It started. I know it did. I felt it in my bones, as soon as Robb told me that his father wants to talk to us once again. It will be days, weeks, at best, before the war starts. I know it. There is no escaping it.
And we escaped it long enough. Ned was unrightfully accused of treason a long time ago. We knew the truth about Joffrey for a while now. And as much as I would like to push it back once more, I know that we have waited long enough. And I held my head up high as I walked to Ned and Cat, my hand in Robb's.
I'll send a letter to Tyrion. As far as I'm considered, as soon as he's in safety, it all can start.
"Thank you for coming." Ned said as Robb and I took our seats, the same way we sat the last time we talked in this room, the four of us. Now it felt more final." I have sent a word to my bannermen. They will arrive to Winterfell in days' time. Elena, you should send a letter to Tyrion. Tell him that the best place he can be is with us." He said, and I nodded. I can only hope that Tyrion doesn't have something else in mind. Once father realizes that not only I, but Tyrion as well have betrayed him, anywhere other than Winterfell will not be a safe place for us. Betrayed his trust? I wonder if I ever had his trust.
"And I have sent a word to Riverrun. They will support us entirely. And we will need them." Catelyn said.
"Riverrun is going to be the first one to be hit." Robb said. He may not have any experience in war, but he is a smart man. And judging by the way Ned looked at him, he was right." We need our forces to be strong in Riverrun. And I believe we will need to have the House Frey on our side." He added.
"Because of the bridge." Ned said, and Robb nodded. Neither one of them looked too happy about it. I have never met anyone from the House Frey, but I have heard stories. Lord Frey has more children that he can remember. And he does not treat him well. Not even the sons, let alone the bastards.
"They are sworn to the House Tully. We will have them on our side." Catelyn said.
"No, Cat." Eddard said, a small smile on his face." It will not be that easy with Walder Frey. He is a difficult man. And we are not in good relations. I didn't go to the last six of his eight weddings." He said, and my mouth dropped. Eight weddings? That man really has a lot of spare time on his hands if he changes wives that fast. No wonder everyone in Westeros avoids him as much as possible.
"We always have the other way." Robb said, and Ned nodded. Catelyn and I were just lost now. They were talking about a war. And though we may know much, we do not know war, not a little bit.
"We should try and go over the Twins first when the time comes." Ned said, and his words were followed by Robb's nod." I just have to wonder how high will the price be." He added in a low voice.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, truly afraid of the answer.
"Walder Frey wishes to marry off his children in good Houses. I have no doubt that our House will be more than appealing to him." Catelyn said. Oh no. There is no chance that I will let that happen.
"Well, they can't have Robb." I said. The three of them laughed, and Robb held my hand." And as for the rest of them, we will betroth them to someone else before we reach The Twins. And when it's all over, if they don't want to marry, they won't. Lord Frey won't have a say in it." I said, and Ned nodded.
"That might be a good idea. But who should we betroth them to, even for a while?" he asked.
"Gendry." Robb and I said, in the exact same time. So much for trying to hide the real reasons." He and Arya get along well. Arya would make a scene if we choose anyone else." He said. Oh, he's good.
"And it will be a good thing for him. That way, we could use it when we talk to Renly." I added.
"We will talk with the two of them first, explain everything and see if they agree." Ned said, and I had to hide my smile. Robb and I just managed to bring Gendry and Arya together, without really trying. And without them knowing." What about Sansa, Bran, Rickon?" He asked." He will go as far as trying to betroth your son to one of his granddaughters, or great granddaughters." Ned said. There is no chance that I will make my son marry a girl he doesn't want. I've done that, and I was lucky. But not everyone is. My son, and my children, if I have any more of them, which I plan to, will have a freedom of choice.
"Tyrion." I said, and they all looked at me in surprise." It will only be a formality. They won't even marry. And he would never do her harm. And as for the boys… well, they will stay in Winterfell, so we do have more choices. I suggest that you talk to your bannermen Eddard, explain to them what is our plan. They will agree, I am sure of it." I said. That way, it will all be nothing more than a formality.
"We will speak to Arya and Sansa tomorrow." Catelyn said." I believe that Tyrion and Gendry are good choices for a formality. And who knows? By the way arranged marriages go in Winterfell, they might just fall in love." She said, and we all laughed. It was an honest laugh, out of all of us. But it did not last long.
We parted ways, and Robb and I decided to take a walk. Dressed well in our coats, we walked around the woods. And he was leading the way. It has been a while since I've arrived to Winterfell, and I know it well, but Robb grew up here. There will always be holes and trees that he will know better than I do.
It was nice to get away, and enjoy one of the last days of peace. That is what it seems like to me now.
"Do you think Arya and Gendry will agree easily?" he asked, and his question was followed by a laugh once he saw how I looked at him." I know they have some feelings towards each other, but a marriage is a completely different thing." He said. And he is right. Marriage is something… surreal, I guess.
"That is only a formality, you heard what your mother said." I said to him with a small smile." I suppose they will agree to it. And after that, the only thing that they will need is a slight push from me, and soon enough, Arya won't be the only one with a nephew." I said, and Robb started laughing.
"I do not want to think about that." he said, and I rolled my eyes. He might give her a freedom of choice, but I am sure that if that marriage happens, Robb will not look at Gendry the same way. They are friends now, and close friends if I might add. In a way, Gendry has taken Jon's place until Jon returns. And once he returns, it will be Theon, Gendry, Jon and Robb that go hunting and do all those manly stuff they do that I don't want to think about. Things will change if that marriage happens, but it will only change for the good. At least that is how I see it.
"I love you Robb." I said, and he smiled down at me.
"What did I do to deserve that?" he asked.
"Well, if you're wondering why I'm saying it all of a sudden, it is because I mean it, and because I am scared that something will happen to either one of us, and that I will regret not saying it enough. And if you're wondering what you have done to deserve my love, the answer is simple. You are you. That is what makes me love you as much as I do. And I love you so much that words couldn't do my love justice." I said. He put his hands on my face. The look he was giving me was the look I knew well. His blue eyes were piercing, and once more, I had a feeling that he could see deep within my soul. If that is the case, I hope he sees that there is nothing there other than the love I have for him and our family.
I am not sure if he saw something or not, but he kissed me. He kissed me with such passion that for a moment I thought we will end up rolling around in the snow.
That is what fear does to you. It makes you hold on to what is close to your heart. And you hold on for dear life. I do not know if we will make it out of this war alive, with heads on our shoulders, but I do know one thing. Every moment, every second, every waking hour, I will make sure that this man knows how much I love him. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for him. He is my choice. My love, my life, my family, my companion, in good times, and in bad. As long as I have his hand in mine, I will accept my destiny, whatever it may be. And I will fight like a lioness I used to be, and like the direwolf I am now, for us to have a future. For our children to hold their heads up proudly, because there is one thing we will always fight for. Our honor.
….
Robb had the unpleasant task of tell Sansa and Arya what is our idea to keep them safe from marrying into a bad family. I, on the other hand, was a complete coward. With Rickard in my arms, I hid away in the chambers, using him as an excuse. I was only honest with Robb when I told him that the true reason why I'm not joining him is because it would break my heart to see Arya get angry with me. Once again, Robb proved himself to be the best husband there is. And I was just a coward.
I just couldn't face it. Even though that was my idea, I couldn't face it.
I was nervously pacing around the chambers with Rickard in my arms. Yes, if it comes to that, I will use him as a human shield. Arya would never attack me if I hold onto him. It's sad to see what I've come to.
And who will tell Gendry? Why did I even suggest that stupid solution, why?!
I need Jon to return as soon as possible. Robb and I need his help more than we would like to admit. For instance, he could have been the one holding Arya, so that she doesn't attack us. But no, not only is he not her, I also left Robb to do this one on his own.
Time wasn't passing fast enough. He only just left, and it feels like he's been gone for hours. I suppose I should get used to that feeling. I will have to do a whole lot of waiting in the days, weeks, months to come. Hopefully not years, but you never know.
I was so distracted that the sound of the door opening made me jump.
"How did it go?" I asked before Robb could even say a word to me.
"They accepted it pretty well." He said, and I let out a sigh of relieve." I told them that it is only a formality, and they both agreed to it. No, Arya did not look to eager." He said. Well, of course he knows what I was just about to ask." She must be frightened, regardless of her feelings." He added.
"I should have gone with you." I whispered. I am regretting my decision very much now.
"Don't feel bad. You will talk to Gendry and Tyrion." He said, and I gasped in surprise. So much for a supportive husband! Now I'm the one that's being thrown to the wolves. Oh, he's only doing the exact same thing that I did. There is no right for me to be angry with him about it." Well, Tyrion is your brother, and Gendry… well, he acts like your brother. I'm sure they will take it a lot better when it comes from you then if it were to come from me." he said. I hate it when he's right.
"You're right. Well, I sent Tyrion a letter just this morning. We will see what is his response. He will agree to it, I'm sure of it. If not for anything else, than because I asked him to. And I have a feeling that Gendry won't take it bad." I said. What Gendry and I talked about has remained between the two of us, just like I promised. I may love my husband, but Gendry is like a brother. If he asks me not to tell Robb, and it's not some sort of life threatening information, I will keep my promise.
Either way, what Gendry had was just a thought. I will still have to inform him about the details of it.
"You should probably talk to him before Arya does. He might have another black eye." Robb said.
"He won't." I said, while he was laughing." But you are right, I have to do this right now. I'll just try to avoid your sisters on my way there." I said, already knowing that that was practically impossible. I gave him Rickard, and then I went to find Gendry. As always, he was working.
Gendry really is incredible. He found out that he's the King's bastard son, and what does he do? He works as a blacksmith, and he decides not to fight for the Throne. The only thing he will be is our way to convince Renly to fight along with us. And when the time comes, he will do it willingly.
Not only do I not know what did I do to deserve the husband I have, but I also do not know what did I do to deserve a friend like Gendry.
"Gendry?" I called, and he turned around." Do you have a moment?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, can it wait?" he asked. I shook my head. Instead of rolling his eyes, or complaining, he left his tools and walked over to me." What happened?" he asked. He must have realized that I don't want to catch up with him, but that I have something more to say.
"I have told you yesterday that Lord Stark called for his bannermen." I said, and he nodded. Well, he will find out eventually, so you might as well say it now Elena. "Well, we were talking about… our strategy. And once it all starts, we are going to have to pass the Twins. And the way we can do that is with Walder Frey on our side. The problem is, he has a lot of children. And we do not want to see Arya or Sansa betrothed to his sons. They would only suffer there." I said. Gendry knows me very well. I shouldn't be surprised that he knows that I'm not finished talking." And I had the amazing idea of betrothing them before Walder Frey can suggest that. It will only be a formality. And if they wish to do so, as soon as this whole thing is over, they will get married. And if they don't, no marriage will take place. The two of them understand that that is the way it should be." I said. Why am I still avoiding the most important part?
"So, Arya and Sansa are both now betrothed?" he asked. I hate this, I really do.
"Yes." I whispered. He sighed, and started pacing around.
"Elena, why did you do that? Yes, I know you did it for their safety!" he said as soon as I opened my mouth to start speaking. I closed my mouth again. He is angry with me, and I just need to take it. I deserve it." But still… I just told you that… And now she's… I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true." He said. Oh! He doesn't… Oh my.
"No, no, no, Gendry." I said, and he looked at me." You are betrothed to Arya." I said.
"I'm what?" he asked in a low voice. Oh, great, now he will be angry at me because of that.
"It's not yet official. But yes, you are betrothed to Arya. Of course, if you agree. That cannot happen if you both do not agree. And she already did, so I suppose that… Gendry!" I yelled as he hugged me and started spinning us both around the room." For the love of Gods, Gendry, put me down!" I yelled. Still, I was laughing. And I was laughing even more once I could see his beaming smile." Gendry, I told you, this is just a formality for now." I said, and he started frantically nodding his head.
"Yes, yes, I know it, but if she wants it, it could really happen, right. After all of this is over?" he asked.
"Yes, if that is what… Gendry, where are you going?!" I asked as he started walking out of the workshop. I have never seen him act this way.
"Well, I have to talk to her. It's about time, isn't it?" he said, and I smiled, praying to the Gods that I don't start crying tears of joy in front of him." Thank you, Elena. For everything." He said, and he started to walk away." Oh, and what about Sansa?" he asked, stopping once again.
"Tyrion. If all goes well. Somehow I don't see that one actually happening." I said, this time without a smile. As kind as my brother is, I know he is not the handsome, young man that Sansa was hoping for. It's a good thing that it won't happen unless they both want it to." Go, find her!" I said to Gendry. He smiled at me once more, and then he ran away. And just moments ago he barely had the time to talk.
I didn't waste my time, knowing that Robb is curious about Gendry's reaction.
"How did it go?" he asked before I even walked into the chambers. I closed the door behind me.
"He did not take it well." I said, and I watched as Robb's face fell in a second." He yelled at me, he was angry. I have never seen him act like that." I whispered, wondering how long will I be able to pretend.
"Elena, I am so sorry I let you do it on your own." He said and I smirked." Elena! You scared me!" he yelled, but then he smiled at me." He took it well, didn't he?"
"That would be an understatement. I have a feeling they will be married someday." I admitted.
"As long as they are happy." He said. I hugged him and leaned my head on his chest." I only hope that your brother gets the letter in time. Well, we will wait for his response." He said, and I nodded.
"I was careful with the words I used. You never know if the letter might end up in the wrong hands." I whispered, hoping that it won't, even if I was careful." Now we only wait for him and Jon."
"And then it starts." He said in a low voice.
"And then it starts." I repeated, hoping that we will be ready for whatever the war brings.
Hope you enjoyed this one too. New chapter, as usual, in a day or two :)