What schemes that failed so
A letter was sent from Winterfell, the Harvest feast has begun and Prince Brandon Stark is inviting all the houses loyal to House Stark to come to Winterfell, Pyrrha had traveled to Winterfell within the fortnight with her daughter, Artemisia, she had entrusted Venice to Nicholas and Apollina, believing that the two can handle a few problems of administering the city with the help of Maester Marron, this will be a short trip after all, Pyrrha assured herself as she looked at the fifty men-at-arms that she had brought with her, some of them were only youths whom parents had decided to give to the sergeants since they had no food left for another mouth to be fed on, some were of the original men-at-arms that Lord Eddard Stark had sent to them, others were the settlers that decided to to settle in their town. Westeros after all has an abundance of smallfolk who just wanted to better their lives and the town of Venice had just offered it to them.
"M'lady..." one of the sergeants had called out pointing at the tall walls that is the Castle of Winterfell, "we have arrived now at Winterfell" he said as Pyrrha's eyes once again gazed at the tall towers and battlements that she and Jaune once lived in, the castle they last visited before Eddard went south to King's Landing and died a dishonorable death, executed for the false accusation of treason, Pyrrha sadly sighed as they were welcomed once again by Winterfell's master-at-arms, Ser Rodrik Cassel.
"Welcome Lady Pyrrha" the man had greeted once they had finally entered the castle, Pyrrha dismounted her horse and then helped her daughter do so too, as she looked at the sergeants who helped them in their travel.
"Sergeant Robyn unpack our things and settle the horses to the stables" Pyrrha had ordered as their men-at-arms began to unpack their equipment and belongings, "...and thank you Sergeant" she added as the man looked at her then bowed slightly, she and her daughter then walked towards the main hall of the castle being greeted by the same familiar sight, seats were already arranged and some of the guests invited for the Harvest feast had already arrived, ranging from the Karstarks, the Flints, the Hornwoods, the Lockes, the Dustins, and the Reeds.
"Welcome to our Halls, lords and ladies" Maester Luwin, the castle Maester of the Starks, had announced as everyone began to stand upon the arrival of the Prince of Winterfell, Brandon 'Bran' Stark, carried by their stable hand Hodor, Bran still manages to look tall and strong in front of the vassals loyal to the King in the North, but if some were to look carefully one can notice that the boy was tense as everyone within the hall is, the Prince of Winterfell was helped to seat at the head of the hall as the Maester had signaled the others to seat as well.
"Happy Harvest feast my Lords, my Ladies" Bran greeted everyone as wine is served and everyone raises their cups as Bran returned it with his own, food was served across the hall, after the eating and the feasting, every vassals of the North began to swear their allegiance anew to the North and to its ruler. Pyrrha had noticed that the majority of the nobles who had attended the feast were daughters, sons, or even castellans who managed the lands of their fathers as the latter was fighting down south, the first to swear was the Karstarks, a cadet branch of Starks that hold the castle of Karhold, like the Starks, the Karstarks shared the same features of their relatives, like brown hair and grey eyes, only that they're tall, muscled, and strong boned, a feature that favored most of the Northmen, the next to swear was the Flints, being related to the Starks through marriage in their grandparents, as Pyrrha would recall in studying the history of their liegelord and the region where they are now, the Flints were also famous for the sad song of Danny Flint, a woman who traveled to the wall under the guise of a man with the want to serve the realm by being a member of the Night's Watch, the Hornwoods came next, Lady Donella Hornwood recently widowed and had lost a son in battle she is the current 'eligible' woman for marriage in the North as all of the noble houses wanted her hand in marriage for her husband's lands, the Lockes came next, they were directly cousins to the Starks since Ned's grandmother is of the family itself, Lord Ondrew Locke despite being an Old Man still manages to travel and swear his oath in front of Bran despite having to be helped by a young servant, then came the Dustins, if Pyrrha were to remember the Lady Barbrey Dustin held a grudge to Lord Eddard Stark, since the late lord of Winterfell failed to return the bones of her husband, leaving it buried on the sands of Dorne, joining Lady Barbrey was her Castle sergeant and aide, Beron, who also knelt as she said her oaths.
"Lady Pyrrha of House Arc, Lady of Venice, wife of Lord Jaune Arc, has come to swear her allegiance to the throne of Winterfell" Maester Luwin had called as others began to look at her and Artemisia as they approached the Prince of Winterfell, in the view of all the peoples of Westeros, Pyrrha was often called a figure of beauty, lords who visited Venice would often tell that her husband was lucky to have her, Bards sing songs of her, and ladies wanted to be around her as much as possible so as to tell they have met, dressed in the agreeable attire feat for a Northern noble woman, Pyrrha and her daughter stood out in the crowd as they knelt in front of Bran.
"House Arc shows its gratitude and thanks to House Stark of Winterfell, we offer our swords, the harvest that we have gathered, and loyalty in thanks to the Wolves who nurtured us" Pyrrha said the words that have been said by her husband ever since Ned had given them the land to which they enriched in fifteen years of their settling on the place, Bran Stark nodded to them as she and her daughter finally stood and curtsied before going back to their places.
Then Maester Luwin has called in House Reed of Greywater Watch, Crannogmen of the neck, Pyrrha turned towards the approaching duo who stopped at the arranged distance between them and Bran, she was curious since the only Crannogmen that she saw was Ned's companion when they traveled to the North, the two were brother and sister judging from some features that are identical to them like deep, marsh green eyes, and also a deep brown hair that seems to flow down to their neck, Meera and Jojen Reed that was what the Maester had called them as they began to knelt in front of the Prince and then said their words.
"We the Crannogmen of the Neck, pledge ourselves to Winterfell, Hearth, and Heart, and Harvest we yield up to you, my Lord. Our swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you" the two began as Pyrrha watched them, "I swear by earth and water" Jojen declared their heads still bowed, "I swear it by bronze and iron" Meera said as the two finally raised their heads, "we swear by ice and fire."
After the feast matters were raised in the hall, the first being Lady Barbrey Dustin wanted to raise tolls to goods travelling from Venice to her town, Barrowton, Pyrrha sighed as she found her reasons ridiculous as it began, goods coming from their town were already cheaper than most of the goods coming from the other towns and villages and also Pyrrha had often heard that Jaune might have done something to earn the Lady of Barrowton's ire.
"The goods coming from Venice to my town my Prince is already rising to the point my people can't buy it, so that is why I propose -" before Barbrey could continue Pyrrha stood up not minding the fur cloak that covers her shoulders as it falls down to the floor.
"My Lady I believe you are making accusations that we had been taking advantage of your town when other towns and villages often remarked that our goods were actually cheaper and better than those coming from the Gulltown, Three Sisters, and the White Harbor" not to add the tariffs and taxes that we had to pay to be able to trade our goods but unlike most of Westeros our goods are really far more cheaper and better, Pyrrha thought as she looked at Barbrey then turned to Bran as she continued "my Prince please consider also the fact that whenever your late Lord father would buy food or steel he would often refer to us because we sell them at a cheaper prize rather than the rest" Bran then turned to Maester Luwin who nodded at her.
"She speaks true your grace, goods from Venice were cheaper than other towns would claim so, if you ask so I can show you the records of the recent transactions between Winterfell and Venice" there was a glare from Barbrey that Pyrrha returned as well as Bran decided to cough earning the attention of the two ladies in front of him.
"Lady Barbrey as much as Barrowton and House Dustin has been a vassal of Winterfell for many years, it is in best interest for all of the North that all attempts to tax goods from Venice should be stop by order of the King in the North" Bran declared, Barbrey turned one last glare at Pyrrha and then with a huff looked away, walking out of the hall with her sergeant following her, the Flints left seeing as they only attended to do their responsibilities as vassals, Ondrew Locke was already tired of the travel to Winterfell and so decided to stay for a while.
"Now that seems to be unpleasant my Lords, my Ladies" Lady Donella Hornwood said as she stood up with her maid helping her, "as you know my Lords, I have but lost a husband and a son, now lords from around my husband's castle of Hornwood has been asking my hand for marriage in hopes to claim inheritance of the castle" Lady Donella's eyes were sad, deep, and hollow, a sign of grief, "I am an old woman my Lords, well past my child-bearing years, I often wonder how can I actually please those lords who ask for my hand, but there is someone who continues to force himself to take my hand, even massing men to threaten me" the old woman took a deep yet shaky breath as she continue her tale "Lord Roose's bastard son, Ramsay Snow, has been hungry for my lands acting as if he were any true Bolton, of all the suitors he is one of the most persistent and from what I've heard from the rumors he is vicious and cruel without any shred of nobility or chivalry at all."
"Such issue is truly concerning my Prince, since the Hornwood's had no male relatives except for Lord Halys' bastard Larence Snow and with the bastard of the Bolton eyeing the Hornwood land and knowing the man I'm sure it wont take long until he tries something to the Lady of Hornwood to achieve his ends" Maester Luwin said as Bran began to take a deep thought of the problem, the Lady of Venice then thought about the house that occupied the Dreadfort, House Bolton, sigil the flayed man, words, Our blades are sharp, Pyrrha had never met them but from the rumors that she had heard Roose Bolton was often called as 'the Leech lord' due to the fact he would often leech himself, the reasons were often unknown and to what Pyrrha had heard about his infamous bastard, the man was well known of taking beautiful smallfolk women that are never seen again, a terrible man with no virtue or any sense of humanity, another monster in human flesh, Pyrrha remembered the words of travelers coming from the Dreadfort and her suspicions of the man were held true by what Lady Donella had told the whole hall.
"How about my lady-" before Bran can say anything, he was cut off by a girl's voice to which he turned to the source then found Artemisia, the one who threw some food at him at the party in Winterfell along with her sister, Apollina, and also his sister Arya that led them to being scolded off by their respective mothers.
"Why not let someone who is close to your age marry you my Lady, then we can legitimize Larence Snow wherein he would be taken wherever he is to be fostered by the lord Lady Donella marries" everyone then turned towards the direction of Pyrrha and her daughter as the Lady of Venice looked at her daughter, Artemisia felt a blush creeping on her face as she began to lower herself in embarrassment, Lady Donella herself was surprised at the words spoken by a child of two and ten but nevertheless was impressed.
"Now that you've said it little girl, I think I can agree for that compromise" a small smile graces her lips as her eyes twinkled in mirth, "I thank you little lady, I hope that should you marry may your lord husband always listen to your counsel" she said as she stood up, "my Prince I will not decide who will I take as a husband, I will rather place myself in your hands to do so what you wish for this old woman."
"Lord Ondrew Locke" at the words the Lord of Oldcastle stood from his seat, a wizened old man who seem to content himself with the gruel that was served in him, but if one were to look one can see that under the old man's eyes was a wit that Pyrrha's husband can agree on.
"My Prince what can this poor widower do to serve you" the old man said as he bowed, Bran looked at the old man and then at the Lady of Hornwood, not a good match but still it can be a good compromise should the Prince choose it, Pyrrha thought as she began to make plans as to how to make sure that the whole affair can be secured without any consequences.
"If its not too much my Lord can I ask you to take Lady Donella as your wife" Bran had asked as the old man began to look at the one he was proposed to marry and then nodded.
"Of course your Grace if its for the great interest of our kingdom then I shall marry her" he said as he approached Lady Donella and then greeted her with slight bow, "my Lady" he said as he looked at Pyrrha and then her daughter, "your husband truly is fortunate, I hope his fortune would spread across this cold place" Pyrrha then turned towards the Reeds who requested to speak to Bran to the Godswood for something about their father, Howland Reed, the one who accompanied Bran's father in the rescue of Lyanna, Pyrrha then remembered that Ned was joined by a Crannogman when they took the journey to the North, Ned never told us what had happened to his sister instead he told us that she died suffering to a fever, Pyrrha thought as she remembered the story of how Rhaegar had kidnapped Lyanna after a tourney in which instead of crowning his wife Rhaegar crowned Robert's betrothed Lyanna.
"My Lady" Ser Rodrik Cassel bowed in front of her as she stood up, "may I help you Ser Rodrik?" she said as Rodrik then began to tell her what can be further done to the Hornwood affair to which she said let Lady Donella's relatives, the Manderlys, guard her castle for now so as to keep away the Bastard of Dreadfort from the Hornwood lands, she even proposed to send some of the men-at-arms from Venice so as to patrol around the area should their be any possible incursions that may happen, the master-at-arms of Winterfell seem to agree with the option and after further discussion of other concerns Ser Rodrik began to thank Pyrrha and then decided to join Bran and Maester Luwin while Pyrrha went to the training grounds where she saw Artemisia showing off her skills in archery to a young Rickon Stark who seem to enjoy it.
Jaune could have asked for a milk of the poppy, a headache is now growing on him, before he can ever question Robb's decision of marrying a woman because of their 'honor' Catelyn had burst in declaring that her father is dead to which now comes burying the man the Tully way, which is to send them afloat to a barge then burn the said barge with a flaming arrow, or as Jaune would summarize the whole affair, after burying Lady Catelyn's father, Lord Hoster Tully, the lords have finally gathered at the Hall of Riverrun, despite the decisive victories we are losing the war and its because we only know how to achieve victory but we do not know how to use it, he thought as he finally managed to hear the reports from the other lords. Lord Leobald Tallhart was defeated and killed on the Battle of Duskendale, Lord Roose Bolton was forced to a retreat when he was near Kayce when he almost got himself surrounded by five Westerland forces, Lord Forrester has secured a small victory in a skirmish near the Saltpans but was forced to a retreat when the Lannisters had once again recaptured Harrenhal and Maidenpool, as much as possible Robb has secured small victories in the Ashemark, the Golden Tooth, and the Sarsfield, at the Crag, he was wounded and was nursed by Jeyne Westerling now Queen Jeyne Stark, he slept with her at the moment of his weakness, Jaune thought as Robb had began to further discuss about their plans for now.
"My Lords we are winning yet losing as well at the same time, the problem is not the tactics or the strategies but rather we had to capitalize on our victory as soon as possible" Jaune said as he looked at everyone, "remember we already have Jaime Lannister, also from what I've heard by now from the others we also had three of his cousins, Cleos, Martyn, and Willem, that is good we can use them for later on, another push against the Lannisters by focusing only in the Riverlands can secure our total victory on this campaign, we had to keep what we have" he said as the other lords began to murmur their agreement.
"Lord Arc are you telling me to abandon my sister Sansa in King's Landing?" Robb said as Jaune shook his head, "no your grace from the number of hostages that we had we can ask for a ransom and right now we cannot do anything brash and reckless" Jaune said as Lord Karstark threw his wine cup at the floor.
"What ransom, my Lord?! The Lannisters killed my boys! Blood for blood!" he shouted as Jaune had to glare at the man, the idiot, he can understand Lord Karstark as to why he would want to kill them all, but still they had to capitalize the victory as soon as possible without care of the consequences.
"Lord Karstark as Lord Arc have said, we cannot do anything brash and reckless everything must be done in a careful manner" the lords then turned to the ever-silent Lord Bolton whose lifeless eyes seem to pierce through every one of them, there was a grunt on Lord Karstark but finally relented, after re-assessing their strategies and also evaluating what can be done for now, Oberyn had proposed asking for more Dornish reinforcements which was agreed by some lords and then there's the fact that the Tyrells were sought by Tywin, which can be proved to be bad should the negotiations between the two is successful, with some reports of about supplies and logistics they were able to finally move on from the dreadful issue.
The King in the North looked at his lords as he began to put a message on the table, "as some of you may know my Lords I have sent my friend, Theon Greyjoy back to the Iron Islands in the hopes of making an alliance with his father, on the table is the last message I have just received from him yesterday and right now he hasn't send a word of what proceeded with his talks with his father."
"Have you been sending him message your grace?" Jaune asked as Robb nodded, "and there is no reply whatsoever?" again a nod, "if I may your grace we had to assume that Theon has already deserted our cause, we had to consider him as our enemy from now on, remember he might have been your family's ward for a long time he is still a Greyjoy and not a Stark" at the words everyone's eyes turned to look at him.
"My Lord if you think Theon is like that you are wrong, he has fought by my side in many battles to think that he would do something dishonorable like betray me" Robb said as Jaune had to stop an impending face palm, "and we need Theon to succeed in negotiating with the Ironborn should we hope to succeed in capturing Casterly Rock and Lannisport" that is if Theon succeeds and is still with us which I doubt, Jaune thought as he made a mental note to send word from his wife and also to his friends in Moat Cailin, the Stony shore, the Rills, and the Bear Island to look out for any Ironborn fleet that would make land, the King in the North had finally decided that they cannot expect anything from Theon at anytime since he was sure that his best friend is already preparing the Iron Fleet for war.
Now comes the issue of the agreement between the Freys, since marrying Jeyne, Robb had to think of something that can please Lord Walder Frey, well if only you can give them a piece of cookie like Ruby, Jaune thought as he looked at Robb then at Catelyn who clearly wants to berate his son right now for his current decisions, "we have to please the Freys somehow your grace I mean one of your sisters is already betrothed to Trystane should the latter be rescued in King's Landing and now there is Arya Stark who is to marry one of them, then there is Bran..." wait Bran? The boy's a cripple, you can't be serious! Jaune thought as Lord Forrester had finally finished his speech.
"My Lords, your grace" the lords of the North then turned towards the Maester of Riverrun, Maester Vyman, "I have received a raven from the Twins they'll be sending their men to Riverrun to negotiate new terms of the agreement that you have made with them" there was looks around the lords as they turned towards Robb who simply nodded at the Maester before he left.
"Now as much as possible my Lords we had to make a compromise with the Freys" Robb looked at Jaune to which the Lord of Venice knew that it was the look that he needed to talk with Jaune and as much as possible, he had to execute a couple of discrete plans that he had in mind so as to make sure that he can use whatever can be called as victory.
Author's notes: first off I didn't sleep a lot and second I can't see the reviews, I don't know why but it seems has a bug, hope it gets fixed but anyway, I have finally reposted it, well I was thinking of killing off one of the Arc kids at some point but then I was having trouble since 'hey this ain't PJO were kids can get killed!' well at some point I was planning for the second half of the chapter to be Robb's point of view but since I am sleepy and what not, I decided to put it on Jaune's, and then there's the Boltons I don't know why but I was thinking of Karstarks to betray but hey the Karstarks were kin to the Starks and also I'm planning to let the killing of Martyn and Willem a failed plot, so yeah I will have to apologize since this is a rushed chapter.
Criticisms and Praises are appreciated
Miko 56
