12th Month of 299 A.C. King's Landing
Prince Tommen Baratheon
King's Landing was abuzz with the preparations for his brother's wedding, and as was often the case Tommen was being overlooked. It did not sting as much as it used to, in fact he was quite used to it by now. Joffrey had always gotten more attention, more love, more everything, Tommen was just the spare, and truth be told he was okay with that. At least he had been until Sansa had come about, then he had wanted to get noticed. There was something about her that made him wish to come forward from his sense of obscurity and be noticed. And they were friends, but nothing more, never anything more. She was married to his uncle now, and as such was off limits.
Of course they still spoke with one another, and this walk today was one of the few pleasantries left as the wedding approached. "How are you faring my lady?" Tommen asks. Trying to avoid speaking of the red wedding was hard, but he was determined to do it for his friend.
Sansa is silent a moment and then replies. "I am well thank you my prince. It has been hard recently, but it could be worse. I could be without a home."
Tommen refrains from pointing out the facts of Winterfell, and instead feels quite happy she thinks of King's Landing as home now. "I am relieved to hear that my lady. I was worried for you. Tell me, how go things with my uncle?"
"Good my prince. Lord Tyrion is a kind man, who has been nothing but thoughtful in our dealings. I feel bad though, for I cannot be the wife he deserves, not with all that stands between our two families." His friend replies.
Tommen looks at her and asks worriedly. "Does that mean that we are at an end then? Are the tensions too much for you to remain friendly with me?"
Sansa stops and looks at him then, her smile makes his breath catch. "Of course not Tommen. You are my friend, you were my friend before all of this happened. Nothing that happens can change that. Unless you do something to make it change."
Tommen looks at her, and he feels as if he could kiss her, but in all honesty he does not know how to respond. Swallowing nervously he says. "I promise I won't say anything or do anything to break this friendship Sansa. You are too important to me to lose."
Sansa smiles. "If we were able to overcome me being the daughter of a traitor, then I think we should be able to overcome this. But yes, if we could move onto more peaceful topics of conversation that would be most appealing."
Tommen grins then and bows, his grin widening when he hears Sansa giggle. He straightens and says. "Well I did read about the Dragonknight and his role in his brother's war on Dorne earlier today."
"Oh?" his friend says inquisitively. "And what did you learn?"
"He was most opposed to the war, saying that it was a frightful waste of lives, and that it would bring only chaos and destruction to the kingdoms. His brother laughed and told him he was getting soft in his old age. His brother argued that fighting with Dorne was a good thing that it was in their blood to do so. That it was their duty to fight the Dornish." Tommen says.
"And what did the Dragonknight say in response?" Sansa asks.
"He said that his brother was a fool and that his actions would only bring more war to Westeros. War it could ill afford." Tommen pauses then. "He was right you know, it did only bring more suffering to Westeros. The Dornish never forgot what Aegon the Unworthy did and they made his son suffer for it."
"Aegon the Unworthy sounds just like Joffrey." Sansa says conspiringly.
"I know. He is as big an idiot as that man." Tommen replies grinning slightly.
Sansa clutches his arm then and dreamily says. "Then you must be the Dragonknight Tommen, my prince. You must stop your brother's foolishness."
Tommen blushes furiously, he knows she is only joking but a part of him truly does want to be her Dragonknight. "Now isn't this a sight for sick eyes." A snide voice says.
Tommen looks up from Sansa and sees his brother Joffrey as well as Lady Margaery there looking at them both. "Your Grace." Tommen says bowing, whilst Sansa removes her arm from his and curtseys. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"We were merely taking a walk. Finding you here was a most unexpected displeasure." His brother says.
"Come now my love, it is not so bad. Perhaps we can go on a walk together all four of us?" the lady Margaery suggest.
Tommen does not like his brother's bride to be, there is something off about her, something that does not quite sit right with him. He cannot place it, but there is something there. His brother thankfully says. "If you wish, it would mean getting to spend more time with you my lady. And that can never be a bad thing."
Tommen nearly gags at just how sickening seeing his brother act nice is, and looking at Sansa he knows that she feels the same. "Ah excellent my love, shall we proceed then?" the Lady asks.
His brother nods and walks on ahead with his lady, whilst Tommen, his stomach knotting, looks at Sansa and smiles reassuringly, she has gone far away, and he hates his brother all the more at that. "Sansa?" he asks. "Sansa my lady, do you wish to go on?"
"What? Oh yes, most certainly." Sansa replies.
Tommen looks at her then and says. "If you do not want to I can take you back to my uncle. I understand if you do not want to spend time with them."
"No, no. I want to spend some time with you. I know how busy you are going to be, and this is nice Tommen, my prince, just the two of us." Sansa replies.
If only it could be the two of us, that would be nice. But uncle Tyrion is not a bad man. Tommen thinks guiltily. Nodding he says. "Very well, let us proceed my lady." With that he takes Sansa's arm and leads her forward behind his brother.
The Twins
Robb Stark
He watched the flames, something between relief and grief flooding through him, it had been a struggle, convincing himself to do this, that she had died during the wedding had been a deep shame, and yet, he was relieved. His mother had not been alive for most of the war since his father had died, she had been a living shell, and yet still she was his mother and seeing her like this was not what he wanted. As the pyre wound its way down the Green Fork, Robb felt a deep sense of loss. He truly was alone now. Truly alone.
Turning from the sight, he nods to Black Walder and when the man joins him, Robb speaks. "Tell me what happened."
The new Lord of the Crossing is silent a moment as if contemplating his response and then he says. "During the chaos it seems some of the Karstark men got to her and stabbed her. There was nothing we could do when we found her. I am sorry Your Grace."
"It was not your fault, those damned Karstarks are at fault now, and they shall have their dues when it comes time. Now what of the rest of your family?" Robb responds.
"My father saw to my great grandfather, and as for the rest, well the fighting that broke out following the death of Queen Jeyne destroyed most of them." the man replies.
"Good. The fewer there are of your kin, the more secure your hold on the twins shall be. You are of course sending the women and children off to the septries and the citadel." Robb says.
"Of course, I would not dream of keeping these fools around here to cause me trouble. The only issues I am finding are with my great uncle Emmon. The man does have the backing of Tywin Lannister himself." Black Walder replies.
"Make no worry over the man, he shall be dealt with soon enough. My uncles know what to do should that fool ever come toward Riverrun. As for Tywin Lannister, I do believe he has his hands fool at the moment with his grandson's wedding." Robb responds.
"Yes, do you intend to strike soon then? Whilst the man is busy with such things?" Black Walder enquires.
Robb stops then, and fixes the man with a hard gaze. "That wedding shall remain as it is, a mere wedding. Whatever other things occur at that are of the Lannisters own volition, or the Tyrells. I will not befoul a sacred event again."
Frey bows his head. "Of course Your Grace, I was not suggesting that you do something as profane as that. I was merely asking if Your Grace was considering making a move to retrieve Your Grace's sister during the wedding."
"Far too risky, and one must maintain the illusion of being dead for some more time. Otherwise there are many things that would be brought into question. Timing is the key here Lord Walder, anything else and the whole plan fails." Robb responds, holding up a hand to silence the new Lord of the Crossing when he sees a diminutive man walking toward him. "Ah Lord Howland you bring word I trust?"
Lord Howland Reed, Lord of Greywater Watch, and his way of controlling the north whilst remaining at large, the man bows. "Yes Your Grace." He replies in a very musical voice. "Karstark and Bolton men made their way through the causeway after the wedding, and we did as asked. They are now down many men, and the rest are spreading tales of the carnage that we inflicted on them."
"And what of the rest of the north?" Robb asks, eager to know how his kingdom fares, and yet not wanting to give away that much to these two men. "Do they begin for war as well?"
"Yes Your Grace. As we knew they would. Umber and Karstark are arming themselves, Bolton's bastard is preparing to wreak havoc on all, the Ryswells and the Dustins are preparing themselves as well. It will be war in the north soon enough." The man says.
"And what of Manderly, what is our Lord of White Harbour doing?" Robb asks.
"He is waiting and watching, looking to see whether or not a victor can emerge from such conflicts. At the same time, he looks to the wall, to where your bastard brother Jon Snow sits, and thinks about crowning him." Howland responds.
Robb considers this, then says. "You know what to then my lord. Send men north, ensure that Wyman does not get his hands on my brother before the time is right. As for your own person, I want you to head south. There is a growing movement within the riverlands and in the crownlands, I want you to take full advantage of that."
The man bows again. "Yes Your Grace." With that he turns and leaves, as Robb watches him go he wonders what secrets the man is keeping.
Once the man has disappeared from view, Robb turns back to Black Walder. "Now that that is sorted, it is time we begin the next stage of the plan."
"Yes Your Grace." The man says. "What do you wish for me to do?"
"I want you to send word to Tywin Lannister. Ask him for permission to bring Emmon to the Twins. The man will be nothing but a problem unless he is dealt with. Tell him you have proof enough, that the man is conspiring something or the other. Tywin Lannister, I believe has never liked his goodbrother. He will want any reason to be rid of him. Do this for me and then we shall move forward." Robb says.
Black Walder nods. "Yes Your Grace. Though would Emmon Frey be the right target, considering it is Petyr Baelish who is command of Harrenhal?"
"That is the next stage. Once Emmon is gone, Tywin will trust you more, Harrenhal is there for the taking. I want you to look into that, find out what you can about Baelish and ensure that you have enough to see him brought down." Robb responds.
"Of course Your Grace. I shall do so with great haste." The man replies.
"Good. Now leave me." Robb says.