Chapter 9. Justice at Golden Tooth
Castle Runestone
"Milord…lady Catelyn Stark and Lord Brynden Tully the Blackfish…" a man announced.
"Lord Royce! Thank you for seeing us…"
"I always have time for the in-laws of Lord Arryn…"
Yohn Royce listened as Catelyn tolf him of Petyr Baelish's betrayal, "My husband was killed for the same reason Lord Arryn was killed…For learning the truth…Now my Sister is getting ready to marry that bastard!"
"My niece has always been in love Petyr Baelish…" Brynden says speaking up.
"You were right to come to me with this…If the Lords of the Vale knew of this they will demand that Lady Regent Arryn have him executed. Before leaving for the Eyrie Lord Royce sent ravens to the other banners of the Vale. They met in private before Lysa's wedding.
"My sister…and Uncle come to see me married…" Lysa said in the sept.
"Get your hands off of me!" Petyr Baelish demanded as two men dragged him in and threw him before the gathered Lords.
Lysa jumps up, "What is the meaning of this? I command you to release my fiancée!"
"There will be no wedding Lady Arryn…" Lord Royce says, "This snake is in league with the Lannisters…He betrayed your sister's husband Lord Eddard Stark to the Lannisters who murdered him to keep their shameful secret…He also made advances at Lady Stark while she was still grieving her dead husband…"
"They are lying my love…I have thoughts for only you…"
She looks at Catelyn then at Petyr, "I command you to release him…I am your Regent!"
"You would marry him even after we told you of his crimes…"
"I tried to help Lord Stark, but he would not heed my council…Then the Lannisters found out and threatened me…I had no choice…"
"LIAR!" Catelyn screamed.
"I will have no other! My father kept us apart…My sister with her filthy mouth!"
Catelyn sneers, "I have never loved that fool…I have tried to be his friend, but he wanted more…I was in love with Brandon Stark, but he was taken from me…And Ned…Lord Eddard became my husband…" She looks at Lysa, "Sister! I love you and if you have any love for me…Kill that bastard…"
"He is mine!" Lysa screamed.
"The Knights of the Vale demand justice for Lord Arryn and Lord Stark…" Royce shouted.
"AYE!" The other lords and ladies said.
"I am Lysa Arryn Regent of the vale and I strip you Lord Royce of your title…And if anyone else speaks to me in this manner they too will lose their title…"
The Lords drew their swords after exchanging looks, "Lady Arryn in the name of the Lords of the Vale I hearby renounce you as Regent of the Eryie and the Vale on the grounds of conspiring with the enemy…Take her!"
"Let me go!" She screams as two soldiers take her away. Lysa is in her room in tears. The guards had removed all objects that she could use to hang herself or commit bodily harm. The doors opened and in walked Catelyn. "Get out of here!" Catelyn stared at her for a few minutes, "I said…GET OUT!"
"Does family mean anything to you?"
"Don't speak to me of family…You did nothing when father killed my unborn child…I loved Petyr Baelish…"
"Do you really believe father would have listened to me, had I spoken up?"
"Get out! From this day forward I have no sister…"
Catelyn turned to leave, but stopped at the door, "Despite what you think you are my sister and I love you…"
Brynden Tully was made regent of the Eyrie until Robin Arryn was old enough to take his place as Lord of the Eyrie. Robin was made a ward of the King of the North. All the Knights of the Vale agreed to fight for the King of the North and the Vale became a province of the North Kingdom.
Golden Tooth
The attack on Golden Tooth and the surrounding lands was successful. Robb only lost 300 men taking the castle. All the commoners in the surrounding lands were rounded up and forced to live in a makeshift fort as Robb didn't want anyone running off to warn neighboring castles and villages. He kept the Golden Tooth sigil flying overhead incase a messenger from Casterly Rock or some other Fasthold of the Lannisters came.
"Maybe I can lead the attack against Clegane's Keep…" Lord Richard Karstark offered.
Robb sighs looking at the map. His scouts reported that Ashemark had been retaken by the Lannisters and so had the Crag. What he didn't know was that it was because of Roose Bolton's treachery. When Robb left for the funeral of his grandfather Roose Bolton was left in charge at Harranhal. He had sent Robb's forces into traps designed to drive Robb back into the River-Lands. But Roose Bolton had to return to the Dread Fort, because of his bastard Ramsey Snow. Lord Umber took charge and abandoned Harranhal out of strategic necessary. Now Robb controlled everything from Harranhal to Golden Tooth.
"We will wait two more days then Lord Richard you and Lord Umber can lead the attack on Ashemark with 17,000 men…"
The next day Catelyn and her brother Brynden Tully arrived with the Knights of the Vale. An army numbering 32,000 men rode behind them. With the Knights of the Vale Robb's army now numbered 95,000 strong – 20,000 of which were in the North. The Lords of the Vale swore fealty to the Robin first and then Robin and the Knights of the Vale swore allegiance to King Robb I.
"I say we wait…" Lord Royce said in the main hall.
"The longer we wait the more time we give the Lannisters to mount a defense and call on allies…" Lord Bracken declared.
It grew quiet when Robb stood up, "Lord Umber will take a force of 20,000 and march on Ashemark…Attack at night and from the north side of the castle…"
Two days after Umber left Golden Tooth Justin and Edmure arrived with their forces from the Twins. "Justin Stark I name you High Commander and Lord Protector of the North…" Robb said with Justin on one knee before a makeshift throne.
"HAIL JUSTIN!" Everyone shouted.
"Thank you my King…May I present a gift…Your Sister Arya Stark…"
Arya drops to one knee, but Catelyn and Robb rush her and hug her fiercely. Then as they bombard her with questions Sandor Clegane drops to one knee, "Your Grace as I swore to Lord Edmure I bow to you and recognize you as my King…"
"Sandor Clegane brought us your sister…your grace…" Edmure said speaking up, "In return for his service I have given him Lordship of the Twins and Derwa Frey to marry…"
Robb walks up to Sandor, "My sister Sansa tells me that you saved her from rape at the hands of a mob in King's Landing…"
"Yes your majesty…"
"I approve of your appointment at the Twins arise Lord Clegane…" He obeyed.
Then Justin handed Robb the letter they got in Walder Frey's room. Robb sneers handing the letter to his mother. "Send word to your friend in the North…"
Justin raised his hand, "Not necessary my lord…Bring them in!"
At Justin's command two men brought in a chained up Roose Bolton and his bastard Ramsey Snow. They also had Theon Greyjoy and Jaime Lannister, as each man was forced to his knees Robb walks up to Roose Bolton. He stares down on him and then he strikes him across the face, "Roose Bolton I strip you of your rank and title…Your castle and lands…and I sentence you to death…" Robb looks at his squire, "My sword!" He uses the one Justin gave him and removes Roose's head. Then he beheads Ramsey who smiles the whole time.
Then Robb walks up to Brienne Tarth, 'Be merciful my lord!" Catelyn asks, "She was only doing what I told her…"
Robb looks at his mother, then he looks down on Brienne, "Brienne of Tarth…I knight thee a lady of the North in my service and I charge you to my mother's service until she releases you…"
"Thank you milord!"
As Brienne joins Catelyn Robb walks up to Jaime, "I see you have your sister back…The reasonable thing to do is to return me to my father…"
Robb smiles, "I will return you to your father King slayer with a message…" He looks at a soldier, "Bring me a heavy mallet…"
"Think about what you are going to do…" Jaime said, 'We can make peace!"
"Oh I have kingslayer…You pushed my brother from the tower because he caught you fucking your own sister…He will never walk again…"
"I tried to catch him he slipped…"
"Lay him across the floor…"
"Wait a minute…" He says as the guards place a board in between his feet.
Robb takes the mallet and raises it high as the Jaime struggles against the men holding him. Then he strikes Jaime on his right foot breaking it, then he breaks the other. Robb then moves to his knees and breaks each one. Then he hits Jaime in the middle of his lower legs.
"Make sure he can never walk again…" Robb says to his Maester, "Then strap him to a horse and send him on his way with the head…"
"His mind is gone they tortured him and removed his cock…" Justin says as Robb walks up to Theon Greyjoy.
"Do you know who I am?" Theon is mumbling to himself, "Look at me!" He slowly raises his head "Now answer me! Do you know who I am?"
"You are the King in the North! The King in the North!" He keeps repeating.
"What is your name?"
"Reek! I am Reek!"
Robb shakes his head, "Take him away and clean him up…I will decide what to do with him later…"
"Yara is being held in the North against rebellion by Ballon Greyjoy…" Justin says as they stand over a map of the westerlands, "The Glovers have her…"
"Lord Umber has successfully taken Ashemark…" Robb says, "Lord Royce will take 5,000 men to reinforce lord Umber then the two of them will march on the Crag…Justin and I will take the remaining forces and march on Casterly Rock and Castle Kayce…I will burn Casterly Rock to the ground…" After discussing the plans they prepare for the attack on Casterly Rock.
Arya is with her mother in Catelyn's suit, "His name was Syrio Farrel…Father employed him to teach me the sword…Before he left for the wall Jon gave me Needle…My teacher died protecting me…I saw father beheaded in King's landing…I saw the Lannisters torture men with rats…I am not a little girl anymore…I have killed to survive mother and I will kill again if I must…I am a warrior…"
Catelyn was crying and took a shuttering breath, then she hugged her daughter, "I had hoped you would grow out of this but…Lady Brienne would you come in here?" The door opened and Arya looks up at the tall hulking woman, "This is Arya Stark…my daughter…I would consider it a great honor if you would take her as your squire and teach her all you know…"
"Yes milady…Come with me…"