''Ned, it's been long enough, call your boy back, it's time that Cregan Stark came home.''
That was what Robert said in his message telling of his plans to eventually Journey North to speak with him. Cregan was a wild card, fiercely independent and naturally irritable, Ned was forced to exile him when the boy murdered Roose Bolton's Bastard Son, in retaliation for the death of his friend Domeric Bolton. Stannis Baratheon took him in briefly, but Cregan almost immediately went off to Essos.
Jon Arryn was kind enough to have Varys keep tabs on Cregan, Cat hoarded the letters, guarding them out of fear that he'd burn them. Cat had never fully forgiven Ned for banishing Cregan.
Cregan was wild, he was fiercely protective of his friends and family, which was why he'd been exiled.
Last word placed him in Lys, in the company of a mercenary company.
''Ned, Cregan's back.'' Says Catelyn from the door.
Sighing he gets up and goes to greet his son.
Cregan Stark rode into the Castle of Winterfell, behind him a small procession of fighters follow him, one of which happens to be Asher Forrester, Ned's jaw tightened at this, but he couldn't help but notice the beautiful woman in his son's company, because of their haunting similarity to Ashara Dayne and indeed, even the late Queen Rhaella.
Cregan gives him a disinterested and embittered look, not outwardly acknowledging his presence. The tension is thick with silence. With a tired and bored sigh Cregan wordlessly dismounts, helps the woman down and gives a silent nod of acknowledgement to everyone except Ned, before pushing past with the woman and leaving.
''Well, that went better than expected.'' States Asher.
''Why are you here? You were exiled.'' Asks Eddard.
''Aye, but as with the men and women beside and behind me, we swore an oath of loyalty to the Black Wolf.'' Says Asher, before turning to begin settling in.
Cregan sat in his room, he was slumped in his chair, the mysterious woman was straddling him, as she planted lingering kisses onto various parts of his upper body.
Cregan didn't bother to answer when his door was knocked on and opened.
''Cregan?'' Asks Lady Catelyn, and Cregan only grunts in reply. The woman covers herself and stands to address her man's mother.
''You'll have to forgive him, he hasn't talked much since the Volantene affair.'' Says the woman.
''And you are?'' Asks Catelyn.
''Ahh, forgive my manners, my name is Dyanna. I am Cregan's wife.'' Says the now named Dyanna.
''For how long?'' Asks Catelyn.
''Ever since he saved me. You see my father was not the kindest man, he hoped to sell me into a marriage to get himself an army to take back his alleged birthright. Cregan felt differently, he gelded my father and his desired goodson, before freeing me. I've been by his side ever since that day.'' Dyanna says, as she looks down at Cregan sadly. ''Sadly, ever since the Volantene affair he's been fairly quiet.'' Says Dyanna as she gently traces the scar across his cheek.
''What happened?'' Asks Catelyn.
''Betrayal.'' Cregan growls as he speaks up for the first time.
''Cregan-''
''Go, just go mother.'' Says Cregan.
Catelyn at a loss for words, and unwilling to push him, bows her head silently.
''My blades.'' Cregan rumbles.
Dyanna goes to the trunk, and fetches the three swords that Cregan had acquired, one of which he'd taken as a prize from Old Valyria.
''Send a rider to Tywin Lannister, inform him Brightroar has been found and so has Gerion Lannister, as well as King Tommen's remains, inform him he can have The bodies, but Brightroar is now the property of Cregan Stark.'' Says Cregan.
''He won't like that.'' Says Dyanna.
''Aye, but tell him if he wants the Blade he can come to Winterfell and ask for it himself. My wine.'' Says Cregan and Dyanna pours him a glass of the only thing that gives him a peaceful sleep.
Ned entered his son's quarters, he'd received a raven informing him Tywin Lannister was coming North to discuss something with Cregan. Wanting answers, He found Cregan slumped in his chair, Three swords of an unmistakable and all too familiar material, as he went to touch them, he felt a knife to his throat and a hand on his wrist.
''Why are you here?'' Asks Dyanna.
Ned ignored the girl, and focused on Cregan, the scars on him unmistakable, his damaged eye, which he lost at age five while an Ironborn prisoner during the Greyjoy Rebellion, but also fresher and new scars.
''A raven from Casterly Rock came, Tywin Lannister comes to treat...with you. I want to know why.'' Says Lord Stark.
''Brightroar.'' Says Cregan.
''My husband ventured to old Valyria, recovered the bodies of Tommen II Lannister and Gerion Lannister, as well as Brightroar, he later managed to acquire two other lost blades, Orphan-Maker as well as Dark Sister, he acquired Dark Sister in Mereen. He offered Lord Tywin the corpses, but not the sword. Told the Old Lion of Lannister to come ask for it himself.'' Says Dyanna.
''Dya, leave us.'' Says Cregan.
''Creg...'' Says Dyanna sadly, before departing.
''Do you know what they did to us? They butchered us, threw me into the Pits of Mereen. I got out, chased them to Valyria and back. I don't care about anything any more Father, I want Moat Callin, let me live there in peace, with Dya by my side.'' Says Cregan.
''Moat Callin is a ruin.'' Says Ned.
''Not for much longer.'' States Cregan cryptically.
Cregan didn't utter a word as he descended for Breakfast. Dyanna accompanied him, at both hips were Brightroar and Blackfyre at his hips and Dark Sister over his shoulder. He'd go hunting today, maybe get himself a pig or a deer to sup on tonight.
Cregan nodded to Dyanna who proceeded to ask the servants to cook a Leg of Lamb, some Bacon, Eggs, and some vegetable Soup, while also pouring themselves some Dornish Red, Cregan's preferred form of wine, provided just a slight hint of Arbor Gold has been applied first of course, it was an acquired taste
Cregan calmly ate his meal and drank his fill, ignoring the looks from his siblings until at long last Sansa grew brave enough to approach him.
''Cregan, do you...do you remember me?'' Sansa asks gingerly.
''Sansa, leave your brother alone for now, he's entitled to one morning alone.'' Says Lord Stark as he enters, before turning to Vayon Poole, Ser Rodrik, and Robb. summon the Lord's of the North, With Lord Tywin coming we must be prepared in case a fight breaks out, Vayon, you will focus on the supply and hosting, Ser Rodrik you will focus on preventing trouble. Robb, make sure your ready as well.'' Says Ned Stark.
''Yes, Father/My Lord.'' Robb, Rodrik, and Vayon replied in unison.
Cregan turns to Dyanna and nods to her silently.
''Lord Stark, Cregan wishes to spar.'' Says Dyanna.
''I'll have Jory prepare the yard.'' Says Lord Stark.
''You misunderstand Lord Stark, Cregan does not wish to fight anybody, except for you.'' Says Dyanna, and the entire room grows quiet at the notion.
''My fighting days are done.'' Says Eddard.
''Coward.'' Cregan says scowling.
''Excuse me?'' Asks Eddard.
''You've a lot to answer for father, you exiled me, let me languish in one hell until a worst one came to take it's place, for years I suffered, well no more, I want my pound of flesh from you now.'' Says Cregan in rare voice. "I Challenge you father, to first blood or first yield, it matters not, but I challenge you. Real steel." Says Cregan as he inches up face-to-face with his father.
"Fine." Says Eddard.
"One more thing, it will be with Valyrian Steel!" Says Cregan.
"Cregan, you don't have a Valyrian blade!" Says Catelyn in scolding, eliciting chuckles from Cregan, Dya and his entire group.
"Your right, I don't have A Blade, I've got Three Valyrian Blades!" He shouts in response, unfurling his blades.
Winterfell had gathered to watch the very real and very dangerous battle between father and son, Cregan wielded Dark Sister in his left hand, while he carried Orphan-Maker in his right hand.
Cregan rolled his wrists, the blades following their motions.
It quickly became clear that His father wasn't going to make the opening move, so Cregan chose to do it for him. He slowly laid strike upon strike against Ice, before he began to introduce acrobatics and flips into it.
The shift caught Ned off guard, as the way his son moved resembled a fluid dance more than an actual combat form. Daemon laid several glancing strikes with the flat of the blades, which felt more like welts from a hard leather belt, than actual Sword strikes.
Cregan continued to dance and leap around his father before laying a two blade overhead strike against Ice. Cregan smirks mischievously as he sweeps his fathers legs out from under him, and pins him to the dirt by piercing the top of his jerkin with both blades, missing his shoulders and flesh by centimeters and leveling Brightroar at his father's throat.
"Pitiful." Cregan Snarks, picking up his weapons and beginning to walk away.
''You had me at a disadvantage.'' Says Eddard.
''Maybe, maybe not.'' Says Cregan.
(Time-Skip: One Month Later)
Lord Tywin Lannister looked upon the twisted and mangled body of his youngest brother Gerion with a long and deeply hidden anguish. Gerion's constant japes proved frustrating to his elder siblings, but his presumed death had haunted Tywin, Kevan and Genna for over over a decade.
In Contrast he held only apathy for King Tommen's remains, as his foolish journey was directly responsible for Gerion's demise. His main purpose was to now take back Brightroar.
Tywin Followed Lord Eddard to his once wayward Son's chambers.
''Be warned he is both exactly and nothing like my Brother Brandon and The King.'' Eddard said in a cryptic and grave voice, which surprised Tywin as Northmen were notoriously blunt individuals, Lord Eddard especially so.
Entering he finds a Young Woman, who was alarmingly similar to Queen Rhaelle.
''Welcome Lord Tywin, I am Lady Dyanna, the Wife of Lord Cregan, my husband has a list he wants you to fulfill before he gives you that which he alone dared to reclaim.'' Says the Woman.
''Can he not speak for himself?'' Tywin questions.
''I can, but I choose not to. Brightroar is not my only Valyrian piece, I recovered Orphan-Maker and Dark Sister, but those are mine and mine alone. If you want Brightroar, then you will do as I wish.'' Says Cregan in a low voice.
''Are you threatening me?'' Asks Tywin.
''Put yourself in my position; a Second son with no lands, no castle, no wealth, but with the ancestral Sword of the Richest family in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, would you not try to get as much as possible?'' Cregan asks.
''What is it you want?'' Tywin asks.
''You rebuild Moat Callin, make it the un-cursed Northern equivalent of Harrenhal. You'll provide the coin to rebuild and repair it. Secondly, you will see to it that Moat Callin receives the Charter Duskendale was denied by you. Thirdly you will ensure that a contract with The Faceless men is taken out against any who wish to harm my wife. In my name.'' Says Cregan.
''Do this Lord Tywin and Brightroar is yours.'' Dyanna promises the Old Lion of Casterly Rock.
''Hmm, give me a few days to think it over.'' Says Lord Tywin.
Chapter End
Well about friggin time, this was on the backburner for months on end, feels great to get out there...
Cordially Yours,
TheRagFromTheCrag,
Enjoy!!!