If nobody liked Craster before, they certainly didn't like him now. The room erupted in chaos, most pointing out that Craster was feeding the White Walkers his sons, about how inhuman of it was. And some were protesting that he hit Jon, mostly Robb and Arya with Lyanna adding her silent fuming to the mix.
"As if fucking his daughters wasn't enough, he's serving his sons to the enemy!" Brandon the Elder snarled. "How is this man still alive?!"
"Perhaps him giving his sons to the White Walkers has kept him alive" Ned suggested, equally angered. "There were stories of—"
"I don't mean that!" Brandon snapped, "Why have the Night's Watch not flayed him like a Bolton?!"
"That… I don't know" Ned confessed with a frown.
"The matters of the Night's Watch is on the Night's Watch… but it is distressing to see they've fallen this far" Rickard Stark frowned deeply. He knew Heor Mormont to be a man of honour. Was this what honourable men were reduced to now?
"When you return you will have words with Benjen" Lyanna hissed to Ned.
"Aye…" Ned muttered. He would have anyway, but he didn't know what that would accomplish. The Night's Watch was a separate entity from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, they governed themselves.
[BEYOND THE WALL, CRASTER'S KEEP, NIGHT]
[A door crashes open as CRASTER throws JON SNOW through it and onto the floor.]
"That bastard!" Lyanna glared.
"Out, all of you."
[LORD COMMANDER JEOR MORMONT and the others of the Night's Watch leap to their feet. CRASTER'S wives peer out from their berths.]
"This bastard's been meddling where he shouldn't!"
[CRASTER kicks JON in the abdomen for emphasis.]
Jon glared at the wildling. Oh, he would go up North just to skewer him like game meat.
[Craster pointing at JEOR with the handle of JEOR's sheathed sword.]
"I want you and your men gone. And you will make this right."
[JON stands and spits out a mouthful of blood. JEOR turns to JON]
"Wait outside. "
"Lord Commander-"
"Now!"
"He's not even listening to him!" Arya shouted in frustration.
"He's probably trying to play peacekeeper," Sansa said with a sour look.
"Fuck peace with that creature!" Robb exclaimed, much to his mother's displeasure.
Not that she wasn't displeased. But it didn't mean Robb had to swear.
[CRASTER'S KEEP, NIGHT]
[JEOR strides through camp until he finds JON and SAMWELL TARLY, who is tending to JON's wounds.]
"Lord Commander-"
"Leave us."
[SAM leaves.]
"What did you do?"
"I followed him. He took the baby into the woods, the newborn."
"What business is that of yours?"
"No, you don't understand. He's killing them, all the boys..."
[JON breaks off as JEOR stares back at him mutely. JON's face narrows in realization.]
"He knows," Ned said as the expression dawned on him. He knew… and did nothing? This couldn't be the man he had respected for so long.
While he reeled from the shock, the rest burst into angry outrage at the revelation.
"That is the man leading the Night's Watch?!" Robert exploded. "He knows and does nothing!"
"Perhaps if we keep watching, we'll know why" Stannis suggested, jaws set stubbornly, even more so when Robert glared at him.
"Wildlings serve crueller gods than you or I. Those boys are Craster's offerings."
"Offerings? He's murdering his own children. He's a monster."
"Aye, many a time that monster has been the difference between life and death for our rangers, your uncle among them. We have other wars to fight, out there. Like it or not, we need men like Craster."
"Sounds a lot like why you had to worry Cersei Lannister" Renly whispered.
Robert sighed.
"Can't the Night's Watch just build an outpost there so they don't have to rely on this man?" the King asked.
"The Night's Watch is undermanned to do that" Ned explained, slightly relieved once he knew the reason but still unhappy about it all the same.
"Perhaps if we bolster the Night's Watch with capable men, they can do away with this Craster and have themselves an outpost there. Perhaps even a Lord to establish the first claim of land beyond the Wall" Renly suggested.
"The lands beyond the Wall are inhospitable places, not easy to settle anyone there" Ned explained.
"If the wildlings can survive there, why can't any of us?" Renly asked. "Plus, unlike the Wildlings any one of us who settles there will have the Watch's and the Crown's backing. He can build, fortify and be a place for Rangers to rest as well. A much better choice than that waste of space and breath.
Ned looked at Robert with a raised brow and Robert shrugged.
"We can talk about this some more" the King conceded, much to Renly's glee. He was being heard.
[CRASTER'S KEEP, THE NEXT MORNING]
[SAM arranges some crates containing ravens. GILLY walks by holding a basket. SAM quietly walks over to where she is loading her basket with sticks.]
"I, I wanted to give you something. It belonged to my mother."
"Oh poor things smitten" Margaery giggled. She felt slightly bad for the boy, only just.
"Men" Olenna rolled her eyes.
[SAM shows GILLY a white thimble.]
"I can't take it."
"Please. I want you to. My mother used it for sewing. She'd let me sit with her in her chamber while she sewed and I'd read to her. My father put a stop to it when he found out. It's the only thing I have of hers. She gave it to me before I left for the Wall."
"The more I hear about this Lord Tarly, the less I like him" Robb frowned. His father would never do something like that.
"Perhaps we can welcome Sam to Winterfell" Arya suggested. "He seems nice so he'd fit right in with us!"
"I don't think he'd fit right in" Jon sweatdropped, "but inviting him would be a good idea. His father is going to just send him to the Wall and name his little brother as heir to Horn Hill. Maybe he wouldn't mind this instead."
"We'll have to convince Father" Robb pointed out.
"I think the more we watch this, the easier it will be" Jon countered.
[STORMLANDS, RENLY'S CAMP, TOURNAMENT]
[An exhibition fight between two armored knights takes places as KING RENLY BARATHEON and QUEEN MARGAERY TYRELL watch.]
"You're hosting a tourney of sorts during a war march?" Stannis raised a brow.
"It's for entertainment, brother. To keep the people's moods up and all that" Renly smiled.
"You're in a war"" Stannis ground out, before eyeing the Tyrells. "I can understand why you got the South's support on you. The girl is your Queen."
"Perhaps, brother. But Lady Margaery would still have come to me even if you were unwed or widowed."
"Would she?" Stannis turned to the Tyrell, but not Margaery. "Clarify it for us, Lady Olenna. Were I without a wife for any reason, would you still back my brother?"
Olenna Tyrell's sharp eyes met Stannis' cold ones.
"My granddaughter is to be Queen. Whoever gave her that opportunity would have our support."
While Stannis and Renly, and most others, thought the declaration was for Stannis, Rickard knew what Olenna Tyrell meant by it. He held back a sigh and kept his eyes on the wall.
[LADY CATELYN STARK and SER COLEN OF GREENPOOLS enter and watch from among the crowd.]
"Mother?" Sansa asked in confusion.
"She's probably there to form some form of a truce with Renly" Jon explained to her.
Sansa gave a small nod in thanks.
[The other fighter lifts LORAS and takes him to the ground, then lifts LORAS's visor and draws a dagger to his face. MARGAERY gasps nervously.]
"Yield! I yield."
"Whoever that knight is, is very skilled to have beaten Loras like that" Renly commented, slightly shaken by Olenna's declaration. He shouldn't be surprised, it's all politics after all. Yet he was shaken. How strong was Tyrell's support then?
[RENLY claps]
"Well fought. Approach."
[The second knight approaches first and kneels while LORAS looks on.]
"Rise. Remove your helm."
[The knight removes her helm to reveal her identity as LADY BRIENNE OF TARTH. The crowd gasps. CATELYN looks mildly stunned at the turn of events, while LORAS appears angry and humiliated.]
Catelyn in the room looked just as stunned.
"I have heard of her, Lady Brienne of Tarth. Larger than anyone who comes to court her, not the best to look at either. Her father allows her to train with a sword and learn the ways of a Knight" Renly spoke.
"Well... she's certainly something…" Catelyn mumbled to herself.
"You are all your father promised and more, my lady. I've seen Ser Loras bested once or twice, but never quite in that fashion."
"Now, now, my love. My brother fought valiantly for you."
"That he did, my queen. But there can only be one champion. Brienne of Tarth, you may ask anything of me you desire. If it is within my power, it is yours."
[BRIENNE kneels]
"Your Grace, I ask the honour of a place in your Kingsguard."
[The crowd gasps.]
As did many in the Hall, excluding Arya who looked excited.
"I will be one of your seven, pledge my life to yours, and keep you safe from all harm."
[LORAS stares at RENLY.]
"Done. Rise, Brienne of the Kingsguard."
"You wouldn't have named her in your Kingsguard if you hadn't promised her, would you" Robert asked.
"Probably not" Renly sighed. Unlike his future self, he did not miss the look on Loras' face.
[The crowd applauds. RENLY gives BRIENNE a small wink. LORAS continues to stare at RENLY, clearly irritated. BRIENNE stands as SER COLEN makes his way across the sand towards where RENLY is seated. CATELYN follows.]
"Your Grace, I have the honour to bring you Lady Catelyn Stark, sent as an envoy by her son Robb, Lord of Winterfell."
"Lord, still? Is he not King now?" Jon asked with a small smirk. Which grew when Robb punched him in the shoulder.
"Lord of Winterfell and King in the North."
"Lady Catelyn. I'm pleased to see you. May I present my wife, Margaery of House Tyrell?"
"You are very welcome here, Lady Stark. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"You are most kind."
"My lady, I swear to you I will see the Lannisters answer for your husband's murder. When I take King's Landing, I'll bring you Joffrey's head."
[The crowd roars and LORAS glances around, ill at ease. CATELYN closes her eyes as she takes a breath before continuing.]
"Heh," Robert clicked his tongue, "good luck giving them that now, brother."
Renly looked just as ill at ease as his future self did.
"Has your son marched against Tywin Lannister yet?"
"I do not sit on my son's war councils. And if I did, I would not share his strategies with you."
"Your mother doesn't sound too happy about that" Jon whispered to Robb.
Robb leaned back to look at his mother, who looked quite the usual.
"Maybe she's not" Robb shrugged.
"If Robb Stark wants a pact with us, he should come himself, not hide behind his mother's skirts."
"Knights these days, all talk and no thought. Who did he squire for that he doesn't know something as simple as not sharing vital information?" Robert grunted.
Renly flustered beside him.
"My son is fighting a war, not playing at one."
Many in the room whistled in appreciation. Olenna Tyrell was giving the Stark matriarch an appraising look. Perhaps she had more fire in her than she gave credit for.
[RENLY chuckles and stands. He leaves the dais and walks over to CATELYN.]
"Don't worry, my lady. Our war is just beginning."
[RENLY and CATELYN leave. MARGAERY watches, annoyed.]
Olenna clicked her tongue and gave her granddaughter a look.
"I know, grandmother" the Lady sighed.
[IRON ISLANDS, THRONE ROOM]
"The plans are made. It's time you heard them."
[They look over a map of Westeros.]
The mood in the room plummeted and Robb threw a betrayed look over to Theon.
The Greyjoy boy did not dare to meet his eyes.
"The wolf pup has gone south with the entirety of the Northern army at his back. While he's tangling with the lion in the Westerlands, the North is ripe for the taking. The Ironborn will reave and pillage, as it was in the old days, all along the northern coast. We'll spread our dominion across the green lands, securing the Neck and everything above. Every stronghold will yield to us, one by one. Winterfell may defy us for a year, but what of it? The rest shall be ours, forest, field, and hall."
"Balon Greyjoy has to be the dumbest Lord I've had the displeasure of hearing," Oberyn said with a laugh, to the displeasure of Theon and Yara. "You have the rich Westerlands right there for the taking with most of its men too caught up in a war, but you choose instead the barren North? I am sorry Lord Stark but given the choice the Westerlands is a much better place to loot, plunder and conquer than the North."
"My father is still sour about the last rebellion and me being taken as ward" Theon tried to defend his father, only to be glared at by every Stark and the King present in the room. Even Robb was looking at him with anger and betrayal.
"Then your father is dumber than I assumed him to be" Oberyn snapped. "Petty personal vendetta over profit, he is unfit to be called a Lord!"
Theon stood up in outrage.
"Take it back!"
Oberyn sat in his seat and watched with cool amusement.
"No."
Yara stopped her brother before he did something stupid, pulling him back down.
"He's bad-mouthing Father!"
"And? Do you think you'll stand a chance if the Viper decides to fight you?"
"I'll recover. You can't die here."
"You're as much an idiot as Father if that's your reasoning."
Theon looked outraged once more.
"He is our father!"
"And he's making a stupid choice. What of it?"
"You seem to be okay with it up there" he motioned to the wall."
"Because I know if I complain, he'll set me aside and do even stupider things! You haven't known him like I have, brother. Our Father has more pride than he has a mind. Unless you wish to follow his footsteps, I suggest you keep shut and hold your seat."
Theon scowled at his sister but held his tongue.
For now.
[THEON looks at his father and BALON meets his eyes, holding his gaze for a moment before continuing.]
"Yara, my daughter, you'll take thirty longships to attack Deepwood Motte."
"I've always wanted a castle."
"And what's my role in all this?"
"TRAITOR!" Arya shouted.
"That is my father—"
"Who doesn't give a rat's ass about you" Robb snarled. "Look at how he treats you! Unlike us who accepted you into our house, invited you to eat with us, play and fight with us!"
"I was a prisoner!" Theon hissed out. "I had no choice in the matter! I was abducted from my family and brought to the North!"
"And who's fault was that?" Robert stated, oddly calm, which made Theon shiver. "If not for Ned Stark you'd be either dead or wiping the decks at Castle Black. You should be kissing his feet and thanking him for giving you a future."
Theon turned startled eyes to Ned, who was looking at him with disappointment.
"We do not harm others for the things they have yet to do" Ned said calmly and Theon felt slightly calmed, "but it is clear where your loyalties lie. We'll deal with you once this is over."
Theon's heart raced frantically. He turned to his sister for support, but she did not look remotely interested in doing so.
"I told you to keep shut, little brother" she ground out with a shrug.
Theon leaned back and let his situation sink in. He was fucked.
"You'll take a ship to raid the fishing villages on the Stoney Shore."
Robb snorted disdainfully.
"That is the father you chose over the one that cared for you like one."
Theon remained silent.
"A ship? You give her thirty and I get one?"
"The Sea Bitch. We thought she'd be perfect for you."
[THEON moves to the other side of the table to stand closer to BALON.]
"Father, I fought with Robb Stark. I know his men. He won't give up the North so easily."
"They won't even know we're there until it's too late."
"What do you know of it, woman? I'm a proven warrior."
"Funny you should say that, brother. How many men have you killed till now?" Yara crooned, "Because I can assure you, my swords and axes have tasted more blood than any cloth has between my legs."
Theon grits his teeth but remains silent. He has had no kills to boast of, none yet anyway.
"Your brothers were warriors, both of them dead at the hands of those you seem so eager to protect."
"I'm not protecting anyone. I just wonder if it's not wiser to wait. Why risk going against the North if they would be our allies? Rise against them and they could destroy us. But if we pledge fealty to them, they'll give us Casterly Rock."
"Oh Theon" Yara shook her head, "you never learn do you."
"I—" Theon swallowed. Even he saw the mistake he made. Give them Casterly Rock, how foolish was he being?
"What are our words? Our words?"
"We do not sow."
"We do not sow. We are Ironborn. We're not subjects. We're not slaves. We do not plough the fields or toil in the mine. We take what is ours. Your time with the wolves has made you weak."
"You act as if I volunteered to go. You gave me away if you remember. The day you bent the knee to Robert Baratheon. After he crushed you. Did you take what was yours then?"
Robert smirked at the words. The kid didn't have a filter to save his life.
[BALON backhands THEON, who falls back. BALON starts to exit the room.]
"You gave me away!"
[BALON stops.]
"Your boy! Your last boy! You gave me away like I was some dog you didn't want anymore. And now you curse me because I've come home."
Yara grew slightly soft.
"It wasn't on him, to send you away or not. He rebelled, he lost, he had to pay the price" Yara said softly.
"Yeah well, he doesn't seem to understand that, does he" Theon muttered.
Yara pursed her lips and patted Theon on the shoulder.
[KING'S LANDING, DINING HALL, NIGHT]
[QUEEN CERSEI LANNISTER dines with LADY SANSA STARK, PRINCE TOMMEN, and PRINCESS MYRCELLA. The room is silent and awkward.]
Sansa shifted in her seat. Even here she felt the awkwardness seep in. She did not like the Queen much anymore, not after all the things she'd seen about her.
"When will Joffrey and Sansa be married?"
[SANSA's head jerks up and she looks over at CERSEI.]
Sansa's mouth turned sour at the thought.
"He won't marry you this time. He won't get the opportunity" Arya whispered to her sister.
Oddly enough Sansa was comforted by Arya's word. There was a first time for everything.
"Soon, darling, when the war is over."
"Mother says I'll have a new gown for the ceremony and another for the feast. But yours will be ivory since you're the bride."
"Ivory… Not even going to honour her House" Catelyn muttered scathingly. Her wedding gown was white, with the colours of her house embedded in elegant patterns and symbols. She could still remember it like it was yesterday.
[SANSA doesn't reply, a look of trepidation on her face. At her lack of response, MYRCELLA looks back at SANSA, as does CERSEI.]
"The princess just spoke to you."
"And she's eating, you vile woman!" Bran glared up at the Queen's image.
Sansa felt heartened by the support of her little brother.
Perhaps she should get to know them both better and be a better sister to them…
"Pardon, Your Grace. I'm sure your dress will be beautiful, Myrcella. I'm counting the days until the fighting is done and I can pledge my love to the King in sight of the gods."
[CERSEI watches SANSA as she makes her statement. SANSA looks close to tears at the end.]
"Is Joffrey going to kill Sansa's brother?"
[SANSA looks over at CERSEI again.]
"He might."
"As if" Robb snorted. That pansy was not going to be able to touch him, let alone kill him.
[SANSA takes a long drink of wine.]
"Would you like that?"
[CERSEI's answer is directed at TOMMEN, but she is looking at SANSA when she says it.]
Jon's eyes hardened at the vile woman.
"No. I don't think so."
"Myrcella and Tommen, they are the best of my brother and sister. Nothing like Joffrey" Tyrion supplied. Perhaps this would improve their standing with the Starks.
Myrcella flinched at the reminder of who her father was.
"Aye… they are" Ned nodded.
Myrcella looked up and saw Ned Stark smiling at her, nothing vindictive or mean, just kind and warm.
She felt her chest tighten.
"Lord Stark is nice. He won't let anything happen to us" Tommen whispered to her.
Myrcella gave a small nod.
"Even if he does, Sansa will do her duty. Won't you, little dove?"
"She needs to be put in her place" Robb muttered.
"She will be once we return" Jon muttered back.
[KING'S LANDING, TYRION'S CHAMBERS, DAY]
[GRAND MAESTER PYCELLE hands TYRION a vial of medicine.]
"Oh! Thank the gods. I haven't had a proper shit in six days."
"You have something planned" Jaime accused.
"I could just be constipated" Tyrion argued.
"And I could be the next King" Jaime snorted.
"I've encountered this problem before, my lord. The stresses of power often have this insalubrious effect. Two drops with water, daily."
"Right. I'm so grateful to have a man of your vast knowledge and wisdom on my side."
[TYRION indicates the chair behind PYCELLE. Pycelle sits]
"I can trust you, Pycelle, can I not?"
"Why, yes, of course, my lord."
"These are perilous times. And the crown must forge new alliances. And these alliances must often be sealed in matrimony."
[TYRION sits in the chair opposite PYCELLE.]
"Matrimony, huh? Yes."
"I'm trusting the council with these plans, but the Queen mustn't know. We can't have her meddling in affairs that could determine the future of the realm. There's too much at stake."
"Clever. Trying to find the moles" Doran mused.
"Oh, yes, yes. Indeed, yes. I shall be silent as the grave."
[TYRION walks to pour a drink.]
"I'm brokering an alliance with House Martell of Dorne. Princess Myrcella will wed their youngest son when she comes of age, ensuring their loyalty and their army, should we need it."
Myrcella turned to her uncle.
"Would you really?"
Tyrion thought for a moment.
"If it would protect you, perhaps I would. The Martells hold no love for us, but they would not hurt a child no matter who the child comes from."
Myrcella nodded and looked away. She always expected to be married to someone not her choosing for political gain. This was no different.
[VARYS now occupies the seat where PYCELLE had been sitting.]
"I plan to marry Princess Myrcella off to Theon Greyjoy."
"That is by far the worst lie you could have made up" Jaime pointed out. "Varys already guessed your motives just from that."
"I believe I would see through it" The Spymaster lowered his head to hide his smile.
"Shut up, both of you" Tyrion rolled his eyes.
"Theon Greyjoy? Forgive me, my lord, but how? He grew up a ward of Winterfell. He fights for Robb Stark."
"Precisely."
[TYRION turns and slowly walks away from VARYS.]
"Theon's father loathes the Starks and will convince the boy to come to our side. Greyjoy can destroy the Northern army from within and we can have his father's ships."
"Even worse. Anyone who knows Balon Greyjoy would know he would not care a spit who his son marries. Who, as it turns out, he doesn't care for either."
"Yes well, I didn't know that did I?" Tyrion scowled at his brother.
[TYRION turns around and LORD PETYR "LITTLEFINGER" BAELISH is now leaning against the desk, VARYS nowhere in sight.]
"I plan to wed Princess Myrcella to Robin Arryn of the Vale. Lysa is not fond of me. But perhaps the promise of a royal match will convince her to let bygones be bygones."
Jaime raised a brow.
Tyrion sighed.
"She imprisoned you. She tried to execute you. And you offer her son a princess?"
"For men in our position, holding grudges can be an encumbrance, don't you think?"
"And I suppose you want me to broker this agreement?"
"Who better?"
[LITTLEFINGER walks around the desk as he ponders.]
"Yes, I could sing this song to Lysa, if I cared to. What's in it for me?"
"The gratitude of the people of Westeros for helping to end this war, the adoration of the King for bringing the Vale back into the fold... and Harrenhal."
"Harrenhal is cursed."
"Never took you for a superstitious man. By all means, tear it down and rebuild. You'll be able to afford it. I plan to make you Lord of the Riverlands."
"You can't do that!" Caelyn shouted, standing up to glare at the imp.
"I assure you, Lady Stark, I don't plan to" Tyrion tried to appease her.
He was not able to appease her. The woman glared before sitting back down.
"With a single stroke, you'd make me one of the greatest lords in the realm."
"You served my family well in the matter of the succession."
"So did Janos Slynt, and he was given Harrenhal, too. Until you snatched it away."
"I need you to deliver Lysa Arryn. I didn't need Janos Slynt. It's settled, then?"
"Good. Oh. And remember-"
"The Queen mustn't know."
[TYRION drinks deeply and sets his empty glass on a table before exiting. LITTLEFINGER ponders.]