Flashforward
A bowl of warm onion soup was set before him. He spooned the bowl carefully.
"Do you plan to spend the night here?"
"No, I just needed a meal."
He produced another copper, "I want some ale, wine, whatever you have these days."
"We have some ale," the innkeep announced meeky, "but it's not very good."
"The ale will be good enough; it's been bloody cold these days."
The ale was a little watery, but he felt the warmth surge through his veins.
"Any news lately?"
"Same old, same old," the woman told him. "Every army in the seven kingdoms is coming to Riverlands."
"Where are you from," the innkeeper asked.
"Fairmarket."
"Where are you heading?"
The stares of the fatherless orphans were all he needed to make his decision.
Seven save me
The Damphair
Nightime had come, and it was time to put out the fire. He looked around, and when he was certain that nobody was around, he undid his robe and relieved himself over the fire. He could easily put out a fire by pissing on it. He quickly moved away and proceded to tie his robe back on.
too late. Behind him came the scream of a rusted iron hinge.
Aeron was sweating he knew, and was too terrified to turn around. Not that he would have to at this ungodly hour.
"Hello little brother," Euron's voice carried its familiar, but dangerous charm.
"You missed the priest's sermon this morning, I assume that you had too much to drink last night."
Aeron might have pissed himself if his bladder had not already been emptied seconds ago.
The footsteps behind him were painfully slow, but agile as those of a cat. A hand gripped his shoulders and spun him around. His blue eye was as tranquil as the sunset sea in the summer and gave no indication of the malice and hunger for power that his black eye showed.
"The priest gave me his blessing this morning, now it's time that you knelt for yours."
His right leg gave in, with a swift kick from his older brother, and soon he was on his knees.
Aeron awoke in a cold sweat, screaming.
He was quickly reasurred by feel of the seas, and the steady beat of the oars helped him remember where he was.
The Longship had easily passed the patrols ordered by the Goodbrothers, and Lord Drumm who had married Asha, with a seal to stand in as proxy.
Aeron would be sailing to the Greenlands once more. Rodrick Harlaw wanted him to find Asha, no woman would ever rule the Ironborn, but it would still be better than Euron.
Jon
A light blanket of snow covered the siege camp of Stannis Baratheon. Beyond the camp was the Twins, the place of Robb's death.
6,000 men were at his at back, 4,000 of them from beyond the wall. Galbart Glover had told him to expect 8,000 men under the banner of the fiery Stag.
Jon rode ahead with his best commanders to confront King Stannis.
He entered the King's Pavilion with Galbart Glover, Sigorn, Tormund, and Larence Snow who had now seen fifteen namedays, and commanded the Hornwood force. Last but not least was Devan Seaworth who was the King's Squire and later the squire of his true queen, who would now get to see his father.
The campaign against house Bolton, had taken its toll on the Baratheon King. Jon was not sure if Stannis would survive to take the Iron Throne. By his side was his hand and Devan's father, Davos Seaworth. He saw an emotional reunion between father and son, as he faced Stannis.
He did not fail to notice the state of ease that Ghost had settled into.
Jon felt awkward when he took the knee. Should I tell him about my parentage or even about Robb's will? It still made him angry to think about all the trouble his parents caused by creating him. He loved the mother he never knew, and his uncle simply for what had done to protect him. The real reason Lyanna wanted to be buried in the crypts, was to protect him. Lord Reed explained that the Silent Sisters would have surely known if she had given birth, and sooner or later, Robert Baratheon would have been knocking on Winterfell's gate with the Warhammer that Donal Noye had forged.
"Rise."
He rose from one knee.
"I hearby legitimize you as Jon Stark and name you my heir." Jon was dumbstruck, he had not expected this.
"The Realm needs a man who will put its good before his own." Stannis continued. "Will you accept your duty?
He looked at Lord Seaworth and hesitated for a moment before making his decision.
"I will," Jon looked him in the eyes for what he would say next. "But not as a rival to Rickon's birthright." Jon produced the signet ring that he found in his mother's tomb. "Legitimize me as Jon Targaryen." He couldn't help but think of how Mance Rayder left the Night's Watch for adding red to his black cloak.
It was now Stannis Baratheon's turn to show surprise.
"Your brother Robert would have been furious if he had known that Lyanna Stark had a son by Rhaegar." Jon explained. "My uncle, promised her before she died that I would be safe from his wrath."
It went against everything for him to say it. It caused him great pain to acknoledge his real father and refuse the name Stark once more, but he did for man who should have been his father. He wondered what Catelyn Stark would have said about this, that spiteful woman who had hated him for a lie. It was ironic, Oswell Whent had been her uncle on her mother's side, Howland Reed had said. Would Ser Oswell feel shame at the needless spite of his niece?
King Stannis could only grind his teeth. "It would seem that Targaryens are everywhere these days. Very well Jon Targaryen, I name you my heir."
Jaime
The conditions for captivity were the gentlest he had experienced yet. Still it did not lessen the sting of Cersei's betrayal. She's been fucking Lancel and Osmund Kettleback and Moonboy too.
The door opened, "it's time Ser Jaime." His escort was a pair of Lord Devan's household guards and Lewys Piper as well as his older brother Marq who greeted him with a scowl. "Be glad that you're a Lannister, Kingslayer."
At least he would get to see his cousin's wedding.
As they escorted him to the sept on Riverrun, he thought about the news he had learned over the past day.
Daenerys Targaryen had taken King's Landing with the help of Tyrion. So that's what Varys did with him Jaime mused. Tyrion had sworn vengence on House Lannister and was coming for Cersei.
Jaime realized that he didn't really care. When news came to him during his captivity in the brotherhood without banners, of Cersei's pennace walk, the outlaws thought he would feel sorrow at the tidings of Cersei's shame. The surprise they showed when he laughed was truly sweet. She had surivived the trials of the faith with the help of a new brother of the Kingsguard whom he had never heard of, Ser Robert Strong, who killed Lancel for during to bring Cersei to justice. As far as Jaime knew, the house of Strong was yet another house to face extinction for holding the cursed citadel of Harrenhal.
Cersei was rallying her supporters at Harrenhal at the advice of Littlefinger. Tomorrow after the wedding a force of 15,000 troops from both the Riverlands and the Westerlands would join her. It was at Harrenhal that he would face his sister. He immediately sensed a bad omen. Why does it have to be Harrenhal? He wondered if there was to be another tourney at that gods forsaken pile of stone.
His captors escorted him out of Riverrun's Triangular keep. The path to the sept gave him a good view of the small harbor within the river fortress. He briefly noticed the Rivergate that towered over the small harbor. Jaime remembered Edmure Tully telling him of how the Blackfish escaped. The gate was open, but Jaime knew it was a bad idea
Several small galleys were in the harbor now. Most of them bore sigils of Riverlords who had been summoned to witness the wedding. Jaime spied one of them which bore the dancing maiden of Piper; its crew was unloading barrels. Lord Clement Piper noticed him, and Jaime felt his accusing eyes, before Lord Piper was distracted by the sight of his sons.
The sept was alight with half a hundred shimmering candles. The ceremony itself went as if it were a dream. It didn't feel like a very good dream, Alyx Frey was the girl who was to wed his cousin. Taking a vow of monogamy with this Frey girl would clearly be one of Devan Lannister's braver moments in life.
Afterwards Jaime was escorted to the feast hall, which was only a small bridge away from the sept. Immediately, once inside he noticed a large banner of house Frey of Riverrun. Beyond the edges of the banner, Jaime could see a large wooden panel painted in the azure blue and muddy red, that reminded him of the Castle's previous owners.
It's still not your castle Emmon Frey, Jaime felt himself smirk at the insecurity of his uncle by marriage.
On one side of the hall were the banners of the Riverlords, and on the other, were the banners of Westermen. Lord Daven intended for this wedding to be the peaceful union between the Lannisters and Freys.
He could see Daven on the dais with his newly wed and Emmon Frey as well as aunt Genna. The hall itself was crowded, with a cacophony that made the music difficult to hear. He glimsed the band that was playing, and saw Tom 'O Sevens among the minstrels. Looks like he's done well for himself, Jaime grinned.
Jaime was given a dish of River Trout and a bowl of leek soup with a goblet of some Riverland vintage that the Blackfish had left behind in the cellars of Riverrun. On his left was Lewys Piper and on his right was Ser Lyle Crakehall. At least neither of them would judge him. Across from him was Ser Ilyn, grim as usual. The thought that Ilyn Payne might strike of his head at the word of Cersei unsettled him. Clearly, Ser Ilyn was not looking forward to that moment either. By the time he finished his meal, the Strongboar had downed at least a whole flagon of wine.
After a few cups of wine that he drank to settle his stomach, the hall seemed to have quieted somewhat. The music was noticibly better, and easier to hear. They played the "Dornishmen's wife", and "The Bear and the Maiden fair", Then the "The Dance of Dragons." Eventually the band played "The Rains of Castamere."
The Wine had done little to dull his senses, much less the pain he felt. Jaime could hear the hall become deathly quiet, as the song of Tywin Lannister's legacy played. He recalled that many guests in this very room were present to witness Edmure Tully's ill fated wedding. The Tension in the room was thick, with Rivermen eyeing their Westerland counterparts suspiciously, and even more so for every Frey in the hall.
Immediately before anyone could complain about the reminder of his father's grisly legacy, the minstrels played another song. This one Jaime had never heard before.
Out in the Riverlands town of Fairmarket, there lived both my greatest folly and love
Bessa was her name, the girl that I'd die for, golden of hair and as sweet as a dove
Suddenly a pair of Vance knights got up and moved for the doors.
But one day a knight by the the name of Ser Shadrich, saw her and wanted her too
He took her and had his merry way; all that I could do was to watch
As they opened the doors and let in the light winter chill, he noticed that Lewys was sweating profusely. It was then that Jaime noticed the jerkin of boiled leather that he wore underneath his courtly garb.
So in anger, I challenged his rights on the girl that I loved so
Down a hand for the dagger he wore
Silent Ser Ilyn was looking around nervously. The Strongboar, who was now very drunk, was bracing for a fight.
My dagger beat his and in only a moment,
The dashing young knight fell down dead on the floor
Something was wrong here; Jaime reached for his knife, and prepared for the worst.
And so I fled just as fast as I could from my home in Fairmarket
Out to the woods in the sight of God's eye
A man from behind tried to tackle Ser Lyle, but instead was thrown off by the brute of a man he was.
Now it's been to long since I've seen my sweet Bessa
But my love is stronger than my fear of the law
Jaime looked around and saw the room become one big fight.
And so I set out, to meet my love and fate, travelling alone in the dark
Mayhaps on the morrow an arrow might take me
But today nothing's worse than than this pain in my heart
Suddenly two dozen armed men entered the feast hall. The fucking Brotherhood without banners. Lewys drew a knife from his sleeve and lept across the table to stab Ser Ilyn. The shrieks of wounded men and steel on steel filled the hall and quickly drowned out all other sounds, even the arrows that seemed to come out of nowhere to strike wood and flesh.
Jaime Lannister recovered his senses and got up from his seat, this was his chance to escape, and even if he failed, it was still better than dying at his table.
How did the archers get in here? Arrows were coming from both sides of the hall.
He found himself face to face with a young knight in Mallister colors. The man rushed him, with a dagger. Jaime blocked the thrust with a clumsy but desperate parry, and before the man could recover, he punched the man in the face with the stump of his right hand. With his left hand, he cut a wicked gash along the man's arm. Jaime dropped his knife and wrestled the dagger from the Mallister's hand while felling him with a second punch from his ugly stump.
He looked towards the Dais and noticed Devan Lannister at its foot, sword flashing in hand. The blade had the distinctive glint of Valyrian steel. Damn you Daven. Two attackers had already fallen at his feet. To Devan's right was the exit Jaime was hoping to find.
Jaime ran for the exit, vaulting over an overturned table. He lept onto another table and sprinted its length. He was almost at the end of the longtable when a strong hand seized his left ankle. Jaime fell with a cry of fury and tumbled from end of the table. Instinctively, he thrust out his right arm to brace the fall.
His stump made contact with the ground, and Jaime felt the pain. Before he could get up, three different hands seized him.
While still on the floor, he saw that Devan had collapsed on his knees, three arrows protruding from his chest, Oathkeeper fallen from his now feeble grip.
Two pairs of arms lifted him from the floor, much to his surprise they were Blackwood men. A third man in a Blackwood doublet turned out to be none other than Tytos Blackwood.
"You fool," Jaime heard himself snarl, "Hoster Blackwood is going to pay for your treachery."
"Sorry Ser Jaime, but he won't." Tytos Blackwood beamed with satisfaction. "Your sister did not think to take him with her to Harrenhal. I got a raven from him last week; it seems that he's befriended your little brother. He will reward the Blackwoods, Mallisters, the Vances and the Pipers just like Tywin Lannister rewarded the Freys and Boltons, except this time, I will have benefactors more reliable than queen Cersei."
From the exit that he had hoped to leave this gruesome spectacle, Jaime saw four men armed with longswords and dressed in light mail. Their shields bore the device of House Smallwood. From behind them came the ghost of Catelyn Stark.
She first moved towards his dying cousin, and coldly silenced him with a dagger to his throat. Then she turned towards Emmon Frey who was cowering in fear and his aunt Genna who somehow managed to keep her dignity. Alyx Lannister, who became a widow at her own wedding, was utterly parylzed in fear.
"What should we do with them my lady?" A voice from the North asked. Lady Stoneheart hissed something he could not understand. A dozen outlaws with longbows stepped forward.
"Please spare me!" Emmon Frey cried out. "The queen will pay a handsome ransom for her kin."
Jaime looked at Genna; she said nothing, most likely knowing the futility of her husband's plea.
"The queen bitch, wouldn't ransom you even if she had the gold." Jaime recognized the voice of Jack-be-lucky. "Besides, the only good Frey is a dead Frey."
A fusilade of arrows ended the three remaining wedding guests of honor.
"No!" Jaime heard himself scream as aunt Genna slumped out of her chair and out of his sight.
The ghost of Catelyn Stark turned her horrible eyes to face him.
"My lady, Queen Daenerys, will want Ser Jaime alive." Tytos Blackwood spoke up fearing her judgement.
She picked up Oathkeeper, before giving a reply.
"Godswood," she hissed.
"But my Lady, he's worth more alive than dead."
So was Genna, thought Jaime with sadness. Cersei would not have paid, not if she was willing to murder Uncle Kevan to maintain her power. The Targaryen Queen would have though, if Tyrion's shadow was as big as everyone claimed.
After a brief wordless standoff between the Blackwoods and the brotherhood, the Blackwood men, stepped aside to let the outlaw brotherhood take him prisoner.
His captors dragged him through the feast hall exit to the godswood of Riverrun which was just behind the hall.
With the crossing of a small wooden bridge, he was standing before the heart tree. One of his captors released him, presumably to get a block.
Jack-be-lucky was among those on the small island of the heart tree.
"I still have your lucky hand, Kingslayer." He reached through a large bag to produce the golden hand.
Jaime could not explain what he felt next, it was a breeze, but there was something more to it. Lady Stoneheart began pointing Oathkeeper towards the heart tree and hissed viciously, "who?"
He saw his opportunity; one man was holding him from behind, with both arms positioned together.
Without giving any warning, Jaime kicked the man in his shin. His captor gave a cry of pain when he escaped and barreled into Lady Stoneheart. She loosened her grip on Oathkeeper, and he seized the blade by its golden hilt.
Jaime got a good grip on Oathkeeper, and slashed at a man who was clearly unprepared. Jack lunged at him with the sack, swinging it as if it were some great club. He ducked the swing and skewered not so lucky Jack.
He thanked Jack for his hand before jumping into pond. Jaime opened the sack and tossed in Oathkeeper before gripping the bag with his teeth and following the light current.
Because the Tumblestone forked into the Godswood of Riverrun, the current flowed into the harbor which in turn flowed into the Red Fork. Swimming was an awkward experience for Jaime without his right hand, and a thick leather sack in his teeth which were shivering from the frigid water. Still, he made it to the Rivergate, with no opposition save a few wild arrows.
The Rivergate was coming down, but it was not fast enough to keep Jaime Lannister in Riverrun. Not this time.
Note: Man, this chapter was a monster to write. Does anyone have a good fan name for this wedding?
BTW does anyone else believe the theories about what really happened between Aeron and Euron?
Next up: Arya, Tyrion, and Asha