Quick note of thanks to those of you who reviewed: brandibuckeye(Don't be scared, things will be bad for awhile, but it will all work out in the end, I love them to much to keep them apart) 97hollster(thank you for the review as always) Dreaming while awake(Don't be worried, I have a plan. Thank you for your suggestion in your review for chapter 23, I reworked this chapter to include that idea)

Chapter 25

"Are you competing in the tournament," Freya asked Jamie at breakfast a few days later. They were joined by Cersei and her children, Joffrey was nowhere to be seen though. The only safe topic of conversation was the tournament, apparently Cersei was still quite irritated with her, judging from the looks she kept shooting at Freya everytime she opened her mouth to speak.

"Of course, he'll probably win," Cersei said with a proud smile.

"I've never been to a tournament," Freya admitted. "What is it like?"

"They don't have tournaments in the north," Jamie asked.

"Not that I know of, we never had one at Winterfell anyway. There were feasts and the such, but never tournaments, Lord Stark isn't a fan of them," she explained.

"He made that abundantly clear while planning this one, the King throws him a tourney in his honor and all he's done is complain about it," Cersei replied.

"If the Hand does not want a tournament then why throw one," Freya shot back.

"It's good for the people, and it's good for the knights, keeps everyone on their toes and offers a respite from the mundane everyday life," Jamie said with a shrug. "All I know is that I am riding in it so you had best be there."

"I wouldn't miss it," Freya said with a smile.

"Have you had any word from the north Freya," Cersei asked politely.

Freya knew exactly what she meant and tried not to let her frustration show. Apparently, the Starks had recieved letters from Robb, but she had recieved nothing, not a word since recieving Snow White. Freya mangaged a smile and shook her head at her half-sister. "I'm afraid Robb is rather busy with other matters, running Winterfell on his own and worrying about Bran must take up all of his time. I write to him though."

"That's good, you must keep the flame of young love alive," Cersei said with a strange smile. Freya couldn't tell if she was being serious or not though.

"Speaking of letters, you recieved one from father this morning," Jamie said as he pulled the rolled up note from his sleeve and passed it across the table to Freya. "He sent one to me as well, apparently he recieved a letter from the King on your behalf."

"He's not pleased," Freya surmised as she broke the seal on the note and began to read.

Freya,

King Robert wrote informing me of an engagement between yourself and the oldest of the Stark sons, Robb. While this is an excellent match for someone of your station, he being the heir of Winterfell and future Warden of the North, I cannot grant you permission to marry him. As a child you were betrothed to another, he is also the son of a great house and will be an equal match to that of the Stark boy. There are rumors of love and the such, but one in your station cannot afford to love Freya. You must marry for the good of your house, you are young and you will not understand this, but you will not marry the Stark boy. It matters not what the King has said, you will not become an oathbreaker for a Stark. Besides you must have heard the rumors of what he has been up to since you came south, he does not seem to value loyalty and love the same way you do. This is for the best.

There was no signature on the paper but Freya had no doubt who it was from. She crumpled the note in her hand and inhaled deeply. "What are the rumors," she asked, her voice betraying her slipping self control.

"What rumors," Cersei said sweetly.

Freya looked up and stared hard at Jamie. She knew he would not lie to her, he would answer her question. "Father wrote of rumors about Robb, what are the rumors," Freya asked. "Jamie, please?"

"I didn't want to tell you little lion, especially without knowing if they were true. There are rumors circulating that since you've been gone the boy has been a regular customer at the whorehouse in Winterfell, a different girl every few days. He dishonors your vows of love, forsakes you for a whore," Jamie said bluntly.

"And what of this betrothal?"

"To who," Cersei demanded.

"He didn't say," Freya said as she passed Cersei the note. "He simply said that I was betrothed to a son of a great house that will be an equal match to Robb."

"Surely there must be a mistake, I mean no disrespect but who else would agree to marrying their son to a bastard," Cersei asked.

"I'm sure you mean no disrespect sister, and I share your confusion, but do neither of you know who this person is," Freya asked.

Jamie had been oddly silent for several moments. He was pleased to see that this plan was going so well, but for his father to actually have an alternative engagement already, was shocking. Jamie's lips were drawn into a firm, hard line as he stared down at the table. He let out a sigh and met Freya's gaze.

"At one time, Father intended to marry you to the Stark bastard, but upon hearing how he was treated by Lady Stark it was reconsidered. The banished Targaryen boy was also a thought, but again no one knows where to find him and word has it he is just as mad as his father. After the rebellion in the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy sought out our father. He knew that both you and his son were being fostered at Winterfell and an agreement was reached."

"Please tell me you are joking," Freya said realizing where this story was going.

"I wish I were little lion, but it would seem that if Theon Greyjoy should so desire it, the two of you would be wed," Jamie explained.

"If he should so desire, what if he doesn't want that? What if Theon doesn't want me as his bride? What if I don't want him? I mean Theon and I are friends, but I know what he gets up to, he's a lot like Tyrion in that respect except not as smart," Freya pointed out, clinging to this last bit of hope. Theon is Robb's best friend, he would not take the girl his friend loves, has loved for most of his life.

"Need I remind you that you now have full-blood rights? You would go with a huge dowry considering that you are a Lannister, which is something that the Greyjoys could use. Even if Theon wanted to say no out of loyalty to Robb Stark, as heir to the Iron Islands he must do as his family says and I highly doubt they would turn this down," Jamie pointed out.

"Did you know," Freya asked, anger burning in her eyes.

"I did not little lion, I swear I did not," Jamie said earnestly.

Freya's fists clenched and her nails dug painfully into her palms. She drew a ragged breath and shook her head trying to clear the tears that were clouding her vision. Without a word she pushed away from the table and rushed from the room. Jamie rose to go after her, but Cersei waved him off.

"Give chase to her in a moment, I want to comend you this plan love," Cersei whispered. "Who would have thought you could be this calculating? Is she truly betrothed to the Greyjoy boy?"

"It would seem so, now all she has to do is journey north and present herself to her groom, which will also mean breaking off her engagement to the Stark at the same time. They'll both be here in the capitol soon enough where we can keep an eye on the new lovers," Jamie said easily.

Cersei nodded at him a smug smile on her face. "And she doesn't suspect a thing, console her, have her write to Stark and demand answers to these rumors. Let her think there is a way out of this and that you will help her find it. She will rely on you all the more, she'll be in the palm of your hand, ripe for the taking."

Jamie bowed slightly to his sister before striding to the door. "And take her I will," he said to himself before going after Freya.

...

It didn't take long to find her, she had made her way back to her room and thrown herself on the bed. Tears slipped silently down her face as she curled into a ball, desperate to understand how this could be happening. Snow jumped onto the bed and curled up next to her licking her face. Freya managed a weak smile as she scratched the direwolf's head.

The door to her chamber creaked and she sat up in surprise to see who had opened the door. Jamie stood there staring at her for a moment before stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. He crossed to her bed and sat down on the edge of it, taking her hand in his.

"I know we've talked about this before, but do you love him," Jamie asked her.

"I do, more than anything else," Freya said sincerely.

"Then don't give up on him, yes this engagement to the Greyjoy is a problem, and there are rumors about Stark being unfaithful, but we can figure this out. If there is a way out of this we will find it for you. You should write to him and find out if these rumors are true though, before you do anything else. Do you want to be with someone who dishonors you in such a way," Jamie asked.

"They aren't true," Freya cried. "He wouldn't do that, Robb loves me, he swore he would not look at another while I was gone, he's never been with anyone but me." Freya realized what she had admitted to after she said it. She immediately looked away from Jamie, a hot pink blush racing across her face.

"You've been with him," Jamie asked. Jamie stared at her, he could see from the way she was acting that it was true. He didn't even have to hear it.

"It was the first time for both of us," Freya admitted.

"How do you know it was his first time?"

"He told me he had never been with another."

"Yes, but Freya, Robb Stark is a man, and I know a few things about men," Jamie said carefully. "We will go to great lengths to get what we want especially as far as women and sex are concerned."

"He wouldn't lie to me," Freya said angrily.

"I didn't come to argue with you, I simply think that for a young man who has only been with one girl, these rumors are highly suspect. Someone is lying, and while we don't know where these rumors have come from there is an easy way to solve this, write to him, ask him if they are true. You should speak to Lord Varys, he can tell you anything you want to know, knowledge is his trade afterall."

"I don't want anything from the spider," Freya snapped.

"The spider can tell you the truth, he has little birds all over Westeros and they whisper to him," Jamie explained. "If you don't want to hear it from another, send a letter to your love and find out for yourself. See what he has to say for himself."

Jamie rose from the bed and crossed to Freya's desk, collecting a book, a piece of paper, a quill, and an inkwell. He brouth them back to her and sat next to her on the bed. Freya stared at him for a moment before picking up the quill and scribbling a note.

Robb,

There are rumors swirling that I dare not believe, but I am far from you and thur far from the truth. I need to know if these rumors are true my love. I need to know if what they are saying at court is true.

Freya

Jamie rolled the note up and sealed it for her. "I'll have this sent out immediately, you'll have your answer soon enough little lion," he said as he made for the door.

"Jamie," Freya called after him. "If its true..."

"Then I will hurt him as he has hurt you."

...

Freya skipped both days of tourney, she preferred the solitude of her room while she awaited word back from Robb. She didn't know if she could face the Starks while she doubted Robb and she certainly couldn't face Cersei. The Queen was not likely to let her forget this slight against their family.

Jamie arrived at her chamber later that day though to tell her what had happened. He had been unhorsed, he was pretty sure it was because she was not there to support him, but he meant it jokingly. He also told her about Ser Hugh and what the Mountain had done to him, and the fight between Ser Loras and the Mountain that the Hound had to break up.

"Any word yet," Jamie finally asked.

"No, nothing," Freya said sadly. It had been a few days since she had written, she had expected some sort of reply by now. A knock sounded at her door and Jamie moved to answer it.

"Lord Stark to see the lady," the servant announced.

"Let him in," Freya said as she rose to greet him. Jamie stared impassively at Lord Stark as he swept into the room.

"Might I have a word with you alone Freya," Eddard requested.

"Certainly, Jamie will you excuse us," Freya asked politely. She gave Jamie a weak smile as he nodded at her and moved to the door. Once the door was shut she turned back to Lord Stark. "What can I do for you my Lord?"

"I am going back to Winterfell, I have resigned as Hand of the King, Robert... well it does not matter what he wants, I will not do it. My daughters and I are going, back if you wish to return with us, I will arrange for it," Lord Stark explained.

"The king ordered me here for six months, its only been one, as much as I want to go home, I can't. There is no telling what he would do if I left, things are complicated enough right now," Freya replied. She wasn't sure that she could tell him, about the rumors and the betrothal. She didn't know how to explain it, but if anyone would have the answers he would. "I must tell you something though, before you leave. My father wrote me two days ago, it would seem that I am betrothed to another, have been since I was a child, he refuses to let me marry Robb while I am engaged. There are also rumors from Winterfell, I fear there might be some truth to them."

"Words are wind Freya, is there any proof to this betrothal or of these rumors," Lord Stark asked her. He knew how much her breaking this engagement would hurt his son. "He loves you, you know that, do not doubt that."

"It's hand not to when there are so many others telling me what to think," Freya countered.

"I will not tell you what to think, you have your own mind with your own thoughts. I will tell you that I know my son, I know of the depth of his feelings for you, whatever these rumors are, they matter not in comparison to that love," Lord Stark explained. "As for this betrothal to Theon... I know nothing of this, this is truly the first I've heard of such a thing. This can be worked out just as easily from the north as it can from here. Come home with us, we will figure it all out then. You are a Lannister now, you can make your own choices, the king will understand that."

"When do you leave," Freya asked.

"Sunset," Lord Stark replied. "Will you come with us?"

"I will have to speak with Jamie, I can't leave without speaking to him first. I will send word to you as soon as possible," Freya said quickly.

"If you decide to come with us, we can not delay, be ready to go if that is what you chose," Lord Stark said as he moved toward the door. "Freya, I look forward to the day when I can call you daughter. You've always been a part of my family, do not doubt our love for you. We would never doubt your love for us."

"Thank you my lord, that means a great deal to me," Freya said with a smile. Lord Stark smiply nodded before taking his leave.

Let me be very clear with you all, the crap is about to hit the fan in a major way. It is all downhill from this point and will be for several chapters with brief glimpses of happiness. Please let me know what you think, because you guys keep me writing and I love hearing your ideas, as you saw I often try to include your suggestions in some way. Let me know what you think and how angry you are with me for doing this.