AN: Here is the next chapter. Like I said before I am starting college so chapters will take longer to be released.
Disclaimer: I dont own Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire
Warnings: Bad language
Enjoy!
Back In Riverrun
Robb POV
Robb finally felt he could breathe again. Roose Bolton and Walder Frey were outed as traitors. Lord Bolton has been executed and The Twins are surrounded by the Blackfish and several other Riverlords. A civil war was being raged in the North.
The Boltons, Karstarks, and Umbers were going against the rest of the North. While Robb still had the loyalty of the Greatjon Umber and Rickard Karstark as well as some of their men, but apparently the younger generation of their lords have been planning a rebellion against the Starks with the Boltons.
The execution of Roose Bolton was a dull affair. No one was unhappy that the Bolton lord had been executed and his body burned. Robb was never fond of the Boltons besides Domeric, although he died. Some say it was Roose's bastard son Ramsay who killed Domeric, some say it was a normal illness that took the young Bolton lord. No matter, Ramsay Snow will die for burning down Winterfell and threatening the stability of the North.
As for the Ironborn, they will die all the same. Theon had betrayed him, given up Winterfell and his brothers to the mercy of the Bolton bastard. He will die like the rest of the ironborn they find in the north. So far he has gotten word from most of the lords he sent back. Most of the coasts are secured and the Ironborn have been pushed out of the major castles and towns. Once the Ironborn are no more the North will crush the Boltons.
Robb wishes he could go to the north himself, but he is still fighting Lannisters in the Riverlands. Most troop movements indicate that the main Lannister force, lead by Kevan Lannister, is stationed in Harrenhal for the time being.
The Mountain is another thorn in his side. According to Daemon, who had just returned, the Brotherhood Without Banners was able to beat back the Mountain and his men. Although Daemon did suffer quite an injury. Robb laughed when Talisa demanded she put Daemon on a leash so he wouldn't go running around again.
And finally, to his and his mother's relief, Arya had finally returned to them. His mother had shed so many tears in the courtyard when they returned. She had almost kissed Daemon's feet if he hadn't told not to do so. She crushed the prince in a hug that he seemed surprised to receive. Robb was the same, joining the hug between Talisa and Daemon. He had also shed a few tears when she returned. He had been so worried about his entire family. Whether Bran and Rickon still lived, whether Sansa was being tortured in King's Landing, whether Jon has been killed by Wildlings. He was thankful to Daemon that he brought his sister back.
The other person Daemon brought back he was understandably wary of. Sandor Clegane was man to be cautious of. He did abandon the Lannisters and he did help his sister on her journey back to Riverrun. The Hound's induction into the Stark Army was not something anyone was keen of. Robb, Daemon, Catelyn, Arya, Talisa, and Sandor met in his solar.
"Can we trust him?" was the first thing Robb asked Daemon, concerning the Hound.
"I think we can." said Daemon. Arya nodding right along side him.
Robb rubbed his temples. Sandor Clegane would be a good addition to his forces. Name recognition alone could dissuade soldiers to attack the man. He was probably able to lead men into battle. Maybe taking a small expeditionary force into the Riverlands to start cleaning up the Lannisters lingering too far from Harrenhal.
If Robb could force Kevan Lannister out of Harrenhal he would be able to focus fully on the North and the South, two easy fronts. He was hoping his Aunt Lysa would appease him and send the Vale forces to help support him but all reports he got about his aunt were explaining that she was quite unstable. His mother also attested to these reports.
"Ser Clegane-" Robb started.
"I'm no knight." the man in question interjected.
Robb just nodded. "Clegane, I could send you North. Far from the Lannisters. I want you to travel to White Harbour, to the Manderly's. Once there you will command the retaking of Moat Cailin from the Ironborn. Once that has been accomplished you will oversee the rebuilding of the Moat. Once this has been finished you will start leading raiding parties in Bolton lands are start picking off their soldiers. Wither down their numbers, so by the time I am ready to retake the North their numbers will have been cut down."
"You are trusting me with a lot." The Hound commented.
"You will have an armed escort until you are proven trustworthy. I will also write out several instructions for you to follow. As well as a pardon with my signature and seal, making sure you have safe passage through the North." Robb explained.
The large man seemed to accept his new position. Not like it was bad or anything.
Robb called in a few guards and maids to show Arya, Catelyn, and Sandor to their rooms. Leaving Robb and Daemon alone in the silent solar.
"What do you have planned next?" Daemon asked him.
"There isn't much I can do. The plan I set for the Clegane I was planning to assign to a minor lord, but he came along." Robb motioned for Daemon to join him at the map on the table. He pointed to Harrenhal. "We know that Kevan Lannister is leading a force of at least 15,000 men. I dont have the men to go against him. Now that the Tyrells have joined the war, they might send their army north."
"Well what about the Vale?" Daemon asked. "I know Lysa Arryn is not the most sane person, but wouldn't she help her kin?"
"That's what I thought but when I called upon her, she refused." Robb told Daemon. He noticed Daemon thinking. "You have something?"
Daemon hmmed. "I do, last I heard Littlefinger was sticking his fingers into the Vale. Lysa Arryn always had a thing for Baelish. If Baelish were to control the Vale in some way he would encourage Lysa to stay out of the war."
"Damn" he muttered under his breath.
"Yeah" Daemon agreed. "I am riding to King's Landing tomorrow-"
"What!?" Talisa's exclamation nearly made the two men jump. His wife had been silent for most of their conversation until now. "What do you mean 'riding to King's Landing'?"
"I am meeting someone there." Daemon held up his hand, as Talisa was about to interrupt again. "And I may have a plan to take control of the Vale, its not a fool-proof plan yet, but if I can pull this off you will have someone controlling the Vale for you." he told Robb.
"Who are you meeting?" asked Talisa.
"What is this plan?" Robb asked at the same time.
Daemon held his hands up. "One at a time. First, who am I meeting, that's private business that doesn't involve anyone here, or even Westeros. Or at least for the time being." Daemon huffed. "What I am trying to say is that, it's my business and I will tell you when I deem it appropriate."
Talisa still had a worried expression on her face. "Why do you have to go to King's Landing to meet this person, can't they meet you outside of the city?"
"They can leave King's Landing without destroying all of their hard work, something I don't intend to make this person do. And if I want my plan for the Vale to succeed, I need to be in King's Landing."
Talisa still didn't look happy but she nodded her assent, albeit reluctantly.
"And the plan?" said Robb.
"As for the plan, it involves a dead Littlefinger and someone we know taking control of the Vale." Daemon held up a hand to stop Robb's questioning. "To get said someone out of King's Landing and to the Vale is where I am coming up short."
"And who is this person?" Robb was starting to get impatient.
"Sansa Stark" said Daemon. "If we can get rid of Littlefinger and Lysa Arryn, Sansa can easily take control of the Vale."
"But what about Robin Arryn?" Talisa asked.
"The boy is still young and from what I have heard, a very gullible person. I am hoping that we can have Sansa essentially take control of the Vale through the young Lord." Daemon suggested.
"What about my Aunt Lysa?" he asked.
"Kill her." Daemon said bluntly.
Robb was outraged. "Your talking about killing my aunt, my family!" Robb said incredulously.
"Ok listen. One have you ever met Lysa Arryn?" Robb shook his head, the angry expression still on his face. "Two, you want to win this war, correct?" Robb nodded. "Then this is how you win. You would control the Riverlands and the North, and you would have the support of the Vale. The lannister only have the support of the Tyrells. Other than that Stannis still leads the Stormlands and Dorne wouldn't ever support the Lannisters. The North is still in question but you need to unite it soon or you will lose the support of the Northern lords, no longer a King in the North."
Robb huffed angrily. He knew that everything Daemon said was right. Aunt Lysa had basically betrayed their family by associating with Baelish and refusing to help her own kin. He didn't like it but it had to happen one way or another. As for Sansa, he couldn't imagine his sister ever leading one of the seven kingdoms. She was a girl obsessed with shiny southern knights and fair haired princes, not ruling or politics.
Robb doubted Daemon's plan. He didn't believe he could pull it off. He didn't believe he could outsmart Baelish. He didn't believe Sansa was fit to rule. Robb voiced all of these disbeliefs to Daemon. The angry look on Talisa's face made him slightly guilty about putting Daemon on the spot, but he needed his concerns answered.
He looked at Daemon waiting for his answer, the look an the man's face put off Robb but he stood by his decision.
"First of all, I don't give a damn whether or not you believe in my plan, it's going to happen whether you like it or not. Second, I'm going to have plenty of help getting rid of Baelish. Third, the fact that you think Sansa learned nothing in the few years she has been in King's Landing is silly. You either learn or you become a pawn and die like the rest. If she didn't learn, she wouldn't still be living." Daemon's tone was angry. His face certainly told Robb that he was not too happy with Robb's questioning of his plan.
"That still does not assure me of the strength of this plan." Robb said.
"Like I said, I don't care whether or not you put anything into this plan, you are not involved." replied Daemon
Robb was going to continue his questioning but Talisa interrupted him. "Enough of this. The plan is going through, whether we like it or not." she said to him. She then turned to Daemon. "It's getting late, you need sleep if you are leaving tomorrow. Both of you need rest."
He and Daemon nodded. A good night's sleep would do them both good.
Daemon POV
Daemon woke earlier than he usually would. His bedmate, Lily, had to wake up shortly before dawn to prepare the lord's breakfast. Unfortunately for the two of them, Daemon was still recovering from his injuries, so sex was off the table. They did, however, find comfort in sleeping together.
Lily was fully dressed but noticed him waking. "Sorry if I woke you." she said softly. Leaning down on the bed to give him a kiss.
"S' fine." he mumbled into the bedsheets.
She giggled while she rubbed his back soothingly. "I suppose I won't be seeing you for a while." she said sadly.
"Yeah" he said groggily. "I'll be sure to visit when I can but this will be goodbye for a long while now, maybe forever depending on how the future plays out."
She nodded. "I understand" she sighed sadly. "I won't regret our times together." a sad smile playing across her face.
"Neither will I" he said.
"Be safe." she said, giving him one last kiss before exiting the room.
He rubbed his eyes before turning in the bed to look out the window. The rising sun was peeking over the horizon, its light making its way into Daemon's room.
He washed, dressed, and wrapped his weapons in a cloth before exiting his room.
Marion, Amber, and Leland came to see him off. They had arrived at Riverrun several months ago when the Lannisters pillaging small towns north of Riverrun. He gave them all a quick hug, promising them he would stay safe and see them again. He left them near the entrance hall and approached the stables. There he saw Talisa, Arya, and Catelyn waiting there for him.
Lady Stark came to him first giving him a quick hug thanking him, once again, for bringing her daughter back to her.
Next was Arya who also wrapped her arms around his waist. He mussed her hair. "Next time I see you I expect you to have practiced your swordplay, ok?" he laughed at her enthusiastic nod.
Finally Talisa. She hugged him tightly. "You stay safe." she demanded. She looked into his eyes. "I don't want to find out you've been injured again." she said seriously. "It just means more work for me." she said jokingly with a smile while Daemon laughed.
"Don't worry, all will be well." he told her. He gave her one last hug before mounting his horse.
It was finally time to return to King's Landing.