𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 | Whispering Woods

{ Eliza }

✧✦✧

𝕿he Frey boy, Olyvar, stood in Robb and Eliza's tent, buckling up Robb's armour as Eliza chewed on her nails beside him. This was one of the first major battles of the war, and it was all becoming far more real in Eliza's mind. All those hours she spent, sitting through war council meetings, concocting and perfecting the best plan and suddenly, it now was here.

Robb glanced over at her, watching as Eliza paced up and down the length of the tent, disturbing Greywind from his resting place. Olyvar began to buckle Robb's sword around his waist as the man reached out and caught his wife's arm, stopping her in place.

"The plan is a good one." Greywind stretched, trapping Eliza in as he sat on her feet. "Trust that we picked the best strategy."

"But, what happens if it goes wrong though?" Eliza asked, nervous about the plan that she, Anceron and Robb had perfected late last week after a conversation about the usefulness of horses in a wooded area. "If they don't fall for the bait or if they catch onto what is happening..."

"They will fall for it." Robb said, waving his squire away as he turned to look directly at Eliza. "They want to prove themselves so much that they will not think twice about why the attack force is so small. I know it."

"I hope you're right." Eliza commented, running her hand through Greywind's fur as she followed Robb from the tent, watching as he pulled himself up onto his horse's back. "I hope you are right."

✧✦✧

Eliza stood next to her mother-by-law, looking over the Trident from their position on top of the hill. The woods, where the battle was taking place, stood silent in the distance. It seemed that even the trees were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen and it did little to settle Eliza's nerves.

A cold wind swept over the field, causing Eliza to pull her cloak further around herself, trying to hide her trembling hands. Rodrick Cassel, the old master-in-arms at Winterfell came to stand behind the two women.

"We should go, my Ladies." Catelyn shook her head, as Eliza picked up on the sound of horse hooves coming from the woods.

"Horses!" She cried, her voice being swept away by the wind as she looked for a sigil, or a familiar face amongst the soldiers. Finally, Eliza spotted the Stark sigil flying high above the soldiers, a relieved gasp leaving her lips. They had won.

The horses drew closer, the first to pull to a stop with Robb on the back. Eliza and Robb may not always get along, having had the fair share of disagreements, but Eliza was so happy that he was alive and safe that she forgot all about that, throwing her arms around him as he turned to her.

"You're alive..." Robb seemed stunned at her sudden affection, wrapping a tentative arm around her waist as Eliza's grip on him tightened. "The plan worked?"

"It worked perfectly." He pressed a swift kiss to her cheek, before nodding behind him as Eliza turned to look. Her eyes went wide once more at the sight of Jaime Lannister, turning back to spot her husband's triumphant grin.

"By the time they knew what was happening, it had already happened." Robb told her, before turning to press a kiss to his mother's cheek as well.

"Lady Stark." Jaime Lannister looked between both Catelyn and Eliza, speaking as he drew close. "I'd offer you my sword, but I seem to have lost it."

"It is not your sword I want. Give me my daughters back." Catelyn replied, harshly. "Give me my husband."

"I've lost them too, I'm afraid." The Lannister was examining Eliza, looking her up and down as he tried to work out who she was. She hadn't been at Winterfell when they had gone up there to make Ned Stark the Hand of the King. It was only when Anceron came to stand next to her, that Jaime's eyes grew wider, recognizing the Bare sigil and the similarities between the siblings and the girl's affection with Robb didn't bode well for the Lannisters. Everyone knew of the power of the Bare cavalry forces.

"Kill him, Robb." Eliza rolled her eyes at Theon's words, causing Robb to shoot her a look. "Send his head to his father. He cut down..."

"He's more use to us alive than dead." Eliza cut in, prevent Theon from spewing any more stupidity. "He'll be a good trading chip when we come to negotiate with his father, or his nephew."

"Take him away and put him in irons." Robb commanded, siding with his wife, as Anceron and Greatjon Umber appeared with chains for the Lannister. Jaime looked between them, before shuffling closer to Robb and Eliza.

"We could end this war right now, boy, save thousands of lives." Jaime began, as Eliza scowled at him, her eyes growing colder. "You fight for the Starks, I fight for the Lannisters. Swords or lances, teeth, nails...choose your weapons and let's end this here and now."

"If we do it your way, Kingslayer, you'd win." Robb hissed, leaning closer as Greywind came trotting to Eliza's side so that he could be made a fuss of. "We're not doing it your way."

"Come on, pretty man." Greatjon Umber growled, as he and Anceron dragged the Lannister away from Eliza and Robb's feet.

"Did you kill Lannisters, my good boy?" Eliza cooed at the wolf, ruffling Greywind's fur as the wolf panted and wagged his tail. "That's my boy."

"We sent 2,000 men to their graves today." Robb commented, turning away from his wife and wolf to look back over at the battlefield.

"The bards will sing songs of their sacrifice." Theon commented, and Eliza wondered whether he had been listening into their conversation.

"But the dead won't hear them." Robb replied, before turning to look at his bannermen. "One victory does not make us conquerors. Did we free my father? Did we rescue my sisters from the queen? Did we free the North from those who want us on our knees? This war is far from over."

✧✦✧

Whilst the men celebrated their victory, Anceron sat with Eliza in her tent, talking her through the battle and filling her in on the rest of the details that had been lost in the commotion.

"We didn't lose many, but still any loss isn't good." Eliza nodded, taking a sip of her water as Anceron leaned back in his chair. "We don't have nearly as many soldiers or resources as they do."

"Aye," Anceron watched his sister, before cocking an eyebrow.

"What's the matter?"

"What?"

"You've been off ever since that negotiation with the Frey's a few weeks back, so what is it?" Eliza looked away as Anceron pushed. "Something is on your mind, Liz, it's not difficult to see."

"It is nothing."

"Liz..." Eliza paused at her brother's warning tone, turning to look at him.

"Fine. I don't trust Walder Frey or any of his sons or soldiers." She began to undo the plaits in her dark hair, her face twisted into a scowl. "The only reason I agreed to the terms was because we had to cross the bridge."

"Why?" Anceron cocked an eyebrow, tilting his head.

"It's just something about him rubs me the wrong way." Eliza shook her head, chewing her lips. "He showed such little respect to Lady Catelyn and myself. Lady Catelyn is the daughter of his liege lord, which means that he owes her some respect and pleasantries."

"He was not respectful?"

"No and he kept looking me up and down like he wanted to try and get into bed with me," Eliza shook her head. "Gods, I never felt so uncomfortable in my entire life."

Anceron spat out a few choice curse words that Eliza didn't dare repeat, before squeezing Eliza's hands.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there with you, Liz." He squeezed her hand once more. "Next time, I'll hold him and you punch him."

That brought a smile to Eliza's face as she hid a chuckle.

"Have you told Robb your thoughts?" Eliza shook her head, turning away from her brother's piercing gaze. "Liz, he is your husband. He should know your thoughts on the matter, especially now we're at war. If that is your gut feeling about the man, then it's probably best that Robb knows so that he can be prepared."

"I'll tell him, I swear."

Hiya,

One more chapter of this part of the book left and I really love Eliza and Anceron's relationship, they're adorable siblings and I love them to bits. Also, her and Robb have had a slight breakthrough in their relationship!!

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx