October 3, 2014
Week 2, 281 AC
A letter arrived in Riverrun a few days ago, written in Marq's father's hand. Lord Walter Whent is not technically a lord of anything; he is the descendant of one of younger sons of a previous Lord Whent while Marq's mother is the direct descendant of the eldest son (as Minisa Tully was while she lived). Lady Shella having no brother, it was her who inherited the lands and incomes of House Whent, and so that no other House got a claim to Harrenhal, married one of her two remaining distant cousins. The other cousin, Ser Oswell, is now the member of the Kingsguard, and according to Marq, visited his family castle only a few months ago. Something about the timing of this visit, I am told, is suspicious with regards to what the letter actually conveyed: that a grand tourney is to be held at Harrenhal around the end of the year.
From what I have read and heard, a tourney seems like the only thing remotely close to sports in Westeros. Showcasing the brute strength of men with some amount of pageantry at the side is more or less what a tourney is all about. There was a huge list of events enclosed with the invitation and a list of the prizes for the winner and runners-up for each. Jousting is the highest ranked and according to Marq the most anticipated, basically a set of draws where each of the two players attempts to shove the other off of horseback using a lance. Precisely why anyone would think that fun is beyond me. Anyway, the winner of the entire event is given a fat bag of gold coins and a crown of flowers that he must bestow upon his 'Queen of Love and Beauty'. Usually these knights crown their mothers, sisters or wives (the Kingsguard choose the Queen, as Marq says his Uncle Oswell did at a past King's Landing tourney) but there is always a fool who crowns an unknown woman he is smitten with. Whether concerned woman wants the man's attention or not is certainly not thought about, stupid as this world is.
The other prominent events are archery, which I can agree with, and the melee, which I absolutely cannot. The latter is a glorified battlefield, with the last man standing in the arena unscathed declared winner. Never mind the chance that people might die in the crossfire. Marq only laughs his quiet, somewhat exasperated-yet-amused laugh whenever I mention this, saying that it is a years old tradition and tourneys are something everyone likes. A chance to meet other nobility and enjoy the lists, cheering on family members and generally having a good time. Still, he confided in me that he is doubtful of the reason given for the tourney - to find his sister, Anisa, a husband. "My beloved sister needs no tourney for that, not if Theomar Smallwood's relentless visits to Harrenhal are an indication. Besides, our castle is a monstrous thing, hard to maintain even with the money we have. Not in the seven hells could House Whent afford the prizes being offered, not unless my lord father has discovered gold mines underneath while I've been gone," is his argument.
As it is, he will likely have to leave Riverrun soon. I keep begging him not to, but who am I to stop him when his father will send a raven (something continually reminding me of Harry Potter and the owls, let it be said) demanding his return?
At least I won't be entirely bereft of company in the event of that. Lord Hoster came back from Raventree Hall along with the source of the recent dispute, a Bracken cousin called Shirei Rivers. She is a fiery sixteen-year old; the illegitimate daughter of a younger son of House Bracken. Lord Tytos Blackwood demanded that she be banished from the Riverlands after all the trouble she caused his family, what with encroaching on their lands and setting up booby traps in one of their farms. Lord Jonos Bracken maintained that she had done nothing wrong after one of the Raventree knights insulted her. It all ended when Lord Hoster agreed to take on Shirei as his ward and not let her around Blackwood lands again. Lord Bracken was told that she would serve as a companion to myself and Catelyn while Lord Blackwood was told that she would be punished as a handmaiden and servant of Catelyn, or something like that.
Shirei is just as sharp-tongued and independent as her reputation claims. She doesn't get along much with my sister, owing to the fact that their personalities are two opposite sides of a coin, but she is a good enough friend to me. I heard her account of the insults paid to her by the Raventree knight and for one thing, I am somewhat relieved that she retaliated. It was not just some words about her 'baseborn' status, as a Rivers instead of a Bracken, but also slut-shaming and catcalling thrown in. Marq heard the entire incident and only asked whether the knight who was responsible for commenting on Shirei was directly affected by her revenge, to which she replied in negative but insisted it wasn't that particular man, instead all of House Blackwood that had to be punished. At this Marq and her had a long argument about whether she truly did what she did because of the insults, or because she wanted to prove herself as a real member of House Bracken by harassing their nemeses. Needless to say, the two of them trade biting remarks every time they are in the same room. It would actually be something fun to witness, very much reminiscent of some American comedy shows, if only they didn't do it so very often.
Catelyn disapproves, of course. We are civil with each other, talk to each other sometimes during lessons with the Septa (which for the record are kind of primitive versions of Health period, religion class and family-rearing workshops rolled into one). However, nothing much beyond that. I kind of miss our chats in the godswood but if she isn't ready to accept what I told her about Brandon Stark, I don't know what else I can do. While I understand that Lord Hoster is not likely to cancel the betrothal for no rhyme or reason, Catelyn is his favorite daughter. The one reminding him most of his wife. If she tells him that she is uncomfortable with her betrothed, surely he will at least consider it? I don't know. When I complained to Marq about this, he told me that (a) I might be wrong about Stark and (b) my sister is most probably not appreciative of my constant remarks regarding him. I only feel defeated.
Petyr grows quieter by the day. He finds both Shirei and Marq distasteful and trails around Catelyn many a times. Edmure gets very angry when he sees this - "Cat's my sister, not yours, Littlefinger!" - and I have half a mind to confront my foster brother about his affections for my sister. I don't know how likely he is to listen to me, yet... He was a companion to me before Marq arrived and I owe him my honesty though it is clearly visible that he can be stubborn as a mule when it comes to Catelyn. The glint in his eyes when he looks at her sometimes... It unnerves me. I have promised myself that if I catch him glancing at her wrongly one more time, I will speak to him about it, however uncomfortable that may prove to be. I am no one to protest if he loves her, but with Petyr it feels somewhat unnatural. It feels like something walking the thin line between adoration, infatuation and obsession.
On another note, Lord Hoster intends to visit Casterly Rock - the capital of the Westerlands region - next month. It is the seat of the Lannister family, and it was hinted subtly that this is not just any visit; a betrothal between me and Lord Lannister's heir may be on the cards. Marq has briefly seen the boy Lord Hoster wishes to sell me to, and has lukewarm feelings about him. He is around fourteen (not much older, thank goodness for that) and apparently a very good fighter, proven when he won his first tourney melee last year. I tried to protest this potential marriage, stating that I am too young and have never met Jaime Lannister, at which I got snapped at crudely. Septa Myana has been told to "keep a close eye" on me and teach me "how to uphold the Tully words" as I am "getting out of hand".
Uncle Brynden later told me that he understood where I was coming from, but reminded me that this is a world where marrying because you respect someone, let alone love them, is a distant dream. "If I had married the woman I loved, we likely would not be having this conversation," he said. That got me curious and I asked him who it was that he had loved, and what was it that held him back. I got no reply, only a sad smile and "You're a good girl, Lysa, but don't lose yourself in search of something that may never be possible." Marq consoled me that Lord Hoster is only doing what he thinks is the best for me. But really, how is he going to know what is the best for me if he doesn't even heed my opinion?
notes: Thank you for all the reviews on the previous chapter - really, really appreciated it. Once more jean d'arc and pojo18 did not fail to make me happy with their kind words. I am about three chapters ahead of this and the major changes to the timeline will happen soon enough. Hopefully I will be able to hold your attention till then! :)