TDC: Missing Scenes and What If Scenarios
By
Arrow4131
And
Leilani972
Chapter 15: Sins of the Father and the Son
Summary: After the Stormlords and the Valemen, it is the prisoners from the Riverland's turn to face justice.
Ser Hugo Vance has lost a lot during the war: his cousin, some of his men, and his brother Ronald. As he grows desperate hearing from the other's trials, will he convince his family, the other Lords, and the King that he truly repents? Will he obtain a second chance even though he thought he didn't deserve it?
This work is inspired by The Dragon Cub by Alperez16. Each chapter is a missing scene from key moments in the original story and a chance for us to answer a few what-if questions.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Ser Hugo Vance
The Red Keep, 298 AC
Gods, how he wished he was with the Knights of the Vale at that moment!
He had been stuck with his former friends in this cell for a sennight and he hadn't missed their incessant complaining at all. He would have thought that having been treated more decently than during their time at the camp would have calmed them down, but he realized that their subdued attitudes at the end of it were all an act.
How stupid were they to demand more decent conditions? They were still prisoners, for the Gods' sake! They hadn't bent the knee nor proved their loyalty to the King, and contrary to some of the Lords of the Vale, nobody had vouched for them.
Ser Marq Piper kept demanding to see his family before the trial. He had heard that Lord Clement, his father, had made the trip to the Red Keep with his brother Lewys, and wanted to see them because he feared they would be told fallacies about him.
Tristan Ryger had begged to send a letter to his brother, who he was estranged with because of the way he had been ruling Willow Wood, but had received no response from him so far.
Lymond Goodbrook was the worst of them. He had no family left, with the exception of his cousin he loathed deeply and who returned it in kind. The fact that Garse hadn't taken the journey to see him showed how concerned he was for Lymond's fate. But it didn't keep him from asking a room more fitting of a Lord as he was about to bend the knee. His entitlement got on Hugo's nerves and it had gotten to the point where sometimes he felt that he was on the verge of madness.
Hugo didn't need to see his family nor did he need much better comfort. All he needed at this moment was to get away from these idiots that he had once called friends.
How did he only recently realize what kind of company he was keeping? Had he been blind to their faults? Or was it simply that he had been just as idiotic as they were but was the only one of them who was willing to admit his mistakes and try to better himself?
Whatever the case might be, the only thing he knew for certain was that his lack of brains had cost him and his family greatly.
Hugo was relieved that his father had refused to allow his younger brothers to come with Ronald and him. Ellery and Kirth had also been close friends of Edmure and had been cross not to fight for him at the time. Part of him cursed himself for not being willing to listen to his father. Lord Norbert had known better and had lost two sons because of Hugo's stubbornness. While another part of him cursed Edmure for leading them to disaster with the war and for trying to assassinate a young boy because he had been embarrassed.
"Have you heard what the king has done?" he suddenly heard one guard say.
"About the Valemen? Aye."
"It's a huge risk he's taking,"
"I know, but Ser Richard believes that those who Ned Stark has vouched for will be more akin to bend the knee when they see the proof that Arryn knew of Princess Lyanna's wedding to Prince Rhaegar."
"So it is true then? He lied to everyone?"
"Not only him, but House Tully too, I believe. I heard that before killing herself, Lysa Tully cursed the day she'd hid Lyanna Stark's letter so Brandon wouldn't have it. She said all her troubles came after they hid that damned letter. Don't you find it crazy that she talks about Lyanna's letter and then they found one of those in Robert's chambers?"
Hugo gasped and listened more closely. What letter were they talking about? Why would Jon Arryn keep proof about Rhaegar's wedding to Lyanna? Did it mean Robert knew about it too? And why would Lady Lysa possess a letter from Lyanna Stark?
He was distracted from his thoughts by the rest of the conversation.
"That woman was crazy, Armin." he heard the other guard chuckle. "She was beside herself in the Black Cells. The things she said made no sense in the end."
"But she called on Littlefinger! If he really was the father of her child as Arryn believed…"
Hugo shivered. Of course, he'd heard the rumors and the songs about the Mockingbird who'd fooled the Falcon, but to have Jon Arryn believe it also still shocked him, until he remembered what the former Hand had done to his wife and her child.
"We can't know that either, Armin. She never admitted anything about cuckolding him."
"I know but…"
"They're dead anyway. Jon Arryn will soon be, so what does it change?"
"Wouldn't you like to know who lied to us during the Rebellion? Or why?"
"I do not care about the why. Everybody lies, especially highborn, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Tullys knew as much as Jon Arryn. They were a disgraced bunch and soon their name will disappear. What I want is that justice is done for all the crimes they have committed."
"King Jaehaerys will see to it, Jasper. They will pay, all of them." the guard named Armin replied with certainty.
Hugo's head spun with what he had heard so far. As much as he blamed Edmure for his fate, Hoster Tully was someone akin to a legend in the Riverlands. He had made their land prosper before and after the Rebellion and had ruled the Riverlands with a steel hand. What those guards suggested, that he and at least Lysa knew about Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark's wedding, would be devastating for all of their reputations.
Would people believe it? Would King Jaehaerys ask for the Riverlords who fought for Hoster to give some land back to the loyalists? Atranta would be safe, but it would further divide the Riverlands.
He didn't remember much about the Rebellion. Like most of the Riverlands, his father had been torn between his allegiance toward the Crown, most of all Prince Rhaegar, and his duty to his Liege. Norbert had squired for Lord Darry, whose whole family was loyalist, and he was very good friends with the Blackfish. In the end, it was the Union between the North and the Riverlands that decided things for him. How would Hugo's father react if he heard those rumors?
Stupid question, the answer was so simple, his father would be furious that he had marched for a lie. Anyone would be in this situation. Especially those who had suffered during the rebellion like Stannis and Renly during the siege of Storm's End.
Wait! The siege!
Robert couldn't have known the truth. If he had then that meant that he had allowed his own brothers to nearly starve to death for a lie. If they had actually died, it would have turned Robert into a kinslayer, so he couldn't have known. He would have never purposely put his own family in harm's way.
At least that's what Hugo was hoping for. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense since he had spent plenty of time with some of the older Vale Lords who had fought during the rebellion. A few of them recounted stories of Robert's behavior during the campaign. Constantly bellowing about his great love for Lyanna and how he was going to rescue her while he bedded whores and camp followers. It also didn't help that he never had a decent relationship with his brothers, so it would make sense that he simply cared more about his own jealousy than the safety of his kin.
But there was one other issue that further divided Hugo's thoughts about these rumors. During his talks with the Valemen, no one had ever mentioned there being a parley during the first battle of the Trident. He didn't think much of it at the time but now… it didn't make any sense for Rhaegar to not ask for a parlay. And for that matter, wouldn't Lord Stark seek an opportunity to confront the man who supposedly kidnapped his sister?
"What got you all mopey this time?" The voice of Tristan Ryger shook him out of his reflections.
Hugo simply shook his head and said nothing. The last thing he wanted right now was to have another argument with his former friends. They weren't on the same page since his change of heart and they all were still in denial about what had happened.
"What now? You feel we're too low for you to even grace us with an answer?" Marq spat.
"Why won't you drop it?" Hugo sighed loudly.
"Because your holier-than-thou attitude is really getting on our nerves," Marq responded.
"You're tired of my attitude, I'm tired of yours, we're even so let us call it a day and mind our own business."
"You're so full of yourself," Lymond sneered. "If you think that playing the repentant will help you have better conditions or get away with whatever crime they will put on us, think again. You're still in that cell with us."
"Did you stop to think that maybe, just maybe, it was not an act? And that even more so, the fact that we can't stand each other now but are stuck in the same cell is a punishment for all of us?"
That answer seemed to rile Lymond up and his former friend was about to say something when someone interrupted their spat.
"You should put more faith in what Ser Hugo says, my Lords. He's closer to the truth than he thinks he is."
Hugo gasped and stared wide-eyed as Ser Richard Lonmouth entered their cell. He never thought that the Master of Whispers would pay them a visit.
"Finally, we get someone to talk to. It's about time!" Lymond said.
"I'm not here to talk to you, Ser. I'm here because Lord Norbert Vance asked me a favor and the reports I had received throughout your time as a prisoner tend to play in your favor, Ser Hugo."
Hugo's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his father.
"Father? Why?"
"I don't know everything, Ser. Just that he wants to talk to you and to ensure you have been well treated."
Hugo hesitated. He wanted to see his father, to tell him so many things, especially that he was sorry for what had happened to his brother, but those words also made him shake his head in refusal.
"I can't… I can't see him... "
"Ser?"
"Just tell him I am well, and I am sorry for everything…"
"Are you sure you don't want to tell him yourself?"
"Please, don't make me… I can't…"
So lost was he in his misery that Hugo shut himself to the world, not noticing the look of sadness on the Master of Whisper's face.
The Red Keep, 298 AC
After Jon Arryn's trial
A few days later, Hugo waited anxiously for the next change of guard for any news concerning the trial. He had befriended a few of them by staying polite with them, whereas his former friends kept to their haughtiness, and they promised him to tell him about the issue once it would be done.
"You're done for the day, lads," he heard the one named Derrick say.
"So, what happened? Was he found guilty?"
"Even better. He's dead already."
Hugo rushed to his feet and looked at the small opening of his cell, his heart beating loudly.
"What did you say?"
"Jon Arryn is dead. After he had been found guilty by the Lords, King Jaehaerys wasted no time to take his head himself."
"He did it himself?" Hugo gasped while his cellmates rushed to his side.
"Aye, as was his right considering what they'd said at the trial."
"Is it about the letter?" the young guard asked, only to be chastised by Derrick's glare.
"Well, is it?" Hugo pressed. "Is it true?"
"What is true?" Tristan asked.
"That Jon Arryn knew that Lyanna and Rhaegar had married."
"How could he possibly have known?" Lymond laughed dismissively.
"Because Princess Lyanna sent word to Baratheon, and the fool kept the letter. Jon Arryn all but confirmed that he knew about it during the trial." Derrick replied.
"Impossible! Robert would never -"
"Like Edmure would never try to have a boy of ten namedays killed?" Hugo cut Marq abruptly. "Truth is, we really don't know anyone but ourselves, Marq."
The cell grew quiet and Hugo enjoyed it for a moment.
"Now that Jon Arryn's trial is over, you will not have long to face yours, Sers," Derrick said ominously.
"Do you know when it will take place?"
"Stannis Baratheon's and the Dornish Lords are set to be two days from now. But the Lords of the Vale haven't been tried yet, so I can't tell you if it will be before or after."
Dread crept on Hugo's spine while he thought about his upcoming trial. Soon, he would know of his fate, and if Jon Arryn's trial was an indication of what was awaiting him, he had very few chances of keeping his head. After all, in a way, he had been complicit in what Edmure tried to do to Jaehaerys when everyone thought him a bastard. By saying nothing when his friend had tried to have the boy's hand for a non-existing offence, by not trying to defuse the situation, and by not making Edmure see reason when they got back to the Riverlands. He had let things sour to the point where Edmure ordered two assassination attempts against the now King of Westeros. Then, if that wasn't enough, he had raised his banners against said king despite his better judgement. For a moment, he was glad Edmure was already dead, because they would have faced a harsher trial had the former Lord Paramount of the Trident been alive.
Not that it will change anything to your fate, Hugo… And your father will mourn another of his sons soon.
Thinking about his father made his anxiety rise more. He suddenly regretted not having accepted Ser Richard's offer to talk to him. Would he be able to say to him what he had on his heart before his life ended?
He slept fitfully that night as he dreamt about his sentencing every time he closed his eyes.
He could see the disappointment in his brothers' eyes, and his father didn't even bother showing up. He could hear the word, again and again, louder each time it was pronounced.
Guilty.
He was the only one who didn't ask for a trial by combat. Not that he would have changed anything to his fate, to face one of the Kingsguard in single combat. If anything, it would have been worse to die under their hand, as he was sure they would make him pay for what Edmure did slowly and painfully.
Still, he didn't want to die. Not before asking forgiveness to the king and most of all his family. He begged for a chance to say something, anything, but he was denied every time.
"What care do we have to hear any word coming from your traitorous lips?"
"Why would we waste our time with the likes of you, when you've already been found guilty?"
"Your family doesn't want anything to do with you, Ser. Best not hurt yourself more and accept your fate."
He dreamt of the dragon raining fire on him, of the wolf going for his throat, of the Sword of the Morning swinging Dawn, and of King Jaehaerys himself ending his life with Dark Sister.
The night after Stannis' trial was worse. Even though he knew he might have a chance of going to the Wall, the denial of a trial by combat asked by Quentyn Martell shook him and his cell companions to the core. If the King was willing to go against the Gods to punish the Dornish, then there was truly no chance for them to leave the Red Keep unscathed. Not that they didn't deserve to be punished for their inaction, but he was certain they wouldn't last long at the Wall. There were a lot of Targaryen loyalists who had been sent there after the Rebellion, and with the recent revelations about that time, they might feel entitled for revenge.
That night, he dreamt about being stabbed in the dark and feeling the cold of the Wall seeping through his body while he breathed his last. This caused him to wake with a start and gasp for air that he had been deprived of in his nightmare.
When he got his bearings, he noticed that his reluctant companions were still thankfully fast asleep. The last thing Hugo wanted was for them to try giving him false comfort. He had enough of listening to them talk about how he had done the right thing and that Ronald's wasn't his fault. They were fools to believe that, especially since they didn't know what it was like to lose a brother in a war that he didn't believe in. Father and Ronald had both warned him that partaking in the war would come back to bite them, that the odds were too great against them. But he'd refused to listen and now he had to live with the guilt of getting his brother killed and causing his poor father unimaginable pain.
Hugo had so many things that he wanted to say to his father. He wanted to apologize for his stubbornness. He wanted to apologize for leading their men into an unwinnable war by following a man that he knew was a fool. Most of all, he wanted to apologize for getting Ronald killed.
These words were only a small part of the things that he wanted to say but felt that he shouldn't. He didn't deserve any forgiveness so why bother begging for it? He deserved every foul word that his poor father would want to throw in his face. He deserved to be yelled at, no, screamed at in anger. He deserved every curse imaginable along with being unnamed and disowned.
While he wholeheartedly believed in his soul that he deserved all of these things, the thought of facing his father terrified him. But he knew now that he had to do this before his trial or he would never be at peace with himself. If he was going to die either by the King's own hand or by the hands of loyalists at the Wall, then he wanted to face the Stranger knowing that he didn't die a coward fleeing from the consequences of his actions. That last thought managed to calm his heart enough that Hugo was able to find a bit more sleep before dawn came.
However, he didn't find the courage to ask for a meeting with his father until a few days later, after he heard a woman scream and cry as the guards from the cell door ran from their post. Startled, he went to the opening and froze when he saw Catelyn Tully being restrained by two men and dragged to a cell with some help from his guards. She looked like she had aged overnight, her once beautiful red hair now matted and grey. She had lost a lot of weight, probably due to the conditions of her running away from the King, and her emaciated face made him think she hadn't had a good night sleep in moons.
They put her in a cell not so far from his and he could still hear her crying out for help and begging not to bring her to the King. The guards watching over his cell shook their heads as they got back to their post.
"It's like hearing Lady Lysa all over again," one of them said sadly. "I don't think I will be able to bear it, this time."
"Lady Lysa did not deserve her fate. This one does." the other countered.
"That may be. But I still can't imagine being in her position."
"Is that truly Lady Catelyn?" Hugo asked shakily.
"Aye, Ser." the second guard answered. "Can you believe that Baelish just abandoned her like that to save his own skin? What kind of man does that to his own wife?"
"The kind of man sleeps with his wife's sister and puts a bastard in her belly while claiming to the world he'd taken both sisters' maidenheads when they were younger, then doesn't mind letting one die so he could marry the other?." the first one said.
"Aye. Fair point."
"Do you seriously pity this woman? After all she did to our King? She tried to kill him, for the Gods' sake!"
"I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to face justice for what she did, but I'm not sure I'll be able to handle hearing her beg for her life like lady Lysa did. This will haunt me until the way I die."
"What will happen to her?" Hugo enquired.
"I believe the King will make an example of her as he did with Lord Arryn." the first guard said.
"But, she's his kin!" Hugo gasped.
"Is she? She's his kin's mother, and she didn't seem to mind being a kinslayer when she ordered his death with his brother." the guard spat. "Now that I think of it, it makes sense…"
"What does?" Hugo frowned, confused.
"Well, the reason why you haven't been tried yet! I mean, the Dornish had been sentenced to the Wall already, the Stormlords bent the knee, and the Valemen are waiting for someone to do the same. I wondered why you weren't tried as the tourney is almost over. Now I know. They were waiting for her."
Hugo shivered and he heard Lymond curse behind him.
"We're fucked!" Marq lamented. "If that's the truth, we're well and truly fucked! The King will try us at the same time and we will bear the weight of her and Edmure's crimes!"
"As we should," Hugo said.
"No! No we shouldn't! What they did was on them! We don't have to pay for Edmure's nonsense!"
"You're right, we have to pay for our own."
"But we didn't do anything!"
"And that's what we've been guilty of, according to Gerion Lannister. Or don't you remember what he said?"
"That's unfair. We deserve a chance to prove ourselves to the king. We deserve to have a second chance!"
"Do we?"
"Just because you think you're not worthy of it doesn't mean it's true, Hugo," Tristan said softly, making Hugo shiver once more. "Listen, I know, or at least I imagine what you're thinking."
"Do you?"
"You've told us time and time again that you felt guilty for Ronald's death. You feel like you cannot face your father because of the guilt you feel. And I get it. I… I still have no news from Theo… And I know I don't deserve any for how I cast him out, but I want a chance to apologize to him in the future."
For the first time in moons, Hugo felt something other than annoyance toward one of his former friends.
"I sincerely hope you'll be able to do it, Tristan," he said and the latter smiled sadly.
"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, good Sers, but with Catelyn Tully's upcoming trial, you won't stand a chance," Marq sneered.
A wave of panic surged through Hugo at those words and he rushed to the opening of the cell, banging to get the guards' attention from Catelyn's cries.
"I have to talk to my family. Please! I need to… Ask ser Richard if the offer of meeting my father still stands." he pleaded, desperation clear in his voice.
"We can't leave our post, Ser -"
"Please! I beg you! Ser Richard had tried to… And I… I can't give you anything but my gratitude but -"
"No need, Ser. We will do it, but not until our watch ends."
"I… Thank you, Sers. Thank you…"
Hours later, as Hugo sat in the cell hoping and praying that he wasn't too late with Ser Richards' offer he heard footsteps coming closer. But he didn't think much of it since the guards had yet to finish their watch. Until…
"I was wondering how long it would take you to change your mind."
Hugo sat up faster than he ever had in his life and with great speed nearly slammed himself into the door when he heard Ser Richards' voice.
"How did you find out? The guards hadn't even left to tell you." He said feeling very surprised, but at the same time, he felt a great sense of hope.
The spymaster chuckled.
"I have spies everywhere Ser. They hear and see everything even when you cannot see them. One of them just happened to be nearby when you had made your request and came to find me immediately. I would've been here sooner but I wanted to send word to your father first and make sure that he was available to see you."
"And?"
"He's waiting for you in a room that I had prepared so you both can have some privacy." He answered with a smile and then proceeded to order the guards to open the cell door.
When they went to restrain him, Ser Richard shook his head and told them that Hugo could be trusted not to do anything foolish. So with that out of the way the two men walked up the steps and into the sunlight that the young knight had not been able to see for some time.
The walk to their destination was quiet at first until they had come to an empty corridor and Ser Richard surprised him with what he said.
"I didn't want to say anything in front of your former friends but I wasn't being entirely truthful about my spy. You see, he wasn't nearby by coincidence, I had him keeping an eye on you ever since we last talked. I had a feeling that you would end up changing your mind sooner or later. So when Lady Catelyn had arrived earlier today, I had a hunch that seeing her might get you thinking about my offer so I had him stick around the cells longer than usual. And as it turned out, my hunch was correct."
"I can understand that, but I'm still confused about something. How did you know for certain that I would change my mind? Here's a better question. Why do you care?"
The spymaster then stopped in front of the younger knight and turned to look at him with sadness in his eyes.
"Because I have a pretty good idea on how you feel. I may not have lost a brother as you did, but Rhaegar was my best friend and the last thing I said to him before the first Battle of the Trident was that I was with him to the death. And yet I lived, and he died. Lewyn, Oswell, Gerold, Jonothor, the list goes on and on. I lived and they all died. Good and true men they all were. The best of them. The best men I ever knew and yet I don't die with them. For years I carried this immense guilt inside of me. Physically I was alive but inside, I was a dead man with nothing to live for. That is, until I saw a 10 name day old boy put a fish in his place and I realized that I had something to live for after all. The day I was able to bend the knee to my best friend's son was the happiest I had been in over a decade. I failed the father but I would not fail the son. That was the promise I made to myself that helped me find the will to keep living and to finally lay the ghosts that had haunted me for so long to rest. Now I'm not saying that the guilt is completely gone, in fact, I still feel it on occasion. But it's lessened over the last few years, even more so since His Grace was finally crowned."
With each word that the older man spoke the more Hugo felt a sense of both pity and familiarity. Pity for having to carry the feelings of guilt for so many years while everyone believed him to be dead. While at the same time he felt that sense of familiarity because he had asked the same question that Ser Richard had no doubt asked many times for so long.
"Why did he die while I was spared?"
Ronald was the heir with a good head on his shoulders and had a bright future as his father's pride. While his younger brother on the other hand had been a foolish spare who kept company with other fools. They like him, much preferred to ride around drinking and whoring instead of ruling their lands.
"So why did the Gods see fit to take the responsible son and leave the fool behind for my poor father to deal with?"
Whatever the reason might be, it didn't matter anymore. But the question itself showed the big difference between the traumas that both men went through. After all, Rhaegar died because of a war that ambitious men like Jon Arryn and jealous fools like Robert Baratheon started to acquire the throne. Ronald died because he had been led astray by his blind and foolish younger brother.
When Ser Richard saw that Hugo was unconvinced, he put his hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Look, I'm not going to tell you that this wasn't your fault or that you shouldn't feel guilty. You've heard that from plenty of people already and I would be a hypocrite for saying so since I hadn't believed it myself at that time. There are only two things that you should take away from my words. The first is that the hurt and grief will never truly go away. The second, that it is possible to heal and find a new purpose for your life despite the hurt. Some people find it through new goals in life and others find it through being with their family. Everyone's path towards healing is different, but some people never find that path at all. You on the other hand have shown me that you are on the right path."
Ser Richard then smiled at him before turning around and continued walking in the direction they were heading in. Hugo composed himself before quickly following after his guide.
A few moments later, they reached a room that had two guards standing in front of the door. His escort explained that these guards were men of the Hundred and that they had been instructed to guard the room against any eavesdroppers and to escort him back to his cell at the very latest by sunset. And with that, the Master of Whispers took his leave.
After the man had left, Hugo stood in front of the door feeling a sense of dread for what was to come. But as much as he wanted nothing more than to run right back to his cell, he knew that this was something he had to do. So he walked up to the door, straightened his back, and knocked on the door three times.
A short moment passed before he heard a very familiar voice call out, "Come in!"
When Hugo opened the door, the first thing he saw was his father sitting in a chair that faced the door. It was the first time he'd seen Norbert in several moons and he was taken aback by the difference. Despite his blindness, his father had always looked sharp and he had never let his lack of sight dull his wits. So all of his sons still felt a sense of pride in regards to their father and were never ashamed that he suffered from what some men would call a weakness.
The poor man had dark circles around his eyes that clearly showed that had not slept well for some time. He also looked a bit older compared to the last time Hugo had seen him. But the look on his face was what made the younger man feel even more shame for what he had done. The look of grief was well recognizable since he had seen it on his father's face after his mother had died on the birthing bed years prior. But this time the grief looked even more significant compared to before, which made sense since his father had once told him that the loss of one's child was a pain that no one ever deserves to go through. Not even his worst enemies.
Yet there he stood after having inflicted that terrible pain on his own father. He knew that standing in front of the grieving man would not be easy, but he never imagined how difficult it would be to see what losing his son had done to him. Hugo wanted to cry, but he barely managed to hold everything in. He needed to do so in order to be prepared for the judgement that was to come.
"Who's there? Ser Richard is that you? Has my son arrived or did he end up changing his mind again?" His father suddenly said with a confused and anxious look on his face.
Hugo could barely look at him without breaking down. He lowered his head and spoke the words that had been swirling around deep inside his heart as a great burden for so long.
"Father, it's me. I'm here and I apologize for not coming sooner but I knew that you would have mixed feelings about seeing me after what I had done. But I came to realize that I needed to face you like a man and speak to you before I face the King's judgement."
He paused to take a quick shaky breath and felt the tears flowing down his face, but he ignored them. He needed to keep speaking, he couldn't stop now.
"Father, I am so, so sorry. I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I'm sorry that I followed a man I knew was a fool and led your men into an unwinnable war. I'm sorry that I've been such a horrible son who brought shame to your house. But most of all, I am so sorry my foolishness got Ronald killed. I know I'll never be able to make it up to you and I don't expect you to forgive me…"
Suddenly, with a speed so astonishing for a blind man, Lord Norbert leaped from the chair and rushed to his son, enveloping him in a crushing hug.
"What? Father? What are you doing? How can you forgive me? I got Ronald killed! He's dead because of me! You should be furious with me and cursing me to the Seven Hells for what I did!" He cried out with shock coursing through his body and tears flowing even faster down his face.
"Son, listen to me. I was never angry with you and I certainly could never hate you. You are my son. You have always been my son and you will always be my son. I love you more than you could ever imagine possible and that will never change no matter what mistakes you make in this lifetime. Now, look at me."
Hugo then felt himself being pushed slightly away and then his father took his face in hand to lift it up so he could see his father's face.
"I want you to listen to me very carefully and don't argue. What happened to Ronald was not your fault. It was mine. Yes, you convinced us to follow Edmure but I am the Lord of Atranta. I have the final say in where our forces should go. I knew in my soul that following Edmure after we had found out about King Jaehaerys was a terrible idea and that we should have stayed out of the war. So as your father and your lord it was my responsibility to do what was best for our people and I failed in that. This was my failure and my burden to bear. You should've never carried this burden in the first place, especially for this long. Ronald would have never blamed you for what happened and I have not once since I heard the news ever even considered blaming you."
"But I…" he blubbered in his attempt to argue.
"No, what did I say about arguing?" his father said as if he was scolding a baby, making Hugo chuckle fondly through his tears. "A good leader accepts praise when things go well, and the blame when things go bad. So the blame lies at my feet and no one else's. Unless you do not think I am a good Leader?"
"You are a good leader and a good father, doing way more than I deserve -"
"And I will keep doing as much as I can so my heir could come back to Atranta."
"Your heir? Father, I…"
"As I said, you are my Son. I have heard of your time in the camp and I know for a fact that this whole experience has humbled you. You will put everything you've learned so far in the service of Atranta. That's what Ronald would have wanted and that's what I want too."
"What if… What if I have to go to the Wall or…"
"Do not worry, Son. I will get you out of here. I swear it on the Old Gods and the New."
Hugo didn't want to give his father false hope, nor did he want to hope for a nice outcome, but Norbert was so firm, so certain that everything will turn out for the best that the prisoner didn't have the heart to contradict his father.
He would enjoy the little time he has with him and his brother, as he had been told that Ellery would be present and he would be allowed to spend time with his family until the trial. He would enjoy those moments to the fullest and if the Gods saw fit to end his life, at least he would have no more regrets.
The Red Keep, 298 AC
Right after Catelyn Baelish's trial
Hugo was still in shock at what had happened at Catelyn's trial. They had been brought to the Throne Room, thinking they would be tried at the same time, only for Ser Richard to tell them there were only to bear witness of what was going to unfold.
And witness they did, how the former Lady of Riverrun unraveled in front of the Queen. Hugo wasn't surprised that she would lose her mind when confronted with her crimes, as he heard her talk to herself more than once in her cell about 'the bastard', as she kept calling the King. Not even the visit of her children could set her on an apologetic path. She was too far gone to even manage to keep herself from talking, and Hugo believed that hearing of the upcoming birth of her former husband's son didn't help on the matter.
The fact that Littlefinger was willing to throw her to the wolves to save his life was also not surprising, given what he had previously done with her when they were fleeing Westeros.
He was afraid of what would happen next and had been surprised to be led by their guards to a large room, where most of the Riverlords were present.
Jason Mallister and his son Patrek, Clement Piper and his son Lewis, Jonos Bracken, Raymund Darry, Shella Whent, William Mooton. His father and younger brother were also in attendance, as was Liane Vance, Karyl's eldest daughter and now Lady of Wayfarer's Rest.
"My, how the mighty have fallen. First the Falcon, then the Tullys…" said the new Lord Paramount of the Trident, Lord Tytos Blackwood, as he came last into the room.
"I cannot believe she said what she did. If someone had doubted how much she hated poor Jaehaerys…" Shella Whent, who looked deeply hurt, said in turn.
"I'm glad he wasn't there to hear it," Patrek Mallister said. "He endured enough already under that despicable woman. I can still remember how frail he looked when he arrived in the keep after the first attack. To think she only regrets it didn't work…"
"Won't it put him at odds with the Starks? I mean it's the heir's mother they've sentenced to die." Liane asked and Hugo's heart clenched as he thought of her father.
"I don't think so. The Queen did well and she pointed out that King Jaehaerys was willing to let her spend the rest of her life with the Faith." Jason Mallister answered.
"Plus the Tullys are responsible for the Starks and the Targaryens' demise, so I don't think Ned Stark will mourn her much," Norbert added to everyone's surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm pretty much certain Hoster Tully knew much about what happened before the Rebellion. Tell them, son," his father encouraged him.
"I don't know if Lady Catelyn knew about it, but I heard from the guards that Lady Lysa had claimed that she had hidden a letter from Lyanna Stark addressed to her brother. I know these are only rumors, but those men were there when she was locked in the Black Cells…"
"That would explain how Brandon got the idea that his sister had been kidnapped by Prince Rhaegar. But I don't understand why Lord Hoster would want his future good son to run off to certain death."
"I'm not sure of all of the details, but the way I heard it, the main reason Brandon was in Riverrun in the first place at that time was that he had intended to break the betrothal agreement." Lord Blackwood said. "Apparently he had fallen in love with another Lady and wanted to tell Lord Hoster in person, man to man, that he had no intention of marrying Lady Catelyn."
"I also heard from a Lord of the North that Lord Stark had introduced them to Brandon Stark's son. His trueborn son." Lord Darry added.
Murmurs and shocked gasps could be heard in all the room. The implication of Brandon having a trueborn son was huge for the North, but that was a subject that didn't concern the Riverlords, apart from what it entailed with the Tullys.
"If that's true, then the old trout would've seen Brandon's refusal to marry his daughter as a great insult to his house." Lord Bracken said. "It would've given him the perfect incentive to hide all evidence of Princess Lyanna leaving of her own free will. Doing so benefited House Tully greatly. The great slight avenged with Brandon's murder and because Lord Ned had become so grief-stricken by the deaths of his kin that it becomes very easy to manipulate him into marrying Lady Catelyn in his brother's stead."
"Dear Gods! All of these lies and manipulation. No wonder Lord Stark was so angry at the parley. I would've been too if I had found out that men I had considered kin by choice had been lying to me for half of my life."
"Exactly. Hard to believe that House Tully was so rotten to the core all of this time and no one ever knew."
"Well, not every Tully was like that. I highly doubt that the Blackfish knew anything about this. After all, he and his brother weren't very close and I heard that he was very angry when he found out His Grace had been attacked near the Twins." Tytos Blackwood retorted.
"That's true. The Blackfish has always been an honorable man. So it doesn't make any sense for him to have been involved in his brother's scheme."
"I wonder if Floppy and Lady Catelyn knew the truth?" Jason Mallister asked.
"Probably not. Telling his daughter the truth about the rebellion would've meant telling her the truth about Brandon and that would have greatly hurt her. As for the fishy idiot, well, do you honestly think that fool would have been able to keep his mouth shut for so many years?" Jonos Bracken chuckled to Hugo's shame.
He wouldn't defend Edmure's character, not after everything he did, but he was still affected by how they were talking about his late friend.
"Aye, you're right. The loyalists would have found out the truth within a year or so after the rebellion. I'm not sure Hoster was responsible for that act, though." Tytos said.
"How so?"
"You forget Littlefinger, my Lords. If he and Lysa were as close as they were in the Red Keep, then what had happened to him might also have been a reason for Lysa to hide the letter."
"What happened to him?" Hugo repeated.
"Don't you remember? He'd challenged Brandon Stark in a duel for Catelyn's hand and almost got killed for that."
"How could I forget about this?" Jonos Bracken exclaimed while Hugo frowned. It was the first time he had ever heard about that duel.
"That makes no sense! Why would Lord Brandon accept the duel if he was ready to break the betrothal?" he said, confused.
"Maybe he had been given no chance. What I know is that Littlefinger got banished from Riverrun after he recovered from his wounds, because of the incident. He went back to the Fingers after Brandon Stark's death."
"Then he would have made Lysa hide the letter to get back at Brandon? So that he wouldn't marry Catelyn?"
"He had always loved her, at least until he could have her." Jonos mused.
"Whatever the truth is, we cannot prove anything, my Lords, so let us not sully Lord Hoster's memory. His children had done enough already." Hugo's father said. "We have to think about the future of the Riverlands.
"Norbert is right," Tytos Blackwood agreed. "A lot of things will change in the years to come. The King appointed his kin Brandon Stark as the new Lord of Riverrun, under the regency of Ser Brynden Tully. As for the Lords who lost their lives and heirs, he has given me leave to suggest who will inherit their keep. There is also the subject of the Freys and those who fought with Lord Edmure…"
"Wouldn't the King decide our sentencing, my Lord?" Lymond said briskly.
"He already did, in a way. He told me that since you committed no crime against the Crown and you answered your Liege's orders, you were not to be executed nor sent to the Wall should you bend the knee."
Hugo let out a sigh of relief, as did the other prisoners.
"So, we're free?" Tristan asked, dumbfounded.
"Aye, you will be if you bend the knee to His Grace."
"Of course we will!" Tristan exclaimed.
"However, since you raised arms against him, His Grace said that there should be some conditions to your return to your keeps and gave me leave to choose the sanction that will fall on you."
"What are those conditions?" Lymond enquired.
"An increase of 20 percent in tax for the next five years and a cut of 20 percent of your lands." Tytos detailed. "Lord Norbert has already agreed upon it, Ser Hugo. As did your father, Ser Marq."
"Not that I really had a choice in the matter," Lord Clement, Marq's father, grumbled as Hugo stared at his own in disbelief.
"I say you get off pretty likely, if you want my opinion. You should go to the Wall for all I care, apart from Ser Hugo." Jonos Bracken said bitterly.
"The King and the Queen have given a fair judgement, Lord Bracken. We only answered our Liege's call and we can't be punished for that as it is not a crime," Marq said.
"Indeed, but that doesn't mean you could be trusted. I know for a fact that Ser Hugo has seen the error of his ways, but have you, Ser?"
Hugo saw Lymond clench his fist and knew he was about to lie.
"I have, my Lord. All I ask is a chance to prove it."
"And how do you intend to prove it?"
"I do not know yet. I intend to go back to Yardway and start acting like a Lord and not a knight traveling to every tourney he could, like I used to."
"That's a good start," Norbert approved, but his son could hear the wariness in his voice. "But if you intend to rule your lands as your late friend did his, then I'm afraid this will not do, Lord Goodbrook."
"I am aware of the errors I've committed, Lord Vance. I will be less carefree and more diligent in the future and I welcome any advice you can give me to better myself."
"Settle down. Stop fooling around. Find a wife. And treat those under you with more respect. This is my advice to you, to all of you. What I have heard from my men was shameful, truly shameful, and I am glad my son didn't behave as you did. The time has come for you to embrace your duties to your keep and the smallfolk. Those men you've sent to war against their will, they lost any respect they had for you during the time you were in that camp. You have to show them that you will be there to protect them and not to take advantage of your position to abuse them."
Tristan at least seemed to be humbled by those words, but Lymond and Marq were visibly offended. If looks could kill, then Hugo would have probably lost his father that day.
"If this is what it takes to have a second chance, then I will bend the knee and agree to all of the conditions," Tristan declared, and the rest of the prisoners agreed by nodding their heads.
They found themselves in front of the king a few days later, surrounded by the Riverlords. King Jaehaerys seemed annoyed, almost angry, and Hugo wondered if it was their presence triggering the feeling or something else. He had been notably absent since the trial of his former aunt, the rumors Hugo had heard were that he was angry at the Queen for putting him in such a position toward his family. Robb Stark had been absolutely furious and his sister Arya was devastated by the death of their mother.
"As I have already told Lord Blackwood, my goal was never to tear Westeros apart. War had taken place and some had chosen the wrong side of it, whether it was for duty, love, friendship, or more nefarious reasons. For those who recognized the errors of their ways and bent the knee to me so that we can build a better world together, I intend to be merciful.
"We thank you, Your Grace, for the second chance that you feel us worthy to get," Lymond rushed to say.
"A second chance, indeed. I remember you, my Lords. I remember some of you saying nothing when a boy of ten namedays was where you stand now, about to lose his hand for a lie your friend Edmure Tully gladly repeated."
"He was our Liege, your Grace. We couldn't possibly go against him at that time!" Marq defended himself.
"Do you think I forgot about the last tourney of King's Landing? Or how you and Lord Vance teamed up with Edmure to see me hurt during the melee? I saw your eyes, Lord Piper, and it wasn't just for loyalty or to follow your Liege's order that you took pleasure in trying to put the bastard you thought I was to his place," the King said harshly and Hugo couldn't help but bow his head in shame. "I hope you will use the second chance you've been offered to reflect on your previous behavior."
"Some of them already did, Your Grace," Ser Richard intervened, to Hugo's surprise.
"Then I'm glad to hear it. As for the sanctions befalling their houses, Lord Blackwood? Have you decided what they will be?"
"Aye, Your Grace. After much consideration, I would suggest a 20 percent increase in taxes and for a duration of five years and a cut of 20 percent of their lands. As some of these prisoners are only heirs of the keep, I've reached an agreement with the head of their Houses."
"And for the others?"
"We agree to comply with these orders, Your Grace." Lymond said.
"Very well. I would however add three conditions of my own."
"Your grace?"
"I want to make some changes regarding the sworn houses who fought for me. If I recall correctly, House Smallwood is a sworn house to House Vance, right?"
"Aye, your Grace," Hugo gulped, suddenly nervous.
"And House Blanetree is sworn to House Goodbrooke?"
"They are, Your Grace," Lymond confirmed.
"Those two houses went against their overlords and fought for me. They risked a lot by doing so and they deserve a reward for it. As of today, Those houses' statuses are raised and they no longer have to answer to the former houses they were sworn to."
Hugo stared in shock at the King.
House Vance was not a major House, but had been proud to claim to be able to call another one in their time of need. Now House Smallwood is an independent one and he hoped his father would not be cross with him for all he had to sacrifice.
"Your Grace -" Lymonds started to object, only for being cut off by the King.
"The part of your land that will be confiscated by the Crown will also be given to them as a reward. Any objection, Lord Goodbrooke?"
"I… No, Your Grace."
"Good. House Goodbrooke, Vance of Wayfarer's Rest, and Piper will also be sworn to House Whent and Harrenhal, as The Houses Vance of Atranta and Ryger will be sworn to House Bracken. Should they prove themselves disloyal, I count on Lord Jonos and Lady Shella to punish them as they see fit."
"An honor, Your Grace, truly." Jonos Bracken said proudly, while the prisoners looked at each other, dumbfounded.
"There will be one more restriction regarding alliances." the King said once more.
"Alliances, Your Grace?" Marq frowned.
"Marriage, Lord Piper."
Hugo tensed at those words and glanced nervously at his family.
"House Vance of Atranta, House Piper, House Goodbrooke, and House Ryger will be forbidden to seek a betrothal outside of the Riverlands. They will be forbidden to seek a betrothal with the House they are sworn to and any other House from the Riverlands who raised their banners for the Targaryens. This interdiction will perdure until I or one of my descendants decide otherwise."
"But, Your Grace, it is unfair!" Marq yelped.
"Is it? I am willing to give you a second chance, my Lords, but I do not forget the company you kept before the war. I do not trust you not to try to make things easier for you with a political union. I am not here to make your life easier either. You will need to earn what you'll get, and not marry into a more powerful family to get it. If you want to ally between yourselves, so be it. But not more."
"We will not be able to marry at all, Your Grace!" Lymond whined.
"There are a lot of people who didn't fight for me in the Riverlands, my Lord. Landed knights, small houses, House Frey… I'm sure Walder would love to have you as his good family!" Jaehaerys chuckled.
"I will never stoop that low!" Lymond spat, shedding his subdued image to reveal his haughty self.
"Then maybe your house deserves to end with you, Lord Goodbrooke." the King countered, all traces of humor had disappeared from his face.
Hugo could see his father getting agitated and his heart clenched as he saw the panic on his brother's face. Ellery didn't deserve to be punished. He deserved to have a choice on who he would marry, and that chance was in jeopardy because of him. He had to say something. To do something to arrange this.
"Your Grace, if I may…" he intervened timidly. "I understand the need to punish us for our decisions…"
"But?" The king continued, arching an eyebrow at him.
"Our families followed us because we asked them to, out of our friendship with Lord Tully. They… My father didn't want to raise arms against you. He only did because I insisted. So he and the rest of my family shouldn't be punished for my mistakes. Lay Liane… She's not responsible for her father's decisions either. I am willing to accept these conditions, to marry into House Frey if you want me to, but I beg you not to impose the same on the rest of my family."
"You would take full responsibility for your family's sake?"
"I would, Your Grace. Gladly."
King Jaehaerys seemed to ponder his request. He glanced at Ser Richard, whose subtle nod didn't go unnoticed by Hugo, and after an agonizing time for the knight, gave his answer.
"Then I have no other choice but to agree to your request. The sanctions only apply to the prisoners. Their families will still be expected to marry into the Riverlands and get the approval of the Crown for their union, but they will be able to do so without any restrictions."
"Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you for your kindness." Hugo said, a huge weight lifting off his shoulders.
"They should thank you, Ser. You've shown that, indeed, some of you do deserve the second chance that you were offered."
Riverrun, 298 AC
A few hours before Brandon Stark's welcoming ceremony
It was with a heavy heart that Hugo rode with his little brother into Riverrun's courtyard. He remembered the last time he was there, leaving with Edmure and their former friends, not imagining how their lives would soon turn.
Since he went back to Atranta, Hugo had rarely left their lands. He took over Ronald's duties, as his father wanted him to prove his worth as the new heir of House Vance. He had thought that Norbert wouldn't want him to lead as he was stuck with almost no prospects of marriage other than House Frey, but Hugo's father told him that he wouldn't.
"It's in difficult times that you can see a man's true worth." Norbert had said. "You've proved you were ready to own your mistakes and I really don't care if the next Lady Vance is a lowborn or Walder Frey's daughter, as long as you choose wisely."
It had been a relief, both for Hugo and for Ellery, who didn't feel he would be a good Lord. His brother didn't go back to his old ways, though, and resolved to find a path that would help him contribute to the keep's development. Hugo was both grateful and proud of Ellery's involvement with the master-at-arms and the Maester, and he planned to appoint his brother as castellan of Atranta in the future.
"Welcome to Riverrun, my Lords," the new Lord of the keep welcomed them. "I hope your travel went well?"
"Aye, Lord Brandon. I am pleased to meet you and I wish you well in your new role."
"I thank you, Lord Vance." young Brandon smiled and Hugo gave him one in return, before greeting Ser Brynden.
It was cordial but tense, and Hugo felt he wasn't truly welcome by Edmure's uncle. Was it because they had been close or because he was wary of him.
"I thank you for coming, Ser Hugo. Some of your friends have already arrived and I'm sure you will be happy to catch up with them.
Hugo tensed at those words and sent a panicked glance towards Ellery. He hadn't talked to the others since that fateful day they had sworn fealty to the King and he didn't know if he was ready to face them.
"Are you well, brother?" Ellery asked him while someone led them to their room.
"I will be," he assured, although he wasn't so sure of it.
Being in that place, surrounded by those people made him regret his decision of coming. They had him sit with his former friends who had nothing but cutting words to him. Marq seemed to hate him with a passion and he couldn't really blame him for that.
Lord Clement Piper had never been a patient man. He was only letting Marq spend his time with Edmure because he'd thought it would benefit their family. It ended up being the opposite, since they had lost the most fertile part of their lands to a Landed Knight who had supported Jaehaerys Targaryen and were suffocated with the raised taxes they had to pay. The perspective of having his heir married to someone of a lower rank was not tolerable for Lord Clement, and was it not for Hugo's request being accepted and the opportunity it offered to have Lewis given a more interesting prospect, Marq would probably still be heir of Pinkmaiden. Instead, his former friend had been disinherited and spent his days drinking and his nights whoring to forget the humiliation he had endured.
Hugo couldn't bring himself to regret his decision, though. Not when he watched his far removed cousin Liane dance and chat excitedly with Florian Shawney. He sure came from a small house that Karyl would have never considered before, but his family had not fought for Edmure, and thus had Hugo not said anything, it would have been impossible for her to consider a match.
"I see you kept your daydreaming habit," someone joked, startling him, and he gasped as Tristan Ryger stood before him, smiling.
"You're late to the party!" Hugo japed, even if he was in no mood to do so.
"To be honest, I didn't know if I would come until the last moment."
"I had thought a reunion with your friends would entice you enough, though!"
"If only!" Tristan chuckled. "I came because I thought you would need some support. Guess I was right, given the murderous looks Marq is throwing our way."
"You mean my way?"
"Aye, maybe, but I haven't been welcomed by them either, if that makes you feel better."
"It doesn't, but I thank you for trying."
"Do you miss it? The way things were before the war?"
"I miss my brother, but I think it was time for us to take our responsibilities."
"Aye, you're right… But I miss how things were between us. Theo came back to Willow Wood, you know?" Tristan said after a long moment of silence.
"Truly?"
"He wants to be the Lord. Said I'm not suited for the role and he is going to petition Lord Blackwood to have me removed."
"Oh, Tristan, I'm sorry about that…"
"That's what you get when you hope too much, I guess… But I won't let him get his way. I will fight for what is mine, and I hope you will help me with it."
"Me? How would I help you?"
"Well, people seem to listen to you, so I imagine that if you vouch for me, then…"
"What do you mean, people listen to me?"
"Well, the King did, when we…" Tristan gestured widely and Hugo shook his head. "Ser Richard seems to like you. So maybe you could send word to him, or talk to Lord Blackwood… He won't deny you an audience…"
The more his former friend talked and the more suspicious Hugo became.
"Is that why you came? To ask me a favor?"
"No, I -"
"I have no influence on these men, you know? I just… I'm sure Lord Blackwood will listen to you if you show him how your situation has improved. Your brother has to present a solid case against you to gain anything, and unless…"
A flash of anger went through Tristan's gaze, who quickly averted it and took a deep breath.
"So you will not help me, that's it?"
"I… I don't know how!"
"Then I will find someone who will," Tristan spat dejectedly.
Hugo watched as the Lord of Willow Wood walked away from him while he tried to process what just happened. He was sad to learn that Theo was willing to go against his brother, but something in Tristan's attitude made him wary of his request. Once, he wouldn't have hesitated at all and would have vouched for him without even thinking, but he was not the same man as before. Looking at Tristan laughing heartily with Lymond, then glancing at him before raising his mug, and he couldn't be certain that he had changed for the better.
He needed to leave.
He stood up and excused himself, wishing young Bran a long and prosperous life in Riverrun before rushing to get to his rooms.
On the way there, he tried to block the many memories that would fill his mind. He could remember everything they'd done at every corner of Riverrun and each recollection felt like a stab to his heart. They were overwhelming and threatening to suffocate him. All these nights with Edmure, Marq, Tristan, Karyl, Ronald and Lymond, getting more booze and cackling like crazy after they were back from whatever brothels they went to, while trying not to raise the attention of Lord Hoster when he was still alive…
These were children's games, and he had learned the hard way that he shouldn't have behaved that way for so long.
"My Lord, are you well?"
He gasped as he came to his senses and found himself in front of Edmure's former rooms. What was he doing there? Why was his hand hurting?
"That's what happens when you punch an innocent door, my Lord," the woman chuckled.
"A door? I…" Hugo stared at his swollen knuckles and frowned. "I'm sorry, I don't…"
"I remember you. You were one of Floppy's friends."
Hugo tensed at those words. He didn't want to be associated with these people anymore.
"I was, but times have changed."
"Thanks the Gods for that. Don't mind me, but you and your brother were always too good for that bunch."
"You believe so?" Hugo said, surprised.
"Aye, I know so. You didn't drink a lot, you spent time trying to stop your friends' bad impulses. You've never been rude to any serving girls and never tried to sleep with them either."
"Does that make me a good person in your eyes?"
"There's no such thing as a perfect person. Even good lads can have a dark past. But to me, you are as close to a good one as you can be."
"Thank you…"
"Pearl."
"Thank you, Pearl. I needed to hear that."
He was surprised by Pearl's sudden move and found himself engulfed in her arms.
"You're on the right path, my Lord. We are proud of you."
"We?" he repeated, more and more confused, but also appeased by her gesture.
"Well, we smallfolk talk a lot, ya know?" she chuckled as she distanced herself from him. "We heard what you did in Atranta and the folk out there see the changes in you. You're the only one who's really tried, so I hope you won't ever go back to being friends with that awful lot. Begging your pardon."
"I appreciate your honesty and will keep that in mind."
She curtsied and quickly ran away from him, leaving him to ponder about what just happened.
At least, this day can't get any stranger.
At least that's what he thought before closing his room. As he undressed for the night, he saw something fall off his pants and frowned while he picked up a letter addressed to him.
Your efforts don't go unnoticed.
The path to redemption is a hard one, but your honesty has already been rewarded once.
Keep up your good work. Do not fall for your friends' mummeries. Trust none of them as none of them have changed.
Do not be afraid should your path lead you to the Crossing. A pact with a fair maiden witnessed by the Raven will give a lot of blessings to you and your House.
Should you need help, you only have to ask.
R
Hugo didn't know if he should laugh or cry. So many questions swarmed in his head at that moment.
How did the letter get there? Was Ser Richard there? Were there spies everywhere in the Riverlands? Were they following him constantly?
Of course, he chuckled, it would make sense for Ser Richard to put some of his whisperers around every problematic House, so he could get a report of everything going on. That Pearl so obviously blew her cover to give him the message was both confusing and heartwarming. They clearly trusted him not to betray her and it meant a lot for Hugo that they were willing to put so much faith in him. He thought back to his conversation with Pearl and what she said about the people of Atranta. How long had the spies been there? There had been no new arrival since the end of the war, not one person he'd never seen before. Then Pearl had said she remembered him from when he was whoring around with Edmure, so she had been at Riverrun for quite some time too...
The words on this parchment were encouraging and he appreciated it, and the warning that came with it. He almost fell for Tristan's mummery and thanked his instinct for being wary about him. He didn't know how they realized that he could count on Ser Richard's help as Hugo needed this letter to figure it out, but they obviously wanted to use it for their interest, showing that they were as greedy and unrepentant as before.
He had to focus on the good things and continue to distance himself from his former friends. They seemed to find he was a good heir to Atranta. Whether the King or Lord Blackwood knew about him or not, it was a small victory for Hugo to know that Ser Richard would vouch for him. As he watched the letter burn in the hearth, he vowed to never make his hidden ally regret his decision of endorsing him. For Atranta and the Riverlands, he was ready to be the best version of himself.
But first, he would need to ask Lord Blackwood if he knew anything about a Fair Lady from House Frey.
Notes:
We hope you all enjoyed another glimpse into Floppy's friends. Writing about Hugo's journey has been a lot of fun for us and we can't wait to show you more missing scenes.
Next time: The ladies of the Red Keep get together to find a way to deal with a certain Vale Lord.
Message to J: you were right, it was Albar and not Andar. Thanks for pointing it out!
As some of you know by now Alperez's sister passed away this week so we would like to take the opportunity to offer him and his family our sincere condolences.