A/N: Hi, guys! Hope you all are continuing to be safe and healthy!
Like the last chapter, lot to cover. So fasten your seatbelts :)
Benjen clinked his cups with Minoru Lim, happy that he accepted his invitation. One of the officers at Si Qo had resigned in protest of Benjen assuming command, saying that he would rather serve in some backwater rather than under an "up-jumped white devil." Relieved that one potential problem was resolved before he had to deal with it, he sent a message to the Northwest Army and offered Lim the position of Major-General of the Foot, a significant promotion from brigade lieutenant. Besides being a good officer, Lim valued his career and any position southwards would be beneficial for him. Most importantly, there was a greater emphasis on the infantry than on the cavalry at Si Qo, so he was making Lim his third-in-command.
"Thank you for coming… General," Benjen smiled.
"No, thank you, General Benjen," Lim grinned. "Never in my life did I consider being posted to the south, especially so close to the capital. But I have to really be careful, as this is quite the step up for me."
Benjen nodded. "Of course. I'm not secure in my position yet. The officer before you resigned because he didn't want to take orders from a white devil."
"His loss then," Lim shrugged off.
"How have the men been doing in my absence?" Benjen asked.
"They miss you," Lim answered. "How can they forget the man that led them into combat and made them respectable again? But they also understand that you are very close to the seat of power, so you'll do a lot of good here."
"If only the others shared your optimism," Benjen was grateful.
"I take it that the other officers don't like you?" Lim inquired.
"Wasn't so sure, until I started to investigate some 'disappeared brigades,'" Benjen revealed. "That's when I knew that a few of my officers were probably involved in what was happening."
"By those brigades, you are referring to army formations that only exist on paper but are phantoms in reality?" That got Lim's attention.
"How would you know that?" Benjen set his cup down.
Lim sighed. "As you know, my father is a merchant. I tried to not think too much on how he provided for the family, but after I was commissioned, I went through some paperwork and found some discrepancies in supply reports."
"When did this happen?" Benjen was very curious now.
"I was a company lieutenant in the southwest province, but what troubled me was that my father's name was on all of them."
"Your father profited from selling army supplies on the market?" Benjen picked up on.
"Not only that, that's how he was able to pay for that house he still lives in at Asabhad," Lim shook his head. "I confronted my father, but he said nothing to me. The next day, I was reassigned to the Northwest Province, where I remained until now."
"You think your father had something to do with that?"
"I know it. His money, or I should say our money, allowed him to develop connections with the officials in the southwest province. I guess he thought I became too curious and silenced me by sending me elsewhere," Lim scoffed.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Benjen offered.
"It doesn't matter now," Lim waved off. "It's something that I should have learned earlier. Those with power and coin, they rule. Those without, they don't last if they try to do right."
Benjen could understand where he came from, but it wasn't entirely correct. "Maybe one of these days, you'll see that the good eventually triumph. Doesn't matter how long, but it does happen."
Lim was unsure. "The way I see it, General, that rarely happens."
Benjen was about to respond when someone knocked on the screen door. "Who is it?"
"General Stark, the singer Mingyu and her helper is here to perform for you," the guard said.
Oh, right. He knew that he had forgotten something, and it was Mingyu performing for him in private after she offered. Her performance was received with a standing ovation from the troops and even Benjen found himself enjoying her music, even though he couldn't fully understand them.
"Let her in," Benjen ordered.
In came the singer Mingyu and her male helper. With her perfectly round face, soft black hair, glittering brown eyes, and white skin, any man would have wanted to be next to her and in her bed if they were so audacious. But Benjen reminded himself that was an army officer and a former First Ranger, and his main priorities were professional in nature.
At the same time, Mingyu had requested to perform before a white devil and Benjen couldn't be seen denying a woman's request.
Mingyu bowed her head. "Good evening, General Stark. I hope you enjoyed my performance tonight."
"I did. You sing very well," Benjen complimented her.
"You honor me very much, General," Mingyu sat down while her helper adjusted her koto. "It warms my heart to see that songs can be enjoyed across different cultures."
"Indeed," Lim joined in. "There were certain bards from the Free Cities and from the Reach that I came to enjoy listening to. I suppose music is one of those things that can be understood by everyone."
"Well said, General Lim," Mingyu acknowledged the new officer. "The song I will perform is about someone who practices love, but the one receiving it cannot reciprocate even though they have a close relationship. The words in this song is that one's reflection on how understand love. I hope you enjoy it."
Benjen and Minoru gave her their full attention, as her helper played a flute while her fingers strummed each string of the koto.
"Píng shénme yào shīwàng cáng yǎnlèi dào xīnzàng
wǎngshì bù huì shuōhuǎng bié gēn tā wéinán
wǒmen liǎng rén zhī jiān bù xūyào zhèyàng
wǒ xiǎng"
Besides her beautiful voice, which sounded light and had a high pitch, Benjen found himself moved by the words that he only could comprehend.
"Xiūliàn àiqíng de xīnsuān xuéhuì fàng hǎo yǐqián de kěwàng
wǒmen nàxiē xìnyǎng yào wàngjì duō nàn
yuǎn jùlí de xīnshǎng jìn jùlí de míwǎng
shuí shuō tàiyáng huì zhǎodào yuèliàng
biérén yǒu de ài wǒmen bù kěnéng mófǎng
"Xiūliàn àiqíng de bēi huān wǒmen zhèxiē nǔlì bù jiǎndān
kuàilè liàn chéng lèishuǐ shì yīzhǒng yǒnggǎn
jǐ nián qián de huànxiǎng jǐ nián hòu de yuánliàng
wéi yī zhāng liǎn qù yǎng yīshēn shāng
bié jiǎng xiǎngniàn wǒ wǒ huì shòu bùliǎo zhèyàng"
From the few words that Benjen knew fully, he began to reflect on a time lost when he tried to find love. And the wounds were still fresh.
"Xiàozhe shuō ài ràng rén fēngkuáng
kūzhe shuō ài ràng rén jǐnzhāng
wàng bùliǎo nà gèrén jiù tóuxiáng
"Xiūliàn àiqíng de bēi huān wǒmen zhèxiē nǔlì bù jiǎndān
kuàilè liàn chéng lèishuǐ shì yīzhǒng yǒnggǎn
jǐ nián qián de huànxiǎng jǐ nián hòu de yuánliàng
wéi yī zhāng liǎn qù yǎng yīshēn shāng
bié jiǎng xiǎngniàn wǒ wǒ huì shòu bùliǎo zhèyàng
"Jǐ nián qián de huànxiǎng jǐ nián hòu de yuánliàng
wéi yī zhāng liǎn qù yǎng yīshēn shāng
bié jiǎng xiǎngniàn wǒ wǒ huì shòu bùliǎo zhèyàng"
Once the plucking of the koto stopped and the flute ceased blowing, Benjen and Minoru clapped softly.
"Thank you for performing, my lady," Benjen said as Minoru Lim bid him good night.
"Not at all, General. It's not every day that I see a man in your position who hasn't let the good things get to his head," Mingyu spoke.
"What?" Benjen was surprised.
"Let's see," Mingyu looked at him up and down. "From what I could tell, you are very fit, can take hardship, and you put all of your efforts whenever you can. Most men your age would be fat, slow, and with drink lacing their breath."
Finally, a woman in this land who is not afraid to speak her mind, Benjen thought. "What I can, I do. I'm glad to know that my efforts have paid off."
Mingyu chuckled. "I'm sure. And indulge my curiosity. Is it true that you were at the wall of ice in Westeros?"
"I was the First Ranger of the Night's Watch before coming here," Benjen answered.
"And their oath was not to take a woman?"
"That's correct."
"Still, a man of your talents and your build must feel an urge to be inside a woman's embrace," she stepped closer to him.
"That's what the other generals said to me when I told them of my exploits. They couldn't believe it, as none of them are bachelors. But a small price to pay when you're doing something honorable," Benjen explained.
Mingyu nodded in understanding, which further baffled him. "Also, you can never know how men would act because they go after whoever their dicks point to."
Benjen snickered. "Never have I heard a truer statement, my lady."
Mingyu handed her flute to her helper, telling him to go back to his room, before closing the screen door. "I have a suggestion, General."
"What would that be?" Benjen sat back down and gestured for Mingyu to do the same.
"I am being truthful when I say that I had a rather checkered upbringing. Being a singer doesn't bring a stable income, so I had to what I must to survive."
Benjen listened, but he was not understanding why she revealed that. "I'm not quite following, my lady."
"Because I can see that despite your honorable and serious air, you are not above the hardships of life. And I would like to understand how such a man could survive in a land where he was not born."
Benjen's first instinct was to escort her back to her chambers. However, even though she was a stranger, he felt more comfortable around her than any women he had been with, with the exception being his older sister Lyanna while she was still alive. Most significantly, he felt something stir inside him, a stir that had been dormant for twenty years. And he didn't want it to end.
"What are you suggesting, my lady?"
"I propose a wager," Mingyu brought out a small bag of silver taels. "This is thirty silver taels right here. We take turns in saying two truths and one lie. Whoever guesses the most lies correctly wins. If you win, you can have this bag. If I win, I get to dine with you, in your quarters."
Benjen rubbed his chin, hiding his nervousness at this woman putting so much effort in spending time with him. But if I have to be honest, I don't want our time to end. It was a feeling that he still couldn't understand.
"All right, my lady. I accept."
Yujin arrived at the docks of Yin in disguise, trying to hide his face from any imperial soldiers, members of the capital constabulary, and anyone who had regular business with the palace. He couldn't be seen here, as that would raise questions and cause an investigation into his own malpractices, which would jeopardize the position of the people who needed him.
However, he didn't come there out of a sincere desire to check on his associates. The shopkeeper, who sheltered Arya Stark, Gendry, and Sandor Clegane, was getting very displeased that his earners had not compensated him and had thus reached out to his boss, who controlled all illicit business on the docks. Unlike the shopkeeper, Yujin couldn't afford to alienate the gang leader, as all of the gangs in the capital answered to him and he needed his underground resources to circumvent the Prime Minister, the emperor, his half-sister Khiara, and the dragon prince.
Yujin knocked on the door of the warehouse, which quickly opened. Entering, he was escorted past the various cargo that were stored there before either moving further inland or out onto the high seas by merchant ships. Finally, he found himself in an open area lined with cargo, with many cutthroats and villains of every sort imaginable in the space.
Pulling down his hood, Yujin looked at the leader himself. With tanned skin, hair tied backwards that resembled a horse's tail, and wearing black robes, the eldest son of the emperor had understood that this was a man that should not be trifled with, as his brown eyes adopted a type of gaze only reserved for the most deadly of predators. And one of his impulses was to silent count the beads in his hand, which reflected his strong belief in the mystical.
"Behold, Prince Yujin has decided to grace us wretches with his presence!" the boss announced, causing giggles from the other gang members.
"The old man is starting to annoy me," Yujin did not want to spend more time than necessary with the sorts he would never willingly rub shoulders with.
"That old man has been part of this gang for thirty years. He served my father, and he serves me now. He's practically family," the leader answered. "How could I ignore the concerns of my family, when he wants what is rightfully his?"
"I would say that he should've known better than to take in three white devils under his roof," Yujin answered.
"How was he supposed to know that one of them, the girl, was the cousin and adopted sister of the dragon prince?" the leader pointed out. "If there is blame to be attached, it'll be to you, since you clearly didn't succeed in getting the old man his due."
"Let me ask," Yujin cut him off. "They're just white devils. You can replace them with others who won't care for them. Why is the old man so fixated on them?"
"It's not a matter of money. It sends a bad message when those who owe us can just leave without paying us. The old man racked up expenses that included their living, their food, and the big one's opium intake. He did not realize that he was paying less than the market price, and only because of the old man," the leader made clear. "Either they compensate him, or their lives will be forfeit."
"You sure that's a good idea? The dragon prince has an actual dragon at his side. He's not going to let you harm his family," Yujin warned.
"Then help us find a way to lure that girl and her male friends away from his protection, or at the very least scare them. We cannot allow those under us to believe that there are no consequences, especially given what will happen in the coming weeks," the leader spoke.
"What's happening then?" Yujin inquired.
"Vinh, get over here!" the leader barked. Another tanned man entered the space, but Yujin recognized him as the gang's main man when it came to opium. "Tell him what you've told me."
Vinh turned his head to Yujin. "There's going to be a shipment due to leave the docks here within two moons, bound for the Shadow Lands. The poppy cultivators in the jungles have harvested a record amount, enough to produce forty tons of pure opium to sell on the market."
Forty tons? Yujin's eyes widened. It was rare for opium dealers to sell in tons, and that amount was more than enough to take over the market.
"An ounce of opium is worth thirteen silver taels on the open market. Final calculations led to profits amounting to exactly four million, sixty-two thousand, and five hundred silver taels," Vinh finished.
Yujin was beyond shocked. That amount is worth sixteen years of my annual income as a prince, he silently said to himself.
"So, now do you understand why there must be discipline in our ranks? If it's absent, that amount will be at risk and we will suffer irreparable damage," the leader told him straight.
Now comes the negotiation. "For every hundred silver taels you make from this deal, I demand sixty."
The gang and Vinh laughed at the ridiculousness of his demand.
"Not even close. I am open to allowing you twenty silver taels out of hundred," the leader counter-offered.
"Fifty."
"Thirty."
"Forty."
"Thirty-five, and I want a down payment of two hundred thousand silver taels."
The leader crossed his arms. "And why would I do that?"
"Because I could easily turn you over to the Central Column. Don't you know that opium production, importation, and exportation is punishably by death?"
Some of the gang members drew their weapons, but Yujin scoffed, as he could easily take them all out. Only reason why I let them live is because I need them, and what they can do.
The leader thought about Yujin's last offer, since he also knew that fact, before nodding. "Thirty-five it is. But I will only give you the down payment after you persuade that girl and her companions to pay up. I don't care how you do it."
Yujin exhaled before bobbing his head. "Done. She's not hard to find, so it won't be difficult to push her."
"But remember, Prince Yujin. I don't care who your father is. Cross me, you will pay the price. Understand?"
Yujin highly doubted that, but for the sake of appearance and cooperation, he shrugged and walked out of the warehouse.
Now, how to get that wolf bitch to reimburse the gang?
"Get your hands off me! I am your Lord Commander!" Jeor barked as mutineers dragged him out of his quarters.
Forced into the training yard of Castle Black, Jeor found at least two dozen of his black brothers lined up. Among them was First Ranger Alliser Thorne, First Builder Othell Yarwyck, First Steward Bowen Marsh, and Janos Slynt while recognizing the boy Olly among the others. What surprised Jeor was that the other members of the Night's Watch were merely watching, not interfering while this act of mutiny was taking place.
"What's the meaning of this?" Jeor tried to shake off the black brothers who were holding his arms, but they didn't budge. Alliser Thorne walked up to the former Lord of Bear Island and backhanded his face.
"Never in my life had I expected you to be a traitor," Alliser Thorne spat at him.
"What are you talking about, First Ranger?" Jeor asked.
"Don't play games with me, my lord. You know exactly what I'm talking about," Thorne was losing his patience.
"You're being vague, Ser Alliser. I've done many things, so you have to be more specific," Jeor stated.
"We all know of your dealings with Mance Rayder," Alliser announced to the yard. "Don't deny that you have been in contact with him."
Jeor turned pale. What? How did they know? "You're being ridiculous, Ser Alliser. My duty is to defend the Wall—"
"Oh, still denying it? Well then, allow me to refresh your memory. Bring him in!"
Two other black brothers brought a man into the yard by his arms and threw him down. It was clear to all that he was a wildling, but Jeor knew exactly who it was from the red hair and large build.
The hate that this wildling, Tormund being his name, had for Jeor was understandable and it was clear that he still had that towards the Old Bear. But if they wanted a chance to survive against the threat that was coming, they had work together. Even Tormund Giantsbane was wise enough to understand that, but why he was there instead of outside confused Jeor.
"I don't know him," Jeor kept denying.
"Oh, enough already," Tormund groaned. "Even I know that you're looking pathetic, crow."
Alliser Thorne turned back to Jeor. "Ah, so he does know you."
Jeor decided that enough was enough and dropped the pretense. "What are you doing here?" he asked Tormund.
"Someone had to see if this place could be attacked. Although I can see that the crows here will not work with us."
"Why would we work with you?" Olly made clear his hate. "You ravage our lands."
"Because if you don't, we both die," Tormund answered ominously.
"How will we both die?" Bowen Marsh interrogated him.
"I don't know if you'll believe it, but the wights, the White Walkers, they're back. And they're coming," Tormund wasn't going to waste more time.
The rest of the Night's Watch murmured amongst each other. While it was their duty to defend the realms of men, it had been too long since the feared evil had ravaged the world and thus the purpose of the Night's Watch was largely neglected.
"This is just another ruse, another lie spun up so that these shits can ravage our lands some more," Alliser Thorne scoffed.
"It's not a lie, First Ranger," Jeor cried out. "Othor was dead when he was brought back, but he attacked me. When I checked his body after it was burnt, his eyes were different. And regular steel didn't affect him. Only fire stopped him and we both know that there is only one form of life in these parts that could affected by fire."
This was the first time that the Thorne knight was hearing of this, but he was still not believing it. "What makes you think it was a wight and not some wildling trying to kill you in your sleep?"
"Wildlings don't come after you even after you stab them multiple times," Jeor shot back before turning to the rest of the Watch. "Brothers, please. You never knew me to be a liar and I would never make jokes out of serious matters. But I had to work with Mance Rayder because if we don't allow them through the Wall, that's thousands more wights to join the White Walkers. And we don't have the strength to fight them even now."
A few of the Watch, including Edd Tollett, started to waver, motivating Jeor to press on.
"We have a duty to defend the realms of men, and this is our chance to fulfill our oaths. I know that whatever the wildlings had done can never be forgiven, but we have to put aside our differences and work together. If we don't, we will all die."
Thorne, Olly, the First Builder, and First Steward shook their heads along with the many of the other members of the Watch.
"I would be careful not to dismiss the words of Lord Mormont," Aemon made his presence known, stepping into the yard with the help of a steward from the library. "We throw aside claims of seemingly fantastical origin at our own peril. I haven't seen evidence of the White Walkers, but I come from a line that could ride dragons. We all know that dragons existed at some point and we do not deny their existence because of that. The same must apply to wights coming from the north."
"First Steward, please confine Maester Aemon to his quarters," Thorne was now in no mood to hear anymore. "In light of Jeor Mormont's crimes, I say he forfeited his position as our Lord Commander. All those in favor, say 'aye.'"
To Jeor's and Aemon's shock, many did.
"As First Ranger, I will take over duties as Lord Commander until the next election," Thorne self-appointed himself before unsheathing his sword. "For crimes against the Watch and the realms of men, I sentence you, Jeor Mormont, to death. If you have to anything to say, my lord, say them now."
Jeor was about to open his mouth before a large eagle flew into the yard and started to scratch at Thorne. He struggled to push the eagle away and was close to striking it with his blade before it flew off.
Everyone in the castle heard deep rumbling, which only grew louder. Then, someone shouted, "Mammoths! Giants! They're coming!"
The black brothers looked at other with alarm, not expecting such creatures to show up. But Thorne took charge and tried to rally the men. However, they're not quick enough, as the few men on the walls began to fall from the arrows hurled their way and the wildlings who managed to scale them in quick succession.
As for Tormund, he saw his opening. Pushing against the guards that held him, he grabbed his sword and started slashing away, engaged in fierce combat with the black brothers who remained in the training yard. Jeor acted quickly and grabbed Aemon.
"Quickly! We have to take shelter in my quarters!" he and the steward protected the elderly Targaryen. Miraculously moving through the confusion and knowing that he couldn't take on Alliser Thorne or any of the younger black brothers in a fair fight, Jeor locked the door of his quarters behind him.
"What do we do now?" the steward asked fearfully.
"Now, we wait," Jeor sat on the floor.
"This was your plan?" Aemon asked him.
"Aye, but they must've attacked early after seeing that I and Tormund were in trouble. But no one was supposed to get hurt. I didn't want any bloodshed, so it was supposed to be a surprise attack," Jeor promised Aemon.
"You don't have to explain, Lord Commander," Aemon assured him. "And I'm sure that it's a surprise attack still. Most of the Watch were not manning their positions because they discovered what you were doing, so it shouldn't take long for them to be overwhelmed."
Jeor still didn't like what was going on. He didn't want any of his black brothers to die, as that meant less men to fight against the ancient evil. But he also had to remind himself that he was not in control of life and death and thus, he resigned himself to whatever would happen.
Screams could be heard from the other side of the door, as well as other sorts of sounds that didn't belong to man. The tension rose among Jeor, Aemon, and the steward, their anxiety growing as they awaited the outcome. None of them were strong enough to intervene and there was no way to control the outcome of a battle.
After several long moments, the noise started to quiet down, causing Jeor to stand up. The door then knocked, with the Old Bear walking slowly up to it and readying his sword as he opened it. To his relief, it was Mance Rayder, the woman Ygritte, and Tormund.
"Lord Commander," Mance greeted him.
"Mance," Jeor acknowledged as he gestured for Aemon and the steward to follow them out.
Bodies filled the training yard, with the numbers of wildlings and black brothers equaling each other. He also saw two giants, a mammoth outside of the walls of Castle Black, and several wildlings standing over a few of the survivors, which included Edd Tollett and Alliser Thorne.
"You traitor!" Thorne growled through his teeth at Jeor before he was struck in the head by the Lord of Bones. Jeor passed by the bodies of Olly and Janos Slynt, whose chest had been flattened and his bones broken. He looked up and saw a giant, who grunted at him.
"So, Lord Commander, I'm glad that you recognized the threat," Mance spoke. "But tell me. You allowed Benjen Stark to leave with his nephew, who you claimed is Daeron Targaryen, so that they can return with help. How soon could they come?"
"I have confidence that my nephew will come back before the threat becomes too dangerous," Aemon joined in. "And with your Free Folk, we might have a chance."
Mance Rayder nodded in agreement. "Indeed. But now, we must face the wrath of those further south, which includes the Boltons as you informed me."
The reputation of House Bolton was known to the King Beyond the Wall. "If you use your people wisely, you have a chance. Allow me to help you, as you need me."
Mance glanced at Ygritte and Tormund. "Well, he's gotten us this far. We might need a southerner to show us the way," Ygritte offered.
"I still want to kill him, but what kind of man will that make me, after what he did?" Tormund added.
Mance shook Jeor's hand. "All right. You can come with us. And I'll make sure that whatever's left of the Watch will not be harmed."
"Thank you," Jeor nodded with gratitude.
"Open the gates!" Mance ordered.
Jeor made sure to nod his thanks to Orrel, whose intervention with his eagle had certainly saved his life, as he returned to his solar, gathering all of the important papers and stuffing them underneath his furs. The most important one was Benjen's resignation, as without it, he might hang for desertion of the Watch. After all he would have gone through, that would be unfair, Jeor thought.
As he walked back to the training yard once more, he saw the first of one hundred thousand wildlings move through Castle Black and into the Gift. From there, they would proceed further south and into opposition. Jeor regretted that many of his black brothers died, but also accepted that it was necessary, as the one hundred thousand people that passed the Wall meant one hundred thousand less potential wights for the White Walkers.
But will it be enough? Jeor thought with worry, as the wildlings would now have to face the armies further south, potentially those of his skin from Bear Island.
Yohn Royce watched as Robin Arryn swung with his practice sword, but the Lord Paramount of the Vale was pathetically unsuited for combat and it was all on display for those who were watching. The Lord of Runestone had delegated Lord Robin's training to his master-at-arms, but he had largely given up trying to make him into a warrior as last on the same level as his father. Jon Arryn was long past his prime when the Rebellion broke out, but he had charisma and competence in leading men. I dread the day Jon's only heir reaches his majority.
At the same time, Yohn Royce was hopeful in that Lord Robin's presence in Runestone could at least undo some of the damage done by the late Lady Lysa and the worm Baelish. He was worried about what he had intended to do with Sansa Stark, who remained in the Eyrie at the moment, but he couldn't move on Baelish since he could just slip out of whatever bind he found himself in. Why did Jon Arryn ever think to give that son of a bitch power?
One good thing that came out of the current situation was the fact that at least one of Ned Stark's brood was alive and well, but for some reason, Baelish was hiding her in spite of the risks that came with his decision as long as Joffrey sat on the Iron Throne. The only reason why he knew was because he didn't buy her cover as "Alayne Stone," specifically since Baelish had come from King's Landing, the last place where anyone had laid eyes Sansa Stark and Arya Stark. And Joffrey, or rather the Small Council dominated by Tywin, was offering a substantial reward for anyone with information regarding Sansa's whereabouts as she was a "person of interest" in the death of Prince Tommen. How Baelish got her out of the lockdown in King's Landing is quite remarkable, but I still don't like what he plans to do with her.
During the final moments of Baelish's visit to Runestone, Yohn was able to get Sansa away from his gaze and asked her straight, "Are you all right, my lady?"
Sansa blinked in confusion. "My lord?"
"Please," Yohn tried to reassure her. "I knew your father. I hunted with him when he fostered in the Vale and it pained me very much when I heard of his death. I merely can't understand why you trust that worm."
Sansa breathed out, seeing no point in keeping up with the charade. "If it weren't for him, I would not have gotten out of King's Landing after the goldcloaks searched every gate and was about to close all of them after Tommen died."
"Why did he do that?"
"He said that my survival was a favor to my dead mother," Sansa said shakily.
Yohn Royce sighed while shaking his head. Of course. Everyone knew that he had feelings for Catelyn Stark. "In whatever manner that you came here, it pleases me very much to see you alive and well. Ned would be very happy."
Sansa smiled while a tear left her eye. "Thank you, my lord. That's… the first time in a while where I heard someone spoke well of my father."
"The Vale could've helped your family, but with Lysa around, we couldn't do anything. My only regret is that I didn't push her hard enough to have the Vale support your family in their greatest moment of need," Yohn declared to her.
Sansa let out more tears, obviously not expecting such sincerity after so long. "The fact that you are saying this to me… it makes me happy to see that at least one man had no ill will towards my family."
"And I plan to atone for my failures by protecting any of the Starks left," Yohn promised her. "But first. Tell me truthfully. Has Baelish mistreated you, in any way?"
"No," Sansa shook her head. "On the contrary. He gave me my aunt Lysa's jewels and wardrobe of silks, satins, velvets, and furs, although they are a bit large for me."
Yohn smiled. At the very least, she's not being abused as she probably was when Ned died. "Anything else, my lady?"
"Lord Baelish has been instructing me on how to conduct myself more ably in court, teaching me how the world really is. However, just like with Cersei, I sense that he has his own designs on me, and I am doing my best to keep my true feelings hidden," Sansa replied.
Yohn nodded in approval. Smart lady. "You keep doing that. No one is strong enough to move against Baelish yet, as he has your cousin under his control, courtesy of his mother. But by chance, did he reveal any detail of his plan?"
"Not explicitly, but he has been saying many good things about Ser Harrold Hardyng and saying that any woman who became his wife would be the envy of every highborn maiden in the Vale, and even in the riverlands," Sansa explained.
Yohn took a moment to process that, and it didn't take him long to figure out what Baelish was doing. So, that's part of your final plan, eh? Should Lord Robin die without an heir, Harrold Hardyng and all of his brood would become the new Lords Paramount of the Vale. Trouble was, everyone else in the Vale knew it and Ser Harrold himself was acting like he was already the overlord. Not helping matters was that he had fathered a few bastard children, which would really complicate matters of succession. At the moment, we have to choose between an inept child or an arrogant whoremonger, the Lord of Runestone thought in frustration.
But… Yohn knew that Sansa couldn't simply say no to Baelish's maneuvers, as that could endanger her and make Baelish act more aggressively towards him since it wouldn't be hard to find out where Sansa was learning defiance.
"My lady, I can only say at the moment to just… play along with Baelish's plots. You don't have to marry Harrold Hardyng if you don't want to, but don't outright refuse him. If you displease that weasel, what's to stop him from returning you to Joffrey and resuming your suffering there?"
Sansa gulped. "I was abused and humiliated by that shit. As long as he's there, I'm not going back."
"Then we are in agreement," Yohn Royce smiled with sadness. "No one your age should have to experience hardships like yours, but what you must focus on now is surviving. Meanwhile, I am trying to find other ways to ensure that the Vale doesn't suffer under Baelish's watch."
"You don't have to do that at my expense," Sansa spoke.
"This is personal for me, my lady. Baelish has found more than one opportunity to humiliate me. Not only that, he's jeopardized House Arryn through his control of your cousin. If I don't act against him, who will?"
Sansa took Yohn's hands in hers. "Thank you, my lord. Thanks to you, my time here shall become much more bearable with you in these lands."
Yohn grinned. "Anytime. And if you need anything, send a courier to me. I don't trust the ravens, since Baelish could read any of them."
After Sansa and Baelish returned to the Eyrie, Yohn spared one more glance at Lord Robin and his master-at-arms before riding out to a practically secluded area of his lands. Making sure that no one was following him, he made sure to return to Runestone before nightfall, as any time later would result in too many questions asked.
An hour of travel by horseback later, Yohn arrived at his destination, his private hunting lodge. Many fond memories had happened because of this place, mostly due to Ned Stark when they both hunted wild game and honed their skills for battle. Now, it was mostly devoid of happy times, as most of Yohn's friends were too busy and had aged considerably like himself. He didn't have the energy as before, but he kept his lodge around for sentimental purposes.
And recently, the Lord of Runestone was relieved that he had kept his hunting lodge around, for it provided shelter for his most important guest. But he couldn't reveal who was there, as it would attract the attention of the Lannisters' men.
Pounding hard on the door, Yohn glanced around, checking one more time if anyone was watching. Hearing the door open, he quickly moved inside and shut the door behind him. He then looked at the man who had opened the door, relieved that he was still keeping healthy.
What was once a man who led armies against the Lannisters, only to be betrayed by those who were supposed to be loyal to him, was replaced by one who had become more disheveled, less sure of himself, and very much afraid. Looking past his overgrown hair and beard of red-brown and his blue eyes, he saw heartbreak and doubt. Who could blame him? I would be if I saw my mother and pregnant wife be killed before me.
"Did you have a good day, Robb?" Yohn asked him.
"Yes," the son of Ned Stark answered. "Is there something urgent?"
"No," he shook his head. "But I feel that it's time we discuss the next step."
"What next step?" Robb inquired.
"Surely, you can't have expected to stay here forever," Yohn pointed out. "After all, a Stark can't just be idle, especially given the times that we're in."
Robb nodded in agreement before he followed Yohn to the dining hall.
After the events of the Red Wedding, Yohn had heard the worst things that had happened there, especially how the turncoats desecrated his corpse. But a few moons later and while trying to clear his mind in the hunting ground, he saw a man emerge from the trees with a large grew wolf. Alarmed, Yohn moved to draw his sword, only for Robb Stark to raise his hands.
"Please, Lord Yohn! You are Yohn Royce, correct?" he asked.
"Who are you?" he kept his hand on the pommel of his sword.
"I am Robb Stark, son of Eddard Stark, and this is my direwolf, Grey Wind," Robb answered.
Initially not believing him, Yohn look a closer look at the man. Despite having the Tully looks, he saw some resemblance to Ned Stark. What convinced was that he had Grey Wind with him, as the Lord of Runestone had heard that the King in the North was always accompanied by his animal companion.
Robb told him that one of his bannermen, Wendel Manderly, had pushed him up to one of the windows of the great hall at the Twins, all of which were covered with thick tapestries. Since all of the exits were blocked, Catelyn had Wendel force Robb out of his mourning for Talisa, ripped off the tapestry over one of the windows while the crossbows flew and daggers stabbed. Robb didn't know if that would even work, since the window was too high.
But Wendel made it happen by grabbing a cub, throwing it at the window and smashing it, and boosted him up before being several crossbow bolts entered his back. By instinct, Robb threw himself out the window, but not before a couple of bolts entered his thighs.
Rolling off a roof and slamming into the ground, Robb pulled the bolts out of his flesh and covered himself with a cloak he pulled off a dead Frey man. Limping as fast he could, he found Grey Wind's pen, unlocked it, and they just managed to force their way through the gate, the bloodbath in the camp, and disappear into the night. As much as Robb wanted to stay and fight, he realized that the battle was already lost and there was nothing he could to stop the massacre. Hiding in the riverlands, they only traveled by night and he made his way into the Vale, where his trail must had run cold, and that's how he was able to make it all the way to Runestone.
The head of House Royce found the tale extraordinary in the worst sense, but he thanked the old gods and the new that the son of his friend had survived against all odds.
From what Yohn could see inside the hunting lodge, Robb Stark had learned to cook by himself and hunted some game from his hunting ground. And he saw that the grey direwolf had consumed his own share of raw game, judging from the pile of bones in the corner.
After both sat down, Yohn could see that only one question was on his mind. "How is Sansa?" Robb asked.
"She's fine," Lord Royce answered. "She just left Runestone today."
As much as he wanted to, Robb couldn't reveal his survival just yet. Yohn told him that she was near Lord Baelish, and they both knew that he couldn't be trusted to keep the fact that he was alive a secret.
"What next step do you refer to?" Robb went straight to the point.
"Robb, as I said before, I'm very glad that you're alive. But you can't stay here forever. The longer you do, the likelier that Tywin's men will find you," Yohn didn't want him to leave, but this had to be done. "And you might not be so fortunate the next time."
Robb remembered how difficult it was to travel only by night, as it was the only way that he could avoid Frey and Bolton patrols sent out to hunt down any of his loyalist and most likely himself. "What do you suggest that I do then?"
"You can't go back to Winterfell, not like this and certainly not while the Boltons are in control," Yohn stated. "You try to go back there by yourself, you're a dead man."
Yohn and Robb were both aware that the situation in the North was very fragile, especially since they heard that almost all of the major houses refused to work with the Dreadfort.
"What about the Wall? My brother Jon is with the Night's Watch. He can protect me," Robb suggested.
Yohn shook his head. "I'm afraid that's not an option, either. There are rumors that the wildlings have attacked in force and that the Night's Watch are overwhelmed. You won't last long there."
Robb sighed in vexation. "Then what do you suggest I do?"
Yohn pulled out a piece of paper from his coat. "There's a boat that will depart from Gulltown to Tyrosh within a few days. Show this pass to the captain and he'll bring you and your creature aboard under the cover of darkness."
Robb stood up, not believing what he was hearing. "You want me to run?"
"I want you to survive," Yohn rose from his chair. "There's nothing more you can do in Westeros. Even though many of the northern lords hate Lord Bolton, they're not going to support you if you reappear. You have to admit that you made some serious mistakes during your war against the Lannisters."
Robb bit his lip, the truth hurting and the pain from Talisa's death still fresh. "If I leave Westeros, I don't know what I'll do."
Yohn put a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe… this is what the old gods want you to learn. How we behave in hardship determines who we become as men. Your father, my friend, was unjustly executed. Your mother murdered, your wife and unborn child butchered, one of your sisters not knowing if you are alive and the other missing, and your two younger brothers missing. But if everyone you loved had died, will you wallow in despair?"
Robb swallowed before finally shaking his head.
"Wendel Manderly threw you out of that window because he must've thought that you were worth it. Will you disrespect his sacrifice, and your mother for doing what any woman would do in her position?"
Robb exhaled before shaking his head again, resolve slowly entering him after a long while.
"Then go to Tyrosh. Either stay there or move elsewhere and find help if you can. Westeros might need you, but you can't come alone," Yohn squeezed Robb's shoulder.
"What kind of help?"
Yohn searched his mind before finding the solution. "When Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror, some refused to follow his example and went into exile in Essos. You can find the descendants in the sellsword group that still operates."
Robb's eyes widened. "The Company of the Rose?"
"They may be the sellswords, but you are a Stark and they might be more amenable to working for you."
"But Lord Yohn, I don't have gold," Robb pointed out.
"That's why I will give you some from my personal coffers to use as a down payment, plus some more to cover your living expenses."
Robb shook his head. "My lord, I can't accept that."
"Then consider it a loan," Yohn knew that Robb's Stark honor would prevent him from accepting such a gift for no reward. "Pay me back when you return."
Robb was still not sure of Yohn's reasons. "Why are you doing this?"
Yohn gave him a look of regret. "I should have fought alongside you to avenge my friend, but my loyalty to the Arryns prevented that from happening. And now look what's happened. This is my penance and I do hope for both of our sakes that you succeed where I failed."
Robb looked at the man who gave him shelter for no other reason except friendship and was at a loss of words, because anyone else would've done so only if they had much to gain from his presence. But Yohn pulled him into an embrace, remembering how his son Robar had died and allowing his feelings of warmth for his son to be transferred to Robb, who didn't have a father anymore.
Estimating that it would take only a full day to journey from Runestone to Gulltown, Robb had Grey Wind covered in a heavy cloak, telling him to stay quiet, while Robb would drive the cart and a portion of the Royce gold himself. To better blend in, he shaved off his beard and cut his hair while applying black dye.
Another thing that Yohn took comfort in was that Ned Stark left Robb the greatsword Ice, since he didn't take it with him from Winterfell. And it was with Ice that Robb fought his battles and what allowed him to survive until he arrived at Runestone.
"The captain will send me a raven when you are onboard," Yohn told him. "I will look after Lady Sansa as best as I can and make sure that Baelish doesn't do anything foolish with her."
Robb nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I will never forget this. And I promise to come back."
"Just stay alive and cut down any who would harm you with Ice," Yohn reminded him. "We'll be waiting." He watched as the cart drove further into the distance, Robb's silhouette growing smaller. The Lord of Runestone could only pray that no complications would occur, and that Robb could find the Company of the Rose.
Ned, if you are up there, your son needs you. Please help him, Yohn pleaded.
A/N: As I said, much to cover.
Benjen invited his second-in-command to Si Qo and gave him a promotion, so their partnership will last for a while. And what Mingyu is doing is part of the act, as she's just collecting information before she would have to carry out her contract. The question is, will Benjen know in time and will it go as expected?
I imagine the gang leader to be played by Jet Li and basing the gang arc from Lethal Weapon 4 (thanks for the suggestion, Longclaw 1-6). And oh boy, Yujin has a very powerful motivation to do what the gang asks (but they're not friends).
For the battle of Castle Black, without Jon and Sam there, it wouldn't have taken long for the wildlings to breach it and the Wall. And since Jeor is convinced of the White Walker threat, he tried to help Mance, but he was caught. Fortunately for him, Orrel saved his life. Even the Old Bear could still fight, he wouldn't have lasted long against giants, Free Folk who got the drop on the Watch, and mammoths. More importantly, he had to protect Aemon, so I hoped I handled that well, as well as our first real introduction to Tormund, Ygritte, and the other Free Folk. Also, with the Wall breached, the wildlings will indirectly undermine the Boltons' very shaky hold on the North, as we'll see later on.
And for those curious as to whether Robb was alive, here it is. I figured that Robb staying with his father's friend in the Vale would've worked and I hope that my explanation of how he was able to escape made sense. Yohn being a father figure to Sansa and Robb seemed fitting, and we will see more of Bronze Yohn vs Littlefinger (with the former causing more difficulty for Baelish than in the show). On another point, I felt that the mention of the Company of the Rose was needed, as Robb can't do much in Westeros anymore and he has to go elsewhere for help, just like Jon. Here's to hoping that Robb and Jon cross paths, each stronger than when they were just naive boys. For Sansa, I'm taking the book route (with a slight modification) rather than the BS one in the show, so no marriage to Ramsay (yay!).
From here, blood on all sides is guaranteed to spill. Fingers crossed.
(song is "Practice Love" by JJ Lin)
