Hey Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please enjoy another chapter! I actually managed to wait a week before posting. It felt like forever.


Chapter 11: The Return to Riverrun

Few weeks later ….

Study of the Hand to the King, Tower of the Hand, King's Landing


Tyrion stared at the golden hand pin stuck to the lapel of his father's jacket as he watched his father wet a quill and start writing a letter. It looked better on me, thought Tyrion.

"What do you want Tyrion?" Tywin impatiently asked as he moved to pour himself a cup of wine. "I have seven Kingdoms to look after and four are in open rebellion so tell me what you want?"

"I want what is mine by right," Tyrion answered in a measured tone.

Tywin resettled in his seat as if he was uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "You want Casterly Rock do you, well go take it back from Lady Kenna Arryn then," Tywin said dismissively.

"I think you will find it is Queen Kenna now and I expected more of a reaction from you for the loss of Casterly Rock, the Lannister seat of power in the Westerlands. It is not like you are known for your forgiving side Father. You went to war for me, what are you going to do for the loss of Casterly Rock your childhood home? Not like you can start another war, we are already warring with the Arryns and we may soon run out of opponents to wage war on anyway," Tyrion delivered the words with a tremendous grin on his face. He liked seeing someone other than himself giving his father problems.

Tywin gripped the quill in his hand so hard it snapped in two. "When I reclaim the Rock I'll make sure the Arryn girl understands the magnitude of her mistake in choosing the wrong side. And when I do retake the Rock, it won't go to you. I would let myself be consumed by maggots before you make Casterly Rock into your whore house," Tywin yelled from his chair.

Tywin regain his composure in the silence that followed, only his youngest son possessed the ability to rile him like this. Tywin gripped the arms of his chair before addressing a clearly emotional Tyrion, "Leave me now and never bring up your claim to Casterly Rock again."

Tywin watched his son push himself out of his chair and waddle to the exit. He finished his goblet of wine and started to massage his temples.

The Queen over the Mountains was proving to be a bigger problem than first anticipated. She was giving him a headache. Strategically the loss of the Rock wasn't as damaging as the reputational and personal loss. Kenna Arryn would eventually have to leave the Rock if she wanted to take King's Landing and so far, she hadn't set fire to the Westerlands like she promised in her letter, just taken all the resources needed to resupply an army. Never threaten to do something and not carry the act out. That showed weakness. Weakness was not something Tywin tolerated in an ally but in an enemy it was to be exploited.

Tywin stood from his desk and located the wine jug. He poured himself another glass and took a sip. He looked at the offending letter on his desk. The letter was written in Kevan's hand but the words were Kenna Arryn's. Tywin felt minor concern at the thought of his brother being a prisoner inside their childhood home but felt confident that Kenna valued Kevan highly enough in negotiation terms that she wouldn't hurt him. Tywin had left the letter unanswered but it stayed on his desk as a reminder that Casterly Rock had been taken from him and he had promised to make Kenna Arryn regret the day she got involved in this war. And Tywin Lannister always kept his promises.

"Guards," Tywin yelled. A Lannister soldier appeared in the doorway. "Fetch me Petyr Baelish. Tell him I have need of him."


The Great Hall, Riverrun, Western Riverlands

A few days later …


The wind whipped into Kenna's face as she watched Edmure Tully try and fail to set his father alight as his coffin swayed with the Trident's currents, nearly out of sight. Finally, the Blackfish put Edmure out of his misery, shoving him out of the way to set Hoster Tully on fire himself. The funeral party retreated to the picturesque castle of Riverrun to pronounce Edmure the new Lord of Riverrun.

It was good to be among the Starks and Tully's again. One does not simply plan the takeover of King's Landing alone least one wants to end up like Stannis Baratheon, broken and stranded on Dragon's Stone. Kenna had no intention of replicating Stannis's failure.

"Your Graces, shall we get started," Ser Brynden Tully, the Blackfish said in a humorous tone.

As the gathered party started to seat themselves around the heavy set wooden table Robb spoke to Kenna, "I see you have followed me in declaring your independence, your Grace or do you prefer Queen over the Mountains?"

Kenna looked around the table to gauge the reaction of those seated. Edmure Tully looked positively pleased but it was hard to tell if that emotion sprung from that fact he was the new Lord of Riverrun or he was genuinely pleased to see Kenna again. Catelyn had a serious expression on her face indicating she just wanted to get on with planning the siege of King's Landing. I feel the same way Lady Catelyn, Kenna thought. The Blackfish had a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he watched the exchange between the King and Queen. Lord Yohn Royce foot tapping showed his impatience to start discussing the plan to take King's Landing. Robb Stark had an unreadable expression on his face as he lowered himself into his chair.

"Well your Grace, the Vale shares the North's ideals of wanting to be ruled by a just and fair leader not by whoever sits on the Iron Throne of corruption in King's Landing and my official title is Queen of the Mountain and the Vale but that doesn't seem to be as easy to shout as Queen over the Mountains," Kenna responded sweetly directing her full attention at Robb.

Catelyn spoke next, not allowing Robb the time to reply. "The battle of Blackwater Bay has shifted the balance of this war back into the Lannisters favour. They have the Tyrells with them and didn't suffer too many casualties defending King's Landing. Meanwhile Lord Walder Frey is demanding a replacement for Robb and an apology. He won't give us his men if we don't concede to his terms and we need those extra ten thousand men to stand a chance at capturing King's Landing without any ships."

The Greyjoy betrayal went unspoken but hung in the air.

Edmure tried to speak but the Blackfish cut him off wanting to get down to strategy.

"Right the River Lords can provide five thousand men after the battering the Mountain is giving us, King Robb provides fifteen thousand keen Northmen, Queen Kenna provides twenty-five thousand including a solid cavalry unit." As he spoke the Blackfish was counting the numbers on his hand. "Those Tyrell fucks had roughly forty thousand which joined with Tywin Lannister's remaining twenty thousand and defended King's Landing. They might have lost fifteen thousand men repelling Stannis." The Blackfish threw his hands into the air, "oh wait I am forgetting about the Crownland army, add five thousand to that and we have their army standing at fifty thousand men behind the fucking massive walls of King's Landing, hurling arrows at our oncoming forty thousand men. The numbers alone are not promising and the attacker always needs the greater numbers in a siege." The Blackfish kicked the closed table leg to him after his outburst.

Catelyn quickly spoke up, "That is why we need the Freys, we need to organise these weddings as soon as possible and march on King's Landing with the extra ten thousand men in our armies."

Kenna's ears pricked up. "I am sorry my Lady I thought I heard you say weddings, plural. I thought Edmure was the only one marrying into the Freys. Is your Uncle finally getting married too?"

Judging by the grim look on Brynden Tully's face at Kenna's comment it looked like he would rather die and Edmure apparently hadn't been told at all about his upcoming nuptials if the surprise on his face was to be believed.

Catelyn fixed Kenna with nervous eyes and replied. "No, your Grace Lord Walder Frey requested a royal wedding to replace the royal wedding he was cheated out of."

Kenna took in a deep breath. They mean me. They mean for me to marry a Frey. I'd rather die.

"You can't be serous my Lady," Lord Royce exploded.

"I am deadly serious my Lord," Catelyn shot back. "We need Lord Walder's men; he wants one of his sons married into the now royal Arryn bloodline to replace one of his daughters getting married into the royal Stark bloodline."

If looks could kill Robb Stark would be dead on the floor and Kenna Arryn would be his killer.

Edmure finally found his voice. "Why do I have to get married then," he whined.

"He wants a royal marriage and an apology. Your marriage is the apology," Catelyn said in a tired tone.

Both Kenna and Edmure leaned back in their chairs in despair. Both knew in that moment that the marriages had to go ahead if they were to stand a chance at capturing King's Landing. They needed those men. Kenna always knew she would have to get married eventually. She just didn't anticipate it being to a Frey.

"So the Arryns and the Tullys have to pay for the mistakes of the Starks," Kenna growled while throwing Robb Stark a pointed look, not even concealing her anger at him. She continued with a thunderous look on her face. "Alliances are supposed to benefit both parties. So far this alliance feels a bit one-sided. I do hope that this will change in the future and the King in the North starts to act like an actual King."

Catelyn rose in her chair with a flustered look on her face and started to speak but Kenna cut her off. "I am not interested in your defence of your son's actions or your own for that matter. I am interested in winning this war. That is why I agree to marry one of Lord Walder Frey's brood," Kenna said, her eyes not wavering from Robb Starks throughout the speech. I hope these words hurt him like arrows piercing his skin, Kenna thought.

Edmure simply nodded his agreement like he didn't trust his voice to carry the decision. Robb sat silent, not able to muster a defence of his actions and not wanting to say something that might change Kenna's decision. The Blackfish quickly adjourned the meeting, sensing the tension between the Queen over the Mountains and the King in the North, and left the room. The Starks swiftly followed him leaving Edmure alone with the two Vale nobles. Kenna and Lord Royce watched the Starks leave and once they were out of view they themselves left for their chambers without so much as a glance at the still stationary Edmure Tully who sat at the table in a daze.


"Your Grace, you can't do this. You can't marry a Frey." Lord Royce had repeated this exact statement half a dozen times as Kenna made her way to her chambers in the Riverrun castle from the meeting.

Jasper held her door open for her but she turned around before entering her chambers. "I have no desire to marry at all let alone to a bloody weasel Frey," Kenna expounded. "But someone I hold very dear to me once said I could be a brilliant leader that puts her people above her own desires, that is what I am doing now my Lord."

Lord Royce conceded the point but it was a bitter course of action to accept. The Queen over the Mountain and the Vale married to a lowly Frey who was probably not even the next in line to inherit the Twins from Walder Frey.

Before Lord Royce could stage a further protest Kenna issued him with orders.

"My Lord, assemble the Knights of the Vale and march to the Eyrie. Once there, muster as many new recruits as you can and prepare our army for the siege of King's Landing. I will take a few dozen Arryn guards led by Jasper Egen with me to the Twins for my wedding. Once that is over I will join you at the Eyrie with the Starks, Tullys and Freys."

Kenna saw that Royce was reluctant to follow her commands. "I need you to prepare the Arryn army to take King's Landing. I do not need you wasting your time at my wedding Yohn. There is no one I trust more than you to make the preparations. You are the leader of the Arryn army as you are so fond of telling me. Now lead it while I secure the men we need."

Royce put a hand on Kenna's shoulder and squeezed. "I am sorry it has come to this." He bowed and took his leave.

Kenna watched Lord Royce walk away from her in the direction of his own chambers. She turned back with the intention to flop onto her bed and sleep away her problems but when she turned she was met with the fiery eyes of Jasper Egen.

"You are to marry?" he asked quietly.

"Yes to a Frey of all people," Kenna said while passing Jasper to enter into her chambers and ready herself for bed.

Jasper followed her in waving his arms in frantic movements. "You can't marry a Frey, they are horrible people and below you."

"It can't be helped, we need their men," Kenna grumbled.

"Is that supposed to convince you or me?" Jasper pried.

Kenna stopped advancing into her bedroom as if the question had stunned her. "Neither what is done is done."

"You haven't married yet, call it off," Jasper said while grabbing Kenna's arm in desperation.

Kenna paused realising she was having this conversation in her bedroom and Jasper had just roughly grabbed her arm.

He quickly released it and apologised.

Kenna squared up to Jasper. "What is it to you Jasper, I am doing this to protect my house's future, to protect my peoples' future. I thought you would support that."

Jasper looked down towards his feet, "I …. I do. I just-"

His stuttering was silenced by Kenna placing her lips on Jaspers. His hands after a moment of hesitation moved to her waist as he parted his lips to let their tongues battle it out. He started to back Kenna towards the bed and Kenna complied with the movement. Kenna's legs hit the back of the bed and they fell down onto the bed together. Jasper still continued his assault on her lips as his hands started to roam around Kenna's body. She deepened the kiss and hooked her hands around Jasper's neck.

After a few seconds on the bed his senses return to him and he gently disengaged and took a step back leaving Kenna on the bed. His eyes were firmly inspecting the floor.

Kenna understood his decision. Honour before desires. He was a good man, a good subject. He was never destined to be a King. But neither was her future Frey husband, Kenna thought bitterly. Jasper would make a better husband, and a better King. There was no doubt in Kenna's mind on that point.

Kenna decided to give him the choice. "The Frey would join me in the Eyrie to rule with me as King of the Mountain and the Vale. You would still be my bodyguard though. We would still … have a lot of time alone, together."

The implication of adultery was clear but Jasper refused to entertain the idea of dishonouring Kenna. The honourable thing would be to remove the temptation.

"I am sorry your Grace but once you are married I think it would be for the best if we parted ways," Jasper said in a heavy voice.

Kenna nodded and didn't fight his refusal because she had expected this response. Jasper Egen was an honourable man he would never accept being a concubine. With sad eyes she watched as Jasper disappeared through her bedroom door.

She undressed and got under the covers of her bed enjoying the feeling of having the entire bed to herself. She didn't know how many more nights like this she might enjoy.


Authors Notes:

So more bodies are heading for the Twins, good thing weddings in Westeros are such peaceful affairs. -_-

I know I am a bit light on the romance so far but I don't think the story has involved many situations for me to write romance yet but I am sure that will change.

A new player has entered the game (well my game) and his name is Little Finger. I wonder what he will get up to?

FYI – I have changed the tags in the story. Switched out Catelyn for Robb Stark as he will be more involved in the story going forward.

Shout outs:

Guest/Marvelmyra – (I think this is the same person). Thanks for pointing out the grammar errors. I have fixed them now. As for the text enlargement don't you just press the A icon at the top of each chapter? I agree with the point about Catelyn's negotiation skills but I guess she was thinking as a mother in that moment. The point about Robb's surprise at Kenna accompanying the army is a) because it is simply not common in Westeros at all for a high born noble Lady to lead or accompany an army, and b) southern ladies in cannon normally avoid all things to do with war and are seen by those in the North as soft. Kenna is not Lysa's biological daughter but I think Lysa is still older than her by nearly a decade (Lysa is 32 at the beginning of Season 1/ 298AC Kenna is 24 years old). But as far as Kenna knows Robin is her half-brother and the rightful heir to the Arryn line as he is the only direct male descendent of Jon Arryn. I made her Queen over the Mountains :)

jean d'arc - Thanks for the review buddy! The next few chapters' feature Robb Stark quite heavily so I hope you enjoy what is about to come.

Please review and subscribe if you are enjoying the story :)

Next up: Two peaceful weddings where no blood is spilt and everyone leaves the building drunk but alive …. Okay two tense weddings and thousands of funerals might be a better summary.