Falcon V. Wolf
Lord Rickard Stark, outside of Riverrun, the fifteenth day of the sixth month of 284 AC
Perhaps he should have denied Ned's request to be here, He thought. His son looked uncomfortable at having to face his foster father but he had insisted. He wanted to be here, to know if Jon Arryn had truly been involved in the attempts on Visenya's life.
Both knew that it was a very likely scenario, but Rickard's heir wanted to hope that there was still an honorable man in the Lord of the Eyrie. As High as Honor were their house words for fucks sake, was it difficult to assume that they could be anything other than honorable?
That folly was not Jon Arryn's fault, it was his. He had learned to navigate through the treacherous waters of Southron politics. Brandon, when he bothered to listen, only knew the basics of it. Ned and Benjen were not his immediate heirs so they didn't need to learn what he did. And Lyanna...
He sighed to himself. He indulged her too much, he knew, but she had earned her Denship with pride and lived up to her title of Dame. And when it came time for her to marry, she had her concerns but he brushed that off as her just being nervous.
His pride only went so far and he was not too proud to admit that he had failed his children. Now he had the chance to make it up to his three living sons and his daughters child. He wouldn't fail.
The riders from the Vale approached, and he looked over who he brought with him. Brynden Blackfish had come to represent his nephew who was too young and too valuable to take part in this meeting. Next to him, under the banner of three white owls on green, was Ser Raymond Stone, or Ray the Septon as he was often teased. And if one felt particularly vindictive, you could call him Ray the Faithless.
Rickard felt sorry for this man, as he had felt sorry for all of those who were affected by what happened. His wife and their two daughters had nearly been killed when the Lannisters started raiding the Riverlands. And he had picked up a sword for the first time in a long time, to defend them.
One of the River Lords who were in on the plan had gotten them into contact with Brynden who asked Rickard about getting them some place safe. So he did the only thing he could do that hopefully made up for what happened, he gave them some land near the Tumbledown Tower for him to build a proper home for his family. Rickard already had builders working on a small keep at the moment.
Ser Raymond had tried to refuse at first, not out of resentment and such but because he didn't think it was necessary. He didn't blame Rickard for what happened as he hadn't ordered those men to do what they did. Still, Rickard insisted and Brynden had insisted, before Ser Raymond had reluctantly accepted and sworn his oaths.
One to Brynden as part of the land he was living on belonged to him originally. Another to Locke as his liege Lord since those lands would have gone to him as lord of Brier Wood Keep. And one last one to Rickard as his Overlord. So Ser Raymond became the head of another Knightly Northern House and was outfitted with Northern Mail and armor.
The reason he was here was because he wanted to hear what his former Overlord had to say.
“His lords asked us to burn down our enemies homes or ships. Fine, we were their arsonists,” Ray had said quietly when he volunteered to join them. “They asked us to kill their sons so they couldn't take up arms against us. Fine, we were their killers. Low born boys didn't have much choice during the days of war and after my last one, I grew tired of it."
"I didn't fight in the Rebellion and maybe that makes me a coward, but I had a family now, I couldn't just pick up a sword again. But then they came and my wife screamed as they tore down the door of our hut. My daughters cried and I was reminded of all the sins I committed when I fought for the Vale in that instant.”
“If Lord Arryn was complicit in the destruction of the Riverlands, I want to know. I need to know, for my own peace of mind.”
His horse nickered in irritation as the riders opposite them slowed to a trot. He patted its neck soothingly and it calmed. He eyed his former friend and tried his best to not glare at him.
“Lord Arryn.” Propriety had to be followed even if their relationship had soured.
“Lord Stark,” Jon Arryn surveyed the man beside Rickard, pausing briefly over Eddard. “I see no delegation from the Riverlands.”
“I am sitting in my nephews place and I will give him my report of what happened here,” The Blackfish spoke roughly, as was his way. “The River Lords are guarding their liege and Edmure asked me to attend.”
Lord Arryn nodded his head, “Is there no delegation from Dorne?”
“They departed after the ambush,” Rickard admitted. “They got what they wanted, and took their leave.”
And he had opened talks with their Prince about fostering or even having his son and niece married to one of Rickard's grandchildren. He would consider the fostering but the marriage talks would be put on hold. He had already made that mistake with his daughter, he wouldn't repeat it again.
“And what did they want?” Jon Arryn gave him a look of contempt and a bit of weariness. It was then that Rickard saw how tired his old friend looked.
“What do you think they wanted?” Rickard asked back. “The man who murdered their beloved princess and her children was here. The man who ordered it was here. Now they are long gone, beyond the reach of us both.”
“You allowed a Lord Paramount to be taken hostage?”
“That man over stepped his boundaries,” Rickard growled at his incredulous counterpart. “He had no right in doing anything he has done since the end of the War. I don't care who authorized it, I do not recognize their authority.”
“Whether you recognize it or not is irrelevant, other people did, myself included. None of this would have happened if you had just spoken to me or anyone, about your granddaughter.”
“What was there to discuss? Whether or not she should be wrapped in Arryn cloaks instead of Lannister ones when she was killed? Oh don't give me that look, when you got into bed with Tywin Lannister and plotted to kill my daughter's child, you became an enemy of my house. I have little tolerance for you right now, be grateful that I am even talking to you at the moment and not killing you.”
Edwyle, his father, had told him as a child that bluntness was only semi appreciated in the South, mainly from those who were too old and were considered insufferable. If a younger person, say a lord or his heir had acted in such a fashion, they would have been dismissed by the Southern courts as belligerent idiots and the word would spread throughout the Kingdoms. Many a lord and their house had been shamed in such a way and it had taken time for them to recover.
Right now Rickard didn't care about his fathers lessons, too much had happened for him to do so.
“Your granddaughter is a threat -”
“So its true,” Eddard snarled out, tears starting to form in his eyes. His heart broke for his son in that moment but he kept silent for now. “You tried to kill the last piece of my sister that was left here on this earth.”
“Ned -”
“No!” Eddard snarled again, tears falling down his cheeks. “You had no right Jon, no right at all.” He took hold of his reins and urged his horse away. Jon Arryn watched him go, grief etched into his features.
“You chastise me for not telling you about Visenya,” Rickard began after a moment of awkward silence. “But do not forget that you didn't tell me about your plan to crown Robert as King.”
Jon Arryn clenched his jaw, “You wouldn't have approved of it.”
“I wouldn't have and I don't,” Rickard admitted. “And you would have killed a child to keep him on that chair.”
“I tried but I suppose that doesn't matter now,” Lord Arryn replied bitterly. Rickard knew that Robert still drew breath, but his mind was non responsive and it was hard to say if he would ever be able to take care of himself, never mind Seven Kingdoms.
“It matters to me,” Rickard snapped back. “Did you think that I wouldn't do everything in my power to protect Visenya or avenge her if I needed to?”
“And you thought that we would have done nothing when we found out?” Jon demanded. “The Targaryens have no right to rule anymore -”
“That will be for a Great Council to decide.” Rickard spoke over him. “Neither of us have any right to say that they do or don't.”
“No council will pick your grandchild to rule over them and you won't even be picked as regent because of what's happened since this all came out.” There were other reasons of course, but they were too numerous to name and discuss at the moment.
“And you think that a usurpers spawn is going to become King with you as regent? You were complicit in the destruction of these lands and didn't even try and punish those who committed crimes during the Sack of the Capitol. Your chances of winning are just as tainted as mine, old friend.”
Jon scowled at him but didn't bother to deny what he said. He still had some brains left in his old age it seemed.
“Reparations will need to be made to the Riverlands.” Rickard nodded at The Blackfish. “As long as you claim to be the King's Hand, you must deal with the problems of the Kingdoms in his stead.”
“You can start by getting the fuck out of here,” Ser Brynden said bluntly. “And if you can, leave some of your supplies behind for those that were affected by what happened, mainly the common folk.”
Jon didn't protest, he clenched his jaw and nodded his consent.
“And you can tell Ser Kevan Lannister that his two brothers are going to be in the custody of Lord Lann,” Rickard added. “Should they perish before they reach him, their bones will be sent to Casterly Rock. And should any of those transporting them be responsible, they will be sent there as well.”
None of Jon's men looked like they believed him, but still, Jon didn't protest.
“And what assurances do we have that none of you will encroach on any of our territories?”
It was a fair question to ask, “Stop sending assassins after my grandchild, and those who pledged their banners to me will stay their hand.” It was all he could offer to his counterpart.
“And when would this Great Council take place.”
“Don't rightly know,” Rickard shrugged. “But I expect to be informed of it. I will not have my granddaughter cheated out of the chance to make her case before such a council. If I may make a suggestion?” Jon dipped his head for him to continue. “You should let Robert's boy hold Storms End for now and let the Targaryen Prince hold Dragonstone. Let them both prove themselves as rulers. Besides, the Baratheon's have no claim to Dragonstone.”
Jon considered the idea for a moment, “The idea has merit but how would your granddaughter prove herself? What do you plan to do for her?”
“She'll have her own keep regardless of whether or not she becomes Queen. I should warn you Jon, that nothing less than a Dragon on the Throne will see us join the Kingdoms again. I will not bend my knee to anything less.”
Jon nodded stiffly, “And I will fight for Prince Durran's right to rule.” He paused for a moment. “This wasn't supposed to happen like this.”
“And how was it supposed to happen? Was I supposed to bend my knee to Robert and pretend that my family didn't swear our oaths to the Dragons? That I would ignore the oath I swore on my daughters dying breath to protect her child? What kind of man do you take me for Jon?”
“I don't know,” Jon murmured, sounding sad. “It just wasn't supposed to be like this.” He sighed and straightened in his saddle.
“I will withdraw whatever forces that remain in these lands. If any remain behind, they are hereby disavowed by the Crown and their punishments can be carried out by the lords of these lands without fear of reprisals from the Crown. That's the best I can offer you at the moment.” He told Ser Brynden who just nodded his head.
Jon turned back to him and opened his mouth before closing it again and shaking his head. He gestured for his men to follow his lead and lead them away.
“He was a good man once,” Rickard said after they left.
“Tell that to the people who are still recovering, my lord.”
He gave Ser Raymond a side eye, “I said he was a good man, not that he is one. Nothing I say will make up for what has happened. Now come, we have to tell the other lords what happened here.”
Sigil for Ser Raymond which will become his house sigil. Name of the House and their keep will be revealed later.
