Robb Stark makes plan for war, and his war council is interrupted.


JON VI

"We've been sitting on our asses long enough. I say we attack and get done with it!"

"King Stannis's orders are clear, Lord Umber. We are to stay in the Riverlands and to keep the Lannisters occupied. We are not supposed to initiate the battle, but to let them attack us, without pushing them back to King's Landing. Our duty is to harass them, slow them, weaken them, but not to defeat them."

Robb's voice was loud and firm, giving no place to discussion. He had taken the habit to pull out their father's face, and right now it was the one he displayed. Jon was with his brother in the command tent, along with his most important bannermen, Jon Umber, called the Greatjon, Rickard Karstark, Roose Bolton, Maege Mormont, Galbart Glover, Wylis Manderly and Halys Hornwood.

Jon always felt intimidated in the presence of these lords. Robb too, but he was better at hiding it. They had been in the Riverlands for some time, but at the exception of a few skirmishes between scouting units, there had been no real fight with the Lannisters. Men began to call it the phoney war, for armies were almost facing each other and yet did nothing. Robb's army was settled on the borders of the Kingsroad, not far from Harrenhal, close enough for scouts to keep an eye on the Lannister army that settled there, but also far enough to not encourage the enemy to battle. Pieces on the map showed the position of two other armies, one on their side, the other against them. Their ally was represented by a trout, the army of Hoster Tully, stationed not far from Riverrun, while a lion showed the position of a second Lannister army at the Golden Tooth. No one dared to move. Orders from the king.

"King Stannis! King Stannis! Are we to ask Stannis Baratheon what we should do each time we must place a foot before the other?" the Greatjon continued.

"We received orders, Lord Umber, and we are going to follow them. Stannis Baratheon is a seasoned commander. You can be sure he didn't give us this order without good reason. He has a plan."

"A plan? There is a plan right here." He pointed the map. "And all I can see is that we remain stuck at our positions, doing nothing, while the Lannisters occupy the lands of our allies."

"If there was an invasion of wildlings on the North, Lord Umber, and that I gave you the order to remain inside the walls of the Last Hearth to hold the enemy while reinforcements are on their way, would you disobey me? Would you disobey a direct order from your liege lord?"

"Stannis is not my liege lord. You are."

"Although he is being rude," Lord Bolton said in his slow and soft voice, "Lord Umber is not in the wrong when he says we've been sitting on our asses for too long. The men are growing restless. They need to do something. Stannis Baratheon ordered us to keep the Lannisters in the Riverlands. I think we can assume he's preparing an assault on King's Landing, and he's counting on us to keep the Lannisters far from the city. We only have to attract them farther into the Riverlands. An organized retreat would be appropriate for that."

"And let them plunder more of the Riverlands, live on the fields of our allies?" Ser Wylis Manderly asked. "The Tullys are already unhappy about the king's orders. It's their lands that are being ravaged as we speak. Not only they feed their men, but also the Lannisters and ours. Ser Edmure is demanding action. Our relations with our allies are strained. If it continues like this, they could consider defection."

"Lord Tully will never do that. My father was his son-in-law. He will never side with the Lannisters," Robb stated.

"Lord Tully, maybe not, but his bannermen are another story," the Lord of the Dreadfort said. "Some already pledged an oath to Joffrey and allowed garrisons into their castles. Lord Tully didn't send them help, and neither did we. And since the Lannisters so far have been quite accommodating for those who bent the knee, while maintaining a constant threat with the presence of their troops, their loyalty to House Tully and King Stannis is dwindling."

"Retreating will not help us gain back their loyalty, if we do as you say, Lord Bolton," Halys Hornwood said.

"No but attracting the Lannisters far from the Crownlands in our territory will give us the opportunity to confront them on the battlefield. One swift and convincing victory will bring the lords of the Riverlands who chose their side to turn against them. They will be isolated in enemy territory, cut from the capital with weakened forces, and this might force their army at the Golden Tooth to move and give us the opportunity to inflict them another defeat. All that without seeing our lands being ravaged."

"The Tully lands will be ravaged," Robb pointed.

"Tully lands, exactly. Not northern lands."

Before Robb could reply, one of his men entered the tent. "My lords, excuse me, but there's a group of Lannister knights who just arrived with a white banner before our encampment."

"They're asking for a parley?" Robb asked, surprised.

"Aye, my lord. They say they are escorting an emissary who's here to bring you an offer of peace from Joffrey Baratheon."

"What offer?" Jon asked.

"I don't know, my lord. They just want the emissary to see your lordship," he told Robb.

Jon found it odd and hypocritical that the Lannisters were sending them terms of peace, after what they did to his father. What could they offer? They murdered his father, held his sisters as hostages, and protected a murderer and a monster born of incest. He still couldn't believe he was fooled in this way. Maybe the guys he met at the Rock were not that bad, but Lord Tyrion and his wife? They promised they would make sure everything would be fine. He was stupid to believe them.

"Very well. Bring him in."

The man looked troubled. "Aye, my lord."

"The Lannisters send us peace offers now?" Lady Mormont, the woman warrior, wondered aloud.

"I say we throw their terms in the fire. They're not worth considering," Lord Umber said.

"It would be better to listen to them. Better to not refuse an offer angrily without seeing it before," Lord Bolton said in his still cold voice.

"Whatever Joffrey and the Lannisters have to offer us, I can guarantee you, my lords, I will see that justice is delivered. No matter what the Lannisters offer us, my lord father and his men will be avenged. We will overthrow Joffrey…"

Jon didn't hear the rest of Robb's words for at this moment the flap of the tent opened to let someone walk in. Her hair was cut short, she was all dirty, wore trousers and a tunic, but he would have recognized her anywhere. Especially with the thin sword he offered her dangling by her side.

"Arya!"

"Jon!"

The next moment she was running to him and jumping in his arms, almost knocking him on the floor. He would have fallen on his back if he hadn't pushed her back on her feet and leaned to look at her. He saw that there were marks of bruises on her face.

"Arya! Is that really you?" Robb asked next to him. Their sister hugged him too. The lords were all looking at them, utter surprise on their faces, safe for Lord Bolton that nothing seemed to move. Jon didn't give them much attention and turned back to his little sister.

"Arya. What are you doing here? How did you escape? How did you leave King's Landing?"

"I found her."

Jon turned his head immediately to the flap of the tent, where the voice came from. Someone else had followed Arya inside.

"Mira?" he asked, unbelieving what he was seeing right in front of him. She wore thicker clothes than when they last saw each other at Casterly Rock, more similar to those she had when they first met in the godswood of Winterfell. She genuinely smiled at him.

"Lady Mira." Lord Glover stood up and walked towards her. "By the Old Gods, you've grown up since the last time I saw you."

"Lord Glover. It's a pleasure to see you again." She bowed to him. then she turned to Robb and did the same. "Lord Stark."

"I believe introductions would be helpful," Roose Bolton said.

"My name is Mira Forrester, Lord Bolton," she replied to the Lord of the Dreadfort. Jon perceived a certain edge in her voice. It was barely perceptible, but it was there.

"Oh aye, I've heard about your family. One of my bannermen speaks a lot about your father."

Jon had very good suspicions about which bannerman Lord Bolton was talking about.

"I remember you," Robb said. "You're one of Lady Margaery Lannister's handmaidens."

"Yes, my lord. I am," she replied.

"She helped me." In the confusion, Arya had almost been forgotten. They all looked at her. "She helped me to come here."

Robb placed a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be alright, Arya. You're safe now." He called one of the guards at the door. "Rayon, bring the Lady Arya to my personal pavilion. Make sure she is fed and that she's given a bath. I'll go to see you later," he added for their sister.

Arya looked disappointed. "I'll go with her," Jon said. Arya had just come back and it wouldn't be fair to leave her alone. His brother was Lord of Winterfell and had duties, but Jon didn't.

He accompanied Arya with Rayon out of the command tent. When they went close to Mira, he thanked her. She slightly bowed her head to acknowledge it.

Robb's tent was simple but comfortable enough, at least for a Northerner. A command tent for the Lord of Casterly Rock or Highgarden would certainly have more luxuries, even though Jon couldn't say that by experience. He saw how the Lannisters lived at Casterly Rock, at home, but not when they were at war. Judging from his time chasing criminals in the Westerlands, the inferior officers probably had no more commodities during a campaign than Robb's men, but he could be wrong. Chasing down criminals running free in the wild was different from marching into war.

Robb's guard left him and Arya alone as he took care of bringing her food and a big bucket of water.

Arya hugged him as soon as he was gone. "I'm glad to see you," she said.

"Me too. Are you all right?"

"Aye, I am. I'm well."

He looked at her, breaking their embrace. "What happened?"

Her expression of joy turned to anger. "They murdered him. Father."

"I know." Jon said in a low voice. "I mean, how did you get here? We believed you were still in King's Landing."

"I escaped. I don't know what happened, but men with red armor came to take me, and Syrio held them off as I escaped the Red Keep. They were Lannisters. I spent some time in Flea Bottom in King's Landing, and then a man of the Night's Watch, his name was Yoren, he made me leave King's Landing with other recruits and told me he would bring me back to Winterfell. We were caught by the Lannisters on our way in the Riverlands and brought to Harrenhal. They didn't know who I was. I worked there, I scrubbed floors, washed latrines, that sort of things. And then Mira arrived, and she found out who I was. She made people believe I was the niece of some Lord Chelsted and brought me with her. She even gave me back Needle."

She pointed the short sword he gave her before they all left Winterfell. He couldn't stop smiling. "I'm really glad you're safe."

Rayon came back with some food at this moment, but Arya didn't notice him. "I was there, Jon. They murdered Father. I was there. I saw it."

Jon shook his head. Arya should never have seen it. "We're going to deal with the Lannisters. What about Sansa? Do you know where she is?"

"Last time I saw her was when they killed Father. She fainted. The Lannisters still have her."

"Well, we got you back. We're going to get Sansa back as well."

"Aye, we will." He saw the determination and the assurance on Arya's face.

Two maids then arrived with a bucket full of water. Jon made to leave. "I suppose it's time for you to look like a girl again," he japed.

"It should be time for you to look like a boy too," she shot back. Jon left, chuckling. Theon had made a similar jest like this before, mostly meant for his hair.

Jon walked back to the command tent. On his way, he travelled through narrow alleys between tents. It was time for dinner and men were either eating or waiting in line to receive their bowl of stew with a piece of bread. Depending of the house they served, men either had to prepare their meals themselves or cooks took care of it. All the food that was provided to the army was managed centrally by an intendant named by Robb, who then distributed it to the different houses in Robb's army. The amount given to every house depended of how many men they had. Each man was allowed the same ration, whether he came from the shores of the White Knife, the swamps of the Neck, the banks of the Weeping Water, Bear Island or the foothills along the Bay of Ice. The lord of the house, or his steward, then had the duty to distribute it to his own men, or to his bannermen who then had to distribute it among their men. The method of distribution varied from one house to another. Some gave more food to their officers, like the Manderlys. Some were said to vary the quantities of food depending on the tasks and efforts of the men, like the Boltons. Some distributed the food equally, like the Glovers and the Umbers, where even the Greatjon and Galbart Glover ate the same stew than their own men. Sometimes the lords had a special intendancy that took care of providing more refined food. Robb had one such service, though he limited it to dinners when he had to discuss with the other lords. The rest of the time, he ate the same food than his own men. Jon did the same.

For now, they didn't lack resources to feed their men, though since the Lannisters occupied Harrenhal, they had cut them from the river lords of the south, depriving them of a part of their food sources. They couldn't bring stocks from the North, for the distance was too great and the food could be lost during the travel, especially with winter approaching. They relied on the Riverlands to provide everything, which wasn't without causing some friction with the local lords, especially since there had been no battle with the Lannisters so far. Obeying the orders of the king might be their duty, but duty wasn't always easy.

"Snow!"

Someone hailed him. He wasn't very far from the command tent. Jon looked at his right where the man's voice came from. He was wearing red armor. He was probably one of the men who escorted the emissary of House Lannister. As he removed his helmet, Jon recognized him.

"Ser Lyonel."

Lyonel Frey, second son of Emmon Frey and Genna Lannister, quietly walked in his direction. Jon didn't spend much time with him back at Casterly Rock, though they sparred a few times while training.

"Well, it's strange to see you here," he told Jon.

"Strange?"

"After seeing you wandering through the Rock for months, yes, it is." He sighed. "Look, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for your father."

Jon wasn't sure if he was being genuine, for his face betrayed no emotion. "My father was murdered."

Lyonel twisted his lips. "Well, I'm not sure if an execution can be called a murder. Your father was accused of treason."

"My father is not a traitor," Jon snapped.

Lyonel Frey raised a hand. "Excuse me, I shouldn't have brought up that discussion. I understand your choice. I would make the same if I were you. You might not have the Stark name, but you have the blood, and we all remain loyal to our family. It's good for me, for you, and for everyone else."

"Then what are you doing here, serving the Lannisters, when you're a Frey?"

"You're a Snow, Jon. Does that make you less a Stark than your brother Robb? You have the same amount of Stark blood than he does, only your parents weren't married. I'm not a Lannister in name, but I still have Lannister blood as much as you have Stark blood. I was born at Casterly Rock, I grew up there, I was raised by my parents in this castle, and I was knighted in the Great Hall by Lord Tywin himself. I swore to serve my family and the Lord of Casterly Rock that day, not House Frey."

Lyonel sighed again. "Look, I don't blame you, that's all. And I want you to know is that I hold no grudge against you for siding with your family. Everyone would do the same. I just wanted to tell you that I regret that it must happen. And I hope we won't meet on the battlefield."

"Why? Because I defeated you every time we fought at the Rock?"

"No, because I wouldn't want one of us to kill the other. We may be on different sides in this war, Jon Snow, but that doesn't make us enemies. I didn't kill your father."

"No, but you fight for the boy who murdered him."

"I fight for House Lannister. Lord Tyrion declared for Joffrey, which is normal. King Joffrey is his nephew. I would have no more respect for him if he turned his back on his own blood than I would have any for you if you turned against your family and fought with us. Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If we face each other on the battlefield and I fall, send my bones back to Casterly Rock. I'll send yours back to Winterfell if you die."

He kept a serious expression, but Jon had the impression he was seeing something in this man's eyes. "I will."

"Thanks." He offered his hand. "I regret we have to fight on different sides in this war. You seem to be a man of honor."

After a short hesitation, Jon shook his hand.

"One last piece of advice, Jon Snow. Tell your brother to not trust House Frey so easily. They may be bannermen of House Tully, but Walder Frey is not called the Late Lord Walder Frey for nothing. Believe me, even if I had grown up at the Twins, I would side with House Lannister all the same if no oath bound me to my grandfather."

He walked away, but Jon called after him before he was too far away. "You would serve a family who executed an innocent man if you had the choice. I knew my father. He was no traitor."

Lyonel Frey turned to speak before he resumed his way. "If Lord Eddard Stark tried to overthrow King Joffrey, then that makes him a traitor, whether you like it or not, and even in the North, the punishment for treason is death. You can't blame a king for serving justice."

Jon would have wanted to shout at him, to tell him about how Joffrey was the result of incest, that the Lannisters were the real traitors and they betrayed their word, but he didn't. He shut his mouth and walked away furiously. It would be better if he avoided the Lannister men until they left.

When he arrived in sight of the command tent, he saw Mira leaving it with another one of Robb's men. He continued his way, but she noticed him, and walked in his direction. He had to stop when she stood before him.

"Jon."

"Mira." He tried to smile. "You said we would meet again. It seems you were right."

"Yes, though I was hoping it would be in different circumstances. I'm so sorry, Jon. For your father. You have all my condolences."

"Thanks. And thank you for bringing back Arya."

She smiled at him. "I'm going to see my father. Do you know where his men are? You walk me to them?"

"Aye, of course." He made a sign to Robb's man to stay behind and he led the way, though Mira quickly matched his pace and walked by his side. "Arya told me you helped her to escape Harrenhal. How did you find her?"

"When I arrived in the castle, she brought me some food. Your sister may have dressed herself as a boy and cut her hair, but she still talks like a lady, and she cannot hide her northern accent. Plus Arry isn't the best name she could use to hide her identity, and I found a sword like the one you said you gave her at Harrenhal. When I realized that she had the same eyes and the same hair than you, it wasn't difficult to put the pieces together."

Jon chuckled a little. Despite his brief encounter with Lyonel Frey, his conversation with Mira coupled with Arya's return could only make him happy. "Thank you again. There aren't many people who could recognize my sister when she's disguising herself."

"I'm glad I did. It was a rough place. The man who was supervising her mistreated her. He didn't know she was a lady. It was difficult for me to bring her out of the castle. I had to keep her identity hidden. Even the knights and the soldiers travelling with me were not aware of who she was."

"You took huge risks."

"Yes, but I couldn't let her there. I gave her your letter, by the way."

"Good." He said in this letter that they would save her, but also that the Lannisters would arrange everything and that they would all soon be together. He wished he could take back what he wrote about the Imp. "Have you seen Sansa in King's Landing?"

"No, I'm sorry Jon. I couldn't give her your letter. She could barely leave her room, and the queen and Lady Margaery don't get along very well. Cersei wouldn't allow one of her handmaidens near her. But she's alive, don't worry about that."

Jon nodded, then he realized something. "What are you doing here? You said you travelled with the Lannisters. Are you… are you accompanying their emissary?"

"No, Jon. I am the emissary." He stopped and so she did. She looked down before she answered. "Lord Tyrion sent me here with an offer of peace for your brother. I'm only supposed to give the terms and to bring back an answer to King's Landing. I'm merely a messenger. Lord Tyrion believed your brother might give more thought to the terms if they were brought by a Northerner."

Jon looked carefully at her. She had a sorry expression on her face. "You're still serving the Lannisters?"

"I'm serving Lady Margaery. My mother wanted me to go in the south, and I'm betrothed with her cousin, remember. I told Lord Tyrion that it was very unlikely your brother would accept any peace that didn't involve Joffrey's death, but he insisted that I should still go."

"Robb will never make peace with Joffrey as long as he lives."

She shrugged. "In this case, I already know what answer I will bring back. That's no surprise. I'll have long explanations to give after I brought back your sister."

She resumed to walk. Jon caught up with her. "Wait, Tyrion Lannister doesn't know that you brought Arya to us?"

"Arya disappeared after your father died, Jon. The Lannisters had no idea where she was. They're still looking for her. They had no idea she was right under their eyes. I was lucky to find her first."

"And you brought her here?"

"That was the right thing to do. Now that Arya is safe, I'll have to tell Lady Margaery and Lord Tyrion about what I did."

"You can't do that. They're going to kill you for that."

"No, they won't Jon. It's not their style. The worst I could have is to be a hostage like Sansa."

She talked about it very calmly, with serenity. "They killed my father."

"No, Jon, they didn't kill Lord Stark."

"What do you mean? Is he still alive? Did they lie?"

For a very short moment, he hoped, but she deceived his hopes very quickly. "Jon, your father was already dead when we arrived in King's Landing. He was executed two days before our arrival. Lord Tyrion and Lady Margaery were furious. They're stripping Joffrey and Cersei of all the power and the influence they have in every possible way."

"They promised they would solve the situation."

"They couldn't. In fact, your father was never supposed to die. The small council and even Cersei planned everything to send him to the Wall. He only had to acknowledge Joffrey as the true king, and he did it."

"No, he couldn't." Jon didn't believe it. His father couldn't forsake everything he believed in and recognize a false king, a boy born from an incest.

"He did, Jon, on the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor, in the presence of many lords and knights, and a large crowd. But after he did it, Joffrey just ordered his execution, like that. He's the one who had your father killed. Everyone else was against it."

Jon felt anger boiling in him. Joffrey had truly murdered his father. His father would be alive, if only Joffrey had let him live. "You shouldn't go back."

"I must, Jon. It's not up to me."

He seized her arm and forced her to look at him. "They're going to kill you. You cannot go back there."

He already lost his father. He couldn't lose her. She sighed, then placed a careful hand on his cheek.

"Jon, listen. You don't need to worry about me. I've been serving as Lady Margaery's handmaiden for four years., and she's been married to Lord Tyrion for three. I know them both, and I know I risk nothing. And maybe I could help Sansa if I go back."

He reluctantly released her arm, and she removed her hand from his cheek, though they kept looking at each other. "I just don't want something to happen to you."

"Don't worry, I will be fine. Besides, I'm betrothed to Willas Tyrell. I cannot really run away." They resumed their path. "By the way." She took something in her cloak and gave it to him. It was a letter. His father's name was on it, written by him. "I'm sorry I could never give it to him."

Jon looked down at the letter, then crumpled it. "It's not your fault."

They passed before a banner of House Glover. The Forrester weren't far away. They made the rest of their trip in silence. At one moment, he felt her hand on his arm. It was a simple gesture that comforted him. Finally, they arrived in sight of a banner of House Forrester, with the white tree upon the black field.

"It's here," he said.

"Thank you. Jon, I'm so sorry."

He walked away, leaving Mira to see her family again. As he moved away, he heard great shouts and turned to see what was happening. Lord Gregor Forrester was hugging his daughter into his arms. Jon reflected on the fact that this would never happen again to him.

He thought about something that happened almost ten years ago. That was one of his oldest memories, one of his worst and his best at the same time. A servant who had brought fire into his chamber had been complaining. Jon didn't know why exactly. Perhaps he only had a rough day, but before he left, the servant said he shouldn't have to bring wood to a bastard.

"You're not even a Stark. You should be working, like the whole lot of us. You shouldn't even exist. You shouldn't have been born," he had told him before he left his chamber.

Jon had cried, and he hadn't wanted to come for dinner. No one could convince him to leave his chambers. His lord father had finally come to see him. Jon had told him what had happened.

"He said that I'm not a Stark, that I shouldn't have been born."

His father had placed a comforting hand on his arm at this moment, a little like Mira did today. "Jon, it doesn't matter what name you have. You have my blood, and that's all that matters. I don't regret a single moment your birth. You were born at the end of a terrible war, a war that should never have happened. You were a symbol of hope among so much death and blood. No matter what other people say, you are a Stark, and you will always be a Stark. Come, my boy."

And then his father had embraced him, like Mira's did with her right now. Jon saw her brother, Rodrik Forrester, coming to hug her as well. Mira had told him everything about her family, about her parents, the four brothers and the sister she had. Jon had a family too. He had a brother and a sister waiting for him. He walked away and went to the command tent for real this time.

Inside, Robb was looking at a map. The other lords were gone and his brother was alone. While approaching, Jon realized his brother was clinging to the edges of the table, a furious look on his face. Then he saw the scroll and the seal at the bottom of it. It was the seal of the Hand of the King.

"This is Joffrey's offer?" Jon asked.

"Aye."

"So?"

"The Lannisters claim that Father's execution was a mistake," Robb replied sharply. "A mistake," he almost spat. "They claim our father was fooled by Stannis and Renly's supporters to believe the story of the incest, and that his only crime was to believe a lie that led him to foolish decisions. They say that they were wrong to execute him and discovered how he was manipulated only after his execution. They apologize for his death." He looked at him. "They apologize. Do you believe that? They killed our father and then they apologize."

"It was Joffrey," Jon slowly said. "Mira told me. It was Joffrey who killed him. Everyone else wanted to send him to the Wall, but Joffrey decided to kill him instead, after he recognized him as the one true king."

Jon could tell that Robb was angrier than before, and he shared his feelings. "This boy is going to pay for that."

A silence followed. They looked at the map. Jon looked at the Lannister army positioned at Harrenhal. If they could destroy it, they would have a free path to King's Landing. He looked at the city. That was where Joffrey was, and Sansa was there too. That was where their father got killed.

"What else? What else did they say?" he asked Robb about the terms.

"They want us to fight against Stannis and Renly, to support Joffrey. And they also want Sansa to marry Ser Loras Tyrell, and they want one of us or our uncle Edmure to marry a lady of House Lannister."

Disdain was plain on his brother's face. Jon took the parchment with the red lion seal and the signature of the Lord of Casterly Rock at the bottom. He read it. It was like Robb told him, though Lord Tyrion used softer words. Also, the Lannisters didn't only make demands. They made concessions.

Joffrey didn't only acknowledge murdering their father. He would present official apologies, cleanse the name of Lord Eddard Stark of all accusation and shame, and recognize his error of killing him. His bones would be returned to Winterfell, with the bones of all the people of his household who died in King's Landing. He would also return his sword, Ice, to his family. House Stark and House Tully and all their allies would be forgiven for their rebellion against the crown, and all the houses of the Riverlands whose lands were occupied or whose resources were requisitioned would be compensated by House Lannister. Since Joffrey recognized that he was responsible for Lord Eddard Stark's death, he was ready to cancel his betrothal with Sansa and instead offered that she marries Ser Loras Tyrell, heir to Highgarden. To further mend the relationship between House Stark and House Lannister, Robb, Jon, Bran or Rickon would be betrothed to a lady of House Lannister, who the Starks could choose. They could instead arrange a marriage between Ser Edmure Tully and a Lannister if they wanted. Finally, Arya would be returned to them.

Jon read the terms. The words were conciliant, but at the same time he couldn't stop from noticing the demands. The Lannisters wanted the Starks and the Tullys to help them put down Stannis and Renly Baratheon. Jon was also upset by the claim they would set Arya free, when in fact they didn't have her when these lines were written. His father died, and it wouldn't be apologies and marriages that would allow justice to be given. Joffrey killed him. Justice demanded that Joffrey paid for it. He agreed with Robb. On the other side, he thought about what Mira told him. Your father was already dead when we arrived in King's Landing. He was executed two days before our arrival. Lord Tyrion and Lady Margaery were furious.

The seal on the piece of paper was the one from the Lord of Casterly Rock, and not that of the king or his Hand. The signature at the bottom was from the Imp, not Joffrey's signature. These were the terms of peace from Tyrion Lannister, not from Joffrey Baratheon.

"Robb…" he began.

"Hey. How are you both?" He was interrupted by Arya who just walked in. They both turned their attention to her.

"Hey, Arya. I thought you would be resting," Robb said.

She pushed aside the concern. "I don't need to rest. How are you? How is everyone?"

"You don't have to worry about Bran and Rickon. They are safe at Winterfell," Jon said.

"Mother is at Dragonstone with Stannis Baratheon," Robb added.

"So, what are we going to do now? Sansa is still in King's Landing. We have to save her," she said.

"I know, and we will. Don't worry about it, Arya. We're going to save our sister. In the meantime, I will send you to Riverrun."

"Riverrun? Why?"

"The army is no place for a lady, Arya."

"I'm not a lady."

Jon smiled a little. Arya always hated being called that way.

"Arya, I'm doing this for your own safety," Robb said. "The Lannisters have a strong army at Harrenhal, and you just escaped them. We cannot take the risk that they could get you back. You'll be much safer at Riverrun. Our uncle Edmure will take care of you, and our grandfather Lord Hoster as well."

"And what am I going to do in Riverrun?" Jon had a good idea of what was probably going on through Arya's head right now. She thought she would be condemned to sewing all day.

"Arya, this is for your safety. You will leave tomorrow with a strong escort." Robb's voice didn't leave place for arguing.

Arya remained silent for a moment. She was obviously upset. "What about the terms of peace? The ones Mira brought with her?"

"I won't make peace with the Lannisters, Arya, if that's what you want to know. We won't stop to fight until Joffrey is dead."

An idea came to Jon's mind at this moment. "Robb, what if we could get Joffrey's death without fighting?"

Arya and Robb looked at him. "What do you mean?" his brother asked.

Jon turned to his sister. "Arya, I know it might be difficult, but you said you were there when Father was killed."

"Aye."

"Was it Joffrey who gave the order?"

"Aye." Arya frowned, trying to remember the events. "He said something about Cersei and Sansa asking to spare him, but that he wouldn't, and then he asked Ser Ilyn Payne to bring him his head."

"So Mira was telling he truth. It's Joffrey who did that."

"Well, that only confirms what we already knew. Joffrey has to die," Robb said.

"Aye, but maybe we could ask the Lannisters to deliver him to us."

"What?" Robb and Arya shouted at the same time.

"If we tell the Lannisters we only are after Joffrey and that we will stop all hostilities with them if they give us Joffrey… perhaps they could accept."

At the moment he said that, Jon was sure this would never work. He remembered his conversation with Lyonel Frey. Robb voiced the opinion pretty quickly. "They will never accept that. They will fight for Joffrey."

"We could at least try. I've spent some time at Casterly Rock. Most of the people there are good men. I wish we didn't have to kill them. Joffrey murdered our father, but they didn't."

Robb seemed to think about it. "Stannis will not be satisfied with Joffrey's death. He is the rightful king. It's not only Joffrey he's after."

It was true. "In this case, we can offer the Lannisters that in exchange for Joffrey's head, we will try to convince Stannis to spare the princess Myrcella and the prince Tommen. I believe that's something Father would have done."

"The Lannisters will refuse."

"We can still try. Mira is heading back to King's Landing with your answer anyway. We lose nothing by trying. The Lannisters are not in the best position. They are surrounded from all sides. Renly and Stannis are against them, just like us, and Theon's father will soon bring his ships into the war. The Iron Islands may already be raiding the shores of the Westerlands and the Reach. They might be willing to consider it."

Theon had left the army not long after they received the news of their father's death. Robb sent him to Pyke to convince Balon Greyjoy to mobilize his fleet and to attack the lands of the Lannisters and the Tyrells. He had reached the islands by now, even though they received no word from him yet. Jon knew that the Lannisters would never give up Joffrey, but he felt they had to try. He felt that was the right thing to do, after they welcomed him at the Rock, and for all the people he befriended there.

"I'll think about it," Robb said after a few seconds of silence. "Arya, I want you to rest now. You already made a long journey, and you have a longer one ahead of you. Jon, escort her back to her tent."

With that, the discussion concluded. On their way, Arya talked.

"Robb is different."

"Aye, I know," Jon answered. "He's Lord of Winterfell now."

"He made me think of Father."

Jon agreed. Robb had been prepared soon to succeed their father, since his birth., and it was visible in the way he behaved on a daily basis. His movements, his decisions, his facial expressions, everything reminded the men of Lord Eddard Stark. When they arrived at Arya's tent, she turned to him again.

"Do you really think the Lannisters could give us Joffrey?"

"I wish they do," he replied, "though I admit I'm not very hopeful."

Arya seemed to consider something for a moment. "Jon, there's something you must know. At Harrenhal, I met someone. His name was Jaqen H'ghar."

"Jaqen Agar?"

"No, H'ghar. I think he was a Braavosi. He spoke the same than my dancing teacher in King's Landing. And he gave me this. It's a Braavosi coin."

Jon looked at the coin Arya was showing him. It didn't look like anything he ever saw.

"I saved him when the Lannisters captured us," she resumed. "I saved him and two other men. He said he owned me three deaths because of that, and he told me to name three people and he would kill them."

"Arya?"

"And he did. I named Ser Armory Lorch and Weese, and he killed them. They never found out who did this."

"Arya, this man, did you know who he was?" Jon asked, afraid.

"I don't know. An assassin, I think."

Surely. "Arya, you should never have talked to him. Assassins cannot be trusted."

She didn't seem to care about what he said. "Jon, I gave him another name just before I left."


In the canon, after Robb was proclaimed King in the North, he sent an offer of peace that he knew hte Lannisters would refuse. Here, Robb hadn't won a single battle yet and his bannermen never proclaimed him their king. He is following Stannis's orders, which is not without causing some problems with his bannermen who want a more direct strategy. Instead, Tyrion is the one to send an offer of peace, and without surprise, Robb is not very keen to accept it.

Jon feels the Lannisters betrayed him, but on the other side, he made friends while he was at Casterly Rock, and finding himself to fight against them is not a very comfortable position. So he is in a position where he is more willing to consider options of peace, even though he knows the chances for peace are very limited. He is more clinging to the hope that peace is possible.

Jon somehow finds himself in a similar situation to the one he had in canon, where he was divided between the wildlings and the Night's Watch. Now the division is between the Lannisters and the Starks, and again he is caught between the two, unable to stop the two sides from destroying each other because reconciliation is almost impossible.

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