6th Month of 282 A.C. Riverrun
Knight Major Lord Rickard Stark
Riverrun was somewhat of safe haven for him, it had been for some time. And though he loathed the fact that he had been delayed in getting to King's Landing because of the injuries he had received during the destruction of the Twins, he knew that this time was good. It gave him time to recuperate and to plan his next move. Rhaegar was still missing, and with every passing day Rickard began wondering if Lyanna had perhaps gone with the prince willingly. It stung him that his daughter might have done such a thing, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. After all, Rickard's own mother had gone once long ago, he had not seen her for years, did not know if she was still alive, but Lyanna was more like Rickard's mother than he had ever cared to admit. And now, now he was scared, scared that this might come back to haunt them all.
Rickard looks at his old friend, and says. "So, my son and Robert Baratheon were here for the wedding and then they departed for the Vale? How long did they tarry here?"
Hoster looks back at him and then says. "They were here for around four days following the wedding. They asked many questions, but I managed to deflect their questions. Eventually they returned to the Vale, I believe because Jon's nephew is to be married."
"Elbert? He went south with Brandon though did he not?" Rickard asks.
"Not Elbert, the other one. What is his name, Jasper?" Hoster responds.
Rickard considers this and then responds. "Yes, it would have to have been Jasper. Though from what the order had reported, it seemed that Jon and his nephew did not get along too well. This does not seem right to me."
His friend nods in agreement. "Aye, I think that there is something more going on in the Vale. I do not think Jon Arryn has been completely honest with any of us."
"When one considers who his father was, I do not think that is much of a surprise. He had a hand in the deaths of Prince Maegor, and Prince Maegor's mother and children. The man and his family have long been against the king and his family. I just thought that perhaps Jon might have changed since the war of the ninepenny kings." Rickard responds.
Hoster looks at him surprised. "What made you think that?"
Rickard is silent a moment, and then responds. "During the war, I saved the man's life. He had fallen fighting one of the Blackfyres, and I slew the Blackfyre. And yet now the more I think about it, I have the feeling that perhaps Jon Arryn was not so innocent."
A moment's silence and then Hoster asks him. "What do you mean by that? Do you think he had something to do with the Blackfyre invasion that year?"
Rickard is silent and then says. "I do not know. I think he had certainly had a hand in some other things. The Rat, the Hawk and the Pig for example. That was something that he and his father had a hand in, for it has his fingers all over it. And yet King Aegon never had him thrown in the black cells or killed."
His friend sighs then. "Jon Arryn, we have placed much on his shoulders, and now it seems we are only just beginning to see his true colours. I am shocked to say that I do not find this surprising. I always thought he was too good to be true."
Rickard nods. "Aye, I have long thought about calling Ned back from the Vale, and yet have held my hand back from doing so. I did not wish for the man to get suspicious. For too long has he been allowed to sit idly by and as such I think that there is more to the man than either of us knew."
"What have you found?" Hoster asks.
Rickard sighs and says. "I did some looking into Jon Arryn and the whole issue of Prince Maegor. We both know his father had a hand in the Prince's death, but one thing that was never clear to me was what happened to Vaella Targaryen. She was somewhat inconsequential, to some at least, and yet she turned out to be quite a smart girl, and yet she disappeared from the records around the time of the great betrothals. I did not know where to look to find her, and then I found something." he pauses then, takes a drink and goes on. "She disappeared on a visit to the Vale, in the shrouds of the mountains of the moon, where it was said a dragon had once dwelled. I found enough proof to suggest she was murdered."
His friend gasps then. "Murdered? Why? BY who?"
"Jon Arryn I believe. The man was trying to get back at the Targaryens, for they took his father and his mother away from him. They robbed him of a chance to become what his father had so sought. A chance to become part of the dragons, and so he sought to claim that through one way or another. Princess Vaella was given up for that purpose. Taken whilst she visited the old mountain, and her blood fed Jon Arryn's plan." Rickard says.
The Lord of Riverrun looks sick as sick as Rickard himself feels. "So he killed the girl to what? Become a dragon? What does that even mean?"
Rickard sighs and says. "It means that he has blood of the dragon not running through his veins but within the weapons he uses. There is only one thing that can kill a dragon and that is their own blood. It was something that was most protected by the Targaryens of old. And yet the dragons are dead, only their humans remain."
Lord Hoster looks at him then and asks. "You don't think he means to bring them back do you?"
Rickard runs a hand through his hair and responds. "I do not know. Knowing Arryn, I would not put it past him. He has a Targaryen descendant in his hands with Robert, and he has a man of King's blood in my son. And knowing Arryn, no doubt he means to get back for the years preceding the conquest."
Hoster looks at him then his face filled with surprise. "Why have you not removed your son from the Vale then? If you know this, why have you not tried to get him back home?"
Rickard takes a deep breath and then says. "Because, doing that would only alert him to the fact that I know of something. I do not yet have complete proof that Jon Arryn is plotting this. I need more evidence and for that to happen I need him to act. The only way he will act is through making it seem as though all is normal."
"How can you be so sure of that?" Hoster asks.
Rickard takes a breath before responding. "Because the spies I have within the Vale tell me he is a creature of habit. And now, we must make sure more so than ever, that his habit remains in place. For all of our sakes we must make sure that remains the case."
Silence falls between them, and then Hoster asks. "Would you like to speak with Cat?"
He considers this a moment and then shakes his head. "Myself and my men have tarried here long enough. Thank you for the offer though. How is my gooddaughter doing?"
A smile blooms on his friend's face. "She is well thank you old friend. She is with child, about two moons along. When you see your son, please do let him know."
Rickard nods. "I shall be sure to do so." he pauses a moment, hesitating and then he asks. "Has there been word from Harrenhal? I know there has been much and more made of the massacre at the Twins, but nothing has come from Harrenhal for me. Is old Whent, still good for the plan?"
His friend looks concerned at this. "I am not sure. He is not responding to any of my letters, and the last I heard he was planning his daughter's wedding. But it would not surprise me if his sons were involved in this. It reeks of that boy what is his name? Harren?"
"His heir? Harren Whent? Yes quite an unfortunate business that name choosing. But to what end would they work with the Prince? They have more to gain by remaining loyal." Rickard muses.
"Who knows with the Whents, they have never been the same since old Alyssa died." Hoster says.
Rickard thinks on this and then stands. "Well that is quite true. But now, I must begin making preparations to leave, I must hasten to King's Landing and ensure the king is well before we begin our plan."
His friend stands with him. "If you are certain of that. You can stay for a few more days surely?"
"No, no, it is nothing against you old friend, but I must away. I am needed in the capital. The time has come." Rickard says.
There is a moment's silence and then Rickard departs from his friend's solar. He spends the next few hours preparing himself and his men for their departure. Nerves flutter in his stomach, he knows that what happens on the journey to the capital could be just as important as what happens in the capital. He is not foolish enough to believe that everything will go smoothly, but neither is he willing to believe it will all go badly. Brandon is smart, has always been cunning, and so long as he does not stray far from the red keep, should be safe. He tells himself this to make it easier to pack his things, wincing slightly at the wounds he feels.
Eventually all is packed and ready, once the horses are prepared he mounts his horse, looks at his old friend and says. "We shall meet in the capital Hoster. And we shall bring justice."
His friend nods. "Of course."
Rickard looks briefly at his gooddaughter and then, spurs his horse forward, and rides out of Riverrun. The ride is quiet, thankfully, and Rickard is allowed to consider his own thoughts. He knows that whatever it is Jon Arryn has planned, it pales in comparison to what those two great traitors Rhaegar and Tywin have planned. Something about all of that just rings wrong for him. He does not know where they went wrong with those two, but somewhere they did and now they are going to have to pay the price for it. He sighs, the journey is passing quickly, and Riverrun is far in the background now, High Heart comes into view and Rickard gets the feeling that something is going to happen.
Whatever it is that he felt, it is gone quite quickly, and so he orders his men to continue onward. They ride and ride until they come toward Rushing Falls, they stop for a while, and eventually decide that perhaps the time to set up camp is just right. However, Rickard knows that staying here will be bad, remembers what happened the last time he came to Rushing Falls. Instead he orders his men to continue marching, and so they do until they come to a Holdfast, he knows that they have ridden long and hard, but he also knows that they could not afford to stop before here. He calls his men to a halt, night has fallen, and as he dismounts he sees a man walking out of the holdfast, a woman accompanying him.
"Who goes there?" the man asks.
"It is I, Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Master of the Order." Rickard says.
The man looks at him for a long moment and then says. "Ah yes, Lord Rickard we have been expecting you."
Rickard hides his surprise and says. "Might my men and I, take lodgings here for the night?"
The woman speaks then, and Rickard feels a chill go down him as he hears her voice. "Of course my lord, who are we to deny that Lord of Winterfell. Do come with us."
Rickard turns back and sees the same feeling of fear on Martyn's face. He swallows and follows the lady, knowing that he will not see another sunrise.