Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.
Hello again, glad to see so many of you are enjoying this story.
Some questions raised in the last chapter:
HoboHeartLover – Glad to hear you are enjoying the story! As for what you said about Cat, you are right, something is influencing her actions.
Snetto2013 – Thank You! I have a romance in mind for Meera and while I can't say just who it is yet it will hopefully be a good one.
Sage1988Fan – You have made a great many good points and I thank you for your support. I was filled with a lot of worry about this story in the beginning with it being the first gender swapped one I have done. Thank you for your words I really appreciate them and in regards to what you said about Catelyn, you are right! I cannot say any more at present sorry!
InfinityMask – I know but Cat is still Lady Stark and people can make mistakes, she gets a little justice in this chapter after she causes a very big problem. The rift between Ryswell/Dustin and Stark will start to be mend, it does strike me as great stupidity on Ned's part in canon to not do something about it earlier.
Victoria0116 – You don't have to worry, I hate abandoning stories! I swore to myself when I started writing here I wasn't going to do that myself after seeing so many great stories that will never be finished. I have only abandoned one story since I started and I hated myself for it. This story will be finished, it might take a long while but it will be done. Also thank you for your support about Meera!
Dragonfan91- I can't fully answer all your questions since it would give away so much of the plot but I will try a little. Magic works a little differently in this world and there is something inhibiting it which is why it is so rare.
See notes at the end for the inspiration of Tyrion's Plays.
Chapter 7 – New Endeavours
294 AC...Winterfell, the North…
Meera sighed as a fresh batch of requests for her hand came in, it seemed that with Domeric gone all the houses in the North and beyond seemed to think she was on the market again and the requests for her hand had begun anew.
She wanted to throw them all in the fire in anger at all this but she put them aside to see just who they had to worry about in the future. On top of that she now had all of her memories of being Harry up to the age of thirteen now. The knowledge of magic was more bitter sweet than ever as she had no way to use it but the experiences that she had as Harry made her miss that world a lot not to mention the friends they had there; Hermione, Ron and all the others even though she would never trade her family here for anything. Although it was strange as now she was now remembering going through puberty as a boy while going through it as a girl.
To say the least it was awkward, she sighed again wishing she understood why she had this life.
Seeing her sigh again her father came over and put a hand on her shoulder.
-x-
"I am not going to force you into another betrothal as long as you consider your options." He told her, hoping she did not deny herself the chance of finding a good partner because she was too wrapped up in what could have been with Domeric, he would not however push her he would let her choose her own life path.
Her siblings too although he would offer them a chance to think about their future betrothals, they would have their say in it and if the person in question didn't appeal to them he would not allow it any further. Lord Manderly was requesting to tie Robb to Wylla Manderly, they were not so far apart in age and while Lady Wynafryd was perhaps the better suited to being the Lady of Winterfell she was also Ser Wylis Manderly's heir and the future ruler of White Harbour. She was being groomed for the role and it would not be right to disrupt Lord Manderly's plans. Wylla was however was brave and daring, her choice in hair colours was proof of that Ned thought with mirth. With time Lord Manderly had assured him she would be an excellent Lady of Winterfell.
Ned had spoken about it to Robb who had been very accepting of it, too dutiful like Jon to question his father's judgement and he was going to send Robb to White Harbour along with Jon for awhile to meet his future bride. Maybe then he could see how this plan was going to turn out and it would do Robb and Jon good to get out of the castle for awhile.
Sansa though caused Ned to ponder, Cat was desperately hoping that maybe it would be possible to tie her to Prince Joffrey and while he knew Robert would dearly love a Stark to marry into his family he was worried about the rumours he had heard of the Prince's behaviour from all the merchants that visited Winterfell from the south. The words he had heard made the Prince seem very volatile and aggressive, despite her somewhat bold and happy nature his little Sansa was a much more gentle soul than she let on and he never wanted to see her hurt. The Prince would not hesitate to do so from the rumours about him, so to that end Ned had started looking for a match that would not only be safer for her but also would honour and respect her.
Looking around the North he had found such a match in Harrion Karstark.
Harrion was around his own eldest sons' age so the age gap between him and Sansa was not so great but he was a noble and strong lad, well known for being fierce but also very protective and a smart young man. Honourable like his father and ancestors...a good man to tie Sansa too. A man who would respect her.
Arya, Bran and Rickon were still a little too young to his mind for such things but he was considering his options, he honestly dreaded trying to find a match for Arya. Still he would look and hopefully find a match for her somewhere. Bran especially would need one as he was going to be given Moat Cailin as his seat and he wasn't quite sure of who to chose for him, there were a few different options available and he was leaning towards Lady Meera Reed the daughter of his family's dear friend Lord Howland Reed. The man had kept Jon's secret and been almost fanatically loyal to House Stark and Ned...needed to honour that. After all despite being injured badly at the Tower of Joy and knowing the truth he had kept the secret and made sure peace returned to the country and Jon stayed safe. Ned honestly thanked the gods from giving them such a friend and hoped that tying his son to Howland's daughter and giving them a strong castle like Moat Cailin was a sufficient reward.
So the first new cadet branch of House Stark in hundreds of years would be created by his own son Ned thought with a little bit of pride, it was a great deal to ask of Bran but he did want the best for him...for all his children. Robb would inherit his seat here at Winterfell, Sansa would become the Lady of Karhold and Bran would become the first Lord of Moat Cailin in centuries and found a new house of his own. Arya would be harder to find a match for but he would look till he found one that was hopefully to her liking which to be honest he felt was a hopeless task, Rickon meanwhile in time would receive Sea Dragon Point as his holding when he came of age.
Meera and Jon were the ones that worried him though, Jon had decided to join the Nights Watch and while he knew of its decline it would allow Jon a chance to make something of himself there. Benjen would be there too to keep an eye on him although more than once he thought about telling Benjen of just who Jon's real parents were...but he held back. It was better if the truth did finally come out if he and the rest of his family could claim ignorance Ned thought with worry, the fact that his nephew was the true heir to the Iron Throne honestly had cost him many nights of sleep. He just hoped that Jon if he did ever find out just who had sired him would understand why he had done this...labelling him a bastard and lying to him his entire life. It grieved Ned deeply to do this to his own family but he had no choice if he was going to keep Jon alive.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing…
Jon Arryn was ageing faster and faster with each day it felt to him, new wrinkles and aches seemed to constantly appear and more than once he had thought of simply abandoning his position and returning to the Eyrie to enjoy whatever time he had left there with his son, making sure he was ready for the seat he would one day hold.
However he couldn't...Robert simply wouldn't let him and if he just up and left then Robert would just come to the Vale and stay there until Jon returned to the city. And Jon thought with annoyance if he didn't do that then Robert would just go to Winterfell and pretty much force Ned to take his place and he certainly didn't want to have to force Ned to go through the daily trials and aggravations he did.
So here he sat, annoyed that Robert was so pissed that no one had managed to rouse him when news of what had happened in the North arrived. He sat in the Tower of the Hand wondering if he could just ignore it, it was not exactly something they could just say 'It happened, now then on to other business…'.
Ned had executed an entire line, a vassal of his had been destroyed and not a small one either...House Bolton one of the oldest houses in the North and a long time vassal of House Stark. He was aware from Varys of the reason for it and when he knew the full details he had to reluctantly grant that Ned had been correct to act and apply justice but he just wished he had not been so brutal about it. He had spent many days teaching Ned and Robert the correct way to rule and although in Robert's case it had been pointless as clearly he had learnt nothing, Ned he had hoped was a better ruler and had been so for many years but now he had just wiped an entire house from existence.
How that would affect the way all of Westeros viewed House Stark worried him greatly, especially as they were key to Robert's rule remaining stable. The North held the Riverlands in the alliance and now had wealth to match much of the south to say nothing of their strong power as a fighting force. If and when a challenge to Robert's rule came then the North would be key to resisting it.
And now Ned had just wiped a family from the world.
That would make many wary of trusting House Stark and its integrity in his mind and not the way it should have been dealt with at all, something that would need to be talked about. He resolved to send Ned a message letting him know his feelings but first he had to meet with Stannis...regarding some suspicions he had about Prince Joffrey and his siblings. Ones that if he was right would bode very poorly for the future of Westeros.
Casterly Rock, the Westerlands….
Tywin Lannister had always had a plan, ever since he was a young man. Firstly to restore House Lannister to its proper place after his father's poor and pathetic rule, then to run the kingdoms while he had been Hand of the King to Aerys which sadly had not been fully achieved as the Mad King had not chosen Cersei to be Rhaegar's queen and lastly after ensuring the end of the Targaryen dynasty and tying his bloodline to the crown by wedding Cersei to Robert Baratheon. Meaning his grandchildren were now heirs to the throne and the reign of House Lannister would if he had his way last for a thousand years.
If he could ensure that the challengers that would prevent its beginning met their ends.
There were many he thought with cold disdain for each of them; the Martells of Dorne for what his creature had done to their princess and her children at the end of Civil War, the King's younger brothers who both had eyes on the throne, the Targaryens that lived in exile and many others.
Then there were the wolves in the North.
Tywin honestly was not sure what to do about them, especially as they had just wiped out their greatest rival for control of the North and established a reputation for making sure justice was served. He had actually been about to approach the Boltons in order to make potential ties if they had ever been needed but the Starks had cut that alliance down before it could bare fruit. In some ways he applauded them, they had used the opportunity created by the insane bastard to wipe out their greatest threat and strengthen their bonds with their vassals at the same time. He would have made a greater statement if he had been doing it but the goal was achieved, the rival and threat was dealt with and their hold secure.
However it also meant that he had lost a potential way of dealing with them should they become a threat.
That made tying them to the crown more important than ever he realised, he needed to make sure their strength was bolstering his legacy and would become apart of it. That turned them from a potential rival and force against him to a useful tool.
To that end he would need to make sure one of the girls was tied to the crown and quickly before one of their enemies realised this too. Tywin started to write a new letter to make sure Pycelle encouraged such a union whenever possible.
Sunspear, Dorne…
Prince Doran Martell meanwhile was likewise pondering on legacy, but unlike Tywin he was thinking of how to tear it down.
No Lannister would be left alive sometimes on his darker days in his mind should his plans come to fruition, he might allow the girl Myrcella to live he supposed if it helped take their ancestral seat away from them he thought with a dark smile. The idea of the Martell banner flying over Casterly Rock was a sight that he dearly wished to see in his lifetime.
But it wouldn't happen if he couldn't find some way to break up the Usurper's alliance he thought with anger. However recent events in the North had given him renewed hope, the boy that Meera Stark was interested in had been killed and that left the path open for his own sons to court her.
He wanted to send his son up there to try and establish some kind of relationship with the girl but Quentyn was still not ready for such a task, he thought with worry. The boy was dutiful and quite intelligent from what he had seen in his visits home but had little to no skill at wooing girls. Meera Stark was from what his agent had told him a 'hard nut to crack' and he needed a boy that was more charming to try and endear himself to the girl but Quentyn was not very promising in that regard.
Still Doran thought it was not hopeless, when he returned next he would send the boy North to try and build a bond with the Stark girl, not to mention he would soon need to ensure Arianne was ready to rule in his stead as it had become abundantly clear Viserys Targaryen was a lost cause. He was just as mad as his father and Doran had no intention he thought with anger of subjecting his own daughter to the treatment Rhaella and Elia had experienced at the Mad King or Rhaegar's hands.
And so she had become his heir again and when she returned from her trip to Norvos where she was visiting her mother he would fully include her in his plans, it was he realised time to make sure she understood his actions and hopefully would aid him in achieving his long-term plans. Quentyn meanwhile was now hopefully the piece on the board that would enable him to remove Robert Baratheon, Tywin Lannister and their entire legacy from existence...either by using Meera Stark to undermine the alliance that held it all together or he would be the new king by binding himself to Daenerys Targaryen who had heard was a far better prospect than her brother.
Kings Landing, The Crownlands…
Tyrion was glad to be back in the warmer south after his northern adventure, while the trip there had been fascinating he was much more comfortable to be in a place he understood better.
Especially as his new play was coming together nicely, he had found enough actors to cover all the parts and arranged in one of the larger city square's to have a temporary stage put up for them to perform on. The story was about a group of sea travellers marooned on a strange island where they are magically separated to resolve their past grievances with each other and many fall in love, eventually leading to the two spirits that control the island also falling in love and releasing them back to the Mainland. He had not used any actual houses or people to make sure no one was offended but it was a mix of comedy, romance and a little bit of adventure and he had given it perhaps the unimaginative title 'Shipwrecked'.
Seeing the crowd had assembled outside he turned to everyone he had hired who were busy getting into their costumes and reviewing their lines and checking the limited scenery. He called out, nervous for his first play to be performed for the first time in front of a live audience.
"Right places everyone." Tyrion called out to all the actors who were a little nervous themselves and he turned to the stage hands who were operating the scenery, they had been practising all week to get it right and now was the moment of truth. "Right, scene 1 act 1."
He watched from the side as the actors went on stage and began to perform, his heart leapt whenever the scene went right and whenever a mistake was made seemed to stop but thankfully for his health most of the performance went very well. The audience he had half expected to leave in the first few scenes or half way through but instead they stayed and more people even showed up to watch, drawn by what they saw as they passed by.
When at last the play ended with the shipwrecked passengers and sailors returning to their home city and the two spirits embraced to kiss, a loud applause echoed across the area as people cheered. Tyrion was amazed, shocked in fact that people actually liked his work and heard his name being called.
It honestly was an experience he had never believed would ever happen to him, walking out on stage to see people applauding him and the other actors. Tyrion smiled and raised his arms and told them all when they had finally stopped clapping.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Today was the first time we have put on a show but it will not be the last." He told them and many whispered excitedly among themselves. "Two Days from now we will do so again to give anyone who wants to see the play again the chance. Tell your family and friends to come along and enjoy themselves!" Tyrion said and excited talking started as they all wondered if they should come again and if so who should they bring.
Tyrion himself meanwhile later that night with his troop of actors raised a cup of mead and toasted.
"To a successful show."
"TO A SUCCESSFUL SHOW!" The actors all returned as they bashed their cups together took a well deserved drink. Tyrion too enjoyed his drink and wondered if perhaps he could come up with a new play soon.
-x-
Elsewhere in the city Petyr Baelish was taking stock of his recent earnings, business was good he thought with a smile gold was coming in steadily and his influence over the city and wider Westeros spread.
He regretted having to spend the last night with Lysa, her clinging nature and unbalanced mind might be incredibly useful to his long term plans but it was irritating to have to give the woman so much of his attention. He sighed wishing he had his beloved Cat at his side rather than her lesser sister but it had to be that way for now he thought sadly, the time to deal with her Stark husband was not yet at hand or to seize power. So as much as he hated it, as much as he wanted to be with Cat the way he had always dreamed...he had to be patient. The time would come he reassured himself.
However it would be a day for surprises, a letter had arrived and the hand he recognised with astonished joy was Cat's. He opened it quickly like a child would open their presents at a name day party.
My Dearest Petyr,
I am sorry that it has been so long since we last spoke but I was so happy for you to be named to the Small Council. I knew that you would go far, I can only apologize for not writing sooner as I find myself in a battle for power up here at Winterfell.
My eldest daughter is trying to oust me, she has taken away any power and influence I had and is corrupting the rest of my children with her wanton ways and I find myself at my wits end. I had to trick a very stupid maid to send this letter in my stead, that is how difficult things have become. The only chance to wed her off has fallen through and I am desperate need of your help. I know I have no right to ask such a great favour but I would be in your debt if you would help me.
I need to find a new match for her and soon, one that would ensure she learn her place in society and be punished for all the grief and humiliation she has caused me through the years.
I have no doubt that a man as smart as you will find a way to contact me without the maester knowing and I eagerly await your response.
With love and best wishes,
Catelyn.
Petyr smiled at the letter, the words honestly made him feel like he was a great step towards a future with her, the idea that her marriage was potentially breaking apart delighted him more than anything else. Stark would never make her happy he thought with amusement and gratification and he would only be happy to help her now if it unravelled the relationship further.
He turned his mind around all of Westeros to find a match that he knew would embarrass House Stark, create a greater void between her and Stark and humiliate the girl that was being such a problem to Cat. There were a number of choices he thought; Ser Lyn Corbray his creature was a possibility since he would take great pleasure in putting in her place sprang immediately to mind but then an even better idea to sow chaos and cause trouble occurred to him. One that would anger the king too since he wanted the girl for his own son or the bastard he thought was his son Petyr thought with mirth at how stupid Baratheon really was.
House Frey's lady Annara Farring had recently contracted a disease and was not expected to survive, Old Walder was already looking for her replacement despite the lady in question not being dead yet and he had plenty of offspring already. The man honestly really did like fucking Petyr thought with amusement and would no doubt take great pleasure in breaking down a stuck up Northern she-wolf. It would anger the entire North too Petyr realised as many wanted the girl for their own sons which to him only made in more perfect.
So he made his decision and began to draft the letters that he would deliver through his different pawns on Cat's behalf while keeping his involvement unknown. It shouldn't take too long to arrange and get the letters and contracts signed by Cat and Lord Frey he thought with a smirk, the image of having Stark facing his prized daughter being tied to Old Walder Frey honestly had him bursting with laughter.
Winterfell, the North…
Sansa was glad of the needle and thread in her hands, the process was relaxing to her allowing her to escape for a moment into the delicate and careful work. She didn't miss the septa that had originally taught her to sow as she had abused her brother Jon badly but the activity was a hobby that she had kept up with. Apart from repairing her own clothes she had even taken up making some basic tapestries as gifts for people.
Now however with Lanna who had recently returned from Sea Dragon and Jeyne Poole as they carefully worked together to stitch a gift for her father. It was a jerkin that they had decorated with the interlocking pattern that weaved along the waist, lapels and the cuffs of the sleeves with silver thread. She and her friends even added bronze coloured triangles to the silver patterns to create some distinction. They had also begun stitching runic symbols into the belt they had made to go with it, now they had an accurate record of what each rune meant they could be sure of what they were saying. Meera's book of the subject was open before the three of them to make sure that they got it as accurate as possible.
Slowly the runes for 'Honour', 'Bravery', 'Father', 'Protector' all took shape in silver thread but Sansa had one last one to add 'Hero'.
It was unnecessary and she knew how much her father disliked elaborate and decorative clothes but it was her way of showing him what she thought of him. He might need the runes explained to him but it still brought a smile to her face, her father was the best man she knew and she wished he knew that too.
-x-
Meera walked into the room with Maester Luwin and a couple of men carrying a board behind them, already in the room where her father, Lords Tallhart and Ryswell along with Lady Dustin. Each of the visitors to Winterfell gave her a respectful nod as she faced them which she returned before the men put up the stand and then the board before retiring to the sides of the room while Meera presented her plans for the new river-gates.
"This is the design I feel is best." She said using her hand to gesture to the parts in question. "The two towers, one on either side of the river which have a mechanism that holds two chains. One below the water made of bronze so it doesn't rust but remains strong to stop ships moving through while the chain above the water is made of steel so it is harder to cut to make sure with a chain mesh between them. This way it can be raised and lowered as necessary to allow friendly ships to pass through but hold hostile ones at bay." The said pointing to the two heavy chains that spanned the river and the diagram of the mechanism that would raise and lower it.
Moving on she now showed them the defences she had put it to protect the towers themselves.
"These towers are built squared with narrow slits in the stone to allow archers to fire at the river area while protected from arrow fire themselves. On the top of each which can serve as a place to watch the river are two scorpions which using this bracket and rail system can be moved around and locked in place yet fired at any direction land or river. Each stands high to give a good view of the surrounding area and has reinforced doors for protection. Also on top is a beacon which can be lit in event of enemy attack. A series of simpler watchtowers between the gate and the nearest settlement will have a similar beacon which can then be lit to spread the warning from one to the next and all the way back to the settlement so even if the gates fall, the settlement will be warned with time to spare." She said showing them the next picture which was a map showing the possible position of the river gate and the towers leading all the way back to either Torrhen's Square or Barrowton.
"Why not just use ravens?" Lord Tallhart asked with confusion at why they would bother to use such complicated system only to receive a rough slap to the back of the head from the gruff and older Lord Ryswell.
"Because ravens can be shot down and the despite their many flaws the Iron Born do have archers. The beacons could allow the warning to be spread within minutes and give us greater time to prepare. Use your fucking mind before you speak." Lord Ryswell said with such a stern voice it shut the younger Lord Tallhart up straight away.
Ned and Meera were impressed at his immediate authority, probably they realised from dealing with three very rowdy boys all the time.
-x-
Lady Dustin nodded, secretly impressed at what the young Stark girl had prepared. It was strong and would for the first time in centuries allow them to protect their rivers from enemy attack. She had even found the firmest yet narrowest points on the rivers to build the gates so the towers would be on the best ground possible. Better still with the double chains it would be far harder to penetrate them. It would be a dangerous duty to man them but with a slight rise in coin men would be found who would take that role. Still it did make her...change some of her views on certain things.
She had bore a great hatred towards House Stark for a long time, ever since Brandon Stark had come into her life made her fall in love with him and then rejected her to marry the foolish southern lady. Then after he had been so stupid as to get himself and his overly ambitious not to mention idiotic father killed by the Mad King. Then just as she was getting over that Eddard Stark had taken her new husband south to Dorne to rescue his sister and gotten him killed too along with her brother Mark, he hadn't even brought the bodies home to give them a proper burial.
She had been left a widow and childless, her bitterness had grown so great no man had wanted to try and court her after and it wasn't until she had stopped bleeding that she realised she had lost her chance of having a child of her own. Domeric had been the closest she would ever have to a son but he had been taken from her by the mad beast of son that Roose Bolton had created.
She had been prepared for Stark to allow it to slide which only confirmed in her mind that they had been corrupted by the south beyond any hope of salvation...but much to her surprise they had ensured justice for Domeric. They had gone and rallied the North to put down Roose and his vicious monster child and even installed one of her other nephews in the Dreadfort and arranged a good marriage for him.
It had surprised her till she realised that it was all down to just one member of House Stark, the eldest daughter. She was the one that had pushed for justice, she was the one that had chosen Rickard to get the Dreadfort and she was the one that had suggested he marry one of the Umber daughters.
More than that she had shared her pain.
Barbary had realised that the girl had loved Domeric, maybe not able to see it herself yet but it was approaching that point. She too had been desperate for revenge, enough that she had followed her father to see it happen rather than wait safe at home. Barbary had respected that, enough to convince her father to work with House Stark on the river-gates and ask her to design them.
To test the girl on her ability, one she had passed. True the girl wouldn't be the one ruling the North after the tainted Eddard passed but she would be there to make sure that the North stayed the North. One that House Stark might deserve to continue ruling and for the first time in years, the Ryswells and Dustins were on good terms with Winterfell.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she nearly missed the lord in question speak.
"Then work on the towers will begin as soon as possible." He said with a smile and added. "Join us for dinner tonight and we will toast to a safer North." He offered and they all nodded, it would be good manners to eat with your host when he was helping you make your lands safer.
New Castle, White Harbour…
The chill of the cold sea air actually made Robb who was so used to the Northern weather shiver. He had never seen the sea before now and was astonished at the sight of it, wondering what it must be like to cross it on a wooden ship like those sitting in the harbour. However he stopped himself from dreaming of sailing the seas and turned his attention back to the here and now.
Namely the girl he was supposed to wed when they were both old enough.
Wylla Manderly walked through the garden where a glasshouse allowed them to keep a number of colourful and sweet smelling flowers regardless of the season. While this seemed a waste to Robb he had seen many other more useful ones where food was grown so he dismissed his concerns.
Wylla was perhaps the oddest girl he had met and that included his own sisters, she had from what he was told rather lovely blonde hair which was evidenced by her eyebrows but for reasons that escaped everyone she had coloured it a very garish green not to mention she had quite a high but thin voice so having a conversation with her was not something he relished.
However he stopped himself there and mentally slapped himself for being so inconsiderate to a girl he hardly knew, he wanted to go speak to her but he didn't...instead he left to find Jon who was making himself useful by helping organise the castle's stores. His half brother honestly never stopped trying to prove himself, trying to show he was fit to carry the Stark name. He pushed himself harder in every lesson and every job he was given and rose often to accomplish it.
Their sister Meera however was in some ways the opposite end of the scale, she always tried her best too but things came so easily to her that it was like she didn't even have to try. Her magic was stronger and her mind sharper, not to mention she was arguably a better fighter than either Jon or him.
He in comparison felt like he was standing still next to them, he was much slower at learning and his own skills paled in comparison to theirs. While Meera could speak no less than five languages he could only speak one. Where Jon was defeating men older than them in the yard he could barely do the same.
Sometimes he honestly felt like he was disappointing his father and the rest of his family that he couldn't be as gifted as them. He was supposed to rule the North when their father passed, he was going to be the next Lord Stark and he wasn't even going to be a good one in his own mind. Not when compared to his siblings.
He walked aimlessly around New Castle, not sure where he was going as his insecurities got the best of him. He was so caught up in his hurtful thoughts that he barely noticed Jon until he walked straight into him, knocking Jon to the floor.
"Jon! I'm so sorry." Robb said as he helped his brother get to his feet, mortified at his mistake. Jon however just dusted himself off and looked at him with concern.
"Robb, what's wrong?"
Robb was forced to smile, Jon was more worried about his well-being than being angry at the mistake. This only made his earlier resentment seem more petty and make his guilt worse. The intense gaze of his half-brother however made Robb admit the truth.
"It is just that you and Meera are so gifted that I can't compare to you both, she is a genius without peer and you are a far greater swordsman than I could ever be. I am worried that I can't be the Lord our family needs me to be." Robb told him and waited for the angry retort from Jon.
But it never came, instead Jon looked him in the eye and told him while putting a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Robb, you are yourself. You are not me or Meera, we each have our gifts and just because we have found ours early doesn't mean you never will. You have to keep trying new things until you discover what it is you are better at, it could take years but you will find it. Besides you forget, we are a pack as father would put it. Each of us plays a part in the greater whole. You have to believe in yourself." Jon told him.
Robb was so taken-aback by his brother's words of support he didn't know what to say, instead he settled for giving his brother a hug for his kind words, feeling more like a fool than ever.
"I am sorry, Jon. You are right, I just feel so...jealous sometimes of you two." Robb admitted.
"Good to see at least some of you have sense." A voice sounded from down the corridor and the two boys turned to see Lady Wynafryd Manderly walking towards them with a small smile on her face. She was around their age maybe a year older but like their sister she had a look in her eye that showed she was wise beyond her years. "Now might I suggest you find my sister before she decides you are avoiding her and are not worth her time." She told them with a raised eyebrow.
"Understood Lady Manderly." Jon said before stopping for a moment like he was considering a question in his mind before he asked it. "If I might be so bold, why does your sister speak in such a way when it is not her natural speech? I heard her earlier as she passed the stores speaking in a much different tone much more like yours but whenever with others she speaks in a much higher voice." Jon said and seemed to become very worried as Wynafryd looked at him strangely for a moment before she laughed which surprised both of them.
"I'll have to tell my sister to be more careful when she speaks in her natural voice. But to answer your question Jon Snow my sister speaks in the way she does to amuse herself when talking to others as it annoys them. Also to test people's character as if they are willing to put her fake voice aside then in her mind they are worth getting to know. If not then they weren't worth getting to know anyway." She told them with a smirk now seeing how much she had surprised them with her sister's antics. Then deciding to add another piece of her sister's quirks.
"And as for her hair and the way she chooses to colour it, that is two fold. The first being that she likes that colour and our father indulges her, the second is that it irritates our mother. She might stop doing it eventually but for now I suggest your brother gets back to the gardens before she decides he isn't worth her time." She suggested with a sly smile and taking heed of her advise Robb went to rush back to the gardens in hopes of making some kind of relationship with his future wife.
While he was on his way there his mind returned to a strange idea he had, it had come to him on the road to White Harbour and stuck in his mind for some reason. While the North had never to his knowledge ever had a tourney like the south had, that wasn't to say they didn't have events. In times past they had held games that had some events like a tourney but they hadn't been held since the establishment of the Iron Throne.
He knew there was no law against it and for the life of him he had no idea of just why they had been abandoned, it was an opportunity to bring the North together and might well be a way for them to tie their homeland closer together.
Winterfell, the North…
Meera was glad to be back in her workshop again, while it was just the formerly Broken Tower to many everyone knew it was her place to work.
The simmering cauldrons in the corner were a comforting sight as were the distinctive smells they created, she was finally getting back to her old work and improving on the salves she had made to heal skin from scars using some new combinations and mixing methods. Already they could heal minor scars even after a couple of years but she was hoping to improve on that. Deal with all matter of scars even those that could be far older.
She checked her notes again and the new but still large microscope she had managed to create. It was not as powerful as she had hoped but it was good enough and allowed her to study things more closely. Now she was able to see the effect the salves had on damaged skin more closely and see what was more affective.
Chemistry and Potions were one of the few places where the magical world crossed with the normal one, one of the few things that could be done without magic so it was just as well that she had all this knowledge about both in her mind. Combing the two had been one of the greatest blessing she had and now helping with other things. Potions to increase the rate of plant growth, to slow rust or corrosion, to increase fertility in animals and so much more.
She honestly wondered how as Harry they had managed to acquire all of this, surely it would have taken a lifetime to learn so much but their memories only created more questions than answers. How they had been treated at Hogwarts as the Boy-Who-Lived; all the ups and downs of the first year, the depressing and accusations levelled at them in the second about the Chamber of Secrets and all the things with Sirius and nearly losing their friendship with Hermione too in the third. She could see as Harry she had never been a particularly attentive student and so how he/she had learned all this? Meera wondered, did they become better in later life? With a teacher like Snape she could never imagine that happening, wondering what in the world she/he had done to earn such hatred although with the knowledge that it was to do with James Potter saving his life even though they hated each other made her wonder what had created that hatred?
She hoped that in time she would get those answers but for now turned back to her work, glancing at the pile of sketches and formulas from the other world that she had spent so much time recreating. To many to tackle at the same time but it would be enough to keep her going for awhile she thought with a smile.
-x-
It was hours later when she finally emerged from the tower and went down the yard so she could join her family for dinner. She was tired from working and really just wanted to have something to eat when a lot of astonished voices made her stop and groan. She turned to see just what it was that had gotten everyone so engrossed and saw Romulas and Rema walking into the castle after one of their wanders into the wild but they had not come back alone.
On their backs each carried three small direwolf pups, they walked over to her and carefully lay down so the small pups could dismount and immediately started barking excitedly and playing with each other. Meera was wide-eyed and knelt in front of Rema and asked her gently.
"Are these your pups?"
The big wolf gently shook her head and a rush of sensations and images came through the bond Meera shared with her wolves. She saw her wolves wandering through the forest nearby, hunting for their dinner when they had found another direwolf, something that shocked her since they were not supposed to be south of the Wall. Putting that aside she saw how they had found the wounded direwolf fighting desperately against stag, impaling itself against the stag's antlers as she managed to kill it. She sagged and fell, Meera was sorry to see a wolf so like her own dying but then saw her quickly giving birth to six pups before dying.
She felt her own wolves concern for the pups, knowing they would not survive alone and had instead decided to bring them here so they could live.
Meera gently rubbed her wolves behind their ears, humans really had to stop underestimating animals she thought sadly they were far more intelligent and compassionate than anyone knew. Looking at the pups she saw how small they were, smaller than her own had been when she had found them. They came over to her and carefully with a smile she gave them some belly rubs which she knew from her experience were what they really liked. The pups's small tongues lolled as they enjoyed the attention which made her smile.
A squeal from behind her nearly made her jump, she turned around and saw Sansa with Arya and Bran standing there looking at the little pups with adoration. Before she could stop them the three ran over and gently picked up a pup each.
"Oh they are so adorable." Sansa gushed as she held one of the pups in her arms and snuggled close. To Meera's own surprise the pup actually seemed to like this and snuggled into her. Elsewhere Arya was playing with complete abandon with another pup while Bran sat down on the ground with a third sitting in front of him, gently petting it.
The three others seemed to be happy with each other's company for now, even the pure white pup which was the smallest of the litter. The number of pups she realised was the same as the number of siblings she had. That couldn't be a coincidence Meera thought, enough for each of her siblings to have one each.
"What is going on here?" A familiar voice asked and Meera groaning closed her eyes as she turned, opening them again to see her father and Catelyn standing there along with a few others gawping at the direwolf pups.
"Romulus and Rema found the pups orphaned in the woods father, it seems they brought them for my siblings." She said which made Sansa, Arya and Bran all beam with happiness. Robb, Jon and even Rickon were going to be thrilled to have a direwolf of their own too and it wasn't like they couldn't care for them. After all Meera had raised two from pups and that had been a tremendous success. Surely with her guidance her siblings could have companions of their own?
"Ned! You can't let them stay!" Catelyn started to say but father just put his hand up, not sure what to make of this situation but was not one to be unfair, so he would give the rest of his children the same rules he gave his daughter.
"You will raise them yourselves, you will feed them yourselves and if they die you will bury them yourselves. Now it is time for dinner." He said with a firmness in his voice that made all nod in response.
Meera saw her siblings pick up the pups while she herself picked up the three remaining ones and carried them in followed by a relieved Rema and Romulus. Rickon despite only just turning two years of age squealed at the sight of the pups and one of them snuggled up to him immediately. Meera wondered briefly if the Three Eyed Raven could be responsible for this, she only wished she could ask him but the man had been silent for some time and while she could sense his presence using the Weirwood and therefore knew he was alive he seemed to be distracted by something.
What in the world could be distracting him? What was happening beyond the Wall? She pondered as she sat to eat with her siblings feeding the pups with some meat from their own plates and she did the same with the other pups. Rema and Romulus had a bowel for each of them already.
Arya the next morning was back at the stables where she was playing with her new direwolf! At last she thought with excitement she had one of her own, she caught the little wolf in her arms and nuzzled its little nose with her own. She had been so jealous for years of her eldest sister's direwolves and dearly wished for her own and now at last it had finally happened!
She had decided to call her wolf Nymeria, like the great warrior queen with her ten thousand ships and like that warrior queen her wolf was going to be fierce Arya thought with stubborn certainty. Her little wolf pup barked her little bark excitedly and Arya hugged her close again, letting her go so they could play.
After some time she saw her little wolf was getting tired and so she scooped Nymeria up into her arms and was about to carry her inside when she heard Hullen, the Master of Horse at Winterfell and the man in charge of their stables speaking.
"If we can get the Dothraki Stallion to impregnate some of the mares then hopefully the foals will gain better speed than from the other stallions. I just hope that we can get Lord Stark's consent to purchase some new mares from the Vale." Hullen said to his stable-boys, judging the bloodlines of the different horses to make the fastest and strongest horses possible.
Arya was intrigued as she listened, she had spent time with the boys here before but this was the first time she had overheard someone talking about horse breeding. She loved riding whenever she was allowed too and the idea of having the best horse was simply amazing, so she could ride as fast as possible across the North with Nymeria at her side.
She decided there and then to learn as much as she could about breeding horses, it wouldn't even be a strange hobby she realised with a smile, many nobles did it too so why shouldn't she give it a go? She grinned as she took Nymeria back inside, this was going to be fun.
-x-
Bran like his sisters and newly returned brothers was enjoying time with his new direwolf, it was so amazing to the newly turned six year old mind that he couldn't help but spend every moment with the male pup he had been given. He hadn't thought of a name for him yet unlike his sisters or older brothers. Arya had called hers Nymeria after one of her idols, Sansa had called hers Lady because she was so well behaved compared to the others. Robb had called his Greywind and Jon had called his white pup Ghost since despite being so young it barely made a single sound. And Rickon was too young reason to name his since he had only just started talking.
His wolf however Bran thought, he was not sure what name to give him. He was well-behaved, with silvery grey fur and yellow eyes. He had a few different names but none seemed to fit him.
But that was far from his only worry, that night as he sat with his family in the Great Hall to eat dinner. Other guests and ranking members of their household all ate there too albeit at different tables. They all did their best to ignore the looks mother was giving the wolves and held them close.
However as they finished their meal the doors opened and in walked a man with two children at his side. He was tall as father with a short beard and darker blond hair. He wore the normal leathers for a Northerner and his jerkin had a clasp shaped like a lizard-lion which were common around the swamps and bogs of the Neck. The sight of him made father smile and he got to his feet.
"Howland! It has been too long." Father said and walked over to meet him, the man bowed and said calmly albeit with a smile of his own.
"My lord, I was delighted to receive your invitation." The man said and Robb asked Bran quietly as if to test him on how well he knew his Northern houses.
"Which Northern house has the Lizard-Lion as their sigil?" All his siblings except Rickon looked at him expectantly and he concentrated on his lessons to remember.
"House Reed who rule Greywater Watch."
They all smiled and nodded making him feel great relief, that also made him realise that the man who had just entered was probably Lord Howland Reed, one of their family's most loyal and trusted vassals and it must be a special occasion for them to venture up from the Neck to Winterfell. And as he would discover moments later it certainly was.
"Well, I am glad you have considered my offer and agreed. Bran." Father said turning to face him as did the entire hall. "This is my good friend Lord Reed and these are his two children Meera and Jojen." He said suddenly realising that his own daughter shared the same name and this could get confusing.
While he realised this Bran looked at the two Reed children as did his siblings; the boy had the same darker blond hair as his father and was around Bran's own age. He seemed to be looking at himself and his siblings with confusion and then smiled like he saw something they did not. That disturbed Bran a little but then he turned his attention to his older sister.
Meera Reed was a bit taller than her brother, maybe a year or two older as well but with much darker hair. She was doing her best to be polite and curtsied to all the Starks but looked nervous. Bran then realised his father was still talking to him.
"When you come of age I intend to give you Moat Cailin as your seat." Father said and Bran was stunned for a moment as were most of the other people in the room, but soon people became excited and his siblings all said their congratulations, mother Bran noticed looked particularly proud. However Father wasn't finished yet.
"To that end and in recognition of their loyal service, myself and Lord Reed have decided to join our houses. When you both come of age Lady Meera Reed and yourself will be wed." Ned explained.
Bran's entire world stopped at that, seeing the slightly older girl who was looking very nervously at them. He was only six years old and now he knew he was going to be a husband and who to, he dreamed of being a knight and travelling and saving maidens and all the things boys his age dreamed of doing. It had been whispered that he might be given Moat Cailin but he had not even thought of ruling a castle or being married!
His mother looked ready to burst into flames when his father stepped in.
"Maybe you and your siblings can show Lord Jojen and Lady Meera to their rooms while I speak further with Lord Reed. I will have some food sent up." Father might have framed it like a request but they all knew it was a command and so they obeyed.
All of them had a tense silence as they left the hall and went to the rooms set aside for guests, despite Winterfell being a far busier place these days they always kept a few rooms aside in case they were needed. Soon they arrived and the tense feeling seemed to grow stronger but Jojen broke it with a strange smile.
"My visions were right, you all have the power...from the old gods." Jojen said in a soft and almost airy voice which surprised them all. Sansa reacted with fear at his statement while the rest just looked at him with suspicion.
"How can you know that!?" She said with a shriek which only made her older sister and Arya frown as without meaning too Sansa had just confirmed to this outsider and potential threat that they did have power.
"We are the same." The boy said surprising them all. "I can enter the minds of the birds and lizard-lions at home with ease and when I touch a Weirwood or dream I sometimes can see the future or the past. I saw you...all of you working at the Weirwood to see like I do. I saw you Lady Meera Stark find that awesome spear that the gods must have forged for some special purpose, how only you can wield it and how it threw a man away when he touched it." Jojen said and Bran's eldest sister looked at him with surprise as no-one but herself and the man in question knew about that.
"Will you keep our secret if we keep yours?" Robb asked and Jojen kept smiling before saying.
"Of course House Reed will always stand with House Stark, it will be a crucial advantage in the days ahead and your sister and her spear will have many more names in the days too come. They are unclear to me at this moment since the future is shifting wildly but I know many new titles will come to all of you." He added but the airy and distracted way he said it made all of them feel uneasy and their direwolves all moaned or growled at the two Reeds, not liking the impact they were having on their humans.
Meera Reed, who despite being used to her brother's strangeness was still off-put by his words herself and was also still reeling from the fact that she was going to marry Brandon Stark one day and rule Moat Cailin with him. She felt a desperate need to change the subject and said the first thing that came into her head.
"That direwolf of yours will be very handsome in the future." Trying to distract them with talk of the wolves who were now glaring at her brother. "He has very strange eyes, like the summer sun."
Bran nodded still off-put but turning to his eldest siblings they nodded to reassure him, accepting his house's loyalty and in some ways glad to have someone like them who wasn't burning people alive. But Meera Reed's words stuck in his head, summer sun.
Summer he thought turning to his wolf pup who seemed to perk up, seeming to like the name so Bran picked him up and held him close. He then reached over and guided Meera Reed's hand over to Summer, letting her run her hand over his soft fur. She and the rest of his siblings seemed surprised but soon relaxed as they realised he was trying to comfort the girl he was going to share his life with.
Meera Reed smiled and gently rubbed Summer's ears which the wolf pup enjoyed a great deal. Her name sake from House Stark meanwhile kept watching them with worry, not about them betraying their secret but about her little brother being betrothed so young. She knew it was expected and would support her brother no matter.
Hopefully the girl who shared her name would be kind and reasonable, that was all that could be asked Meera thought. The same could be applied to Wylla Manderly and Harrion Karstark who Robb and Sansa had been tied too recently. She worried deeply for her siblings as too many changes seemed to be happening around here.
Kings Landing, the Crownlands…
The crowd's applause was music to Tyrion's ears as yet another successful show came to a close, he had been showing 'Shipwrecked' for a couple of weeks now and people were still coming to see it albeit a few less people coming but that was actually being supplemented by people coming from Duskendale and other places to see his plays and even sailors from the ports or nobles from court.
He was now getting enough money to buy better props, scenery and even more actors. It took some careful managing of his coin but it was now making a small profit. Tyrion smiled as he checked the book again with his band of actors as they drank and celebrated the run. Tonight he thought with a smile he was putting the finishing touches on his second play, a romance named Davos and Minisa. It was a pair of lovers stuck between two families which ultimately a tragic ending that brings an end to the family feud. He had injected a few comedy moments and drama too so he hoped it would be as big of a success as his first attempt.
Milly, one of his actors who was perched on the knee of Ben another actor and openly kissing gasped suddenly. The reason being she had a clear view of the door and saw who had just entered.
"Little brother, another successful show I see." A familiar voice said and Tyrion smile as his elder brother had apparently taken time away from being between Cersei's legs and joined them.
"Very, we will start our new show in a moon's time. Join us for a drink, you deserve it after a hard day." Tyrion said with satisfaction as he poured his brother a drink of mead. Jaime looked reluctant but with the look in his brother's eyes made him accept the mug and drink the potent mead. His eyes widened as he was unused to it but he managed to keep smiling and tell him.
"I was in the crowd, brother it seems nothing is beyond your abilities." Jaime told him, amazed at how confident and relaxed Tyrion was with his new craft. While their father and sister had both claimed he was again trying to humiliate House Lannister and it was beneath them, Jaime honestly thought Tyrion was the smartest and most skilled speaker/writer of them all. He had literally gotten the people's adoration with his plays and he was about to get a major opportunity.
"It seems the king has heard of your plays and is calling you and your company to perform at the Red Keep before him and the rest of the court." Jaime said getting a slight thrill from the stunned looks everyone gave him as the words hit home.
"The King!" Hector, another actor said spitting out his mouthful of mead at a serving wench who indignantly at them but it was ignored. Jaime raised an eyebrow but confirmed what he had just said.
"Yes, the King is interested in your play and wants it performed for him tomorrow. Men are here to help move the scenery and props to the Red Keep." Jaime told them and honestly the actors looked ready to either faint with nervousness or get pissed with excitement.
Tyrion however worried for a moment about this, Robert was a fool of the highest order but a king still. That meant he could really cause them issues if he didn't like their show so it was imperative in Tyrion's mind that everything went smoothly.
-x-
The following day Tyrion and his band of actors were setting up in the Red Keep for their performance, it had been decided to hold the play in one of the courtyard's rather than the throne room since there was more space and it was easier to get things in and out. Seating had been erected for the Royal Family and other guests.
Half of Tyrion's actors were near panic at the prospect of performing in front of royalty but Tyrion was an island of calm. He already knew the sort of people they were performing for and he called them all together just before they began and said to the whole group.
"I know some of you are nervous, this is perhaps the most important performance of your lives but remember that is all it is...a performance. One that you have done many times before and will continue to do so long after. Remember that, now get out there!" He said and his words had surprising authority in that they all obeyed him without question.
Tyrion watched from the side of the stage, while the disinterested looks on Cersei, Joffrey and Stannis' faces were expected what did surprise him was that Robert was leaning forward and giving it his complete attention. Renly and his new squire Loras Tyrell likewise along with many others. Myrcella and Tommen he noticed with satisfaction seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
When at last the show ended applause came from the stands and Tyrion appeared on stage as his actors all took their bow.
"Fucking Brilliant! I loved it!" Robert said as he got up from the stands and walked forward. "I had heard you were gifted with words but now I see it was all true."
"You are too kind your grace." Tyrion said as Robert approached them surprisingly sober for once. Then a thought seemed to cross the king's mind.
"I wonder, Half-man if you come up with a play about how I defeated Rhaegar then I will see to it that you get a proper permanent place to stage yourself. Will you do it?" The King said and many looked at him with surprise Tyrion included you then had to fight the urge to break out in a sweat because he realised that Robert wanted him to make a brand new script in a short time. While based on actual history so it would be somewhat easier there would have to be 'exaggerations' on certain events and Rhaegar he knew would have to be a far villainous person that many thought of him as.
But the chance of a permanent place to hold their plays was something he couldn't pass up, he would have to use some of his widening connections across the city to get all the props and scenery made in time but he realised with some trepidation, it could be done.
"I will your grace. It might take a moon or so but we will be happy to make the play." Tyrion said with a gracious smile. Robert laughed before saying.
"Then I will be looking forward to seeing it. Now where is Lancel fucking Lannister." Robert demanded apparently looking for a drink. Tyrion however had no time to shake his head at this because his dear niece and youngest nephew came running to him.
"That was incredible Uncle Tyrion!" Tommen exclaimed and Myrcella nodded eagerly which made him smile with genuine warmth. How a cold whore like Cersei could have made such good children? He would never understand but he was glad they enjoyed it, it honestly had made the entire day worthwhile.
"I am glad you think so my darlings." Tyrion said aware that these two were the closest he was ever likely to get to having children of his own, so making them smile honestly made him feel like a father at least a little. He loved them both so much, anything was worth it to see them smile.
Riverrun, the Riverlands…
Brynden was a little reluctant to return to Riverrun, the castle where he had been born as it meant dealing with both his brother and the idiot Edmure. So it was both a relief and an annoyance to learn that Edmure was not present. Apparently he was spending time at Stone Hedge with his friend Lord Bracken rather than here actually ruling.
Brynden frowned, wondering if the boy was ever going to take his duties seriously or actually think about anything beyond what was right in front of him like the next cask of ale, whisky or vodka. That was the only thing that annoyed him about the North's new prosperity, that it had given his nephew more ways to get drunk.
Hoster meanwhile made his presence with an awkward limp and a cough, a sign of his weakening health. Brynden had been the healthiest of his generation of House Tully whereas his brother had been cursed with a frailer body and his health more fragile. None of his children except Lysa had been similarly cursed but every time he saw his brother Hoster seemed to have a new illness.
"Well, have you gotten lost on the way back to the Vale?" Hoster said with an annoyed tone, Brynden however did not raise to it. Instead he said calmly.
"We need to talk in private Hoster." His expression was firm and his gaze steady, Hoster resisted for a moment before saying with a frown.
"Come on then." He said with a cane leading the way to the lord's solar. Once inside Brynden shut the door and made sure it was secure before turning to his brother who was sitting now in his chair.
"Well." Hoster asked with impatience and Brynden swallowed his own shortening temper before he told his brother of what he had seen of Catelyn's strange and worrying behaviour. Hoster seemed to be surprised too as he had never seen his daughter acting in such a way.
"Maybe some time away from the North would be good for her, maybe coming home for a short time to relief the pressures it is placing on her." Brynden suggested, hoping that some time away from Winterfell and her problems would do Cat some good. Hoster however snapped at the suggestion and slammed his cane down on the desk and shouted furiously, spit flying from his mouth all over Brynden in the process.
"NO! SHE IS STAYING IN THE NORTH WHERE SHE REPRESENTS HOUSE TULLY AND SECURES THE FUTURE OF MY HOUSE AND MAINTAIN THE ALLIANCE! IF SHE CAN'T DEAL WITH A DAUGHTER WHO REBELS THEN SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE HER HUSBAND DOES! OTHERWISE WHAT USE IS SHE?!" Hoster yelled straight into Brynden's face who never even so much as flinched during the tirade, nor did he move as his brother doubled over and the maester came running as another coughing fit started.
Brynden glared at is brother, not sure if he was even remembering what their family's words were but knew from his past arguments with his brother that reasoning was a waste of his time. So with a mounting sense of dread about where this situation was going to lead, walked out and decided to return to the Vale.
He only hoped the situation improved but he knew in the back of his mind that it was a vain hope.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing...One Month/Moon Later…
Tyrion and his band of actors were now setting up for their first performance of Rhaegar's Folly, never before had Tyrion tried to write something so political and he wondered just how well it was going to go down with the people. Some still held the Targaryens in high esteem despite what Robert and Cersei thought and whatever the Mad King had done. Rhaegar was thought of as a romantic hero by some and this story could be considered very inflammatory but he had done what was requested.
So he watched from the side as 'Robert' had met and charmed 'Lyanna' before she was kidnapped by Rhaegar, portrayed by a man with a pretend limb and hump and looking rather dirty. He also spoke with a nasty little voice that was something a witch might use to scare children. It felt too much honestly but Robert he saw seemed to like it, it was probably just as well that his sister and her eldest spawn had not come. The sight of them scoffing openly was not something he needed right now Tyrion thought with gratitude, however he was sad to see that Jaime was not here he had hoped his brother might give him an honest opinion on it.
Then they came to the last scene where the tallest and most muscular man Tyrion had been able to find chased down Rhaegar as he fled the battle field.
'Rhaegar' cried out for a horse to carry him away from the battlefield but 'Robert' caught up to him too soon for any to come his way.
'Robert' then swung his oversized war hammer straight into 'Rhaegar', Robert honestly smirked with a distant look in his eye lost no doubt Tyrion realised in the memory of that day so many years ago.
"Excellent! Imp you have surpassed yourself!" Robert said as he got up for his chair, his beard stained with alcohol. "Now I' am a man of my word, Jon...Littlefinger find the money to build a proper theatre, no one is using the Dragonpit at the moment, use that land."
"Your grace!" Jon Arryn objected no doubt worried about how much a theatre especially a big one was going to cost but Littlefinger said with a smirk like a viper.
"Of course your grace."
"Pycelle, work with the Imp to design it. I want to have a royal box for myself and my children should we wish to attend." Robert ordered before going off to find some whores or more alcohol.
Tyrion with practised ease didn't react to being called the Imp, like all the other names he had heard it so many times that it had become easy to craft his own armour against it. However the mention of having a theatre built was enough to ease any hurt that crept through. Not to mention Pycelle looked like he had been sucking on a lemon at Robert's command.
That was enough to make his entire day alone.
Winterfell, the North…
Robb was amazed at how fast his direwolf seemed to be growing, before his very eyes in a matter of a couple of moons it had doubled in size. However they were still very playful and small enough to carry, such was Greywind and Ghost who were curled up next to their feet fast asleep from hours of play.
So that meant he, Jon and Theon could devote themselves to the matter of trying to recreate the Northern Games as he had decided to name them. All over the table were old scrolls and books detailing the last games held and more importantly, the kind of events that were held.
"What is a caber toss?" Theon asked as he came across a mention of the event which that year had been won by a man of House Umber.
"A test of strength and accuracy. A tall and heavy pole is picked up, carried on its end and then thrown. The closest to the target wins." Jon told him once he found the right piece of parchment. Theon made a face at that.
"What a fucking waste of time! Best forget that one." Theon said with derision but Jon gave him a sharp look.
"It is a test of your strength and your eyes, a good combination. Alongside the weight lifting and archery competition it would be a good event to use." Jon said knowing if they did revive the games a caber toss would be expected.
"Enough." Robb said firmly, making the two stop before it flew into an argument. "There will be many events to attract as many as possible. The shot put, the hammer throw, javelin, a horse race and a tug of war. When combined with the rest it will give us more than enough events and allow the Northern common folk a chance to impress their liege lords too. Find us good men to join the guard or other jobs here." Robb said, he wasn't joking finding good men to man the walls and patrol the roadways was a constant struggle and finding not only good riders but javelin throwers and archers was an even more difficult task. Not to mention good men who could escort the caravans as they moved across the country, patrol Wintertown and man the walls.
This he hoped would allow them to find some good men who might be of use here, certainly so could the other lords who might attend. It had not escaped him that a number of lords that he had yet to meet still doubted his commitment to the North and thought him too 'Southern' to rule this land wisely. Robb hoped this would make them see the error of looking solely at his southern features inherited from his mother and see the Northern man beneath.
Still he was actually enjoying this he realised, it was fun to organise an event and he was relishing the challenge of getting everything ready in time. Invitations had been sent out to lords to attend and riders were spreading the news around the North so the Common folk would soon know too. Held here at Winterfell the stands were being assembled, equipment made, grounds cleared and more.
He was smiling, finally feeling like he had found something he was good at...organising...planning. While his siblings could do it he relished in the challenges it brought while his siblings didn't, it was a great relief too him.
Robb had recently also had another thought, while his sister was easily the most creative and skilled inventor he had ever heard of, other people could have other ideas that could benefit the North. Be it products that they could trade or inventions which improve their quality of life, you never knew what might show up. So he would have to think of sending messages out across the North to find people with interesting ideas.
Asher Forrester was glad to see Winterfell come within sight. Nothing to do with the cold wind as he was used to it, instead it was to do with seeing his sister Mira who had spent a considerable time here as companion to Lady Meera Stark. He was glad to see his sister again, hoping time in the North's capital hadn't changed her too much.
Riding into the now much stronger gates of Winterfell he looked around hoping to see his younger sister but instead his eyes found someone else.
He was treated to a vision, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen!
She was as tall as him with pale blonde hair and the most luminous blue grey eyes you could imagine, she must be around his age because her womanly curves were now visible even with the northern thick clothes she was wearing to stay warm. He froze, not able to think or move and only the movement of his horse woke him in time to stop him falling off. He quickly dismounted before he made a fool of himself in front of the whole yard and more importantly this goddess amongst men who he realised with pride was now looking at him with the same stunned expression.
"Lady Gwyn." Asher said as he came forward doing his best to be charming and took her hand gently to place a kiss on it. Her skin was like silk he thought a thought rushing through his mind that he hoped she was this soft all over. However he stopped himself before giving away that question.
"Lord Asher. Welcome to Winterfell, your sister is currently with Lady Sansa and her friends in the sewing room." She said slightly breathless. Her voice he realised was husky and lower than normal but he was entranced by the mere sound of it.
"Then I shall seek her out when she is done, perhaps my lady if you are not too busy then you will join me for a walk around the castle?" Asher asked with his most charming smile. Gwyn looked ready to refuse but but then changed her mind, smiling as she took his arm.
They started a tour of the castle and instinctively leaned closer than was normal, not aware of it themselves or what was about to begin.
-x-
That night the two sat together in the Great Hall as they enjoyed their evening meal, something that had not gone unnoticed by its inhabitants. Mira especially was confused, her brother had spent nearly all his time since arriving with Gwyn. She had grown to like Gwyn since they had both come to live here but it was strange still for her to be spending so much time with her brother.
Meera meanwhile was wondering if she should remind them of the danger this path posed, for them both. The animosity between House Forrester and House Whitehill was still incredibly strong so if their relationship became public knowledge it could be very awkward to say the least. She thought about warning them but sighed before deciding to let it drop, both were of age now and knew the situation between their families.
She turned her thoughts to Robb who was quietly talking with Theon and Jon about his plans for the Northern games. She had been surprised to hear that Robb was going to revive the Northern Games, it was a huge step after over three centuries to bring them back but it would be very good for the North's cultural identity she thought. Many worried that they would be 'corrupted' by southern influences and hopefully this would ease some of those concerns.
However Arya and Sansa were showing off their new clothes with the interlocking weaving symbol symbol, it looked like celtic knots to her and honestly Meera had never seen Arya so concerned about clothes. She was glad that Sansa seemed to have something that she enjoyed since she was the gentlest of all of them and actually liked to sew. So it was nice to find some way she could express herself with it, father was even wearing the jerkin she had made for him with pride.
Bran was quiet, he had been since the news of his future marriage to Meera Reed had been announced and she gently too his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. He turned to look at her and she smiled gently.
"If you want to break it off we will, just give it some time though." She said hoping he would come round to the idea. Meera Reed had seemed like a nice girl and would not hurt Bran. Still he was young and it was all new to him so she would keep an eye on it for a time till he was more settled.
A trio of guards however led by Ser Rodrik entered with a rather disgruntled look on his face. Everyone looked over in surprise and father asked him with confusion.
"Is there a problem Ser Cassel?"
"Yes my lord, a party from House Frey has arrived and is demanding to see you and Lady Meera." Rodrik told them and everyone exchanged confused looks. House Frey sent regular ravens to Winterfell, 'requesting' that her father took a number of their sons to squire or proposing different pairings with Meera and her siblings even Jon once or twice. But this was the first time they had come in person, what was Old Walder doing?
Father looked at Ser Rodrik and her, weighing up in his mind what possibly the Freys could want? He then said to Ser Rodrik.
"Send them in, we will hear them out and then decide whether they are allowed to stay."
Ser Rodrik nodded and went to carry out his orders, while they waited Bran asked their father.
"What does House Frey want?"
"I cannot guess my son." Father told them. "We will soon find out."
It took an annoyingly long time for the Freys to finally appear in the hall and if Meera was one to judge by appearances she would honestly have sent them out the moment they entered the room.
"I had expected a more grand castle. This is a cattle shed." One of the Freys said loudly and a rumble of anger ran through the room, the Starks especially at the insult towards their home...especially coming for a house like the Freys.
When the group did finally appear it did not do a thing to improve how those in the hall looked at them, if anything it only brought them lower in their eyes.
The Freys had a face like a weasel, long with a sharp chin and nose not to mention a small mouth and beady little eyes. They looked around with leering and lustful gazes at every woman and girl in the room even Arya, the youngest girl in the room. That instantly made them all more on edge.
"Lord Stark, we are here to escort your daughter to her wedding to our father." The leader whose clothes were horribly stained and poorly made.
That shocked all of them.
"Excuse me?" Father said with confusion on his face, not sure what game the Freys were playing now. They had refused their liege lord's call at the Battle of the Trident, only showing up after the battle was won, caring to side with the winners rather than honour their vow to House Tully. They endlessly bothered lords across the whole country for betrothals or taking their boys as squires. Now it seemed they were just creating things out of nothing he thought with anger at their gall.
"There is no betrothal agreement between House Stark and House Frey nor will there ever be while I am lord here." Father said with anger as he rose to his feet and glared at the Freys who produced a piece of parchment.
-x-
"But we have one here." The man said smugly and Ned without hesitation stormed forward and ripped the document from the Frey's slimy hands. His eyes moved over it and saw that it was indeed in a betrothal agreement between Houses Stark and Frey, naming Meera as the next wife of Lord Walder Frey!
Ned honestly was shocked, he had never imagined that House Frey would be so bold and underhanded to try something like this when he then noticed the signatures at the bottom of the contract. One was Lord Frey's, that was expected but the other two were suspicious to him. The first being that it was signed by both his wife and him! He looked intently at his own name as it was written on the parchment and saw that it was nothing like his, like someone with an unsteady hand had tried to copy his name. He had been ready to order Ser Rodrik to remove these 'frauds' from the hall when he saw that while his signature was faked, Cat's was perfect.
Further more some of the letters were written the same on his signature and hers, letting him know just who had written this.
Fury instantly exploded inside him and he called out with spit flying from his mouth.
"Ser Rodrik, take these frauds down to the cells and lock them up! Make sure they had uncomfortable for a while then send them back to the Twins!" Ned said and without wasting a moment Ser Rodrik and his men seized the Freys and dragged them away. The leader yelled at the top of his voice.
"THIS ISN'T OVER STARK! HOUSE FREY WILL GET OUR DUE!"
Ned turned to Cat who had been looking very pleased with herself and said with a cold stern voice.
"My solar...now."
"Why Ned? It might as well be out in the open." Cat said with a nasty smirk of triumph. "The contract is signed and refusal to honour it will not only insult House Frey and the Riverlands but prove House Stark makes agreements it won't keep. So my husband, it would be best to release the Freys before they take any more offence and allow them to escort Meera south for her wedding." She said smugly, thinking he had him over a barrel.
The air inside the hall instantly became much more tense, Meera looked on horrified and more than a little fearful. She knew her father loved her but that against the alliance with the Riverlands and their house's honour and reputation? She wanted to believe he would not give in to her mother's horrible not to mention illegal actions but a small part of her feared he might actually do it.
However it was not father that spoke first, it was Robb and Jon.
"NO! NEVER!" They shouted together and both got to their feet glaring at Catelyn with disgust, that she would do this and try to force their sister into marrying that old weasel angered them more than they had ever felt before.
"Meera is our sister she is staying here!" Arya shouted and Bran nodded in agreement, his own woes forgotten in the face of what was happening.
Sansa just sat there shocked, she had never imagined their mother to do something like this. Many people had expected Meera to be wed to the Crown Prince Joffrey, father and the king were good friends after all. She had felt very jealous at first but then she had realised what being stuck as Queen would be like; boring dinners, not having fun, being able to fight or being so far from home.
She was then very glad that her father had put her with the Karstark heir.
Meera was quiet during this, still in shock some supposed but she much relieved when father spoke.
"You forged my signature! You tried to wed our daughter off without my consent or approval! This is not valid." Father said as he held up the offending document. "You have made a fool of me again and were it not for the fact your father would break the alliance I would send you south and out of the North. But since I have no intention of destroying the long time bonds that hold the kingdom together I will allow you to stay but you are Lady Stark no longer!" He said loudly.
A deathly silence followed, no one sure just what to say but Lord Stark wasn't finished yet.
"You are still my wife but no longer will you rule, no servant will take orders from you and nowhere will you be allowed to go unescorted. No daughter of mine will be forced into a marriage with a man that should have died years ago but refuses to stop breeding! Meera will hence forth be the Lady Stark and take over your duties until new arrangements can be made, sweetling I hate to put this burden on you but I need you to take this responsibility." Ned said, not wanting his thirteen nearly fourteen year old daughter to have to take over the running of such a large castle but there was much to do and he and his steward could only do so much.
Meera with tears in her eyes from relief and joy that this was going to stopped in its tracks, she nodded and said to her father.
"I will father, I will."
Cat looked stunned, not able to grasp that her gambit had failed but warned her husband in name only right now.
"This won't just go away Ned."
Father just glared at her, as did Meera's siblings and their direwolves except Rickon who didn't really understand what was going on.
"I know Catelyn." Meera said with anger, everyone giving her their attention and the fact she called Cat by her name and not mother wasn't missed either. "You have created a potentially very awkward mess for us to deal with. You have put us at odds with one of your father's, our grandfather's banner-men and not just any house either but potentially the most powerful. One that controls the only land road south to the rest of Westeros, one we trade with. This is going to take some time to sort out." Meera said with a furious glare.
The room became very cold as her words took hold, who knows how bad this could get?
Temple of R'hllor, Assahi…
The oldest temple of her faith was surprisingly barren Melisandre thought, few decorations hung on its walls and it was nowhere near the size of the great temple they had in Volantis. But it was here that their religion had begun and from here spread far and wide she thought with pride.
Still her nerves as she made her way down to the deepest crypt below it she wanted to turn back instinctively. It had taken her nearly a year to get to Asshai and gain permission to even attempt this but her core revolted, wanting desperately to flee back the way she came.
But she continued on, desperate to find the answers she needed.
The stairs were unlit so she had to carry a torch aloft to light her way, it seemed strange for such darkness to exist in the temple devoted to the Lord of Light. The Temple to her mind should be filled with light and she made a note to herself to speak to the Priest in charge to make it so when she was done...assuming that she made it out alive she thought with trepidation.
Eventually she arrived at the stone archway with worn ancient symbols all over it that heralded entry to the crypt, she paused her nervousness getting the better of her. The darkness was so bad her torch did little to penetrate it but she rallied her courage and stepped over the threshold.
Only for the whole world around to change around her in an instant.
Around her there was a strange aura of energy that flowed like water in mid air, it kept changing colour and it was frankly beautiful if not what she had expected. A room full of fire perhaps but regardless she she walked forward and all around her flames of many colours leapt up.
Better she thought but was so shocked when a voice, deep and ancient sounding sounded all around her that she jumped and looked around wildly.
"Why are you here?"
She rallied her courage, she knew this could well be the voice of her lord himself and what she had to say might well decide whether she lived or died.
There we are, hope you all enjoyed it. Please Review and let me know what you thought.
I have based Howland Reed's appearance on how he looks in the show, played by Leo Woodruff.
The Northern games are based on the Highland Games in Scotland.
Tyrion's play is inspired by William Shakespeare's The Tempest and the second is Romeo and Juliet. The play Robert requested is based on Richard 3rd. Just to cite were the idea came from.
Next Chapter – Troubles with House Frey and a diplomatic crisis erupts.