We pressed on quickly, wanting to give the scout as little of a head start as possible. Moving an army took an agonizing amount of time, which Will was quick to point out.
"If I could only ride ahead…" he complained as we trotted through the green climbs along the river. Our horses looked so comfortable on this grass, ready to run.
"Would you have this conflict solved for us already?" I teased.
He nodded, "Of course."
"You're worse than Theon."
Will tossed a glance to his left towards the Ironborn.
"Impossible," he replied with a smirk I tried to match.
It was difficult, though, when I looked at Theon. Although he and Robb had spoken since their argument over my helping to find the scout, some coldness had grown between them that had not been there before. It was difficult to ignore.
Ahead of us, Robb rode with his mother, the Greatjon, and Lord Karstark around him. Grey Wind padded along at his side. It was strange not to see Theon with them.
"You better join them," Will suggested.
With a nod, I kicked Chimera onward to catch up to the party ahead of us.
"The gates are closed," I heard Robb say.
"Expect nothing of Walder Frey, unless you have a pretty young daughter," the Greatjon commented. As he saw me ride to him, he added, "I'd keep your wife away from him just in case."
Robb gave me a small smile he dismounted. I followed suit with Willem and Theon just behind me.
"We need to secure the crossing whatever it takes. The longer we give Tywin Lannister, the more forces he can muster and his hold on my grandfather's land will grow. We need to break him now," Robb stated.
His eyes had grown an icier blue in the past few days. I tried as best I could to warm them, but since the news of his father's passing, he was hard to reach, so often holed up, poring over maps, discussing battle strategy, hardening himself for war, or so he said. I knew it was for revenge.
"I will speak with him," Robb added, as a raven crowed in the distance.
Theon spoke up, "Are you mad? He'll throw you in a dungeon, or worse, he'll sell you to the Lannisters."
"He may just kill you outright," Will added.
"We have no choice. My father would have done whatever it took," Robb returned. "I—"
He cut off abruptly as he saw me pulling my bow and arrow from Chimera's packs. Within a few moments, I had notched an arrow and released it, shooting down a raven from the sky.
"Gods!" Lord Karstark gasped.
Rather than react to his surprise, I returned with "I'd be curious what message that raven was carrying."
Robb chuckled a little, his eyes just a shade softer.
"I'll go," Catelyn spoke up.
"Mother," Robb returned quietly.
But, her expression was unyielding. "I have known Walder Frey since I was a girl. He will not harm me."
"My lady," Lord Karstark began.
"I shall hear none of it, and for added protection, I shall bring his weakness," she added, and within a few moments, I found myself getting back into my saddle.
"Ana, this is mad," Robb warned, taking Chimera's reigns in his hand.
I turned my head to the side, "Your men are right. It's too dangerous for you."
He laughed aloud although there was little humor in his eyes, "I am to protect you."
"Robb, shortly after I met you, do you remember what I said I wanted most from my husband?"
"It was trust," he replied. "Even before love."
"Trust me to speak for you."
He said nothing but let go of the reigns as I followed Catelyn to the entrance of the castle.
"He has been different," Catelyn commented quietly.
"Losing your father changes you."
"Yes," she replied with a soft gaze towards me. "I suppose it does, but I hope it does not change him too much," she added, her face betraying a sadness that she had felt for days yet refused to show.
"He won't," I promised although in my heart I knew it was not something I could say with full honesty.
I walked a step behind her in courtesy as we were led to Lord Frey, but as soon as I stepped inside, a shiver shot down my spine. My ears rang as I walked quietly in tow. I felt light headed and yet I knew I would not faint. It was as though I was entering a dream.
Seeing Walder Frey sat before us, my mind flashed between visions of the dark, cold room we stood in, surrounded by his children, and then flickered to a long table with Lord Frey at the center, laughter, food and drink and other men and women at his side.
I curtseyed, somehow able to follow Lady Stark's lead. Even as my mind saw long tables throughout the room, Robb and I sitting together, sharing a kiss, I could even pull myself from the vision when Frey spoke to me.
"And, the boy is so proud that he sends his mother and pretty young wife though you can't be quite as young as my wife of five and ten."
I shook my head demurely, "No, my lord. I am a bit older."
"Not much," he returned, looking me down.
The bile built in my stomach, but I choked it down, avoiding the man's beady eyes and sickening smile. Instead, I let Lady Catelyn do the talking as the discomfort in my stomach grew. My mind again flashed to present as my attention was pulled aside. There lay a tapestry against the wall, glowing in the candlelight of my vision but dark and dim today.
I turned back, vaguely aware of some other comment directed to me, but Catelyn spoke for me, allowing me to fall back into my vision. Will would be sitting one table away, and with my nervous expression, he would come to us, bringing with him the Greatjon. Then, chaos erupts as I look up to the balcony toward the mummers. I can see the fear in Lady Catelyn's eyes as the weapons appear, and suddenly, one of the Umbers leaps in front of Robb, taking an arrow to his chest.
People scream, hide, draw what few weapons they have in a time of celebration, and in our present, the room empties itself. The dark colors and sallow faces of the Frey family alternately mixing with screaming panic of men and women in the future.
And my eyes again fall on the tapestry.
"You've looked a great deal at those towers," Lord Frey spoke up. "It's likely the most attention anyone from your former house has ever paid to mine."
"Like you, my Lord Frey, my father did not like to venture from his house unless it was absolutely necessary," I returned.
"Yes, and when he chose to leave freely, I suppose he learned quite a lesson."
My eyes stared daggers as my jaw jutted out. Without thinking, I took a step towards him, but Lady Catelyn took a hold of my dress. I could feel the disgust contort my face, which was even more difficult as a vision of an arrow piercing Willem shot before my eyes.
"What is it that you want, Lord Frey?" I spoke up, trying to cover the hate inside of me.
I could tell from his surprise that I had failed. "What is it that I want?"
"Yes, you speak of oaths but say they mean little. You're sworn to many men, so who will provide what you want? The Lannisters? They are rich, but I doubt you would profit much by them ultimately. I won't speak of rightful heirs—"
"—And you shouldn't," Lord Frey began. "Your husband certainly has no claim to the throne."
"He does not want it. He wants justice for his father, but none of that means anything to you, so let us focus on what does. You want your children married to respectable houses. I have a younger brother, Philip. I am sure he would be honored to join with House Frey."
"As would my youngest daughter, Arya," Catelyn spoke up.
"The second in line to a house and a girl?"
"And my brother," Catelyn added. "Edmure has never taken a wife. It is high time, particularly given my father's health."
The spark seemed to kick off in his eye, but a moment later it was extinguished.
"And that should be enough to betray our king?"
"Tywin Lannister may pay you handsomely, Lord Frey," Catelyn stated. "However, after you exhaust the gold, what will you have? Unmarried children that he will not bring into his family."
His mind worked furiously, weighing his options, gold against family name. I could see we were losing him.
"And land," I spoke up.
Both turned to me with a raised eyebrow.
"When I said Robb does not want the crown, I know that's true. But, none of us can say how far this will have to go."
It seemed especially so, seeing how angry he had grown.
"What land do you want? Casterly Rock, maybe?"
Now, I could see the glint returning to his eyes.
"If it comes to that, it's yours."
I knew Catelyn was pleased as we rode back to the men, but I was filled with such hate for everything I saw and still bargained away. It would come to nothing of course if what I saw truly did to come pass, but I still hated myself for it.
My expression hardened as we arrived at camp. I dismounted, following Lady Catelyn. Robb looked relieved, but his expression soon grew troubled, matching mine.
"We have our crossing," Catelyn announced. "Although your wife promised him Casterly Rock should it come to that."
Robb raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused, but the anger in my expression was enough to take it away from him.
"That was all it took?" he asked.
"Well, that and the promise of marriage for Arya, Willem's brother Philip, and my brother," Catelyn replied.
"Can you even promise that?" Robb asked aloud, referring specifically to Catelyn.
Catelyn shrugged, "If we free the Riverlands, then Edmure is in our debt. He will do it; I shall be persuasive. You shall meet Lord Frey tonight. We leave as soon as possible."
She turned to ready herself as the men began to exit Robb's tent.
"I'll be sure to tell Philip this was your idea, giving him up in a bargain," Will teased. I forced a smile, but he could see through it completely.
"What's wrong?" Robb and Theon asked in unison.
I glanced between both of them and then Will. I could feel my bottom lip begin to quiver, but I swallowed quickly, holding back the tears.
"I won't go back in there," I swore.
"You have to," Theon stated.
Robb shook his head as he walked towards me, "What happened?"
"That is where it will happen," I whispered.
Robb's eyes widened as Will asked aloud what he and Theon were thinking, "Where what will happen?"
Robb rubbed my arms, protectively, as I fought off the tears. But I couldn't keep myself from looking at Will, nor could Robb. Will's confused expression faded to a sheet of white as he saw the fear in my eyes.
"Where what will happen?" Theon repeated.
"That's where I die," Will answered.