The next morning came all too quickly Robb, and he groaned as his muscles protested from sitting up in his bed. After leaving his Father the night before, he had been too full of nervous energy to sit and do nothing. Instead, he, Jon and Gendry had picked up shovels and dug trenches with the other soldiers. Theon had managed to make himself scarce while they worked, but Robb had forgiven him when he came back with two large deer fastened to the back of his horse. They had eaten well that night. Robb looked to his left and saw the remains of one of the deer carcasses laying abandoned next to Grey Wind's maul. The great wolf was still dozing.
Robb could have taken lodgings with his Father inside of Raventree Hall, but he had decided to stay outside with the rest of the men. Many of their soldiers were deferential to him, given his status, but many still treated him like another soldier as they drank together. It was something that Robb felt was important…to see these men on a more personal level, and not just as fodder to be thrown away on the whim of their lord. The men respected his Father, would not say a word against him, even though they had been forced to leave their homes and family with winter approaching. It would be Robb's duty to see they were looked after in the future.
He pulled himself fully out of his makeshift bed, standing and taking a peak through the tent flap. Dawn had not fully broken, but many campfires had already been roused as men began to wake. Knowing that he would need to meet soon with his Father, Robb quickly put on his armor. He knew that for a meeting such as they were going to, appearances mattered. It was important to remind other of your station, your position in the world.
Robb picked up the fine tunic that his Father had brought with his baggage from Winterfell. It was deep grey, with bright white Stark wolf emblazoned on the front. He slipped it on over his head before securing it around his waist with his belt and sword. His Mother would likely scold him for not removing his beard, but he liked it, so it stayed, even though it was slightly patchy from the cut that Jaime Lannister had inflicted. There was a basin full of water in the corner of his tent. He leaned down, cupped his hands together and splashed a good amount of water over the curls on his head and the thickening beard. The air outside and the water itself was cold, but it brought with it a refreshing bite that made him feel more alert. He picked up his furred cloak, secured it around his shoulders, moving out of his tent.
"Don't you look a pretty sight," a voice drawled from beside him. Jon was seated on a piece of lumber they had procured the night before to surround their campfire. He was currently stirring the slumbering coals, trying to get them to awaken into a blaze once more.
"I'd say the same, but it wouldn't be true," Robb jabbed back, seeing his brother looked bleary-eyed. "You look like you haven't slept."
"Theon somehow managed to convince one of Lord Blackwood's kitchen workers into his tent last night. I had to listen to them fuck for what felt like hours. I contemplated setting his tent on fire," Jon confessed, seriously.
"What stopped you?" Robb laughed.
"I figured the fire could spread and set the whole camp alight. Would not be a great entry into the histories of Westeros."
"Well, if it is any consolation, one day Theon is going to bed the wrong women and his cock is going to fall off," Robb offered.
Jon actually laughed, throwing a skin of wine to his brother. "We can only hope to be so lucky."
Robb opened the container and took a healthy swig of wine, before returning it to his brother. "I'm headed to the castle. Walk with me?"
Jon shrugged, standing up. "Nothing better to do. Let me grab my cloak."
Their camp was directly in the shadow of the castle, so there was not too far for them to go. More men had been roused, and Robb and Jon greeted them all as they walked. The castle was open, and as Robb walked over the lowered drawbridge, it was much busier inside. The non-fighter inhabitants of Raventree Hall were being packed and their escort preparing to lead them to Riverrun. Robb looked towards the battlements and could already see the Greatjon yelling orders, clearly unsatisfied with someone's work.
As Robb had anticipated, his Father was already awake, surrounded by the rest of the contingent that would be meeting the Lannisters. In addition to the highborn men, each had gathered a small group of their household guards, including a man to display their house banners. Robb and Jon greeted several of the Winterfell men who they knew well as their Father shifted his attention to them.
"We will be leaving in a few moments, Robb," Ned advised. "I want to get these niceties over with. I've sent several riders out already to scout the area to make sure we aren't riding into an ambush."
"I'm ready, Father," Robb assured. "I just need to get Grey Wind."
"Stay here, Robb," Jon interjected. "I'll see to it."
As soon as Jon returned with Grey Wind, the assembled men mounted their horses and began a procession out of the castle. Robb finally had a chance to see the progress of their battle preparations in the light of day, and they would certainly mount a challenge for an attacking force. The three hundred riders and one hundred archers that would be serving as their escort were already assembled to the south of the castle. In addition to their organized escort, two other riders were sitting stationary, apparently waiting on Robb's Father. Robb rode beside his Father in front of the column of lords and stopped next to Ned as he greeted the two men.
"What news?" Ned demanded.
The rider on the right, the older of the two men, responded. "We got as close as we dared, my lord. They've erected a great pavilion about three hundred yards north of Harrenhall. It was still unoccupied when we left."
"What about troop movement? Where is the Lannister force?"
"No movement as far as we could see, my lord," the younger scout answered. "The army is camped south of the castle, split east and west hugging the shore of God's Eye."
"Any dangers with the position of the pavilion?"
"No, my lord," the older scout responded. "It's flat ground. You would be able to see a force coming from any direction, and there is nothing impeding a hasty retreat, if needed."
Ned nodded, satisfied with the answers he received. "Well done. Return to the castle and let the kitchen's know I've ordered for a hot meal for each of you."
"Thank you, my lord," each man said, before riding off towards the castle.
Ned Stark encouraged his horse forward and they were moving once again. They maintained a slow, but steady pace, mindful that the archers at the rear of the column were traveling on foot. Robb rode quietly next to his Father for a distance before the older Stark engaged him.
"Whatever happens at this parlay, I want you to maintain your emotions, son," Ned stated. "Tywin Lannister believes that no man's opinion is above his own, and he will likely be instantly dismissive of anything I say. The man has spent his life making sure that no one ever tells him no, either by force or by gold."
"It has managed give his family control of the Iron Throne, so his approach has worked unfortunately," Robb grimaced.
"Aye, true enough, but it has also made him all the more arrogant. There has never been enough incentive for someone to lay everything on the line to put him in his place…until this moment. We are about to put an impossible choice in front of him…his children or the utter end of Lannister significance in the Seven Kingdoms."
"On some level, it would not surprise me if he offered us his children," Robb remarked.
"Ah, but the problem is, to Tywin Lannister, the result of either decision is the same. Tywin's pride would never allow him to surrender his children. He would see admitting their transgressions as the end of his house…a pox so humiliating, so deadly, that he would not be able to show his face again. To Tywin, his legacy is not his children, it is his name. He has reached the height of achievement, and he will not let that slip away so quickly."
"Then, I agree, this shall be a short meeting," Robb nodded, before chuckling, " Would it not be easier, if I simply challenged Jaime Lannister to single combat and ended things that way?"
Eddard Stark looked sternly over at his son, before seeing the grin on Robb's face. "I would hope that you were listening to at least some of the lecture that I just gave on the foolishness of pride."
"I always take your words to heart, Father," Robb assured. "I am not so foolish to believe that things would turn out the same were the Kingslayer and I to meet again. Barristan Selmy gave me some important advice as to the importance of luck."
"Well if you are not listening to me, listening to one of the greatest fighters to ever live is probably all I can ask. Also, if you were fortunate to survive such stupidity, I would be the first one to inform that pretty lass back in Riverrun. Women have a skill for putting men in their place."
"That was really all the threat that was required, Father," Robb grinned.
It took them another hour of riding, but the pavilion finally came into sight. Unlike the report that was given earlier by their scouts, the pavilion was now occupied. A large table had been placed in the center, with a row of chairs on each side. There was a small force of Lannister soldiers assembled half way between the pavilion and Harrenhal, but less than the four hundred that had accompanied them. There was less of a concern for their enemy as they had the safety of the castle to retreat to in the event of an attack.
The northern archers and mounted soldiers held their positions, just close enough for their arrows to reach the pavilion if things were to turn badly. Meanwhile, Ned led his lords forward until they were thirty yards from the tent. Robb and the others dismounted their horses, surrendering the reins to members of their guard. Robb, with Grey Wind at his heels, followed closely to his Father, who was clearly surveying the men who were already seated at the table. Ned listed them off out of the corner of his mouth for Robb's benefit.
"Tywin, Jamie, Kevan Lannister, Stafford Lannister, Mace Tyrell, Ser Gregor Clegane, Lord Renford Ryyker of Duskendale, Lord Gyles Rosby of Rosby, Lord Ralph Buckler of Bronzegate, Ser Roger Hogg of Sow's Horn, Lord Lorent Caswell of Bitterbridge. They've certainly brought an impressive swathe of the south with them."
Ned was the first under the pavilion, making little ceremony of taking a seat across from Tywin Lannister. Robb took the seat to his right, directly across from Jamie Lannister, whose eyes attempted to kill Robb on the spot. Grey Wind sat himself on the ground between Robb and his Father, his presence causing a slight stir on the opposite side of the table. The rest of the northern lords found their seats. Robb noticed, somewhat surprisingly, that the short form of Tyrion Lannister was standing tucked away in the corner next to one of the support poles. The dwarf gave Robb a shrug, looking as if this was the last place he wanted to be, no doubt exacerbated by the fact he had obviously been denied a seat at the table. Robb's attention was pulled back to Lord Tywin, who had leaned forward in his chair.
"Welcome, Lord Stark. I am pleased that you accepted my invitation. As it seems that we are all now present, I believe it would be prudent to begin the hopefully painless task of settling this minor squabble."
"Minor squabble," Ned Stark echoed, incredulous. "This is not some dispute over property boarders, Lord Tywin. I did not march an army south for a minor squabble."
"Then why did you march an army south, Lord Stark?" Tywin questioned, impatiently.
"You know bloody well why I've come here, Tywin. But if you are set on this being some sort of mummer's show, maybe the rest of the men sitting beside you need to hear the truth of it with their own ears."
"I assure you, the men at this table are fully versed on recent events."
"Are they?" Ned simmered, doubtfully. "So they know that while they were guests in my own home, my son, Brandon, discovered your son, a Kingsguard, and your daughter, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, fornicating in a tower." Robb noticed that, except for Jaime and Tywin who looked forward intensely, the rest of the table all looked away in varying directions in discomfort. Ned Stark was just getting started.
"Did you tell these men that upon my son discovering their sordid affair, that your son, the Kingslayer, threw my son off that same tower and very likely crippled him for life…or that your family hired an assassin to try and finish the job while Bran laid unconscious? Did you tell them that, Lord Tywin?"
"Lord Stark-" Tywin began before Ned cut him off.
"Did you tell them that Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen are the product of incest and don't contain a drop of royal blood? Did you tell them that Jon Arryn was murdered for discovering that truth?" Tywin tried to interrupt again, but Robb's Father would not be slowed. "Did you tell these men that Cersei Lannister murdered their King, Robert Baratheon, and fully admitted to doing so? What say you of your family's crimes, Lord Tywin?"
Tywin was silent for a moment after Ned finished, gathering his thoughts. "Tell me, Lord Stark, what exactly it is you want?"
"I want Jaime Lannister and Cersei Lannister to face the King's Justice for treason, murder, and the attempted murder of my son," Ned stated, no hesitation in his words. "I want a peaceful surrender of the Iron Throne by the boy pretender who now sits on it. The three children of Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister shall be fostered in separate castles to insure the compliance of House Lannister and that so that reprisals are not sought. None of these children shall ever inherit the lordship to Casterly Rock."
"You would execute my son and disinherit my grandsons? You would leave me without any heir, Lord Stark?" Tywin asked, seemingly amused at the audacity of the request, which grated Robb. A snort drew Robb's gaze back to Tyrion, who stared at his Father with barely disguised loathing.
"You have another son, my lord," Ned reminded, also taking note of Tyrion's ire, "one capable of continuing your line. It is a mercy that your House be allowed to retain its position at all."
"I would never allow the future of my House to pass into the hands of that little abomination," Tywin proclaimed. "And I would never hand over my son and daughter to have their heads removed on the fanciful tales of a small boy."
"Aye, Bran may be a boy, but my heir, the heir to Winterfell, is not," Ned countered, looking over at Robb. "It was Robb who discovered the truth of your machinations in the capital. He discovered the truth that Jon Arryn died for, and that caused Stannis to flee the city. Unlike your son, my own did his duty to try and protect his King."
"Your son plotted with Renly Baratheon to take the throne away from my grandson," Tywin alleged. Robb leaned forward in his own seat now, furious, daring the Lord of Casterly Rock to look him in the eye, but the man continued to stare at his Father.
"Why don't we ask Renly Baratheon, Lannister?" Ned suggested, extending his arms with open palms. "Bring him here and we can hear his side of these events. I have no problem waiting for him to be summoned."
"I am afraid that will not be possible, Lord Stark," Tywin bristled, clearly sensing Ned's game.
"And why is that? Would it be due to the fact your children had the man decapitated? I think that may be the reason." Ned looked over at Ralph Buckler, Lord of Bronzegate, pointing a finger at him. "Lord Buckler, these men murdered your liege lord, and yet you sit here next to them at this table. Do you lack any sense of honor or justice?"
"I…I swore an oath to Iron Throne as well, Lord Stark," Lord Buckler stuttered. "Renly tried to usurp the throne from Robert's heir, and he paid the price."
"Renly was not even Robert's eldest brother. You suggest he was planning to murder Stannis as well in this plot?" Ned shook his head, disgusted. "Tell me, Lord Buckler, has the Lannister gold already been transferred to your treasury, or are you still waiting for payment? It seems your integrity has already been surrendered, so I hope at the least you've completed the exchange."
"Why I have never-," Buckler began to bluster, indignant, before Tywin cut him off with a sharp glance.
"Lord Stark, no one at this table believes this tale you have concocted to try and cover for your son's foolish ambitions," Tywin continued, clearly tired of the back and forth. "This matter can be settled amicably without the need for further bloodshed. Robb Stark shall take the black. Lord Stark, you shall ride to King's Landing for my grandson's coronation, and swear fealty to the throne. The prisoners that were taken at the Tooth, including Addam Maraband, shall be released. In exchange your transgressions against the throne, and the slanderous accusations against my family shall be forgiven."
Robb watched as the corner of his Father's mouth raised into a wry grin. It was an expression that Robb was all too familiar with, one that meant Eddard Stark was doing everything in his power to suppress his anger. "Forgiven," Ned spat, the word clearly like poison on his tongue. He stood from his seat, Robb and the other Lords following his lead. "You have murdered my friends. You have committed treason against the crown. Yet you sit across from me and have the arrogance to offer your forgiveness. You are no lion, Lord Lannister. You are a just a snake, slithering through the sins and lies that you cover yourself in until opportunity presents itself. We are done here, my lord."
Tywin rose from his seat as well. "So it would seem, Lord Stark. From this moment on, you and your men shall be considered to be in open rebellion against the King. Any man, woman, or child who gives you or your men quarter shall be considered equally guilty of your crimes and their lives shall be forfeit."
"Consider it what you will," Ned said as he turned to exit the pavilion.
Robb turned from his chair, placing running his hand over Grey Wind's head to encourage him to follow. However, he was stopped by another voice.
"You there. Boy." Robb turned and saw Mace Tyrell, flustered, pointing his fat finger in Robb's direction. "I want my daughter back. You shall return her at once to her family."
"Margaery is not my prisoner, Lord Tyrell. She could leave at her pleasure, though, I think it will be more difficult to convince her once she becomes my wife."
Mace looked as if he was about to continue, but Jaime Lannister placed a strong hand on the man's shoulder, forcing him to quiet. "Do not worry, Lord Tyrell. Your daughter will be returned to you soon enough. As for you, Stark, I'll be looking for you on the field."
Grey Wind growled at the threat, and Robb was forced to grab hold of the wolf's fur to keep him back. "Just remember, Kingslayer, while you're looking for me, Grey Wind here will be looking for you. I don't know how knowledgable your are about direwolves, but they're very proficient hunters." Robb pulled Grey Wind away, not sparing Jaime the benefit of another glance.