3) News from the capital.
"Are you sure?" asked Lord Mallister to the man standing in front of him. "He's dead?"
"Yes, m'lord. Killed at his own wedding. King Joffrey is dead. They plan to crown his brother Tommen in two weeks, as well as wed him to Joffrey's widow Margaery Tyrell."
"How did he die?" asked Brynden Tully sitting next to Lord Mallister.
"Poison they say, m'lord. He choked to death. His face turned purple. The folk are calling it the Purple Wedding" the messenger chuckled.
"Who killed him?" asked Lord Mallister.
"That remains unknown, m'lord. The Imp and his lady wife, Lady Sansa have been accused. The Imp has been arrested and is awaiting trial. Lady Sansa has disappeared."
"Disappeared? How?"
"I don't know, m'lord. No one knows. That's why many people, including the Queen, suspect she was involved. I've heard a rumour that Lord Petyr Baelish took her to the Fingers."
"Sansa is alive" mused the Blackfish. "Was Baelish involved in the assassination of King Joffrey?"
"I don't know, m'lord"
"I wouldn't put it past him, that slimy bastard" said Lord Mallister. "But he did us all a favour if he was."
"What does he have to gain by killing the King and then kidnapping Sansa?" pondered the Blackfish. "My niece Lysa might know something. She's always been smitten by him. Incidentally, he's always been smitten by Cat. If anybody knows anything about Lord Baelish, it is Lysa."
"Should we send her a raven?"
"No," said the Blackfish. "We'll pay her a visit. We need her men. She might also know something about Sansa."
.
They set off two days later, Lord Brynden Tully, Jason Mallister, Catelyn Stark and an entourage of four guards. A larger party would have attracted too much attention, not to mention they would have to go across Lannister controlled Riverlands. The Blackfish relished seeing his niece smile, something she hadn't done in days. She was hopeful now, she had something to look forward to: her daughter might well be within grasp.
As they got close to the Green Fork they spied boats sailing down the river. Frey banners flying together with the gold and crimson Lannister banner.
"They are all in it together, lying bastards. Cravens. Turncoats!" Brynden Tully started yelling at the ships as they sailed by only to be forcefully shushed by Jason Mallister.
"You fool, do you want to get us all killed?" Jason Mallister pushed the Blackfish to the ground. They all hid behind the bushes waiting for the boats to sail by.
"Where are they going?" Catelyn suddenly asked.
"King's Landing?" offered Jason Mallister.
"Riverrun" said Brynden. "They are most likely going to claim my brother's House for themselves, sons of bitches."
"What of Edmure?" asked Catelyn. "Do you think they killed him too?"
"Maybe. Or they may try to use him to gain leverage against Jeyne and all the people left in Riverrun."
Once the ships were out of sight they emerged again and continued on their way. It was a silent and somber ride now, bore down by the realization that the Freys and the Lannisters were working together and had conspired to bring them down. They also feared for the safety of those in Riverrun with the Frey army on the way to the Tully castle. They crossed the Green Fork, passed the Kingsroad and pressed on for the Bloody Gates.
.
They were only a couple of days away when they came across a man and his young son. Upon closer inspection they realized the man was no farmer or fisherman. He was big, wearing an armor and heavily armed. They boy was also armed with a sword. What could a soldier and a young boy do against six trained soldiers? Not much they guessed, so they decided to approach the pair.
"Who goes there?" the man yelled grabbing his sword. The boy copied his father's movement.
"What's it to you? We outnumber you. You and your son want to continue on your way you tell us who you are and what your business is" replied Lord Mallister.
"I'm just a farmer. Soldiers burned my house. I ran away with my boy."
"A heavily armed farmer" retorted the Blackfish.
Before anybody had time to react, the boy lunged forwards and went straight to Lady Catelyn. Taken aback, all the men drew their swords. "Step away from the Lady" one of the soldiers warned the boy.
But he didn't. And then Lady Catelyn did something that took everybody by surprise. She started kissing and hugging the boy.
"Cat, do you know this boy?" asked the Blackfish apprehensively.
"This is no boy" she smiled. "Uncle Brynden please meet my daughter, Arya"
They decided to settle for the night. The man with the boy turned out to be The Hound, Joffrey's former guard. He had abandoned his King and deserted months ago when Stannis tried to invade King's Landing. He explained he came across Arya as they were running away from the Brotherhood. He had intended to take her to the Twins to trade for her, but arrived too late. The massacre had already taken place. So now he was taking her to her aunt Lysa in the hopes he could sell her to her family and make some money.
"We'll pay you" offered Catelyn.
"You deserted the King. You said you were fed up with the Lannisters. You have nothing to do and nowhere to go" said Brynden Tully.
"So?" What's it to you? Just pay me for the girl and I'll be on my way" the Hound replied gruffly.
"Join us" the Blackfish continued. "If your reputation is accurate, we could use a man like you. We'll give you a job, food, shelter, and a chance to shove your sword up Lannister asses."
"Will you pay me?"
"Handsomely, when the war is done. We'll give you your own holdfast in a land of your choosing. You stay with us to the end and you'll reap the rewards. Abandon us or betray us and your life is forfeit"
"My life is forfeit as it is. Might as well do something with it." He spat on his hand and extended it to the Blackfish who, in turn, spat on his own hand and shook hands with the renegade soldier. Lord Mallister was next. Lady Catelyn just nodded politely. She was too busy running her hands through her daughter's messy, unkempt hair and ruffling her dirty, worn out clothes.
A rustle of leaves woke Brynden Tully up. In the dark of night he was not able to make out the figure slowly walking away to the horses, mounting and swiftly riding away. But he didn't have to guess: the mere size and the brusque way of moving gave him away. The Hound was abandoning them. They could have used his sword, but he was an unpredictable man at best. Maybe it was for the best that he left. They had already taken all they needed from him, Arya Stark.
TBC