"The Honored Guest" Chapter 38 Traveling by Land and Sea IV

By land:

Previously:

The Stark party crossed the Trident on the ferry, although it took quite a while to get all the people, horses, and the wheelhouse across, and they stopped in Lord Harroway's Town for supplies. When they were finally ready to continue their journey north on the kingsroad, Ned observed how slowly the wheelhouse moved. He reflected with some impatience, I'll be old and gray by the time we reach Winterfell! I hope we have no more distractions! Unfortunately, he had no idea that the Lannister's evil designs would interfere with his plans.

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The group left the Trident behind them, traveling north on the kingsroad through the Riverlands. Ned thought, I can't wait until we approach the Neck, then at least I will feel like we are nearing home. He observed the quiet countryside surrounding them. To the west lies Riverrun, my lady wife's home and the seat of her family. On the other side of those formidable mountains to the east lies the Vale of Arryn, the residence of her dear widowed sister. I don't have the time to pay a leisurely visit to either my good-brother or good-sister; I just want to return to Winterfell as soon as possible. He gazed forlornly at the creaking, lumbering wheelhouse, and cursed silently. That ponderous contraption is really going to slow us down! Mayhaps I can convince Sansa to mount a horse soon. I'm sure that she is as eager as I am to get home.

They traveled for a week before Ned noticed that the mountain range to the northeast was gradually getting smaller, and beyond it he could see lowlands coming into view. At last we are drawing near the Neck! Every day brings us closer to the North! I wish I could move us faster!

Eventually the landscape began to level out in all directions and Ned was convinced that he could see a coastline to the northeast and wetlands to the north. He became excited and thought, That is the entrance to the Neck! We have made it! But just then he heard the ominous sound of a large number of horses. Turning to the west, he saw a host comprised of as many as two hundred mounted soldiers bearing down on him. A shout went up from Jory, and the Stark guardsmen prepared for the attack. Ned realized that he was seriously outnumbered, but at least there were no knights in plate armor. He scanned the horde for identification and was startled to see banners emblazoned with the image of two towers connected by a bridge. The Twins! The Freys are bannermen of the Tully's! Why would they be attacking us? he wondered. There was no time to reflect on the mystery, as he shouted directions to his men, making sure that the non-combatants were guarded.

A score of his guardsmen were skilled archers, and Ned directed them to send up a flurry of arrows to mayhaps keep some of the host at bay, while the rest engaged the attackers with swords. The Starks fought furiously, but with the odds being more than two to one, the battle was going badly for them. As casualties mounted, Ned saw Quent and Varly, guardsmen he had known all his life, fall lifelessly from their horses. There was a grim expression on his face as he frantically swung Ice, trying to kill as many of the enemy as he could, thinking, If we lose, what will happen to Sansa?! He could not even imagine the horror, and concentrated on staying alive.

Just at the point when Ned thought they might have to surrender, he noticed that Frey soldiers at the rear were falling forward and dying from arrows in their backs. That is strange, he thought, how can that be? The meaning became clear when saw a number of small archers, the size of children, clad in green and brown leathers that blended in with the forested background, become more visible as the foes diminished in number.

Ned's heart gave a leap, It must be the crannogmen of Greywater Watch! he realized, and shouted, "Courage, men! We have allies! Fight for Winterfell!" The cry, "Winterfell!" went up among the surviving Northmen, and they fought more fiercely now that they had hope. Eventually, the remaining Frey soldiers realized that they were trapped between two deadly forces, and the leaders threw down their swords and surrendered, calling for mercy.

Once Ned was satisfied that the front was secured and Jory was in command, he rushed over to the wheelhouse to check on the non-combatants. He was greeted by a shocking sight – a dazed and tired Gendry, his sword dripping blood, surrounded by a pile of almost dismembered bodies of Frey soldiers. Gendry did not have much battle experience, but his size, strength, and determination to protect his lady, proved to be a major advantage. Squire Adrian, also with limited battle experience, acquitted himself well, more so in a defensive posture by Gendry's side, than in attack mode. Ned solemnly observed the carnage around Gendry. He clasped the young man by his shoulder and told him, "Your father was as fierce a fighter as you have proved to be. The words of your House are 'Ours is the fury', and you have certainly shown that characteristic today. I am proud to have you as my ward." Gendry smiled back and simply said that he had an obligation to keep the ladies safe.

Upon reflection now that the battle was over, the young smith was grateful that Lady Arya had insisted that the young men work at swordplay frequently at Harrenhal, saying that they were at war and needed to be ready to fight. He chuckled at the memory of her constant criticism of Prince Aegon, revealing her desire to turn the peaceful young man into a formidable fighter. She, herself, sparred until she was soaked in sweat, filthy, and panting, and if any of the boys complained that they were exhausted, she quoted a phrase that Bokko had learned from a Master of the Braavosi Water Dance, You must practice a thousand times that which you may use in battle once, but that one time may save your life. Gendry thought, The wolf girl was so right about practice, if I hadn't been diligent, there is no way I could have been successful today. He chuckled under his breath, thinking of the fiery wolf girl, Lady Arya would make a fine general, and I for one, would follow her eagerly into battle.

The captured Frey soldiers were bound with ropes, and their weapons were collected. Ned looked over the assemblage, and queried, "Who is the leader among you?" since they all seemed to be dressed in the same light chain mail armor. The soldiers all returned sullen glances, but no one spoke. Ned grabbed the closest prisoner and putting a knife to his throat, said forcefully, "I have killed too many men today, and one more won't matter to the gods. Expose your cowardly commander or you die right now!" The soldier pointed his chin in the direction of another man, and Ned realized that the man so indicated had a weak chin, thin hair, and dull eyes - the Frey family characteristics. Ned released the soldier and seized the Frey by the throat. "Who are you?" he snarled. With hate in his voice, the man said, "I am Black Walder, great-grandson to Lord Walder Frey."

"You are a Tully bannerman. Lord Walder has proven in the past to be a reluctant ally to Riverrun, but why would you dare attack a party under the Direwolf banner, knowing that you would be harming Lord Hoster's goodson and grand-daughter?"

"We Freys bear little love for the Tully's, who treat my family with scorn. Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, told Lord Walder, that if we captured or killed you and your party, he would support our bid for independence from the Riverlands, and support our forays for more land and vassals," Black Walder replied.

Ned threw him to the ground. "You are a turncoat and a traitor. Returning you for ransom is too good a fate for you. I must think on this. You may remain hiding among your common soldiers for now, and will be treated as one." He turned to a guardsmen, "Show them that the Starks have mercy, and bring them water and dry bread." He stalked away thinking, I must inform Lord Hoster of Walder Frey's defection, he must know of this enemy in his lands. I wasn't wrong when I characterized Tywin Lannister as a snake!

Returning to the front, Ned saw a welcome sight. As his troops greeted their crannogmen allies, he spied his old friend and fellow soldier, Howland Reed, the Lord of Greywater Watch. House Reed was bound to Winterfell, and his lands comprised the most southern region of the North. Lord Howland, Ned, and Robert Baratheon had fought side by side during Robert's Rebellion, and were longtime companions. They embraced warmly and both commented that it had been too long since they had seen each other. To an outside observer, the reunion would have seemed comical, as Lord Howland was the size of a child, crannogmen being of small stature.

"I am beholden to you for coming to our rescue at a moment of dire need, Howland. If you had not arrived when you did, we surely would have all been killed by the Freys," Ned told his bannerman.

"It was no accident," Lord Reed replied, "Your scouts arrived with warnings some time ago, and we have been watching the Neck for suspicious activity. The Freys had been preparing a host outside their walls for some time and I did not know why. When Black Walder and his army rode out, we followed them, suspecting evil intent. It turns out we were right, and I am glad that we were able to help you overcome the enemy."

Gendry and Sansa approached and Ned hugged his daughter, kissed her on the top of her head, and told her that he was glad that she was safe, and that she had Gendry to thank again for that circumstance. Ned proudly introduced Sansa to Lord Howland, observing that the girl, who had not attained ten and four namedays yet, was taller than the crannogman. Lord Reed looked at her carefully and commented that she was the spitting image of her beautiful mother. Sansa smiled and curtseyed at the compliment.

Then Ned introduced Gendry, stating that the large lad had recently become his ward. Howland's eyes went very wide and he said in a quiet voice, "Ned, the youth appears to exactly resemble Robert Baratheon at the same age. I assume that this is not a coincidence?"

"You are correct. Gendry is Robert's oldest bastard, and the Lannisters had him marked for death. We spirited him out of King's Landing, where he had been apprenticed to an armorer. Gendry is a skilled smith and possesses Robert's best qualities, as well as having intelligence and a sober demeanor. He is a good lad, and I look forward to having him join my sons at Winterfell."

Lord Howland nodded and said, "I was always displeased with Robert's crass behavior, and I was sorry to hear about his death, but I am pleased that he had one son he would have been proud of. I am pleased to meet you, Gendry," and he reached up to shake the huge boy's hand. Then he looked curiously at Ned again and asked, "But where is your other daughter? I believe her name is Arya? I was looking forward to meeting her."

Ned replied ruefully, "My willful younger daughter has attached herself to the Targaryen camp and remained with Golden Company, stating that she intends to become a warrior woman under the tutelage of a Dornish Sand Snake, and mayhaps the bride of Prince Aegon. I was given no say in the matter."

The crannogman smiled, "I am not surprised. Word has even reached Greywater Watch about the young wolf princess who resembles Lyanna Stark in appearance and behavior. As you know, your sister Lyanna was a good friend to me, and I was curious about this girl."

"Well, you may meet her someday. Arya is known for doing the unexpected, and I imagine that she will appear in the North in the future."

"I hope so. She sounds like a very interesting person. Now back to the present, Ned. What do you plan to do now?"

Ned bit his lip, replying with a worried expression, "I have more prisoners to deal with, and I must get word to Hoster Tully of Walder Frey's traitorous behavior. Now I also must expect that there may be more ambushes awaiting on our path north. Who else could Tywin Lannister have turned against us? I have much to think on right now."

"While you ruminate on your choices, let me offer you the hospitality of Greywater Watch. Your people need some relief from all the turmoil you have encountered on the road."

Lord Stark agreed, and announced to the rest of the party that they were to follow the crannogmen into the swamp for very unusual experience – a friendly welcome at a floating castle.

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Next: Back to Arya on the high seas.