Edmure would have wanted to help his friend Marq Piper to retake his ancestral castle. As things stood, however, the new Lord Tully needed to retake Harrenhal in a show of strength.
The Lord Paramount of the Trident couldn't look weak.
Sadly, it was too late for that. From the moment he heard of the Kingslayer massing forces at the Rock, to the day his father died rescuing him. Edmure had done nothing right.
He didn't thought the Lannisters to march their army and didn't station enough men to guard the mountain pass of the Golden Tooth, then he was defeated and captured in his first battle.
And so, here he was, marching with houses Bracken, Blackwood, Goodbrook, Lychester, Shawney and Darry to retake the biggest castle in the realm. It was all a mummer's show, everyone knew the Lannisters couldn't hold Harrenhal, not against as many Northerners and Riverlanders at once. It was also inconsequential compared to when they thought Lord Tywin was holding the castle.
As it was, the castle was valuable only due to its significance. Who could trust a Lord Paramount who didn't control all his lands?
"It's valuable Ed," his sister told him. "The Riverlands need to see you fighting, and above it, winning."
Catelyn had separated from his host, a day back. She was going south to the Reach to attempt and ally themselves with Renly.
They had discussed on what to offer the stag king for an alliance. His sister thought of betrothals, Renly's daughter to Robb's heir or in reverse, or Sansa to Willas, or himself to some Tyrell girl, gods knew the roses didn't lack daughters. This way, they could keep the peace once the Lannisters were dealt with, and lasting peace would return to the realm.
Issue was, they didn't know the extent of Renly's ambition. Perhaps he didn't feel the need to have all of the Seven Kingdoms, perhaps he did.
Then, there was the other end. An alliance against the Lannisters, they would march to King's Landing and take the city under the might of the biggest army Westeros has seen. Renly would get his throne, and Edmure's side would get Lord Eddard daughters and revenge on the Lannisters. This was a temporal alliance, and peace was not a guarantee with it.
There were various problems with the plan, first and foremost, taking King's Landing for Renly and only getting Sansa and Arya for their efforts would displease the nobles on their side something great.
As such, the most realistic way Edmure saw the negotiations going was to agree somewhere in the middle, but for Renly and the reach lords to be convinced… his sister had a tall task upon her.
Night was falling upon him when Edmure dismounted and parted from lords Blackwood and Lychester to set up his tent. They would share dinner around a campfire later with all his bannermen and at the same time plan for the Harrenhal assault.
It was his belief, that the best plans are born in a calm setting. In a war council you wouldn't disagree with your liege, but in a dinner with friends? It was easier to raise blind spots and voice disagreements. Now, if only he would've listened before…
Edmure was talking with the stable boy looking after his steed when one of his guards approached him.
"Lord Dondarrion is asking audience, my lord."
Dondarrion? "I'll receive him in my tent, take Lugger and Bryan to escort him."
He remembered Eddard sending Lord Dondarrion to stop the Mountain. He also remembered the highborn man dying to a Lannister ambush at the Mummer's Ford. It wouldn't be the first time a Lannister lied.
His tent was close, but Edmure still hurried there. It wouldn't do to arrive after his guest.
He swapped his doublet and cloak for fresh ones and cleaned the day's march off his face with a wet cloth before he saw the escorting party approaching.
The presumed Lord Dondarrion looked very alive to his eyes. The man was shorter than him by half a head with red-gold hair and wore a breastplate of black steel with a purpled lightning bolt on its center.
After exchanging greetings, Edmure took the initiative of the conversation.
"Before we can properly talk, my lord. It would be remiss of me not to thank you for keeping to your knightly vows and confronting the Lannisters at the Mummer's Ford."
Lord Beric softened his features. "All I did was done under Lord Eddard's orders, my lord. It should be him you should thank."
A man battered by defeat, it seemed. "I shall include that in my prayers tonight then," Edmure said and patted Lord Beric on his shoulders. "But, my lord. It was thanks to men like you the Riverlands is this close to being rid of Lannisters." He quickly pressed a goblet of wine to the lightning lord's hands. "Sit, my friend, and tell me what can I do for you."
He could provide passage to the Stormlands via Maidenpool, Jon Stark quick capture of the port town had been the news they got from a Blackwood rider. Catelyn had been fuming the whole day, all because King Robb had been right all along.
"Well, you see. We've been raiding the Lannisters foraging parties and supplies, and, how to say this? We want to see it to the end."
"Aye, of course my friend" Edmure said. "You and your men are welcome to join us in retaking Harrenhal. After that I'm sure King Robb would be happy to reward your efforts." Lord Beric looked like he was about to deny any reward, so he didn't let him. "A fitting reward paid with Lannister gold, hhmmm, aye, that sounds fair to me."
From the little interaction Edmure had with the lightning lord, he understood how dutiful and obstinate he was, 'I was doing his duty, therefore I don't need a reward' was how this would go if he hadn't mentioned the gold coming from the Lannisters.
It was a lie, the gold would ultimately come from his coffers, but Edmure wouldn't let Lord Beric and his men leave without something, and if some absentminded servant or guard spills where the gold came from? Well new friends were always welcomed, right?
"We are having dinner soon, Lord Beric," he said. "And I'm sure my bannermen would enjoy hearing the exploits and battles of one of the Riverlands' bravest defenders."
He certainly wanted to hear of his battles. The man has been raiding the Lannisters since the beginning of the war, surely he could teach him a couple of things about fighting lions.
###
Managing a port town was hard work. Who would've thought? Thank the gods Hatten was here with his scribes, otherwise I'd be death by now.
It was early morning in Maidenpool and I was walking to the training yard for my wake-up exercise. The coastal fog was something else entirely, mixed with the sound of waves crashing made me feel like the ocean was surrounding me in every direction.
By the time I arrived at the yard, there were occupants already.
"Morning Dacey," I greeted.
Unsurprisingly, the Mormont sisters were there with their squires. Jorelle was between the two squires, akin to a ref officiating.
"So… your squires being too eager?" I softly asked.
Her answer was a deadpan look.
Apparently, Dacey was not an early morning person. "I'm sorry alright? There were very few options, and this one was the best."
She grunted in annoyance and the squires started their bout rounding up one another.
I sighed. "Need I remind you, you and your sister accepted instantly? Saying it wa—"
"That was before Cat met Melissa," Dacey said. "Last night I woke up to the sounds of the two fools giggling over armor."
"Well, they are young girls still, sometimes the—"
"Then…" She sharpened her glare. "The fools woke me up with a loud argument about swords or maces."
I had the feeling she was waiting for me to say something and cut me, so I just stared at her.
She was probably saying the truth, Arya was over the moon when I talked her of the arrangements to cover up her being here. I'm not sure it was the right choice, but with Sansa still being in King's Landing, the Queen and her council proclaiming they have my two sisters, us counter declaring that we have Arya here didn't seem wise.
"I'm sorry about that," I said. "I can assure you, House Stark is in your debt for helping us cover up for Cat."
"We don't move thinking of debts," Dacey snapped.
"I know, don't worry about it. You Mormonts are something else," I chuckled. "It's just that… how to explain… It feels wrong to take things for granted, I guess."
The moment Arya stepped through the door of my solar was the happiest moment of my life. I thought I was dreaming for a moment. It was not until I had my sister in my arms that I knew I wasn't dreaming.
Literal tears of happiness fell on my smelly sister's head.
It was when Arya was sobbing in my shoulder that the rational side of me took over. Yoren brought her all the way from King's Landing, the realm could never know it was a brother of the Night's Watch the one who brought Arya here; if she was here, what happened to Sansa; were the Lannisters lying about Sansa too? And if so, where was she?
First thing I did was bow down as low as I could go with Arya hugging me like a koala in thanks to the wandering crow. Then, I asked Hatten to show him around and find him and his party proper accommodations. We needed a cover up for the Night's Watch leaving a 'recruit' with us and for that recruit to have a backstory to be left here instead of any other place.
The idea to cover for leaving a recruit came to me when I learned of the people in Yoren's caravan. As for covering for Arya, I couldn't send her to Winterfell for Sansa's safety, so she had to keep the identity of a common girl, staying with me was too far fetched from an outside point of view, so I planned for the next best thing. Dacey already had a lowborn squire and cupbearer, what was another lowborn girl in their midst?
As such, I sent a messenger asking for an urgent meeting with Dacey and Jorelle. Was I being too paranoid? I wasn't sure, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.
While we waited I explained Arya everything and asked her about Sansa.
It was… not good, as if I needed another reason to kill Joffrey. I really wanted to break something when she told me how Sansa had a first row seat while witnessing Father's execution. But I controlled myself, Arya needed her brother and I wouldn't disappoint, it was the least I could do for her.
After explaining everything and getting over her initial excitement of becoming a squire, my sister put on a brave face and went off with the Mormonts. I could tell she was scared of leaving my presence, I was scared of her leaving my presence. But we couldn't spill the secret escapade just yet.
The last thing I did was to write a letter for my brother's eyes only and instructed a party of ten men to carry it to Riverrun.
"Good to hear," Dacey said, returning me to the present. "So, about Yoren leaving a recruit? Did you think of something?"
The sound of wood clashing on wood gave cadence to the morning as Melissa was leveraging her age advantage on Cat while the younger girl was running around trying to tire her opponent. It wouldn't work of course, both of them were wearing similar padding and would tire equally.
"I did, but it depends on him being flexible." I was almost certain the wandering crow would accept my terms.
Dacey grunted. "If he's anything like my uncle Jeor, you are not getting a deal."
"I choose to believe normal people aren't as stubborn as old bears," I said.
"Seems to me," she said nodding in the squires direction, "little wolflings are just as stubborn."
As expected, Melissa was able to corner Cat, they started battering against their shields over and over.
Cat discarded her weapon and was just doing her best to hide behind her shield. Meanwhile Melissa was shouting "Yield!", on every other hit.
"Heh, some little wolflings are special," I said while walking past the barriers to the sparring duo.
My sister hadn't surrendered to the end, it was Jorelle who stopped the match. She was about to scold her squire, probably on how she should've yielded the moment she couldn't raise her weapon as it was a spar when Dacey and I arrived.
The elder Mormont took her squire to the side, probably to give her some advice and perhaps help her with her forms.
On my side, I had to restrain from hugging my sister and messing with her hair. So I just gave her a few words.
"Well fought girl, but remember this is a spar, you can yield to save yourself a bruise or two," I said.
"I could've won! This is not how—"
"My squire, has yet to learn proper etiquette, my lord. My apologies," cut Jorelle.
"My apologies," my sister repeated, sourly.
We broke our fast together, I couldn't openly spend time with my sister, so this was the best I could do for Arya, in public at least. I'll have to find a way or another to spend more time with her in private without raising suspicions. Or get rid of my paranoia, whatever comes first.
###
"White Harbor's first shipments of timber and tools will arrive by next week, my lord," Hatten said.
I let out a long suffering sigh and accepted defeat. Apparently Perwyn had infected my right hand man with his antics already. "That's good news. How is the arable land doing?"
"We have organized the 'repentant lions' for the fifty and hundred acres closest to Maidenpool. The closest farmhands are already working the land, but the furthest ones are lacking tools."
As expected. Well, at least Harrenhal had fresh supplies going their way. Courtesy of Lord Mooton after a meeting with holy men asking him to find the light of the Seven withing him to help fund the soup carts. The man folded faster than expected. I was left thinking that I should've asked for far more.
"Well then, Yoren should be coming soon," I said. "I need you to go and check if we have delays with the construction crews."
"Sure, but don't you want me to send you the 'penitent lions'?"
"Nah, Yoren can see them later, I don't want to risk eavesdroppers."
With that, Hatten left. And not ten minutes later Yoren was sitting in front of my desk.
"Please accept this as the first token of mine and House Stark of Winterfell's gratitude." I pushed a pouch of silver across my desk. "And now, if you would, let's talk about how to cover up this whole ordeal."
The wandering crow took the pouch and put it on his satchel. "Did the girl told you about Lord Eddard, my lord?"
"She did." Father was supposed to take the black, but then Jofrey happened.
He nodded. "The Night's Watch is neutral, my lord. I'd ask you not to disclose my actions."
"Out of this room, there are only four people who know what really transpired. I trust with my life each and every single one of them. No one will know."
"Good." Yoren looked ready to bolt out of the room.
"However," I said to keep him seated. "Yesterday people saw you and a boy coming to my solar, said boy turned out to be a girl and is now the squire to a noble lady of Bear Island. It'll raise a few eyebrows, and if someone looks into it more closely… they'll become suspicious."
Understanding dawned on him.
"But," I said catching his attention. "I believe we can get away with it. All we need, is to muddy the waters,"
"Muddy the waters, my lord?" Yoren asked tilting his head.
"Make it harder for anyone to know what happened." He grunted in understanding. "I've heard, you have a few orphan boys in your caravan." He nodded. "This is what we'll do. You'll leave those boys here here and I'll find them apprenticeships and make good men out of them. So if anyone looks into my sister, they'll only see a common girl finding a new life for herself along with the orphans the Night's Watch left in my care."
The wandering crow looked tense. "The Night's Watch needs good men, my lord."
"You said it yourself, Yoren. Men. What you have is boys." I let him simmer for a bit. "Here in Maidenpool we have a good assortment of men, repentant men ready to take the black to atone for their sins and avoid the seven hells. Each and every single one of these men I'm asking you to take, confessed to their sins and prays every day to save their souls from the hellfire waiting for them once they are gone from this world." Or at least, that's what the septons tell me.
I could see him struggle. From what I knew, other wandering crows did recruit boys, but they were at least as old as Arya's friend, the Bull. So, the fact that Yoren picked up young orphans for the Wall, what Arya told me of his character and the fact that while the Night's Watch was a hard life, it was one where food was not an issue, I suspected the man in front of me didn't want orphans to starve to death in King's Landing.
"These boys you are leaving, will learn a craft to provide for themselves, and if not, I'll bash them endlessly until they become half-decent men-at-arms. I swear it on my name, by the old gods and the new."
He seemed placated. "Aye, I accept those terms, my lord."
"Follow me then," I said walking to the door. "I'll show you to your new recruits."
How to reward the Night's Watch without making it look the Night's Watch was being rewarded? Yoren's answer was 'men'. That was the fundamental issue, there were fewer and fewer decent men taking the black these days.
Ever since hearing about a new King-beyond-the-Wall Father used part of Winterfell's gold to improve the black brother's funding. That and the steel the Starks regularly send to the Wall made the old Lord Commander dance in joy according to uncle Benjen.
Checking on the Lannister men set for the Wall, Yoren seemed pleased to find his new recruits were decent with a sword, he was doubly pleased when I told him that a hundred veterans will go with him to keep any insubordination from his recruits. The wandering crow was pleased enough to let Gendry (the Bull) stay in Maidenpool with me.
I confused the boy for an adult from afar. The boy was younger than me by a year but taller and with broader shoulders. For some reason, he looked somewhat familiar…
Well, it didn't change things. I found places for the orphan boys among my people before lunch. Gendry got himself a place among the blacksmiths on my camp, Hot Pie with the cooks and bakers, and Lommy with the cobblers.
I passed the information to Arya at lunch. "Why would I care of what happens to them," she said, but I could see she was pleased when she heard of Gendry at least.
As for the boys when they found out 'Lumpyhead' was in fact a girl and that she was squiring for a noble lady of the North, I expected that at least one of them would ask to be my squire, but no. Hot Pie and Lommy didn't want anything to do with swords and, after we left them both Gendry just said, "She did look like a girl."
I kept myself occupied talking to the Neck lords and hiring the best bard and mummer troupes I could find. I wanted my propaganda machine going strong, and for that I needed songs, plays and stories going all around my brother's newly minted kingdom.
After all that, I had a quick word with Perwyn.
"So, do we have a response?"
"Jon, I know you know when ravens arrive."
Which was exactly why I was asking. I raised an eyebrow.
He shook his head. "Sorry, I had a rough night."
I rolled my eyes. "Ah, yes. Poor Ser Perwyn drinking and fucking all night. Being a town's hero must be really hard."
"Heh, you should've seen Ronel. He joined a mummer's troupe and was playing the part of Jon Stark, the Hero of Maidenpool." He laughed and winced at the same time.
This idiotic knight must've been drinking up to late morning, at least.
"Yes, yes, very interesting. Now, the response?"
"You'll have to offer a little more gold, but we are good."
I left Ser Perwyn to his hangover and went to my solar for the final meeting of the day. I prepared a small pouch of silver stags, a lesser amount than the one I gave Yoren and reviewed ledgers while waiting.
Soon enough, Don announced a visitor and I opened a flagon of apple flavored firewater,
A jolly greybeard with an ale belly sat in front of my desk.
"Greetings, my lord," said the man with a smile.
"Nale, it's been a while."
###
A/N: I picture Edmure as a social butterfly, a 'life of the party' kind of man. The kind of dude you become sworn brothers with in the middle of a crazy drinking party he organized.
I got the feeling this arc is gonna be the longest of this fic, and also kind of funny I haven't seen anyone get suspicious about Nale last chapter. I thought I was being blatant to be honest.
Btw I'd be glad if you give me knights from the Reach or Stormlands for potentially joining Renly's Rainbow Guard.
You can give me tips: p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / yorud, only if you want and can.
Give me your comments ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)=ε/̵͇̿̿/'̿̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿