The Price of Crossing

Prologue

Catelyn had been raised to believe that her courtesy was both an armour and a weapon, let those who came up against her say whatever that they wished to her, let them leer and curse and insult all that they wished. From her they would have nothing but politeness and well-spoken words, to show them that nothing they said affected her and let the shame they brought on themselves be her response.

But when it came to a man like Walder Frey it was hard to hold her tongue, a disgusting man in every aspect and a grasping one as well and yet she had not let her armour slip for even a second, it was more important to keep it up when you were dealing with a foe that had the advantage and in this case Walder Frey did have the advantage, he had the bridge that they needed and they needed to cross it now.

Her escort was waiting for her outside the gates, and they took her to the tent where her son would be waiting for her, and he was with Theon Greyjoy at his side as the both of them studied the maps spread out on the table. Her poor boy, he had grown too fast and had been thrust into a role where she wasn't able to protect him despite that being all that she wished to do.

"Mother," Robb said as he looked up from his maps, his blue eyes hopeful as he looked at her. "Do we have Lord Walder's leave to cross?"

Catelyn cleared her throat, trying to buy herself time to think of the best way to put this. "He has given us leave to cross, but, in his words, there will need to be a toll paid. You will take his son Olyvar as a squire and Arya will wed another of his sons, Elmar Frey. Two of his grandsons, both Walder, will go north to Winterfell to ward," she hesitated for a moment, allowing Robb to absorbing everything she had told him before she reached the point that concerned him. "And you will marry his granddaughter, Walda, tonight."

Robb's eyes went wide, and Theon laughed, so forcefully that he doubled over. Even the glare he received from both her and her son did little to stop him, but he did leave the tent, his laughter filling the air as he did so.

"I should have left him at Winterfell," Robb muttered and reached to fill his cup up with wine and for a moment chastisement was at the tip of her tongue but her son was a grown man now and leading men to war, he was doing thing worse than having a second cup of wine. "There is no other way?"

"I tried to talk him down, to letting you have your choice of bride and to wait until the war was over for the marriage to take place, but he refused to hear any of it. It's the price of crossing Robb, if you want to cross the bridge in any good time then you must agree to this." Catelyn glanced down at the maps on the table. "You could lay siege, but the Twins is a strong castle and will not fall in time. But the choice is yours."

Robb sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his auburn hair, chewing at his bottom lip. He looked uncertain, but only for a moment as his features hardened in the same way that Cat had seen Ned's face do a thousand times before, it meant that her husband was gone for a time and that they were all dealing with the Lord of Winterfell. Robb looked up and stared at her.

"I accept."

End of Prologue

So, this is the shortest chapter I've written in a while but it's as long as it needs to be I think, the next chapter will be a lot longer and will be written from Walda's perspective as we see the wedding.