The Kingsroad - Part Two
298 AL
The Courtyard grew silent and all eyes turned to Kian as he stepped forward into the clearing. Lady Barbrey looked furious and Lord Harwood seemed as though he might pass out from shock at any moment but neither of them dared to intervene . Instead he looked to his men for support, He looked into the bottle green eyes of his second in command Ronnel Stout, The nephew to Lord Harwood and only child of the famed warrior Ser Seamus Stout. Ronnel gave him a brisk reassuring nod which instantly settled the concerns that had begun to arise within his mind. Next he looked to his hulking opponent who was still knelt before the Lady of Barrowton. The sight of the man disgusted him and he was convinced he deserved to die for his crimes. He had passed the silent death sentence and now his honour demanded that he must do the deed himself.
After a pause Lady Barbrey submitted and stepped swiftly out of the clearing to join the excited spectators. Kian had expected her to challenge him, He was suprised when she had stayed silent but he knew Lady Barbey often held petty grudges and he was certain this would not be the last he would hear of this matter. The hulking criminal rose to his feet and proceeded to beat his chest like a rampant gorilla to the amusement of the crowd. As the man showboated Kian planned his strategy of attack and by the time the man had turned to face him he had already mapped the entire fight out in his head with close co-ordination down to the final blow.
The veteran was handed his war hammer by Lord Stout's freckled squire. Kian drew both of his favoured shortswords from their scabbards at his belt and raised the unforgiving blades above his head in a defensive stance. Barbrey raised her hand and suddenly the excited chatter faded into silence as the crowd turned their attentions to her to await her signal. However Kian's attention remained fixed on the hulking man as he recited the clever routine continuously in his mind.
"Let the will of the old gods be known!" Barbrey commanded in a cold tone. She drew the sword that she had named 'Broken Promises' and drove the blade into the ground. Upon that signal the veteran charged as expected. He swung the head of his hammer down towards Kian's kneecaps. Kian leaped into the air with perfect timing avoiding the swing, While airborne he stabbed out with the left blade missing the mans cheek by a matter of inches.
The second hammer blow came at head height and this time Kian was forced to stoop down low to avoid it, Making any form of offence impossible. The third had similiar effect and Kian struggled to get within striking distance. His thoughts began to race as he attempted to quickly adjust his strategy. He decided the man must be disarmed if he would have a chance of besting him quickly. The fourth hammer strike came, The soldier put everything he had into the swing as he brought it down upon Kian's head...
With only a second to spare Kian darted to the side avoiding the death blow narrowly. Russ was unable to bring the weapon under control and the steel head struck the ground causing a minor tremor. The sheer force of the blow knocked the weapon from his grip.
The hulking soldier bent to retrieve his weapon but Kian seized upon the opportunity allowing the glorified criminal no quarter. He brought his right blade arcing down swiftly towards his shoulder, Russ showed suprisingly fast reactions as he raised his left hand to take the blow. He caught the blade in his bare hand and Kian felt the blade slice into the flesh, all the way to the bone. The hulking man grunted in pain. He grabbed Kian by his throat using his free hand and lifted him from his feet. He gripped tighter and Kian could feel the air being squeezed from his lungs. His vision grew clouded and his limbs began to grow weak.
Suddenly a burst of red hot adrenaline began to course through him giving him boost of strength that he required. Kian recoiled his right arm and channelled all the strength that remained within him into his free hand. he thrust forward and plunged the tip of the blade straight threw the soldiers throat all the way to the hilt severring his jugular vein. The man let out a series of spluttering coughs and blood began bubble in his mouth and drip down his chin. His grip slackened and he dropped Kian to the ground shortly before collapsing himself. Within moments the rasping breaths grew silent and the life faded from the criminal.
The Dustin soldiers errupted into celebration filling the court yard with a buzz of noise. Kian writhed on the ground and began the heave as the icy cold air slowly returned to his oxygen starved lungs. Ronnel broke the ranks and ran to the side of his superior.
"Justice is served brother" He muttered as he offered his hand and Kian took ahold of it gratefully allowing his friend to pull him to his feet once more. He scanned the faces of the gathered crowd briefly and it quickly came to his attention that someone was missing...
The sound of beating hooves caught his attention and out of the corner of his eye he could faintly make out the dark silhouette of high born lady departing from the courtyard alone astride a stunning noble red steed.
The cold breeze whipped against Barbreys face as she departed from the courtyard in a terrible fit of rage. As she rode she contemplated the situation deeply. On one hand she was relieved that the commander of her army had come out of the fight mostly unscathed, But on the other hand she was furious that the dead man had failed her.
She kicked on as they reached the foot of The Great Barrow and the horse clattered up the wide wooden staircase unsteadily. Rather than travel to the main gate at the peak of the hill She decided to veer her steed onto the ancient nature trail that forked from the staircase three quarters of the way from the base. The trail had become overgrown over the years and was unrecognisable to those who didnt already know of its existence. Lord Willam had brought her here as a precaution before departing Barrowton to participate in the Great War. His words wrung in her ears as she edged forward.
"Should the Mad King turn his attentions towards the home of my father's , The Great Barrow itself shall shield you from harm until the day comes that i return to you"
She soon arrived at the familiar location. She dismounted swiftly and scanned the distance to ensure she not been followed. Satisfied that she was alone she tied her horse to the gnarled tree stump and bent to unveil the dicreet wooden trap door. She yanked it open and began to descend the rickety wooden ladder into the deep damp depths of the hill. After a short climb she found solid ground. The tunnel was pitch black so Barbrey was forced to rely on her sense of touch to navigate the tunnel. She ran her fingertips along the earthen walls as she strolled slowly.
Her fingertips came into contact with cold stone and she could picture the large irregular carved stone wall that resided within the hill. She stroked her index finger across the foreign glyphs that remained as smooth as if they had only been carved yesterday. Her fingertips reached the centre of the wall and she felt a strange urge to place the flat of her palm against the smooth stone. Suddenly a series of faint ghostly whispers sounded nearby.
"Unworthy..."
"Leave this place!"
"Get out...Get out...GET OUT!"
Barbrey prised her palm from the stone but the voices still sounded in her mind growing steadily louder. She did as commanded and ran as fast as her legs would carry her towards her desired location. She crashed into the earthen wall which signalled the end of the tunnel and reached out frantically to feel for the wooden door. She found it and forced it open stepping into the large manmade cavern. To her relief the voices stopped here allowing her to begin the peaceful ascent up the ladder that connected to a manhole in the wooden floorboard of the Kitchens of Barrowhall.
She burst through the manhole and was instantly confronted by her loyal handmaiden Grayce.
"My Lady?" Grace questioned. A shocked expression crossed her face as she recognised the Lady of the Hall climbing out of a hole in the ground.
"Dont ask" Barbrey cut her off before she could question further "I am retiring to my solar... Bring me wine and send for the thief"
"Yes My Lady" Grayce nodded and Barbrey departed from the Kitchens with haste.
Barbrey seated herself at her desk and she drank herself into a stupor as she stewed in her fury. She had been waiting impatintly for hours but still the thief had evaded her . Soon she had drained her second flagon of imported Arbor Red and she slipped into a fitful slumber at the desk. Her dreams came to her in flashbacks that night.
She stood at the window gazing out over the courtyard of Barrowhall as the Stark procession began to depart, The future Lady of Winterfell, Catelyn Tully of Riverun rode at the helm and in her arms she held a bundle of furs...
Lord Willam thundered out of the same courtyard at the head of the Dustin/Stout army. His promise rang in her ears.
"I vow that i shall return to you astride this proud steed my love..."
She could see the beautiful horse returning in the distance. She raced to the courtyard to greet her beloved husband. As the horse grew near Barbrey fell to her knees in despair as she noticed a solemn looking Ned Stark perched on its back...
Ned Stark stood opposite from her and she screamed in his direction.
"You have taken my beloved husband from me. Atleast do me the curtousy of returning my only child to my arms!"
"He is safer with me!" Ned argued defiantly...
A battle weary knight arrived at Barrowton making wild claims. He was presented before Barbrey and the man spoke gravely.
"My name is Ser Marlon Manderley. I served under The Right Hand of Ned Stark in the Greyjoy Rebellions"
"How does that concern me?" Barbrey questioned bewildered.
"Because his name was Roddy the Right and he was your own son!" The man despaired.
"Was?" She asked dreading what answer may come.
"Our ship was seized by the Crows Eye and i was taken hostage. I watched as Prince Euron thrust your sons own blade into him. The last time i saw him was when Seamus the Shamed pushed the dying boy overboard into the seas. I cannot be certain that the blow killed him, but it his hard to imagine any man surviving such mortal wounds"
Barbrey began to scream with greif...
Suddenly she awoke to find herself screaming and clutching at her greying hair. The sickening memories assured her that revenge would be the only course that might soothe her growing heartache. The stench of horse shit filled the room burning her nostrils.
"Come out from the shadow's and let me look upon you" She called into the darkness.
A slight movement caught her attention and Catspaw stepped out from behind a curtain. The candlelight bathed the hooded figure in filthy brown rags . He peeled back his hood revealing his gaunt face and peered at her through deep sunk eyes.
"You have a task for me Mi Lady?" He questioned.
"Yes. Sit" Barbrey demanded as she gestured towards the stool opposite her. Catspaw seated himself uneasily.
"Where would you have me travel this time?" He asked reluctantly.
"Winterfell" She responded bluntly.
"And what could you possibly want me to steal from winterfell?" He asked fearfully.
"A life" She muttered coldly " I assume you still have that pretty dagger that i gifted to you?"
The assassin revealed the glinting Valyrian steel blade from within the cuff of his brown cloak.
"Very Good" Barbrey smirked as she spoke she began to plot in her mind, Partly because of Kian Stark's defiance but mostly because she had waited many years for a moment of vulnerability to take her revenge against Lord Eddard Stark for destroying everything that she had held dear. Now a moment had presented itself, Ned had left Winterfell taking his elite guard with him and she decided she must use it to give Noble Ned a taste of his own bitter medicine.
"You will to take that pretty dagger with you to the home of the Wolf Pack and you will use it to open the throat of the cripple boy, Brandon Stark of Winterfell" She commanded in the coldest tone she could muster.
After regretfully returning the horse to a disgruntled Hodor, Roddy decided to seek out Lady Catelyn in her Son's chambers to force the memory of the parting from his mind. As he arrived the guard wrapped his knuckles against the door and began to announce his presence.
"Roderick Snow My Lady" He called and waited patiently for a response.
"Enter" A shaky familiar voice called from beyond the door. Roddy pushed the door aside and stepped into the dimly lit room. The large dire wolf at the foot of the bed eyed Roddy cautiously as he moved to Catelyn's side. He looked down upon the peaceful child lying below a heap of animal furs. His disfigurement was covered and only his head was visible so he looked like any regular boy sleeping soundly.
Lady Catelyn was perched on a stool at his bedside. Tear tracks glistened on her cheeks and she sported dark rings around her eyes. She looked to Roddy like she had aged ten years in the space of two days. She gestured for him to sit on the edge of the bed and he obeyed willingly.
"Robb tells me you rushed off in pursuit of the Kingsmen" Catelyn enquired.
"Aye. I thought my role demanded that i should travel to the capital" Roddy muttered miserably.
"And?" Catelyn questioned giving him a concerned look.
"I caught up to Ned and instead of taking me along with him, He caste me aside like the worthless bastard that i am" He replied.
"Roderick you are not worthless! You are as much a part of this family as i am!" She gave him a reassuring smile which settled his misery slightly.
"Did he release you from your vows?" She asked in a hopeful tone.
"Aye" Roddy grunted unable to muster any other response. Suddenly Catelyns expression brightened and she spoke with joy.
"Good! I have begged the man for years to release you from those vows. I curse the day that he heard them in the first place"
"You are to blame for this?" Roderick questioned in disgust.
"Now you listen to me! You were but a year old when you were thrust into my arms. I carried you home in my lap the whole journey back and since that day i have raised and protected you as i did my own children! You grew into a young man with great potential and my husband foolishly agreed to march you off to war out of the reach of my protection. My husband returned to me whole but only a part of the adopted son that departed came home to me. Neither of you spoke on what happened out there and i dared not question for i know that war can leave a man scarred" Her tears had begun to flow again as she spoke and Roddy's anger was quickly replaced by pity.
"Last Year during the Harvest Feast i cornered Lord Greatjon Umber in prayer in the weirwood grove. In the presence of the old gods he told me everything that happened to y-"
Roddy bent to wrap his arms around her in tight embrace before she could finish her sentence. Tears spilled down his cheeks as terrible memories of the war rushed back to him. They grieved together for a moment until Roddy broke the silence.
"You cant blame yourself" He whispered in an attempt to console her.
"I do! I outfitted you like a true northern soldier and i thought you would be invincible. I should never have allowed such a foolish act... You were twelve years old! " Catelyn ranted oblivious to Roddy's attempts.
Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted them and Roddy pulled away from her.
"Maester Lewin and Ser Rodrik Cassell" The guard called.
"Roderick please relieve the guard of his watch and show them in " Catelyn commanded. Roddy reluctantly slinked out of the room and sent the guard away. He pressed his ear against the door once the corridor was clear and he could faintly make out their muffled conversation.
"Ned released him from his vows" Catelyn adressed her advisors.
"Do you mean to send him away?" Ser Rodrik quizzed.
"Of course not!" Catelyn responded bluntly.
"But My Lady our Lord gave me a command" Rodrik argued.
"I mean to keep him safe!" Catelyn argued in response.
"If your intent is to keep him safe then who pray tell can keep him safer than his own?" Rodrik asked in heated tones. When no response came he continued to speak.
"Besides his presence spells trouble. Lady Barbrey believes the boy to be dead. She would call her banners and march on Winterfell in an instant if it became common knowledge that he was being held here"
"Barbrey is a paranoid woman, She would likely brand him as a pretender should he present himself to her" Catelyn uttered ignoring his arguements.
"That is highly unlikely My Lady... The boy looks very similar to Will in his youth" Rodrik continued persistently.
"You would have me send him across the border and just hope for his safety?" Catelyn asked.
"Aye i would. I have stood by all these years and watched as my old friend has been dishonoured by this act of treachery. This can not continue My Lady" He responded sternly.
"I will not send him into her clutches!" Catelyn slammed her fists against the bed as she spoke.
"If i might intervene My Lady , A raven from Torrhens Square just this morning. Lord Helman Tallhart requires a squire after his son recieved his Knighthood" Maester Lewin finally spoke.
"Lord Helman is one of HER prime bannermen" Catelyn reminded him.
"Wrong My Lady" Ser Rodrik exclaimed. " True Lord Helman was one of Will's oldest friends, and true the Lords of Torrhens Square have bowed to The Lord's of Barrowhall for centuries. However the Tallhart's owe no loyalty to the troublesome Ryswell's and that is exactly what Barbrey is in their eyes. I have heard it said Lord Helman refuses to bend the knee to the bitter old hag" After a long pause Catelyn broke the silence once more.
"Can we trust Lord Helman?" She questioned in a tone that signalled her defeat.
"Lord Helman Tallhart is an honorable Northman. I fought alongside him in The Battle of the Bells... He has a daughter around Roderick's age" Ser Rodrik responded with pride.
Roddy froze in shock as he listened to the plans. Ned had caste him aside and now Lady Catelyn was willing to do the same to marry him off to some Tree Girl from the west.
"Very we-" Roderick could hear no more. He forced the door open and bundled into the room cutting Catelyn off in mid sentence.
"Do i not have a say in this?" He demanded forgetting himself. To his suprise the Master-At-Arms submitted instantly.
"Forgive m-" He began to beg but Roddy raised a hand to silence him.
" I am loyal to House Stark the east is my place, not the West" Roddy reminded them coldly
"The West flows through your bloody veins lad , What do you owe to this house?" Rodrik replied sternly.
"I owe everyth-" He began but Lady Catelyn added to the arguement drowned out his voice.
"You owe nothing! You died to defend the honour of this house... In return we have dishonored you. In the East you are just a Bastard named Snow but in the West..."
"You are the rightful heir of a Great Northern Lord" Ser Rodrik finished her sentence for her. Roderick froze in shock once more.
"A Lord..." He questioned as a million thoughts raced through his mind. " Ser Rodrik i beg you, please tell me his name" He asked despairingly.
"I would like nothing more than to sit here with you all night and tell stories of your father, but sadly it is not my place... Lord Helman prehaps" He muttered regretfully. It dawned on Roddy that the only way he would learn news of his heritage would be to travel to the West and meet with this Lord Tallhart in person. Spurred on by this new information, Roddy needed no more convincing, He agreed to the arrangements swiftly and It was planned that he would depart on his journey the following day.
Author Note
The Catspaw scene remains the same in the story as it was in the show. I have decided not to cover this part as it would be a shame to alter a great scene and this chapter has gone on long enough already.
Thanks to all for the continued support and i hope you enjoy my story.