Robb groggily opened his eyes, looking right at the back of Samwell Tarly's head. He wasn't sure how he knew that it was Sam's, but there was certainly something distinctive about the big man, the way he worked with an anxious pace, the way he muttered to himself both criticism and encouragement. Perhaps Robb's subconsciousness had recognized the voice as it encouraged him to drink or rest.
"Uhhhh." Robb groaned, rubbing his head. On per reflex, he tensed his right shoulder and felt a wave of pain come from that side, causing him to choke on pain.
"Ahh!"
"Your grace!" Sam said, turning around and running back over to the bed. "What's wrong?"
"My shoulder." Robb grunted, trying and failing to look at where the pain was coming from. His right shoulder and breast was wrapped in clean white bandages. There was now a throbbing, dull pain that was coming from around his pec. Robb then realized that he was only dressed in a pair of breeches.
"What's happened?"
"You were attacked, your grace." Sam answered gravely. "The assassin stabbed you and we believe tried to kill Torrhen as well."
"Is he alive!" Robb asked, going to stand before the pain radiating from his chest and shoulder forced him back down. Sam laid a firm hand on his good shoulder.
"He's fine, my lord. He, the queen, Greywind, they're all fine." Sam replied. "The assassin killed two sentries on the edge of the encampment. Brienne went to check it out and left Patrek Mallister to guard you. The assassin knocked him out. He's still unable to speak due to the damage on his throat, but he's alive. He then drugged your wife and direwolf with laced food." Sam explained, speaking quickly and without any unnecessary detail. "What we believe happened is that he was attempting to kill Torrhen with sweetsleep, but was unable to administer the right amount when you arrived."
Robb nodded slowly, the memory coming back to him. He had arrived, and seeing no guard, had drawn his dagger and entered the chambers. Margaery and Greywind had been fast asleep, and thinking back on it now, Robb remembered seeing a plate of food near Margaery and a large platter with a bloody bone next to Greywind. The assassin, a brown-haired man with a female-looking face, had a vial in one hand and was standing over Torrhen's crib. Robb's sudden appearance had caused him to drop the vial. He had then drawn his dagger and as the two fought. The man stabbed Robb in the chest, and as Robb fell into unconsciousness, he vaguely remembered striking the man in the side with his dagger.
"What happened after." Robb asked.
"Jon and I were coming to see you when we found what had happened. As I worked on you, Jon made sure that the prince and the queen were still alive. That's when Lord Tyrion arrived with his squire and his sworn sword. Those two had the assassin between them." Sam explained quickly. "Lord Tyrion got the assassin to give up his poison by poisoning him with his own dagger. I was then able to make an antidote."
"You saved me." Robb said. "Thank you. I owe you a great debt."
Sam gave Robb a humble smile. "I am a maester-in-training, my lord. Saving lives is what I'm learning to do. Also, there is no debt between friends."
"You saved me." Robb said again firmly. "I promise I will repay that debt."
"Someday, my lord." Sam relented, knowing that it was a lost cause to persuade Robb not to repay his help.
"What happened to the assassin?" Robb asked. "Who sent him?"
Sam's smile disappeared. "I gave him the anecdote to make sure it was the right one. It was, but Jon told me not to wrap his arm. Lord Tyrion had cut into a vein to make sure the poison got through the body quicker. He was bound to bleed out. That's when your father and Derren Stark arrived."
At this point, Robb felt his throat become scratchy and began to cough. Sam stopped talking and helped Robb sip some lemon water. The sourness of the lemon helped cut through the dryness of his throat. The water was also amazingly cool and refreshing.
"Sorry." Robb apologized. "Please continue."
"Jon and Lord Tyrion explained what had happened, and then Derren….Captain Derren?"
"Master Derren." Robb helped.
"Master Derren," Sam continued, "cut the man's throat. He knew who the man was and such didn't need him alive. The assassin was Lysono Maar, the spymaster for the Golden Company."
Robb felt his blood turn to ice. "There's no mistake?"
Sam shook his head sadly. "Ser Garlan and Ser Brynden met Ser Barristan Selmy and another man named Grey Worm in the 'neutral zone' and showed them the head." he said. "They promised to investigate. That was a week ago."
"I was out for a week!" Robb said loudly.
"The poison was fast-acting, my lord." Sam said grimly. "It had a good hold on you when Jon and I arrived. I've been by your side every day and night. You finally muttered in your sleep yesterday. I thought we were losing you the day before that."
Robb groaned and ran a hand over his face. "Ok, so the Targaryens know what we know."
Sam shrugged. "Not exactly. The two knights presented the head, but only said that he had attempted to kill you. They did not say what your current condition was, so as to prevent another attempt."
"Good idea." Robb muttered. "What else."
Sam thought for a moment. "With the queen recovering for a day, Lord Stark, your father, took control of the army. He's currently in a council of war. He's been having them ever since the attack."
Robb nodded. "Well, I can't do anything from here, can I." he said, attempting to get up. Sam went to make him lay down, but Robb stopped him with a look. "Sam, I owe you for all you've done, but I am not going to fight a battle. I am merely going to talk with my council. I believe I am well enough to do so."
Sam hesitated. "My lord, I still think you need another week or more to recover."
Robb sat up in bed, swinging his feet onto the ground. His vision swam for a moment before he blinked a lot, correcting his vision. He nodded to a chest. "Get me a shirt, please. And grab my sword."
"You said you wouldn't fight." Sam said accusingly, digging out a shirt.
"It's to help me stand." Robb answered as Sam pulled the short over his one good arm, leaving the other one tucked close to Robb's body. After his shirt was on, Robb clutched his sword and used it as a cane. With Sam by his side, ready to help, he took a few wobbly steps.
"You're remarkably good at this." Sam noticed.
"I nearly had my back broken in the Reach." Robb grunted, sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I was in considerable more pain then. Call this unfortunate practice."
Together, the two men made their way out of the sectioned-off chambers and right into the middle of a war council. All of Robb's commanders were dressed for battle, with his father sitting on one end of the table and Margaery on the other. His father shot to his feet when he saw Robb.
"Robb." he said worriedly.
Robb shook his head, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Sam moved away for a second to grab a chair and place it next to the queen. Margaery held his arm firmly as Robb sat down. Whatever the others had been talking about had quickly died the moment Robb entered.
Robb sucked in a breath, leaned his sword against the table, and kissed his wife's hand, giving her a brave smile before addressing his council. He could see that all of his commanders were relieved to see him up and walking.
Sam was standing awkwardly against the wall in case Robb needed him.
"Sorry for my abrupt entrance, my lords." Robb apologized.
"It's alright, your grace." Lord Caron said happily. "I think I speak for us all when I say it's good to see you back on your feet."
"Aye, and looking like a wobbly deer at that." Robb joked grimly. "Samwell has caught me up with what has happened." he nodded to his father. "Thank you."
His father nodded back. "Of course, your grace."
"Please, resume your conversation." Robb said.
"Nothing worth mentioning, my lord." Ser Brynden grunted. "Just talking over various plans in case battle becomes inevitable."
"How many men do we have?" Robb asked.
"Seventy-seven thousand." Lord Tarly answered. "I brought some twenty thousand reachmen from the west and Ser Jon Fossoway brought his own small host."
"There's also the Company of the Rose." Derren Stark added. "Four thousand battle-hardened warriors."
"We also have thirty thousand valemen, eight thousand rivermen, six thousand stormlanders, and another thousand northmen." Father finished. "It's a sizable host to be sure, but the Targaryens have one of their own."
"Almost seventy thousand." Margaery explained, looking at Robb. "Eight thousand Unsullied, almost twenty thousand sellswords, thirty thousand dornish, and the dothraki, gold cloaks, and crownlanders combine for around nine thousand."
"How were we able to get such numbers?" Robb asked.
"Alec Reed, my spymaster, was able to get some fairly accurate estimates." Derren answered. "He's rarely wrong."
"There's also their dragons." Garlan commented.
"I have Lord Tyrion and my brother Willas on that problem." Margaery said, knowing what Robb's next question would be. "They'll come up with ways to beat them….should it come to that."
"I fear it may." Father said grimly. "King's Landing has gone silent. Every messenger we've sent has been turned away at the gate to the city. We've stopped food shipments, but to no effect."
"As of right now, they're the enemy." Edmure finished.
Robb tapped the armrest to his chair thoughtfully, staring at the table as he thought quickly. He had to believe that Daenerys had no part in his assassination. The two of them had worked so hard to complete the treaty. If anyone wanted Robb dead, it would be Aegon. He was also the one who controlled the Golden Company. With every road that Robb went down, it all ended with the same conclusion: Aegon.
"If you're wondering who tried to kill you, my lord, the queen, Lord Tyrion, and Lord Willas have come up with some good arguments for Aegon." Lord Forrester said, as if reading Robb's mind. "From what the queen has said, the Targaryen woman doesn't seem like the type to want you dead."
"I don't think she is." Robb said slowly. "But this attack still came from the capitol, and right now, we will treat everyone there as a threat."
The message was clear. Even if Daenerys wasn't the type to try to have Robb assassinated, there's no certainty that she hadn't sent the assassin. It was clearly the best option right now to treat everyone who is not their ally as their enemy.
"What would you have us do?" Father asked.
"Continue to plan and strategize." Robb ordered. "Father, until I am back to full strength, I am giving you main command of the army."
Father nodded seriously. "Of course."
"When I am able to ride again, I will summon Daenerys to the neutral ground and will speak with her there. Two weeks is ample enough time to find out who wants me dead." Robb continued. "If she refuses to hand over the criminals, then battle is our only course of action."
Line Break
"How are you feeling?" Margaery asked, following Robb back into their quarters after the meeting. Sam, thankfully, allowed the couple to have a moment alone. He waited outside in the main room.
"Surprisingly, not as bad as Bitterbridge." Robb answered, sitting on the edge of his bed as soon as he was able. Margaery sat on his good side, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Where's Torrhen?" Robb asked.
"With Sansa and Mira." Margaery answered. "He's fine. He was groggy, just like me, but the maesters have checked on us constantly at the behest of your family and mine. I was more worried about you. Thankfully Sam was next to you the entire time."
"I owe him a lot for what he's done." Robb agreed.
"The other maesters believe that he should receive his gold link for simply saving you." Margaery said. "The man has a talent."
"Perhaps we've found our Grand Maester." Robb chuckled, resting his head on Margaery's. "I'm sorry I worried you."
"You worried us all." Margaery said, sniffling a little to hold back tears. "You're not allowed to die."
"I swear I'll do my best to not do that." Robb said, laughing quietly.
Margaery slapped him lightly on the arm. "Don't joke with me, Robb Stark." she scolded.
Robb kissed her on the top of her head, which seemed to lessen her fire a little. "I swear I won't ever leave you and Torrhen. You have my word."
Margaery looked up at him. The two kissed deeply.
"I'm going to hold you to that." Margaery said quietly when they broke apart.
"I know." Robb said, resting his head back on hers. "Thank the gods for my father."
Margaery nodded slightly. "I see where you get it. I haven't seen many war councils, but I've never seen someone control a room like your father. Certainly not my own father."
"You know I also owe my life to Tyrion, now that I think about it." Robb said after a moment, not mentioning the fact that Margaery had mentioned her father and not broken into tears.
"I know." Margaery said. "I haven't released him from the limitations you placed on him, but Willas has been keeping the man company as they've worked through books and books of dragon lore. They've gotten along famously."
"I'm sure Tyrion enjoys having someone who matches his intellect." Robb grunted. "I guess there's nothing to do now but wait. Wait until I'm healthy enough to take the field."
"If it really was Aegon." Margaery mused. "Do you think Daenerys will give him up? He controls a large portion, if not the majority, of her army if I remember right."
Robb shook his head. "I guess that's a question that'll be answered when we meet."
"Do you think she'll answer your summons?" Margaery asked.
"She'll either want to apologize directly to me and hand over the criminals or look me in the face and refuse." Robb sighed. "Either way, this won't end well for the wolves and dragons."
"An alliance is no longer an option, is it." Margaery said, already knowing the answer.
"The lords won't stand for it, not after someone in their camp tried to kill me." Robb said. "Even if Daenerys hands over the men responsible, that'll only postpone the inevitable."
"War." Margaery said simply.
"Death." Robb agreed