With Hinrik and his cousin's competent leading of the Vale's forces to victory, it took very little time for Jon Arryn to deem his homeland secure, and give the order to march for Riverrun.
They reached the Riverlands quite quickly, and made it to the Tully's seat with little resistance. At Riverrun they were met with the full might of the Northern host as well as a deeply chagrined Ned, who mournfully admitted that Lord Hoster Tully had insisted that Ned marry his daughter Caitlin. Who just so happened to be his recently deceased brother's betrothed.
Ned being the honorable idiot he was, had hardly hesitated before agreeing.
Perhaps the betrothal was a fortunate, as it bonded the Tully's to their cause more heavily than before. However Hinrik had no doubt that the trout would try to extract a higher price from them before he committed his forces. It was a prudent strategy, but one that, if Hinrik were correct would leave him in a loveless marriage if he did not do something to nip it in the bud.
That night, after a welcoming feast, Jon Ned and Hinrik were all invited to speak with Lord Tully in private.
As Hinrik expected, Lord Hoster wasted little time stating his expectation for Hinrik to marry his second daughter.
It seemed rather clear to Hinrik that by already tying himself to Ned there was no way Lord Hoster wouldn't be joining their cause, but for some reason his father was not dismissing the Tully's proposal outright. He supposed his father, ever the diplomat did not wish to anger their new allies by snubbing them.
Well.
Hinrik held no such inclination.
Quite serendipitously Lord Hoster had just asked him what Hinrik what he thought of his second daughter.
"She is quite fair my Lord"
That was true enough, though he had only seen the girl for a moment during the feast. At the compliment Lord Hoster chuckled
" I should hope you think so, else it will be quite awkward when you marry"
At that Hinrik chuckled along with the river lord, before his attitude abruptly changed to something quite a bit sharper.
"Ah ha ha but you see I do not wish to marry."
Ned, who at this point had retreated to the back of the office to nurse on a mug of ale, choked on his drink before staring at his friend with unhidden surprise.
Jon's eyes widened in alarm as he felt the power behind his sons words. Rarely did Hinrik flex his undeniable aura, often preferring to sit back and just observe, but that did not mean Jon had forgotten how his son could control a room with nary a word or two.
Hoster for his part flinched before reddening and opening his mouth, looking quite ready to berate this impertinent boy, but before he could, Jon cut in.
"Excuse my son, it seems I need to have a word with him before we continue"
Jon wasn't dumb, and he could easily see that the situation was quickly deteriorating, so before things could escalate any further Jon herded his son out of the room as quickly as possible.
Leaving behind an irate Riverlord and a gaping Ned Stark.