say anything for a long moment. Robb was watching him. Something was not right. He knew that Jaime would most likely never show fear, but this was different. It was like he wanted Robb to be there. Jamie moved so suddenly that Robb barely had time to think. He felt a sharp pain in his temple as he fell to the ground. He looked up to see Jamie standing over him with a grin. Next to his side was a bloody rock. He brought it up again. Robb waited for the contact. But it never came. He heard shouts and then felt arms pulling him up. He turned to see Ser Mariek pulling him up.
"Take him to his tent," Nyra's voice rang out.
"What about the Kingslayer?" Robb thought that was Umber.
Nyra suddenly stood in his view. She walked over Jamie and suddenly backhanded him. There was a dirk in her hand. She made certain that the handle hit right under his eye.
"Put him in the tightest chains you can find," Nyra ordered. "And make sure that he is tied up before you do that."
"Of course, my lady."
Robb tried to look at what happened next, but Mariek was dragging him toward his tent. He heard Nyra shout out more orders. He leaned against Mariek and felt the man pull him up.
"Come on, your grace," he said, yanking him up roughly. "You have to at least try to walk."
Robb did as he was asked and tried to walk. His whole body felt like lead as he moved with the older knight. It was long before he felt soft blankets and a mattress under his back. He laid his back, letting darkness take over.
It was still dark when Robb woke up. He could see the fire burning close by and figure in black moving around it. He sat up slowly.
"Nyra?" he asked still a little empty-headed.
The figure turned to him, brushing red hair from her face. Robb quickly recognized his mother as she moved closer. She sat down next to him, brushing some curls back from his face. Robb turned his head away as she looked at the cut.
"You are lucky she was still close by," Catelyn Stark said softly.
"Where is Lannister?"
"Tied back up?"
"Someone had to untie him."
"Don't think about that," Catelyn snapped as she placed a cool rag on his head.
Robb grabbed at the cloth and almost threw it off when Catelyn stayed his hand. She stared at her son for a long time. He was no longer the little boy she had once known. He was now a man with a very heavy burden. She started to say something when the tent flap opened. Both of them looked up to find Nyra, Edmure, Umber, and Mariek all standing there.
"The prisoner is secure," Umber said quickly. "We even gagged him this time."
Robb noticed Nyra smile a little. He sat up a little, watching Nyra. She quickly looked to Lady Stark. Anything she could do to not look at him.
"Your grace," Edmure started. "Lady Nyra instructed us to bring her father to the council for questioning."
Robb looked at Nyra. "Did you question him?"
"No," Nyra said simply. "Lord Umber is going to take care of it for me, but we will wait until you are ready."
"Do you really think he did it?" Robb asked, hating his foolishness.
Nyra shrugged. "I don't know, your grace, but he is a likely suspect."
Robb looked over at his mother. "Everyone leave me with Lady Nyra."
The men left quickly, but Lady Stark wanted to linger. Robb gave her a look that told her the orders were to be followed. She left the room, looking back at Robb. Nyra stood where she was and didn't move.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"For what?"
"Saving my life."
Nyra nodded and folded her arms slowly. She looked at Robb for a long time and stepped closer to him. She kept the distance more than she ever had before.
"If you want to trust my father, I want Jaime left here."
"Here?"
"The dungeons of the Knot are still in tack."
"Can I trust leaving him with you?"
Nyra rolled his eyes. "I don't know if my father did it this time or if Jaime got lucky, but it will happen again. The next time you may not be so fortunate."
Robb stared at her for a long time. He knew what this really meant. He didn't want to ask the question. However, he needed the answer.
"Are you staying too?" he asked.
Nyra nodded. "I think it's for the best."
Robb touched the wound on his head. He wished it had come a little sooner. He wanted to say a thousand apologizes to Nyra. But he could see that she was not ready to listen.
"I will leave Jaime with you," Robb conceded.
Nyra gave him a low bow and started to leave. She stopped and turned. "Watch my father, Robb."
Robb started to get up when his head spun. He watched her walk from the tent. He would be able to see her tomorrow when they left. He laid there for a long time, thinking. Nyra had been right. This was wrong. He closed his eyes for a long time. If he paid a little attention, he would have noticed that Nyra had not walked away from his tent.