AN: Apologies for the delay. I had hoped to get this out in a third of the time it ended up taking. My schedule left less time than I hoped to work, and every time I sat down to write, something would get in the way. Most recently, my laptop just suddenly quit everything the moment I opened the doc. I got everything back, but it's just been ridiculous. Then some other stuff like frequent snow storms took more time. Hopefully it will all be over.

To make up for it, by chance, this is either the second or third longest chapter of this fic. So that's something!

But now, let's jump right in like usual!

ROBB

OUTSIDE THE RED KEEP

"Must you really do this here?"

That was Sansa's only complaint to the challenge between Lord Baelish and himself. Despite not being interested in dueling herself- Robb doubted she had ever changed any cards in her deck since they first appeared- she understood that the entire reason she was in the capital was because of this tournament, so she had no issue with the duel itself. But they were in a crowded area and she would probably prefer being closer to the Keep.

"The entire city is being used for the Tournament, but I understand your desire to rest afterwards. Very well."

With that, Lord Baelish was quite willing to accommodate Sansa, postponing his challenge to Robb and escorting the two of them through the city, until they reached just outside the Red Keep.

"Of course, we must make sure we know what is at stake in this duel." Lord Baelish said, showing not two, but three coins. "My last opponent was a bit stingy, so he only wagered one. Though honestly, if I managed to beat him, then he probably lost the other one by now. I have two Earths, and a Wind. "

'So he has already won once.' Robb noted. "I have an Earth and a Light. It would not be fair for you to wager all three when you can only win two, so you can keep an Earth if I win."

"I see." Lord Baelish said. "And if I do win, then I can perhaps trade the extra Earth for another attribute. Very well then. Let us begin."

R: 4000 B: 4000

Both of them drew their hands and prepared for battle.

"I shall go first." Robb said as he drew. As soon as he looked in his hand, he grinned. Two cards that worked hand in hand with each other were both there. He just needed to wait for the perfect opportunity to use it.

"First, I play the spell card Dimensional Fissure. As long as it is on the field, our monsters are removed from play instead of sent to the graveyard." Robb explained.

Baelish lifted an eyebrow. "An interesting card to have in one's deck." He said.

Robb shrugged. "When your brother and friend both use Monster Reborn, you come up with ways to counter it. In addition, I set a monster in defense mode. That will be all."

Baelish drew a card from his deck. "My move then."

He scanned his hand. He was currently using his public deck, so while it was weak, it still had several tricks to it. That was how he managed to etch out a victory already.

"I summon Masaki, the Legendary Swordsman."

The green armored monster came onto the field, his hand ready to draw his long blade.

"And he shall now attack your face down monster!" Baelish commanded.

The monster revealed itself as it flipped over. Its green skin was the first thing onlookers noticed about it. Its horn cackling with lightning was the second. The third thing was the second jaw on the nape of its neck. At the end of its legs were webbed feet and talons.

It was Two-Mouth Darkruler. A weak monster that Masaki sunk his blade into through its eye, and carved the dinosaur into large meaty chunks. As the bloody pieces faded from the field, Robb picked up the card from his Duel Disk, and instead of placing it within his graveyard, instead put it in his pocket.

Baelish again raised an eyebrow. That was a weak monster with no ability. There was little reason for it to be in the deck of a Paramount's heir. He kept weak monsters in an attempt to portray himself as harmless, but Robb had no such reason.

"I play this card face down and end my turn." Baelish announced.

"My move then." Robb said as he drew. He looked at his hand.

'I could do a repeat of the last turn, but if I do, then I open myself to an attack if he summons another monster.' Robb mused to himself. 'Better go on the offensive. But a bluff can also be useful.'

"I summon Mammoth Graveyard, in attack mode!"

A skeletal monstrosity emerged from the ground. It resembled the bone structure of one of those elephants the gold company were said to use in their campaigns in Essos, but it was picked to the bone with no hint of flesh. Two tusks jutted out on either side of its skull.

"Now, I play this card face down, and Mammoth Graveyard will attack Masaki." Robb ordered.

Mammoth charged forward, and on his right tusk Masaki had been impaled straight through, his strange armor useless in saving his life.

R: 4000 B:3900

It was only a slight one, but Robb had taken the lead. He could hear polite clapping from Sansa behind him.

"I end my turn." He announced.

"Mine then." Baelish said as he drew.

"I summon Takuhee, in attack mode."

The giant brown bird appeared on the field. It had 1450 attack points.

"Now, he will attack your Mammoth Graveyard!" Baelish commanded.

Takuhee flew into the air, floating above Mammoth. Then it suddenly nose dived only to change course and lead with its talons first, slashing at Mammoth's spine and causing all the bones to fall apart like a puzzle.

The bones faded from existence as they were removed from play instead of destroyed. At the same time, Robb's life points dropped.

R: 3750 B: 3900

"That will be it for now." Baelish said.

"Very well then." Robb accepted as he drew.

'I can't destroy it, but I may be able to lure him.' Robb thought. He was not yet ready for his best monster, but he could still deal damage.

"I summon Black Stego, in attack mode." He declared.

Despite his name, Black Stego was actually a shade of green, with brown spikes going in two rows from his head to his tail. He had 1200 attack points, the same as Mammoth Graveyard.

"Next, I play the equip spell, Mist Body. Now he can not be destroyed by your Takuhee." Robb announced.

Black Stego's right side of his body began to dissolve into mist, but it was still there.

"I will end my turn." Robb said.

"My move then." Baelish said as he drew. 'I will keep this for later.' He thought to himself.

"Now then, I shall attack with Takuhee!"

The bird monster rushed at Black Stego, only for the Dinosaur to get into a defensive stand, hiding underneath its tail spikes.

Which Takuhee was struck by when it got too close.

"Sorry Lord Baelish. When Black Stego is attacked, he can switch to defense mode." Robb explained.

"I see. So that Mist Body was a decoy to stop me from wondering why you had such a weak monster summoned. Clever Robb, I must admit." Baelish praised the move even as his life points went down.

R: 3750 B: 3350

"In that case, I have no other option than to end my turn." Baelish decided after looking at his hand.

"My move then." Robb said as he drew.

"I summon Uraby, in attack mode. Then I switch Black Stego to attack as well."

The large black scaled dinosaur joined Black stego on the field, with both of them roaring.

"Now, Uraby will take out your Takuhee, while Black Stego hits you directly!"

Uraby ran forward and bit down on Takuhee before the bird could even flap its wings. All that remained was blood, feathers and a claw that Uraby's teeth had severed. Black Stego then ran up to Lord Baelish and whacked him with its tail, sending the Master of Coins falling on his back, but unharmed.

R: 3750 B: 2100

"That will end my turn." Robb decided.

Lord Baelish grinned and drew.

"I suppose I will have to go on the defensive. I set this monster and a face down, then I play my spell card, Mystical Space Typhoon! It destroys your Dimensional Fissure."

A miniature storm formed on the field. A blast of lightning suddenly struck the spell card, destroying it in one blast.

Now I end my turn." Baelish said.

Robb drew and considered his options.

'If I can just destroy that face down, I can win this. It's unlikely that that one face down can take me down. I didn't even need to summon my strongest. A bit of a shame, but it would be a waste to use it at this point.' Robb thought

"I summon Black Ptera, in attack mode!" A black winged dinosaur appeared on the field. It was weak at only 1000 attack points, but it roared alongside its brothers on Robb's field.

"Now, Uraby will attack your face down monster!" Robb declared.

Uraby ran forward and gulped down the face down monster in one gulp. It materialized as a giant purple blob with a dark purple core and some dirt or something on the outer layer. Uraby swallowed it, only for his teeth to pop it and start choking on it for a moment.

"You have activated my Giant Germ's special ability. It has two parts. First, since it was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, you take 500 damage."

R:3250 B:2100

"Next, it allows me to summon two additional Giant Germs from my deck!" Baelish finished.

Two identical purple blobs suddenly appeared on the field, birthed from the remains of the Germ that Uraby had eaten.

Robb gritted his teeth. He needed to destroy them. He could not risk Baelish summoning a high level monster. And he could survive the hit.

"Black Stego, destroy the one on the left, Ptera, take the right!" He commanded.

The two dinosaurs leapt forward and slayed the two Germs. But Robb did not come out unscatheed as his Life Points took a severe hit.

R: 2250 B: 2100

"And so the gap closes." Baelish said with a chuckle.

"...I end my turn." Robb said, biting his lip. He lost most of his advantage, but he was still in the lead, and it was unlikely that Baelish could defeat all his monsters.

"I draw." Baelish said. "Ah, perfect."

But instead of playing the card he just drew, he instead grabbed another card in his hand. "I summon the monster Speed Bird in attack mode."

The red bird materialized over the field, though it looked more like Black Ptera than a regular bird. It had a horn over its head and a large yellow beak.

"Next, I play Hinotama. This card inflicts 500 damage to you, no strings attached."

A ball of flame appeared on Baelish's side of the field, and launched itself past Robb's monsters and struck him directly in the stomach. He felt no pain, but was pushed back a step.

R: 1750 B:2100

"Now then, Speed Bird, attack Black Ptera!"

The two flying monsters soared into the sky, circling each other, getting closer. In a sudden burst of speed worthy of its name, Speed Bird shot forwats and ripped Black Ptera's wings, sending it to the ground, where it was unable to dodge Speed Bird's talons striking at its brain.

R: 1550 B: 2100

"Now, I activate the spell card, Gold Sarcophagus. I now select one card in my deck, and remove it from play. Then in two turns, I bring it straight to my hand." Baelish explained as he searched his deck.

"Ah, the very bottom, of course it would be there." He said as he removed it and placed it in a well designed golden box with an eye staring directly at Robb.

'So now I need to beat him in the next two turns.' Robb thought to himself.

"With that, I end my turn." Baelish said as Speed Bird flew back to his side.

"My move." Robb said as he drew. He could still win this, he just had to power through.

"I summon Hydrogeddon, in attack mode!"

Another dinosaur, this time made of water appeared on the field. It had 1600 attack points, making it the strongest on the field.

"Now Hydrogeddon, attack his Speed Bird!" Robb commanded.

Hydrogeddon ran forward, and from its mouth a blast of Water struck Speed Bird, tearing its wings off as Hydrogeddon stomped on the downed bird.

R:1550 B:1700

""I activate my monster's ability!""

Both Robb and Baelish said at the same time.

"When Hydrogeddon destroys a monster, I can summon another hydrogeddon from my deck." Robb said as a second water dinosaur came to the field.

"When Speed Bird is destroyed in battle, I can summon two level two monsters from my graveyard, and I choose two of my Giant Germs."

The two germs returned to the field, giving Robb pause.

'Of course,' Baelish thought to himself, 'Speed Bird removes their abilities, but he does not need to know that part.'

'It will be close, but I have to go through with this.' Robb thought. 'He can't summon a high level monster.'

"Black Stego, attack the one on the left!" Robb gave a familiar order. Black Stego ran to carry it out, only for it to shrink as it ran forward, until Giant Germ towered over it's assailant.

"My trap card, Bark of the Dark ruler! I can lower the attack of a monster battling a fiend type on my field, at the cost of my own life points. I think 800 will suffice.

Black Stego, now at only 400 attack points, was swallowed into Giant Germ's core, only for it to manage to swim its way out due to Mist Body keeping it alive.

R: 950 B:900

'I… I cannot win.' Robb realized. ``We are so close, but If I attack, then I will take the 1000 effect damage before he will take the attack damage. A tie is no good.'

"I end my turn without attacking anymore." Robb said.

"My move then." Baelish said as he drew. 'Now to get rid of Giant Germ, before he realized it was a bluff.'

"I sacrifice one of my Giant Germs, in order to summon my Archfiend of Gilfer, in attack mode."

The Giant Germ shifted in shape and body, turning more solid as it took a more distinct appearance. It turned into a winged fiend, with a blue underbody and a red back and wings. Several horns covered its body.

"Now Archfiend, attack Black Stego and end this!" Baelish commanded.

Archfiend charged forward, diving towards Black Stego.

"I activate his ability, now he enters Defense mode, and Mist Body keeps him safe." Robb announced.

Archfiend ripped into Black Stego, only for the Dinosaur to turn to mist and reform when Archfiend stopped.

"Ah yes. I honestly forgot about that little trick." Baelish muttered. "No matter, I end my turn. Oh! After putting my remaining Giant Germ in Defense Mode, of course."

"My move then." Robb went to draw another card.

"A moment though Robb." Baelish suddenly interrupted.

Robb looked at his opponent, wondering what was so important.

"I think it is only fair to warn you. The card in Gold Sarcophagus? It is a spell card that will deal 1000 points of damage to you. So this will be your last turn. Just thought you should know. Make it count."

Robb was shocked. This duel was practically over, and he had been told so seemingly so that he could go out with everything he had. No long term plan would work. He needed a quick victory right now.

He took a deep breath.

'Focus.'

Robb scanned the field. 'I have four monsters, but none of them are stronger than Archfiend. I can destroy Giant Germ, but that will only hurt myself, and leave an opening for Baelish to attack me. On the other hand, he has only two monsters, but he also has a face down he has not touched since he put it down. Have the conditions not been met to activate it? Or is he waiting to use it to end the match?'

Robb then focused on the Gold Sarcophagus. 'And then there is that. He opens it when my turn is done, so he can win right away without even attacking.'

Robb looked at his Duel Disk. 'I have two removed from play Dinosaurs, and Black Ptera in the graveyard. But… I also have a face down that I have not touched since my second turn. Would using it now change anything?'

"Come on Robb!" He could hear Sansa encourage him from behind. She was still watching, and while she did not play herself, even she could tell the battle could go either way.

He could hear the voices of other watchers as well.

"Whose that?" One lady asked.

"Did the Lady say Robb? Isn't that the Stark Boy's name?" A grey bearded man suggested.

"The one who killed the Sparrow?" Another asked.

"No not him. That was his brother, a bastard. He sent him while hiding behind his walls." A younger merchant corrected.

Robb bit the inside of his mouth at the insult.

He had not hidden. Nor had he sent Jon into danger. The knowledge that Jon was between them and the Sparrows had led to Robb leaving before the full force of the North could properly assemble. If Robb could have traded places with Jon, he would have done so in a heartbeat.

'Stop. Words are wind. None of that matters.' The logical part of Robb's mind said. 'None of these people have been to the North. Nor do their opinions carry the weight of ruling.'

Robb could understand the idea of being jealous of Jon's actions. Who wouldn't? The bastard, dismissed by everyone, had saved so much blood from being spilled, putting his own life on the line for those who despise him as a mark against honor.

Robb was not jealous. Or, if he did feel that cursed emotion, it was drowned out by pride and respect for his brother. For that was what Jon was. People put a 'Half' in it to distance them, but Robb never saw it that way. Before he knew what a bastard was, Jon had still been there. Nothing changed between them, though Robb had slowly watched as that one word slowly ate away at Jon's identity.

When Father had announced Jon's legitimacy, Robb had been the most ecstatic of the news.

'The Lone Wolf Dies, but the Pack survives.'

His father's oldest advice came ringing into his ears. When it did, Robb let out a small laugh.

'Of course, I can't let Jon think he has to shoulder all these responsibilities himself. I will be there for him. And the best way to show him that he can rely on me, is to face him myself. Which means losing here is not an option.'

"I draw." He repeated to himself as he picked up the next card. Looking at it, he thought, 'I'll take it!'

"I play the spell card, Card of Sanctity, so we both draw until we have six cards in our hands."

Robb drew four new cards into his hand, not even paying attention to Baelish's own hand increasing as well.

he smirked. This was just what he needed.

"I sacrifice my Uraby and one of my Hydrogeddons, in order to summon Super Conductor Tyranno!" Rob declared.

The two dinosaurs disappeared in a burst of light, only for them to take the shape of a giant green and metallic dinosaur as large as a decade old dragon. With a roar accompanied by lightning being thrown around the field, it declared itself king of the field. With 3300 attack points, no monster could deny it.

"Now, I activate his ability. At the cost of him being unable to attack, I can destroy a monster on your side of the field and deal a thousand damage. So I think I will give up my other Hydrogeddon in order to get rid of your Giant Germ once and for all!" Robb announced.

Hydrogeddon lost its shape and dissolved into water. Water that then began moving passed the field until it was underneath both Baelish and Giant Germ.

Lightning began to concentrate around Tyranno for his ability, only for Giant Germ to pop like a bubble.

"My trap card is finally revealed! Destruct Potion! By destroying a monster I have, I gain the same amount of life points as its attack." Baelish revealed his trap.

As he explained it, a vial appeared in his hand, and he gulped its contents down easily.

R:900 B:1950

"Now, since your Tyranno can not attack, and its effect was interrupted, there is nothing else you can do, Black Stego can not win the match, and it is the only monster that can attack." Baelish summarized.

"Are you sure about that?" Robb asked, revealing another card in his hand.

"Now, I activate Double Summon. This will let me summon once more this turn, but I will not be using it right away. Instead, I activate my own face down card. Soul Release!"

Robb flipped over the Spell he had put on the field partially to keep it safe from hand destruction, and partially as a bluff.

"This card lets me remove up to five cards from play from either of our graveyards. So, my four dinosaurs in there will join the two already removed from play. And just to round it up, I'll remove the Double Summon I just played as well." Robb said as he pocketed the cards.

"Now, I summon my most powerful card, Infinity Tyranno!"

As Robb declared his move, a hole opened up in the open space of the field. It grew as something began to emerge from within it. Soon, horns like those of a ram were poking through, only a dinosaur's head to pop out with them. Its body appeared to be green, but it had a coat of lightning surrounding it and constantly shifting its color.

"Now, Infinity Tyranno has a unique ability. His attack is the number of Dinosaurs I have that have been removed from play, times a thousand." Robb explained. "So, with six removed from play, He stands at almost twice Super Conductor's own attack!'

Sure enough, Robb's newest beast roared on the field as its coat got brighter, signaling the monsters that gave their strength.

"S- Six Thousand?!" Baelish barely muttered out at the powerful animal. He took a step back purely out of survival instinct.

"Now, you have nothing besides your Archfiend, so Infinity Tyranno will attack and end this!" Robb commanded.

The massive Dinosaur charged forward, Archfiend tried to fly away, only for Infinity Tyranno to increase speed and bite down on its wings. It tore them off, throwing Archfiend back to the ground, where it then impaled it with its horns.

While this was happening, Baelish began to grab one card in his hand, only to stop himself.

'No. I have learned enough. Plus an early loss is what I was planning.' He thought as he let the attack happen. He watched as his life points went down as Archfiend of Gilfer was finally put out of its misery by Tyranno's jaws.

R: VICTOR B: DEFEAT

The crowd erupted at the spectacle they had seen, any whispers they had made about Robb forgotten at the sight of his victory. As the monsters faded, Robb found himself panting, as though he had been doing the actual fighting himself.

Sansa ran up to him. "That was...wonderful Robb." She said politely, not wanting to drag attention more to her and how she acts in public. She was probably feeling embarrassed by her previous cheers.

"Allow me to second that." Lord Baelish said as he walked up.

"I believe you won these?" He threw two Gold Dragons at Robb, who caught them with ease.

"Thank you, Lord Baelish." He said.

"Think nothing of it. You won, I lost. But I do still have one, so I am not out just yet." Baelish pointed out.

Robb smiled. "Mayhaps a rematch in the next round."

"Oh don't even joke about that." Baelish responded. He turned to look at the sun. "I suppose the first day will be finished by now. No use heading back in for more Dragons unless you like getting robbed. Come, I am sure you will want to rest for a bit before your friends and family come back."

Robb looked at the city around them. He had only managed one duel on the first day. How many had others done? Would he still even make it in time for the next round?

INSIDE THE RED KEEP

As Lord Baelish escorted them back into their rooms, he spoke of stories from his and their mother's shared childhood at Riverrun. The two eldest Stark children learned much about their Mother that they never even thought about.

"She kissed you?" Sansa asked, somewhat scandalized.

"Oh it was only practice, I assure you. Her and Lysa wanted to train for their future husbands, and it was between me and Edmure. You understand why I was the more desired I hope." Baelish explained.

"Obviously." Robb said, not wanting to consider the alternative. "It's strange that Mother never told us these stories."

"Oh forgive her. A parent must appear all knowing and flawless to their children. It's up to the uncles and aunts to chip that away to the child's amusement." Baelish explained. "There is also the fact that we did not leave on the best of terms." He added a moment later.

"Really?" Sansa asked. "What happened?"

Baelish looked pained for a second before answering. "I was young. I had never known a sibling before Riverrun. I mistook Catelyn's doting for love. So when I had heard that a wild man from the North was coming to take her away, and everyone seemed okay with her leaving, I took it upon myself to challenge her future husband for her hand."

"You fought Father?" Sansa asked before she remembered their family history. A sense of realization wrote itself ontp her face.

"No. No, I only met your Father when he came down for the War, though we spent little time together outside of council meetings, much too busy funding the war. No, I fought your uncle Brandon. I still carry a mark of honor from him, from Naval to Collarbone."

Robb and Sansa looked at each other. Both were at a loss for the same reason.

Brandon Stark. One of the Forbidden Names as they had called them.

Growing up, both had seen the sadness on their father's face whenever his dead family was mentioned. They had never asked directly about it, instead letting Ned tell them piece by piece when he desired. When their brother Brandon was born, Jon had been the one to suggest they call him Bran in part to lessen the reminder their father would have to go through that calling him Brandon would incur. It was funny that they thought it would actually work, but the name stuck, if nothing else. Robb doubted his mother ever learned Jon had come up with the simple nickname. To hear the name that had carried so much tragedy when spoken in Winterfell be mentioned in King's Landing was a shock.

'Though it shouldn't be.' Robb thought. 'This city. This was where he died.' That fact just hit Robb for the first time. Sansa as well, if her face was to be believed.

"...We never really knew much about uncle Brandon. He was murdered for no reason but the Mad King's desire. He deserved much better than that." Robb said when Baelish looked to question the sudden silence. "It may have been dishonorable, but I suppose we should thank the Kingslayer for avenging him."

That was a question Robb remembered asking Maester Luwin and Father. Ned had explained that Aerys should have been put on trial and punished accordingly, but a part of Robb did wonder why the Mad King deserved a trial when he denied the same to his uncle.

"...Really?" Baelish asked, in an almost whisper.

Eventually, they reached the Stark's rooms provided by the royal family.

"Robb…" Baelish said once Sansa went inside. "I think there is some advice you should know. Consider it one last reward for defeating me."

Robb turned and was ready to listen to the Master of Coin, only for the Valeman to beckon him over to another room. Robb walked in, and saw the room was empty.

"I honestly don't know what I expected." Baelish said. "But I suppose it makes sense considering which Stark you are the son of."

Robb was confused. "What do you mean?" He asked.

Baelish let out a breath, as though he was thinking of what words to use. "Some second sons grow up plotting their brother's demise, or else waiting for them to die so they can inherit instead. But not your father. No. He honestly loved his brother, which of course, means he was blind to his faults." Baelish explained. "Tell me, what do you actually know of your uncle? Not his story, how his death triggered the Rebellion. What have you been told about the man himself?"

Robb thought it over. Father never spoke much, but he did let some things out over time. "He was a leader." Robb said the first thing that came to mind. "Father often said, especially when I was younger, that Brandon would have handled a situation better than him, that he had been trained for it."

Baelish nodded. "Perhaps. But tell me, would you want to follow a man who enjoys cruelty?"

Robb was taken aback by this question. "No! Such a man could never inspire loyalty in his people. Some fear might be necessary in order to show strength, but needless torment for the sake of it is just wrong. That was why the Mad King was overthrown."

A sense of unease entered Robb.

Baelish nodded. "Perhaps. But that does not stop it from appearing in the world, and those who know power."

Baelish grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it down. A thin scar, partially faded with age was still visible. "This? The token from your uncle I mentioned from our duel. From my neck to navel."

Baelish then turned around, and lifted his shirt, almost taking the whole thing off, exposing his back to the Stark heir. Robb paled as his mind slowly realized what he was looking at. His stomach suddenly twisted itself.

"This on the other hand? This was from after our duel."

It was all heavily discolored, and had no definable shape that Robb could make out. No, that was wrong. He could make out a shape. He just could not put a name to what that shape was. It may have been… Feathers? But if it was a bird, why was its beak so long? Who could carve such a detailed pattern into another man's flesh?

In any case, it was large enough to cover most of Baelish's back.

"It was the Hour of the Wolf, ironically enough." Baelish explained. "The Maester had determined that I would survive my challenge to your uncle. All I needed was rest. No one was seeing me, Lysa was forbidden from doing so by your grandfather, who was very angry towards me. He did not like my little stunt. Then while I was asleep, your uncle came to see me. At first, I thought he would apologize to me. Say he had gone too far, or that he hoped there were no hard feelings. Instead, he pulled out a hunting knife and put it over a fire that gave my room a bit of light. He looked at me, then whispered to me, the stench of drink carried on his breath, 'You think you're a man? Think you can just take what's been promised to me? I already had to give up Barb for this match and my Father, you think you can ruin it that easily?' I had been laying on my back, but he flipped me over. 'You live because Catelyn asked, but this will be a reminder to you.' He then took his knife, now red hot, and carved me. 'Now I ain't a Bolton.' He said. 'So this won't be as clean as those Bastards can do.' That was the closest he came to an apology. I don't know why he chose that shape. Maybe he just let the knife guide him as he had his fun. Maybe he had a specific shape, but he was too unsteady to do it cleanly. My cries of pain were muffled, as he pushed my head into the bed, but eventually, someone did hear us. Though I do not remember who. There was some yelling, but I was in too much pain to listen. Next thing I know, the Maester is patching me up all over again, and Lord Hoster throws a bag of Gold Dragons at me. "Here Boy, this is what you wanted isn't it? More money than you could ever from your family's land. Take it and once you are better, go back to the Fingers. But never speak of what happened here again. Else you will regret it', I swear." Baelish said, his voice going from sad to fearful to angered as he spoke.

"Lysa looked after me for a bit, but I had too much Milk of the Poppy to speak. I only remember that she comforted me, and apologized for letting Brandon hurt me so much. Then when a fortnight had passed, I was sent back to a home I hardly remembered. Then the rebellion broke out. You can probably imagine that I shed no tears for Brandon; though I did feel pain for your grandfather Rickard. My father then fought for Jon Arryn, and died in Gulltown, leaving me as the lord of my house before any hair grew on my face. I put the Gold Dragons Lord Tully gave me to good use, and that led to showing my skill with money. Now here I am."

Robb was speechless. What could he even say?

His Uncle had done that. Had left that scar on Baelish's back.

"I… I never knew." Robb got out, almost whispering.

"I would be amazed if you did. The number who do is very low, I am sure of it." Baelish said as he put his shirt back down. "Your uncle might have been innocent of the crimes for which he died, but that does not make him some sort of paragon of honor. In truth, I would say that Jon Arryn had more to do with how your Father turned out than the rest of your family. But... they are still family. He loves them, there is no doubt. But that love left him blind to their faults. I am sure you understand what I am trying to say."

"What? That my Uncle had been a cruel man that deserved his death?" Robb asked, still stuck in turmoil at the new view of the Uncle he had never had a chance to meet.

"Not quite. More… Do not rely solely on what you see or are told. If something seems too good, then question it. A single person rarely has the full story." Baelish explained.

Silence reigned for a few minutes, but then Baelish walked over to the door.

"You have many responsibilities waiting for you when you're older. If you want to do the best you can, then you should start thinking for yourself. I wish you luck."

With that, the Master of Coins walked out of the room, leaving the Heir of Winterfell to think about what he had learned.

'I… I think I've had enough of this city for one day. I need to rest. And think.' Robb thought to himself when he eventually stood up and walked out.

PETYR BAELISH

RED KEEP

Littlefinger walked through the Red Keep. On the outside, he had his usual confidence, but inside, he was at war with himself.

'Why? I have never told anyone that story. So why did I suddenly divulge it all without prompting? No… I had prompting. He just did not know it.'

Even now, the mere thought of Brandon Stark's drunken cruelty was enough to tear through his carefully crafted persona. Many people saw his ambition, true, but not the extent of it. He rarely angered, preferring to treat everything as a joke. But that one dead man was enough to force it all to the surface.

He had intentionally followed the Stark heir and his sister. He wanted to get a look at how they reacted. Which traits they had gotten from which parent. The better he knew them, the more he could plan for them. All it had really cost him was forgiving a brothel debt to the man who insulted Robb for letting his bastard brother take the glory. Robb had definitely heard it, but he had simply closed his eyes and ignored it. He would not be so easily provoked, if that was anything to go by.

He let out a chuckle. 'I suppose this was a good reminder. One who relies on Chaos is not necessarily immune to it. I have been a bit too successful in my recent endeavors. First with how well my brothels have been doing, as well as my other ventures. This was a needed humbling. At least it was to the Stark boy, and not someone I would have more regular dealings with.'

Yes. Some humility after all of his successes. That was what separated him from those he would tear down. Those he would replace.

He pushed down an urge to place his hand over Brandon's Scar. However cruel and painful it was, it opened him up to a new world. One as old as the Doom. It had made him the man he was today, that was undeniable. But even so, for now he was only a part of the whole.

'And now, with another so close to the end, it is up to me to search for someone else. Luckily one such candidate has been provided to me already.'

His scar chose that moment to twinge. He looked to the ceiling. A spiderweb with its maker in the center.

'I suppose after this tournament, I should look into Ser Gerold's plans. He is our newest member, and I am curious what he hopes to achieve with the Mountain. Really he should be grateful to me for sending the order for the Breaking of Sunspear. Not a risk free action. Perhaps he should be reminded of the debt.' Baelish thought as he felt the Dornishman's eyes see him through the Spider.

AN: And done.

This is it for now, next up I will be adding 2 chapters to the rest of my stories besides Fate. I already have the second chapter of my Avatar started, partially because it was more fresh in my mind. That will probably be next unless I hit a block.

In this chapter we largely see Robb and Baelish's duel. I gave Robb a dino deck partially on a whim, but it works well.

As for Baelish, this was his public deck, which I said earlier is his weakest. But he does have good cards in it, as others would be suspicious if he did not.

After that, we have their talk. I thought Baelish giving advice to Robb would be interesting. We know from canon how capable Robb is, but he is still a Stark, which carried with it a sort of rose tinted view of the world and history. Now Baelish has shown him that what he has been told by others may not be the complete truth. As for Brandon's cruelty, we never see him in the series, instead just hearing what others say about him, and while some have a good view, it is clear that he was not perfect. So, in a bit of drunken cruelty, he decided to carve up Baelish's back. I was a bit stuck on WHY Baelish would reveal such info, but one who dabbles in chaos for their own benefit should not be immune to the power of sudden bursts of uncontrollable emotion. I hope that came across well enough. I also got a bit delayed by this scene, as I debated whether it was too out of nowhere, but I decided to keep it as it adds more depth to Baelish's origins.

And finally, Baelish is a Dark Signer. I figured that would be a good cliffhanger as I go to other stories. I don't think anyone has mentioned it as a theory in the comments, but him being one has been planned out since I decided to include them. You won't see any hints of it in his first POV, as back then I only thought to introduce the cards. Just think he had no reason to think about it at that time.

Darkstar may be the first one in this story, but as I mention here, he was also the most recent to join. When they do meet up, I will explain more of what their plans are, but for now, they know of each other as allies, but have not coordinated much.

With that, this Chapter is FINALLY over. I apologize again for how long it took to get out. Hopefully I will never be this late again.

Hope You All Stay Safe and Wish You Luck in All Your Future Endeavors.

Jaehaerys Joestar.