Chapter 5
The Kingsroad, 298 AC.
They remained at the Cross Road Inn for another day or so before heading south for King's Landing. Ned gave his daughter time and space before he asked her about Addam Lannister's proposal.
After what had happened with Joffrey, her marriage prospects were now limited. Even though what had happened had been in no way Sansa's fault. Prospective husbands wouldn't take that into consideration even though she still had her maidenhead.
One good thing had come of this mess. It had brought Sansa and Arya closer together as sisters. Nymeria and Lady stayed close to their mistresses from that day.
It was the third day after the incident that Ned broached the subject with Sansa.
"Sweetheart, after what happened with the Prince, the betrothal between the two of you has been called off for obvious reasons. Ser Addam came to me with a proposal. For you and he to be promised to one another if your answer is no.
Then that is the end of the matter." Ned carefully asked; Sansa was still coming to terms with what had happened. Every night since she had woken up multiple times during the night due to nightmares,
"Father I….. Can I have time to consider this?" Sansa answered after a few minutes of silence.
"Takes as long as you need it, sweetheart. Ser Addam is in no hurry for an answer." Ned kissed the top of his daughter's head. He wouldn't blame her if she said no; she never wanted to touch another man after what had happened to her just a few short days ago.
Castle Black, the Gift—the North
298 AC.
Castle Black was a dump in every sense of the word. The Night's Watch was a shadow of its former self. It's numbered barely fifteen hundred men to man the Wall. That stretched from the Shadow Tower to East Watch by the Sea.
The Wall had nineteen castles originally; now all but three were manned. The rest were abandoned and in disrepair. The once glorious and legendary Night's Watch was nothing more than a dumping ground for unwanted second sons, bastards, rapists, and criminals.
Lord Commander Mormont and those under him did the best they could with limited resources and men. The Night's Watch had been abandoned by the rest of the realm.
Torrhen stood watching with Lord Tyrion and Lord Commander Mormont as the Master at Arms of Castle Black Ser Allister Thorn put the newest batch of Night's Watch recruits through their paces.
Torrhen felt sorry for Samwell Tarly; he'd been forced to take the Black by his father.
"You sure we can't interest you in joining Lord Snow?" The Old Bear rumbled.
"I sure, Lord Commander Mormont. I have a good position as sergeant at arms for Ser Addam Lannister." Torrhen turned down the Lord Commander's offer.
"You will be leaving us soon."
"At the next turn of the moon, in a week, yes. Why do you ask, Lord Commander?" Torrhen queried.
"We're in desperate need of supplies and men. Your Uncle has taken up the vacant position as Lord Hand has he not."
"Aye, he has," Torrhen answered.
"Perhaps you could pass on this letter to him. When you see him again." The Lord Commander handed him a letter sealed with the seal of the Lord Commander of Castle Black.
"I will, Lord Commander."
Winterfell, the North
298 AC.
Catelyn Stark sat by Bran's bedside like every night since the fall. She prayed to the Seven Old Gods, any of whom would listen, to spare her son. Make him awake from the coma he is now in. He would never walk again.
The door to Bran's chambers creaked open. Catelyn looked up to see Maester Lewin standing in the doorway.
Lewin walked to the other side of Bran's bedside, feeling his forehead. "It's time we reviewed the accounts, my lady. You'll want to know how much the Royal Visit has cost us."
"Talk to Poole about it." Catelyn dismissed
"He has gone south with Lord Stark, my lady. We need a new steward; several other appointments need immediate attention."
"I don't care about appointments," Catelyn snapped at Lewin.
"I'll make the appointments. We talked about this in the morning, Maester Lewin." Robb had entered the room without Catelyn or Lewin noticing.
"Very good, my Lord, my lady." Lewin bowed his head, leaving Bran's chambers, leaving mother and son alone.
Robb walked to the windows, opening the shutters. "When was the last time you left this room?" he asked, not looking over his shoulder.
"I have to take care of him."
"What of Rickon? He needs you to. Bran is not going to die, mother. Master Lewin says the most dangerous time for him has passed. He will live, mother," Robb retorted. A flash of something in the moonlight caught his attention.
"What if he's wrong? Bran needs me."
"Rickon needs you too. He's six; he follows me around, crying all day. He doesn't know what's going on. He's six for God's sake, Mother." Something had stirred up the direwolves and dogs.
"Can you please shut the window? I can't stand it anymore; please make them stop."
Robb turned to shut the window, but something caught his attention on the hill. Fire. "There's a fire. Stay here. I'll be right back."
Catelyn placed her things on Bran's bed, going to the window to see the fire burning on the hill. The bells were ringing, and shouting was heard in the distance. Catelyn turned to see a grubby man standing behind her. "You're not supposed to be here. No one's supposed to be here."
They both looked to the bed where Bran lay defenseless. "It's a mercy, really. He's dead already."
"No," Catelyn said, to stop the assassin. He hit her, placing his dagger at her throat.
Catelyn grabbed at the blade, cutting her hands to pieces. She and the cutthroat struggled for the knife. Biting his hand. He cried out in pain. Shoving Catelyn to the floor.
Summer appeared out of nowhere, ripping the man's throat out. His screams lasted mere seconds before he dropped to the floor dead. The Direwolf jumped up onto Bran's bed.
Blood was dripping from his muzzle. The wolf had saved both their lives. Her's and Bran's.
"Mother, what happened?" Robb and Theon came in swords in hand. "Theon fetch Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik at once."
"Yes, my lord."
"Who is this man?" Robb questioned.
"Someone sent to kill and silence your brother for something or some reason I don't know."
"I'll have Ser Rodrik double the guard and sweep the Godswoods and Wolfwoods in case he has friends," Robb said as Maester Luwin appeared.
The Godswoods—the next day
298 AC.
"What I am about to tell you most remains between us. I don't think Bran fell from the tower. I believe he was pushed. We've all seen Bran climb."
"The boy was always surefooted," Maester Luwin commented to Ser Rodrik.
"Someone tried to kill him twice, and the last time very nearly succeeded in almost killing both Bran and myself if not for Summer coming when he did and killing the cutthroat. Why try and murder an innocent child? Unless he saw something in that tower, he wasn't supposed to."
"Saw what, my lady?" Theon asked.
"Whatever it was, they tried to kill him twice. Almost succeeded the second time. I don't know what he saw or heard. But I would stake my life on the Lannister being involved in this somehow."
"We already suspect their loyalty to the crown. A raven came from my sister, Lady Arryn. She suspects them of poisoning Jon Arryn."
"Did you notice the dagger the killer used? It's too fine a weapon for such a man to use. The blade is Valyrian steel, and the handle is Dragonbone." Ser Rodrik examined the cutthroat's dagger.
"Someone gave it to him." Ser Rodrik spoke for the first time in roughly fifteen minutes.
"They come into our home and try to murder my brother. If it's war, they want it."
"If it comes to that, you know I'll stand behind you," Theon interrupted.
"Is there going to be a fight in the Godswoods? Too easily, words of war become acts of war." Maester Luwin chastised both Theon and Robb before turning to Lady Stark. "Lord Stark must be told of this."
"I don't trust a raven to carry these words," Catelyn replied to Maester Luwin.
"I'll ride to King's Landing."
"No, there must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go myself." Catelyn dismissed Robb.
"Mother, you can't," Robb protested.
"I must."
"I'll send Hal with a squad of guards to escort you," Ser Rodrik offered.
"Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I don't want the Lannisters to know I'm coming."
"Then I will escort you at least. The Kingsroad can be a dangerous place for a woman traveling alone," Ser Rodrik offered.
"What about Bran?"
"I have prayed to the Seven and the Old Gods for well over a moon. Bran's life is in the hands of the gods; now there is little we can do for him," Catelyn answered Robb.
King's Landing, the Crownlands
298 AC.
No matter how many times he'd been back to King's Landing. Addam had never gotten used to the smell. They parted ways with their father, who continued onto the Red Keep.
Addam and the rest headed for the Lannister Estates within King's Landing. Addam had yet to receive an answer from Lord Stark or Sansa about his proposal for a match between himself and Sansa.
Only time would tell if anything would come of it. Ghost made himself at home in Addam's rooms. Many of the servants were taken aback by the Albino Wolf that followed the heir to Casterly Rock around.
The Red Keep, King's Landing—the Crownlands.
298 AC.
Ned Stark felt a wave of emotion as he stepped into the throne room, the very room where his father was burned alive in his own armor, and his brother Brandon choked to death trying to save him. In the same room, the Mad King killed his good daughter and children in a similar manner to Ned's father.
Jaime Lannister stood near the steps to the Iron Throne.
"I've been asked to accompany you to the Small Council meeting."
"Glad to see you're protecting the throne." Ned nodded to the hideous throne behind the Kingslayer.
"Sturdy old thing. How Kings arses have polished, I wonder."
"That's pretty armor. Not even a scratch on it."
"Amazingly, and people have been hacking at me for years. I was standing where you stood. The day your father burned and your brother choked to death. Five hundred people stood and watched and did nothing.
I was here as well on the day he killed Elia and her children. You'd never meet a more kinder person than Elia. Rhaenys was a sweet thing. Only three name days old.
Aegon was not even a year old. When the Mad King burned them alive. Do you wonder why I killed him that day?" Jaime asked.
"No"
"The Mad King was insane. He'd lost all sense of reality by then. He planned to blow up King's Landing before you could take it. King's Landing would have naught but ash and rubble by the time he was finished.
He had a cache of Wildfyre packed beneath the city. Whether they're still there, I don't know. I told Jon Arryn about them. What the former Lord Hand did about them was another matter.
People can call me Kingslayer or think what they want about me. I broke my Kingsuard vows to uphold the vows I made as a knight to protect the innocent. I couldn't protect Elia or her children.
But I could stop him from hurting anyone else. Do I regret killing Aerys Targaryen the way I did? No, I don't. No one was safe from him. Not even his own wife.
After he burned your father alive, and your brother choked to death. He raped Queen Rhaella. The Kingsguard could do nothing to protect her from her own husband. We were sworn to protect Aerys but not the Queen.
Do I feel any remorse for what I did? No, I don't. Aerys Targaryen was a monster that had to be stopped."
Ned was silent for a time. What could he say to that? Jaime Lannister had forsaken his honor to save the innocent people of King's Landing from the madness and cruelty of the Mad King.
"I will make inquires about the Wildfyre beneath the city. Perhaps we should go to the Small Council Meeting" Ned cleared his throat.
Renly Baratheon, Lord Varys, Lord Petyr Baelish, and Grand Maester Pycelle were already there and waiting for Ned to arrive.
"Lord Stark"
"Lord Varys," Ned shook the Master of Whisper's Hand.
"I was grievously sorry to hear about your troubles upon the King's Road." Referring to the Crown Prince's attempt to rape Sansa.
"Thank you, Lord Varys," Ned smiled before moving around the table.
"Renly, it's good to see you again."
"And you as well, Ned. You look tired from the road."The Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands embraced the Warden of the North and newly appointed Lord Hand.
"I told them the meeting could wait until tomorrow or the day after, but."
"We have a kingdom to oversee." Ned turned to the wealed-faced man standing on the other side of the table.
"Lord Stark. I have been hoping to meet you for some time now. No doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me."
"Aye once or twice," Ned answered. "As did Brandon. I believe you knew quite well, as he was the one who gave the scar when you challenged him for Catelyn's hand. Perhaps you chose the wrong man to duel with."
"It was not the man I chose. But Lady Catelyn Tully, a fine lady to fight for the love and hand of, would you not agree, Lord Stark?"
"My wife is a fine woman." Ned and Baelish stared at one another for a few moments.
"I beg you pardon, Lord Stark." Pycelle interrupted
"Grand Maester"
"How many years has it been? You were a young man then," Pycelle nodded to the Warden of the North and newly appointed Lord Hand.
"And you served another king."
"Oh, how forgetful of me. This belongs to you." Pycelle handed the Lord Hand's pin to Ned.
"Now we can begin."
"Without the King," Ned asked in surprise as he looked around for Robert.
"Winter may be coming. But the rest can't be said for my brother."
"His Grace rarely attends Small Council meetings. He entrusts the small matters to us."Varys explained.
"We are the Lords of Small Matters."
"My brother instructs us to host a tournament celebrating the appointment of you as Lord Hand."Renly handed the scroll to Ned to read.
"How much?" The Master of Coin asked.
"40,000 gold stags for Tournament Champion, 20,000 for the runner-up, and another 20,000 to the winning archer." Ned read off the prize money on offer.
"Can the Treasury afford such an expense?" Pycelle questioned
"I will have to borrow it from the Lannisters."
"Why are we borrowing money from House Lannister? When House Targaryen was disposed. The Treasury was overflowing with gold dragons. How much are we in debt to Lord Tywin."Ned couldn't believe his ears. How had Jon Arryn let it get so bad?
"We owe three million gold stags to Lord Tywin and another three million to the Iron Bank."
"How could you let this happen? Surely Jon Arryn would not have let it get this bad," Ned questioned.
"Lord Arryn offered the King good advice. But the king didn't heed his advice. My brother calls it counting coffers," Renely replied grimly.
"The tournament will not go ahead till I speak to Robert. Forgive my lords; it's been a long ride, and I am tired."
"Of course, Lord Stark, we live to serve you. We can meet again tomorrow after you have spoken to the King."
Ned made his way to the Tower of the Hand. Septa Mordane was seated with Arya and Sasna having their supper. Sansa had barely touched her food. Lady had her head in Sasna's lap.
"Lady Sansa, you must eat. Those wild beasts have no right to be at the table."
"Touch Lady and I will stab you with this fork." Sasna's voice was cold as the wall.
"Sansa, what has gotten into you?" Ned asked, shocked at how Sansa spoke to the Septa.
"She wants to send Lady away."
"Septa, would you excuse my daughters and me? We need some time alone to talk," Ned asked.
"Of course, Lord Stark."
Ned waited till they were alone before speaking, "Sansa, no one is going to send nor take Lady away from you, sweetheart."
"Have you given any more thought to Ser Addam's proposal?" Ned broached the subject carefully.
"I have. Ser Addam is a fine man; I know he's nothing like Joffrey."
"He better not be, or I'll poke him full of holes with Needle," Arya spoke up.
"What is Needle?" Ned asked his youngest daughter.
"My sword Torrhen gave me before we left Winterfell." Ned laughed. Why was he not surprised?
"Sansa, what is your answer?"
"I will agree we won't be married straight away," Sansa answered.
"No Ser Addam said he's happy to wait till you come of age before you are married. In the meantime, you can court one another and be chaperoned. I'll give Ser Addam your answer in the morning. Come little red wolf, you have to eat."
"You haven't called me Little Red Wolf in a long time," Sansa smiled for the first time in days.
"No, I suppose I haven't. Come, you have to eat something."
The Lannister Estate: King's Landing, the Crownlands
298 AC.
Addam was running drills with his squires and youngest brother Damon, putting the four lads through their paces. They would need to practice for the forthcoming tournament.
"Watch your footwork, Martyn. Keep your shield up, Damon" Addam advised, standing on the other side of the training ring.
"Ser Addam, you have a visitor." A Lannister soldier came forth, nodding to a grim-faced Northerner. Jory Cassel. Captain of Lord Stark's Household Guard.
"Captain Cassell, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Addam stood up to his full height. Ghost lay at Addam's feet.
"A message from Lord Stark. He's requested an audience with you after the Small Council meeting later this morning" Jory handed the scroll to Addam.
"Tell Lord Stark I'll be there."
"Very good, my Lord. My Lady" Jory bowed to Ashara before he mounted his horse and rode for the Red Keep.
"What's the Captain of Lord Stark's Household Guard doing here?" Ashara questioned her eldest son.
"Lord Stark wanted to meet with me."
"Meet with you about what Addam," Ashara continued to grill him.
"I asked Lord Stark for his daughter's hand."
"Addam, you care for her," Ashara questioned.
"I do care for. We barely know one another, but I feel a strong urge to protect her," Addam answered.
"You have a big heart, Addam. She has suffered unimaginable trauma. She will need time to heal."
"I understand that, Mother. If Lord Stark agrees to the betrothal, we won't be married till she comes of age." Addam answered.
Addam had his horse saddle riding to the Red Keep. He didn't ride along. With a few lone Lannister soldiers, he trusted. They and Ghost made their way to the Red Keep.
Stablehands lead their horses away. Addam was shown to the Tower of the Hand.
"Lord Stark"
"Ser Addam," Ned shook his hand.
"How are you settling into your role as Lord Hand," Addam questioned.
"Challenging. War is easier than managing the realm's affairs and trying to keep the king's spending in check."
"My uncle is not known for doing things by half." Addam mussed
"So it seems. We would have to borrow another 80,000 gold stags to pay for the prize money for the tournament alone. Will you be competing?"
"Myself and my squires yes. You don't care for tournaments." Addam poured two goblets of wine.
"No, not particular."
"I don't care much for them either, to be honest, Lord Stark. It helps me hone my skill for the day I would have to take a man's life," Addam sipped on his wine.
"You've never taken a man's life."
"I was ten name days the first time I killed a man. When the Iron Born attacked Lannisport. That was the first time I killed a man. I can't tell you how many men I killed. But I take no pleasure in killing," Addam answered.
"It seems we are getting a little off-topic. Has Sansa given you an answer to my proposal?"
"Sansa has given me an answer to your proposal. She agrees to the match. I have a few conditions of my own; the two of you will wed when Sansa comes of age; you can court but not unchaperoned." Ned answered.
"I understand, Lord Stark."
Addam and Lord Stark concluded their business. Addam rode back to the Lannister Estate. There were more Lannister soldiers than before.
His sister Allyria greeted him as he rode in. "Grandfather has arrived from Casterly Rock."
"I wasn't aware that he was coming to the tournament," Addam dismounted, handing the reins to a stable hand.
"I don't think any of us did," Allryia answered her older brother.
Addam had barely stepped foot in his room when he was summoned to his grandfather's chambers.
"You sent for me, grandfather."
"Yes, I did. Have you learned any more about Baelish's plans?"Tywin questioned.
"Not much, no. Only what I wrote to you about in my letter from Winterfell. Though there must be something in the wind. One of my spies told me Catelyn Stark is on her way to King's Landing.
I don't know if there's any truth to this. But my sources tell me someone paid an assassin to kill Brandon Stark. Lord Stark's second son. He fell from a broken tower in a disused part of the Winterfell Keep.
Someone tried to silence him for something he saw or heard, and possibly try to pin it on us."
"Do you think Baelish is possibly behind the attempt on the Stark boy? Tywin queried.
"Possibly/possibly not. Baelish is sickly in love with Catelyn Stark. Him attempting to murder her children is one thing, but murdering her husband is more his style." Addam already had his suspicions about Littlefinger.
"What this I hear of your cousin's betrothal to Sansa Stark has been broken; what happened?"
"Joffrey attempted to rape Sansa. He received thirty lashes for his trouble. Plus a few other things," Addam answered.
"This tournament could work as a good opportunity for you to find a bride for yourself."
"I won't need to, Grandfather. I am promised to Sansa Stark. That ties the North and the Riverlands to us," Addam told him the good news.
"It's a good match for both houses." Tywin agreed.
"It is indeed Grandfather."
"How do you think Stark will fare as Lord Hand?" Tywin questioned.
"It's hard to say. The man is all honorable and just. He may not last long if he doesn't adapt to his new surroundings and learns to play the game."
"Hmm, you may have a point there, Grandson. Where is the horrible little wrench of an uncle of yours?"
"Gone to see the wall. He'll be back in a few moons or so," Addam answered.
"A pity if he doesn't take the black," Addam had learned from an early age his grandfather's disdain for his youngest son.
King's Landing, the Crownlands
A few days later.
Three days after the betrothal between Sanas and Addam had been agreed upon. The soon-to-be-married couple would spend time together, chaperoned mind you.
Addam was glad it wasn't the old bat Septa Mordane chaperoning them. She was an old crone and like most Septas he'd meet.
"Does it always smell this bad?"
"King's Landing, the poorer parts of it have been neglected for years. Poverty, crime, and destitution run rampant through Flea Bottom and the other poorer parts of King's Landing.
Some parts are better than most. It would be so bad if the sewerage was sorted out properly. Most of the shit comes from the richer parts of King's Landing and the Red Keep.
It probably hasn't been seen since King's Landing was built after the Conquest. You can only imagine what the city was like in its heyday." Addam said as they walked through the streets of King's Landing.
He and Sansa walked a bit further on, with Jory Cassel shadowing them as they walked through the streets of King's Landing back toward the Red Keep.
"I have something for you. A small token of my affections." Addam pulled a brown leather pouch from his pocket. It was a simple pendant necklace with a howling wolf. Like that of House Stark's sigle.
"May I"
Sansa turned around as Addam put the necklace on her.
"Thank you, Ser Addam," Sansa kissed him on the cheek.
"You're welcome"
"Will you be competing in the Hand of the King's Tournament?" Sansa asked.
"I will be. I will look for you in the lists. Good day. Lady Sansa" Addam kissed her hand before departing.