I don't own Game of Thrones.
Prologue
The traveling party of the House of Hightower went to the North to pay tribute to Robb Stark the King of the North as a small penchant of Renly Baratheon who will acknowledge Robb Stark as King of the North and shall rule Riverlands and North.
However, it came as a surprise.
The elderly handmaiden is harshly lecturing the northern men over manhandling the carpet. Two young handmaidens were carrying many things as fast as they could. They would rather carry a few gifts than be yelled at by their superior handmaiden.
"You big oaf! Be gentle! This tapestry was a gift by King Viserys I Targaryen over the marriage of Alicent Hightower years ago." The elderly handmaiden is Isabella Hightower of the lower branch who served faithfully by the main branch of her family. "This tapestry is worth more lives than the Lannister's men you slaughter!"
Robb Stark came out with his crown as he observed the small party of Hightowers. He is curious why the Hightowers?
There seemed to be only Hightowers and no other noble parties like Florents, Oakhearts, or even Tarly's.
He counted there were over seventy thousand men. 'And they claimed it to be a rather small party?' Robb questioned himself. He doesn't seem to know little of southern politics as much despite his mother teaching him minor things in the Riverlands.
He figured they cut a quarter of their men, and the rest are probably left in the Reach with King Renly Baratheon.
He knew that they were powerful and wealthy in the Reach.
After all, Renly Baratheon is married to Margaery Tyrell whose mother is Alerie Hightower.
In a way, his new queen is connected to a powerful family.
However, Robb noticed something off about this. It seemed the elderly handmaiden was more worried about the carpet than all the other tributes.
It was rolled and wrapped rather bulky.
Robb looked at such detail on the side patterns.
Two men carrying onto their shoulders.
Robb wanted to get a closer look and questioned, "Who decided to send us such a royal gift?" It looked to him like it was treated with absolute care.
Not one string is missing.
Surely, the Hightowers wouldn't trade this historical fabric for anyone.
Lady Isabella hurried forward as if she was on fire. "Tis, a gift. From my young ward. The Lady Sarsah Hightower, my king." Isabella was curtsy before the king of the north.
Everyone in the camp muttered and whispered over the infamous Sarsah Hightower. Many heard rumors that she was exiled into the towers in Oldtown for an outrageous reason.
To be reeducated in pious and womanly arts after that scandal incident.
Robb heard that she was a beautiful and highly intelligent woman.
He also heard that the Tyrells ordered Lady Sarsah to be locked up in the tower. They also said she did it willfully for her family.
Her loyalty is to the Hightowers.
She has spoken her words like a prophecy, "Margaery Tyrell will never make it as queen for she will overplay her role as queen. One will be killed by his own shadow of a brother; one shall be poisoned at his wedding and the third will jump from his window."
No one had heard from the lady, but it became rumors that she had gone mad like her older sister Malora Hightower, the Mad maid.
"Ah!" The old handmaiden was startled by the movement of the men who were about to put the carpet down. "Wait! I was ordered to bring this fine gift into your tent." Isabella hurried at what must be done.
"Why would I wish for that?" Robb crossed his arms sternly at the woman. What is this game they are playing at?
"This tapestry will help you be inspired in your conquest. After all, we have heard from the Reach that you remain undefeated. My lady would hang these tapestries on the wall to think and gain a clear mind once we hang this up." Isabella soothes over the negotiations.
Robb thought back and could see the green fabric. Alicent Hightower herself made this tapestry days before her stepdaughter's wedding. She sent this tapestry to the Hightowers in green as the signal to support her son Aegon Targaryen as the true heir to the throne over his half-sister Rhaenyra right as heir.
'In other words, this could be a secret alliance that the Hightowers will go to war for the North. After all, green is what they wear when they go to war.'
"Bring it."
Isabella bowed and gestured the men to hurry it up.
Robb enters the tent with his lady mother Catelyn waiting there along with GreatJon Umber, Karhold Karstark, Roose Bolton, and Lady Brienne Tarly.
The men gently put the tapestry on the ground.
They untied the ropes and unfolded the tapestry. Almost in slow-motion as they were unrolling.
They were not prepared for this.
Sounds of surprise and shock had spread inside Robb Stark's tent.
A beautiful and loving woman rolled out from inside. Her hair could be compared to Targaryen's hair if not for the sunny side that makes it translucent. It is so long and waves down to her ankle. Her eyes are like a purple jewel that shines bright and sharp, proving she is capable of handling any battle. Her skin is smooth and clean as her sweat makes it glow.
"What is this?" Catelyn shrieked surprised.
What was the young girl hiding inside the tapestry?
Despite the communication inside the King's tent. The young girl did not flinch nor look shy about this. In fact, she looked confident and proud that she did this sneaky way to meet the King of the North.
Robb questioned the mysterious girl. "Who are you? Why were you hiding in the tapestry?"
"My king, I am Lady Sarsah seventh daughter of Lord Leyton Hightower, called the Old Man of Oldtown. Voice of Oldtown, Lord of the Port, Lord of the Hightower, Defender of the Citadel, Beacon of the South. I was born from my lady mother Lady Rhea Florent, his fourth wife. My king." Her voice sounded with southern grace and confidence.
She is wearing a simple white dress that was no doubt from the nunnery that she escaped. She is barefoot and looking at her nails. They seemed chip and dirty. Her fingers looked strained and red as if she had the rope tied around her wrist as she scratched them loose.
Robb did an honorable thing by untying his cloak and covering her body around her.
"My lady, you didn't answer my second question."
Lady Sarsah giggles lightly as if she is amused by his northern simplest words. "That is simple, my king. I came to forewarned you that Tywin Lannister will kill you without lifting his hands." She dreamingly looked at Lady Brienne and said, "Ah, my first prediction came true. King Renly is dead, is he?"
Lady Brienne tensed her body.
"And now the Tyrells will force all of Reach to join with the Lannisters against King Stannis. But it would be more of an avenging request by Ser Loras Tyrell." She replies as the room becomes tense.
"Why did they lock you up?" Lord Karstark questioned her. He wonders if she is indeed a mad maid like her older sister or perhaps, she is a dreamer like the Targaryen. Hightowers were known to practice alchemy and astronomy.
"I spoke against King Renly. I told him that his quest would cost him his life and that he would never have any children with his queen in name only." She spoke with certainty.
Queen in name only? Was this supposed to be a secret? After all, everyone knew that he was more into his gender than females.
"My father always held my council since I was one of his smarter female offspring. He knew that speaking against the Tyrells would be seen as rebelling." Her father Leyton Hightower was quite a stern man, but after what happened to her half-sister Lynnesse's slavery scandal. He took more tentative care and focused on grooming her mind to gain knowledge.
"I told my father to convince them to lock me up with a tower and be educated as a pious by septa's. That is, however, a lie. I pretended to be mad as my older sister was. The septa named Urania was my carrier to gather men still loyal to Hightowers. My father sent me here for chances that the alliance would benefit one side only. This is for the survival of my house." She did not sugarcoat her reason.
Flashback…
After all, when they heard the news that the Tyrells were going to make their daughter Margaery queen by marrying her to Renly Baratheon. She protested heavily over the decisions.
She shouted in her father's halls that Renly Baratheon wouldn't perform his duty seriously. She shouted, "If it was an army of his squires, he would have fuck his way up to his arse!" Boy, did she have to say it like that?
Her family cringed at her choice of words which her lady mother had commented, "I blame you husband for teaching her crass words."
Leyton groaned as he feared he made his youngest daughter too willful with her mind. But…
'She spoke true. We are all thinking the same thing.' Leyton knew it was considered the worst-kept secret of Renly's sexuality with his squires. And if they are allowing their in-laws to marry a golden rose to a sword swallower then Mace must have become an even bigger oaf.
The scene in front of him watching his daughter pacing back and forth. Sarsah continued shouting and even yelling through the roof over this ludicrous idea to make Renly king.
"Sarsah." One word was enough to command her to calm down.
Sarsah stopped and looked back at her father. Her face is flushed from anger. Her hair is messy and undone from her stress. No doubt she inherited that habit from him or her brothers of pulling their hair in stress and anger.
"I have a plan…"
End of Flashback…
Lady Sarsah answered, "My father believed chances would play two sides of this war. If one side is tipped in the other side's favor. The House of Hightowers will quickly leave and join the winning side. His only concern is that even one Hightower who survived the war will carry on the legacy of the family. After all, men fight and die on the battlefield, but it is the woman who carried their legacy in their blood and womb."
The Northern lords were skeptical, but it seemed like she was telling the truth.
"How do we know you are telling the truth?" Lord Bolton spoke.
"Then you may keep under your terms as you're hostage."
Everyone in the tent gasped at her suggestion.
This noblewoman from the House of Hightower is offering herself as the hostage. That way, they can keep her army under his command.
Can Robb do that?
This would be Tywin Lannister's way.
"I need to speak with my council, my lady. Until then Lady Brienne please escort Lady Sarsah to her tent until I say otherwise," Robb ordered Lady Brienne.
"Of course, this way my lady."
Lady Sarsah followed wearing Robb's cloak as she and her handmaidens followed as well.
This is the real battle in history.
When Robb proves to be a skillful military commander. He wins a succession of battles against Lord Tywin Lannister's forces, earning him the nickname "the Young Wolf". However, the brave, court lady of the House of Hightowers named Sarsah Hightower youngest daughter of Leyton Hightower, and his fourth wife, Lady Rea Florent.
It is a tale of duty, honor, and bravery that changed the course of history of the North.
Reviews are welcome.