CHAPTER 34 | THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN THE WORLD

SELENE'S body was shipped across the river early that morning, heading straight for Braavos. Freya had ordered that a few Stark men escort the body overseas, no matter how much they were needed in the war. Robb didn't condone her command, but she didn't seem to care. She watched the body slowly float away on it's boat, accompanied by men.

Freya, on the other hand, was beginning to regret her decision. "I don't think you should execute Lord Karstark," she said the next morning as they awoke. Robb had looked at her with shock in his eyes, and she couldn't blame him. All Freya had cared about before was revenge for her dead handmaiden, but when she was alone with her thoughts, she realized that their decision would do more bad than good. They couldn't afford to lose his army.

Robb hadn't listen though, and eventually Freya had to forfeit the argument that ensued, because she didn't want it to escalate. Truly, this showed a change in her. Just a year ago, she would've continued the argument until she got her way, but she was maturing, and so was her mindset.

Freya wasn't in the mood speak that much, though she knew she would be asked to anyways. She began to tug off her clothes when she heard a knock on her door. Freya tightly wrapped her robe around herself again, seeing as Robb was already out in the castle for breakfast. She hadn't been hungry.

When she opened the door, Freya was surprised to see Talisa. She hadn't seen her for quite a while, but she wasn't exactly complaining. She always found the woman to be a nuisance, though Robb did value her healing skills.

Freya lofted a brow as Talisa stared at her hands. "I've been requested to tend to you, Your Grace." Her voice came out in an odd whisper.

"As in a new handmaiden?" Freya snapped harshly, though she didn't get an answer. "Who requested this?"

"Lady Catelyn."

Freya rolled her eyes. "They can't let me mourn for one day," she whispered to herself before turning back to Talisa. The two women were staring at each other oddly: one holding a sense of paranoia, and the other having power. Freya lifted her head. "I don't need help. I can take care of myself."

And with that, Freya slammed the door in Talisa's face.

•••

It was raining when Lord Karstark was escorted into the courtyard of Riverrun. Freya stood next to her mother-in-law and Robb, right underneath a flag held above them to protect from the rain. Lord Karstark was held just underneath a Tully flag, and stood by a head post. Robb stalked forward and into the rain when he arrived.

Freya's eyes twitched. Her mind was frazzled. She didn't know what to do exactly, but it wasn't like she could. Robb had made up his mind. Anything that she said wouldn't be taken into account, and although that angered her, she had to learn to compromise with him. She wanted this execution to happen, but somehow – way in the back of her conscious – she knew it wouldn't help. This was just the beginning of something terrible.

As Robb went face-to-face with the lord, Karstark stated, "The blood of the First Men flows through my veins as much as yours, boy. I fought the Mad King for your father. I fought Joffrey for you. We are kin ... Stark and Karstark."

"That didn't stop you from betraying me and your Queen," Robb snarled, "and it won't save you now."

"I don't want it to save me." Karstark sneered. "I want it to haunt you to the end of your days."

Robb frowned, the rain now flattening his hair. "Kneel, my Lord."

Lord Karstark was pushed forward, and his whole body landed on the post. He kneeled and let his head hang over the post, his grey hair laying in strings on the sides of his head. Freya clasped her hands together at the sight, beginning to shake. She didn't know if it was from the wind or her own fear of what was to come.

Robb pulled his sword from it's scabbard and held it in front of him. "Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, here in sight of gods and men, I sentence you to die. Would you speak a final word?"

Karstark lifted his head, every so slowly. Freya's breath caught in her throat, and she suddenly wished to have her trueborn family beside her, no matter how much ill will she wished upon them. It seemed the cloth above their heads wasn't helping, as she felt droplets hitting the top of her head.

"Kill me and be cursed." Lord Karstark exclaimed. "You are no King of mine."

And with that, Robb swung the sword, instantly cutting off Karstark's head. Freya closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. But when she opened her eyes, she saw Robb throwing his sword in the mud, allowing hers suddenly to feel heavy on her side. He stalked away angrily, and Freya didn't fear the rain anymore.

She ran forward, hitting her hands against Robb's chest when she finally got near. He huffed out in anger, his hands twitching and trying to shove her back. "Get ahold of yourself!" She screamed as the rain caused her hair to become matted. She pushed him back, and he struggled to maintain stature. "Calm down, Robb. Don't begin to act immature just because of a dead man's words."

"I DON'T CARE OF WHAT HE SAID!" Robb cracked his fists, looking around at all the men staring at him. "He betrayed me. He betrayed you. He killed children. He killed your friend. All that mattered was him dying, and I still feel empty!" He kicked his boot into the ground.

Freya stared at him blankly, wiping the rain from her brow. "It's because you know it was wrong."

Robb grit his teeth and his hands fell to his side. Before thinking, he stepped forward, holding Freya's face in his large hands. He pulled her close as the rain cascaded onto their heads. Each raindrop felt like stab. Robb leaned his forehead on hers, whispering, "The only that matters in the world now is you and me. That is something I wouldn't have said a year ago, but I am now. I stand here declaring myself to you for eternity." His breath hit her face, and it warmed her insides. "We've been together since children. We'll always be together now. We're the only two people in the world."

Freya slowly looked up at her husband and muttered, "May the Young Wolf take me, and so he did."