AN: Apologies for the grammar issues last chapter. The chapter was a bit rushed, so sorry about that. This chapter is where parts of the canon story go into AU territory. Also I mess with the timeline a lot in this story, I'll let you know when these changes occur.
Disclaimer: I don't own A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones
Warnings: Language, AU stuff
Enjoy!
Riverrun
Daemon POV
The party that left for Fairmarket only a day before finally came into sight with Daemon in toe. They had come into sight of the great castle of Riverrun. With Riverrun's moat, ability to store large amounts of food, and large size it is one of the hardest castles to take. The danger of sieging a castle like Riverrun became obvious when Jaime Lannister was set upon by Robb Stark's forces. Splitting his camp into three parts, Jaime Lannister put each of his camps in danger, unable to reinforce each camp unless they crossed a small pontar connecting the camps.
Daemon loved Riverrun for many reasons. One, Lillian way always a good incentive to visit Riverrun. Second, the castle was a bastion of the Riverlords strength in the region. The Riverlords were always loyal, besides Walder Frey, to the Tully lords. Much like the North the Riverlords held loyalty and honor above most other things. The Tullys especially. "Family, Duty, Honor" were the words of house Tully and were something Daemon could relate to. Family above all else, above duty, above honor, above anything. That was something Daemon did himself, family above all.
When Daemon thought about his family, he never thought about Aerys or Viserys. His family was the family he chose. He thought about his mother Rhaella, Elia, Rhaenys, little Aegon, and Daenerys. He thought about those outside of his immediate family, some that dont even share his blood. People like Talisa, Marion, Amber, Leland, Lillian, Frederick, and Egg. His teachers Varys and Shiera. He chose his family. He didn't let blood ties determine family.
When Daemon thought about his own house words "Fire and Blood" he didn't like thinking about it literally. His house words promised violence, death, suffering. There were times when he himself promised violence, death, suffering on others but he never used the Targaryen name to invoke these feelings. He'd rather use his own actions and his own emotions to invoke death instead of the previous deeds of his family to put fear into others. "Fire and Blood" weren't words he chose to live by, the words were something he could refer to when he fought and not when he lived his life outside of the swing of a sword. He wasn't always a dragon, but he became one when it was needed.
He shook these thoughts out of his head as the Stark party passed through the gates of Riverrun. The inner-courtyard was large enough to admit most of Robb's party. Waiting for their party inside was Catelyn Stark, The Blackfish, and the rest of the lords of the North and Riverlands including Roose Bolton and two of Walder Frey's sons.
Robb tells the lords to go about their regular duties, leaving Daemon, Robb, Talisa, Catelyn, Edmure, the Blackfish, Maege, and Greatjon standing together.
"So, who is this?" was the gruff questioning coming out of the Blackfish's mouth. Maege and Greatjon seemed to nod at this question, wondering who the Daemon was themselves. Having traveled with their King and not knowing who their passenger was could be vexing at times.
Catelyn was looking at Daemon with curiosity and a little recognition. He still wore his black bandana but you can't fully cover the Targaryen face or his violet eyes, with hints of indigo.
Robb seemingly broke Catelyn out of her thoughts. "I suggest we take this up to the Lord's solar" Robb the group. "We have a lot to discuss."
The Blackfish led the group to the lord's solar. It was a large room with a large wooden table in the center. Its windows could look out onto the castle and the fork in the rivers surrounding the castle.
"So, who's your friend here?" questioned the Blackfish again.
"You may commonly know him as The Devil of the Riverlands or The Devil for short." Robb introduced him. He could see their eyes widen in recognition. Especially Lady Catelyn's probably recognizing him from the Tourney of Harrenhal all of those years ago. Robb continued past their silence. "Our new friend here has been harassing the Lannisters. For almost a year now?" Robb looked questioningly at him. Daemon nodded, Robb continued. "Killing officers, disrupting supply lines, really anything he can do to hurt them. He was also the one who roamed the Riverlands many years ago."
Daemon imagined that the surrounding lords might have some conflicting thoughts about his presence. Especially The Blackfish and Maege Mormont. Both were smart, strong, good fighters, and not willing to suddenly bring a new member into the King's fold.
As he expected the Blackfish spoke up. "And what does he do for us?" he asked Robb, still looking at Daemon.
Daemon spoke before Robb. "I have a spy network that spans across the seven kingdoms and far into Essos. I have a sellsword company I could call in to help. I have connections to some of the most powerful people in King's Landing." Daemon spoke loudly, making sure he was heard and understood. "Not to mention I am a good fighter, hunter, and assassin." Daemon decided to say one last thing. "Even if you look past all of that I could use my family name to bring in supporters from all over Westeros."
He looked around to see the lords. Talisa and Robb had small smiles on their faces. Catelyn's eyes were wide in recognition. Maege, Greatjon, and Edmure were confused. The Blackfish seemed to be deep in thought before looking to Daemon and saying: "Your the Targaryen prince aren't you." it was more a statement than a question.
Daemon grunted out his yes. Some of the other lords seemed wary about his presence in the room. The Blackfish and Maege especially. Edmure and Greatjon less so.
"So you can help us, eh boy?" the Greatjon boomed out.
Daemon felt a bit miffed about being called boy, but he sensed that was just the way Greatjon spoke. "I can, I have several personal ties with your cause and I wouldn't mind having an ally against the Lannisters."
"Which ties are those?" asked Maege, curious.
Daemon, paused for a moment. He figured that a dislike for Tywin Lannister and most Lannister in general could be enough. But he didn't want to divulge his connection with Talisa in fear of how they would react. Even though she was married to Robb, having spent six years with a Targaryen they dont trust might not look good for her.
"Well I assume you know what the Lannister did to my family?" they all nodded, Robb and Catelyn looked especially understanding. "They killed my second mother Elia, my best friend and sister Rhaenys, and my little brother Aegon." he told them. "You may not have sympathy for Targaryens but you should have some for an innocent woman and her children." They nodded all around. "You understand why I want to kill Tywin Lannister?" They all nodded once again. "Good" he finished.
Daemon didn't usually discuss the reason for why he fights, but he was a Targaryen. More than half the realm would likely throw him to the dogs if they knew who he was. But he needed to gain the trust of these Northerners and Riverlords. By catering to the personal loss they suffered by sharing his own story was a sure way to get their sympathy and eventually their trust.
His audience thought on his words for a few moments before they spoke up. "We sympathize with you" Maege had said "But it will take some time for us to trust you." That got agreeable nods from Greatjon, Edmure, and Blackfish. Daemon understood their sentiment, it made sense why they would not trust him right away. Hopefully the fact that Robb, Talisa, and seemingly Catelyn trusted him would ease their worries for the time being.
The conversation moved on from Daemon and to the big problem at hand. Daemon tuned out the conversation from then on. Robb was explaining the information he had acquired from Daemon. The reactions were of shock and anger. They knew Roose Bolton was a slimy bastard but to do something so drastic against their King was something else entirely.
The news of Walder Frey's betrayal was less a concern and more of an annoyance. It seemed that Robb's inner circle had suspected the Freys would be offended against the slight of the deal they had made.
"This is a sure thing?" Blackfish had asked Robb.
Robb nodded towards Daemon, who spoke up to the unanswered question. "It is" the lords turned their head to look at him. "I got it from a very reliable source." The surrounding lords didn't seem so sure but they took his and Robb's word for it.
"So how do we reverse this into our favor?" Catelyn had spoken up.
Daemon had been thinking about this exact thing. "The best we could do is catch them unawares here in Riverrun." He thought for a second. "Hold a feast. Get the Bolton and Frey soldiers drunk and disorientated. The important Boltons and Freys will be at the feast. From there we can either capture or kill most of the Boltons and Freys."
"I have a few questions." the Blackfish stated. "First, we need a reason to hold a feast. Second, what would the other lords think of this, they wouldn't know what was going on, they need to be informed of the situation."
"I can answer the first." said Daemon.
"And I the second." said Robb, nodding at Daemon to go on with his answer.
"So to the first question should be fairly simple. The feast will be presented as a welcome feast to usher in the new Lord of Riverrun and the Riverlands." Daemon said, pointing at Edmure. "He is going to be the Lord, so we just hold a feast in his honor." The lords around him seemed agreeable to this solution, although Catelyn and Edmure looked slightly uncomfortable about using their father's death as something to celebrate. Daemon tried to brush off their concerns, he addressed the two. "Think about it, you need this win if you are to survive." the siblings nodded, still looking reluctant. Daemon then looked to Robb to answer the second concern.
Robb took a deep breath before he spoke. "We know for sure the Freys and Boltons are going to betray us, there is a chance, a very small chance, but a chance all the same that some other Lords could be in on this plan." They all agreed. He addressed Edmure, Maege, and Greatjon. "I am trusting you three to find out if anyone else is planning to betray us in the future." They nodded, their heads held high, pride in being trusted by their King. "Once their loyalty is confirmed tell them of our plan, make sure they are aware of our situation so by the time the feast comes around, they will all be aware of our traitors. Can you start this now?" Maege, Edmure, and Greatjon nodded. "Oh and Lord Umber?" Greatjon turned to look at his King. "We know Lord Reed is loyal to us without fault, put him up to the same task I asked of you.". Robb then turned to the Blackfish and Edmure. "You do this with the Riverlords and we will have covered all of our bases." the two nodded their acceptance.
"It shall be done Your Grace." Greatjon said with gusto. Robb nodded his thanks. The four of them exited the room leaving Robb, Talisa, Daemon, and Catelyn in the solar.
Robb POV
"Damn!" Robb exclaimed, slamming his fist onto the table, making his mother and his wife jump in surprise. Daemon gave him an indignant look. "Apologies" Robb told them. "It's just so frustrating" He murmured under his breath, rubbing his temples. Talisa made soothing motion on his back hoping to give him some relief.
Catelyn took his hand. "All will be well, the plan the two of you created is a good one." she explained. "When this is all done, we can focus on the girls." Robb just nodded.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Daemon perk up. "Oh, speaking of a sister, Arya might be with the Brotherhood Without Banners right now." His mother was about to speak up but Daemon held up a hand. "I was going to go to the Brotherhood and see if that rumor was true and if it was, bring little Arya back to Riverrun."
"You are willing to do that for us?" his mother seemed to be in disbelief. Catelyn sobered up slightly. "I'm not opposed to the idea, but from the rumors I wouldnt think you would just do this out of the goodness of your heart."
"They are primarily for selfish reasons. And you may find those reasons a bit peculiar." Daemon told them. "One, bringing back Arya will make you and Robb happy, in turn making Talisa happy. If Talisa is happy, then that makes my life easier." he pointed out. "Second, from what I hear Arya is a little spitfire, much like Lyanna. So call me curious because I want to compare the two."
"You barely knew Lyanna." Catelyn pointed out. "I remember the tourney all of those years ago. Lyanna dragged you around the castle causing trouble." Both his mother and Catelyn smiled at the memory.
"Yes I barely knew her, but I always wanted to see what possessed my brother to run away with her, leaving Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon at the hands of a mad man." Robb realized the conversation turned very serious very quickly. His mother's face was somber, she was trying to look anywhere but Daemon's face. Daemon's brows were furrowed. "It's just an itch of curiosity, nothing more." Daemon told them.
"Maybe this topic of conversation can wait till later, its getting late." thankfully Talisa broke the tense silence.
"Good idea." Robb agreed. He could see Daemon was getting slightly heated, probably with thoughts about Robb's aunt Lyanna. He understood the resentment Daemon probably held for aunt Lyanna but he didn't want Daemon to openly talk about his anger towards her, as he would have to defend her name in honor of his family.
"I'm leaving tonight." Daemon told them. They all looked up at him in surprise. "To look for Arya." he explained to their shocked faces.
"You just got here, we just got back together." his wife sadly said.
"I know, but I have things to do other than lounge around here." He told them. "There is a friend I'm visiting in the kitchens before I leave so I have to make this quick."
"Alright." Talisa accepted. She stood and gave Daemon a long hug before releasing him. "Stay safe alright?" she asked of him.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." he told her. He shook his and his mother's hands before leaving the room.
'Time to prepare for the coming feast' Robb thought to himself.
Catelyn POV
It had taken more than two weeks of careful planning, but the time of the feast finally came. Robb intended to send the majority of his lords North to deal with the Ironborn threat and the Northern Bolton loyalists after the false feast was over. It had been discovered that Smalljon Umber and Harald Karstark intended to betray their fathers and take hold of their homesteads as well has the rest of the North. Robb created a list of the lords he intends to send back to the North. The lords on this list were the Lords Tallhart, Dustin, Ryswell, Cerwyn, Manderly, Hornwood, Woolfield, and Locke as well as some of the minor lords and their entire hosts Flint of Flint's Fingers, Wull, Norrey, Knott, Harclay and Burley. Keeping the older and loyal lords of Umber, Karstark, Mormont, Glover, and Flint of Widow's Watch to remain with Robb.
Maege had three daughters Dacey, Alysane, and little Lyanna Mormont. She requested to send Dacey and Alysane back to Bear Island to Lyanna but Robb refused saying that Little Lady Lyanna Mormont had control of Bear Island and that he needed all able warriors to stay with him.
Galbart Glover sent his brother Robett back to Glover lands to make sure everything was in order.
Howland Reed was sent back to the Neck to help stop possible Bolton soldiers returning to the North.
The Greatjon sent a letter to his two daughters Angelina and Joanna to make their way to White Harbour under the protection of the Manderlys, hopefully finding company in Wynafryd and Wylla, Lord Manderly's granddaughters.
Rickard Karstark also sent a letter to his daughter Alys, telling her to find refuge in White Harbour, like the two Umber women.
Understandably both Greatjon Umber and Rickard Karstark were furious to learn that their sons were betraying them for their own personal greed. They were unable to do anything about their betrayal as they were already in the North before the feast took place.
Catelyn had tried to take part in the planning but she was too stressed to continue after several hours of sitting and talking with her son's inner circle of lords. The combination of her grief of the death of her father, the destruction of Winterfell and the possible deaths of her two boys by the Greyjoy, and worry over the return of Arya by the Prince had her mind wandering.
After two weeks of worrying she imagined Daemon would have arrived with Arya by now, they had gotten wind that the Brotherhood had faced the Mountain and fought the Lannister force off. By this time Daemon should have her little girl happy and safe. It's not that she didn't trust the Prince. She enjoyed his brief company during the Tourney at Harrenhal, but the young boy she met all those years ago became a fierce fighter and a strong willed man who had his own agenda.
The ladies of Riverrun (besides the Mormonts of course) were instructed to attend the feast but leave halfway through as to keep them out of danger when they confronted Roose Bolton and the Freys. Catelyn didn't want to stay in the room, her mind was elsewhere with worry and grief. Focusing on a foolproof plan that was likely to succeed was the least of her problems.
She had barely taken a few bites of her food before excusing herself from the hall. She sat in the entrance hall on her own, staring at the large double doors that lead into the main hall. A little while later the attending ladies filed out of the hall and sped off to their rooms, to safety. Talisa split from the group to sit with Catelyn, not saying a word. Only minutes later could she hear chaos erupting outside of Riverrun's walls. The trap had been sprung and the Bolton and Frey forces were being rounded up and most likely killed. She also heard shouting in the great hall. A minute later several guards came through the doors dragging a beaten and bloody Roose Bolton and the two Frey brothers.
Behind the guards came Robb. She and Talisa quickly stood and walked over to him.
"How did it go?" asked Talisa.
"Just fine, we-" Robb was cut off as a Stark soldier came rushing in breathing heavily.
"Sir, at the gates, Arya Stark." was all the guard could breath out.
At the word Arya she, Robb, and Talisa rushed out of the entrance hall and into the courtyard.
Sure enough amidst all of the distant sounds of fighting, barking of orders, and general chaos stood The Devil Prince Daemon, The Hound Sandor Clegane, and her daughter Arya Stark.
AN: Whew, lots of things happened this chapter and a lot of it AU, obviously this is going to change the future of the story. The next few chapters will go back in time to show how Daemon, Arya, and Sandor came together and arrived at Riverrun. This chapter did come out earlier than I intended but I doubt any of you will complain.
