A/N: Hello everyone. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Robb is my favourite character in asoiaf and he definitely deserves better. I will be using elements from both books and the show. Please note that this is my first time writing a fic and english isn't my first language. All reviews and follows and favorites are much appreciated.
Robb navigated his way through the trees. There was hardly anyone in the Godswood and the gates to the eastern part of the castle were closed, so he went South instead. He heard Greywind shuffle behind him. So, he tracked his gaze to the walls of Hunter's Gate and bristled himself when he saw. Not the white banner emblazoned with the direwolf of Stark, but a black banner with a red flayed man upside down. Roose Bolton.
His fingers gripped the sword harder. He wanted nothing more than to march inside the castle, throw the traitor on ground, and pummel him to death. The look on his face when he sees a man he killed will certainly be something to remember.
But Robb understood that the banner of Bolton meant that the castle is most probably swarming with Bolton soldiers. Hide, Robb commanded Greywind without the need of speaking as he had learnt long ago, and sheathed the sword in the scabbard tied around his waist. It was slightly bigger than the sword but it did the work.
He bypassed the kennels and traversed his way to the courtyard, hiding behind walls taking care not to be seen. It wasn't very hard, the castle was rather empty. Just then, the gates opened and Bolton soldiers flooded through. They must have just entered through the East gate. Robb had to quickly crouch and hide himself behind a weapons rack.
The condition of their arms and shields clearly showed that they have been through a fight. A man went ahead of others and stood on a platform. His face was ugly and his skin was pink, but what drew Robb's attention was his eyes- small, close-set, and oddly pale, like two chips of dirty ice. Roose Bolton's eyes, the realization dawned, The Bastard of the Dreadfort.
"Another great victory for the Great house of Bolton" he shouted, raising his sword whose hilt was made of yellow bone. The men cheered as he stepped down. These men have been in a battle but with whom? Northmen, was his first thought but if so then they are defeated. Robb heard a soldier from his hiding spot, "Did anyone see Stannis' body? It is possible that he survived". "Doesn't matter" his companion said, "He has lost his army. He ran from Battle of the Blackwater, if he runs from here, he is The King who Ran". "Aye", a third man piped from somewhere, "It's more pity we couldn't find his famed red priestess for ourselves." The courtyard was filled with crude laughter.
It was Stannis. And he has been defeated, Robb tried to peer around but couldn't find Roose. Robb knew he had to escape from here or he would be found and killed. But escape where? Bannermen like Mormonts or Manderlys or Umbers will take him in without hesitation. But do they even have their castles with them or have they too been replaced?
His father had told him that all of his siblings were alive. But Robb knew the whereabouts of only one. Jon. His brother had taken the black all those years ago. If only he had been with me … But this was no time for woes. Jon was still at Castle Black up north. Lord Commander Mormont must have returned from his ranging mission past The Wall. If Robb can get there, he can finally assess the situation that has been going on after his 'death' and then plan accordingly. But I have to get out of here first.
It was easier said than done. The place was filled with Roose's men. He won't be able to move from here undetected, let alone the gates of Winterfell. There were a few secret ways out the castle but Roose must have already found and sealed them all. All except …
Robb and Jon had once decided to scare their siblings in the crypts of Winterfell. The plan was simple enough, Robb would bring Sansa, Arya and baby Bran, and Jon would cover himself in flour and step out of an open tomb. All they needed was a good spot with an open tomb.
Sansa had run shrieking for the stairs and Bran had wrapped himself around Robb's leg, sobbing. But Arya had stood her ground and gave Jon a punch, and proceeded to scold her elder brothers for scaring the baby. All four of them had ended in laughter. The memory made Robb smile for the first time in what seemed ages.
While the plan wasn't a complete success, the brothers had, in their search, went past the tombs of their grandfather, Brandon and Lyanna, all the way to the end and found a narrow stairway, its entrance was cleverly hidden behind the tomb of some old lord of Winterfell, his face as serious as his direwolf's. They had revisited the tomb next morning with torches, and went up the dark tunnel. The steps were of stone and it was filled with dust and spiders, but neither of the boys wanted to be the first one to suggest to go back, so they had kept going. When they finally reached the end, they found a trapdoor with the insignia of Stark direwolf. It took some effort but Robb had managed to open it. The sunlight came pouring through, he had to shut his eyes to avoid being blinded by it. The floor he climbed upon was covered in leaves. He was in Wolfswood. Jon had followed after and the boys had felt very proud. They never told anyone about it, not even their Lord Father because they still used it to sneak out of the castle at night a few times without anyone knowing just for the thrill of it.
The crypts, I must get to the crypts. Robb knew he could no longer crouch his way so he prayed to the Old Gods that these soldiers were far too intoxicated in their victory to notice someone is not in his grave. He took a deep breath and started walking briskly towards the bridge that led to the armory, keeping his head down. Most men were busy trading swords they had taken off Stannis' men's corpses. This will likely end in a fight.
Robb accidently bumped into a man but kept walking. The man shouted from behind, "What's your hurry? The war's over". As long as I am standing, the war is not over.
Thankfully no one else noticed him going up the stairs and the bridge was empty. Until a Bolton soldier started walking straight towards him from the other side. Robb made sure that his sword is well hidden from his eyes.
"Great victory for the Boltons, ey"? He seemed very happy.
"Great victory, aye". Robb started walking faster hoping to pass him as soon as possible.
"You won't believe the price we're getting for these swords in the armory".
"That is indeed good to hear".
The man saw that Robb only had one sword. "You did not take any thing off the stags"?
"I wasn't fighting in the battle".
"Then why're you wearing such fancy armor-" The man didn't complete his sentence but took a step back with widened eyes and he reached for his sword in alarm. "WHY DO YOU HAVE WOLVES ON YOUR CHESTPLATE"?!
DAMN!
Robb drew out his sword from the scabbard, gripping it with both hand and faced it to his side. The man raised his sword overhead and brought it down, clearly aiming for the middle of his skull. Robb swung his sword in an arc and deflected his attack. The impact of the clash threw the soldier's hand to his side and before he could recover, Robb thrust his sword into the man's neck killing him, blood spurting as he drew out the sword.
Robb looked at his own chest. Idiot! He had been walking like this in front of everyone in the courtyard. And now there is a dead body to deal with. There was no place to hide the body and there was blood on him as well. Robb now only had the choice to keep hidden while moving and if he is spotted then he has to make a run for the crypts.
Robb left the dead man lying there and crossed the bridge to the armory. Whichever Bolton wasn't it the courtyard was in the armory making a lot of noise. Robb hid himself behind unused counters. Mikken was no where to be seen but then again, Mikken would've never agreed to work for Boltons. They killed him, Robb's tongue tasted bitter, they killed him because he resisted against usurpers and traitors. He crouched his way to the outside expecting more soldiers to deal with, but no, there wasn't a single soldier in the Guards Hall. They're all in the armory, this is my chance.
But the Fate had limits on the kindness they give rarely. There were six guards sitting outside the crypts. Robb closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Greywind, to me!
Robb walked down the stairs and directly towards the guards, holding his sword in his hand. They were boasting about their kills during the battle. One of them spotted him coming. "You have no business her-", Robb rushed and grabbed his arm and drove his sword into his heart straight through his armor. One.
Robb widened his stance, as the sound of steel being drawn filled the air. The others had surrounded him. A guard cried behind him, Robb sidestepped his attack, bringing down his sword onto his palms and quickly lifting and plunging into his chest, the sword breaking through the armor like it wasn't even there. The sword singing a song of its own. Two.
Then two of the guards attacked him together, one thrusting while the other swinging. Robb sidestepped the thrust and quickly grabbed the thruster's arm while ducking and shoved him away as the other's sword sailed harmlessly overhead. Before he could recover from his own swing, Robb stabbed him in his side and slashed the sword out. The thruster had hardly gotten up from the ground when Robb stabbed him on his side too. Three and Four.
The remaining two looked at each other. They are not going to attack, Robb swung at the closer one. He managed to catch the blow with his sword but Robb kicked him hard on his crotch, felling the guard to his knees and plunging his sword into his face. Five.
Robb looked behind. The sixth's face had scrunched up in horror. He had gotten a spear from somewhere but was hesitating. He managed to muster up courage and charge directly at him. Robb held his sword in one hand but he made no move. That only got him bolder. But as he got close, he was tackled to the ground by the great grey direwolf who tore his throat out. Six. And the song ends.
And only then did Robb realize that the runes engraved on the blade of his sword were glowing blue. If Robb had seen this a few moons, nay, few years prior he would have gawked at his sword for days. But now … Might as well.
The runes stopped glowing. Robb sighed and sheathed it back to his wooden scabbard. Better go before someone comes out.
He opened the old and heavy ironwood door, took the narrow and winding spiral stone steps down the uppermost level. His ever-loyal friend following him inside. The crypts were a cavernous vault larger than Winterfell itself. A floor has a long line of granite pillars, two by two, between which are entombed the dead of House Stark. He has to reach the last tomb of this floor.
But when the most recent tombs of the crypts are within his sight, he halts. Before the crypt of his grandfather, stands a man looking at the face of Lord Rickard with smug satisfaction. His smile reached his eyes.
"You do not belong here".
Roose Bolton turns to find the speaker and what he sees unnerves him to his core. His face scrunches in confusion which in turn morphs into disbelief when Greywind appears behind his human. And no amount of blinking is making the dead go away. "This is not possible", Bolton's voice now more than whispers. Robb and Greywind keep their faces expressionless, "The North Remembers" his voice pure ice.
"What sorcery is this?! GUARDS"!
"No one can hear you Bolton. No one can help you".
Roose's face went white as snow, he glanced back but he seemed afraid of dark, on rather what more waits for him in the dark. He draws his sword and attacks him but Robb easily steps out of the arc and grabs Bolton's wrist. His fingers digging into his skin. You should've worn armor. He rams his mailed fist onto Bolton's face and sends him to the floor. His head makes a cracking sound when it hits the floor.
"Roose Bolton, you have broken your oath to your liege, you have betrayed the kingdom of The North, you have defied the ways of the Old Gods", there was darkness and cold all around him and yet Bolton had broken into sweat, "Speak your last words", Robb commanded.
Roose looked around the crypts, angry gazes of the Starks, living and dead, old and new, Lords and Kings, all bore into him. The iron longswords across their laps had failed. "You … are nothing but a child", his voice was forced, "And a foolish one if you think you've won, you will always be the King who lost the North", Bolton spat. The crypts were deadly quiet except for Bolton's heavy breathing.
Robb brought his face, cold as his voice, near his, "Your words will disappear, your name will disappear, and all that will remain of you will be a lesson to all turncloaks. Your story will be that of the snake who destroyed his own house. House Bolton will not continue, this I swear to you. Your soul will never find peace. This … is your judgement".
Bolton swallows and can no longer keep horror out of his face. He couldn't force any more words out before Greywind pounced on him and started to tear him apart. His shrieks were loud and in the end, Roose Bolton did not remain true to his nature.
Robb hears shouts coming from the entrance of the crypts. They have found the bodies. Robb sprints for the last tomb on the floor, Greywind in his tow. They find the secret stairway behind tomb of 'Lord grave-face' as the boys had dubbed their poor ancestor and followed it to the trapdoor. Robb had worried that Greywind would struggle with the narrow pathway but the direwolf managed without complaining. Robb pushed at the heavy trapdoor with all his strength and opened it. He climbed out of the tunnel into the woods of wolfswood and stretched his legs, his direwolf copying him. He closed back the trapdoor and covered it with leaves to prevent anyone stumbling upon it.
He looked towards the north. Now I just have to get to Castle Black … without a horse. Robb sighed but as soon as he did so, Greywind nudged his shoulder. Robb understood his friend's meaning immediately. "You certain"? 'Yes', he seemed to say.
He carefully climbed onto the direwolf's back and wrapped his arms around him, clutching his fur and hoping to not fall. When the direwolf took off towards Castle Black, Robb knew that he had named Greywind aptly.
So I originally had Robb punch Roose to death, but I think shaking him up mentally is better. A man he betrayed and killed magically shows up out of blue in the tombs of his family to take revenge.
Technically, the war should end with Stannis' death as the last of the five kings is also killed, but here Robb is alive so until he gets his kingdom or dies in the attempt, the war continues in its last phase.
All characters belong to GRRM.