Eddard
278 A.C Duskendale
Ned rode through the gates of Duskendale, a pit of dread at the bottom of his stomach. He feared he would be seen with naked hostility for aiding in the murder of their liege. His fears ended up unfounded, most of the smallfolk kept to themselves doing their jobs to keep the city running. The ones that noticed looked to him in awe than welcomed him, bowing as he passed them. Some even went as far as shouting their cheers, the quiet wolf that killed the myrish witch. Ned resisted the urge to flinch, the memories of her horrible deaths still fresh in his mind. The Dun Fort loomed over them when he reached the stables, the evidence of the slain knights long removed. His party had left their horses in the stables, the stable boy quick to attend to them. Ned was moved with purpose to meet the temporary Castellina Monford Velaryon.
"Lord Stark." The young man greeted simply, he stretched his hand and both men clasped it. He was of blonde hair, light eyes and a smiling face, by all accounts a friendly man.
"Thank you for your service keeping Duskendale in line, Lord Monford." Ned gave a firm nod and retrieved his hand.
Monford chuckled, swiping some unruly bangs from his face. "I'm no Lord, at least not yet. But you are welcome nonetheless."
"Will you be staying with us? I would like to dine with you and hear about the town," Ned asked, he would like a breakdown of the town and her people.
The Velaryon heir shook his head and pursed his lips, "I'm afraid not, I must sail to Driftmark. My father is due to return and has an important task for me."
"I see. Well then, fair sailing Velaryon, perhaps we can meet again and talk." Ned bowed his head respectfully.
"I'll take you up on that Lord Stark, until then good luck." The Velaryon heir departed from the castle. Ned looked on from a tower as his sails dipped in the distance sailing to Driftmark.
The first thing Ned did once settled down was to write to his father on the happenings. His father's response arrived a fortnight later, Ser Rodrik Cassel came forth offering his service as Master at arms. He brought with him a letter from his father and a gift fit for a northman lord. A cloak with a wolf's pelt much like his father's. The dark brown wolf head was on his right shoulder with blue eyes. Not far off from Ser Rodrik came Ser Mark Ryswell he offered his services as his Castelian. Finally he sent for a new measter, the previous one died during Ser Gerold's raid on the Dun Fort.
Having dealt with most of these problems, he had to deal with a very awkward matter. Dontos Hollard's mother had survived the purge, the people who looked on her favorably hiding her in the seven swords Inn. Ned felt he owed her bravery of facing him for the sake of her son commendable. With an intake of breath he looked to Rodrik standing at the door of his solar. This would be his first lordly ruling over a defeated house.
"Bring Lady Alice Rodrik." Ned sat upright on his desk, his fingers laced together before him. Lady Hollard was ushered in, dressed in plain grab. When she was before his desk, Ned gestured to the wine by his side. "Wine my lady?" he asked trying to get rid of the awkward feeling of being around the wife of the man Ser Barristan slew right next to him.
"No, my lord. I am fine," she said with a small bow of her head.
"My lady, I will first rid you of any fears. You are not under any danger while I rule Duskdendale." He affirmed her and she relaxed visibly.
"I thank you, my lord. And about my son … " she looked downcast and wrung her hands nervously.
"He will enter my service once he is knighted. From what I am told your home was plundered and destroyed." Ned paused for a drink, "I know this place holds bad memories, I do not like the memories myself." Ned sighed in remembrence. "But as I am unmarried and know very little on how to run a household. I would welcome you into my services as the lady of the keep until I am married"
The lady looked stunned.
"Do not look so stunned, my lady. You make me feel self-conscious." Ned smiled a little.
"N-no I'm sorry my Lord my house has been…well you were there," she sighed with just a tinge of bitterness to her tone. "I would be honored to serve your house." She bowed with respect. "Oh, my lord! Why do you have such kindness and mercy in your heart?"
Ned awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, heat rising to his cheeks. "My lady, please. I am simply doing what I think right."
"There are not many men in this world who would do such a thing, my lord." She hastily wiped her face with a kind, motherly smile.
"You have on this day my loyalty, for saving my son." She knelt, the old gods save him, she knelt before him! Ned never in his life would have thought he would command such respect.
"Please rise, my lady, and when you are able I shall send men to get your things from the Seven Swords to your new rooms," Ned said and she left him with Rodrik returning inside.
"That was kind of you, my lord," the older knight said.
Ned sighed, "Aye but it was less from kindness, and more to ease my consciousness for the blood I spilled in these walls."
"Do you regret what you did?" the old knight asked.
"I-I don't," Ned found himself admitting, he saved the king and brought an end to what could have turned into a bloody siege with hundreds dead.
"Then you should clear your mind of such fears, no man should have fears of what he thought right," Rodrik advised
A smile tugged at Ned's lips at his advice. "Thank you Rodrik, now can you call my council? I must discuss the running of the town." Ser Rodrik nodded firmly and left to do as ordered. Ned meanwhile cleaned himself up and got ready for the meeting. After an hour, Ned entered a room dedicated to the running of the Town. Lord Denys had, if nothing else, made sure he had everything a man could need to run a town in the room. A table for his household to sit and talk. Shelves with books, ledgers and, maps of all sorts. There was even a balcony overlooking Duskendale behind Ned. Honestly a bad design feature on a castle in Ned's opinion as a fortress shouldn't have such a huge opening for the enemy to launch a burning jar of pitch into. Though a portcullis could be lowered by a winch on the right side of the balcony. When he entered the room he saw his household assembled, Ser Rodrik, Maester Alester and, Lady Alice Hollar, along with Arthur. Ned had asked Arthur to join him personally.
"Forgive the early call but we have matters to discuss and things to set." Ned began and took a seat at the head of the table. "First things first, the men. Ser Rodrik what is your view on the castle guard?"
Rodrik grunted in disapproval. Already a bad sign. "The guard here is soft, the men are, at most, experienced enough to fight with numbers and no skill."
Ned frowned at that he would not have such guard as to simply know how to fight above a levy. "Maester Alester, have you had enough time to acquaint yourself with the finances of Duskendale?"
The young maester proved himself to have a mind for numbers and eagerly reported to Ned, bowing his head. "Aye my lord, Duskendale has been pulling quite a hefty amount of gold and silver. The fishing trade is doing well, the added fame from your assignment as the new lord of Duskendale has brought many trade offerings from other Crownland houses. Primarily House Velaryon, House Rosby and, House Staunton." The maester went over his ledgers. Ned smiled slightly at the state of his new coffers. "We are pulling a hundred golden dragons on trading alone and five hundred thousand silver dragons on fishing."
Ned nodded and looked to Rodrik. "Rodrik, you heard the man. We have coin and I aim to spend it. I want a thousand men on Duskendale well-armed and trained, make sure the people know the salary will be upped from one to two golden dragons."
Maester Alester spoke up as he turned a page on his ledger. "Will you be subtracting the cost of equipment and training from their salary?"
"Naturally, maester. All the same, the pay should be satisfactory for a monthly commission of two golden dragons per man." Ned leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and leaning into his fist. "Arthur, up for something to do while we are stuck here for the next few months?"
"Gods, I hoped you'd have something for me, otherwise I could have stayed in Kings Landing if I was to watch meetings all day." Arthur smirked and crossed his arms.
"Rodrik, you told me of some bandits roving around the Rosby road, no? Arthur, take twenty men, find these brigands and bring them to justice." Ned was sure this task would get him excited.
"I will enjoy the hunt. The Valemen you brought are restless as well, shall I bring them?" Arthur asked standing, eager to get to the task at hand.
"If they agree, by all means," Ned gave his consent. Arthur grinned and left without another word to prepare to ride out and hunt for bandits.
"Maester, have word spread I need a thousand men strong and willing to fight by two month's end. I want sergeant at arms hired to train the men along with Ser Rodrik. We will have a fighting force by year's end worth the coin spent."
"My Lord, if I may, we have been sent a trade offer from Lord Gregor Forrester for his Iron wood," the maester said eagerly. Ned smiled, the Forrester Lord was a good and loyal man and he remembered his keep of Ironrath was a wooden keep and Ned had something they would want.
"Send a response I would gladly trade with him, we have stone a plenty and food to spare. For his Iron wood we can have the best shields in all of Westeros," Ned said and his maester nodded writing down his words.
"Lady Alice, how about you, do you require anything for the household?" Ned turned to her.
"More servants, my lord. I know of a few girls that could use the coin." She bowed her head respectfully.
"Then let it be so, I shall leave the details to you and Maester Alester to arrange their salaries." Ned finished the meeting after another thirty minutes of getting the mundane taken cared off. He then did something his father taught him from a young age, he walked the Dun Fort. Ned met his cooks, servants, stable hands, and guard. His father always told him 'don't ask your men to die for a stranger.' Ned took the advice to heart and got to know names of the people under his service and protection. Show the commonfolk he would be a just and fair lord. When he began meeting the servants and other help they all seemed surprised. When he asked why they said the lord never paid them much mind, they replied to see Ned getting to know them was foreign feeling. Ned laughed at the southern lords, fools to ignore the people in their service. Neglecting your people and being unjust and cruel will only end up with dying an early death. A man with a sword isn't the only thing one should fear, but the man who cooks his food is just as dangerous when disgruntled.
Ned spent the rest of the month with Rodrik overseeing the training of his men. They filled the spots rather quickly. With the garrison set and ready, he made plans to build up for another thousand men. He spent most of the morning training with the men then headed into town and the market to meet his people. By midday Ned was eating his meal with Rodrik when Maester Alester entered and bowed before Ned.
"My Lord, forgive me intruding your meal time," Alester apologized.
"It's alright, maester. Please speak." Ned wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
"Ser Arthur has returned and awaits you to make his report, My Lord," maester Alester informed and Ned nodded. Standing, the young lord took a swig from his wine cup and put on his sword, heading to meet Arthur. In the courtyard of the Dun Fort by the stables, Arthur and the Vale knight's party looked worse for wear. Arthur's hair was disheveled and his right shoulder pauldron had a crossbow bolt sticking out of it.
"Arthur!" Ned dashed concerned towards his friend.
Arthur only chuckled, he shrugged his shoulders and looked to the bolt with a grin. "Oh this? Missed my shoulder by mere inches, couldn't pull it out." Arthur tried to make his point, but the bolt didn't budge.
"Alright tell me what happened, Arthur?" Ned asked
His friend dismounted his horse and patted it. "Well, we killed all but one of them." Arthur walked to one of the two horses that had no riders on them. Ned just now noticed that a man was thrown over a horse tied up like a deer.
"Is he the leader of the brigands?" Ned asked.
Arthur shook his head, and grinned. "No, but he was smart enough to put his sword down when I took his friend's head."
"Then I will hear him before I dispense justice." Ned turned to Arthur. "So how did you capture him?"
Arthur quickly ordered the household guard to take the man to the castle cells while Ned and he walked and talked. "We rode out after you gave me the task, as you remember," Arthur began the two walking into the great hall. "We asked around the fishing villages about the brigands, most pointed us in different directions until an old man pointed us to the Rosby road where we got flanked by two ridges." Arthur waved at the servant girls to bring them food and drink. A month on the road left a man craving for the comforts of a castle. "It was a bloody trap," Arthur grumbled he removed his gauntlets to let his skin feel the cool air, soothing it.
"Why would the villagers side with the brigands?" Ned asked.
"Old man was alone, his grandson, the only thing he had left died, by the brigands hands. So he told me since Manford was consolidating power and ruling Duskdendale some highborn-like folk armed the brigands." Ned raised a brow at that. Who could have armed the men and set them loose on his lands. Arthur went on and took a swig of the wine brought to him. "They threaten the smallfolk that they would burn their homes and plunder their villages if they talked. The old man said he had nothing left in this world so he feared them not and told me all this." Arthur sighed and shook his head. "When we were to ride out, I was going to send the old man your way but he hung himself on the tree by his home. So we buried him next to his grandson on his home and rode out. The brigands had knowledge that we were heading there. Someone must have followed us and went ahead to set up the ambush. Their numbers were ten more than ours." Arthur passed a hand over his face, a beard grown from the month long hunt.
"Their crossbow men took out two my men, one died from a bolt to the neck the other was slowed down by a bolt to his chest for one of the brigands to slay him." Arthur raised his glass and the other Vale knights toasted in the name of their dead comrades. "They had the numbers but our plate saved us, as most were armed with swords and spears. When the battle began I slew four of them with ease, then I noticed one directing the others. His face was obscured as I cut a path to him, he was fighting one of the lads." Arthur motioned to one of the knights with a small cut on his chin.
"Ser Trabolt held him off, but was knocked off his horse. Before he could strike him down, someone saw me coming for him and a man yelled "Longneck." He turned and saw me and fled with the other stopping me from pursuing. We slew the rest until that one man yielded." Arthur finished his tale of brigands and brave knights.
"Longneck?" murmured Ned thinking what could that possibly mean?
"Come, let us speak to this brigand." Ned finished his drink and went to the dungeons with Arthur. Stripped of most of his belongings, they found the brigand on the hay mattress facing away from them.
Rodrik was already waiting for them. He banged on the cell door with his sword, spoke to get the brigand's attention before barking at him. "Hey! Wake up, the Lord is here to speak with you."
The brigand turned and groaned, sitting up to meet Ned's icy stare."Shite, what's with the look…m'lord?" the bandit drawled, adding the lord title as an afterthought.
"Watch your tone, bandit! Or I will take your tongue," Rodrik growled.
Ned raised his hand to show he wasn't put off by the bandit. "I still need him to talk Rodrik. Come on, bandit, save some face and speak the truth. One of your victims says he saw you be backed by high nobility, tell me who these nobles were."
"Ah that whole deal," the bandit scratched his bearded face. "We got caught on another man's lands, though it was just four of us at the time we met with these lordly looking types, they gave us coin and weapons to come here and do our business."
Arthur asked the next question after giving Ned a sideways glance. "Names, who were they?"
"No names, the fancy-pant lords thought themselves smarts, but not by that much." The brigand smirked. "One of them had a coat of arms not covered all the way."
"What was the coat of arms?" Ned pressed.
"Well now that seems to be the problem m'lord, I can't quite remember." The bandit shrugged with a crooked grin.
"Here's something that's funnier, brigand. How much do wish to keep your hands?" Ned's cold tone made the man freeze in place.
"T-that's not necessary, m'lord," the man said quickly cooperating. His right hand discreetly covered his left.
"The coat, before I take your hands anyways," Ned grunted flatly.
"Blue! It was blue with white and something in the white a sword, or a hammer I don't know I couldn't get a real good look at it. it was night when we met and the torches they had barely lit them." The brigand stumbled his way through the sentence, his calm demeanor completely lost.
"Well, it's not much to go on, but it's a start." Arthur shrugged.
"Aye but more important, who is this Longneck?" Ned stroked his chin in thought.
"Longneck? Oh you mean the guy who brought all the lads together…I don't rightly know m'lord," the brigand stated, he looked at Ned and quickly blurted his excuse. "I swear on the mother, m'lord! He came with the lads, called himself Longneck! He never gave us his real name! he said he was part of a band of men who looked out for the smallfolk!"He desperately tried to convince Ned.
"Very well, bandit, here are your choices since you killed men and thieved in my lands. You can take the black or beheading." Ned laid out the man's sentence and his choice of punishment. Though Ned wished better men joined the wall, the bandit was abled and could at least hold a sword.
"The wall!" the bandit quickly decided, as most men did when presented with the choice.
"Very well, in a few days I will send you by ship to Eastwatch by the Sea." Ned turned with Arthur, leaving the brigand alone to sigh in relief. Ned returned to his solar and asked for Maester Alester, for he had some letters to send. One to the Wall about the recruit. Another to his new friend Manford, if knew the coat of arms by what the brigand told him. And finally one to Rhaegar, telling him he would return to Kings Landing in two months. With the letters written maester Alester left Ned to his own devices.
"Blue, white, and some something emblazing the field," Ned said out loud. Being a Lord was tough business.
Rhaegar
278 A.C Kings Landing
Rhaegar sighed. Lady Cersei wanted to spend every single day with him! Somehow she always found out where he was and what he was doing. Rhaegar at the very least found solace as Ned had written to him and he felt his heart leap with joy and relief he would return to Kings Landing in two moons turns. Just when the feast to welcome Lady Cersei to court was to be held, Robert had not sent word on his own return. But Rhaegar prayed to the seven it would be soon. He missed his friends dearly, and without them he was often left alone. He barely saw his mother, his father barring him from her because he accused him of whispering deceit and treason to Viserys and her. His mother, when he could see her, looked pained and saddened but tried to hide it.
Things changed even with the Kingsguard. When he was able to see Ser Lewyn and he asked him why his mother was so sad, the knight could not answer him or even look him in the eye. Rhaegar never recalled seeing Ser Lewyn sad by any standard of the word. When he was able to meet his mother, Lady Cersei wormed her way into his plans and his mother at the very least enjoyed her company. Today was a different day as he adjusted the strap to his harp on his shoulder and lit the way before him. He hadn't been through these tunnels since his boyhood with Robert and Ned. So many memories and good times, Rhaegar could not help but smile sadly. He couldn't believe how he lived without them now that he had lived with them. His life seemed so empty and sad before with nothing but the Kingsguard to keep as friends.
"You have become as much to my heart as my own blood," he said to no one in particular. He looked forward to when he reunited with his brothers. For now, he reached his destination and he pushed the wall forward before him. The wall budged like a door and opened outward where he peeked a little, the coast was clear with only Ser Barristan and Ser Oswell Whent. Smiling, Rhaegar whistled and Ser Barristan turned to see him and the older knight smiled looking around.
"You're clear," he said and Rhaegar grinned, exitinged the secret tunnel to hurry along with both Kingsguard. They reached the stables, horses ready, and they rode out as if the stranger himself was on their heels. The gates opened as he had ordered and Rhaegar rode down the Sisters laughing joyfully. He could not believe he had to plan his moves this far ahead just to avoid Lady Cersei. The crown prince of westeros going out of his way to avoid a girl. He wished at the moment Robert was there to make a wise crack about it. Slowing down Rhaegar made his way to the usual spot where he found people looked up to see him, excited.
"My prince, we missed you!" an elderly lady who always gave them wine said from her window on the house by the end of the entrance to Cobbler Square.
"I have been busy, Misty," he said. The lady had preferred her first name over any formalities.
"Where are the other boys, my prince?" she yelled over the noise of the city.
"Just me for the next few months, I'm afraid." He smiled slightly.
"Then a cup for you and your knights, my prince!" she yelled and entered her house not waiting for a reply. Rhaegar grinned at Ser Barristan and Ser Oswell. Taking his usual place by the square's entrance, he sat on some steps and strummed his strings. Sighing in relief, he began to play his music. In his mind's eye as he was playing Robert was standing by the helm thanking people for the coins they threw inside it. Ned sat beside him humming along with his music. He spent most of the morning until the sun was at its peak playing to his heart's content. Sighing, a bit melancholy, the prince stood and looked to Ser Barristan with a helm and jingledit to show the coins.
"I know it wasn't the same, my prince…but … " The older knight smiled kindly.
"No it is fine. Come, let us buy some food for the children, they must be missing us." He grinned lightly. Rhaegar bought with their earnings, along with some of his own coin from his purse, and enough food for the poor orphan lads in the orphanage in Flea Bottom to last for a month. With that done, they rode this time without a hurry back to Kings Landing at a lazy trot. Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaegar decided to go to the practice yard and practice his swordplay. When Robert and Ned returned they would no doubt want to try and beat the snot out of him. Smirking, he looked to Ser Barristan.
"Ser Barristan join me on the field to spar." Rhaegar said.
"As you wish, my prince" Ser Barristan nodded.
"Good. Remember though, your prince has to win to look good," he japed and Ser Barristan chuckled along with Ser Oswell.
"I shall return to my regular duties then, my prince," Ser Oswell said and left them to their business. Rhaegar nodded and went to practice with Ser Barristan. The days seemed to be slow since his friends left. He hoped that would come to an end once they reunited.
Robert
278 A.C Storms End
Boring could not begin to describe the sheer tedium Robert felt sitting the stormthrone. His father truly must have had the patience of a bloody saint. Two of his father's bannermen were arguing over a border dispute. One man, Ser Garlard Gower, was bickering with another man named Preston Herson, over some acers of about maybe ten to twenty yards. Robert, for one, was about ready to flip a copper penny and be done with it. Robert grunted, covering it with a cough and glared at Stannis as he jabbed him in the ribs noticing he had let his mind wonder.
"My Lord, this treaty proves from the days of Orys Baratheon the land is mine!" Ser Garlard said. Robert looked to Stannis who nodded and went up to Ser Garlard and took the parchment and read it out loud.
"The lands east of North east of Storms End are to be given to House Gower, up to five hundred yards," Stannis read.
"My Lord, my family has owned that land since before Lord Orys took the Stormlands. He allowed us to keep our ancestral home and lands," Ser Herson said.
"Orys made a mistake, the lands he wanted to give might have stretched slightly too far." Stannis said.
Robert just sighed, sitting up."Then I shall make a decision. Ser Garlard, though my ancestor gifted you the land, he made a miscalculation. The land he meant to give was an oversight. As the older and more present house, Lord Preston Herson will retain the land." Preston looked rightly pleased and Ser Garlard simply sighed but both bowed, taking his judgement.
"Thank you, my lord. We shall take our leave then," Ser Garlard said and both men left his great hall. Them gone, Robert turned to Stannis and his brother looked to the papers he had on the table next to him.
"Tell me we're done Stannis. I feel my ass is about to become one with this throne," Robert grumbled.
"One more of father's bannermen this time from the Bronzegate. Lord Ralph Buckler."
Robert rubbed his temples in frustration. He wanted to go out and hunt for fuck's sake. What else could his bannermenr want to blather on about?
"Cressen, send him in," Robert said to Maester Cressen. The older Maester nodded and let the Lord of the Bronzegate in. The Lord bowed properly and Robert bowed his head, motioning for the Lord to speak.
"My Lord, grave news from the Kings Wood, I went hunting with my son when we ran into a score of dead men in the woods. They had their boots, armor and, weapons taken from them. What remained were half naked men and a Crownland banner from house Staunton," Lord Ralph finished and at this Robert lifted a brow.
"Do you think you know who killed these men?" asked Stannis.
Lord Ralph replied somewhat pensive."The brigands that stole the taxes meant for Kings Landing, if I were to guess, my lord. If I recall these men were part of Prince Rhaegar's force to secure the Kings Road for safe travel. If these men died, the others must surely be in danger. The dead, a few of them had their throats cut, their scouts some far ways with arrows in them." Lord Ralph went on making Robert feel that perhaps something of interest was to happen after all.
"These brigands have been plaguing our woods for almost two years now." Stannis said with gritted teeth.
"Aye my lord, the king's men don't know the woods as we do. Perhaps we should organize a hunt for these men." Lord Ralph thought up and Robert agreed.
"Aye a good Idea. Lord Ralph, gather your men at least a good fifty and I will shore up another fifty. We will scour the Kings Wood and rid us of this brigands" Robert proclaimed, excited that something besides arguing over ploughing dirt was to happen.
"Robert," his brother said at length.
"Don't start with me, Stannis. Stay home with mom and Renly. I will be back in a fortnight, if it takes too long." Robert said. With that Lord Ralph bowed his head.
"It will be an honor to take these brigands down with you, my lord," the older lord said.
278 A.C Kings Wood
"Thank you, Lord Ralph. I shall meet you at the Bronzegate. Good hunting to us both" Robert stood and shook the Lord's hand. After a week of preparation, Robert gathered fifty of his father's men, among them were ten knights, four squires with said knights, three hedge knights hoping to gain favor in this hunt, and the last thirty three were Baratheon men at arms. Robert rode them out of Storm's End after bidding his mother a farewell assuring her he would be back soon enough with brigands in tow tied by the hands. That done, Robert marched north to join Lord Ralph, uniting their host a hundred strong.
"I will take my men wide formation and search the southern parts of the Kings Wood, you take the north, Lord Ralph" Robert instructed. The older lord nodded and they separated their host again. Robert led the men wide formation with enough distance to keep constant communication and eye contact through a chain of men spread out at equal distances. They searched until the sun dipped, then they made camp. Robert felt more at ease here than he did back at Stormsend as Lord. Not as a sign that he hated his home, far from it. Robert loved his ancestral castle, he just liked the atmosphere of good men and a fight to be had.
They broke camp next morning and continued their search to no avail. They ran into a village in the forest. Robert, as their lord, took supplies that the villagers with somewhat meek attitude let him have it. Robert then met with the town's leader who told him no brigands had befallen them. Leaving the village, he continued until he exited the woods and marched north to meet up with Lord Ralph. The march took another two days and he met Lord Ralph halfway on the Kings road. Some traders came and Robert, if nothing else, offered them to march with him to keep their goods from being stolen. They marched after another two days and went into the Kings Wood once more. Robert led them through with both his men and Lord Ralph's men riding the flanks.
Halfway through the journey as they crossed the Wendwater bridge, a young woman, faired skin and blonde hair, walked to them. She had some game, rabbits tied to some rope as she walked his direction. She had pretty brown eyes. Robert moved to the side and halted the girl even with a bow he was sure she would be in danger.
"My lady, have you not heard the Kingswood is being plagued by brigands?" Robert told her.
"Aye I have, but I can take care of myself, m'lord," she said giving him a wry grin. Robert hummed she was easy on the eyes. Were he not betrothed, he would have loved putting his charm on her. But instead he just offered an escort.
"All the same wandering alone is not wise, m'lady. If you are returning to you home, I can send and escort." Robert offered and she laughed bowing her head.
"Thank you, m'lord. But I think I shall take my chances. Some of us smallfolk don't look kindly when we are seen with king's men," she said.
Robert frowned wondering what that meant."Is that why the village I went too looked uncomfortable having me there."
"I would guess so. If you were there, I gathered you took their food, m'lord," she said boldly and Robert wondered if she spoke like that to all men with armies at his back?
"Aye I needed the supplies, this hunt is to keep them safe from brigands. Some food for the men risking their lives shouldn't be much," Robert said brow raised finding it reasonable. He barely took much, he only had fifty men after all.
"Well all the same, m'lord, we don't have much. Taking only makes us feel bitter. But I have taken enough of your time. I will be on my way." She bowed her head and left him. Robert watched her go, his eyes trailing to her shapely body and round bottom swaying slightly.
"Your name! My Lady, may I have that?" Robert asked if nothing else he wanted to know it.
She turned and smirked bowing slightly." Wanda, m'lord! By your leave!" She bowed mockingly making Robert chortle in humor and watching her go once more.
Snorting a little, he shook his head grinning and returned to the front of the formation. He spent two days on the Bronzegate and then took his men marching them south to Stormsend where some men parted to go to their homes and lands. By the time he arrived, he had ten men at arms belonging to Storms end garrison. The gates opened with a man saying the lord was returning. As soon as the gates opened Robert felt a massive wet drop on his face. Wiping his face down he looked up as storms clouds gathered. His father was due today he hoped he was alright.
He greeted his mother and Stannis, who despite his protesting, updated him on the events that happened after his leave. His father had returned from Volantis somewhat successful, he found the Valyrian blood bride the king wanted. While sailing down, she caught a fever that killed her. With no maester to treat her, she died a day before they reached Rain House. His father would await the storm there before returning the next morning. With his return, Robert was due to return to Kings Landing, and the gods he missed dreary Ned and mopey Rhaegar. He would take with him a cask of Storms End finest oldest wine to get shit drunk with his brothers! Grinning, Robert was in his room, his old room before he had left for the Vale. Smirking, Robert readied for bed as the sky was so dark only the lightning of the storm let him peer into the darkness. A servant girl had tried to warm his bed and the gods be good he almost took her offer. But whenever he tried to go beyond kissing her, well, he thought of Ned and the face of that dreary bastard just made his cock wither. Robert dismissed her and laid down sighing. One day, he thought, one day he would be a married man and Ned would be his true brother sharing blood just like he shared with Rhaegar.
Okay first things first, DUDE I CAN'T SEE THE NEW REVIEWS!? LIKE THE COUNTER GOES UP BUT THE NEW REVIEWS AREN'T SHOWING UP WHATS UP!? Right so I sent a support ticket ton but no response so far is anyone else having that trouble? I tried logging off and nothing happened. I don't know what else to try if anyone has this problem and found a way to fix it please pm me! I want to read your reviews, it's been killing me these past two days I can't read them like wdf!?
Well that's enough of that little rant, on to the chapter. Hope you don't think this is filler, this is all set up for Ned and his personal conflict in Duskendale. Rhaegar trying to keep Cersei happy to keep Tywin sedated and more changes to Aerys and well I think you guys know why Rhaella is sad and why the Kingsguard won't look Rhaegar in the eye. We know what Aerys began doing in his madness to her and the Kingsguard just watch.
So this isn't filler but set up for further plot as well as the set up for the Kingswood Brotherhood arch which I admit will be my favorite, as well as introducing young Jamie into the story. So look forwar to that, and another cannon change! Steffon lives as the bride he found got sick he had to go to the nearest keep so instead of sailing through the Storm and dying on Shipbreakers Bay he stopped and waited out the storm in Rain House. What other changes come with his? Who knows, who knows my friends so READ AND REVIEW LADS I hope to get the reviews to work again and will enjoy reading what you guys have to say! Expect replies to your questions as soon as I get the reviews working!
Edit 6/5/2017: Sorry for the late edit, compared to the last ones. Bit of life business to take care off. Once again thank you to my beta, Shadowcrest Nightingale