CHAPTER 11 | BLOODY TOUGH

FREYA swirled the porridge around in her bowl and thanked the servant who set it in front of her. Theon and her had planned to quickly break their fast before venturing off into the outskirts of Winterfell. Freya hadn't left the bloody castle for weeks, and she urged her brother come with her.

She glanced to the side, seeing Selene wait in the corner for them to finish. Freya wanted her handmaiden to sit with them and eat, but it was considered improper. She had done it other times, but Selene was always escorted out by other handmaidens.

Robb had walked over to the table as well, rubbing at his eyes and getting a bowl of porridge for himself. They still weren't exactly on good terms, but when would they ever be. At least they could have a simple conversation now, although most of them always turned into an argument on both parts.

Maester Luwin arrived moments later, holding a small scroll in his hands. The three looked up at his presence when he stood in front of their table in the great hall. "Lord Stark," the maester called, "you have a letter from your sister."

Robb stood from his spot, causing Freya and Theon's eyes to lift upward. He took the scroll from the maester and unraveled it. Robb's fingers smoothed out the surface of the paper, and his irises skimmed the words quickly. Freya noticed that he was reading it over a couple times.

Robb muttered, "Treason?" He looked at Maester Luwin. "Sansa wrote this?"

"It is your sister's hand," Luwin said, "but the Queen's words."

Freya looked at each male in the room, before glancing to Selene in the corner. "What's the matter?"

Luwin cleared his throat. "Robb is summoned to King's Landing to swear fealty to the new King."

"New King?" Freya dropped her spoon. "What – am I always going to be left in the dark? King Robert –"

"– Has died," the maester finished. "Joffrey Baratheon has taken over his role."

Freya felt a sudden swell of relief at the death of Robert Baratheon. Her hatred towards him for so many years was now set to rest, but then she remembered the little rat that was Joffrey. She feared he'd be an even worse King.

Robb furrowed his brow. "Joffrey puts my father in chains, and now he wants his ass kissed?"

"This is a royal command, my Lord." Luwin replied. "If you should refuse to obey –"

"I won't refuse."

Theon and Freya watched on with confused expressions. The Greyjoy girl leaned back in her chair.

"His Grace summons me to King's Landing, I'll go to King's Landing – but not alone." Robb handed the scroll back to Luwin and ordered, "Call the banners."

Freya's hand hit the table loudly. "What?"

"All of them, my Lord?" Maester Luwin asked, as if he was forced to.

"They've all sworn to defend my father, have they not?"

Luwin nodded at Robb's words. "They have."

"Now, we see what their words are worth."

The maester left soundlessly, allowing the three to look at each other. Theon was grinning up at his friend, while Freya was feeling that Robb was thinking rashly. On the other hand, she didn't read the letter herself, so she didn't know the exact words. And besides, this was her chance to venture off into battle, an act that she had down very little times.

Robb sat back down in his chair. "Are you afraid?" Theon asked when they shared a stare.

"I must be," Robb sighed, his hand physically shaking in front of them.

"Good."

"Why is that good?"

Freya leaned her chin on her fist. "It means you're not stupid, but I beg to differ on that."

•••

Crows were flying in packs within an hour, of which they called to the Stark's banner men.

For the next three days, groups upon groups of men from Northern houses flocked to Winterfell, each willing to strategized and dine with their "Lord Stark." Theon and Freya hadn't been this close to war for a long time, but they were both trained by the best swordsmen on the Iron Islands, so they did not fear for the future.

Houses gathered in the great hall of Winterfell that evening, sharing dinner with the leaders of House Stark. Robb sat at the head of the table, while he saved a spot for Theon Greyjoy to his left, and – against his will – made a seat for Freya next to her brother. Bran Stark was then placed beside her, and Freya wondered how the little boy was holding up through all of this. Plates of meat were scattered on the table before them, as well as multiple jugs of ale. It was the sight of heaven to most of the men at the table.

"For thirty years I've been making corpses out of men, boy." Greatjon Umber cackled ferociously. "I'm the man you want leading the Vanguard."

Robb shook his head, and expressed calmly, "Galbart Glover will lead the Van."

"The bloody Wall will melt before an Umber marches behind a Glover." Greatjon scoffed. "I will lead the Van, or I will take my men and march them home."

Robb had his hands clasped together in front of his face and he slowly looked up from them. Greatjon was smirking at him, as if he'd won the argument. Freya bit into a piece of bread, looking between the two men.

"You are welcome to do so, Lord Umber." Robb seethed through clenched teeth. He then stood from his seat, causing all to quiet. Robb's direwolf, Grey Wind, grew wary. "And when I am done with the Lannisters, I will march back North, root you out of your Keep, and hang you for an oathbreaker."

Greatjon stood as well, exclaiming, "Oathbreaker, is it?!" He kicked his chair to the side, making Bran flinch. "I will not sit here and swallow insults from a boy so green he pisses grass!"

He grabbed for his sword, and Theon got up. Bran sat back against Freya, who tried pulling down on her brother to not get him involved. Before she could blink, Grey Wind was already on the table and sprinting forward to Lord Umber. He tackled Greatjon to the floor, biting off a few fingers. The direwolf's mouth dripped with blood, but Lord Umber was lucky that he had only lost a couple fingers.

"My Lord father taught me it was death to bare steel against your Liege Lord." Robb stated, without a hint of a stutter. "But doubtless, the Greatjon only meant to cut my meat for me."

Greatjon kicked another stool on the floor, anger coursing through his veins. "Your meat ..." His voice became lower as he looked around at the men and woman surrounding him. He held his bloody hand tightly. A grin slowly appeared on his face. "... Is bloody tough."

Robb smiled big, and they all began to share a hearty laugh. Freya stared at the men in shock, wondering if the fumes or alcohol in the room was becoming too much of them. Greatjon sat back down, holding up his jug of ale and sucking it down. The sound of mouths tearing into meat continued, and Freya was left asking herself if that scene before her was truly reality.

"Well, that was certainly a sight," she muttered briskly, causing some of the men to look her way. "Is this how you lot get off when you're alone?"

Greatjon laughed, unfazed by her subtle insult. "The Greyjoy bitch is smart." He said, earning a glare from Freya at the title. "You and your brother were trained by Mikael Stokeworth, correct?'

Theon nodded. "We were also trained by Ned Stark."

"I've heard the Stokeworths have the best swordsmen in their family, though they probably claim that themselves." Greatjon huffed, ripping a piece of his meat and throwing it in his mouth. "They all title themselves as having some sort of otherworldly power. They said a fifty years ago, one man from their family walked the land and could travel to other worlds. A bunch of loons – that lot – but great trainers."

Freya had heard of Jerome Stokeworth, the most famous of the family. If they hadn't, then they didn't know how to read. She couldn't admit that the house was a bit inane, but they had their reasons. They titled Jerome Stokeworth as some sort of "Traveler," and the name still confused the hell out of her.

"These two will be worthy assets to your army, Lord Stark." Greatjon continued to ramble on, waving his fingers as he spoke. "I've heard great things of them."

Robb looked over at the Greyjoy siblings, noticing the pride on both of their faces. He then met Lord Umber's eyes. "Theon Greyjoy will be accompanying us to war, but his sister will not."

"IS THAT A FUCKING JOKE?!"

The room went quiet at Freya's outburst, and she then cleared her throat to calm herself. All the men were staring at her, even her brother wanted this moment to end. Robb was eyeing her, waiting for another frenzy, but she surprised him. "You cannot be serious," she said. "I can fight just as good as my brother. Maybe even better. You know I can."

"My comment was not meant as a joke, Lady Freya," Robb replied and finished his ale.

Freya narrowed her eyes as the men in the room began to converse again. She snarled softly, "Are you refusing me because I am a woman?"

"Gender has nothing to do with my decision." Robb finally glanced at her and smirked. "I just don't like you."

•••

A/N: Put in some little hints about the Traveler from "Stranger" in there because my girl, Maia, is still there in spirit (just give her a few more seasons)