Chapter 42

- Red Keep - Courtyard -

Robb couldn't believe he was sparring with Ser Barristan himself. The man was a legend with a sword. Up there with Ser Arthur Dayne himself. To be sparring with such a legend was a dream for any boy wishing to be a knight wished to see made reality. Sure the man was at Winterfell when King Robert visited not that long ago, but he was always too busy guarding the King, and Robb had been too shy to ask such a man for a spar. To Robb, the very idea of facing such a man in any way possible was laughable and the young heir to Winterfell feared shaming himself in front of his Father and the (at the time) King.

But now, with his cousin Jon, or rather Aegon, being King, it didn't seem so difficult to ask the man for one. Robb had felt he earned the right to spar, if only once with the man since he had been fighting in multiple battles against House Lannister. While not as many as Ser Barristan himself in all his years of serving as a Kingsguard, Robb had hopped to obtain some measure of approval from the far more experienced man.

They had sparred for several hours already, each time, Ser Barristan had won the match, but each time the fights had lasted a little bit longer. Ser Barristan's experience had gone against Robb's youth with the former besting the latter. The old knight had been changing his tactics every so often during their sparring and keeping Robb on his toes. And while the young wolf was concerned his skills fell short, Ser Barristan merely smiled an gentle understanding smile. It wasn't one of cruelty or disdain for his skills, but rather one of a teacher guiding his student to be better.

"You have skill young Stark. Both in natural talent and what you earned from fighting with the Lannisters on the battlefield. Just like your Father," commented Ser Barristan with Robb beaming at the praise.

"Thank you Ser Barristan. My Great Uncle Brynden helped along with a few of the other Lords of the North. They wanted to make sure that the heir to House Stark didn't die in his first battle when traveling South," replied Robb with Ser Barristan smiling.

"And they were right. Multiple teachers allows you to grow beyond your limitations and skills you had when first starting out. Remember, a good swordsman knows when he has reached his limitations, but a great swordsman knows them and learns to adapt in order to go beyond them when reached," stated Ser Barristan with Robb nodding.

"Take his lessons to heart Robb Stark. It is said Ser Barristan has ever rarely been beaten in a fight or battle," remarked Daenerys Targaryen, who had come out to the courtyard to watch the two men spar.

"Princess Daenerys," said Robb humbly while bowed respectfully and Daenerys smiling at him genuinely.

"Daenerys will do. Or Dany. No need to be so formal. You are my nephew's cousin after all so we are practically family to some extent," commented Daenerys while seeing him become flustered a bit, but remain calm.

"I suppose we are Princes-I mean Daenerys," said Robb while inwardly cursing at his inability to speak properly to this woman.

"My nephew believes the history between our two Houses should start fresh. To start anew if you will. Would you care to assist me on this?" asked Daenerys with her smile never leaving.

"I would be honored...Dany," replied Robb while still unsure if being so casual with an actual Princess should allowed, even with it being her idea.

"Good. I will see you for lunch later," replied Daenerys before leaving and Robb looking a bit baffled by how direct she had been.

"Are all Targaryens so...direct Ser Barristan?" asked Robb while Ser Barristan smiling.

"Only when they see something or someone they like young Stark," replied Ser Barristan with a knowing look and it made Robb's face heat up.

- With Brynden and Edmure -

"How can you do this?! How can you bend the knee? Swear fealty to that...that...inbred monster calling himself a dragon and King?!" asked Edmure, nearly yelling from within his assigned quarters.

His Uncle Brynden told him about what happened following the...conversation he had with Aegon. Needless to say, Edmure was not happy. He was upset, almost running to the door to bang against it to make his presence known if not for Brynden pulling him back, and throwing the man onto the bed.

"And what would you have me do nephew? Rebel? Fight him? Should I draw my sword or a dagger I have on my person? Charge at the King in the middle of the throne room? Get speared by the Unsullied before I made it five fucking feet? Use your head! House Tully is hanging by a thread in terms of keeping its position as a House, much less one that rules the Riverlands. We keep it and prevent rebellion within our own lands by the other Houses only through the merciful graces of the King! A King with three fucking dragons and has no problem using them to burn our home to the ground! Yet knowing this, you would still wish to continue on like you were some famous knight of old! One who is willing to die for his so called 'noble' cause, but never really understanding the ramification of his action!" Brynden shot back with Edmure scowling and sulking.

"We would have rallied other Houses to rebel against the King," countered Edmure with Brynden groaning at his nephew's stupidity.

"I swear, you are a halfwit. Do you really think the entirety of the North, the Tyrells in the South, and Unsullied brought here by the King would be defeated by a few angry Houses scattered all over the Seven Kingdoms? How do they intend to achieve victory with no support or resources?" asked Brynden with Edmure still sulking.

"I don't know. But we would have won. If not, we would be martyrs to a great caused worthy of story and song!" declared Edmure with Brynden growling in anger.

"And who would sing it? Who would write it? Any barb who comes up with such a thing would put it in the Targaryen's favor since they would be the victor!" countered Brynden to his nephew, who like all the other Tullys before him, was being stubborn when facing opposition to their own personal opinions.

"I can't accept him as our King. I won't. Even if I take the Black or about to lose my head for it. I will not call him King and I will never bend the knee to the Targaryens," replied Edmure with Brynden sighing.

"It doesn't matter nephew. This is out of your hands. One way or another, House Tully needs to survive, and right now, it can only survive without you running things," said Brynden with Edmure sinking his head down in defeat.