Chapter Thirteen: Robb

"Any word of the Kingslayer?"

"None, Your Grace," replied Ser Wendel Manderly. "A raven from Ser Edmure at Riverrun arrived this morning. No sign of the Kingslayer or his captor."

Robb breathed heavily as he spurred his horse to go faster. How could Mother be so foolish as to trust the word of Jaime Lannister? But in his mind, he knew why she would be so desperate as to strike a deal with the Kingslayer. He sympathized with her wishes, truly he did. It just interfered with his plans greatly and threatened to unravel everything he and his bannermen had been fighting for since his father's murder.

After they captured Casterly Rock, Robb had ordered the Kingslayer sent back to Riverrun to keep the Karstarks and the Kingslayer kept as far apart as possible. They planned to spend many days emptying the ancestral seat of House Lannister of its gold, but to everyone's surprise, there was little treasure to plunder. The famous gold of the Lannisters, if it even still existed, was not there. Robb felt as if the mission was a failure; the gold they could have used was not there. All they had was a castle.

Lord Tywin's castle. The Old Lion would be coming, with the might of the Iron Throne behind him. To the advice of the Blackfish, Robb sent all of the women and children in Casterly Rock away. Where they went, he didn't care. But he would not execute innocents, no matter what. His lord father would never condemn the execution of prisoners of war, let alone innocents. Once everyone had cleared out of the castle and the little gold that was there secured, Robb put the castle to the torch.

While his men had cheered boisterously at the sight of Casterly Rock burning, Robb felt nothing. He was neither pleased nor despondent nor infuriated. The Young Wolf, the King in the North…he felt nothing rather than bask in a victory that his men claimed would make him a famous character in Westerosi lore.

Shortly thereafter, the army began moving back up to Riverrun. The Blackfish advised Robb, "When he hears, Lord Tywin will come for us like nothing no one has ever seen before. We must be long gone from this place." And then on the long march back, a week past, the raven had come down from the North. Dark wings, dark words.

Robb had nearly taken off the head of the man who brought him the news of his brothers' deaths and the sack of his home. He was even more angry than when he was when he had learned of his father's death. They were innocent boys…one a cripple and the other too young to fight back! How could you, Theon?! He vowed he would see Theon and the whole of House Greyjoy die slowly if he ever got his hands on them. His bannermen had echoed similar statements.

"Let's sail for Pyke, Your Grace! Smash Balon Greyjoy and the rest of the krakens till their knees break!" roared the Greatjon.

"Like father, like son! Head north, take our homes back, and squish the life out of the ironborn!" called Galbart Glover.

"Justice for the North!" screamed the Karstark soldiers.

Then another raven from Uncle Edmure had come down two days after the last letter, revealing that Catelyn had released Jaime Lannister and had sent him back to King's Landing, ostensibly in exchange for Sansa and Arya. The Karstarks had nearly revolted, screeching how they would offer any reward for the Kingslayer's head. Robb was worried about keeping order, but the ferocity of Grey Wind kept the restless men in check for the time being.

Robb knew that Tywin Lannister by now had heard of the fall of his home. He would now stop at nothing to seek revenge, so Robb forced his men to keep marching, only stopping for an hour or so at a time. Every moment we aren't in the safety of Riverrun is another moment the Lannisters could fall upon us. Some nights, he found himself unable to sleep, pacing the floor of his hastily assembled tent, lost in his troublesome thoughts.

When he managed to fall asleep, he had the same dream over and over again. Robb would find himself standing in an unruined Winterfell. The sun shone warmly above his head, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Robb saw his mother and father standing on the balcony, watching the children at play. His siblings were all there: Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, and Jon Snow. They all looked happy, childlike, and timeless. Before we left Winterfell.

Then Robb would turn. There she would stand, just as beautiful as the day he met her. She swaddled a child in her arms, cooing softly over the infant as Robb would approach. A crown that matched the one he wore was nestled in her gorgeous brown locks, her doe-eyes shifting from the child to Robb. She leaned up to kiss him and a familiar warm feeling would spread throughout his whole body when she did. Robb gazed down at the child, the perfect blend of the features of the parents.

And then Margaery Tyrell would speak. "What took you so long, Your Grace?"

But then the dream would give way to something else. First, he would imagine his brothers' screaming as Theon and his ironborn sons of bitches burned them alive and burned Winterfell. I have rewarded your faith with treachery, Theon would say. Next, Robb would be standing in King's Landing, at the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor imagining Joffrey laughing as he took Eddard's head off. I've killed your father, Young Wolf, but you cannot kill mine, Joffrey would say. Finally, he would see Tywin Lannister, sitting atop the Iron Throne, screaming that he would kill Robb for his impudence. "A Lannister always pays his debts! A Lannister always pays his debts!"

Then the dream would fade. Robb's siblings would turn into smoky wisps, Winterfell would crumble into nothing, the snowfalls grew more and more intense, the day turned to night. Theon, Joffrey, Tywin…they would all appear, smirking at his discomfort, laughing at him. And Margaery…she would disappear, leaving Robb standing in the darkness alone.

Robb woke in a cold sweat. The life he had lost, his family lost when they left Winterfell…We never should have left…it made him angry and sad and frustrated and miserable all at once. But, a little voice inside his head said, It's not too late to have a future. It's possible. You just have to reach out and take it.

And Robb would resolve himself even harder not to lose this war. To have his future, even if it was not with Margaery. He pushed harder for Riverrun until Ser Wendel would gently tell him that the men and horses needed to rest. And everything would begin again the next day. He almost wished the Lannisters would show themselves; he felt like driving his sword into another man's chest. Grey Wind was of a similar mind; the direwolf was always feisty these days, even snapping his powerful jaws at Robb once.

The final daggers came when they returned to Riverrun. They came back victors, with some gold to show for their efforts and the legend of the taking of the Rock that would last forever. They had taken Casterly Rock and burned the Lannisport fleet. But it still felt like grim defeat as they reached the ancient stronghold of House Tully. Edmure had come out to greet Robb himself, and the look on his face told Robb that there was more bad news.

"Greetings, Your Grace," said Edmure. Catelyn's brother seemed stoic and reserved for someone welcoming a victorious party.

"Uncle. We'll have need of the vaults. We've the treasure from Casterly Rock and have needs of a place to store it for the time being," said Robb.

"Of course, I shall have some men take it down." Edmure's tone was listless.

Robb arched his brow. "Has something else happened? Uncle, tell me nothing has happened to my mother. Or the Kingslayer." Please don't let anything more have happened to my poor mother. Or the Kingslayer. Sansa and Arya's lives are tied to his.

Edmure shifted uncomfortably. "My lord father has breathed his last. The gods give him rest. I am now the Lord of Riverrun and the Lord Paramount of the Trident."

The Blackfish had come up behind Robb. "Nephew, is this true?"

"Yes, Uncle. Though I wish it weren't. I would have sent word, but Catelyn insisted that you not be distracted any further on your way back," supplied Edmure.

The Blackfish breathed in heavily and stood as still as a statue. Robb was about to say something, ask if his uncle needed sometime to himself, but Brynden the Blackfish exhaled and said, "Well, at least that stubborn old ox will stop hounding me to get married." The Blackfish strode over the drawbridge and disappeared inside the castle without another word.

"We shall have the funeral on the morrow," decided Robb. Edmure merely nodded. Robb had known Hoster Tully would breathe his last at any day now. The pain his mother was in was probably too much for her to bear. He understood her fervent desire to get the girls back even more now. But it still wasn't good for my cause, he thought as Edmure pulled him to the side.

Robb watched as the cavalcade of men carried the spoils of the victory at Casterly Rock into the depths of Riverrun. Every man who passed grinned widely, boasting of how the Lannisters would surely fall any day now. The little gold they had managed to plunder from the Rock seemed to illuminate everyone except Edmure, who just stared as they paraded past.

"Is that all of it?" asked Edmure.

Robb pursed his lips and nodded. "Uncle, I promise next time, you can lead the vanguard. I have plans to march on Moat Cailin and throw those treacherous ironborn back into the sea. Do not worry, if it is glory you so desire, there shall be plenty for your heart's desire come the battle."

"Thank you, Your Grace, but I fear I cannot."

"Why ever not? You are the Lord of Riverrun now, you must lead the forces of the river lords when we take Moat Cailin. You can make amends for your blunder on the Red Fork and allowing Lord Tywin to defeat Lord Stannis."

Edmure shook his head. "I am needed here, Your Grace, to hold my family home. The garrison has…diminished greatly."

Robb glanced up and saw that there were very few men on the battlements of the castle. Come to think of it, there weren't as many outriders or guards on the edge of Riverrun's lands. Where are all of the guards? Edmure was visibly nervous, teetering on edge with news that Robb was sure he would not like to hear.

"I left three hundred men from House Frey here to garrison the castle, Uncle. I sent ahead two thousand more Frey soldiers after our victory at Casterly Rock to clear the path for our gold train. Where are they?" He hadn't meant to raise his voice, but the men hurrying into the castle suddenly picked up their pace and scrambled away from him.

"They were here, Your Grace. But a few days after the Kingslayer's escape, a raven came down from the Twins. They claim Walder Frey has recalled his forces to defend the Twins. But it is obvious he's deserting our cause. We've had no other word that any army or force threatens the Twins."

"I paid his damn toll!" howled Robb. "I vowed to marry one of his daughters just to get my army on the other side of a damn river! And that old man thinks he can withdraw his men? Is this because of the Kingslayer? I tell you, I'll find him before the Lannisters do. My mother may have released him, but he will be caught again. If Walder Frey thinks that the Kingslayer's escape dooms our cause, he has got…"

Edmure held his hands up, trying to calm Robb down. "Your Grace, I have full confidence that we shall recapture the Kingslayer. Roose Bolton has taken Harrenhal now that Tywin Lannister has abandoned it; the road to King's Landing will take the Kingslayer close to Harrenhal. He will be recaptured. But I do not believe that is why Walder Frey has withdrawn his men."

"Then why has he?"

An odd look passed over the Lord of Riverrun's face. "I could not say, Your Grace. I would advise asking your mother for more insight."

"My mother…what did you do with her after the Kingslayer's escape?"

"We kept her in Father's bedchambers so that she could be with him. But she is technically under house arrest for treason," answered Edmure. "When we knew you to be close, I allowed her out so that you could see her. Everyone is convening in the Great Hall right now, your mother included."

Robb mentally tried to calm down. His mother was probably a wreck after the deaths of Grandfather and Bran and Rickon. You must be strong for her, even if you are not happy with her actions. She is your mother.

Robb strode into the castle and hurried into the Great Hall, Grey Wind and Edmure at his heels. He found that most, in not all, of his lords were already assembled there. The Greatjon was hugging Catelyn tightly, and Maege Mormont was saying something quietly to her. Some of the other lords kept their distance from Catelyn; Rickard Karstark was deep in conversation with Cley Cerwyn, the former giving scathing glances towards Catelyn.

"The King in the North!" announced the Smalljon as Robb passed. The room went quiet as Robb looked nowhere but upon his mother's grief-stricken face. She seemed to be waiting for him to make the first reaction. You betrayed my orders, Mother. You have brought discord into our camp and now we have nothing to keep the Lannisters at bay.

Robb wanted to speak to her alone, but there were other matters to attend to first. Too many bouts of bad news were washing out what little glory they earned from their triumph at Casterly Rock. I must placate my lords, strengthen our resolve.

"My lords!" called Robb, bringing the Great Hall to attention. "We have won a great victory at Casterly Rock. Winter has come for House Lannister!" The hall erupted into cheers and yells. Robb smiled and cheered with them, but he could see out of the corner of his eye that Catelyn was not. On the contrary, she looked downtrodden and apprehensive.

Robb addressed his lords, thanking them for their service, particularly to Lord Jason Mallister, who had lost his entire fleet taking Lannisport. "I was proud to do it, Your Grace, and I would do it again!"

"Have no fear, my lord. You shall have as much gold as you need to rebuild your fleet. Lannister gold to rebuild the very fleet that lost them that gold!"

The Great Hall cheered and laughed loudly at that, but Robb still noticed that Catelyn remained quiet. I must speak with her. I understand why she did it, but it was still foolish. But how do I convey that without disrespecting my own mother?

At last, Robb approached the discussion of the death of his grandfather, Lord Hoster Tully. The room quieted as Robb announced that they would hold the customary Tully funeral tomorrow, and that the seven who would push Lord Hoster's boat would be himself, Jason Mallister, the Blackfish, Marq Piper, Tytos Blackwood, Jonos Bracken, and Desmond Grell, the master-at-arms and castellan of Riverrun. Edmure Tully would light the boat ablaze. He was anxious to wrap up the discussion, particularly since his mother seemed close to tears.

At last, Robb ended court. "I thank each and every single man, living and dead, who has fought for our cause. I thank each and every single woman who has put our cause ahead of the needs of their family. We will have our justice on the Lannisters, the Greyjoys, and any other army who is foolish enough to try their luck against the might of the North and the Riverlands! Winter is Coming!"

"Winter is Coming!" bellowed the Northmen.

"Family, Duty, Honor!" chanted the Riverlords.

"The King in the North!" boomed the Northmen.

"The King in the Trident!" called the Riverlords.

"Take your leave, my lords," finished Robb, already standing up and moving towards Catelyn. But it was difficult to get to her, since the lords who were around Catelyn before had resumed their places. The Greatjon wrapped Catelyn in a bear hug, declaring, "The King in the North defeated the Kingslayer once before, he'll do it again!" Maege Mormont clasped Catelyn's hands and said, "You will get your daughters back, my lady, I know it. I do not know what I would have done differently if Cersei Lannister held two of my daughters." Jason Mallister, who hadn't been there before, comforted Catelyn as well.

At last, the lords took their leave, leaving Robb alone with Catelyn and Edmure.

"My son," cried Catelyn, embracing him tightly, her lip quivering. "Bran…and Rickon…"

"I know, Mother." The thoughts that swarmed his head the entire ride back from Casterly Rock were roaring again. "Theon shall pay with his life for his crimes."

"And will that bring my sons, your brothers back? I would give anything to have them back. But now I shall never see them again." Catelyn collapsed into tears, and only Edmure's presence kept Robb from doing the same. Every time he closed his eyes, he pictured Theon torturing his brothers. 'I have rewarded your faith with treachery.'

"My father…he would know what to do, what to say. And he's gone, too," whispered Catelyn.

"My brother would just tell you to talk to me, Cat," came the gruff yet gentle voice of the Blackfish. Robb realized that he had not seen the Blackfish since they returned hours ago. He must have been mourning all this time.

"Uncle, did you make peace with Father?" asked Catelyn, wiping her eyes.

The Blackfish smiled. "After thirty years of fighting, I don't think he remembered what started it. I should have said something while he was still alive, but you know your father. That stubborn old ox would never have let me live it down, even in delirium. But yes, Cat. I went to him just now and told him things I ought to have when he was alive."

"What did start it anyway?" asked Edmure.

"He wanted me to marry Bethany Redwyne. We traveled all the way down to the Arbor, you know. I wanted no part of it, but he insisted. But while I was there, I got some advice from Olenna Tyrell to speak up for myself. So I did, and Hoster got angry and called me the black goat of the Tully flock. Ha! Except that our sigil is a fish, so I've been the Blackfish ever since. He's wanted me to stop using that nickname since that day. Only, men have been calling me Blackfish for so long, I don't think that they remember my real name."

Robb laughed at the end of the Blackfish's story. He found himself thinking longingly of Bran and Rickon and wondered if they would have insisted that he stop using the name Young Wolf. Stannis and Renly Baratheon, Grandfather and Uncle…they were brothers and fought deep into their lives, but at least they were alive to fight.

"News from King's Landing, Robb," said Edmure, changing the subject from Lord Hoster. "Sansa's betrothal to Joffrey has ended."

"What? Is the Imp sending back Sansa and Arya?" asked Robb.

"I'm afraid not. There's still no word on Arya, but Sansa remains the queen's captive. Joffrey has set their betrothal aside in favor of Mace Tyrell's daughter as thanks for their assistance at the Battle of the Blackwater."

Robb's heart, which was already weak from the deaths of Bran and Rickon, shattered at that moment. It felt as if something in him was free falling, like the stories Mother told him about the Eyrie and their Moon Door. "You mean, Margaery Tyrell? Renly's wife?" Robb's voice had cracked slightly as he spoke.

"Yes, that's the one," said Edmure. "But Sansa now has no political use for the Lannisters. Perhaps Cat's actions regarding the Kingslayer's were not completely foolish. I do not think that Tywin Lannister…"

But what Edmure thought about Tywin Lannister, Robb didn't hear. He couldn't think properly. The only image that was in his mind was himself, kneeling at the crypts of Winterfell beside Bran and Rickon. And next to him was an unattractive girl with Walder Frey standing beside her, smirking. On the other side, Joffrey Baratheon was laughing, with Margaery Tyrell on his arm. Margaery kissed Joffrey's cheek as Joffrey taunted him further.

Robb suddenly found himself with a desire to hit something. Without a word to his mother or uncles, he strode out of the Great Hall and found a suit of armor on a plinth, decorated in the armor of House Tully. Robb drew his sword and slashed it, imagining that Joffrey was the suit of armor. You son of a bitch! I will kill you! I will kill all of you! You cannot hide from me! Winter is coming for you! I am coming for you!

He hated Joffrey in that moment, more than he ever had. Torturing my sister isn't enough for you, you pompous piece of shit? You have to inflict your cruelty on the girl I love? In that moment, Robb knew he loved Margaery, but with every swing of his sword, he remembered Walder Frey, that wet shit who had reneged on their deal, but would no doubt still expect a marriage if Robb wanted his men. It made him angry all over again. Joffrey, Theon, Walder Frey, the Lannisters…he felt so alone, fighting the likes of them as they stole everything that was important to him.

Robb smashed the suit of armor over and over until it was full of dents and the sigil on the front torn to shreds.

"You'll ruin another of your swords," said Catelyn.

Robb turned, and there was his mother and Edmure and the Blackfish. Of them, the Blackfish wore a look of pity and recognition. Edmure looked completely confused. But Catelyn just regarded him sadly.

"I am sorry, Mother," Robb said stiffly. "I was just venting. The loss of my brothers and Grandfather and the Kingslayer was weighing heavily on me." My words sound fake even to me.

Catelyn shook her head. "Yes, but is there anything else troubling you? That suit of armor has stood in the halls of Riverrun since Aegon's Conquest. You smashed it to pieces without a second thought. Something else is bothering you, my son, I know it. Tell me what it is, let me help you."

"You cannot."

Robb glanced up at the Blackfish; they had spoken simultaneously. The Blackfish didn't seem interested in Robb's emotional outburst, rather in the matters at hand. For that, Robb was grateful. He didn't want them prying, for it was his burden to bear.

Robb changed the subject again. "Why have the Freys left us?" Damn it, I wanted to discuss something that doesn't remind me of my failures. But the question had already been posed. Too late now.

Catelyn glanced at the armor on the floor again, eyeing Robb queerly. It was the same look that Edmure had given him when he had asked about Walder Frey earlier. "Walder Frey seems to think you have no intention of upholding your end of the bargain you made to cross the Twins."

"I paid his price. A king for a bridge crossing," spat Robb. "Where would he get such an idea that I, a Stark, would not keep my word? I will not have that old man disrespecting me like this. We will march on the Twins and reduce it to rubble!"

"Easy, Your Grace, easy," said the Blackfish. "Unfortunately, we need the Freys' men to take back Moat Cailin. And rest assured, Tywin Lannister is already making his plans to destroy us for taking Casterly Rock. We need every man we can get in the fight to come. Slaughtering the Freys over what could turn out to be a misunderstanding…that's the boy in you talking, not the king we need."

Robb took a deep breath. "Then we must assuage Lord Walder's mind. I cannot marry one of his daughters until the fighting is done, but we have gold from the Rock. Perhaps we can give some to him to assure him that we are still allies."

"Whatever you offer, he'll want more," replied Catelyn. "I can go to the Twins, or perhaps have them come here. Renew your pledge to marry one of his daughters, give him some gold and tide him over."

The Blackfish grunted. "I've seen wet shits I've liked better than Walder Frey, but your mother is correct, Your Grace. Sometimes, you must kiss a few boots who happen to have shit both under them and in them." Edmure laughed at that, and Robb joined in chuckling. Catelyn gave a disapproving frown, but a small smile curved her lips.

"We shall send the ravens tonight. The Bolton soldiers who came with us to the Rock are returning to Harrenhal to join with him. I'll have them journey to the Twins to bring our message to Lord Walder. Perhaps they may find the Kingslayer on their way."

"What of the gold, Your Grace?" asked Edmure. "We will have a little leftover. Not much after Lord Mallister takes some to rebuild his fleet and some more to be given to Walder Frey, but some. Won't it be a target for the Lannisters' to take it back?"

Robb shook his head. "Let them come if they wish. We may need it to make more allies than the Freys. Aunt Lysa still refuses to send the Knights of the Vale to our cause, but she might be persuaded with some gold. Or sellswords. The Blackfish is right, we will need every sword we can get in this fight."

"And Mother," Robb added, knowing what he had to do would disintegrate the shards of his already broken heart into dust, but it had to be done. He remembered what his father used to say: 'Duty is about doing the right thing, not the easy thing.' Catelyn turned to him, her piercing blue eyes an exact mirror of his own. He knew she knew what he was about to say.

"You have betrayed my express command. I told you I would not release the Kingslayer. You ignored your king's word. Were you not my mother, I would arrest you for treason." The harsh words echoed off the corridor walls, ripping slashes into Robb's soul as he spoke them. Robb turned his gaze to the floor, unable to look her in the eyes. "You will be confined to Grandfather's chambers for now. When I recapture the Kingslayer, I will have you sit and watch as your sworn shield is punished for her treason."

The Blackfish narrowed his eyes. "Your Grace, that seems a bit harsh. No doubt the Kingslayer will be recaptured, and your mother did everything for your sisters, the princesses."

Robb angrily shook his head. "It does not matter. As king, my commands must be followed. How can I ask men to follow my orders if my own mother undermines them? My decision is final."

Edmure spoke up hesitantly. "Should I have some men escort her to her quarters, Your Grace?"

"No, I trust that she will go on her own accord. But have men posted outside her door just in case."

Edmure nodded, bowed, and left. The Blackfish did the same, planting a kiss on the top of Catelyn's head as he departed, a look of pity in eyes. But for Robb or Catelyn, the Young Wolf did not know. At last, Robb and Catelyn were alone in the hall, but now Robb just wanted to be alone. He knew he ought to comfort his mother over their losses, but he couldn't bring himself to do it right now. Robb finally looked upon her face; her eyes were red and she was on the brink of tears. What kind of a son are you? He had just condemned her to that of a prisoner in her own girlhood home. I hope you will forgive me.

He hastily murmured "I'm sorry, Mother." She did not respond to his words, nor did he expect her to. Nonetheless, he kissed her cheek and headed to his quarters, leaving her standing alone in the corridor.

As soon as the door closed, Robb's thoughts of the betrayal of Theon, the deaths of Bran and Rickon, the burning of Winterfell, the murder of his father, the captivity of his sisters, the departure of the Freys, the sentence he had laid upon his own mother, and the marriage of Margaery to Joffrey once more took command of his mind. Before he had even taken a step towards his featherbed or removed his armor, he sank to his knees and began to cry.

A/N: Whew, that was dark. Without his marriage to Jeyne in the books, Robb is harsher in his dealing with Catelyn. On top of that, knowing Margaery is about to marry the very man he is fighting against...yeah it wouldn't leave you in best state of mind. Anyways, thanks to you guys for all your reviews and favorites and follows!