CHAPTER 14 | IRON PRICE

CATELYN finally returned around sundown. She pushed open Robb's tent, which housed her son, friends, and his banner men. She was shaken and tired from her conversation with Walder Frey, and she knew everyone in the room was just about itching for a response. As she arrived inside, all the lords stood to welcome her.

"Well?" Robb persisted in agony. "What did he say?"

Catelyn looked around the room with a smile. Freya held onto her brother, watching the elder woman curiously. From the smile on her face, she could only guess that it was good news. On the other hand, she had never met Lord Frey, but she had heard that he had sticky fingers. Every wish he granted came with an iron price.

"Lord Walder has granted your crossing," Lady Catelyn finally answered. "His men are yours as well. Less the four hundred he will keep here to hold the crossing against any who would pursue you."

Everyone in the room released a breath of release. Freya tugged onto Theon's arm, grinning at the news. They shared a look of joy together, and she even found herself smiling along with Robb.

"And what does he want in return?" Robb asked, slightly anxious at the outcome, though he did not show it.

Catelyn sighed. "You will be taking on his son, Olyvar, as your personal squire. He expects a knighthood in good time."

"Fine, fine," Robb waved it off. "And?"

"And Arya will marry his son, Waldron," Lady Stark frowned, "when they both come of age."

"She won't be happy about that."

Catelyn giggled softly at the remark.

"And?" Robb urged.

Catelyn hesitated. The tent was completely silent, except for the sound of Lord Umber's heavy breathing. Freya stared on at Lady Stark in false hope, quirking a brow upward at her pause.

"And ... when the fighting is done, you will marry one of his daughters." Lady Stark looked at her feet. "Whichever you prefer. He has a number he thinks will be ... suitable."

Freya's mouth fell open in shock. She almost wanted to laugh. This clearly wasn't the outcome that Robb was hoping for. Freya then began to feel bad; her and Robb may have never gotten along, but she didn't wish no ill will on him. But like most men in Westeros, this was his moment to chose duty over desire.

"I see," Robb muttered after a pause. "Did you get a look at his daughters?"

Theon snickered, earning a jab from his sister.

"I did," Catelyn nodded. "One was ..." Her expression went blank, leaving Freya's brother to laugh softly to himself again. She rolled her eyes at him.

Robb looked down. "There's no way out of the marriage? I can't end it on a later date?"

"I would not advise that," Catelyn said.

Robb sighed, thinking a bit more. "I can't marry again later in life? Even if it's for another political reason?"

Theon nudged his friend. "You just want more women to go to bed with." Freya gave him a look of disgust.

"If the political reason is urgent, then I would say so." Catelyn replied again. "Do you consent?"

Robb narrowed his eyes. "Can I refuse?"

"Not if you want to cross."

He nodded his head slowly, looking to the lords around him. "Then I consent."

•••

In the early morning, Robb and Greatjon Umber were ready to wake the Greyjoy siblings from their peaceful slumber. Greatjon shook Freya awake in her tent, instructing her to follow him outside. Freya wrapped a cloak around her shoulders as she shivered from the cold. Selene had been waking up as well, but her lady urged for her to go back to sleep.

When she arrived outside, Freya spotted an armored Robb waiting for her, but also a small army coordinating themselves behind him. "What's the matter of this, Stark?" She scoffed. "You mentioned nothing of a wake-up time."

Greatjon went to stand beside Robb, and they both shared a knowing look. "Lord Umber and I have been conversing over an issue all night."

Freya lifted a brow at their hesitation. She reached an arm out. "Well, get on with it."

Greatjon gestured to the militia behind them. "This is your army."

Freya took a moment to realize the offer being handed to her. Her mouth opened, but no words formed. She stuttered, "I ... I – excuse me?"

"Two thousand men," Robb added, "a small number compared to the other eighteen thousand, but these shall suffice for our purpose."

"We're using your idea, Lady Freya." Lord Umber grinned. "We attack both Tywin and Jaime Lannister's armies, but we distract Tywin's forces with a smaller army and take the bigger one to the Kingslayer to rally the River Lords. We have concluded that you will lead the smaller army."

Robb held out a hand. "Don't expect a victory. Our main goal is distraction more than anything, but Lord Umber convinced me that he thought you could handle this."

Freya began to jump on the balls of her feet in excitement. She bit on her lower lip to stop herself from squealing. "I cannot thank you enough for your trust!" She quickly brought both men into a forced hug, and then slowly backed away. "Gods, never thought I would say that to you, Stark."

"There's a first time for everything." Robb glanced away. "Retrieve your armor. A long day is ahead of you, Greyjoy."

Freya nodded excitedly, heading back to her tent immediately. She shook Selene awake, screaming the news in her face. Her voice was so loud that she alerted her brother from the tent beside her own. The news was incredibly inspiring, but Freya still had an ounce of fear inside of her. She didn't want to let anyone down, but she felt that she was ready to take on this role.

Robb and his army were permitted to cross the Twins by the next day. Freya rapped the reins of her horse, but knew she couldn't move that much farther ahead. A group of knights surrounded her to protect from harm. She guessed this was treatment that the higher lords got, and she was glad she was able to be apart of it. Because she was leading the smaller infantry, she persuaded that Selene be kept away from the fight in a far off encampment with other handmaidens. Theon decided to fight with Robb's army; he was always one for a bigger fight.

At the Twins, the Stark army finally split into two forces. Freya led a small militia of two thousand, mostly consisting of infantry, and conducted a forced march down South of the King's Road, heading towards Green Fork. She was told that her goal was to engage and delay Tywin's forces.

Robb led a host of eighteen thousand men to the other way. The main Northern army was to cross the Twins to break the siege at Riverrun, led by Jaime Lannister. He wanted to relieve the forces loyal to his grandfather, of which were under attack. From what Freya gathered, Tywin Lannister split his forces into two armies, each numbering at least thirty thousand men. Tywin's force was rumored to be marching North, along the West bank of the Green Fork of the Trident, in an act to prevent the Stark host from lifting the siege.

Freya grinned menacingly to herself. Tywin Lannister didn't know what was coming for him, and she was eager to see the confusion on his face.