DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES OR ANY ASSOCIATED CHARACTERS

Chapter 23

Edric sat patiently atop a nearby barrel as Theon paced in front of him. The early hours of the morning were long past, and the sun was well above the horizon when King Renly finally emerged from his tent. Spying the two messengers, he approached, flanked by Brienne and Ser Loras.

"I understand that our negotiations were to take place today, but another matter has come up. My brother is on his way here to discuss terms, I would like the both of you to accompany me."

Edric shook his head. "We are not associated with you, Your Grace."

Renly nodded. "Yes, but perhaps if we show my brother that Ned Stark wishes for an alliance, he will submit to me."

Edric sighed. "Very well, Your Grace."

"Excellent!" Renly exclaimed, clapping his hands together.

Edric shrugged to Theon when the Ironborn looked to him with confusion. It was better to go along with Renly's wishes than to provoke the Baratheon fury. As Edric paced along behind Renly, he got a feeling in his gut that these negotiations would not go very well.


Austin was not surprised that Stannis was a stubborn man. He was not surprised that he was woken in the small hours of the morning and taken to the command tent. What he was surprised about, though, was that he would attend the negotiations between Stannis and his brother. It was not common practice to bring messengers to negotiations between parties unaffiliated with them.

And so, Austin, along with the cousins Marlon and Wendel, followed Stannis on horses provided for them as they trotted up the beach, towards the awaiting yellow and black stag banners of Renly. The younger Baratheon was already waiting with his party, all dressed in elegant armor and clothing, save two individuals that brought a smile to Austin's face. Theon and Edric, easily distinguished by their northern leather and fur cloaks, sat atop horses flanking Renly and his Kingsguard.

The two of them grinned equally as wide as Austin, and would have embraced if they weren't on opposite sides of a very hostile negotiation. Stannis allowed his party to assemble behind him, fiery stag banner flapping in the wind as a challenge to Renly's traditional Baratheon banner. The brothers Renly and Stannis regarded eachother coldly for several seconds, each pair of eyes taking in the composition of the opposing party. Stannis spoke first.

"It seems Ned Stark wants his seat at everyone's table, doesn't it?" he directed to Edric.

Renly smirked. "Ned Stark is a logical man, unlike you, brother. Can that truly be you?"

"Who else might it be?" Stannis shot back in irritation.

Renly shrugged. "When I saw your standard, I couldn't be sure. Whose banner is that?"

"My own," Stannis said proudly.

Renly nodded. "Right. I suppose if we use the same one, the battle would be terribly confusing. Why's your stag on fire?"

It was then that Austin heard the first words of the most annoying woman he'd ever met. "The king has taken for his sigil the fiery heart of the Lord of Light."

Renly nodded. "Ah, you must be this fire priestess we hear so much about. Brother, now I see why you found religion in your old age," he said, looking the Red Woman up and down.

Stannis straightened. "Watch yourself Renly."

"No, no, I'm relieved!" Renly assured. "I never really believed you were a fanatic. Charmless, rigid, a bore, yes, but not a godly man."

"You should kneel before your brother," the Red Woman said arrogantly. "He's the Lord's chosen, born amidst salt and smoke."

Renly nodded sarcastically. "Born amidst salt and smoke. Is he a ham?"

"That's twice I've warned you," Stannis snapped.

At this point, Austin caught Edric's eye and jerked his head towards Stannis, signaling his cousin to step in and work his diplomatic magic. Edric flicked his reins and his horse strode forward a few paces to match Renly.

"Your Graces, is there not a diplomatic way to resolve this? Must it come to bloodshed? The two of you are brothers, and share a common enemy. Unite against the Lannisters. Save these petty squabbles for after the Lannisters have been unseated."

"The Iron Throne is mine by right," Stannis said forcefully. "All those who deny it are my foes. For the sake of the mother who bore us, I will give you this one night to reconsider. Strike your banners, come to me before dawn, and I'll grant you your old seat on the council. I'll even name you my heir until a son is born to me. Otherwise I shall destroy you."

Renly's mouth drew taught in a grim smile. He nodded to the hills to his left. "Look across those fields, brother. You see all those banners?"

"You think a few bolts of cloth will make you king?"

"No. The men holding those bolts of cloth will make me king."

Stannis nodded in finality. "We shall see, Renly. Come the dawn, we shall see," he said, swinging his horse around.

Austin shrugged to Edric, motioning for him to stay with Renly. It was now up to both of them to change the Baratheons' minds, or they would lose two potential allies in the war to come.


The camp outside was abuzz with activity as soldiers ran back and forth in preparation of the coming battle. Still in his golden armor, Renly sat at his desk, flanked by Brienne, facing the two messengers of the North.

"And you swear that Ned Stark has no interest in the Iron Throne?" he asked.

Edric nodded. "If you've met Ned, you'd know that."

"Aye," Renly smiled. "Just needed to be sure. I see no reason for hostility between us. Ned can go on calling himself King in the North, and the Starks will hold dominion over all lands north of Moat Cailin. Provided that Ned swears me an oath of fealty when the war is concluded."

Edric raised an eyebrow. "The wording of this oath?"

"The same that he swore to my brother all those years ago," Renly stressed, taking a sip of his wine before rising to allow Brienne to begin removing his armor. "Their friendship held the kingdoms together, Baratheon and Stark. I see no reason for this not to continue."

"And in return for Ned's loyalty?" Theon asked, barely containing his anger at Renly's suggestions.

"In the morning, I'll destroy my brother's army. Then, we will unite against our common enemy, and take King's Landing."

Edric slowly rose to his feet. "I will convey your terms to King Ned, but I must ask you one thing first. Will you not reconsider this battle? My cousin is with Stannis now, attempting to sway him to reason."

"Negotiate with Stannis?!" Renly scoffed. "I'd have better luck debating the wind."

Edric turned away in frustration just in time for his violet eyes to see a shadow slither in through the open tent flaps. The dark wisps rose up into the shape of a man, clearly with the head of Stannis. A dark blade formed in one hand and Edric was helpless to watch as Renly was stabbed through the heart by solid shadow. The deed fulfilled, the shadowy tendrils disappeared into thin air.

"NO!" Brienne shrieked, catching the lifeless corpse of Renly before it could hit the ground.

The two Kingsguard standing guard outside drew their blades and rushed in at the sound of commotion. Spying the lifeless body of their king in Brienne's hands, they rushed her. Edric drew his own sword and moved to intercept one of them, Theon joining him. Brienne quickly dispatched the first man while Edric disarmed the second, Theon finishing him with a thrust through the chest.

Brienne returned to her kneeling position at Renly's side, cupping his pale face in her hand. Edric walked over, blade sheathed, and bent down to speak to her. "He's gone. If you stay here, you'll be killed. Come with us."

Brienne looked up at the silver-haired Dayne with glossy eyes, taking a few moments to process before nodding. She picked up her sword and cut a hole in the back of the tent, the three of them slipping out into the chaotic darkness.


As their boat slid ashore, Austin couldn't help but wonder how Stannis had both beaten Renly, and taken control of half of his army. At least until he heard one of the men say that Renly had been murdered, and his bannermen flocked to Stannis. How Stannis had done it was another matter entirely. The men spoke of a traitor within the younger Baratheon's ranks, yet Austin could tell simply from their short conversations what kind of man that Stannis was. In his gut, Austin knew that Stannis did this. And the look in Ser Davos' eye as he approached the king confirmed it.

"Your Grace."

"Heaven's sake, what is it?" Stannis asked in annoyance.

Ser Davos nodded politely. "I'm sorry about your brother, Your Grace. I wanted to let you know that people grieve for him."

Austin couldn't help but admit that he liked the man. He was told of how Ser Davos had breached the blockade of Storm's End with a boat full of onions and other foods, bringing relief to the starving men of the castle, as well as being knighted by Stannis in the process. What was amusing was how the other lords called him the Onion Knight out of spite, but the man had taken it as his sigil, proud of his deeds.

"Fools love a fool. I grieve for him as well. The boy he was, not the man he grew to be," Stannis replied as he marched towards the command tent, eyes never leaving it.

"I need to speak to you about what I saw in that cave," Davos pressed, but Stannis immediately moved the conversation to hushed tones. Seeing as Austin could no longer hear the conversation, he took the opportunity to study the encampment. The last of the Tyrell banners had already disappeared over the horizon, and the men of the Stormlands were still busying themselves, working for the new arrival of the men of Dragonstone.

Wondering where Edric was, Austin stepped into the command tent to speak to Stannis about him. Evidently, there had been some conversation that sis not end well for Ser Davos, because his head was dropped, facing away from Stannis.

"When do we sail for King's Landing?"

"As soon as I've consolidated my troops," Stannis answered before turning his head towards Austin and the cousins Manderly who flanked him. "As a lord yourself, Ser Austin, I would expect you to know the courtesy of another's tent."

"I do, Your Grace, but I was wondering where my cousin Edric was. He was sent here to negotiate with your brother."

Stannis scoffed. "He probably fled with the cowardly Tyrells. No matter. Now Ned Stark only has one party to negotiate with. Come, deliver his terms," he said as he sat down and leaned back in an ornate wooden chair behind Renly's war desk.

Austin sighed and stepped forward, seating himself across the table. "King Stark wishes for a military alliance against the Lannisters. He wants no claim to the Iron Throne, and he only asks for the North's independence once this war is concluded."

Stannis pursed his lips in thought. "Do you think it occurs to Stark that they are called the Seven Kingdoms? Not six. No, when this war is concluded, Ned Stark shall swear an oath of fealty to me, bringing the North back into the fold, or I shall destroy him. This is no negotiation, this is an ultimatum."

Austin's brow furrowed and he leaned back in the chair, arms crossed. "If that's the way you see it, perhaps there was no point in us coming here if all we did was provoke you to war."

"The decision does not seem difficult," Stannis spread his hands. "In one, the North continues its prosperity, and Ned Stark keeps his head. On the other, the armies of the North will be destroyed. It is Lord Stark's choice as to which."

Austin smirked, which turned into a wide grin, then a fit of laughter. Stannis glanced to Davos, who shrugged, then back to Austin. "Something amusing to you?"

Austin pressed his hand to his chest while he calmed down. "Just your statements about destroying the armies of the North. You don't seem to understand the situation. For one, we have the armies of the Riverlands under our banner. In another, what allies do you think you have? The men in this camp are all you have, and it now numbers less than sixty thousand. Granted, that still outnumbers our armies, but this is all you get. After a siege of King's Landing, this number will shrink, even if you win. After that, you propose to march north and fight us on our terms?"

Stannis nodded. "Aye, that's right. I'll march north and slaughter all those who oppose me."

"You have no allies," Austin said, leaning forward to study the map on the table in front of them. He pointed to Casterly Rock. "Tywin Lannister may submit to your rule because you will have captured his daughter and grandchildren, but he will not aide you in war."

"The Tyrells rule the Reach," he pointed to Highgarden. "And you've just killed their only ally. They're clamoring for revenge."

Next, he pointed to the Eyrie. "The Vale is ruled by a madwoman locked in a tower in the sky, she'll do nothing to endanger the life of her still breastfeeding son."

Finally, Austin pointed to Sunspear. "And the Dornish haven't had anything to do with the Kingdoms since Robert became king."

"So you see," Austin sat back, placing his hands behind his head. "You cannot win if you choose to oppose us. Invading the North at any time of the year is nearly suicide because of the summer snows, and summer is no longer with us. Winter is coming."

Stannis had grown angrier by the second. Rising rapidly to his feet, He slammed his palms on the table with enough force that Austin heard an audible crack. "You must have wished to anger me, because that's all you've done, you cowardly-"

"Your Grace!" Ser Davos cut in sharply, earning the attention of Stannis. "Might I have a word in private?" He nodded to Austin, who stood and made his way out of the tent with Marlon and Wendel.

"We've got him," he smirked to the other two Wolfguard.

A few minutes later, Ser Davos appeared out of the tent, holding the flaps open and motioning for the three men to reenter. Stannis was poring over the map, pieces having been placed back in their proper spots after his bout of anger.

"I agree to King Stark's terms," he said, eyes never leaving the map. "On one condition. You, Ser Austin, will participate in the coming battle, and remain with me thereafter. I hear that Ned Stark is quite fond of you, and treats you like a son, so you will remain with me in case of a betrayal."

Austin remained silent for a few moments, contemplating it in his head. Ned would argue that he would never betray Stannis because of his honor, but Stannis would somehow refute that. His only choice would be to agree to Stannis' terms. He nodded his assent.

"As you wish, but allow my men here to return to our king and present him the terms," Austin said, motioning behind him to Ser Wendel and Ser Marlon.

Stannis inclined his head. "Very well. But tell Stark that if he ever betrays me, its your head he'll be seeing on the battlements of Kings Landing."


They'd been riding hard all morning, trying to put some distance between them and any would-be pursuers. Edric called for a halt and slid off the side of his horse, grabbing hold of the reins and leading it to the stream next to the road before stooping down to get a drink himself. Theon and Brienne copied his actions, the three of them tying their horses to a nearby tree and sitting on the damp ground afterwards to get some rest.

As Edric removed the outer pieces of his armor that he'd ridden in, prepared for any fight, Brienne spoke. "It looked like Stannis."

Theon shook his head. "All I saw was a shadow in the shape of a man."

"No, I agree. The body wasn't his, but the face was," Edric said, earning a grateful look from Brienne. "In any case, any hopes of alliance we may have now rest with Austin. I just pray he doesn't anger Stannis and get himself killed."

"I saw him at the meeting. He looks like you, but much taller. Your brother?" Brienne asked.

"Cousin," Edric corrected.

"Why are you with the Starks?" she asked.

Edric sighed. "It was a long time ago. I was very young. We were forced out of our castle by our jealous cousin, Gerold Dayne. Evidently, he always hated being a member of the branch house, and coveted our ancestral sword, Dawn. So, Austin followed my Aunt's orders and set off North with me in tow. Only the gods know why she sent us all the way up there."

"I'm sorry," Brienne said in a low voice.

Theon scoffed. "Oh come on. I was taken from my home as a child, you don't hear me bitching about it."

"I wasn't bitching!" Edric snapped. "She asked, I answered."

"Yes, but with all the flair and drama, like a fucking politician," Theon rolled his eyes.

Edric rose an eyebrow. "I'm a lord. I am a politician."

"In any case," Brienne interrupted, "once you're back with your own people, will you give me leave to go, my lord?"

Edric leaned back against a tree. "You were always free to go, you don't have to accompany us. If you mean to kill Stannis, though, there are better ways to go about it."

"I swore a vow," Brienne said forcefully.

"Aye," Edric nodded. "But that vow doesn't say how you have to uphold it, now does it? Besides, if my cousin can't convince Stannis of the need of an alliance between us, I'm fairly certain we'll be fighting him in the future anyways. Trust me, biding your time is the best way to go here. If it wasn't, Austin would have ridden off as soon as he was seventeen to kill our cousin and reclaim our home."

As always, Edric's words were full of wisdom, which Brienne saw. She sat back, content, as Theon bent forward and began to start a fire. When Edric began to protest, Theon just shook his head. "If I'm going to die, I'm going to die with a hot meal in my belly."


Just as they set foot back in the camp nearly a week later, leading their horses on foot, a commotion could be seen. A massive crowd of men were yelling obscenities and throwing stones at some unknown offender. As Edric drew closer, he recognized Jaime Lannister, bound and being led by several Tully and Stark men.

Lord Rickard Karstark rushed forward, drawing his weapons, threatening violence if he was not let past. "Any man who stands between a father and his vengeance asks for death!"

"Lord Karstark!" Edric called, striding forward to face the man. Rickard was an imposing figure, even in his old age, yet Edric stood eye to eye with him, no weapon in his hand, though Brienne and Theon had drawn theirs.

"This man is our prisoner," Edric said calmly.

Lord Karstark pointed to Jaime with his sword. "This monster killed my son."

"He'll answer for his crimes, King Eddard will see to that. But not here, not now."

"I'll have his head, and if you try and stop me-"

"You'll what? Strike me down?" Edric asked in disbelief, drawing his sword. He ran his fingers along its sharp edge, staring at the northern lord with a gleam in his eye. "I might not be as good as my cousin, but I promise you, you'll regret that."

Lord Karstark scoffed. "Aren't you supposed to be the diplomat? Or do you only play like that because you're Ned's pet?"

"Aye, I'm the diplomatic one. But even a master of diplomacy must know how to defend himself. Now, I have plenty of reason to want to kill Jaime Lannister, he nearly killed me himself during the Battle of Whispering Wood. But have I done it? No, because there are better ways to do things. Rotting in a cell for the rest of his life is much more of a punishment than simply beheading him."

"Until he escapes and kills one of your sons!" Rickard roared. "When our king returns from the Crag, I'll make this demand."

"Wise men do not make demands of kings," Edric advised.

Rickard looked at him with cold eyes as he sheathed his sword. "Fathers who love their sons do. I'll have his head."

With that, the northern lord turned and stalked back into the camp, shadowed by his men. Edric sheathed his own blade, Theon and Brienne doing the same. "Our list of enemies has now extended to those within our camp."

"I thank you for fighting on my behalf, Lord Edric. I'd shake your hand, but," he motioned t his bound hands before he was hauled to his feet.

"Take him back to his cage," Edric ordered the men, who nodded and dragged the filthy Lannister away.

"Looks like we missed all the fun," Edric heard behind him. He, Brienne, and Theon whirled around to spy Ser Wendel and Ser Marlon Manderly atop their horses.

"Where's Austin?" Edric asked.

The cousins exchanged a glance. "You'd better hear this with the king."


"In short, the Lord Commander elected to remain with Stannis, believing that is what you would wish of him," Ser Wendel finished.

Ned shook his head. "No, I do not wish that for him, but I recognize his efforts to make this alliance a reality. When I see him again, I'll thank him. You are dismissed, report to Ser Barristan for your debriefing."

As the two Manderlys left, Edric stepped forward. "So, it seems that Austin was able to secure an alliance after all. Although I'd advise against keeping him there. Stannis is a cruel, angry man. You may have supported his claim once, but given the slightest opportunity, I believe he will attempt to seize the North from you."

Ned nodded. "Aye, you may be right. But we can take no action while Austin is in their custody. Austin falling in battle is also another possibility."

"Falling in battle? What do you mean?" Edric asked. "The Manderlys made no mention of Austin taking part in battle."

Ned shook his head. "No, but I know Stannis. He'll use Austin as a commander or bodyguard during the battles to come. He won't let his ally's envoy become indolent. He knows Austin is a capable fighter, and he'll use that to his advantage."

Edric collapsed into a chair across from his king, burying his head in his hands. "Just when I thought I had him back for good, now we have to worry about all of this. He's my brother, Ned. My brother. Maybe not by birth, but we're bound together by ordeals that no other has been through. We have responsibilities, we have to reclaim our home from those who took it from us. We can't do that if we're dead. Only Austin can defeat Gerold in battle. And only I can rule the castle once it is retaken. We're in an unbreakable repetition of circumstances, Ned. Just when we feel as though we can't be beaten, we're torn apart again. When will it end?!"

Ned bowed his head, praying to the Old Gods of the Forest for answers. "I don't know, Edric. I don't know."