Fapman: It's not dwarf hate, Loren just doesn't like Tyrion, or people making jokes at his expense.

AO Black: Why is he the least favourite, may I ask?

Omega Gogeta: I believe it's a Shireen next, but Lyonel does have one more this book, so he's not done yet.

We are all the Nowhere Man: Loren is more extreme than Stannis in terms of brotherly feelings, Stannis still respects and, to a degree, loves Robert, the only members of his family that Loren likes at all are his wife and kids.


They emerged from the Neck with eighteen thousand swords at their back onto the fertile plains of the Riverlands. He had left Winterfell with twelve thousand men; on the way south another six thousand had joined him: Men of Manderly, Dustin, Ryswell and Locke, the Manderly column had joined them last, at Moat Cailin, and his mother had come with them.

That had all gone to plan. Ever since Brandon the Burner had put the torch to his father's ships, the North had no strength at sea, certainly not enough to transport a host south. But now there was a decision to be made.

"Lord Tywin is sitting near Harrenhal and the Ruby Ford," he outlined to his lords bannermen. "And his son the Kingslayer has invested Riverrun with his host."

"Leaving the father's strength divided," Tristan said. "We face him, cut the head from the snake and clear the way to King"s Landing." Lords Umber and Karstark seemingly agreed with his twin's plan, but Robb wasn't so sure, and nor were some of the others, Lord Bolton was eying Tristan wearily, and Ser Wylis Manderly looked equally uncertain. If Robb marched along the Green Fork then he was banking everything on a single battle with Tywin Lannister. But between him and Jaime Lannister were the Twins of House Frey. Things had looked promising at first, his own scouts reported that Lannister scouts had been repelled from the Frey Lands, but, as his mother had pointed out, there was a difference between defending your own lands and marching against the enemy.

"I would sooner face the cub than the lion," Galbart Glover replied to Tristan. "Cross the Trident here, liberate Riverrun and add the strength of House Tully to our own."

"To do that we'll have to cross the Trident, that means the Twins," Robb commented, glancing at his mother. "Lord Frey, your father's bannerman, will he let us cross?"

"The Late Lord Frey, my father always said," his mother replied. "This man arrived at the Trident only after the battle was won. He doesn't take oaths too seriously, and with the Lannisters seemingly on the ascendant, he will not see a reason to do so."

Robb refused to let his head bow, however much he felt like it. His father always told him to be strong, now he had to be, his father's life depended on it. "I should talk to him."

"You'll be as likely to end up in chains as anything else," Lord Bolton said. "Lord Robb, if you go to Lord Frey yourself he can send you to the Lannisters or the Queen as he wishes."

"I'll go," his mother said, making him look up in alarm. "I have know Lord Frey since I was a child, he wouldn't harm me, and I believe that I can get him to open the bridge for you."

"Make sure to tell him that if he lays a finger on you I'll rip his entrails out and feed them to my wolves," Tristan said, making most of the Lords laugh at the threat.

Robb watched his mother's lips curl upwards in a thin smile. Tristan's words, brash and vulgar though they might be, brought her a certain reassurance, as they did him, his protection was always there for any Stark, and Robb would be sad to miss him on the campaign south. "Perhaps not," his mother replied light heartedly. "But thank you anyway, Tristan."

He nodded to her then turned to Robb. "If we're going to be waiting for mother, no sense doing so inside a tent."

Robb nodded. "True enough. Let's leave for now and reconvene when mother returns."

As the other lords departed for their own tents, Robb escorted his mother to the edge of the camp. "Be careful mother," he whispered as she climbed her horse.

She smiled down at him and reached down, cupping his cheek. "I am not the one who needs to be careful," she pointed out. "Tristan's heart is in the right place, but he needs to learn that sometimes his words do more harm than good."

Robb smiled. "If a year with Roose Bolton didn't hammer that in, I don't know what will."

"You're his twin, Robb," she reminded him. "Tristan always listened to you, and always will." Ser Stevron Frey, Lord Walder's eldest son, was riding past them, a guarantee of his mother's protection inside the Twins. "I must be going, my father and brother can't wait any longer."

Robb nodded. "I'll talk to Tristan."

"Are you sure of your decision?" She asked.

He nodded. "I am, I want to fight my first battle with Tristan at my side, but this must be done." He watched as his mother left for the imposing castles of the Twins, before turning and making for the camp and his twin.

Tristan was propped up against a tree, his companions, Daryn Hornwood and Domeric Bolton with him. "Tristan," he called as he approached. "I need a word."

Tristan nodded at once and got to his feet, Nymeria and Shield falling into line at his ankles. He hadn't been sure about bringing Nymeria as well, but the wolf was vicious, and he didn't want to trust it without it's mistress in Winterfell, Lady was at least calm most of the time. But Shield could tame Nymeria, and keep her in check, so Tristan kept Nymeria with him. It would now be a part of his battle plan, and Tristan had a key role to play as well. "What is it Robb?" He asked when they were a safe distance away.

"When mother get's us across the river," he said without preamble, he owed his brother enough to not try to coat his orders with honey. "I intend to split the army in two," he continued.

"You do?" Tristan asked. "Why?"

Robb just had to confirm a few things before he answered. "You said that you couldn't match Jaime Lannister?" He asked again, he knew it, but he wanted Tristan's words.

His brother grimaced, his hands clenching. "No," he said. "In some years, maybe, but now... there's no one in the North who can match him. If we were to meet in single combat, I would die."

Robb cursed. Tristan was always the better swordsman of the two. Mother had said that he had been born with one in his hand, until he was six, he had believed that.

"I will be leading the horse, most of it, at least, against Jaime Lannister and his siege at Riverrun, uncle Brynden believes that we should be able to dismantle his forces in good order," Robb told him.

Tristan grinned and clapped his shoulder. "Together, fighting as one, that's how we're meant to be Robb. Two halves of a whole."

"No," Robb said, looking his brother directly in his steel grey eyes. "We won't be going together this time."

Tristan's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Robb took his shoulder. "You will lead the host of footmen down the Kingsroad and engage Tywin Lannister."

"You... you want me to engage Tywin Lannister in battle? Robb, that's not my place."

"It is," Robb said. "We need to hold Tywin Lannister so he can't support his son. As long as there is a host on the Kingsroad, he cannot simply abandon his position, that would leave the door to King's Landing wide open for it."

"But if he senses a feint-" Tristan began.

"It won't make a difference, but he could warn Jaime, which is why I need you to march, you can make him believe that I am marching on him and him alone."

"How?" Tristan asked.

Robb gestured at Nymeria and Shield. "The Lannisters know that we Starks have one wolf each. If you ride with them at your side at the head of the column, then they will believe that we are both coming for him."

"Robb," Tristan implored him. "I can't defeat Tywin Lannister."

"You don't have to," Robb reassured him. "You just have to make him think that I am coming for him. Then you can break and retreat back for the Causeway."

"Robb, from the Ruby Ford to the Causeway is days' travel, longer as an army."

"I'm not going to lie, Tristan," Robb said. "I'm asking a lot, I know that, just be cautious, don't let Tywin Lannister destroy the army I'm giving you, that's all I need from you."

"And to be a distraction for you," Tristan pointed out.

"You'll be that simply by going," he reminded his brother. "I love you, and if you insist now that you don't want to do this, then I'll permit you to come with me. But it would be safer for our family, for us all, if we were to split up. Put all your eggs in one basket..." He began.

"And it is only easier for a man to rob you," he finished, smiling at their father's teachings. He looked Robb in the eye, and Robb saw the determination. Tristan may know his limits, but this was his challenge, he wouldn't back down. How could he look Robb in the eye if he had taken the safer option. "Okay brother," he said. "I'll go, but there are certain conditions."

Robb nodded. "What conditions?"

Tristan stroked his beard. "If I'm going to march against Tywin Lannister, I'm going to need cunning, and archers at my back."

"You'll have archers," Robb reminded him. He would have all of the footmen, archers and all.

"No," Tristan said. "I need the best archers, and as for cunning, footmen aren't cunning or cold, both of which I need. If I'm marching against Tywin Lannister, I need Theon... and Roose Bolton."

He wasn't surprised by the second, Lord Bolton had him for a year, and if he wanted cold, he couldn"t do better from the North. But Theon... he'd been planning to keep Theon with him. I need Tristan to march on Tywin. If Theon can do that... it would also mean an extra pair of trusted eyes watching over his twin. "Lord Bolton will go without complaint, I suspect," he told Tristan. "Let me speak to Theon."

"Of course," he replied with a grin. "Prove this superior leadership you've told me so much about."

"Arse."

He found Theon twirling an arrow in his fingers as he japed with Owen Norrey and Hugo Stout. "Theon, a word."

"On my way," he sidled over lazily. "You called, my lord?"

"I did," he said. "Listen, Theon, I have a task for you on the march."

"A task?" He asked, bemused.

Robb nodded. Theon had always appreciated a little directness. "Yes, if all goes well with the crossing, I intend to send Tristan down to confront Tywin Lannister with the foot while I ride for Riverrun to relieve it from Jaime Lannister."

Genuine shock lit up Theon's face like a beacon. How long had it been since Robb had seen that? "Is that wise, Tristan is many things, but a match for Tywin Lannister in open battle, no."

"He'll have Lord Bolton with him, and others to advise him. I hope he'll have you as well."

"Me?"

Robb nodded. "He would be travelling with Daryn and Domeric, but their fathers requested that they join my personal guard, and Tristan supported it as well. But you, Theon, you I trust, and you are possibly the best archer in the north. I would have you helping him, and watching over him."

"Does he need that?"

"Just stop him being an idiot."

"So keep Tristan alive and stop him being Tristan, that's all you ask?" Theon grinned.

"Theon," Robb replied, fighting to keep his own smile down. He needed Theon to be serious now. "Please. I need you to do this. Help Tristan, keep him alive, command his archers in the battle to come, if there is to be one. Please."

Theon drummed his arrow on his knee in thought. "I'd hoped to join you against the Kingslayer, given the choice that would still be my preference. But if the little cub needs me to keep him safe, I'll do it."

"Just don't call him cub, or pup," Robb said, smiling, Tristan had his choices, and he had someone he could trust watching his brother.

"I'll do my best," Theon replied, clapping him on the arm. "Shall I tell him, or shall you?"

"I'll do it," Robb confirmed. Part of him had hoped that Theon would refuse, then he would have an excuse to bring Tristan with him. But this was as it should be. They would be together when they marched on King's Landing at the head of a combined army from the north and Riverlands. They would still save father together.

If they got through the Twins, that is, if not, they'd all be marching on Tywin anyway. It was in his mother's hands now.