Chapter XI
A/N: Sorry about the long wait. Severe writer's block on this story. This is nearly my top story in every category, save for reviews. I hope to break it after this chapter. Italics are visions. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD
Oberyn was more than thankful that the Dornish warship he was on, The Viper was a sleek and agile ship. And under the hands of her captain, has an easy time of it working its way through the treacherous Shipbreaker Bay.
That did not mean that the seas still were not rough. It was Shipbreaker Bay after all. He would be happy once his feet were on the docks!
Oberyn took in everything around him in the harbor. Everything was in a near constant state of movement. This was a harbor getting ready for a fight, for both on land and sea.
There were two reasons why he was coming to Storm's End. One this was his landing point where he would then travel by land to KL, hopefully unnoticed, and retrieve Rhaenys, Aegon, and his sister Elia. When Rhaegar started a war, his sister and her children would be hostages to make sure Dorne would fight for him.
The second reason was that was where that alluring flame-haired bodyguard for Lady Runa Baratheon was staying. For the first time in many years, Oberyn was having to work at getting a person into his bed. He'd heard some strange stories about the Umber family, most of which were not likely true.
As he disembarked, he noticed that it was a steward waiting for him. Once Oberyn came level with him, the younger man said, "Welcome, Prince Oberyn, to Storm's End. As you can see, it certainly lives up to its name. If you'll follow me, we'll get you out of this weather."
"Where are Lord and Lady Baratheon?"
"They are in my Lord's study. There have been rumors of bandits and kidnappers on the Kingsroad. Many companies of guards have been patrolling it almost constantly. On another note, perhaps you would like to head to your quarters? I'm sure that you would like to relax a little? We still have some of that excellent Dornish red you sent Lady Rossalynd."
"I would love to do that. How is the lady doing?"
"She is well your highness."
After many, many years of bargaining and wheedling, Brandon Stark was finally wedding his niece Catelyn. The ceremony had taken place in the late afternoon.
The feast was now in full swing, many were in their cups. Not that Brynden himself was not drinking, he was minding his cups unlike many others. Even the Freys and the Darry's seemed to be in good moods.
"Stark, you've got yourself a lovely lass in my niece. Be good to her. If you break her heart, no one will find your remains. Cat, congratulations, my girl. I wish you both happiness in your marriage."
Today was another good day for the Stark family. Her cousin Brandon was finally marrying his intended. Runa had not had any more ominous dreams on that matter, so she had done her best to put the other one from her mind.
Their Dornish guest was enjoyable to be around. Prince Oberyn had told many stories of his travels. Runa was not sure which ones to believe. All were entertaining. At the moment, the Prince and Ros were sparring. Runa could not help but smirk at the sight. Her friend was fascinated by the Dornish prince, and if you knew her, was not hiding it well. She would have to tease Ros later.
As she turned around, Runa shivered. It felt like someone walking over her grave.
Something was not right. A Frey had kept on pushing wine for him, and as the weasel leaned, Brynden saw the glint of armor. But why was armor needed at a wedding?
He took a further look around, looking for others in armor. All of the Freys and Darry's were wearing armor under their wedding finery.
They wouldn't dare… Brynden thought as he got up from his seat, looking for a Tully guard that was sober. It took him a while until he noticed that one of the newest guards was looking around the same way he was.
The Blackfish made his way over to the young guard whose name escaped him at the moment. Brynden had watched the guards training, this was one who was not afraid to fight dirty. Which if he was right, would be needed before the night was over.
The lad looked up as he came level with him. "Could I have a word with you lad?"
"Yes, my lord," was the reply. Once they were not in the great hall and away from prying ears, Brynden continued, "I saw that you noticed some of our guests are wearing good armor underneath their wedding clothes. I have bad feeling concerning what is about to happen, I would like for you to go check on my great-niece Daena, protect and retrieve her for me. I will be doing the same for my nephew. Meet me at the stables."
Runa ran through Storm's End. She needed to get to the Godswood. Ros was far behind her, calling her name.
Once she got there, Runa fell to her knees, an all too familiar vision creeped across her vision.
Blood, guts and gore were everywhere. Most of the dead bodies on the floor were in Stark, Tully, and other houses of both the North and Riverlands. Except for Frey and Darry. She had been right. Runa had so badly wanted to be wrong on this matter.
Another similarity to her prior vision popped up: Ros's father was fighting off multiple men with a stolen sword using a Frey as a shield to provide cover at the stables for the Blackfish and a young guard to escape with Daena Rivers and Edmure Tully on horseback. Ros's mother was already on the floor dead. Jon must not have come to the wedding.
Runa was back in the Great Hall, watching her cousin fight off a Kingsguard, Oswell Whent. And again, the man said, "King Rhaegar sends his regards" as he stabbed Brandon in the chest. What changed from the prior vision, was that her cousin had enough strength left to slash Whent's throat, turning it into a pyrrhic victory. Catelyn was also already on the floor dead.
She finally came back to herself with Ros's shaking of her. Looking her friend in the eyes, Runa whispered, "It's begun."
Before anything else could be said, they heard someone shout, "Down with the Northern heretics!" It was that lunatic Septon holding a dagger. As he ran towards them, he tripped on a shaft of a spear, sent sprawling onto the ground. It was Prince Oberyn. He knocked the man out saying, "I think that Lord Baratheon will love to find out why you are trying to murder his wife!"
Robert could hear the screams of the Septon begging for mercy from the stairwell leading into the dungeons. Not that he was inclined to give the man any, as the subhuman piece of shit had tried to murder Runa in the aftermath of her having a vision!
Prince Oberyn had offered his services in helping the interrogation along. Robert had assented to this; it was the least he could do for the Martell prince after he saved both his wife and Ros.
"Would you have given my wife and her good friend mercy if they had begged for it?" Robert snarled as he entered the torture chamber of Storm's End. It had not been used in years, but it was still usable.
Not bothering waiting for the answer, he motioned for Oberyn to hit the man with a flaming torch again, with a cacophony of screams.
"You've been here at Storm's End since shortly before my parent's death. In that time, I have come to realize that you only do things that you are ordered to do. So… Who told you to murder my wife?"
"Only a coward would order the murder of a woman and her close friend in their home," Oberyn hissed, sounding much like the Viper for which he was named.
"Or a man that wanted a woman that was already spoken for, for himself," Robert mused aloud, before asking, "Did King Rhaegar give you the order to kill my wife?"
The septon clenched his mouth shut.
"Since you're going to try be clever… Oberyn, hit him again!"
"My pleasure!" Screaming began anew. The smell of burnt flesh permeated the room. He was not going to be eating pork for a while.
They weren't getting anywhere with the Septon, whoever he was working for (and Robert had a pretty good idea who it was, he just needed the proof.)
"Say Oberyn, you see that spit over there? Wouldn't that provide a more even burning?"
"Yes, I do believe it would!" The Dornishman replied with glee.
It seemed that did the trick, for while the two of them were building up the fire, the septon called out, "Okay I'll tell you. Just don't put me on that spit!"
"Now that we have your attention, who ordered you to kill my wife and Lady Rossalynd?" Robert asked.
"It was His Majesty King Rhaegar. He sent a letter through the High Septon. Said I would be reposted to King's Landing and be considered for High Septon when the current one died. I was only supposed to kill Lady Umber and knock out Lady Baratheon. I would bring her to the shore where a ship would be waiting to bring her to the Capital," he replied.
Robert turned to one of the guards saying, "Go to my brother Stannis. Tell him to take a company of soldiers to check the surrounding area for a ship." Another guard had been writing down what the septon had said.
It was Oberyn that spoke next, "Now that you've given up your information, you are no longer of use to us."
"I told you that information so you wouldn't kill me," the septon squealed.
"When did we make that arrangement," the Dornishman crooned, as Robert came over with a sword and removed the septon's head from his shoulders.
"I need to call the banners," he said afterwards. Both he and Oberyn left the dungeons and made their way to Maester Cressen's tower.
Upon their arrival, Cressen looked up saying, "I already have the letters ready for you, my Lord. I also have a letter for Prince Oberyn. It concerns his nephew the Crown Prince."
After barely getting out with their hides intact, Brynden said, "We can take a short break. We should be far enough away for the moment."
He took a look at his nephew and great niece. Their clothes and faces were filthy and stank of death. Brynden knew that he was no prize to look at or smell.
He'd had to kill Emmon Frey among other people to get to Edmure, who was now Lord of Riverrun.
The young guard had also had to kill several people on his way to Daena. There was one thing he would like to know about the young man.
"What is your name?"
"Bronn my lord."
"Kneel then Bronn. Knighting you is the least I can do for what you have done for the Tully's."
A/N 2: And here we go! The war has started. However, what is going on with Aegon? I hope I wrote this version of the Red Wedding alright! SSD