|
|
Post by perry on Jun 29, 2020 17:27:07 GMT -5
“This is Lady Catelyn, of the House Tully. Who took Riverrun, killed the traitor Emmon Frey, and who died at the Twins and was reborn at the hands of Lord Berric.” The boy said. Catelyn pulled back her shawl. Revealing her face, pudding soft and scared deeply, but the resemblance to Catelyn was too close to deny. She did not speak.
|
|
|
|
Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 29, 2020 17:31:57 GMT -5
It... can't be...
Lord Shawney turns from the boy to the woman who pulled back her shawl. The nobles with him gasped and could hardly believe their eyes.
Lady Catelyn.
Shawney bows his head to her.
But should we not wait for Lord Tully to return? Certainly he should lead us alongside you, my Lady. Your brother has renewed fire within him.
He inquires. They had risen up for Edmure Tully and sought his return.
|
|
|
|
Post by perry on Jun 29, 2020 19:24:29 GMT -5
Catelyn still did not speak. But the boy stepped in for her. “The Lady does not speak much these days, my Lord. It is painful to speak above a whisper, after the Freys cut her so.. deeply.” Catelyn’s face scrunched up, not in pain, more anger, perhaps? “She does not believe her brother has the stomach to give the Freys and Westermen the justice they deserve.. he is wed to a Frey after all, and the reason Riverrun surrendered in the first place.” The young man gripped the reigns of his horse tightly. “Catelyn believes the Riverlands need unity now. Before all else. We have in our possession the Kingslayer, he attempted to escape justice with a knife to his own neck.” Catelyn raised a hand to her throat. “Vengeance.” She croaked. “Yes, the Lady promises vengeance for her own loses and yours. The Twins must burn.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 29, 2020 19:32:04 GMT -5
Lord Shawney looks at his noblemen and then back at Catelyn Tully.
Mi'lady, certainly you have heard the tale of his escape.
There was a pause before he continued to speak.
Roslin Frey did her utmost, despite her second pregnancy, to see her husband and children brought to safety. I even heard she gave up rings and other jewelry to bribe pirates in not giving them up. She gave him a daughter and a son, trueborn Riverlanders, and your niece and nephew, to rebuild your family. Edmure is a father because of her and has heirs to continue after him.
Quietly, Shawney gives a sign to the Father and the Mother.
I heard she has passed away though... she died giving birth to their son. She may be a Frey, but she did everything for her husband to see his freedom. She was loyal to House Tully.
Still, the lord knew they wanted the Freys destroyed. His own confederates wanted Baelish gone and the Freys punished.
However, Lady Tully, we would gladly see the Twins burn. We have no love for Walder and those who did what they did at the Red Wedding.
He turns his gaze back to Blackwood.
But what of this one?
|
|
|
|
Post by perry on Jun 29, 2020 19:51:02 GMT -5
Catelyn made a low hissing noise, reminiscence of a big as it realizes gas from its marshy depths. The boy replied to the lord. “She had.. not. If only the Frey had displayed such loyalty at the Twins, nothing would be like this.” He shook his head. “It is no matter, if the girl is dead.” Catelyn’s mind soured, the babes we’re Freys by blood. FREYS. Mother Merciless shook her ruin of a head, and turned her eyes hateful eyes toward Blackwood. She tightened her hand about her neck, as if she were preparing to throttle herself, blood seeping at the edge of her cloak. ”Hoster.. Robb..” She croaked, releasing her neck after the effort. The boy nodded and turned his attention toward Blackwood. “You were sworn to the Lady’s father for years, you were her son’s greatest supporter. Will you throw away your loyalty for the whore master Baelish?”
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 30, 2020 0:50:42 GMT -5
Tytos froze in shock at the revelation of the true identity of Lady Stoneheart. He had heard of her 'death' at the Red Wedding, alongside so many other good and true lords, his son Lucas among them, at the hands of the treacherous Freys. Tears welled up in his eyes, unable to speak for a moment.
"I... my lady, I can hardly believe it, by the Old Gods..."
At the accusations leveled against him, he wiped the tears away and straightened his back. He was no turncloak.
"House Blackwood has faithfully served House Tully for generations, and I took my oath to Robb Stark as my king. I lost my son Lucas at his side at the Twins. When all you bowed to the Lannisters after the Red Wedding, Raventree Hall alone carried the banner of the King in the North! But the war was over, and now the Iron Throne returned both my son's bones to be buried alongside his ancestors, and my eldest son Hoster has been returned to me. I may despise Baelish, but he offered peace that the Riverlands sorely needed for years. I don't know if we'll be able to recover from another war."
He sighed. Tytos felt tired, more so than he had in years.
"But I cannot ignore my heart, my lady. For you to return to us, to rid us of the lick spittle Freys and capturing the Kingslayer... perhaps I've been a fool to dance along to the tune of Petyr Baelish. I see the odds against me here, and soon enough Lord Edmure will return from the North with Stannis Baratheon. What good will our infighting do then? Nothing but bloodshed, no honor or justice... I had wished to stop it before it was too late, but I see now that it won't be so. I pray the Old Gods and you, my lady, will forgive this fool of a lord for wanting peace."
|
|
|
|
Post by perry on Jun 30, 2020 9:22:43 GMT -5
Catelyn said nothing, eyeing the man, after some tense moments she nodded. The boy spoke on her behalf again. “You are forgiven Lord Blackwood..” He replied. “Peace is always what the brotherhood wanted, but peace without justice is a tough draught to swallow.” The Northman’s eyes fluttered between the two camps. “We are one here then, but Lord Blackwood brings a fair point. King Stannis rides south with Edmure. We know not what judgement he will lay upon the Freys.. The lady knows full well the Fiery Stag considered all of us traitors to his reign, including good King Robb and Lord Hoster.” He pushed his long hair back into place, as the wind blew it about. “Like we claimed a Riverrun.. we have to claim the Twins too before their arrival. Tell me, Lord Blackwood, can you pretend to be a Baelish supporter one last time?” He arched an eyebrow high, an idea forming in his head.
|
|
|
|
Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 30, 2020 10:14:14 GMT -5
A rider came from the encampment, before the castle of Raventree Hall, bearing a message for Lord Shawney. It seemed it was a raven-born missive. Shawney excuses himself and reads it thoroughly. Moments later, another rider comes from Blackwood's encampment, bearing the same message that Shawney had. The Riverlander turns to Catelyn Tully.
Lady Tully, it seems that Lord Baelish has bent the knee... because Stannis Baratheon is no longer in the North. He is in the Vale with his army.
Shawney hands the message to the boy who spoke for her.
Edmure Tully's return is imminent, more imminent than believed.
He and his fellow nobles fought to see Lord Tully returned to Riverrun. It seemed that that goal was within sight!
The presence of additional men could make the siege of the Twins take less time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Royal Joker on Jun 30, 2020 15:37:29 GMT -5
Tytos tugged at his beard in thought. The missive was surprising to say the least, it would seem much had happened since he had begun his campaign against the rebels.
"It would seem that we now serve the same master, Lord Shawney. I will heartily welcome Lord Edmure back to the Riverlands. I know not what stance the Freys will take yet, but I will gladly do my part to bring justice against that treacherous bloodline."
Blackwood turned to Lady Stoneheart. Her appearance was frighting, something unnatural and dark.
"Lady Catelyn, it would seem that your lord brother's return is not far off. You've said that he does not have the stomach to bring justice to the Freys and the Lannisters, but does my lady have the same doubts about Stannis Baratheon? You control Riverrun, and your brother is its rightful lord. Will the brotherhood surrender it, or will they stand against Stannis and Lord Edmure?"
|
|
|
|
Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 30, 2020 19:17:36 GMT -5
Brynden stood at the lady's side, watching the conversation play out. "Has Stannis Baratheon any intent of making the Freys pay? It would greatly diminish his reputed sense of honor and justice if he would spare them or worse, let them into his service."
|
|
|
|
Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 30, 2020 19:24:58 GMT -5
Lord Shawney looks up at Ser Blackfish.
He has the Starks on his side, Ser Blackfish. I hear he placed Rickon Stark as the new Lord of Winterfell. He slayed the Boltons too.
Just to name a few of the more recent deeds.
If he has the Starks on his side, as well as Tully, then he must be planning to ensure the Freys are given their due justice. Especially those involved with the Red Wedding and the destabilization of the Riverlands.
|
|
|
|
Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 30, 2020 20:59:40 GMT -5
Brynden nodded, seemingly satisfied by the response. "I cannot imagine he would align himself with House Stark and then seek to take the Freys into his service, this is true. He would lose any support he has in the North at that point, and even if his honor does not bind him to seeing them punished, his intelligence ought to. Especially if he's now aligning himself with Lady Stoneheart's own children - I cannot believe he would let them down by allowing their brother's killers to escape justice." He looked toward Mother Merciless, curious to see her own response.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinkerton on Jul 1, 2020 20:06:52 GMT -5
The sound of horses galloping could be heard. Louder and louder, until in the horizon the image of a hundred knights appeared.
Horsemen approached the ground that served as parley between the three, now four, armies. The illusion of knighthood dissipated as they came closer. Instead, it became clear that it was a motley crew of mercenaries, sellswords, and soldiers of fortune from all around Essos and Westeros. But the men were led by two Westerosi looking fellows.
One had a silver trout emblazoned in his armor, and he spoke thusly:
"Lord Shawney, Lord Blackwood. I see you've gathered my levies. Thank you very much for your diligence."
He turned and looked at Brynden and the mysterious figure he assumed to be "Mother Merciless". Were the rumors true? He had no time for that now, though.
"Uncle, I never thought I'd see you again. I have many questions for you, but this is not the place. Let us return to Riverrun."
|
|
|
|
Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jul 1, 2020 20:23:44 GMT -5
Brynden's gaze snapped to the new arrival. "Lord Tully. Welcome home Ser." He answered simply, "If you are here to take the Riverlands back in your own name, then I have no further objections. Myself and," his gaze swept about the gathered knights and lords, "All true sons and daughters of the Riverlands will gladly see you restored to your rightful seat."
|
|
|
|
Post by Pinkerton on Jul 1, 2020 21:11:48 GMT -5
"Good, uncle, good." Edmure smiled, tragedy had been averted. Not a single drop of blood spilled between Riverlanders.
"Let us now ride back to Riverrun. We've got plenty to do."
|
|
