Shackles and Chains Chapter 21: Twenty One, a game of thrones fanfic

Mari stood beside Robb as they looked upon Walder Frey in the hall of The Twins where his daughters were lined up. Some had pregnant bellies, some had worried or blank expressions on their faces. But all had their head bent down like children being scolded by their father. She tried to ignore the feeling she felt when she looked at them; it was a feeling of suspicion.

Mari had another dream about Jaime and this time, it frightened her. But not because of Jaime, but because of what it represented and how her true feelings for him were beginning to surface. It was was unsettling for her to ponder on about any further.

"I pronounce thee Lord Jaime of House Lannister now King of The Seven Kingdoms and Queen Marianna of House Targaryen, one body, one soul, and one heart." The septon proclaimed.

"With this kiss, I pledge my love," Jaime said, smiling and then he kissed her.

She smiled up at him as they held hands and she said, "With this kiss, I pledge my love."

She gave him a soft kiss which he smirked into. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes or swat him on the chest. The septon smiled at the couple and proclaimed loudly to everyone, "I pronounce you, husband and wife, cursed be the one who comes between them."

"Long live the King, long live the Queen!" Someone proclaimed and soon everyone started to do the same in The Great Sept of Baelor.

Mari smiled coyly at Jaime, who put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her for another kiss. He kissed her passionately as he dipped her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled. The crowd cheered loudly as they clapped. Jaime looped their arms as they walked down the aisle. Both Targaryen and Lannister guards followed behind.

People kneeled and greeted, "Your majesties."

They dressed her in an ivory gown, gold embroidered on the corset and skirt. The skirt was somewhat large, but it was fit for a queen. The neckline showed the top of her breasts, but it was graceful. The sleeves were fitted around her arms and went to her wrists. They gave her pearl earrings and a pearl necklace, the pearls felt heavy on her neck, but it didn't bother her. Her white hair was twisted into an elegant bun. Jaime wore gold and crimson, showing his house colors in velvet. He had a crown on the top of his blonde head. It was gold with rubies on the rim and spikes like longswords attached to the crown's side.

Her crown was silver and dragons twisted around it, their eyes were rubies and black jewels. Tyrion, the Hand of the King, had had this made for her just two moons past. Mari knew that without Tyrion, she was sure that they would be stressed about the Seven Kingdoms resting on their shoulders. They could not have ended the rebellion without him. He was their most trusted adviser.

Jaime sighed. "We're married…we're the King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Mari."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I know. I'm still a bit nervous actually. I think I'm sweating through my dress."

Jaime laughed and kissed her temple. "You are going to be fine."

"No, we are going to be fine. After all the shit that has happened, we deserve to be happy."

She frowned and looked down at her feet. "I know, but we lost so many people, Jaime."

He stopped walking and put his finger under her chin so that she could look at him. "We will make a new family. We will have ten children if it would make you feel better." He said and she laughed softly. "Don't forget that even though we may lost many people, we have gained so many new friends. They're all right here with us and would lay down their lives for us. They are also our family."

He leaned forward and kissed her hard on the lips, consuming her whole. Their tongues danced like long time lovers, each can't resist the other. They broke apart and continued to walk to their feast. Jaime would whisper dirty and sweet things into her ear and she would blush at them. They stopped walking at the top of the steps leading to the feast which was held outside. Everyone cheered and clapped for them. Jaime kissed her cheek and led them through their guests.

Mari let go of Jaime's arm when she saw someone she hadn't seen since they went into the rebellion. Her smile turned into a full one as she said softy, "Robb."

She ran up to him and jumped in his arms as he spun her around, laughing. He put her down and she said, "What are you doing here? I thought that you were-"

"Dead. So did I. A woman named Jeyne Westerling helped me escaped. She nursed me back to health and here I am. Good as new. She's amazing."

"I felt as though it was fault you and your men were capture by Balon Greyjoy."

He nodded. "At least Theon did not betray you."

"Yes, he is a loyal friend. So what's this about Jeyne Westerling being amazing."

"Robb Stark," Jaime said from behind her, not smiling.

"Your Grace." Robb said with the same tone and expression.

Robb cocked an eyebrow and gestured to Jaime's crown. Jaime then smiled and said, "Robb, my good friend!"

They both hugged like brothers and patted each other's backs. Jaime pulled away and said, "You know you don't have to call me by titles."

"But I prefer to call you 'Your Grace' because I know how much it drives you mad."

Jaime rolled his eyes and laughed. "Oh, how I've missed you."

"I as well. It's been a long time since I've been to the Capitol."

"You don't like it here," Mari mused.

Robb shrugged. "It's too hot over here. I much prefer the winter instead of the heat of summer approaching."

"So what is this I hear of a girl, eh?" Jaime teased.

"No, I'm not saying anything to the both of you," he said, pointing at them.

"Why not," Jaime and Mari said at the same time.

"You both like to meddle. I feel bad for Tyrion having to deal with the both of you. The poor man."

"He's big boy, he'll be fine. We're just concerned that's all. You're our friend and we want to make sure that you're happy."

"And that she's not trying to kill you like the last two women who piped your interest ," Jaime said and Mari hit him on the arm, giving him a look.

Robb laughed and shook his head. "You two are really good friends, but I can handle this on my own. I'm a big boy; I can tie my laces and everything." Robb gestured with his head to Jaime's crown. "Nice crown."

"Tyrion made it," he said quickly. "He made Mari's too."

"Yeah, but yours…it's- you know what it's says 'you' Jaime." Robb said, smiling.

They all laughed and Jaime put his arm around Robb's shoulders and Robb did the same thing. "Let's go and celebrate!"

They started to walk away and Mari smiled as they looked at the two friends. She remembered that they didn't become friends at first because Jaime didn't trust Robb, who was childhood friends with the enemy's son, but in time…the two became very good friends. They were like partners in crime and Robb was like a brother to both Jaime and Tyrion.

She was quickly pulled out of her mind as she tuned in on what was happening in front of her.

"…and here's my youngest daughter, Shirei though she hasn't bled yet. Clearly you don't have the patience for all that." Lord Frey's voice was somewhat bored yet rough as he spoke to anyone.

She noticed that all of his daughters kept their heads down and some looked very hesitant to even look up as if they would get punished if they even looked up at them and when some had the courage to do this action which Robb would immediately noticed and give them a look, but once he met their eyes they would immediately put their heads back down. Robb tried not to look guilty and regretful at all of them, but it didn't stand for long.

Robb looked at every one of Lord Walder Frey's daughters as he told them honestly, "My ladies, all men should keep their word, kings most of all. I was pledged to marry one of you and I broke that vow. The fault is not with you, any man would be lucky to marry any one of you. I did what I did not to sly you, but because I loved another. I know these words cannot right the wrong that I've done to you and to your house, and I beg for your forgiveness and pledge to do all I can to make amends so the Frey of the Crossings and the Starks of Winterfell can once again be friends."

The only sound made in the hall was the sound of Walder Frey slowly clapping, but Mari couldn't really tell if he was mocking Robb's apology or simply clapping. His daughters went back to their rooms.

Walder Frey's eyes finally found her probably because she was too looking guilty at his daughters, "Very good. There she is. Come closer. Let me have a look at you." He licked his lips which Mari had force her face to have a repulsed look on it. She held her head high as now all the eyes in the hall were on her as she stepped forward.

Lord Frey squinted his eyes at her, "Still can't see you. Old eyes." She looked towards Robb hesitantly and for approval. He looked at her and nodded. She took four more steps forward.

He examined her closely. "My, what a pretty thing you are. A fierce and fiery beauty I believe is what the dragons of Targaryens are, a cold beauty for the Starks of Winterfell…except you're not a Stark, but now considering the circumstances I guess that makes you a Stark. Prettier than this lot that's for sure." He kept his eyes on her, but when they went to Robb they mocked him in some way she couldn't explain…like he knew something that they didn't know. She kept her cautioned eyes on Walder Frey.

Walder Frey continued and she could tell he was now amused, "Good shape…oh you try to hide her under that dress. If you wanted to hide her, you shouldn't have brought her here in the first place…I could always see what's going on beneath the dress. I've been doing this a long time. I bet when you take that dress off everything stays right where it is, don't drop an inch. Your king says he betrayed me for love…I say he betrayed me for firm tits and a tight fit." Robb as if on instinct was going to move towards her protectively, but was stopped by Lady Stark.

Lord Frey saw this and said quickly, "and I can respect that. When I was your age, I'd broken fifty oaths to get into that without a second thought." Mari went back to her place beside Lady Stark when Lord Frey changed the topic.

"Well…I have enough room in this hall for you lot. We'll set up tents outside with food and ale for the rest of your men."

"Thank you, my lord," Robb forced the words out of his mouth which were slightly angry. Lord Frey stood and declared that they would put this mess behind us because of the wedding and that everything was set for the wedding. She could hear Edmure shift and tense behind her at the mention of the wedding. Although Mari would never admit this aloud, but she never liked Edmure because he can be such an ass sometimes. Mari prayed that this would be just like every other wedding…it would be a normal one.

The wedding seemed long, but it wasn't as long as she had thought. Edmure was very surprised that his new wife was indeed beautiful. As Mari looked more closely at her she noticed that she seemed nervous and hesitant as if she made one mistake she would get beaten by it.

Why do all the Freys have that look that they are hiding something, she thought to herself.

As they said the words as if on impulse Robb and Mari looked at each other, Robb remembering the night they got married while she remembered what happened after with Jaime much to her protest. She smiled sweetly at him and he smiled back. Mari knew that everything would change after their child was born that is when they will truly start the rest of their entire lives together.

They were at the reception which was filled with music and laughter from everyone, but she noticed Lady Stark looked wary, but Mari chose to ignore it. Robb and Mari watched as the Blackfish left to piss on a tree and she chuckled at him. Robb turned back towards her and said, "My mother's alone with Roose Bolton, I should rescue her." Robb's statement made Mari laugh and smile as she looked at them.

"Your mother is less in need of a rescue than any other woman I've ever known."

"Be kind, Mari. You know that she still feels very badly about what happened."

"Yes I know, but I need to know why she did it. Why did your mother set him free? Why would she risk everything for Sansa and Arya besides the fact that they are her daughters? I-It just doesn't make any sense, Robb."

"We're at a wedding. It's customary to have drink and have fun. Stop being a worry bug, I swear that once our child is born that he'll be a worry bug because of you when he was in your womb."

Mari laughed and then nodded. "I know, but seeing as though I'm pregnant, I can't do any of those things."

"You'll find a way, you always do." He mused.

"If I had been dead, your mother would have gotten her way and you would be sitting over there, eating berries out of Roslin Frey's hand," she teased.

Robb chuckled a little and said, "Perhaps I've made a mistake."

She scoffed and raised her hand to strike him on the chest that is until he caught her wrist and said, "Striking your king is an act of treason."

She laughed at him which made him smile. Still holding her wrist he leaned in to kiss her, but she immediately put her hand strongly on his chest to stop him.

He was confused by this and said, "Am I not forgiven yet or do I have to grovel again to till I die?"

She smiled amusingly and said, "As mush as I would like for you to grovel some more…you have been forgiven, but it would be an insult if you had kissed me. I love you, Robb."

Mari caressed his cheek as he let go of her wrist. Lord Frey declared with the bedding ceremony and Mari's eyes caught Roslin's as she was carried out of the hall by Greatjon and her smile left her lips as she looked into Roslin's eyes. As if the whole entire scene had slowed down she saw two things in Roslin's eyes…terror and tears. It was as if Roslin was trying to tell her something with her eyes and she noticed that her eyes glanced down at her belly. Mari put her hands on her belly and looked down at it then back up at Roslin, who gave her a look that had pity written all over it. Roslin, without moving her head, moved her eyes behind her. Mari turned her head and looked behind. It was a door. What is she…she's telling me to leave right or that someone is behind that door.

Everything went back to normal as Robb came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. She gave a light smile to him though as he tried to talk to her, she would glance back at where Roslin had been. Mari tried to ignore what she had just seen, but she couldn't. It was too intense and meaningful to ignore right now. Mari felt suddenly an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as she sat in her seat.

Her gut told her to be on high alert right now. The song had ended and she heard the doors close. She felt her palms sweat. The musicians played a song that Mari immediately remembered hearing about when she was little by her brother. Her heartbeat quickened immediately. Mari couldn't really hear anything, but the song that was playing and not even her own thoughts could penetrate it from her mind. Mari was frozen in fear as she realized what was going to happen so she simply stood up and nonchalantly looked around the room.

And who are you, the proud lord said,

that I must bow so low?

Mari couldn't hear anything, but she could see Robb standing in front of Lord Frey who was talking to him. She could see in the corner of her eye men come a little closer to her. As Robb turned Lady Stark slapped Roose Bolton and he stumbled away from the table. She stood up very quickly and yelled, "Robb!"

Only a cat of a different coat,

that's all the truth I know.

Two men had grabbed her roughly from behind and dragged her from Robb. She kicked and screamed at them, but it was no use as they grips on her tighten and they made her watch. Robb immediately went her, but was stopped as the musicians turned out to be crossbowmen and they fired an arrow into Robb's shoulder then into his legs and his arms which caused him to fall down.