Brandon was going to die and it was his fault. Rickard Stark knew like he knew he himself would either precede or follow his son. Turning to him, grateful Aerys had left them to eat, he whispered
"My son, I should not have done it, to you or your sister." Brandon, who had been attacking his bonds, froze.
"Mara didn't want to shame me, which is why we kept it secret, hidden. If we hadn't . . ." His thought trailed off and Rickard finished it. "I might not have forced the betrothal to Catelyn." He could honestly say he did not blame his son for Brandon's hatred. How could he? Brandon had only been doing his duty and hating it.
"I might not have forced the betrothal to Catelyn." He could honestly say he did not blame his son for Brandon's hatred. How could he? Brandon had only been doing his duty and hating it.
If he, Rickard Stark had left well enough alone, Lyanna would still be overjoyed to spar with her brothers, Brandon would have married the woman he so clearly adored, Ned might have wed Catelyn, but he hadn't. At the time, the punch to his jaw by Brandon had hurt his flesh and his pride, but his son's words and gaze had cut like ice. Brandon had laid the blame at his feet, and although he had acknowledged his feelings, he had not denied some of the blame was his too. If Brandon had spoken sooner, he might have been spared the betrothal. It was as well the young woman had refused to allow Brandon to sully his own honour . . . Rickards' reverie was cut off by the doors opening, and squeezing his eyes shut he braced himself for Aerys' madness. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a silver violet gaze that wasn't that of the mad king. Brandon's wheezed "M-Mara, R-Rhaena-" was cut off by a woman's "Hush, Direwolf, the polecats are here."
"M-Mara, R-Rhaena-" was cut off by a woman's "Hush, Direwolf, the polecats are here."
"Hush, Direwolf, the polecats are here."Dazedly, Rickard recalled how Dayan had explained the Stormhearts' hunter green field with the crouching violet-eyed silver polecat was so much a picture of their people that they called themselves polecats, and their family 'the Pride' of Westeros.
Dazedly, Rickard recalled how Dayan had explained the Stormhearts' hunter green field with the crouching violet-eyed silver polecat was so much a picture of their people that they called themselves polecats, and their family 'the Pride' of Westeros.
Carefully, Amarantha freed them of their bonds while Rhaena stoked the fire hotter and hotter, then disappeared outside the door, returning to thrust a dead man who looked a bit like Brandon- same height and build, with lighter hair and darker eyes- into the fire. Amarantha tugged them to their feet as Rhaena returned with a second corpse, thrusting it, too, into the fire.
Quietly as possible, the Stark Lords were taken to a secret tunnel which came out near the moat, where a boat was moored. Silently, the women steered the skiff away from the Red Keep, and to a quiet meadow, where they were bid to rest, while Amarantha stood watch and Rhaena hunted. Brandon heaved his too thin frame onto the unpacked furs, content to sleep. Rickard, too, was soon overcome by exhaustion, and fell asleep.
At noon, Amarantha, who soon insisted on being called Mara, roused them for a planning session, and to feed them a thin soup. He was astonished by what the women had gathered since their capture. Lyanna had been hidden in the Tower of Joy, in Dorne, because the man she'd fallen in love with was Arthur Dayne, and Rhaegar had promised that he would release Ser Arthur from the Kingsguard in exchange for a child, sired by himself, gotten on Lyanna. In order to accomplish this, he had taken her as a second wife, and released Arthur once she was pregnant. Rickard was shocked, but resigned. Arthur would be better, far better, for Lyanna.
Once he and Brandon were able to sit up, he finally told the others the plan he'd concocted. Rhaegar wouldn't have the child, and Lyanna and Brandon could live with those they'd chosen over his choices. If necessary, Rickard would raise his grandson as his own bastard then allow it to fall to Ned or Benjen.
Over two moons later, they came to the Tower of Joy, where they were received by the Kingsguard who served Rhaegar. Lyanna ordered them to be allowed in, after Arthur brought the news. Ser Arthur Dayne escorted Rickard, Brandon, Mara and Rhaena to Lyanna's room.
So round with child she struggled to sit up, Lyanna greeted them with smiles. "Father, Brandon, my ladies Stormheart, what a pleasant surprise." Rickard took in a breath and spoke before he lost his nerve. "I should not have tried to force Robert on you, Lyanna. As I should not have forced Catelyn on Brandon." Sighing, he sat on the bed. "Now, I will try to right the wrongs I committed. When Ned comes looking for you, I will greet him, saying that Brandon died getting here, as did Ser Arthur in the ensuing fight. The lady Rhaena will return to her kin, but you, Ser Arthur, Brandon, Mara and the child will leave for Essos once it is born."
"Father, Brandon, my ladies Stormheart, what a pleasant surprise." Rickard took in a breath and spoke before he lost his nerve. "I should not have tried to force Robert on you, Lyanna. As I should not have forced Catelyn on Brandon." Sighing, he sat on the bed. "Now, I will try to right the wrongs I committed. When Ned comes looking for you, I will greet him, saying that Brandon died getting here, as did Ser Arthur in the ensuing fight. The lady Rhaena will return to her kin, but you, Ser Arthur, Brandon, Mara and the child will leave for Essos once it is born."
"I should not have tried to force Robert on you, Lyanna. As I should not have forced Catelyn on Brandon." Sighing, he sat on the bed. "Now, I will try to right the wrongs I committed. When Ned comes looking for you, I will greet him, saying that Brandon died getting here, as did Ser Arthur in the ensuing fight. The lady Rhaena will return to her kin, but you, Ser Arthur, Brandon, Mara and the child will leave for Essos once it is born."
"Now, I will try to right the wrongs I committed. When Ned comes looking for you, I will greet him, saying that Brandon died getting here, as did Ser Arthur in the ensuing fight. The lady Rhaena will return to her kin, but you, Ser Arthur, Brandon, Mara and the child will leave for Essos once it is born." Lyanna gasped, and her father continued "If you wish to be free of Rhaegar's
"If you wish to be free of Rhaegar's get, I will raise him as my own bastard in Winterfell." Lyanna opened her mouth and snapped it shut, gazing at a frowning Arthur. "Essos? Won't the survivors look there?" Arthur clearly meant Robert would search for Lyanna and Rickard's wolfish grin surfaced. "No, she died in childbed birthing my granddaughter and was burned on a pyre with yourself and my son."
"Essos? Won't the survivors look there?" Arthur clearly meant Robert would search for Lyanna and Rickard's wolfish grin surfaced. "No, she died in childbed birthing my granddaughter and was burned on a pyre with yourself and my son."
"No, she died in childbed birthing my granddaughter and was burned on a pyre with yourself and my son."
Brandon was stunned. His father would lie for the rest of his life so he, Lyanna and their chosen spouses could live in peace? Lie to Ned, Benjen, Robert and all the Stark allies? Mara whistled. "That is a big responsibility, Lord Rickard. Are you sure you are up to it? Nodding his assent, Rickard sent for the remaining Kingsguard members to inform them of the plan. It was decided that the babe would go to Winterfell with Rickard, and the others would flee to Essos. It was decided the child would need a legitimate name, as Rhaegar had married Lyanna before getting the babe on her. Mara suggested the child take the surname
"That is a big responsibility, Lord Rickard. Are you sure you are up to it?" Nodding his assent, Rickard sent for the remaining Kingsguard members to inform them of the plan. It was decided that the babe would go to Winterfell with Rickard, and the others would flee to Essos. It was decided the child would need a legitimate name, as Rhaegar had married Lyanna before getting the babe on her. Mara suggested the child take the surname Stark Targaryen when time permitted, if ever. Rickard would inform his grandson of the truth either before he died or when the child was of an age to seek out their mother.
Which is why, a sennight after Ned Stark, husband of Catelyn, due to the disappearance and assumed death of Brandon, along with Howland Reed came on his father holding a child. Rickard flatly intoned his story, how Brandon, Lyanna and Ser Arthur Dayne died on the same day; Lyanna in childbed as Brandon and Dayne died in battle. All three had been burned on a pyre, and Rickard's bastard son and his wet nurse had been brought here to wait out the war, The Stormhearts had disappeared, he thought to return to Stonehome.
Upon his return to the North, Rickard told Ned to remain as Lord of Winterfell, he would see to the raising of Jon Snow, whom he taught as diligently as he had taught his own sons. Weapons, warfare, history, caring for a horse, the hardships of the people. In exchange for the Stormhearts secrecy, they fostered Jon half a year, every year. Darek, the eldest child of Lord Dayan Stormheart, trained Jon alongside his own son, Dayan the younger.
Years later, at a bannermeet hosted by the Stormhearts, Dayan the Elder and Rickard discussed the likelihood of Jon Snow marrying Amarantha Stormheart, sixth of her name in front of everyone. Darek asked Theon Greyjoy, who had been fostering with them for the same six moons as Jon, when he planned on wedding Valyria, his daughter.
Robb was hurt that his bastard uncle would marry the girl he'd hoped to wed. Rickard had thrown a fit when Catelyn suggested marrying Robb to 'the nice young lady Stormheart'. He shivered, recalling his grandfather's words.
"No. Absolutely not." Catelyn had protested, and Rickard had roared so loud, even his lady mother cowered.
"I lost my daughter because I tried to force a marriage, and I did the same fool thing with my son! I won't risk my grandson when she's likelier to skewer us all on her staff for suggesting it!" When Robb asked, in a hurt voice, why Lady Amarantha didn't like him, Jon had snorted, and disreguarded Lady Catelyn's glare to say
"Antha is not a Lady. She is a Stormhearted Polecat of Stonehome, and to her, you treating her like a southron flower is the greatest insult." Rickard sighed
"Just let go of the idea of marrying a Stormheart, Robb. They have reason to hold a grudge, and it's my fault." Jon laughed at his father.
"The entire bloody war was your fault!" Rickard leapt out of his chair to chase Jon.
Sad and puzzled, Robb let go of his glass castle. He tried to get Jon to tell him what his grandfather meant, but Jon would only shrug and say "He's the only one who can tell the tale, I can only tell it if he gives me leave or he dies."