Hi guys. I am back and I apologize.

I recently downloaded Grammarly for spell checking so there should be a bit of polish on these stories, tell me if it's doing alright or if it's the same.


Chapter 12: Bonds of Brotherhood


Robb

It had taken time but his army has finally made it to Ashemark, the small castle and village lay before his very eyes.

"Looking for a southern castle of your own?" He turned and saw his brother walking towards him, together they watched the town and castle.

The defenses set wasn't much to look at, no more than a few hundred at best. It won't take long to seize the town, its the castle that will take time to take if the defenders hold up in there. Greatjon has the Vanguard with Arthur as his second in the battle and will be the first to fight, those 2,000 should be more than enough to overcome the few hundred enemies there is.

"I am more worried for my mother, if she's made it to Bitterbridge and if she's successful or not." He muttered, Arthur nodded and crossed his arms.

"Lord Marbrand isn't manning his castle. So the men he left should be easy to convince to surrender, if not then it will be blood." Arthur assumed and he twitched and turned to him, giving off a disapproving look. Arthur shrugged when he noticed, "What?" He was asked.

"What? I won't have meaningless slaughter when those men could surrender. I will offer terms once we've taken the town."

Arthur huffed and turned on his feet and went the other way, angry with him over their preference of what to do after a battle is won. Just as he's argued with him since they've started this journey or justice, Arthur is just too much like that of what their uncle Brandon was, the wolf blood is strong and the passion is overwhelming. He too has had moments of such passion before when confronting Jaime.

He was shaken from his thoughts by Ser Rodrik Forrester, son of Lord Forrester.

"My King, you should get some rest. The battle is soon." He was told and he nodded, following the older boy to the camp.

Tomorrow is another battle to fight, more victory to gain.

Ashemark Castle

Harlington, Maester of House Marbrand and other than the Master-at-Arms is the highest in terms of power here in the castle.

His colleague, Ser Jon of Ashemark was with the 700 men in the streets, setting up defenses for the battle with the Northerners. He is currently housing the many residents within the town, and sending letters to Ashemarks neighbors in the Crag and Sarsfield, a week prior he sent a plea to Lord Tywin for assistance and received no replies.

The battle won't be won, not for them. He's trained as a Maester in many levels and Warcraft was one of them. The Northmen have ten times what they were left with when Lord Tywin called the banners, less so when Lord Stafford took three hundred to train at Oxcross.

"May the Seven bless us with some victory, and that Sarsfield or the Crag answers our call." He prayed, prayed for a light in this empty darkness.

Bitterbridge

It took a week and a half but she and her band of men made it to Bitterbridge, she saw the great army formed and the many campfires.

100,000 indeed. Renly has declared himself King, marrying the Lady Margaery Tyrell and gaining the support of the Reach. The Reach can gather the largest army in Westeros, second to the Riverlands and the Vale, it is also the most fertile of the Seven Kingdoms.

She was met with courtesy as she expected, though Ser Loras and Lady Brienne's stern comments and Ser Loras jests towards her son was uncalled for. She replied that Robb and his men are fighting a real war, not playing at one and shut the young man up and impressed even Renly.

She was given suitable quarters, a nice large tent. Not far from Renly's own lodgings, she is currently waiting to be called to speak. Renly had said that he wanted to pray, so she will not insist through the urge to go home and see her Bran and Rickon made her quite insistent.

In the lonesomeness she found her thoughts turning to her deceased husband, remembering how cold he was when they found his grave that boy dug for him. He was peaceful and had a smile upon his lips, she wept by his side for an entire night before Robb had him sent home and guarded by thirty of his best common soldiers and Lady Dustin's son.

What was surprising was that when this happened, she embraced Arthur for the very first time, thanking him for saving her husband despite leaving Sansa. After that, however, she returned to who she was and looked at him with indifference, just as she's always done.

There were times, years ago that she wished it were different. She wished that she'd treated the boys much kinder, shortly after Jon had survived a fatal illness and yet she couldn't keep her own promise. She couldn't get past the fact that Eddard, her husband had brought 'them' home instead of leaving them with the Daynes in Starfall.

Maybe once this war is finished, and she truly mourned will she give Jon and Arthur a real chance.

"Lady Stark?" She turned and saw Brienne, "The King will see you now." She nodded and got up, following Brienne to Renly's tent.

Stark Encampment

Mya has spent months already in combat, replacing and getting new armor to fight alongside Arthur. Though Lady Stark has made it hard, insisting she remains with her because of her blood ties to the King, even if she's a bastard she's valuable to someone.

Yet she defied her once, then again. She'll do it a hundred times to remain by his side, for better or for worse as she's told him.

He watched her as Gendry helped her into her battle-gear, Ashemark will be there's in an hour and she can see plenty of blood being spilled. What she worries for is Arthur, how this battle and the many more that will weigh on him.

Robb had cornered her one day before moving into the Westerlands, she was asked why Arthur has changed and how cold he's become since Lord Eddard died. She truthfully said that he's sworn to end the House of Lannister, down to the last infant and bastard which worried Robb greatly that even she was worried for what Arthur's to become after this war is fought.

She's tried, gods have she tried in the past weeks to curb her love's desire for blood. It wasn't enough, Arthur is too stuck in his way now.

"How does it fit? To have your own battle-gear? Better than replacing broken parts here and there." He said to her and got up from his bed, walking over to her and turning her towards him, looking at the doe etched onto the cloth over her chainmail.

"I love it. More so than I love the weapon given to me." She held up the double-sided war-ax, Iron-Wood handles and fine leather.

More could have been said, alas the war-horns blew for the formations to be made. She pulled him back when he tried to leave, kissing him fiercely while worrying about the fighting.

"You come back to me, got it? The moment you begin to falter I will be there to fight for you." She declared and walked out on him to find her own unit, with Lady Maege Mormont.

(PoV Switch)

Arthur watched her leave before him, all dedicated to winning this next battle.

Yes. He will always come back, no matter what.

"What does she mean? I never falter!" He debunked, Gendry merely shrugged while smirking like he knew more than him before walking out himself.

He followed after a moment to join Robb, getting on his horse and moving to where everyone was going.

War drums were beating hard, waking the entirety of Ashemark for the upcoming battle for control. Robb placed his helm on, he and many others within Robbs royal guard did the same. Soon enough the battle began, GreatJon Umber riding down the hill and into the enemy.

Like many battles, he and Robb followed suit riding down the hill after the hundred before and into the thickness of the fighting. He threw a spear at one man attempting to get on a horse, unsheathing his sword he cut down another trying to flee the battle with a bow.

It was a bloodbath when he lost his horse and tumbled into the dirt, quickly going into a frenzy with Dusk following him. He doesn't really remember how many he cut down but it wasn't a low number. Before long they were laying siege the castle, men climbing the ladders and trebuchets launching fiery pitch at the men above.

The commander of the outside forces said their neighbors will aid them, and push his brother back to the cold north. It's been well over two hours since then, and no sign of these allies have come to Ashemarks aid. He bragged about it, forcing the commander to his knees in front of the castle despite Robb and others insisting that he doesn't.

Before...

"What are you doing?!" He was asked, Robb had forced him to look him in the eye. He was currently walking towards the gates, to force open the gates.

"Oh Brother, just a walk." He tried to leave again and was pulled back, this time a bit more forcefully.

"I said this was done. The blind murder and terror won't achieve victory." He scowled then, glancing at Mya who was wiping the blood from her ax. "Arthur. I said I would give them terms so they may surrender peacefully, and shedding more blood won't help our cause!" He was shouted on, and his anger was slowly rising as a result until he could not help but speak out.

"... What do you mean to accomplish here? Brother." He asked lowly, avoiding his brothers gaze for a few moments.

"Arthur, I mean to get justice for our family- " He is done hearing this, finished with it.

"And how will this justice get done?! Huh!" His strong voice began to gain traction, many were listening to them argue. "You said we were here to seek justice, said our fathers and the fathers of many Northmen would be avenged and what does the King in the North do? Offer peace, sparing the lives of thousands who would sooner have us and all our families wiped from the face of Westeros like the Targaryens!"

His argument made a few men agree with him, Robb and many from the Houses of Umber, Mormont, Forrester, Glover, and Cerwyn were against him. Some men with House Bolton, Karstark, and Ryswell on their chests were with him on how it should be done. All while the enemy defenders were throwing their allied soldiers from the walls, he could see that things were splintering and so could Robb from his expression.

"I won't say it again. Stand down." Robb didn't want to make a scene, he believes a scene is exactly what needs to happen.

"If I am your brother, trust me. You'll get your castle." Was the last thing he said, as he and Robb eyed one another.

At the end he walked on, to force these people to open their gates. Yet he can sense that something has changed, between him and Robb.

Now...

"Whoever commands this castle! Step forward!" His brother doesn't like these tactics on getting victory, but they aren't here to win the hearts of people in the south.

They are here to conquer, nothing more and nothing less.

"It is I, you brigands! Let the commander go!" It was a Maester. Good picking on the Lord's end, but it won't stop him.

"I'll let him go when you surrender, open the gates and no more men will die." The Maester was wearing a strong face, impressive from a man that reads books all day, gods he hates Maester's. "Think of it, old man. We do battle, take your castle and kill your soldiers; what happens after, Hm? What happens to the children, or worse the women, some of the men in our army aren't so honorable and would love to spend a night with those noblewomen after the fight." He threatened the man and again the cretin huffed, so high and noble.

"Our allies are coming! You will be ran out of the Golden Tooth by sundown!" So his plan failed, and he made himself out like an arse to Robb.

The whole allies threats are shite, he knows it and everyone knows it. The bulk of Tywin's army is with him at Harrenhal and lives are being made a hell of by the Blackfish and Lord Edmure, any force that the Westerlands could marshal would make a few thousand at most. Or from what Luwin had taught him and the others back home, no friends will push him and Robb out anytime soon unless Tywin decides to come home.

"Arthur, it's done. Let the army do the rest." Robb yelled back to him, he didn't want to admit it but he was right.

(PoV Switch)

A small smile graced his lips, glad when his brother began walking back to him with his insanity forgotten from before.

Roose Bolton and GreatJon said an example has to be made, that Arthur's outburst and his inaction was a sign of weakness. He told them to shut it and be prepared to fight because he saw himself that this wouldn't bring victory and his brother was right on a few things back there.

He knew what he was getting himself into when he decided to make war for justice, and then for the independence of the North and Riverlands. He has to be ready to spill blood, has to be willing to make hard decisions as Arthur's done with Stafford and now even despite it be the wrong one.

Arguments between him and Arthur were always rare, unlike with Jon who would be riled up once in a while. He remembered when he, Theon and Arthur were playing together in the Godswood; re-enacting wars between the Andals and Northmen where he was Theon the Hungry Wolf and Arthur was his banner-men fighting Theon but he and Arthur were at odds.

They both wanted to be the King in the North, it made a huge ruckus and ended when he told Arthur that he was a true Stark. Arthur didn't speak to him for almost a week, no three weeks as he remembered and felt terrible because he said the same to Jon once before.

He ended up being too proud and it took their father to force him to apologize, then it was all better and he and Arthur forgot the conflict.

But this was war, and their father isn't here to stop the arguing anymore. They'll have to work it out or the Brotherhood that was forged long ago when they were born will end, and he won't let that happen.

"Arthur! Look out!" Mya screamed out and brought him out of his thoughts.

Arthur was walking back when an arrow hit him in his back, a sword was thrown to the enemy prisoner who went to kill his brother. The wolves were nowhere, hunting it seems. He ran as fast as he could, unsheathing his sword once more after cleaning it and clashed steel with the bastard and disarmed the commander before digging the sword into his gullet, "Attack!" He shouted for the battle to resume.

And this time, he intends for it to be bloody. No one wounds his brother and lives.

Storm's End

It took three days, word came that Stannis Baratheon was marching on Renly's seat and she accompanied the King, his wife, and more than 20,000 mounted lances to defend his home from his brother.

She thought this was all nonsense, brothers shouldn't fight one another and should instead ally and fight together.

When the parlay took place, it was simply a shouting match until she tried to intervene and say exactly what she was thinking. Instead, she was berated for not making her son follow Stannis when it was Eddard who chose the stern mans side before his death.

Yet she lost her husband because of this squabble over who will rule Westeros, she might have one daughter but the other is still captive and she won't stop until Sansa is freed. Which brings her to a choice, a choice that Petyr Baelish had given her before leaving Bitterbridge.

Terms were brought to them about a trade; Jaime for Sansa. She is tempted, gods she's tempted to hand the Kingslayer back to his family for her daughter. She'll plead once more to Robb when she gets back, or if Renly decides to side with the North then she might not need to trade, they'll have Sansa back after taking King's Landing and the Red Keep.

Now she goes to meet Renly once more, to solidify this alliance.

"So you swear it?" Renly asked her, raising his glass to his lips.

"By the Mother, Robb has no intentions for the Iron Throne." She stated, declared being the right word for it.

"And what of my bastard niece? She is intimate with that bastard of your husbands, is he not? Would the bastard follow like many before and attempt to rise in his low station? I hear he is called the Dread Wolf, an ominous name for a bastard." She found herself angry with Renly, for calling Arthur a bastard so callously and without care.

The King is southern indeed, with all the coldness she was raised with.

"Arthur means only to see justice for House Stark and the North, nothing more. Lady Mya is 'together' with him, she has no eyes for any rise in station neither." She defended and was surprised with herself, "Now are we in agreement? Will you and my son ally?" She asked Renly who smirked while setting his cup down.

"Very well, your son may go on calling himself King in the North. He'll have dominion over all lands North of Moat Cailin granted he pledges to me an oath of fealty." Now he wants Robb to swear allegiance? She grew red with frustration, narrowing her eyes.

"And the wording of this oath- " She was cut off.

"The same oath Lord Stark swore to Robert eighteen years ago." He demanded and continued on, "Catelyn. Their friendship held the Kingdoms together, their brotherhood helped defeat the Targaryens during the rebellion." He detailed and she thought on it before speaking.

"And in return for my son's loyalty?" She asked and the King was smiling again.

"In the morning I will destroy my brother's army after that's done Baratheon and Stark will combine to destroy their common enemy together, as they have done many times before and won't change." Renly said to her and walked over to the mirror where Brienne helped him out of his armor.

"Our two houses have always been close. Which is why I am urging you to reconsider this battle- Negotiate with your brother." She attempted to stop this madness one more time, just as she tried to stop it when Ned was asked to be Hand of the King.

"Negotiate with Stannis?! I have a better chance of debating the wind." Renly turned back to her, a hopeful gaze on his face, "Please bring my terms to your son, I believe we are natural allies and before long we'll have this war won in a fortnight."

After that came the wind, then the King dying by a beast made of shadow and then chaos.

Ashemark

He didn't know when he woke, but he did know that they've won the battle.

Robb, Mya, Gendry and many others plus Grey Wind, Dusk and Lady were in the room. He tried to get up but groaned in pain, he was shamed. An arrow of all things wounded him, might as well been a fireball spell that Bran pretended to throw at him though it was simply a snowball.

"Oh, Thank the gods you're awake. I told you not to be stupid!" Mya said to him as she and Robb helped him get into a sitting position. Mya then took his hand, gripping it like he might disappear at any moment.

"How long has the battle been over?" He asked. Gendry answered back to him.

"Almost three days, you landed on your head and was unconscious." He cursed himself, should wear that helmet instead of hurrying to take it off.

The silence was deafening, Robb cleared out the room beside the wolves and Mya. He and Robb stared at one another for a long time, no anger like before but more apologetic than anything.

"I'm sorry- " They both said, stopping in the shock because they are both proud- Always were.

"Robb, I shouldn't have questioned you. If it wasn't for my anger then, then I wouldn't be in this mess." He gestured to himself. Robb ended up shaking his head, disagreeing with him.

"No. If I had just seized this place with a sword instead of trying to be a good King, then you wouldn't have been injured." Robb said and sat down, he looked down and began to chuckle, getting confused looks from both Mya and his brother, "What's so funny?" He was asked by Robb.

"I'm just thinking of what father is thinking of us, arguing like children." He muttered, and his brother hummed in a response.

"Probably thinking how much of a pair of fools we're being, that we are brothers no matter what surname we have. 'You are brothers, blood makes it so. So no more fighting.' Laughs." He chuckled along and put it another thing their father said to them.

"Or 'If you don't stop, you'll be working in the stables with Hodor for a week.'... " Silence warmed it's way in once more where he actually found himself tearing up a bit, a rarity for him. "I know, you want to do things right for Sansa's benefit, and I want her back too yet I can't get over my hatred for House Lannister, but... I will try."

"And I will help every step of the way, and as you've said to many: A Wolf is as Strong as it's Pack. That means we have to be strong." Robb said back to them, "But being together isn't working, so I am sending you back North." He was shocked, what happened to make him do this.

"Why?" He asked slowly, fighting back his frustration.

"Your tracking and hit and run tactics work best in the woods, there are plenty in the Riverlands where all the Lannister are." Robb got up, handing him a letter, "I am giving you 500 men, to do with as you please and work with the Blackfish." His brother added.

"What about the King of the Reach? Will Renly fight with us?" He wanted to know if this war will drag out or quicken to its end, Robb shook his head with a solemn face.

"Renly was assassinated, my mother is coming back in a few days and will meet me at the Crag. You'll be in the Riverlands before that." He didn't want to argue it out, didn't have the strength or will for it and instead just nodded.

"Then this is farewell until then, fight well brother."

"You too, brother."


A/N: I know I've been gone for a long time, been playing a game I've wanted to try for some time: Attack on Titan 2 and I actually want to make a story about the Unnamed Hero character and I've also watched both seasons of AoT. Might I add, though the story is sad by the end and I hope they keep the original character story in the next game, that and the wait for season 3 of Attack on Titan too, so many good things are coming.

But I will try to get to writing on these as much as possible. I promise.

Silver Crow, They spent quite a bit making that bond, it'll take a lot to destroy it. Yeah, he'll definitely be saying that.

GoT Fan, He knows House Stark faces extinction if they lose, he doesn't want to be responsible for the destruction of his mothers House, not that House Dayne won't be participating it will just be awhile.

Guest, Very true. An example being that Genghis Khan's DNA is spread throughout the world. House Hoare has spent quite a few years spreading themselves around, the Riverlands is no exception.

Taurus Ara Black, Thank you glad you like it.

Darkstel, The cover story is that Jon's mother is Ashara, his mother is in fact Lyanna Stark.