Hello everyone. Here is the new chapter. Hope you like it. May be I'll have to reread this one tomorrow morning and edit it a bit.
Chapter 36
"My prince," SmallJon Umber noticed him first. "He's back! Robb is back!"
Now everyone turned towards Robb, who was being escorted by the Brotherhood along with Grey Wind, whose wound was grave but healing. "Don't worry about him Prince Robb," the healer had said, "these beasts can take a beating, and can heal faster than man." Robb had felt immensely guilty on seeing Grey Wind in such condition, and vowed to keep a check on his impulses from now on. He often thought of Owen, and everytime he did a rusted knife seemed to have pierced his heart.
His friends ran towards them, each of them almost crying out of happiness. The Small Jon reached him first, and gave him a rib crushing hug. He let go, and patted him on his back.
"Where were you for this long," the SmallJon asked. It had almost been a day since Robb had gone missing.
"Long story," Robb replied loudly, so that everyone could hear. He could not bear to tell the same damn thing to the others when they would eventually come to meet him.
Sure enough, the SmallJOn was followed by his other Northern friends, Gallbart Glover, Dacey Mormont, Eddard and Harrion Karstark and the others. "You gave us quite a fright Robb," Dacey said to him. "For some time we thought the worst had happened, and were looking for you among the carcasses. I was wondering what I would tell you betrothed."
"Not to mention your father and family," Gallbart Glover said, his grey eyes blank and steely.
"Where is Owen? Did anyone find him," Harrion Karstark asked.
"He is dead. The Ironborn killed him when they ambushed me."
"What! Tell us what happened to you my prince. How did Owen die? Why is the wolf injured? We need to hear it," Dacey demanded. Robb then narrated the whole story about his recent 'adventure'. Everyone was stunned.
"Victarion Greyjoy baited you," Clement Piper asked, perplexed.
"Aye," Robb replied, "he said that he wanted to kill me myself."
Gallbart Glover advanced toward the Brotherhood. "Many thanks to you for saving our leige," he said.
"It was no trouble," Thoros replied, wine glistening on his lips.
"We fight to save the realm," Beric Dondarrion said, and glanced towards Robb, "and all of its good men."
"We all owe you a great debt," Lord Glover continued, "ask for anything, and it will be yours."
Lord Beric advanced till he was inches away from Lord Glover, "if you want to give us something," he replied, "then all we ask for you is that you rule your lands justly, and put the people first before your lordly interests. DO this and we will owe you more than what we owe you now."
"Our king is ruling justly," Lord Glover said, "he always thinks about the people first."
"Does he," Beric cocked his eyebrow, "why don't you ask your king what his pet snake has been up to these days."
"Prince Oberyn," Robb asked, shocked.
"Aye that's the one," Thoros of Myr said.
"We will look into it my lord," Gallbart Glover replied. "If you want you can join us," he added after considering for a moment.
"We are the Brotherhood without banners," Lord Beric said, and all of a sudden there was a fiery look in his eyes, "we don't fight for any lord."
Gallbart Glover gave him a hard look, and nodded. "Let me tell you something," he said, "the work you are doing, it won't bring you any glory. Some day you all will be hanged for traitors and outlaws, and that's how the people will remember you over the course of history. If this is the life you want, then run along and do your 'duty', as you like calling it that."
Lord Beric's features were still steel, but Thoros looked a little uncertain.
The Brotherhood started leaving, but Robb was still not done. "Wait Lord Beric," he shouted out.
"Let them go boy," Lord Glover rasped, and Robb was taken aback by use of the word 'boy.' He ignored it. "You can still fight for the realm by siding with us. The Ironborn are almost gone from the West, their only remaining dwelling place being Crakehall. Help us defeating them, and come to Riverrun with us. There you would still be defending the realm, but there you will be bestowed proper glory for your work." Robb thought of something else, and added in, "the honor of my father is famous throughout the Seven Kingdoms, even you won't deny it. He will be very interested to hear what you have to say to him about his men ravaging the common folk."
Lord Beric considered his appeal, and gave a short smile. "We will march to Crakehall with you, that is all I can say for certain right now."
Robb felt himself smile. "You and your men will be provided rest my lord," he said to Beric, "and will be notified once the time of marching arrived."
Robb and the others then departed to their tents which were raised by his men a short distance away from the battlefield. As he was about to enter his tent, he was rudely grabbed someone from behind. He turned around to come face to face with Lord Glover.
"Next time you catch even a whiff of Theon Greyjoy, you come to me," he said, and walked away after shoving Robb into his tent.
Robb lay down on the cushions, his aching body moaning in relief. He might have slep for a short while, when he was awoken by his squire. "My prince," he said, "we have had a message, from Crakehall."
Robb got up, and was handed a parchment by the squire. He broke the brindled boar seal of Crakehall, and started reading.
Robb Stark,
Well done. You have saved thousands of innocents from the devil Ironborn. You are great, as is you father. I know you must be planning to go to Crakehall to visit us also. I am sending this message from Harrenhal, on behalf of my kin in Crakehall as they won't be able to communicate with you due to the unexpected 'visitors' there. Here is what I wish to tell you. We are sworn men of House Lannister, and will continue to be even if you save us from the Krakens and the Others combined. If you come here and liberate us, you will face oppression from us, for you are an enemy of House Lannister.
I write to you to make you aware that we don't need help or favours from the foes of House Lannister. Let us fend for ourselves.
Lyle Crakehall
Robb crumbled the parchment so hard that his nails dug into his palm, and threw it away. "Call the war council," Robb ordered, anger and extreme hurt bubbling in his heart, "and tell the men not to let anyone out of Lannisport. Don't worry about any boat or ship, the Ironborn must have destroyed them already. We are laying seige to Casterly Rock."
The squire started leaving to follow the command, when Robb stopped him. He cursed himself for taking such a decision. "I have changed my mind," he said, thinking hard, "tell everyone to get ready to march back to the Riverlands. Leave proper garrison in the castles we captured, so that they can be kept under check, for they have sworn fealty to us."
For the first time in his life, Robb Stark felt lost.
"The Queen has not responded to my raven," the King said, "it would be best to wait how this conflict with Stannis turns out."
Margaery nodded. "So all we are doing now is waiting, nothing else," she inferred.
The King laughed. "This is war Margaery," he said, "such times of peace come rarely, and we have to use it to save our strength whenever they come." He paused. "I still remember what you told me that other day," he said, "and let me tell you that from what I hear, Kevan Lannister has bought food from the free cities to feed the Capital. It should suffice for a time, and we don't have to think about any impending famine there for now."
Margaery knew she couldn't let frustration take over her. The king was right in one way, the Stark army had no reason to meddle in between Stannis and the Lannisters.
"Is there anything else you wish to tell me," the King asked.
"Yes your grace," she said, "my grandmother wrote to me. She plans on visiting Riverrun with my mother and the others, and have already left Highgarden."
"Arrangements would be made for their stay," the King said.
"That is good to hear your grace," Margaery said, "she also added that it would be best that I am wed to Robb during the period of his visit, for she won't be able to make another visit to Riverrun. You should send for Robb immediately your grace."
The King thought on this. "It will be done," he said finally.
They were deep in the Wolfswood when they stopped to let the horses catch their breath. "Time for breakfast," someone announced, and unpacked their food. They attacked the food as soon as it was open, and that was when Theon remembered the princess. "Open her ropes," he commanded, "and feed her something."
"Prince Theon," someone interrupted.
"I said feed her," he forced.
She was dumped along with their other stuff when they camped in the Wolfswood. The men brought her to him, and Theon noticed her shivering. They opened the ropes binding her, and strated uncovering her.
Sure enough, the hair were dark auburn as Theon remembered. But a knot tightened in his stomach as the rest of her face was uncovered. He got up, and punched the man opening her so hard that he heard something break with a sickening crack beneath her fist.
"You fools," he shouted, drenched with hopelessness and dismay, "this is not Sansa Stark," he heard himself say her name, "this is Beth Cassel!"
My holidays are about to end, and so is my quick posting.
Please let me know of your thoughts on this chapter. Reviews are running a little dry. Please review!
TheSwordInTheDarkness310