Consequences:
Outside the Twins at the camp where the soldiers and minor lords of the North and Riverlands had gathered, they were celebrating their own way not knowing what was going on in the Great Hall. At one part of the camp which was where House Forrester had gathered, two squires were cleaning the swords while listening in to the other men laughing about how one of them had been responsible for capturing the Kingslayer early in the War during the Whispering Wood. Others didn't really believe him. Most people would day that they were the ones capturing the Kingslayer.
It was then that Lord Gregor Forrester came out of his tent and walked over to the men "Are you questing Norrin's honour?" he demanded at the men laughing at the soldier's story.
"I'm questing Norrin's story." The man replied "It gets more exaggerated every time he tells it."
Gregor picked up a goblet and one squire quickly went to get the wine jug "Thanks Gared." He said to the squire "I'll do it." He then poured his wine "Norrin's family has served House Forrester for centuries." He explained as he poured everyone more wine "His honour is beyond reproach. House Tully is forever in his debt. They've never seen a field ploughed so well as the day the Kingslayer dragged poor Norrin across the Battlefield." Everyone began laughing and Gregor soon reached Gared "Fetch your cup, tonight we all celebrate." Gared did as he was told as did the other squire Bowen and they too were given some wine "To Robb Stark, the King in the North!"
"The King in the North!" Everyone cheered and raised a toast before drinking their wine
Lord Gregor then looked at Gared "A word please my squire."
"As you wish my lord." Gared replied and the two of them walked along the rows of tents.
"When you first came to me you were an untrained boy and the son of a pig farmer." Gregor replied "But your uncle put in a good word for you."
Gared had been the son of a pig farmer but his uncle Duncan was the Castilian of Ironrath, the seat of House Forrester. While Gared's family were little more than peasants, they were a bit better off thanks to their family connections and years of loyalty towards the Forresters. "I just didn't think farming was for me. Plus, we have been soldiers to your House for centuries."
"Many small families have at least one family member who was a soldier at some point." Gregor replied "I have a personal task for you, I need you to look out for Rodrik. As a father I couldn't be more proud of him but I always worry about him just like any parent. I would be more comfortable if you were there to look out for him."
"Anything for you my lord." Gared replied
"Loyal just like everyone." Gregor replied "Which brings me to you. You have come a long way since you became my squire. You knew nothing about fighting at first but you came really close to defeating Rodrik last time we trained. For that you are no longer my squire. You are no longer just Gared Tuttle, you are Ser Gared Tuttle."
Gared just gasped in shock "My lord I… I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything Gared." Gregor said "Just keep it to yourself for now. Your friend Bowen there might be a bit jealous, no need to jeopardise your friendship now. Wait until the celebrations are over."
Gared nodded and went on with the celebrations.
…
Meanwhile inside the Twins, Joseph, Brynden and Olyvar ran through the hallways to find a way out. Olyvar was guiding them since this had been his home. "We have to get to the camp." He warned "What happened in the Hall was just the start. Now the next stage will be a surprise attack on the gathered army."
"That would wipe out our entire army that has gathered here!" Brynden gasped
"That's the point." Olyvar replied "It would leave little resistance for my family and the northern conspirators to take control and join with Stannis when he arrives in the North. He's sailing to answer the Night's Watch's call for aid against a Wildling Army."
"Well the north still has an army with the rest of the Company of the Rose." Joseph stated "But if they capture Moat Calian then we will be trapped here."
"First let's bet outside and try and save what we can." Brynden replied.
…
Gared and his friend Bowen had been ordered to get some more wine for the celebrations. As they had walked towards the Twins, Bowen had moaned about how he would never get to be a fighter and that he would remain a squire all his life. Gared had tried to cheer him up but it didn't work and Gared at almost lost his temper due to Bowen's constant moaning. The attitude of the Freys didn't help either since they seemed to be rude but as the wine jugs were being filled, Gared eyed something in a tent which held some Frey boys in chainmail armour and with weapons, they were pulling back the strings on some crossbows.
"You alright Gared?" Bowen asked.
The wine jugs soon came back and Gared knew he had to do something "I'm fine Bowen, let's just get the wine back." He said as he picked up the wine jug which was followed by Bowen picking up his own.
"What was that about?" Bowen asked "What's the rush, I mean sure they weren't too friendly but that's no reason why to rush away quickly."
Gared looked at him "Something's wrong here." He confessed "I saw a bunch of Frey preparing weapons in a tent."
"Weapons?" Bowen questioned "At a wedding? Are you sure you're not seeing things?"
"I'm sure." Gared replied "We need to find Rodrik, he's out there by himself." Just as he finished saying that, he heard men shouting and a horse running around. Then just behind them, a man was shot by a crossbow and then tents nearby caught fire. "I was right; it is an ambush!"
Bowen dropped his wine jug and watched as Frey, Bolton and Karstark men came out and began attacking the northern and riverland soldiers. The twin of them then made a run for it "We need to get back to Camp!" he shouted
Gared and Bowen managed to run and avoid several attempts at being attacked until Gared saw Rodrik Forrester surrounded by several men of House Whitehill, a rival house of House Forrester who seemed to have joined in "Rodrik!" Gared shouted.
Rodrik eyed him before turning to fight again.
"Gared we have to go!" Bowen shouted.
Gared didnn't want to leave his friend behind but the look in Rodrik's eye told him to run. But before he could, one of Rodrik's attackers fell dead from a crossbow bolt. Then two men jumped over the burning tents and helped Rodrik kill the others.
Rodrik recognised them "Ser Brynden, Commander Joseph?"
"Aye Rodrik." Joseph replied "It's us?"
"What's happening?" Rodrik asked
"The fucking Freys betrayed us." Joseph replied "As have members of Houses Bolton and Karstark. Not the lords though, they're dead. I also managed to kill Lord Frey, may he burn in the Seven Hells for this."
"My father!" Rodrik gasped "We need to get to him!"
"We'll find him." Brynden stated "Let's just hope we're not too late. Though don't hurt Olyvar Frey, he's with us, he tried to warn us all but they imprisoned him."
They nodded and soon began making their way towards the Forrester Camp where fighting was intense. Whitehill men had decided to be the ones to take out the Forrester men since they were fierce rivals. Gared was sad to see some of the people who he had been drinking and celebrating with just a few minutes ago were now dead. Lord Forrester was fighting strongly but even he was overwhelmed. Though just like with Rodrik, the team were able to swoop in and save him though not before Lord Gregor took a crossbow bolt to the chest.
Norrin and a few other Forrester men who were still alive looked at him "Go my lord!" Norrin called "While they're still time."
"Norrin!" Bowen called
"You too Bowen!" Norrin added "I may not have been the best master to you but you have to get out of here. I'll stay behind to hold them off."
"You will be remembered Norrin." Gregor replied.
"I'm staying too." Brynden called "I need to rally whatever men I can gather and make for Riverrun, I can still hold it with men loyal to me."
"And we need to make for Moat Calian." Joseph stated "Before it falls into enemy hands. Then we will send messages everywhere, the world realm needs to know what happened here." Everyone nodded and began trying to make a run for it.
The massacre was getting worse, because of how drunk the men had been from celebrating and because of the surprise attack, the northern and Riverland forces were being massacred though some were trying to get away so that they could find a way to regroup somewhere else. Joseph and his group soon made it to the stables with hopes of finding some horses that they could use to make their journey faster.
However, Gregor had been badly wounded and collapsed as they approached the stables "Father!" Rodrik gasped "Get up, we have to move!"
Gregor gasped and shook his head "It's no good, I can barely move. That injury I took is more serious than I originally thought." He then held out the Forrester family blade "Take it Rodrik, it's yours now. You're Lord Forrester now."
"Father!" Rodrik gasped
"I'll only slow you down." Gregor replied "You need to go now!"
Then they heard loud chants coming "The King in the North. Here comes the King in the North!" the chant was in a mocking tone and they all looked to see Frey men coming out of the main gate bringing a horse with a body tied to top that had the head removed and replaced with a direwolf's head. Olyvar screamed in horror, it was Robb's body and they had desecrated it.
"They'll pay for this!" Joseph hissed getting some horses ready.
"These people are no family of mine!" Olyvar yelled "Only Perwyn is family to me now. I don't care about the rest of them."
"Their time will come soon." Joseph stated "Everyone, we make for Moat Cailian. We will regroup and show everyone that the North remembers and the North will not forget this crime against men and gods."
The group then mounted their horses and rode off quickly away from the carnage vowing to let the world know what happened here and that they would return to bring justice to those that fell here today. As they rode off, Rodrik caught a glimpse of his father fighting off more Frey men until he was stabbed in the back and fell to the ground dead.
…
In King's Landing, far away from the carnage at the Twins, the city was recovering from it's own trouble. It had been nearly two weeks since the death of King Joffrey at the hands of Astrid Snow or Visenya Targaryen whatever she wished to be called. The new coronation for King Tommen was approaching and security was being tightened as a result of infiltration by Astrid and her companions. Hand of the King Tywin Lannister had ordered the secret tunnels to be checked and most of them caved in leading only a secret route to allow the royal family to escape in an emergency. He was refusing to allow these tunnels to be used as a means of sneaking in again. The Red Cloaks had been sent into the tunnels and even Tywin was shocked when he learnt of just how many there were and how easy it was to sneak into the Red Keep.
Right now however, Tywin had called a Small council meeting and they had all gathered in the meeting chamber to discuss a message that they had received. They were just waiting for Tyrion, the Master of Coin.
Tyrion soon strolled into the meeting room and the first thing he noticed was the grim look on Tywin's face and the smug satisfaction of Cersei, something which Tywin seemed to be annoyed at.
"And what reason have we today to call the Small Council." Tyrion said "We already discussed the upcoming coronation for King Tommen which will be done next week and a fortnight later will be his wedding to Lady Margaery to bind the Tyrells to us."
"Something's come up." Tywin grumbled and looked to Pycelle.
Pycelle tried to give Tyrion a raven scroll but he dropped it causing Tyrion to groan in annoyance, he knew Pycelle was not as frail as he made himself out to be. Tyrion just picked up the scroll and read it out load "Roslin caught a fine fat trout, her brothers save her a pair of wolf pelts for her wedding. Lord Walder watches over us all and the burning Stag comes. Sighed Lord Ryman Frey, lord of the Twins." He then looked at them all "Is that bad poetry or is it supposed to mean something, and what is this about Ryman Frey being lord?"
"Lord Walder Frey is dead." Tywin stated "As is Robb Stark and his mother."
"A toast to Lord Frey." Cersei smiled and drank some wine only for Tywin to angrily knocked it out of her hand onto the floor.
"In case you haven't noticed the Freys did not do this for us." Tywin hissed "This had been my plan to end the war for this family but now the Freys have sided with Stannis Baratheon. That's what the Burning Stag means. Stannis Baratheon is sailing north to the Wall from our reports having met with representatives of the Iron Bank who are beginning to side with him since we haven't paid back our loans and now he plans to march through the north with his new army. Not to mention that my son Jaime is at Winterfell right now and is now a potential target." He looked at Cersei "So don't act all pleased when your brother is in grave danger now. We have to make sure that he comes to no harm."
"How destroyed is the Northern Army and the Riverlands?" Tyrion asked
"According to reports, Brynden Tully managed to make it out and has hold up in Riverrun with whatever he managed to gather. As for the north, most of the men loyal to the Starks are dead. Now Ramsay Snow, bastard son of Lord Roose Bolton is claiming to be the rightful lord of the north swearing to Stannis. The Company of the Rose is still at strength and are returning home. This gives us an opportunity to regain control of the Riverlands. The Freys have decided to join Stannis so I guess we can support Brynden Tully now. Reports say that he managed to escape the massacre and rally some surviving men and is holding Riverrun. The Freys hold other families' hostage so that will be a problem. I will send generous terms to Brynden, he will kneel and accept Tommen as King. I will leave the North to the Company of the Rose, as long as they remain north of the neck, I won't interfere with them.
"They should be put to the sword!" Cersei hissed "After what they did to my poor Joffrey, they don't deserve generous terms!"
Tywin stood up angrily "We talked about this already Cersei!" he snapped "This war has gone on long enough, a war your son started and that you had a hand in by not disciplining that boy. I had it with you. Get out, in fact Vylarr." The captain of the Red Cloaks, House Lannister's personal guards enter "Escort the Queen mother to her chambers, have her guarded day and night and limit what drink she gets. I'll not have her causing anymore problems."
"Father!" Cersei screeched as she was pretty much dragged out "Father stop this!"
As soon as Cersei was gone, Tyrion looked at his father "You just had the mother of our king sent to bed like a child."
"She's stupid if she thinks she has any real power!" Tywin scorned "She's been a fool all her life. Her actions caused everything here and it's better off that she be married off where she won't cause any more problems. Too much like that old bitch Ellyn Reyne to me, thought she could keep power after losing two husbands and ended up married to an old man where she stilled caused problems for me. In then end everything came crashing down for Ellyn."
Tyrion looked at his father "So what now then?" he asked "What do we do now."
"We start regaining control of the Riverlands and then we focus on rebuilding this kingdom." Tywin stated "War devastate kingdoms and we were already vulnerable even before. We fix the south and leave the north to themselves. We stay out of their affairs."
"And what of Stannis?" Tyrion asked "The Iron Bank seems to be backing him and what of the Targaryen girl across the ocean?"
"The north will deal with Stannis since he's made an enemy of them." Tywin replied "As for the Targaryen girl, she has made enemies of her own in her newly liberated Slavers cities. With luck they will take care of her for us eliminating a future threat to us."
"And Jaime?" Tyrion asked worrying about his brother since he was in the hands of some very angry northerns.
"We will just have to hope that the northern lords understand and leave him alone." Tywin sighed.
…
At the castle of Harrenhal, Arya and Sansa had been talking to each other to understand what they had been through after King's Landing.
"So you managed to hide your identity in Harrenhal without Tywin Lannister knowing who you really were." Sansa laughed
"I did, he knew I wasn't a simple peasant girl like I tried to present myself and he figured out I was a noble from the north but never figured out who." Arya explained
"I don't know what was worst." Sansa claimed "Being here in Harrenhal with the fear that ine day you might be killed or being in King's Landing where Joffrey could hurt me."
"I never would have survived there." Arya admitted "I probably would have stuck Joffrey with a knife the first chance I got. Seeing Astrid kill that beast was the best thing I saw."
Sansa sighed "You were right about me Arya." She added "I was stupid. A stupid girl madly in love with a prince so much that I was blind to what he really was. A monster, a fiend and a coward."
"I didn't like him the moment he set foot in Winterfell." Arya admitted "The way he looked at everyone like they were inferior to him. He was bad news from the start."
"Like I said to Astrid, I wish I could go back and undo what I did." Sansa sighed "Maybe Lady would still be alive and I would have figured out what to do. They made me write to Robb you know. It was my handwriting but Cersei's words. I should have known better that Robb would come with an army."
"War was inevitable anyway I think." Arya claimed "Even without father's death Stannis and Renly would have rebelled anyway. Father may have been torn on who to pick."
It was then that then the door opened and the two girls saw the Company soldier known as Frokmar Battle-Torn enter with a grim look on his face. "My ladies." He greeted "I'm sorry but I come with some news."
"What news?" Arya asked
Frokmar just sighed and handed then a raven scroll "This was sent all over the kingdoms. It's not good news."
Arya and Sansa read the note, the same note that Tyrion had read out, neither one of them knew what it meant. "Roslin?" Arya asked "Who's Roslin."
"Roslin Frey." Frokmar sighed "The girl Edmure was to marry. It's a riddle, a message. I'm sorry my ladies, I'm afraid that your brother and mother are dead."
Arya and Sansa's head turned suddenly towards him "WHAT!" they both screamed at once
Frokmar sighed "It seemed that after our actions at King's Landing Walder Frey found a new ally. That of Stannis Baratheon. He gave them backing for their plot and still went ahead with it. I'm sorry but it was too late. The massacre which they're calling the Red Wedding has still happened."
Arya and Sansa both felt tears in their eyes and embraced each other. "They'll die for this!" Arya hissed "All of them."
Frokmar sighed "It wasn't just the Freys." He admitted "Members of Houses Bolton and Karstark were also involved though I'm told not the lords, they were killed at the Twins."
Then Edward Forrester came in and sighed when he saw the girls crying "I see you've been told." He said "Listen, I know it is hard but I need you to be strong for us. Your brothers are back in Winterfell and they may be in danger. We can't stay here now, the war is turning North now. Stannis Baratheon is sailing north to begin a new front and we need to head back. We're abandoning this place now. If the Lannisters want it, they can have it. You need to pack your things quickly, we leave at sunset. We'll catch our ships and head to White Harbour. They think they have won with this massacre but they are wrong. We will show everyone that the North remembers and we do not forget and we do not forgive."
Chapter End:
Notes: Well another chapter complete and we are now coming into new territory of this story since now the story will be going my own way with influence from the books rather than the show and we will be entering a Northern Civil War rather than and occupied north facing some resistance against Bolton rule. Fanfiction has also managed to fix the email alert issue but the view detection system still seems to be down. I'm hoping that will be fixed soon. I've also decided to work on multiple chapters on stories at once now rather than do them one at a time.