Hello everyone. I hope you all had a great Valentine week. Here is the next chapter. Hope you like it...
Chapter 10
Pack, Pride and Shoal-2
"You know, I've seen wet shits that I like better than you," Brynden thundered as he entered the main hall of the Twins; briskly making his way to the high seat at the end of the hall, where sat the ancient Lord of the Crossing overlooking his kin. "You are sitting here fondling your wife, while your liege has been defeated and your lands are burning."
"Mind your tongue Blackfish," a man older than the Blackfish said loudly. He was standing quite near Lord Walder's high seat. Steveron Frey, the Blackfish realized after a moment. The rest of the Freys lowered their heads, probably regretting for not having said that before him.
"Shut you bloody mouth Stevron," Walder Frey croaked angrily. He then turned to address Brynden, "My lord hand Tully," he began, words dripping with sickening courtesy. "You'll have to forgive my son. He was not at fault. Being born of someone worse than wet shits can't be his own doing, heh."
"Why are you not helping Riverrun, Frey," Brynden asked again, putting as much venom in his voice as he can. "Have you forgotten your vows? Have you lost even the last vestige of your honor?"
"Honor," Walder Frey smirked. "I called my swords, yes I did, here they are, you saw them on the walls. It was my intent to march as soon as all my strength was assembled. Well, to send my sons. I am well past marching myself. Now is it my fault that your fool nephew lost his battle before we could march?" He leaned back against his cushions and scowled at him, as if bracing himself for Brynden's arguments to dispute his version of events. "I am told the Kingslayer went through him like an axe through ripe cheese. Why should my boys hurry south to die? All those who did go south are running north again. Mallister, Bracken and the others."
"You swore an oath.."
"Aye I said some words to your brother and his kin," Frey continued in his self assured tone. "But you see, I also said the same words to the Crown and the is the King now, that means Lord Tywin and his daughter rule the Seven Kingdoms now, which makes you lot traitors and rebels. Tell me Ser Blackfish, why would I send my sons and grandsons to die by Lannister swords, only to be branded traitors in the end heh? And now you come to my keep insulting me for what, defending my kin? If I had the sense the gods gave a fish, I'd give you over to the Lannisters."
Brynden had almost opened his mouth to voice an angry retort, but he thought better than to argue with Walder Frey, in whose family runs a children's game to extort resources before granting 'crossing'.
"You'll help me prevent a Siege on Riverrun, what do you want in return?"
"What I want heh," Walder giggled. "Now that's a nice turn of events. My liege asking me what I want. Very well then, I want the respect that your family never gave me. I want apologies for the slights your family has done to us."
"You join me, Edmure will marry one of your daughters," Brynden cut him short.
Lord of the Crossing paused for a moment, and then laughed out loudly, "One of my daughters marrying a Tully heh? You must be truly desperate my lord. But still, we won't join you and turn rebels."
Brynden knew he needed the Freys. They had 4000 swords and horses; enough for a start, enough to make a difference with his leadership.
"Lord Edmure will marry a Lady Frey, and I will also take one of your daughters as my wife."
This shocked him and his kin. Walder Frey lost the self pleased look on his face.
"I am giving you a chance Frey. a chance to honour your oaths to your liege lord, a chance to let your sons find glory, a chance to join your house to mine." He was hating himself for sucking up to Walder Frey, but then again it was the need of the hour. "Two betrothals."
Walder Frey haggled for a bit longer, about how Brynden was too old to marry his daughter but in the end the deal was sealed. Two Frey squires, two Frey wards in Riverrun and of couse, two betrothals for a reinforced alliance and four thousand Frey soldiers.
"Ned, you frozen devil," GreatJon Umber boomed and laughed as he entered the Walls of Winterfell. Nearly all the Stark bannermen had arrived. Even the Magnars of Skagos and the tribes of Wolfswood had responded to his call. The Boltons and the Karstarks had arrived the previous night.
"It's good to see you Jon," Ned greeted before being crushed in a bear hug which nearly cracked his ribs. Still Ned smiled. It was a dire situation indeed, but it felt good to see his fellow Northern lords.
The GreatJon let go off of him. "You will find refreshments in the Great Keep. Then you can rest in the guest chambers. Make your men rest in the tents."
GreatJon nodded and walked off. 'Maege, you old hag. You are growing more hideous everyday,' he heard him bark from behind.
"Robb, see to it that the Umber men are provided proper land and provisions," he called out to his son, who nodded and went outside with the steward. He was showing great courage and signs of leadership, for which he was immensely proud of him. At his age he himself was a ward of Jon Arryn with Robert. That's where he learned swordsmanship and rulership with him. It was also where he got the news of his father and Brandon's murder on the commands of the mad king.
Ned was not raised to be the Lord of Winterfell some day, that place was always for Brandon. After their deaths he was thrusted the responsibilities which he never thought he would ever have to bear. His bannermen called out for justice of his father, brother and the others who went with him, for the restoration of the Northern glory and for the Northern maid to be returned safely home from the clutches of the vile Crown Prince. He was seventeen then, without any guidance and mentorship for a situation like this, but he responded to them as there was no one else to do that. Ben was too young and naïve to be involved.
Where are you Ben?
They couldn't take on the Crown Army with their numbers, hence to get the Tullys on their side he married his brother's betrothed alongside Jon Arryn, who married her sister. Ned loved Catelyn with all his heart now, but back then he did it for the need of the Tully swords and their allegiance. He never even knew her except for the fact that she was his brother's bride to be. He did his duty by wedding Catelyn Tully and bedding her before going off to battle. When he returned to her she presented Robb to him. That was the happiest moment of his life. After losing more than half his kin and his previous lover Ned had found a reason to cherish life in the form of his son and his new wife. Today his house was again at a critical spot, and fortunately he was there for his children unlike his father. Robb or any of his children would never have to take any responsibility that they aren't capable of, he would see to it.
In the afternoon all the lord bannermen gathered for a meeting in the Great Keep. The greetings and courtesies were done already, and now everyone looked solemn and quite aware of the situation they were facing. Ned had also invited Robb to sit with them. Arya insisted too, but Ned put her down much to her resentment.
"The terms are outrageous," Wylis Manderly said. "We can't afford to pay this much of tax. And the men, how will we defend ourselves then?"
"He threatens to kill our liege too if he doesn't see compliance," Maege Mormont said.
"Joffrey is just a boy, with a grudge against me. These terms won't last," Ned said.
"You can marry your daughter to him for his good will," Roose Bolton said.
"I won't marry any of my daughter to the likes of him," Ned declared, followed by the approval of several lords.
"No need of thinking in this direction," Lord Karstark insisted. "The course is clear. Declare for King Stannis and help him take the Iron thorne. He is the Rightful heir."
"Rickard is right, Stannis is the heir" Ned said. "I sent my boy Jon to Dragonstone as an envoy from the North when I got his raven. He sent me some disturbing news."
"Why are we so steadfast in believing in what he claims," Roose Bolton cut him in between.
"You haven't seen the Crown Prince Lord Bolton," Ned replied, "but I have. He looks more a Lannister than a Baratheon, I myself thought he looked more like a son of the Kingslayer than Robert; but didn't put much mind to it. After getting Stannis's letter I checked the Lineage of Great houses of Westeros. All the Baratheons by birth were born with coal black hair and blue eyes since Orys himself."
Bolton nodded after taking some time to comprehend what Ned had said. Ned glanced at all his lord bannermen, and noticed the GreatJon not paying much attention to the talk, and instead thinking hard to himself. "The course is clear then. Declare for Stannis," Maege Mormont said.
"I don't think so," Wylis Manderly again spoke up. "I hear all sort of tales from sailors. Stannis has got some fire priestess with him. She preaches a different religion of the East. R'hollor, she calls her god, the Red God. Burns alive those who defy her religion."
"Jon said the same in his letter. I was about to tell you this when Lord Bolton interrupted me in between," Ned spoke, glancing towards Roose Bolton, who lowered his gaze. "There is no point discussing this right now, for we have more important task at hand. What is the news from Riverrun."
"Jamie Lannister is marching past the Golden Tooth with a big army of 12,000 men. They have defeated the Tully army there," Lord Flint said. "The main army under Tywin Lannister is at Casterly Rock waiting for its first command."
Ned nodded and declared,"First we march to the Riverlands and chase the Lannisters away. How many men do we have?"
"22,000 foot, 8,000 cavalry," Rickard answered.
"Very well," Ned smiled. "Prepare everyone. We march at dawn."
Please review...