Author's Note: Hi, hi. So this a story if Robb was slightly more politically astute and ruthless, and decided that he should be the one to parley with Renly instead of his mother. Read and review! :)

When word reached the Northern Camps of Renly Baratheon's marriage to Margaery Tyrell and of his claim to the Iron Throne, Robb had been advised from all of his bannermen to seek an instant alliance with the most agreeable living Baratheon. Robb however knew that Renly had fled the city hours before his father had been captured. This was a man that Eddard Stark had spoken of fondly, a man who had abandoned his brother's best friend to seek power of his own. That did not sit well with the newly crowned King-in-The-North.

But as Robb was quickly learning, this war was less about honor and justice than it was about political maneuvering and strong allies. Renly Baratheon had 100, 000 men, a strong claim to the Iron Throne, and he was open to treating with Robb. It was the smart decision, even if it caused him to have doubts late into the night in his tent as he and his personal guard made the stealthy trek to the Reach while the majority of the Northern Force was commanded by the Greatjon, his fiercest supporter, in the Westerlands where the Northmen were camped at Ashemark.

Robb had wanted to rally the river lords and the remaining Northerners to march home and reclaim their lands from the Greyjoys, but he had been counseled against it by Roose Bolton, the Greatjon and his mother. They needed strength to face the Greyjoys. Renly Baratheon's strength. He had agreed to parley with Renly himself, as he knew any other in his place would be an insult. It was a risky move, but one Robb undertook confidently. He had ridden south with all haste, managing a detour to stop in Riverrun and have his uncle Edmure consolidate the river lords to allow Tywin Lannister into the west, where with all hope the Northmen, the river lords and the army of King Renly would be able to eliminate them. Edmure had begrudgingly agreed to allow the Western Lords through without opposition, it was only when his own uncle Brynden Tully had reminded Edmure that Robb was now his King did Edmure yield to Robb's orders.

It was the early morning and storm clouds were uncharacteristically overhead as Robb rode at the head of an arrow formation of Northern warriors trotting towards where King Renly was holding a melee tournament of some sort beneath the walls of Bitterbridge, the seat of House Caswell. Two of Renly's royal squires clad in black and gold were guiding them.

Robb heard murmurings of condolence and support for his father and for his House as he dismounted his horse and approached the crowd circled around a battle. He glanced to Dacey Mormont and Smalljon Umber, who stood on either side of their Northern King that day. They too had raised eyebrows at the display before them.

Two figures were in the midst of a melee, with the larger figure in bronzed armor clearly in control as they smashed their morningstar down upon a shield emblazoned with three golden roses. Ser Loras Tyrell's armor and shield were unmistakable, even to a group of Northerners who had never been further south than the Neck.

It was not, however, Ser Loras who was winning this fight. It was the stranger in bronze who smashed the Knight of Flowers with their shield so forcefully that Ser Loras stumbled back, dazed. This solicited a cry of support from the platform where Renly was seated. Robb looked up to the platform for the first time, and saw a breathtakingly beautiful noble woman in a sky blue gown, an elegant crown nestled atop her head, poised even as she shouted for her brother. Robb blinked once, glancing between Renly and this woman...who had to be the famous Margaery Tyrell, and found himself almost envious of the Claimant to the Iron Throne. In the North he had heard tales of the Flower of Highgarden, but he had never taken much stock in stories, but now he could see the stories did not do Renly's Queen any justice.

Robb was shocked back to the fight when the bronzed fighter smashed Ser Loras to the ground with a fierce tackle, before raising his visor and simultaneously drawing a dagger to place in Ser Loras's face. The Knight of Flower's words echoed around the circle: "Yield! I yield."

"Well fought." came a voice from the platform, accompanied by a slow clap. Robb looked up to see Renly rising with a grin. "Approach!" he called to the victor of the fight, who did so obediently, before taking an almost reverent kneel before Renly.

"Rise, remove your helm." Renly requested, for the victor to do just that. She had pulled her helm off to reveal herself as a blonde woman. This caused stirrings in all but the Northerners who had the likes of Dacey Mormont and her sisters by their sides for many moons. Robb noted that Ser Loras looked even more troubled at the revelation of his opponent's identity.

"You are all your father promised and more, my lady. I've seen Ser Loras bested once or twice, but never quite in that fashion."

"Now, now, my love. My brother fought valiantly for you." Robb's eyes, along with the eyes of everyone who heard the gentle voice but sharp words of Margaery Tyrell turned towards her. The large golden brown eyes that batted innocently at Renly caused Robb to hide a smirk of amusement. She was a strong spirit, not a docile golden southern rose, that was incredibly impressive to the Lord of the North.

Robb was so distracted that he almost missed Renly's acquiescence to her words. "That he did, my Queen." Renly said with an almost pained smile that Robb did not miss. Renly then proceeded to name the blonde warrior as a member of his Kingsguard, a move that sent stirrings through the Southerners that the Northmen all looked confused about. Was honoring a skilled warrior, woman or not, so controversial in the South? Robb looked to Dacey, his stalwart friend and member of his personal guard. He could see that the attitudes of the southern lords did not sit well with her at all.

When Brienne of Tarth moved to her new place before Renly's make-shift wooden throne as a member of his guard, one of his squires looked to Robb who gave a single nod, prompting the squire to move forward.

"Your Grace, I have the honor to bring before you Robb Stark… First of His Name, Lord of Winterfell, King-in-The-North-and-Trident." The squire's reluctant to name Robb as a King did not go amiss by anyone, especially Renly who looked at Robb and his assembled warriors with greater interest.

"THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE KING OF WESTEROS!" came a cry from the masses that was soon echoed by all the southerners. Renly stood to bring silence once more, before looking down from his platform, dressed in his finest armor and groomed to look every bit as regal as a King should, to the shaggy and travel-worn Robb Stark who wore armor that was scratched and worn from his use in battle.

"King Robb…I am pleased to see you. May I introduce my wife, Margaery of House Tyrell." Renly said, nodding to Margaery who gave Robb a warm smile.

"You are most welcome here, King Robb." She began with a nod that Robb returned in kind "I am so sorry for your loss." She said so sincerely that Robb almost thought she felt his grief herself.

"You are most kind." Robb began, but before he could say much else he was interrupted by Renly.

"I swear to you, Robb, that I will see the Lannisters answer for your father's murder." Renly said, in much more of a show for his bannermen than for Robb "When I take King's Landing…I'll bring you Joffrey's head." Renly declared to roaring cheers from his soldiers. Robb struggled not to exchange glances with his guard as this happened, instead maintaining eye contact with Margaery Tyrell who gave Robb a small smile as Renly and the soldiers roared.

"A promise I am sure you will keep, Your Grace. But that is not why I have come here today. The North seeks vengeance. My father and your brother, King Robert, were friends bordering on brothers. The Lannisters have murdered them both and sullied the good name of Baratheon." Robb had rehearsed this speech in his sleep, his father had told him enough about Renly and he had learned enough about the man along the way to meet with him that Robb was certain he knew what to say. He did not however expect to be interrupted by Ser Loras Tyrell.

"Have you marched against Tywin Lannister yet? Or have you come here asking for us to vanquish your enemies for you?" this sent a murmuring through the crowds and a flush of anger through the Northmen, most of whom made to step forward, but were silenced by Robb's quick retort.

"I do not discuss my strategy in the open, Ser Loras. For you see I have been fighting a war, not playing at one. And losing." Robb said turning his head back towards Renly as the masses once again muttered furiously and the Northmen tried to suppress chuckles.

Robb saw that his words had not at all impressed Renly's Queen, Margaery's gaze had cooled as she looked at Robb, giving Renly a single unreturned glance as he stood to chuckle himself at Robb's barb.

"Do not worry, my friend. Our war is just beginning." Renly smiled as he walked down the steps of the platform to shake Robb's hand.

"Come, we have much to discuss." Robb looked to Dacey and Smalljon and gave them a single nod.

"Make camp, and try not to get in a fight with anyone…" Robb muttered to them as he walked past. Brienne of Tarth, the blonde warrior who Renly had named to his Kingsguard followed after Robb and Renly as they walked through the camp.

Robb and Renly stood on a bank on the river Mander, Brienne stood some ways off as the two men conversed.

"Your father was an honorable man."

"And you left him to die." Robb said pointedly after a moment, causing Renly to turn

"I never left your father to die, Robb. I urged him to take advantage of what Robert had tasked him with. To act before Cersei and her family could. Your father was an honorable man. But honor led to his imprisonment. His death is on Joffrey's hands. I hope you are smart enough to see that, because you cannot win this war on honor." Renly's words caused Robb to clench his jaw. He did not want to admit it, but Renly was right.

"He had no allies. No friends. No one to help him. He died alone. He died a traitor to the realm. He died without honor. My father deserved better, and I will see Joffrey's death at my own hands for this." Robb said fiercely, causing Renly to look taken aback for a moment.

"I have 100, 000 men at my command, Robb. All the might of the Stormlands and the Reach."

"And all of them bold and hot-blooded as Ser Loras?" Robb asked kicking a stone into the river. "This won't last, Renly. These melees, the feasts, the tournaments. It's a game to you, isn't it? I pity them."

"Why?" Renly asked, almost as though Robb was suggesting something impossible. The young Stark looked concerned for a moment before stepping forward to say what Starks had been saying for thousands of years.

"Because they are the knights of summer, and winter…winter is coming, Renly."

"Brienne…" Renly called, after giving Robb a long look "Escort King Robb to his tent. He's tired from his journey." Renly said, before walking away from Robb to pull his gloves off.

"My army sits at Ashemark, I cannot dawdle." Robb called after Renly's retreating back.

"None of us can." Renly said loudly enough for Robb to just hear him.