Ignotus had commanded the Maester to have her sleep after saying his goodbyes and promising to return to her. Alone in the corridor, he contemplated returning to his given chambers, though he knew not what he meant to do there. Instead, he found Percival and told him to gather men and call Lord Bracken for another council.

After, for long, he could say how long, he wandered the castle, guiding himself through its halls and rooms, even eventually finding himself at the ancient godswood of Raventree Hall, peering at the colossal weirdwood tree. There he walked about, watching the dead tree for what felt like hours, his mind wandering to the war, to Jeyne dying. What was would all be this for, if she was just to die at the end of it all?

Ignotus tried to look at what was to become of her death, should it happen. She would give him a child, and he very much intended to love and protect it with all his might, whether it was a boy or a girl, but... The joy of that did not overshadow the sorrow he felt, and it did little to turn his mind from recognising that she would die because she meant to give him an heir.

Jeyne was the only family he had left now. His brother Cadmus Teague had died fighting ironborn, his brother Antioch had been taken by fever, his father Myrddin had poisoned himself, taking his own life. Jeyne had seen him through all the deaths of all those closest to him, soothing him with promises and sweet words. Strange that, even as death seemed to stalk his family, he had never imagined it ever coming for her.

Their deaths were still fresh wounds. He could not even bear to wear the heirloom his father had left for him. Yet, he would have to endure another death before he could deal with theirs.

He was not meant to be here. He was never meant to rule the Fieldstones. His first mistake was proving to be his worst, and it was not one he would easily forgive himself for.

Walking up to the tree, he raised a hand to its haunting frown and hung his head.

"There has been word from the Iron Isles, and a letter from the King himself," Lord Walder Blackwood was the last to enter the tent, bearing parchment in his rough hands. All the lords supporting him not with the Darklyns sieging Butter Hall were gathered in the war tent, silent and uneasy. They said nought as the Blackwood moved to give Ignotus the rolled parchment.

With a small mental sigh, he opened it and read so they could all hear, "Word long reached me of your foolish rebellion. Drop your swords and return to your keeps and your sons, daughters and folk will be spared from the wraith of your king -"

Shaking his head, Ignotus tore the paper and threw it to the floor, before leaning over the table and peering at its map, "He speaks as if he hasn't been enslaving our people and raping our wives. The fool. What word, Lord Blackwood?"

"The Iron lords gather under their prince, and it will not be long before they sail."

"Their obvious landing will be Seagard," Lord Dafyn Vance of Wayfarers Rest put in, looking to Ignotus, "Will the men garrisoned there be able to repel them?"

"For a time," Ignotus answered softly, "But not indefinitely. We will have the time to deal with the Iron King and his supporters. Then it would be best we moved to Seagard to deal with their attempts at recapture."

"We should march on Harrenhall immediately," Olyver Bracken said, nodding, "Before any more join him."

"That would be a brash action," Of course, Walder Blackwood was inclined to disagree, "We should move to join our strength with our allies in the south, before moving to smash the man."

"What of the Pipers?" Lord Patrek Vance of Atranta asked, "We know not of their intentions, and we should be wary of moving anywhere close to their lands."

"They would not dare challenge a host of our size, even if they have declared themselves for the Hoares," Lord Blackwood was quick to retort, "Our march around would not be bothered by any man."

"And they may well join us," Oscar Tully, with the usual red hair and blue eyes of his house, added, "If they meant to stand against us, they would have prevented you from joining your power here, Lord Patrek."

"Then why have they not come to us, or joined the Hayfords with the Darklyns in the siege?" Lord Bracken inquired, "They can only mean to oppose us."

"The Cresseys' and the Bourneys' have declared for their king, south of them," Walder Blackwood retorted, his voice near scolding, "They must mean secure their lands before they join us."

"Your speculation will not do us well, Blackwood. Lord Piper has sent us no letter telling us of his intentions. Should they turn to the Hoares whilst we join with the Darklyns, that would put them between our lines. What shall we do then?"

"Son of a whore, you speak of -"

"We will send riders to the Darklyns at Butter Hall," Ignotus interjected quietly before the fighting could worsen between, and they thankfully stopped to listen, "We will have them split their host, and send men east around the Gods Eyes whilst we march south towards this Harrenhall. That will put Harren between two armies mightier than his own. Knowing the fools of the ironborn, they will not dishonour themselves by retreating and instead may hold up in what's been built of their castle, if they even can. We will have the king, or his head - it makes no matter to me - before the month is out."

Ignotus looked up from the table and peered at the faces of the gathered men, who seemed unwilling to interrupt the wording of his plan. He didn't know how much conviction and authority he had managed to place in his voice, but it was clearly enough to quell any disagreement they may have had, "I will select the men from my own guard to send to Lord Darklyn."

Using the attention he had of them, he peered back down to the map of the Riverlands, " Should fighting come to the field, Lord Patrek will lead the van. I will hold in the centre, and Lord Blackwood will lead our left, Lord Bracken with him. Our right -"

"Surely, you could have another -"

"I understand your ancient rivalry Lord Bracken," Ignotus addressed the now standing man, glancing at Lord Blackwood who was on his feet too, "And I mean not to undermine it. But we fight for more now. We fight for the future our daughters and son, for the safety and wellbeing of our wives and kin, for the smallfolk that tend our fields and their children. For the Riverlands. Surely, you can overlook your differences for but this war?"

Ignotus returned both their outraged expression with a hard look of his own, almost daring either to soil their honour by refusing such a noble cause amongst other lords and their own bannermen. It would not be a good look for them, and he disliked having to put his recent friend of Blackwood in such a situation, but if they weren't man enough to look past their feud, he saw no other way to humble them.

Walder Blackwood was the first to sit back down and turn to the war table, and for a moment, it looked like the Bracken would walk from the tent, but he too returned to his seat and uttered nothing more.

"Our right will be headed by Lord Dafyn, and Lord Oscar will hold our reserves."

Both men nodded their consent with no complaints, and Ignotus was glad to have no further protest as they sorted through the compositions of the army. It was apparent their combined forces amounted to near fifteen thousand men, and he was certain that was far more than the Iron King had stationed with him at his seat at the Gods Eye, and despite his previous wording, he began to realise how crucial it would be to capture the King to negotiate a peace rather than have his head.

The idea of not executing the tyrant for all he had done left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he could not preach about fighting for the Riverlands and then do what only would satisfy his burning desire for revenge.

At least, he thought, angry, I'll still present her the heads of her rapers.

And he promised her as much, days later, adorned in a golden cloak and dark surcoat over his mail, a long sword to his hip as he stood over her. Maester Maric was there, sorting through vials on the table of the room.

The look he got from her was glassy and slow, and the Maester explained why, "The pain was great today, my lord. Though she desired to see you off. I fear one of her stitches may have torn. I will have to be gentle in checking."

Ignotus nodded, his concern growing, "Tell her, then... When she is well enough to hear. That I will return, and that I love her."

Smiling, the Maester nodded gently.

Ignotus crept from the room after taking a final glance at her.

Next chapter - the war, and likely the longest one yet. Two more chapters after it before we get to the main story with our dear Harry Teague.

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