1st Month of 230 A.L.: Riverrun
Lady Melantha Stark
Escaping from Winterfell and from the north had been something she had never once imagined that she would have to do, but of course once news had come that Donnor Stark was marching on Winterfell she knew she only had one choice left to her, and so she had gathered Edwyle and Branda and with the help of Rodrik she had fled southward. With the help of her goodsister and Lord Reed's widow she had escaped the north and had navigated her way through the mires of the neck and arrived at the Twins, where Rodrik had arranged for her and the children to sneak past the toll guards travelling as simple people, Rodrik had paid the toll and then had snuck them through. She had never felt more like a fugitive than she had fleeing what was her children's birthright, and yet she had done so that they could live to claim that birthright.
Edwyle and Branda had both been very upset about having to leave Winterfell and had not truly understood why they had had to leave, or at least Branda had not, Edwyle though had and serving as Rodrik's squire he had learnt more news than even Rodrik would have been able to learn. They had eventually managed to make it to Riverrun where her brother and Lord Tully had been waiting for her as if they had been expecting and so they had taken refuge there. Edwyle and Branda soon settled into a daily routine playing with her brother Ronald's children Benji and Myranda, and for that she was grateful for it took their minds off of what had happened. Ronald himself spent time with her and he did what he could to take her mind off all that had happened, though it was not truly succeeding for she kept thinking that it was completely strange and maddening how it had all fallen to pieces.
Of course the King and Lord Tully had arrived to ask for her report as she had promised. The King looked tired and worn but he still spoke kindly to her. "My lady, I know you are tired and that you wish for rest, and I do apologise that you find yourself in such circumstances but as you know I must know what you know and what you have learnt of the situation in the north."
Melantha nodded accepting the king's condolences and then taking a sip of water began. "Well Your Grace, before I fled the north, what I knew was that Errold Stark the youngest of the brothers fighting to usurp my son's rights, had been killed in the battle of the White Knife, killed by his elder brother Donnor Stark. What men Errold had, either were killed, surrendered and joined Donnor or fled, waiting for Brandon Stark to move from Barrowtown. Donnor took Castle Cerwyn before he came upon Winterfell. From what I learnt from Maester Lomys the man now has the support of Houses Umber, Glover, Hornwood, Karstark, Mormont the mountain clans and the Skagosi. As for Brandon, all I know is that after winning victory at White River he retreated back to Barrowtown and began preparing for gods alone knows what."
The king nodded seeming even more drained than before. "Very well thank you for your report. Since you have come to Raventree Hall, more news from the north has arrived. Donnor Stark sits in Winterfell proclaiming himself King in the North though he faces trouble from the north as wildlings scale over the walls attempting to take advantage of the chaos. Brandon Stark has stirred himself from Barrowtown and has allied with Ser Adam Woolfield and White Harbour after promising to name his nephew Jonnel as Lord of White Harbour. They are planning a campaign against Moat Cailin, and have aligned with the Blackfyres. Mercenaries from Essos have arrived in White Harbour to make war on Donnor Stark."
That news did surprise Melantha, she had never thought Brandon would betray his oath to the throne, but then again she had never thought he would betray his oath to his liege lord as well. All she could say in response was. "Then his a traitor and must needs die."
The king looked at her then and said simply. "He shall, I am sending your brother and Lord Tully as well as the might of the Vale to invade the north and fight to restore Winterfell and the North to your son. I promise to you that your son shall have his birthright restored to him and these traitors shall suffer most grievously." With that the king left her room leaving her alone with Ronald.
She looked at Ronald then and asked him softly. "Will you truly march to war again brother? You had only just come back last time we spoke. Must you march once more?"
Her brother was silent for a moment and then he said simply. "Aye, the king has asked it of me and so I must follow my oaths. Besides Edwyle is my nephew and the rightful lord of Winterfell, he is too young to fight for it himself, and his uncle is too much a craven to fight for it, so I must represent him and fight. And I promise you that this time we shall not fail."
With that Ronald got up and left, and a few moments later Edwyle entered, her son seemed tired but also like he was bursting to say something. He eventually said. "I want to head north with uncle Ronald mother!"
Melantha looked at her son then and said. "But you are too young to go and fight sweetling. And besides your uncle would not want you to put yourself at risk, nor would I for that matter. For who will protect us here once your uncle has head north?"
Her son pouted then and said. "But uncle Rodrik is remaining here, and he says that if I wish to fight I can!"
Melantha sighed, her goodbrother needed to think more carefully about the words he said in front of Edwyle. "He did not mean it literally I am sure. After all you are the Lord of Winterfell and are the most important person right now in Riverrun. You must remain safe my sweetling."
Her son looked like he might argue but then his face changed and he said seriously. "Yes mother."
2nd Month of 230 A.L. : Runestone.
Lady Lorra Stark
The war in the north had not really touched Moat Cailin, not truly, true there had been those who had tried to bring it to them, like the cranongmen but they had been dealt a swift blow and had been crushed by Brandon Blacksnow the man her husband had named commander of the garrison. The bog devils had been put nearly to the point of extinction by her husband and as such they had not troubled them for some time. Though the war still raged outside, Errold was dead; the prideful and stupid boy killed by his more grim and serious brother Donnor. Donnor held Winterfell and Melantha and her children had disappeared to gods alone knew where, but Brandon Stark still remained alive and well, fighting like a man possessed opening up White Harbour and taking in sellswords from Essos who were rumoured to be part of the Golden Company.
She and Brandon Blacksnow, her husband's bastard cousin had grown close over the course of the war, Brandon was a good man, stern and honourable and fiercely loyal. Qualities she admired and that was something she had found attracted her to him, his wife Alysanne was away in the Vale, in Runestone having left before the war had broken out, and as such she and Brandon had begun an affair, mainly from their grief at her husband's passing and also because they were attracted to one another and it was a way to keep warm during the winters that were fiercely cold. Brandon spoke to her about many things and asked her thoughts on various issues, and as such when it became apparent that Brandon Stark meant to march on the Moat, they had planned their escape, and as such when battle broke out they had not been in the castle, instead they had been on a small boat sailing forth down the streams and towards the bite, and from the bite they had ridden towards the Vale where her brother Jonos had greeted her.
She had then been reunited with her children, Brandon and Benjen both of whom had grown somewhat since she had last seen them. Brandon was eager to fight for what he saw as his cousin's right, whilst Benjen was silent and solemn and rarely spoke. But she loved her sons equally and treasured what time she had with them, for she knew that soon enough they would be sent off to fight after all White Harbour was now accepting ships and her brother had told her that the Vale was getting ready to sail and fight for her sons. Not for Edwyle surprisingly and that worried her somewhat, though Brandon had told her that Artos' blood was the only ones fit for Winterfell now that his brothers had shown how traitorous they truly were.
Whilst her boys were in a war council, Lorra spent time with Brandon Blacksnow's wife Alysanne Stark, sister to the warring brothers and a good friend of hers. Alysanne was a good and kind woman who seemed very laid back about what her husband got up to, Lorra knew her goodsister had wed Brandon because he offered her safety not because she was in love with him, and as such she was fiercely protective of her children Beron and Cregan but apart from that was good company, she was also very smart. "They will be marching to war sooner than you think my lady." Alysanne said taking Lorra from her thoughts.
"Oh and what makes you say that?" Lorra asked.
Her goodsister smiled at her then and said simply. "I know my husband Lorra, and I know he took his oath to your husband very seriously. He intends to see it fulfilled. By the end of this either Brandon or Benjen shall sit the winter throne, or Brandon Stark the elder shall lie rotting in the ground along with Donnor Stark. Of course, the riverlords are fighting for Edwyle and that is one small snag that my husband and the lords of the vale have not truly considered. Especially as King Maekar seems to think the Vale will now fight for Edwyle."
"You mean the King expects them to fight for a child when my sons are nearly men grown who actually know more of the north than the lord himself?" Lorra asked.
"Aye, that is what is being said. And with my brother Brandon having declared for the Blackfyres and Donnor having proclaimed himself a king in the north, it is fair game to say that should the riverlords succeed where they failed before, Edwyle shall become a southern puppet. His mother has no head for the game, and as such she shall fall to the traps of whatever her brother and Lord Tully tell her. That is why the Valelords want your sons on the winter throne, they know this and wish to prevent it. Brandon has a mind of his own and that is good for a lord of Winterfell, plus a little extra alliance between the north and the Vale will always be good for them both." Alysanne replied.
Lorra looked at her goodsister then and said. "And what do they make of me then my lady and how have you managed to learn all of this?"
"They believe you a good woman Lorra. And the fact that Brandon Blacksnow is vouching for you only increases their respect. Of course with your brother being Lord Arryn's right hand man how could they not."Alysanne replied, and then as if realising that she had not answered the second question said simply. "I listen. I learnt long ago to listen to the gossiping of men, for they gossip nearly as badly as us women do, except they gossip about politics rather than about who sleeps with who."
Lorra blushed slightly then and asked. "What do you make of the war Al? Why did your brothers do what they did?"
Alysanne sighed then and said. "Donnor rebelled because he wants an independent north and because he sees Edwyle and your children as nothing more than southern puppets. Brandon rebelled because he saw it as his duty to prevent Donnor's tyranny from coming to fruition. As for Errold, I know not why that boy rebelled, he always had more water behind his ears than actual sense. I am only surprised Rodrik did not rebel, the man could have brought more support to his cause than any of my other brothers."