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Chapter 14: Dark News Comes from the North
Arthur
The woods were quiet, no sound but the marching of three-hundred men, one-hundred mounted, and two-hundred infantry. They were carrying several wagons of supplies, from food, to steel, and wood to make siege weapons.
What the others do not see, is the hundreds of archers and swordsmen, that and two wolves.
"Ready?" He turned and saw Gendry, looking to the other side of the road and in the brush gave a nod to Brynden.
A moment passes, a long moment as everyone nocked and drew on their bows, then finally letting the arrows fly and tearing into the Lannister soldiers.
Confusion took over the lot of them, then like lightning, he and dozens sprinted out of the brush and blades, spears and shields ready. He knew the plan, they would begin with shattering Tywin's supply lines until he sends his dog after him, and when the Old Lion does? That's when he'll get his prize.
Leaning left he avoided one man's swing, with a tight grip on his shield he bashed the bastard's head and knocked him down. Turning his sight right, he parried against another man before running him through with his blade. He smiled inside his helm, enjoying the fight and glanced where Dusk and Lady took a horse down.
"Stark!" One of the horsemen said, charging at him and would have succeeded if Gendry came in with his Warhammer and knocked the steed down.
He nodded a thank you to Gendry and gave some thought to how he's had his back in all of these battles, he'll need to get him a fine prize for it all, maybe a new horse or a woman. He chuckled as he killed two more men, cut one's head off and bashed the other so hard his neck snapped.
The battle raged on until all but twenty-seven, prisoners all lined up as the men gathered the bodies and got the wagons ready to go back to Riverrun. He removed his helm and walked around them, looking at every each man whose lives are now his and the Blackfish's to deal with.
"What should we do with them, too many prisoners already to feed," He suggested, only to hear some men grimace about what has to be done.
In the end, the prisoners were freed from their lives and heads were placed on spikes around the road, to send a very clear message that lions should leave.
It's the cruel and terrible tactics that Tywin's forced on the good people of the Riverlands since this war began, the word is the Mountain's raped almost a hundred women and killed countless children, a true and rabid monster.
He's been in the Riverlands for but two weeks, yet he's brought in some results that might not seem honorable but whatever it takes to bring Tywin and Gregor down, without letting Robb know of his and the Blackfish's plans in dealing with whoever stands in their way.
They started making their way back to the castle when he was poked by Gendry who had a frown across his lips, This isn't going to be good.
"What are you going to do?" He was asked and groaned out a response, Gendry furrowed his brows angrily this time, "You can't leave her unwed, she's already a bastard." Another groan of frustration, "She is my sister, you better be responsible or so help me... " Gendry let it linger, not that he couldn't have been more upset.
"I know! She only told me a few days ago, I need time to think." He said and trotted away, and what Gendry said brought all that soreness back.
What was worse he just... Left. The day he learned he left right away, to think of something else rather than worry about being an actual father while cursing Theon for taking him to the brothel, Jaime shares in that very same blame before he and Mya got together.
She is pregnant, he's going to be a father, it terrifies him and he believes he isn't ready. No, he knows he isn't ready but what can he do now? How can he look into his child's eyes and say you are a bastard of bastards, that or he could marry her and make her or him something to be proud of.
Then there is Jon, what will Jon think of him? Disappointment comes to mind, his own twin looking at him and thinking that they are no better than their father who brought them into the world that they themselves weren't supposed to see. It's all shite, but he's gotten into a mess because he wasn't careful enough to avoid this.
Mya will be angry when he sees her, will she hit him? Or kill him for doing what he had done, leaving her right after telling him that she is with his child. He was internally groaning because of the thought of seeing her, but it's better this gets done and over with rather than waiting until she gives birth or 'deals' with it.
"Why are Mya and Maester Vyman waiting for us?" He heard Gendry ask to no one of importance. He looked ahead himself, seeing the same as he did so he, Gendry, and the Blackfish rode up to the drawbridge and he jumped off his horse and rushed up to them.
"What's happened?" He expected Mya to be angry with him, not to be shedding tears. She approached and embraced him, instead he looked to Vyman, "What has happened?!" He was losing his patience this time, tired of no one answering him.
"It's the North... They've been attacked by House Greyjoy. Moat Cailin and Torrhen's Square has been taken, and Winterfell has... " His knees buckled from the weight and he collapsed in Mya's arms, this wasn't news he wished to hear.
Robb
He couldn't believe what he was hearing, not a single thing as Roose told him the news that came from the North.
"It cannot be true... " He said, wishing it were so. Roose shook his head, telling him so.
"It happened in the night, by miracle your Maester set off two ravens before the castle was taken." Why? Why would he do this, it doesn't make sense.
"Why would Theon do this?" GreatJon was quick to answer, with a loud voice as always.
"Because the Kraken's are treasonous whoresons! We should have taken all their heads!" Many within the hall agreed with the giant of a man, he does to a point but Theon was like a brother to him, he wished this was all a bad dream.
His heart felt heavy with despair, it was tragic that Sansa is a hostage to the Lannister's but now Rickon and Bran are taken captive by Theon, a family friend and as close to him as any of his brothers. He trusted Theon to bring his family in as an ally, even offered the Westerlands and Casterly Rock when he won.
And Arthur, Jon, Arya, even his mother is so far away while he's left alone to deal with this heartbreak. Yes, he has his friends that he's made but it's family that he needs right now, it's blood that he desires to help him because brothers through bonds clearly aren't longlasting.
"What do we do? We can't leave the North at the mercy of the Ironborn." Dacey cried out in anger, getting many to agree with her. Sighing he got to his feet, the raven letter crushed in his hand and steeled resolve in his eyes.
"Our needless campaign here is going to be shorter than I'd wanted, we need to protect our lands." Many were in agreement, that was until Roose walked up to him and made him look into his terrifying pale eyes.
"If you retreat you will have surrendered all you've seized," Roose spoke out against heading back North, that they should remain here and keep fighting.
"How can I be King in the North if I can't hold my lands! How can I expect you all to follow me if I can't- " He argued, and it would be Lord Karstark who answered him.
"Robb! You are a King, that means you have to carry all these burdens on yourself!" He was quieted by the statement, he doesn't need to do it himself but who else can f not him or his brother.
"Let me get a raven to my son at the Dreadfort, he'll raise a force and bring Theon and his allies to heel." It sounded like a good plan, especially since he's much too far away to get to Theon himself, what with Moat Cailin falling as well.
"Very well, do it. Wait." He called, "My two brother's safety is paramount, and Theon? I want him brought to me alive, I want to look him in the eye and ask him why then and only then will I take his head myself." His mother and brother were right, he shouldn't have trusted in letting Theon leave his side to get some ships, but he was much too desperate to get them.
His gamble put the North in risk of falling, put Bran and Rickon at risk and he'll be paying for it.
He spent the next day walking the battlements he had taken two weeks ago, his mother should have been here but she decided to go back to Riverrun when she came here if only she had stayed and then this would be less of a difficult day to deal with.
"Your grace?" He was stunned to see Lord Westerling's daughter, Jeyne who helped treat him with the castles Maester.
"I am sorry if I disturbed you. What are you doing? If I may ask." He asked, wanting to find a distraction. Her cheeks reddened as she closed her little book.
"Drawing. The sunset over your camp makes it all less, dreadful." She told him and he looked around for a moment, then took a seat next to her and took off his crown, "Pardon, my King. I heard about your castle, I am sorry," He grunted a response and continued to watch the campfires around his camp and the flapping of all the banners.
In all honesty, he couldn't care less about Winterfell, he's more worried about his brother's. If only he'd taken them with him, or put them in another castle but what he thought was, Winterfell is much too far from any beach, and he never once thought Theon would betray him and take his home and the boys who were like his own brothers as captives.
In the small moments, it was shocking that the presence of his enemies daughter gave him comfort, a friendly comfort.
He and Lady Jeyne shared a number of conversations in these moments, taking the time to boost his own confidence in saving his brother and hoping that Roose Bolton's bastard succeeds in taking back his home and his brother's intact.
"Thank you, Jeyne, for sharing my company for a few moments." He said as he got to his feet, she did the same and quickly tore a page out of her book.
"I hope you didn't mind. I drew this when you were healing, here." She was so timid and shaking when she handed him the drawing, it definitely looked like him though it was during a time when he was feverish and still healing.
"This is really good, I am flattered you would draw me. Hopefully next time, in a better view." He gave her one more smile, then leaving to get some rest.
Riverrun
She still watching him, swatting away at the training dummy after hearing the news from the North.
What happened is a terrible crime, one her lover and the King in the North will settle in due time. Watching him she remembered when her father came home from dealing with Balon and his rebellion, her uncle had talked down to him, saying that Balon and his brood should have been met with the same fate as the Targaryen babes.
Now as long as she's known him, Theon seemed the sort that wants to please others, and sending him back to a man who hates Starks and Baratheons? It was a terrible plan to begin with. In fact, Robb should have demanded Balon support him and then Arthur wouldn't have to be going through this.
She wished she could do something, comfort him but every time she's tried he's pushed her away and she remembers how he left her when she told him she was pregnant, it still bothered her even now.
When the Maester first told her that the Greyjoy's attacked the North, she'd first had laughed and thought it had to the Lannister's, that it was the Queen or her devil of a half-brother, Joffrey. Then again, the Queen and Joffrey couldn't possibly pull off an invasion so far North when their manpower is thinned to less than 30,000 men whereas the other 15,000 were decimated at the Whispering Wood and the Camps.
"How is he?" Gendry asked her and she sighed, leaning against a pillar.
"I wouldn't know, he's all but became distant from me. He's driven to focus on killing the Mountain and Tywin, then he want's to go North and kill Theon." She explained to her brother who frowned, shaking his head but she could see it was for different reasons.
"I want to hurt him. I know his brothers are in trouble, but he has a responsibility!" He referred to her stomach, the reasons she's gained an appetite for cakes.
"His brothers are hostages, he has plenty on his mind rather than worrying about me!" She argued back and Gendry gave her a look, "I'll speak to him tonight, he and the Blackfish are heading out to raid a Lannister camp near Harrenhal." She dreaded to know he was so close to Tywin's stronghold, she feared for his life.
Gendry groaned before leaving her side, but she didn't pay much attention and instead, kept her eyes on Arthur sweating himself into the ground in his anger.
It was hours into the night when she quietly entered her and Arthur's chambers. He looked surprised to see her, but eventually came over it and turned away. She slowly made her way towards him, wrapping her arms around him but suddenly felt him tense so she ended up losing her patience and forced him to face her.
"What?" He asked her, she narrowed her eyes at him and slapped him, "What was that for?" He demanded and she would give it to him.
"I pray for their safety, but we have other things to discuss. Talk with me about what you want to do, because I can't decide alone." She made it clear to him, "I am having your child and I want to be yours, now and always." He scoffed and she was left confused a little.
"You have no idea, I want that too... But my brother's, they need me. I have to finish this, then head home and kill that traitor." He confessed to her and she smiled, stroking his face for a moment before kissing him.
"Then I will aid you, we'll kill all our enemies and go to Winterfell, the place I haven't seen yet... " She hinted and he smiled lightly, lifting her up and taking her to the bed and crawling on top of her, "Be careful now, there are three of us." She teased, glad she was able to take his mind off the troubles at hand.
Tonight was her's and she needed him too, and she sealed that with a kiss.
Morning came, she was resting on his chest and watching him sleep, he looked very peaceful unlike the other times from before and she was glad she helped. She slowly rose from her position, wrapping a robe around herself she opened the window and watched the sunrise. Today is different, she could feel it but it felt colder, not what she wanted it to be.
No, today is a good day. Today her love rides out against Tywin Lannister and his dogs, to bring their enemies to their knees.
"Good morning." She turned and smiled as Arthur looked at her, his purple eyes boring into her own.
Yes, good morning indeed.
AN: I am not so proud of this chapter, I mean Theon's betrayal was coming but I didn't know how to write it out here. Still, I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Robb and Jeyne, not a romance, I just need a reason for them to meet when Theon does the dirty deed.
Metal Flash, Darn! Was hoping it would be surprising, still glad you liked it.
Thayes2014, No problem, enjoy and thank you.
Pyer101, Ah! You caught onto that one, eh? Yep, it was stolen but that's a story after season three. I'll be using Robb and Jeyne instead of Talisa, I favored the plot where he married out of honor than love, makes him ruining his cause a bit less irritating, though it still is bad.
Well this ends the chapter and I still hope everyone enjoyed, though I would understand if it was a little underwhelming to you all and I swear the next won't be so bad.
This was HKC, and good night! Or morning!