Chapter 34
Robb Stark read the message in front of him. The other Northern Lords and the Lords of Riverrun with unease. And rightfully so given the seal was the used by the Targaryens. The seal itself made several Northern and River Lords look nervous and they had been in quite a few battles together. Robb knew enough about the history between his House and House Targaryen was not a peaceful one from his Father's time.
So why send this message.
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To Robb Stark,
No doubt reading this after seeing my seal has made you concerned. I do not blame you for feeling that way. Our two Houses have not had good history between us in the past and you are fearful of what my return means. Will I go mad? Will I demand people be burned while laughing at the sight? Will I violate Guest Rights and take those you love from you.
I say no to all these things. If word has not yet to reach you of the most recent events in King's Landing, I will provide an update to your Father's situation there. He is in fact alive. Alive and well. I personally saved him from being executed on the Sept of Baelor itself by the false King Joffrey. Know that your Father was being forced to confess to crimes of treason while his daughter watched with a blade to her throat. It hardly says the man is guilty of crimes when forced to say it or else lose his daughter.
I know you don't believe your Father to be a traitor to Robert Baratheon and no one in the North believes it either. But I felt it should be said just in case anyone in passing tells you different. Your sisters are also alive and safe under my protection. The city is mine and the people willingly accept me as their new King. Those who betrayed your Father are either dead or in the Black Cells under heavy guard to ensure they do not escape justice.
Speaking of justice. I offer you and the North a chance to obtain it in full. Both from the Lannisters and from those who orchestrated the fight between your Houses in order to be too weak to face the real enemies pulling the strings in the shadows. Come here to King's Landing, if only to see your Father and sisters are in fact healthy and safe. To see that I am speaking the truth and to reveal more truth to the world that many would find hard to accept, but needed to know all the same. I offer Guest Rights to you and those Northern Lords who come with you.
If you still have doubts, the message scroll beside this one bearing the mark of the Hand of the King should put your mind at ease. It is from your Father. If my own words will not convince you to listen, perhaps your Father's will.
Fire and Blood.
King Aegon Targaryen
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Putting the message down, Robb looked to the scroll next to it that had yet to be opened by him, and was almost hesitant to read it. Was it a forgery? Did his Father write it, but under force? Was he truly well along with Sansa and Arya? Or were they the ones in the Black Cells instead of those who betrayed House Stark?
Grabbing the scroll, he saw it did bear the seal of the Hand of the King. Meaning it was from his Father. Or so this Aegon claimed. Breaking the seal, Robb opened it and read its contents.
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To Robb,
Son, if you are reading this, it means you have read Aegon's scroll first. Know that I am well. So are your sisters. Though it was a close call. I won't go into details about it now since I have more important things to say here. First, I advise you to come to King's Landing. There is much to discuss. Not just with you, but with all the Lords and Ladies from all of the Seven Kingdoms. Truths must be revealed and lies exposed so no one is made ignorant what has happened.
Second, I have already pledged the North to support Aegon Targaryen. Yes, you heard right. Of my own free will, I have bent the knee to House Targaryen. As to why, you must not say to the other Lords, but only let them know that the man who now sits on the Iron Throne is Prince Rheagar's true born son. By blood right and might, this man is worthy of the Crown. As to how he can be Rheagar's son Aegon when you were told how said child met his fate at the hands of Gregor Clegane, it is not that Aegon Targaryen who is King.
But rather he is your Aunt Lyanna's son. Yes, you heard right. My sister, your Aunt, is the Mother of Rheagar's child. However, he is not a bastard Blackfyre, nor was your Aunt raped like everyone believed following her supposed kidnapping. They had married in secret following the annulment of Rheagar's marriage to Elia Martell. Messages were sent throughout the Seven Kingdoms about it, but somehow they never reached any us, and I suspect further treachery on the issue. As does Aegon, who will provide further proof aside from my own testimony when all the Lords summoned come to Court.
At the moment, a temporary truce has been declared between House Stark and House Lannister to stop fighting until a permanent one can be made. Do not worry about the Lannisters retaliating or breaking the truce. One of Aegon's dragons has effectively removed that possibly as only a dragon can.
However, before you go to King's Landing, there is the matter of Gregor Clegane and his men running through the Riverlands like bandits. In the eyes of Gods and Laws of Men, they are not part of House Lannister, as such they are not bound to the truce. Drive the Mountain from his position and out into the open field. With so many against him, the man will flee and under normal circumstances, he would escape. But not if you have help from an unexpected source. He will be by a river near a Stone Mill in three days. Do not ask how I know this Robb. Only that I do. Engage him and his men with as many as you can spare for the engagement. You will lose men, which I am sorry to say is expected in a battle or war. It is never easy to ask men to march to their death for such a cause. But the Mountain and his men must be stopped at all costs or they will continue their attacks long after the peace has been made. Once he has been subdued, bind him in the strongest of chains and restraints. Leave nothing to chance. The stories I have told you of the man's monstrous strength are nothing compared to actually seeing it in action.
After the man is detained, make for King's Landing with the other Lords, and bring Ser Jamie with you since I have been told he also is your prisoner. Keep them separate from everyone Robb and under heavy guard at all times. Gregor Clegane will try to muscle his way out while Jamie will try to find a way to outsmart you. If you are not careful, they will succeed and spell doom for all of you.
The North Remembers
-Hand of the King Lord Eddard Stark
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"It could be a trick lad," commented Lord Umber.
"Its my Father's hand writing. I would know if it was a forgery," said Robb with Lord Umber nodding.
"I agree. It is his hand writing," said Catelyn Stark.
"With all due respect my Lord and Lady, just because they are his words doesn't mean someone else isn't telling him what to write them," offered Roose Bolton with many of the other Lords nodding.
"The question is not whether my Father wrote it willingly my Lords, but rather should we accept the invitation? Should we listen to what it says about the Mountain? Should we do what my Father and Aegon have asked of us?" asked Robb while the different Lords were mumbling to each other.
"The Mountain is a serious threat to the Riverlands. If we leave him alone, we condemn the innocent lives he slaughters to the Hell he would unleash on them. To leave such evil alone and unchecked is a sin onto itself. I say we go the Mountain, if only to bring him to face justice!" said Lord Glover with a few nodding.
"That man killed innocent men, women, and children with many dying horrible deaths. The Old Gods demand this animal be stopped. I say we do it!" said Dacey Mormont and others joined in.
"I believe in justice. I believe a man should do what he can when called upon. I believe this letter from your Father and this Aegon Targaryen to be true. I believe we should go after the Mountain, capturing him, bring the foul beast in human skin to King's Landing, and the let everyone see him receive the justice the Gods Old and New demand be carried out!" said Lord Manderly with more cries being heard in support for this decision.
"The message from Ned said the Mountain would be near a river by a Stone Mill in three days time. Uncle, do you know where this river and Stone Mill is located?" asked Catelyn while her Uncle Brynden the Blackfish Tully nodded.
"Aye, I know of it. The location is not far from here. A single days ride really. If we can get there ahead of time, we can setup the ambush properly, engage the Mountain along with his men when they least expect it, and force them to flee like Ned suggested. If this unexpected help comes to us like the letter claims, I think we can capture the son of a bitch," replied Blackfish with Robb smiling.
"We will need a lot of men for this. But not too many that the mad dog sees the ambush coming. They also need to know that if we do this, there is a chance many of them will not be coming back alive from the battle," replied Robb with Blackfish nodding.
"Many a Riverland bannermen knows the stakes here. We can do it," said Blackfish while hoping his nephew Edmure doesn't do something stupid to mess things up.
"Then let us prepare and catch ourselves a monster," replied Robb with the people around him cheering.
- Riverrun -
Around the same time Robb Stark was receiving messages, Holster Tully had received one of his own. His son and heir, Edmure Tully, was with him when the scroll came with the seal of House Targaryen on it. Seeing the seal after all this time drew fear and worry within the old man when he read it in his solar where its contents were read. In fact, it had sent the man into a coughing fit requiring the Maester to prevent it from becoming worse.
His son had been confused with a hint of concern since he was a young man when the Targaryens had ruled and fallen. The man didn't see what had made his poor Father have such a coughing fit, but after reading its contents, the man was filled with anger. Even about what was essentially a demand from his House that they bend the knee.
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To Holster Tully,
I do not wish to speak honey filled words with you my Lord. I find my dislike of you and your House has only grown with each passing Moon before I wrote this letter. Few in this world have earned such a place in my heart where my hatred for my enemies dwell. The Usurper, his Foster Father, Gregor Clegane, Armory Lorch, and Tywin Lannister.
The last one named I hold a great of rage for due to his actions with King's Landing and its sacking all those years ago. He will of course face my judgment soon enough as will others when the time is right.
The same will be said for you as well. As you know, the Usurper is dead. the old Falcon is dead, and Tywin Lannister's army has just been crushed. Even now, he is seeking to have temporary peace with House Stark, and is willing to face judgment at Court if it means sparing what little I leave to keep on breathing.
But you Holster will not be so lucky. You have wronged my House. It was through my House that yours rose to greatness. You tried to make it rise higher by betraying mine through making an alliance with the Falcon, the Stag, and the Dire Wolf. You knew what Lord Arryn was proposing was treason against the Crown. Against my House. Against the King. Mad or not. You don't have an excuse like Lord Stark, who was blinded, and deceived by those close to him. You don't even have the excuse of Tywin Lannister since he didn't join in until after it was clear the Usurper would win.
You chose to betray those who raised your House to become Liege Lord of the Riverlands and Riverrun. It does not matter if your daughter has married my Uncle. I do no care if you are feeling guilty. What I do care about is making sure those who crossed the dragon pay for their crimes.
You and your entire family will come to King's Landing with the other Lords. You will bend the knee and confess your crimes for all to hear. If you fail to do so, I will reveal your shame as a willing oath breaker with the proof in my possession to further back my claims. I will reveal how you willingly joined the Usurper to overthrow the dragon in exchange for more power. I will cast down your House and make sure it never rises to glory ever again.
House Stark and the North will be with me in the end. The South is with me. Dorne will soon be with me. I have three dragons and an army capable of crushing yours. Do not force my hand to crush you and your House.
Come to King's Landing to do the right thing. Or I will do it for you and make sure you pay your debts with fire and blood.
King Aegon Targaryen
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"Who does this upstart think he is? Who we are? That we will just submit like this? To a Targaryen? No! I won't allow it!" declared Edmure while Holster sat in his chair.
"We don't have a choice Edmure," replied Holster in a tired voice.
"What do you mean we don't have a choice? We can stand and fight! None of the Houses or their Lords want to be ruled over by a Targaryen King. We can fight him. We can get House Stark to join us. Cat married the House Lord. Surely she can convince her husband to rally to our defense. And Lysa in the Vale could muster the knights to ride against him. We could win!" protested Edmure with Holster glaring at him.
"Didn't you read the message in full? This Targaryen King has three dragons under his command Edmure. Three! One alone could crush us and our army in a single moment. Do you think the other River Lords will still fight when our House is consumed in fire and ash? They will bend the knee. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them decided to do just that if given the offer," replied Holster while Edmure scoffed.
"We can still beat them. We just have to overwhelm this King with numbers. Nine out of ten battles are won with superior numbers," protested Edmure with Holster sighing.
"And the tenth is different due to dragons being a deciding factor, which we have here with three of them. There is also the issue of the other Lords not joining us if we tried to fight back. The message here clearly says as much," replied Holster with Edmure clearly not believing it.
"It is a lie Father. Cat can get the North on our side. Lysa can have the knights of the Vale to join us. We can repel Dorne and Tyrells easily. And the Baratheons will gladly fight against the Targaryens like they did with Robert," challenged Edmure with Holster slamming his fist into the table.
"Damn it boy! Are you not listening?! Have you lost your senses within the mind? We cannot win! Even if we had the North and the Vale, it would never be enough. This King has his own army, plus House Tyrell, and possibly Dorne if he can deliver on what they want in exchange for support. The Lannisters have apparently been crushed already and they were far stronger then us! Tywin would not ask for a temporary peace unless it was the only path to keep what little will be left of his House alive," countered Holster with Edmure not looking convinced.
"And what do you propose we do Father? Bend the knee? Confess to crimes our House supposedly did like this message claims? No! I will defend our House and its honor with my dying breath!" exclaimed Edmure with Holster sighing.
"By the Seven, I have raised a halfwit. You don't get it Edmure. You never do no matter how hard I try. Your pride and arrogance will doom this House long after I am gone. In a way, the Gods are punishing me through my son and heir. All my faults I had during my youth have ultimately transferred onto you. I ignored them before realizing they should have been stamped out, but by that point it was too late. I should have never agreed with Lord Arryn back in those days before the rebellion. I should have just said no him and to the arranged marriages, even though it strengthened our House tremendously," remarked Holster in semi-defeat of his situation.
"And give up all the power gained from our loyalty to King Robert?" questioned Edmure with Holster sighing again.
"What good is this so called power, if you are dead? Edmure, you fail to realize that the only reason we are strong is because Robert won at the Trident and we supported him at the time. Do you think it would be that way if Rheagar had won? No! We would have been stripped of our lands and titles as a powerful House. For once in your life, learn to think before you speak your mind," commented Holster knowing he couldn't get out of this mess he had created all those years ago.
Perhaps it was the for the best. Perhaps the Gods were sick of the lie and the people who had thrived using it for so long.
The faint, yet no less powerful roar of the dragon flying around in the distance had only further enforced his decision to accept. However, his worries did not leave him, as he glanced at his stubborn son, wondering if Edmure would do something stupid to provoke the dragon.