The Gathering:
In Westeros, the bloody war had been named as the War of the Five Kings since there were five named kings. Kings Joffrey, Stannis and Renly were fighting for control of the Iron Throne while King Robb Stark was fighting for an independent kingdom of the north while news had arrived that Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands has also declared independence like he had done nearly ten years ago during the Greyjoy rebellion. For Robb Stark, the war had been going well in terms of military victories, his army along with the Riverlands had been able to retake most of the captured lands that the Lannisters took at the start of the war although Harrenhal was still under enemy control and Darry had been sacked just a fortnight after being retaken resulting in the extinction of the male line of House Darry.
After retaking the Riverlands, Robb had moved onto the Lannister's homeland, the Westerlands. His pet Direwolf, Grey Wind, had managed to find a hidden goat trail through the hills enabling his army to avoiding the heavily defended border post of the Golden Tooth. This had allowed them to ambush the newly raised Lannister Army at Oxcross which saw the death of Tywin Lannister's cousin and brother in Law, Stafford Lannister which devastated Lannister control in the north Westerlands although this had come at a cost since Stevron Frey, Lord Walder Frey's oldest son had been wounded during the fight and died a few days later. Following the victory at Oxcross, Robb had ordered his men to scour the lands and they were only too happy to get revenge for what the Lannisters had done to their own lands just months before. Glover and Karstark raided along the coast while Mormont captured hundreds of livestock which would feed the army while Umber had been able to capture the gold mines at Castamere, Nunn's Deep and Pendric Hills securing the gold reserves.
However, not everything had gone to plan. Catelyn's mission to secure an alliance with Renly had failed after Renly had been assassinated. According to Catelyn, the two brothers had prepared for battle but just before it could take place, some kind of shadowy creature had entered the tent and killed Renly. This was being blamed by many people on Catelyn or her new sworn-shield, Renly's former Kingsguard Brienne of Tarth who had both witnessed the murder. They had said that Stannis had the help of a Red Priestess from Essos who were said to have access to strange unnatural powers but whatever happened, Robb did not have an alliance. The Stormlands had joined Stannis while the Reach seemed to been preparing to join forces with Joffrey. This was a worry for Robb as this would give the Lannisters the entire Tyrell army numbered at 100,000. If the Lannisters were able to defeat Stannis, they would soon turn their attention to them and they would be outnumbered. Robb had also yet to hear from Theon so he was hoping that Gregor Forrester and Wendel Manderly were able to succeed in their mission to gain an alliance with the Company of the Rose.
Following the recent victories, Robb had decided to give his army a rest so they had made camp. Robb had also taken in a healer named Talisa who he had met after Oxcross. The two of them had begun talking about their past about how Talisa had been a noble from Volantis who left to get away from her family who were nobles and her disgust of slavery. She had witnessed a slave save the life of her brother after nearly drowning, something that could have cost the slave his life simply for laying his hands on a noble. His mother had warned him about getting too close to her since he was betrothed to a girl from House Frey but Robb was struggling.
It was at the camp that he was soon approached by one of his messengers "Your Grace." He greeted after bowing "I bring you a message."
"What message?" Robb asked
The messenger handed his a sealed scroll that was sealed with the symbol of a rose. Robb thought that this could be from House Tyrell since their Sigil was a rose but he was dead wrong. When he opened the scroll, he found out that it was being sent from the Company of the Rose Commander who had agreed to a meeting. This was good news to Robb, maybe now they would stand a chance against the Lannisters so he quickly gathered his men.
"My lords." He said when they had gathered "I need to discuss the next stage of our plan."
"So what are we doing next?" Lord Jon Umber asked smirking.
Robb looked at them "Near the start of this war, I sent Lord Gregor Forrester and Ser Wendel Manderly on a mission to speak to the Company of the Rose. I have just had a message back from them, they are interested in talking." This caught the Lord's attention, while they had dismal views towards sellswords who fought for money; the Company of the Rose had their attention since they were full of proud Northerns who hoped to one day return to an independent north. "They should be arriving in Saltpans and will meet us here, not the full army yet but hopefully we should get them."
"Now we'll get a chance to see our brothers in arms return home." Lord Rickard Karstark laughed.
"Aye, true Northerns." Mormont added.
They all took the news happily, the only one who was not happy was Catelyn, she had secretly hoped that the Company would refuse and be greedy. She knew that there was nothing she could do that as Robb would be quite angry if she did anything to jeopardise his chance to gain new allies.
...
About a week later, the camp was prepared for the arrival of the Company of the Rose. The camp was in decent shape and Robb had ordered a keg of ale to be prepared for opening for a greeting drink. Soon, a scout reported that riders were approaching wielding banners of Houses Forrester and Manderley as well as a blue rose. Robb sat on a chair at the entrance to his tent with his primary Bannermen standing next to him. He saw five people on horses, two of them he knew would be Lord Forrester and Ser Wendel. He assumed one of the others would be the Commander of the Company though he didn't know for certain who the other two were but had an idea.
The five riders slowly approached and dismounted their horses, Gregor and Wendel gave a small bow "Your Grace." They greeted "We have done what you asked."
"You have indeed." Robb said and looked at the leader of the three other people "Forgive me but may I have your name?"
The leader removed his helmet and he caught the Bannerman's eyes, he had all the Stark traits and people saw that he looked very similar to the Robb's grandfather Rickard Stark "King Robb Stark." He greeted "Allow me to introduce myself. I am commander Joseph Rostark, commander of the Company of the Rose."
"Rostark?" Catelyn questioned
"Aye, we are indeed Starks." Joseph replied "Descendent from Mors Stark, youngest son of the previous King in the North Torrhen Stark and our founder."
"So a new cadet branch." Rickard Karstark said "It seems house Stark has grown bigger."
Everyone laughed at that except Catelyn, this is what she was afraid of, she saw this as a potential threat to her son's position and her family. Robb would not see it that way.
"And who might your companions be?" Robb asked
"You probably know us already." The first one replied and Robb did recognise the voice even though it had been a few years.
"Edward Forrester." He greeted "It is good to see you again."
"Spare me the formalities." Edward snorted "It will take more than that to impress me."
"Ed." Gregor warned
"He may be your king but remember, I'm not one of his bannermen." Edward replied "If he wants to earn my trust, he has to shown me that he is willing to do things the northern way. I will fight for an independent north any day but he still has to show that he can hold it."
"And hopefully, he will learn to think for himself and not do what his mother commands him too." The remaining companion spoke showing that it was a girl.
This allowed Robb to figure out who it was "Astrid."
The girl looked at him but didn't remove her helmet "Robb."
Catelyn very nearly stood up but a look from Robb made her think again. Robb looked back at Astrid "So, how have you been?"
"Going through an identity crises." Astrid replied which confused him.
"Identity crises?" he questioned "What do you mean sister."
Astrid sighed "Look, you probably think I ran away because of your mother." She said "But no, that's not why?" he looked at Edward "Look, they need to know the truth. I'm done hiding who I really am, there's no hiding it anyway." She slowly removed her helmet "When I look like this."
Robb and his lords could only look in shock when they saw Astrid, instead of having the traditional Stark looks that Robb remembered, she instead looked like a Targaryen, her hair was long silvery white and her eyes had the amethyst purple, while her eyes had been known to be that colour before, they had attributed it to being from Ashara Dayne, a girl Eddard had a crush on and who was believed to be her and Jon's mother. "Astrid?"
Astrid sighed "Remember when I got very angry at your mother and Septa Mordane for how they spoke of the northern customs that I destroyed the shrine in her Sept and warned her to watch herself since this was the north, not the south?" she questioned "I had to say something that only I would know. I am not an imposter, this is how I look."
"But how?" Robb asked "Why do you look like a Targaryen?"
Astrid sighed "Because I am. Eddard Stark is not my father, or Jon's. My father was Rhaegar Targaryen, my mother was Lyanna Stark."
Edward then spoke up "I was there when the two of them were born." He stated "Only he, me and Howland Reed knew the truth. Eddard knew what Robert would do if he found out the truth, Lyanna loved the two of them and begged Eddard to protect them. So he took them in as his bastards, something I did object to knowing how your mother would take it." He gave a glare to Catelyn who was in shock.
"I..." Catelyn said "I... why didn't he tell me?"
"It was one of the things we argued about." Edward replied "He always said that it was necessary but I told him that the truth would come out eventually and it may one day haunt him."
"And it did when I figured it all out." Astrid said "When I started getting older, I began seeing white strands in my hair. When I asked Eddard, he refused to tell me anything only that it was probably just me seeing things. But then Edward told me everything. I was furious that I confronted Eddard, he was mad that Ed told me and I got mad at him for lying to me." She then sighed "That very night, I left with Ed and we joined the company. Over the next year, my hair slowly lost the black colour it once held. I've since come to accept who I am although I'm still mixed over my name. My real mother named me Visenya so I sometimes don't know what to call myself, Astrid or Visenya."
Jon Umber looked at her "Even though you may have the dragon's looks, you have northern blood in you. But what happened, I thought the Dragon prince kidnapped and raped Lyanna?"
Edward sighed "We may never know what really happened, all those who know that are dead. Lyanna may have chosen to elope with Rhaegar, I wouldn't put it passed her, she hated the idea of marrying Robert and was willing to do anything to get out of it. Rhaegar may have seduced her, I heard stories about how his wife Elia was infertile and he was desperate for another child, he seemed obsessed over it but we'll never know the truth."
Robb stood up and took Astrid's hands "No matter the truth, you will always be my sister, even though we have not seen each other in years."
Astrid looked at him "And I will fight for you Robb. The company of the Rose will be behind you."
"As long as you promise us something." Joseph stated "Never bow to the south again. We're not the company who fight for gold although we need to survive."
"The King of the North will protect the north." Robb replied and held out his hand which Joseph shook.
"Then we stand with you." Joseph replied which brought cheers to his men "My son Cullen will lead my full force here to fight for you."
Robb was about to reply when his squire Olyvar arrived with a raven's scroll "My lord." He called
Jon Umber glared at him "What is it boy?" he demanded "The King is in the middle of important business."
"This is important!" Olyvar gasped "News from Winterfell."
Robb looked at his lords before taking the letter and when he finished reading, he gasped in shock "Winterfell has been captured!"
This caught everyone by surprise "By who?" Catelyn gasped
"By the Ironborn" Robb replied then he began spluttering when he read who was leading them "Led by Theon Greyjoy. This cannot be true."
Olyvar looked at him "I also found out that we've had ravens from White Harbour, Barrowton and Dreadfort. I fear this is true and it's not just Winterfell, they apparently also captured Torrhen's Square, Moat Cailin and Deepwood Motte."
"My family?" Robett Glover, brother of Galbert Glover gasped in worry.
"We've received no news of them." Olyvar replied, "They're likely being kept as hostages."
"What about my brothers?" Robb demanded
"We've also had no other news about them." Olyvar added "But I have received news that your master of Arms Rodrik Cassel is dead, Theon had him executed. Also, Benfred Tallhart is dead, he was slain by the Ironborn on the Stoney Shore."
Catelyn looked worried and also enraged "I told you never trust a Greyjoy! They're treasonous whores!"
Robb knew he had to do something, his homeland was now under attack "I must head north at once."
"My lord wait" Lord Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort called out "They're still a war here to win."
"How can I call myself King of the North if I cannot defend my own castle?" he demanded "How can I ask men to follow me if I cannot defend my home."
"You are a king." Joseph stated "And that means that you don't have to do everything yourself."
Catelyn tried something "Robb, let me go north, let me try and talk to Theon."
"There will be no talking!" Robb spat "He'll die for this."
"I doubt it will achieve anything anyway." Joseph stated "You can't reason with the Ironborn."
Robb looked at him "How many men do you have?"
"7000." Joseph replied "I can get at least 2000 to White Harbour within the moon. The rest will take time."
Olyvar looked at Robb "There is something else, apparently Theon went against his father's orders, he did not attack Winterfell by their orders, simply to gain glory for himself, he only has a skeleton crew with him."
"But he'll have Bran and Rickon as hostages." Astrid stated "I'm going north too."
"Astrid?" Edward stated
"Look, even if we can start a siege, Theon could just kill both of them." Astrid reasoned "I know a secret tunnel into the castle; I can sneak a few men through there and rescue them."
Robb looked at Astrid "Do it." He ordered "Remember that Bran and Rickon's safety is paramount, and Theon, I want him brought to me alive. I want to look him in the eye and ask him why and then I'll take his head myself."
"Your Grace." Roose Bolton called "The north is our home as well, allow us to help. Let me send word to my bastard at the Dreadfort, he can raise a few hundred men and assist in retaking the north, he would be honoured to help retake his home. I'll also call for Houses Ryswell and Dustin to assist, they still have plenty of men to spare."
"And my uncles can assist as well." Umber added.
"Sadly, my home may be too vulnerable to help." Mormont added "The Ironborn may soon attack Bear Island; I have to keep my forces home."
"I would like to return as well." Robett Glover stated "I must help my family."
Robb soon nodded and agreed "Retake our home as soon as possible, although we'll be unable to deal with the Ironborn as a whole since we don't have ships."
"Let me worry about that." Joseph stated "You worry about the war here, I'll worry about retaking my home. One last thing, there is one man in particular who one of your lords may have an issue with coming here."
"Who?" Robb asked
"My second son Asher." Gregor replied "He's one of the Company's fighters but he was exiled from the north several years ago."
"I heard about that but the details were never explained to me." Robb replied "Why was he exiled."
"Because of love." Gregor's son Rodrik scoffed "Asher has always been a ladies' man but he had an affair with the wrong woman."
Roose then spoke up knowing about the affair "Gwyn Whitehill, daughter of my vassal Ludd Whitehill and the bitter rivals of House Forrester. The whole affair nearly started a war so Asher was exiled to keep the peace."
Robb looked at him "What do you think Lord Bolton?" he asked
"Ludd won't be happy but he's not a very powerful man, in fact, I tend to find him annoying at times, he thinks he's better than he really is."Roose replied "He claims that he knows how to work with Ironwood even though all of his Ironwood groves have since died."
"That's because he didn't take care of them." Gregor replied "He just cut the trees without care causing them to die."
Robb made his decision and looked at Gregor "Tell your son that he is allowed to return but he must remain with the Company of the Rose and must stay away from the Whitehills."
"Thank you your Grace." Gregor replied.
Robb then ended the meeting since there was nothing else left to discuss. He had made the decision to move out of the Westerlands, he did not have the men to try and mach further south and try and take Casterly Rock or Lannisport and he could not risk getting trapped so he decided to return to the Riverlands and prepare to retake the final parts of the Riverlands still under the Lannister's control, Harrenhal and Maidenpool which was still changing control.
Joseph took Astrid and Edward somewhere private "Listen you two, when you return to the north, keep an eye on the Bolton bastard?"
"You don't trust him?" Edward asked
"Tytos told me a few things about him." Joseph replied "There are some pretty horrific tales about him that Bolton has tried to keep quite. Rumours such as him being responsible for the death of Bolton's trueborn son Domeric and how he enjoys chasing young girls with hounds and tearing them apart although there is no solid proof. Keep a close eye on him."
"We will." Astrid replied "The Boltons have a strong rivalry with the Starks. I can't say for certain but it is possible that Lord Bolton could cut a deal with the Lannisters to claim lordship over the north."
"That's why I'm staying here." Joseph stated "Cullen will lead us in retaking the north. I have to stay here to show my loyalty since that Tully woman is for sure going to try and undermine us."
"Catelyn has always been paranoid though she never shows it." Astrid replied "She's scared that someone will try and usurp her son's place."
"She also always been blind to the ways of the north." Edward added "In a way, she is lucky that she married Eddard and not Brandon, if she had she probably would have been miserable. Brandon never would have stood for establishing a Sept in Winterfell and knowing Brandon personally, he would have had several bastards."
"I can see that she feels like she is losing control of the situation." Joseph then said "She is worried about her daughters but she might do something that could cause more trouble. I'll stay here to keep an eye on her. She may be her own son's worst enemy and she can't even see that she is causing more trouble."
"Good luck Joseph." Astrid replied
"You too." Joseph replied.
Astrid and Edward soon got on their horses and road away to prepare to help retake the north while Joseph went to speak privately with the other northern lords to integrate himself among them. All three of them didn't know that someone had been listening to their entire conversation.
Chapter End:
Notes: Well, I'm finally back. My University work is now complete and I'm no longer in education which means I'm no longer under stress. I plan to work on a chapter of Rise of the Divines which I am currently rereading in order to get an understanding as to where I am with each story plot and try and tie up some loose ends which I may have left. It may take some time but I hopefully have a chapter on that story done soon but they take longer. For this story, I am currently trying to come up with characters that will join Astrid/Visenya from the Company of the Rose as they begin their mission to retake the north from the Ironborn. Asher Forrester and Beskha will be among her team but since there is no much information about the company, I will probably have to create some new characters like I did for the leadership but I want them to have fleshed out back stories.