CHAPTER 18 | LITTER THE SOUTH

THEY now called him the Young Wolf.

Robb Stark had a variety of names, but Freya Greyjoy still called him by his last. They rarely ever spoke since their last argument, but they decided to remain civil. Robb did end up apologizing for his behavior and granted Freya the title of his co-leader, beside her brother and Lady Catelyn. Freya, of course, accepted, but still didn't have the heart to forgive him for his words he said to her before. Selene said she was acting childish, but Freya thought otherwise. Truthfully, they had both been acting pretty childish before.

"Forgiveness is your best option, m'lady," Selene had said while brushing her hair. "Holding this grudge against Lord Stark will only further separate you two, when you need to be brought closer. You are both leaders now."

Freya didn't exactly want to hear those words, so she didn't listen. They currently formed a large encampment near the Westerlands. When being told that Robb would be visiting Jaime Lannister's make-shift cell, she purposely tagged along, despite his detest. Theon had suggested it anyways, to ensure their joined houses partnership was known. Lady Catelyn didn't give much say in the matter. Freya began to notice Catelyn ignoring her at certain moments, leaving her confused as to whether Lady Stark truly liked her.

Freya stalked beside Robb through the camp. A Stark banner man opened Jaime's cell for them, allowing them inside. Jaime's hands were strapped against the cell, while dirt was scuffed around his face and hair. A thick beard grew around the edges of his chin. He clearly hadn't slept in days, but Freya couldn't blame him. "King in the North, Lady Greyjoy," he sighed heavily, looking upward. "I keep expecting you to leave me in one castle or another for safekeeping, but you drag me along from camp to camp."

Robb only glowered at him.

"Have you grown fond of me, Stark? Is that it?" Jaime insisted. "I've never seen you with a girl. Well, other than Lady Freya, but I'd hardly classify her as female."

Robb lofted a brow. "If I left you with one of my banner men, your father would know within a fortnight and my banner man would receive a raven with a message: 'Release my son and you'll be rich beyond your dreams. Refuse and your house will be destroyed, root and stem.'"

"You don't trust the loyalty of the men following you into battle?"

"Oh, I trust them with my life, just not with yours."

Freya looked in between the two males, growing wary at their words, but they dare not frighten her. Not even Jaime's insult was enough to hurt her.

"Smart boy," Jaime said, and then paused. "What's wrong? Don't like being called, 'boy?' Insulted?""

Freya lifted her head. "You're a prisoner, Ser Jaime. Our prisoner." She smirked. "Best not forget that."

Suddenly, a growl sounded from behind them. Paws thumped into the dirt around Jaime's cage, drawing near. His eyes widened with worry at the sound. "You insult yourself, Kingslayer." Robb said as his direwolf, Grey Wind, appeared in between him and Freya. "You've been defeated by a boy. You're held captive by a boy. Perhaps you'll be killed by a boy."

Freya ran her hand through Grey Wind's fur, enjoying the warmth of wolf who had never tried to harm her. He was the only one of the direwolf pups to like her, and she was grateful for this, because he was the most menacing. "Stannis Baratheon sent ravens to all the high lords of Westeros." She continued, a frown etched on her face. "King Joffrey Baratheon is neither a true King, nor a true Baratheon, eh?"

"He's your bastard son," Robb finished.

Jaime rolled his eyes. "If that's true, Stannis is the rightful King. How convenient for him."

"Admit it, Lannister." Freya replied bitterly. "I know a bastard when I see one."

Robb's hand brushed through his wolf's fur. His fingers almost touched Freya's. "My father learned the truth. That's why you had him executed."

"I was your prisoner when Ned Stark lost his head," Jaime argued.

Freya exclaimed, "Your son killed him so the world wouldn't learn who fathered him!"

"And you ..." Robb snarled. "You pushed my brother from a window because he saw you with the Queen."

"You have proof?" Jaime raised a brow. "Or do you want to trade gossip like a couple of fishwives?"

Grey Wind growled beside them as Freya replied, "We're sending one of your cousins down to King's Landing with Robb's peace terms."

Jaime wanted to laugh. "You think my father's going to negotiate with you? You don't know him very well."

"No, but he's starting to know me." Robb cleared his throat, glancing at Freya for a moment. He needed to make up for his apology. "I mean, us."

"Three victories don't make you two conquerors," Jaime scoffed.

Freya smiled. "It's better than three defeats."

Both Robb and Freya released their hands from Grey Wind's fur, walking out of the cell. Grey Wind almost lunged forward to Ser Jaime, licking his chops and growling right in his face. He just about bit his face, but when Jaime opened his eyes, he realized he was still alive, and even he was disappointed in that moment.

•••

An hour later, Robb requested all the Northern lords gather in his tent to discuss peace terms. These weren't exactly terms to end the war, but mainly for the North's freedom from the crown. Freya was satisfied in this choice, mostly because she had spoken to Robb about this after they left Jaime Lannister's cell. The only way for their war to be taken seriously was to be seen as free, and Robb was going to withhold that choice.

"You're Ser Alton Lannister?" Robb asked.

The man in front of them looked battered. A loose, red scarf hung from his neck, while a pair of shackles were binding his wrists. A long scar was embedded on his cheek as he looked down at the lords. "I am, Your Grace," he said weakly.

"I offer your cousins peace if they meet my terms." Robb spoke aloud. "First, your family must release my sisters. Second, my father's bones must be returned to us, so he may rest beside his brother and sister in the crypts beneath Winterfell. And the remains of all those who died in his service must also be returned. Their families can honor them with proper funerals."

Alton bowed his head. "An honorable request, Your Grace." Freya noticed his knees quake.

"Third," Robb then paused. "Joffrey and the Queen Regent must renounce all claim to dominion of the North. From this time till the end of time, we are a free and independent kingdom."

The North lords smiled, all repeated the same phrase, "the King in the North."

Even Freya was nodding along with them, which was a surprise to her, seeing as their last argument ended so fiercely. She hadn't yet titled him as a King, because she liked to hold grudges, but she still repeated, "the King in the North." Her brother, who sat to her right, shook her shoulder in agreement.

"Neither Joffrey nor any of his men shall set foot in our lands again. If he disregards this command, he shall suffer the same fate as my father, only I don't need a servant to do my beheading for me." Robb seethed through his teeth.

"These are ..." Alton became choked up. "Your Grace, these are ..."

Robb stood up, interrupting, "These are my terms. If the Queen Regent and her son meet them, I'll give them peace. If not ... I will litter the South with Lannister dead."

"King Joffrey is a Baratheon, Your Grace," Ser Alton added with his head down.

Robb chuckled softly. "Oh, is he?" He then glanced at Freya, who was biting back her words by sucking down a glass of ale. "You'll ride at daybreak, Ser Alton."

Alton bowed his head before Stark banner men shoved him away. Robb nodded to his Northern lords, announcing, "That will be all for tonight."

The Lords took their time scurrying out, but the Greyjoy siblings still remained at the table, sipping their alcohol. Robb had moved to stare outside his tent at the camp, watching the sparks from a bonfire fly into the night sky. Theon set his glass down on the table before getting up. Freya tugged his arm. "Where are you going?" She asked.

"To offer service," Theon answered.

Freya furrowed her brow in confusion, following her brother's footsteps. Theon stood beside Robb Stark, greeting, "A word, Your Grace?"

Robb glanced at the siblings. "You don't have to call me, 'Your Grace,' when no one's around."

"It's not so bad, once you get used to it."

"I'm glad someone's gotten used to it." Robb smiled.

Freya was still concerned on where her brother was heading, but realized when he said, "The Lannisters are going to reject your terms, you know?"

"Of course, they are."

Freya nodded. "We can fight them in the fields as long as you like, but we won't beat them until you take King's Landing."

Theon added, "And we can't take King's Landing without ships."

Freya turned to her brother. "What?" She wasn't talking about that at all. Was he offering their ships?

"Our father has ships," he said, nudging his sister, "and men who know how to sail them."

Robb looked away. "Men who fought my father."

"Men who fought King Robert to free themselves from the yoke of the South, just like you're doing now – with our help." Freya continued, crossing her arms over her chest. "Men who were killed over a rebellion by our idiot father."

Theon paused, and then sighed. "Freya's his oldest daughter, but I'm his only living son. He'll listen to me. I know he will."

"Your mother will not like you having our father as an ally, but it will help." She persuaded. "If you allowed Theon to go to Iron Islands and treat with our father, you will receive a great result."

Robb only viewed at the Greyjoy siblings. He exhaled slowly, allowing Theon to add, "We're not Starks. We know that." He looked at his sister with a smile. "But your father raised me and my sister to be honorable people. We can all avenge him together."

"A Greyjoy and Stark union will make history." Freya grinned wide. "Winter is coming, but what is dead may never die."

•••

A/N: Happy Book II everyone! We're finally going to get some REAL development in this part and I'm so excited to have y'all read what I have in store for the main four characters!