Fight and Fuck
A big, yellow tent in the center of allied forces camp was full of noise and laughter.
Surrounded from all sides by multicolored, smaller tents flying each houses sigils, it majestically towered over all of them.
Every Lord could see the clear divide in the Northern forces.
On one side, the Lords from outside the alliance with their camp quiet and gray like the atmosphere in it.
On the other, Dustin, and their allies camp bustling with movement, shouts of joy and the smell of freshly baked bread, grilled meat and fine wine.
Ned looked at it all from the top of the Seagard wall. He clearly didn't like the divide, or the behavior itself, but knowing how hard the joyful men fought for their lives just two days back, he rained in his distaste to let them do their thing. Besides, he still had his friend Stannis to placate.
The now finally united Northern alliance force released their tension that was clustered inside each of their men during the battle.
There were grilled pigs being roasted by cooks on almost every side of the camp, bakers transported freshly baked bread and pastries from the Dustin's bakeries in Seagard in batches, and most importantly the girls from all the neighboring Dustin pleasures houses, the camp wenches that followed the Northern army, and every prostitute in the closest lands were running around the camp half naked or simply naked laughing loudly making the men really happy for the summer that came.
The nurses that weren't on shifts joined in on the party.
The behavior of the Northmen reminded everyone more of the Dothraki horde, this was the difference, Brendan's men and women knew how to fight hard and how to play hard, a part of their experience from Essos.
From the prepared bathhouses the sounds of moaning and laughter came out, the women from the legion weren't shy at all as well, no one could speak of modesty or being shy when you spend each day braking bones, cutting limbs and dying just as well as the men at your side.
Some servant boys and prospects following the 1st had the most blissful nights of their lives that day.
When all of that was going on outside Brendan was resting on the sofa like bed, his back on a soft pillow, Tyene and Nymeria on each of his sides. The boy didn't move since Qyburn tended to his wounds.
He still felt pain emanating from his back sending a numbing pulse from the top of his back to the tips of his feet.
Every time he winced from the pain the wolves at his feet looked up at him worriedly.
"This will get some time to get used to..." Harrion Karstark smiled when he saw two young, naked girls running outside while laughing winking at the men inside.
Smalljon, Asher Forrester and Eddard Karstark only glared at Harrion after Alysane Mormont, Obara and Noya smacked their men respectively.
"Fight hard play hard, at least that's how he said it" Dacey pointed with her chin at Brendan. "After what we went through, that's exactly what our men need." she smiled hearing the noises coming from outside the tent and sipped her wine slowly like it didn't bother her at all.
"I'm going to blame myself more thinking about it! We should have left the army and sped forward without worrying about consequences!" Smalljon knocked at the table with his strong fist.
"And what? Let you father take the blame? You did good staying with the army Jon." Brendan decided to get up, Nym and Tyene grabbed him under his armpits and around his chest to help him up. "It's war time, don't give the fuckers any excuses to hamper our actions or my mother really will die." Brendan slowly moved to the table and sat down after thanking the girls.
"But are you sure this is alright?" Rodrik Forrester pointed outside.
"We're already savages in the southerners eyes so does it really matter? Let our men forget the past few days and vent out, or do you want to again walk around the camp and hear the screaming at night from the nightmares they have and sobbing?" Brendan saddened. "Even for me this fucking battle was harder then any I was in previously, and trust me there were few close ones." The group of youth's visibly saddened just as he did.
"The King will be here tomorrow." Daryn Hornwood changed the subject.
"Aye I received the falcon from Oldstones. Still takes his time for drinking and whoring when we, at the same time die." Lord Dustin had no good will for the fat pig.
"How do you want to play it?" Alysane Mormont asked curiously.
"The same as we always do Aly, just nod your head at everything he says. I will talk to him personally."
Brendan wanted to continue when Missandei entered the tent "My Lord, Lord Seaworth was arrested by Lord Baratheon." the girl just finished speaking when the glass in Brendan hand shattered into pieces.
=== Seagard Castle ===
The Lords of Northern houses gathered in the big hall, most of them didn't dare to look up from fear.
Only Lords or representative from Mormont, Umber, Karstarks, Ryswell and Glenmore Houses held their heads high, defiantly meeting the gaze of the King's brother and the Master of Ships.
At the center of the hall, a beaten man kneeled, his arms in chains, blood dripped from his broken and swollen lip.
Around the previously mentioned Lords, guards with a Stag on their clothes pointed their spears at them.
"It is my judgment to make not yours Lord Baratheon." since they were not alone Ned used the honorifics.
"Defying the orders of Master of Ships is a treason Lord Stark." his empty eyes and emotionless face made people dislike him a lot.
"He followed the order of his Lord, one of MY Lords. It's on me to pass on the judgment." Ned didn't give up more so as this was about his nephew.
"It is clear you don't have a grip on your bannerman Lord Stark, look at them." he pointed at the alliance Lord surrounding and protecting Davos.
"My Lord, it's not wise to protect a traitor." Lord Bolton with his dead eyes whispered, but everyone could still hear it.
"And when was it your place to speak Leech Lord?" Brendan walked into the hall briskly surrounded by the younger generation and not hiding his animosity to Bolton.
"Father!" Matthos shouted, but Brendan's hand on his shoulder stopped him from running further.
"Lord Dustin, this isn't a place for children..." Lord Bolton said quietly so that everyone had to pay attention to hear him.
"Oh for fuck sake speak louder or did you flay your own tongue by mistake Bolton? Don't play that mind games with me." Brendan hated the man "If you don't like it we can step outside right now and let the Old Gods decide who is right between us. Please do me the pleasure." Brendan already held his sword handle in his hand ready to draw it at a moment notice.
"It's not the place or the time for that my Lords!" Stannis raised his emotionless voice.
"Then might explaining to me why you captured my sworn Lord without informing me before Lord Baratheon?" their eyes met and the atmosphere got heavy.
"Do I have to explain anything to you Lord Dustin? You should know that your Lord committed treason." Baratheon slowly articulated.
"And how did he do that?" Brendan walked slowly closer to Lord Seaworth position. "By disregarding your request, at my orders I might add to follow the fleeing Ironborn? Or by not providing you our ships to command?"
"It wasn't a request but an order!" finally Stannis exploded.
"And who gave you the right to order my men!" Brendan didn't care anymore as well, he always had anger issues, he just didn't care to hold back anymore as he roared as well.
"I'm the Master of Ships!"
"You had your King's fleet and where is it now!?" Brendan was now in front of the Stag guards surrounding his men "Move!" he shouted at the guard in front of him making the man flinch and step back a bit.
Noya and some of the people behind young Dustin, mainly the Sand Snakes already took their hidden weapons just as she did with her short swords and hid them in their cloaks, the wolves started growling loudly showing their fangs and making the gathered people feel cold sweat on their backs.
"Move or the Old God's are my witnesses I will gut you here and now." all the Lords inside held their breath when they heard him threatening the Royal Stag guard.
"You should watch your words boy!" Stannis raised from his seat.
"Lord Baratheon if you want to judge my Lord then do so in accordance to the customs. Inform my Liege Lord, inform me. I'm sure that the Lords of the kingdom will be more than "happy" to hear how you chose to disregard our dying and wounded men just to pursue the already defeated Iron fleet that slipped out from your "victory"" Brendan's mocking tone made the Stag furious, but he knew it was not his place to order them then. "And you do not have the right to command or even ask for my ships without my approval. We pay our taxes so that the King could build his fleet for you to command my Lord, and we pay a lot! The rest is out of your reach!"
"Lord Dustin!" Eddard had enough of the argument. "Change your tone or there will be consequences!" Ned didn't want to take sides, but his duty was more important than anything.
"I apologize my Lord." Brendan bowed down, unseen by the rest his face hid a small smile on his lips.
Seeing his actions Ned's eyes had a gentle glimmer in them "Yet he is right Lord Baratheon," Ned turned to look at Stannis "The ships belong to Lord Dustin, and they did their part winning an impossible battle, killing Rodrik Greyjoy and capturing Victarion, destroying the Ironborn's fleet at that. The decision was correct and there should be no talk about treason." his firm eyes looked at Stannis for a longer while.
"You know it will not end like this Ned." Stannis whispered for Lord Stark to hear.
"It will for today." Ned replied.
"Move!" Brendan seeing the situation pushed the guards away, picked up Lord Seaworth and handed the half conscious man to his son.
With a last look he and the rest of alliance Lords bowed and left the room.
Just outside the doors Asher Forrester and Smalljon moved swiftly and grabbed the boy supporting his weak body, only now they remembered that his wounds were heavy.