Southern Situations:
Harrenhal:
The great castle of Harrenhal was believed to have been cursed. It had been a great project by the King of Isles and Rivers Harren Hoare also known as Harren the Black. King Harren had pretty much enslaved the Riverlanders in order to quarry the stone for the castle and cut the trees for timbers which included Weirwoods that had stood for thousands of years. It was a costly build meant to cement Harren's rule in the Riverlands and ironically, the day Harren had settled into his castle was the day that Aegon began his conquest. Despite having walls and towers that Harren boasted would never fall to siege engines, the castle had been no match for Aegon's dragons who burnt Harren and his family inside causing the extinction of House Hoare.
Afterwards, six families had ruled Harrenhal in the last 300 years and they had all gone extinct within a few generations leading to the belief that Harrenhal was cursed. The castle itself was pretty much ruined in most places, blackened stone walls and fallen towers made the castle look abandoned, the only reason the castle had never been abandoned was because it still had a stragetic location since whoever controlled in controlled a vital route between the Riverlands and Crownlands and controlled the land south and east of the God's Eye Lake. Tywin Lannister was using the castle as his main base after taking the castle from House Whent and he had houses his whole army here, the castle was big enough for that.
Tywin was having a meeting with his lords and unknown to him, someone he did not expect was learning information. Arya Stark, Lord Stark's second daughter was serving as Tywin's cupbearer. Arya had managed to escape King's Landing with help from Yoren, a Night's Watch recruiter who would escort Arya under the identity of Arry, a recruit where she would be delivered to Riverrun as a favour Yoren had with Ned Stark. The plan had not gone smoothly, not long after leaving the city, guards from King's Landing tracked them claiming they had a warrant for someone. Arya thought they were looking for her but instead they were looking for Gendry, a young Blacksmith Arya had befriended, why she didn't know. Yoren had refused to hand him over since as Night's Watch recruits, they were immune to their orders. That hadn't deterred the Lannisters who had ambushed and captured them led by a man called Amory Lorch who had killed Yoren. Gendry was safe after Arya had passed off the body of another recruit called Lommy who had Gendry's special helmet he had made himself.
After that, they had all been taken to Harrenhal where they would be tortured for information or really just because the Lannister men here were just sadists. Just before Gendry could be tortured, Lord Tywin had returned and had been able to see through Arya's disguise as a boy and so she became his cupbearer although he still did not know who she really was. Gendry had been sent to work for the Blacksmith while another recruit Arya befriended called Hot Pie was sent to the kitchens.
"Can you read?" Tywin questioned Lorch with a angry look on his face as he held Arya back from pouring some wine and he held up a letter that had just been sent. Other men around the table included Tywin's brother Kevan, Ser Adam Marbrand and Lord Leo Lefford. "This letter detailing our infanty movements was meant for lord Daemon of House Marbrand. Instead it was sent to lord Marlin of House Dormund."
"My apologizes my lord." Amory apologized "I must have..."
Tywin did not let him finished and called to Arya "Girl, fetch me a copy of the History of the Greater and the lesser Houses. It's the one on the..." Tywin didn't finish as Arya found the book quickly "Even my cupbearer can read better that you!" Tywin mocked before flicking through the pages until he came to the right one and pointed it out "To whom does House Dormund own allegiance?"
Lorch looked for a second "My lord I?"
"To the Starks of Winterfell!" Tywin roared "Who have 20,000 men and my son and who are also raiding our homeland! Now I have to change our current plans to try and stop the raiding since the Starks now know our movements! I judged that you might be good for something more than brutalizing peasants, I overestimated you, you may have helped me in the past but if you ever put my plans in danger again I'll let your old friend the Mountain have fun with you as target practice."
Kevan then spoke up "There is something else my lord." He said "I've just learnt that the Starks now have more men. It seems they've gained another ally. The Sellsword company known as the Company of the Rose."
"Sellswords." Adam dismissed "Loyal only to gold, surely we can buy them off."
Tywin snorted "Not these ones. Clearly you don't know your history, the Company of the Rose are made up of the descendants of Northerns who chose exile over bending the knee to the Targaryens. If they're serving the Starks it's a symbol that the north is fully bent on keeping itself independent from the control of the Iron Throne. Without dragons, they may not have even bent the knee after all they've defended invasions for many years."
"Well it seems that Robb Stark has used them in retaking his home from the Greyjoys." Kevan pointed out "Robb is currently distracted with the threat that his own brothers are in. Maybe this is the time to strike."
"Maybe." Tywin agreed "If the Company of the Rose is in the north then they'll pose no threat to us but should they come south then it may be troubling for us. They won't be green men, they're experts in battle." He glared at Lorch "And since you threw our plans into jeopardy, you can fight on the front lines!"
"Aye my lord." Lorch sighed
"Good, now get out!" Tywin ordered and Lorch stood up and left.
Arya had to hide her reaction throughout that meeting particular when the Company of the Rose was mentioned. That could mean that Astrid was back, Arya was excited to see her sister again, just like Jon she had been the closest with her and had been devastated when she had left without warning. Astrid had been one of the people Arya worshipped since she wanted to be just like her since she was a warrior rather than a lady. It was also getting dangerous here so she knew that she had to leave soon and she knew how she could. Before being captured she had freed a group of prisoners being escorted to the Watch before they could be burnt alive. One of them a man called Jaqen H'ghar had offered to kill three people she named since she had saved three lives. Arya already used one name to kill the torturer known as the Tickler. If she could find the names of those who were on guard then she could get Gendry and Hot Pie and escape. It may take her a while but she could do it. She just needed to learn the names of the guards and who would be on guard when.
Riverlands:
It was a tense situation in the Riverlands. With the word about what had happened in the north, many northern lords were worried but there was hope that with the Company of the Rose that this problem would soon be solved. However there had been another development in the Riverlands. Alton Lannister had returned after delivering the peace offering and as expected it had been rejected. Alton had proven to be a man of his word for returning and had been promised to be treated fairly but he was placed with his distant cousin Jaime for now. But then one night, Alton was found dead by his guard Torrhen Karstark who was then attacked by Jaime. Torrhen would have been killed had it not been for the quick arrival of Tytos Hill, the Company of the Rose's spymaster who had forced Jaime off Torrhen. Torrhen was recovering but the attack had left his father Rickard furious, he had already lost one son Harrion to Jaime during the Battle of the Whispering Wood and now he very nearly lost another one to the same man. Robb had been able to calm Rickard down since Torrhen was still alive and Jaime's guard had been increased as a result. Robb was planning on sending him to Winterfell once Astrid had retaken it from the Ironborn. The incident had also helped Tytos Hill in no longer being disliked by the Northerns, his Westerland status as well as his Lannister looks made people believe that he was a Lannister but he had proven that he may have the looks but was not working with them.
Robb had needed some time to think so he had taken his new friend Talisa where they were talking. Robb spoke about his betrothal to a Frey.
"So you're marrying her for a bridge?" Talisa laughed
"An important bridge." Robb replied "The Twins is one of the major crossings. Sadly Lord Frey is not the best man but he is powerful. I thought I could make it south to save my father. But the Lannisters killed him."
"You know, every man of the north I spoke to loved your father a lot." Talisa said
"He was the best man I ever met." Robb replied, "I know children always think that about their fathers but..."
Talisa scoffed "Children do not always think that about their fathers believe me. My father would have just married me to the highest bidder and he took the freedom of many people. He's a magister of Volantis and a major player in the slave trade. A slave saved my brother's life and if my father knew he would have just killed him for touching him."
"You know, I want to go home. Many of my men want to go home." Robb said
"Then why don't you?" Talisa asked
"Politics." Robb replied "It's more complicated than you think, the Lannisters want us to bow down before them and we refused. We'll never be safe until they're defeated. And I believe in justice. My father was murdered, my people want justice for that."
"By cutting off Joffrey's head?" Talisa questioned
"That would be a start." Robb replied but before he could say anything else, there was a neigh from a horse, Robb looked to see Joseph Rostark riding a horse.
"Your Grace!" he called "We have a major situation, it's the Kingslayer, he escaped in the night!"
Robb gasped "How?" he demanded
Joseph sighed "You're not going to like this." He replied "He was freed."
"By who?" Robb angrily demanded
...
A short while later, Robb angrily stormed into his tent with Joseph, Rickard Karstark and Tytos Hill behind him. "Tell me this isn't true!" he demanded to the person inside the tent. "Why?"
Sitting on a chair was Robb's mother Catelyn Stark. She had a guilty look on her face. She had taken matters into her own hands and had her new sworn sword Brienne of Tarth release the Kingslayer with orders to deliver him to King's Landing. She had been concerned that one of the men here could kill him and then the Lannisters would kill her daughters in response. The look on her face was all Robb needed to see.
"I did it for the girls." Catelyn replied
"You betrayed me!" Robb hissed
"Robb listen..." Catelyn started only for Robb to interrupt.
"No!" he snapped "You knew I would not allow it and you did it anyway! Do you have any idea what you've done!"
"Bran and Rickon are captives in Winterfell, Sansa is captive in King's Landing and Arya is missing." Catelyn said "I have five children and only one of them is free."
"One of my sons is dead!" Rickard hissed "Another one is injured. Both of them are like this because of the Kingslayer! The man you freed! You commit treason because your children are prisoners! I would carve out my heart and offer it to the gods if they would walk and be in a prison cell rather than like this!"
"I'm sorry for your losses Lord Karstark." Catelyn said "But killing Jaime Lannister will not buy life for your children but returning him to King's Landing may buy life for mine."
"Would it?" Joseph hissed "You really think Cersei or Tywin Lannister would release my sisters just because you returned Jaime to them. No, they would just laugh and keep them prisoner. You just given them my most valuable prisoner on a silver platter and we've got nothing in return."
Robb added "You've weakened our position, you sown discord among our camp and you did it all behind my back!"
"And you know something else." Tytos said bringing out a raven scroll "It seems that Astrid and Edward have been successful, Winterfell in back under our control, Theon Greyjoy is our prisoner and Bran and Rickon are safe. You've released the Kingslayer for nothing."
Robb looked pleased at the news but then glared at his mother "Ever since this war began you've been questioning everything I've done. You've put all our plans into jeopardy and put us all at risk. You've left me with no choice, make sure she's guarded day and night."
"Robb!" Catelyn gasped
"No!" Robb hissed "If you were any other woman I would have had you executed! You've destroyed any trust I had for you. You will no longer move around this camp without a guard. And once Moat Cailin is retaken, you will return to Winterfell but you will have no say in the running of the castle. Be thankful that's all I do, you've proven to me that you have no place as an advisor to me or any place in being involved in this war." He then stormed out of the tent ignoring his mother's calls for him.
Outside the tent, Robb looked at Rickard "How many men have we sent after the Kingslayer?"
"40 your Grace." Rickard replied
"Send 40 more." Robb ordered "We need to find him before he gets too far."
Joseph looked at Robb "There's something else." He said
"I've just learnt that Tywin Lannister is sending an army from Harrenhal, he's trying to break through to stop our attack on his home." Tytos stated "Jaime might find his way to them but they seem unaware of the Company forces camped near Maidenpool, scouts there may be able to find them before they get too far."
"Send the word." Robb ordered "But tell them to keep back from the main Lannister force. I want to draw them into the Riverlands. Then you'll force will hit them from behind."
"A sound strategy." Joseph smiled "You do indeed have the mind of a strategist. I'll send the raven to Lieutenant Galmar, he's in command of the Company forces there."
"Let's just hope that the Kingslayer doesn't manage to find his way to the Lannister forces marching here." Tytos stated.
Southern Riverlands:
Jaime groaned as he fell to the ground. He had pretty much been kidnapped in a way. In the middle of the night a woman had entered his cage and knocked him out, when he woke up he was still tied up and dirty and was on a horse with his hands tied together with the horse also tied to another one with had the woman. After riding out, Jaime had been knocked from the horse after the woman dismounted hers and then she sent the two horses fleeing.
Jaime looked at his kidnapper or rescuer, he didn't know what was going on "You're much uglier in daylight." He uttered.
Brianne snorted, she had never been seen as a pretty girl, something that she had often been bullied for by other stormland noble's sons. Only one person had been nice to her and that person was now dead so she had found a new purpose and had sworn to carry out her services.
Jaime carried on talking "I'm Jaime Lannister of Casterly Rock, son of Tywin, what's your name?" Brianne said nothing "A captive knight has the right to know his captor's identity."
"Brianne of Tarth." Brianne finally replied
"Tarth, Tarth, Tarth." Jaime muttered trying to remember where he had heard that and remembered his lessons "Ah yes, the island of Tarth in Shipbreaker Bay, known as the Sapphire island, ruled by House Tarth, sigil, quartered yellow suns on pink with white moons on dark blue. Lord Selwyn Tarth of Evenfall Hall, your father I take it, any brothers or sisters. You know it's a long way to King's Landing, we might as well get to know one another."
Brianne just snorted and wished that he would shut up but then he heard the sounds of thundering hoafs, horses were nearby. Brianne dragged Jaime into a bush and watched from a riverbank as horses and men in Stark colours thundered over the bridge.
When the horses were gone, Brianne dragged a boat into the river. Jaime carried on being annoying and trying to make conversation which also made Brianne angry "Why do you hate me so much, what have I ever done to you?"
"You've harmed others, those I've sworn to protect." Brianne hissed
Jaime snorted "Has anyone ever told you that you're as boring as you are ugly."
"Don't make me knock you out again!" Brianne growled "Don't provoke me to anger."
Jaime laughed "I already have, look at you you're ready to chop my head off. Can you do it, do you think you can beat me in a fair fight?" Brianne didn't respond "I take it that's a no, there are three people who could possible beat me and you're not one of them."
"Men like you have been saying nasty things about me and to me for years." Brianne hissed "And for years I've been knocking them down on their arses."
"You're so confident." Jaime mocked "Unlock these chains and we'll see who's the better fighter."
Brianne looked at him with an 'are you serious look' "Do you take me for an idiot, get in!"
Jaime grumbled and climbed in "I took you for a fighter, a man... pardon a woman of honour. Was I wrong?"
Brianne laughed "Maybe one day we'll find out Kingslayer." She said and then she began rowing the boat down the river. Travelling by river would be quicker than travelling by road which would soon be crawling with men sent by the Starks to find them.
Harrenhal:
Arya crept carefully to the entrance to Harrenhal with her friends Gendry and Hot Pie. It seemed the Lannisters were abandoning Harrenhal. They were going to try and break through Robb's defences and try and get back to the Westerlands. Harrenhal was going to be left to the command of a sellsword group called the Brave Companions, a brutal group led by a man called Vargo Hoat who was known as the Goat. These Sellswords were some of the worst people that lived, even worse than some of the Lannister men who could be cruel. These people had committed every atrocity there was include rape, murder and pillaging and they did it just for fun rather than because they were scared of their liege lord like some of the Lannisters. The Brave companions was filled with people of many different nationalities including Dornish, the Free Cities, Dothraki and even people from Slaver's Bay and Ib north of Essos. They were all brutal but Vargo Hoat was the worst. He had a sadist grin on his face when he cut the hands and feet off prisoners even when it was clear they didn't know anything or even after they had told him what he wanted to know. Vargo was little more than a brigand and now that he was being given command, Arya knew that she had to get out now while she still could and she had found out who would be on guard that night. Two Lannister guards called Harys and Lewys and so Arya had given Jaqen their names and they were killed during the night, better yet it looked like the Brave Companions had gotten involved in a fight and they had died during the confrontation. This gave Arya and her two friends a chance to escape now while there was still confusion.
"Are you sure about this?" Hot Pie asked
"Would you rather stay here with those scumbags?" Arya asked
Hot Pie shook his head "That so called Septon Utt seemed to have been eying me. I hate to say this but the Lannisters are better than them."
"Which is why we need to leave now." Arya said "I heard that the Lannisters are marching slightly north but they're slow with so many men. It's just the three of us so we're be fast and if we're lucky, we'll run into my brothers bannermen or the Company of the Rose, my half sister Astrid is a member of the company, I'm sure she can help us get home."
"And what of us two." Gendry asked "We're not like you Arya, you're a highborn lady, we're just two people who are nothing."
"You're not nothing!" Arya hissed "And I'm not a lady. The Company of the Rose are said to be a good group that take care of their own. I'm sure they'll have use for a blacksmith and a cook, besides that bread is good."
Hot Pie nodded "Alright, I just hope we don't get caught this time." He said
The three of them soon made their way towards the opening arch of Harrenhal and soon enough they were out of the castle and making their way through the forest nearby. They had made it out of Harrenhal, now all they needed to do was to travel as far and fast as they could to get away from the Lannisters, luckily Arya could use her knowledge of the lords of the north and Riverlands to get them into the camp safely.
Riverlands:
Jaime and Brienne had stopped for the night. They had ridden down the river until they had to stop when they came closer to more bridges since they would risk being seen. It was also getting dark and so the two of them had stopped for the night. Brianne did not light a fire since there was a risk of the smock catching unwanted attention. Jaime did not seem pleased by this.
"I'm cold." He groaned
Brianne shook his head "Do you ever stop complaining? That's all you've done since we set off."
"You know as a highborn prisoner I do have rights you know." Jaime said
"You didn't seem to care that much when you were in a cell." Brianne stated "Highborn or not you are a prisoner and an enemy so you will be treated as such."
"And what happens when you deliver me to King's Landing, what then?" Jaime asked "Do you really think they would release Lady Stark's daughters? If you think so then you don't know my father or my sister or even my nephew that well."
"Your nephew or your son?" Brianne hissed "I heard the rumours, that was why Lord Stark was executed."
"I wasn't in King's Landing when all that happened so how can I say." Jaime replied "Besides if they don't release the Stark girls what then."
"Then I won't release you and I'll bring you back to the Starks." Brianne replied
Jaime couldn't help but laugh "Really and how would you do that? My father will send men after us, we'll never get away when they see us. You snuck me out in the middle of the night and when no one was expecting it. The moment my father's men find us then he will probably kill you when you don't release me and he will have more men. How can one woman stand up to a force of his men."
Brianne was about to replay only to hear a crunch. "Shhh." She ordered "We might not be alone here." She stood up and drew her sword and then watched as several men began to step out of the woods and they were carrying torches to light their face. They all wore leather clothing with blue tunics and their shields had a blue rose engraved on them. The leader wore armour that seemed to have been made from the skin of a bear since the helmet seemed to be a bear's head. He also had a thick ginger beard and a grizzled looked on his face.
"Is that him." The man said and he had a Lannister Scout with him.
"Yes sir." The Scout gasped fearfully "I recognised him when I was with the Lannister host at Riverrun. That's the Kingslayer."
"Good." The man said and then he slit his throat "Sorry but I can't have you letting the rest of you lot know what has happened. He then turned Jaime and Brianne "I am Yrsarald Thrice-Pierced, scouting commander for the Company of the Rose. You are in possession of an escape prisoner, I order you to surrender."
"I am Brianne of Tarth." Brianne stated "I am under orders from Lady Catelyn to escourt this prisoner to King's Landing."
"Unfortunately for you, Lady Catelyn's orders have been null and voided." Yrsarald replied "Lady Catelyn is now under heavy watch for her treason and the Kingslayer has been ordered to be captured. Now I know you were just obeying orders but they are committing treason. Hand over the Kingslayer and we will let you go."
"Or kill me just like you did with that Scout?" Brianne hissed
"That was necessary, the Lannisters are marching here and they don't know about us." Yrsarald replied "We can't risk our lord's plan being exposed. Don't make us harm you." Brianne kept her sword drawn making Yrsarald sigh "Fine then, take them."
The rest of the Company forces approached. Brianne and Jaime were trapped between them and the riverbank. There was no escape. Jaime looked at Brianne "Just surrender." He told her "Don't get yourself killed for nothing, even I can see that there's no escape here. Just surrender and hope for the best." Brianne sighed and dropped her sword.
Yrsarald's men then tied Brianne up and picked up the already chained Jaime "Now then, take them both back to base and we'll inform King Robb that we have the Kingslayer in our custody. That will please Lord Karstark and keep the tensions down."
With their prisons tied up, Yrsarald and his men picked both of them up and placed them on their horses before riding off into the night towards their camp.
Chapter End:
Notes: Well here's a new chapter of the Wolf Awakens. I have brought more things from the novel series here such as the upcoming Battle of the Fords, a major battle in the novels that was absent from the tv series. In the novels, Tywin tried to break through the Stark lines to return home and when that failed, he then retreated to King's Landing although similar to the show, the battle itself did impact Robb's plan since he had planned to draw the enemy further into their lands until Edmure accidentally interrupted that plan. Here I've brought that idea from the novels into the story which will be shown in the next chapter. The Tyrell forces will be used to help relieve the siege of King's Landing as Tywin marches into the Riverlands later than he actually does in the original novels.