I don't own Game of Thrones.
Chapter 2
Rodrik Ryswell
Rodrik Ryswell was reading thoroughly of his only living daughter.
Another plead if there is some good match for her only daughter and heir of her father's castle. He sighs and leans back a little. Tossed the letter on his desk along with the same results as his daughter's proposals.
He grunted and tried to think of a way to make sure his blood remains there.
'I am glad that Barbrey is protected by Widow's law, but that doesn't mean that ambition people will stop them from getting a loophole for it.'
Everyone knows that the real reason why she remains as the lady of Barrowton is that the law called Widow's Law thanks to King Jaehaerys I Targaryen on the advice of his wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen.
Not even Lord Stark can avoid that law. SO, that is one way to make sure he let his daughter keep the castle.
Thanks to that law, she used her wit and cunning to keep her position as Lady of Barrowton and put her foot down against her husband's brothers.
Barbrey has bad blood with the rest of the Dustin brothers. Worst comes to worst if civil war will be upon her.
'Now I had already lost one grandson. Will I lose another grandchild?' He looked back when his daughter had announced that she is carrying the heir of Dustin.
How Barbrey is pleased to have something of her own.
It was a blessing in disguise, but he knew that his daughter still loves Brandon Stark.
However, a child between a union of William and Barbrey seems to brighten up her misery because of that war.
When his granddaughter was born, she has received a cold welcome.
Rodrik admitted that he too was disappointed, but one looked from his granddaughter. He changes his mind since she gave out a good stare at him like she was already challenging him.
"I did not doubt that you will make men quiver against your stare, Avelina Dustin," Rodrik told words to his granddaughter pleased that perhaps her being a girl won't be so bad.
Other people weren't keen on hearing that Lady Dustin gave a daughter instead of a son.
Many Barrowton were disappointed by the result, but Barbrey firmly keeps her daughter within her sights. Barbrey refused any wetnurse or nannies to raise her daughter.
It seems that Avelina loved for hoses proves she is one of them. Grew up healthy and energetically every chance she visits him in his home.
He would spoil her with dresses and toys. Avelina once demand books so she can be smart like everyone.
Rodrik is pleased that his granddaughter is keeping her mother's teaching to heart but feels that if he doesn't watch out for his granddaughter then she would forfeit her life by enemies.
However, despite her flirt men and charm them with wit and playful attitude. Avelina knew how to power-play men and earn good gracious with women who are from power lines. No doubt they will do what she asked without even trying.
Boy, he will feel sorry for anyone who knew she is more viper than her mother.
"My lord," His Maester gave him another raven. He read thoroughly a letter and it is the news he needs to hear.
"Oh!" Looks like the Gods had answered his prayers.
"It looks like Lady Whent is hosting another tourney in Harrenhal. It says that she had bountiful harvest enough to feed seven kingdoms that she wished to invite everyone for the tourney as gratitude and something lift everyone's spirits."
"Yes. They said that the King and his family is coming to Harrenhal." The Measter said.
"Is that wise?"
Rodrik is not the only one concerned about this. After all, the last time everyone went to Harrenhal for a tourney was held in 281 AC, the year of the false spring, at Harrenhal in the Riverlands.
Oh, how everyone was young and had no problems in the world. It was considered a great honor to show those southern how warriors fight in the North.
Everyone was merrily and meet each other face to face.
That is until that huge scandal during that time.
Prince Rhaegar was champion of the joust, defeating four knights of the Kingsguard, and in the end, he chose Lyanna Stark as the new queen of love and beauty, placing a crown of blue winter roses in her lap. This was scandalous in that, not only was Rhaegar already married to Elia of Dorne, who was present at the tourney but Lyanna herself was betrothed to Robert Baratheon.
There were already terrible whispers about Lyanna Stark having an affair with Rhaegar or already being his mistress.
Poor princess Elia who was pregnant for the second time had endured worse than anyone.
To be honest, Lyanna Stark didn't make things better since she made the whole world knew her distaste for Robert Baratheon just caused, he had already bastard daughter in Vale.
He wonders if he should send his granddaughter and daughter to that tourney, but he is worried if there will be another scandal coming.
'Maybe with our Ryswell armed men and few Barrowton to escort them. They will be safer.' Rodrik briefly thought, but he will need to confirm with his daughter since Gods knew how overprotective she is.
So, he decided that he send a raven o his daughter about his plan to mingle with young knights and lord's sons.
Hopefully, he didn't catch her in a bad mood again.
Avelina Dustin
"GET YOU FILTHY ARSE OUT OF MY HOUSE!"
Barbrey is chasing a poor messenger with an ax.
Avelina knew that he should not be daring to come to their household and demand to marry her off.
Poor man screaming for his life.
Already, Avelina, Measter, and her famed uncle are following her mother to calm her down before killing the messenger.
Avelina knew that she felt insulted by this, but to send the message to her mother before reading it to herself that is like a death sentence.
"Mother…! Calm down! Please don't kill him…!" She ran as fast as she could if it wasn't for this dress.
Thou, it wouldn't matter because this was one of the members of the house of Frey that wished to send the proposal for his elderly father, Lord Walder Frey also known as "Late Lord Frey".
Down into the courtyard many servants and guards scatter away from Stervon way and Lady Barbrey. They would be loved to help, but sadly they fear lady Barbrey more.
"My Lady! Please I beg you….! AAH!" Barbrey had got aimed when it comes to throwing axes. Spinning around and harm straight to the wooden stalls.
SLIT!
The ax was closed to his head, but he is unharmed. Just traumatized by Lady Dustin.
"Gulp!" Stervon Frey could have sworn his life flashed before his eyes.
Barbrey took a hammer from the blacksmith and walked calmly, but her glare sends him in shivers.
"This will teach a lesson of how to have manners in my own house." Lady Barbrey lifts her hammer to strike him down.
Avelina reached to the courtyard and saw what will happen.
"Mother forgives me for this…!" Avelina shouted her master of arms who is also called Beron. "Beron take my mother to her chambers! Quickly!
Beron simply nodded then ran towards his lady and said, "Forgive my lady." He carried her like the baggage of potatoes over his shoulder while Lady Barbrey screams words that she will murder the Freys or castrated men of their household.
"Guards escort these men out our land." She orders her closet guards. They are willing to obey her command. One guard dragged ser Stervon by his heels towards the rest of his parties.
"Maester send word to house of Frey that house of Dustin will not accept this." Maester nodded and went to abide by his young lady's wishes.
Lady Barbrey screamed until she is hoarse, and her throat is sore.
Avelina sighs.
'What a mess this turns out.'
Avelina knew that once her mother calms down and forget that this whole thing had happened. Avelina had this placed cleaned up and moved on to the routine.
When it's time for supper, her lady mother calms down but could tell that her mother is upset at Lord Frey.
"Mother, please. There is no need to be upset." She tried to reason with her mother.
"I send out for good matches and yet they insult me with this." Lady Barbrey whispers bitterly. It broke her heart to see her mother like this.
Avelina placed her hand unto her mothers. "I know, but I will find a good match and simply watch to make them realized what they had lost."
Lady Barbrey smiled briefly, "You're right. No need to be sorrowful on the loss, but see what we can gain from this."
"My lady," a maid gave her mother a letter.
Lady Barbrey took the letter and saw her family's sigil.
"Oh from grandfather perhaps?"
She watches as her mother reads and each line makes her slowly widen and a bright smile appears to on her face.
"Oh, bless my cunning of a father of mine! You did it again!" Lady Barbrey smiled at her father's words.
Avelina demands to know.
"Good news my girl. You will have a better match and this time you will have an adventurous one!"
"Adventurous one?"
"Yes, you will find out and pick a husband of good wealth and standing. Surely, they would love to have their bloodline in our household."
Avelina a bright face came. "When?"
"Simple. Everyone! Pack our things for the trip. We are going to Harrenhal for a Tourney and this time we will succeed."
Reviews are welcome.
Fun fact: The Widow's Law was implemented in the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen on the advice of his wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen. It later became known as part of Queen Alysanne's laws.[1]
When Alysanne Targaryen hosted her women's courts, she became aware of the plight of widows throughout the realm. In times of peace, it was not uncommon for a man to outlive the wife of his youth, as women die in the birthing bed, and in times of war, the men may perish in the fight, leaving behind widows. Due to this, men would often take a new wife, whose presence was resented by the children of the first wife, who would often feel no bonds of affection for her. Upon the man's death, his heir could and would often expel the newly widowed wife, reducing her to penury; in the case of lords, the heirs might strip away the widow's prerogatives, incomes, and servants, reducing her to no more than an impoverished border.[1]
To rectify these ills, in 52 AC King Jaehaerys implemented the Widow's Law, reaffirming the right of the eldest son (or daughter, where there was no son) to inherit, but requiring said heirs to maintain surviving widows in the same conditions they enjoyed before their husband's death. A lord's widow, be she a second, third, or fourth wife, could no longer be driven from his castle, nor deprived of her servants, clothing, and income. The same law also forbade a man to disinherit the children by a first wife to bestow their lands, seat, or property on a later wife or her children.[1]