Coming of the Red Anchor
Cry Havoc
Late 298 AC
Stoneyport
The visit by Lord Tyrion was an interesting one to say the least. He was a fountain of knowledge that James greatly respected. They had many discussion on history but also politics. Tyrion tried to talk him into a game or two of cyvasse but he explained he was already bad at chess so trying this game would likely not provoke much of a challenge for the dwarf. His drinking became a tale in and of itself with people being surprised by how much he could consume in one sitting. James had spoken to the man not long after Tyrion's discussion with the Maester about White Walkers and the true reason for The Wall and he had seemed troubled. Not quite denying outright it but desperately praying to any gods that would listen that the theory was false. Understandable really, those in House Britanican that knew were much the same. He eventually did leave after staying for a week and James had a ship for Seagard give him a lift as it would be swifter than riding down through the Neck again.
With that, life went on. News of the tourney and Ned's abilities as Hand came back and word was also received of the successful finding of the wolf. It turned out Jon wasn't needed as they stumbled upon it feasting on some cows that were freely roaming a large field. That was good since they were still teaching Jon on various command techniques and military knowledge plus history so sending him off would have cut into the time they had. The wolf was recovered and brought back to Winterfell via Seagard and Stoneyport much to the joy of the wolf and the Starks.
James was leaning back in his chair, resting briefly from the paperwork which came with lordship. He got up and stretched working out the kinks out of his neck. He then walked over to a bookshelf which stood along one wall and pushed it to one side revealing a wooden door. He pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked it. Opening the door revealed a small cupboard like area a few feet by a few feet and six feet high. Inside it were a few shelves which had books, dragonglass daggers and a few other odds and ends, which needed to be kept out of the way, on. On one shelf was a long narrow package wrapped in a brown bundle of cloth. He picked it up and brought it out of the small cupboard like room and placed it on his desk. Unwrapping it revealed the golden coloured hilt of a sword, a dragon head pummel while a scabbard covered blade. Drawing it sightly revealed a smoky patterned steel forged into a more slender blade than his own Blood Anchor. He still remembered how he'd gotten it a year ago and the oath he'd spoken to receive it.
* Flashback *
The ride to The Wall had been long and draining but being there was something else. The awe inspiring height of a solid ice wall that never melted was something to behold. He was flanked by five additional riders as he approached the gates of Castle Black. His purpose here was twofold, speak to the Lord Commander to see what was needed and to also speak with the Maester, one Aemon Targaryen.
Castle Black was run down and had clearly seen better days. Coming inside the walls merely confirmed it as wood could be seen rotting or breaking apart with sections of walkway being entirely blocked from access due to no planks of wood. A gruff looking, grey haired man who seemed vaguely familiar somehow approached them, wearing a black fur cloak and a sword on his hip.
"Greetings" the man spoke with a rich northern accent. "I'm Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. It's not often we get travellers in these parts. You here to take the Black?" he asked hopefully.
"Hello, and no, sorry, we're here to look around and see what help you may need. A lot by the looks of it. Apologies, I am James Warrington, Lord of Stoneyport. We have corresponded once or twice before" James said sticking out a hand. Mormont shook it gladly.
"Aye, you be Dacey's husband then? How is she? I do miss my nieces."
"She is well, as are the others on Bear Island I hear." The old man smiled.
"Good to know. Come, lets get you settle in, the Kings Tower should do, it's the one we save for guests nowadays. I'll have your men sent there. Now come join me in my solar." The two made their way up a flight of wooden steps and into the stone keep, down through corridors and up a flight of stair to another floor where Mormont led them into a small office room. Taking a seat opposite each other Mormont spoke again.
"So what is it you wanted to know?" he asked gruffly and to the point.
"Oh mostly what supplies you wanted, I can have them shipped to the Shadow Tower if it helps."
"Aye that would indeed. Food, clothing, steel are always needed up here. Though you know that from the letters."
"True but there's something different about reading about it and seeing it." Jeor nodded.
"Aye The Watch isn't what it was but the North still proudly man's it and we get some recruits from the South but they're mostly rappers, cut-throats and other scum that in all honesty I'd rather not have but have no choice but to accept. Only those who came here after the two rebellions are of any true use or quality like my master-at-arms Ser Alliser Thorne" Jeor said sadly.
"Well hopefully the supplies will make up for it at least." Mormont just shrugged but gladly accepted, they got little aid on the whole. The two talked some more about The Wall and their families before parting ways for the night.
The following morning James went up to the library tower where the Maester was said to live. He knocked politely on the door and he heard a quite "come in", so he did so. Inside were a number of shelves and a few tables. Most had dust covering them but a few were clear. Sitting by a desk a very elderly man sat in a Maester's robe and with a chain around his neck. He had silver, almost white due to age, hair and white eyes devoid of any colour. "Maester Aemon I presume?"
"You presume correctly. You must be the new lord of Stoneyshore, Lord Warrington I believe."
"Indeed I must" Warrington responded with a smile.
"What brings you to the Wall and my humble abode? I hear you aren't joining us so what could it be?"
"See the Wall for myself mostly, I spoke with Jeor about supplies and our family but I also wanted to speak to you."
"Me? What could I have that would interest you?" the man asked his curiosity piqued.
"What if I told you you weren't the last dragon" James said softly.
"I would say you are a cruel man for toying with an old frail man's hopes" Aemon retorted harshly.
"My apologies, I meant no disrespect. My guards stand outside so what is said should not be heard by others. "
"Really, well, now you have my attention Lord Warrington. What could you know that requires such secrecy?"
"How about the location of three dragons?"
"Three?" Aemon asked incredulously.
"Three."
"How could that be? Who?"
"Viserys and Daenerys are in Pentos or en route there at least after a stay in Qohor."
"So they survived, good, I'm glad they have done well."
"They have hardly lived well maester. From my understanding Viserys is called the Beggar King by many over there and, from what the merchants have told my own, is growing steadily mad just like his father. Daenerys however, is spoken of quite favourably although is a bit timid and fearful."
"He should know better than to treat her that way" Aemon said crossly before adding, "they are the last of their line apart from me."
"No, there is another. One incredibly well hidden and yet obvious once thought about."
"Who?"
"What do you know about the start of the rebellion, what occurred just before?"
"Rhaegar disappeared with Lyanna Stark and two kingsguard. Thus prompting Brandon Stark to go to the capital and demand her back."
"Exactly. Now tell me, did you know Rhaegar? What was he like?"
"Oh he was a brilliant but driven man. Intelligent and kind, he cared for the people in a way unseen for so long. He was what his father could have been but you no doubt know the tale of gods flipping coins."
"Indeed. My point was, do you think he could have kidnapped her like how it is said?"
"No, he wouldn't have. It was not in his nature. He could be obsessive it's true, indeed he was fawning over a prophesy of a promised prince the last we wrote, but to kidnap? No, I doubt it went that way. Whether he fell in love or merely encourage the Stark girl I know not but given the letters and in-person meetings I had with Rhaegar plus given what I have heard from Jeor about Lyanna I would argue it was more likely they ran off together. Now what has this to do with another Targaryen?"
"Everything. The third member is their child, or at least seems to be."
"Truly? And what do you mean 'seems to be'?"
"My people have a way to analyse blood and determine a familial match. We took a sample of the boy's blood and compared it to his known, publicly declared father and found it did not match. In fact it was a more distant connection, the match was that of an uncle."
"An uncle? But the only one that could have...no? Surely not? Eddard Stark's bastard son?"
"Oh you know of him?
"Aye, it was met with much ridicule by Alliser Thorne and others considering Lord Stark is known to be honourable thus this besmirches his name."
"Hmm well, very good, as sharp a mind as ever Maester Aemon. Yes, that was the match. Given the timings and circumstances we believe he is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna as the timeline matches and he has the right blood connection to Lord Stark. The only way to fully confirm it would be to test it against a Targaryen. That said, we're 90 percent confident he is a dragon."
"Do you want a blood sample from me?"
"Or a hair, we can use either. Blood would be better though." The old man nodded and James withdrew a vial and syringe from a pocket. He rolled up Aemon's cloak and pressed it gently to his left arm. He held it there for a few seconds to allow a few drops of blood to fill the vial before stopping and pulling away. He then pulled out a small round brown thing barely bigger than a thumb which had a padded part in the centre. He peeled a bit off of it and placed it gently over the bleeding spot.
"Keep it there for a day or two and you should be fine."
"How soon?"
"I will need to return home but after that I should know a few hours after handing it over. I can send a raven to you giving a reply. Is there anything you would like hold for him for safe keeping? I have encouraged him to join our navy rather than take the Black so he should come to me. I wanted to save a young boy from somewhere like here plus if something occurs a free Targaryen might solve problems that one stuck behind vows cannot." The man nodded in understanding before frowning deeply, clearly thinking hard. A few moments later he relaxed.
"Do I have your word as a lord, as a northerner and as a father that should he turn out to not be who we think you will return it to me?"
"Of course, I swear by my gods, the old gods and the new gods" James said earnestly. Aemon nodded and slowly got up and walked equally slowly over to a wall. He then turned somewhat and moved a few paces forward before turning some more.
"Come here my lord. Remove the panel on the ground marked with a small dragon." Warrington did as asked and lifted the concealed random floorboard up. The cavity below contained a wrapped up object and a number of papers.
"Take the long object. It was left here by Brynden Rivers, also called Bloodraven, before he left beyond the Wall for the final time. He hoped someone of our blood could one day use. If the boy is who we think he has the best claim and right to it. After all, what good is a sword to a blind old man?" the man said with a soft smile.
"Ah but young at heart me thinks. What is it?" James replied and Aemon chuckled lightly.
"Dark Sister, the ancestral blade of House Targaryen. Help him Lord Warrington. Help him be what Rhaegar and Aerys could not. Perhaps he will be the great king of our lives." Aemon begged. James just swallowed and nodded before remembering the elderly man was blind and so simply said "of course Maester."
It was almost two weeks later a raven arrived with a message for Maester Aemon. Asking his assigned brother of the watch to read Aemon felt nervous for the first time in many years.
"What does it say?"
"Er it just says...It's a match. Does that mean anything to you?"
"Yes. Thank you, you may leave me for a bit my boy." The young man shrugged and left the maester to himself. Once he heard the footsteps fade he smiled and for the first time in many years cried tears of joy. He was not alone and a Targaryen alone in the world was a terrible thing.
* Flashback Ends *
Indeed the sword was quite something as Warrington looked it over and he planned to pass it on when the time came. For now it was safe in the vault awaiting its true owner. 'The boy will be ready to know soon.'
Kings Landing
Three Hours After Robert Died
It wasn't meant to have gone down like this. Despite warnings against trusting Baelish from Warrington he had been forced to in order to get the goldcloaks onside. Robert had died from the wound he accidentally got on a hunting trip just this morning, though now he thought back on it it likely wasn't as accidental as he'd initially thought. He sighed. He should have just fled the capital during the night like Renly had and warned Stannis. He'd still managed to get messages out to both Stannis and his son Robb however, in part thanks to the suggestion from Warrington about back up plans. He'd also had his daughters pack their things in order to leave. Sansa had been the most reluctant but the words of warning Warrington had spoken to both girls had made her somewhat compliant. Still he feared it wasn't enough to end her hope of being Queen.
He should have done more. He should have sent his daughters away sooner or at least down to the warehouse of House Britanican. Instead he had just seen his men slaughtered in the Throne Room, his servants butchered in hallways and he himself had, barely five minutes ago, been thrown into the Black Cells while his daughters were likely hostages somewhere in the Red Keep.
At least he hadn't brought up Joffrey being a bastard, he'd merely insisted on being Regent as Robert commanded. He'd hoped that it would shield him and give him time but Cersei just tore up Robert's Will without a thought and ordered his arrest for treason and usurping Joffrey. With that the goldcloaks had abruptly stabbed his men in the back, quite literally. He'd only played it that way because he wanted more time, time to prepare and escape. Playing the honourable regent who later decided to go home should have gotten him clear of any problems so that once he was home he could help Stannis who was Robert's true heir. It hadn't worked.
So yes, this wasn't what he'd wanted. He just hoped he got the chance to tell Jon of his mother, he was old enough to know and Warrington would keep him in check. He chuckled darkly. 'Jon would likely do a better job at ruling the kingdom than Joffrey or Stannis' he thought bitterly. 'Perhaps I should try to get him put in place instead?' he shook his head wearily. Jon would need more training before any of that and Stannis was Robert's heir. If Stannis and Renly were dead though it would be a whole different question. He sighed tiredly. Gods he hated the south.
Three and a half Hours After Robert Died
She ran. Syrio had held off Meryn Trant and three redcloaks when they came for her and she ran. "What do we say to the god of death little one?" 'Not today' she thought as she ran through the corridors, her teacher's favourite saying echoing through her head. She could hear the screams from a few of her household guards who had not been with father as they were caught unprepared by the mass of goldcloaks and redcloaks. She wondered what Sansa was doing. Weirdly she hoped she was alright but she also hoped that this showed her how bad Joffrey and Cersei were. What to do now, she needed to get Needle, that would help her. It was in her trunk which should be getting loaded onto a cart. She rushed down to the stables but when she arrived and she saw the Stark carriage, she saw it was surrounded by the corpses of servants who had been killed earlier, including Vayon Poole. All of the Starks' belongings had been thrown onto the ground making a mess and dirtying them. She slowly approached the carriage. "Needle" she says worriedly and begins to look through the chests for her sword.
"There she is" she heard from behind her and she turns to glance at a slightly chubby boy close to her age.
"What do you want?" she asks impatiently as she continues looking through the chests.
"I want you, wolf girl. Come here" he says, sneering at her.
"Leave me be. My father's a lord. He'll reward you" she tries, hoping he doesn't know what's occurring in the castle.
"She'll reward me, the Queen!" 'Oh bugger he does' she thought as she rummages amongst the chests. The boy goes over to grab her but then she spots it and grabs Needle, moving out of his reach.
"Stay away!" she yelled, waving it at the boy. She goes to push him away, but accidentally runs him through the stomach with Needle as he tried to approach her, blood pouring from the hole she made as he crumpled to the ground, too surprised to make a sound. Horrified, Arya ran away, deep into bowls of the Red Keep to find her secret passage given the gatehouse was blocked by Lannisters.
She ran, not knowing where she was going, down the tunnel till she reached the harbour. She spotted a few goldcloaks and turned down a side road to avoid being seen. She ran some more before finally pausing on a quiet side street and took a breath before thinking on what she could do. The docks she though with a start, her father's bannerman said go to the docks if in need of help. With that happy thought she ran back through the town again, heading for the harbour.
She eventually arrived after almost an hour of dodging guards and Lannister men. She hid by the corner of a building near the harbour. It was reasonably busy and there were a handful of goldcloaks who were wondering about. She watched carefully, checking where they were looking and walking, before dashing out and heading to her right. She followed the path along, passing a few ships that were loading or unloading goods. As she went she looked about worriedly while also hurrying through the crowds. Soon enough she spotted the warehouse Warrington had mentioned and ran towards it, ducking in and out of the dock workers and general citizenry, much to some people's complaints.
When she approached she saw a number of men and women moving things about in bags and crates, some others were just standing in northern leathers, clearly on guard. "What you doing here kid?" came a northern voice from her left as she looked at the warehouse doors. She spotted a middle aged man wearing good clothes that while not noble were of decent quality. He also had a sword at his waist and some object on the other side.
"I'm looking for the one in charge here, Lord Warrington said I could" she said cautiously.
"Oh are you lass? Know the boss man eh? Who's looking?"
"My name is Arya Stark. I need help, your lord said I could come here" she replied, taking the risk.
"And how do I know you are said girl? Where's Lord Stark?" the man asked suspiciously.
"The Lannisters captured him or killed him, I don't know. They killed our servants and have Sansa prisoner" she explained quickly.
"Oi Jackson, get upstairs, there's something Harry and the Major need to talk to you about" came a shout from inside.
"Alright Zoe I'll be there in a sec! Hmm, alright you can come in. You might be who we can aid." He led her inside and took her over to a wall which then opened inwards, revealing a staircase.
Upstairs she found a group of men and women standing around arguing and discussing something. "We need to get him out!"
"We don't know how many guards there are or any good routes in or out of the castle" another argued back.
"Lord Warrington will want Stark safe" argued someone else.
"Aye but we need to be smart about it. Breaking into the Red Keep is not gonna be easy" pointed out a woman with a demeanour of authority. Arya took in everything as she looked about, spotting a few square shaped things on a table that showed a number of moving paintings on. She saw the throne room on one screen showing Cersei and Joffrey ordering the court about. On others there were hallways and corridors, some of which had dead bodies in. Her servants dead bodies.
"Malcolm, who's this? You can't just bring up any poor child you want to adopt" the woman said exasperatedly on seeing the pair enter.
"Claims she's Arya Stark Major. Thought that might interest you" the man, Malcolm, replied and the woman's eyes widened in surprise.
"Aye that's the girl alright, I recognise her from the footage from the Tower of the Hand" came another man who was seated in front of the glowing squares which showed inside the castle.
"You sure Harry? Well then, Lady Stark, welcome here, you are safe from the Lannisters, though for how long I do not know. The Queen will likely want to move on our position, but we will protect you" the Major woman said gently.
"I'm not a lady, my name is Arya. Now how are we going to save my father" Arya demanded making the woman chuckle.
"Oh I like you, you remind me of Lady Dacey and her sisters from Bear Island. We will get your father out kid, we were just talking about it. How did you escape by the way? The Keep is locked down tight."
"By the dragon skulls in the basement, I think it might be near the dungeons too. There's a path out into the bay on the other side of the harbour, I wandered around the town a bit before turning back down here."
"You know the route she means Harry?"
"Aye I think so. We have the layout of the town and castle on the computer thanks to radar and other telemetry we took from the drone a few years back. It indicated a ton of passages throughout the city. It's like a rabbit warren underground and inside that castle. That said, some passages might be blocked off while others are watched. Checking those passages is how we found the wil-, er, well some stuff" the man finished awkwardly, clearly hiding something Arya thought.
"No one watched the one I used and it was clearly unblocked. Also what did you find?" Arya piped up, not quite understanding all that was said though she understood the gist of it. These people had a map of the passages, or some of them at least, and had found something.
"Nothing you need know about" the Major said sharply drawing a surprised look from one of the men.
"Could we use them to sneak in?" a young man suggested.
"Only to grab Lord Stark, I wouldn't want a full incursion with only ten men to get the other daughter even if we used guns. It would be too costly and alarms would ring way too soon sending even more guards after us. No, we'll wait a bit, something will come up. Either the guards will become complacent or an event will give us access. Send word to Lord Warrington, inform him that we have Arya Stark and are making plans to free Lord Stark. If we aren't careful this city, and the country, will fall into civil war" the Major finished grimly.
Four Hours After Robert Died
Cersei chuckled deeply. The honourable idiot Stark was now at her mercy and so was his daughter, oh one had disappeared but the wolf girl would be found soon enough. And disciplined for what happened with her bloody wolf. Now though, the little dove would write a pleadingly sweet letter to order her brother to come and bend the knee to her son. She did worry that he knew about her children, much like Arryn might have known, but the northerner surprisingly never said anything during their talk in the Throne Room nor had he confronted her about anything related to it prior to that. But the way he looked at her and her precious son, he knew, she was sure of it. And for that alone he had to be silenced. That was why she had taken control of the goldcloaks, thank you Baelish. That said, Stark had almost played the game well which surprised her. Still, it had not been enough for him, Baelish was loyal to the throne and wanted vengeance on House Stark and so was only too willing to turn on the northern fool. Now she'd just need to send Stark away, taking the Black should do nicely since he no doubt loves that frozen penal colony being a northerner. With him out of the way he can't threaten her or her children and it ensures the North keeps silent, besides why would the North fight against her or the mighty Tywin Lannister? Barbarians like them should stay in that cold wasteland rather than come south like they were the South's equals.
With peace established and her enemies defeated she would have power, true power, as the master behind the throne. Or mistress in this case. She smirked. Her son would obey her command and through him she would rule everyone, even her father would have to obey and she would be supreme. Yes this was just what Lannisters should be. The rulers of Westeros, unrivalled and unchallenged. Masters of everything and with a pure Lannnister bloodline that would last a thousand years or more, thank the gods for having an idiot husband and a wonderful lover of a twin brother. Now she just had to get Stark to bend and everything would be well. Oh and deal with Renly and Stannis, but they will be no match for the might of Casterly Rock and her father.
As she looked down into the bay she saw the large warehouse of those northern upstarts, she would likely need to seize that place, they were a thorn in her father's side and they needed to be brought down and humbled. The foreign scum. What better way than to seize whatever secrets and treasures that warehouse holds. Yes that would do nicely. She'll have it seized after Stark is dealt with. And then get rid of every trace of her oaf of a husband by removing all traces of his blood-line. Joffrey would be more than happy to secure his throne that way. No one will be able to prove her dear Joff is anything but Robert's son with all Robert's bastards dead. And that will strike fear into the city's populace. It was good to be feared. Respect and love were weak and did not ensure loyalty enough, only fear did. Once the fear ended the people rose up, the Targaryens exemplified that. Once their dragons died out they had countless rebellions.
Winterfell
Five Hours After Robert Died
He was sat listening to petitions in the mid afternoon while Bran sat on his left watching with Rickon to his left playing with his wolf Shaggydog. Bran had finally called his Summer and that was laying on the floor in front of Bran's chair. His mother sat to his right with Maester Luwin on her right, taking notes and transcribing things as needed. Grey Wind sat in front of him as he listened to man complain about lacking seeds to grow more wheat and he needed coin to purchase some to grow them, which in turn would come to Winterfell. Just as he was about to announce his decision, he was going to give the man what he needed as it would help many people, a man came in baring the sigil of House Britanican and he looked worried. He signalled him forward with a glance. "My lord, apologies for interrupting but something important has occurred in the capital requiring your immediate attention" the man said shakily. Clearly it was bad if even the messenger was shaken.
"Of course, clear the room!" he commanded and everyone began leaving and shuffling out. Only Hodor and Maester Luwin remained along with his mother, Bran and Rickon. "What has happened?" he asked with concern, determined to know what had occurred. The man gulped nervously before speaking.
"As relayed to Stoneyport before here, the message was: Just before lunch time Lord Stark was arrested and imprisoned. Your sister, Sansa, is a hostage in the Red Keep while Arya escaped and is now with our people. All other Stark servants and guards are dead" the man sadly informed them. His mother gasped beside him while he slumped back in his chair gaping, he too, shocked by the message.
"Is Arya alright? What about Sansa and Ned?" his mother asked, desperate for details.
"Lady Arya is well my lady. The message said she escaped the castle and reached the harbour within an hour or so of the incident" the messenger answer sympathetically.
"Why? Why did it happened?" Robb finally said, his father and Robert were friends they wouldn't betray each other.
"The King died this morning my lord. A few hours later Lord Stark tried to enforce the King's Will but the Queen tore it up and declared Joffrey king."
"Why would she do that? Joffrey was to be king anyway so why turn on father?" Bran asked confusedly from the side.
"Power" Catelyn said bitterly, though she suspected there was more to it, otherwise why would Jon Arryn have been killed. "If Ned was made Regent Cersei would lack power thus she wanted rid of Ned to seize power and rule through her son."
"Either way father is imprisoned and Sansa is held captive" Robb said angrily. "Can Lord Warrington effect an escape?"
"It is my understanding that a team, which was already in Kings Landing to reinforce our position, currently has something in mind. It will likely take time to plan given the castle and numbers. A few days perhaps more given circumstances" the man explained. 'Aye a small team would be of little use against a whole garrison of guards on alert' Robb thought, thinking of how it could be done.
"Maester Luwin, do you have any suggestions? Mother?" he asked hesitantly.
"My lord until we know the circumstances there is little we can do other than write a note demanding Lord Stark is freed or that the crimes are explained. It is probable that a message is en route here or will soon be sent, we likely will get one in four days or so assuming they send one immediately. Unless you wish to call the banners now and march south my lord?" he raised a questioning eyebrow at that. Robb shook his head, he wasn't sure if he should yet, call it fear of war but he was uncertain and given Warrington's troops he'd rather let them free his father than raise a host. "I would argue for you then to wait for Lord Warrington to affect an escape attempt and if that fails then call the banners."
"Robb, you can't allow your father to stay there in the dungeons without challenge. Sansa is a hostage. We must free them" his mother cried.
"Why not do both?" Bran suggested out of the blue. They turned to look at him and he ducked his head in embarrassment. "What I mean is why can't you ask some bannermen to begin gathering forces while we wait for Warrington? It would mean we could move quicker if we have partial hosts assembled as you'd have to wait less for troops to arrive." Robb looked and Luwin and his mother, the three of them pondering the suggestion.
"We could ask for Lords Bolton, Cerwyn, Warrington, Karstark and Umber to assemble some initial forces. Once we get word of any escape attempt or other news we can send further ravens to formally call the banners" Luwin suggested, a compromise of Luwin's own recommendation and his mother's demand to free his father.
"Do it, the time to muster will give Warrington a chance to free my father and we can send word if we hear more. Put them on alert and maybe send ravens to others informing them we may call the banners so they should begin their own preparations. If I do then they'll be ready and can muster quicker" Robb said decisively. He worried for his father but he couldn't start a war just yet if his father could be freed from within the capital.
Casterly Rock
Two days Later
Tywin was at his desk enjoying a moments peace from his work. He had built his family legacy up high with his blood soon to be on the throne, a dynasty that would outlast the Targaryens and show up the mad fool of a king Aerys. He was just savouring a late lunch when his brother came in with a rolled up piece of parchment and a worried look. "Yes?"
"Message from Kings Landing, it looks like Cersei's writing" Kevan explained.
"What now? Is she complaining about the fat oaf again or the Starks maybe this time? Gods, how did she grow to be so spiteful? She's not half as clever as she thinks" Tywin grumbled, Kevan just shrugged while handing it over. Tywin loved his family but gods his daughter and eldest son were disappointments. One a spiteful idiot who thought she was clever, the other a noble fool who cared more for swords and cloaks than he did family duty. And don't get him started on the dwarf. He broke the seal and read the message. And re-read it. And read it again before angrily slamming his hand down on the table with a loud crash.
Kevan look at his brother worriedly. He could see the fury in his eyes while he maintained a stone faced look. "What happened?" he eventually asked. It was never good when Tywin got this way. He had that look when the Reynes and Tarbucks rebelled.
"My idiot daughter has just out done herself. King Robert is dead, he died in the morning and then Eddard Stark was arrested and thrown in the Black Cells for usurping the crown of Joffrey a few hours later. The elder Stark girl is a hostage and the youngest will soon be found. The entire Stark household has been slaughtered while Renly Baratheon fled the night before this all happened. It's dated as two days ago."
"Oh" Kevan said simply, yes that rather was a bit of a disaster.
"We're lucky she was intelligent enough to send a message to us first. She was going to wait a few days before she sent one North demanding fealty from the wolf pup up there. It takes four days for a raven to get up there and he will no doubt raise a force to try and free his father. So we will raise two hosts with our four day head start. You will go to Riverrun and ensure they stay quiet and out of the way. I will go over to the Kingsroad near the Ruby Ford so as to intercept the pup and bring him to heel. Then, with them defeated and forced to accept my terms, I will go to the capital and find out what in seven hells she thinks she is doing."
"What about Lord Stark?"
"I will question him myself to find out why my daughter would accuse the most honourable fool in the realm of usurping Joffrey. After that he will take the Black since it is the only way out for us now since Cersei is already sending out ravens publicly declaring him a traitor. Killing him will mean no peace with the North, the Vale or the Riverlands therefore sending him to take the Black will ensure peace and allow us to maintain an image of control and power that would've been ruined by retracting the charge of treason. Keeping a daughter in the capital or here at Casterly Rock will likely help with peace too, allowing us to deal with problems in the capital. Now call the banners and we shall go forth and end this idiocy." Kevan nodded and briskly exited the room.
Tywin was silently fuming over the two days, glaring at those who walked slowly or failed their duties. He was now raising two hosts to go into the Riverlands to head off the wolf pup, who would no doubt come south with a host once he heard of his father, as well as to ensure the Riverlands didn't get any ideas of helping the Stark boy. Hells he sympathised with the boy, if someone had captured one of his family he'd wage war for them. Gods, why could none of his children ever do anything right?
Admittedly he did not know what exactly occurred in the capital, just that his daughter had claimed Stark wanted to seize the throne for himself or for Stannis. Anyone with half a brain would know the honourable Lord Stark would not sully himself and demean himself with such actions, not without a very good reason. This meant there had to be an actual reason why he tried to stop Joffrey from taking the throne.
That question was slightly answered by the raven which came a few hours after his daughter's. Pycelle had claimed that Lord Stark had merely tried to make himself Regent by Robert's command until Joffrey came of age. That was more like the Eddard Stark he had heard about. It was also a surprisingly sensible order from a king who rarely did sensible things. Still, what in seven hells was Cersei playing at by stopping Stark from doing as commanded by Robert? Joffrey would have been king regardless plus he was young and in need of guidance, guidance both he and Stark could provide if handled correctly. He would have been willing to cooperate since it meant his blood on the throne. He might have even been able to convince Stark to go home thus giving himself the position of Regent and Hand. Gods, was the only one with a brain his deformed drunken lecher of a son Tyrion?
He had however already called his banners and was in the process of marshalling them near the Golden Tooth, he would send his brother Kevan and around 15,000 to Riverrun to keep them quiet under threat of force while he took another 17,000 to the Kingsroad to head off the wolf pup and bring him to heel. From there he would sort out the mess in the capital. Hopefully with the Starks defeated in battle they would bend the knee and return North to cower up in that barren frozen wasteland they called home, leaving him free to deal with Renly and Stannis should either try to cause problems given the goings on in the capital. Gods he hated his children sometimes, they always got in the way of his legacy.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. To clarify, Ned decided to be Joffrey's Regent and play for time so he could feign being tired of the south (not that hard for Ned) and then return home to then help Stannis as Robert's true heir. Not exactly different from cannon but enough to change what was said in the throne room and prior to it, thus both Tywin and Robb believe Cersei was seizing power (surprise) despite Ned seemingly following the old King's sensible last will.