Lyanna moved the branch out of her way and peered down at the army that was currently camped outside of Ironrath. Narrowing her eyes in anger as she watched the Whitehill army mull around in a barely disguised move of aggression. Lord Whitehill was going to have a lot to answer for as soon as she got her hands on him. Lowering the branch she turned around and headed to her camp not far off. Luckily Whitehill was so confident in his victory that he hadn't even keep scouts or sentries around his army.
"Rodrik, Asher!" Lyanna called out to them. "Are you ready to take back your home?" A silent nod from each of them was all the reply they gave her. Pulling them over to a tree stump that acted as a table. Both Lazano Aneraris, who commanded the Second Sons contingent, and Red Dog, who had been given command of the Unsullied stood close by. Quickly carving a crude layout of the army and Ironrath, Lyanna pointed at the bulk of the army.
"It appears that he brought along all his banner men. 500 men, mostly just sitting on their asses right outside the gates. Either he is superior confident that Ironrath can't mount any kind of defense or he just doesn't care. A small group of us will be going into Ironrath itself, who knows maybe Whitehill will pull the stick out of his ass and see reason." That earned her a laugh or two. "Red Dog, I want to keep the Unsullied out of this fight for now." The man in question gave her a curt nod, Lyanna honestly couldn't tell if he was annoyed or pleased with the order.
"Lazano," Lyanna said, watching as the grin on his face spread, "I want your mounted cavalry ready to mow these bastards down in case they don't want to see reason." Lazano simply nodded before taking off to make the necessary arrangements. Looking back at the two Forresters, Lyanna found both of them ready to go and finish this. "One way or another, this insanity ends today."
People backed away from the gate as both Rodrik and Asher rode into Ironrath shoulder to shoulder. The people who had been verging on near hopelessness with the death of two of its' Lords, the occupation of Whitehill soldiers and depleted food reserves. As they saw the two brothers ride in together as a united front, straight-backed and proud, it was relief and they could feel the hope coming back.
Beskha and the pit fighters followed just behind, although they mostly still complained about how cold it was compared to Essos. Lady Elissa Forrester starred at her two eldest sons as tears began to sting her eyes. How long since she had seen this sight? Elanea Glenmore stood right next her for a second before she rushed to Rodrik and held him in her arms as he climbed down from his horse. Asher also dismounted and took a moment to really look at his childhood home, he hadn't laid eyes on it since his father had banished him from Westeros.
A small body crashed into him as arms wrapped around him, looking down to find his youngest sister Talia. Wrapping his own arms around her, he held her tightly before his mother joined the two of them. The three of them stood like that for only a few moments before the peace was disturbed as Lord Whitehill barreled into the courtyard followed by a few men. Anyone could tell by the shade of red on his face, he was either furious or out of breath.
"Where is he, Rodrik, where is Gryff?" he all but yelled at Rodrik. He had sent his son to take care of Rodrik while he was away from the protection of Ironrath. Killing Asher as well would have just been something he was completely fine with, one less Forrester he had to tolerate breathing. But not a word from his son or the men who had been sent with him. If these Forrester filth had anything to do with it, he would have their heads.
"I'm not sure what you mean, Lord Whitehill." Rodrik said as he released Elanea. "I have just returned from the port to collect my brother and a few of his friends. Was Gryff suppose to meet us there, my Lord? Asher, did you happen to see Gryff on our way back?"
"Ha, I wouldn't even know what that little shit would look like." Asher smirked as Lord Whitehill just seemed to more frustrated. "We even managed to find a farmer and his family on his way here with food. But no little bastards I'm afraid." Pointing to a wagon pulling into the courtyard. He continued to smirk until he saw the one person he couldn't believe. Gwyn Whitehill, the woman he loved and was banished for. She turned and made her way to him.
"Asher, I was wondering if I might have a word in private?" She asked quietly. It had been years since they had seen each other, but even still she could remember the feeling of his arms around her. The way he spoke to her, the memory alone sent a shiver down her spine. But she couldn't let that get in her way.
"I think we can agree these are not ideal circumstances." Gwyn spoke quietly. "But these are the circumstances we find ourselves in. I know how you feel Asher. What your family has suffered...it's unimaginable. Which is why the bloodshed must stop." Asher crossed his arms.
"Rodrik and I have been nothing but nice since he rode into here acting as if he owned the damn place. Don't look to us because your little brother got himself lost." Asher said gruffly. He had loved this woman, and if he was honest with himself, he loved her still. But by all the Gods he would not be pushed by Whitehill especially since either he or Rodrik could have died by Gryff. Gwyn narrowed her eyes.
"I know you have Asher, but I know you and I know Rodrik. This is only temporary, I can feel it like the calm before the storm. You Forresters are not ones to roll over so easily, you don't like being pushed into a corner. It's not in your nature. I wish I could believe you, but you have to understand. I've risked everything to bring peace between our Houses. I've told Rodrik of your traitor, to make sure that no harm has come to Ryon as our ward. All while persuading my father the bloodshed would end if we were to wed. I have no ulterior motive. No hidden agenda."
Asher was silent as he listened to her words, looking down as Gwyn grabbed his hand. All she wanted from him was honesty and for nothing to jeopardize their future together. Before he could give a reply, they were interrupted by the shouting of Lord Whitehill. He had lost all semblance of politeness and began to order his men inside the courtyard to check every inch of Ironrath for his son.
"Stop playing games with me Rodrik!" Whitehill shouted. "I know he is here somewhere."
"Father please," Gywn called out to him, attempting to calm him down. "we will find him. But we must accept the fact that Gryff may not even be here, you know he fancies some of the village women when time permits it. I'm sure Rodrik will allow us to wait in the main hall for Gryff to appear." The pointed look she gave Rodrik was returned twofold as both Rodrik and Asher glared back.
Leading the Whitehill Lord and his party through the castle was a chore in and of itself, since Lord Whitehill always had to have a comment about everything. Opening the doors to the Main Hall, Rodrik, Asher, Beskha and the pit fighters all moved in and towards the side to make way for Whitehill. Ludd Whitehill smiled at this obedience, until his eyes fell upon the table reserved for the Forrester family. There was his son Gryff, hogtied and gagged facing towards him.
His rage quickly overshadowed his surprise as he saw his son treated this way, a pair of booted feet were next to his son's face. They appeared to belong to whoever was sitting in a chair facing away from the entrance. Ludd would watch whoever this was die as slow of a death as possible, the Forresters would also pay. Gywn was just as shocked at the sight of her brother, all her talk of peace, all her effort to stop the bloodshed would now be for nothing.
"Your a dead man," Ludd spoke hastily. "I will see you given to the Boltons and watch as they flay you living. You-" He was interrupted as the chair was pushed away from the table and the person stood up, having already pulled back an arrow on her bow, Lyanna Stark grinned at him. The Forresters and pit fighters also took this as a sign to arm up. Gywn was somewhere between shock and fear, here before her was someone she once called friend.
"Lord Ludd Whitehill, of House Whitehill of Highpoint. Bannerman to House Bolton as long as House Forrester have been to mine. You will now tell your forces to lay down arms and surrender. Do it and your men shall live, more importantly," Lyanna added as she turned the drawn arrow and aimed at Gryff's head. "your son will live. Do it not and everyone will die. You have until I count to 3. 1!"
Lyanna's shout shocked everyone into restrained action, any move to free Gryff would only lead to his death. Gwyn had drawn a small dagger and was about to run up to Lyanna before Asher wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back, his soft words did nothing to appease her as she cried out for it all to stop. Ludd looked around as his men were surrounded, he would lose his son if he didn't do anything. His line may very well end with him today.
"2!" Lyanna shouted again. "You haven't got the guts to kill my son you worthless She-wolf." Lyanna paused and lowered her bow. Ludd smiled at that, it had all been a bluff, she didn't have the gut to do anything right. "You are just like your brother, worthless the whole bleedin' lot of you. You-" whatever words were going to come next were cut off as an arrow buried itself in his throat. Gwyn's sobs doubled as she watch her father fall to his knees before his face hit the floor.
Setting the bow down, Lyanna pulled out a dagger and moved towards Gryff. Gwyn started to beg Lyanna not to kill her brother, before Lyanna waved her off. Cutting the rope that she had used to tie him with, his body sagged from the sudden loss of restraint and he squirmed in such a way that he fell off the table. Pulling the gag from his mouth, he ran to his father's body.
"Before you get any ideas Gryff, your father was going to die one way or another. Either here and now by my arrow, or by my sword on the executioner's block. I would rather not have to kill you as well but if you force the issue I will be left with no choice." Pulling her sword out, Lyanna nodded to the men to not interfere when Gryff made his choice.
"You murdered my father and have humiliated me. Do you think me so weak as to bow before you!" Gryff raged. Pulling out his father's sword, he ran at Lyanna. Lyanna sidestepped a large overhead swing and brought her pommel up to strike him in the nose. Blood ran down his face in gushes as he lunged at her, moving to the side and towards him, Lyanna kicked his legs and watched him fall face first.
Having had enough of this, Lyanna stepped on his hand that held the weapon. Screaming, Gryff eventually let go of the weapon and Lyanna kicked it away. "This would all have been so much easier if you had just accepted the fact that 'yes, a Stark is back in the north', but you just couldn't let the power go, could you?" She pulled her sword into the air, much like a woodsmen with his axe.
"MERCY, PLEASE LYANNA MERCY!" Gwyn shouted from where Asher still held her. Lyanna looked over at her, she had not seen Gwyn in years, longer even than Asher. But seeing the young woman before crying freely for the life of her brother, Lyanna could not take his life. Gesturing to two guards to grab him, she turned back to Gwyn and spoke softly.
"Peace Gwyn, peace. I will not take his life, but as he has shown that he can not be trusted not to avenge your father and try to kill me or any with me, I can not keep him here or send him home with who knows what planned. That is why, I, Lyanna Stark of House Stark, sentence you Gryff Whitehill to travel north and take the Black as part of the Night's Watch. I will say no more on the matter." While Gwyn would be heartbroken, her brother would live, which was more than she could say from Rodrik's and Asher's brother.
"Lazano," Lyanna called to the man who had somehow slipped in. "take your men and relieve the Whitehill army of their weapons. Every man shall be given a choice, you can bend the knee and swear their loyalty to me. They can resist and be put to death or they can take the Black. Make sure they understand that those are their only options." The man smiled and went on to complete his task. Lyanna turned away and walked to the window looking out into the woods and sighed.
"Forgive me, Father. I'm only trying to do the right thing."
A/N: Sorry about the lateness, been trying to make life choices. Also, how does everyone else feel about this Season? I'm on the fence about it. Well make sure to review please. :)
