A/N Thank you to CalliopeGalaxy for the beta!

Chapter 25

Robb walked into the council's tent to find Lord Tytos Brax waiting for him. Deirdre had said the man insisted on speaking to him on some urgent matter but wouldn't relay the message through her. Smalljon finally had Adair and Patrek take her out of the tent to wait outside, then after a few moments alone with Tytos, Smalljon sent Deirdre back to Robb with her guards and asked them to request that the king come to the council tent immediately.

He noticed that Smalljon had also sent for Ned. Lord Tytos was eating food that someone had brought him like a man starved when Robb came in but he quickly wiped his mouth and rose. "Your Grace."

"Sit. Finish your meal," Robb said, despite his curiosity of what this man had to say. He could tell by Smalljon's actions that it was serious enough to warrant Robb's attention immediately.

"It might be my last meal, after we speak," Tytos said with a wry smile.

"I don't kill unarmed prisoners for their words," Robb replied, as his squire poured him some ale.

"It's not you that I'm concerned about this time," Lord Brax admitted.

"Perhaps it's best if Olyvar saw to other duties," Smalljon said with a meaningful glance to Robb's squire.

Robb tilted his head slightly before nodding. "Olyvar, leave us." When he left, Robb leaned forward, "What is this about?"

Lord Brax swallowed his ale and wiped his face with a cloth. "First, Your Grace, let me say I'm very grateful that you acted so kindly as to give me a chance to say farewell to my father."

"I brought his body back for my wife. It was her insistence that you be allowed to see him so your gratitude is misplaced," Robb admitted. "But that message could have been sent through my guards or my wife."

"Yes, but I am grateful and wished to say so. Considering I'm your prisoner, it was a considerate gesture."

"I've lost a father recently. I would hope the same courtesy would be extended to me if the situations were reversed."

Lord Brax smiled wanly. "The reason I needed to speak with you is a more sensitive matter," he said slowly before glancing up at Smalljon. "As I told your man here, I did not dare risk saying anything while I was in the cells because it could be overheard but I had to let you know. Deirdre is in grave danger."

Robb's gaze narrowed before he replied, "I know the Lannisters have attempted to take her from me before but…"

"Forgive me, it's not just the Lannisters, Your Grace," Tytos interrupted. "It's one of your own men who plots against her as well."

Ned walked closer to the table; his arms crossed over his chest much like Smalljon. Robb almost felt sorry for Lord Brax if he was attempting to deceive them. "And who is this man?"

"I do not know his name. He's one of the Freys that fights for the North though. I overheard some of the Freys that fight for the Lannisters talking about it when they thought I was sleeping. This man is offering release for a man who is willing to kill the queen or at least cause her to lose your child." Robb tried not to show any emotion but Tytos looked in directly in the eyes and asked, "In order to cross at The Twins, you agreed to marry a Frey daughter if Deirdre wasn't with child in a year, correct?"

Robb felt like ice-cold water had just been poured over him. The only people who knew about that were a handful of his bannermen, his wife, his mother, and Lord Frey. Tytos couldn't have known from anyone outside the camp, because he was captured at Whispering Woods so soon after Robb made that agreement.

"I see by the look on your face that it's true," Tytos continued. "This man, this Frey man, he is acting on orders of Lord Walder Frey. He intends for one of his daughters to be queen, even if it means she's marrying a widow."

"There are thousands of Frey soldiers in my camp. How do you know this man is acting on Lord Frey's orders?" Robb asked.

"He said as much but how else would he know about your arrangements for crossing? It's not common knowledge. This man is careful, he wears a dark cloak that covers his face, and only talks to certain Freys. He said he cannot trust the Lannisters because he's not sure who is related to her directly. Apparently, he knows that Jaime has a soft spot for Deirdre and wouldn't kill her. As long as she's alive and if your heir is born, your agreement with Walder Frey was somewhat one-sided in his mind."

"And in exchange for this information, I assume you want something from me," Robb said directly.

"I want Deirdre safe. I know my father felt her mother didn't always look out for her best interests and he would want her happy. She claims to be happy with you, to love you…" Lord Brax studied him for a moment. "I assume you love her as well."

Robb didn't answer, knowing love was something they would use against him and not wanting to give the enemy any more reason to hurt his wife. "Why should I trust you? You fight for the Lannisters."

"Lord Tywin doesn't want Deirdre dead and my family certainly doesn't want her dead. Can you honestly say the same of the Freys?"

"You stood by while her mother, your sister, married her to cruel old man then sent her away to King's Landing in hopes she could achieve a better match: leaving her in the hands of the Kingslayer and the queen, who hates her," Robb pointed out, his bitterness coming across sharply. "Suddenly you wish her to be safe. I'm not foolish enough to believe your concern is without benefit to yourself."

"You can say what you like about the Lannisters, but House Brax has never been disloyal to my niece. Her mother kept her from us. My sister is…well, she's blinded by her own greed and ambition and Deirdre was in the way of both," Tytos replied raising his brows. "I cannot control my sister's actions nor could we when she determined Deirdre's future. Now her future is in your hands though. So I'm telling you; her future is threatened."

"What you're telling me is that one of my men, possible more than one, is a traitor as well as telling me my wife and heir is in danger. So now you will tell me your price for this information," Robb retorted.

He knew he shouldn't give his temper away but he was furious. If this man was trying to deceive him, Robb would take his head off but something deep inside him had the nagging doubt that he was telling the truth. The Freys couldn't be trusted and it was just like Walder Frey to have put this insurance in place. But Robb didn't know which one of Lord Frey's sons or grandsons was the one who was fool enough to attempt to plot against them. Robb didn't think ill of the whole family. He'd learned more or less who he could trust among them or so he thought. But if he was wrong, Deirdre could die.

Lord Brax's eyes flared with anger. "I have no price. I'm trying to protect my niece, that's all. I fully expect that you'll throw me back in my cage and unless it benefits your cause I will remain there until I die or the war ends, whichever comes first. But if I said nothing and any harm came to Deirdre, I could not live with myself. She says you're a good man and a good king so I trust you to sort this out yourself and protect her."

Robb was quiet for a long time trying to decide what to do. He couldn't trust this man yet. But he couldn't ignore him either. If he put him back in the cells, he might come to harm and, if he was telling the truth, then he deserved better than a cell. On the other hand, if he was lying then he manipulated Robb into a better situation.

Ned glanced at Robb and said, "Your Grace, if I may…" Robb nodded and Ned turned to Lord Brax. "How often does this man come and do you think he will come again? Were any of the men you overheard considering the offer and if so, which ones?"

"All of them are considering the offer," Lord Brax said quickly. "They assume this man will protect them if they are caught. They're fools, thinking that there's loyalty amongst the Freys. While they sit in a cell with Lannister men and these other Freys fight for you, they still naïvely think there is family loyalty. As to whether he will come again, if he doesn't then he's found someone else to do the task. I only saw him twice, once as he was leaving and the other time when they thought I was asleep."

Ned watched the man for a few moments before nodding and turning to Robb. "Your Grace, if you put Lord Brax back in his cell he might see this man again. But he might easily be suspected of being a traitor anyway since he was brought here to see the queen."

"If you saw the man, would you know his face?" Robb asked Tytos but the man shook his head. "I need to speak to my men. Until I decide how to proceed, we'll keep you in one of the tents here under heavy guard. Do not attempt to escape, Lord Brax. I will not hesitate to kill you if you betray my courtesy. And you will not see Deirdre during your stay in the tents." Robb saw the genuine disappointment in Tytos' eyes before he schooled his features into a mask of indifference and Robb felt slightly more trusting of the man. Remembering the fact Tytos had just lost his father he felt guilty and added, "At least not for now."

Tytos nodded and rose when Smalljon stepped forward. "My father's body…what will be done with it?"

"The Silent Sisters will escort him back to your home, as befitting of his rank," Robb replied, rising.

Lord Tytos studied Robb for a long time, and then said, "They say you favor your mother very much. My father once sought to marry me to your mother or your aunt but they couldn't agree on some matter or another. I only saw her once from a distance. She was a beauty with fiery hair."

"She's still beautiful," Robb replied with a smile. "Her hair matches her personality. Smalljon, see that someone provides Lord Tytos with a bath and a change of clothes. I'm sure that Lord Brax would be most grateful."

"Deirdre said if we were on the same side of this war, I would like you. I imagine that could be true," Tytos said as Smalljon led him to the guards outside.

After Smalljon had sent him off with some guards with Robb's orders, he returned, sitting down across from Ned. The two men were silent, waiting for Robb to say something but he wasn't sure what to do right now.

"I want to set up a meeting with Lord Umber, Lady Mormont, Lord Glover, Ser Brynden, Dacey, and the two of you tomorrow. We need to keep this information to a small group. If the Freys even suspect that I doubt their loyalty based on one prisoner's word…I will lose all of them," Robb said and sighed. He looked at the two men. "Do you believe him?"

Without hesitation, Smalljon said, "Yes."

Ned didn't answer for a few moments before saying, "It seems possible with some of the Freys. Are you going to tell Deirdre?"

"Not yet. Tomorrow, I want to hear suggestions on how to proceed from those I trust. If this is true, we have too many Frey sons, bastards, and grandsons to know which one it could be without more facts," Robb answered with a wave of his hand. "If I throw a stick, I'll hit one of Lord Frey's kin. I have to know who before I act."

"What will you do about Olyvar? He goes into your tent often when your wife is there, sometimes alone. None of the guards would ever stop him," Ned pointed out. "He has too much access to come and go freely around her. And likely one of his sisters that would be Lord Frey's first choice."

"Lady Roslin, his younger sister," Robb answered thinking back to Olyvar telling Robb and Deirdre about his family when they first met. He didn't know about the arrangement between Robb and Lord Frey and had said he hoped that after the war his father would seek a good match for his sister and asked Robb about some of his Northmen as a possible match. He said his sister was a gentle soul and needed a man who would treat her kindly, unlike their father. Although he never said it, Robb knew that Olyvar felt little love for Lord Frey. "I'll send him on other duties for a day or two until this situation is in hand. I trust him but I agree the risk is too great."

"We should warn the gaolers that the Freys need to more closely watched," Smalljon added. "Do you intend to inform all of Deirdre's guards?"

"Not yet. Not until after the meeting tomorrow. I had intended to spend time with Deirdre this evening anyway. I need some rest tonight. Increase the guards outside our tent, Ned. My men are weary after the battle so your men need to take over watch," Robb said, rising. He walked toward the entrance and stopped, turning back around. "Ned, food and wine is easily poisoned…give some of our food to one of the dogs before anyone brings anything to us."

"Yes, Your Grace," Ned replied with a frown. "I didn't think we'd have to worry about our own men trying to hurt her. Unfortunately, I'm afraid unless you warn her, Deirdre will continue to trust everyone. You saw how she ran through the crowd today, away from her guards, into your arms. She doesn't think any of your men would hurt her, out of the love they bear you."

Robb nodded, sadden by the thought that he couldn't trust his own men now. But he wouldn't make the same mistake his father made. He wouldn't allow a man like Walder Frey bring him down or hurt his wife.

xOxOx

At first Deirdre thought she had imagined it or was trembling from visiting the wounded. She sat completely still for a few minutes and had almost dismissed it when she felt it again, a lot harder and clearly defined this time. Tears filled her eyes as Robb walked into the tent.

"Deidre?" he asked quickly, seeing her face and her hands on her belly.

"It kicked me!" she said laughing. "Come, feel it."

Robb rushed to her side, putting his hands on her stomach. Neither felt anything and after awhile Deirdre said, "It might not happen again so soon. I've felt flutters before but this is definitely a kick. There! Did you feel it? It's over here this time."

Robb nodded smiling broadly. "He's strong." He led Deirdre to their cot and lay beside her, resting his head and hands on her belly. "Do not kick your mother too hard. I don't want her hurt."

Grey Wind growled in his sleep, obviously dreaming, and suddenly Deirdre felt a few strong kicks but they seemed to be everywhere in her belly. "Maybe he's also hitting me with his hands."

"Or he has three legs," Robb teased, kissing her belly and looking up at her. "He reacted strongly to Grey Wind."

"This is the son of the Young Wolf," she proclaimed with false arrogance. "Of course his son would respond to his own kind."

"I love you," he said, with an odd expression. Deirdre sensed he was upset by something. "You're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me: you and our child."

"What is it?" she asked and he sat up, leaning forward to kiss her for a long time.

"Can I not just tell my wife that I cherish her above all else?" he asked, nuzzling her neck.

"You can and you have, but I can see in your eyes that something is troubling you, Robb." Cupping his chin, she pulled his face up so he was eye level. "Does this have something to do with my uncle? Tell me."

"I can't yet," he admitted. "But I will. Until then, you must trust me." He kissed her quickly then rose to remove his boots and most of his clothes. "I need some sleep. Will you nap with me?" Sliding in beside her again, he wrapped his arm around her. "Naked…naked napping."

She chuckled and scooted off the cot. "Are you sure we won't have your uncle or your squire running in here to tell you something any moment? I honestly don't think Olyvar will survive the embarrassment of another incident like the last one." The poor squire had walked in when Robb was naked as his name day and had Deirdre sprawled half way across the table with her skirts up, his mouth buried between her thighs.

"No, I don't think he will," Robb admitted with a chuckle. "To be fair, you were mostly dressed."

"Mostly? My dress was wrapped around my waist but nothing was covered! Did it make you jealous that another man has seen me naked?" She teased with a laugh.

"No, because as you said, Olyvar would die of embarrassment before seeing you bare again. As to your question, no one will come in unless it's urgent. My uncle and most of the men are resting as well. It's been a long few days. Even the Umbers are rumored to not be celebrating, feasting or drinking from what I understand. Your men are guarding us and Ned knows better than to enter without notice when I'm in here."

Sliding in beside him, she let him wrap her up in the furs. "I don't want to know how he knows that, do I?"

"Most likely not," Robb said with a wicked grin, wrapping his leg over hers. "Now go to sleep so when we wake I can ravish you. If I tried now, I might die. Then the War of Five Kings would end right here…"