Chương 42: Chapter 42: Among the Enemy
Bran
If there had been one good thing that had come out of this war was two things. One was that it finally brought her mother home and the other was the Reeds. Since he was young his father had told of how Howland Reed helped him defeat Ser Arthur Dayne. Now he got to play host to the children of the very man who saved his father during Robert's Rebellion.
Bran and Jojen watched as the elder of the Reed children Meera circled his direwolf summer each one moving cautiously not wanting to give an inch or reveal any weakness. Meera with her spear and net and summer with his claws and teeth. One false step could be their last. Bran admitted that despite her boyish appearance he found her strangely attractive. She had spirit and he felt as if she understood him better than mother did.
Finally, the tension broke, Summer leaped as Meera tossed her net. Summer ended un in the net as his body slammed into Meera, the impact caused her to drop her spear as the fell to the ground.
"You're pinned," Bran said triumphantly seeing Summer's victory.
"But he's snared" Jojen quipped.
Both were right, Meera was disarmed but Summer could not get at her with either claw or tooth. The net-bound him tight and the more he struggled, the more he was entangled. Summers growls turned to whines as he suddenly couldn't move."
"Release him," Bran commanded starting to get concerned for his wolf.
Meera smiled and deftly undid a certain knot causing the net to fall from the wolf's body like water. As soon as he was free Summer bounded over to Bran and licked his face.
"He seems so friendly," Meera commented. "One could almost forget that he's wild at heart."
"The Catspaw that tried to kill me would disagree," Bran replied stroking Summer's head.
"Does he react when you dream," Jojen asked.
Bran thought about it, "he wakes when I do but nothing worrying, why?"
"You had another green dream last night," Jojen stated simply.
Bran's frowned deepened, "am I truly so obvious?
"You were screaming again last night Bran," Meera commented her face concerned. "All of Winterfell talks of it."
Bran nodded grimly, "Maester Luwin's sleeping draughts are working less often now. Yet this one was different from the others."
"What did you dream this time?" Jojen inquired
"I saw a twisted silver monster with a single red eye and ten long arms, a sea of blood churning all around it as it reaches out and ensnaring everything in its path, animal, birds, and even fish."
"The three-eyed raven is trying to tell you something," Jojen said.
"But the question is, what?" Bran replied. "All I know is that something bad is coming. But we are at war a lot of bad things are coming." He turned to Jojen, "is he always this vague with you."
Jojen smirked, "the three-eyed raven came to me after I caught Greywater Fever. He told me to find the winged wolf and guide him to his destiny. He told me to find you."
"The raven told me I will fly," Bran said, "but how can I fly if I can't even walk."
"Before you can fly you must first open your third eye," Jojen replied softly
"But I only have two," Bran objected.
Jojen shook his head, "the Raven gave you a third. With two eyes you can see many things, but with the third, you will see much more. Your dreams are only the beginning."
"Those are nothing," Bran insisted.
Jojen smiled simply, "do you think it's a coincidence that the mother direwolf birthed the exact number of pups as Ned Starks children along with his bastard with the correct gender?"
Bran couldn't answer that and couldn't help but think of the circumstances behind it. "The Direwolf was killed by a Stag only to die by the Stag's antlers. I can't make sense of it. Both animals are sigils or two great houses. The Baratheons and Starks have been allies for years and were soon to be bound by blood."
"Not all Baratheons it seems," Jojen pointed out.
This caused Bran to lean back as he remembered Joffrey. "Do you think they tried to warn me about Joffrey?"
"I cannot say," Jojen shrugged. "Things that are depicted can have numerous interpretations depending on the person. But you need to learn to control these visions, it starts with dreams and now because of your connection, you have started warging into Summer. Unless you learn to control it the line between dreams and reality will become ever more blurred until finally it will consume you entirely and there will be nothing left but a wolf."
"I am not a wolf," Bran Insisted.
"You dream you're in the godswood, all In grey do you not?"
"That wasn't me, I was in bed sleeping."
"Your body was sleeping," Jojen agreed, "but your mind was with Summer."
"That's impossible," Bran denied angrily, beside him Summer let out a low growl.
Jojen shook his head, "You are Summer and Summer is you, he's a part of you. Your third eye has made you a warg, you can enter his mind, see the world through his eyes. But you have to stop denying it, The more you fight it the more out of control it will become. and one day it will come roaring out and you won't be able to tell the difference. You must accept what's happened to you and accept what you are. The gift of the children is flowing through your veins, embrace it."
"The Children are Dead," Bran retorted.
"The Children may be gone but their magic never dies."
Bran shook his head, "I don't think I want to think about this at the moment."
Jojen nodded, "we will talk again soon, but rest assured the time will come soon."
Dinner was eaten in silence, and as Bran lay there on the bed he thought on what Jojen said. 'Could he be right,' he thought, "am I a warg?" Bran cursed to himself, 'why me, I didn't ask for this, I didn't want it. I wanted to be a Knight to ride in tourney's to hear girls calling my name. Instead, I have magic now but I've lost my legs and all I have are nightmares.
That night was another fitful one for Bran. It was nights like these that Bran wished he could stop dreaming altogether if it meant a peaceful sleep. Now Bran found himself on a shoreline covered in a blanket of snow which felt lightly on the ground. Looking around Bran saw what looked to be a storm approaching from the sea. Bran's eyes narrowed and then he saw that it was no storm, it was a gigantic wave growing bigger and bigger as it neared land. The red eye seemed to look directly at him and as Bran back away the wave formed tendrils and arched upward and they lunged at him like coiled snakes.
Bran woke with a start his face sweating, that was when he heard clashing just outside his door, he sat up and saw shadows of men below the door. The door opened and the Osha entered followed closely by the Maester Luwin, Hodor, and Rickon in tow.
"What's going on?" Bran demanded.
"Ironborn," Luwin replied, "hundreds of them. they attacked Wintertown as a diversion then slipped in from the west."
"My mother," Bran asked desperately, "is she safe?"
"We sent men to retrieve her," Luwin assured him, "she'll join you soon. But right now we need to get you to safety."
Hodor picked up bran and the seven of them hurried along the halls and towards the crypts where they could easily hide until the conflict ended or should the castle be taken, escape from Winterfell altogether."
As they rushed the halls they found their way blocked by an ax-wielding reaver. The reaver grins and takes a step forward but before he could do more and his head lurched forward as his throat started spurting blood. The reaver let out an animalistic cry and collapsed. Behind him, frog spear in hand, was Meera Reed and her brother.
"We need to get to the godswood," Jojen said urgently, "your wolves can help us."
Bran nodded as Hodor picked him up. and together the group fought their way out of the keep everywhere ironborn were engaging Winterfell's guards. They manage to reach the courtyard where the fighting was by far the heaviest.
"Hodor open the Godswood," Bran commanded.
"Hodor," the large man replied as he gave Bran to Osha and rushed to the heavy double doors prying them open. The moment the opening was big enough Summer and Shaggydog bolted out. Hodor rushed back and took hold of Bran once again. Barking and snarling, the two direwolves navigated their way through the sea of fighting men taking victims of opportunity. Bran noted that out of two Shaggydog was by far more aggressive and vicious.
While this happened they were set upon by a pair of reavers that took notice of the group, Osha and Meera were the first to confront them. It was a pity Hodor could not get in on the action
In the chaos, Bran saw Meera take down her opponent only for a second reaver to confront her. She kicked and fought, stabbing wildly with her frogspear, but the reaver snapped it and advanced towards her as she crawled backward trying to get away.
Off to the side, Bran saw Summer nearby mauling the neck of a fallen reaver, close enough to get to her. Desperately he started yelling, "save her," the direwolf looked at him before pouncing on another ironborn his teeth punching deep into the man's arm.
Now thoroughly irritated, Bran mentally screamed, "Damn it, get her you cursed wolf." Then it was as if time slowed, Bran's eyes turned milky white and he soon found himself seeing through Summer's eyes. Aggression coursing through him he looked around and saw Meera, Bran stopped thinking and started acting on raw instinct. Instantly he bounded forward towards her then he leaped forward in a loud growl and decked the reaver seconds before he could finish her.
More Reavers rushed them but were stopped by more guards. The groups darted through the battle doing their best to avoid fighting as much as possible until they reached the crypt. With torched they made their way to the deepest part, one only the Starks and Maester Luwin knew well. There, they huddled together to wait out the chaos above. The little group remained in the crypts for what seemed like an eternity. For the longest time, they waited until Osha decided to take a look outside. By the time she did, it was noon and the battle was over. Osha informed the Starks that it was safe and the group cautiously came out.
Bran looked around, the damage seemed to be minor with a few structures including the stables being burned but casualties were still high. Guards were on patrol dragging out the bodies of reavers stripping them and putting the corpses in a huge fire in the courtyard. The battle had been won but at a cost, about 200 guards had been killed along with 500 smallfolk. But most grievous of all among the casualties was the Frey boys Big Walder and Little Walder near hacked to pieces. In comparison, 300 reavers died in the attack.
As Bran surveyed the destruction he thought on the fact that this was the first battle Winterfell had experienced in thousands of years. For all the devastating wars they have had, The Dance of Dragons, the Blackfyre Rebellions and Roberts Rebellion not one of them had ever reached Winterfell due to it being so far away.
As soon as they were noticed they called for Ser Rodrik who quickly strode towards them. "My Lord he said bowing, thank the gods you're okay. "We feared you had been captured too."
"We were able to evade them," Maester Luwin replied. I don't think they could find the crypts.
Bran, however, took notice of something Ser Rodrick said, "What do you mean 'too'," Bran looked around to see if anyone was missing, Rickon was the first to notice that there was.
"Where is mother? Is she okay?" Rickon asked when they couldn't see her. The two boys turned to the group and noticed their eyes downcast and the air became deathly quiet.
Bran's eyes widened in horror as a thought came to him, not wanting to believe it and hoping it wasn't true. He turned to Ser Rodrik. "Ser Rodrik," Bran asked beginning to get worried as his voice strained to keep calm, "where is my mother?"
Everyone was silent before Ser Rodrick looked up and said quietly. "I'm so sorry Bran, but the ironborn have taken her."
Catelyn
Catelyn woke with a start her eyes darting back and forth. Sitting up, she found find herself on a soft feather bed in a spacious cabin, one more fitted for royalty rather than a prisoner.
Hearing movement outside her door Catelyn jumped out of the bed and grabbed a nearby stool. She raised her hand ready to smash the intruder and make an escape.
The door opened and she swung the chair, a move she came so close to regretting since what entered was no raider but a small boy no older than ten. The boy had mud colored skin and shaggy hair that fell like a mane around his head. Behind him was a dusky woman holding a gown in her hands. Thank goodness she had aimed so high.
"Where am I?" Catelyn demanded.
"Euron Greyjoy's world-renowned vessel of infamy the Silence, the boy said trying to act formal, a poor attempt, but she couldn't begrudge him for trying.
"You are to dine with my father," The boy continued, "and he requests you wear this." He gestured to the gown the Dusky woman was holding.
Catelyn was unsure about what to do, the last thing she wanted was to be sharing a meal with Balon Greyjoy's brother. "And if I refuse?"
The boys face remained unchanged as he replied, "he said you'll be dining with the crew and you'll be naked."
Catelyn frowned, between a Greyjoy and his reavers, the choice seemed obvious and accepted the dress. The boy left leaving the dusky woman behind to help her prepare. As the woman made sure she was thoroughly cleaned, Catelyn tried to make small talk figuring she was a captive same as her. But the woman remained silent. Catelyn wondered whether the woman couldn't understand her she did, after all, look foreign. That was until Catelyn realized the poor girl was mute due to having her tongue ripped out.
The dress she had been given was perhaps the most beautiful thing she had ever worn in her life. The fabric ran through her fingers like water and shimmered with her every movement. "A dress fit for a queen," she thought wondering whom it belonged to. But then a part of her didn't want to know
Once she was dressed and her hair fixed Catelyn was led by the dusky women to the captain's cabin. The woman opened the door and Catelyn stepped inside. The Captain's Cabin was a lavish quarter fit for a king, filled with many trinkets made from precious metals and decorated in expensive tapestry. All around were incensing that let out an exotically scented smoke. Before she was a large table where a feast had been laid out, Honeyed chicken, pigeon pie, blood oranges, pomegranates, lemon cakes and quail eggs.
The man turned around and smiled. Catelyn had never met any of the Greyjoys personally with the exception of Theon. Yet the man before her seemed more like a nobleman than a reaver and that's considering Theon lived half his life with the Starks. He looked young, even younger than Ned. yet this didn't seem right since he was supposedly Balon's eldest, younger brother. His face was pale, paler than usual, yet clean and defined features. His hair well groomed and a beard neatly trimmed, a patch covered his right eye yet the left was a bright blue. the only unusual thing about him was the blue hue of his lips.
"Ahh Lady Stark," Euron greeted her, "how good of you to join me." He smile seemed pleasant enough yet Catelyn didn't fail to notice the sly look in his eyes.
"It's not like you gave me much of a choice," Catelyn replied coldly.
Euron shrugged, "no, I didn't," he said nonchalantly. "He pulled back a chair and gestured for her to sit. Catelyn cautiously did so and Euron pushed the chair back. He took a seat beside her. "We Ironborn are not big on formalities, I'm sure you must be famished. After all, it has been a trying day for you."
The scent of the food was intoxicating and without thinking for a moment Catelyn forked a piece of chicken and took a bite. The moment she took the first bite Catelyn realized how hungry she really was and began wolfing down as much as she could, she took a bite of almost everything. The Food was good no denying that but in her current situation, it was difficult to enjoy it. As she ate she looked at Euron and notice that unlike her she was eating rather slowly like a nobleman would, calm cool and collected.
Catelyn glanced between the feast and her host, her eyes narrowed. "What trickery is this?" She demanded. 'You mean to poison me.
Euron expressed offense though Catelyn was sure he was faking it, "no trick. It's not every day a humble reaver gets to play host to the lady of a mighty house."
Catelyn scoffed, "what would a backwater ironman know of humbleness or for that matter anything decent?"
Euron frowned, "hardly a lady's courtesy, Lady Stark, expecially since I have shown nothing but grace."
"Grace? Catelyn demanded. "You attacked my home, my family and stole me away from my boys who need me."
Euron let out a short laugh, "fair to say. But firstly attacking the north was my brother's idea, and since he had so foolishly committed us to such a pointless endeavor I had little choice but to see it through. Can't very well go through so much trouble only to return to the isles empty handed. Secondly you were not the only target Lady Stark. I also meant to acquire your sons but their wolves prevented me from doing so. A pity since you wish to be with them I'm sure.
"What do you want from me," Catelyn demanded.
Euron gave her a smirk and said simply, "it's a simple matter of leverage." Catelyn looked at Euron confused and the Greyjoy Continued. "When the war between Robert's sons is over one of them will win and unite Westeros, but regardless of who wins the will come and destroy us. With you as my captive will be just a start. Though I doubt he will risk the life of his wife's mother it's better to be safe. I may not have gotten your boys but I may yet find another way to gain the leverage I need, he does, after all, have plenty of families to pick from."
"Are you not sided with Joffrey?" Catelyn asked.
Euron shrugged, "for now, but we both know it's only an alliance of convenience. I know Tywin and I doubt he forgot what I did to his precious fleet 11 years ago. Roland will wipe us off the face of the world, Joffrey, on the other hand, will allow us to live as a reward for my services but that is if we are very very lucky."
"Seems to me the choice is quite simple," Catelyn replied
For lesser men and perhaps many Ironborn, yes" Euron agreed. "Not for men of ambition and certainly not for me. I do not intend to simply live, that is not my destiny. My destiny is to rule."
"If you know that Tywin will betray you why not do it now before he can do the same to you?"
"That is a mistake my brother would certainly make." Euron said with a smile, "Roland and Joffrey hate each other but they will not be beyond working together against a common enemy. I too am familiar with a brother's animosity. Victarion loathes me yet now here he is bending the knee to me as we both did to our brother when he first made himself king. There is a time and a place for everything and my time will come but it is not today."
"Well, it seems that you have it all figured out," Catelyn observed. "So why tell me all this?"
Euron shrugged, "eating dinner in silence is dull, I figured this would make good conversation."
"Whatever you're planning Roland and my family will stop you
Euron laughed, "no doubt they will try but they will have bigger things to worry about, they will scarcely have the time
He leaned forward, but the real reason I'm telling you this is because, in the end, none of it will matter. The darkness is coming and it will consume all in its path. Roland and Joffrey will wear themselves out trying to stop it as well as the growing power in the east. Regardless of what happens night will fall and mop up the survivors.
"And you think you can take on the world all by your lonesome self."
Euron laughed, "hardly I've been all over the world and I have met others, yet I shall stand above them all."
As Euron spoke Catelyn's began to feel a tingling sensation. The combination of the strong wine and heavy scents were making her eyes heavy and her senses numb. 'What's going on?" Catelyn asked in a slurred voice as Euron walked over to her."
"Shhhhh," Euron cooed as his hand began to caress her neck, causing a tingle to run up her spine. "Just relax and enjoy the anticipation."
Willas
For months Stannis had been leading a successful campaign across the Reach and there was little to stop him. Although the Tyrells still had a significant force defending the Reach, they were spread out across the vast region. This allowed Lord Stannis to pick them apart bit by bit. Willas managed as best he could by making sure his forces retreated in good order. But without the advice of Randyll Tarly or Mathis Rowan, there was only so much he could do.
Along with 20,000 reachmen at his back, Stannis also build a number of siege weapons from the trees in the Kingswood. Battering Rams, spitfires, ballistas and ladders chief among them. These he used to great effect assaulting the castles who refused to surrender.
At Highgarden Willas had assembled a court consisting of His great uncle Garth 'the Gross', his relatives Theodore, Ser Leo and Olymer Tyrell. Joining them were the most prominent lords that had not marched with his father. Leo Blackbar, Warryn Beesbury, Arwyn Oakheart, Garth 'Greysteel' Hightower and Humphrey Hightower. Here at the council chambers at Highgarden, Willas discussed the matter with his advisors receiving reports of the movement of the Blacks.
With the situation, worsening Willas wrote to Tywin Lannister suggesting a bold gamble. Getting an army across the Blackwater was made impossible with Roland's river fleet. But perhaps a single small craft could slip past the patrol. Despite how desperately they needed reinforcements, Willas knew what they needed more was commanders for the forces that remained. So the boat would carry two men Randyll Tarly and Mathis Rowan with a small escort, back to Highgarden and help defend the Reach.
Tywin accepted the proposal and made a plan for the two men. Willas doubted that his father would object least of all to Tywin Lannister, now Willas could only wait and pray that his plan bore fruit. It was a huge risk, the Reach was large second only to the north in size, and there were many miles of ground to cover between the Blackwater and Highgarden. If Tarly and Rowan were captured by Stannis then the Reach would lose it's best commanders as well as their best chance of defeating Lord Stannis
"Stannis Baratheon's army continues to push along the Mander taking every castle along the way," Garth Tyrell explained. "So far Tumbleton, Bitterbridge, Longtable, and Ashford have already fallen. He also captured holdings that once belonged to their allies such as House Peake's Dunstonbury and Whitegrove and House Osgrey's Coldmoat, Dosk, Little Dosk, Brandybottom, Nunny, Leafy Lake and the Derring Downs.
Willas sighed deeply as he rubbed his temples, "how many dead?" He asked finally.
"About 4,000 my lord including Lorent Caswell, and the Lords Footly, Ashford, and Webber." Leo replied sadly, "Caswell's two daughters and four sisters are now captives of Lord Stannis."
"It gets worse," Theodore said grimly, "Paxtor Redwyne led the Redwyne fleet in an attack on the fleet of the Shield Islands. Forty ships captured or sunk with the remaining ten taking refuge here."
Garth threw his hands up in the air, "gods, this is getting out of hand."
Willas nodded, of all the Reach lords to join Roland Baratheon it was Paxtor Redwyne's defection that dealt the heaviest blow. The commander of 2/3rds of the Reach's naval power gave Roland the edge at sea and combined with the Royal Fleet would easily crush what remained of the Reach's ships. With the fleet of the shield islands taken the only remaining threat was the Hightower Fleet at Oldtown. "Is there any good news?"
Ser Leo nodded, Lord Randyll and Lord Mathis have to manage to cross the Blackwater. He is bringing 200 men and a 'special gift' though he will not say what."
Willas sighed in relief, "that is a relief, how many men can we field?"
"I've managed to gather 10,000, my lord," Garth replied. "Another 5,000 stragglers from the battles against the Blacks are garrisoned at Hornhill. But even with this to meet Stannis head-on would be suicide, Lord Stannis is a proven battle commander and currently, his forces outnumber our own."
"Can we launch a hit and run campaign on his army," Theodore asked.
Willas shook his head, "that would be easier said than done cousin, Stannis' army is comprised of reach lords and they know the land as well as we do. No, we wait for Tarly and his me to arrive." Willas concluded. Drumming his fingers he spoke yet again, "Where is Lord Stannis now?"
"Our scouts report he is currently at Cider Hall," Garth Hightower replied with a frown. It seems he had halted his march and if now foraging the countryside taking not just gold, but crops and livestock. Caravans have been seen heading for the Stormlands."
Willas frowned, "Lord Stannis is stripping our lands bare, it's clear he means to fill his own larders for the coming winter."
Well between Cider hall and Bitterbridge he has plenty of lands with which to do this," Leo replied."
"There is another concern my lord," Garth added. "From Cider hall there are no bastions between Stannis and Highgarden. It won't be long before Stannis sets his sights here, I don't think I need to tell you how vulnerable Highgarden is to attack. Perhaps it would be best if we moved to a more defensible position like Horn Hill or perhaps Hightower."
Willas shook his head, "many of Roland's Reach ally's castles are in the south-west portion of the region, some are bannermen of House Hightower. Blackcrown, Three Towers, Sunhouse, Brightwater, Cuy, and Uplands. If they were to take the opposing castles of Bandallon and Honeyholt then they could surround Oldtown. The only castles standing in their way are Horn Hill and Highgarden." Still, Willas shook his head at the impossible choice he had to make. Highgarden was no fortress, while processing defenses in the form of three-ring walls and a hedge maze, The castle itself was not built for war as Horn Hill was. but Horn Hill lacked any extensive defenses. Stannis could overtake either castle with his full strength. Once Highgarden fell Willas knew they would likely see more of their bannermen flock to Roland's side. After much deliberation Willas opted to adjourn for the evening, hoping that some sleep may give him insight on what to do next. But first, he needed to visit someone.
When Loras returned to Highgarden, Willas immediately realized that his brother would never be the same again. The war had changed his little brother in more ways than one and far more than Willas could ever imagine.
The Lord of Highgarden was enraged, Willas couldn't remember a time when he had seen his father so angry. Mace Tyrell was usually an even-tempered man, yet seeing his favorite son scarred made him lose it. Mace swore that he would tear the Black Prince apart with his bare hands. It almost made Willas smile since the only thing his father ever tore apart was a chicken leg.
He shook his head, 'for once just once can my father just listen to my grandmother,' he thought. Mace may rule from Highgarden but it was he and Olenna that had done most of the work managing the finances, harvest and making sure everything ran smoothly. Not that father ever noticed since he was too busy hosting tourneys and feasts.
Even without the hideous scar that ran across his face, Loras was no longer the same young, handsome boy he once was. He had become gaunt since his return to Highgarden. hollowed cheeks, sunken in eyes and the stubble of a beard growing on his chin. His usually well-groomed brown curls now hung in a mop around his head and tumbled over his forehead.
"Do you plan to spend the rest of your life moping here all day?" Willas asked. Loras remained silent causing his older brother to frown. "Loras you are my brother but I have allowed this to go on long enough."
"What else can I do?" Loras asked hopelessly, "I lost the battle, my cause, my face and worst of all him."
"What happened to Renly was not your doing," Willas tried to convince him. "How could you have known."
"It's so easy for me to blame Roland for all of this. Roland told me this was my doing, that it was my fault Renly died. That I poisoned his thoughts with my whispering."
"That boy is just messing with your head, Trying to break you as much as possible," Willas reasoned.
"And he's done a fine job doing so," Loras concluded. "But the worst this is that he was right. I put the idea in Renly's head, he had dreams of being king, then again who doesn't. But he wouldn't have done anything about it if I hadn't pushed him. " Loras sighed deeply. "I told him he would make a great king, I told him I could give him a crown, the Iron Throne and he listened to me, he believed me. when Roland came to him looking for peace, he declined for me." Loras sighed deeply, "I was such a fool. A young, arrogant, stupid fool thinking I could make it happen with the single swing of my sword."
Willas shook his head, "There's no point on dwelling on that, what's done is done, you can't keep beating yourself up about it."
"What else can I do," Loras asked.
"You can fight."
Loras scoffed, "last time I fought I got this," he gestured to his scar.
Willas sighed deeply once again he was getting nowhere, "do you even see what you're turning into?"
"We are who we are brother," Loras replied grimly turning back to the window.
"When you figure it out let me know, your house needs you," With that Willas turned and walked out of the room leaving Loras to contemplate.
That night, Willas laid there contemplating this whole war and wondered how they would fair when it was over. The one thing none of them has expected was how many houses would flock to Roland's side after Renly's defeat. Yet in all honesty, he admitted that he understood to a point. Renly seemed a bit too silly a fact confirmed by his grandmother, and he had heard disturbing rumors about Robert's eldest son Joffrey. So between those three Roland seemed like the best choice.
By morning Willas was awoken to Maester Lomy at the door, Willas sat up and bid him enter, the old man hobbled in and bowed. "Pardon my lord but there are riders approaching, they bear the banners of Houses Tarly and Rowan."
Willas sat up now fully awake, this was most welcome news. He quickly sent the maester off washed and dressed in preparation to greet his guests. A soon a he was presentable Willas made his way to the courtyard and waited patiently for the long-awaited arrival
The men holding the banners came in first followed closely by the lords themselves. Men at arms came in behind them escorting a couple of wagons.
Willas strode forward and locked arms with Mathis Rowan before doing the same with Randyll Tarly. "Lord Tarly," Willas greeted warmly. "I was worried you wouldn't make here I even considered sending scouts."
"We feared that Stannis will have taken Highgarden before we could arrive," Randyll replied.
"I had the same fears," Willas replied. "In any case, I'm glad you and Lord Rowan were able to return safely, the Reach need you two now more than ever."
Randyll smiled grimly, "it wasn't easy avoiding Stannis' foraging parties, especially with the cargo we were carrying.
Willas nodded, "yes you mentioned, you had something special with you."
"Yes," Lord Mathis confirmed, "a gift from King Joffrey."
Randyll led the others to a wagon with four large crates. He opened one and reached inside pulling out a jar of bright green liquid.
Phew gods that was exhausting, BTW the Catelyn part wasn't easy for me.
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