A/N: Hello! This, my friends, is the dreaded chapter. I have no words to express how I feel about this one I'm afraid - it was awful to write but I hope nonetheless, you enjoy this one.
Please read and review.
Bloodshed
It was another dull morning around the twins, faintly spitting from the Heavens above as Robb and Eliana slowly emerged from his tent, both not looking happy. "You can't take her; it will insult him even further." She argued with her brother, staring as his climbed upon his horse.
"Her name is Talisa, sister."
Eliana sighed, "And you're going to take her with you before the man of whose daughter you were supposed to marry." She paused, seeing her mother wandering over to them with Brynden at her side but Edmure was nowhere to be seen. "Don't be a fool, Robb... you wanted my advice, I'm issuing it."
He look reluctant, and soon shook his head. "No, Talisa has every right to be there. She is my wife, and he will have to accept that whether he likes it or not, as will you." Robb expressed with a dark look, staring down at her.
"They won't like it Robb." Eliana pleaded. "Just think about this..."
"I have, I don't care if they don't like it; Talisa is the woman I love, the woman I married. She has every right to go, I am no coward, Lia... who do you take me for?"
"A King, but -"
She gaped as he rode off, probably in search for his foreign wife. Eliana couldn't believe him, during the period of time she'd been gone he'd changed, he wasn't the Robb she grew up with in Winterfell anymore - he was besotted by the idea of being in love and so, was blind to the real world.
"He knows what he's doing."
She turned, seeing Brynden and sighed. "Does he? Just like he knew what he was doing when he beheaded Rickard Karstark? That's what put us in this mess in the first place, that and him marrying that foreigner... he could've waited until the war was over to do something so stupid." Eliana growled, looking down.
Catelyn frowned, "What are you wearing?" She pressed, ignoring Brynden when he snorted. In her eyes, Eliana wasn't wearing the appropriate attire for a wedding in her eyes; leather breeches accompanied by a silken tunic that hung loosely from her body. On top she wore a woollen poncho with that mitten gauntlet of hers which covered her right hand.
"It's Walder Frey, he should expect nothing less."
Brynden continued to snort at her remarks. "This is turning into a rather amusing day." He commented, wrapping an arm around Eliana's shoudler, carefully to not lay it across her left shoulder. "Come on, little fawn; let's see if we can find you a suitable horse."
The hall was like the crypts of Winterfell; cold and lifeless yet, they were being watched as they entered. All of Frey's sons and bastards and grandbastards and so on stared as if in a trance whilst Robb led his company into the great hall. Eliana was at his side, their mother next to her while Talisa stood on his other, clutching his arm as she usually did while Edmure stood on her other.
Robb slowly passed the large bowl of salt with bread to his sister as he placed his own into his mouth, his eyes warily watching old Walder Frey as he sat in his creaky chair. Eliana carefully handed it to her mother, who ate, then passed it back as Walder begun to speak.
"My honoured guests... be welcome within my walls and at my table." He started while the same bread and salt was passed around his own family and finally, brought to himself. "I extend to you my hospitality and protection in the light of the Seven... Good to see you Eliana, nice to see you are alive and well." Walder slowly placed the salted bread into his mouth, "Though you do look a bit on the battered side, eh?"
Eliana glared at the man sat far from her across the other side of the room. She didn't say anything, she just stared unable to look away especially when he caught her gaze and held it for a long while.
Robb saw the glare exchange between them and stepped in front of his sister so Walder's eyes would meet his. "We thank you for your hospitality, my lord. I have come to make my apologies, my lord, and to beg your forgiveness." Robb announced, his jaw tightening when he saw Walder trying to look around him to look at his sister's face.
Walder scoffed, shaking his head dramatically. "Don't beg my forgiveness, Your Grace. It wasn't me you spurned. It was my girls. One of them was supposed to be queen, now none of them are." His old voice carried through the hall as Eliana shared a glance with her mother while Walder gestured for the girls move to stand before Robb. Soon enough he began to list the girls, each of them nodding to Robb as he did. "... Serra and Sarra, granddaughters, twins. You could have had either... could have had both for all I care. My granddaughter Marianne, my granddaughter Freya. My granddaughter... Wertha. Waldra? Waldina?"
She looked up, her snowy face reddening at his mistake. "I'm Merry." She corrected, though it sounded more of an apology.
"Fine." Walder agreed, not caring if that was indeed her name or not. "And here's my youngest daughter Shirei, though she hasn't bled yet. Clearly you don't have the patience for all that." He continued, trying to get under Robb's skin.
Ignoring the comment, Robb smiled at Shirei and then looked to the others with a deep sigh. "My ladies." He addressed, pausing. "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..." Robb promised them, closing his eyes before he carried on. "Any man would be lucky to have any one of you. I did what I did not to slight you, but because I loved another. I know these words cannot set right the wrong I have done to you and your house. I beg your forgiveness and pledge to do all I can to make amends so the Freys of the Crossing and the Starks of Winterfell may once again be friends."
Nodding, Frey raised his hands and began to clap to tell his daughters to disperse, his rotting teeth glistening in the night as his eerie little eyes stayed glued to Robb. "Very good." He agreed, his eyes shifting to land on Talisa, who stood looking rather uncomfortable beside Edmure. "There she is. Come closer. Let me have a look at you.
Hesitantly, Talisa looked to Eliana who stood watching Walder with dark eyes and she realised she must've sensed her watching as she looked and nodded for her to move forward. Slowly and carefully, she treaded towards where old Walder sat.
He laughed at her approach, "Still can't see you... old eyes, love." He called out to her, and she looking to her husband for reassurance.
Robb nodded for her to go on and Talisa strode further away from him and closer to Walder, bowing her head in respect.
Walder stared down at Talisa, a menacing smile appearing. "That's what the Starks of Winterfell call it, eh?" He chuckled darkly, "Very honourable. I call it a pretty face. Mmm, very pretty... prettier than this lot, that's for sure. Very shapely as well..." He trailed off, licking his lips while he kept observing her. "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."
Eliana couldn't help but feel she was in the right by that point; smug was more a suitable choice of feeling. She'd told Robb exactly the same thing, offering him advice and he chose to ignore it once more. Talisa was not safe here, none of them were.
Walder leant forward in his chair and smiled again. "I can always see what's going on beneath a dress, been at this a long time... I bet when you take that dress off, everything stays right where it is. Doesn't drop an inch. Your king says he betrayed me for love, I say he betrayed me for firm tits and a tight fit." Hearing his words, Robb started forward with his fists clutched tightly but Catelyn easily caught him and held him back from doing so.
"And I can respect that." Walder's eyes flew to Robb, raising a hand in defence, though silently pleased to get under Robb's skin so easily with his words. "When I was your age, I'd have broken fifty oaths to get into that without a second thought." He stopped momentarily, clearing his throat. "Well, I've enough room in the hall for you lot, we'll set up tents outside with food and ale for the rest of your men.
Strained, Robb nodded and forced a smile. "Thank you, my lord."
Clasping his hands together, Walder rose from his seat and cast his eyes around the hall. "Well, let's get ready. The wine will flow red and the music will play loud and we'll put this mess behind us." Old Walder declared, an unruly smile appearing which left Eliana feeling somewhat uneasy and sick to her stomach.
Waiting was the worst thing in the world, Walder was taking advantage of this wedding and definitely using it to help him in ways she couldn't begin to list as Eliana figured there was a vast number of them. Eliana stood next to her mother, staring at the sign of the Seven that hung from the wall disgracefully. The Faith of the Seven, a complete waste of time of praying to them in her eyes, and not understanding why they were needed for a wedding. Footsteps echoed as Walder led Roslin down the aisle, slowly, very slowly. Hearing them approaching, she glanced back and her eyes caught those of Bolton's who was watching her.
As old Walder walked on, h caught Robb's eyes as he passed and soon continued to lead Roslin towards a nervous, uncomfortable Edmure Tully. Walder turned and cautiously lifted Roslin's vail so it sat lightly on her shoulders, and she was beautiful - Edmure's face gave that away, he looked absolutely smitten with her just based upon her looks and to think he'd been whining the entire journey there.
Moving towards him, Roslin bowed head and sunk to her knees. "Lord Edmure... I hope I'm not a disappointment to you." She whispered, her voice as small and quiet as a mouse, so vulnerable and weak.
He chuckled, reaching forward to help her stand. "You're a delight to me, my lady.
"You may now cloak the bride and bring her under your protection." The Septon told Edmure, as he removed his cloak and draped it over Roslin's carefully. Roslin looked to Robb, who looked back at Walder. The old man wore a smug face and turned back to face them as the Septon continued by placing a thin strip of silk across the hands, ready to weave. "In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity... look upon each other and say the words."
And together they took a pair of deep breaths before speaking their vows, turning to face one another with small smiles;
Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger... I am hers... and she is mine... from this day until the end of my days.
Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger... I am his... and he is mine... from this day until the end of my days.
The ceremony was short and fairly simple, however, the reception faired to be entirely different. Outside, the men were fighting and brawling in the mud to pass the time of waiting to be on the move again, but inside, the celebrations had only just begun.
The hall was full of jubilant life.
The music was loud as it danced through Catelyn's head, she sighed, shaking her head as she watched her brother and Roslin. "He complained about this marriage the entire ride from Riverrun, and now look at him." She pointed out, a small smile playing on her lips. She couldn't believe his endless whining had led him to become this besotted fool.
Bryden nodded at her assessment, "The gods love to reward a fool." He commented dryly, sipping his wine and sharing a smile with Eliana, who soon started to laugh which would only encourage Brynden further.
"Uncle." Catelyn smiled.
Brynden grinned, "What?" He questioned, innocently. "He's my nephew. I love him, and he's a damned fool."
"I'll toast to that!" Eliana jeered, raising her goblet as Brynden clashed his own against hers.
From the corner of her eyes, Catelyn saw a maid approach to fill Bolton's goblet but his hand covered it, and she paused and rushed away. "Don't you drink, Lord Bolton?" Questioned Catelyn, raising an eyebrow as she did.
He shook his head, his eyes catching Eliana's when he saw her watching. "Never do, my lady. Dulls the senses..." He replied, shrugging.
Brynden rolled his eyes, leaning back into his chair to relax. "That's the point... didn't you marry one of these Frey girls?" He pressed, watching as the maid re-filled his own goblet to the point where it ran down his hand.
"Aye." Bolton nodded. "Lord Walder let me choose any of his granddaughters and promised me the girl's weight in silver as a dowry. So I have a fat young bride." He explained, seeming rather pleased with himself but all Elina felt by his reply was disgust and repulsion.
Catleyn smiled falsely, reaching for her goblet to take a swift sip. "I hope she makes you very happy." She congratulated formerly, at a loss for words when he said he had a fat bride to make him rich.
Bolton pulled a face and sighed, "Well, she's made me very rich." He answered with a small smirk.
Brynden stood and looked between the three of them, "Pardon, my lord, my lady... Little fawn. I need to find a tree to piss on." He announced before wandering off.
Robb looked to his left and saw his mother conversing with Bolton. "My mother's alone with Roose Bolton. I should rescue her." He commented, knowing that neither his mother nor his sister liked the man.
Talisa frowned, looking past Robb to see Roose, Catelyn and Eliana. "Your mother is less in need of rescue than any woman I've ever met and besides your sister is with her, she'll be fine."
Robb looked back at her and chuckled. "My sister cannot stand Roose Bolton, give her a dagger and she will give you a dead body." He admitted with a wry smile, knowing that Eliana would gladly carve away Bolton's head. "Anyway, be kind... she's finally starting to like you."
She nodded, sighing softly. "And I like her, but if she had her way I would be back in Voltantis playing my harp and you would be sitting over there, eating blackberries out of Roslin Frey's hand." She looked over at his uncle, who was smiling like a fool as he ate.
Robb shrugged, his eyes following Talisa's gaze. "Perhaps, I've made a terrible mistake..."
Shocked by his sudden remark, Talisa moved to hit him playfully on the shoulder but Robb saw through her thoughts and easily caught her wrist. "Striking your King is an act of treason." He muttered with a smile, going to plant a kiss against her lips until she stopped him with a shove.
"No... don't, don't insult him." She whispered, stroking his face.
Her eyes narrowing slowly, Eliana looked behind her to see Brienne stood waiting for her command. "Go outside and gather five horses... we'll be leaving after the feast, better stay out of sight as well." She whispered as she stone carved woman nodded and strode off towards the entrance of the hall though she couldn't help but worry for the woman, knowing she would be outside alone with a camp full of men.
"Your Grace." Old Walder called, the gathered then began to drum their knives and forks against the tables, the sound clattering loud enough so it bounced off of the walls. He raised his hand to silence them. "The septon has prayed his prayers, some words were said, and Lord Edmure has wrapped my daughter in a cloak, but they are not yet man and wife." He paused, smirking when he saw a frown fall upon everyone's faces. "A sword needs a sheath and a wedding needs a bedding... what does my sire say?"
"To bed! To bed! To bed!"
Robb grinned as the jeering only grew throughout the hall, looking around he rose to his feet and strolled around his table. "If you think the time is right, Lord Walder, by all means, let us bed them." He declared, and then the uproar erupted once more.
"To bed! To bed! To bed!"
Several companies of men rushed forward, eager to rid young Roslin of her clothes. Eliana and Catelyn looked to each other and sighed, watching as Roslin was carried out of the hall.
Reprimanded at the sight of the occurrence, Talisa stood abruptly and gaped as Roslin disappeared, the poor girl clearly had no idea what was going on. Her worry deepened further when Edmure was carried off by a swarm of girls, giggling happily.
"Oh!" Edmure chuckled, sending Robb a wink as he passed him. "Careful now, ladies. Once you set that monster free, there's no caging him again." He exclaimed as she ran along the aisle and towards the door.
"To bed! To bed! To bed!"
Catelyn placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder as they stared after Roslin and Edmure who'd been carted off elsewhere. "Poor girl..." She sighed, moving to stand beside Bolton.
"Every bride suffers the same. I'm sure you endured yours with grace." He replied, observing the scene before turning to glance back at Catelyn briefly.
"Oh, Ned forbade it." Catelyn laughed a response, remembering from that day and onwards she knew she married the right man. "He said it wouldn't be right if he broke a man's jaw on our wedding night."
He chuckled and moved off, passing Eliana while she stared after him. Something was definitely up with him, especially tonight yet she couldn't place it... but it just didn't seem right to her. "I don't trust him..." Eliana muttered bitterly, picking up her goblet and downing the last contents of wine that lurked at the bottom.
Talisa leant towards her husband to whisper in his ear, "That is a very strange custom."
Robb smiled and faced her quickly. "I suppose it does seem strange from a foreigner's perspective." He agreed, the thought filling his head as he considered the possibility.
"It seems normal to you?" Talisa inquired, raising an eyebrow in concern.
"It's a tradition." Robb stated. "Without the bedding ceremony, there's no real proof the lord and lady consummated their marriage." He informed Talisa, smiling lovingly.
"But there are other ways of providing proof." Slowly, she drew his hand to his stomach and held it there.
"Boy or girl?"
She couldn't express how excited she felt in that moment, how happy she felt about bringing a new life into the world with him, her husband. "I don't know. But if it's a boy, I know what we should name him."
"Oh, do you?" Robb hummed, pulling her tight against him. "It seems to me the father should have some say in his son's naming."
"Eddard." Talisa murmured just low enough for him to hear, smiling as his hands caressed his growing stomach. His face fell and she wondered if she didn't agree; that he would shout and demand a different choice of name for their child. "Don't you want to teach little Ned Stark how to ride horses?" Talisa dared to ask.
"I do."
They shared a smile before leaning towards each other and embracing in a kiss full of love.
She watched them with love in her eyes, Catelyn finally realised that the woman from Volantis may not have been as bad as she felt thought but Catelyn's gaze fled from her son and his wife when she spied Lothar Frey marching towards the doors of the hall and proceeded to haul them to a close.
Eliana froze as she remembered the incident with the fire and what she thought was Greensight, but she couldn't be sure... but now she was hearing that song, that dreaded song. She turned to look at the musicians that sat atop the balcony conducting the song that filled the hall, she eyed them hoping that one would stir and look back at her so she would achieve some assurance of her conclusion.
Catelyn didn't notice at first, only when her daughter had frozen to her spot in the hall as she conversed light-heartedly with Roose Bolton had Catelyn recognised the song flowing through her ears. She saw her eyes harden and her jaw tighten in unsettlement, and her daughter knew as soon as the sour tune sounded.
"Everything all right, my lady?" Bolton frowned, questioning her with that small smirk of his.
Eliana's brow deepened in worry but she didn't dismiss the song as she went to reply. "What did he say to you on his departure to King's Landing?" Her question was odd and surprising to Bolton, though he didn't truly expect any less.
He shrugged, "Nothing for you to worry over, my lady." He promised, his smirk not faltering for a moment.
Eliana stood back, feeling the hairs on her neck stand on instinct of suspicion when the music grew louder. Why a Lannister song? She couldn't place it... it was strange and unheard of at a wedding in the Riverlands.
Catelyn met her daughter's gaze and saw the question rise into her blue eyes while she stared back in worry. She cast her eyes around her to see that no one else had noticed the strange occurrence through the hall, not even Robb.
And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that Lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to-
The music stopped.
Lord Walder raised his hand to silence them, his goblet still sat firmly in his hand. "Your Grace." He called Robb's attention to him. The King in the North turned on his heel and stepped forward, ready to hear the Lord's words. "I feel I've been remiss in my duties. I've given you meat and wine and music, but I haven't shown you the hospitality you deserve." As he spoke, Catelyn returned to her seat but Eliana remained standing, far too unsettled to do so. "My king has married and I owe my new queen a wedding gift."
Her eyes were drawn to the man beside her, Catelyn looked desperately to Roose Bolton for help but he simply nodded down to his sleeve as his arm rested against the weirwood table. Gingerly, her hand reached for his sleeve, her fingers grasping the material and pulling it back to reveal a thick layer of ringmail. She sucked in a breath of realisation and swiftly forced her hand against his cheek.
The sound drew the attention of Eliana who was now frowning in confusion at her mother's actions, not following what had happened. She then saw Bolton rush off before her mother called to her brother who stood a few feet away from her. "Robb!" It was a pained cry, full of despair.
A shriek filled the hall and their eyes trailed to her, a mess of blood as she lay on the floor. One of Walder's bastards or grandbastards... whatever they were, had plunged a meat knife into Talisa's belly where sat the unborn heir to the North. Blood spilled from the bump as Talisa rose but fell from the attack.
Robb stared in her direction, his eyes traumatised at what he was seeing unfold before him.
A dance of arrows and knives broke out around them mere seconds after the first attack, surrounding them in death as the bannermen fell dead to the obscene attack.
Eliana heard the whispers of arrows, turning around to see Robb turning and stumbling when an arrow lodged itself in his shoulder, and being thrown back when another two shot towards him. Her mind reeled at the thought of yet another betrayal. Seeing the crossbows aimed in her mother's direction, Eliana made a run towards her. Her hands gave her mother's shoulder a hard shove that was strong enough to send her flying to the ground.
Clenching her teeth tightly, she straightened her back and grabbed at her dagger, pointing it towards the old lord. The man merely chuckled and a couple crossbows pointed towards her. She heard the strings release before she felt the pain. In fact, it took her far longer to feel it than she normally would have.
Catelyn's head hit the floor with an echoing thud, her hands failing to steady her fall. Ringing, endless ringing rippled through her ears while her eyes adjusted to her surroundings. Her mind then regained its train of thoughts; she hadn't been thrown to the ground as a hope to be injured, she'd been pushed out-of-the-way. Lia... Her eyes darted around wildly in search for her daughter.
A muffled cry escaped her lips when she caught sight of her children. Her daughter's back was to her but she could see the two arrows protruding from her body; one lodged in abdomen, the one had found its way into her right shoulder. Then there was Robb, he too had been showered with arrows: one in his chest, shoulder and another in his leg. She tried to call them to her but her cries did not reach them.
Commotion, there was commotion everywhere; screaming; shouting. Death was all around the hall, blood and death.
Eliana clasped her dagger tightly though she could feel the leather hilt sliding through her fingers as she tried to regain the once strong hold, prepared to kill anyone who approached her family. She caught sight of her brother's wife and her heart sunk in her chest; she was already gone, no longer stroking the bloodied bump rounding her stomach. Despite not liking her, she nevr wished for the woman to be murdered.
Among all the commotion, there was only one thing the King in the North could see: his queen, the first to suffer the wounded pride. Even from the stone floor, he could see her bloodied, lifeless body. The pain from his wounds was nothing compared to the pit of despair drowning within him. His thoughts flew to Grey Wind suddenly, wondering what they'd done to his wolf, certain they'd butchered him as well; kill the king, his queen, his unborn child and his direwolf. Tear down the banners; butcher the Wolves so the Lions can rule once again.
"The King in the North arises." Walder cackled.
Robb had to go to her. He crawled forwards, the pain and the hole in his heart forcing him to his queen, already lying lifeless before him. He scooped her up, ignoring the mocking words coming from the Lord of the Crossing, sitting still atop his table, alive and boasting. Mere moments ago the very same table was filled with laughter and two newlyweds, only the gods knew where they were now.
Eliana felt another sharp pain. Knives she thought, no... more arrows. Her knees buckled beneath her and then she was falling to the floor, leaning over to control her breathing to make sure she didn't pass out. She wouldn't die on her brother, and she wouldn't die on her mother. She started coughing, feeling bile rise in her throat but when she looked down she'd been mistaken. It was blood.
Catelyn let out soundless cries of pain, seeing the third arrow enter. Her eyes flickered to Robb who was cradling his foreign queen in his arms. Moving further beneath the table, her leg brushed against something sharp that cut into her leg. Her eyes fell to the stone floor and she grasped the knife tightly, and from across the hall Catelyn targeted Joyeuse Frey cowering under the table by her Lord's legs.
With all her strength, Eliana made herself stand having enough of the charade Frey had pulled. Her chest was screaming for release, but she knew better than to pull an arrow free from her body, especially if she wasn't ready to die. Her bones had seized in the short time she'd stilled... she'd never felt such a pain before, a searing burn from within her.
Walder Frey's eyes glistened joyfully as he zeroed in on the Stark Girl. "The beauty arises..." He announced, drawing the attention to her. He brought his goblet to his lips and drank, tilted his head in wonder. The hall fell silent for a moment as all turned to stare. Walder waved his hand in the air and another arrow came whizzing towards her.
Arrows were still flying from all the corners in the room. Angry yells and shrieks of agony were drowning a tune that had long ceased to be heard yet it would not end. Boom. Boom.
As her glassy eyes followed the arrow through the air, Catelyn let out a cry when her body hit the floor with a thud. The bolt had lodged itself high in her chest, the force of its attack throwing her back onto the floor below. She tried to get to her but she fell to the floor when her back exploded in a storm of pain and she realised she must've been shot with an arrow; but she didn't give in. She tried to crawl towards her but her path was blocked by a growing wall of bodies that were dotting the floor.
Seeing her chance after observing Walder for long enough to see his eyes were trained on her children, Catelyn rushed from beneath the table and made to grab Joyeuse. Wrapping a hand around her collar, not sparing her any pity Catelyn then dragged her down the steps that led to the high table and made her stand. "Lord Walder!" Catelyn exclaimed as the old man looked to her, the archers above focusing their weapons in her direction.
"Lord Walder, enough! Let it end!" Catelyn begged, wanting him to stop and reconsider this act of betrayal. "Please... he is my son. My first son. Let him go and I swear that we will forget this, I swear it by the old gods and new. We will take no vengeance." She vowed, swinging the knife she'd taken under his wife's throat, ready to let her bleed with one swift swipe.
"You already swore me one oath right here in my castle. You swore by all the gods your son would marry my daughter!" Walder declared, a never before seen fury rising into his eyes as he held Catelyn's gaze.
But she wasn't prepared to give up then and there; she would see Robb to safety and she would most certainly not give in. "Take me for a hostage, but let Robb go." She continued, turning to face her son who was still on the floor, cradling Talisa in his arms. "Robb, get up. Get up and walk out. Please! Please!"
"And why would I let him do that?" Replied the old man from his high chair with a smirk on his face.
She felt her anger return in those few seconds her eyes landed on the man who had brought her family another betrayal. "On my honour as a Tully, on my honour as a Stark, let him go or I will cut your wife's throat." The blade strained against Joyeuse porcelain skin, the hand in her hair tightening while Catelyn's words drowned in pique.
Not looking remotely bothered by Catelyn's threat, Walder shrugged weakly. "I'll find another."
Tentatively, Robb placed his wife back on the floor, wishing she would wake just one more time, smile at him... anything but he knew better than that. He didn't want to let her go, leave her all alone. But as much as it pained him to so, he dragged himself up, every movement he made required more effort than usual, his limbs cried out, still, he managed it. "Mother." Robb rasped, begging her to stop with her worthless pleading. Nothing would help, nor stop his death or the fall of the North.
And then it all happened so quickly, "The Lannisters send their regards..." Roose Bolton whispered in Robb Stark's ear before plunging the knife into his chest, right through his heart. The blade felt cold, it almost made Robb shiver as his knees buckled and soon he was falling, falling fast before Catelyn's eyes.
She jolted back to life with startle; a scream that rung through her ears. As much as it pained her, Eliana tilted her head and soon she felt a warm liquid clinging to the side of her face when she tried to look to her brother, instead they froze on her brother's falling body. "Robb..." She murmured, her eyes stinging at the sight, a sob emerging from within her throat. No...
Catelyn was in a heap on the floor, crying endlessly; she'd lost control of her body and her emotions and the world ceased to exist for her. All of a sudden, the pain her back was gone, she didn't feel anything as her own hand slashed the young hostage's throat. She heard a thud and wasn't quite sure who had fallen on the floor, she couldn't see through the veil of tears and blood covering her face, the room had fallen silent in a dissonance of sounds.
Thinking of her losses, she could feel her heartbeat slowly coming to a stop. She had lost so much: Ned, Eliana and Robb murdered, Bran and Rickon killed by an ally, Arya was lost most likely dead, Sansa imprisoned in King's Landing, her father dead, her brother would most likely be killed as well and she couldn't bear to think of what they would do to her uncle. I'm coming, Ned, wait for me...
The hall was littered with bodies, and blood ran like a river... just like Walder had said.
Edwyn Frey's eyes were intent on one body, as her life blood streamed through the silk tunic she wore. Two bolts stood tall in her chest, another lodged high in her shoulder, the final lurking in her stomach and she was breathing in fast, sharp gasps. Her auburn hair was soaked with blood, and the torchlight flickering seemed to make it look alive.
Edwyn stalked towards the body and kicked her side vigorously. She groaned and her head turned sharp, blue eyes on him, glazed with pain and disturbance and he couldn't help but feel contrition from issuing her with more pain. "She's still alive."
Walder Frey turned to Edwyn, raising an eyebrow and soon demanded, "Then kill her."
Drawing his dagger, he held it above her heart. The woman - though she looked more like a child in that moment - closed her eyes as if waiting for him to end it all. The dagger shook over her heart, that still furiously pumped blood through her body, struggling to keep her alive. Guilt crushed Edwyn, like a poison infecting him, weighing heavy on his heart. Killing in the midst of a battle was one thing, but cold-blooded murder of a wounded woman was entirely different.
He hesitated.
"Do it Edwyn, before I do it myself!" Black Rivers hollered, nearing Catelyn. "The traitorous bitch deserves to watch them die... her little pups."
Still, he hesitated. The stone blue eyes opened again, and seemed to be silently begging for liberation, for death. The gift of mercy Edwyn had granted himself with. One swift swipe and the pain would float away and she could finally rest. However, he stood from kneeling and shook his head. "No." No more murder...
Walder's head tilted, wondering when Edwyn had become a cowardly pig, always knowing him to be a cold man. "No?" Old Walder asked, sitting forward in his seat. "Useless... useless! You dare deny me of my wish? I should cut out your tongue."
Several bastards moved forward, eager to please Walder if Edwyn wasn't willing.
"No." Edwyn said as all clarity left him. Edwyn soon found himself wondering why he was defending the woman lying near dead on the floor. Then another thought struck him from nowhere, one that would please his great-grandfather... and perhaps even Lord Tywin.
"Why not let them both live?" Edwyn asked. Everyone nearby stood and stared at him, horror-struck. Walder laughed, but it was the false, sickening high-pitched laugh that he used to humour the lords of the north.
"You mock us," Called his brother, Black Rivers. "You want this stain left upon our family?!"
Edwyn shook his head at their misunderstanding of his intentions. "It's no jape brother, half-brother... whatever you are, I don't care. This girl and her mother are traitors to the crown. I believe a public execution would be more prudent; for Tywin Lannister." The laughter died. "He might be as generous to offer a Lannister, Cersei or maybe Prince Tommen even to us for a marriage. We can make deals; get our payment in both glory and wealth."
A slow, sly smile stretched across Walder's face. "Had I'd known of your cunning Edwyn, I would've taken your contributions more seriously. You've yet to surprise us all... Lord Tywin will wish for a public execution, which of course we will attend." Walder concluded, clapping his hands together. "Help up the girl!"
Edwyn bowed his head and slipped his hands under her arms and hauled her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist to support her. He heard her mutter his name under her breath and he turned his head to look at her.
"The night is dark and full of terrors..." She whispered in his ear, confusing the man with the words but unknown to him up her sleeve she clutched her righteous dagger. Edwyn's brow deepened in thought. As if from nothing, all thoughts left him when she plunged her blade through his skull and twisted before withdrawing it again and throwing him aside, dead.
First Edwyn fell, followed by two more bastards. She moved quickly despite her wound; and soon had Eliana caught Black Rivers as he tried to make it to her mother and hooked the knife under his chin, restraining him. "Let my mother and I go, send word to Tywin Lannister... inform him of our arrival." She threatened, staring directly at Walder Frey, her gaze not faltering for a single moment.
Walder scoffed. "You won't make it there alive, any fool knows that."
"Are you struggling with your hearing old man?!" Eliana growled, her voice rippling along the hollow walls. "We're of far more worth to Tywin Lannister alive than dead, you will be rich... lots of coin for your pocket."
"You will die."
"Aye." Eliana's blade cut into Black Rivers throat, drawing blood as she slowly cut into his throat. "I may die, I do not care for my life but I would see my mother to safety." Her voice was hard and defiant. "I am the only the one thing that stops all of Dorne rallying behind Stannis Baratheon!"
Walder paused, taking her words into consideration. He knew that Dorne held dangerous warriors; Oberyn Martell, the Sand Snakes and he'd heard of Markas Allyrion... but knowing he would receive coin and a seat beyond compare, he nodded. "Fine, go." He waved his hand and the doors were hauled open.
They pulled Catelyn to her feet and dragged her to the wooden doors where she was thrown from the hall. Drowning in her own grief, she was too worked up to notice as Brienne pulled her up and helped her along.
Eliana couldn't bring herself to move, knowing that Walder Frey would still be breathing when she left this hall; he'd gotten away with murder and she couldn't let that happen. Taking a small, easily concealed dagger into her hands and felt the cool object leave her grasp when she brought it over her head. A few inches from his head, there sat the dagger swaying side-to-side uneasily upon impact.
The tall woman paused when she saw Eliana stumble through the door, coughing. "Eliana?" She gaped when she saw the gallery of arrows that littered her torso. "Let me help you..."
"Brienne, help my mother."
A/N: Four arrows, huh, and she's not dead?
Well apparently, the average human can withstand up to eight arrows before they die from the blood loss - but that depends on where the arrows are, you die quicker if they're in your legs!
Please read and review,
Ezeiel