It was a pleasant morrow in Runestone for Andar Royce to wait for his father's return.
Lady Lysa Arryn's refusal to join the war in the Riverlands had been just as vexing as it was confusing. Multiple lords made the climb to the Eyrie to make their case to their Lady Regent, but so far, she hadn't budged.
When news of the Battle on the Green Fork came to Runestone, Lord Royce climbed yet again to make his appeal to Lady Arryn. Andar thought it was a hopeless endeavour, and he suspected his lord father thought the same and yet, he still went.
"'Tis shameful for the Vale not to join the war," his lord father had said. "We fought and bled together to win King Robert his crown. And now we abandon the Starks when the Lannisters brazenly murder Ned?"
Double the shame for the Royces because they left King's Landing right after King Robert's demise. At the time neither lord or heir thought much of it. They had left by ship to bring news of the Mountain ravaging the Riverlands to Lady Arryn and prepare their men to bring Ser Gregor to justice. It was in Gulltown they learned of Lord Eddard's imprisonment. Robar had the right of it, we should've ridden straight out of King's Landing with the men we had.
His lord father's party passed through the gates and dismounted, interrupting his memories.
Andar kneeled, "Runestone is yours, my lord."
Lord Yohn Royce clasped his arm and pulled him to his feet. "There's much to talk and decisions to make. Let the steward deal with the men and bring me all the messages that came in my absence, and meet me in my solar."
His father looked tense. As expected, Lady Arryn refused to join the war.
"Aye, my lord."
After collecting the letters from his rooms, Andar went straight to Lord Royce's solar. There, over the oak table, his father had a map drawn across the table. He barely reacted at Robar's entrance.
"Lady Arryn refused me, once again."
"She's a woman, my lord. Women don't understand war."
Andar sat in front of his father.
"Aye, they don't. But they understand of honor, or at least I thought so. The Lannisters torched the Riverlands, imprisoned and then killed her good brother, laid siege to her ancestral home Riverrun, and she refuses to act!"
There were a few times when Andar had seen his father this wroth. Every time, it was either Ysilla, his sister, or him who were able to calm him.
"Lady Lysa has been scared ever since she came back after Lord Arryn's death, father. She fears for her son Robert. You know how mother was with her children."
Yohn Royce exhaled and sagged in his chair. "Aye, your mother was something fierce. Specially when Waymar was involved."
A pang of nostalgia hit Andar. Waymar died on his first ranging in the Night's Watch. He died bravely with a sword in hand, at least that was what the Old Bear said in his letter. Ysilla is ten times my better when calming Father. She wouldn't have reminded him of Mother or Waymar, at the very least.
Andar pushed through, "We got confirmation of Robb Stark's victory on the Green Fork, father. 'Total victory' was not an exaggeration."
"I should've been there. Jon would've been there."
It was true, no one doubts Jon Arryn would've raised his banners for Lord Stark.
"Aye, Starks and Royces married each other even before the Conquest. In fact, I remember you wanted to betroth Ysilla to Robb Stark."
Yohn Royce sighed. "It was not to be. With Ned's marriage, his heir needs a Northern wife."
Andar poured wine for both and sunk in his chair.
"Something important arrived while you were traveling from the Eyrie." He pulled a letter from his stack and showed it to his father. "Renly Baratheon has claimed his brother's crown."
"Highgarden and Storm's End support his claim." His father put down the letter. "The boy always struck me as vain… to crown himself, does he think 'tis that easy to be King?"
Andar thought the same, but there was something they could mayhaps use to join the war. He grabbed another letter from his stack. "Here, my lord. You have to see this. 'Tis about my brother's whereabouts."
Lord Royce huffed in annoyance after reading Robar's letter. "That boy always had more courage than sense. What does he think he's doing in Highgarden?"
They both sipped their wine. His father had a new light in his eyes, however.
"Have you sent letters to Waynwood and Redfort?" he asked.
"And to Lord Melcolm, my lord. Lady Waynwood was the first to answer." He took another letter and passed it to his father. "She said she'll convince Lord Redfort to spare some knights."
His father laughed with no qualms for decorum and stood up to pat him in the shoulder. "I should thank Robar when I see him. At least half as much as I'm thanking you, son."
Andar stopped himself from sighing. He wanted to thank his brother himself, but his lord father would never give him leave to join him in this journey.
Before he could voice his thoughts, his father spoke: "I'm sorry Andar, but you won't be going. We can't risk our house that way. I'm old and I have a capable heir, you are young and your wife and girls need you still."
It was true, no matter how much Andar wanted to go, he had a duty to his house.
"Yes, father."
Mayhaps it was for the best and it also could be part of the ruse.
Lord Royce was to travel to Highgarden to find his wayward son and escort him back to Runestone. If he took with him a sizeable amount of guards to travel through the war torn Riverlands, who was to say anything? It was only natural for a father to do something foolish and dangerous for his children. And if some of his lordly friends joined him in his travels to make sure he's safe? Friendship forged in war is sometimes stronger than family bonds, wasn't it? Who would cast suspicion over something so honorable as ensuring your friend's safety?
And, if they take a detour and found themselves marching with the Starks? Well, it just means the road was just too dangerous to travel alone and joining the Starks for a while was the only option left.
###
It was the morning of the seventh day since her lord father's passing and Catelyn was standing in the battlements looking at the Tumblestone river. As was tradition, the final farewell to Lord Hoster was to return him to the river, from where the Tullys drew their strength.
Her lord father was laid in a wooden boat, completely armored and wearing the blue and red of House Tully.
Seven were chosen to push the funeral boat to the water, each for a different face of god. Robb as Lord Hoster's grandson, the new Lords Blackwood and Vance, Lords Bracken and Mallister, Sers Marq Piper and Stevron Frey.
Edmure told them what he thought at the Frey knight inclusion last night, "Where were the Freys when my lord father raised his banners!?" he raged and smashed a cup against the wall. "Where were they when we fought the Lannisters under the walls of Riverrun!?"
"Lord Walder is a spiteful little man," she said. Never once fearing her brother's anger to turn on her. "And yet, with all his faults, he still has the most soldiers of your bannermen."
"My lord," Robb said. "If it helps, this is how I see it. We are not honoring Lord Walder, the man who didn't answer the call to arms from his liege lord. We are honoring Ser Stevron Frey, the man who rode and fought to lift the Riverrun siege. Ser Stevron is not his father, my lord, of that I am witness."
In the end Edmure accepted, albeit reluctantly. A part of Catelyn felt relieved her brother chose not to insult his most powerful bannerman. Other part of her wanted to insult and berate the Freys more than anything. But she had two daughters to think of.
The seven chosen launched Lord Hoster from the water stair. The boat went through the Water Gate when her brother nocked an arrow and set it aflame. His arrow went too far front.
Edmure cursed softly, lit another arrow, took a long breath and released. The flaming arrow struck true and the boat's sails caught flame. Her brother let out a soft sigh that sounded more like a sob to Catelyn's ears and turned his face to not let her see him. She grabbed her brother's hand, and together with their uncle Brynden, they watched the boat until it was lost to distance and fog.
They went down to the courtyard. The lords gave them their condolences. She heard them, thanked them for their kind words, but in reality, she couldn't hear them. The world was gray and dull, now more than ever.
They all went to the Great Hall for the modest feast they were able to prepare. Later in the afternoon, her son planned to host a war council. Catelyn had an inkling on what was on Robb's mind, she didn't like it.
The dishes came and went. Lords reminisced and told stories about Lord Hoster. Edmure had a glum air on him. He was by her father's side all these years, from the moment he got ill, to his last breath.
The hall was somber too. Quiet conversations all around, muffled and respectful to Lord Hoster's memory. And Catelyn kept her silence. She feared that if a word escaped her lips, she'd break like ice when spring came. Be strong. For Arya. For Sansa… For Ned.
Finally, the feast ended and she excused herself to her rooms to stop being strong, at least for a while.
When her pillow was damp and treacherous voices in her head questioned her about her daughters' safety, when she wanted nothing more than to lie and rest for the day, a voice stirred her to her feet.
"Ned?" she asked to an empty room.
She had heard him, clear as day. He said only two words: "My daughters."
Catelyn turned around her room, looking for someone she knew wouldn't be there, and then she saw herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess, her dress was creased and her eyes red and puffy.
"Our daughers," she repeated.
Catelyn counted in her mind, she controlled her breathing and clenched her fists until they hurt. She had to be present in Robb's war council, if she were to be taken seriously, she had to look the part.
She called maids to braid her hair and prepare a proper dress. She needed to look the Stark, Ned needed her to be.
The war council convened in the Great Hall, the long tables were set in a broken square. Her brother, Lord Tully, sat in the high seat of Riverrun with Ser Brynden at his side, and his bannermen arrayed with him. Lord Karyl Vance and Ser Marq Piper sat together with the Lord Darry, a boy no older than ten. Lord Jonos Bracken sat as far as possible from Lord Brynden Blackwood.
The northern lords sat opposite, with Robb and her facing her brother. The Greatjon sat at Robb's left hand, and then Ser Wylis Manderly with Theon Greyjoy. To Catelyn's right, were Lord Karstark and Lady Mormont.
Catelyn let them argue and tire themselves against one another, she had to be patient and look for the best opportunity to convince the hall.
Roose Bolton had marched to the ruins of Stone Hedge and put every Lannister soldier to the sword and was now moving toward Raventree Hall to do the same. Meanwhile Galbart Glover had retaken Darry and captured the garrison for questioning, his last raven said his host was marching on Harrenhal to put it under siege.
Every lord had an opinion or plan. Either accounting for Renly Baratheon's coronation or ignoring it for the time being. Lord Bracken thanked Robb for his help recovering Stone Hedge and argued to pledge themselves to Renly's cause.
"Renly is not the king," Robb said. She was with him when the maester brought them the raven proclaiming Renly's kingship, her son was as shocked as she was. "The law is clear, before Renly is Stannis, and before Stannis there's still Tommen and Myrcella."
If anyone noticed Robb not mentioning Joffrey, no one said a word.
"My lord," Ser Wylis said cautiously. "I don't understand what you mean."
"Do you mean us to declare for… Tommen?" Edmure asked.
"I don't know," Robb said. "The Lannisters called my father a traitor and murdered him for it, we all know they lied. I want nothing more than to drag Joffrey to the field and find justice by my own hands. But I want to be clear, anyone who joins will be called a traitor."
It was exactly as Catelyn feared. She tried to subtly talk him out of that path in the days before, but Robb… he had his mind set.
"They called us traitors when we rose against the Mad King!" the Greatjon said. "I didn't care then, and I don't care now! The Umbers will fight for the Stark of Winterfell, no matter what!"
Catelyn bit her tongue to ground herself. She accompanied her son from Moat Cailin to here, she saw how the lords regarded him them and how they regarded him now. She was certain, all of the Northern lords shared the same sentiment with Lord Umber.
And just as she thought, their side of the hall cheered in agreement.
She wanted peace. The North joined together to free Ned and her daughters. Ned was gone, but she knew if she called for peace now, no one would listen.
"My lord father would urge caution," Ser Stevron said. "Let these two kings spent their forces fighting each other. When they are done, we can freely choose who to support or oppose."
"Wait for Renly to take King's Landing and get four kingdoms behind his back?" Edmure asked. "And when he does, he'll remember who sat on their arses and did nothing. You think Lord Tywin knows how to carry grudges, but I assure you, my lords, no one carries grudges like a King."
The hall calmed down after her brother's cutting words. Catelyn wanted to wait for the perfect opportunity, but from how the council had been going… she thought it better to take this chance.
"My lords, there's one issue we haven't talked about," she said. Her voice with all the authority she had as Lady Stark. "My daughters. The queen holds them still. We went to war when the Lannisters were ravaging the Riverlands and had Ned and my daughters as captives. Lord Tywin is soon to be defeated and my lord husband is forever out of reach, let us trade Ser Kevan and Tyrion for my daughters, let Sansa and Arya be safe in Winterfell."
In a perfect world, she would've waited for when the lords started talking about sending envoys to King's Landing, even a discussion to send an envoy to Renly would've sufficed.
"Hhmmm, we did march south for them too," Lord Karstark nodded. "I'm partial to exchanging the Imp, but we can't give up Ser Kevan, my lady. He's too important."
Catelyn felt a lump in her chest. Are my daughter's lives not as important?
She looked around to find allies, her daughters were just as important as Lord Tywin's brother. On the whole hall, she only found Lady Mormont's eyes who looked at her in quiet understanding.
"Ser Kevan important?" she questioned the hall. "He was captured like sheep in the Green Fork. If he takes the field against us, I'm sure my noble lords would capture that sheep just as easily again."
The lords hollered or cheered at her words and again the shouting match began. Some wanted to pledge themselves to Renly, others called for revenge, none of them wanted a Lannister king.
Catelyn felt the little strength she accrued abandon her. I couldn't make them listen Ned.
The Greatjon stood up and roared for all to listen. "MY LORDS!, I don't give a rat's ass for Renly nor Stannis. The Others take the Lannisters too. I won't be ruled by ponces from their flowery seats. There's only one king I'll recognize, and he's sitting right here."
He drew his two handed greatsword and kneeled in front of Robb. "The King in the North!" he thundered and laid his sword at her son's feet.
"They can keep their red castle and chair." Lord Karstark also took his longsword and kneeled beside the Greatjon. "The King in the North!"
"The King of Winter!" Maege Mormont declared, and laid her spiked mace beside the swords.
The hall rumbled with the riverlords standing to kneel before her son. All of them echoing the same chant.
"The King in the North!"
"The King in the North!"
Numb and about to break, Catelyn stood up. She witnessed her son be proclaimed king and regret filled her heart. I couldn't make them listen Ned.
###
After days doing nothing but stare menacingly at Harrenhal's garrison, news worthy of a smile reached me.
The song I commissioned for the victory at the Green Fork was finished. The bards went a little too hard on their praise for the 'Heroic Young Wolf' but the song was catchy and I already heard some of the soldiers humming it while in their rest. I wish the bards had chosen a different name though. 'The Crimson Field' was a bit too much in my opinion.
The troupe was properly rewarded and taught the song to other troupes as per our contract. I then left the wide spreading of the song in Hatten's capable hands.
Hopefully in a few years, the Rains of Castamere will no longer be as ominous as they are now. This is my gift for Tywin Lannister the baby killer. May his pride never let him live this down.
Who would've thought that sponsoring art was this rewarding? I guess now I have to commission more songs. Only, instead of directly contacting one troupe, I'll make it a contest with a base reward for finishing a song and a nice bag of silver for the first and second place.
As the old phrase goes, "It's not propaganda if it's actually true." I'll just make sure our truth is louder than the rest.
I let out a long breath and pulled back my halberd to a resting position. The morning was fresh, perfect for my wake up exercises. It was a shame that my other kind of exercises weren't coming along as well.
I still couldn't get to Amory's mind, and I made little progress with my hawk. Cerati is a majestic hawk who became friendlier the more treats I gave him. Not to be left behind, Ghost also demands treats for fairness sake.
I think I'm getting close to skinchanging into Cerati because last night I didn't dream. That wouldn't be strange, except for the fact that I can sort of control my dreaming to skinchange into Ghost, but last night… nothing. Not the usual clarity I had in my dreams.
I went back to my tent to start the day proper. On my way there I saw the siege towers. They were coming along nicely, both had massive bases on account of the height required, and each was already 'claimed'.
The Glover banner was all around one, the Karstark banner on the other. Both houses were eager to claim the glory for assaulting Harrenhal. I was absolutely fine with that arrangement, I just wanted my sisters back after all.
The thought never abandoned me. If there was one thing I've learned in this second life in Westeros, is that women are less valuable than men.
It was disgusting.
So I went to break my fast with the Mormonts, I didn't care to feign cordiality that morning at least, and Dacey had a new squire, that should be interesting. Alas, my plans were thwarted. A Glover man caught up with me, Galbart Glover had summoned me for a matter of 'great importance'.
I entered his tent. "Morning, my lord," he was alone in there, behind a table.
"Morning, lad. Sit," Galbart said pointing at the chair in front of the table. "A rider came from Raventree Hall with a message from Riverrun. I need to discuss this with you before the war council in the afternoon."
That didn't sound ominous, not at all. I nodded at Galbart and sat in his table.
"First of all," he said while rummaging on a ransack behind the table. "I have to ask for your understanding on behalf of Ser Donnel."
Weird way to start a conversation, and asking understanding? Donnel was a prick, what was there to understand?
Of course I didn't say any of that. "Of course, my lord. Ser Donnel is a passionate and dutiful man."
"Good lad," he said turning back with a letter in his hands. "You have my thanks for being an intelligent and understanding man, Jon."
Alright, this was definitely weird. Galbart Glover was just barely short of asking me to forgive Ser Donnel? What did the idiot did since last night?
"There's nothing to thank me for, my lord." This way I was getting a tiny little favor from him before dealing with the idiotic knight myself.
Galbart sagged in his chair. "Of course there is lad, but badmouthing family is never right. Ser Donnel is my good brother by way of my brother's wife, after all."
So… was he trying to justify himself on why he didn't put a stop to Donnel? But why?
Before I could reply and dig out what were his intentions, he gave me the letter in his hands. I took the letter and read it. A groan almost escaped me, but I was able to suppressed it.
Robb, what the fuck happened in Riverrun?
"As you can see, King Robb ordered us to detach a force to retake Maidenpool. I've already summoned Lady Mormont to plan out the details." He grabbed a pitcher of firewater and poured two cups.
I grabbed my cup, still in shock of what the letter said.
"I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate you on your legitimization, my lord," Galbart said and turned the glass upside down when I nodded. I followed in short order.
Robb legitimized me. My crazy brother who just was proclaimed king, legitimized me.
My brother is king.
And he legitimized me.
Thankfully, I was out of the succession line. And doubly thankfully, I was legitimized as a 'Stark' of Moat Cailin, not Jonstark, or Whitestark, or Steelstark, or worse, Boystark.
I let out a sigh and poured myself more firewater. Thank the gods Robb's song didn't reach him just yet.
###
A/N: The show did Chadmure dirty on Lord Hoster's funeral scene, the show in general did my boy Chadmure dirty.
I hope Catelyn's part was ok, it was really hard to make it interesting.
Also the Royces and co. are pulling a Leonidas to join, we'll see where that takes them.
I demand your comments! ╾━╤デ╦︻(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿)