Ch 8.
Red Keep
Kingslanding.
Petyr Baelish.
Littlefinger's stress had begun to smooth over on the surface, but the root cause jutted up like jagged rocks under water, burning and piercing his insides. The entire court had been stressed ever since Green Fork, particularly the Queen.
Despite that, Littlefinger was feeling strangely calm, almost feeling secure, like he did before Green Fork. That reason was because he had finally came up with a clever salvation to save House Lannister- and himself- from the inevitable wrath of House Stark and Baratheon. And considering how foolish Cersei had been with things like appointments, convincing her to allow him to... salvage the situation as he deemed fit, should be a simple task.
'' Lord Baelish.'' He heard the Queens voice and turned around. He politely bowed. '' Your Grace.''
'' Come walk with me.'' Cersei commanded.
'' Have your spies caught any trace of the Stark girl, Arya?'' She asked. Littlefinger sighed. '' Not a sign, your grace. She is from Winterfell, most likely that is where she would go?''
'' If she were headed there, my men up north would let me know. ''
'' Well, then I suppose we have to just pray we find her before the Starks do. '' He commented, and then he stopped beating around the bush.
'' I understand that you made Janos Slynt the lord of Harrenhal, for his service to the crown.''
'' I did, thanks to him, we stopped Eddard from taking the Iron Throne. Our family would be in even worse shape otherwise.''
'' Janos Slynt betrayed Eddard Stark, but I engineered it. You believe that Slynt is your faithful servant?''
'' I expect him to serve the realm as well as he has already done. Being Lord of Harrenhal, he will answer only to us, and he will control a key strategic point in this war, and hold it afterwards.''
'' Permit me to say, but Janos Slynt is not your servant. He is a hollow suit of armour, who will sell himself to the highest bidder. The moment someone offers him one gold dragon more than you, he will betray you at a moments notice.''
'' Tell me you are not denouncing the very man you protected during my husbands reign, who also was hired by none other than you.'' Cersei said, a sharpness in her voice.
'' I am saying, that Janos Slynt is not the right man for Harrenhal.''
'' It was a royal decree, who are you to oppose it?'' She challenged.
'' You have broken decrees before, and ancient rules, when you dismissed Barrastian Selmy from the Kingsguard, did you not?'' Littlefinger asked her.
She tilted her head. '' You think I don't see through your scheme, Baelish. '' She said this last part with scorn, to rub in Petyr's humble last name into his face. '' Why do you think you should be Lord of Harrenhal?''
Littlefinger smiled, now they were getting somewhere. '' I understand you are aware of our situation? Your father's dead, his army has for all purposes ceased to exist. Jaime's army is moving east towards Harrenhal, but he cannot move to one place without abandoning another. We have the Reach, the Storm-lands, the Riverlands and the North risen up against you, the latter two have a personal vendetta for your House. If you attempt to face them alone, you will be annihilated. ''
Cersei smirked. '' You think I will be alone will suffer the consequences for defeat, should it come to pass? I wasn't the one who held a knife to Ned Stark's throat, to prevent Stannis from being able to take the Iron Throne. You have things to lose as well, Littlefinger. It would be rather sad, if you betrayed me. And if I were to let it slip to say Robb Stark, or Stannis Baratheon how you betrayed them both to support House Lannister, well, that would be indeed awkward, for you especially. ''
'' Precisely.'' Petyr said, voice coated with honey. '' Which simply cannot be allowed. But the Vale has not chosen to support the Starks, nor the Baratheons-''
'' And they have refused to support us either.'' Cersei snapped. '' I summoned Lysa Arryn to court to swear fealty to Joffery, but she refused. And recent events, such as the death of her brother, is not going to win her anymore affection for us, I know that for sure.''
'' Lysa has become estranged with her family. She refused her own sister's request for help, fortunately for us. She has also become quite mad, I assure you. And madness, as your family has learned first hand from the Targaryans, may often sway people into making the wrong decisions. I believe that if you asked the right person to talk to her, she may well be persuaded to join our side. ''
'' Remind me what you and Harrenhal have to do with persuading the Vale to join his Grace?''
'' Lyssa has been obsessed with me, has been ever since we were children.''
'' You scorned her and attempted to win her sister over instead, did you not?'' Cersei had a small smile on her face that told Baelish that she wasn't taking him seriously.
'' I did. But that hasn't calmed her down. She is a mad, besotted fool, who is obsessively in love with me, last I checked. It won't be hard to convince her to take a side. The only problem would be convincing her bannermen to do the same. ''
'' If you want to try and win over a madwoman to our cause, go ahead. But why should I strip Janos Slynt of his new castle?''
'' However far I have risen, my success is isolated. House Baelish on its own, is a very poor, bleak house. Why would the Lady of the Eyrie marry the lord of ...somewhere on a bleak shore, with nothing to boast of but rain, stones and sheep pellets? Not even Moon Boy would be stupid enough to do that. But the Lord of Harrenhal... that is a title that carries weight, far more worthy of marriage to the Lady of the Eyrie, don't you think?''
Cersei was silent, and Baelish decided to wait, to see what the Thick Golden Lioness who thought herself way above others, had to say.
'' You want me to make you Lord of Harrenhal. Then you will proceed to the Eyrie and attempt to win over Lysa Arryn, and persuade her to join our side. ''
'' That is my wish, your Grace.''
'' And I am to trust you to not turn your cloak? I believe we have our little understanding. Afterall, I would dare say that Robb Stark wouldn't thank you with anything less than a headsmans axe if he were to find out certain... things you were doing when I arrested his father.''
Would Your Grace like to threaten me a third time?
Instead, he held his tongue.
Cersei nodded. '' His Grace King Joffery shall appoint you the new Lord of Harrenhal tomorrow morning. I'm sure we can find more suitable accommodations for Janos Slynt. The day after, you will set out for the Eyrie. You can leave your whores to fend for themselves, can't you?''
'' Of course your Grace.'' Petyr politely. Cersei turned away, leaving Petyr to politely smile on the outside and gloat on the inside, knowing no matter what happened, he could now secure his salvation... and the destruction of some rather bothersome players in his favorite game.
Robb Stark's encampment.
South of the Twins.
Robb Stark.
It had been over a fortnight since the battle of Green Fork. For the past several days, Robb's army had remained camped north of the Ruby Ford, where they rested and healed, from the bloody battle of Green Fork.
Their healers had been way overwhelmed by the wounded. His bannermen estimated the dead to be over 7,000 but that estimate was barely 2 days after the battle. Ever since then, several hundred wounded succumbed to their injuries, or caught fevers as they lay fighting to survive. Robb had the bodies of the common soldiers burned, as they could not afford to waste time burying them. The dead nobelmen were also burned, their bones sent to the North.
On a rough estimate, Robb had now lost around 8,000 of his 22,000 men, equalling to over a third of his army. Actually that was being far too generous- he had brought 18,000 men from across the neck, and gained 4,000 more men from his pricy alliance with the Freys.
And we still have the bloody Kingslayer to deal with.
But right now, his forces had largely recovered, and starting tomorrow, he would move his forces away from Ruby Ford, closer to Kingslanding.
That night, Robb called a war council.
His council was on a whole much younger than it had been before the Battle of Green Fork, as many of his bannermen were killed, and their next of kin took their places.
His banner-men were largely from the north, as the majority of the Riverlords were tied down at the damaged Riverrun.
It was Ser Rodrik Cassel who spoke up. '' We are about a week from Harrenhal, and a fortnight from Riverrun. Where are we to march tomorrow morning?''
'' The Kingslayer's host is marching towards Harrenhal. If we were to go to Riverrun, we would be a good distance. Furthermore, Riverrun is no longer under siege, so the Riverlords may yet join us.'' Wendel Manderly said.
'' So you want to go to Riverrun and hope they will join you?'' Steveron Frey inquired. '' I don't think they have much love for us, seeing as we destroyed the Lannister host that wasn't laying siege to Riverrun and left them to suffer the Kingslayer's wrath afterwards, while we licked our wounds from Green Fork. ''
'' No, they might not be. But they are our main allies, and they hate the Lannister's far more than they may grudge us. Jaime saw to that.'' Manderly argued.
'' I don't think Riverrun is our best option anymore.'' Robb said, looking down at a map of the Riverlands, with the situation now updated.
Their host, symbolized by the direwolf piece, was located just north of the Ruby Ford. To the South lay a Lion representing Jaime Lannister's host, right now just west of Acorn Hall. The Imp had slipped through their fingers and had rejoined his brother.
Tywin's army had been functionally destroyed at Ruby Ford, so his Lion piece was absent. To the west lay several smaller tokens, representing the scattered riverlords and what strength they could muster.
'' The Riverlords are pretty much scattered. Their Liege Lords are dead, except for me.'' The Blackfish explained. '' As soon as the Kingslayer left, they evacuated out of the damaged castle, and fled, taking what men they could, back to their holdfasts.
Even now, they are engaging the Lions. Tywin had left garrisons to hold conquered seats of Riverlords, and they fight to the death to keep in control of them. Worse still, the Kingslayer has been sacking about every village in his path. Acorn Hall is right in his path. ''
'' So wait, you are saying Riverrun has been deserted?'' Catalyn demanded, fear lacing her voice.
Her uncle shook her head. '' Not quite. Tytos Blackwood is still in Riverrun, attempting to clean up the damage done. He's still running Riverrun, keeping it from turning deserted. He only has about 25 men with him though, most of the lords packed up and fled as soon as the coast was clear.''
Catalyn gave a small sigh.
'' In that case, Riverrun is out. '' Robb said. '' I am sorry to say, but we can no longer count on the Riverlords for assistance. And within a week at best, the Kingslayer's host will be at Harrenhal. If that happens, he will be barely a stones throw at us. Furthermore, we won't be able to touch him, and he will be in an excellent position to move south should the Baratheon threat become too pressing. ''
'' So how do we stop him?'' Lord Karstark asked.
'' We take Harrenhal first.'' Robb said matter-of-factly.
'' Tywin took the castle before you wiped him out. They still have a garrison left there. You have heard of how difficult it is to conquer Harrenhal?''
'' It doesn't matter. The remains of Tywin's forces are fleeing west to Jaime's army.
We don't have a choice. If we don't take Harrenhal before the Kingslayer arrives, we will be cut off from the south. Riverrun is too far off, and if the Lannister's northern front is secure, they will turn their attention southwards.
If we take Harrenhal, the Kingslayer will be cut off. He knows we are not his only threat. He has Renly and the Tyrells to the South, Stannis to the Southeast. Either he remains pinned down in the western Riverlands, or he steers away from Harrenhal, to march South to KingsLanding, to defend against a possible Baratheon attack. ''
Robb turned everyone's attention to the North and West.
'' We lost a third of our forces at Green Fork. We cannot risk another battle on the open field just yet. We need more men. The North can field over 35,000 men in total, but at such short notice, the 18,000 was all we could bring down. Ser Rodrik.''
Ser Rodrik Cassel stood up. He had been the Captain of the guard in Winterfell, and was a proven battle commander, and had the scars to prove his part in Green Fork.
'' I am sending you with an escort up North, to Winterfell, to raise a new host there. Do not rush, make sure everyone is armed and trained. 10,000 at the minimum, 12,000 would be preferable, 15,000 would be ideal. When you are done, you will come South and we will link up, for further orders.''
'' Aye, my lord. When shall I ride?''
'' Tomorrow at dawn.''
'' Yes Your Grace.''
Robb nodded. '' Good. Theon.''
Theon Greyjoy, having spent the last two weeks recovering from his duel with Tywin, turned to him.
'' Do you recall what I said a week earlier about me sending you to Pyke? To gain your father's ships to attack the West?''
'' I do. I also recall-''
'' The healers say you should have little problem riding, your chest wound having healed enough for you to start moving again. I would have waited longer, but the Kingslayer is depriving us of precious time. I am sending you as an envoy to Pyke, on my behalf, to appeal to your father, and win an alliance from him. If you succeed, the Ironmen will attack the Westerlands from the Sea, and burn their primary city and port of Lannisport to the Ground. The Kingslayer will be caught in the middle between the Greyjoys attacking the West and the capitol threatened by the Baratheons. ''
'' So the Ironmen attack from the Sea. What about us?''
'' Until we have a new host raised and deployed, we will bide our time in Harrenhal... for now.
But while this is happening, I mean to reach out to another potential ally. The Lannister's have Dorne to the South, who have little love for them, ever since the Sack of Kingslanding and the murder of Elia Martel and her children, at the hands of Gregor Clegane, Amory Lorch, by command of Tywin Lannister. All three of them are dead now, thanks to us. The justice that has been denied them for 17 years by the Iron Throne has come to them at last.
Lord Talhart, I am sending you south to Dorne, to negotiate a possible alliance with Dorne, so we can overthrow the Lannisters for good. Dacey Mormont, seeing as you were the one who killed Gregor Clegane, you will be accompanying Lord Talhart, and help him appeal to the Martells. You will both ride tomorrow morning.''
Lord Talhart and Dacey Mormont sat there stunned by his declaration, and his bannermen began to voice their own opinions- when they were interrupted.
'' Your Grace.'' A messenger arrived at the tent. '' We just learned the news. Lord Stannis has left Dragon-stone, and is sailing south at a rapid pace!''
So there you have it. Cersei prepares to send off one of her most unpredictable- and dangerous- advisors off to the Vale, where he might or might not stay loyal to House Lannister. So wise, so cunning.
Robb is heading to Harrenhal, instead of Riverrun now. There are several good reasons for this- for instance, Harrenhal, while a ruin, is still an excelent militarily strategic point to hold, as unless under siege, gives its ruler control over much of the Southern Riverlands. Furthermore, despite the damage it suffered at the jaws of fire-breathing Dragons during Aegon I's conquest, it is still an excellent defense multiplier, and will easily compensate for Robb's casulties at Green Fork.
Afterall, in the actual books and TV series, Tywin Lannister chose this place to rest his forces after Whispering Wood.
Furthermore, as Robb has defeated the Eastern Lannister army instead of the Western one, this means that even though he has Jaime to the West, he can now freely move his troops east- and possibly threaten the Crownlands. However, as his bannermen pointed out, Robb has effectively burned the Unite-with-The-Riverlords-at-Riverrun bridge, leaving him still isolated from his main ally. Despite this, he now has a chance of gaining two more powerful allies.
And another note I should have added several chapters earlier: Dacey Mormont, the Mountain Breaker, is an actual character in the books who is not present in the HBO series. She is Jorah Mormont's younger cousin, and was in Robb's personal guard until the Red Wedding where she, as one of many honored guests, received her own wedding gift.
And Yes, I know, neither Renly or Tyrion are in this chapter as I had promised. This was just a switch between POVs, like in the books. Next chapter will see both of them.