Warning: There is some graphic material in this chapter.
Myrcella followed the Greatjon and Dacey out of Maggy the Frog's shack. The witch had all but pushed them from the shack, stating she needed to prepare for whatever it was she was going to do to Robb. Looking back at the shack Myrcella realized that it was somehow bigger on the inside than on the outside. She tried not to dwell on the strange revelation. Dacey was informing the others of what had transpired and of how the woods witch agreed to help Robb.
"Forgive me milady." Griffin stated. "This is a bad idea. There are stories of women like this one. It's dangerous to trust her."
"We ain't got a choice." Greatjon muttered "Either we trust the bitch or we let his Grace die."
"What of payment? What's the price she's askin?" Dacey spoke next,
"We do not know. She already took Myrcella's necklace, she's only asking something of the three of us. You all need not worry about paying any sort of debt to the witch."
"But what is the price she's asking?" That was Jay.
"I think we're about to find out." The group turned, Maggy had silently emerged from the shack and stood waiting patiently.
"It's time to begin." She stated before turning and going back into the shack that was bigger on the inside. Myrcella took a breath and followed the mysterious witch, Greatjon and Dacey right behind her.
Maggy the Frog stood next to the hearth in the shack, twirling a long, sharp knife in her hands, Myrcella couldn't help but notice the strange ripples in the metal of the blade. It almost looked like Valyrian steel. After Ned Stark's execution Joffrey had taken House Stark's ancestral sword, a massive Valyrian steel great sword and paraded around court with it. The first spoil of war, he had said. Valyrian steel was incredibly rare, how the witch came to own a Valyrian steel dagger, Myrcella didn't really want to know.
"Right then. Who's first?" Maggy asked with a smirk looking at the trio before her. Her eyes landed on Myrcella.
"You little lioness." Myrcella stepped forward. Maggy began to walk slowly around her, examining her with a critical eye. "Did you know I met your mother little Doe?" Myrcella frowned.
"My mother?"
"Aye, Cersei Lannister. Many years ago, that little bitch demanded I read her fortune." A faraway look overtook Maggy. "Queen you shall be… until there comes another, younger and more beautiful , to cast you down and take all that you hold dear." She finally looked back at Myrcella. "Your mother paid me in a drop of blood from her finger. I wonder… will yours be as bitter and vile as hers."
"I, I don't know." Myrcella stammered, confused as to how her mother could have possibly met this witch. Maggy smirked.
"Then blood is the price you must pay." Myrcella hesitantly held out her hand, thinking that the witch simply meant to prick her finger. Instead Maggy grabbed her wrist in an iron like grasp, pulling Myrcella's arm forward over the fire, she dug the knife into Myrcella's wrist cutting deeply across, pain shot up Myrcella's arm and instinctively she tried to free her wrist, but the witch held fast. Crimson blood spurted from the wound dripping from her wrist into the fire below. Finally, Maggy pulled the knife away, blood still flowing from the wound, too much blood. Myrcella felt woozy, she tore her gaze from the wound just in time to see Maggy lick the blood-soaked knife. The witch hummed and looked back at Myrcella, her eyes glowing.
"Interesting. Sweet-blooded Child of the Golden Lions, I see you in the song." The glow left Maggy's eyes and Myrcella stumbled back, clutching her wounded wrist with her right hand, trying to stop the blood flow. Two large hands grabbed her by the shoulders to stop her from collapsing. Greatjon pulled her aside, away from the witch. But Maggy's attention was now on Dacey. Maggy reached out and grabbed a strand of Dacey's hair. "Such beautiful hair. That will be your price she-bear."
"Wha- before Dacey even spoke, Maggie brought the still bloody knife up and cut the strand she held, that lock of hair was then thrown unceremoniously into the fire. She then forced Dacey onto her knees and roughly cut away the long brown tresses, throwing them into the fire. The room swam around Myrcella, her heart hammering in her chest, blood continued to drip down her wrist no matter how tightly she clutched it. In a matter of moments, Dacey's beautiful thick hair was completely gone. Maggy had shorn it almost to Dacey's scalp, which was bleeding in several places from the witch's brutal cutting. The acrid scent of burnt hair began to fill the space. Myrcella looked down at Robb's prone form, he was so pale, he already looked dead, darkness danced at the edges of Myrcella's vision. It was getting harder to breath, the smoke from the fire was completely filling the shack. Next to her Greatjon started to hack and cough. Maggy the Frog cackled. "And you oh mighty Greatjon Umber. I already knew your price as soon as we met. Your price is your damned voice!" The lord grabbed and clawed at his throat, wide-eyed. He continued to cough violently; blood began to drip from the corners of his mouth down into his beard. That terrifying glow returned Maggy the Frog's eyes. Her voice echoed loudly around them. "The Prices have been paid. The Young Wolf will be saved, do not enter here till the dawn comes." Something pushed Myrcella then she was outside. The door to the hut slammed shut and echoed around the clearing. Night had fallen. How long had they been in there? It had barely been midday. The world spun; people were talking. What were they saying? Someone was pulling her away from the shack, Myrcella looked back, there were shadows dancing along its walls, they almost looked like people and there were so many voices. But they spoke in no language she knew. But then there was someone speaking she could understand. Myrcella felt sick, Griffin the Woodsman's face swam into view. Was he yelling at her? Why was he yelling? Myrcella felt like she was floating, was Griffin shaking her? That was kind of rude. Myrcella tried to pull away, to speak but her tongue felt heavy in her mouth. Looking down she saw the blood flowing down her wrist. It looked so dark and red. The world was spinning so much, Myrcella looked up at the sky, it was so dark. Where were the stars? The moon? Was someone carrying her? Myrcella tried to look around, the strange moving human, shadow still danced around Maggy the Frog's shack. Myrcella heard the blood racing in her ears and down her arm. And oh, suddenly she was no longer in the air, now she was on the ground by a campfire. The flames were nice, they would keep the shadow people away. Blackness was overtaking her, what had she gotten herself into? With that last thought, Myrcella went limp and let the blackness take her.
The first thing Myrcella was aware of was the throbbing pain in her left arm. The next was how absolutely weak and exhausted she felt. Slowly, Myrcella opened her eyes. She was lying on her back staring up at the night sky, someone was holding her arm, she turned her head, fighting the dizziness that threatened to consume her once again. Toby was holding her arm out next to a roaring campfire. Griffin was sat next to him holding a red-hot dagger, which he then pressed against her wounded wrist. Burning pain coursed through her arm. Myrcella cried out and tried to pull away, but someone was holding her down. The scent of her burned flesh filled Myrcella's nostrils and she gagged.
"Just another minute Princess." Jay said. He was the one holding her down. Finally, Griffin removed the knife. The pain began to lessen, and Jay helped Myrcella to sit up. The dizziness was back with a vengeance. Propping Myrcella against a rock, Jay stepped away then returned with a water skin. He helped Myrcella take a drink.
"What happened?" Myrcella finally managed to croak. Griffin knelt down next to her, holding a rolled-up bandage he must have grabbed from her bag.
"The witch slit your wrist. You were losing too much blood; we burned the wound closed." He said bluntly. Myrcella nodded weakly.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"T'was nothin." Griffin said gruffly.
"Dacey and the Greatjon?"
"The lad's watchin them. They're in a bad way but nothing compared to you Princess."
"Call me Myrcella."
"Aye, Myrcella. I'll be needin to wrap that wrist then you can rest some more." Myrcella nodded and Griffin carefully took her wounded wrist and carefully wrapped it. Myrcella's eyes wandered over to Maggy the Frog's shack. In the pre-dawn light, the strange shadows continued to dance around the shack. A sliver of fear crept into Myrcella as she watched them dance. Griffin followed her gaze. Shuddering at the sight of the shadows.
"Been like that all night. When I was a lad there were tales about woods witches trickin' travelers, eatin children, and the like." The older man gently took Myrcella's chin and turned her away from the shack. "There were also tales about em' savin heroes and passin on wisdom to kings." He said kindly. Myrcella took her wrapped wrist and cradled it to her chest. Myrcella hope Maggy the Frog was the latter type of witch instead of the former. But something told her, that whatever Maggy the Frog was; it was probably nothing from the stories told to children.
Dacey was the next awake. The Mormont woman reached up and touched her shorn head and promptly burst into tears. Myrcella tried to move to comfort Dacey, but she was still too weak from the blood loss. The men looked uncomfortable at the woman's tears, they tried to console her saying that it would grow back. Dacey looked ready to throttle Jay when he had said that. Something told Myrcella that Dacey's hair would never grow. Dacey somehow knew it too. Petey finally approached Dacey.
"I think you still look mighty pretty milady." He said kindly. Dacey gave him a weak and tearful smile. Petey was quite a sweet boy, he reminded Myrcella of her younger brother, Tommen. What was he doing now? How much had he grown since she had last seen her darling little brother? She was brought out of her memories by Dacey moving next to her.
"You alright?" Dacey had stopped crying, but her eyes remained red and damp and her voice was still a bit raw.
"No." Myrcella said. "I'm not alright." She ran her fingers over the bandages on her left wrist. "What happened in there…" Myrcella trailed off.
"Was terrifying." Dacey finished.
"And we will carry the scars for the rest of our lives." Myrcella held up her wrist and grimaced. "Literally."
The sun was finally rising and the dancing shadows began to fade as dawn graced the witch's clearing with its' warm rays. Greatjon was the last to awaken and had been the hardest to calm down. It took Griffin, Jay, Toby, Petey, and Dacey to stop the giant lord from storming into the witch's home and killing her. Myrcella still couldn't move without being overcome by weakness. She had to watch the others physically restrain the massive lord, it was disturbing to see him open his mouth again and again with no sounds coming out. He was permanently muted by Maggie the Frog's spitefulness. Finally, he collapsed, clearly defeated, next to her at the campfire.
Morning was well and truly arrived when the door to the shack once again slammed open and Maggy stepped out. Looking indifferently at the group, she carried a caldron in one hand and a stack of bowls in the other. Everyone watched silently as the witch approached them, she didn't seem to care at her chilly reception nor did she seem inclined to inform them of Robb's condition. Setting the caldron down Maggy wordlessly began to ladle out a delicious smelling soup that had Myrcella's stomach growling. Finally, the witch spoke.
"The Young Wolf will live." She stated calmly, holding out a bowl to Dacey. Dacey made no move to take the bowl from her. "Seven hells, Bear I said the only way I could save your king was blood magic. What did you think? That it would be pleasant? Blood magic is dark and raw, the price is always steep and painful. Now take the damn soup." Dacey finally took the bowl and slowly lifted it to her lips, she took a hesitant sip before drinking down another mouthful. Myrcella took a bowl next and didn't even hesitate she slurped up the contents of the bowl. The hearty soup was warm and so very filling. The others soon were all eating as well, even the Greatjon. Maggy stood and wiped her hands on her dress. "It will take several days for your king to awaken. Even then the journey is far from over. With that she spun and walked back to the shack. Myrcella couldn't help but wonder at Maggy's cryptic parting words. Then there was also what the witch had told her about her mother and her fortune. But at this point, Myrcella couldn't bring herself to care too much. Robb was going to live, things were finally starting to look up.
Myrcella sat dutifully next to Robb's pallet, he had been unconscious for almost three days. She couldn't help but think back to that night, the shadows that danced, the whispers, Maggy the Frog said that Magic was sewing its seeds back into the world of the living. Magic that had apparently saved Robb, but Myrcella worried at the cost. Her blood, Dacey's hair, the Greatjon's voice, and a life. But who's life had paid for Robb to live? She was willing to offer her own to atone for her family's crimes. But Maggy had said that the life was already taken. By the Old Gods and the New she was so confused. Dacey and the Greatjon stepped into the shack, closing the door behind them.
"Any change?" Dacey asked.
"None." Myrcella said shaking her head. "He's still warm."
Dacey reached down and laid the back of her hand across Robb's forehead.
"That won't change she-bear." Myrcella jumped, she had forgotten that the witch was still in the shack. "Don't fret little girly. The Wolf will awaken soon." Maggy the Frog smirked at Myrcella and her skin began to crawl.
A gasp came from across from her, Dacey was wide eyed with her hands over her mouth staring down at Robb's prone form. Myrcella looked down and scooted back. Robb was awake, his eyes were open and clear. But there was one problem, instead of clear sky blue. They were a rich golden yellow. Myrcella couldn't look away, Robb took a deep breath then slowly sat up, his strange new eyes met hers, and there was absolutely no recognition, his eyes were completely devoid of any emotion, they were cold and calculating. Myrcella and Dacey both looked at each and slowly moved to stand up, very slowly. Myrcella looked back down at Robb. He was staring off into space now.
"Robb." She whispered. His hands clenched; he could hear her.
"What the fuck did you do to him witch?" Dacey hissed harshly. Maggy the Frog looked undisturbed by Robb's strange awakening.
"I saved him and gave him a gift." Maggy stated, not bothering to whisper.
Robb shot up and faced Maggie. Myrcella couldn't help but squeak at the sight of Robb's bare body. Robb didn't seem to care, he growled, actually growled, and bared his teeth at the witch. Seven help her, he had fangs too. His canines had sharpened to small sharp points. What had happened to Robb? The sound of a sword being drawn caused Myrcella to turn away from Robb towards the Greatjon who had drawn his sword. Maggy the Frog raised a single brow and said flatly.
"That is a very bad idea." Robb had visibly tensed, then faster than humanly possible he turned and launched himself at the northern lord. Myrcella had no idea if it was her or Dacey who screamed first.
It had in fact been Petey who screamed when the Greatjon crashed through the door of Maggy the Frog's shack after being thrown like a ragdoll by the very naked King in the North. Dacey was out next with Myrcella chasing after. Robb had leapt off the winded Greatjon and turned on the Lady of Bear Island next. She lashed out landing a hard punch to the King's jaw. He didn't even blink, Dacey however howled in pain stumbling back and clutching her hand to her chest.
"Fuck!" It had felt like she had just punched a stone wall!
Looking up horrified at her King. He growled and swung delivering a harsh blow that knocked Dacey off her feet. She landed in the dirt, clutching her face, blood pouring from her nose. He stood over the prone woman ready to attach and finish her.
"Robb! Stop!" Myrcella screamed, he turned and cocked his head.
She had her little knife clutched tightly in her hand. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward and then dropped it, holding her hands out showing she had nothing else. Blood rushed in her ears, her heart beating a frantic tattoo in her chest. With Robb distracted, Dacey was able to crawl away. Toby and Jay moved forward to tackle the madman who was once their King. Dacey shooed them back. Griffin had the bow and an arrow notched, prepared to take a shot if necessary.
Myrcella's mouth went dry and she took two more steps forward. Robb looked at her curiously then hesitantly stepped towards her. Myrcella tried so very hard to look only at his face and not well, the rest. Robb stepped forward again. A frown marring his brow. He kept walking slowly towards Myrcella, finally stopping an inch away from her. Myrcella swore she was about to faint, staring straight at Robb Stark's very muscular, very toned chest. She slowly looked up and met his heated glare.
Up close those golden eyes were terrifying and haunting at the same time. Robb reached up, slowly and moved a strand of hair from her face, gently running his rough fingertips down her cheek and neck finally stopping on her collar bone. Myrcella didn't dare breath. Then Robb leaned forward and rested his forehead against the crook of her neck. It was such an intimate moment, Myrcella was keenly aware of everyone watching her and their King. She reached up and touched Robb's shoulders. Then he went limp, forcing Myrcella to try and hold up a naked and very heavy and clearly once again unconscious man. With another squeak she fell back, Robb falling on top of her. Pinning her to the ground, the moment was over and Myrcella wanted to die.
Dacey marched over, blood still flowing from her face, to Maggy who was leaning against the shattered doorframe utterly nonplussed by what had just happened.
"Wad da buck did oh do!" She shrieked banishing her axe. Maggy rolled her eye then flicked her wrist, the axe turned into a snake and Dacey yelped, dropping it to the ground, the snake was then an axe again.
"I saved your Wolf King. I will explain no more until he awakens again. Don't worry, he'll be back in his senses by then." Then she winked and sauntered off into the woods.
Next to her Myrcella squeaked out another "help." Toby and Jay ran forward and dragged the sleeping Robb of Myrcella, who was blushing bright pink. Standing she dusted herself off. Toby started to say something but Myrcella held up a hand.
"Not a word." She replied shorty, cheeks bright red and refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
Hours later and Robb was back on the sleeping pallet. Myrcella once again at his side, her knees pulled up to her chest. Next to her sat a very grumpy Dacey. Maggy the Frog had forced the Lady of Bear Island to be treated. Her nose broken badly, and had needed to be reset. Her face had swollen and become molted in horrible black and purple bruises, two black eyes completed her injuries and gave her the appearance of a very angry racoon. The Greatjon had three broken ribs, and a very bruised ego.
"But id she oh to ibm?" Myrcella grimaced at the unfortunate lisp Dacey would have until some of the horrible swelling went down healed.
"I don't know. With how he acted, his eyes, the fangs, his speed… it's like he isn't human anymore."
"Ben wad's he?"
"I don't. I don't know." Maggy bustled into the tent.
"Right, she-bear. Come here." Dacey made no move to stand, crossing her arms she glared haughtily at the woman and shook her head.
Myrcella couldn't help but scoot a bit away.
Maggy had proven to be an actual witch with actual magic. It probably would not do to anger her.
Maggy sighed, "Petulant child."
Then she marched over and grabbed Dacey by the ear and with remarkable strength pulled the young woman up and across the shack, heaving her into a chair before reaching into a jar and removing a handful of wriggling black things.
"You'll thank me for this she-bear when the swelling goes down." The witch then opened her hand and picked out the wriggling things one by one and placed them across Dacey's face. "Leeches. They'll suck up the blood pooling from the bruises then fall off when their full.
Myrcella gagged and Dacey suddenly was very pale and very still. Maggy patted her head in what should have been a tender gesture. In that moment it was pure mockery. A groan came from the pallet Myrcella focused back on the king. He was awake again, Robb's fantastical golden eyes blinked repeatedly, tired and unfocused.
"Robb?"
"Ella?" Robb groaned and covered his eyes with his hand. "What happened?" Myrcella had no idea where to start.
"I saved your life Young Wolf." Maggy stated, forcibly pulling Robb's hand away from his eyes. "Don't be a dolt, the longer you keep your eyes covered the longer the adjustment."
Robb finally opened his eyes and sat up slowly, looking around the shack before finally coming to rest on the pouting leech covered Dacey, his eyes noticeably widening at her sorry state.
"What happened?"
"You did." Maggy stated. "You came here at death's door, the only thing that could save you would be blood magic, old and dark magic that hasn't been attempted for tens of thousands of years, and your friends in all their foolishness wanted you to live, by any means necessary." Robb looked horrified.
"You would have done the same for us Robb." Myrcella grumbled. Maggy pointed a crooked and filthy finger at Myrcella. "She gave me a taste of that sweet Lannister blood. And a life."
"Wait what!" Myrcella interrupted. Maggy grinned darkly. "Your brother Joffrey, silly girl. A king for a king Funny enough. He was poisoned at his own wedding, dramatic irony." Then she pointed at Dacey.
"She gave me that thick, beautiful hair, it will never grow again. Then that unruly excuse for a Northman gave me his voice, mostly because it annoyed me to no end." Maggy paused and grinned at Robb. "All that power along with the sacrifice of your wolf at the Red Wedding; that's what folks are calling it now by the way, I was able to weave a spell to save your life. To make you more than a foolish human, you are now faster, stronger, your senses are sharper. You are a human wolf, a hunter, a warrior." Looking away the witch began to examine her long nails.
"Of course, no magic is perfect. I melded your soul to that of a direwolf. Two very different powers, and they will fight for dominance within you Robb Stark of Winterfell. Until you find balance and accept what has happened and I don't mean just this." She waved a hand at Robb. "You will be…. Shall we say inconvenienced every full moon. The wolf will take over and you will transform. Literally, transform into a wolf." Robb looked horrified. "But when you find the balance within. You will be near unstoppable. You will be able to transform whenever you wish, even stronger and faster than you are now. You will hold command over all creatures in the wilds."
"Why? Why would you do this to me? Curse me like this?" Robb yelled, Myrcella couldn't help but flinch. Robb shot her a look full of concern in those new golden eyes.
"You said curse not me, Young Wolf." Maggy the Frog stood and crossed her arms. "Oh, by the way should you bite anyone while transformed into a wolf. They'll become like you."
Then Maggy smirked at Robb and she was suddenly gone. Myrcella leapt to her feet. The shack and the witch were gone. Leaving them in the clearing. Robby sitting half naked on his pallet, Dacey on a stool covered in leeches. Griffin, Toby, Jay, Petey, and the Greatjon were sitting around their campfire staring in shock at the trio and the place where Maggy the Frog's home one stood before vanishing into thin air.
"What the fuck just happened?" Myrcella stated.
"That fucking witch!" Robb roared, bolting up from the sleeping pallet and started stalking around the clearing. "Come back here!" He screamed into the woods. As Robb raged at the vanished woods witch, the others looked on in shocked and confused silence. Griffin turned to Myrcella and Dacey at last.
"What happened in there?" Myrcella took a deep breath and recounted Robb's second awakening and Maggy's explanation of what she had done to save Robb's life.
"That bloody woman." Griffin growled. Greatjon gestured wildly, his mouth moving yet no sounds came out. His meaning was clear, they were all a bunch of fools who had gotten their king cursed by a mad witch. Robb collapsed to his knees and buried his face in his hands. He looked defeated, simply defeated. Myrcella felt her heart break at the sight. Tears pricked the edge of her vision and her throat felt suddenly raw. She stood and slowly walked over to Robb's prone form.
"Robb." He slowly looked up at her, Myrcella choked out a sob, his eyes were brimming with such sorrow and pain. Myrcella knelt next to him. "I'm sorry." She was openly sobbing now. "We all thought that she could save your life. None of us knew that she would do anything like this."
"It would have been kinder to let me just die. I deserved to die." Robb bit out. Myrcella had no words. She sobbed again, then reached out and took Robb's hand in hers. She expected him to pull back to scream and rage at them all. But he didn't Robb just sat there, staring forlornly at the woods.
After a while Myrcella was able to get Robb up and join everyone else around the campfire. While leading Robb back to the others the sleeve of her shirt rode up revealing her wounded wrist. Robb stopped and gently took her wrist.
"Myrcella." He rasped. Myrcella couldn't bear to meet his gaze as she gently extracted her wrist from his gentle grasp.
"The price I paid. She cut too deep, Griffin ended up having to cauterize the cut to stop the bleeding." Finally, she grit her teeth and looked up at Robb. "And I don't regret the price; because it meant you lived. Because of that I will wear the scar as a badge of honor for the rest of my days." Robb stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he silently moved past her and sat at the edge of the fire. Petey stood and quietly handed Robb his shirt and jerkin. Robb thanked him softly and pulled the clothes on. Myrcella sighed and went to sit next to Dacey. The leeches had all fallen off and Dacey was throwing the little creatures into the fire looking somewhat gleeful as they boiled and burned. Her face was looking much less swollen, however. Myrcella raised a brow at Dacey and the women shrugged in response before tossing the last leech into the fire. Next to the two women Toby and Jay were discussing the vanishing of Maggy the Frog and her shack.
"It ain't bloody possible." Toby was saying.
"An yet, here we are. Same bloody clearing, but no house and no crazy witch! Obviously magic ain't just the stories Ma told us." Toby sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Fuck. I just hope the stories about the Long Night stay stories."
"Da witch did say somethin was happenin in da North." Dacey said, her lisp was almost gone already. Jay paled before turning to his brother.
"If I get eaten by a bloody Wight, I'm gonna kill you." Toby rolled his eyes.
"If you get eaten by a bloody Wight, Ma's gonna kill you." Myrcella wrapped her cloak tighter around her body. The days were getting much colder, another reminder that winter was coming.
"I don't think I've heard the story of the Long Night."
"Everyone in da North grows up with da stories of da Long Night." Dacey stated. Myrcella looked at her expectantly. Dacey looked over at Jay and Toby, then launched into the story. Dacey described the First Men and their war with the Children of the Forest. Then the coming of the Night King and his White Walkers commanding the army of the dead, the winter that lasted hundreds of years until the Last Hero fought to defeat the Others and bring about a new Dawn. When Dacey finished everyone was silent. The night around them seemed to close around the fire, Myrcella couldn't help but shiver. When the silence almost became suffocating, Petey finally spoke up.
"So, what exactly happens now that King Robb is better?" The boy asked, turning all thoughts away from Ice monsters and walking dead men. What did happen now? Myrcella had no idea. She turned to look at Robb. Expecting him to speak up, but he sat silently at the edge of the group, staring back into the forest, seemingly ignoring the rest of them. The Greatjon clapped loudly, getting everyone's attention. Well everyone except Robb.
The group watched curiously as Greatjon began to gesture wildly. Trying to figure out what the newly mute lord was trying to tell them.
"We should run off to Lys and have a good time?" Jay asked. Toby smacked his younger brother on the head.
"No, you git. He's saying we should fuck off to Essos and start out own Sell-Sword company." Greatjon shook his head and repeated the gestures.
"He's saying we should go back to the North, rally all the surviving houses and their soldiers and take back the North and fuck the Boltons in the arse!" Everyone turned to stare incredulously at Petey, the boy sat grinning proudly. The former northern lord snapped his fingers in the boys direction and nodded enthusiastically.
"All od those are horrible ibeas." Dacey stated. "Be are only seven fighters an, an ex-princess. On top of thad chances are everyone thinks we're dead." Greatjon started gesturing again.
"Lord Umber stop." Greatjon went still at Robb's cold command. Robb finally turned away from the woods. He turned and faced his companions. Myrcella couldn't help but notice how the flames from the campfire reflected in his golden eyes.
"Lady Mormont is right; it would be a fool's errand to try and take back the North. Right now, all that would happen would be more death and destruction, especially with winter almost here. I won't ask you all to do that and I won't subject the North to more suffering. I won't even ask you all to stay here." He turned to Toby and Jay, "Go to Essos, or wherever you wish. I release you all from your oaths. I'm not a king anymore. Seven hells, if what that bloody witch said was true, I don't think I'm even human anymore." Robb said bitterly. Everyone was silent, the weight of Robb's statement rested heavy in the air. It was obvious the first time he had woken and almost killed Dacey and Greatjon. He was something else now, the extent of his transformation was still relatively unknown it wouldn't become clear until the next full moon when Robb would supposedly change into an actual wolf. Finally, it was Griffin who broke the heavy silence.
"With all due respect Your Grace, fuck that. I pledged my sword to you and I ain't going back on my word." The other soldiers all nodded in agreement.
"I think you're stuck with us Robb." Myrcella said softly. Seven knew, she would not abandon Robb Stark anytime soon. Robb smiled sadly at them and nodded weakly. He didn't think he was worthy of their loyalty. But what Robb failed to realize was, everything went beyond simple loyalty to a liege lord or king now. This was a group brought together by tragedy and survival and impossible odds they would stick together until the end wherever or whatever that may be.
Surprise! It's a werewolf AU! Now it's almost 3 AM. i want to sleep.