Here we are, another chapter and this one isn't so expansive at the start but in the end, it gets a bit more interesting.
Chapter 35: Peace is Neverlasting
Winterfell
Arthur felt like gathering his kin for the morning inside of the great hall, breaking their fast together.
He noticed Arya and Sansa were finally returning to how they used to be, no more nightmares from Sansa or the rage seen in Arya's eyes during the few times they trained together.
Yet, he still hasn't gotten over it and never will until he is satisfied and justice is done.
Not until Cersei and her children suffer the same fate as their Gods have done to his father, brother, and Lady Stark. Joffrey and Tywin were stolen from me, but Tommen and Cersei are very much alive and the debt will be recalled. He thought and laughed when a piece of bread hit his cheeks.
"Funny, Arya!" He amused his little sister and threw a piece right back at her, Sansa crossed her arms and looked to scold them with his mother.
"Father taught us manners, didn't he?" He stopped and downed some ale, eating his breakfast, and enjoyed some talks of the North and the Winter that has begun setting in.
Talks soon turned to how the North will eat during these storms, Arya piped in with an inquiry. "Will we be in trouble, are we not going to have any food?" She asked and he found it hard to answer her without getting them to worry.
The North isn't very prosperous as the Reach is, they have farms but mostly in livestock and little grain- Much of such being used during the war following Robb and during the time taking back the North from Ramsay, the Ironborn, and the Wildling army beyond the Wall.
"It will be our hardest this Winter, I have been messaging Lord Manderly about shipping in supplies and food from Essos." It wasn't something he wanted to do but Wyman's grandaughter who had been taking up much of her late father's responsibilities gave him a convincing argument.
Arya shared his thoughts on the matter, "We should only depend on ourselves and no one else." Edric cleared his throat, making his sister redden with embarrassment. "You're kin with Arthur, there's a difference."
Not really, and he knows better.
"Arya, to be a ruler one needs to play nice with other people," Sansa told Arya, eating her food so gracefully.
"Enough of worries," He said as politely as he could without letting his frustrations out. "Sansa," He called and his sister's eyes stood at his attention. "I have decreed that all should learn the way of the sword, bow, and spear. I won't ask a stranger to teach you but you must learn... That's why I asked my mother to show you." He ended and Sansa seemed to be against his wishes.
What Jon said to him gave him some worry for the rest of his family, it was a reason he gathered his Lords and asked for all to learn how to fight, even if they are born male or female.
Perhaps if all knew how to fight, then perhaps the Ironborn wouldn't have been so successful. He thought and finished his meal, rising from his chair, his mother noticed his leaving and inquired on the situation.
"An activity calls to you?" She asked with an amused expression, he scoffed and didn't bother answering before exiting the hall and made his way on over to the stables.
"Dusk, Grey Wind, stay!" He commanded and the two full-grown wolves stopped and sat down, his whimpered slightly which caused him to smile.
Entering the stables, he silently gestured for two of the caretakers to take off for a few minutes which left him alone with the exception of the ten horses in the building.
Hearing a creaking noise, he turned and saw who he was waiting for. "Thought you weren't going to show up? Seeing as you have been gone for the latter part of two weeks." He mentioned while approaching Asha who was leaning against the side entrance with her usual leather clothing.
"After the night before I left, I assumed you didn't want me anymore?" She wondered and he shook his head to the assumption.
"I don't want you to be my wife or salt-wife, I figured we would offer one another warmth in these cold nights." He muttered before placing his lips to hers and Asha pushed him against a wall and ripped his vest then his shirt, feeling his chest while he gripped her waist and arse.
It happened out of the blue for him, he had decided to dip into the baths and discovered his hostage was there already. She invited him to join her, he hadn't been with anyone since before the Twins and decided to relieve some stress from himself.
Asha didn't bother waiting for him to beckon her, she pounced and took him more than he had taken her.
It felt like a piece of him was put back together, his father would lay him out that the fact sex made him feel a little better. He didn't feel anything for her besides that she looked pleasing, she understood that and both of them agreed that this relationship was a temporary one.
Of course, he kept it a secret but his mother catches on pretty quick. No one else can know, his Lords fought to get all of the Ironborn out of the North and if they knew their King is bedding Balon's daughter? It'd be hard to explain things to his most loyal followers let alone those who had to renew their fealty to House Stark.
Recently, he had tasked Asha with meeting a dependable and loyal Lord of the Iron Isles. Wyman is doing his best but the North needs a fleet, they need them if he wants to attack the South when the threat to the far North is dealt with.
News to hear after, he thought as he and the Ironborn Princess fell into an empty stable room with their clothes completely gone. He pushed himself into Asha roughly, she laughed and enjoyed it which had initially been a queer thing for him to know but since then he's gotten used to it.
She moaned loudly, he turned her over to take her from behind and grasped her hips as the heat of the moment began setting in.
Once they have finished, they spent a few moments in their bliss before helping one another get dressed in their clothes as wrinkled as they were.
"So... What became of the meeting at the Stony Shore? Will any of them join us?" He asked her, the two of them sitting on opposite sides and looking at one another.
"House Blacktyde's new leader. My mother's House and all branches of House Harlaw came, even House Wynch and Farwynd came." That's almost eight families. "My uncle has the loyalties of all others, 135 ships in total other than the 65 ships that's pledged to me." Of course they would, no Iron Islander would swear to a Stark of Winterfell.
"And your other uncle, Victarion?" She shook her head to his question, meaning the great warrior had been slain by the Crows Eye. "65 Ships is a good start, I expect much from the captains." He added, rising to his feet with her following behind him.
"They'll do their job, so long as you keep your promise to me... " She said, passing him and leaving.
That is right, it was a condition when this partnership began between the two. I spare Theon from his treachery and make sure Balon's killer is slain. The first is quite simple as he had all but erased Theon from his mind but the last is a tall task to accomplish.
King's Landing
A rider rode through the gate of the Gods, his haste visible in his kicks on his horse to ride hard in search of his destination which was currently training a few hundred soldiers at the upgraded barracks formerly belonging to the Goldcloaks but now inhabited by the Lannister host.
"News from the Vale," A scout came to Jaime all the way from Dyre Den.
The Lord Commander of the Lannister Army had been drilling the host's new recruits while his sister is being tried, he had been fortunate to bolster his army by another 4,000 men. His father's grand and elite force is returning back to how it used to be before the War of the Five King's.
Although it was stressful to get these recruits without the Militants poisoning everyone's mind. The Sparrows have been on a campaign with striking down 'sin' and 'sinners' within the city.
Seven Hells, they've even begun to spread their already heretical movements to other settlements outside such as Rosby, Duskendale, and five more in the Reach and Stormlands.
His sister's trial is pending on the arrival of a few more Septons, the charges against his sister might be true but it's no less a mistake on the High Sparrow's part. Already, they nearly forced the new Queen to walk naked through the streets but was stopped by his son who had taken solace with the man.
It angered him that his sister has not been released, it made him turn to the idea of slaughtering them all as his father might have done if not for his uncle Kevan convincing him otherwise.
"It can't be any worse than it's already been, tell me." He ordered and the scout went into great detail about an unexpected threat.
Petyr Baelish's disappearance must have angered that brat in the Eyrie, he's called for a host of gullible fools to sail from Gulltown and invade the Crownlands. 5,000 soldiers and 2,000 mounted warriors being carried by 70 war galleys.
"Baelish's demise was caused by his departure North, Arthur must have laid blame on us for it." He surmised with a groan of frustration, his green eyes turned to his second in command, Adam Marbrand. "Muster four-thousand of our most experienced and those of Lord Tarly, we have invaders on our doorstep." His second nodded and left to get it done.
He turned on his feet and left the drills to his uncle Kevan while left to inform the King about this news, Tommen was surprised and unsure about what to do and he had said that he and Randyll will handle it.
His son might not be a man now, but he's still a long way from being a confident leader of men.
Dragon Gate opened several hours later, eight-thousand mounted warriors marching on the road to meet the Valemen before they set up and invite more of their soldiers from their mountains they love to hide behind.
Oh, the High Sparrow tried to keep him at the capital, he enjoyed seeing the man's face as he left to do his duty.
He looked back at the city he's reluctantly grown to call his home, wondering how his sister is doing because he still isn't allowed to see her or even to fight for her freedom because his son sought to abolish the right to a trial by combat. When I come back, I'm going to bring change to the capital. He thought as the memory of his last conversation with Rhaegar resurfaced.
"Ride hard! Ride and destroy the King's enemies!" He shouted to the top of his lungs as the mounted force began picking up the pace.
The Knights of the Vale made a mistake in choosing to challenge his family, whoever is leading these five-thousand men are going to regret their actions.
Brindlewood
She could see it, now, so close and so far away.
"It isn't going to disappear when you blink, girl." An annoyed expression formed when Mya turned to see Sandor coming from the camp.
"Coming from the man who's been looking for the right opportunity to kill his own brother, too bad Arthur lost a wolf doing it for you." Sandor barked in laughter, she looked on in disgust because no brother should hate their own blood.
Then again, considering what Gregor had done to his little brother... She can at least try to understand that kind of hate.
Over the last several weeks, she's thought of nothing but killing Cersei, Jaime, their last two children, and anyone else that shares the Lannister blood.
It wasn't until now, looking at the city that took her father and many of her half-blooded siblings and all but usurped her family that she was reminded what vengeance brought her husband's family.
"I am conflicted about what to do, now. I know I want my son avenged, I want Arthur to know justice was done... But then I remember what Lady Catelyn was thinking after her father's funeral." She said and leaned against a tree, sitting down on the grass.
Lady Catelyn wanted justice, vengeance, but not at the cost of her children and she had already lost two young boys. She was able to convince Robb to take his people home, let the rage die, and when the North was retaken then march again.
Would she take the chance if Cersei was right in front of her? Damn right, she would. What would it give her? It won't bring her son back to her womb, it won't raise her brother from the grave, it won't remove that horrific night from her mind.
"You're a stupid girl," Sandor muttered and anger rose within her, she jumped up to her feet and went to strike the giant but Sandor was quick and caught her hand. "Your father was stupid and indecisive, too. You want to kill? Then do it, stop fighting, and do what you've set out to do." She didn't like being talked down to like some child, especially not from some turncoat that abandoned his liege Lord.
Sandor let go of her wrist and walked back to the others, Beric and Thoros were watching and the fire-priest even had a hand on his dirk.
She huffed with newfound anger and stabbed her own dagger into the tree, grunting loudly and turning her gaze back to the city to which she can't wait to see burned to the ground for how corrupt it has become to actually choose a bastard and traitorous family to rule them.
You want to kill? Then do it. Yes, she will and she's in it, now.
That moment she watched as a large host was leaving the city, it made her wonder why the Lannister's would be deploying forces anywhere but to the Riverlands or West towards the Reach or Crownlands.
No, she's glad the city isn't as defended as they were just a few hours ago.
Walking back she informed everyone that the many gates will be less difficult to enter with half of the enemy's army gone, they will be infiltrating the city at dawn and then, they will plan on how to assassinate the Lannister Queen and King Tommen.
The North
Darkstar entered Winter Town at midnight, having to pass through the Neck was difficult as an unlucky patrol of Crannogmen came across him to which he quickly killed the five unfortunate souls.
The home of House Stark is going to be more difficult to enter but not impossible, he smirked and made himself comfortable within a room inside of the inn. A whore rested on his bed from the sex they had, a smirk forming on his lips but not from the sex.
His prize is here at last, he's scouted the walls as best as he could with the Stark soldiers camped all around the castle. He saw the Dayne boy and the sword on his back, his sword.
"It'll be mine, and then I will never let go of it." He whispered to himself, drinking a cup of ale before setting it down and going back to his bed.
Miles away from Winterfell and Winter Town, a group of three women and four men were riding closer to their destination.
They've been traveling in many ways, from horse to rowboat to a ship going to White Harbor, better than trying to traverse through the Neck.
Obara, Tyene, and Nymeria had wanted Sarella to join them, their fourth sister denied and told them that they should go home and mourn instead of looking for revenge. "Revenge is what killed our father, I don't want it to kill my sisters too." Is what she had said but it did not work.
They are fixed on avenging their father, they will soon turn their weapons on finishing the Lannister's too when the Dayne's are dead.
Riding over a hill, they saw where their enemy lies. "We've arrived, sisters, you all know your jobs... Let's avenge the Red Viper." Nym said to her sisters and their allies from Dorne who bore the Uller crest.
Dawn was rising over the North as enemies encroached on Winterfell and to the North, the caravan escorting the undead soldier... Another followed who had a different sort of news for the King of the North in the form of sorrow and sadness.
AN: So ends another chapter, I hope you all enjoyed the read as I enjoyed writing it.
Silver Crow, You had right on the nose with Arthur using Asha. Although, I don't know about Reforming the Ironborn, many cultures tried and failed.
The next chapter will be pretty big, possible bigger than the Red Wedding chapter and Watchers on the Wall.