Honor & Fealty chapter 22: Eye To Eye
A/n: This chapter has been long overdue to where even I have been hounding myself into how this chapter would play out and if the story was being told right. A lot of material was written and a lot more was deleted only because it did not push the story in the right direction. I thank you all for your patience and sticking around to see what happens next. I thank as well all the people who reviewed, favorited and followed this story. The constructive criticism and advice has helped me improve this story tremendously. With any luck, this chapter will help set the stage for the next one, which will also be perhaps a bit easier to write.
"Have you ever wondered why Septas, the Silent Sisters and those poor souls of the Citadel never smile, Ser?"
Varys, though necessary for his discretion and intelligence gathering, was always an annoyance to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy. "I never bothered to think of them. My thoughts are on safeguarding King Robert from all threats to his life."
"Considering how our king has not drowned himself in his chalice, you are fulfilling your duties rather well if I may say so."
"Why have you thought to talk with me, Spider?" Ser Barristan used the name as a way to insult the bald eunuch though it had no desired effect upon Varys, who smiled nonchalantly at him.
"Not so long ago, the king called you alone to a private chamber. Considering how you did not carry the heavy smell of wine and women upon your armor, he was not in his usual state when he spoke with you."
"I'm not one of your birds, Varys. Do not attempt to pull secrets from me."
"I do not seek answers from you. Point in fact, I have come to relay information to you so it can be given to His Grace when he does awake."
"Do not waste my time or test my patience. Say what you will and be on your way."
"Lord Hoster Tully is holding an autumn harvest festival within a few days. One of my birds happened to see a messenger raven fly to the North. No doubt, it's an invitation to his daughter, the Lady of Winterfell. The Golden Rose of Highgarden is attending as representation of House Tyrell to give out food to the huddled masses in preparation for the coming winter."
"Why would this matter to King Robert?"
"I have reason to suspect Lord Stark will send his eldest son and his future good daughter along with his wife. If House Tyrell is sending Lady Margaery to Riverrun, I am fairly certain it is an attempt to call out the wayward Willas Tyrell from the North. If His Grace should find himself in need of sending anything important to Lord Stark's kin, this would be as good an opportunity to do so."
Ser Barristan recalled how King Robert laughed at the idea of a Tyrell toiling in the cold North while in service to the Northmen before going into a blind rage over Dacey Mormont's betrothal to Robb Stark as well as Sansa Stark's betrothal to the Smalljon of House Umber. It did not take a genius to figure out that King Robert's dream of binding Eddard Stark's house to his via marriage had been shattered. Jaime Lannister may have appeared nonchalant but even Ser Barristan saw his eyes laughing at King Robert's tantrum.
"There was talk of an old knight escorting them. Lord Hoster's younger brother, if I am correct."
Ser Barristan frowned at the mention of the Blackfish. While there was no animosity between them, Ser Barristan did not agree with the path Ser Brynden Tully chose for himself. "Why would I care of the Blackfish visiting his niece? The North would be an ideal place for a rebel knight who chose to forsake his house. He lives and speaks like one of them."
"Perhaps that is why he is better received by the Northmen as opposed to you, Ser Barristan. Be sure to tell His Grace all I have told you, won't you?" There was a polite approach in his voice but even Ser Barristan The Bold could distinguish the subtle teasing.
Five riders left Winterfell by way of the Hunter's Gate on their way to the Riverlands with a party of soldiers from Winterfell.
Ser Brynden Tully rode at the side of his niece, the Lady of Winterfell, Catelyn Stark.
Willas Tyrell rode in between them and the betrothed couple of Dacey Mormont and Robb Stark, who had his faithful direwolf, Grey Wind, at his side
Glancing over her shoulder, Catelyn noticed how close Dacey and Robb were. Even when they were on horseback, there was very little space between them.
"They are young and affectionate with each other. Would you deny them those rare luxuries of life?"
"They are not like Ned and I, uncle."
"Do I detect a hint of envy in your voice, Cat?" Ser Brynden asked objectively, causing Catelyn to silently hush him. "You need not worry. They are too wrapped up in each other to listen to us."
"Dacey Mormont has shown a genuine love and affection for Robb since the day she first held him in her arms. I acknowledge that without any argument. They have been a part of each other's lives. I can understand how that would draw them close."
"So what is bothering you?" Ser Brynden had a good idea what was upsetting his niece but he had to hear it directly from her to know for sure.
"Robb's betrothal to Margaery Tyrell would have joined the Reach and Highgarden to Winterfell and the North. House Mormont of Bear Island may be faithful bannermen to House Stark but they are a poor house with limited means on a small piece of land. What could Dacey Mormont possibly do to strengthen House Stark?"
"More than you can imagine or comprehend, I would imagine." Ser Brynden said firmly.
"Do you have so much faith in House Mormont, uncle?"
"In my life, I have found the Northmen to be of better character than most of the Southrons I have ever met. Is it only because she and her family are poor that you object to the union of wolf and bear?"
"Dacey has shown a genuine love for Robb and the rest of my children over the years. I would embrace her for that without question. What I do question though is how she could show any love or care for Ned's bastard."
"When you are with Lady Dacey Mormont, ask her yourself. I'm certain she will answer your questions truthfully and in her own way."
"Which way is that? I have already been told how the women of House Mormont convey their opinions and points of view."
Ser Brynden raised his hand to stop the cavalcade. At first, Catelyn did not know what to make of his abrupt command to stop until he pointed forward.
The ruins of Moat Cailin stood before them.
"I will go out to speak with Lord Howland Reed. The rest of you are to stay put in Moat Cailin until I return." Ser Brynden announced out loud to the soldiers as well as to Dacey, Willas and Robb.
"You would not have to worry about her telling a false story for your pride. She will not care to soften anything she says to you either. I too know how the women of House Mormont talk. I like it." Ser Brynden said with a smile.
Sansa was disappointed, downhearted and upset. The Riverlands may not have been King's Landing but she wanted to go there if only to look out into the distance and see the fabled city of kings with her own eyes. It would have been worth it if only to see it from the horizon.
All her pleas fell upon deaf ears though.
Walking through the courtyard with Lady at her side, Sansa watched Bran teaching Samwell Tarly how to fight with spears while Arya was showing off her archery skills with Mya Stone watching.
"What troubles you so, Lady Sansa?" Maester Luwin asked as he approached the red haired girl slowly yet swiftly.
"I wanted to go with Robb and mother to Riverrun. Is the South so terrible as Dacey thinks it is, Maester Luwin?"
"Though the invitation may have suggested a festival, I doubt that is why they are going. Anyway, you have been invited to Last Hearth by your future husband's sisters." Maester Luwin explained, handing Sansa the message sent by raven from Last Hearth. The letter was written in the hands of Alora Umber, speaking for herself and her sister, Avya.
"Why not take Mya Stone with you? She has plans to takie her mules out beyond the walls of Winterfell. The mountains are not far from Last Hearth. I'm sure you would do well with her company."
"I'm certain Father would not deny me that request at all." Sansa said almost in a huff.
While the Blackfish rode out into the Neck to speak privately with Lord Howland Reed, the rest of the traveling party made camp within the walls of Moat Cailin.
Robb helped Willas down from his horse. Catelyn watched as her eldest son and the Heir to Highgarden talked at a distance while staying in plain sight.
Grey Wind's growl at her side caught her by surprise. Turning to face the direwolf, Catelyn was surprised again at who was standing next to him.
"He is not likely to harm you any more than I am." Dacey remarked as she petted Grey Wind's smoke grey fur. Though the divide between them was vast, Catelyn thought to try and build a bridge between herself and the Heiress to Bear Island. "I hoped to speak with you, Dacey. In light of your impending marriage to Robb, I thought we could get better acquainted. In time, I will soon be your good mother."
"I already have a mother, Lady Stark. She was never a genteel noblewoman nor was she a beauty who inspired songs from bards. Yet I am proud to be the daughter of Lady Maege Mormont. When I marry Robb, we will be related by law. That does not mean I will embrace you as a mother."
"Your approach to conversations still leaves much to be desired. If you are to become the future Lady of Winterfell, I advise you to speak softly. I am not your enemy anymore than you are mine." Catelyn did not care for or like how Dacey spoke. It was the antithesis of everything she had ever been taught in her life.
"While I do not count you as a friend, Lady Stark, I do not count you as an enemy either. If you were the latter, I would have killed you a long time ago." Dacey sighed as if realizing what she had just said out loud. "Lord Stark and Robb have both spoken to me about diplomacy. I need to learn how to cultivate and apply it."
"I agree wholeheartedly." Catelyn said.
"If I am forward and direct with the way I speak to others, including you, it is because I have no tolerance for small talk. On Bear Island, politics mean nothing and diplomacy does not exist when swords are crossed."
"Winterfell is not Bear Island. You will need to change things in yourself if you are to become the next Lady of Winterfell."
"Does that include the company I choose to keep at my side? Your distaste for Jon is no secret to anyone in Winterfell or on Bear Island."
"He is a Snow. Do you not know what his name implies? Have you ever thought of what his existence is to me?"
Dacey gave Catelyn a hard glare. "When I first held him in my arms, I saw a little boy in need of someone to love him. I did not know his name or what it meant to anyone. It was only when Lord Stark and I had returned from Castle Black that he spoke to me about Jon. Then he spoke to me of Jon's mother."
If there ever was something to surprise and infuriate Catelyn, it was the knowledge of Lord Eddard Stark confiding in a seven year old girl what he could not talk about in front of his lady wife. "What did my husband tell you that he could not tell me?"
"She passed away during the Rebellion." Dacey replied. "As for Jon, Lord Stark told me he was a Snow. I did not think less of him then. That has not changed."
"Did he tell you his mother's name? Or who she was in life?" Catelyn asked, her voice barely able to conceal her rage.
"When he spoke of Jon's mother, it was only to say when she died. Lord Stark made mention of a promise he made to her in her final moments. He swore to provide for her son's protection. I asked if he promised to love Jon as one of his own. He only continued to say how he promised to protect Jon." Dacey recalled the pained look in Lord Stark's eyes from long ago. The grief was heavy upon his heart then and time had not lightened it by any measure.
"I did not push him for more information. It would not have changed anything. Instead, I made a promise to Lord Stark. If he could not love Jon, I would love him for the both of us."
"Dacey Mormont, if you choose to show care or affection for Jon, that is your decision. You look at him and all you see is a boy with a kind heart. I see something completely different whenever I look at Jon Snow. His continued existence serves only as a reminder that, for one time, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell was not completely honorable. Having to watch Jon Snow grow alongside my children as if one of them only tells me that, somewhere in Westeros, there was a woman my husband loved more than me. Ned and I were strangers. I was meant to marry his brother, Brandon, had he lived. He did not. For the sake of bolstering their numbers and cementing allegiances during war time, I was married to Ned. We grew to love one another over the years. You and Robb are not strangers. Since the moment you first held him in your arms, the two of you have been a part of each other's lives."
"We both love Robb. We can agree on that." Catelyn asked.
Dacey nodded. "We both do not want to see him lose his way. I guess we can both agree on that." Catelyn nodded in accordance.
Dacey Mormont and Catelyn Stark would never see each other as friends. Whether they liked it or not, they would soon become family.
Ser Brynden Tully and Lord Howland Reed looked out into the Riverlands while hidden by the thick shrubbery of the Neck's marshlands.
"How long have they been there?" Ser Brynden asked.
"They arrived one day before you and your party. I think they are expecting you." Lord Howland Reed replied. "There is even talk of Margaery Tyrell being there with him. She is a rather comely young maiden."
Brynden laughed softly. "She is young enough to be one of your children, Lord Reed. I doubt as well that Mace Tyrell would embrace the idea of his only daughter becoming the Lady of the Neck."
"I never once entertained the thought. I'm more concerned with what is going to happen when you and your party arrive at Riverrun."
"Edmure might be the only son of Lord Hoster Tully but he is not fit to be the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands much less stand as the Lord of Riverrun and I'm saying this as a blood relative. At the same time, I'm curious as to why my brother would decide to hand over the Riverlands and Riverrun to his grandson."
"He was born in Riverrun so he has a mild claim to it. I imagine the modesty, resolve and discipline nurtured into the Stark bloodline over many generations would go a long way to making them the ideal choice for governing the North and the Riverlands."
"I do not even know if Edmure knows it by now." Ser Brynden knew well enough that the change of inheritance would not go well with his nephew. There was a good chance that someone would be branded with the horrible mark of 'kinslayer' before it was all said and done.
"Go back to Lady Stark, her son, Tyrell and Mormont. Tell them I will clear a way for them to get through the Neck to the Riverlands. Did you, Robb and Dacey bring your weapons?"
"Yes."
"Good. I doubt you will need them against the Freys or Renly Baratheon's party but it's good to have them all the same."
A/n: I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Coming soon, the traveling party comes to the Crossing while on the road to Riverrun. Stay tuned.