Stranded
Chapter 14
White Harbor…..
As Robert took the seat across the table he took a moment to scrutinize his friend. His friend had gotten older but, he still kept his figure. It had seemed that the North had been good to him, more so, than the south had been to himself. Ned poured out him a goblet of Arbor Gold and toasted him.
"To Jon Arryn." Ned said.
"To Jon Arryn." Robert replied.
Both men took a moment to sip their drink and digest the fact that Jon Arryn was gone. He had raised both of them in the Eyrie and they owed everything to him. When both raised their banner against the mad king, Jon Arryn didn't even bat an eye when he asked for their help. He raised every knight he could find to help his sons out, for even though Robert and Ned were not his blood, they were nevertheless his family.
"How did he die?" Ned asked.
Robert slumped his shoulders.
"Pycelle says it was of old age and the coughing sickness. He had caught the sickness two moons ago but, Pycelle couldn't said he was too far gone. "
"How did he get the coughing sickness?"
"He had been out in Flea Bottom with Stannis. They were inspecting the sewer systems and how to make it better."
Ned nodded. It was a plausible explanation but, the Arryn's were of hearty stock. For all the years he had been with him, he had never seen Jon Arryn with more than a common cold. Something about his death just didn't seem right with Ned.
"Did you have the body examined?"
"I tried. I sent for the Maester from Storms End but, by the time he arrived. Lady Lysa had already gone to the Eryie to bury him."
"So, you suspect foul play as well?"
Robert sighed.
"Aye, it was either foul play or straight out incompetence. I wouldn't put both past Pycelle."
"If that was so, why do you tolerate him?"
Robert took another drink before answering.
"It was the price that we paid for Lannister support. A Lannister bride and a Lannister Voice on the small council. I chose the voice that made the least sound. Pycelle may be in Tywin's pocket but, has basically no say in the realm other than being the royal physician. Atleast, that was what Jon Arryn thought."?
Ned shook his head before taking another sip of his wine. He couldn't fault Jon for keeping Pycelle on the council because when it came down to it Robert was right. Giving Pycelle the grand maester position allowed him to listen in council meetings and gave him a modicum amount of power but, it didn't give him the manpower to do anything else.
"So what are you going to do?" Ned asked.
"You know what I'm going to do. I'm going to ask you to be my Hand. To help me rule the kingdom as you have ruled the North all these years. "
"I figured you would ask that."
"You would be a fool not to figure that out. Now that Jon Arryn is gone, you're the only left that I trust. So, will you, Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell be the hand of the King?"
"Aye, I'll be your hand. I've been watching your back since I was a child. I'm not going to stop now."
"Good." Robert said while toasting his friend.
As they toasted, a knock was heard at the door.
"Enter." Ned said.
The door opened letting in a trio of servants.
"My King, Lord Manderly suggested we bring in a midday meal before the feast. Seeing as the feast won't be until nightfall."
Robert smiled. He would have to commend Lord Manderly on his household. It seemed that the merman was a more thoughtful host than he first thought.
"Very well, come in." Robert said.
As soon as he commanded them to enter. Several platters of food were laid out on the table. There were clams from the bay, roasted chicken from the farms, and beef in a stew that Robert had never seen before.
"What is this Ned?"
"It's a curry from Essos. It is quiet spicy, so I'd take a sip of the broth before you dive in."
"Essos?" Robert asked before taking a spoonful of broth and enjoying the tongue numbing spice that accompanied it.
"Aye, the North has changed since you last saw it. Almost two of every ten Northerners now come from Essos. They came here with their customs, their languages, and their food. As long as they follow northern laws, I have no problem with making them Northern Citizens."
Robert ate the food and he loved it. It was so different from what he was used to in Kings Landing. He was enjoying his food so much that he almost didn't press his next question.
"Hmm, are they the reason you have such a big army?" Robert tried to ask non challantly.
Ned sighed.
"Ahh, I guess as your hand I'm honor bound to answer your question."
Robert gives him a nod.
"Well, let me tell you how it all started. It all started after the rebellion…."
White Harbor
House Mormont Mansion
Dacey smiled as an almost two year old Tiberius Mormont barreled into her arms. He had missed the little rascal since she had last seen him. She loved her two boys but, they were now past that small baby stage that she loved so much. As she picked up the little scoundrel, she couldn't help but toss him in the air. Toddlers were so much fun at this age.
"Gamma." Dacey smiled at her nickname. Little Tiberius was a smart child and even though he could speak many words, he often regressed to the name he had given her as a baby.
"How are you little Ty?"
"Good. He smiled cheekily at her."
"You want to play hide and seek with me. " He said with the most adorable eyes.
"I don't know. You don't look like you know how to hide and seek."
"I do, I do." He said getting excited.
"Okay, why don't you go hide and in I'll count to one hundred before I go get you."
Dacey let him on the ground and the moment his feet touched the floor, he was off.
"A hundred?" Tyrion said when he sat down next to her.
Dacey laughed.
"Why not give the kid a fighting chance."
Tyrion laughed along with her.
"Tell me if you need any help. I know where his best hiding spots are."
Dacey smiled before dawning a more serious look.
"I saw you talking with Lord Tywin today. How was it?"
"It was less complicated than I thought. Honestly, it was a bit awkward. While I will always see Jaime as a brother, Lord Tywin ceased to be my father a long time ago. You and Jim are really the only parents I think about."
Dacey smiled at him before patting him on the arm.
"I don't know how much of a parent I was to you. You are only twelve years younger than me."
Tyrion laughed.
"You as well as I know that parenting isn't about age. It's about the person who takes care of you when you're sick, who teaches you the difference between right and wrong, and most importantly, the person who believes in you when the whole world thinks you're a worthless dwarf."
Dacey almost sheds a tear before forgetting that Mormont women don't cry.
"Thank you but, you give both of us too much credit. You were a good kid before me and Jim ever got our hands on you."
Tyrion was about to retort when a very Irate Tiberius started shouting.
"Gamma, are you at a hundred yet?"
Dacey let out a huge laugh.
"I am, and you just gave away your position."
Tyrion and Dacey hear the patter of little feet as its owner desperately tries to find another hiding spot.
Dacey gives Tyrion a hug before heading towards the noise.
"Whatever happens, don't let him get to you. Blood or not, you are a Mormont. And we don't let stuck up Lannisters get to us." She told him.
Tyrion watches his adopted mother scurry through his household and smiled. For all his faults and all his arrogance, Jim Mormont had given him something he could never get at Casterly Rock… he had given him a family.
White Harbor
Gardens overlooking the sea…
The queen sat down and enjoyed her midday meal in the gardens. The gardens here were a pleasant surprise for Cersei. At first she thought she had been dreaming when she first came here. All around her were flowers and fountains that bespoke the kind of wealth the north and the Manderly's had command of. All her life her maesters and septas always told her that the North was a waste, an inhospitable land populated by barbarians but, to look at this place destroyed all such myths. All around here were paved roads, flowered gardens, and houses as big as those of Lannisport. The North was wealthy and it wasn't afraid to show it.
As she drunk her wine the scent of lavender perfume wafted through her nostrils. She only knew of one man who smelled like this and this man was barely a man at all.
"What have you learned Lord Varys?'
"I have learned plenty my queen. Tell me what you want to know?"
"I want to know of Sansa. The Northern maid."
"Ahhh, the rose of the North. They say she is the prettiest maid to ever bear the Stark name."
"Yes, she is a pretty little bird, isn't she? Tell me Vary's, what do the people say about her?"
"They say she is kind and generous. They also say that she is very much a lady, unlike her sister."
Cersei smirked. She had heard about the youngest stark daughter. It was said she was being trained by her brothers to fight for the North. Cersei smiled wondering how a prude like Catelyn Tully could handle such a northern beast.
"So, she will make a good bride then?"
"By all accounts, yes. Although, a good bride for Prince Joffrey, I think not."
Cersei puts down her goblet with some force. Did these Northerners think they were too good for Joffrey?!
"Explain yourself." Cersei commanded.
"I'm afraid my queen that Sansa Stark is already betrothed. She was betrothed to the Bolton boy two days ago and knowing Ned Stark, she'll stay betrothed to him."
Cersei growls.
"Not if I have to say anything about it. How do we break this betrothal?"
Lord Varys looks at his queen and ponders his next words.
"Well, my queen. There is one way to break the betrothal but, I don't think it is advisable."
"Tell me."
"Well, it seems Lady Sansa's betrothed has entered the octagon tournament."
"The octagon tournament?"
"It is the way, the northerners award their queen of love and beauty?"
"The queen of love and beauty is determined by the winner of the joust." Cersei said.
"Not in the North my queen. Here the winner of the octagon crowns the queen of love and beauty."
"What is this octagon?'
"To put it simply, it is an unarmed fight where anything goes. Two fighters enter an eight sided ring and only one winner leaves. There are only three ways to leave the octagon. By submission, by knockout, or by death." Varys said.
The moment Varys explained the octagon Cersei smiled. She knew exactly how to end this betrothal.
"Thank you Lord Varys. It has seemed you earned your keep again. You are dismissed." Cersei said.
"Of course my queen, have a good evening." Varys said before leaving.
When Varys left her sight, she motioned for one of the Lannister guards to come to her.
"You there. Get me Gregor Clegane." Cersei said.
Damn, I took an hour and a half to write this and I could read it in less then four minutes. Dialogue chapters are such quick reads. Well, as always, please review. It helps keep the writers mojo going.