CHAPTER 9 - PRICE
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Somewhere in Westeros
Arya's thighs are feeling numb after all that galloping, she felt like something just hit her hard under there. "Can't we stop?" Arya asked to Jory, holding the horse's hair for safety.
"No, we can't we need to get you home first," Jory replied.
Arya gulped a curse, and opened her mouth to speak. "The horse might be thirsty Jory…"
"No he ain't thirsty, look we'll be safer soon alright, we'll reach the Riverlands soon," Jory tried to assure Arya.
Arya nodded silently, as their horse began walk forward.
King's Landing
Cersei was sitting on her desk and drinking wine, until the guards brought in the Stark girl's septa. Cersei smirked and pressed her hands together like she's about to pray.
"Close the doors and stay out, don't let anyone enter," Cersei ordered. The two Lannister guards nodded and she just look down on her hands until the guards closed the door on the room.
Cersei smiled to the septa, who replied with an audible gulp.
"Please," Cersei gestured to the chair, but the septa stood still like a proud rock. Cersei sighed, and glared softly at the septa, "what do they call you?"
"Septa Unella your grace," she replied quietly.
"Really? I thought it was Mordane…" Cersei smirked.
"She resigned months before you came to Winterfell, your grace," she replied once more in the same manner.
"Ah, I see," Cersei said with no interest, then she gulped down her wine, "when I was little, I had someone like you, but fatter and shorter. She scolded me for just being near my brother… tell me septa, do you think that's wrong?"
"I think it's important not to keep families apart your grace," the septa said bitterly, thinking about the Stark children.
"Where's the other Stark girl?" Cersei said menacingly.
"I don't know your grace, when we left King's Landing, she was not there with another Stark man," septa Unella gulped.
"Tell me truth and I'll spare your head," Cersei said.
"It's the truth your grace!" Septa Unella said emotionally, "I swear it by the old Gods and the new."
Cersei smirked, she was pleased with her fear. Then Cersei glanced at the door, "Guards."
Once Cersei called out the guards, the guards entered the room. "I changed my mind," Cersei said, "don't throw her in the cells, throw her on the streets of flea bottom, I'm sure the people would love to see a healthy holy soul."
Septa Unella cried as she was dragged away by the guards, she cried as she was sent to Flea Bottom with her lady now within Cersei Lannister's grasp. The guards threw her like she was trash into the streets where people around looked at her like she's meat and gold. They began to surround her and thoughts went through her mind like a racing dornish steed.
Rape. Murder, all the bad things that could happen to her went through her mind. Suddenly, an old man came from behind the crowd and pushed the crowded gently, and the crowd moved. He was respected.
He was dressed in rags and his face was dusty and dirty, his hair white and balding. He was an aged man, and he looked at her from above with a humble smile. Was he the Father? The septa thought. He offered the septa his hand.
"Come now child, let's get you fed, you're safe now," he said.
The septa reluctantly took his hand and stood up, "who are you?" she asked.
The man chuckled, "they call me the high sparrow," he explained, "but I'm no more than a man, my child. Those people who threw you are terrible people. One day, they'll atone for their sins."
Winterfell
Lara was up now in the middle of the night, preparing to leave. She figured she had to dress the part, meaning she had to be practical. She wore a dark blue velvet dress, with sleeves that flared, and embroidered with silver threads. She wore an armour on top of her bodice, in the shape of a corset that was made of steel, there were slits on the sides of her dress so that she could move freely, and she wore pants underneath, and boots like Robb and other northern men. There were direwolf embroideries on her neckline. She wore her leather gloves and kept a small knife below her back, and she wore her cloak, lined with fox pelts that were brown and grey.
She didn't have time to do her hair so she just braided it to the side, and she looked at herself on the mirror, she realized the way she looked shows her power, she was second in command now to Robb. She was lady of Winterfell.
Lara walked out of the room and went straight the corridor, then she could hear Bran and Rickon whispering quietly.
"They'll come back," Bran said, with hope in his words.
"No they won't," Rickon replied, and my heart sank. A little boy has said something so mature. Lara went behind Rickon, and he was startled.
"You're leaving too?" Rickon teared up.
"I'll come back, I promise. Your mother, father, and Robb might not, but I will, I swear it," Lara said emotionally. Then Rickon went to her and jumped to hug her.
"I'll come back. Promise me you'll stick with Bran," Lara whispered and kissed Rickon on the cheek.
Rickon let go of Lara and she told him to run along. Lara then sighed, and looked at Bran who gave her a small smile.
"This is goodbye, I guess," he offered.
"Goodbyes are never easy," Lara replied as she sat by his bedside, "take care of Rickon and Winterfell for me."
"What if I'm not a good lord like father?" Bran asked.
"You'll learn to be one," Lara replied, "just don't lose the Keep."
Then Bran chuckled, and Lara smiled. "Be just, and don't trust anyone. Once I leave Winterfell, you can only trust your friends, do you hear me?"
"I hear you," Bran said, and Lara gave him a hug.
"Be safe," Bran whispered, and Lara gave him a peck on his forehead.
"Go back to sleep now, lord Bran," Lara said, and Bran nodded.
Lara turned her back and closed his door, she went to the courtyard and her brown stallion was waiting for her. She mounted her stallion and she rode to be side by side with Robb, and they rode out of the gates of Winterfell.
Robb Stark's Camp
Lara looked out of her tent, two tower bridges so high up in the sky. The Twins. She sighed, Tywin Lannister's army was marching their way and Jaime Lannister is at the gates of Riverrun, the Lannister forces could trap Lara and Robb.
Lara walked over to Robb's tent, there he was having a meeting with the other great lords. All the lords looked at me like Lara was meat and that she didn't belonged in that tent, but Robb, with bright eyes welcomed her.
"Lara," Robb called out, gesturing his hand for me to stand beside him.
"M-my lord, it's no place for a lady," Greatjon Umber said to Robb.
Lara furrowed her eyebrows and looked at lord Umber's hand, and she remembered that a few nights ago, Grey Wind bit his fingers off.
"Lord Umber, how's your hand?" Lara mocked, "How's your son?"
"Both fine, my lady," Jon Umber replied silently.
"That's good to hear, the last time I saw him I declined his marriage proposal," Lara said to the table, and the other lords chuckled silently.
"How are your daughters? I heard they were training to hunt?" Lara asked.
"Y-yes," the Lord Umber looked down.
"Then, I am no different than them," Lara said strictly, "my cousin wished for my council, and I will give it to him."
"But you're a woman!" lord Karstark rolled his eyes, and Lara furiously glared at him and the other lords who chose to stay silent. She was angry. Robb noticed the anger in her eyes and tried to hold her hand, but she slaps his hand away.
"The last time I was a part of all this, I sent a letter so that my uncle could go home, and that all you lot could wine and dine in the safety of your keeps!" Lara roared, earning the furrowed expressions of northern lords around her.
"I am Brandon Stark's daughter! By right if I had been a man, you would be kneeling and proclaim me your superior, but I'm not asking that of you. My father went south and he died, this time your liege lord went south, what if he died? I want him to make it back home and tell those Lannister piss that winter is coming!" She hissed.
"So, if you think I don't share the same values as you do, then my lords, show me the way out."
But the lords gulped and look down on their feet, and Lara didn't bother to hear their replies. She looked at Robb.
"We need to cross, we need that bridge more than ever," Lara said to Robb loudly so all the man could hear. "Your mother is now negotiating with Walder Frey."
"Yes, I'm aware of that," Robb said, rubbing his forehead with his hand.
"He'll demand many from us, and he'll take no for an answer," Lara said, "either way you'll have to bow down to everything he wants from you."
"I'm ready to do my part," Robb sighed, looking back at the map. "Lara, look at this. If we have the twins we must attack Tywin's army and also Riverrun. I think we should divide our forces, 2000 men to Tywin Lannister."
"Aye, I agree," Lara said seriously.
Lara sighed, then she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Catelyn Stark, her face was worried and her eyes were tired. And all the northern lords went outside the tent, except Theon.
"You'll have your bridge, and he'll give you some of his men, but," lady Catelyn said, and the whole room was quiet.
"You'll take his son Olyvar as your squire, and he'll expect a Knighthood soon," lady Catelyn said to Robb, but the look on lady Catelyn's face says that there's more.
"And?" Robb said.
"And Arya will marry his son Waldron when they've come of age," lady Catelyn said, with anxiety in her eyes, and there were still more.
"And?" Robb squinted his eyes.
"You'll marry any girl that you choose, after all the fighting is over," lady Catelyn sighed.
"Have you seen his girls?" Robb furrowed his eyebrows, earning a small chuckle from Theon.
"Do you consent?" Lady Stark asked.
"Is that all?" Robb said, and I look down at my feet nervously, scared of my fate.
Lady Catelyn looked at me and sighed, "Yes, I told them Lara has chosen a northern suitor."
Lara let go her breath as if she's been holding it for years.
"Then I consent," Robb said angrilly, and he left, shrugging Theon's shoulder as he went out of the tent. Theon laughed silently, earning a raised eyebrow from lady Stark.
"Thank the Gods," Lara said to lady Stark, "I'll hang myself if I have to marry the old fart or his sons." Her comment made lady Stark sigh in return.
Lara chased Robb, he was tightening his horse's saddle furiously. Lara went to his side and offered him her soft smile.
Robb looked at her and looked away, he was amusingly upset. "I don't want to talk," Robb said.
"You did the right thing," Lara whispered nicely, "my lord."
Robb softened his expression and looked at Lara for comfort.
"Promise me you'll keep your promise," Lara whispered, "We don't want to cross that old fart."
Then Robb chuckled, "you're just saying that because you don't have to do anything."
"Aye," Lara admitted, chuckling lowly. Robb furrowed his eyebrows in return, and looked at Lara angrilly but also sadly. He was upset.
Then they both road past The Twins.
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Chapter name : because Robb Stark has to pay the price.