Ser Brynden Tully

From where he was stood out on the battlements he could see the siege camps that ran from outside Riverrun all the way to the Tumblestone and then some. Ever since his niece and great nephew had died, killed at Edmure's wedding, the Lannisters had been trying and trying to break Riverrun the last place that held out for the King of the North and Robb Stark. The siege of Riverrun had lasted a year, from the beginning of the third century after Aegon's Landing right into the present day, and the Blackfish's resolve was as strong today as it had been when the siege had begun. Jaime Lannister was dead killed by his own hands, the Lannister siege forces were slowly beginning to run out of food and water and other supplies, and soon enough they would have to either storm the castle or they would have to disband and admit defeat. It had been two years since the War of the Five Kings had begun, and whilst many of the main combatants were now dead, Brynden could not help but feel that for the first time since the battle of the camps, the riverlands might actually be moving into a secure place. The War had gone so well for the north and the riverlands in the beginning, wins at the Whispering Wood and the Camps had given way to wins in the Westerlands, when the place had gone a light, Brynden had felt a sense of satisfaction, but then it all came crashing down when King Robb fell prey to teenage honour and emotion and broke his oath to the Freys by wedding Jeyne Westerling instead. From there they had been clawing their way through the war and as such when King Robb had died some part of Brynden had felt a mixture of relief and dread.

Robb Stark had been a good lad, smart and honourable and a very good tactician and warrior, that his heart had led to his downfall only made Brynden grief over what could have been had he survived and not bedded Jeyne Westerling. When Brynden had learnt that the girl was pregnant, he had done all he could to keep the news from everyone except a select few people in Riverrun whom he trusted, he had even had the girl's mother imprisoned when Maester Vyman confirmed that she had been trying to give her daughter moon tea. Prince Eddard Stark, the rightful king of the north and trident, was born on the ninth day of the eighth month of the 300th year after Aegon's Landing, and though he was a healthy child in most aspects, the moon tea that Jeyne's mother had been forcing her to have, had made it so that the boy's left arm was much shorter and much more stunted than his right, a defect that was most unfortunate, and a crime that Brynden felt had ensured that the old hag was thrown into the dungeons. Whilst Eddard Stark was born, another tragedy also befell Brynden and those he cared about, Edmure's Frey wife it seemed had birthed a girl, and though Brynden had thought that the Freys would only execute Edmure should a boy be born to his wife, it seemed Ryman Frey the drunken sot that he was wanted this all over, and so Edmure had hung from the hangman's noose some three weeks after King Robb's son was born.

Ryman Frey was dead though, he had in a moment of drunken stupidity tried to charge Riverrun and had had his body littered with arrows, his son Edwyn had had the same happen to him as well. Still there were some things Brynden needed to sort out and discuss, and that was why he was now meeting with Maester Vyman, Ser Robin Grell and Utherydes Wayn to discuss the upcoming plan. Once they were all seated, Brynden began by asking his customary question. "Where is her grace and the king?"

Maester Vyman spoke then his voice soft. "They are in Queen Jeyne's chambers my lord. They are guarded by Rox and Roston both of whom are very trustworthy and would give their lives to protect her grace and the king."

Brynden nods and then says. "That is good, so long as they remain safe that is my main concern. Now, as we all know the Lannister siege that is outside our gates, is beginning to thin down. Men are leaving their army day by day in increasing numbers, soon enough they shall have little to no strength left. Now is a perfect opportunity to strike and remove them from our gates once and for all."

There were murmurs of approval but Ser Robin Grell asked. "And how will you do that my lord? You have made it perfectly clear to the Lannisters that you will not treat with them, nor will you allow them to come close to the gates. How will they be lulled into a false sense of security with this in mind?"

Brynden smiled then and said. "Why that's the point though, the gates shall open and I shall go out and treat with them. I shall say I have had a change of heart and that I wish to acknowledge my foolhardiness. Lower the direwolf banners and fly flags of white and surrender and they shall believe us. This is not Tywin Lannister we are dealing with, this is some green boy who has never fought proper war before, he will believe so that he can return back to the Westerlands."

Maester Vyman spoke then. "If this plan does succeed, how will you ensure that they do not simply kill you and storm the castle anyway my lord?"

Brynden smiles once more and says softly. "Because there is some smarts left in this old fish, and we have aid coming from the north in the form of bears and wolves."

Ser Robin openly exclaims then. "Does that mean that Wallace Waynwood himself shall be riding out to remove the Lions from here or not?"

"No unfortunately, Wallace shall not join us in removing lions from our pond. But he has sent men under the command of his brother Ser Morton Waynwood to assist us and when the gates open, we shall need to wait for a horn to be blown before we can make it the full use of our advantage." Brynden says.

"How do you know these men will come though my lord? Pardon me for being so forthright, but we have not had any contact with the north since before King Robb came down from Winterfell. This could all simply be a ruse by Roose Bolton." Ser Robin said.

Brynden nodded accepting what the man said but then he replied. "Aye it could be, or it could not be, and it could actually be Ser Morton Waynwood and his army of men. We shall never know unless we take a chance. I am tired of sitting here in my home waiting for one of us to die first. If I must die, let it be with steel in my hand and let me kill lions before I die."

After that they spend the next hour discussing what exactly needs to be done to make Brynden's plan work, and then when the time comes, the direwolf banners of House Stark are lowered and in their place are flown the lion of Lannister. Brynden gags internally at the sight but smoothes his face into a blank expression. He is dressed in black as night armour, to go with his name, he mounts his warhorse, and sheathes his sword, forty men from the garrison accompany him, and as the gates are raised he feels a sense of anticipation fill him. He rides out and shouts. "Who here commands this siege?"

There is silence for a moment, and then a shout comes back. "Ser Addam Marbrand does."

"Well tell him that Ser Brynden Tully wishes to discuss terms of surrender with him." Brynden shouts back.

There is silence and then the sound of hooves echoes towards Brynden, Ser Addam Marbrand dressed in red armour and some four other men come towards him. Marbrand raises his visor and says. "Ser Brynden, I hear you wish to discuss the terms of your surrender with me. Perhaps we could retire to my tent to more appropriately discuss these terms?"

"Aye that I do," Brynden says, and then he is silent and then says. "But I would rather discuss terms with you out here in the open. After all the people you serve are known for doing their deeds behind closed doors, and in my old age I have become quite paranoid."

Brynden knows that Marbrand wishes to protest instead he merely nods and says. "Very well then, in exchange for your surrender and handing over of the castle to myself, you and whoever of your garrison wishes to shall be allowed to take the black. Those who wish to remain within the castle shall serve Lord Emmon Frey and his Lady Wife Genna Frey, and when the time comes one of their sons shall wed Minisa Tully, daughter of your late nephew Lord Edmure Tully."

Brynden nodded, and then said. "That seems all well and good, I suppose you will want me to bend my knee here and now then in front of all your men then?"

Marbrand looked uncomfortable but he nodded all the same. "Aye that would be best I think."

Brynden nodded, and dismounted from his horse, taking of his helm, he knelt at Marbrand's feet and said softly. "Know that we do not bend so easily as you might think. This is just the beginning." And with that he drew his sword and thrust it through Marbrand's throat quick as a flash as the men he had come with began attacking those whom Marbrand had come with. Shortly after that the garrison came pouring out of the gates of Riverrun and the battle began, the Lannister men were tired and drained and were not expecting the attack hence Brynden and his men got the advantage early on. He hacked his way through many men cutting them down with ease, as the battle began to lack a sound of a horn came and those men flying the banners of House Stark came galloping from the woods, taking heart from that Brynden raised his sword and roared as loud as he could. "THE KING IN THE NORTH!" and the battle raged on.

Eventually when all was said and done, the Lannister host that had laid siege to Riverrun was either dead or fled, and as such Riverrun had been freed from siege. On the first day of the first month of the 301st Year after Aegon's Landing, Brynden Tully smiled and laughed, and thought that perhaps the riverlands would be free at last.