New Plans:
It had been three months since the Battle of the Fords and the situation for the Starks had changed. On the plus side the Lannisters had been driven out of the Riverlands and the Starks and Tully's had been able to recapture Harrenhal thanks to the so Brave Companions having turned on the Lannisters and delivered the fort to the force led by Roose Bolton who had been placed in charge of the fort. Despite this, the situation outside of the Riverlands was not good. Stannis Baratheon's attack on King's Landing had failed and his force had taken heavy losses. This now meant that the entire remains of the Lannister force along with the entire Tyrell army were just a short march away at King's Landing. In the north, there was better news; the Ironborn had been driven from the Stark lands with minimal losses. Theon Greyjoy and his sister Yara were both currently held in the dungeons and were joined by Jaime Lannister who Robb had sent there following the Battle of the Fords.
The Starks had secured their border and driven the Lannisters out but all was not as well as it seemed. The War seemed to be entering a stalemate. The Starks couldn't make a move against the entire Lannister-Tyrell alliance and the alliance was unwilling to risk making a move after the disaster at the Fords. To make things worse, Robb had broken his betrothal to House Frey and married his lover, the healer Talisa. This act had angered many of Robb's Bannermen who while they disliked the Freys; they were not fond of Robb marrying an outsider and someone who brought them no worth to war effort. The Freys had returned home to the Twins leaving the Starks with fewer men now though still a threat. Now there had been another development, after being very ill for a long time, Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun had passed away and so Robb and his men had journeyed to Riverrun for the funeral.
The funeral was being done in the traditional Tully way. Lord Hoster's body was laid to rest on a wooded boat lined with straw and the body covered with a blanket stitched to look like the Tully Sigil, a trout jumping on a blue and red background. A sword and shield lay on top of the blanket. Robb and his great uncle Brynden gently pushed the boat away from the dock where all the Stark and Tully lords stood in silence paying their respects. The new lord Tully, Edmure stood with a bow in hand and he lit the end on fire using the brazier and aimed it at the boat as it flowed down the river. Everyone heard the loud plop noise as the arrow missed the boat. Edmure sighed and tried again and once again missed and then missed on the third time and the boat was getting further and further away.
Brynden Tully scoffed after the third miss and marches over pushing Edmure out of the way taking his bow and arrows before lighting the arrow. He looked at the flag blowing in the wind to see the wind speed and direction before firing the arrow. This time the arrow hit the straw and the boat lit up like a bonfire. Brynden shoved the bow back into Edmure's hand and went back to the crowd as they all watched the now flaming boat drift down the river and out of sight.
...
Later, Robb had gathered all of his important lords in Riverrun's great hall. This was technically the Great Hall for Lord Edmure Tully but it was currently being used as the main meeting room for Robb's campaign in the south and most of the lords had gathered here anyway. They were discussing the current situation.
"This war has begun to turn into a stalemate." Lord Rickard Karstark stated "As the Starks say Winter is Coming and now it has indeed arrived. We cannot remain down here for much longer."
"Lord Karstark is right." Commander Joseph Rostark added "Despite our victory at the Fords the Lannisters are still in a strong position. We are still vulnerable here, the Lannisters have more men than us and they still don't recognise our independence. Galmar recently reported that a force led by Lord Randyl Tarly has taken Maidenpool, they're a day's march away from Harrenhal. We still have a strong force there to hold the castle, they won't risk moving any further."
"But still, where does that lead us?" Robb asked "We all want to go home, I admit it but we cannot leave the Riverlands unsecured. The Tully's are still my family and we don't abandon family."
"Maybe we could come to an organised peace?" Lord Bracken suggested
Insult were hurled across the table until Robb called for calm "I already sent terms once and they were rejected." He stated "The Lannisters still have my oldest sister, we really need to focus on getting her back."
Tytos Hill spoke up "My spies in King's Landing have reported that the betrothal between Joffrey and Sansa is off now which is good but now it leave her a valuable pawn for both the Tyrells and Lannisters. The Lannisters have declared us traitors which means your title is forfeit in their eyes of course we do not recognise their authority but Sansa is a valuable prisoner. The Lannisters could marry her to one of their own and claim Winterfell even if Bran and Rickon are still alive."
"Then getting her back is top priority." Robb stated "But we cannot trade the Kingslayer for her. What else do we have."
"We have those Lannisters we caught at the Fords." Edmure offered "Wilhelm Lannister, Martyn Lannister."
Robb shook his head "Wilhelm and Martyn Lannister are 14 years old and are Tywin Lannisters nephews. He won't trade Sansa for them. If we want to win this war then we need to force the Lannisters to recognise our independence."
"The men are starting to get weary and discontent." Lord Umber stated "We can't wait here forever."
Robb looked at him "What can we do? Attack King's Landing like Stannis did? There's nothing that Tywin Lannister would like better, he would crush us within a day. When I gathered all of us together we had a purpose, a mission now that mission failed when my father was killed. Even with our victories in the Westerlands we are no closer to our objective."
Joseph looked at him "Then give them a new purpose. Give them hope for the cause." He offered
"Like what Commander Joseph?" Robb asked
"You're our king." Joseph stated "You won victories here, we serve to advise you but you have to make the decisions."
Robb looked at the map that had been rolled on the table. It had small pieces that represented the Lannisters, Starks and Tyrell forces. The Starks were gathered in the Riverlands while the Lannisters and Tyrells were in King's Landing. Robb looked at the map for a few moments and then realised something "Hang on, I can't force the Lannisters to attack us in the field, and I can't attack them where they are strongest. But I can attack them where they are not." He moved one of the Stark pieces to Casterly Rock where only one Lannister piece stood "And Casterly Rock can't run away, I'm going to take their home away from them. If we take Tywin Lannisters castle away from him, the lords of Westeros will realise that he's not invincible. Take him home, take his gold, take his power."
Joseph looked at Robb's plan and so did many lords. Umber seemed intrigued though Joseph was cautious "That is dangerous your Grace. No one has even actually managed to capture the Rock. We would need to take Lannisport first. And if reinforcements arrive from King's Landing before we take the castle, we will be caught between Tywin's force and the sea. We will be trapped. Plus we can't leave the Riverlands under defended. If we send too many men away from the Riverlands we will be vulnerable. Tywin could attack here again while we're attack his home."
"Do we even have enough men?" Karstark asked
"We have plenty." Robb stated "But gaining more men wouldn't hurt." he looked at the Twins "If we can gain Lord Frey's co-operation again, we will have more than enough."
"You broke your oath to him before." Lord Bracken stated "He won't be too happy."
"Let's see what they want first and then make the decision." Robb stated and then looked at Joseph "Have your scouts see how many men lie between us and Casterly Rock, we need to try and get to the Rock fast and quiet then we have more time to attack when we come." Then he looked at Tytos "And have your spies keep an eye on Sansa, we have to try and do this before anyone tries to have her marry. If she is married and then consummated, then we will have no way to get her back."
"Understood your Grace." Tytos replied.
"Now I think I want to spend some time with my family." Robb said as he concluded the meeting.
...
Outside in Riverrun's training ground; Catelyn Stark sat on a chair watching as her daughter Arya was spending time with her cousin Astrid. She did not like what she was seeing but felt like there wasn't much she could do. She had lost most of her influence because of her actions, Robb's relationship with her was shaky after she had released the Kingslayer but now he was being held at Winterfell. Her sworn sword Brianne had been returned but both were being closely monitored at all times by two soldiers from the Company of the rose, brothers Avulstein and Thorald Grey-Mane. Catelyn remembered just how happy she had been when Arya had returned.
Flashback:
Catelyn sat in her room at Riverrun. She had learnt that her son and the rest of the forces had gone to confront Tywin Lannisters force at the Red Fork. She was scared for her son's safety and also for her daughters. She wanted her daughters to come home and so she had released the Kingslayer which had angered many and had resulted in her being confined to her rooms and to make things worse, her father was very ill and he may not even live to see the end of the war.
She had soon learnt that the battle of the Fords had ended with a major victory for the Stark and Tully forces with Tywin's forces taking major losses including the infamous Mountain that Rides, Gregor Clegane. That was a major victory itself since he had been responsible for so much suffering in the Riverlands. On the downside, Robb had been wounded and was recovering. She had tried to see him but the healers had sent her away since he needed time. Then she heard a knock on the door and she opened it to see Commander Joseph Rostark standing outside "Lady Stark, mind if I have a word."
Catelyn had no idea what it was about but she decided that she needed to talk with someone "Sure, what is it?"
"Well, someone just arrived at Riverrun, a young girl and two boys all young but the girl is claiming that she's Arya Stark." Joseph stated and Catelyn perked up at that "King Robb is unavailable right now and we've never met Arya before, can you confirm that this is indeed Arya Stark and not an imposter."
Joseph stepped aside and allowed a girl in. She saw that the girl was dressed in boy's clothes and had her hair cut short like a boy's. She was scruffy and dirty but Catelyn recognised her face, it was indeed her daughter "Arya?"
"Mother." Arya cried and ran into her mother's arms "I'm back."
"Oh my little wolf, you're safe." Catelyn tried "I feared you were dead when we never had word about you. I had no idea what happened to you."
"I managed to escape the keep when the Lannister men tried to capture me." Arya explained "I had no idea what was going on." A few tears fell from her eyes "I saw them take father onto the stage, I watch them kill him. The Night's Watch recruiter Yoren helped me escape but I had to hide my identity. We would have come right here if we had not run into problems near Harrenhal. Some Lannister men were looking for my friend Gendry, I have no idea why. They killed Yoren and took us to Harrenhal where I eventually escape with help from my friends."
Catelyn just smiled, she finally had something to be happy about since she was able to see one of her daughters for the first time in nearly two years.
Flashback end:
Arya's return was probably the happiest thing for Catelyn ever since this war began but she was still worried about her remaining daughter Sansa who was still held in King's Landing. Catelyn had wanted to keep her remaining daughter close which was why Arya was remaining at Riverrun. The only problem was that this meant that she had been able to see the Company of the Rose and when Astrid returned, she had been the first one to try and see her although she had been confused on her looks and even when she had been told the truth that Astrid was her cousin not her half-sister, Arya had scoffed and said that it didn't matter and that she would always be her sister. What made it worse was that Arya was still her wild self and had decided that she would rather join the Company of the Rose and learn to fight, Catelyn didn't like that since she was technically meant to marry Walder Frey's youngest son even though it seemed that the betrothal was off after Robb's marriage to Talisa. Probably for the best as Arya would probably had just run off rather than marry.
Arya was learning a few fighting skills from Astrid, Catelyn watched as Arya was disarmed by Astrid.
"This seemed so much easier when I was being trained by Syrio Forrel." She sighed
"I know him." Astrid smiled "First swordsman to the Sealord of Braavos correct?"
"Correct." Arya replied "He taught me tricks on how to be stealthy and sneaky."
"Good skills but they'll only really work in a duel rather than a battle where you'll be facing more than one opponent." Astrid replied "What happened to him."
"He was killed when the Lannisters arrested father." Arya replied sadly "He stayed behind to hold off a couple of Lannister guards led by the Kingsguard Meryn Trant. Syrio had no armour or weapons just a wooden stick. He had no chance, I had to hide on the streets until Yoren got me out." She let out a big sigh "I miss father, and Jon, before we left for King's Landing he gave me a present, a small sword I called Needle, I lost that too when the Lannisters captured me. A scout named Polliver took it and killed my friend Lommy with it. I have no idea where he is now."
"Maybe fate one day will have you find him one day." Astrid said as she stroked her shoulder "But you must be careful, it is never wise to go on alone, that's a good way to get yourself killed if you rush into things or do think about a plan."
"But what about Sansa?" Arya asked "I may not get along with her but she is family?"
"Tytos is currently using his connections to figure out a way of trying to get her back." Astrid informed her "It may take some time but we will get her back and the whole family will be together again and the south will never threaten us again."
Arya smiled until she heard footsteps. She turned to see the Company commander Frorkmar Battle-torn approaching. "Lady Stark." He greeted looking at Catelyn "Lieutenant Astrid, The King wishes to speak with you all." He then looked at Arya "You should come too, Tytos had just received some news from his agents in King's Landing, it concerns Lady Sansa."
"What's happened?" Catelyn gasped with worry
"I don't know but Tytos says that it is not good." Frorkmar replied and all three of them quickly left the courtyard and went into the keep.
...
Astrid along with Arya and Catelyn soon arrived in the Great Hall of Riverrun where Robb was waiting for them with a look of fury upon his face, Talisa was rubbing his shoulders trying to calm him down. Joseph was there as well along with Tytos Hill. The two of them had a look of worry upon them. Brynden and Edmure Tully were also there.
"Robb, what's going on?" Catelyn asked noticing the look of his face.
Robb looked at Tytos and nodded "Tell them what you told me." He ordered
Tytos nodded "I've just had word in from my agents in King's Landing, it's not good news. It seems my worries were correct, the Lannisters had decided to have Sansa marry Tyrion Lannister."
"What!" Arya hissed "Why?"
"What gives them the right to my daughter!" Catelyn added
Tytos sighed "It seemed the Lannisters caught onto a plot by the Tyrells. Margaery and Olenna were thinking of marrying Sansa to Loras Tyrell. Margaery and Sansa have become good friends. The Lannisters caught onto the plan and that's why they decided they needed to secure Sansa's claim. With the Iron Throne declared Robb and his brothers as attainted, it means that Sansa is the key to the north. I suspect that Tywin is hoping to make the union between Tyrion and Sansa and the next bloodline of the north."
"I will never let the Lannisters have their claws on the north!" Robb hissed
"I agree." Astrid added "We need to get Sansa back."
"But how?" Catelyn sighed "King's Landing will be under tight security, they have the might of both the Lannisters and the Tyrell armies there. There is no way we can attack the city, not even with what we have."
"Lady Catelyn is right." Joseph agreed "Attacking King's Landing now will be suicide."
Astrid thought of an idea "What if we sent in an infiltration squad in." She suggested "a small group of our forces could sneak into King's Landing and rescue Sansa that way."
Robb looked at her "You want to go right into King's Landing?" he questioned "grab Sansa and get out, how can you do that?"
"It wouldn't be the first time the Company has sneaked into an inescapable location." Astrid replied "When Lya Stark, daughter of the King who knealt was imprisoned by Jonas Arryn after his coup, Mors Stark staged a daring rescue and managed to get people into the Eyrie and rescue her and the Eyrie is said to be impenetrable. If we can get into there, then we can get into King's Landing."
"Maybe even into the Red Keep itself." Arya suggested "When I was in King's Landing, I accidently discovered some underground tunnels that took me from the Hand's quarters out to the docks of King's Landing. Maybe we can use them to get into the Keep."
Joseph looked at her "Do you still remember the way?" he asked
Arya nodded "Yeah, I remember each turn though it is like a maze but I can get us to the Keep."
Catelyn looked at her remaining daughter "Arya no, I've only just got you back, I'm not going to lose you again."
"What about Sansa?" Arya shouted "I know me and her haven't always gotten along but I'm not leaving her to be married off like she's some kind of prize. We're getting her back."
"It could work." Joseph replied "I can get Trytas Wrought to use his contacts to secure us a ship into King's Landing. Then we can use Arya's tunnels to get into the Keep."
"And I know a contact in King's Landing who can help make security down but I will have to come to see her personally." Tytos stated
"Alright." Robb said "Who's going?"
"I will go Robb." Astrid said "You and some of the lords might be recognised, I can use the hair dye I sometimes use in order to hide my Targaryen features. Besides, I think this provides us with an opportunity."
"For what?" Brynden said
"To send a message." Astrid smirked "I think it's time that the Lannisters really knows that the North remembers and we mean business. Maybe we can send a message that we can hit them anywhere we want and we can force them to accept that we're independent."
"How many will you take with you?" Robb asked
"We can't keep it too big." Astrid replied "I'll take the Grey-Manes, I've worked with them in the past and they know how to infiltrate occupied places."
"I'll go and see if I can find a few recruits for this mission but I will let them know of the dangers." Joseph said
"One more thing, don't let Torrhen Karstark volunteer." Astrid warned "Lord Rickard is already bothered enough, we can't risk him getting even more dishearten with the cause. We can't afford to lose anymore lords, we're already in a dire enough situation as it is."
"Good point." Robb replied
Catelyn looked at Astrid "Hey, I know I have not been the nicest women or the best person to you but please promise me one thing. Promise me that you will bring my daughter back."
Astrid looked at her "I'm not doing this for you, don't think I've forgotten all the things you did to both me and Jon and that you drove Jon away from us when he joined the Night's Watch. But I will bring Sansa back home because even though she was like you in a lot of ways, she is still a Stark and part of this family and I'll be dammed if I allow the Lannisters to force her into a marriage to try and claim our lands!"
"You go and rescue Sansa and I'll make preparations into trying to bring the Frey's back into the fold." Robb said
Astrid looked at her "Be careful Robb, the Frey's have a history of disloyalty, don't let them try to push you around like before. Remember they are technically sworn to Edmure Tully and they have not helped out well in this war or the last. Don't put too much trust in them."
Robb sighed like he had not been listening causing Astrid to sigh in annoyance and then she left the room with Arya in tow along with Joseph as they went to find some recruit for their mission into the Lion's Den.
Chapter End:
Notes: Well, here's a new chapter and like I said in the last chapter, this one has skipped ahead a bit since there was no point in writing some of the events after the battle of the Fords since they were the same as the show, the Battle of Blackwater, Robb's marriage to Talisa and the death of Hoster Tully. Only the capture of Harrenhal is different from the show which here is more based of the books than the show, also Rickard Karstark is more loyal in this story since one of his sons Torrhen is still alive and the Kingslayer was recaptured although he is still annoyed with Robb marrying Talisa but with the Company of the Rose here, it gives the Starks more men and a stronger position although the war is now in a stalemate so Robb needs to try and force the Lannisters to sue for peace but with his sister still a prisoner, he needs to get her back and attacking Casterly Rock is the way he thinks will force the Lannisters to accept Northern independence. The next part of this story is one that I'm looking forward to and where this story will really begun drifting away from canon. The infiltration of King's Landing will probably be split across two chapters and I'm looking forward to writing a few scenes in that part. I'm going on a trip to York in a few days so I will not have much time to write but when I get back, I plan in writing a chapter on Mass Wars Episode II.