Jean d'arc: She won't be spending too much time with the brotherhood but yeah the red wedding has changed her for the better or for the worse depending on your point of view.
White serpent: She's safe for now but of course that won't last
NightyRowenTree: releasing new chapters is just as much fun for me as it is for you :)
Cheryl pollock: Not quite as bad as Lady Stoneheart...at least not yet
Supremus85: Originally I was gonna have Mia change her mind about killing Olyvar and then he would become her companion. But I decided I didn't want Mia to be a heroic girl scout character, she is going to do bad things throughout this story but that doesn't mean she's going to be a villainous character. Olyvar's original role will be filled by another.
Guest: He was one of the good Freys, which we all know is rare and yes his death will haunt her...it will haunt her a lot
Arthurdayne951: I can't say when but yes she will meet her mother's side of the family.
A New Beginning
Mia Stark
The Riverlands….
The day had been cold and grey and wet, it had poured all morning and even when the rain stopped, the ground had been turned in mud that covered Mia's boots every time her horse trotted.
"Summer truly is over" Harwin sighs sadly as rides beside her.
"You're a man of the North Harwin," Mia says "I would expect you to be used to the cold"
Harwin smirks "I'm afraid I've spent too much time in the south Princess," he says "I'm almost a true fucking southerner now"
Mia examines Harwin carefully, back at Winterfell Mia knew him as a stocky man, with short brown hair and a clean-shaven face who always spoke far to boldly, now he had grown out his hair and beard and he was thinner than before.
Mia never had a particularly close relationship with him but he was the only person she knew in this band of outlaws which meant he was the only person here she might be able to trust.
"Harwin, are you still my father's man?"
Harwin gives her a look of confusion "M'lady?"
"You were loyal to my father," she says "Are you still loyal to him or the brotherhood and their red god it follows"
"I keep faith with our gods m'lady" he answers "And believe in the Brotherhood's cause….but my loyalty will always be to the Starks of Winterfell"
Mia nodded, Beric Dondarrion rides up next to them "We are a few hours from Riverrun my lady" he says "If things go smoothly we should arrive at nightfall"
"You are kind to bring me there Lord Beric," Mia says "I wonder why that is?"
Beric frowns "I don't get your meaning"
"You are risking everything to get me back to Riverrun, I doubt you're doing it out of the kindness of your heart"
Thoros of Myr approaches with a smirk "You have caught us out princess" he says "In exchange for your safe return to Riverrun, we ask for a humble reward"
Mia scoffs "So I am your ransom," she says
"We lost a lot of good men saving you my lady," Beric says "We need to make sure their sacrifice was worth it"
Mia nods "From what I heard it seems like you've made quite a lot of sacrifices as well Lord Beric" she points her maimed hand at his neck "He says you got that scar from hanging, that doesn't make sense to me because last I checked hanging was not an experience you come back from"
Beric sighs "Jack-Be-Lucky likes to talk too much," he says before turning to the red priest "Thoros, how many times have you brought me back"
"It's the lord of light who brings you back" The red priest answers before taking a swig from his skin of wine "I'm just the lucky drunk who says the words"
"How many times?" Beric asks again.
"There was the first time with the Mountian, a lance right through the chest" as he speaks Beric unbuttons his shirt to reveal two deep scars on his body "Then he was stabbed in the belly, then it was an arrow in the back, then an ax in the side"
"And then the Lannisters caught me and executed me for treason" he turns to Thoros "Was it hanging or a dagger in the eye?"
"Both" Thoros answers with a smirk "Those fuckers couldn't decide" "And finally there was the trial by combat, the Hound almost cleaved him in two with a sword"
"The Hound?" Mia asks "Sandor Cleagane, Joffrey's dog?"
"No longer" Beric answers "He tucked tail and ran at the battle of Blackwater, ran right into us"
"If you thought you could beat the Hound you're an idiot," Mia says.
"You speak as if you know him," Beric says.
Mia nods "He saved my life once," she says.
"Aye, I remember that," Thoros says before raising his voice for the whole group to hear "At the Hand's tourney when Ser Loras was attacked by the Mountain, our Princess here charged in to save him!"
"Against Gregor bloody Clegane?" Jack-Be-Lucky calls "And I thought I was stupid"
"You are, Jack!" Tom O' Sevens calls "Else you wouldn't have just insulted a Princess"
Jack pales "I meant no offense m'lady"
"I was a bastard before I was a Princess," Mia says "I've heard people say worse things about me but you're right I was a green girl back then, I didn't know how bad this world was, if the Hound didn't step in I never would have learned"
The rest of the journey is done in silence.
An hour later they are hiding in a treeline just outside Riverrun "What are we waiting for?" Mia asks. Beric, the Lightning Lord was leaning against a tree and eyeing the castle carefully "Lord Beric, what are we waiting for?" Mia asks again.
"We don't know if the castle has already yielded to the Freys" Beric says "I won't risk my men without making sure"
"They're flying the Tully sigil," Mia says pointing at the trout banners flying over the walls.
"You survived the red wedding," Beric says "This the only place you have to go, any other survivors will be of a similar mind, the Freys could be flying those banners to lure in men still loyal to your brother"
Mia scoffs "You give the Freys to much credit"
"They have proved themselves more cunning as of late" Beric reminds.
That comment shuts Mia up.
"We can't just stand here waiting," Harwin says.
"Doesn't look like we have too" Thoros says pointing at the gates of Riverrun, they open a let out no more than twelve riders.
"A foraging party?" Mia asks.
"Possibly" Beric answers "Let's go find out"
The brotherhood wait in hiding as the foraging group come into the trees and then they fall upon them, armed with bows and arrows pointed at their necks "We mean you no harm my lords" Lord Beric says before things can get violent.
The leader was an older man with pale white hair and large belly, the sigil on his chest plate depicted three red marlets on a white bend, on a blue field "Your actions suggest otherwise" he snorts.
"Just a precaution Ser, I assure you," Thoros says, he then leans his head towards Mia "You recognize any of them?" he asks.
The old man's eyes suddenly fall upon her and a look of realization flashes upon his face "You're Mia Snow"
"It's Stark now" Mia answers, letting a small smile tug at her lips at the reminder of her new name, though it disappears when she remembers what happened to the man who gave it to her.
"Apologies my lady," the old man says "I would bow but" he gestures at the outlaws.
"Do you recognize him, my lady?" Thoros asks again.
Mia shakes her head "No but there were thousands of men in my brother's army"
"I never had the honor of being in the young wolf's army my lady," The old man says "I am Ser Desmond Grell, Master-at-arms of Riverrun"
"And who rules Riverrun now Ser Desmond?" Lord Beric asks, still holding his bow at the ready.
"Ser Brynden Tully commands the castle as Castellan in Lord Edmure's...absence"
"The Blackfish was at the red wedding," Mia says.
"Aye and like you, he escaped," Ser Desmond says "He'll be eager to know that the king's sister survived that horrible slaughter"
Ser Desmond and his men escort Mia, Harwin, Thoros and Lord Beric to the gates of Riverrun "Ser Desmond has returned! Open the Gate!" A guard calls.
Inside the walls, Mia sees the state of the garrison, most of the men had died at the twins with Robb, but he had left the castle was guarded by a few hundred men, enough to hold the castle at least for a little while.
"Seven fucking hells!" a gruff voice calls out. Mia turns to see Brynden Tully, The Blackfish himself, His face was a mixture of surprise, disbelief and possibly even anger "Mia bloody Stark"
Mia gives the aging Tully a nod of greeting "Ser Brynden, I did not expect to find you here"
"Nor I you" The Blackfish replies he then turns to Lord Beric "Lord Beric Dondarrion, I am surprised to see you among outlaws"
"Not among them Ser Blackfish" The lightning lord states "With them, leading them. They are my men"
Ser Brynden nods and turns back to Mia "Do you trust them my lady?" he asks.
Mia nods "Walder Frey would have made me a gift to Joffrey," she says "Lord Beric and his brotherhood came to my rescue. After that I watched them hang Ryman Frey, Merret Frey, Petyr Frey and...and Olyvar Frey" It was justice. A son for a brother she told herself as the image of Olyvar's desperate purple face burned into her mind.
Ser Brynden nods and extends his hand to Lord Beric "Any man who hangs Freys is a friend of mine" he says "Ask for anything you wish, if I have it, it's yours"
Lord Beric smiles and takes the Blackfish's gloved hand "Thank you Ser Brynden" he says "My men and I are in need of some gold, for food and weapons"
"The Frey army is marching to lay siege to us," Ser Brynden says "I doubt we'll be leaving to spend our coin and I'll be damned if I let those Frey shits have it. You'll have as much coin as you can carry Just make sure you use it to kill any Frey or Lannister cunt you find"
Lord Beric smirks "With Pleasure"
"Now if you excuse me, I need to speak with the Lady Mia alone" he gestures to Ser Desmond Grell "Ser Desmond, See our friends to food and drink...or whatever we can spare"
"Yes my lord" Ser Desmond says before escort the three men away, Ser Brynden takes her to the old war room, the sight of it was almost enough to make Mia weep This is where I first saw him again she thought After our father died.
"Where is my sister?" Mia demands "Where is Arya?"
Ser Brynden looks at her "She is...safe my lady" Mia is about to persist further but he cuts in before she does"
"I won't lie my lady" Ser Brynden says while pouring them both wine "It boils my blood that you walked out of the twins while my niece and king were slaughtered"
"I did not walk" Mia sneers "I was beaten, stripped naked and forced to watch my brother, the man I loved most in the world, being stabbed in the heart"
Ser Brynden falls silent and takes a large drink of wine "Who did the deed?" he asks.
"Roose Bolton," Mia says.
"Fucking traitor!" Ser Brynden yells "He betrays his king and is given control of his kingdom as a reward"
"What?" Mia asks "How can that be? What about Sansa?"
"No doubt Tywin Lannister means for the imp to claim the North in her name but for now he's using Bolton to clear out the Ironborn" Ser Brynden says with utter contempt "Either way he knows that Sansa is not the heir to the North"
Mia tilts her head in confusion "What are you talking about?"
Ser Brynden hands her a letter "We killed a raven carrying this message
The rebel and traitor Robb Stark is dead. His army has been crushed by the might of Houses Lannister and Frey and peace is being restored to the realm. But there still are traitors who have yet to be brought to justice. First, the false knight Brynden Tully who led the rebel army at the battle of Cornfield and slaughtered many good men of Houses Lannister and Swyft. Second, the girl Arya Stark who fled the custody and protection of my generous daughter Queen Cersi to join her traitor brother. Third, the bastard daughter of the traitor Eddard Stark, who was falsely and unlawfully legitimized by her traitor brother and led the ambush at the battle of Oxcross.
Any man who can bring these traitors to justice will be offered a knighthood and lordship for his service no matter his birth or status, A Lannister Always Pays His Debts.
Tywin Lannister. Lord of Casterly Rock. Warden of The West and Hand of the King.
Mia finishes reading the letter and sighs "I suppose I should be honored that the great Lord Tywin took the time to mention me"
"The so-called crimes listed in this the letter have nothing to do with why Tywin wants you captured" Ser Brynden explains "Do you really think your brother legitimized you so he would have a worthy regent for his child? No, he wanted you to succeed him"
Mia's heart begins beating hard as she hears these words but she forces herself to remain calm "I doubt Roose Bolton will step down and let me claim Winterfell"
"He doesn't have to" Ser Brynden "The Lords of the North know you, they fought with you and they'll fight for you"
"The moment I set foot in the North I'll be killed before I even have a chance to talk to the other lords"
"Aye you will" Ser Brynden "You'll need an army at your back"
Mia scoffs "I'm afraid I've misplaced all my armies right now"
Ser Brynden ignores her jape "I may have a way for you to get one" he leads her to the castle apartments where the guests were kept, I expect they will remain empty for a while Mia thought to herself.
The Blackfish led her to a room guarded by two Tully spearmen "Open the door" Ser Brynden orders "And leave us"
Ser Brynden steps into the room and Mia follows, inside was Ser Rolly Duckfield "Has the day of my execution come already?" he sneers.
"You are not a prisoner Ser, you are a guest" Blackfish assures.
"A guest not typically locked in a room with guards at his door" Ser Rolly spits "I wanted to leave days ago, as soon as we heard about the young wolf's death"
"And I asked to wait and see if someone survived who could resume our negotiations," Ser Brynden says "And someone has"
Duckfield's eyes fall upon Mia "My lady I did not expect to see you again"
"I did not expect to still be alive Ser Rolly," Mia says.
"Robb Stark is dead," The Blackfish says "But his heir is still alive and free from Lannister hands"
She has nothing to offer!" Ser Rolly says impatiently "Meaning no offense my lady but my companions and I came here looking for an army, that army is gone"
"She's Ned Stark's daughter" Ser Brynden insists "If you ever hope to rule the seven kingdoms you'll need the North supporting you"
Ser Rolly sighs "I admit she may be useful one day," he says turning to Mia "My lady you are welcome to journey with me back to Pentos but from there I can make no promises"
Ser Brynden turns back to Mia "I have opened a new opportunity for you my lady" he says "Don't waste it.
Mia leaves the room and marches to where her sister was being kept after fetching the sword Jon had made for her called Needle, unlike Ser Rolly, Arya was been guarded, when Mia questioned them they all looked at each other nervously before answering "She already tried to escape my lady" the explain "After news of the red wedding arrived, Lady Arya tried to flee Riverrun, she almost got away as well"
"Open the door" Mia commands.
They obey, as soon as the door, Arya burst through wielding a chair leg as she would Needle, she smashes it into one of the guard's legs, bringing him to his knees, before driving it into another guard's gut. Before she can cause any more damage Mia cries out "ARYA ENOUGH!"
Arya freezes at the sound of her voice, a large smile appears on the young girl's face she drops her chair leg and leaps into Mia's arms, Mia laughs happily as the two sisters hold each other tightly in a loving embrace "I thought you were dead" Arya whispers into her ear.
"I...came close" Mia admits.
"Robb?" Arya asks "My mother?"
Mia frowns "I'm sorry Arya but they are dead"
She expected tears but instead, Arya's face hardens who killed them?" she demands "Which ones?"
Mia hesitates before speaking "Walder Frey" she answers "Roose Bolton murdered Robb, Lame Lothar butchered Talisa and Black Walder killed your mother"
"Then I'll kill them" Arya whispers darkly "All of them"
Mia pulls Needle from her belt and places it in her sister's hands "No" she says "We'll kill them together"
The next day they are awoken before the sun has risen, Ser Rolly had insisted on leaving right away "It's a long journey to Pentos" he said "And bringing fugitives wasn't part of my plan"
"Why are we going to Pentos?" Arya asks.
"If we want to take back Winterfell we'll need an army" Mia explains "They're some in Pentos who can give us that"
"Perhaps" Ser Rolly corrects "Remember my lady I make no promises"
Mia nods, they are finishing packing provisions for their journey when Lord Beric, Thoros and Harwin approach them "I hope you claimed your reward" Mia says bitterly.
"This gold is for a cause, not greed my lady," Thoros says "We took no pleasure in ransoming you"
Mia sighs "Whatever your reasons, you saved my life," she says "I won't forget that"
"Good" Lord Beric says "Harwin has something to ask of you"
The scruffy Northern steps forward and to Mia surprise kneels before her "My lady I wish to come with you" he says "I wish to offer you my service"
Mia shakes away her surprise "Harwin you are bound to the brotherhood, you already swore to serve Lord Beric"
"Harwin will continue to serve our cause through you" Lord Beric explains.
"I swore an oath to House Stark long before I joined the brotherhood" Harwin adds "Now you are the head of House Stark" he draws his sword and lays it before her "I vow to see you take your rightful place at Winterfell. I will shield your back and keep your council and give my life for yours if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new"
Mia smiles and kneels down to Harwin's level, this was strange for her but she tried to remember the proper words. "And I vow that...that you shall always have a place at my hearth and...and meat and mead at my table. And I pledge to ask...to ask no service of you that might bring you dishonor I swear it by the old gods and the new"
Harwin and Mia stand, Lord Beric nods and extends his hand which Mia takes "Goodbye my lady" he says "I wish you good fortune in the wars to come"
He leaves Thoros lingers a little while seemingly studying Mia "Take care of yourself Princess" he says before looking up at the cool night sky "The night is dark and full of terrors"
Not much happened I know, but I need to finish setting the scene for Mia's future before we can get into the juicy stuff and Also, I've got something new to add to this story, which I will implement next chapter