It had been a full day since they had smashed the Lannisters across the Red Fork, and for hours, the men had celebrated loudly and raucously, as was their right after such a great victory. Alyssa did not join them, instead hovering outside Maester Vyman's chambers, and eager for news of her brother. Eventually, her uncle pulled her away, and told her bluntly that she would do more harm than good by distracting the maester and that she should find something to distract herself.
Walking through the courtyard of Riverrun as if in a daze, unsure of what to do now, the clash of steel drew her attention to the smithy, where a sword was currently being beaten out on an anvil. The sight of the glowing blade caused her to almost unconsciously reach to her waist, where Bloodclaw hung once again, Alyssa having retrieved it from the side of the unconscious Lord Jason after the battle. She then frowned upon touching the blade when she remembered that her own sword was still shattered after its encounter with Ser Jaime and his Valyrian sword.
Come to think of it, that's something I could do while I'm here.
Stepping inside the smithy, she sat on a barrel and patiently waited until the smith had placed the sword into a cooling trough before she moved to speak with him. The blacksmith, a man of nearly fifty who had served Riverrun all his life, looked up and saw her, his face breaking into a grin.
"Lady Alyssa, I haven't seen you in years."
Alyssa smiled. "And it's good to see you too, master smith."
The blacksmith waved his hand derisively. "Please, I'm nowhere near a master. Now what is it you want, my lady?" Instead of responding, Alyssa swung the sword off her back and placed it in front of him, scabbard and all. The smith had a good memory, and he recognised the weapon in an instant. "I remember this blade" he said, stroking the hilt fondly. "This is the sword Lord Hoster had me forge for your nameday; you were turning six and ten. Seven above, that must have been nearly ten years ago."
Alyssa nodded. "Nine, and it served me well for all that time, especially at Pyke. Hopefully" at this she drew the sword and the smith gasped when he saw it ended halfway up the blade. "You can remake it as well."
The smith gasped and took the hilt in his fingers, turning the weapon around and examining the point where the blade had separated. "I don't understand it, I forged this myself. Unless you've been slaying stones, nothing should be able to break it this cleanly, it may not be Valyrian steel but it's as damn close to it as possible.. How did this happen?"
Alyssa winced. "I had a run in with the Kingslayer, and River's Edge came off second best this" she gestured to Bloodclaw, hanging from her belt when by all rights, River's Edge should be at her side instead. She flicked the guard, and for an instant Bloodclaw lifted in its sheath, an inch of blade flashing and revealing the crimson Valyrian steel.
Experienced enough to know the material by sight, the old smith sucked in a breath. "Well. That would do it, I'm not ashamed to admit my steel can't match the work of Old Valyria. Do you have the other half?" Alyssa turned the scabbard upside down and the other shard fell out onto his bench. Taking it up, he examined it carefully.
Alyssa was anxious. "Can you mend it?"
He was silent for a second before he answered. "I can, but this isn't as simple as hammering the two bits together. This will take hours, if not days, and will require my personal attention. Sadly, my lady, before he rode out to fight, your brother ordered that the soldiers have their weapons and armor repaired first, but I swear, as soon as I can, I will begin work on this. There will be more songs about this sword yet, don't you worry about that." Heart lightened, Alyssa left the smithy, bidding farewell to the craftsman, who had carefully placed the broken pieces back in the scabbard and placed them aside, before going back to work on a spear point.
As she passed the maester's quarters, Maester Vyman came out; cleaning his bloody hands on a towel, and Alyssa felt her heart leap into her throat. "He lives, my lady. The leg is set, and he will heal cleanly. However, he must stay abed for days, and it will be weeks before he can ride again.
Alyssa sank to her knees and sent a prayer of thanks to the Mother for her mercy. "Thank you, Maester Vyman. Thank you."
The old man just smiled. "It's my duty to serve the Lord of Riverrun, my lady and the Lord of Riverrun commanded me to heal his son. But you are welcome nonetheless." Alyssa bowed and left, moving to find someone to practice with so she could release some emotion. It was nearing dusk when a servant came to tell her that Edmure had called for a meeting in the Great Hall. Tossing her wooden sword to one of the unfortunate squires who manned the practice yard, she headed into the keep, to hear what her brother had to say.
The Great Hall of Riverrun was packed full of knights, lords, servants, guards and prisoners. Edmure, pale but alive sat at the head of the hall, in the high seat of the Tullys, where her father had sat and his father before him. His lords bannermen stood closest, a group of around ten who commanded the full military might of the Riverlands. At his right hand stood Brynden Tully, himself having only recently left his chambers after having his leg wound treated. The space to Edmure's direct left was left open for her evidently, given the looks that were given to her as she entered. Next to her was Ser Ryman Frey, representing his elderly grandfather in place of his father, drowned in the Red Fork. The weasel-faced man stood nervously next to her squire Olyvar and his sister Roslin. The space on Ser Ryman's opposite was empty, reserved for Jason Mallister, still unconscious after his battle with the Mountain with Maester Vyman as yet unable to say whether he would live.
Large Jonos Bracken next to another gap, the place of the absent Tytos Blackwood, a Lannister prisoner. Karyl Vance, newly made Lord of Wayfarer's Rest after his father's death at Riverhold, nervous at being included among the high lords of the Riverlands, stood next to Ser Marq Piper, representing his absent father who had been Alyssa's right hand during that same engagement. As Alyssa slid past Ser Ryman and took her place, she briefly scanned the hall.
Six they were, including Edmure, six of the most powerful and influential figures on the Trident, and Alyssa felt honoured to be part of their company. A short distance behind them, Tully guards in blue and red tunics and fish-crest helms guarded a group of notable Lannister prisoners. Behind them stood countless knights, servants, smallfolk and squires, packing the hall to be part of this historic moment, when for the first time in centuries, the Riverlords had driven away the massed power of Casterly Rock and forced the Warden of the West into retreat.
Utherydes Wayn looked around to see that all were present, and then to his lord for permission, which a nod granted, before striking his iron shod staff on the floor three times. "Silence for Ser Edmure Tully, acting Lord of Riverrun!" The hall quietened, and Edmure called for his sword, which Ser Robin Ryger, Riverrun's greying captain of the guards, delivered, Edmure drawing it from the sheath slowly and placing it on his knees.
Her brother took a breath, and then began. "My lords, my ladies, we are gathered here today, to thank those responsible for driving away Lord Tywin and freeing us from the Lannister siege. All men at arms, knights and lords who fought in that battle honoured themselves and their Houses, but there is one in particular who deserves special mention."
Utherydes boomed out "Let Lady Alyssa Tully of Riverhold stand forward!" Alyssa felt all eyes in the hall upon her as she moved forward, and Ser Ryman stepped aside until she was standing in front of her brother's chair, nervous at all this attention.
Edmure spoke again. "My lords, this woman, my own sister, not only devised the stratagem that led to us shattering the Lannister army and forcing Lord Tywin to retreat, but she personally led the attack on Ser Jaime's army and captured him under the walls of her own castle. Alyssa, on behalf of our father, House Tully and the Riverlands, I thank you. Father truly knew what he was doing when he named you Warden. What reward would you ask of House Tully for your services?"
Inwardly, Alyssa gritted her teeth, this was the crucial moment. All the planning, the battle, and their alliance with the Freys could unravel in the next few moments if Edmure didn't understand his role in the mummer's farce she was playing out. "My lord brother, I am grateful for your appreciation, but there is no need to thank me. I am a Tully, my lord, my family was under attack so I did my duty."
Edmure opened his mouth to speak again, but Alyssa cut him off, causing many to frown, but she didn't care. It was vital that she get this right, if she didn't wish Lord Walder to become an enemy of Riverrun. "If you wish to reward someone, my lord brother, then reward our loyal and valiant bannermen of House Frey, for without Frey men to bolster our ranks, we never could have smashed the eastern camp. Nor could we have defeated the Mountain without loyal Frey men to hold the line, which they did, even though it cost Lord Walder's son and heir, Ser Stevron, his life.
Privately, Alyssa despised this mummer's farce, but understood the necessity of it. With Ser Stevron's death, Ser Ryman had to be reassured that his father's sacrifice had not gone unnoticed, that House Frey had not been forgotten. Alyssa jerked her thoughts back to the present as her brother was grasping his beard in thought.
"Very well." He nodded to Utherydes again, and understanding his wish, Riverrun's steward raised his voice again.
"Ser Ryman Frey, come forward." Ser Ryman moved forward, accompanied by Olyvar and Roslin, causing some eyebrows to be raised, Edmure's among them. Nevertheless, her brother soldiered on regardless.
"Ser Ryman. The House of Frey has served House Tully well this day, saving the lives of thousands. On behalf of House Tully, I ask you as your father's representative, is there any boon House Frey would ask of House Tully for its aid this day?"
Inwardly, Ser Ryman smiled, as if he had hooked a particularly stubborn fish. "Lord Edmure, when Lady Alyssa came to my lord grandfather's castle asking for our aid to drive the Lannisters from the Riverlands, something she said struck a chord with my lord grandfather and my own father. House Frey failed Lord Hoster on the Trident, we were too slow to aid him in battle.
But one mistake does not define our House, and Lady Alyssa offered us a chance to redeem the honour of House Frey, to show our fellow Riverlords that House Frey has turned over a new leaf, that no longer will we extort our liege lords for service and loyalty that rightfully belongs to them."
He stopped speaking and gestured Olyvar forward, who many recognised as Alyssa's squire, and who was very nervous at speaking to the acting Lord Paramount of the Trident in front of the assembled lords and knights of the Riverlands. "To…to seal this new loyalty, my lord, my lord father humbly asks that you do House Frey the great honor of taking my sister Roslin."He beckoned her forward, and she, very shyly, approached as Olyvar continued, "as your wife, to symbolise the turning point in the relationship between Houses Tully and Frey by uniting both in marriage, in the light of the Seven."
Edmure frowned for a second, this was a surprise to him, but he had been effectively trapped, after promising the Freys a boon, he could not deny them in front of all his people, there was no way to do so without appearing dishonourable and ungrateful. Looking over to where his sister was trying to hide a smile, his temper rose as he wondered what possible reason Alyssa could have had for effectively forcing him to wed a weasel-faced Frey, until he saw her subtly jerking her head in the direction of his prospective bride.
Having given the girl no more than a cursory glance when she came forward previously, he focused his gaze on Roslin Frey and he instantly forgave Alyssa for effectively arranging his marriage with this beauty as his frown turned to a smile. "It would be my honor to take Lady Roslin as my wife, provided she consents."
All eyes turned to her, and Roslin Frey spoke, if nervously, well for a girl of six and ten. "I do, my lord. It would be my pleasure to be your wife."
Edmure smiled again. "Then I agree, although it may be best to wait a moon or so for the marriage until I am able to do my duty." he said resentfully, looking at his leg, bound to a stick by Maester Vyman to ensure it set straight. The hall fell silent for a moment, before Edmure took a deep breath and continued. "Well. Now that is settled, let us proceed with less pleasant business."
Utherydes cracked his staff on the ground. "Bring the prisoners forward!"
Two men moved slowly forward, restricted by their chains. Tully guards flanked them, spears raised and swords drawn, ready to cut down any that tried to escape or fight. Alyssa didn't recognise either of them, but from the sigils and the finer quality of their armor, she made them to be Lannister notables, a lord and a knight, and as Utherydes read out their names, she easily put Houses to them, prisoners from the previous day's fighting.
Lord Dennis Plumm. The fierce fighting of the previous day had completely driving speaking to him from Alyssa's mind. And Ser Flement Brax, heir to Hornvale. The third son of Lord Andros was heir to his family's seat now due to the deaths of his father at Riverhold and older brother, Robert at the Camps. Few they may be, but they were the lords or heirs of powerful seats in the West, and they were not the only prisoners the Tullys had. Alyssa's own dungeons were filled with captives taken at Riverhold. Gawen Westerling, Lord of the Crag. Cleos and Tion Frey, first and third born sons of Genna Lannister and Emmon Frey. Tytos Brax, the new Lord of Hornvale. Quenten Banefort, Lord of the Banefort. Ser Garth Greenfield, Knight of Greenfield. Regenard Estren, Lord of Wyndhall. And of course, the crown jewel in the collection, Ser Jaime Lannister himself, Lord Tywin's beloved son and heir.
They were the lucky ones, the ones who had been fast enough to yield or lucky enough to survive somehow. Others weren't so fortunate. Lord Serrett had been slain at the Camps, along with Lord Lewys Lydden of the Deep Den and Willem Lannister, Lord Tywin's nephew killed personally by Alyssa at Riverhold. And of course, the infamous "Mountain Who Rides" had been slain by the Lord of Seagard in single combat during the previous day's Battle of the Woods, shattering the Lannister morale. The prisoners stood in front of Edmure's chair and he looked down at them, hand clenching on the hilt of the sword that clearly signified his denial of their guest right. "My lords Lannister. Welcome to Riverrun. If you will pledge me your word of honor, before this assembly and your fellow Westerners, that you will not attempt to escape, then I shall keep you in accommodations appropriate for men of your station."
Edmure looked at Lord Dennis and Ser Flement, but both remained silent, the latter with a confident smirk. "As you wish. Escort them to the dungeon, and ensure they are well guarded." He turned to the assembled lords of the Trident. "When this session is over, my lords, see Utherydes to discuss where you will keep your share of the prisoners, once Lady Alyssa brings hers to Riverrun, and how they will be divided up. Ser Jaime will of course remain a guest of Riverrun when he arrives."
The hall burst out into applause at the idea of the Kingslayer being in Riverrun's dungeons, and Edmure decided this was a good time to end the session, it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the exertion of holding court had weakened him, he really still should be resting, and Maester Vyman had sternly told him so before he left the maester's chambers.
He nodded to Utherydes, and the steward crashed his iron shod staff on the floor three times. "In the name of the Lord Paramount of the Trident, I declare this session closed." Firmly, the guards escorted the prisoners from the hall, prodding them with the butts of their spears. Edmure rose from his chair, face pale, ignoring the litter that he had been carried into the room on, as to not look weak in front of his lords. He started to walk out, but it was clearly a strain on his leg, and he collapsed, causing murmurs among the crowd.
Alyssa decided it was time to take a hand in forming the opinion of the sheep before it became unfavourable towards her brother. "My lord brother, there's no shame in using the litter. Your wound comes from defending our homes and your people, when you could have hidden in Riverrun. I think I speak for all here when I say that that none of us will judge you if you need to be carried back to the maester's chambers, the fact that you were able to hold court the day after you nearly died is proof enough of your devotion to the Riverlands, don't you think?"
She addressed the last part of her statement, and many voices responded. "Aye!" Edmure smiled, and collapsed into his chair, signalling the guards to lift him into the litter, which they then hoisted onto their shoulders and turned to leave the hall.
Edmure's raised hand stopped them. "As you can see, my lords…and ladies, I am still not fully healed from my injury on the battlefield yesterday, and may be under Maester Vyman's care for some time. Therefore… while my father is ill and I am unable to fulfil my duties as his heir… my sister, Lady Alyssa Tully of Riverhold… will be named acting Lady Paramount of the Trident. If she is unavailable or injured, my uncle, Ser Brynden Tully will be in charge. I trust they will do their best for the Riverlands, and I trust…you will all serve them as loyally as you do me, until I am ready to take up my responsibilities…once again. The people filling the hall nodded, and Edmure sighed with relief, slumped back into the litter, and signalled for the guards to take him away, and they left, heading for the maester's chambers where Edmure was no doubt in for a scolding from Maester Vyman.
Alyssa meanwhile, was feeling almost every eye in the hall on her and Brynden as they filed out, but with great strain she maintained her composure, refusing to let her inner conflict show in front of the lords. She was overwhelmed not with her new responsibilities, after all she had known since leaving Riverhold days ago that defeat on the field meant the fall of the entire Riverlands; but with the trust Edmure had just placed in her.
While she had been acting as effective Lady Paramount; at least in terms of army command, for weeks now, that had really been a case of sheer necessity. Alyssa had assumed command of the forces of the Riverlands as Lord Hoster's eldest child in the Riverlands capable of doing so; and even had her father or brother wished to revoke that power from her, they had not had the capability to do so; trapped in Riverrun as they were.
That was vastly different, however, from her brother claiming in front of the most powerful lords of the Trident, that he trusted her to act in his stead. That he felt that she, Alyssa, was the most capable of ruling the Riverlands in his stead, and that of their father, of course. At that, Alyssa mentally kicked herself, remembering that she had yet to visit him, having been too preoccupied worrying if Edmure would live to spare a thought for her ailing father, whose condition had only been worsened by the moons of siege.
Noticing her hands shaking almost imperceptibly, Alyssa pressed them together to hide her shaking.
Acting Paramount of the Trident? I'm the lady of a small castle on the River Road, I knew if Edmure and Father died someday I might have to inherit Riverrun, but I never could have been prepared for this.
What would Father do? Family, Duty, Honor, Father would do his duty. Just as I must now do mine, just as generations of Tullys have before me.
Alyssa took a deep breath, and turned to her uncle. "Tywin Lannister still holds Stone Hedge and Raventree Hall. Take command of our outriders, if Tywin stops either of those castles, I want it under siege within days. If he abandons them, then I want them back in Tully hands before he can change his mind. Whatever he does, I want to know about as soon as he does it. I trust you with this duty, uncle."
Ser Brynden smiled. "I'll see it done, my lady."
Alyssa glanced at Ser Ryman. "Ser Ryman, having over a thousand men in Riverrun for nearly three moons has eaten deeply into our provisions. I need you to send a raven to your lord father, and have him send what food he can spare down from the Twins." Ser Ryman nodded, and then headed off to the ravenry. She then turned to Lords Clement Piper and Karyl Vance.
"Lord Clement. You and Lord Karyl will travel with your forces to Riverhold. There, you will collect Ser Jaime and the other prisoners, and escort them to Riverrun under guard. If any attempt is made to try and free them, kill the Kingslayer first."
The two men nodded, and left to organise their men. Alyssa then turned to the remaining high lord of the Trident left in the hall; Jonos Bracken, leaning on a cane, chest wrapped in bandages after his wounds at the Camps. "Lord Jonos. In the name of my brother, and my lord father, I thank you for your efforts so far. Your support of House Tully in this war has cost you all your men, your seat, and now nearly your life. House Tully is grateful for your loyalty."
"Those damn Lannisters have my castle, Lady Alyssa." Lord Jonos snarled, before he hissed painfully as the act of indignantly rising to his feet pulled at his still healing ribs. "What did you think I would do, just stop and let them have it? I'll fight with everything I have left before I leave Stone Hedge in Lannister hands."
"Which is not much." Alyssa's tone was matter-of-fact. "I appreciate your loyalty, my lord, I do, but you have ten riders left. Ten! Whether you admit it or not, House Bracken can no longer contribute on the field." Lord Jonos opened his mouth to protest, before Alyssa held up her hand. "On the field, I said. You can still contribute in another way. When I gathered the Houses who had not given their full strength, many such as Vypren were doubtful of our ability to win, and didn't send us as many as they could.
With Lord Tywin now in retreat, they may think differently. Your men will have the fastest horses in our stables, and I want them to ride for Harroway, Greenwater and Maidenpool. They will have letters bearing my seal, commanding them to send the remainder of their armsmen to Riverrun. I will send ravens as well, but ravens can be attacked by hawks, shot down or just ignored. Your men must not be."
"They won't be, my lady." Lord Jono's face held a determined look, and he moved to leave before Alyssa raised her hand again.
"And Lord Jonos? I was serious about remembering your loyalties. With reinforcements from the other Houses, we should have enough men to join Lord Vypren and begin the siege of Stone Hedge in earnest. Before long, the Lannisters will starve, and you will have your seat back." Lord Jonos grinned ferally, before leaving.
With the hall now empty, Alyssa blew out a long breath, before sinking into the nearest chair to her. When she felt the soft cushions, she realised with shock that she was sitting where she had never thought to sit, in the high seat of the Tullys, where her brother and father had sat, and every Lord and Lady of Riverrun before her. But I am not the Lady of Riverrun. She got up from the seat and left the hall, deciding at last to visit her lord father.
Hoster Tully's solar looked out over the Red Fork. The window let in a good amount of light, which illuminated Lord Hoster himself lying on a bed. Alyssa stifled a gasp. The last time she had seen her father, he had been a powerful, red-headed warrior who likely would have led the charge against the Lannisters himself, sword swinging, whether his bannermen followed or not. Now, he looked to have aged two decades in two years. The fire was gone from his hair and beard, leaving only a ghostly white. With the color of his hair, seemed to have gone his strength. Her lord father was almost a ghost, this shadow of Hoster Tully didn't even seem capable of lifting a longsword anymore, much less swinging one. In battle, he would be crushed under the weight of his own plate.
Lord Hoster weakly raised his head, having heard her come in. "Alyssa."
Alyssa bowed her head to hide the tears in her eyes at the sight of such a strong man, a warrior, reduced to this. "Father".
He smiled. "I saw. From the window… I saw it. Heard the screams. Such sweet sounds. Was it you?"
Alyssa nodded, still trying to hide her tears. "Yes, Father, it was me, and Uncle Brynden, and Edmure. He rode out of Riverrun to help us, my lord."
Hoster grasped his beard weakly. "I heard you scream his name. Heard it from all the way up here… Something ill must have happened. How… how is my son?"
Alyssa's face darkened. "Edmure took a wound, his leg broken when he was unhorsed by the Mountain. It was a clean break, however, and Maester Vyman says he will most likely heal in time. The fractured leg, however will mean he is out of the war for a moon at least."
Hoster nodded as he absorbed this information. "The Mountain? Cat's folly with the Imp must have truly angered Lord Tywin."
"He'll be even angrier now his son is locked in my dungeon, my lord." A satisfied smile spread across Alyssa's face at the memory of that day.
Hoster frowned. "You have the Kingslayer… yes, Edmure and Vyman showed me the raven. That was well done. But now we will be accused of breaking the King's Peace… so it seems for the second time in my living memory… Riverrun will be defying the crown."
Alyssa's face was set at that. "As I swore to you, my lord, Riverrun and the Western border are secure. And if the Lannisters try to march on us again, I will do my duty. For now though, my lord, I must take my leave, and see to our losses, and reform our army, it seems we will need it in the days to come." A clicking of boots behind her caused her to spin and reach for her sword, only to relax when she saw her uncle's smiling face.
"My lady, my lord brother."
Hoster smiled. "Brynden, it seems… my decision to send you to Alyssa rather than Lysa was… fortunate." He broke out into a fit of coughing, and instantly his brother and daughter were at his elbows, helping him to sit up.
Brynden nodded grimly. "Aye, from what Cat says, Lysa will not help us. She refused to give Cat any swords when she left the Vale, or even to give her own captain of the guard a thousand men to make safe the Mountains of the Moon." Hoster shook his head sadly, and the two brothers stood there awkwardly for a few moments. Sensing that they needed time to talk alone, Alyssa let herself out. Just as she turned to descend the stairs, her father's weak voice caught her ears.
"I know I said this at Pyke all those years ago… but you make me proud Alyssa.."
Alyssa felt a surge of emotions rush through her, mainly pride, and knowing that she needed time to process them, gave a simple answer. "I am a Tully, Father, and I know our words." All three Tullys in that room shared a nod at that, before Alyssa turned and departed, heading for the guest chamber Riverrun's steward, Utherydes Wayn, had set up for her. As Alyssa slid into the bed as the sun began to sink over the Red Fork, the words she had spoken of to her father and uncle floated into the forefront of her mind.
Family, Duty, Honor. And in that order she thought to herself, as she drifted off to sleep, content in the knowledge that Riverrun was secure and that the Lannister armies rampaging through the Riverlands had been shattered. Tomorrow, we can start planning our counterattack, and show the Lannisters that they aren't the only ones who pay their debts.