Author's Note: Thanks to NocturneInfinity (I too chose to disbelieve Rhaegar's reputation, especially because Ned Stark never seemed to hate him) and MANDERS21 for reviewing the last chapter! I own nothing of A Song of Ice and Fire that you recognize.
Brynden
He watched his nephew and Theon Greyjoy sparring among the tents, every motion honed with the urgency of coming battle. In an hour they would board ships to besiege Pyke and either force Balon Greyjoy to bow or kill him. Neither one showed any obvious outward signs of stress or anxiety but they were there regardless for any who knew where to look. Brynden Tully saw the narrowing of Robb's eyes and they way he clenched his teeth. Theon, normally able to fade into the shadows if he so wished, was constantly in motion. Now an hour before the attack on Theon's father, by order of Rhaegar Targaryen who they had thought was long dead. That first day speaking to his king Robb had broken down. Now without the lives of every man in the camp in his hands the heir to Winterfell was calmer, content to simply follow orders for the time being.
"They are both fine warriors for their age." Brynden turned to look at Ser Arthur Dayne, another of Rhaegar Targaryen's companions along with Ser Barristan Selmy.
"They've been trained well," Brynden agreed. "And tested in battle now as well."
"These are harsh times that a child should fight in a war of men," Ser Arthur said.
"Nonsense," Oberyn Martell cut in. "Children play at war. They may as well know that truth of it."
"Most don't live long enough to see the truth of it." Robb Stark's voice was as cool as glacial ice and his eyes steady as they met those of the Red Viper of Dorne. "I have watched them fall under the swords of the Lannisters for three months now." There was a frozen silence as Robb continued to stare down one of Rhaegar Taragaryen's closest companions. "We never played at war my lord. We played at honor and glory." Then Robb Stark, Lord of Winterfell, sheathed his sword and stalked off, Theon Greyjoy at his heels.
"The Young Wolf has a temper," Ser Arthur Dayne observed as sound slowly began again, the camp once more preparing for battle. Oberyn Martell simply glared at the two men before him and stalked off, equally as angry as Robb. Rhaegar Targaryen chose that moment to join them.
"What has upset him?" the Targaryen asked.
"He and Robb had words," Brynden said calmly.
"Robb won," Ser Arthur, finished with a slight smile. "Which is what has the Viper so upset."
"Naturally," Rhaegar said calmly. "If you have not already the pair of you should prepare. We will be setting out soon."
An hour later Brynden Tully felt cool water spray up in his face again as Pyke came into view. Robb stood beside him, still coldly furious. The Red Viper had been snapping as well. If he had to bet on whose temper would cool sooner Brynden would have placed his money on Oberyn Martell. Robb had the Stark coldness and the Tully stubbornness in him while Oberyn only had practice. They landed on Pyke in dead silence under the cover of a thick storm. The outer defenders were taken down without any fuss or noise but taking the inner walls was more difficult. Battle raged fully while Brynden, Ser Arthur Dayne, Oberyn Martell, Robb, Theon, and Rhaegar Targaryen led a group of men into the very heart of Pyke itself.
The battle screams of the dying filled the rooms as soldiers and knights alike searched for Balon Greyjoy and his daughter, Asha. They were found at last, as the sounds of battle faded away. and dragged into the throne room. "I present to you, Balond Greyjoy, and your daughter, Asha Greyjoy, your prince and liege lord Rhaegar Targaryen, first of his name, Silver Prince of Dragonstone. Bend the knee to him or be killed," Ser Arthur Dayne announced to the pair.
"Do you know what to I say to that?" Balon Greyjoy asked calmly, standing proud and firm with his daughter before Rhaegar Targaryen and several witnesses. "I say there is no king but I here." With that he and his daughter drew their swords and lunged at Rhaegar.
Ser Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, had been told one thing repeatedly while he was a squire. In battle reaction was everything. It was what kept a man from being killed but an unexpected attack and in that very day it was what kept Rhaegar Targaryen alive. Ser Arthur Dayne was trapped behind the guards that had dragged Balon and Asha in, unable to interfere. Oberyn Martell was too far away to make it in time and Brynden himself stood by the door knowing he also was too far away. Others were scattered about the room in various states of shock but it was Theon Greyjoy and Robb who acted.
Robb's sword removed Asha Greyjoy's head from her body before she was fully able to turn and face the new threat. In two blows Theon disarmed his father, sword held to Balon Greyjoy's throat. "You are now real Kraken," the lord of Pyke sneered in his sons's face.
"I am far more of a true Kraken than you," Theon spat back and removed his father's head from his shoulders. The withered grey head of Balon Greyjoy hit the ground with a crack as his body fell in a fountain of blood, the head bouncing once to land at Rhaegar Targaryen's feet.
"The symbolism between this and Robb Stark giving up his crown is eerily similar," Rhaegar said calmly, a hint of a smile curving at his lips. "I thank you friends for your quick action. I believe you have saved him life." Both Robb and Theon bowed and Brynden was struck by the fact that Eddard Stark would have been proud of them both.
The defenders of Pyke surrendered quickly at the orders of their new lord, Theon Greyjoy of Pyke. Gathered that evening with Ser Arthur Dayne, Oberyn Martell, his nephew, and Theon, Brynden finally asked they question that had haunted many since their prince's return. "If your Highness does not find the question too offensive, how did you survive the battle at the Trident and the time afterwords?"
"It is a long story," Rhaegar replied. "But one that needs telling. In truth Robert Baratheon did believe he had killed me when in fact it was one of my closest friends wearing my armor. When he found out the truth Robert covered it up, burning the body and telling no one that I was still alive."
"Why would one of your friends presume to dress as you?" Robb asked and Brynden could see his nephew struggle to piece together a puzzle for which he had not all the information.
"Because there was a need for a leader on the Trident and I was with another, a woman whom I loved and who died shortly afterwords in childbirth. She bore a son but I never heard what became of him. Likely he was executed silently so as not to cause another rebellion," Rhaegar answered almost sadly. The truth struck Brynden moments after he saw it dawn in Robb's eyes.
"If my lord king will allow I will hypothesize another possibility," Robb suggested, fingers wrapped tight in Grey Wind's fur. The heir to Winterfell waited until Rhaegar nodded before continuing. "The boy was taken by your lover's brother and claimed as his own, raised as a bastard son in Winterfell until he decided to take the black and become a brother of the Night's Watch." Brynden watched Rhaegar's violet eyes blaze as they met Robb's Tully blue ones.
"You speak truly?" the Targaryen questioned.
"I suspect," Robb said. "Assuming that the woman was my aunt, Lyanna Stark."
"She was," came the level response, so full of love and loss that it paused them all for a moment.
"Then your son is the man I think of as my brother, Jon Snow, lost beyond the Wall for the time," Robb said. "Brought to Winterfell under the guise of my father's bastard and raised there as his own after my aunt's death." They sat in silence for a moment after that before their King rose and left, leaving only the thoughtful silence behind to remember him by.
