Winterfell 293 AC.
Catelyn.
She had suffered through the indignity of having the boy and his beast in her home, watched on as he humiliated her son, Petyr's letters showing the truth of things and through it all Ned had done nothing. So she had sent her letter to Petyr asking for his help, he would not let her down and she was glad to have such a true friend as him to rely on. But things had gone from bad to worse and the bastard's influence over her husband and children needed to be curtailed.
When Ned had spoken to her first on the idea of fostering her children she had been both upset at the idea of them being away from her and excited at the potential of where they could go. Sansa and Robb would do well and perhaps make the matches she so wished for them. Robb in Highgarden being close to Lady Margaery could negate any influence the bastard or his friend would have with the Tyrell's, Sansa could go to Riverrun and she could learn from her father just like she had.
But then she had found out to her horror that it wasn't Ned's idea at all, it was the bastard's, he was the one sending her children away, all of them if he had his way.
"You wish to send Robb to White Harbor, why, why not Highgarden, surely it would be better for our son to foster with a great house?"
"Robb needs to learn more of the North, he needs to learn of trade and perhaps in time he and Lord Manderly's daughter can grow to like one another, a match in the future would be most beneficial."
"A match, you wish to marry Robb to a Manderly, he is the heir to the North, nothing but a daughter of a great house is good enough." she said loudly.
"And who did you have in mind Lady Margaery?" Ned said shaking his head
"Why not? it's a good match Ned, it'll benefit the north too." she said though she cared not about that.
"Robb will need to marry a northern bride Cat, my bannermen will accept nothing less."
She was stunned, he was selling off their son far too cheaply. Robb was worth more than a merman's daughter, Lady Wynafred was a sweet enough girl but she wasn't the rose of Highgarden, she wasn't what her son deserved. She did her best to calm down and asked about Sansa only to find that it was Highgarden she was to be sent to and she saw it clearly then, the bastard's hands were all over this.
"No we should send her to Riverrun, to my father."
"Cat there are no girls of her age in Riverrun, she'd be alone."
"Then the Vale to Lysa, there are girls there, Lord Royce has a daughter as does Lysa's steward."
"You think our Sansa would enjoy the Vale more than the Reach the home of chivalry and tourneys, no Cat it's to be Highgarden."
"Very well my lord." she said as she turned.
"When she's old enough Arya will go to Bear Island, Maege has agreed to foster her there."
"What? no I'll not have that, send her to the Vale. She needs to learn how to be a lady, not a bear like those women." she said her disgust clear in her voice.
"Those women are my families most leal support, Arya will learn to be a lady, a northern lady like my sister was." Ned said angrily and she bit her tongue knowing she couldn't speak aloud her true feelings about Ned's stupid sister.
"Are you to send Bran away too my lord, am I to be left with none of my children."
"Jon has agreed to take Bran as squire when he's knighted, it's what the boy wishes most Cat you know how he feels about Knights."
"No, on that I'll not give Ned, you may send my children away from me but no I'll not have that boy with my son. I shall write to my uncle, Brynden will squire him."
He looked at her and nodded and she felt at least some relief, she had managed to keep Brandon away from the bastard's influence, though not from the wolves, but she'd not have him squire for a bastard. She hurried from the room and back to her own, she headed to her chest and went back over the letters she had received, looking for one in particular once she found it she read it again and again.
My dearest sister,
I hope this letter finds you well. I've found a solution to the blight which has invaded our lands, one which I think will be permanent. Though difficult to deal with I think this time I can cleanse the lands and allow things to grow how they should once more, I look forward to your swift reply as once I get it I shall be setting off to ensure this problem is dealt with. I hope you and the children are well and that once we've taken care of the problem affecting the Riverlands perhaps you can come visit.
Your loving Brother.
Edmure.
She began to write the note in reply.
My dearest brother.
I wish you the very best in your endeavors, I know how terrible it can be to have a blight affect your lands. I hope you take every precaution as I'd hate for you to suffer some ill harm dealing with the issue. I welcome your suggestion and hope to come see you and father soon.
Your ever loving sister.
Cat.
She walked to the tower finding Luwin going over the ideas on uses for those infernal wind wheels, another reason to worry about the bastard, between them and that trick with the ice he was receiving more and more favor. No she needed the problem dealt with and dealt with soon, if he was to fall then perhaps Ned would think twice on these fosters. It was far better idea to keep her children close than allow them be corrupted she was beginning to think.
"Maester I wish to send this to my brother in Riverrun."
"Of course my lady, I shall see to it immediately." he said and she watched as he tied the note to the raven and left as it flew off.
With that done she spent the rest of her day in the Sept, found herself lighting a candle and praying to the stranger before she left to ready herself for dinner that night. What she found out during the meal had her losing her appetite and looking so ill that it wasn't just Ned who commented on it. He was sending Sansa and Robb with the bastard when he left, Robb to travel on to White Harbor and Sansa to Casterly Rock and then Highgarden.
Her daughter would be traveling through the Riverlands with him, she had to do something, she needed to stop it. She went to Ned's room that night and pleaded with him to giver her more time with her daughter, to not deny her this, but he didn't listen. It would be better for Sansa to travel with such a large group, better for her protection, also she wished so much to attend the wedding and leaving later would force her to miss it he had told her and she had been left powerless. .
By the time the raven returned they had already left, she had waited until she could wait no more and sent a note to Edmure to tell him Sansa was traveling with them and then all she could do was sit in hope that it would only be the bastard who was harmed.
Kings Landing 294 AC.
Jon Arryn.
He was glad things had started to return to some normality, seeing Robert behave like a love struck fool had brought back far too many memories, memories he'd done his best to forget. While he hated her for what she had almost done to their plans, he hated her most for what he felt she had cost him, she was the key to the North and without her he had never come close again. Though each time he allowed his thoughts turn this way he knew deep down that had she lived, had she cared enough to marry Robert, then Lyanna Stark would have been an even bigger nightmare than Cersei.
He almost laughed at the thought of that, that a wild savage girl from the North would have caused him more problems than the spoiled daughter of Tywin Lannister. But he knew it was true, Cersei was more of a cat than a lion no matter how many times she tried to roar, he doubted the she wolf would have been so pliable. Shaking his head from these thoughts he looked down again at the figures in front of him, they were perilously close to ruin.
He needed to speak to Petyr, their plans had to have born fruit by now, they needed an influx of coin, needed to see the Lannisters suffer so the crown could step in to help, at a price of course. While he found the plan itself a bit far fetched he trusted that in the end it would have the desired result. Rather than send for his friend, he decided to take a walk to his office and upon reaching it he heard the angry shouts inside and rushed in.
"Petyr?" he said looking to find the normally meticulous Master of Coin look disheveled for once, his hair looking like he'd grabbed it and pulled on it.
"What, oh, my lord forgive me." Petyr said and he waved it off.
"What's wrong Petyr?"
"What, nothing, it's."
"Petyr?"
He watched him walk to the door and signal to his guards to make sure they weren't disturbed before he strangely for him, poured himself a glass of wine and offered him one which Jon refused.
"Petyr?"
"He's dead, the Mountain has fallen, him and his men." Petyr said and Jon almost fell into the chair.
"How?" he said as he took his seat.
"Apparently the Martell's were involved, that seems to be the reason why Oberyn was in the west."
Jon looked to Petyr and nodded to the bottle watching as he was poured a glass which he drained quickly. He had thought it strange when he heard the Red Viper was in Lannisport, that he had gone to that wedding was something he couldn't understand, in the end he had written it off though. Dorne dealt mainly with Essos and the Lannisters were perhaps hitting them in the pocket as much as they were him. In Jon's experience most men put aside grudges when there was coin to be gained and he doubted the Dornish to be any different.
But now, if Oberyn was involved then they knew some of it at least, did they know of their own part in things? He doubted that, but he knew the fault lay at Petyr's door, the whole idea of using bandit attacks to cover his plans had failed. It had obviously forced the Lannsters to look closer and they'd found out about the Mountain's involvement. Still bringing in Dorne was clever, he had suggested it years before but Robert and the Old Lion had refused to hand Clegane over.
"Your other plan?" he said after a few moments.
"I've heard nothing back but Jaime Lannister arrived back at Casterly Rock safe and well so it obviously failed." Petyr said shaking his head.
"What are we to do Petyr? We need that coin things are getting desperate."
"I don't know, I need to think, I don't know." Petyr said and Jon just stood up and readied himself to leave.
"We must find a source of income Petyr, if these plans end like this we need to make some new ones." he said not seeing the roll of the eyes he got when his back was turned.
Over the next few days word of the Mountain's fall spread, from Flea Bottom to the Red Keep people celebrated, everyone apart from Cersei who actually demanded the crown hunt down his murderer's which made even Jon laugh. Robert drank and ordered a feast, Barristan walked around with a smile on his face and Jon couldn't fault him that. The only other person who made any comment in support of the monster was their own budding one in the Red Keep.
"If my grandfather was alive he'd have all their heads mounted on spikes, how dare anyone touch a bannerman of my family." Joffrey said loudly to anyone who'd listen.
He sometimes pitied Ser Arys having to follow that boy around all day, the day with the cats especially coming to mind and while Jon would usually never condone the hitting of a child, that boy certainly deserved the slap Robert gave him. Losing a tooth was a small price to play for running through the Red Keep with bloodstained hands holding a dead kitten.
Breaking his fast with Lysa and his own boy was chore enough, Lysa having no decency or composure would insist on feeding the boy from her own teat making his appetite disappear. The way she cooed over him though was at least endearing, she loved their son and Jon found himself loving her a little more for it. After finishing he headed to his office only to find Pycelle waiting for him, he invited the Maester inside and took a seat.
"Lord Hand a raven from Casterly Rock."
"What does Lord Jaime have to say?"
"It bears the golden rose of House Tyrell my lord, most strange." Pycelle said as he handed him the scroll.
Jon looked it over and saw the Maester showing no sign he was about to leave, he placed the scroll in the drawer and looked at the decrepit old fool.
"Is there anything else GrandMaester?"
"No my lord, I just wished to see if you had a reply you wanted to send."
"Perhaps later." he said and began to move papers on his desk.
Pycelle as always took an incredibly long time to leave, dragging out every movement, every gesture, as if he was bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. When he had eventually gone Jon reached in and took the scroll breaking the seal.
Lord Arryn.
Due to unforeseen circumstances requiring my immediate attention it has unfortunately come to bear that I must with great regret stop our current support of the crown's finances. I hope that this shall only be temporary but I fear my lord these circumstances may not clear up for quite some time. Until we are able to once again support the crown financially I beg your understanding. We are and shall always remain true to his grace and look forward to once again being in a position of offering financial support to the crown.
Lad Olenna Tyrell.
Jon felt the stiffness in his chest, the lack of air being breathed into his lungs forcing him to feel dizzy for a moment. He reached over and filled his glass with water drinking it quickly before refilling it to do the same again. This couldn't be happening, they couldn't do this not now, he grabbed his papers from behind him going over the figures again and again, no they couldn't do this. Calling in his guard he sent him to fetch Petyr, they couldn't allow this to pass, they needed to do something and do it soon otherwise, oh by the seven he thought drinking the other glass of water.
Petyr arrived quickly and Jon had still not fully calmed down, though now instead of panic it was anger he was feeling, who the hell did these houses think they were to deny them? They were the crown, they spoke with the king's authority and these houses refused their wishes, refused their demands.
"My lord?" Petyr said and Jon handed him the note his hand shaking in fury as he did so.
"They can't do this my lord, we can't, the crown can't function without their coin."
"I know Petyr, what are we to do?"
"We need to give them what they want my lord, the betrothal with Joffrey it must happen, we have no choice."
"You think I'll gift them a crown after this." he said angrily spittle forming on his mouth.
"No my lord, I think we have no choice but to gift them Joffrey's hand, we can worry on the crown another day, given the prince's proclivities he may not always be heir anyway."
"Robert will never go for it, he wants a damn Stark and nothing, not even I, can change his mind on it."
"You must my lord there is no other choice, if we don't do this I don't know how we can raise the coin just to manage the daily expense."
"The Iron Bank?" he asked hopefully.
"Will bankrupt us just as quickly as no coin at all my lord."
"What if he won't accept it?" Jon asked knowing how Robert would react.
"Then we're fucked my lord, I know of no other house that can support us. Without the Lannisters and the Tyrell's we're fucked." Petyr said and Jon had never seen him so lost.
"The Lannister and Tyrell's you don't think they're in on something together?" Jon asked and Petyr looked at him curiously.
"I had considered it my lord but to what gain? We both know what Olenna wishes for and the Lannisters can't make her granddaughter a queen."
"I know, it's just most strange still I'll have Rosby look into it, I'll see Robert on the morrow, he's easier to deal with when hungover."
"As you say my lord." Petyr said as he left.
He sat there for a few minutes, they'd pay for this, there was no way he'd allow those grasping roses to sit on a throne he had won, no way. No he'd find a way to make them pay for daring to go against his wishes, first though it was time to tell Robert some harsh truths, they needed the betrothal and once he had that he'd fix the damn roses and lions too.
Tyrosh 294 AC.
Dany.
The man with her, Sandor, was unlike anyone she'd ever met before, he was gruff and angry and yet she felt far safer with him than she had done since Ser Willem died. He made sure they had food and water, that she was comfortable and even allowed her play with other children, though he watched her constantly. They had left Myr and at first she had found it difficult, she had never rode before and the pony scared her, but despite the hurt she felt after a days riding, she found she loved the freedom of it.
Arriving in Tyrosh they had quickly settled into a small house, while they had no servants she hadn't minded and Sandor was a good cook and had even begun to teach her. Which though she was terrible at it, she found she enjoyed making him frustrated with her constant questioning. The biggest change though was he had started to teach her to fight, started to train her to use a knife. Each day after breaking their fast he would put her through movements, show her little tricks and places where she should seek to stab if she was ever attacked.
He had even given her a small knife which she kept under her pillow just in case it was needed, just knowing it was there was a comfort after what had happened to Viserys. They had received no news about her brother, whether he lived still she did not know but she refused to think him dead, refused to think she was alone in the world. Despite everything he was her only family and she missed him, though since being with Sandor she had come to realize that perhaps at times he was not a very good brother.
" Your brother was a cunt." Sandor said.
" How dare you my brother is a king."
" Kings can be cunts too little dragon and brothers especially" he said bitterly.
" Do you have a brother?"
" I do and just like yours he was always a cunt."
" What makes him a cunt?" she said and Sandor laughed at her using the word.
" Mine or yours?"
" Mine." she asked softly.
" You said he would slap you, what was it he called it waking the dragon, he would pull your hair or pinch your arms, call you names and tell you that you were useless." Sandor said and she felt her eyes water.
" He would." she said her voice barely a whisper.
" See a cunt, only a cunt would do that to his sister." he said and she looked to him and felt a small smile appear on her face.
So while she missed him, she found over time it was more the brother who had lived with her in the house with the red door, the brother who had told her stories of her family, stories she now wondered the truth of. Sandor knew of her father, of her brother and what had happened and though at first he hadn't told her, in the end he did and what he had said she hadn't been able to believe. Her father couldn't be that man, her brother couldn't be that man, but Sandor said while he didn't know the truth of Rhaegar, with her father everyone knew the truth of him.
She had cried herself to sleep that night, images of a long haired man with long nails and sores on his arms filling her dreams, she had woken and ran to Sandor's room and he had allowed her stay in his bed. She drifted off to sleep beside him and dreamt of dragons, of a white wolf and a wall made of ice, she dreamt of a city filled with pyramids and men with spears and brown leather armor. When she woke up alone she felt frightened until she heard Sandor cooking in the kitchen and so she quickly walked to him.
"Morning Sandor." she said smiling.
"Morning little dragon, you hungry?"
"Starving." she said giggling.
The eggs were cooked just how she liked, not quite hard and the bacon was soft, she dipped her bread in them and ate quickly and greedily and heard Sandor snort as he looked at her.
"You used to eat like a princess." he said as she wiped the piece of egg from her face.
"You told me its just food, so now I guess I eat like you." she said and laughed as he wiped his own face.
After finishing he trained her and she actually almost got a hit on him though she knew he'd let her to make her feel better. Once done he walked with her to where her friends would play near the fountain in the center of town. She heard them calling her as soon as she got there and saw him grimace, he had asked her to change her name but she had forgotten and the cries of "Dany." were heard around the square. She smiled sheepishly at him and giggled when he rolled his eyes, before she ran to play with the girls and boys she'd met a moon ago.
She was playing a game where one of them was blindfolded and had to find the others when she heard Sandor behind her, turning she saw he was staring at someone in the distance. There were at least three men and they were looking to her and Sandor and she felt him grab her hand as they began to move.
"You have your knife?" he asked and she nodded feeling her heart race.
They moved through the streets and she saw Sandor look back every so often the men not in sight, he took her the longest way around the streets before bringing her back to the house. Once there they packed quickly and as they were leaving they found the three men waiting in front of the house, the leader was a tall man and he moved forward.
"We're just here for the girl, we don't want any more trouble than needed." he said.
"Then you should fuck off." Sandor said and the man grimaced nodding to the other two.
They moved quickly but Sandor was faster, the first one had just arrived at him when he was cut down by a swing of Sandor's sword, the second hesitated a little but soon enough they were fighting. She took her eyes of the third man as she watched the fight, hoping beyond hope that Sandor would be victorious. Feeling her hand be grabbed she was about to scream but then thought it may distract Sandor, so instead she pulled out her knife and stabbed it in the mans hand, watching as he fell to the ground.
He didn't make it back to his feet, Sandor killed the second man and as he reached the third he asked who had sent him. When the man didn't answer he stood on his injured hand making him scream until eventually he did speak.
"Mopatis, a magister in Pentos, he sent us to bring the girl to him."
"Why?"
"I don't know, he's hiring people all over the place, we wont be the only ones who come looking."
"No, but just like you this is what'll happen when they do." Sandor said bringing the sword down on his neck.
She looked away and then felt Sandor grab her hand, he wiped her knife clean and handed it back to her, watching as she put in in her belt.
"It seems we must move on again little dragon." he said and she nodded.
They took their things and she mounted her pony, riding away from the small house made her feel sad, for a while she'd been happy here, she wondered when she'd feel that way again.
Winterfell 294 AC.
Ned.
With Jon, Robb and Sansa gone, Winterfell while returning to some normality felt far emptier than he could remember and so Ned had thrown himself even more into his work. He and Luwin had gone to visit Wintertown and he'd stopped and talked to some of the people there, some of the business owners. When he had brought up plans for expansion, plans to make the town even larger and more of a trading hub he had been surprised how eager people seemed to be.
Food would be an issue, he knew that, but Jon was right more people meant more coin and given the amount of trade Wyman and Jorah would be involved in they'd have even more. Then making deals for a better supply of food may not be as difficult as it once was. Looking at the town itself there was much need for improvement, he was stunned at some of the ideas Luwin had come up with, more so when he said they were just expansions on Jon's own.
"We'll need a large grain house my lord, somewhere to store food both for now and the winter, also Jon suggested a place for those who can't afford home's at first, almost a temporary shelter of some sort." Luwin said showing him the large open planned building.
"So we build this first, then that way we can start moving people in and out and also have a place so we know who these people are?" Ned asked looking at the notes Luwin had made on the parchment.
"Aye my lord, those who come can work and be fed and housed here, then as we build more they can move into the houses, we can then pay them to do the works that are needed."
"Works?"
"Builders, cooks, guards, whatever it is they can do, even if it's just moving things around the town my lord."
"You think this a good idea?" he asked.
"I think given the cost and the coin we'll end up getting, this is something we should have done years ago."
Ned nodded and once they rode back to Winterfell he'd begin sending ravens out to his lords, see if any of their small folk wished to be part of this. If they needed more numbers then he'd go with Jon's idea and bring people down from Kings Landing or other places in the south.
With that project started he began to look into the costs of building up the northern keeps. Moat Cailin would be hugely expensive but it would need to be done and Jon had been right, they needed a keep on the western shore, especially with Bear Island becoming more important.
A few days later he had been called to deal with a problem in Castle Cerwyn and so he had set off with a small group of men and when he arrived he found a raven's message awaiting him. Looking at it he saw it was from Winterfell and wondered what had happened while he was away, when he opened it he almost felt the urge to ride South once again.
Lord Stark,
Jon and his party were attacked in the Riverlands by bandits. Jon is safe and recovering, a small scar and an injured arm his injuries, one of his guards died in the attack and Walder managed to fight the bandits off. Lord Jaime ensures you that no one else was hurt and that Jon will fully recover.
Luwin.
While the words at the end comforted him some, he found himself almost raging at the idea that but for Walder his promise to Lyanna would have been nought. A part of him wished for nothing more than for Jon to come back and stay at Winterfell where he'd be safe, but he knew that path was long since past. The one Jon was on now was a dangerous one and so he walked from the Cerwyn's hall and went and prayed in the godswood.
After calming himself down and dealing with the issue, a minor squabble they didn't really need him for. He had left and when he arrived back to Winterfell he was almost immediately accosted by Cat. Not really being in the mood to deal with whatever this was right now, he had been tempted to put her off, but in the end they'd retreated to his solar.
"You heard what happened?" he said as he took his seat.
"Our children Ned, Robb, Sansa they should be brought back immediately they could have been hurt."
"But they weren't Cat, Robb would have been long gone by that point and Sansa wasn't harmed."
"She could have been, we should never have allowed her travel with that boy."
"Jon was hurt Cat, have you no thought for him at all."
"He is your son, not mine." she said turning her head.
"He is a boy, an innocent child, isn't that what your gods say?" he said and she glared at him.
"What care you for my gods Ned, you're far happier with your own."
He sighed feeling the headache coming on, pouring a mug of water he drank it down.
"We won't be calling Sansa back Cat, nor Robb, they are perfectly well." he said and she pursed her lips before leaving.
He sent for Luwin and had him bring the scroll Lord Jaime sent, needing something stronger than water he poured himself an ale as the Maester stood watching him.
"Take a seat Luwin." he said as he began to read the note.
Eddard.
After arriving in the Riverlands and speaking to Lord Frey, Jon, Walder and Alyrs went for a walk near the Trident when they came under attack by bandits. Alrys fell and Jon and Walder made it to the woods where Jon was injured after taking an arrow to the shoulder and a heavy fall. Walder managed to hold off the bandits and when we found them I took Jon to Seagard to recover, after some time he did so and we're to set off for the west tomorrow. No one else was harmed, your daughter was in the camp surrounded by my guards and I've been assured Jon will recover fully in time, I'll send you a fuller letter once I return west.
Jaime.
He drank down the ale and looked to the Maester who was looking at him curiously, he was about to ask him what he thought when Luwin gave him his thoughts freely.
"It's most odd my lord, Bandits attacking a boy and his guards, Jon doesn't look like a typical lord either, though well dressed he doesn't seem the sort to carry much coin." Luwin said and Ned couldn't help but agree.
"Aye if anything it'd look like he was a squire to one of them."
"True my lord, also they were walking not riding so it would have looked as if they had even less coin."
"What are you getting at?" he asked not sure where the Maester was going with this.
"I don't know my lord, but this happening in the Riverlands gives me pause." Luwin said and Ned looked at him surely he didn't think that.
"You think the Tully's involved in this?" he said his voice full of shock.
"I don't know as I say my lord, but when the raven came Lady Catelyn seemed most upset."
"Of course, she was worried on our children." Ned said.
"As I assumed my lord, but she sent a raven to Lord Edmure almost immediately, which reminded me she had sent one a few days before Jon and the others left."
"You can't possibly be suggesting that, my wife may not have time for Jon but she'd not see him harmed, nor would her brother, that's just preposterous."
"As you say my lord, I was just informing you." Luwin said as he left.
He found it hard to sleep that night, but in the end he did and found himself back in that tower, the bloodstained bed and his sister's face haunting him when he woke the next morning. Breaking his fast he laughed as Bran and Arya played with their wolves, Summer and Nymeria eagerly grabbing the bacon they were handed. Cat scowled at them being at the table and though she said nothing it was clear she didn't approve.
He watched Arya frown as she was taken to her lessons, Nymeria being left with Bran while she was gone, he spent some time with his son before going off to do his own duties. At lunch he was surprised that Arya didn't turn up and then at dinner he found she was in a dark mood for most of the night. The next morning though she was back to normal and he let it slip from his mind, until once again at lunch and dinner she repeated the behavior of the day before.
"Arya." he called to her when she was heading to bed.
"Father I was tired, I thought I'd have an early night." she said and he could see she was lying.
"Arya, what's wrong, are you missing your brothers and sister?"
"No, I mean, yes, it's not that, its.. It doesn't matter." she said as she turned to walk to her room.
"Arya, please you can tell me anything you know that right?"
"I… do I have to go to the Septa father, it's even worse now without Sansa there, now she corrects me all the time instead of just when she noticed me."
He could have kicked himself, his conversation with Maege coming back to his mind, he had meant to check up on what the Septa was teaching his daughters and now Arya alone, but had got caught up in other things.
"I'm afraid for now you have too, but I'm making other arrangements, I promise it won't be for long." he said and saw her look at him hopefully.
"You mean it." she said and he nodded and she hugged him tightly.
The next morning he had Luwin send a message to Lord Medgar, asking if he would allow Jorelle to come stay at Winterfell for a while to act as governess for his daughter. After breaking his fast and seeing Arya's expression as she was taken to her lessons, he put off his own duties and instead went to see what exactly the Septa was like dealing with his daughter. He hid outside the room and waited listening all the while, before in the end he burst into the room.
"You cannot behave like a beast all the time Arya, you are to be a lady and need to act like one, not like some savage." the Septa was in the midst of saying to his daughter when she turned to see his furious face "Lord Stark I.."
"Out now." he said and the woman ran quickly from the room.
"Father I'm sorry I didn't mean it, I'll be a lady, I'll be a lady." Arya said sobbing.
"Arya, oh my sweet girl, my anger is not directed at you, you be who you wish to be my love, it's the damn Septa I'm mad at." he said as he took her in his arms "You'll never have to suffer her again, I swear it."
"Father, I… mother." she said through sniffles.
"Leave your mother to me, I'll handle her, but that Septa will not darken my keep no longer."
After calming her down he walked with her to Luwin's asking the Maester for now to take over Arya's studies, before he went to speak to Septon Chayle finding him in the company of Septa Mordane.
"My lord how can I be of help." the Septon asked and while Ned had not much dealings with the man he had never raised his ire.
"I want her gone as soon as it can be arranged, I have no idea of how you deal with such things and I care not, you may stay and my wife if she wishes can have a different Septa but from now on my daughter will be educated by whom I approve." he said firmly and when the Septa began to speak the man wisely shut her up.
"As you command my lord. I'll make the arrangements, it may take a week or so and I'd ask for an escort for Septa Mordane if that's acceptable to you."
"It is, but from this moment onward she's to have no contact with my daughter, none." he said turning to leave.
As he climbed into bed that night he found he slept far better than he had in a long time, he dreamt of his sister again only this time she was riding her horse and her smile was just as he remembered it.
Winterfell 294 AC.
Cat.
This couldn't be happening, there was no way he could send the Septa away, no way he could allow their wild daughter to be left without guidance from the gods. As she sat looking at him over their meal she could see both he and Arya laughing and japing as if there was nothing wrong. As if he had not just put her whole future at risk, it was bad enough they had those beasts in the keep, but he would have their daughter turn into one too.
She bit her tongue over the meal though and waited until it was over to head to his solar, he needed to see, needed to understand what it was he was risking. She knocked on the door, calmed herself down and entered to see him going over papers, he smiled at her and she took a seat.
"I take it this is about the Septa." he said.
"It is my lord, you cannot mean to send her away, surely not, we need her here, Arya needs her if she's ever to learn." she said.
"Learn? from that woman, have you any idea what she was teaching her, sewing, embroidery, southern houses and southern rituals, nothing of the north, nothing of the lands she lives in, nothing of politics or sums or half a dozen other things that every young lady should know." he said his voice calm.
"She was teaching her how to be a lady."
"Aye a southern lady, this is the North Cat, what was she teaching her of that?"
"I don't…..you would leave our daughter without education?" she said changing what she was about to say.
"No I have a governess arriving, but no Septa will teach her not anymore."
"Fine, but don't send her away Ned, I need her here."
"She called my daughter a beast, did the same with Lyanna Mormont, that's what your Septa thinks of northern ladies, you think I'd have her in my home after that?"
"It's my home too." she said sadly.
"That it is Cat, Arya is your daughter, it worries me you're not more concerned for her than you are for this Septa."
"I love my daughter." she said angered he would think such a thing.
"I do not doubt it, but do you like her?"
"Of course I do." she said full of indignation.
"Not who you wish her to be Cat, who she is, who she will be, our girl is a wild wolf, a northern lady through and through, she'll be fierce and proud when she grows for if she's not then we've failed her." he said softly.
"You would have her as one of those She Bears, she's a daughter of Winterfell my lord, my daughter and you would have her akin to those… those…"
"Those what Cat? One of those She Bears you show so much disdain for is married to the Warden of the West, the others are going to be members of one of the richest houses in Westeros, certainly the north. So Aye I'd be proud if our daughter turned out like Maege or any of her girls, as long as she's happy. Is that not what you want, don't you want Arya to be happy?"
"I do, of course I do, but this, no Ned not this, she needs to learn from a Septa on this I'll not be moved." she said and he sighed.
"Neither shall I Cat, the Septa is no longer welcome here, you may ask for a different one but she'll have no interactions with Arya."
"That's your final word my lord."
"On this aye."
She left the room and went to the Sept, praying in front of the crone for guidance, in front of the mother to give her strength. She couldn't think straight, everything had gone wrong since the bastard came back north. Her whole life had been turned upside down, her children sent away, Arya lost to her, she needed to do something but what, what could she do?
She skipped dinner that night, laying alone in her bed she wondered what could she do, it seems trying to have the boy killed was beyond them, how Edmure had failed so badly she didn't know. Though given he had attacked so blatantly he had at least tried, but the thoughts that Sansa or Robb could have been caught up in that attack had caused her worry and concern for days. When she had found out they hadn't her relief had only been tempered by the fact the bastard had survived.
Now though it was as if even more of her world was crashing down, she was too far removed here, letters, ravens, none of it was enough, she needed to be there, to speak to Edmure, to speak to Petyr. To make it clear what needed to be done, to play a role in the planning, rather than leave it to lesser men to do so. If the bastard fell things would right themselves she knew it, she knew it. So as she slept she planned some more and she dreamt of a world without Jon Snow.
"My lady are you sure about this?" Septa Mordane said to her when they spoke the next morning.
"I am Septa, my husband will change his mind but until then it's best if you accompany me to Riverrun."
"But Septon Chayle has already sent a raven to the Sept, they will be expecting me to return."
"We can send another from Riverrun, tell them I asked for guidance and you were only too happy to provide it." Cat said and the Septa nodded.
After breaking her fast she went to speak to Ned, he surprised her by almost welcoming her decision to visit her father, but he didn't even consider allowing her to take Brandon with her. Instead he organized a decent guard and made sure she was well prepared for the journey, even giving her a larger amount of coin than she asked for. Arya she was glad to see was sad to see her go as was Brandon, so she promised them she'd be back within a few moons.
It took them another week to actually get ready though as they were delayed by a summer storm, when the day came for her to leave Ned lined up with the children and she said her goodbyes to them first.
"Keep listening to Luwin in your lessons Brandon and I promise I'll bring you back some books on Knights from the south."
"I'll miss you mama."
"As I will you my brave boy." she said kissing his forehead.
"Arya, look after your brother and yourself my love, I'll be thinking of you when I'm gone." she said kissing her cheek.
"Will you be back soon?"
"As soon as I can, maybe next time you can come with me, come visit your uncle and grandfather would you like that sweetling?"
"Yes mother." Arya said smiling at her.
"Ned, I'll be back in a few moons, I. need to do this."
"I know, it'll be for the best Cat, when you come back things will be better." he said and she kissed him briefly on the lips.
The covered cart was comfortable and though she had ridden often she found she preferred it given the weather, as they rode out of the keep she looked back and wondered how much things would change upon her return.
The Man in the tree.
Time is a river he thought as he went down into the water once more, he was called here a long time ago, called to be a servant but he rose to be a god and his time was coming soon. But even a god can get lost and here beneath the sea it was beautiful and so sometimes he found he stayed far too long. It was because of that they were able to use him, able to make him do their will, he was weaker because of it and they had used his weakness against him.
The wolf mother was scared when he took her to the glade, she didn't want to be with him in this place, didn't want to be near him, she looked for her mate but couldn't find him and so in her fear she let him in. He guided her to the tree, guided her through the birth and then forced her to give up the pup to the man in black, she had tried to fight him, but he was too strong and so she had done as he bid. But was it his will or someone else's, why did he wish to give the wolf pup to the black brother? Why would he do such a thing?
"Leaf how long was I gone for?" he asked as he came from the trance.
"A few days this time, three maybe four, where did you go?"
"I don't know, the future I think, or maybe the past." he answered, the line between both getting harder and harder to judge some days.
He ate the paste and rested, he needed his strength, he couldn't allow them use him again, he needed to be ready for when the time came, he needed to be free.
He was standing at the tower watching as the fight went on, but it was different, not like before, two men fell here today not three and this was not what had happened. He looked to the small man kneeling over the other, heard them speak of oaths and prophecy though the words were like wind. The small man seemed familiar to him, but then he had been here before, hadn't he? He couldn't be sure, but it seemed he had many years ago, or was it days ago?.
He stood on balcony and watched as the boy walked down the stairs, watched as the men surrounded him and as the knives in the dark went about their deadly business, he saw the tears they spilt. Though it was the blood he looked at more clearly and as he stood over the boys body it seemed to him to form the shape of a dragon in the snow. Then he looked on as the boy held a sword, as he led a battle in the snow and as he saw the boy be victorious he cheered along with the others.
He saw him then the boy he'd become and those who brought him to him, the girl and boy, the giant and the wolf, he saw them as they passed the wall and as they came to the glade. Saw the boy fall and the girl cry, but his eyes were on the crippled boy, you have no legs but together we will fly he thought as he found himself sitting in a chair in front of a Weirwood tree. Around him two young girls and the boy who fell stood and he heard himself speak.
"It is your choice Jon." he said and he could feel the smile inside as he realized how close he was.
He was watching as they fell, hundreds, thousands, watching as some ran to the boats and he saw him there, his blue eyes and icy crown, saw him look to him and he felt fear, he ran from him as now was not the time. Their paths would cross much later and he would have the advantage, but here in this place he was just a watcher.
He felt it then, the control, the loss of his power and so he sent the vision of the man in the tent, sent it to the man with one eye, he looked on as the men snuck into the camp, as they crept into the tent and he saw the golden armor on a rack. The knifes were quick and the men fell as did the man they came to kill and he wondered why he had sent them? Why had he given the man the vision? As he woke he wondered had it even been him who'd done so?.
"Leaf, Leaf." he called and he received no answer.
He looked to see the giant sitting in the corner holding his head in his hands and he watched as he got up and ran, as he ran through the door, this was wrong, he was not supposed to do this. His job was to hold the door, not go through it. He moved to the door but he couldn't open it, he couldn't make it budge, he heard them, heard the voices on the other side, heard the whispers and the sobs and then he heard something far louder.
He looked around and then went up, searching he found it, found the raven and brought him to the tree, with his three eyes he looked for the giant, looked to see who it was he was speaking to. He saw him but it couldn't be he had died? Had he not? Did he not fall by the river? Or was it in the castle of ice? Why couldn't he remember? He looked to see, no, it couldn't be, they were gone, they were all gone and as he saw the dragon take to the sky he felt fear before he felt the burning as the flames hit him.
"Byrnden, Byrnden, wake up." he heard Leaf say and he opened his eyes.
"What how long, how long was I gone?" he asked.
"Almost a moon, what happened, where did you go?"
"I don't know, I can't remember," he said.
"Did you see him. The prince did you see him?" Leaf asked excitedly.
"Prince?"
"The promised prince, you called out for him. Said you'd found him that he was the savior, the one who'll bring the dawn." she said and he looked at her like she was mad, prince there was no prince, it was a lie, a tale he'd made up, wasn't it?.
He ate more paste and found himself scared, for the first time in a long time he was actually scared, things were moving and he no longer could tell if he was seeing them how they were, or how they would be. He could no longer tell if the past, future or present was happening at once or not at all, but he needed to know and so he went below the sea once again.
This time he found himself at Winterfell and he felt happy, he was here, the boy who'd set him free, the boy he'd be. He found him climbing a tower, saw him see the man and woman couple inside and watched as he fell to the ground. As the boy slept he called to him and showed him things, showed him the future he would have, showed him flying in the sky.
"I'll never walk again." the boy said sadly.
"No but I'll teach you to fly." he said and the boy nodded.
He perched in the tree, it's red leaves whistling in the air, he looked up at the keep and saw the dragon fly over it, it's wings a bright blue and as it's gaze fell upon him it chilled him to the core. He tried to fly but found himself trapped, found himself unable to move and saw the dragon fly towards him. It took everything he had to take to the air and he flew faster than he had ever imagined, north, north always north he flew. But the dragon didn't let up and he looked back to see the boy riding on top of it, the prince that was promised.
As he felt the flames cover him he had only one thought, it was beautiful beneath the sea but if you stay too long you'll drown, but water stopped the fire and so for now he'd take the risk.