Chapter 5. The Karstarks

With the death of Lord Rickard Karstark his nephew Richard Karstark was now Lord of Karhold. Richard had been away on a mission when he heard how his uncle and mentor was beheaded by the King. In anger the Karstarks abandoned Robb to return to Karhold. To avoid fighting the Iron Born at Moat Cailin they marched along the shoreline.

"Milord scouts!" Richard's captain said.

"Milord! A huge force approaching us…they bear the sigil of house Stark…"

Richard and his army of 12,000 men stood before a force of 40,000 troops bearing the sigil of House Stark. "Those do not look like Northmen…" Richard 's Captain said whispering to him.

Richard urged his horse forward with ten of his men. The leader of the opposing forces rode up to him with ten men as well. "Identify yourselves!" Richard demanded.

"You don't recognize me cousin…" Justin said.

Richard narrowed his eyes, "Who are you and why do claim kinship to me…"

"Because when I was six I spent a year at Karhold with you, Uncle Rickard, Harrion and Torrhen…"

"Justin!"

"Aye!"

They dismounted and made camp, then Justin met with Richard in his command tent. Justin brought Sansa with him and noticed that as they spoke he kept staring at Sansa. "I cannot cousin. No matter what words you use…Robb Stark killed my uncle…He could have exiled him or stripped him of his title…There was no need to behead him…" He took a quick look at Sansa who smiled at him.

Justin noticed before speaking, "He killed two little boys against the King's Orders…"

"The King who lost the North!" Sir Doen said.

"Jaime Lannister killed my cousin Torrhen trying to escape…"

"People die in war…"

"Yes then his foolish mother frees the bastard!"

"You are speaking of my aunt!"

"I am your kin as well…" Richard said yelling.

Justin saw him look at Sansa again, so he walks up to Sansa and whispers into her ear, "Leave us!" Justin orders as Sansa walks out of the tent.

"My Lord?" Doen asks.

"Leave us I will fill you in later…"

Justin waits until everyone is gone, "I see how you look at my cousin…"

"So!"

"So what if I can convince the King to allow his sister to marry you…Will you renew your oath to him and fight?"

Richard gasps liking the idea, but would Robb and Catelyn Stark agree, 'The King would never…"

"I'll convince him…Robb will listen to me…"

Richard grunts, "You have been away so long people change…"

"Robb will listen!"

"And if he does not?"

"Then fight for me dammit…I am your blood…"

Richard sighs, "Alright cousin…I will fight for you even if the King says no…We are blood after all…"

Sansa is in her tent with her maid who is combing her hair, "Leave us!" Justin says entering the tent. Sansa stands up, but Justin raises his hand, "How do you feel about Lord Karstark?"

"He is handsome…Why do you ask?"

"Would you consider him for a husband?"

She blushes, "I don't know…My time with Joffrey and the Lannisters has taught me to be very careful about men…I must get to know him first…"

"Well he has agreed to march with us…He will fight for me even if you don't want to marry him…All I ask is that you give him a chance...If you like him or fall in love it will go a long way to helping your brother in the war…" With the Karstarks Justin now had an army of 52,000 men to help Robb. As they traveled Sansa and Richard spent a lot of time talking, of course Justin had to play chaperone.