Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or anything related. It belongs to George R.R. Martin, the creator of this wonderful universe and David Benioff and D. B. Weiss who created the show.
02x08: The Prince of Winterfell.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Catelyn's Betrayal.
"You've been quiet recently," Talisa murmured walking alongside Robb, she had travelled along with him to the Crag to collect supplies to relax those that she had already used. It had been hard keeping away from Robb while he grieved for his wife but Talisa knew that it was for the best, he wasn't in a good place and she didn't blame him for being so upset about all of this.
Things had not been easy since Sanira had been killed by Theon and it had gotten worse with Walder Frey attempting to convince Robb to marry one of his daughters in exchange for his continued help in the war. The Lord of the Crossing wanted to see one of his daughters become Queen in the North and that could only happen if Robb agreed to marry one of them.
"There is a lot on my mind," Robb replied not saying much, he had so much going on and he wished that there was some way that he could speak with Sanira. He had never thought that this was how their marriage would work out and it hurt Robb that he hadn't been there to protect her from Theon but he hadn't been and now he had to deal with that.
Talisa nodded her head, she could see that Robb had loved his wife very much and she was a little jealous that she'd never felt like that in her life.
"Your wife must have been a great woman," Talisa mused not knowing much about the late Queen, she was an outsider in camp and she only continued to travel with the Northern army because of Robb. He had been so kind to her since they had first met and Talisa had become fond of him; she would have even considered seeking more from him but she did not wish to insult the memory of his late wife.
There was no denying that Robb still grieved for her and Talisa wanted nothing more than to respect that, she was happy watching from afar and that would do her since her feelings couldn't last forever.
"She was… she was very kind, very loving… just the Queen that the North needed in this war," Robb said smiling, thinking about Sanira and he could think of nothing bad about her and she was everything that he had ever wanted in a wife. It was the reason that he refused to even consider marrying one of Frey's many daughters, he would not dishonour Sanira in such away when she had barely been dead a month.
His focus was on making the people responsible for everything that had happened to his family pay for it; he would make sure that Theon suffered for ending the lives of his wife and unborn child. Talisa swallowed thickly, it was hard for her to listen to him talk about Sanira in such a way but it did make her decision not to act on her feelings even stronger; she had found herself growing fond of Robb in the months since they had first spoken to one another.
Before Talisa could say anything a rider approached the two while they were walking, she blinked trying to hide her disappointment that they had been interrupted; she ducked her head knowing that it was wrong for her to think such thoughts.
"What is it?" Robb asked staring at the rider, he was surprised that they had been interrupted; they weren't along with guards around them but he liked the peace and quiet. The rider shifted nervously, his news would not be greeted well and he could only imagine how the King would react to more bad news that was about to come his way.
"Jaime Lannister has escaped," the rider revealed making Robb stare at him, this could not have come at a worse time and he knew that his men would not react well to the news that their hostage had escaped and lost them their advantage.
"How are you feeling?" Aiana asked making sure that Sanira was okay, the baby could arrive very soon and they were still no closer to reaching the camp; it was starting to dawn on them that the baby could be born on the trip. It was a scary thought and Aiana knew that she would be the one to deliver the child if that happened; she was scared that she might fail and cause the death of her friend.
"Tired…" Sanira replied with a sigh, she wanted nothing more than to relax and she was exhausted; it had been a long few weeks and the sooner that they reached Robb's camp the better. Looking over at Rickon, Sanira sighed not knowing how much longer they would be on the road for; it had been hard and she just wanted to see her husband again.
She wondered if Robb had heard yet that Winterfell had been taken by Theon, Sanira doubted that her husband would have reacted well to such news. Maester Luwin had remained back at Winterfell and Sanira hoped that he was well, she doubted that it would have ended well if Theon discovered what he had done for her.
Bran would have found a way to escape with some help and Sanira hoped that he had reached a safe-haven somewhere in the North where he could hide from the enemies that threatened their lives. There was every chance that this could turn on them all in a moment and Sanira wanted nothing more than to make it to Robb's camp safely.
Even if her dreams seemed to hint at the fact that they wouldn't make it without at least one small bump in the road; it left Sanira nervous for her and her unborn child. Their only hope was to reach the camp as fast as possible, even with one horse it was taking them time and Sanira feared that there would be consequences for such a thing.
"Tell me this isn't true," Robb said staring at his mother, he didn't want to believe for a moment that she was the reason that Jaime Lannister had escaped; it ruined everything and his men were far from happy. Rickard Karstark stared at Catelyn furious that she had taken away his revenge, Torrhen Karstark had been murdered the day before by Jaime and he had wanted to take the man's head for what he had done.
"Why?" Robb asked wanting answers when Catelyn stopped what she was doing, she didn't look at him and he was so angry with her right now. It had changed everything and Robb could only imagine what was going to happen now, things were changing and not in a good way; his men were furious and were calling his mother a traitor for her actions.
"For the girls," Catelyn said quietly thinking back to her talk with Lord Petyr Baelish, he had promised her that if she released Jaime Lannister then he would ensure that Sansa and Arya would be returned to her. Catelyn wanted nothing more than to have her children back, she hated that things had become so difficult and she just wanted to ensure that she was able to protect them better.
"You betrayed me," Robb stated with a shake of his head, he could not believe this and he had never thought that his own mother would do such a thing behind his back. This war was not just about getting his sisters back and with her actions, Catelyn had weakened their position; this was the last thing that Robb needed right now.
Robb wished his mother would think things through carefully, this wasn't the first time that she had acted and that it had backfired on her; she had captured Tyrion Lannister months ago and it had resulted in Eddard being attacked.
"Robb..." Catelyn pleaded wanting him to listen to her, she had done what she thought was best and she wasn't going to change her mind; things were rocky right now and she just wanted to do something to save her children. It pained her that she'd been forced to do this without his knowledge but he would have never agreed and he was blinded by the fact that he had lost his wife several weeks ago.
"Bran and Rickon are captives in Winterfell. Sansa and Arya are captives in King's Landing. I have five children, and only one of them is free," Catelyn pleaded wanting Robb to see her side of things, she had done this for his sisters who they were still fighting to get back. Sansa was a prisoner of the Queen and while there had been no word of Arya, Petyr had reassured her when he had returned Eddard's body that she was safe as well.
Rickard scoffed at Catelyn's words, he should have executed the Lannister when he'd had the chance yesterday; he had lost two of his sons in this war and he dreaded to think what else this war would claim before it was over.
"I lost one son fighting by your son's side. I lost another to the Kingslayer, strangled with a chain. You committed a treason, because your children are prisoners? I would carve out my heart and offer it to the Father, if he would let my sons wake from their graves and step into a prison cell," Rickard spat disgusted that she had done such a thing.
Catelyn looked at Lord Karstark in pity wishing that she had some way to fix this for him; she knew that nothing that she could say would fix the damage that had been done.
"I grieve for your sons, My Lord..." Catelyn started knowing that if they were to see her side of things then maybe they would understand why she had acted when she had; there had been no way that Jaime Lannister would have survived the night here. The men had been angry and drunk, something that had left Jaime in a very dangerous position and Catelyn knew that everything would have been lost of Jaime was killed during the night.
"I don't want your grief. I want my vengeance. And you stole it from me!" Rickard snarled furiously, nothing would take away what he had lost and he knew that Catelyn had crossed a line with her actions. It had been hard enough to catch the Lannister and hold him hostage for months on end without the Lannister army breaking him free; everything had been for nothing now and Catelyn was to blame for that now that she had lost them Jaime Lannister.
"Killing Jaime Lannister would not buy life to your children. But returning him to King's Landing may buy life for mine," Catelyn explained gravely, she wished that they would see that things would work out now that they would get the girls back from this deal. Catelyn trusted Baelish to make sure that he kept his word, she wanted her daughters back and this was the only way that they would make that happen anytime soon.
The war was dragging on and Catelyn feared that if she had left things like it was that it could be years before she saw Sansa or Arya again; she wanted them safe and that could only happen by what she had done.
"Jaime Lannister has played you for a fool. You have weakened our position; you brought discord into our camp; and you did all behind my back," Robb stated firmly, he couldn't believe that his mother thought that her plan would work in anyway. Catelyn stared at him, her heart breaking at the fact that he thought that she had messed everything up; she had done what she thought was right and she stood by her decision.
"Make sure she's guarded day and night!" Robb ordered turning away and storming out of the tent, he didn't have time for this and they needed to find Jaime Lannister before things got completely out of hand.
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