[RIVERLANDS, THE CAVERNS OF THE BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT BANNERS]
"Lord, cast your light upon us."
"Lord of Light, defend us."
[ANGUY unbinds SANDOR "THE HOUND" CLEGANE.]
"Show us the truth. Strike this man down if he is guilty. Give strength to his sword if he is true. Lord of Light, give us wisdom. For the night is dark and full of terrors."
"Heretics" Renly muttered in disgust. What in this human-sacrificing religion did these men find so much faith and belief in? Were they just desperate like his brother was? Or was there something else that drew these men in? Perhaps blood lust and whatnot. War brought out the worst in men, Renly had heard Maester Cressen say many years ago, perhaps this was that.
[THE HOUND readies his sword and loosens for battle. LORD BERIC DONDARRION kneels before THOROS. BERIC offers his left hand, and THOROS slices open a long gash in his palm. He then places the sword in BERIC's right hand. BERIC slides the blade across the open wound and the weapon erupts in flame.]
"How did he do that?!" Tommen asked in shock and a bit of awe.
"Thoros is known to use Wildfire on his sword to give him an advantage over his opponents when he's fighting them" Jaime muttered, remembering the man from the Greyjoy Rebellion.
"Aye, Tobho told me about that man. Absolutely hated making blades for him because the flames were too hot and would damage the blade" Gendry shook his head at the memory.
"Well unless he bleeds Wildfire, that was not the same thing" Tyrion pointed out with a frown.
"It's blood magic" Brynden answered. "He used his blood to light his sword, there is no other explanation."
"Of course, it is" Tyrion sighed. What a time he was living in, blood magic being the simple answer and not something to scoff at.
[THE HOUND is taken aback. Both men take up shields and they set to battle. BERIC gets the first advantage, with the flames putting fear in the eyes of THE HOUND. THE HOUND finds his rhythm and the battle becomes more even. BERIC dodges a blow and shoulders THE HOUND to stumble into a fire, sparks erupting. THE HOUND is enraged and makes a poorly chosen charge. He ends up on his knees. THOROS pushes LADY ARYA STARK away as the fight comes close to them. THE HOUND regains his footing and begins a brutal onslaught, shattering BERIC's shield. BERIC stumbles and regroups, pushing THE HOUND back with a series of two-handed swings. THE HOUND falls onto his back, and BERIC's blow sets his shield aflame.]
"The Hound is afraid of fire. Isn't it unfair to use it in a challenge to determine if he's guilty or not?" Bran asked.
"Aye, it is. The flames set the Hound on the disadvantage" Ned agreed.
"Then why are they allowing it?"
"Because they all pray to a fire god and hate the Hound's guts" Brandon the Elder shrugged. "A trial by combat is always considered a religious affair more than anything else, where the judgement is put before the gods. Here they put it before the red god of flames."
"It's still not fair" Bran muttered.
"It's not" Brandon the Elder shook his head.
[THE HOUND launches a wild counterattack while the crowd becomes more excited, and begins to chant 'Guilty'. THE HOUND tries to douse his shield, but it continues to burn. ARYA screams for BERIC to kill the HOUND. After parrying blows, THE HOUND elbows BERIC in the gut. He stumbles backwards with a roar. THE HOUND unleashes an overhead swing with all his might. BERIC blocks with his flaming sword, but THE HOUND's powerful blow breaks the blade and cleaves deeply into BERIC's shoulder and torso. BERIC's eyes roll and he falls to the ground, dead. ARYA is distraught and THOROS launches himself onto BERIC.]
"And the gods have deemed that the Hound is innocent," Catelyn said grimly.
"But he's not! He killed Mycah!" Arya argued, pushing away from her aunt to glare at her mother.
Catelyn could only smile in apology and pity.
"He's not!" Arya repeated before looking away angrily. She didn't care that the Hound was following orders, he killed Mycah.
"Lord cast your light upon this man, your servant. Bring him back from death and darkness. His flame has been extinguished. Restore it."
Renly snorts. Great, now they believe in resurrection!
[THE HOUND falls to the ground with a shout and smashes his shield to the ground, trying to choke the flames.]
"For the night is dark and full of terrors. Lord, cast-"
[ARYA spins backwards and takes a man's knife.]
[ARYA runs towards THE HOUND, but GENDRY intercepts her and tackles her off of her feet.]
"Why did you stop me!" Arya glared at Gendry.
Gendry threw her an incredulous look.
"I did no such thing" he argued. "That hasn't happened."
Arya's glare did not die away, still pinned on Gendry.
"No! Let go of me! Let me go!"
"Arya, don't!"
[From the ground, THE HOUND taunts her.]
"Looks like their god likes me more than your butcher's boy."
"Burn in hell!"
"He will. But not today."
[BERIC kneels by the fire, resuscitated, bitter and humbled.]
"EXCUSE ME?!" Renly shot to his feet. "How is he still alive?! We saw him die, right? Tell me I wasn't the only one to see him die!"
Nobody argued against him, all too shocked to even speak at that moment.
"It's blood magic" Brynden informed the Lord of Storm's End. "That priest used Beric's death as fuel to bring him back. But spells like this, more often than not sap away at the caster's soul as well. It is dangerous, and I'm certain the man does not know that it's not some god but he himself using blood magic."
"How do you know about that?" Renly asked though he sat down. The answer satisfied him.
"I studied magic long ago" Brynded explained.
"Beyond the Wall? I wasn't aware you had books there, or you could read" Jon said with a frown.
Brynden only looked at Jon but did not answer him.
[RIVERLAND, THE CAVERNS OF THE BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT BANNERS A BIT LATER]
"I want my gold."
"As if him getting away wasn't enough, greedy bastard" Arya muttered angrily.
She had muttered loud enough for her aunt to hear, and Lyanna only squeezed her closer in response.
Arya huffed but did not pull away.
"It says it clearly right there on that note you'll be repaid in full when the war is over."
"A note!" snorted Tyrion. "That's as good as having written that you're the next King" he added.
Tommen looked at him confused.
"It means that has no value. It's only paper" Tyrion explained.
"Like how Lord Stark's paper of recognition as regent from father?" Tommen asked.
"Not… exactly" Tyrion scratched his head. "His appointment had meaning and justice, your brother and mother simply chose to ignore it."
Tommen frowned.
"He's not our father" Myrcella whispered kindly.
Tommen nodded, a little sad.
[THE HOUND throws down the note.]
"Piss on that! You're nothing but thieves."
"We're outlaws. Outlaws steal. You're lucky we didn't kill you."
"Come try it, archer. I'll shove those arrows up your ass."
[THE HOUND walks towards ANGUY but THOROS holds him back.]
"You can't let him go. He's a murderer. He's guilty."
"Not in the eyes of god. The judgment isn't ours to make."
"Fuck your god then" Arya muttered angrily.
"Hey," Lyanna said gently.
Arya huffed and looked away.
[ANGUY tossed THE HOUND his swords. A man places a hood over THE HOUND's head and leads him out.]
[HARRENHAL]
[The gates open to a courtyard and LOCKE's men ride in. LADY BRIENNE OF TARTH looks at SER JAIME LANNISTER, who sits withered astride his mount. One of LOCKE's men forces BRIENNE and JAIME to kneel in the courtyard.]
"On your knees. Lord Bolton, I give you the Kingslayer."
[LOCKE pushes JAIME down with his foot. JAIME falls on his face without resistance and groans.]
Jaime hissed under his breath, his anger rising at the way his future self was being treated. How dare he? Who does this man think he was?
Jaime Lannister was over his shock at losing his hand, and the subsequent depression. Now he was full of anger that bid its time until he could unleash it.
"Pick him up, Locke."
[Locke picks up Jaime with the help of one of his men.]
"You've lost a hand."
"No, my lord, he has it here."
[LOCKE taunts JAIME with the dismembered hand tied around his neck.]
Jaime's right hand fisted tightly, while his left hand gripped his right wrist.
[ROOSE pulls the hand from around JAIME's neck and hands it to LOCKE.]
"Take this away."
"Send it to his father?"
"You'll hold your tongue unless you want to lose it. Cut her free."
[BRIENNE is cut free.]
"Apologies, my lady. You're under my protection now."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Find suitable rooms for our guests. We'll speak later."
"Rooms?" Joanna raised a brow. That was new. Why would Roose Bolton be so… welcoming? Jaime was a prisoner who was wanted alive, but a prisoner. And Brienne was no doubt given a kill o sight for helping in Jaime's escape. Something was not clicking for the former Lady of Casterly Rock.
[ROOSE BOLTON starts to walk away. But stops and turns when JAIME calls out to him.]
"Is there word from the capital?"
"You haven't heard? Stannis Baratheon laid siege to King's Landing. Sailed into Blackwater Bay. Stormed the gates with thousands of men. And your sister How can I put this? Your sister is alive and well. Your father's forces prevailed."
[JAIME falls to his knees in relief.]
"Ser Jaime isn't well. Take him to Qyburn."
"Was Qyburn the man Robb's wife was tending to?" Bran whispered to Sansa; his usual discussion partner Arya too livid for normal talk.
Sansa shrugged. She didn't remember that.
[RIVERRUN]
[WILLEM LANNISTER and MARTYN LANNISTER lie sleeping. There are sounds of a battle outside their cell. MARTYN shakes WILLEM to wake him. The door bursts open, and LORD RICKARD KARSTARCK runs the guard through with his sword. He and his men enter.]
"Fuck" Rickard muttered. His eyes went to his grandson, who seemed to come to the same conclusion as he had. Whichever way he acted now, things were going to get worse for the Northern Army.
[RIVERRUN, Later]
[WILLEM and MARTYN lie dead on a blanket. QUEEN TALISA STARK kneels beside them and KING ROBB STARK stands beside her. BRYDEN "BLACKFISH" TULLY stands opposite, while LADY CATELYN STARK sits behind them. BRYNDEN opens the door at Robb's word. RICKARD KARSTARK and his men walk in. Their hands are bound.]
"Is that all of them? It took five of you to murder two unarmed squires?"
"Not murder, Your Grace. Vengeance."
"Vengeance? Those boys didn't kill your sons. I saw Harrion die on the battlefield and Torrhen-"
"Was strangled by the Kingslayer. They were his kin."
Robb bit his lips nervously. What was he going to do? What could he do? If he punished them, the Karstark Army would leave them. If he let them be after this, nobody would heed a single word he would say.
Robb ran his hands through his hair and sighed with frustration. Fuck Kingship.
"They were boys! Look at them."
"Tell your mother to look at them. She killed them as much as I."
"My mother had nothing to do with this. This was your treason."
"On the contrary, your mother had a huge hand to play here" Olenna Tyrell spoke as sharp as ever. "Had she not been stupid and not released the Kingslayer, shit like this would not have happened."
"Lady Olenna-"
"Can't blame people for the things they have yet to do?" Olenna cut Ned off with a sharp laugh. "You're soft, Lord Stark. And look at what that has done to your family. It loathes me to say but you should have held your wife tighter because all this shit is because she took a man prisoner with no proof other than the word of a man as two-faced as a snake."
"I didn't know he would lie!" said Catelyn defending herself.
"But you knew that Tywin Lannister would not sit quietly for what you've done" Olenna pointed out coldly. "Stop hiding behind the 'I didn't know' or the 'It has not happened yet' and take responsibility. Because I can bet half the wealth of Highgarden that you have learned nothing and would do stupid things like this if the chance came again and expect your husband to rescue you. Your husband is not King, and the King is not someone who can be biased towards his friend" The Queen of Thorns cleared her throat with a cough. "Now sit and watch as the worlds of your children get ruined because of your stupid decisions."
Olenna Tyrell said not much after, but her words resonated for the rest of the viewing in the ears and minds of the Stark.
[BRYNDEN punches RICKARD KARSTARK.]
"Leave him."
"Aye. Leave me to the king. He wants to give me a scolding before he sets me free. That's how he deals with treason. Our King in the North. Or should I call him the King Who Lost the North?"
Robb flinched.
"Escort Lord Karstark to the dungeon. Hang the rest."
"Mercy, sire! I didn't kill anyone. I only watched for the guards."
"This one was only the watcher. Hang him last so he can watch the others die."
"Please! Please, no. They made me do it! They made me! They made me!"
[BRYNDEN takes out RICKARD KARSTARK and men. ROBB sits at his table. TALISA and EDMURE TULLY approach.]
"Word of this can't leave Riverrun. They were Tywin Lannister's nephews. The Lannisters pay their debts. They never stop talking about it."
"He isn't wrong. Though it would be more avenging the insult than the boys exactly" Tyrion muttered.
"Would you make me a liar as well as a murderer?"
"It wouldn't be lying. We will bury them and remain silent until the war is done."
"I'm not fighting for justice if I don't serve justice to murderers in my ranks, no matter how highborn. He has to die."
[CATELYN stands and approaches.]
"The Karstarks are Northmen. They won't forgive the killing of their lord."
"If the deaths of the Lord's sons and the King's inaction towards his mother freeing the Kingslayer had already not set them against him" Oberyn added 'helpfully'.
"Your mother's right. If you do this, the Karstarks will abandon you."
"You tended to their wounds. You brought them supper. Now they're dead."
"And more boys will keep dying until this war is over. You need Karstark men to end it."
"Spare his life. Keep him as a hostage."
"A hostage. Tell the Karstarks that as long as they remain loyal, he will not be harmed."
"Not the worst of plans" Brandon the Elder considered. "North men are loyal to their Lords above all else. They will fight for him and his safety no matter what."
[RIVERRUN YARDS, LATER]
[Rain pours down as men bring out the bound RICKARD KARSTARK. ROBB approaches.]
"The blood of the First Men flows through my veins as much as yours, boy. I fought the Mad King for your father. I fought Joffrey for you. We are kin- Stark and Karstark."
"That didn't stop you from betraying me. And it won't save you now."
"I don't want it to save me. I want it to haunt you to the end of your days."
"Kneel, my lord."
[RICKARD KARSTARK willingly leans over the table before ROBB, who holds a great sword]
"Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold, here in sight of gods and men, I sentence you to die. Would you speak a final word?"
"Kill me and be cursed. You are no king of mine."
[ROBB beheads RICKARD KARSTARK with a single great blow. He walks away, conflicted and frustrated.]
"Ironic how Robb ends up doing the same thing Joffrey did" Shireen said, a tad too loud at that since Robb turned to her with a glare.
But Renly's laugh had diverted his attention.
"My niece is not wrong and you can't say otherwise. Both of you were advised to stay your hands and show respite to your prisoners, and you both did the dumb thing and killed them. One resulted in a full-blown war and another resulted in a major portion of their armies possibly leaving. You have no room to argue it."
Catelyn watched her eldest look away scowling angrily, hands gripping his knees as he tried to control himself.
She swallows thickly but says nothing. There was nothing to say.
[DRAGONSTONE]
[QUEEN SELYSE BARATHEON prays with palms open to a fire in a roughly hewn room.]
"Lord, cast your light upon me. Protect me in the darkness. Burn away my sins. Help me serve you. Use me as you will. For the night is dark and full of terrors."
"So the madness has inflicted both of you," Robert said with displeasure.
Something told Stannis that perhaps the madness had touched Selys before him. But he wasn't one to make such accusations without proof.
[The door opens and KING STANNIS BARATHEON enters. He stands at the threshold, silently. SELYSE nods in greeting.]
"I meant to come sooner. The battle-"
"I know of your troubles, My king. The Lady Melisandre has told me everything. You mustn't despair. Your claim is true. You will be victorious. You are the one god's champion and the finest man I've ever known."
Stannis flinched. He certainly did not feel like one right now.
"Selyse. I've broken a sacred vow. I've sinned. I've wronged you. I have shamed you."
"You're doing god's work."
"You don't understand. The Red Woman- the Lady Melisandre-"
"I know, Stannis. The Lady Melisandre has told me everything. No act done in service of the Lord of Light can ever be a sin. When she told me, I wept with joy."
"Wept with joy, gods these two heretics were made for each other" Renly muttered in disgust. His brother was still somewhat level-headed, but his good sister was far too gone. Selys had always been a little loose in the head.
[SELYSE walks past STANNIS toward three specimen jars. Each contains a stillborn baby in a cloudy, green liquid.]
"Good gods! She kept those?" Joanna asked in shock.
"It is her greatest regret that the sons we had did not live long" Stannis muttered.
"And yours, I'm assuming" Joanna replied.
"The children did not make it, there is no reason to dwell on it" Stannis shrugged.
"It bothers him," Joanna said to herself. She could tell that it bothered him that his sons did not make it far into life.
"I thank god every day for bringing Melisandre to us. She gave you a son. I gave you - nothing."
Shireen flinched.
"That's not true."
"So you've come to see her as well? There is no need. You must keep away from such distractions."
"She's my daughter. I want to see her."
The girl smiled slightly, blinking in slight shock when her father patted her gently on the head. Her father had always been kind to her. Her mother…
[INSIDE SHIREEN'S CHAMBERS]
[SHIREEN lies below a shuttered window singing. Sounds of seabird and crashing surf waft through the room.]
"That is an… interesting song" Renly muttered.
"Patches, our fool sings it all the time. It gets stuck in your head after a while" Shireen said with a smile.
[SHIREEN rushes up and hugs STANNIS. He sighs and does not return her embrace.]
"Return the damned hug" Robert grunted. He always found Shireen to be something of a small delight. Somewhat pitiful with the Greyscale but otherwise a sweet child.
"It's alright, your Grace. I know my father is not a big hugger" Shireen said with a smile.
Robert smiled back.
[She looks up at him, revealing the greyscale that has consumed the left side of her face. She pulls him to sit on the bed.]
"Mother said you fought in a battle. Did you win?"
"No."
"Did the Onion Knight come back with you?"
"He did. He fought bravely."
"He hasn't come to visit me. He said he'd bring me back a present from the capital."
"He won't be visiting, child."
"Why not? He's my friend. Look."
[SHIREEN gets up and opens a nearby drawer. She returns with a carved two-masted boat.]
"He made this for me. But don't tell Mother I have it. It's a secret. Mother doesn't like the Onion Knight."
"Ser Davos is a traitor. He's rotting in a dungeon cell for his crime. Best forget him."
[SHIREEN looks down, cradling her ship. STANNIS rises and exits.]
"He may very well be the only logical man still loyal to you," Robert said pointedly.
"Aye… always has been" Stannis muttered. "He's always been unashamed about giving me counsel, whether I wanted to hear it or not."
"And look where it got him" Renly snorted.
"Not this time" Stannis muttered, gently slamming the side of his fist on his thigh.
[HARRENHALL BATHING CHAMBER]
[BRIENE sits in a large bath pool in an ornate bathing room, scrubbing the layers of filth from her arms with a bristle brush. JAMIE has entered with a squire. BRIENNE is surprised.]
"She is still a woman" Joanna muttered pointedly at Jaime.
"I'll remember to distinguish it when I lose a hand this time and end up a prisoner" Jaime muttered.
"You are no prisoner, let us be honest here" Joanna replied, her frowning features now easing out.
Jaime said nothing.
[The squire helps JAIME undress. We see JAIME's stubbed wrist, wrapped cleanly and tightly. The squire exits. JAIME removes his trousers and BRIENNE looks away in modesty. JAIME moves to enter the tub with BRIENNE. BREINNE moves to the far corner of the tub, but JAIME walks to join her. He steps into the water.]
"There's another tub."
"This one suits me fine. Don't worry. I'm not interested. If I faint, pull me out. I don't intend to be the first Lannister to die in a bathtub."
Tyrion snorts.
"Good to see you haven't lost your sense of humour with your hand here."
Jaime snorts back and cuffs his brother on the head.
"Why should I care how you die?"
"You swore a solemn vow, remember? You're supposed to get me to King's Landing in one piece. Not going so well, is it? No wonder Renly died with you guarding him."
"That was unnecessary," Myrcella said frowning. "It was not her fault, and she can hardly fight a shadow!"
"I know" Jaime muttered with some shame. "It was not right of me to say that."
The golden lioness cub nods and looks away.
[BRIENNE stands bold and naked, challenging JAIME to continue. He is shamed.]
"That was unworthy. Forgive me. You protected me better than most-"
"Don't mock me."
"I'm apologizing. I'm sick of fighting. Let's call a truce."
"You need trust to have a truce."
"I trust you."
[BRIENNE sits, appeased, but fuming.]
The vein in Jaime's jaw jumped seeing that expression. Oh, how he'd seen it so much since that day.
"There it is. There's the look. I've seen it for seventeen years face after face. You all despise me. Kingslayer. Oathbreaker. A man without honour. Have you heard of wildfire?"
The man blinked, his uneasiness and frustration gone. Was he… was he going to explain himself to this woman?
"The Mad King was obsessed with it. He loved to watch people burn, the way their skin blackened and blistered and melted off their bones. He burned lords he didn't like. He burned Hands who disobeyed him. He burned anyone who was against him."
Rickard and Brandon both shifted in their seats. One was burned, while the other had to watch.
"Before long, half the country was against him. Aerys saw traitors everywhere. So he had his pyromancer place caches of wildfire all over the city- beneath the Sept of Baelor and the slums of Flea Bottom. Under houses, stables, taverns. Even beneath the Red Keep itself. Finally, the day of reckoning came. Robert Baratheon marched on the capital after his victory at the Trident. But my father arrived first with the whole Lannister army at his back, promising to defend the city against the rebels. I knew my father better than that. He's never been one to pick the losing side."
Ned scoffed. Everybody knew it, the opportunistic Lannister who was only there for his gain, his family's honour and nothing more.
"I told the Mad King as much. I urged him to surrender peacefully. But the king didn't listen to me. He didn't listen to Varys who tried to warn him."
Rhaegar eyed Varys, who shrugged.
"But he did listen to Grand Maester Pycelle, that grey, sunken cunt. 'You can trust the Lannisters,' he said. 'The Lannisters have always been true friends of the crown.' So we opened the gates and my father sacked the city. Once again, I came to the king, begging him to surrender. He told me to bring him my father's head. Then he turned to his pyromancer. 'Burn them all,' he said. 'Burn them in their homes. Burn them in their beds.' Tell me, if your precious Renly commanded you to kill your own father and stand by while thousands of men, women, and children burned alive, would you have done it? Would you have kept your oath then?"
The Hall had gotten still and silent as a truth that nobody knew was finally out in the open. Even Tyrion was shocked that his brother had not told him.
All eyes went to Jaime, who refused to meet any of them.
"First, I killed the pyromancer. And then when the king turned to flee, I drove my sword into his back. 'Burn them all,' he kept saying. 'Burn them all.' I don't think he expected to die. He- he meant to burn with the rest of us and rise again, reborn as a dragon to turn his enemies to ash. I slit his throat to make sure that didn't happen. That's where Ned Stark found me."
Unrelated to the story but, I have been wanting to write a self insert story. Like a self insert into a canon character. Are any of you interested in that? If so which chaacter do you most want to see? Only ASOIAF though.