Hey I'm back yo! What's up and how are you lately. The fifth chapter of the "Red Rose of Winterfell" is here and I apologize for the long wait. Been a bit too busy updating my other stories or just being too lazy lol. Anyways, here it is folks. Looks like the Great Houses of Westeros have been gathered here in Winterfell and the interactions between them. I thank you once again for your reviews and support! :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Game of Thrones and RWBY as the two franchises respectively belong to George R.R. Martin and HBO, the late Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth.
Enjoy and don't forget to review. :)
At the courtyard of Winterfell, the Starks and everyone else from their household and the king's royal party except for the royal family, who have already settled themselves in, have already gathered to greet the arriving parties of the Lannisters, Arynns, the Tyrells and the Martells who came up from this far south of Westeros to visit the ancient seat of the North.
The first one to arrive is Tywin Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock and Lannisport, and Warden of the West, the man who is feared and respected for his diligence, decisive, tireless, fiercely intelligent, just and stern with no sense of humor as he was once the Hand of the King under the late Mad King Aerys II Targaryen prior of the Rebellion and is currently the backer of House Baratheon's cemented hold on the Iron Throne through the arranged marriage between his daughter Queen Cersei and King Robert. He was accompanied by a small party of Lannister retainers and men-at-arms with his brother and trusted aide Kevan Lannister. Thankfully he didn't bring Ser Gregor Clegane along with him for very obvious reasons.
Next one to arrive is Denys Arynn, the temporary regent Lord of the Eyrie and the Vale and the Warden of the East appointed by King Robert sooner after Jon Arynn passed away under 'mysterious' circumstances as young Robin, his uncle's frail and sickly son and cousin, is too young until he comes of age to assume his position which Lysa Arynn had surprisingly allowed him to take regency instead of opposing him when she returned to the Vale with her sweet little Robin, accompanied with his wife Ysilla Arynn from House Royce after his previous wife had died soon after him with no issue, and had six children. Behind them is a moderate party of the knights of the Vale and several Arynn bannermen.
Followed behind the falcons are the roses, Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the Reach with his three children Margaery, Ser Loras "the Knight of Flowers" and Willas Tyrells, and... also his mother, Olenna Tyrell who is famously known as the "Queen of Thorns" for her wits, sarcasms and cutting barbs and the true power behind House Tyrell. With them are a somewhat large party of Tyrell bannermen and the knights of the Reach. Obviously, they are a bit showing off of themselves despite the reputation of the Tyrells being soiled by Mace's stupid attempt in stealing Ruby's credit and name.
And finally the last one to arrive in the wolves' den are the vipers with Prince Oberyn Martell "the Red Viper" for his favorite tendency of poisoning weapons he wielded for a slow painful kill to his enemies, his lover and paramour Ellaria Sand and his niece Princess Arianne Martell, the daughter of his brother, the ruling Prince Doran Martell, and the heiress of Sunspear by Dornish customs, accompanied by a just a small group of Dornishmen retainers and knights as they're not like the rest of their southerner neighbors for bringing too many of their own all the way to the North in Winterfell.
Most of the traveling parties were wearing fur cloaks strapped on their backs in order to keep them warm and fuzzy in the cold harsh climate of the North upon their long travel to Winterfell. Like the royal party, they have female warriors and knights at their side as the Seven Kingdoms have experienced great change in the martial society that they soon followed example or risk left alone and isolated if they remained stubborn.
"Greetings Lords Lannister, Arynn and Tyrell, and Prince Oberyn. House Stark welcomes you all to Winterfell.", Ned Stark coolly welcomed such four groups from the Great Houses from the south into his home.
Tywin glanced around the interior structure of the ancient keep built by Brandon the Builder centuries ago and it looks new instead of plain old for a brief moment before commenting coolly, "Thank you for the welcome Lord Stark. It appears the rumors from the north are true. Winterfell appears to be in good shape."
"The North has really improved for a decade, don't you agree milords.", Mace commented, but in his mind the Reach has more better castles down in the south, that the other members of the separate parties including his own seemed to agree the main point.
"Although not as grand as the rest of the castles in the South, it is considered the closest thing Mace. At least it smelled better unlike in the rats of a capital. I swear I could smell the shit in King's Landing from a mile away.", Olenna said upon exiting the carriage with a scandalous-faced Margaery and her hand-maidens following by.
"I was expecting Winterfell to be more... plain and more cold at the same time although it's really cold. The Starks' words were always right. Winter is really coming.", Prince Oberyn chimed in while glancing at the pretty servant girls of House Stark with certain interest and flirting with his paramour at the same time.
"Times change. Prince Oberyn. There are times we of the North needed to progress and catch up with you southerners. It is see to see you again Denys.", Ned simply said before greeting the nephew of the late Jon Arynn who's now a bit older than him.
"Great to you again too Ned. I share my condolences for my uncle's death. He was a good and honorable man before he died and his body was buried in the hall of our ancestors at the Eyrie.", Denys said in a sad smile before introducing his wife and children. "Oh and this is my wife Ysilla and these are my children. My eldest son and heir Kyle. And my other sons, Keith, Elbert, and Roch, and this is my two daughters, Serene and Alyssa."
Then Ned introduced his five children to Deny's own as they exchanged courtesies and formalities which they seemed to get along well with each other. Mace also introduced his eldest beautiful daughter, Margaery Tyrell, who appeared to have caught Robb's eye and fancy upon her beauty and a bit of an iron will in her, and his sons Ser Loras and Willas Tyrell. Princess Arianne made her own introductions too as well.
"Tell me Lord Stark. Where's Ruby Rose or rather... the Red Reaper? I could have sworn seeing a lot of her rose petals flying everywhere in your keep. At this rate, your servants might complain cleaning them all up of her mess.", the Red Viper said with a quip.
Suddenly, a cloak of red followed with red rose petals appeared in the middle and Ruby Rose appeared before them that briefly surprised the southerners of her unexpected entrance. "Actually, my rose petals always disappear when they disperse from me. So they won't have to complain about cleaning them later on, don't you think?", she playfully said with a wink of her right silver eye.
Prince Oberyn seemed to be amused of Ruby's playful remark while the others from the parties were surprised to see the legendary Red Reaper herself that they once saw her before in the Rebellion or heard stories and rumors of her too.
"Quite a dramatic entrance you have displayed there Lady Rose. Why weren't you with the Starks in welcoming us here before you appear out of nowhere?", Lord Tywin questioned with a cold and calculating eye which she returned with her fierce silver eye.
"Well, I was up in the roofs of Winterfell, cleaning my Crescent Rose before I noticed your arrival with your banners flying. I feel a little disappointed though... I was hoping to show a certain someone from your party Lord Tywin how really super shiny at the tip of my weapon's scythe.", Ruby said with a hint of disappointment that Ser Gregor Clegane wasn't among the Lannister party she had her eye on and stared at the Old Lion.
While he didn't show it, Tywin winced slightly of her words and a fierce silver eye as he knew that the Red Reaper is still intent in killing the Mountain for his crimes of raping and killing Elia Martell and her two children of the late Rhaegar Targaryen regardless whether it's the truth or denial which is actually the former and was relieved that he made a wise decision to keep Ser Gregor from accompanying him to Winterfell because of her, aside from Prince Oberyn who share the same killing intent in avenging his beloved sister and his nephew and niece, including the not-so-warm relationship with his siblings Sandor and Eleanor Cleganes who both hated their eldest brother to the core that even the Lord of Casterly Rock had barely kept them from trying to kill each other.
Lady Catelyn decided to break the cold tense atmosphere although they are in a cold climate of the North ironically, "You must have been exhausted from your long journey to Winterfell, my lords, my ladies and my prince. Your rooms and accommodations are waiting for you inside. The king and his royal family awaits you Lord Tywin as well."
Overhearing Lady Stark's words, Lord Tywin broke away from eye contact with the Huntress and entered the halls of Winterfell to break bread with the Starks in invoking the sacred guest right in the eyes of the gods and men followed by the Arynns, the Tyrells, and the Martells waiting their turns due to the numbers of their people the brought along as the household servants of House Stark tend to their horses and carriage to station them in the stables.
When the night came upon Winterfell, a large and festive feast was held within the great hall for the five Great Houses of Westeros with their banners unfurled and adorned in the walls of the Northern Great House as every Stark, Baratheon, Lannister, Arynn, Tyrell and Martell eat and drink, socialize, sing and dance to their hearts' content with no regards of their status and affiliations at all.
Many lords, ladies, knights, men-at-arms, ladies-in-waiting and servants, etc. from the five different parties composed of half of the Seven Kingdoms that came to the Starks' seat including singers and bards, and storytellers who came along for the ride make up for the grand feast.
Just like Ruby said and unintentionally joked at the same time, it really is a party.
And top of that, King Robert Baratheon didn't even intend to fuck some servant wench at all in the feast as he sat on the main table next to his wife Queen Cersei and to his best friend Ned and his wife Lady Catelyn since he is in the presence of the mighty Tywin Lannister, his father-in-law, who was wandering around to meet a certain someone that has caught his interest and most of all, Ruby Rose because of the pain in his manhood she gave him with a metal arm a decade ago and it still hurts that he couldn't even enjoy bedding whores as it winced from the pain of it.
But still, the food and wine homegrown and produced in the North he ate and drank at the main table, thanks to the new agricultural farming methods provided by Ruby Rose to be implemented in Lord Stark's approval was really good, and it was much more enjoyable than going out fucking whores in the middle of the night.
Chugging down a large mug of wine down his throat and emptying it in one go before going for another ham leg, Robert bellowed jovially, "Aaah! This is the best wine you've grown here Ned! Tasted much better than Arbor Gold down south! Great auroch meat too as well! Hahahahaha!"
"Indeed it has, Robert. Ruby was the one who introduced new farming methods and tools suited for the North since she once lived the same climate where she came from which Maester Luwin implemented it with series of success in testing them out.", Ned said with a bemused smile that made the Stag laugh jovially once more and continued his digging in.
"For such a cold barren wasteland in the North, you Starks can grow your own bread and wine. Such an incredible feat.", Mace commented on the good quality of the food and beverages of the North at his plate but inwardly the fruits of the Reach are so much better in the south of the Seven Kingdoms.
"It looks so much better compared to the Reach's bountiful harvests and I could say the same to the Riverlands as well. Even in Dorne, they can grow crops of their own in the sands.", Olenna commented with a hint of pride of the Reach as well.
"It's true Lady Olenna. In Dorne, we have enough oasis and fresh water suitable enough to grow our own bread and crops to feed our people.", Princess Arianna said, sipping on a wine-filled goblet, relishing the taste of Northern wine.
"We of the Vale may not have rich soil but it is enough to grow our own through the same farming methods we've learned from the North. At least the mountain clans of the Vale didn't trouble with our farmlands once we have settled a somewhat shaky but stable peace and coexistence with them just like you with the wil- I mean free folk.", Denys said with his beloved wife Ysilla at his side.
"At this rate, the North would become one of the newest breadbasket regions of the Seven Kingdoms.", Prince Oberyn joked with some laughing of the joke while erotically eating a piece of grape at Ser Loras who seemed to be returning the favor as well during his walk around the festive people and also smiling at his good friend Willas enjoying a conversation with Maester Luwin about the agricultural methods for the Reach to implement and also the growing strength of the certain new group of free thinkers that are near opposite with the conservative maesters of the Citadel and their cold war with them, whom they first met at the tourney that left him crippled but ended up as friends.
Among the participants of the feast is a small party of free folk companions dressed in formal attires for the occasion led by Mance Rayder, the former King-Beyond-the-Wall and leader of the Free Folk, who have settled and cemented themselves in the Gift as their new home behind the Wall, came to Winterfell soon shortly after the southerner parties have arrived to represent their people headed by a collective council of wise elders and leaders that is one of the few democratically-run groups in the Seven Kingdoms along with the northern lords.
Ever since thousands of Free Folk have settled in the North, there were fewer lords of the North who are resentful of their occupation of the Gift although many are grateful for there have been almost no attacks on their people since Mance Rayder had a few of the more warlike members die by 'accident' in order to keep the peace with their northmen neighbors and to have better control over the Free Folk clans. Plus the Free Folks have also developed their own autonomous government due to Mance's suggestion of a more democratic system similar to Night's Watch selecting its new Lord Commander as a play of the people deciding who rules, so they're becoming more civilized similar to the northern mountain clans, which people of the Seven Kingdoms welcomed albeit reluctantly, especially if it helped Mance set up some of the 'accidents.' While they never bend the knee, they are willing to follow the king's rule and peace so long as they have a place among the Seven Kingdoms far away from the White Walkers pursuing them.
Tormund Giantsbane was seen engaging in a drinking contest with the "northmen" and the southerners which he easily beaten them all with ease with Lord Greatjon Umber managing to keep up with him and Yggrite going outside after having enough food and drink she finished, and also getting away from the gazes of the southerner men admiring her hair kissed by fire and probably wanted to court her which she scoffed at it.
Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun, or simply Wun Wun was a part of Mance's party too but he was too big to even enter the halls of Winterfell let alone managing to get through the large gates of the ancient castle of the Starks so he had to have a little feast of his own outside although the Giant began to notice several men-at-arms from the southerner parties feeling intimidated by his imposing size as they've never seen a giant before.
Sandor and Eleanor Cleganes who stayed away from rowdiness of the feast, were there as well, simply amused of the men losing their wits in the face of an actual giant long thought to exist only in stories meant to scare children.
"Lokh kif rukh? (The fuck you looking at?)", he said rudely in rudimentary form of the Old Tongue although he and his fellow Giants knew how to speak Common Tongue later on, obviously testy about people staring at him like he's a sideshow freak that they disperse quietly in fear of provoking a giant who could easily stomp on a full-grown man like a boot crushing an insect.
"You're much bigger than my monster of a brother, giant. Lots of cunts, those buggers are.", Sandor said with a fierce amused smirk as he was the only one who didn't feel much intimidated but was amused of his rude gesture towards lesser men.
"Aye, Sandor. Maybe we should call this one, the real 'Mountain' unlike our charming brother...", Eleanor commented with complete hatred and disdain for her eldest brother who often looked down on her and her combat ability to fight with a sword, often blaming the Red Reaper for ruining everything he once relished in brutally killing and raping women now that they can fight back with an actual sword and shield instead of squirming and submitting to him.
"You don't say... We giants bigger than men. Stronger than men. Umber and giant friends. Mag the Mighty true mountain. Not your brother I heard from south...", Wun Wun spoke in the rudimentary form of Common Tongue this time which the Clegane bodyguard of Prince Joffrey seemed to like this giant from the North and it what appears to be an odd friendship between the hounds and the giant as they feast and talk.
Somewhere else in the middle of the feast is Mance Rayder himself who was playing the lute to add in the music of the festivities of Winterfell before facing the Old Lion himself, appearing to show some interest on the man who led thousands of wildlings down south through the Wall and lived next to the northmen neighbors albeit in shaky peaceful co-existence.
"Lord Mance Rayder.", Tywin greeted in coolly manner as he approached him like proud lion he is towards the former crow.
"Lord Tywin Lannister. Do not call me a lord. I am simply the leader of the Free Folk living under the king's law and the peace. We never have such titles of lordship you nobility of the south have... unless my name is the Lord of Bones.", Mance said with a quip of the deceased Rattleshirt beheaded by Ruby as he stopped playing the lute and put it away.
"So it seems... Tell me, Mance Rayder. How did a former sworn brother of the Night's Watch, officially pardoned of his desertion from his post at the Wall by the king, managed to unite a 100,000 of wildlings and giants into following you as King-Beyond-the-Wall in that time?", the Old Lion asked upon analyzing the former King-Beyond-the-Wall in his own eyes.
Deciding to answer seriously this time, the leader of the Free Folk replied. "Well, Lord Tywin. To tell you this, the title I no longer possess is not heritable, the free folk don't follow names, or little cloth animals sewn on a tunic. They won't dance for coins, they don't care how you style yourself or what that chain of office means or who your grandsire was. They follow strength. They follow the man... We may not bend the knee but we follow the king's law and keep the king's peace if we want a place among the Seven Kingdoms. I even once heard of the Arynns making peace and coexistence with the mountain clans of the Vale after their centuries of fighting similar to ours with the Night's Watch and the Starks."
The elderly Lord of Casterly Rock seemed to understand the concept of the Free Folk from Mance Rayder that they only followed strength of the man who leads them which is somewhat similar to himself who leads his Lannister armies in fighting the War of the Ninepenny Kings and later stamping out the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion years ago.
Mance then asked him, "Do you know what it takes to unite ninety clans, half of whom want to massacre the other half for one insult or another? They speak seven different languages in my army when I brought them together in Beyond the Wall at that time. The Thenns hate the Hornfoots, the Hornfoots hate the Ice-river clans, everyone hates the Cave people. So, you know how I got moon-worshipers and cannibals and giants to march together in the same army?"
"And how is that exactly?", Tywin wondered in curiosity of the man's capability of controlling and commanding such a massive numbers of wildlings that could have the potential of overrunning half of the entire Seven Kingdoms all by themselves should they breach the Wall and overwhelm the Night's Watch if they wanted to but thankfully they didn't.
"I told them we were all going to die if we don't get south. 'Cause that's the truth. As the Starks say in their words, 'Winter is coming'.", Mance replied. "My people have bled enough Lord Tywin. We're not here to conquer, we're here to hide behind your Wall, just like you. If my people aren't south of the Wall when it comes in earnest and settled in the Gift by now, we'll all end up worse than dead."
Tywin nodded in approval as a sign of respect for Mance Rayder for his charisma, calm, and determination with strong leadership qualities and his honest yet stern persona that earned the respect and admiration of the toughest of wildlings and even giants. "Wise words, Mance Rayder. Spoken like a true leader unlike most of these lords here who came to Winterfell. It almost sounds like you were being chased down by White Walkers.", he said.
"Oh they are, Lord Tywin. They're the reason why we were forced to flee south behind the Wall. I would thank Ruby for convincing Lord Stark and the Night's Watch into letting us in peacefully. To get away from them. Even if you don't believe the White Walkers are real simply because they haven't been sighted for thousands of years, they are real enough and will kill anyone living into their wight army they commanded regardless of who we are in name, title and status. We're all the same to them. Meat for their army.", Mance simply said as he then left to continue playing more songs in his lute, leaving Tywin Lannister to ponder of the man's grave words for quite some time.
Noticing Benjen Stark, the First Ranger of the Night's Watch who has just finished talking with his brother Ned about disturbing reports of White Walkers accompanied by wights began to appear from the Wall while his fellow black sister and brother Bonnie and Clyde enjoying themselves, the Old Lion decided to have a talk with him when there is time as he heads off to the main table where the king and the rest of the lords and ladies of the South are.
As the feast continues, Robb was seen interacting with Margaery Tyrell and seemed to be getting along well with each other although they were being teased by Theon Greyjoy and Kyle Arynn, Sansa and Arya getting to know Serene, Alyssa and Princess Myrcella only to discover that they share common interests of being a knack of a fighter and ladylike activities at the table with being entertained by Domeric Bolton playing the lute and singing songs meanwhile Prince Joffrey had a common ground of sort with Ramsay Snow, the bastard son of Lord Roose Bolton who displayed national pride of the North with its growing strength instead of desiring the Dreadfort, the seat of House Bolton which is his half-brother's birthright as they converse, Bran, Rickon and Prince Tommen were being entertained by Keith, Elbert and Roch of the stories of famous knights from the south and also their series of misadventures in the Vale along the way.
Meanwhile outside of the feast is Jon Snow training himself with a sword as he was instructed by Lady Catelyn to stay away just for the night, justified that the royal family and the other guests might be offended at the sight of a bastard near the festivities in Winterfell despite the irony that Ellaria Sand is a participant there as she was Prince Oberyn's paramour.
But he was not without company as his best friend Samwell Tarly who was among the Tyrell party arriving in Winterfell and joined in the training after having enough of the feast and won about some few rounds as they clash training swords although Jon was a better swordsman than him but still good enough.
Raising his hands in defeat when Snow had disarmed him after holding on his own for about just several minutes in their spar, Sam said. "As always Jon, you are a far better swordsman than me."
"Nonsense Sam! You seemed to be getting better with the sword. At least you're still book-smart like a maester.", Jon brushed it off with humility, amused of the Tarly's words of praise.
Although while Sam remained a bit... wide in his physical appearance but really strong for a young man like him, he was actually quite a proficient fighter with a thanks to Ruby allowing him to schedule in between reading books and training with skill of the sword. He was brought to Winterfell by his father Lord Randyll Tarly to be trained by the Red Reaper herself by his request... with a little bit of his Aura unlocked as a special gift at some point several years ago.
They became great friends in their first meeting which is similar to Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy as they were like outcasts in their respective homes of Winterfell and Horn Hill but they managed to pull them through together.
Recalling a certain memory, Jon remembered when he was but a little boy, he once asked Ruby Rose, the woman who was like aunt all but in name of the Stark family by him and his half-siblings (actually cousins) since her features are closer to the descendants of Brandon the Builder and the moment they learned to talk as they grew up, if she is his mother after overhearing gossips and rumors from the household and smallfolk of Winterfell, coupled by the harsh teasings from Theon Greyjoy which Lord Stark chided him for it that led him to confront the Huntress who was cleaning her scythe and modifying its parts in her own forge.
"Are you my mother?...", his words seemed to have struck the Red Reaper as if she was being punched in the gut.
Putting down Crescent Rose and facing the little boy, Ruby replied, "I neither confirm nor deny it little Jon..."
"But why?... I heard people in Winterfell always talk about you being my mother... I know Lady Stark was kind to me and took care of me but... she was not my mother. Please! Please! Tell me if it's true! Tell me!", the young boy demanded with tears flowing from his eyes.
"I wish I was your mother Jon... But I really am not...", Ruby simply said in a sad smile, feeling pity for the son of Lyanna and Rhaegar whose their love for each other have killed thousands of people in the Rebellion and finds it a complete bullshit of their romance that perceives as adultery and cuckoldry but she could never hate the boy since she's under strict oath of keeping it a secret after given a second chance by Ned Stark after telling Lady Catelyn of the truth that changed her attitude towards Jon Snow.
The eye-patched Huntress pointed out in a soft-spoken tone as she continued, "If I was really your mother, Lady Stark would have thrown me out of Winterfell and had you tormented and mistreated just for being born, Jon. Your father only knew who your mother was. I was only a mere victim of the ugly rumors concerning me as your mother unwittingly."
Comforting the tearful boy as she hugged him, "Remember, Jon. You are Ned's son. His own flesh and blood. He will tell you of your real mother once you're old enough and had the right to know when the time comes... I may not be your mother... but I can be your mother figure if you wanted to."
This made the young boy cry even more and hugged Ruby tightly which the Red Reaper lets out a slightly shown tear from her only silver eye.
After finished recalling the heartwarming memory, Jon Snow wiped off a small tear from his eye as he knew that Ruby Rose really isn't his mother since he never has her looks, not even a single bit but she has been his mother/aunt figure aside from Lady Catelyn trying her best in raising him alongside her trueborn children and someday he is going to ask his 'father' of the identity of his mother when the time is right.
"Is he dead yet? He's still standing there in front of you, you know that right?", Ruby cheerfully called out to the boys with a tray of two hot meals and drinks which they dropped their training swords and received their just desserts, thanking her.
"I'm sorry you had to be out of the feast by Lady Stark Jon. At least the food and wine is good enough.", the Huntress said in apology.
"It's alright, Aunt Ruby. It's getting a bit too rowdy inside there anyways. Don't want to make trouble in there especially with that little shit Prince Joffrey.", Jon simply brushed it off and started consuming the food and drink.
"If this keeps up at this rate, everybody will end up drunk dead on the floor by first light of the morning.", Sam joked which they laughed at the thought of that.
"So how's your Semblance Jon?", Ruby asked about the Semblances manifested from the personalities of the Stark children including Jon Snow and Theon Greyjoy, and also advised them to keep it a big secret to themselves, convincing them that they'll only use it as trump cards or a last resort.
Besides, magic wasn't much well-known or accepted in Westeros as the Faith of the Seven deemed it demonic practices and witchcraft, and the Citadel scoffs and denies its existence after all.
"It was fine. I'm getting better in using my Semblance Aunt Ruby. When I first used it, it was burning flames forming around my sword at first but it freezes when it touches the training dummy.", Jon explained.
It must have been the bloodline of Targaryen and Stark that granted him the Semblance of Frostfire..., the red hooded woman thought before asking the firstborn son of Randyll Tarly, "And what about you Sam? Have you figured out your Semblance yet?"
"I-I don't know about mine, Lady Rose. I haven't figured out about my Semblance just yet. When you unlocked my Aura, I feel like I'm becoming a wizard with magic power. I mean, I always wanted to be a wizard.", Sam replied.
"You will find out eventually Sam. I can imagine you would be called 'Sam the Slayer' or 'Sam the Wizard' in the future.", Ruby said in reassurance with a little dramatic tone much to the young man's embarrassment.
Randyll Tarly, you're one real son of a bitch for a father to Sam..., she bitterly noted on one of the best commanders and fiercest fighters in Westeros' inability of being at least good father towards his own eldest son and only seeks to mold him into his successor or a rather a mirror of himself regardless of his son's love of books.
She even once heard rumors of Lord Randyll was set on arranging a hunting accident for his son to kill him in replacement for his youngest son Dickon before ultimately sending Sam off to Winterfell to be trained by her as a last resort of many attempts on making a man out of him, and that really pissed her off for doing that to his own kin.
If Ruby ever sees that man again, the first thing she will do is breaking his legs like she did with Ser Alliser Thorne who still reeled in pain from the near fatal leg injuries that he barely recovered from whenever the opportunity comes around.
"I'd best get into the feast, boys. Time for the Red Reaper to scare some few lions, flowery roses and vipers. Might as well enjoy eating more cookies and milk. See ya!", the Huntress cheerfully said at Jon Snow and Sam Tarly who bade farewell to her.
Leaving the courtyard, Ruby notices Jon being approached by Yggrite when Sam left to read more books at Winterfell's library after having enough sword training for today and it seemed to be some sort of flirting by her towards him instead of the other way around, even she heard a small sentence from the free folk woman. "You know nothing Jon Snow..."
That made her smile to see the boy having a woman in his life and just wanted him to be happy of his life.
"Aah so at last. I have met the legendary Red Reaper, Ruby Rose in the flesh...", a voice called out to her as the Huntress turned around to see Tyrion Lannister, the youngest dwarf son of Lord Tywin Lannister who is famously known as the Imp or Halfman.
Unlike most people of Westeros, the Huntress have never actually looked down on him, neither figuratively nor pun intended, just simply for being born of dwarfism and knew of his great intelligence and wits despite the rumors of him bedding whores and going to brothels, including a horrible incident with Lord Tywin had his barracks full of men gang-raping a certain woman Tyrion once loved as 'a lesson' and sent her to become the black sister of the Night's Watch at the Wall without him knowing.
Earlier, Ruby recalled about when King Robert and his party came to Winterfell, she overheard Arya wondering out loud of the Imp's absence among the arrivals which several knew that he is at the brothel of all places considering his reputation as a "drunken little lustful beast with gold".
And now she met face-to-face with the dwarf son of Tywin Lannister himself who appeared to preparing to have a night with his family and everyone at the feast of Winterfell.
"You're Tyrion Lannister, Tywin's son. Brother of Ser Jaime and the Queen.", Ruby said in recognition.
"My greatest accomplishment. I had heard some rumors about you Red Reaper.", the Imp said, walking towards her.
The Huntress asked the Lannister dwarf in wonder, "What would those rumors be?"
Tyrion chugged down his wineskin and said, "Oh something like how you are the Stranger's Daughter or even an entity from the Age of Heroes that others believe. But most interesting is the rumor of you being this boy's mother."
Ruby scoffed with a small laugh as if it was the lamest joke she had ever heard before in her life since Yang in Remnant, "A silly rumor at that. I am not Jon's mother. When will people get the message! In fact, I'd be correct to guess they're all probably talking about this inside!"
"Regardless whether the people get the message or not, they still believe you are the boy's mother as you are the only female companion of Ned Stark fighting alongside King Robert during the Rebellion.", the Halfman commented before adding more, "I heard even half the Northern lords showed their contempt towards you for allegedly conceiving the boy and soiled their liege lord and his wife's honor. Although, Lord Umber might encourage the honorable Ned Stark to bed other women, Lord Bolton and Lady Dustin wouldn't care, and Lord Karstark won't mind."
Visibly annoyed and agitated with a verbal tick on her forehead, the Huntress then left for the grand hall of Winterfell, ignoring the Halfman who seemed to be amused of her reaction of the most popular rumor in the Seven Kingdoms that the smallfolk and the nobility in the South were talking about the legendary Red Reaper being the mother of Ned Stark's bastard.
Then Tyrion noticed Jon Snow enjoying the company with a free folk woman which he simply gave a mischievous smirk and intends to give the alleged son of Ruby Rose some advisable details in handling with women... copious details.
As the Red Reaper and Tyrion were right about the remarks towards the ugly rumor towards her, Queen Cersei have brought out an issue regarding the rumors of Ruby Rose being Jon Snow's mother."Do you not find it inappropriate that your lord husband has decided to bring into your household his bastard and his mother.", she said with contempt.
Realizing the queen was referring to Ruby in her words concerning the rumors of Jon Snow's mother, Lady Catelyn protested. "Your Grace, she is not Jon Snow's mother."
Lady Olenna raised an eyebrow at the lady wife of Lord Stark skeptically and said, "So says your husband. A man who men claim to be very honorable yet fathered a bastard. Who else can be the boy's mother but the legendary Red Reaper herself."
King Robert bellowed in defense of his best friend, "Hush now! Ned is an honorable man. More honorable than I can say for any of you lot! He just had his moment of weakness that's all and that's because he is a man and is just as prone to the weaknesses of men. Ned was going off to battle and who could blame him for wanting to stick his cock inside a woman's cunt one last time."
Prince Oberyn chimed in mischievously with Ellaria at his side, "Just not as much as you and me, King Robert. Otherwise the honorable Ned Stark would have more bastards out there rather than one in the North."
"Although it would wonderful for the boy to have more brothers and sisters with him at his side.", the paramour of the Red Viper added in.
Some of them either laughed at the Dornish prince's joke or remained in silence before the debate and discussion about the identity of Jon Snow's mother continued.
"Well like I said, Ruby is not Jon Snow's mother. If my husband says so, then that's good enough for me.", Lady Stark insisted, feeling sorry for the red hooded woman being the subject of gossip she endured for a decade.
The Lord of Highgarden commented, "And yet he continues to keep silent about the mother."
"I once heard that it was a fisherman's daughter who helped smuggle Ned to the North to rally his bannermen against the Mad King during the Rebellion but he had the babe a month later after the... battle in King's Landing with Lord Howland and Dustin, and Lady Rose.", Denys said, recalling the former ward of the late Jon Arynn was on a perilous journey in evading capture of the Mad King's loyalists and soured distaste of Tywin's sack of the city, while his wife left his side for the moment to talk with the group of ladies.
Tywin Lannister doesn't seem to be interested whether or not Ruby Rose is indeed Jon Snow's mother since she neither confirmed nor denied it if it's true or not. "Does it matter even who the mother is?"
Cersei said with a bit of scorn in her voice, "A highborn woman? A wet nurse? A fisherman's daughter? A common whore? Or even the Red Reaper? A bastard is a bastard. A bastard who will inherit nothing. No lands and titles. Not even their father's name."
As if something came up to his mind recently, Robert pulls out a scroll and gave it to his best friend, "Actually, that reminds me. Ned..."
Upon receiving the scroll, Ned opens it and reads the contents aloud, "I, Robert Baratheon, ...", Skipping the long list of titles and gets on to the main point of the scroll. "... hereby legitimize the bastard son of Ned Stark, Jon Snow, as Jon Stark and is to be put in line of succession for Winterfell behind his younger half-sister Arya Stark. Robert, what is-"
Robert immediately answered before the lord of Winterfell even asked, "Remember how I never got to reward Ruby for her help and services during the Rebellion after I took the Iron Throne from the damned Targaryens. Well, she called it in and asked me to turn that bastard Snow into a true Stark."
Ned tried to protest about Jon's legitimization from his bastard status as he already knew the boy's secret and vowed to protect him and internally cursed Ruby for doing that, "But Robert-"
The Baratheon king simply brushed his friend's protests, "It's done, Ned. Your boy is now a Stark. Is there anyone else in this table that disagrees? Well? No one? Good and let it be the end of that."
Feeling a bit slightly nervous of the king's declaration of legitimizing the bastard son of Ned Stark and allegedly Ruby Rose into a Stark, Lord Mace said, "If some of the rumors were to go by..."
Lady Olenna seemed to agree with her buffon of a son and commented, "The boy came in her arms... I'm not sure if Ruby was holding him as a babe when you brought Lady Catelyn to the North after the war."
"Took care of him when no one else would aside from Lady Stark with her trueborn children...", Cersei said as she knew it was a mother's instinct.
"She's more like a mother figure for an aunt.", Denys added the point.
"Later trained him to fight...", the Red Viper commented after noticing Ned Stark's natural born son training with her outside the courtyard at some point even before the feast began that night.
Lord Tywin raised an eyebrow suspiciously as he wonders that if Ruby Rose is really Jon Snow's mother, then she made a poor job in her performance of pretense while taking care of him. "And is now asking for the bastard's legitimization."
Queen Cersei then glared at the lady wife of Eddard Stark, "Do you still believe your husband?"
Lady Catelyn protested again, "She is not Jon Snow's mother! Believe me, I have considered that possibly, greatly considered it, and sometimes I wish it were so but as it stands, she is not Jon Snow's mother. If she were, I could have sent her away. Ned would have not shamed me so that way."
Annoyed and somewhat irritated, Ned decided to put an end to the debate now once and for all, "And let that be the end of that! I have said it before and I will say it again one last time! Ruby Rose is not... my former bastard son's mother! The boy is my blood but not Ruby's. She never shows interest in men and doesn't want get married for her own reasons. You all know what happened the last time since Robert once betrothed her with his brother Stannis and we all know what happened next."
This made Robert feel pale of that incident regarding his drunken declaration of the now-canceled betrothal between Ruby and Stannis, and he paid the price for it while the Tyrells and the Martells seemed to be amused of it despite their mutual hatred for each other that was concealed better than Queen Cersei's.
Princess Arianne chimed in and pointed out the argument, "I believe Lord and Lady Stark. Ruby Rose is not the bastard boy's mother. Just because she fought with Lord Stark doesn't mean they banged each other. I never saw any noticeable traits from the Red Reaper in that boy when I looked at him. She has red and black hair, pale skin and a silver eye since she has an eye-patch. He's all pure Stark in him and none of hers. Plus, if she was Jon's mother, she would be showing obvious signs of being 6 to 9 months pregnant during the Battle of Trident where King Robert killed Prince Rhaegar there and couldn't participate later on. Guess, she's not the mother of Ned Stark's son after all."
"The Princess got a point there you know. Jon Snow-er I mean Stark now, has none of my features at all. Not even a strand of my red hair. He's more pure Stark of his father than his real mother which is not me. Thank you for accepting my request Robert. Ned, here was too reluctant to make a move so I had to do it for him since I never got a reward for my help.", Ruby decided to join in that caught several of them off guard and surprised of her sudden appearance out of nowhere as she simply listened the conversation the whole time before continuing, "As for Jon's mother... It could be any woman Ned might have slept with her while I was out eating cookies and cleaning my scythe at the same time somewhere else until the boy was born which I did not see that coming from the likes of him who's honorable before the... sack at King's Landing."
"And why should we believe you that you aren't actually the bastard boy's mother Lady Rose? Hah! How amusing. You would make a poor performance of pretending not being his mother while you took care him as your own that even mummers and fools can do better than that.", Queen Cersei scoffed with a barely hidden sneer and contempt at her.
"The Queen has the point there Lady Rose. You were the only woman fighting against the Targaryens with the King and Lord Stark during the Rebellion after all and the babe was brought with him to Winterfell and you took care of him like a mother he wanted. Which would mean whether or not you're truly the boy's mother, you are too... fond of the boy and even asked for his legitimization by the King himself. I may repeat Her Grace's words, why should we believe you?...", Olenna added in, intrigued and amused.
"Because he is the honorable Ned Stark people! Hello?", Ruby retorted back as if it was the most obvious thing that people were missing the point.
"So honorable that he never touched or slept with any woman including me except Lady Stark herself in their wedding night and the common woman he fathered Jon from in the final moments of the Rebellion. He even once treated me like a little sister at one time and helped me cope in my stay in Westeros at Winterfell for a decade. Plus, he's stubborn enough to not listen to reason and sticks to his honor even when I had Ser Jaime explain to him of his actions of killing the Mad King and averting a plot that could have burned the capital to the ground after I stood up for your brother. Besides, I was only acting as a mother figure for the poor boy where he desperately needed but Lady Stark did a much better job at it.", she continued which the Lannister woman who appear to feel uneasy of the word of "treated like a sibling" for some reason.
Same goes for Ser Jaime Lannister who felt a chill on his spine for some reason as if the Stranger have come to take his soul while he was enjoying himself pissing off some so-called honorable lords and noble knights with his arrogant smug face for looking down on him for killing the Mad King who could have burned down King's Landing and its population to the ground in the wildfire plot even when Ruby Rose had stood up and defended for him.
While the others seemed to be unnerved or baffled by her retort towards the Queen herself, Tywin Lannister asked with a bit hint of amusement that the Red Reaper was willing to stand for his golden son in the crime of regicide condemned by Ned Stark, choosing reason over honor and Lannisters always pay their debts, "Smart words. You're much clever in your wits than my own daughter here. How long have been listening during the conversation, Lady Rose?"
"Long enough, Lord Tywin. For your information, I don't swing that way if that's what you're thinking everyone that I had no interests in men. I just have my own reasons why I didn't settle down and have a family of my own. You probably knew what I meant. If I were to die in my final moments, I would simply eat a last batch of delicious cookies and milk in my stomach instead of going out sleeping with men. Would you like a recap on why did Robert keep his hands off from me? Or maybe I could say the same about you Lord Mace for trying to take advantage of my last name and my credit in the Rebellion.", Ruby explained as she then showed her metal hand in front of the guests.
That made a long and dangerous tension ensued over the issue and dirty rumor of the former being the mother of Ned Stark's bastard that some of them seemed to believe her or probably not depending on their perspective point of view and it also made the eldest son of Olenna Tyrell and Lord of Highgarden to look like he was shitting himself at the stupid blunder of his failed attempt of taking credit of Ruby Rose's name as his own, which his mother seemed to be amused of.
Oh well, this is Westeros after all where people will believe what they wanted to believe regardless of the evidence pointed out to them that disproves the nasty rumor even though several or few knew better than that. Ask Ser Jaime Lannister "the Kingslayer" himself.
"Enough Ruby. We get the point. You're making Robert and Lord Mace feel much more nervous with that dreaded iron hand of yours.", Ned said in defense of his friend who winced at the sight of her prosthetic arm that nearly killed him ten years ago with the painful grab of his manhood and the punch in the face, clearly traumatized which somehow amuses Prince Oberyn and Princess Arianne of the Baratheon's fear of her.
"Now that reminds me I nearly forgot... Lady Rose. I would apologize to you in my buffoon of a son's behalf for his foolish attempt in taking advantage of your last name simply because our sigil is a rose as well and his claiming you to be of the Reach and his bastard worse even which your traits are sort of closer to the Starks. His blunder had made House Tyrell into a complete laughingstock among our bannermen in the Seven Kingdoms.", the Queen of Thorn said in defense for her absent-minded son whose still looked like he's shitting himself at Ruby staring at her one eye.
Lowering down her metal arm that relieved the fat king and looking away from a relieved Lord Mace, the Huntress mischievously commented before leaving with a plate filled with handful of cookies. "Thought so. Just like Lord and Lady Stark and Lord Tywin said earlier, let that ugly rumor put an end to that once and for all and it doesn't matter at all whether if I'm really Jon Stark's mother or not and might be some other woman. Apologies accepted Lady Olenna. Hope that won't happen again between us roses. Well if you excuse me everyone, I have to enjoy myself before I starve myself to death. Bye bye!"
Oh Great Oum, this party in Winterfell is gonna be a looonnnng night...
Author's Note: Well, phew! It's all done there folks! The fifth chapter of the "Red Rose of Winterfell" is finished and the next update is coming soon when I have the time after dealing with writer's block. More of the interactions between the characters during the party including serious business such as betrothals between certain Great Houses will be on the next chapter. Oh boy, it really is one heck of a party in Winterfell. LOL. The feast continues... Poor Ruby never catches a break, huh?
In this chapter, I hereby credit Saint River, raw666, the 6th Kazekage and Astral demon for their wonderful suggestions and ideas for the progression and improvement of the story and I thank you for it. :D
Enjoy and don't forget to review. :D