NOTE – New POV, as requested by Lord of Carrion, any one else have any suggestions, feel free. Just a reminder, ages of younger characters altered to make any proposed marriages a little less weird. Review, Follow, Favourite! DISCLAIMER – you know the drill by now – I own nothing.

Chapter 10 – Brynden

The raven came at dawn. As he saw it, he remembered the old saying "Dark wings, dark words". The King in the North was meeting with his northern lords, so his great-uncle, Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, read the letter. He sighed as he read. He should have foreseen this. He folded the message beneath his chainmail sleeve and went to find the King.

As he entered the command pavilion, he saw that his nephew Ser Edmure was also present and stood before the King, boasting of his successes three days past at the fords.

"The Mountain came on us with no thought for his flanks, so I had Marq Piper lead the cavalry in on his left. We slaughtered them."

Robb spoke quietly, "Did you kill the Mountain?"

"Sadly not nephew, he cut his way through, though many tried to stop him."

"How many men did you lose?"

"264"

"And how many Lannister dead?"

"378"

"That hardly seems like a slaughter to me."

"They could not withstand us. You said we were to defend our lands, so we did."

Brynden could not watch this any longer, "You do not speak to him like this. He is your King."

Edmure responded, "My nephew means I meant no disrespect."

"Don't call him nephew either. You're lucky I'm not your King." Though pushing his sixtieth name-day, the Blackfish was hale and strong, and knew he could flatten Edmure if necessary. It appeared that the young lord knew that too, as he subsided without further argument.

King Robb spoke again, "Ser Edmure, you were told to draw the Mountain to the west. You drew him west to the fords - I wanted him drawn as far from Lord Tywin as possible, so we could surround him and put his head on a spike. But now?"

"I - I – I am sorry your grace. I did not know."

"No, but you did put your own sense of pride before the war effort. Do we have hostages?"

"Only three of any note – Ser Forley Prester, Ser Artos Brax and Ser Trenton Banefort."

"And our noble losses?"

"They captured no-one, but Ser Raynald Vance and Torrhen Karstark are dead."

"Gods forbid his father finds out."

"He knows your grace, he asked one of his captains when we returned."

"Ser Edmure, you are temporarily deprived of command. Go. Ser Brynden, what news?"

As his blundering nephew left, the Blackfish stepped forward. "The raven we sent to the Eyrie had returned with news, your grace, bearing Lord Stannis' seal."

Robb's face fell, "Read it."

"I Stannis of the House Baratheon, First of my Name – "

"I know the titles."

"Am sorry that I cannot accept your terms, though not through lack of desire to do so. During a parley in which my lords and I were required to ascend to the Eyrie unarmed, Lady Lysa threw herself and her son from the Moon Door. It is for this reason that I cannot accept your terms. Lord Harrold Arryn, previously of House Hardyng, has declared the armies of the Vale for me. I ask you now to reconsider your position and swear fealty to me, as the rightful King of Westeros. My other terms are that, firstly, there will be no marriage pact between my daughter, the Princess of Dragonstone, and a cripple, though I believe that you are unwed. Secondly, your sister Sansa will marry Lord Harrold Arryn once King's Landing has been liberated. If you agree to these terms, I request that you march your forces to link up with mine at Saltpans."

"How do we know she fell? What if she was pushed?" Lord Bolton voiced what all were thinking.

"It does seem very convenient for Stannis." Brynden responded, "Yet, I know Lysa, she is not, was not, well. Her mind began to play tricks upon her, while I am suspicious, I do not think it unlikely. Also, why would Stannis remove Robert too?"

"To have this lad Harrold in the High Seat of the Eyrie, to manipulate him."

"Yes, but Robert was also manipulable, more easily than most, I dare say."

The discussion was interrupted by shouts outside the pavilion, then Lord Karstark burst in. "Where is the young lord trout?" he demanded, "He killed my son."

"Calm yourself Rickard," the Greatjon's tone was anything but calming; "The Mountain killed Torrhen, not Edmure."

"Aye, Gregor Clegane cut him in two from shoulder to opposite hip, or so my men say, but it was Tully who sent him to his death."

"Lord Karstark, I am grieved by Torrhen's death, he was my friend, but you cannot expect to have my uncle's head, it could have been anyone who had got in the Mountain's path." Robb attempted to console him.

He looked as if he were about to shout back, but took a quick glance at Brynden, before growling "I will have my vengeance boy, whether you grant it or not." With a look of thunder, Karstark stalked out.

Brynden slowly lowered his hand from his dirk. Though he was sure that Karstark would have his steel out as fast as he could, and though the man was ten years his junior, the Lord carried a longsword rather than the shorter blade, something Brynden had learnt from the Dornish during the War of the Ninepenny Kings – always carry a dirk, you can have it drawn and in your opponents eye socket before he's pulled out a longer blade. Since that war, the Blackfish had always carried both a dirk and longsword, and had never been beaten on the draw.

"This news from Stannis is not good, your grace," Bolton cut the tension in the tent with a whisper, "The Vale can muster thirty thousand swords, no doubt Stannis will be descending upon the Riverlands as fast as he can. We must send him new terms."

"Aye, we need allies your grace. Tywin Gold-shitting Lannister won't give you your mother back so we can continue negotiations with Renly, and his army sits at Harrenhal, none of our messengers will get around him." Lord Umber, for once, agreed with the Leech lord of Bolton.

Robb frowned, "I concur, Renly is out, and I will not kneel to Joffrey, yet Stannis will not accept our independence. Any word from Theon?"

"Only the same as before your grace, he took ship at Seagard according to Jason Mallister's castellan, but there has been nought since."

"I cannot decide this alone. Lord Bolton, summon both the Northern Lords and Riverlords."

"As you command your grace."

As the men began to gather, Brynden leaned in to the King, "Your Grace, Karstark is not trustworthy near Lannister prisoners, might I advise that you give him an independent command? Send his last son with him, so should he die then his father cannot blame you."

Robb responded, "I want Harrion here, in case he decides that I am not his King, he has threatened to leave once before."

By this time, most of the Lords were gathered. Tytos Blackwood, tall and hook-nosed, Jonos Bracken, shorter and stocky, Jason Mallister, the legendary tourney jouster, Ser Stevron Frey, Lord Walder's heir, Ser Edmure and himself for the Riverlands, while Roose Bolton, the Greatjon, Karstark, Galbart Glover and Sers Wylis Manderly and Helman Tallhart were there for the North.

The King spoke. "My lords, we face a choice. We cannot fight this war alone much longer. The Lannisters will not sue for peace, this much we can assume as Tion Frey has not returned. Renly may have wanted peace, but is now beyond our reach, while we have still no reply from the Ironborn. This leaves us with Stannis, who would have us swear fealty and give up our independence, while selling my elder sister to his puppet-lord in the Eyrie. What are your thoughts, my lords?"

Lord Tytos Blackwood was the first to speak, "Might we hear the full terms, your grace?"

Robb nodded, and Brynden read the letter again.

Jason Mallister spoke next, "He wants no lands from us? No payments?"

"It would appear not."

"Then what is our delay? We can reach Saltpans in a week; Stannis will probably be there around that time too." Ser Stevron questioned. He looked remarkably unlike his father, Brynden noted, luckily for him. He also had a stomach for battle, unlike Lord Walder. Stevron's rule would be notable change for the Twins, but he doubted that Stevron would survive the internal politics of his family long.

"He wants me to marry his daughter, Ser. Surely you remember that I am betrothed to your sister?"

Lord Bolton cut in, "You have another brother your grace."

"He's already said he won't accept Bran, and I understand that, we don't even know if he can… well."

"I didn't mean Brandon."

"Rickon? He's nine."

"Shireen is thirteen; it's not so large a gap when you consider they'll spend their lives together. They wouldn't marry until they were both old enough anyway." The Greatjon agreed. Agreeing with Bolton twice in one day, was the man ill?

Edmure was quick to seize this, "Your Grace, if Rickon weds Shireen, he will be her consort when she sits the Iron Throne."

"Poor boy." Brynden couldn't contain himself, and half the Lords present chortled.

Rickard Karstark stepped forward, "This is all very well, declaring for Stannis, but when will I have my revenge?"

"As soon as you can march, my lord. You will take the Karstark, Manderly, Flint, Mooton and Piper men to raid the Westerlands. Make Tywin bleed. Cut up through the hills from Pinkmaiden, and take the Golden Tooth, Ashemark and The Crag. Do not try to garrison them, raze them to the ground. Any gold from the Tooth, send back to Riverrun, I would love to be able to pay off Tywin with his own coin. There is your revenge, Lord Karstark."

"Thank you, your grace." For the first time, he sounded sincere.

Brynden smiled, not only would this get a very quarrelsome Lord out of the way, but it would give him a purpose, and threaten the Lannisters homeland while their main forces were tied up in the East.

"Any objections to siding with King Stannis?"

No-one spoke.

"In that case my lords, we march at dawn. If you are with Lord Karstark, gather your men at the river bend a mile west, if you are marching to Saltpans, gather on the Riverroad."

As the lords filed out, Brynden was asked to wait by his King. "How many extra men can the Riverlands raise? On top of the fifteen thousand we have already?"

"Another five thousand at a push, why?"

"I'm sending north for more men, I believe another eight thousand will march, I am giving Marlon Manderly the command. We need knights more than anything, so I have written Lord Manderly. I have also instructed him to sail the fleet my father requested down to meet Stannis' so we can assault King's Landing from the sea."

"I would agree with your naval plans, your grace, yet I would not call for more men – we still do not know Balon Greyjoy's plans, the entire western coast is undefended, he could attack the North."

"Why would he do that? The Westerlands are much nearer."

"Yes, but he's attacked there before, and how well did that turn out?"

"A prudent plan, you may be right. But we still need more cavalry, I'll send to Manderly and Ryswell. White Harbour fields the best knights in the North, and the Rills breed the best horses."

"If that is all, your grace?"

"Two more things uncle. Stop calling me your grace, I won't be King much longer and I want you to lead the outriders. Now go and prepare."

As the Blackfish turned to go, he smiled. He had worried that the boy's heart would rule his head, but was glad to find it not so. He suspected that Robb had realised what he had. Any King who won the Iron Throne would eventually turn to take back the regions lost, and defiant as they were, they could not stand against the whole South.

Brynden Tully remembered fighting alongside Tywin Lannister in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and he wondered if the old man could still wield a sword as well as he had then. He smiled again; he was older than Lannister, what did that make him? Still, he was confident that with the Kingslayer in chains and Tygett long dead, not one of the Lannisters could beat him in a fair fight, but when had they ever fought fair?