Chapter 7. The King in the North
Bran
It had taken a month to reach the Capital and swear an oath to the new King. Now Eddard Stark rushes home, but by the time he reaches the Riverlands Renly has married Margaery Tyrell and Stannis is making his plans. So far everything is going as Brandon Stark had planned. Even the current Three Eyed Raven is cooperating and helping Bran make plans.
"Was killing Baelish necessary?" The Old Raven asks.
"Absolutely."
"How many more have to die?"
"To protect my family…as many as are necessary…"
"Every time you force yourself into the mind of a man you take part of them into you…You may destroy yourself or become someone you will not recognize…"
Bran had killed Randyl Tarly with Warging and then Petyr Baelish. The two times he had done it caused Bran to see the faces of Randyl and Petyr Baelish in the mirror. He sighs, "Only two more I have to kill with Warging…That bastard Ramsey Bolton and Sir Alliser Thorn…"
"So you are going to spare Balon Greyjoy?"
"If I had allowed Robert Baratheon to come North…My father would have died…Unlike Robb my father will never allow Theon to return to the Iron Isles…"
"And what about Walder Frey?"
"Only if he steps out of line…" He sighs as the two are speaking through the weeping trees. "I must go…I need to meet my father at Moat Cailin…"
"Farewell for now…"
Edmure Tully
Lord Hoster Tully had fallen ill and Edmure Tully had to step up as acting Lord of Riverrun. When a Raven arrived from the Capital asking for support Edmure summoned his father's banners to Riverrun. Just as the last of the Lords arrive a Raven from Renly arrives revealing the Queen's secrets. Many of the Riverlords advised that they should support Renly over Stannis.
"We should wait and see what the Northerners do." Lord Janos Bracken says from his seat.
Edmure is about to speak when a man walks up and whispers into his ear, "My Lords you will have to excuse me…" He leaves the main hall and makes his way to his father's quarters. When he enters the room his Uncle the Blackfish is waiting. "Uncle…What are you doing here?"
"I summoned him…" Came the raspy voice Lord Hoster Tully Edmure's father.
"Father I can handle it…" Edmure was younger when his father joined Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark, and Jon Arryn in the Rebellion. Even his Uncle the Blackfish had fought in the war.
He waves him closer, "I know…you can handle it, but…" He coughs, "…but heed my brother's advice…and do nothing until you know what your sister's husband Lord Stark will do."
He sighs, "Yes father…" They leave after Hoster falls asleep, "So Uncle what do you advise?" Edmure asks as they walk down the steps towards the main hall.
"We go to Winterfell and feel out Ned Stark…"
"We can leave in three days…I will make all the arrangements…"
Eddard Stark
The road had been long going and now coming back. Ned Stark's mind is preoccupied with how to handle the upcoming war. By law the Iron Throne would go to Stannis, but Stannis Baratheon is not well liked among the Southern Lords. Then there is the Northern Lords and how they will react to all this. Eddard Stark could here great Jon Umber now, "Fuck'em all!" Then there was Balon Greyjoy, a war would be the perfect time for the Iron Born to rebel, but as long as Theon is in his custody Balon Greyjoy would behave.
By the time Eddard Stark reaches Moat Cailin with his entourage Stannis Baratheon is dead. "Any word on how he died?" He asks to Howland Reed who is waiting for Eddard at Moat Cailin with his son.
"Some say it was an assassin hired by the Lannisters…Others say Renly had his own brother murdered…"
"What do you believe?" Ned asks as they sit in the main hall.
"I think it was an old enemy with a grudge…"
"We will leave tomorrow…"
With Lord Howland's help Bran was able get Gendry out of King's Landing. His master Tobho Mott had been paid to send the boy North, he will finish his education with Mikken at Winterfell and then go to Greywater and become the smith. Bran was ensuring that Gendry meets and falls in love with Arya. "Are you alright father?" Bran asks.
He smiles, "I am fine. Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I am not sleepy."
"How goes your time at Greywater Watch…"
He smiles, "I really like it…Jojen and I have become good friends…"
"What about Meera Howland's daughter?"
Bran blushes, "I really like her…"
"I see…"
Bran places a hand on his father's shoulder, "Father I am sorry about your friend Robert Baratheon…"
"Thank you son."
"Do not worry about the things you can't change. Focus on what is now and when later comes up then deal with it. You have always done the right thing, but sometimes father…It is best just to do nothing." Ned watches his son walk away and smiles with pride.
Early the next morning Eddard decides that he needs to speak with Tyrion Lannister. He is unaware of the brewing war in the south. "Lord Tyrion may I speak with you?" Tyrion had just finish dressing and is leaving the room to break his fast.
"Come in come in…I was on my way to get breakfast." Eddard sits down and looks at him. "So Lord Stark what can I do for you?"
"I think you and your men should turn around and head home…"
"Why?" He asks frowning.
"Your sister and Sir Jaime…"
Eddard pauses to see how Tyrion will respond, "What about them?"
"Are you going to make me say it Lord Tyrion or do you really don't know?"
"Perhaps Lord Stark if you were more forthcoming."
"Your sister's children were fathered by your brother Sir Jaime…As we speak a war is brewing in the south between Houses Lannister and Baratheon over the Iron Throne. So my question is…Do you know about them?"
"If such a thing were true and I knew about it…What will you do with me?"
"Nothing…but ask that you and your men turn around and leave now. I do not know what the Northern Lords will want to do when they here this…"
"I am sure they will do whatever their liege lord commands them to do…"
"I am under obligation to support Stannis as King, but Stannis is dead, his brother Renly claims the crown. Your family needs you."
Tyrion laughs, "The only person in my family concerned for me is Jaime, but I will leave this morning." Eddard turns to leave, "Lord Stark! Why not arrest me and hand me over to Renly?"
"That would not be honorable now would it?"
Gendry
Gendry watches as Lord Tyrion leaves. Then he places his things on the wagon to continue the journey North, "Hello Gendry."
He turns and finds a young boy standing behind him with two horses, "Who are you and how do you know my name?"
"My name is Brandon Stark, but everyone calls me Bran…" he hands the reins of the Horse on the left to him, "…Here take him."
"Why?"
"He's yours…I'm giving him to you."
"Why?" Gendry cautiously asks.
"You seem like a good friend to have and I consider myself to be a good judge of character."
Gendry slowly takes the horse's reigns. "You aren't one of those high born kids who get's his kicks by tricking people he thinks are below him are ya?"
"My father would ware my hide out…No strings attached no tricks."
"Thank you…Bran." He watches as he walks away.
When they stop again to make camp Lord Eddard Stark sends Jory and two men to ride ahead to Winterfell. Bran comes to Gendry and takes him to his father. "Father this is Gendry Waters…Gendry my father Lord Eddard Stark."
Gendry returns the stare of Bran's Lord Father without blinking. "Who is your father?"
"I never met him…My Lord…"
"Gendry is my friend can he eat with us?" Eddard nods.
Later Gendry questions Bran, "Okay why did you take me to meet your father? And why was he staring at me the whole time we ate?"
"Your father was my father's best friend."
"How would you know that?"
So Bran tells Gendry he is the three eyed Raven and what that means. He also tells Gendry things about himself that no one knows. He tells him things that only a person with the power Bran claims to have can say.
Winterfell
When they finally reach Winterfell Great Jon and few other Northern Lords are waiting for them. Ned had commanded that Maester Luwin send Ravens to all the Northern Lords and summon them to Winterfell. There is also another surprise waiting for him. Robb s introduces Ned a young lady by the name of Talisa Maegyr. The two of them want to marry.
Five days after Eddard returns home Edmure Tully and Brynden the Blackfish arrive. The Lords of the North gather in the main hall to feast and talk. "The Old Lion has lost his first battle against the young Stag or should I say the young Doe?" Everyone laughs and Ned shakes his head as Lord Karstark sits down.
Jon Umber stands up, "Renly is a boy pretending to be a King…Playing with the Flowered Knight of High Garden…Then we have Joffrey…The bastard King who sits on the Iron Throne hiding behind his mommy's skirts…This is what I say to these two Kings…" Jon Umber spits on the floor, "Let the Lannisters and Baratheons tare themselves apart…We must look to our own…In days of Torrhen Stark we bent the knee to Aegon Targaryen and all who followed in his line until the days of the Mad King. Then we followed Lord Stark and fought beside King Robert may the gods rest his soul. I say fuck Renly and fuck Joffrey…"
Jon draws his sword and points at Eddard Stark, "There is the only King I will bend the knee to…Eddard Stark the King in the North!"
Lord Karstark stands up, "The King in the North!" He draws his sword and stabs it into the ground as he takes a knee.
"You took me captive and raised me like one of your sons…I would be honored to call you my King…" Theon says taking a knee.
Edmure Tully stands up, "My sister is your wife before gods and men…That makes her your Queen…That makes us brothers by law…As acting Lord of Riverrun I name you King of the Riverlands from this day and all those that follow…"
Eddard Stark stands up, "You name me your King. I accept let the Lords in the South have the Iron Throne."
"THE KING IN THE NORTH!" They all shout in unison several times.
They feast and celebrate to honor King Eddard Stark in the North. "We will send five thousand men to Moat Cailin, with enough provisions to hold the Castle…" Eddard says in the same meeting, he looks at Edmure, "Sure up Harrenhal with as many men as you can muster…Whoever wins between Houses Lannister and Baratheon will turn their eyes North once they learn we have declared our independence."
"Forgive me Ned, but why not gather as many men as we can and march South…Give those cunts a taste of Northern Steel…" Jon Umber suggests.
"No southern army has ever marched North…We need to hold Harrenhal and Moat Cailin…We also need to sure up the defenses of White Harbor and its time that the North had a navy of its own again…If they grow balls big enough to attack us we send them back south, then we go on the offensive." He looks at Lord Glover, "Lord Glover I am sending you South to help the Riverlords hold Harrenhal."
"Aye…I'll leave in two days…"
Catelyn Stark
"King in the North." Catelyn Stark says thinking about all that goes on along with that title; she is lying beside her husband Ned. She likes to call him Ned.
"Aye and you are Queen in the North…"
She is lying in his chest, "Ned are you doing the right thing? By accepting I mean."
"You heard them all how could I have refused?"
She smiles, "You will excuse me if strangle Jon Umber."
They share a laugh, "That is not very Queenly my dear wife."
She smiles thinking about Arya, "I was at my wits end trying to make Arya into a Lady…Imagine the hell we will go through trying to make her into a Princess…"
"May the gods old and new be with us…"
"How do you feel about Talisa?"
"She is a nice young beautiful young woman…Robb loves her."
"When you accepted the crown…Your children became royalty…Many of the Northern Lords will want our children for their children."
"We have time Cat. Now we must get ready for a war."
"And a wedding?"
The next day after morning meal and prayers Catelyn Stark meets with her brother and Uncle to discuss her father's health. After her meeting with Edmure and Brynden Cat goes down to family vaults. There are swords, bars of gold and silver, jewels and jewelry of all kinds. Among the gathered treasures of the Winterfell Cat finds what she is looking for. "A King should wear crown." She says walking up to Ned and placing the silver crown on his head. It had holds for claw bones that point up and there is a small wolf's head on the front with red sapphires in the eyes.
"Is this really necessary?" Ned asks.
Jon Umber slaps him on the back, "You look the part now." He says as Catelyn places a silver chain around his neck.
"And where is your crown…"
She takes it out and places it on her head, then they kiss. Now she has to make all the preparations for a wedding in the next five days as Robb and Talisa insist on marrying while all the Northern Lords are present. Robb and Talisa say their vows before the heart tree, with all the Lords of the North bare witness. It is a perfect night with no clouds in the sky, the moon and star shine clearly.
Bran
Bran's eyes are white and is using a pack of wolves to heard Osha and her friends clear of Winterfell and safely south. He even uses the wolves to bring them food when they can't find it themselves. Once they are safe he returns Greywater with Jojen. As they travel Bran watches the comet with a smile on his face.
