ROBB
To Robb Winterfell seemed a lot less with his father, sisters Sansa, Arya, and brother Bran gone south with the King. Eddard Stark had gone to fill the position of Hand of the King making him the second most powerful man in the realm. Sansa was to marry Prince Joffrey, though if he had the power Robb would break off that engagement. When Robb met Joffrey, he found him arrogant, a snob, and boastful. Robb grew up hearing of King Robert's exploits on the battlefield. How he defeated three armies in one day. His loss to Randyl Tarly, his win in the Step Stones against Jon Connington. Robb saw none of those things in Joffrey Baratheon; both in looks and mannerism. In fact he saw none of Robert in any of his children. Lady Catelyn thought that Arya would benefit from being at court and seeing proper southern ladies. May the gods Old and New watch over those who try to change her. Bran was on his way to becoming a Knight.
With his father gone Robb is the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North in his father's place. It is up to him to ensure the King's Peace, make sure the Northern Lords are paying their contributions to reinforcing the Night's Watch in preparation for the Long Night. Four weeks after they left a man returned to Winterfell with the Dire Wolves Lady and Summer. Catelyn was furious when she learned what happened on the King's Road and was very tempted to travel to the Capital and give the Queen a piece of her mind. Luckily Robb and Maester Luwin were able to stop her.
A week after that Lord Tyrion stops at Winterfell to rest...
Robb and his Lady mother sit at the high table as Tyrion enters the main hall. "What brings you back to our halls Lord Lannister?"
"To drink more of our wine I would wager..." Cat says sarcastically.
"Have I done something to offend you Lord Stark? Or you Lady Stark?"
Robb and Catelyn exchange looks. They had received a message from Lysa Arryn blaming the Lannisters for her husband's death. "They say the apple does not fall far from the tree...On the King's Road Prince Joffrey attacked my sister Arya and her friend a boy named Mycah. My sister's Dire Wolf came to her defense and bit the Prince...Your sister the Queen insisted that one of the other two Dire Wolves die since Arya ran off her Dire Wolf...My father killed Snow his Dire Wolf and sent Summer and Lady home..."
"Dire Wolves are dangerous wild animals..."
"Our Wolves do not attack unless we command them too or we are threatened..."
"I see and I am to blame for the actions of my sister Your Queen and her son...Our houses are to be joined...Prince Joffrey is to be your son by law Lady Catelyn and your brother by law Lord Stark..."
"Time will tell if he is worthy suitor for my sister..." Robb coldly replies.
"How long do you intend stay Lord Tyrion?" Catelyn asks.
He bows, "I will not trouble you or your House Lady Stark I will find more welcoming company in Winter Town..."
"Thank the gods I hoping he would leave." Cat says.
"Until your Lord husband can get proof about the Lannisters involvement in Jon Arryn's death we should be more careful about how we treat the Lannisters." Maester Luwin says.
"Doesn't matter he's gone now..."
The next day Rickon is staring at Robb, "You promised!" He pouts.
Robb looks at Theon, "Do you recall me making a promise about going riding with Rickon…"
Theon pretends to think, "Nope I don't recall any promises..."
"Stop teasing your brother and take him riding..." Catelyn says trying not to laugh.
Robb grabs Rickon and starts tickling him, "Of course I remember you little Wildling..." The horses are saddled and they leave Winterfell through the hunter's gate heading into the Wolf's wood.
They ride at a slow pace, "I can go fast!" Rickon declares a mile from the castle.
"Rickon wait!"
He breaks off into a gallop, Robb and Theon give chase, "Rickon slow down!" Theon yells.
That is when Robb's horse is struck by several arrows and he falls off. "Robb!" He screams as an arrow hits him in the leg.
Robb's horse rears as a line of vines is pulled up in front of him. A man runs up and tries to pull him off, but he swings his sword and kills the man with a blow to the head. Robb looks over and sees two men converging on Theon. He gallops back and swings his sword striking one man in the shoulder and wounding him severely. This allows Theon to stab the other in the gut with his dagger. With an arrow in his leg Theon takes out his bow and nocks an arrow. He shots down a man hiding behind a tree. Robb takes out his horn and blows; when an arrow catches him in the shoulder.
Both he and Theon hide behind a tree, "I got one of the archers..."
"I will be bate...Don't miss..."
Theon nods as Robb runs from cover. The man takes aim, but before he can shoot Theon shoots the man in the neck killing him. When they find Rickon two men and a woman are holding him hostage.
"Drop your weapons..."
"Let him go...I blew my horn...Men will be here soon...If you surrender now I will spare your lives..."
"Swear on the Old gods..." The woman says.
"Shut up bitch!"
She charges the man who called her a bitch and plunges her dagger into his skull, "I told you I would kill you if you called me a bitch again..." She looks at the other man, "Harold let him go..."
"He may be lying..."
"I am not lying. As the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North I swear on the honor of House Stark that if you let my brother go I will spare your lives..."
He slowly lowers the dagger and releases Rickon who runs into Robb's arms. Just then men show up on horseback. "I want their heads!" Catelyn screams after hearing what happened.
"Mother...Rickon is alive and I gave my word...These two will serve us..."
Two weeks after Tyrion left a Raven arrives from the capital...
Robb I write this letter with a heavy heart. Our good King Robert Baratheon is dead, killed from wounds he suffered from a Boar while hunting. Father has been charged with Treason. He conspired with Robert's brothers to take the Iron Throne from my beloved Joffrey. The Lannisters are treating me well and providing me with every comfort. I beg you; keep the peace. Come to King's Landing and swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the Great Houses of Lannister and Stark...
Your Faithful Sister Sansa
"Treason!" Catelyn says after Robb reads the letter.
"Your daughter's handwriting my lady..."
"And the Queen's words...No mention of Arya or Bran..."
"They won't hurt any of them...They would be fools to do so..."
"We have to do something..." Theon says.
"And we will..." Robb looks at Maester Luwin, "Call the banners."
"All of them My Lord?"
"Robb!"
"The Lannisters want me to come to King's Landing...I will with an army at my back..."
"If you do this...You are declaring war on the Iron Throne...This is no game."
"They have my father! Your husband in a dungeon!"
"I know, but we must not be rash..." She looks at Luwin, "Maester Luwin...How far would you say Lord Tyrion's journey has bought him?"
"He should be well past Moat Cailin by now...I would say he should be nearing the crossroads inn by now..."
"Send a Raven to the Blackwoods. Instruct them to take Lord Tyrion prisoner..."
"What will that accomplish?" Robb asks, "From what I hear the Queen and her father hate Tyrion Lannister."
"True but his brother loves him...The Kingslayer will ask his father to bargain for Tyrion Lannister..."
"Good plan..." Theon says, "But Robb still needs to make a show of strength..."
Cat looks at Luwin, "Theon Greyjoy is right my lady...Summon the banners."
"We ask House Tully and Arryn for help...When the Iron Throne sees the forces assembling against them...They will release father and my siblings..." Reluctantly Cat agrees and while the Lords of the North converge on Winterfell Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrick ride south to collect Tyrion Lannister. Within two weeks all are gathered in the main hall. "My Lords and Ladies...I thank you all for showing your support of House Stark and answering the call...My father has been unjustly imprisoned..."
"Winter is coming for House Lannister..." Someone screams.
"To the seven hells with Joffrey Baratheon..." Another yells.
"We will march to Riverlands...My Uncle Lord Edmure has agreed...We must make a show of strength..." Before leaving the next day Robb speaks with Rickon.
He tries not to cry, "Please don't go..."
"I must and I need you to be strong...You are the acting Lord of Winterfell..."
"I don't want to be the Lord of Winterfell..." He sobs.
"I know, but remember who you are...You are Rickon Stark of Winterfell...Your blood goes all the way back Bran the Builder...You were named for King Rickon...A great King who ruled long ago..."
"Really?"
Robb smiles, "Really..."
The Northern army numbers 20,000 not including the men left behind to help defend the North and aid the watch. By the time Robb reaches Riverrun both Stannis and his brother Renly have declared themselves King's. "Renly has the support of over half the Stormlands and House Tyrell. We should support Renly..." Edmure Tully says.
Robb shakes his head, sitting beside his mother who had returned from the Vale. Her sister refuses to help and Tyrion Lannister got away through trial by combat. "Renly can't be King before Stannis..." He says.
"I would rather drink horse piss than support Stannis..." Lord Umber says causing everyone to laugh.
Robb hears his mother lean over to Edmure, "And where is the Lord Walder Frey..."
Edmure huffs, "The Late Walder Frey you mean...The old goat is hold up in his castle refusing to answer the call unless father and I agree to marry one of retched daughters..." Maester Cornwell walks up to Edmure and hands him a letter. "My gods no!"
Robb looks at him, "Silence!" He calls and the hall goes quiet.
"Edmure what is it?" Cat asks.
"I can't..." He hands the letter to Robb.
"Lord Stark?" Theon says.
Robb drops the letter, "Robb what is it?" Catelyn asks.
Theon picks it up, "son of Bitch!"
"What does it say?"
"Lord Stark has been beheaded..."
The hall goes into an uproar, "Fuck the Lannisters!" Lady Mormont yells.
"To the seven hells with Joffrey Baratheon!"
"MY LORDS!" Great Jon Umber yells, "My ladies...There is only one way to answer this..." He spits, "That is what I say to Joffrey...to Stannis...and to Renly...What do they know of the Wolf's Wood...The Old gods or the wall...I say we give them a war they will never forget..." He draws his sword, "There is the only King I will bow to...The King in the North!" One by one they all confirm Robb as their King. Even Theon bows and calls Robb King.
Robb stands up, "If you will have me as your King then I accept..." He draws his sword, "...We fight to free the North and the Riverlands from the Iron Throne...We fight to avenge my father...and we fight to free my sisters. We give them so much blood that they will beg for peace!"
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!" They all shout.