A/N: What up invaders, MatthewstaffordLionsfan17 here, and today is the long awaited update. Was I dead? Did I just forget? Well, I forgot to say that I would be taking a vacation back to my homeland for one month, and it was such a great vacation that I forgot about the update. Hopefully I don't forget to mention this in the future. The fanfic is not dead, it was just there for a month, because I didn't have access to my hard drive for any of this. That's why I've made the switch to writing this fic on Google Drive to prevent things like this from happening. Of course a sane human being would probably just write a new chapter and continue writing from there, but I was on vacation and sadly I felt a little lazy. So here's the chapter. Handcrafted Robb Stark finally receives a letter from Dashing Stafford Baratheon, and yeah. This is more of a filler chapter to catch up with Robb, as not much happens besides a plot change. Instead of Catelyn going to Renly, he's going to Stafford, because Renly is with Stafford. I promise it won't take me a month to update next time. Thx

Enjoy!

Robb

Robb had done it. He had broken the Lannister siege against Riverrun, something that most common men could only dream of doing. Outnumbered and surrounded, he managed to catch the Lannisters off guard. He not only won the battle, but he managed to capture another prize, the Kingslayer. The Lannisters tried to crush them, but he proved them wrong in the end. Now here he stood, with a crown worthy of a king.

They were unable to find the ancient crown that his ancestors wore. The crown the former Kings of the Winter wore when Aegon the Conqueror defeated the last King of Winter Torrhen Stark, and his ancestor knelt at the Targaryen's feet. Robb felt immense pride in all he had accomplished, and deep in his heart he knew his father would be proud if he saw him now. He knew his mother was, but that was his mother and no matter what happened, she would never think anything harsh about him. Those Lannisters will pay for taking my father's life, I swear to the Gods.

As they waited in Riverrun's great hall for the prisoner to be brought before them, Robb adjusted his crown to make sure it was set on his head well.

When the guards brought in the captive, Robb called for his sword. Olyvar Frey offered it up hilt first, and he drew the blade and laid it bare across his knees, a threat plain for all to see. "Your Grace, here is the man you asked for," announced Ser Robin Ryger, captain of the Tully household guard.

"Kneel before the king, Lannister!" Theon Greyjoy roared. Ser Robin forced the prisoner to his knees. According to his mother, Ser Cleos Frey was a son of the Lady Genna who was sister to Lord Tywin Lannister, but he had none of the fabled Lannister beauty, the fair hair and green eyes. Instead he had inherited the stringy brown locks, weak chin, and thin face of his sire, Ser Emmon Frey, old Lord Walder's second son. His eyes were pale and watery and he could not seem to stop blinking, but perhaps that was only the light. The cells below Riverrun were dark and damp . . . and these days crowded as well.

"Rise, Ser Cleos." Robb said coolly. This was the first time Robb ever felt that he had the fate of a man in his hands. The first time he felt true power over someone's fate, something that he wasn't quite used to yet. His decision didn't just affect him anymore, it affected other people. He had been in battle, but in battle the difference was you earned the right to the will of your opponent through combat. However, Ser Cleos Frey was a defeated man, someone who had already participated in the clash of wills, but lost. Now he was forced to submit to someone else's will, which happens far too often in war.

Yet it was not the sword that made Ser Cleos Frey anxious; it was Grey Wind. A direwolf was something all men feared. Even Robert Baratheon in his prime would be challenged and uneased by such a creature. A direwolf was as large as any elkhound, lean and smoke-dark, with eyes like molten gold. Ser Cleos had been taken during the battle in the Whispering Wood, where Grey Wind had ripped out the throats of half a dozen men.

The knight scrambled up, edging away with such alacrity that some of the watchers laughed aloud. "Thank you, my lord."

"Your Grace," barked Lord Umber, the Greatjon, ever the loudest of Robb‟s northern bannermen . . . and the truest and fiercest as well, or so he insisted. He had been the first to proclaim her son King in the North, and he would brook no slight to the honor of his newly-made sovereign.

"Your Grace," Ser Cleos corrected hastily. "Pardons."

"I brought you from your cell to carry my message to your cousin Cersei Lannister in King's Landing. You'll travel under a peace banner, with thirty of my best men to escort you." Ser Cleos was visibly relieved. It was definitely not a fate he likely thought he was going to receive by the way he had been eyeing his direwolf cautiously.

"Then I should be most glad to bring His Grace's message to the queen."

"Understand," Robb said, "I am not giving you your freedom. Your grandfather Lord Walder pledged me his support and that of House Frey. Many of your cousins and uncles rode with us in the Whispering Wood, but you chose to fight beneath the lion banner. That makes you a Lannister, not a Frey. I want your pledge, on your honor as a knight, that after you deliver my message you'll return with the queen's reply, and resume your captivity."

Ser Cleos answered at once. "I do so vow."

"Every man in this hall has heard you," warned his uncle Ser Edmure Tully, who spoke for Riverrun and the lords of the Trident in the place of his dying father. "If you do not return, the whole realm will know you as forsworn."

"I will do as I pledged," Ser Cleos replied stiffly. "What is this message?"

"An offer of peace." Robb stood, longsword in hand. Grey Wind moved to his side. The hall grew hushed. "Tell the Queen Regent that if she meets my terms, I will sheath this sword, and make an end to the war between us.

"First, the queen must release my sisters and provide them with transport by sea from King's Landing to White Harbor. It is to be understood that Sansa's betrothal to Joffrey Baratheon is at an end. When I receive word from my castellan that my sisters have returned unharmed to Winterfell, I will release the queen's cousins, the squire Willem Lannister and your brother Tion Frey, and give them safe escort to Casterly Rock or wheresoever she desires them delivered." Robb saw the face of the knight, and surprisingly the knight had something to say about this.

"Unfortunately your grace, there's a slight… dilemma. During Lord Stark's..." The Frey paused, hoping that it would calm the situation down, "unfortunate execution at the hands of King Joffrey, a certain Prince by the name of Stafford Baratheon intervened and well… took Lady Sansa. And according to the other reports, Lady Arya has seemed to have to gone missing." Robb raised an eyebrow. He had heard reports of what had happened during the execution of his Lord father, or rather the public murder of his father, and most of them had told of a struggle. This struggle all involved the second son of Robert Baratheon, or rather according to Lord Renly Baratheon, the only legitimate son of Robert Baratheon, Stafford Baratheon making a grand escape that would provide material for the bards and singers for ages. Each account of the execution was different. One told of a battle where he was able to block Ice, his father's Valyrian steel greatsword, with a castle forged hand axe. Another told of him disarming multiple members of the kingsguard and making a fool out of most of Joffrey's bodyguard. Another bizarre account of the battle told of Stafford riding on a stag shirtless and running over the executioner Ilyn Payne, although the reliability of the account seemed laughable at best. However, all of the accounts, even running over the executioner, told of how Stafford Baratheon snatched his sister, Sansa, some even comparing Stafford to his father's least favorite Prince, Rhaegar Targaryen. Robb and his allies dismissed this as a rumor, and most of the seven kingdoms did so as well, until he caught wind of a decree by King Joffrey himself, which disinherited Stafford, Renly and Stannis, proclaiming them as traitors. However, Joffrey failed to mention his sister and the supposed kidnapping that took place during that day. But it was no secret that Stafford Baratheon had indeed defected to his uncle, and they had gathered quite a large army in Storm's End quite quickly. The rumors about his sister's are simply rumors. No one has heard about them for months now.

"Noted. Secondly, my lord father's bones will be returned to us, so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell, as he would have wished. The remains of the men of his household guard who died in his service at King's Landing must also be returned." Robb took some time and took a breath. He still wondered whether what the knight said was true.

"Third, my father's greatsword Ice will be delivered to my hand, here at Riverrun." Robb commanded. It was the Stark ancestral sword, and it will not be put in the hands of fiends such as the Lannisters.

"Fourth, the queen will command her father Lord Tywin to release those knights and lords bannermen of mine that he took captive in the battle on the Green Fork of the Trident. Once he does so, I shall release my own captives taken in the Whispering Wood and the Battle of the Camps, save Jaime Lannister alone, who will remain my hostage for his father's assured compliance" Those two battles were the most hard fought battles that he had ever fought. His men and his allies fought as hard as they could. Capturing the Kingslayer and breaking his siege upon Riverrun cost lives, and he wasn't about to give up what his men died for.

"Lastly, King Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claims to dominion over the north. Henceforth we are no part of their realm, but a free and independent kingdom, as of the age before Aegon. Our domain shall include all the Stark lands north of the Neck, and in addition the lands watered by the River Trident and its vassal streams, bounded by the Golden Tooth to the west and the Mountains of the Moon in the east." Although he wanted peace, he would not pledge allegiance to the same people that killed his father. He would rule over the North much like how the Starks of old did, independent from any southern ruler.

"THE KING IN THE NORTH!" boomed Greatjon Umber, a ham-sized fist hammering at the air as he shouted. "Stark! Stark! The King in the North!" Robb rolled up the parchment again.

"Maester Vyman has drawn a map, showing the borders we claim. You shall have a copy for the queen. Lord Tywin must withdraw beyond these borders, and cease his raiding, burning, and pillage. The Queen Regent and her son shall make no claims to taxes, incomes, nor service from my people, and shall free my lords and knights from all oaths of fealty, vows, pledges, debts, and obligations owed to the Iron Throne and the Houses Baratheon and Lannister. Additionally, the Lannisters shall deliver ten highborn hostages, to be mutually agreed upon, as a pledge of peace. These I will treat as honored guests, according to their station. So long as the terms of this pact are abided with faithfully, I shall release two hostages every year, and return them safely to their families." Robb tossed the rolled parchment at the knight's feet. "There are the terms. If she meets them, I‟ll give her peace. If not"—he whistled, and Grey Wind moved forward snarling—"I‟ll give her another Whispering Wood." Robb was only a young man, but even then he was definitely meant business. He would defeat any attempts they made when they faced him in battle, that he promised.

"Stark!" the Greatjon roared again, and now other voices took up the cry. "Stark, Stark, King in the North!" The direwolf threw back his head and howled. Ser Cleos had gone the color of curdled milk.

"The queen shall hear your message, my—Your Grace."

"Good," Robb said. "Ser Robin, see that he has a good meal and clean clothing. He's to ride at first light."

"As you command, Your Grace," Ser Robin Ryger replied.

"Then we are done." The assembled knights and lords bannermen bent their knees as Robb turned to leave, Grey Wind at his heels. Olyvar Frey scrambled ahead to open the door. Robb noticed that his mother also came after them to follow.

"You did well," she told her son in the gallery that led from the rear of the hall, "though that business with the wolf was japery more befitting a boy than a king." Robb scratched Grey Wind behind the ear.

"Did you see the look on his face, Mother?" he asked, smiling. The terror of the knight was priceless. Maybe he should bring his wolf to these type of things more often. His opponents might be intimidated into doing his bidding more often.

"What I saw was Lord Karstark, walking out."

"As did I" Robb lifted off his crown with both hands and gave it to Olyvar. "Take this thing back to my bedchamber."

"At once, Your Grace." The squire hurried off. Lord Karstark was a proud man, and after his sons were killed in the battles by the Lannisters, he could not blame the man for seeking vengeance. But sometimes avoiding needless bloodshed is necessary, and even as a boy of seventeen he understood that sometimes if peace can be bargained for without having to force them to comply through the clashing of swords.

"I‟ll wager there were others who felt the same as Lord Karstark," her uncle Edmure declared. "How can we talk of peace while the Lannisters spread like a pestilence over my father's domains, stealing his crops and slaughtering his people? I say again, we ought to be marching on Harrenhal."

"We lack the strength," Robb said, though unhappily. With the men he had, he could only hope to fight a defensive war against the Lannisters. He just didn't have enough men to go against the Lannisters on an offensive. Their forces barely held out during the battles during Tywin Lannister's push through the riverlands.

His uncle Edmure persisted. "Do we grow stronger sitting here? Our host dwindles every day."

"And whose doing is that?" His mother retorted. It had been at his uncle Edmure‟s insistence that Robb had given the river lords leave to depart after his crowning, each to defend his own lands. Ser Marq Piper and Lord Karyl Vance had been the first to go. Lord Jonos Bracken had followed, vowing to reclaim the burnt shell of his castle and bury his dead, and now Lord Jason Mallister had announced his intent to return to his seat at Seagard, still mercifully untouched by the fighting.

"You cannot ask my river lords to remain idle while their fields are being pillaged and their people put to the sword," Ser Edmure said, "but Lord Karstark is a northman. It would be an ill thing if he were to leave us."

"I'll speak with him," said Robb. "He lost two sons in the Whispering Wood. Who can blame him if he does not want to make peace with their killers . . . with my father's killers . . ."

Suddenly, a messenger burst into the door bearing some news with the look on his face.

"Robb Stark, I have been sent here by Lord Renly Baratheon, hand of Lord Stafford Baratheon, Lord paramount of Stormlands and Dragonstone, and Lord of Storm's End. He sent me here as soon as he captured Pinkmaiden castle." the unknown messenger said in a cordial yet rushed tone. Stafford Baratheon, and his uncle Renly no less. More importantly, the messenger confirmed that the Baratheon's were in the riverlands.

"You said, Lord Stafford Baratheon? I thought he wanted to be king?" Ser Edmure, his uncle remarked. It was odd that Stafford hadn't just proclaimed himself King of the Stormlands, and maybe even reignited the Storm kings of old. However, he took the former titles of his father, and not proclaiming himself as king. It was also quite odd that Renly Baratheon was 'protector' of Storm's End, which Robb had assumed was a new title created by House Baratheon. It was probably, because Stafford had planned to give up his claim to Storm's End and give it to his uncle once he united the realm, much like his late father, Robert. It was also clear that this branch of House Baratheon planned to contend against the legitimacy of the house in King's Landing.

"I just proclaim the titles, I have no idea where Lord Stafford's and Lord Renly's ambitions lie. More importantly I have a letter addressed to a Robb Stark." Now that was intriguing, Robb hadn't seen or heard from Stafford since he visited Winterfell. That felt like a lifetime ago. When his family was complete, and his father was still alive. When both of their fathers were still alive. If Renly and Stannis were to be believed, Stafford was King Robert's only legitimate son. But Robb wanted answers from Stafford, and he hoped to the gods that Stafford would explain himself in this letter.

"Hand me the letter," Robb demanded. His mother and uncle watched him receive and break the seal of the parchment used to write the letter. It was the traditional Baratheon seal, not the one Joffrey and his false branch used.

To Robb Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North,

My uncle, Renly, should have sent this letter to you as instructed to him. Congratulations on your victories during the battles of the Whispering Wood, and the camps. But, I am not writing to you to express congratulations. I'll get straight to the point. I have an army of close to sixty thousand men, all resting after the short battle for Pinkmaiden castle. I hear from my uncle that you need assistance in the Riverlands. It is no mystery that you will need more than your current forces to fight against the Lannisters. It is also a fact that I am need of more allies to legitimize my claim on the throne that is rightfully mine. So in short words, You need me and I need you. An alliance between the both of us would be most beneficial, so I would like to extend an invitation to negotiate terms of an alliance. Simply reply by sending back a letter of your decision, or even sending an envoy to my camp so we may discuss proper meeting terms. If you don't want to be allies, simply ignore my message. But since I am writing to you with the intent of creating an alliance between our two causes, I would therefore like to keep no secrets from you. Which I is why I would like to tell you this: Your sister, Sansa, is in Storm's End. Do not worry, she is not some hostage that I am keeping to ensure that you cooperate. In fact, if you want to see her, I will ask some of the reserve to escort her to Riverrun once the Lannisters are dealt with. As for Arya, I haven't seen her since my escape from King's Landing. I'm sorry I don't have more answers, but if you even consider just speaking to me, I promise I'll give you more explanations. Hoping for your swift reply.

Lord Stafford Baratheon

Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and Dragonstone

This confirms that Sansa was no longer in King's Landing. Sansa was no longer in the hands of the Lannisters, and from the rest of the wordings Arya was not in King's Landing either. Robb didn't know how to feel about this news. On one hand he had now gotten news that one of his sisters was safe, and while he could only assume that she would be more happy there in Storm's End, out of King's Landing. But at the same time, this only reinforced the rumors of a romance between his sister and the Baratheon prince. While the letter didn't say it straight out, one must be stupid not to know that there was at least something going on in that regard. Stafford literally kidnapped his sister, and since Sansa and Arya looked nothing alike, Robb doubted it was by accident. Robb wanted answers from Stafford, and while he was leaning to being more angry with him than ready to negotiate, he felt that he deserved the right to an explanation. Although, he must admit, even if he had a perfectly good reason, which Robb doubted, Robb knew that the news about his sister Arya running away could also be because of an event that the Baratheon prince caused. Robb wasn't at King's Landing to confirm any of this, so Robb will at least try to hear Stafford out. However, he wasn't stupid enough to meet him right away, because it could very well be a trap, as while Robb believed Stafford to have at least enough honor not to ambush him during a parley, the same could not be said for Renly or any of the advisors in his army. He wasn't even sure if Stafford had enough honor not to conduct a surprise ambush under the ruse of parley from all the revelations that had transpired.

"So what does it say, Robb?" his mother asked him waiting patiently for his answer.

"It says here that Stafford," Robb stopped himself for a moment, "I mean Lord Stafford Baratheon wanted to talk of an alliance between House Stark and House Baratheon." Surprised his mother gave his uncle a look, who also returned it.

"Scouting reports told us that Pinkmaiden castle was 'liberated' by a small host of Baratheon forces, saving Ser Marq Piper the trouble of having to kill any more scum to return the castle to his control if the boy yields it to him," Ser Edmure stated. Robb had heard of about some of the battle. Apparently, they stormed the keep and within the few hours they had gained control of it. There wasn't much garrison to oppose their small group of five thousand besiegers, but the lack of casualties from Stafford's side was astounding. Robb doubted that the mastermind of the tactics used by the Baratheon host was one of the Baratheons involved in the assault. According to reports, Stannis Baratheon, who is a great tactician was lurking in Dragonstone waiting for the perfect opportunity to assault King's Landing. This meant that he wasn't the one, who planned the assault. Stafford Baratheon was not a tactician, and it was clear in what he knew of him that it could have not possibly been him that planned the assault on Pinkmaiden castle. Renly was better at tactics, but he wasn't a master tactician, but it could have been him as the siege wasn't really anything remarkable.

"How big is the host that Renly and Stafford command?" His mother stated.

"According to this letter about sixty thousand," Robb replied.

"They might be bluffing their number slightly, but from the reports about his army, there was a giant host marching through the Reach and to the Riverlands. I would guess he would have that sixty thousand give or take about five thousand," Ser Edmure stated. Both numbers fifty five thousand and sixty thousand was a significant force in an open battlefield. He only had about fifteen thousand from the north, Stafford's numbers were triple his armies size of fifteen thousand at its lowest and quadruple the size of his armies at its highest. It was amazing that they could compile such a number, but then again the Stormlands wasn't as big as the north, and it was one of the faster regions to rally men from. It was narrow and it was open, so it was easy to move through the Stormlands.

"Fifty thousand men is still a significant force. Unless someone kills the boy, Renly, or Stannis, this Baratheon host will prove difficult to defeat in open combat," his mother stated. Robb did not want to risk destruction by angering the Baratheon's and ending up on the receiving end of a loss on an open battlefield. However, he did not trust Stafford enough to parley with him, after all he doubted that he would allow for him to continue his plan to make the North an independent kingdom, "Was that all the letter said?"

"No mother, there's also another um...important thing he mentioned,"

"Well?"

"It says here that Sansa is no longer in King's Landing, but instead she's in Storm's End," As soon as Robb said that, his mother snatched the letter from his hands, and began to scan through it. After a few seconds, she looked up at him.

"We have to send someone to negotiate something with his army. If he truly means no harm to us, we must consider this alliance. It could mean the safety of your sister,"

"Mother, have you forgotten about Arya. According to this, he doesn't even know where she is and he was supposed to betrothed to her," Robb stated.

"Robb, you know that Arya is important to me and I always pray for her to return to us safely. But if we can guarantee that your sister safety without being some hostage, I want to make sure that happens," his mother stated.

"Who are we to send though? We're already understaffed as it is, and sending Robb not be wise as he is needed by the army. Telling them to come here is not an option unless we want a threat of a sizable hostile army in Riverrun," His uncle remarked.

"Then I'll go. I'll do anything to ensure the safety of my children," His mother stated. That was almost pure madness.

"Mother are you out of your mind? We don't know of Lord Stafford's true intentions and it's a huge risk to send you to them,"

"I trust that Renly and Stafford are honorable enough not to try harming me in any way. Sending me as an envoy to Stafford will show that we at least respect them enough to consider their offer to talk," His mother stated.

"It's not like we have any other choice. Every possible candidate is currently busy," Ser Edmure declared. Robb didn't like the idea. He barely trusted the young Baratheon Lord, even if he wasn't a bastard like Joffrey was. He didn't like the idea of risking the safety of his family. However, no matter what he did, he could not even for his own life change his mother's mind when she was so sure about this. And from the look on her face, he knew she was determined to exercise her plan.

"While I hate to admit this, Stafford has an army, the size of which should not be taken likely. Please, don't get yourself killed," Robb stated.

"I don't plan to. I want to reunite this family, and end this war. Stafford Baratheon and his uncles could be the key to ending it, quickly," His mother stated. Robb nodded, and went on his way, praying to the Gods that sending his mother on a mission was not a mistake he'd regret.