When dawn finally broke, Robb walked back to his tent to find Renly's page waiting for him and his Northmen in a frenzy as to where he had been. Robb glowered at Robin Flint until he bowed his head before his King.
"I am not a child, Robin. I was walking the camps. What word do you have for me, boy?" Robb asked the page who timidly stepped forward.
"His Grace, King Renly, asks for your audience at once with Lord Petyr Baelish."
"Baelish?" barked Patrek Mallister, who stepped forward to counsel his King.
"Your Grace, at Seagard we heard tales of what Lord Baelish did."
"The tales were told at Winterfell and the camps as well, Patrek. The man held a knife to my father's throat and sent him to the stocks. He will die as well." Robb said, securing his sword in its sheath.
"Robin, Daryn. Join me." Robb said nothing else as the three Northmen marched for Renly Baratheon's tent.
"Where is he?" Robb demanded when he entered the tent only for Renly to rise from his chair.
"On his way. And I do urge some patience. If the Lannisters sent him here, something is afoot."
"Aye. And after we learn what it is, I will have Petyr Baelish's head." Robb clarified, taking the seat that a squire had just provided for him beside Renly's own chair.
"He doesn't know you're here, so it should be a good laugh to see his face." Renly sighed, cracking his knuckles as another page walked in.
"Lord Petyr Baelish." Announced the young man, before Baelish entered to freeze upon seeing sight of Robb.
"I-…I-..I had not expected-."
"Do you know what? I think that's the first time he's speechless, King Robb." Renly grinned, as Robb merely glowered at Baelish.
"Your Grace, Your Grace. I was told Lady Catelyn would be here as an envoy…not…the King-in-the-North himself." Baelish said, seemingly recovering quickly as he moved into the tent to bow before Robb and Renly.
"I don't like his face. Do you like his face, Robb?" Renly asked folding his arms to stare at Baelish like he was a fascinatingly disgusting oddity.
"No." Robb growled singularly, causing Baelish to gulp.
"I see I have no friends to make here, and though that grieves me greatly. I did not come here to seek your affection." Those words caused Renly to laugh and rise from his chair, he moved to a fruit bowl where he picked a pear and spoke.
"So you do the Lannister's bidding now? Was my brother's body even cold before you transferred your allegiance?"
"I'm a practical man." Baelish said parting his hands in the air.
"Just not a loyal one." Renly said through a mouthful of pear.
"Who would you have me be loyal to? Your brother's corpse?"
"I don't like you, Lord Baelish. You see Robb Stark there, he likes you even less than I do. We don't like your face. We don't like your voice. We don't like the slimy words that come oozing out of your slimy mouth. So before Robb convinces me to have you executed, tell us now. Why are you here?" Renly demanded, causing Baelish to look at everyone in the room.
"I would prefer we spoke on this alone, King Renly."
"No, no. You can trust, Brienne. And whatever you wish to say about Starks, they live by honor till it damns them. So. Speak." Renly said impatiently.
"Very well…you still have many friends at court, Your Grace…many who believe that Ned Stark," Baelish paused to glance at Robb nervously "erred by not supporting your claim. A mistake his son seems to wish not to repeat-."
"I will kill you where you stand." Robb growled through clenched teeth.
"So much like your father and uncles, King Robb." Baelish smiled, causing Robb to clench his fist.
"Renly…" Robb exhaled with a growl.
"Oh I understand now. He knows we have the numbers. He knows that we will soon ally ourselves. He knows we're marching on King's Landing, and he hopes that when I take the throne, he will retain his position. And his head." Renly smirked, rolling his pear in his hand as he sat back down.
"I would give priority to my head, Your Grace." Baelish said, glancing once more at Robb.
"I understand that neither of you care for me. But when you march on King's Landing, you may find yourself facing a protracted siege…or open gates…" Baelish let his last two words emphasize themselves in the silence that followed.
"Nope. Sorry. Don't trust you. Have at him, Robb. Try not to make a mess." Renly said, leaning back to take another bite of his pear.
"You can't be seri-…Robb. Wait-! Wait! I have something for you. An offer from Tyrion Lannister."
"Ah, here we go…you see! There's always something else afoot." Renly said, leaning forward to clap his hands together "What was the offer for Robb then?"
"An exchange of prisoners. Your sisters for the Kingslayer."
"Oh please! Jamie Lannister for two girls? My bannermen would string me up by my feet. I love my sisters, but I will free them from Joffrey in my own way."
"He thought you might say that…so he's offered this exchange of prisoners in good faith." Baelish said hurriedly, clapping his hands to call two Silent Sisters into the tent with a heavy chest between them.
"What is this…?" Robb asked angrily as he rose from his chair.
"Good Gods…will you people know no end to this madness?" Renly breathed as Robb moved shakily forward to place his hands on the chest.
"Your father was an honorable man…he deserves to rest beside his family in the crypts beneath Winterfell…" Baelish said slowly as Robb's hands shook.
"Get him out…" Robb breathed shakily to Renly who shrugged and nodded to Brienne to escort Baelish away.
"My father…is in a chest…" Robb breathed, his hands shaking, only for Daryn and Robin to come forward and place their hands on his back before relieving the Silent Sisters of the chest.
"To my tent…get him to my tent." Robb said, before turning to have sole audience with Renly.
"This man mocks me and my family. He must die." Robb demanded, for Renly to sigh and shake his head.
"You must think about this logically, Robb. A siege at the city gates could last weeks, maybe months. The walls of King's Landing are strong, and unless we assault the Mud Gate by sea, we will be lost. Stannis could attack me from the rear at any given moment."
"Perhaps it is Stannis I should have gone to, for he would have understood a man's right to vengeance." Robb spat, for Renly only to tilt his head.
"An alliance with Stannis would see you both killed. You know that. Stop acting like a boy, Robb Stark. This is the game of thrones, and vengeance must often be foregone in the name of power."
"The game of-…Seven Hells!" Robb strode out of Renly's tent in a fury, nearly running straight into Margaery.
"Robb!" Margaery exclaimed in worry, clasping his shoulders in concern as they nearly collided before she stepped a respectable distance away from him.
"I am sorry, my lady. I cannot speak at present." Robb said, bowing to her stiffly, as he wished to speak to her more than anyone else at present, but there were far too many people around for Robb and Margaery to be themselves.
Margaery herself turned with furrowed eyebrows to walk into Renly's tent.
Author's Note: Hope you liked it! Do review :)