Twenty Years III
Ser Addam Bloodborne, Raventree Hall
The Baratheon bastard was strong looking, despite the fact that he would probably die today. He stood tall and looked Lord Tytos Blackwood in the eye.
“My men tell me that you fought for these Sparrows.”
“I did Lord Blackwood.”
“What did they promise you in return for your services?” Lord Tytos had narrowed his eyes in displeasure as did many others.
The fanatics had harassed many people, smallfolk and nobles alike. Addam remembered some of those fuckers in his fathers lands, talking about how they could cleanse his father of the taint in his blood. His father had responded appropriately, by placing their heads on pikes.
The bastard wouldn't be getting much love from anyone here regardless of his reasons.
“That my brothers would still be breathing and fed enough food to survive. Wasn't that difficult to make my choice.”
“Indeed,” Lord Tytos rumbled. “So you admit to your crimes?”
“If by crimes you mean the deaths of the men I fought, then yes. I freely admit to killing those who fought in the defense of their lands. If you mean anything I else, I afraid that you'll be disappointed to know that I am innocent.”
“Very well Ser -”
“I'm not a knight, Lord Blackwood.” How bold the bastard must feel to interrupt a lord in his own home, Addam thought, more intrigued than outraged. His countrymen bristled and snarled. Lord Tytos just frowned.
“You have no knighthood to your name?”
“No, the Sparrows did not deem me worthy enough to be called a knight because I'm a bastard.” Gendry shrugged at the end of your sentence, looking unconcerned.
“Very well then -” There was a commotion outside of the hall that drew the attention of everyone.
“I demand to see my brother – no I will not wait here!” A voice shouted and Gendry closed his eyes as if in pain. “Move aside damn you! I am the Lord of Storms End, I do not answer to a lowly guard!”
There was a yelp and the doors burst open. The other sons of the late Robert Baratheon stormed in, looking furious. The taller of the two bellowed, “What is the meaning of this?! How dare you mistreat my heir!” He was looking right at Lord Blackwood as he said it.
“You mind your tongue boy or I -” A guard had stepped forward and was punched for his trouble.
“Durran, Edric, get out of here,” Gendry snapped at them.
“Be quiet Gendryus, I am trying to save your life.” Durran Baratheon snapped back. Gendryus? Addam thought incredulously, no wonder he shortened it. That was one of the most obnoxious names he had ever heard. The bastard wrinkled his nose at his name being mentioned.
“There is nothing to save Lord Baratheon, he admitted to fighting for the enemies of my house and all those they had affected.” Lord Blackwood said curtly.
“Did you bother to ask him why?” Durran shot back. Several guards came in to restrain him and his brother for all the good it would do them. Addam marveled at them. Last he heard they were bed ridden but here they were, proving their house words to be more than that.
“It doesn't matter why. I have his confession and these are my lands. His life is in my hands.”
“Then you better kill us too,” The other brother, Edric, hissed in fury. “Or you and your lands will never know peace again.”
“You would die for him?”
“Of course, just as he would die for us.” Durran snarled out. “That's why he did what he did. He put his life out there so we could live while the rest of you fuckers moaned and complained about your lands. We were threatened everyday of our lives and not one of you bothered to come and get us. You must have thought we were dead but that is no excuse since you didn't have proof.”
“For nearly ten years we were their prisoners and not even my own Bannerman bothered to look for us. For his valor my brother, my heir, should be allowed to fight for his freedom just as he fought for ours. I demand that he have a trial by combat.”
“Bastards don't have trials by combat, the Andals decreed it as such,” Lord Tytos responded but he looked thoughtful. “Only the high and true born can demand such a thing.”
“Would you give anything to save your family, Lord Tytos?” Edric Storm asked softly. “Would you die for them, fight alongside despicable people if it meant that they could live?”
Lord Tytos responded after a moment, “I would.” His answer seemed to upset his Bannerman.
“Then what is the difference between you and my brother? What makes you more privileged to have the right to a trial by combat than he when you both have the same values?”
The silence that followed his question didn't stay silent for long. Many of the other lords and assorted Rivermen started to mutter between themselves and it didn't sound good to Addam's ears. He personally didn't care about the bastard status of the accused, his grandfather had been a bastard after all and his father had been saddled with the name Rivers despite being true born. Of course he did pick a name for his house after he was granted a keep but legally speaking he still carried the name.
“Father, you cannot consider this,” Brynden Blackwood, the heir to the very castle they stood in, protested when his father didn't speak. “He confessed, that is all that is needed.”
Lord Tytos said nothing but he shot his son a look that meant he should stay quiet. Unfortunately, the other lords and knights started to speak at once. The Blackwood heir seemed unrepentant, as most of the chatter was in favor of killing Robert Baratheon's bastard son.
There was a dull roar and a jet of fire that flew across the room,causing people to duck or dive out of its path. It swirled around the room before it disappeared into nothing.
“All of you forget whose house this is,” Ser Markus Ryden bellowed over the commotion. “Lord Blackwood will decide what happens to...Gendryus was it?”
He smirked slightly as the bastard flushed and glared at him. Ser Renly and Dame Mya eyed the Northern Knight warily, wondering where he was going with this.
“The rest of you cunts don't get a say. So shut the fuck up and sit down or I'll start roasting you lot!”
He turned to Lord Tytos and inclined his head, “Begging your pardons, my lord. But the relief effort is hindered as we stay here pissing about. My men and I need to head home to report to Lord Eddard and our assorted commanders there. Just like all of you need to speak with Lord Edmure.”
Lord Tytos nodded his head, “You are forgiven for your outburst, Ser Markus. Next time, try to gain order through less...flammable means. I'd rather not have to find a new home because you got excited.”
Ser Markus just nodded his head with an easy going grin, his wife rolled her eyes beside him. Lord Tytos paused to consider his words before speaking again.
“The boy can have his trial, today,” He scowled at those who protested. “Give him some armor and a shield. We will honor the outcome, no matter what it is. I need a volunteer to fight on behalf of the Riverlands.”
Ser Jonothor 'Jon' Vorian, the Courtyard of Raventree Hall
Jon watched intently as Gendry dipped a length of chain in oil and into a fire, igniting it. He swung it experimentally before he decided that it was okay. His opponent, A Ser Heryn, a knight in the service of House Blackwood scoffed and readied his sword.
“Are you ready to die boy?” Ser Heryn said gruffly, adjusting his helmet.
“Do you worst.” Gendry responded, raising his shield and swinging the chain he had. The fire rippled with each swing. Ser Heryn, charged forward, swinging his sword sideways to catch Gendry in the ribs. His shield stopped the sword blow and Gendry swung his chain at the knight who blocked it with his shield.
That was the dance they did for awhile and Jon thought that Gendry's chain should have gone out by now, since it wasn't dipped in Wildfire. He glanced over at Markus who was checking his fingernails and looking bored. Jon knew that he was controlling the fire but to what end, he wasn't sure. They had no dog in this fight so why -
He sidestepped when Ser Heryn's sword came flying in his direction. He caught it by the handle before it could hurt anyone behind him and he twirled it in his hand before stabbing it into the ground. He turned back to see Gendry's chained wrapped around Ser Heryn's neck which he yanked, snapping it.
The crowd, which had mostly cheered for the Blackwood Knight, turned mutinous.
“Gendryus Storm goes free,” Lord Tytos announced. “Anyone who harms him will answer to me.” Here he turned to address Gendry. “Now get the hell out of my castle and territory.” He left swiftly without another word. His sons all scowled and followed.
“Renly, Mya, get your kin to our camp.” Markus ordered the two warriors in their group. “The rest of you, form a wall around them and start walking.” They did as he bade and Jon moved over to him.
“You kept the fire going, didn't you?” He asked in the Old Tongue.
“And what if I did?” Markus replied in the same language. At least he didn't deny it.
“Why did you do it?”
“He's Renly's nephew. Mya's brother. They are apart of my forces and they are my responsibility. How do you think his death would have affected their state of mind? How do you think those two brothers of his would have responded? I saved lives by helping him win and helped prevent further conflict between the people if those boys died. What's the life of one old knight compared to the lives of those who could have been saved?”
“We've been at war for years, and another war will come again, I know it in my heart. We need to prepare for that one or else it would bleed into the one that could have happened if those three died today. The Gods don't care about Justice, they're Gods. They won't care that I helped someone win, just as long as someone died.”
He turned away then, eyes going dim, “We will need all the strength we can gather to fight against our enemies. We can't do that if we fight amongst our allies.”
Jon nodded his head, “Very well.” There was no judgment in his tone or words. He fully understood where his brother in arms was coming from. “And who is this supposed enemy?” He added quietly in Andalai, the common tongue of Westeros.
“The last living son of the Mad King.”
Sigil for House Bloodborne
