Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.
Hello again, so happy to see many of you are enjoying the story so far. I can only hope to be worth the support you guys are giving me.
llLittle Sll – I know, Domeric is a character that would have suited Meera but this is Game of Thrones, not a fairytale.
Oricke – I know, I have made Catelyn far worse than perhaps she was in canon but there is a reason and her actions at least in this story are not entirely her own. She will face punishment for what she's done but for now I still need her around to push the plot forward.
Dragonfan91 – I know that things are going well for the Starks now but there will be many challenges in the future and things will take a turn for the worst eventually. I know that I have problems with grammar but the last time I worked with a beta reader it didn't really go well so I am hesitant to try again.
ReadLikeHermione – Thank you, the aftermath of the letter will be seen in this chapter. In regards to what you said about Joffrey I agree she is one of the few people that could probably handle him. A fact that has not escaped certain people. In regards to Catelyn no she would never accept defeat and it is going to backfire on her big time in the future. Tyrion coming North? Can't say much but there are some revelations coming in the future.
Aegon Potter 99 – I know, I was really tempted to let him live but he and Meera were too perfectly matched. His death serves a purpose though, it was not done just because it happened in canon. As for the Night King influencing Catelyn? You are on the right track but there is something else pulling the strings of everyone. So I pose a question, what made the White Walkers rebel?
InfinityMask – Melisandre saw an image of what might be, not necessarily what does happen. Not to mention it just showed Meera and Jon fighting the Walkers beyond the Wall, there are any number of reasons why Robb wouldn't be there and not all are that he is dead. Dorne? They have a part to play in the future as does Oberyn who will be appearing in a few chapters time. Tyrion will meet Lanna, and it will have some pretty big consequences for not just them but all of Westeros.
This chapter includes two special appearances and will show some of the impact Meera has had on others.
Chapter 6 – Visitors
Winterfell, the North…
The hall was completely silent as the letter's contents were revealed to them, none of them could quite believe it at first...the level to which the Bolton's would sink especially the bastard son. There hadn't been anything like this in the last century or at least so far as they knew.
"MURDERERS!" Lord Ryswell shouted suddenly from his seat as the news of his grandson's death sank in, joined very quickly by his sons and Lady Dustin who had been very fond of her nephew called out.
"WE WILL HAVE THEIR HEADS ON SPIKES!" She yelled and a roar of agreement went through the room.
Ned called out for quiet, wondering if the letter was genuine but Meera almost in a daze walked from the table over to Lady Dustin and showed her the letter. The older woman looked at her with confusion when she handed her the letter.
"This is Domeric's hand isn't it?" She asked knowing it was from their frequent letters to each other but she was hoping that she was wrong and this was not true, that the one boy she had met that actually she had been willing to marry was not dead. One that she actually felt emotion for.
Lady Dustin took the letter and checked each stroke of the quill and nearly shoved the letter back into her hands with a scathing comment till she stopped when she noticed the look in Meera's eyes. One she recognised well, the way she looked like she was broken and had lost something she would never get back.
A look Barbary had once had herself...when she had learnt Brandon was dead and again later when her husband had perished at the Tower of Joy.
A moment of silent kinship connected them, the loss they both felt over that. Meera turned and spoke, all the hall quieting down and listening to her words.
"Since the days before dragons and the Long Night the Boltons have been a curse on the North! Even when they were made to bend the knee they still rose up time and time again, breaking every law of the land and getting away with it because we needed them! Well…I think it is time that they learn just how much the North remembers! Roose Bolton and Ramsay Snow! A pair of blights on the North and on our lives! Their greed and perverted desires can no longer be tolerated! For the good of the North...for Domeric!" She said adding his name with sadness before regaining her fire. "We need to make them accountable! And rid ourselves of the traitors once and for all!" She said her voice rising and a cheer went up through the room. Her words striking them all and rallying the North behind her.
Ned was stunned, he had never imagined she could speak so well to rally the North behind her like this! There was so much passion and weight to her words that they all rose up with her, true given what the Boltons had done and more to the point they were plotting against his family he would have taken action anyway but she seemed to be getting ahead of him.
"Right!" He said loudly as he got up from his chair, making sure he had their attention. "I am calling the banners! As soon as we have enough men we march on the Dreadfort." He announced and there was a rumble of great anticipation that ran through the hall.
He retired to his solar straight after and sighed as he sat in his chair, he couldn't believe that this was happening. The Boltons had been vassals for so long...why did this have to happen now? Ned asked himself while rubbing his temple as a headache bloomed, he thought it might be foolish to simply trust a letter like this but a dying declaration was one of the few things that all Northern lords accepted as solid proof. The Ryswells and Lady Dustin would want vengeance for Domeric's death and most houses hated the Boltons on principle. If all the things that the letter said were true then there was only one punishment that would fit their crimes...wiping out their house root and stem.
Never had he thought he would have to something akin to what Tywin Lannister had done...wipe out a vassal's bloodline completely. It hadn't been done since the days of the Old Winter Kings in the North and never had he hoped to be the one to break that trend.
"Perhaps we could use this to remove land or their percentage of the mines?" A voice said and he turned to see Cat standing there, he had been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed her arrival. He sighed again as her lack of understanding of the North made itself known once more.
"Cat, not only have they broken laws older than the Iron Throne, but they have been plotting with an outsider against us. The Ryswells will want justice for Domeric. Denying them that and worse using it for my own benefit will make many turn from House Stark. No argument." He said seeing her protests about his refusal of her ideas coming only for another voice to make both of them jump.
"My lord, I believe I may be of some aid in this matter." The exotic accent of Lady Melisandre said as she appeared at the door. "I heard rumours of this bastard boy and know the dwelling he lives in, I saw it in my visions."
"Your visions?" Ned said not sure he believed her but something about her entire manner and strangely detached expression made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. There was something...wrong about this woman he thought, that was the best way to put it.
"Yes my lord, I know you are a grounded man and justly so but you know enough of the other world. Magic after all runs in the family." She said with a knowing look.
That instantly made Ned get to his feet, how in the blazes did she know about Meera?! He thought and was about to draw his sword to prevent her from telling anyone before she raised a hand and in it conjured a fireball in her palm.
"Kind knows kind Lord Stark, I have no intention of revealing your daughter, I have my own secret to keep. Now I can show you were the bastard rests his head and time is of the essence. Not to mention having his only surviving son will be an important piece against Lord Bolton." Melisandre said with a serene smile that only made Ned more wary.
"Fine." He said with suspicion and anger. "Show us."
-x-
Catelyn had been forgotten during this exchange and was beyond infuriated, her best hope of getting Meera out of Winterfell and away from the rest of her children was in tatters!
Why had the stupid boy gone and got himself killed?! She raged the actions of this Bolton Bastard were exactly as bad or even worse than her teachers had said and it only confirmed in her mind that Snow was dangerous. The moment he went to the Wall she thought the better, after all he had expressed an interest in joining the Nights Watch, one she fully supported albeit for her own reasons.
Now she would be stuck with Meera, festering like a dirty wound in the heart of Winterfell. She knew she had to find a way to get the girl out of the North as fast as possible.
That was when she remembered her old friend Petyr, he had always she thought with amusement been good at finding solutions to problems. Surely he could help her find a match that would get the girl out of the North quickly and more to the point one that would make the girl suffer for all the humiliation she had caused her. Catelyn thought viciously.
-x-
Forest near the Dreadfort...A Few Days Later…
The army of the North was not the fastest to rally but fortunately with the new roads and the fact it was one house against many they did not need their full army. This meant an immediate force of ten thousand men now camped close to the forest while Ned under Melisandre's guidance led a party into the forest towards the cottage where Ramsay Snow apparently lived.
Meera had never been so focused and unemotional in her entire life, either of them she thought. Her father had wanted her to stay at Winterfell while he and the rest of the lords dealt with this but she had refused, she owed this to Domeric she thought with sadness. To honour his last wish and avenge him she thought with a small bit of anger creeping into her mind but she stopped it from taking root as quickly as possible...she needed to be calm and collected for this. She was however wearing his last gift to her, the wolf-styled steel vambraces as a way of keeping him with her, providing a shred of comfort when she deeply needed it. Not to mention the hatchet Dacey had given her at her waist and her spear on her back.
She was aware of the Red Witch's eyes on her, it was really unsettling as while the woman was another magic user something that should make her feel better it…the magic felt...corrupted to her. She didn't know what the woman wanted but the way she kept on looking at her and at Jon when they were at Winterfell worried her deeply.
Soon however they were distracted by screaming, a girl's screaming.
Without a word they all turned and ran over to the source of the sound, coming to a clearing where they saw a young girl no older than Meera herself running towards them with her face twisted with complete outright terror.
The reason why was clear moments later as a pack of four vicious looking hounds came tearing through the trees behind her, they were catching up with her fast and without even a moment's hesitation Meera drew her bow and notched an arrow, letting it fly straight at the closest beast. Her aim was true from hours of practice in the yard and struck the hound right in the head. Without missing a beat she drew another arrow and shot into another of the hounds, killing it easily.
The rest of the party seemed to realise what was happening and the girl seemed to realise salvation was close at hand, running straight at them. They drew their weapons and one of their rangers currently dismounted proved himself to be quick in reacting by shooting an arrow into another of the hounds. Their breath caught in their throats as the fourth hound bit the girl's leg, causing her to scream in pain and fall over but Ser Jory rushed forward and stabbed the hound with his sword. It yelped in pain and struggled for a moment before finally falling flat and releasing the girl from its nasty looking jaws.
The girl her face streaked with tears and shaking like a leaf grabbed hold of Ser Jory and cried but while everyone was looking at this Meera with her eyes sharper thanks to her spear saw a figure into the trees behind them who was trying to flee. She quickly drew another arrow and let it fly, a second later hearing a shout of pain before Romulus and Rema ran off in the direction causing everyone to look around for another threat.
However they only saw her two direwolves dragging a struggling boy by the arms towards them. He was they all noticed even without being injured rather ugly; he was big boned, blotching skin, a too broad nose and while his mouth was small it was thick. He also had the noticed a similar shape in his face and in his eyes to Roose Bolton.
And an arrow in his leg Meera noticed with a small smile, her direwolves released his arms and came back over to her, she petted their heads gently and decided she would find them something nice for dinner tonight as a reward for being so good.
"Ramsay Snow." Ned said coming over to stand by his daughter as the young man with damaged arms and an arrow in his leg tried to stand only for two of his men to push him down again with their feet. "You are charged with the murder of the heir to House Bolton and from what I have heard at least four girls and attempted murder of another." He said casting his eyes over to the girl who was now wrapped in a blanket and being comforted by Jory while another man carefully rubbed Dittany Salve into the bite wound on her skin to keep it clean while it healed.
"She would have made a fine pup." Ramsay said with a confident smirk that unsettled all of them in not just how confident it was given they had him at their mercy but the complete lack of remorse or even feeling in his face or eyes. He instead looked at the girl again and said. "I think I would have called her Red Jeyne." The reason they would later suspect that the girl had red hair much like Sansa and her name was Jeyne.
They were all so surprised at his boldness it gave him time to look over to Meera who nearly stepped back given how intently and almost hungrily he was looking at her.
"The girl my weak brother loved, it is a shame I won't get to hunt you. A pup named Meera would surely have been the strongest in the pack." He said seemingly almost whimsical about it. That instantly brought a reaction from Ned who at the threat towards his daughter pressed a foot down on Ramsay's wounded right arm, causing the boy to yell out in pain.
"You do not even deny your guilt? Then you will face the consequences." Ned said and drew Ice to take Ramsay's head but Melisandre who had been watching the scene spoke up.
"My lord I know that such a mad and diseased creature as this should be destroyed but he might yet serve another purpose before he meets his end. My visions have told me that he is the key to breaking the Dreadfort." Melisandre told them and all of them especially Ramsay looked at her with confusion.
"I doubt Roose Bolton would surrender to save his bastard even if it is his only remaining son." Rickard Ryswell who had accompanied them said, trying his best not to gut his cousin's killer right there and then.
"You are quite correct." She said. "It is not Lord Bolton I speak of though, the supplier of his hounds the daughter of the castle's kennel master however would open the doors if it saved his life. She and him share a deep if truly poisonous bond." Melisandre said with care.
The rest of their party slowly took that information in and Ned was instantly against using such a tactic but the GreatJon who was more experienced at war than any of them said reluctantly.
"It might be worth a try Ned, the Dreadfort's a hard bloody castle to crack and the last thing we need is a prolonged siege."
Ned felt his rebuke coming but then disappeared, the GreatJon was right he realised. The Dreadfort while no where near as well garrisoned or fortified as Winterfell had considerable defences and it would be very costly if they had to attack it, not to mention how long a siege could go on for. He had no idea just how much food the castle had available and if winter came at the wrong moment they would be the ones broken.
"Very well." He said going against his better judgement for the sake of the men's lives. "Patch him up someone but make sure he is restrained." He ordered the men who picked up Ramsay and pulled him away making sure that his injuries were not bleeding too much by putting painful amounts of pressure on them while they were bandaged. The screams of pain he made were strangely satisfying to those that could hear it.
Meera meanwhile watched as Ramsay was dragged away, face to face with Domeric's killer she was unsure what to feel. Chiefly it was rage, rage that this vicious little creep had ever seen the light of day and taken the life of one of the best young men she had ever met outside of her own family. She wanted to know why, so much so that she was ready to go up to him and torture him until he told her, whether her father said yes or not. The way he had talked about Domeric she realised though spoke volumes and provided her with the answers, referring to him as if he was less than Ramsay...weaker.
The idea of that made her almost rage with the pathetic statement, he a vicious little thug who used dogs to kill girls for sport and used poison like a coward...better than Domeric who had offered him kinship and had so many talents that had never really been able to blossom.
He was a jealous little boy who knew he could never measure up to Domeric's brilliance and decided to snuff it out so he could have all the attention.
That only made her more angry.
Not just at him but at Roose Bolton for creating such a little shit she thought with rage and not punishing him after murdering his own brother. What a pair they were she thought with mocking derision, the perfect father and son for House Bolton.
She stalked angrily off with her direwolves following behind her, Ned watched his daughter's back feeling very concerned for her well-being.
-x-
Winterfell, the Same Time...
Brynden was smiling despite the situation in the North with the Boltons, he was enjoying himself immensely.
He stood in the sparring circle with his great-nephew Robb, testing the boy's sword-arm. He was good Brynden thought with pride as the boy managed to nearly get a blade through his defences, but he thought with a little smugness much to learn as he caught the young boy in a lock that allowed him leverage so he could disarm the boy.
He saw Robb frown a little at being beaten but picked up his training sword and ready himself to go again, Brynden smiled and with a small chuckle said.
"Good lad. You keep that determination and it will serve you well."
From where he was Brynden could see the Greyjoy heir fighting with the Stark Bastard that had angered his niece so much, the boy was he admitted with some reluctance very good with a sword. He was far more graceful and precise than most boys his age and was easily defeating the Greyjoy. From what he could gather the boy had defeated several people older than him and improved with each fight even those he lost...especially those he lost, learning from each defeat so he could improve.
Brynden did not necessarily hold the same prejudices that his niece did and his much wider experience of the world had allowed him to see that the stigma attached to bastards was often untrue. He did hold some resentment of the boy's presence due to the insult towards his niece, but from what he had heard the boy Jon was honourable and devoted to his family.
That was worth something in his book.
Nearby he was greeted by an even stranger sight, his younger nieces Sansa and Arya standing in a circle of their own and with weapons in their hands. The sight was far stranger than he was prepared to admit, Sansa weaving a spear around while Arya held a wooden version of the Braavosi Small Sword and a dagger while a Dornish man instructed the girls. Wearing leather training gear with their hair tied back in strange braids it was so unlike anything he had seen apart from foreign parts.
Especially as they were his niece's daughters and from what he was told his eldest great niece was even worse, she had encouraged and even taught the younger two. Even sparred regularly with Robb and Jon Snow...and even beat them frequently.
He overheard some of what Arya and Sansa were saying as he stood there.
"I thought you had been practising with being accurate Arya." Sansa taunted with a smile as she used a weaving motion to ward off her younger sister after a failed strike. "Maybe I should try and teach you to sew properly again? It does wonders for the eye and hand."
Arya however rather than reacting with anger or annoyance only laughed as she was teased by her sister.
"In your dreams Sansa, I will get you eventually." Arya said with a toothy grin which Sansa laughed at and said with mock.
"Words...Words."
Brynden grinned and laughed himself, despite not really acting like normal noble ladies the bond they shared as sisters was stronger than the one he had with his own brother. Hoster had always been jealous of his martial skills while Brynden himself disagreed with the way he ruled or how he taught that empty headed nephew of his, Edmure. He pitied the Riverlands when it came time for him to rule.
The two younger boys Brandon and Rickon were currently with the maester learning their numbers and letters, both smart boys or so he was told. The fact that his niece had produced such capable children and that they shared such a strong bond, it was as if the gods had blessed them. Family Duty Honour, the words of his family were strong in all of them and it pleased him greatly.
Brynden however then saw a sight that took the smile off his face, on the balcony above the yard Cat stood and seemed to glare at her children fighting. The wild and burning intensity of her eyes seemed more animal like than anything he had seen from his kind, loving niece. It worried him deeply and he said to Robb and the others.
"Enjoy yourself, I have something else to attend too."
Robb and Ser Rodrik nodded before they resumed training while he made his way up the stairs to the balcony where he found Cat, her hair looked messy with strands all over the place. Her skin was paler than normal and her manner was far more tense than he thought healthy, he was now growing far more worried for her state of mind.
"Cat, what's wrong?" He asked her plainly and she seemed to hardly notice him and responded in a voice that was slightly disjointed and emotionless.
"What...do you...mean uncle?"
"You're not yourself Cat, I have known you your whole life and this is not you." Brynden said now deeply concerned for her well-being. However her nostrils flared like an enraged horse and she shouted at him before storming off.
"I have a demon for a daughter and now she will stay here to poison the rest of my children! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!" She near screamed, Brynden watched her go and knew for certain that something was truly wrong.
Cat had always dreamt of children, wanted them when she was a child herself and when Robb and Meera had been born she had been the happiest woman in the world. Cradling them both and feeding them at her own breast, refusing to use a wet-nurse. She had loved them so much that it had made her near glow with happiness.
What had changed? He asked himself with fear for his eldest niece. She was now giving Lysa a rival for being stubborn and unreasonable he realised, but why?
Meera was a stubborn girl herself or so he was told but she had a reasonable head on her shoulders, he thought having heard much about her and seen a little in their brief time together. She had considerable martial skill too for her gender and age he thought, impressed at all he had heard from the guards here. She trained more intently than any of them and had a mind far smarter than any maester...Maester Luwin had nothing but praise for her as did many others especially the Northern lords for all she had done for them.
The Cat he had known would have butted heads with a daughter like that but still loved her and been proud of her, praising her for being so gifted. Why was she so determined Meera was a demon? Even hate her? He pondered and decided to stay a little longer to think on all this, definitely speak to Ned and see what else might be happening.
-x-
The Dreadfort, Later that Day…
The Dreadfort was one of the strongest fortresses in the whole of the North, its thick walls were not only high but had sharp looking triangular merlons sticking up along them. The area around it was harsh too with jagged rocks and thick trees, the Red Kings having used these features to make besieging their castle harder.
Just as effective now as it had been back during the days of the Northern Kings.
Additional men had arrived from houses with more distant holdings and so now an army of fifteen thousand men surrounded the gloomy looking castle, despite the thick trees and rocks it was now completely enveloped with little to no chance of someone sneaking out. On its walls there were many guards on patrol and a glimpse of Roose could occasionally be seen.
Ned stood at little way back as a messenger approached with the terms of surrender.
"Lord Roose Bolton! You are to open your gates and surrender to Northern Law, you have been charged with flaying, taking the first night and allowing your son to hunt human girls and kill his half brother."
However rather than words the messenger received his response with an arrow to the chest. The man screamed out in pain as a pair of men rushed out and pulled him to safety.
Message received and understood Roose, Ned thought with frown. He watched as the priestess Melisandre stepped forward and elegantly stepped to the side as an arrow came her way before saying loud enough to be heard by the men on the walls.
"We have the boy Ramsay Snow, his life will be forfeit if the door is not opened by dawn tomorrow." How she spoke so loudly without actually shouting was a mystery to Ned and only increased his suspicion of her.
She walked back over to them and all of them tensed as she smiled, it should have been beautiful and it was in a way but at the same time it was unsettling with the detached look in her eyes.
"Be ready, later tonight that gate will be opened."
They all highly doubted it, Roose would never given up even if they had his only surviving son. He was not beyond fathering another with a new wife should he get one, a son that would be born legitimate and hopefully been more sane than Ramsay. However since they would have to now siege the castle until they had sufficient war machines built to break its defences it would be worth the wait.
-x-
Later that night the men were more vigilant than they had been during the day strangely, mainly because this was the best time to try and sneak away from the castle.
However as the moon reached its highest point in the sky and the men were eager for their rest the gates of the castle started creeping open. Ned who had been unable to sleep like many other men due to the presence of not only Melisandre but the possibility of a sneak attack from the castle or surrounding lands and kept a good number of men ready just in case. Ned was wide eyed with astonishment at this turn of events but it was an opportunity he couldn't ignore.
"Rally the men!" He called out and the men quickly started grabbing their weapons and rushed forward towards the gate. Through it they saw men rushing forward to try close it again but the Starks and their men got there first. Fighting began to break out as they forced their way in and Ned with his full armour on joined his men in the fray.
At his side Jory did his best to protect his liege lord not that he needed it, Ned saw one man with teeth so rotten it was a miracle that they had not all fallen out and breath so foul it actually repulsed him from a distance. He had a mean smirk as he swung his sword at Ned who easily countered it and the man seemed to be so witless that he failed to even notice Jory until the man had a sword in his back.
The GreatJon swung Red Rain around like it was nothing, cutting clean through one man that dared to cross his path. The Ryswell boys who had taken to leading their father's men seemed to be in competition with each other in how many each of them could kill, something that was entirely in character for the three of them.
Roose then came into view, he was wearing his custom made armour and engaging in a fight with Lord Cerywn and was gaining the upper hand. Ned moved forward and swung his sword towards Roose, making him abandon his fight with Cerwyn to defend himself.
The two men engaged in a one on one fight, their swords hammering each other with loud clangs but as they continued with the fierce fighting all around them, but Ice's Valyrian steel triumphed over the weaker castle forged steel Roose was using. The sword broke half way along the blade, Ned was about to use this to subdue Roose when suddenly a sharp spear point broke through the man's neck.
Ned was shocked at the sudden violent death of Roose who soon started choking on his own blood as the spear was pulled from his neck, one of Melisandre's foreign guards he recognised was holding the spear.
-x-
Melisandre, glad of the distraction by the attack had drugged the men guarding Ramsay Snow and had her own men tie him up and gag him before putting the struggling boy in a pile of straw. He struggled but she smiled, knowing he had no way of escape.
"You would have in time taken the North had the girl not been born and brought about all these changes. You would have caused great misery to many people, well a soul as blighted as yours is a fitting offering to my god…as thanks for showing me the way." She said and with a torch lit the hay on fire.
She watched with a smile as the boy who was more of a monster in human form burned before her eyes, the gag prevented his screams from being fully heard which was by design. However the sight of seeing her god accept her offering was all the reward she needed, her visions had shown her this boy and his father were dangerous distractions to the future war against the Others, they would weaken the North and by extension all of Westeros ahead of their invasion...so she decided it was best to make sure this particular threat was dealt with ahead of time. Others might rise in their absence but they she felt would be far less dangerous than House Bolton would have been.
She turned to her Unsullied and said, now sure she was right and the Azor Ahai was here in the North.
"I have to leave, be honest and say I killed Ramsay Snow. You must stay and protect the girl, but you do this as free men. Mention you were my slaves and they should grant you shelter."
"Understood." The leader of the six Unsullied, Strong Shield said with a nod. She returned it glad of their loyalty before putting her hood up and walking into the forest.
As she made her way through the long cold night she was now certain that either Jon Snow or Meera Stark was the chosen one she was looking for, however she still had the smallest doubt in her mind or certainty about which one it was. She needed to make sure...so she would she realised with trepidation return to Asshai and seek out the deepest chamber of the oldest temple of their order. There her lord's fire burnt strongest and if she was right, a vision of far greater clarity would be granted but she thought with fear, if she was wrong there would be a punishment unlike any mortal mind could comprehend.
The tales of what her lord did to those that had false assumptions and dared enter the crypt had prevented anyone from trying such a thing for over three centuries, but she thought stiffening her resolve she knew it was the only way to find out just who the Azor Ahai was.
-x-
Meera Stark did not even notice the Red Priestess or her actions as she was waiting at the main camp, she might push her father's rules sometimes but tonight she would do as he said and stay here while he dealt with Roose Bolton and his men. A part of her wanted to get in there with the rest of the men but the thought of killing anyone made her sick. Images of the first time in Braavos were no longer as distressing as they had been but still they haunted her.
However she was distracted by a sound right nearby, a snapping of a twig and she turned her head in time to see a girl around her age holding a bow and arrow, aimed straight at her. She moved out of the way just in time to avoid the arrow flying straight at her but her direwolves were faster. Almost faster than her eye could follow Romulus and Rema pounced, leaping at the girl who could only scream as the two started using her as a chew-toy, killing her with a powerful bite to the neck tearing a good portion out before then pulling hard at her arms from different sides in some gruesome tug of war until with a terrible ripping and a pop the arms came clean off.
It was a gruesome sight but Meera was unable to look away, she let her direwolves do what they wanted after all they had just saved her life. She wondered where the girl had come from but they would find those answers soon enough as a cheer went up from inside the castle, declaring their victory.
The Following Morning…
The following morning revealed a pile of bodies from Bolton men killed in the fighting being assembled outside the castle walls. Any dead on their side were being taken home for proper burial, the prisoners were being held in the cells while they were questioned and the injured were being tended too.
Answers too were now coming, the girl that had attacked Meera was also the one that had opened the gates. She was the Kennelmaster's daughter Myranda and as they now knew Ramsay's lover and partner in torturing & hunting girls, she had taken the same sadistic glee as him in tormenting people before killing them brutally. She had apparently used the elaborate system of pulleys and counterweights the Boltons had to open the gates before sneaking past the men to try and rescue Ramsay. However she had not been able to resist the chance to hurt House Stark by killing Meera, a mistake that had cost her dearly.
The staff of the castle were only too happy to reveal all of the nastiest secrets and some had made even hardest men empty their stomachs. The sight of several human skin cloaks in the secret rooms that had been preserved was enough to make both Ned and Meera spit on the corpses of Roose and Ramsay.
The fate Melisandre had condemned Ramsay too was in some ways unfortunate as they could not give him a trial nor his father but while her father was angry Meera was relieved. Domeric's killers had been brought to justice and without a messy trial, meaning they could just put their crimes on them.
However that was not to say there weren't trials to be held.
Meera sat next to her father in the castle's main hall as gruesome as it was as over half of the castle's servants were found to have been involved in either their lord's crimes or Ramsay's. Many of them had with their lord dead had decided to take the black with the odd exception including the kennel-master.
Meera knew her father took her brothers once they were old enough to see a man being executed, mainly to teach them to never take life so casually and see how it was supposed to be done. However neither herself, nor Sansa or Arya had ever been taken on those occasions. So she now was seeing her first execution right here and now.
Seeing her father draw his sword and with a single stroke decapitate a man was difficult, she as Harry would have probably puked at the sight but with the harsh world she lived in now it was almost...normal. It was also a good test of your own discipline and making sure you were sure of someone's guilt before taking their life...to have to kill them yourself she thought distractedly.
She however left after that to go to the Bolton Family Crypts, taking a torch she walked down into the depths of the castle. Looking from alcove to alcove she kept going until she found the one she was looking for.
The statue looked nothing like the boy she had known, his features too bland and had none of the calm and intelligence that Domeric had possessed, she felt a great deal of anger at that. This was nothing like him and felt like a mockery rather than a tribute, she wanted to smash it at the injustice that he was dead...he was dead she thought again as her anger gave way to something else.
Tears came to her eyes and her legs gave way beneath her, sobbing she braced herself against the statue as the weight of Domeric's death hit her. His absence was like a gaping wound that she couldn't close, all the sadness and grief she had tried so hard to suppress started to fill her up so it was all she knew. She just wanted to see him again, hear him talk, be with him one last time...in that moment she would have given all that she had too gain that.
She had no idea if this was love, if what she had felt for him was as strong as that but right now all she knew was she hurt. She wanted to scream but could not find the energy, the injustice of all of this made the world seem so dark and hopeless in that moment. Never has she lost someone that she cared about before, never had she truly experienced loss.
She knew nothing about being Harry beyond their twelfth year in that life and wished she knew something from all her knowledge and other memories that would help gave her comfort in this moment. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned with her eyes now red and raw to see her father standing over her with a concerned look on his face.
She clung to him and sobbed, he put his arms around her and just let her cry. She had been holding it in for far too long he thought to himself, worried for her well-being and glad that she could still cry.
They sat there together for a long time as Ned let his daughter get all the feelings she had been suppressing out and then once she had let her regain some sense of dignity.
She wiped her face with her sleeve and tried to make a smile for her father, it was small and her mouth was almost trembling but he smiled back.
"That's my girl." Ned said with pride for his daughter, glad to see she was going to get past this. It might take awhile but she going to get back to herself again and he was happy to see her smile again.
"I take it the arguments have already started about just who gets the Dreadfort?" She asked hoping to speak of something else than Domeric or herself for awhile. Ned nodded with a sigh.
"Yes, there are no houses with close enough connection to House Bolton so everyone wishes to have it." He said wondering if he should just leave it to rot but this was an important stronghold he reminded himself and one that could not be allowed to simply be forgotten. Meera herself put her mind to the problem before coming up with a solution that should not just solve it but maybe heal some old wounds left by Robert's Rebellion and before that by her late uncle Brandon.
"We should allow Rickard Ryswell to have it." She said which surprised her father with the suggestion. "Domeric was his cousin and as a second son he has no castle of his own, however if we make a condition that he must marry one of the GreatJon's daughters it will also benefit House Umber as well and hopefully ease some of the past hurt and slights." Meera said thinking of all the damage Brandon and the Tower of Joy had done to relations between her family and the Ryswells not to mention Lady Dustin.
Ned smiled again, his daughter was far better at this than he was. She was the smartest of his children and almost certainly the wisest, with her to counsel Robb in the future he knew his house would not fall into ruin. Standing up he offered his hand to Meera who took it and got to her feet following him as they returned to the hall and seek out Lord Ryswell and Lord Umber to gain their approval of this plan. Not to mention he had to figure some way to persuade Ser Rodrik to accept a group of now freed Unsullied into the forces of Winterfell, he had been furious to learn Melisandre had brought slaves here! To the North of all places he raged silently to himself but now they were here he would ensure they received the dignity they deserved, he could not restore the years taken from them they would live as free men now he swore.
Still given that he had to send most of the household with the except of a few kitchen staff and the Maester of the Dreadfort to the Wall Rickard would have to create a brand new one of his own.
Winterfell, the North...A Week Later...
Meera sat in her room with parchment around her, carefully marking it with the design of the new Winterfell gate. At present it was a simple but heavy door made of Ironwood, that was very strong she thought but still could be broken open by battering rams with some effort. After seeing the Bolton gate she had an idea, copying the mechanism with a few improvements of her own, now the gate could be far thicker and reinforced yet be easier to open too. It could even accommodate a portcullis to improve security.
The defences of Winterfell hadn't been threatened in many centuries but there was always the chance they might be in the next, which she thought with a little mocking humour was only a few short years away.
Meera got up from her desk, wearing her hair in the new braids that kept it back from her face. It was a little elaborate and she sometimes needed Mira's help to do it in the morning but she liked it, smiling at herself as she saw herself in the mirror.
She realised it was the first true smile her father had not had to wrangle out of her since Domeric had died, that thought did cause it to dim a little but the pain had too. No longer as raw as it had been, not much but it hurt less than it had. Maybe time did heal all wounds she thought.
-x-
"Does Lady Whitehill let you style your hair?" A voice from the corner then asked innocently, a chuckle then replied.
"No, she sees it as vanity. Not acceptable under the Seven." Gwyn Whitehill said doing a good impersonation of her mother while styling Mira's hair. She had not been happy to have to share a room with a Forrester at first despite not carrying the same hatred as her father and brothers towards the other family. She had the good sense to not tell her father that she and Mira were sharing a room, he would have had a fit she thought with some mirth.
It was strange but having to share a room made the two of them look past their families convoluted history, Meera certainly they knew would not tolerate any dispute and both of them would be sent home.
Gwyn smiled again as she finished arranging the younger girl's hair, glad that Meera seemed to tolerate her presence and had even let her stay despite knowing what Lady Catelyn had brought her here for.
Flashback...A Day After Gwyn's Arrival…
Gwyn stood there nervous, not sure how she was supposed to introduce herself to a girl she was supposed to serve while secretly spying on her at the same time. Meera Stark was a younger woman that she, a few short years true but the gaze of the girl was so strong and penetrating that she honestly felt she could see right through her.
"So are you my mother's spy or my companion?" Lady Meera asked her casually, like they were merely discussing the weather.
Gwyn was speechless at first and had no idea just what to say, worried that she would be sent straight back to Highpoint if she said the wrong thing. The disappointment of her family and the dishonour being banished would earn her and them would surely make her return...difficult.
"I know my mother's games. My father nor I invited you so it was her so she could keep aware of whatever plans I have." Lady Meera said with a dismissive roll of her eyes. "I am quite willing to keep you on as a companion to me but only if you are willing to not only make your peace with Mira but be a friend to me and not my mother's spy." Meera told her and Gwyn was left confused, she knew why she was here and yet was willing to let her stay. Gwyn had heard the whispers that the young Lady Stark had far greater influence around Winterfell and indeed in the North than her mother and was a force to be reckoned with.
Now she found herself believing it.
"I would be honoured to be your friend Lady Stark." Gwyn said and Meera studied her for a moment as if she was judging whether she was telling the truth or not. It seemed to go on for a long time but then eventually much to Gwyn's relief she nodded in acceptance.
Flashback ends…
Gwyn was glad too as despite the glares she received from Lady Catelyn she felt comfortable for the first time since coming here. Many of the people here were friendly and there was so much to see and do, she was looking forward to spending time here!
"So." She said to Mira as she finished the girl's hair, her thoughts turning back to a young man around her age she had seen at the last feast. "Your brother Asher, tell me about him."
A Few Weeks Later…
Tyrion Lannister had never believed it possible for snow to exist in summer!
But here he was riding his horse through it along with a few men hired as guides and escorts towards Winterfell, the chill hung heavily in the air and he honestly was shivering in spite of the furs he was wearing. How did people live here? He wondered to himself, if it was this cold in summer how cold did it get in winter? He wondered and quickly changed the direction of his thoughts to try to not think about that.
Instead he pondered on whether he should visit the Wall while he was here, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world and the idea of pissing off the edge of the world had great appeal to him. That he thought with a smirk would be a good way to remember his first and possibly last trip to the North.
The sight of the grim walls of Winterfell was a welcome sight as it meant warm beds and food, not to mention shelter from the winds he thought as another ice cold breeze cut straight through him.
So he rode onwards.
-x-
In the Wolfwood Meera crept through the trees with her bow in hand with her wolves at her side, followed by Gwyn and Mira and a small number of guards namely the former Unsullied for their protection. The former slaves seemed to follow her everywhere and she wondered why, had even asked but all they would say was they were obeying orders...whose she couldn't be sure but probably Melisandre who she hoped to never see again. Forcing herself back to the hunt her two companions were following Meera's lead as they slowly tracked a buck who was now very close by, all of them refrained from speaking to avoid scaring it away.
Meera saw the beautiful animal ahead of her and regretted this but took an arrow and notched it, vowing to make this quick so it would not suffer. She let the arrow fly and it struck exactly in the buck's head ending its life immediately. The beast fell over and she now approached as Mira and Gwyn finally spoke.
"Do you have any idea why Lord Ryswell, Lord Tallhart and Lady Dustin have come?" Gwyn asked, having heard from different people that the three had come to Winterfell for some reason but no one knew why. Mira just shrugged having heard the same thing but no more than she, Meera however did have some idea why.
"I know they are looking to start some new engineering project and have requested aid. Beyond that I know as much as you." Meera said as she tied the hooves of the buck to a strong pole the guards brought over. She personally was not sure just what the Tallhart's, Ryswells and Lady Dustin could be planning that would need their help. The only thing they all have in common was geographically their lands bordered each other, that was the only thing she could draw from it.
"It must be big then for them to seek out your father's aid." Mira said with curiosity. All three girls were now thinking deeply about it as they followed by the guards who were carrying the buck returned to Winterfell, the direwolves at their side.
The familiar sight of the walls was a welcome sight for all as this was a particularly cold day even for the North in summer. However as they moved through the gates which were now undergoing their renovation to thicken the gates and add the new mechanism that would open and close them, a small group rode up behind them. They impatiently pushed straight past them which forced all the girls and the guards to duck hard against the walls to avoid being trampled and Meera glared at the riders while her wolves barked furiously.
"Moron!" She called out with anger and turned around to check her party were okay, Gwyn and Mira had been forced to dive into the dirt and now would need to change their clothes but appeared unhurt as did her wolves, the guards thankfully had not been through the gates yet and avoid them more easily. Meera helped Gwyn and Mira to their feet and glared at the horses and their riders who had been so careless.
She stormed across the yard before her companions could stop her, she saw her father standing there greeting the apparent leader of the party. He was a dwarf but dismounted fairly well, he had dirty blond hair and when he and her father turned to see her Meera noticed he had unusual eyes one green and the other black.
"Lord Tyrion, this is my daughter Meera Stark. Meera, this is Lord Tyrion Lannister." Her father told her quickly and she frowned knowing full well why her father was so eager to introduce them. The Imp as he was insultingly called was the youngest son of Lord Tywin Lannister, the most ruthless and dangerous lord in Westeros and her father was keen to not make a scene over what had just happened. Meera was annoyed, Tyrion and his party had nearly hurt all of her companions with their carelessness and while not being outright insulting she could not help but comment on it.
"Lord Tyrion." Meera said with a slight edge to her words. "I take it you were eager to seek the warmth of the castle seeing as you nearly ran myself and my companions over on the way in? In future please please remember to watch where you ride." She told him before storming off in the castle.
Tyrion was somewhat surprised by her hostility but realised they had rode a little faster than normal, hoping to get inside the walls of Winterfell and find some warmth. He did notice a group at the gates but he had not hit any of them he thought and hadn't realised that one of them was his host's eldest daughter. That was careless he thought without much care since none of them had been hurt.
"Lord Stark if I offended your daughter then I apologize." Tyrion said hearing his own father's words about Lannisters not caring for the opinions of others or sheep as he referred to them but since he hated his father he would ignore that, the thought of insulting his father even on a small scale appealed to him.
Lord Stark nodded and turned to his steward to find him a room, Tyrion could tell the man was not happy with his presence but courteous enough to not comment. Tyrion wondered if all Starks were as careless with letting their feelings be known, it was just as well that they did not come south of the Neck often. Kings Landing would be as fatal for them he realised with some sadness as it had been for Lord Stark's father and brother.
-x-
Jory Cassel was silent through his lord's greeting of the newest arrival to Winterfell but excused himself and rushed away to his uncle as soon as he was able too.
Tyrion Lannister was here!
It was his worst nightmare, the half-man that had married then betrayed Tysha. Had raped her after watching the garrison of Casterly Rock do the same on mass before banishing her from Westeros and leaving her pregnant and broken.
Lanna's Blood Father.
Lanna, his thoughts suddenly turned to her with horror. He couldn't let the dwarf see her he thought with great anxiety, he hoped that the half-man would not realise just who she was and more importantly just who her mother was, but he could not count on that. Tysha had written in her journal that Tyrion was intelligent and Lanna had some very clear Lannister traits namely her golden blonde hair and dazzling green eyes. He could potentially realise who she was...and if that happened he thought with a mounting sense of dread of what he or his father would do to Lanna.
He couldn't let that happen, he needed to keep her away from Tyrion.
And for that he would need help.
So he found Ser Rodrik, his uncle after retrieving the journal and deciding it was at last time to share the terrible truth of his precious daughter's origins. Ser Rodrik was at his desk reviewing the training schedule Lady Meera had designed for their guards, it was intensive and to be honest he was not sure many of the men could handle it but it would no doubt produce very capable fighters.
"Jory." He said with cold detachment, still not happy with him after all these years for bring Lanna here in the first place but Jory just handed him the journal. Rodrik looked at it confused for a moment before looking back to him. "What is this?"
"Where Lanna comes from and why she needs to be protected, these are the answers." Jory told him and Rodrik looked annoyed but sighed before taking the journal and opening the pages Jory had marked for him.
As the words were read, Rodrik's expression slowly changed several times. Annoyed was first but then confused followed, but the strongest reaction was what came when he reached the part about Tysha's treatment at the hands of the Lannisters and just who was responsible. Rodrik's face showed his horror and disgust at what Tywin Lannister and his brute of a son had done.
"Now you see why she needs to be protected...to be hidden." Jory said with sadness, knowing one day Lanna would discover the truth about her mother and her vicious father. She was so smart, beautiful and charming. The thought of this destroying all that...he tried to avoid thinking about it. She was a smart girl, eventually he would have to share the journal with her or she would seek out answers on her own exposing her to Tywin Lannister.
Rodrik handed back the journal and nodded with sadness.
"Yes, what that poor woman suffered." Rodrik said with guilt at how he had treated the girl since her arrival and finding a new level of respect for his nephew, doing a far better job than most southern folk could even hope to do as a knight. Protecting the maiden he thought with some irony but now he knew what was at stake and fortunately had a solution.
"I was due to go to Sea Dragon Castle to see how the men there are being trained and how ready they are to defend the coast. You will go in my stead and take Lanna with you, I will send a raven to inform you when it is safe to return. And when you do nephew...it is high time she receive a Cassel medallion." He said with a tired voice.
Jory was surprised but joyous at the same time, not just because he was now going to be able to keep Lanna safe from the Lannisters but at last it seemed his uncle was going to acknowledge her as a member of their house properly. She would be a proper member of the family at long last and protected by their name, rushing to find his daughter and tell her the good news while thinking of a plausible reason for their swift departure.
Tyrion was feeling much better after the long ride in the cold after a warm bath and a change of clothes. Honestly he thought to himself, how did the Northerners live here?
The answer he would realise after touring Winterfell and its nearby town was by being industrious in just about everything they did.
He watched them work in the glass gardens and the fields to harvest materials which then he watched being turned into a multitude of different elixirs, salves and potions not to mention food which was then dispatched to White Harbour for trading elsewhere. He got to see them working in the breweries to make the alcohol he liked to see so much and how that was sent south and recently foreign ports. The Ibbenese had apparently started to buy their cider and vodka as had several clients in other far flung cities.
Never had he imagined that the Arbor would have a rival for making alcohol in the North.
And it was not just that but a visit to the glass makers was actually very interesting too, seeing the North creating glass at the same quality as Myr but at a far lower cost. He was sure that the Myrish conclave was cursing the North for compromising one of their best exports and now he learned the news for Myr was about to get worse as the North now knew how to colour the glass. Stained glass was worth a great deal more than regular glass and ironically the Faith of the Seven had placed many orders for Northern stained glass to decorate the windows of their septs. Lords too Tyrion had learned for their keeps.
Tyrion would have given anything to see the look on the Myrish's faces when they learned about that but could do nothing. He was also impressed at how the Northerners used their own gold to make more gold rather than just spend it like many did including his own sister.
But even if they did come to make war they would find a more dangerous opponent than anyone knew. Although the reason Ser Rodrik Cassel, the castle's Master-At-Arms was glaring at him with such revulsion escaped him. None of the other Northerners seemed to care he was a dwarf which was often the source of mockery so why he should hate him Tyrion didn't know.
Tyrionturned his thoughts back to what he had learned as he watched the yard where the Northern men trained, while martial matters were far more his brother's area of expertise than they were his even Tyrion could see that Winterfell trained its men far harder than most, even allowing women and girls to learn if they showed the interest and skill. He had also learned why most North men didn't compete in Tourneys.
To hide what they were capable of until they were face to face with their enemies, it was a move that could serve them very well in war, one that Tyrion thought was prudent and even a little wise.
He was now very curious about the one that had brought about so much change...Meera Stark, the girl he had almost run over when first arriving. Not the best start to a friendship Tyrion thought with amusement but he had made friends from worse.
So he went to the Great Hall where apparently she and her father were meeting with a few other Northern lords about some big project they were working on, spying on the meeting was perhaps a little rude but it was he realised informative.
"So to protect Barrowton and Torrhen's Square from Ironborn attacks you intend to set up new river-gates at the points where the river is at its most narrow point?" Lord Stark said from his position at the head table while Meera sat at his right side. Tyrion saw that Lord Tallart, Lady Dustin and Lord Ryswell sat before them, now seeing why they were so interested in a means to prevent the Ironborn from sailing up the rivers and attacking their homes.
"And we were hoping Lady Meera would be willing to put her mind to designing it." Lord Tallhart said politely, Tyrion was surprised they would allow a girl of only thirteen years to design such a complicated structure as a river gate but everyone he had spoken too that was willing to speak to him had sang her praises.
"It would be an interesting challenge." Lady Meera said as she passed a piece of meat to her direwolves, the sheer size of the creatures stunned him. They were the size of ponies and yet despite their reputation as fierce beasts they acted as calm as domesticated hounds. He wondered briefly what it would be like to have a lion, the symbol of his own family as a companion like she had Direwolves but thought given how nervous others including the lords in the hall looked it would only be a little amusing before the constant fear of them became irritating.
"If it reinforces our coast then it is a plan that has my blessing." Lord Stark said and got up from his chair and added. "When a design is prepared we will inform you. Tonight you are guests of Winterfell before returning home." He offered.
Tyrion was about to disappear back to his rooms when he found himself face to face with a pair of growing direwolves that had quickly but quietly crept up to him. They were as tall as he was and given their teeth were showing without a means of escape him honestly considered the possibility they were about to attack him, however a calm yet emotionless voice said.
"People who spy on others typically don't come to happy endings Lord Tyrion, I would have expected something a little more...elegant from a man of your wit." Lady Meera told him, gently running her hand along the wolves fur. Her control over them was very impressive he admitted and it took him a moment to regain his wits.
"Indeed, however I was merely taking advantage of a rare opportunity to see how the North solves its problems." Tyrion told her but she just raised an eyebrow and for a moment Tyrion felt like he was talking to someone who was a lot older.
"It seems like a waste of your talents, you are from what I have heard gifted with words and with a mind as large as the mountain on which Casterly Rock sits. Perhaps you could try putting them to better use; after all charm is key to many things. You could easily be a superb trader or even a playwright if you set your mind to it, surely a better use of your time then drinking or whoring. What you do with that I leave up to you." She said and left without another word, her wolves and a group of guards following her.
Tyrion was shocked, it had been a long while since someone had managed to surprise him, let alone actually hit him with such decisive words. But as blunt as her words were they had merit he thought, truthfully he got often bored with these pursuits and only really did them to spite his father, who had been judging him for being a dwarf his entire life as had everyone else.
Being a trader didn't really appeal to him much, the idea of travel did but haggling over goods would no doubt irritate him after awhile, however the thought of being a playwright though...that did intrigue him. He had always enjoyed reading old myths and stories, reading was of course the only real escape he had at home. But to actually make his own stories...plays even...that would be a challenge.
He had been planning to visit the local brothel tonight and likely would in the days to come but for now he returned to his room after sending for parchment and a quill. It was worth a try he considered and a way to test his mind like it hadn't been tested before, it could be interesting he considered.
-x-
The forges of Winterfell were arguably the hottest place in the castle, one of the few places were you had to actually disrobe or pass out. Ned didn't go down there often but today was special, namely because their newest blacksmith had finished his melting down and reforging the massive Valyrian Steel arakh and finally after years of sitting unused in the Winterfell Vaults it was now remade into not one but two much more useable longswords.
The sight of the two perfect blades in front of him actually brought a smile to his face, House Stark had two more Valyrian swords. Three swords, more than any other house since the downfall of the Valyrian Freehold. However then the weight of having three swords struck him, oh gods he thought knowing how many houses were going to be after the swords...trying to curry favour or just steal them.
They did however he realised mean a possible answer to his problem of insulting vassals, giving a sword to a deserving house would do good for relations to House Stark and allow him more flexibility in who his children had to marry. Meera seemed to be uninterested in choosing another suitor with Domeric's death and made him think it would be best to wait awhile before he broached the subject with her again.
His thoughts about marriages were changed by the sight of Ser Brynden coming towards him, the man looked very uncomfortable and Ned had a feeling this conversation was going to be hard, namely because Ser Brynden only gave the swords a passing glance and asked him with worry.
"Can we speak in private Ned? About Cat."
Ned reluctantly nodding having suspected this was coming and after seeing the new swords locked securely in the vaults he took Brynden to the Godswood which was thankfully empty. When they arrived he turned to the old knight and said.
"I take it you have noticed it too?" He said with worry, Brynden nodded.
"She's so far from the happy and kind girl I knew its like we are talking about different people. How long has she been this way?" Brynden asked, wondering just when this behaviour had started.
Ned sighed before saying.
"It was small at first, simple things like she didn't like the way Meera dressed or how she wanted to learn to fight but then it began to slowly grow into other things getting more and more angry and unreasonable. The pair of them are like two rival wolves fighting it out for control of the pack so to speak." Ned said trying to convey what he had seen. "I have tried as have several others but it just doesn't seem to reach her any more. Some of her actions have been an embarrassment to House Stark and now my steward is increasingly teaching the girls to run a home rather than Cat." He said, he still loved his wife and there were times when she still seemed to be the loving woman he had known before but they were few and far between. He had no idea just what had caused it but he wasn't sure he could trust her around their own children any more.
She was watched...secretly on his order by the servants and while it grated on him to have to take such measures with his own wife but given the previous situations she had created it was a necessary evil as Jon Arryn would have put it.
Brynden nodded and worried about her too, wondering what if anything he could do. Ned was beset with the same thoughts and worries and not having a notion what to do about it.
-x-
The Next Day…
Tyrion was reluctant to cut his time in the North short but he was desperate to get back to Kings Landing, he had penned a play that he was eager to see made and the coin he had saved from cutting back on his vices had would actually allow him to put it on straight away. He might have tried it here at first but there was he discovered a lack of mummers in the North, not surprising he realised given how frugal they were with their wealth. Acting would not be a good professional to try in the North, but in Kings Landing he would be able to find enough mummers to try his hand at the play he had written.
Still he did ride north first towards Castle Black as he intended to piss off the edge of the Wall, he thought with some mirth it was far too good an opportunity to pass up.
Pentos, Essos…
The heat of the city was tamed somewhat by the nearby water garden that Master Mopatis had constructed, Dany was grateful for that as she sat by it reading and just enjoying the day.
She was often found here; she liked the cooler air, smells of the wonderful flowers and the lovely enviroment overall. She was grateful to have such a place to read and that Master Mopatis allowed her to read books from his library, he had taken them in and given them his hospitality. She knew there was a reason for it, perhaps she realised he hoped to gain something from Viserys when he retook the Iron Throne from Robert Baratheon.
She would miss this place she thought sadly when he realised that wouldn't happen.
Dany was very glad in a way that she had received those words of wisdom from that strange girl in Braavos years ago, it had made her think about things with a new perspective rather than simply believing whatever her brother had told her. Namely that if all of the people of Westeros were so eager to see House Targaryen and specifically Viserys return and retake hte throne, why hadn't they already risen up in his name? How if their house had been so perfect and benevelont in its rule did the Usurper find so much support to overthrow them?
Master Mopatis had been supportive of her brother's delusions but her reading and with gentle enquiries to foreign travellers and others who came to the manse occassionally had allowed her to learn the truth.
Her father had been everything their enemies had said and more.
The Mad King, she shuddered as she thought of all the things he had done and wondered what else there was that she didn't know about, pressing deeper she had discovered a great deal more about her ancestors and their own actions that had actually made her put her heads in her hands with exasperation and depression, now knowing exactly what sort of people she came from and it worried her deeply that madness could be in her future too.
There were some good and even great ancestors she could be proud of but many lay over a century or more in the past, so she knew that despite whatever Viserys said it was unlikely the people were 'eagerly awaiting his return'.
Meaning unless lords were eager for power or other such motivations they were unlikely to support House Targaryen again.
So she had started to prepare herself for the time when she would have to survive on her own.
Viserys with his entitled attitude had already pushed many people away from supporting them or granting them shelter, a streak that had not eased since they came to live with Master Mopatis so it stood to reason he would eventually turn them out. So she had started learning all the useful skills she could in hopes that she could provide herself with some kind of living.
She had been surprised but Master Mopatis had been very supportive of this, hiring tutors for her in many languages, history, mathematics, geography, politics, music and more. He had smiled and told her these skills would serve her well in the future when she had asked why he was helping her.
Something that still unsettled her a little, not sure of his intentions.
But still she wanted to learn, already she could speak most languages found from here to Qarth and had learned much else. She knew a good deal about economics and trading, politics and so on, things that should see her in good stead if she was able to find someone who would be willing to accept her into their service. Maybe she hoped she might even find love...she dared hope.
Her good mood however was spoilt when she saw Viserys storming up the path, the angry expression on his face made her aware that something must have again gone wrong with his plans. Not an unusual thing she thought with a little amusement but that meant he was about to take his frustration out on her again. So she put down her book with a long suffering sigh and got to her feet in time to meet him face to face.
"I take it the news from Dorne is not good?" She asked knowing full well the answer. Viserys snarled more like an animal than a man.
"They have declared the marriage pact with Arianne Martell null, the nerve of them!" He roared and she merely raised an elegant eyebrow while he ranted. "As if I need that Dornish Whore! Her whore of an aunt couldn't even give Rhaegar a proper child first! Why should I need a bitch like her! When I retake the throne they will suffer for this insult!" He raged and she merely said with a deadpan voice.
"So you have successfully driven away the one family that would be almost certain to support us should we return to Westeros. I should think brother that we do need them if we intend to ever return and more besides them. A little tact would serve you far better than bold baseless claims." She advised him, already knowing what was coming next.
Viserys did not disappoint, he roared again at her not cowering at his feet and swung his fist straight at her face. However she was more than ready and with practised careful movements she used her hand to divert the arm away from her before grabbing hold and twisted it around Viserys's back. She then let go while kicking him in the back, sending him screaming like a coward into the water of the gardens. He squealed as he hit the water and floundered as again unlike her he had not bothered to learn to swim.
After some pleading Master Mopatis had brought a warrior woman from the Bone Mountains in the east to train her to protect herself should the situation require it. The woman had and was still in fact teaching her to wield a knife, use a bow, fight with a sword and spear and also to ride. And if her pride was not kept in check by humility she would have described herself as quite good. She even carried a weapon of her own now strapped to her waist, a rather fine Valyrian steel dagger with a handle of dragonbone and a good sized ruby in the hilt. Master Mopatis had given it to her as a gift when she had started learning and said that it had been acquired by a friend of his and would be far better off in her hands than its original owner.
She looked with disdain at Viserys who had at last realised the water was so shallow he could stand and told him while shaking her head.
"If you weren't my brother I would have discarded you too, one thing I can say for certain is that if you don't learn to be more diplomatic and realise the truth of our father and our family it will not just prevent us from ever returning to Westeros but probably lead you to a rather sticky and early end. Now I think it will be time for the evening meal soon so perhaps you should request a towel and a change of clothes." She told him before walking off with her head held high and smirking quietly to herself while her brother floundered.
Highgarden, the Reach…
Olenna Tyrell was annoyed...no scratch that she was absolutely fuming.
Her plan to see Margaery on the throne as the next queen of Westeros was in great danger, a threat had arisen from a place she had not imagined and her attempt to remove it as a threat had completely failed on her making the situation worse rather than better.
Robert Baratheon the fool that he was had a mind to marry his 'supposed' son Joffrey to a Northern She-Wolf named Meera Stark or even her younger sister Sansa instead of Margaery and was not even entertaining the chance a Reach bride for the prince. She knew as much from her own spies and the blasted fool Renly who could not keep from talking if his life depended on it.
This was not acceptable to Olenna, not at all. She had spent too much time preparing Margaery for the day she would be queen to let it go to waste, so she had endeavoured to see to it that the Northern threat was ended. A few of her spies in the North had discovered that the girl who apparently was the biggest rival to Margaery was interested in another Northerner lordling, the Bolton heir. Now she and any one with even the remotest sense could see the Boltons still wanted control of the North and Roose Bolton was only looking for a powerful ally to ensure his reign was secure.
So she had used him, when the time was right he would have killed the rest of the Stark and taken one of the daughters to wed to his son and make sure that they were no longer a threat, preferably after Baratheon was dead to make sure there was no retribution from the south.
Now she thought with depression that was all ruined because the stupid fool had allowed his bastard to kill his true-born son and the boy's crimes had been revealed to the whole North along with the father's, giving Lord Stark all the evidence he needed to justify wiping the Boltons out.
She sampled her cheese and wondered what she should do now, she was loathed to try and tie Margaery to Renly and push for him to get the throne but it was the most stable option at present. She would also try to seek out another ally in the North which she thought with irritation would take time.
As she saw Margaery walking through the gardens she swore to herself that she would make the girl queen whatever it took.
Thank you to everyone that read this chapter, please leave a review to let me know what you thought.
One thing I would like to stress is that I am not turning Tyrion into a villain, he is one of my favourite characters and I want to do him justice, I always whenever I write him worry that I will mess it up since he is such a good and complex character. He will eventually find out the truth about Tysha and Lanna.
Meera's new hairstyle is like the one used by Female Eivor in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Next Chapter – Catelyn makes a dangerous alliance in hopes of getting rid of Meera, Tyrion explores his own new hobby and Melisandre faces her lord. Also reactions to the Starks wiping out the Boltons.