Robb didn't want to leave Winterfell, he didn't want to go south to King's Landing and marry Mya, and he didn't want to leave Bran all alone. Yet Theon promised Robb again and again that he would keep Bran safe.
Bran, gods, Robb worried so much for him! Bran had gained a new expression, one of angry defiance; it was the same look that Sansa had often worn before she had begged to go to Essos with Mother. Bran spent much of his time in the Godswood now, he said he found being near the tree soothing. Bran hated that he couldn't walk, and hated being carried by Hodor, but Maester Lewin had designed a basket that at least gave Barn a bit of dignity. Only doors were a problem now, as Hodor sometimes forgot that Bran was on his back.
The timing was bad, Robb was going to miss the Harvest Feast, Bran would have to accept the pledges of fealty, gods, he hoped that Bran was up to it. Bran had begged him not to go, but he didn't have a choice. When Bran had realised that he couldn't talk Robb out of going he had begged him to bring Arya home. Robb would try, but he didn't like his chances.
Robb had kept his company small, choosing speed over ceremony. He travelled with five guards, Grey Wind, and little gear. They started early every day and rode late, Robb avoided inns and holdfasts, he had no wish in announcing his presence with such a small party. They slept in ditches, and under hedges, but it didn't matter. The sooner Robb got to King's Landing the sooner he could go home. They made record time, arriving at King's Landing in just over three and a half weeks. They slipped into King's Landing late in the afternoon, quiet and unannounced, the gates of the Red Keep were not so kind however. Robb was tired and muddy, and the guards did not want to believe him when he told them his name. Grey Wind growled and Robb asked the guards if they had seen anybody other than a Stark with a direwolf? They were still unconvinced, but it was enough to send for one of Father's men to identify him.
It was late by the time they reached the Tower of the Hand, and Arya was already asleep. But father ensured that hot baths, hot food, and clean sheets greeted them. Father agreed with his decision to put speed above appearances. The next morning one of Father's best doublet's, the white one with a grey direwolf carefully embroidered on it, was there to greet him, and somebody had cleaned and brushed his furs during the night. The doublet was an instruction, not a request, and Robb new better than to argue, even if it was slightly too large for him.
Robb had slept late, and father was nowhere to be seen. Grey Wind was curled up in a ball with Nymeria and Lady when Robb finally emerged from his room, and Arya was sitting at a table with Mya, Alys, Jorelle, and a dark haired young man that Robb didn't know. They had quills and parchment out, and seemed to be practicing their writing.
Arya jumped up from the table at the sight of Robb, sending an ink pot flying. Alys and Jorelle scrambled to contain the mess but Arya was oblivious. Robb caught her ink-covered wrist just before she threw her arms around him. "Ink." He muttered.
Arya froze and looked at her arm, ink dripping down it, her gaze then shifted to his white doublet. "Shit." She muttered.
Robb smirked. "That's not very lady like." Arya gave him an unamused look and he laughed. "Here, put your arms straight up and I'll hug you, then we can go wash your hands," He noticed the ink on his fingers. "Our hands." Arya did as he asked and he hugged her tightly, careful not to get his inky hand on her, and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "C'mon, show me where the basin is."
Arya pulled a face. "They don't have running water here, can you believe that? They keep the water in jugs!"
No running water? Winterfell had hot and cold running water, what did they do, dredge their water up in buckets from a well like some of the lesser northern keeps? "Wow, and they say we're the barbarians." He muttered.
Arya led him to the basin and he helped her scrub the ink off of herself, by some miracle he got them both clean without staining his white top. Gods, he hated wearing white, Theon's banner suggestion was sounding better and better. Arya chatted away happily as they made their way back to the common room. She seemed happy here, she told him about Gendry, and Martyn and Willem Lannister. She told him about how boring court was, and how much fun it was watching the King train Gendry with the war hammer. She pulled a face and told Robb that she couldn't lift it.
Then she grew serious and asked about Bran and his direwolf. Robb told her what he could, but did not share his concerns for Bran, he told her that Bran missed her and wanted her home. That Bran had named his direwolf 'Summer'.
Arya contemplated the name for a while. "Summer seems like a good name at first," She muttered. "Hopeful, but it's the opposite of our words, and too much summer can bright drought and death as sure as winter can kill, look at Dorne." Her frown deepened. "It's almost as if Bran is saying he's not a Stark anymore."
Robb shook his head. "I think you're reading too much into it." He muttered, but her words disturbed him, Arya could be incredibly insightful at times, so could Bran, it often left Robb wondering what cruel trick had caused him to be the oldest. 'Old souls' Old Nan often called them, people not walking through their first life.
Eventually proper introductions were done between Prince Gendry and himself, they were of a similar age, and Gendry seemed rather easy-going and good natured. The arrival of the Lannister twins prompted that it was time to move to the training yard. Robb immediately noticed the change in Gendry's body language at their arrival. Robb had been going to decline the invitation to train, but Gendry's actions changed his mind. As they trained Robb did his best to observe, an hour into the session King Robert and Father arrived, the King with a giant war hammer in his hands. Everybody fell back to watch as the King trained with Gendry, and Robb soon found himself standing beside his Father.
"What have you observed?" Ned Stark asked of him. Not 'hello', not 'good morning', straight into the lesson.
Robb went to raise his chin then stopped himself, they were in a dangerous place, there was no time to take offence. "Gendry is very protective of Arya." He said quietly. "And he doesn't trust the Lannister twins."
"Very good." Ned replied. "Why?"
"Because their intentions seem less than honourable." Robb answered. "Martyn especially is too familiar with her."
Ned nodded. "Good, and Gendry, what do you think of him?"
"I… I need to get to know him better." Robb hedged.
"No you don't, you already have an opinion." Ned challenged. "What do you think of him?"
"I like him…" Robb muttered.
"But?" Ned pushed.
"He doesn't have the makings of a King, at least not yet, he's too gentle."
Ned nodded. "We agree then. You're going to publicly invite him back to Winterfell on your wedding day, it's our best chance of getting Arya home, you'll take three quarters of my guard with you, and you'll prepare for war."
"What about you?!" Robb whispered, concerned.
Ned chuckled. "They won't dare hurt me while you have Gendry. Keep him close, make him your friend, make him love the North. King Robert wants to betroth him to Arya, we're going to give him that. Gendry's a good lad, whatever happens, keep him safe."
"Keep him safe, and keep him in the North." Robb muttered.
"Yes." Ned agreed. "Same with Theon, keep him by your side. Do not let him go back to the Iron Islands, no matter how good his intentions. While Balon cannot see how he's treated the threat is implied, Balon need not know that we would never harm Theon. If you need Balon's ships do not ask, order it. Once you are home, send word to Helman Tallhart and Galbart Glover under my seal. They are to raise a hundred bowmen each and fortify Moat Cailin's existing forces. Two hundred determined archers can hold the Neck against an army. Instruct Lord Manderly that he is to strengthen and repair all his defences at White Harbor, and see that they are well manned."
"So, should it come to war we back Gendry, but keep him with us?" Robb questioned.
"Yes." Ned agreed. "Gendry with Arya at his side, do not allow him to leave the North unwed."
"Stannis will attempt to refute his claim." Robb observed.
"Yes, no doubt he will." Ned agreed. "But maybe Jon will be home by then."
Robb looked at his father in shock. "You're not suggesting…?"
"Winter is coming." Ned said quietly. "But we will see more war before then, I can feel it, tension bubbling just below the surface. There is going to be a battle for the line of succession. You will use whatever tools available to you to protect the North, to protect our family, even if you have to sacrifice me to do it."
"Father?!" Robb exclaimed, if the truth of Jon was revealed Ned would be executed, no question.
"Do you think my life is some precious thing? To be protected at the cost of everything we love? That is an order, Lord Stark, I am a soldier, I learnt how to die a long time ago." Ned replied. "Now smile, no need for Arya to worry."
~~/~~
Father had once told Robb that he woke up with fear in the morning and went to bed with fear at night. Robb hadn't believed him. Then Robb had learnt the truth about Jon, but even then he had not been afraid. Then Bran had been pushed from a window and the news about Sansa had arrived. Jon had gone after Sansa, and hadn't been heard from since, and Father and Arya had been ordered south. That was when Robb had started to worry, but there is a difference between worry and fear, Robb still did not truly understand. It was only today, on his wedding day, that Robb truly knew fear for the first time. He was about to marry a woman that loved a man he considered a brother, but that was not why he was afraid, he was about to marry a King's daughter with treason in his heart.
He had found few opportunities to speak with Mya, and none of them private. But perhaps that was a good thing? Even if he had he wouldn't have known what to say. He had been called to a couple of small council meetings to discuss the wedding, and had been told in no uncertain terms that he had no choice in regards to a bedding ceremony. Gendry had been there, and had looked uncomfortable in his behalf. Yet he couldn't speak privately with Gendry either.
Gendry and Arya's betrothal had been announced yesterday afternoon, and she was still brooding over not being consulted on the matter beforehand. Luckily it was only the King that she was angry at, but her bad mood had carried forward to this morning. He had only seen her briefly, as she rushed to Maegor's holdfast to break fast with Mya. Robb had decided not to comment as he watched her hastily strap a dagger to her lower leg. She was to be part of Mya's pre wedding preparations, along with a handful of other high born ladies such as Margaery Tyrell. If she felt that required a dagger who was he to argue? Besides, if anybody could keep Arya out of trouble it would be Mya.
The wedding itself came all too soon, afterwards Robb would recall little of it, and the feast and entertainment afterwards was a unique type of torment that he was unaccustomed to. Men that he did not know, from places that he did not care about, offered him false gratitudes constantly. There were long empty speeches, and the wine was too strong, it was going to his head. He needed to invite Gendry to Winterfell whilst he was still capable of coherent speech.
Robb pushed himself to his feet and swayed a little. "I'm going to have to switch to water soon if I want to remember my wedding night." He muttered, people cracked up laughing, others cheered. Robb frowned and shook his head, which was a mistake. "I'm serious, this wine is very strong." People laughed and cheered again.
"Dornish red, a little too much bite for your tastes perhaps?" Somebody said. Oberyn, Oberyn Martell, that was his name.
Robb raised his cup. "To the Dornish then." People cheered and drank as Robb tried to gather his thoughts, he turned to Mya. "On a more serious note, to Mya." People cheered and drank again. "Mya, when you left Winterfell so many moons ago I was happy for you, happy that you had an opportunity to get to know your father, but I was also concerned. I was concerned that you might not find your way back home again. Winterfell is your home, it has been your home since the day Jon Arryn brought you to us, although I think we may need to change your room."
People laughed and cheered, Mya smiled and Robb felt less nervous. "Since you left home you've gained a name, a title," He gestured to Gendry. "A brother, but you already had a home, I hope you know that. Your role there may change now, but you have always belonged."
More cheering and applause. Robb took a deep breath, he felt suddenly brave, perhaps the wine was loosening his tongue, but he didn't care, there was a matter than needed to be addressed. He put his cup down. "I… I know I am not the Stark brother whose eye you hoped to catch…" He frowned. "Jon may not be a Stark in name, but Stark blood flows through his veins, whatever name he goes by he will always be a brother to me." People weren't laughing now, they'd gone quiet.
Robb looked around. "I know we're not supposed to talk about it, we're supposed to put on a show and pretend we are in love, but this is not a love match, it's a political marriage." He returned his attention to Mya. "I know Jon has a place in your heart, and I know that you will do your duty, as I will do mine. I want to make you a promised…" He glanced at his father, then returned his attention to Mya. "I will try to do better at living in my brother's shadow than my father did at living in Brandon's."
"Robb," Mya sighed.
Robb raised a hand and stopped her. "Don't, Winterfell will always be your home, and I will always do my best by you. If we are lucky, love may grow between us in time, I only ask that you make me one promise: do not ever tell me that you love me, unless it is true. For if you say it I will believe you." Damnit, he could feel tears in the corners of his eyes.
Robb looked around at the hundreds of guests, everyone on of them had stopped eating and put their cups down, every one of them was silent and watching him. He picked up his goblet and took a sip. "You are pack, Mya, you have been pack from the first day that you came to Winterfell, I always knew in my heart that you would one day be family, it just didn't happen the way that I expected."
He looked around at the guests. "But enough of this serious talk, this is meant to be a celebration, so charge your goblets, I'm going to make a toast." He waited until the majority of people had lifted their cups. "To family, in all it's changing forms. This is a time to rejoice, for as the woman that I once thought might become a sister instead becomes my wife, I also gain a brother. Gendry, I want you to come back to Winterfell with us, to get to know the place your sister calls home, the place your future wife calls home. I intended to take Arya back with me anyway to help Mya settle into her role as the Lady of Winterfell. In the name of family, will you come?"
Gendry nodded. "How could I decline… brother."
It was a better response than Robb had hoped for, he raised his goblet higher. "To family!" He yelled.
"To family!" The guests yelled back and drained their glasses.
Robb drained his too and sat back down, the servant that refilled it filled it with water, not wine, and for that he was thankful. The previously cheerful mood slowly returned as the entertainment continued.
"I'm sorry." Ned Stark whispered from the seat beside him. "I did not know."
"I know." Robb replied. "But you also did not ask."
~~/~~