8. Looking into the future.
Early the following morning breakfast started to be served in the Main Hall. There was enough food and beverage to feed an army. Robb had insisted on it. He wanted to show his bannermen that they mattered to him and that hospitality will never fall short in Winterfell, no matter the circumstances. The tables were filled with trays with bread and biscuits. There was butter, cheeses and jams of different fruits to go with them. And there was also leftovers from the King's feast, so the bannermen were treated to pork and venison and assorted vegetables. While some preferred to stick to juice and milk in the morning, some men opted to go for the ale and the wine.
After he saw that his men were getting comfortable and enjoying the gathering, Lord Robb Stark tapped his cup on the table and got their attention.
"My Lords, my Ladies, please enjoy the hospitality Winterfell has to offer, what we have always offered you and will always offer you so long as there is a Stark in Winterfell. As you are all well aware, certain events have come to light that have radically changed things around here. I am, first and foremost, deeply honored that you have accepted my Lordship and offered me your vows of fealty. As my father's son, I will always stand by you and the North." The muted toasts and light cheers he received were not exactly the kind of effusive reply he was hoping for, but it was a good start.
"We are very grateful that, in spite of all the accusations against my father and my family, you still remained stoically in support of the North." That was an overstatement and he, along with everybody else in the hall, knew it. All the Northern Lords had done was give the Starks a chance to explain themselves and give their version of the truth.
"Yes, my father did lie, and it's no use denying it. But he did if for a good purpose. If it weren't for his lie, my brother Jon would not be sitting with us here today."
"I thought he was your cousin, my Lord" one man raised his voice.
"He is indeed my cousin in blood, but my brother in heart. We didn't know the truth. We were raised together as family and we grew up as brothers."
"Exactly. You all claimed he was a bastard, but he was never treated like a bastard. You can't tell me you and your people here didn't know he was not a bastard and still expect us to believe you, boy."
"I'm not a boy. I'm your Liege Lord. And I am telling you the truth" Robb replied sternly and deliberately slowly. But one look around told him that Lord Cerwin was not the only one doubting his words.
"My Lords and Ladies, now we all know who Jon really is. He is indeed the son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and our beloved Lady Lyanna Stark. There can be no doubt that he is the true heir to the throne. With your support and the support of other kingdoms loyal to us, we can oust this fat Southron oaf who usurped the crown and calls himself a king, and we need to crown the rightful heir so we can have peace in the Seven Kingdoms." Robb tried to rally his men with a brave tone and raising his cup, but the quiet faces looking back at him told him he had failed miserably.
"Need I remind you, boy, that our families fought and died to put that, as you said, fat oaf on the throne at the behest of your father?" Lord Umber retorted.
"Call me boy again" Robb stood up defiantly challenging the GreatJon.
Maege Mormont tried to relieve the tension between the two men. "We all felt for Lyanna back then thinking she had been kidnapped, believe me. Unfortunately, now we found out that our beloved Lady Lyanna, as you called her, actually ran away with a married man with no regards for the consequences."
"Your own uncle and grandfather died for her. Your father knew about this and did nothing. We fought with him for justice for our Liege Lord and his family, but now we found out it was all a lie" added Lord Karstark.
Arya stood up and yelled. "My father didn't know! And the King is a cunt!" But she was gently shushed by her father. Ned wanted nothing more than to stand up and speak for his family, but he knew that would only jeopardize Robb's standing as Liege Lord and Warden.
The Lords ignored the little girl's outburst and continued to question Robb.
"And your father thought it more convenient to keep hidden the product of that damned union that drove us all to war. Oh, how honorable of him! And you stand there and very conveniently now tell us to fight again for you so that your own cousin can be king. Were you planning this all along? To hide him in the North and then use us to put him on the throne when he was old enough?"
"How can he be the rightful heir if his family was defeated and ousted? He's the heir to nothing but a disgraced family of tyrants. If you fight King Robert only to crown boy who'll do your bidding, he'd be nothing but a usurper, then, taking what does not belong to him. You just want your cousin to be king and get revenge for your family. Do you take us for fools, boy?"Lord Ryswell countered. It was well known that after his daughter's husband had died fighting for Ned and Ned had failed to bring his body back, a rift had grown between the two families.
"Your family has lied to us. A whole generation of Starks has been lying to us for years. And now you expect us to believe you?" Lord Jon Umber roared again. "My family defied the Mad King at the behest of your family and we suffered for it, many of them perished it in the war. Yet, your family has betrayed and defied King Robert and I still see you all sitting there very comfortable sipping your ale and nibbling on your grapes. Oh, poor boy, the king gave you a boo boo so you want to play at war and replace him with your cousin" he mocked Robb.
"King Robert tortured my family! He's no king of mine!" Robb spat losing his temper.
After all this commotion the screech of a chair was suddenly heard. Lady Catelyn Stark rose from where she was sitting and walked slowly and purposefully towards Lord Umber.
"Do you see the bruises on my son's arms? Do you see the marks on my husband's nephew's hands? Do you see the bruises on Theon Greyjoy's face? Do you see the scars on my husband's skin? Take a look at my face and arms and tell me you don't see marks and scars. And this is only what you can see. Now imagine everything you cannot see. Imagine bruises and wounds on places that are covered by clothing. Have you ever been locked in a cell not knowing what will happen to you and your loved ones? Not even knowing why this is all happening? Heard the cries of anguish and fear of your sons? Heard them yell in pain and not being able to help them because you are also in pain and shackled unable to move? Have you ever been forcibly held down as you have your dignity taken from you and shred to pieces? Have you had your small child taken away from you, possibly never to see again in your life?"
Lord Umber just stared at her and lowered his gaze.
"I asked you a question, Lord Umber. Have you?" she insisted.
He muttered a feeble no and shook his head lightly.
"No, I haven't, my Lady" he finally replied feeling somewhat abashed.
"You are free to disagree with my son's ideas and plans, but he is still your Liege Lord and deserves respect. You are free to have your say, but I will not tolerate you belittling our suffering and making light of our ordeal. And I will not have you disrespect your Lord in his own house." As she finished her tirade, she went to take her place at the table under the astonished look of the guests in the hall and sat next to her husband. When Ned made to grab her hand, she didn't flinch away this time and actually squeezed it back sending him a mirthless smile.
Lady Maege Mormont stood up. She nodded sympathetically at her friend Catelyn first and then addressed Robb. "I can't say I speak for all here, but I think it's safe to say that we all still respect House Stark and owe them fealty. That fact cannot be questioned. Lord Robb Stark is our Liege Lord and Warden of the North. We do not intend to make light of your suffering and losses. Even if we begrudge the fact that we have been lied to and put at risk, we still acknowledge that Eddard acted upon what his heart told him and with the best intentions. Saving the son of his sister, even at the risk of being accused of treason, is indeed a noble act. However, in light of these recent discoveries, it cannot be denied that our faith in House Stark has been shaken. As much as we can give House Stark another chance, I do not think it fair of House Stark to force us into war when it is clear, at least for me, that the King was merciful due to his friendship with Eddard Stark and that the punishment was lenient considering the circumstances. You have my sympathy for your suffering. But I do not think it fair that our houses should suffer for it as well. I will not pledge my people to fight King Robert and place Lord Stark's cousin on the throne." She bowed respectfully to Robb and then nodded to Eddard, her former Lord and whom she still considered a dear friend. She looked at Catelyn and Jon with sympathy and then sat down.
"Aye"
"Here, here"
"Same for my house"
"Agreed" the voices were heard in the hall.
Robb understood the difficulties of the position he was in. If he backed down, he might be seen as an inexperienced coward who was easily pushed over. But if he forced his hand and made his vassals go to a war they certainly did not agree with, he risked losing their support, which, as things stood now, was tenuous at best, and risked mutiny and rebellion. Plus, if he went to war with soldiers who questioned his rule and did not support his cause, he was guaranteed a certain defeat. He looked at his father and silently asked him for his advice, shaking his head and raising his eyebrows. Ned understood his son's position and gave an encouraging nod of his head.
"Fair enough" Robb addressed his vassals. "As your Lord I know I could force you, but I will not. I will respect your voice. Lady Maege, I thank you for your honesty. I thank you all for your support. The North will remain a strong united kingdom, loyal to King Robert Baratheon. I promise I will be the best Lord I can be. I will fight all injustices brought upon us and deal with our own discrepancies in a just way. Winterfell will always be a home to you and my family will always open their hospitality to our Lords and Ladies of the North. You will always have a place by my hearth and meat and mead at my table. I pledge to ask no service of you that might bring you into dishonour. I swear it by the old gods and the new" he finished recalling an old oath he had heard his father say.
His speech was met with cheers and he decided to put an end to this terrible ordeal his family had suffered. Sometimes it was better to draw the line and cut your losses. Yes, King Robert had certainly done things to him and his family they will never forgive, nor forget, but could he really risk the lives of the North for something they had had no part in? At least his family was safe and had a future. They could have all been exiled, or worse, executed. However, here he stood as Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North. Jon was safe and his little sisters had been spared most of the ordeal. Theon was still with them and this had only brought them closer. He had noticed the rift between his father and his lady mother, but looking at their clasped hands under the table he was pleased to see the first steps towards mending their relationship. And Bran. He was gone. But as long as they cooperated he'd be safe. And they would see him again. He knew it in his heart.
The North was much more that just House Stark, and it would remain a strong kingdom with him at the helm.
.
.
.
Two unlikely companions shared a quiet moment in a dark alley in the capital. They went over some snippets of news and rumours they had gathered.
"The King is back."
"I have heard"
"But the Starks aren't gone."
"I have heard"
"And there was no war."
"No, the King found the truth but forgave Lord Stark."
"I truly thought seeing the boy and learning about it would drive him over the edge."
"The King is quite unpredictable. He can be merciful just as easy as he can be cruel. Quite impetuous, our King. And his moods are always changing."
"If Lord Stark hadn't been his friend, we would be having a new house as Warden of the North as we speak."
"And a very sad widow in need of comfort."
"But none of that, my friend."
"No, none of that. Things remain just as they were. We may not have gained much, but we have not lost. And in this Game, not losing means winning."
"I suppose not all the ladders are meant to be climbed. Some are just meant to be looked at" the Master of Whispers mocked his companion and walked away.
THE END.
.
.
Well, this is it. ... No King in the North, no secession and no revolution. But it is actually much better I think: No stupid war and they are all alive, safe and sound!
I know many of you wanted for the North to fight Robert, to go to war, to have their own kingdom, to put Jon on the throne, etc etc. But would that be wise? Why would people push for a war in which thousands will die and millions will suffer? That's not the way I would react if I had been there.
In canon, the North stood up in rebellion when the king killed Lord Stark under false charges (and even then, Catelyn actually spoke against going to war but no-one listened to her). Here, Robert has given the Northern Lords no real cause for rebellion. In fact, for the standards of their society, he was actually quite lenient to the Starks. Why would the Northern Lords go to war for independence? They have no reason to want to go to war against a king who has not wronged them. And they have no reason to support a boy who may or may not have a claim to the Iron Throne. Heeding the Starks' call, the North fought against the Targaryens and defeated the Mad King. Why would they fight Robert to put a Targaryen on the throne now? The question remains in their minds: Why would the grandson of the previous Targaryen king have a claim to the throne when they themselves defeated the Targaryens? And there's still the unwanted lingering suspicion if this is not what the Starks had planned all along and kept it from them...
That's why I called the story "Thruths and Lies". There are truths that only the omnipresent reader knows but not the characters. There are lies which people are convinced are truths because they truly look like truths. And there are truths thay only certain characters know of and they don't want other poeple to know. I always like playing with that: characters acting only upon what they can possibly know or logically assume (regardless of how accurate their conclusions end up being).
I think I gave everyone the best possible ending given the circumstances, as happy an ending as I realistically could.
I hope you liked it.
Thanks.