Chapter 48: Medium Interlude
King's Landing towered before her. Myrcella pressed a hand to her belly-she was perhaps four or five moons gone by this point-and knew that she would not likely leave the capital for some time. That filled her with relief. The job was done, or almost done anyway.
The letter had come some time ago to Riverrun, written in her husband's hand, telling her of the fall of King's Landing. Of the High Septon's acknowledgement of their right to rule-not surprising given grandfather had effectively surrounded the Sept of Baelor before their meeting-and of course of other news. Of her mother's death and Joffrey's hand in it.
She pushed that thought to one side as the gate to the capital swung open and she found herself looking at her husband. Robb, Robb had changed slightly since they'd last met. He wore a dark blue cloak with golden trimmings, a dark blue doublet, and atop his head he wore a coronet, which had a shining golden diamond in its centre. He looked every inch a King.
Myrcella gave into a little bit of impatience and urged her horse onward at a gallop so that she crossed the lines into the capital and reached her husband. Ser Arys hurried after her, the men she'd brought from Riverrun-some 600 in total-followed shortly behind. When she got to Robb, he smiled at her and extended a hand. She took it and smiled back.
"Welcome home, Your Grace." Her husband said.
Myrcella felt a shiver run through her at his words. "Thank you, Your Grace." Robb briefly let go of her hand and urged his horse around so that they were facing the same side. Slowly they rode together. They moved through the streets and it was then that Myrcella became aware of just how many people had actually gathered to watch them.
Both sides were thronged with people, bodies pressing in against one another. People shouting, cheering, yelling. Some held their hands out hoping to touch some part of either herself or Robb. Others held their hands out for blessings, and Myrcella found herself involuntarily holding out the palm of her hand to give them what they wanted. That caused more people to rush forward to try and receive a blessing.
Robb glanced at her, a question in his eyes. She simply nodded, it was the right thing to do she felt. Robb nodded and then did the same. His hand going up to bless the people, causing even more of a frenzy.
They didn't really speak to one another as they rode toward the Red Keep. She supposed that was only to be expected, after all, they had to show off an image of divine monarchy. Of unruffled King and Queen prepared to give the people what they wanted. After what she presumed had been Joffrey's idiocy, that was only to be expected. It didn't mean that she wasn't aching to talk to her husband. It didn't mean that she didn't want to feel his embrace.
But as was so often the case in these things, one's personal wants had to be put to the side, in order to allow for the needs of state to come first. She was fine with that for now.
As they got to the Red Keep, she saw that there were even more people gathered outside it. Nobles, knights, retainers and the common folk. People who had come to see the Royal Couple reunited and to witness their coming together in the shadow of Aegon's great fortress.
As their party came to a stop, Robb glanced at her. She knew what he was asking, did she want to dismount, or should they remain a horse? Myrcella patted her horse to give her answer. It would be a grander statement if they remained a horse. Robb nodded and spoke clearly.
"My lords and ladies, people of King's Landing, you have been through hell. We acknowledge that. We acknowledge that the war has been hard on you and yours. We promise that we shall do all we can to bring better times for you. To bring back an age of peace and prosperity."
Myrcella listened, slightly in awe of her husband, of the man he was becoming.
"But, we cannot do it without you. Are you ready to help us?"
That drew a roar.
"Are you ready to walk with us into the light and toward a better today and tomorrow?"
"Another roar!"
"Then let us begin a new dawn!"
A roar followed by "Long Live The King and Queen!"
This went on for some time, before Robb eventually lowered his hand and brought silence. The gates to the keep opened and their party rode into the keep. Myrcella kept an eye on her husband for the entire time.
He looked exhausted which was to be expected given the travails of the past few months. She couldn't wait to just hold him, and maybe take some of that exhaustion away from him.
When they got into the courtyard, they dismounted, and Robb helped her off her horse and to their apartments. The Kingsguard followed at a steady pace, she noticed that Jon-her husband's brother- had a white cloak on, and she made a note to ask her husband about that later.
The servants all bowed as they walked down the corridors, some of them Myrcella recognised from her father's time as King, others she didn't. Some were from the north-she could tell that due to their colours. They'd need to discuss what their coat of arms and banners were to be, but that could wait for later.
The doors to their apartments were opened, and they entered them silently, the moment the doors were shut however, Myrcella threw herself into her husband's arms.
He hugged her tightly, and she him.
"Gods, I've missed you." Robb breathed into her curls.
Myrcella pulled back and said. "And I you. But now we're together again, let us not part for some time yet."
Robb smiled and in response pulled her closer and kissed her.
She sighed as their lips parted, and she hated herself for doing this, but she needed to get it out into the open. She had to.
"I want Joffrey executed."
Robb's eyes widened albeit temporarily, before he said. "Of course, I'll see it done myself."
Myrcella nodded, satisfied, then she embraced her husband again and really drank him in.
"Tyrion Lannister, my Lord Hand." The servant said.
Tyrion braced himself, he checked to ensure his clothes had not a single wrinkle on them, then when the servant indicated that he could enter, he walked with his back straight and strode as confidently as he could into the room.
His father was sat at his desk, looking over some paperwork. A sight that was as familiar to Tyrion as breathing. He'd often seen his father to do this during his childhood, and he'd always wanted to know what it was exactly that his father did with all this paperwork. But his father had never granted him the permission to observe.
His father didn't look up from his paperwork, and as the silence stretched, Tyrion felt his irritation grow.
"As you can see, old man, I am still very much alive." Tyrion said as acidly as he could.
The old man didn't even look up.
"Did you even notice that I was not back at the Rock?" Tyrion asked, hating how he sounded like a needy child.
Still he was greeted with silence.
"Of course you didn't, you were too busy falling for Petyr Baelish's bloody trap. Where is Baelish now anyway?" Tyrion asked. In his cell he'd had a fair bit of time to figure out who it was who had caused the war between his father and Riverrun to break out. And he'd had time to figure out why the man had done it as well.
The more he thought on it, the funnier it became to him, that his father, the sainted Tywin Lannister had fallen for it.
Still his father didn't reply. "You must feel such a fool. Baelish, the son of a mere peasant defeated you. He got you to dance to his tune and you did. And you couldn't even capture him."
"You were of no assistance there. A prisoner of first Stannis Baratheon and then Joffrey." Father said, looking up from his paperwork.
"And yet, I am not the one who started a war over it." Tyrion replied. "How does our King feel about that?"
"The King understands that these things happen during the Game of Thrones, and he is more determined than anyone else to find and deal with Petyr Baelish." Father replied simply.
"I see." Tyrion said, that surprised him, the Robb Stark he had known would've been furious and acted on impulse. Perhaps this was a good change.
"And what of Joffrey?" Tyrion asked. He was surprised that father hadn't already asked for him to be executed, given what the boy had done to Cersei. Indeed, he was surprised Jaime hadn't killed a second King.
"The King has ordered his execution and I believe he intends to do it himself, in front of everyone in King's Landing." Father said.
"Where?" Tyrion asked.
"Aegon's Holdfast." Father said. Tyrion exhaled, so, that sent a clear message. The Holdfast was where the commonest of traitors was executed. Clearly the King was sending a message about what he thought about Joffrey.
"And Cersei?" Tyrion asked. He had never liked his sister, but he did not think she had deserved the death she had gotten.
"The Queen wishes her to be buried here, in the Great Sept. The High Septon has agreed." Father said.
Tyrion nodded. Then he said. "You know Stannis cannot be defeated as long as the Royal Fleet remains with him, and he has that witch."
Father looked at him intently. "Who has more power there, the witch or Stannis?"
"The witch." Tyrion replied.
"Then it is her that we will deal with." Father said.
"How?" Tyrion asked.
"You are dismissed." Father said in response. Tyrion stared at his father for a moment and then huffed. He turned and walked out of the room, the anger that always boiled beneath the surface temporarily rising.
Catelyn took a seat, Sansa to her right, with Bran in the centre-she hadn't wanted her son to attend these meetings, but he'd insisted that it was his right as the Stark in Winterfell-the news they were here to discuss was unnerving to say the least.
"How many Ironborn?" Catelyn asked.
"Around two thousand are in Moat Cailin, my lady." Ser Rodrik said. "The Cranogmen under Lord Reed are harassing them though. Their ships are being targeted and their supplies intercepted."
"So, will they have to retreat or come out of the Moat sooner or later?" Catelyn asked. She would readily admit that she was not a military tactician, but she had some knowledge about managing a household, and with an enemy hitting you that could readily fade into the shadows, she knew that sustaining an army would not be easy.
"I believe so, my lady." Ser Rodrik said.
"Then what would you suggest we do?" Catelyn asked. "Wait them out, or step up the pressure by sending another army to attack them?"
Ser Rodrik nodded. "A small force, working with the Cranogmen would be enough to deal a significant blow to the Ironborn. It would also mean that pressure could be put on the Ironborn force at Deepwood Motte."
Catelyn hummed in agreement. The Ironborn had divided their army, one on the coast, and another at the Moat. It was a smart plan, but it left them divided and stretched. The only issue was that the Motte contained the children of House Glover. "How are we to ensure that the Glovers do not suffer any reprisals?" She asked.
"House Mormont, Forrester and some of the Mountain Clans are already gathering men to provide a distraction. Furthermore, the Ironborn at the Motte have to go into the local village to get supplies, having burned through their supplies already. We have people there ready to sneak in and get them out." Ser Rodrik replied.
"Very well." Catelyn said, she hesitated a moment, considering where she wanted Ser Rodrik. She wanted as a mother and a wife to rescue the Glovers, but as the Regent for the Stark in Winterfell, she knew the Moat was of greater importance. So, she said. "I want you to command the army that marches on the Moat, Ser Rodrik."
"Of course, my lady." The knight replied.
"What about Theon?" Bran asked suddenly.
"What about him, Bran?" Catelyn asked.
"If the Ironborn have invaded the north, then surely, he will be with them? After all, I don't think he'd want to show his face to Robb again after failing so miserably. So, he's probably with them. And if he's with them, then might they come to Winterfell?" Bran said.
Catelyn exchanged a look with Ser Rodrik. Could it be true? Could Theon have betrayed Robb? She didn't think so, but then he'd failed to get what Robb had wanted, so maybe?
"We will keep men in Winterfell as security." Catelyn said.
"Of course, my lady. I will ask Hal to ensure the men are prepared." Ser Rodrik said.
"Good, thank you." Catelyn said.