Chapter 15
Notes:
General Warning for cannon typical stuff.
Just a heads up I did not run Grammarly while writing this chapter, so there might me a few errors. Just trying to get this out between electrical storms.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
(Winterfell – Hotsprings)
Cersei leaned back in the steamy water a servant of House Stark using oils to get the last of the sap from her second dip in the pool before the heart tree from her hair. Across from her the spear-wielding Osha stood glaring, she was the only female guard in the keep so one of hers had called for her. It was almost humorous seeing the other woman in only small clothes with her spear presented in a threatening posture.
"She is quite intimidating, even without the leathers," Cersei remarked as she glanced over to where Sansa was treating Lady Dayne's hair with the same oils, "is it common to hire wildlings to guard your family's children?"
"Free Folk," the Stark daughter easily corrected, "and no it is not common. Osha came to Father of her own accord and is now the wife of our Guard Captain Jory." Sansa smirked and looked to Osha, "Now you really are a spear wife."
A smug look came to the woman, "You are right little she-wolf, and if what my husband says is true, a princeling has his eyes set on you."
Sansa reddened, "I know not what you speak of."
Ashara smirked, "She has been too busy trying to push her father and me back together to notice Aegon's eyes have lingered enough to draw the snarls of her three elder brothers."
This made Sansa pause in her actions, "I have not been trying to push Father and you back together, my lady."
"Haven't you?" Ashara's eyes turned to Cersei, "how very odd it was for Lady Lannister to know exactly what to say to convince me to consider participation in a renewal ceremony. I had not even thought to undertake one, they are less common among those of us practicing the old way in Dorne. Yet she knew the exact prodding to achieve that, yet we are no longer on friendly terms, and I highly doubt she has thought of me since word of my presumed demise."
Cersei smiled smugly, "It was a simple kindness to an old friend."
"Have we ever truly been friends Lady Cersei?" Ashara sighed before turning and taking Sansa's hands in hers, "Sweetling, you cannot force two people together, even those with a history like your father and me. Why would you think this wise, your father has not been separated from your mother for even a day."
Sansa sucked in a breath, "Father has been miserable for months, ever since he recovered from the fever when he had the vision. He doesn't think we know. We're children but we're not stupid. The way he has looked at us, his eyes have been full of sadness. There have only been a few times he truly looked happy. The day we got our wolves, he smiled for the first time in weeks. Then the day you and Edric arrived; it was like a great weight had lifted. He was no longer sad all the time."
Ashara frowned, she reached to the ledge and picked up the entwined pins, "Sansa, did you have the blacksmith do this?"
"No," Sansa's eyes widened as she looked at the symbol of her House bound to that of House Dayne, "I asked Lief to collect them from your chambers. She laid them in your hand before we left the godswood last night, they were still separate pins."
"Lief," Ashara thought of the Child of the Forest, "was she still in the woods after you left?"
Sansa shook her head, "She escorted me back to my chambers with Lady, then climbed into the rafters of my room. She has been guarding my chambers at night, though she would not say why."
Osha spoke up, "You are the Magnar's daughter, a tempting prize to many. Lady and Lief are your shield and dagger against any who'd try and steal you."
"Steal?" Cersei frowned, "to kidnap a Lord Paramount's daughter would be a swift way to find one's head removed from their shoulders."
Biting her lip Sansa looked to the Westerlander, "Stealing isn't just kidnapping, it would be comparable to the Iron Born concept of a salt wife. We downplay it a bit in this region of the North, but up near Last Hearth, it is spoken of only as the horrible practice it is, especially around Mors Umber. Free Folk, take girls and force them into being their wives."
"I was stolen from my family," Osha revealed, "my family lived along the Bay of Seals. When my father passed, a man from a neighboring settlement offered my brother a trade for my hand. I was still a child, and my brother would not consent. So, the man returned in the night and snatched me from my bed."
Sansa paled, "Didn't your brother try and retrieve you?"
"He might have tried but a storm of crows came from the Wall," Osha grimaced, "my husband's settlement had an understanding with the crows that my home settlement didn't. If my brother wasn't put to the sword with everyone else, he would have been forced to find a new settlement. If the White Walkers didn't find him first."
Cersei frowned, "You were married before?"
Sansa frowned, "A forced marriage, Beth overheard Osha and Jory talking about it one evening."
"Does my good cousin tell you all she hears little she-wolf," Osha smirked.
"I am her friend and the daughter of her liege lord," Sansa looked up proudly, "it is only right she brings her worries and concerns to me."
Osha frowned, "I worried her?"
"Until only recently we were raised with the thought Aunt Lyanna was mistreated, that Prince Rhaegar kidnapped and used her." Sansa noticed the way both Ashara and Cersei looked affronted by that, "Not from Father, he rarely if ever spoke of the Rebellion."
Ashara sighed, "That was not a good time for Ned."
"Not a good time for many of us," Cersei stood and walked over to Ashara and Sansa, she placed a hand on Sansa's cheek, "Little Dove, the world is a harsh place for women. You have the love of your brothers to shield you. You may have caught the eye of a handsome prince," she stroked her thumb along Sansa's cheek, "but it is that love from your brothers that will never waver. Remember that."
(Winterfell – Tywin's Chambers)
Sitting at his borrowed desk tending to his correspondence, the Lord of the Rock frowned as his maid set his breakfast on the desk. He looked to the young woman, "Bethaney how many times have I told you not to shy away from my sight."
"Pardon my lord," the girl turned to face him revealing the right side of her face was mishappen, a result of the cheekbone having been pulverized some years ago, "I was not meaning to offend, I was just in thought."
Tywin noticed the knife in the woman's sleeve, she worried the small lion-head pommel, "You saw him?"
"It was just in passing," Bethany bowed her head, "he wouldn't recognize me."
"No, I guess he wouldn't, would he," Tywin's eyes narrowed, "if you are uncomfortable being in the same place as His Grace, I will have a detail escort you home to the Rock. There is no shame in admitting that. The letters Jamie and Cersei sent along with you explained you were faultless, only doing your assigned tasks. His Grace tried to force himself on you, and when you tried to de-escalate the situation, he struck you in a drunken rage."
"I barely remember it, my lord," Bethany began setting out his breakfast from the tray and pouring a cup of tea, "The pain from His Grace hitting me, some flashes of candlelight, and the sound of a scuffle. I just remember waking up to Her Grace, um your daughter with the cup of moon tea. She said it was just a precaution, then she said there was a job at the Rock waiting for me once I was well enough to travel."
Tywin nodded; he often checked the young woman's account to see if she remembered anything more than that. Jamie had reported the girl had tried to dissuade Robert's advances, she was a rarity who did not covet Cersei's place and showed his daughter actual respect. It was no doubt this had sparked whatever minuscule amount of kindness his daughter had to send the girl to the Rock and not just cruelly dismiss her to the streets of Kings Landing. Where she'd have faced more cruelty and more than likely been long dead by now.
Instead, Cersei had created her most steadfast loyalist. Even with his daughter disgraced, Bethany would not allow an unkind word to be said about Cersei in her presence. She'd taken to caring for Myrcella and Tommen as their former maids and caretakers had been stripped from them with the revelation of their true origins. The girl was truly a creature of House Lannister, all thanks to the drunken rage of a poor excuse for a king.
A knock at the door drew his attention and the girl was swift to her duties to see who it was. Checking she looked back to him, "Ser Clegane and his squire."
"They are expected," Tywin waved her to let them in.
Sandor and Gendry entered, Sandor pausing to look at Bethaney who was trying to keep the marred side of her face from being seen, "Bah, don't hide your face from me," he indicated his burn scars, "think I care what people think or whisper about this?"
Bethaney bowed her head, "I'm a nobody ser."
"A nobody," Sandor chuckled as he indicated Gendry, "That's what this shit thought, had to fucking tell him his old man was the fucking king."
Tywin noticed Bethaney's good eye widen at that, "Gendry was conceived before Robert married Cersei, Bethaney, he also protected Myrcella and Tommen from the snake that bit Joffrey."
He noticed the way she relaxed at his words, she then turned to Gendry, "I thank you for protecting Myrcella and Tommen, I am sorry you weren't able to intercede before it got to Joffrey."
"So am I," Gendry rubbed the back of his head, "I thought they were my younger siblings at the time. Not that I wouldn't have done the same regardless."
Tywin sighed, "Bethaney, why don't you see to Myrcella and Tommen? I have business with these gentlemen that can't wait."
"Aye my lord," Bethany bowed her head to Tywin before exiting and pulling the door closed behind her.
Sandor huffed, "Why she got so bothered when I mentioned Gendry was Robert's?"
"Robert is to Bethaney as Gregor is to you, Hound," Tywin remarked, causing the scarred man to easily make the connection, "I'd advise Gendry to keep his wits around her, she is Cersei's creature as much as she is mine."
"Not that it will be much trouble, what with you sending us to trail after the little she-wolf," Sandor remarked, "any particular reasoning for that?"
"It is not yet official, but she will be betrothed to Prince Trystan Martell when she comes of age. Lord Stark is all for giving his children a choice in these things, but the alternate proposal for his half-sister to wed Prince Oberyn was doomed to failure." Tywin motioned for them to both sit as he began eating, "You'll also be my eyes and ears in Dorne, at least until I can arrange something more binding. Those Sand Snakes slither about Lord Stark's daughters like a pit viper ready to strike any who come near."
Gendry frowned, "They're cousins to both Aegon and Trystan, just keeping anyone else from getting too close to their cousins' potential brides."
"It seems there's more between those ears than smithy talent," Tywin smirked at Gendry, "your sweet sister's doing I'd wager. I have noticed Mya keeps herself out of sight."
"She's fearful, afraid Lady Cersei will still send cutthroats after her," Gendry shrugged, "never had that problem myself."
Tywin nodded, "Your Uncle Renly handled that years ago when he and Varys took you from your mother and delivered you to Master Mott. A dead street urchin was collected from the silent sisters and presented with your mother's body to my daughter. With that, any direct trail to you was erased, but Varys used his knowledge of you to point Stannis and Jon Arryn in the right direction."
Sandor shifted uncomfortably, "What else do you need us to do?"
"From Gendry, only to continue acting as your squire until you decide to knight him, then he can seek service from his cousin Aegon or one of his uncles. As for you Sandor," Tywin picked up a missive, "Your good sister writes that you are an uncle."
Sandor's good eye widened, "Well fuck, guess the whelp gets the keep and the lands then."
"No," Tywin smirked as the man across from him grumbled, "I had already set aside your brother's line, the babe is a Hill unless you petition the crown to reinstate the child to the line of succession behind any child of yours."
Tywin noticed Gendry fighting back a laugh at Sandor's behavior. The burned man glared at the boy, "You think this is funny lad, do you see me being any good at all that lordly shite?"
"Of course, my lord," Gendry sniggered.
"Don't think I won't take you to task in the yard just because it was the king who squirted you into your mother's belly," Sandor growled.
Gendry snorted, "Father isn't exactly one to go easy on me, I'd expect nothing less from you ser."
Tywin smirked as he acknowledged he was right to send Sandor to collect the boy. In the vision, they died here in Winterfell along with Jamie and Tyrion and so many others. Gendry would have actual training along with skills to prepare for the battles to come, and Sandor would hopefully be a tad less pessimistic when standing against the hordes of dead, and willing to stand in the face of dragon fire.
(Winterfell – Training Yard)
Edric hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop next to his brother/cousin Jon. An audible wince from the assembled crowd observing the match did not equate to the amount of pain they were both in. Jon groaned as he reached for his training sword, "He said this was over once one of us landed a blow."
"I think he was overestimating our talents," Edric sucked in air to his burning lungs, "remind me never to anger Father again."
"I think your safe," Jon coughed, "Starfall is about a four-month journey, think his anger would dissipate before he got there."
Edric frowned, "You forget your both going to King's Landing, that's a five-day boat ride, a full week in bad weather."
"Right," Jon gripped the training sword.
Eddard huffed, "Enough whimpering pups, back on your feet."
"Father," Robb called from the fence, "I think they've had enough."
Edric saw Eddard look to the eldest, "You want to join them, son?"
Robb paled but slipped off the fence and stalked to the rack of training swords before moving to stand between his father and brothers. Within moments Robb was laying on his back between his brothers who had managed to get back to their knees, "Did I hit him?"
"I think you just made him angrier," Jon mused, "I haven't felt this overwhelmed since we were six and Ser Rodrik took us to task."
Robb snorted, "Think Ser Rodrik was going easy on us."
"I say we rush him," Edric grits his teeth, "he can't take three of us at once."
Wincing Robb sat up, "I'll take the lead, Jon circles to the left, Edric to the right."
Edric followed Robb's plan, regaining his feet, and moving to the right of his father. Lord Stark readied the training great sword, "Finally going to act like a pack of wolves are you."
"When the cold wind blows," Robb began.
Jon picked up, "The lone wolf dies."
Following the example Edric picked up the last line, "But the pack survives."
As one they struck, but Edric immediately realized their mistake, as did his brothers. Robb had gone for a downward vertical slash while Edric and Jon had gone for horizontal slashes aiming at Lord Stark's chest. They had forgotten the man they faced was a veteran of numerous battles. In an instant, Eddard shifted his stance to catch the three blades on the flat of his great sword before binding the blades. Then with a turn and lift he successfully threw the three of them over his shoulder. They landed in a tangle of limbs hard on the ground.
"I'm impressed," their father chuckled, "I wondered how long it would take you to try and work as one."
Jon groaned again, "I yield Father."
"That was an option?" Edric moaned.
Eddard shook his head, "Go get cleaned up. Let this be a lesson." Tossing his training sword to a guard, Eddard left the yard.
"That is the last time I try helping you two like that," Robb pushed Edric up so he could sit up himself.
Approaching footsteps revealed Sansa and Margaery. Sansa smiled tightly to her brothers, "I'm sorry Jon, Edric, I shouldn't have dragged you two into my foolishness."
"What about me?" Robb looked at his sister.
It was his wife who responded, "You got yourself into this husband."
"Did anyone catch how he did that?" Jon sighed, "I've never seen anyone hurl three people at once like that."
"You weren't around the Eyrie twenty years ago," They all looked to see Robert approach, "Though back then it was just me and Deny getting tossed about like that. Ole Ned didn't like showing off in the yard, had to get him good and riled up before he'd agree to a spar. Learned quickly he'd spend all his time not training with us but observing our techniques. He knew how we fought, knew how we thought, he could fucking predict what either of us would do and turn the tables on us so quick we were left with our damn heads spinning."
Sansa noticed Oberyn approaching with his head shaking, "A fine attempt lads, but in the future coordinate your moves better, you put yourselves right where your opponent wanted you."
Robb glared at the Dornish prince, "Where? On the ground?"
"Perhaps, but I was referring to your strikes" Oberyn crossed his arms, "You all targeted Lord Stark's chest, you must decide without words which of you will aim there while the others aim for his legs, his back, arms or head, anywhere that makes it difficult to defend from three directions at once."
Jon frowned, "How do you suggest we do that without words?"
"That is up to you," Oberyn smirked, "I am a viper after all I do not fight in a pack like you wolf pups."
A snort came from Robb, "I would like to see you face Father."
"Never," Oberyn chuckled, "I know two things in this world. One is where to find the best pleasure houses in all of Essos, the second, never cross blades with your Lord Father any man who could bring Arthur Dayne to the Stranger's door is no novice with the blade."
Edric frowned, "But Father didn't kill Uncle Arthur." All eyes went to him, at the expression of the king he swallowed, "He is dead, but Fa…My uncle told me Father was wounded by Uncle Arthur, they were both badly wounded in their fight."
Jon looked to where Lord Reed was watching them, "Lord Reed killed him?"
"Wounded him gravely," Edric corrected, "when they returned Dawn they also brought Arthur back with them. He died at Starfall several days later."
Oberyn blinked, "We were told he was buried at the tower with the other combatants."
"Uncle didn't want anyone to know," Edric bowed his head, "Father agreed to the story that Uncle Arthur died at the tower with the others and was buried there. Men were sent to build another cairn in case anyone ever checked."
Robb sighed, "What happened to Arthur's body?"
Edric looked to the Winterfell crypt entrance, "He failed to protect both Elia and Lyanna in life, so he would protect them both in death."
Robert huffed, "Not possible, Elia was buried next to Rhaegar at the Great Sept in King's Landing."
"No, she wasn't," Oberyn looked to Robert, "Jon Arryn informed us both Rheagar and Elia's remains along with those of her children had been lost. The caskets with their bones had mysteriously vanished."
Robb leaped up with his brothers quickly at his heels and made for the crypt. He followed the well-worn path to his grandfather, uncle, and aunt's tombs. Halting before the three statues, "Jon," he looked to his brother, "Measure out the distance from Grandfather's statue to Aunt Lyanna's."
Jon walked the distance, "They are the same distance as that of Cregan's."
"He's buried with his sister Sarah Snow at his side along with his wife," Robb noted to those not of their family, "These crypts are set for multiple internments."
The taps of a walking stick drew their attention, the stick turned out to be a trident as Howland Reed made his way to the group, "Ned does not know."
Oberyn frowned, "How is it Lord Stark does not know my sister and her family are interred with his family?"
"Because Lord Stark was grieving the losses and tending to the living," Howland mused, "Lord Varys came to me while we were awaiting transport back to the North following Your Grace's wedding ceremony. He had Prince Rhaegar, Princess Elia, and Princess Rhaenys caskets. He said it was only right they all be together in their final resting place."
"He didn't give you the casket of the presumed Aegon?" Oberyn asked.
Howland shook his head, "No, he would not comment on the omission, and I was too tired to contemplate it toughly, I simply assumed he'd had what was left of the babe interred with Rhaenys or Elia."
Robert sighed, "Why were the missing bodies never brought to my attention Selmy?"
The ever-present kingsguard bowed his head, "It was presumed you would not care what had become of them. To appease the populace empty caskets were displayed and interned in King's Landing."
"Gods," Robert looked to the three still battle-worn boys before looking to Howland, "Does he at least know Ser Dayne is down here?"
Howland nodded, "He does, we tried to leave his casket to be buried with the other kingsguard other than Prince Lewyn whose bones were sent to Sunspear as a peace offering. Jon Arryn refused, saying Ser Arthur was attainted officially as he presumably had some hand in Lady Lyanna's kidnapping and subsequent death."
Jon approached the statue of his mother, "I'll have to tell Aegon."
"Aegon?" Oberyn grimaced, "I have to tell Doran, he's already contemplating sending my daughters after Varys. For this, he'll go after him himself."
Robert groused, "Guess I got the short straw, I'll tell Ned. We'll have to decide whether we disturb the tombs and removed them or arrange proper markers for them." He turned back to Howland, "Why did you never tell him?"
"Tell me what?" Everyone froze when Eddard walked around the corner from another passage in the crypts, "I'm wondering why one of my men came to tell me my sons and daughter and good daughter led the King and Prince Oberyn into the crypts."
Robert gapped like a fish, glancing towards Howland, but paled when he noticed the Crannogman had vanished. "How the blood hells did he do that," Robert turned back to Eddard, "it seems there was a mix-up following the rebellion. Seems someone took it upon themselves to have more caskets sent North than necessary."
Eddard frowned, "What do you mean?"
"It appears that," Robert blindly reached out and caught Jon's should and pushed the boy between him and Ned, "It seems that Lord Varys thought it best if Jon was not so far from his family."
"Lord Varys?" Eddard stepped closer reaching out and pulling Jon away from Robert and pushing him back towards his siblings, "What exactly did the Spider do, Your Grace?"
Rolling his eyes Selmy huffed, "You two behave like children." He took a step between his king and Lord Stark, "It seems Varys took it upon himself to send the caskets of Prince Rhaegar, Princess Elia, and Princess Rhaenys to be interred along with Lady Lyanna and Ser Arthur here in Winterfell."
"He did what?" Eddard roared.
(Winterfell – Doran's chambers)
Doran glared at his brother, "That was what set the dire wolves to howling?"
"More than likely," Obery sat with a cup of wine in his hand, "Lord Stark was quite furious, he informed Robert to start looking for a new Master of Whispers because Lord Varys will not be surviving their next meeting."
Doran smirked, "I'll put your name forward dear brother."
"No need," Obery chuckled, "Robert said the job was mine if I wanted it." Oberyn sighed, "Still leaves the question, what do we do about the tombs? It is not as if we can ask Lord Stark to disturb the resting places of his father, brother, and sister just to retrieve the remains of Elia and Rhaenys. Rhaegar at least is buried with one of his wives."
"You said when you saw Rhaenys found peace she was greeted by Lyanna, Brandon, and Lord Rickard," Doran mused, "perhaps that was them telling us she is accepted where she lays. Her bones with those of Elia secured beside the other victims of Aerys madness."
Oberyn snorted, "If that were all it took to be buried at Winterfell, they'd need a new undercroft."
"True," Doran nodded, "but we have caused Lord Eddard enough misery for one lifetime."
Oberyn nodded, "You were rather harsh with Lady Catelyn, brother, even I was pitying her, and it was my daughters she insulted with her ridiculous orders to keep them from interacting with her children."
"I agree," Doran looked downward, "I did not mean for things to get so," he paused looking back to his brother, "heated. I merely wanted her to recognize the harm her actions could cause. Have you learned who told Daenerys of her transgressions against Jon?"
A smile graced Oberyn's face, "I would be a poor Master of Whispers if I could not figure that out. It was the Poole girl, Jeyne is her name, daughter of the Castellion of Winterfell. She is friends with Lady Sansa and from gossip around the keep she has long held an infatuation with Jon Snow. She learned of the incident from a laundry maid who witnessed it firsthand. Lady Stark realized her mistake in striking her husband's son, especially as Lord Stark had been vocal in his stance that Jon was his blood. She had the washerwoman dismissed, along with three other staff members who were working in that part of the keep at the time."
Doran raised a brow, "Can any of them corroborate the stories?"
"If they were in Winterfell or the North," Oberyn shook his head, "they were Riverlanders, Catelyn had them sent back to Riverrun. From other gossips Lady Stark had begun dismissing many of her staff she'd brought from the Riverlands around that time save for those closest to her. The washerwoman just happened to be from the North, but since she had no home to return to, she ended up working at the alehouse in Wintertown." At his brother's look, Oberyn sighed, "As a barmaid not a lady of leisure. She tends to guests' laundry and such, if she weren't so loyal to her Stark overlords, I'd coax her to Sunspear, she got this wine stain out of my pants that even I hadn't noticed."
The Prince of Dorne sighed, "Anything else of import you have learned?"
"I have been contemplating Tywin's plots, he has handed us his daughter and grandson on a silver platter, though we dare not infringe on guest's rights while here." Oberyn sipped his wine, "Especially after that mummer's act you orchestrated yesterday. Does Ashara know the reason you requested the inquest?"
"Of course not," Doran leaned back in his seat, "I would not implicate her in such things. Though I had hoped to clear her path to take her place at Lord Stark's side, I did not expect it to work so swiftly. I take it we have this Jeyne to thank for that. I believe the physical attack on his nephew's person was the deciding factor yesterday."
A giggle from the side of the room drew both men's attention. Arianne lounged on a couch with a goblet in hand, "I'll extend your thanks at our next sewing circle Father, though I doubt she will be as happy as you at the development."
"Doubtless," Doran smiled at his daughter, "how did you coax such a gem from the girl into Daenerys ear?"
"It was not easy," Arianne sighed, "it was thankful my dear cousins have kept Arya busy, and Sansa had been so wrapped up in handling the duties of her lady mother. Once I learned of the event, it was just a matter of using the right probing questions at the right time and place."
Doran nodded, "What of Arya, will she be able to handle the duties of a Princess of Dorne as she matures?"
"Given time and proper tutoring, managing the lessons in such a way that she feels she decides to do so will be of utmost importance," Arianne frowned, "are you serious about passing over Quentyn?"
Doran nodded, "Your mother tells me he is too much of a Yronwood creature, easily swayed by their ambitions. I had high hopes for him while plotting to have you wed Viserys and become his queen. Now that that is a moot point and your cousin Aegon is poised to reclaim his position, we have new moves to make."
"Will you try and have Quentyn betrothed to Daenerys?" Oberyn asked, "She is quite naïve, I doubt she even realized the results of her actions yesterday. If she'd brought the matter up in a less public location, I doubt the blow would have been as devastating as it was."
"Give the girl credit dearest brother," Doran chuckled, "She may look fragile and innocent, but she is still the blood of House Targaryen. Behind those soft guileless eyes, I do believe a sharp intellect lurks. I for one think she knew exactly what she was doing, and had Tywin not had his plots, she'd have been the one to second my request for an inquest."
(Tyrell Chambers)
Mace sat reading reports from his minor lords who'd not made the trip to Winterfell for the union of his daughter and Lord Stark's heir. It would not serve if the entirety of the nobility had departed the Reach, and his plans for the coming winter had to keep pace. Food production and processing into preserved states have tripled since last year. He needed that rate to at least double again if they were going to maintain a steady stream of supplies to the other kingdoms.
"Father," Mace looked to where Wilas sat staring at a cup of spiced mead, "have you given any thought to Prince Doran's proposal?"
Mace nodded, "It is a good match, you and Arianne, you are of age with each other, and while not well known to one another you have mutual acquaintances. You also have the benefit of cordial relations with many of her closest kin. It would also please your grandmother as it positions you close to the crown when the time comes."
"You are thinking about the throne?" Wilas frowned, "I thought you put those ambitions aside."
"Aside but far from forgotten," Mace smirked, "I am confident we will throw back the Others if not outright extinguish whatever constitutes a soul for such vile creatures. I know many refer to me as Lord Oaf or other disparaging names, I'll show them."
Wilas smiled, "Assisting Prince Doran yesterday, that was all part of your plan?"
"Indeed," Mace nodded, "ingratiate ourselves with the Martells, let them think we are eager to follow their lead. When the war is over and the madness of these fiends has been ended, then we will be poised to make our moves."
"A Stark, Martell, and Tyrell alliance backing the Targaryen king," Wilas mused, "We are the three kingdoms with the largest armies, the others would not be able to pose a threat."
"True," Mace looked seriously at his son, "Tywin will also have expended his resources, if what my informants tell me about the Westerlands gold mines is true. He has done well to hide the fact they are running dry, it is said the mines at the Rock have been depleted for years. For this reason, Tywin will not be able to supplement his armies with sellswords."
"For now, we must focus on the matters at hand," Wilas confirmed, his Father nodded in response, "So, what shall we do?"
Mace smirked, "Give Arianne time to settle things in Dorne, she will need to ensure Lord Stark's daughter is properly seen to and is set on the path to prepare her to be a Prince of Dorne's wife, and mother to the future Prince of Dorne. When all is ready, I expect you to take Arianne as your wife, bed her, and put a son in her belly. Preferably before our foes reach the Wall."
In the corner, Olena sat brooding with a goblet of Arbor Gold. She had already put forward to match Wilas with Princess Daenerys, but it had been shot down. Daenerys had been officially placed under the custodianship of Lord Eddard Stark by the decree of her eldest male relative. Whether that was Brynden Rivers, Aemon Targaryen, or Robert Baratheon was not clear though Robert had declared it at the meeting.
Eddard had stated the princess would not be sold like chattel under his watch, and she would be treated as was expected from a person of her station. Daenerys would be returning to King's Landing with Lord Stark and reside in the Tower of the Hand with his household for the time being. Aegon agreed with this arrangement, as he felt his aunt was safest with the one rebel lord who denounced the butchery of his mother and sister.
"There is another matter Father," Wilas frowned, "what is to be done with the prisoners? Cersei and Jamie Lannister and Jon Connington."
Mace raised a brow, "Ser Jamie has already made his intentions clear; he will take the black and return to the Wall. We have yet to discuss Connington, the man is a Stormlord and by rights should be left to Renly to deal with, though the king has taken some interest in the case. I would think the Wall, but we both know Robert is a creature of passion."
Olena huffed, "Connington killed a friend of the king and Lord Stark during the war. Denys Arryn was Lord Arryn's heir after his cousin Elbert was murdered along with those who accompanied Brandon Stark to the capital."
Wilas nodded to his grandmother, "Many know of this it was why Lady Lysa Tully was wed to Lord Arryn after the battle."
"Along with her sister wedding Lord Stark," Olena sneered, "Holster was an ambitious man." She took a sip of her wine, "What only a few know is that Jon Connington should not have won his bout with young Denys. The boy had him bested and was about to take him as a prisoner. Supposedly Connington picked up a jagged piece of wood from the ground and slammed it into Denys groin, the boy was already going to be with the Stranger when Connington then picked up a woodsman's axe from a nearby cart and split his head with it."
Grimacing at the description of the death Wilas looked to his cup, "Why such violence, Denys Arryn was not even a commander?"
"Denys was already wed and had a son," Olena took a sip of her wine, "who else might have benefited from the young man's death?"
Mace and his son shared a look before turning back to Olena, "You are suggesting that Holster Tully had Denys Arryn murdered to open the way for his daughter to wed Lord Arryn?"
Olena smirked, "Wouldn't you if family and duty were considered more important than one's honor."
"It does no good to speculate like this," Mace snorted and went back to his reports, "The only ones who would know for sure are either unable to comment or untrustworthy."
(Robert's Solar)
Robert Baratheon glared at Mychel Redfort. The young Valeman stood at attention in little more than his small clothes. Standing beside a fuming Aegon was a teary-eyed Mya, Daenerys was at the girl's other side a protective arm at her back and a gentle hand gripping her arm.
"What in the names of all the gods were you doing?" Robert spat out, he motioned to the guards flanking Mychel to release their hold on him, "I'm putting out fires left and right, and then Aegon comes dragging you and my daughter in with little more on than what you were born in."
Aegon snarled, "I went to invite Mychel to hunt with some of us, with us departing in a few days I thought it wise." Aegon pulled a parchment from his sleeve, "I saw him reading this, he dropped it before rushing off. When I picked it up, I noticed it was from his Lord Father."
Robert took the parchment from his cousin and read it. His eyes narrowed with each word, "This is the notice of a pending betrothal." Robert started to go red, "You sought out my Mya to try and upset a betrothal your parents had arranged?"
"When you say it like that Your Grace," Mychel began, "you make it sound crass." He glanced towards Mya, but Aegon's hand going for his sword made him return his gaze to the king, "I have loved Mya, we have been in love since I first saw her at Runestone."
"Love is the death of duty, your grace," Selmy said from his place beside the king.
Robert snorted, "Aye, don't I know it." Robert looked at the young man, "You are still a squire, correct?"
"Yes, Your Grace, to Ser Lyn Corbray," Mychel stated, "he arrived a few days after us with other knights of the Vale."
Robert tossed the parchment on his desk, "I want you out of Winterfell by this time tomorrow. Tell your knight whatever you must but leave Mya's name out of it. Return to Runestone, inform Lord Royce about this affair, beg him for his mercy, and tell him you'll marry his daughter as planned."
Mychel bowed his head, "What of Mya?"
"She is no concern of yours Redfort," Robert grits out, "and you are lucky I am in a good enough mood to listen to her claim your tryst was consensual. Otherwise, you'd be halfway to the Wall by now." He pointed to the door, "Now get out of my sight."
Once the squire was out of the room, Aegon stepped forward, "My apologies Your Grace, it took time for me to find them, even with Quentyn, Edric, and Jon helping. Had Gendry not stumbled on them."
Robert waved his apology off, "It was not your fault, and what is done is done." The King looked to Mya, "Mya, was this your first time?"
Mya nodded shortly; her tears were more of embarrassment than anything else. Gendry had been helping at the stables when he found her and Mychel in the loft. His shout of outrage had drawn the attention of Aegon and the others searching. It had been a furious Aegon who had revealed that Mychel was betrothed to Ysilla Royce.
"You were too merciful, cousin," Aegon said with his head bowed, "no matter her station, Mya is our kin, she should not have been mistreated in such a way."
"Mya is an adult, and though she is my daughter, officially she is not acknowledged as such." Robert sighed, "Believe me Aegon, I am furious and would take my warhammer to that little shit if I could. Legally speaking, as long as it was consensual my hands are tied by the laws of the land."
Aegon nodded, "I understand, but he took her maidenhead, he knew exactly what he was doing. He hadn't even told her his parents had arranged a betrothal."
"My prince," Selmy spoke up, "it might not be right, but the laws have never been fair."
Robert frowned, "Aegon, why are you so bothered by this? Mya is nothing to you."
"She is your daughter," Aegon spat, "she is my cousin, and I have precious little family left to discard one or two over a simple matter of birth."
Robert's eyes widened, "You were planning for me to legitimize her?"
"If not you," Aegon straightened his tunic, "I would have. Your house is down to your childless youngest brother Lord Renly, your second brother Lord Stannis with his daughter, and yourself with only three surviving illegitimate children."
Robert sighed, "Mya Stone, Gendry Waters, and Edric Storm. You would have me legitimize them to secure my house?"
"I would," Aegon frowned, "even with my uncles confirming the legitimate status of Jon's birth, I will be affirming it before the court. He is my brother and had things gone to our parents' plans, we'd have never known otherwise. Uncle Doran told me about these surrogacy practices in Dorne, he believed Mother would have taken the place of Lady Lyanna in regard to Jon, allowing her to remain in Dorne."
Robert glared, "Where your Uncle Oberyn could charm her into his bed?"
Aegon scratched the back of his head, "I am not sure of that Your Grace, but I believe Oberyn when he says his affections for Lady Lyanna were not merely of a carnal nature. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame."
"Ah," Robert nodded, "I know the feeling, she did burn brightly. I feel those of us caught in her light were like those moths, if we had gotten any closer, we'd have burned."
Both turned as Daenerys helped Mya to sit and was saying soothing words. Selmy sighed, "Your Grace, there is the matter if Mya Stone gets with child. It is best for the Vale and the Seven Kingdoms if the union of House Royce and House Redfort is not marred with this unpleasantness."
"I've already called for moon tea," Daenerys said, "If you have no further need for us, I'll help Mya get cleaned up and see to it."
Robert nodded, "Look after her, I will make a final decision on the matter by the time we leave."
(Tully Chambers)
Catelyn sat before the little table with her brother's set of the Seven. She was just finishing her prayers when there was a knock at the door. Frowning she looked to the door, "Enter."
One of her brother's men, she would have to relearn all their names, entered with a bow, "Milady, Jon Sn…Targaryen is here."
She heard a groan from beyond the door, "It's okay to say Snow, technically still my name."
The guard rubbed the back of his head, "Um, the…"
Catelyn raised a hand to halt the man, "My nephew is here to speak with me. Let him enter."
The guard nodded before exiting the room. A moment later Jon entered, and the door was shut behind him. Jon stood at attention just within the door, she frowned at a shadow of a bruise along his jaw, "What happened?"
Jon's hand went to his jaw, "Oh, nothing, a training accident. I think Robb's knee caught me there after Father hurled us and Edric over his shoulder."
"You were sparring with Ned," Catelyn frowned, "he has always used restraint when testing how well you've taken to your lessons."
A grim chuckle came from Jon, "Father was not in the mood for using restraint this morning."
"I see," Catelyn moved to a chair in the room and sat, motioning to another, which Jon sat in, "How have Robb and the others taken the news."
"I haven't spoken of it with Robb, we discovered something shortly after sparring with Father and he's spent the rest of the day seeking answers." Jon mused, "Sansa, she's been as she has the past weeks, I tend to just follow directions, kind of why Father was not in a good mood this morning. Arya, Bran, and Rickon are a bit lost and confused."
Jon's assessments did little to assuage Catelyn's concerns, "What is Robb seeking answers for?"
"It seems Lord Reed was commissioned by Lord Varys to smuggle the remains of my birth father, Princess Elia, and my half-sister to Winterfell. They were interred with Ser Arthur Dayne in the tombs of Grandfather, Uncle Brandon, and my mother. In particular, Robb is trying to figure out who was buried in each crypt."
Catelyn frowned, "I vaguely remember a second casket brought with the remains of Lady Lyanna. I assumed it was the remains of the stillborn child rumors claimed she'd born. I asked Ned about it, wondering if it were Lord Dustin or perhaps Martyn Cassel's remains. Ned only said it was not something for me to worry about."
"It was Ser Arthur," Jon confirmed, "supposedly he felt he had failed Princess Elia and my mother, as they had both died. He wanted to be interred with them to protect them in the next life. It was Edric revealing that, and Oberyn informing us that Elia and Rhaenys remains vanished that made Robb realize something we'd always wondered. Why weren't Grandfather, Uncle Brandon, and my mother interred in the same tomb with Grandmother? Uncle Brandon was never Lord of Winterfell, but both he and my mother were given individual tombs."
Catelyn gasped, "They were never given proper rights."
"Not by your faith, but in Father's they've been seen to, even if we didn't know it." Jon mused, "I've been the one cleaning their resting places since I was big enough to see over the pedestals for the statues."
Shaking her head Catelyn sighed, "I doubt this is why you have come to see me."
Jon bowed his head, "We are departing in a few days, and I do not know if our paths will cross again. I wanted to make peace with you before then."
"I see," Catelyn nodded, "I know it was not you who told Daenerys about that unfortunate incident. Had you held a grudge over that time, you'd have told Ned long ago. There have been many chances for you to wound me with that information, but your love for Robb, Sansa, and the little ones has always stayed you from acting."
"I was afraid of how Father would react; I remembered the look on his face when you told him to send me away when I was four. You suggested several bannermen and even suggested I go with Uncle Benjen to the Wall when he left."
Catelyn's lips thinned as she remembered the morning after the Wandering Crow had almost assaulted Jon. She'd never thought a man following the vows of the Night's Watch would threaten a child, but she'd been present when Ned had questioned the beast of a man. He'd apologized, stating he'd have not dreamed of doing anything if he'd realized the boy was Lord Stark's son. She did not fight Ned's orders to return Jon to staying with Robb, and after that, she'd almost subconsciously taken to keeping the boy close whenever Black Brothers were within Winterfell.
Jon must have taken notice of her expression, "I've been asking around, but nobody has admitted to being the one to tell Daenerys about it, and she would not tell Aegon or me who it was. Old Nan said she keeps House Stark's secrets; she isn't one to gossip. Most of the servants also were unaware of it even happening, though I vaguely remember a maid being nearby."
Catelyn smiled tightly before reaching her hand out and resting it on his cheek, mindful of the bruise, "Jon, what is done is done, do not let what has happened sour your relationship with your paternal aunt. I doubt either she or the one who informed her knew the extent of the damage such a secret could inflict. They were not the ones who set these things into motion."
"I stood aside and did nothing," Jon said sadly, "I should have spoken up when Prince Doran called for the inquest. Father and Lord Edmure tried to dissuade it, but they were overruled by His Grace after Lord Tywin seconded the request."
Catelyn blinked in surprise, "Ned tried to stop the inquest?"
Jon nodded, "He said it was a matter of House Stark and we would deal with it as was right. Prince Doran insisted it was necessary, and the King agreed, he'd heard you'd wanted us to keep away from the Sands, Waters, and Mya Stone."
Standing Catelyn stepped closer to Jon and placed her other hand on the side of his face, "I am sorry Jon, for all the hate and vitriol I have hurled at you over the years. You have truly been an earnest young man, and I regret I could not be the mother you needed. I have shamed myself; I have allowed my prejudices to blind me to the truth. For every kindness to your siblings, I saw it as a scheme to take what was rightfully theirs."
"All I ever wanted was to be their brother," Jon's voice had dropped to nearly a whisper, "to fill the emptiness I felt, to help with the gnawing feeling that something was missing."
Catelyn felt a tear prick at the corner of her eye, "Winterfell may be where you have lived, but it was never a home, I wouldn't allow it. You were a child, and I could not see past my worries and doubts, I let the words of others from eras past dictate my actions. Even if you were a Snow, it does not mean you would become liken to a Blackfyre." A watery smile appeared on her face, "I should have thought of my husband's house. Torrhen had Brandon Snow his brother and most loyal retainer who offered to try the impossible and left Westeros only because his brother knelt instead of fighting a futile battle."
She saw in the look in Jon's eye that told her he knew more of that tale. Some of the details she knew were that Torrhen had sent Brandon and the others to Essos, to prepare for a day when the North could throw off the Targaryen overlords. To await the end of the dragons, though like most things times change, and with it friends and foes change. A generation ago it would be unheard of for a daughter of the Reach to marry into a Northern House. Though Jorah Mormont's marriage was a disaster from the start, she saw Robb and Margaery becoming something rarely seen, happy.
With a sigh, Catelyn tilted Jon's head up forcing him to look her in the eye, "Watch over Sansa and Bran in the capital, Bran will be a page in service to the same knight as you. Do as is your nature and watch over him and help him when he stumbles. Protect your sister, let no one mistreat her, even that brother by blood of yours the Crown Prince."
"I am sure Lady will be capable of protecting Sansa's virtue, but I'll have Ghost help," Jon smiled, "I will not let any harm come to my family."
"They may not be your words, but Family, Duty, Honor," Catelyn bowed her head, "Some put one before the other, but they are wrong. These three things are the most important when held together." Another knock at her door drew her attention and she stepped back from Jon who stood. She wiped the unshed tears from her eyes, "Enter."
Once more the guard she really needed to learn the name of entered, "Pardon milady, but Lord Robb is here."
"Let him in," Catelyn watched her eldest brush past the guard. She noticed the frown of confusion he sent towards Jon, the brothers had one of their nonverbal conversations. She never understood how the two of them developed such a bond that they could communicate without words. Ned had often bemoaned the fact they had not learned to transfer the skill to the training yard.
"Mother," Robb nodded to her before looking to Jon, "Sansa is looking for you, she has worked on a couple of designs for your personal sigil. She wants your input so she can start working on your new tabard."
Jon frowned, "I thought I'd just use the same as the household guard."
Rolling her eyes Catelyn huffed, "That would have been fine if you were Ned's bastard son. You are not so you need your sigil, one that identifies you, one that tells other knights where you have come from. You are the offspring of two great houses with long and storied legacies."
Robb patted Jon's shoulder, "Don't put that much thought into it, little brother, from what I gather Daenerys and some of the other ladies have been helping her, so one of the designs might strike you."
Giving his brother a nod and parting words with Catelyn the boy departed the chamber, leaving mother and son. Catelyn noticed Robb was pensive, "You must have another reason for coming, I doubt you sought your brother here."
"No, that was unexpected that he was here," Robb rubbed the back of his head, "Why was Jon here?"
"Apologizing for not being able to speak up in my defense," Catelyn shook her head, "he need not have, there was nothing he could have done when men of such stature have their machinations at work. I let my emotions get away with my common sense. The North is not like the Riverlands, your father, how is he?"
"Angry, furious, wrathful," Robb rubbed his chin, "I'm not sure any of those words suitably describe his current mood. I'm sure you noticed Jon's face."
"He said it was from training, something about your father hurling the two of you and Edric over his shoulder," Catelyn frowned, "He was not holding back I take it."
"No, and that was after an hour of him making my brothers look like green boys," Robb frowned, "I've sparred with Jon since we both first picked up the sword, and I've crossed practice blades with Edric. They are both skilled and have improved greatly with the number of seasoned warriors we've had to train with." Robb hesitated, "Mother, I have heard from some of those who've had visions. Father was killed in the capital. How? Even Khal Drogo does not face father without three of his blood riders supporting him, the Dothraki still leave the yard in defeat."
Catelyn folded her hands, and while she did not take much credence of the visions, she'd heard much the same. "I am not completely sure, but your father is still only a man, and men are not infallible. Had he trusted the wrong people or been unprepared for an attack? Your father's strength is not in his physical prowess or skill with the blade. It is in his ability to prepare, to analyze the information he has gathered, and to plan the best course to victory."
"That's what they mean by the Quiet Wolf," Robb mused, "Father observes his opponents, knows their strengths and weaknesses, he then uses that knowledge to defeat them." Robb paled, "Lyanna, father's wolf spends most of her day watching the training yard."
"What does that matter?" Catelyn frowned.
Robb sat down, "We haven't told many this, were concerned to even say anything to you. We know how the Faith abhors it." Robb looked to the window, "Greywind is with Margaery in the godswood with Bran, Rickon, and Robin. I can smell the trees and the sweetness from the sap from the Heart Tree." Robb held up his left hand, "If I focus, I can feel the soft dirt and moss beneath Greywind's paws." He reached to the nape of his neck, "Margaery is petting him, I just felt her fingers as though they were touching my skin."
"Skinwalkers," Catelyn gasped in surprise, "I knew it was a mistake letting you keep those wolves."
"Mother," Robb frowned, "we're Wargs, not Skinwalkers. We are not some monsters that turn into half man half beast creatures that terrorize the small folk. We simply have a bond with our wolves, one that allows us to see, hear, and feel what they are experiencing. The bond also works both ways."
Catelyn frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Yesterday," Robb felt shame even remembering the ill thoughts aimed at his siblings. "For a moment after hearing about Father setting you aside after the inquest. Dark thoughts came to me, I blamed what happened on Jon and Edric, and I felt hate and resentment start to boil up." Robb hesitated, "Before the emotions could fester anymore or result in me doing something unthinkable. I felt as though the dark thoughts were being ripped and torn from my mind by the teeth of a wolf. It did not take long to realize it was Greywind, he was taking my negative feelings towards my own pack and banishing them. He knew the thoughts were wrong and would only cause me pain once the moment had passed."
His mother could only blink in amazement and confusion. Since being a young girl, she'd been raised on stories of Skinwalkers, evil followers of the Old Gods who were able to take the form of beasts. While few believed the stories to be true as magic was gone from the world, it sounded nothing like what her son described. What Robb described was like a harmonious union between two souls, watching over and protecting each other. Was this what the Starks meant when they spoke of a pack, not just their family, but the bond they have long had with wolves.
Catelyn smiled, "Your siblings, they have all experienced this?"
"Bran has, and we're not sure about Rickon," Robb chuckled, "he has always been half feral to begin with. Jon and I had a shared dream just before His Grace arrived. Greywind and Ghost were stalking a rat down in the larder. Before they could pounce on it, Nymeria, Arya's wolf that is, came along out of nowhere and snatched it." Robb shook his head, "Arya didn't share the dream, but a couple days later she told us she had a wolf dream. Nymeria was with the other pups in the kennel with their mother after she came back from her nightly hunt."
Gripping her heart Catelyn frowned, "What of Sansa?"
Robb shrugged, "Not sure, she hasn't said anything to the rest of us, but she and Lady tend to act the same as the rest of us. Edric thinks it's a matter of necessity, his wolf lost all of its pack either because they abandoned him, or they were killed. Whirlwind follows Edric's instructions and is as attentive as any of our wolves but is just happy to have a pack again. Sansa and Lady have a similar relationship, they don't need all the other stuff for now."
Catelyn nodded, "She may, the capital is not like Winterfell, it is a dangerous place. Starks have not done well in the south."
"The pack survives," Robb reminded her, "and Mother, that includes you. I don't know what the future holds. What I do know is Father loved you, and what happened yesterday pained him. He has been in a rage today I have never seen before."
"That is the Quiet Wolf," Catelyn mused, "it is the accounting of your father stoking the flames of his resolve. Eddard Stark is an honorable man, he acts as an honorable man, and he expects others to act in kind. When others fail to behave in such a way," Catelyn bowed her head, "nothing can protect them from his wrath. Only Jon Arryn has been able to dissuade Ned from bringing down the fury of his gods upon the heads of those who crossed him."
Robb swallowed, "I heard a rumor, yesterday before Aegon officially requested permission to court Sansa. The King mentioned that he'd seen what he referred to as the Quiet Wolf when Lord Tywin laid Princess Elia and the children's bodies before him."
Catelyn nodded, "My Father was present that day, he told me later what had happened. Your Father, honorable and kindhearted as he is, saw the murder of Elia and her children as unjust. He called for the heads of those who committed the act, and whomever ordered it. Lord Tywin claimed it as a necessary evil, and Robert declared he did not see children, only dragon spawn. Father said that had Lord Arryn not been there to calm your father, him and his men who outnumbered the others in that chamber would have slaughtered the other rebel lords where they stood. All it would have taken was a word from your father, and the Northmen would have ripped their allies apart." Catelyn smirked, "They would not be alone. Father was waiting for the word; he would have kept to our house words. Ned was family, and knightly duties demanded justice be done, and there was no honor in brutalizing women and children."
"Instead," Robb looked to his mother, "Father quit the city and went to relieve the Siege of Storms End."
"Yes, and refused to speak with Robert as friends again until years later when he went to help put down Greyjoy's Rebellion, though even then it was not a sure thing. Had Euron Greyjoy not assaulted Bear Island and attempted to take Lady Maege's daughter. I'm not sure if he'd have actually answered the call."
Robb's eyes widened, "Mother? What do you mean, which daughter did Euron try and take?"
"Lady Dacey," Catelyn informed, "she was only about your age then. Jorah and his aunt rescued her but not before Euron had ravaged her. Your father was already mounting a reprisal against the Iron Born when word of the burning of Lannisport reached us along with the request from His Grace for your father to call his banners. It was this that had allowed your father to respond so swiftly."
Bowing his head Robb's jaw tensed, "Mother, you don't know do you?"
Catelyn's brow furrowed, "Know what?"
"The worse kept secret in the North," Robb raised his head to look at his mother once more, "Lady Dacey, the Bear that fathered her, was actually an Old Wolf."
"Old Wolf?" Catelyn looked confused, "That is what they called your grandfather."
Robb nodded, "Lady Dacey is my aunt, she is father's half-sister."
Catelyn paled as she remembered Ned's almost furious response to her plan to betroth Benjen to Lady Dacey. He'd only said the match was not possible but had not elaborated on it. She had simply thought that House Mormont was tied to the Starks in as similar way as the Manderly, some ancient debt. "Lady Dacey is actually a Snow?"
Robb's eyes narrowed, "She is a Mormont, and heir to her house. Her sister Alysane is also a daughter of my grandfather. In the Old Way they have been claimed as legitimate daughters of their mother's house. Might be why no wolves have appeared for them or Alysane's children."
"But by law," Catelyn started but stopped, "but this is the North."
"Mother, you do realize that by laws of the Faith almost every lord and lady in the North would be considered a bastard, including Father. The Faith does not recognize marriages before the Old Gods. Even Aegon the Fifth had to have a marriage in a Sept after he'd already married Betha Blackwood in the godswood of Summerhall."
Catelyn nodded, "I know Robb, and the Crown's Law does recognize marriage before the heart tree. There are more than a few in the Riverlands who follow the Old Way, especially those who reside on Lord Blackwood's lands. I am just surprised your father would not tell me, just another thing to add to the list he did not trust me to know."
"I do not think he was keeping the truth about Jon out of malice or that he did not trust you to know." Robb folded his arms, "I think he thought he was protecting all of us, not just Jon. With you not knowing about it, if for some reason His Grace had learned the truth and was not as forgiving on the matter as he has been. You and the rest of the family would be protected due to our ignorance, we could not be deemed collaborators if King Robert declared Father's actions as treason."
(Great Hall – Next Day)
Jamie Lannister stood beside Jon Connington before the gathered Lords Paramount and the King. Robert glared down at the two men, "I'd take both your heads and be done with it, but my Lord Hand tells you have a right to trial."
Jamie relaxed, though the near murderous look of Lord Stark was still unnerving. The former kingsguard wore the raiment of the Night's Watch, he was prepared to swear the oath, "Your Grace, I admit my crimes and throw myself at your mercy. I will take the black and repent my sins on the Wall for my remaining days."
"How few of them remain when the Others come," Robert scoffed, "Lannister for the crimes of adultery, and conspiracy against the crown. I find you guilty, and while I am in my rights to take your life for your treasonous actions. I am feeling generous. You will be the first Night's Watch member in a couple thousand years to take the original oath of service. Lord Rivers will explain more when he escorts you to Winterfell's godswood to take your oath."
Jamie frowned, "As you command." Stepping back, he watched as Connington was nudged forward. The older man grimaced as he was forced down to his knees.
Robert leaned forward in his seat making it creak, "Oh, how I agonized over this decision you piece of shit. You're a filthy traitor first off, and you even had the audacity to try and claim my cousin was some sort of imposter."
Connington spat on the floor, "Aegon is the rightful king."
"Not getting an argument from me," Robert chuckled, "but he's only a boy, one raised far from these lands with no allies to turn to. By the time I step aside for him, he'll have a secure cadre of supporters. Lords Paramount and their sons will be willing to serve at his command. What could you have done for him? Garnered the support of Dorne? The Reach might have been amenable at one time. Hells, if you got that stick pulled out of your ass you might even had swayed Ned to your cause. Not like I've done much to mend our friendship the past four and ten years. Hells, you had Ashara at your side and didn't even think to use her to seduce Ned."
Jon grits his teeth, "I will not have you speak such of Lady Dayne. The woman suffered enough for the treachery of you and your dogs." The former lord of Griffin's Roost sighed, "It was only out of her devotion to Lord Stark, she betrayed me and endangered Aegon by bringing him here."
Tywin sneered, "Had you the foresight you'd have brought Aegon to the North in the first place. The North is a vast land that few can say they have any intelligence on, even the Spider has difficulties here. Lord Stark only allows that which he wishes to be known to the south."
"Unfortunately, our poor Lord Connington cannot see past his own emotions," Doran steepled his fingers as he looked over the kneeling lord, "Yet? Where does the animosity towards Lord Stark come from? It was His Grace who slew Rhaegar in single combat. It was Lord Tywin who sacked the capital permitting the murders of my sister and niece. In fact, I know none of note who were slain personally by Lord Stark, though it was him and his commanders who led the rebellious lords to victory."
Connington swallowed hard, "Lord Stark was to receive a letter from Lady Lyanna. It was to explain all, and he was to journey to Dorne to witness the union of Prince Rhaegar to Lyanna."
Robert bristled, but it was Edmure who spoke up, "The letter was never sent. Lady Lyanna entrusted my sister Lysa to send the letters to her brothers and father. It was recently learned that Petyr Baelish learned of the letters and used the sway he had over Lysa to keep her from sending them. For whatever reason Lysa never destroyed the letters, they were found among her personal effects."
Jon Connington paled, "What are you saying?"
"The entire rebellion was orchestrated by one man," Tywin sneered, "a pathetic little lord from the fingers who was mad a Lord Parmount would not set aside a betrothal for him. Everything, even many of the horrors we who have had visions of the future undone were caused by this Littlefinger and his obsession over a single woman."
Connington looked to Lord Stark, "Is this true?"
Ned nodded solemnly, "My former wife would have told me to trust Baelish, out of misplaced trust from their shared childhood at Riverrun. Baelish would have instigated a feud between my House and House Lannister," Ned's glared at Jamie, "not that it was without cause, merely misplaced blame."
Jamie grimaced, "My Lord Hand I regret such action I might have taken at one time. You have my word I will never raise a hand against any of your children."
"Words are wind Lannister, actions speak louder," Ned focused back on Connington, "That goes for you as well Connington. I know your hand was behind the spread of greyscale that infected the daughter of Lord Stannis. You targeted children, innocence like Princess Rhaenys."
"I have not words that can assuage my guilt in that plot," Jon bowed his head, "I was mad with grief, I wanted to hurt someone. Lady Dayne learned of it and tried to prevent it but did not realize I targeted the Lord Stannis's daughter as well."
Robert spoke up, "My niece, my brother had nothing to even do with the rebellion. He and Renly were besieged at Storm's End for most of it."
Jon looked to where Aegon stood at Robert's side, "I wanted to ensure your line ended. To clear the way for Aegon to reclaim what was unjustly taken from him."
"You'd have me step over the corpses of children," Aegon grimaced, "just as Cousin Robert had done? You'd continue the cycle of violence, making the innocent suffer for imagined crimes and insults."
Tywin stood up, "Your Grace, I believe we have heard enough. Let Connington pay for his crimes with his life, but not a quick death. He can be put to use on the Wall."
"I disagree," Daenerys stood up, "Lord Connington is a loyal man to House Targaryen, he protected my nephew. He would be put to better use helping to prepare for the coming winter. He has contacts in Essos we can use."
"I doubt they are sufficient to counter the extent of the man's crimes," Edmure said from his seat, "he has admitted to plotting to infect children with greyscale. In one instance he was successful. Do we forgive him for simple fact he did not manage to kill anyone?"
"No," Daenerys grimaced, "we cannot forgive him. He will be punished, that cannot be avoided without causing a rift with Lord Stannis and his wife. Yet to throw him to the Wall and forget him will be a bigger mistake. He survived in Essos for years and had the resources to provide for and protect Aegon. That means he had support of someone with a large sum of money."
Ned shook his head, "That man is already dead. You were present when Drogo killed him along with your brother. I was shown in the vision the machinations of that merchant. He was not aware of the mistakes Varys had done, or the failure of his original plot."
Aegon frowned, "What plot?"
"The bandits that attacked Lady Dayne," Tywin cut in, "they were sent by Varys, they were meant to kill you. Lord Stark's intervention saved you in more ways than you previously knew. No matter the outcome of the rebellion, Elia would have been killed. Had it not been Gregor, it would have been another hired killer, the same for Rhaenys. Varys was attempting to place Illyrio Mopatis son with lineage of House Blackfyre on the Iron Throne. I'm unsure if Mopatis knew his son's skull was dashed upon the wall of the Red Keep."
Daenerys paled, "Mopatis was a Blackfyre?"
"He married one," Ned explained, "the last daughter of the House. He planned to supplant Aegon with his own son. Varys thought the easiest way would be to swap the children and then silence anyone who knew of the switch. He would be around to whisper the right words to the child, and when the time came, Mopatis would emerge to take the place as his son's Hand. Varys realized his mistake only when it was only too late."
Aegon looked to Tywin, "When Lord Lannister came to sack the city."
Tywin shook his head, "When your father fell at the Trident, he realized the Targaryen cause was lost. He had no way to escape with the child, his plans were foiled, and the child died in your place as Varys had no doubt made Elia and Ashara believe was the purpose of the swap."
Robert frowned at the two lords, "Why didn't you mention this before?"
"It was irrelevant," Tywin scoffed, "from the way Mopatis had behaved in the visions he was unaware of the fate of his son. It only served to bring suspicion to Aegon's claims, something Lord Stark and I were aware of, but we did not know how many others were. We agreed Varys had been playing both sides, and we'd use that to our advantage. Once Mopatis was dead though, we agreed the Spider was of little value strategically."
Doran looked to Ned, "Lord Stark, you were aware Aegon lived since having the vision?"
"I knew he lived, just not where he was," Ned looked to the Prince of Dorne, "Tywin had already moved to incite a reaction from the Spider to reveal their location. I was not aware of Ashara's survival, due to particular elements of how the visions were presented, but I was made aware Lord Connington was with the prince."
(Winterfell Gate – Later)
Aegon walked the walls of Winterfell, it had become a nightly routine since arriving here. He'd learned the names of all the guards, and even knew a few facts of each of them. Tonight, though he was too deep in thought to stop and talk idly. He could understand Lord Stark, not wanting to reveal that he'd been saved from no one but two attempted assassinations before he was old enough to remember.
Lord Stark was a man who only dwelled on the past when nothing more pressing was before him, and the Others were a very pressing issue. He doubted very much those with that particular information would have revealed it had Jon not attempted to keep to their disguise as father and son named Griff. Looking down into the central area of Winterfell he saw the gibbet where Jon now resided. He'd be there until they departed for King's Landing in a couple days.
"Prince Aegon?" He turned to see Sansa approaching, "I was told you were walking the walls."
He indicated the starry sky above them, "I'm always in wonder of how different the stars look from different places. Your Northern Skies are no less wonderful, though it is rare for the weather to be such we can see the stars."
Sansa smiled, "The Old Gods of the Sky bless us with a beautiful sight tonight."
"Indeed, they do," Aegon stepped to her side, "I fear in my impetuousness I acted without even seeing if you would be amenable to my courtship."
"I was surprised, I had not thought you noticed me," Sansa dipped her head, "I am sure there are prettier girls available."
Aegon scoffed, "You think too lowly of yourself. I know not who you compare yourself with, but I assure you their looks are as superficial as their personage. If anything, Lady Dayne has long taught me to look past outward appearances, they are fleeting and even the brightest gems dull with time." Aegon offered his arm, "Would you honor me with a walk along the battlements of your ancestral home," he nodded towards the guards evenly spaced along the promenade, "I dare say we are adequately chaperoned."
Sansa indicated Lady who lurked nearby, "That we are my prince."
They started off walking in silence, but it swiftly tired Aegon, and as they neared a corner he broke the silence, "I have seen the tabard you are working on for my brother. I dare say your stitching is the finest work I have seen. Lady Manderly placed the sigils of my mother and father's houses on my cloak, and her skill pales in comparison to yours."
"I don't know about that," Sansa sighed, "she mended one of Bran's shirts the other day, you could not even tell it had been torn."
"I knew many seamstresses in Essos who could do the same," Aegon smirked, "but I have not seen many who can so accurately recreate with thread as you have done on Jon's tabard. The wolf looks like Ghost, and I dare say you are channeling the Balerion in his all his glory."
Sansa smiled, "Princess Daenerys is fond of the stories of the Dragons. She tells Arya to keep her entertained during our sewing circles. Your cousins have drawn my sister to the womanly arts, but her attention is prone to wander without something to focus on."
Aegon chuckled, "We will have to keep that in mind on the journey south, can't have her wandering off on us."
Nodding Sansa sighed, "I always knew I would have to leave Winterfell one day. It is my home, but my duty to my family would always result in finding a suitable match and leaving."
"I am sorry I cannot sympathize," Aegon sighed, "I have never had a true home. Our ship was the only constant in my life, that and Jon and Lemore or Lady Dayne. They were the only ones I could rely on to always be there for me. Everyone else was merely a hireling, someone paid to be my friend, or to provide some training Jon thought would benefit me as king."
"Home is not always a place," Sansa used her free hand to grip Aegon's upper arm, "it is the people. When we depart, most of those people who made this my home will be departing as well. Mother has decided to go with Uncle Edmure to Pike to secure his match with Asha Greyjoy. Only Robb and Rickon will be remaining in Winterfell. Father, Jon, and Bran will be with us in King's Landing. Arya will go with Edric and your kin to Dorne."
Aegon nodded, "You know we will not be imprisoned in King's Landing. I intend to visit Sunspear, and it would be horribly bad form if I didn't pay a visit to your brother and sister in Starfall. We will also have to attend your uncle's wedding in Riverrun, I doubt many would pass up seeing the union of the Iron Born with the Riverlands."
"You intend I journey with you to see the Seven Kingdoms?" Sansa smirked.
"As my intended, it would be expected," Aegon smiled, "plus, I am sure we can get Selmy to agree Jon and Bran need more knightly training than following His Grace about from day to day."
(Two Days Later)
Robert sat upon his horse, the massive column of those departing Winterfell was already making steady progress. They would journey together to Cerwyn before splitting in three directions. The Riverlanders and Iron Born would make for Torrhen's Square where Victarion's ship was harbored. Doran and most of his House would be journeying to White Harbor to take their ships back to Dorne. The vast majority would be following the King's Road, Lord Reed had departed early to ensure the path through the Neck was ready.
The King watched as Ned spoke with his eldest and youngest sons, parting words to help guide them. Not that they'd be gone too long, there was only a short time before winter was upon them. There was also the unknown factor of how the Others would react once they learned the living had abandoned the lands beyond the Wall.
"Robert," he turned to see Aegon approaching on his own horse, "the lead wheelhouses have reached Wintertown."
"Good," Robert sighed, "and the prisoners?"
"Lady Cersei is riding with Lady Dayne and the Starks in the royal Wheelhouse." Aegon bowed his head, "Jamie Lannister is riding with the other Night's Watch members, and Connington is chained in the second luggage cart."
Robert nodded, "I know the man was like a father to you lad, but for the realm."
"Stannis will want retribution for what Connington did," Aegon nodded, "I understand and accept that." The prince shook his head, "but you are wrong. Connington was never like a father to me. Lady Dayne was more parental to me than that man. I doubt the man knows how a father should treat their son, I was merely a replacement for my father in his eyes."
A tremor of revulsion went through Robert, "Don't need that though lad. Not with what I know of the man and what he thought of your father." The King watched Ned mount his horse and join them, "Finally, we can go someplace warmer."
Ned chuckled, "If you think this is cold Robert, just wait for winter."
Notes:
I find it ironic that the characters are talking about an impending winter to end all winters when we are looking at the start of the hottest summer on record.
Hope you all enjoyed the first act of this story, because now we're back to everyone being in different places.
So until next time, stay safe.
