6th Month of 284 A.C. Riverrun
Eddard Stark
By the gods he was tired, there had been so much that had occurred in the past three years, Brandon's death, Lyanna's abduction, the rebellion, Lyanna's death, the Great Council and Robert's death. It seemed to Ned as if he had aged some two decades in the past three years, and he was not sure if that was a good thing or not. There was so much pressure and anxiety eating away at him, his nephew was safe on the throne for now, but there was more fighting that needed to be done, the Ironborn were causing trouble in the West, and as his father needed to remain in King's Landing in order to ensure that there was no upstarts in the crownlands.
Right now, though Ned was more than content to spend the time he had with his wife and son. His son, gods that was a strange thought, his son, Robb was a lively child always exploring and wandering around causing havoc wherever he went. That he had seemingly realised who Ned was, was something that Ned had felt was a boon and he could spend hours just watching his son play and toddle about, speaking words and sentences that might not completely make sense but which to him did. And then there was his wife, Catelyn, she was beautiful, no more so than when she was with their son, there was something about watching her with their son, their Robb, that just made Ned's heart beat all that faster. There was a distance between them of course, he was still no word smith, but he liked to think that in time there could be a closeness between them. He hoped there could be, after all with all that had happened with his own father in recent times he wanted a family, he was desperate for one.
That was why he supposed he and his wife had fallen into bed almost immediately, whenever they were not watching over their son, or Ned was not ensuring that his men were ready to march of at the command, they were with one another and inside one another. They were discovering one another, and it was something that Ned found he quite enjoyed, he had heard Robert and Brandon speak about being with a woman often enough that he knew somewhat what to do and how to make it pleasurable not only for himself but for Catelyn- Cat, she had asked him to call her Cat- as well. It seemed she enjoyed it as well if the noises she made were any sign. And it seemed she was sure they had made another child as well, Ned would be delighted with another boy or girl, but truly he just wanted his wife and son to be safe.
It was this fear he supposed that had him and the lords of the north and the riverlands meeting in his goodfather's solar late at night planning for every eventuality. Lord Hoster spoke first his tone slow and tired. "Word has come down from survivors in the Westerlands, it would appear the Ironborn have been causing all kinds of savage destruction along the coast. We all heard of the sack of Fair Isle and the brutal actions that were caused there, but that was not the only thing that has happened. Donnor Saltcliffe has been raiding, raping and pillaging alongside his men. Kayce and Feastfires are nothing more than burning ruins. House Kenning and House Prester are gone extinguished in the flames."
There was a shocked silence at this and then Ned asks. "Were House Kenning not of Ironborn origin themselves? Would Saltcliffe truly turn on one of his own?"
His goodfather nods. "Aye, it has long been a belief of the Ironborn I am told that the Kennings of Kayce long ago gave up their right to claim any sort of descent of the Ironborn when they opened the gates to the Lannisters during the Andal invasion. This would be seen as avenging as that ultimate insult. Saltcliffe is said to be mad as well worshipping some sort of king below the sea that is not the Drowned God."
Ned considers this for a moment and then asks. "Would this turn him against the Ironborn?"
His goodfather looks at Lord Jason who then speaks. "I do not think so my lord. The Ironborn can be fiercely protective of their own, withstanding the eradication of House Farwynd of Sealskin Point. But I am not the true expert, Lord Triston is."
All eyes then turn to Lord Triston Farwynd, sixteen years old and Lord of Sealskin Point in exile. The boy, or man, swallows and then says. "I believe Lord Saltcliffe is acting on his own gumption. Balon Greyjoy is many things but an idiot is not one of them. Not completely anyway, his eradication of all but myself from my house was a strategic move to distance himself from the practices his own father had been indulging in that had caused some murmuring in the islands. As for Saltcliffe he is a man who believes he is on a mission and nothing will stop him. Greyjoy will merely use this for his own ends."
"It would appear he already has my lords," Lord Blackwood says speaking for the first time. "We all know of the destruction at Fair Isle, Kayce and Feastfires, but there has been word coming from the Golden Tooth. It seems Rodrik Greyjoy landed men on the shore of the Crag, the seat of House Westerling, destroyed what little resistance he faced and then had most of House Westerling destroyed. There was one baby girl who was spared but gods alone know what has happened to her. It seems Greyjoy has had more success as well, taking Pendric Hills and destroying Lord Marbrand's host. The man's brother has taken gold mines from Castamere it seems, and there is more to come."
Ned considers this and tries to keep his stomach settled. Once he has achieved that he says. "It does seem strange to me that the Ironborn are going for the full force, and are not merely raiding and pillaging. That they are wiping out houses is also another thing that is worrying. What could be the cause of this?"
Triston Farwynd speaks once more. "I do believe Balon is intending to show just how true an Ironborn he is. His father was respected and feared on the islands, for his early exploits as a Lord, but as he grew older some felt he had grown too distant from the old way. Balon I feel is trying to show that he is more than his father. That he is better."
There is some deep conversation at this as all the lords speak and ponder what this could mean. Eventually Lord Umber, known as the Greatjon speaks. "All this talking will do for nothing if the squids get their way and get their tentacles further into our positions. We need a plan of action. The Lannisters are already heading towards where they believe the squids will go, but then why should they go there and not to Lannisport?"
There is some murmuring at that, and when the door opens, and maester Vyman, Riverrun's new maester enters the room it seems they are to gain their news. Lord Hoster reads it briefly before saying. "It would appear the Ironborn have managed to beat the Lannister Fleet off of the coast of Lannisport, at what is known as the Lion's Mouth. It seems the Lannister fleet was utterly decimated there are very few survivors and the one who did survive one, Ser Tybolt Lannister has sent this raven from Cornfield asking for aid."
There is even more murmuring at this and then Ser Brynden asks. "And what of the Lannisters who were at the Rock did they not come to their cousins aid? What of Lannisport?"
Lord Hoster is slow to respond but when he does a sense of despondency fills the air. "It would appear that after beating the Lannister fleet, the Ironborn ships under Victarion Greyjoy's command, docked in at Lannisport and managed to take the city after a lot of fighting. They hold barely. But there are many dead Lannisters floating in the seas it would seem."
There is an odd tone to his goodfather's voice that makes Ned wonder something, but then he dismisses it and speaks. "We cannot rush to the Westerlords aid near Lannisport. We must concentrate on the threats that are near enough to us. Lord Hoster, your men are still arriving, the lords of the north are already here. It would make more sense for us to head out and to deal with whatever preliminary threats there might be before you join us."
His father's lords nod in approval, and Lord Hoster himself seems to be considering this. "Aye it would make sense, but then these are not the lands of the north. You are unfamiliar with them, and the Ironborn could well be lurking in the shadows. My brother Ser Brynden shall go with you and your men."
Ned is about to protest when Ser Arthur who his father had sent along with him speaks up. "That is most kind my lord and we thank you for it. What would be the best route into the Westerlands, by the Tumblestone or heading down towards Wayfarer's Rest towards the Golden Tooth?"
Lord Hoster considers this for a long moment and then says. "Following the Tumblestone into the Westerlands would make the most sense. The Ironborn will know of the passageways from the Golden Tooth and will be looking from that direction. They will not suspect anything of the sort, and more than likely will be somewhere between Pendric Hills and Nunn's Deep. That would be the perfect place to spread out into four and crush them."
Ned looks at where his goodfather has positioned the pieces on the map and then says. "You suggest doing the arrowhead formation once more then. Cornering them in between the mouth and the mines, then pushing them against the walls?"
His goodfather nods. "Aye, Ironborn are good fighters on the seas and when it comes to raiding, but fighting in close quarters which have pre planned formations they are not so good with. Sooner or later they will break."
Ned nods and soon enough the meeting comes to an end. He returns to his and his wife's chambers, Robb fast asleep in the cradle next to their bed. He undresses as quietly as he can, before slipping into bed. His wife stirs somewhat and then folds herself into him her eyes still closed, Ned looks at her then, just looks at her, committing her to memory, determined that if he should fall in battle, he will at least have the memory of his wife to see him through the pain. He falls asleep with his wife's image imprinted in his eyes. His dreams though are anything but peaceful, dreams of chaos and fighting, blood and gore, and things that have long been dead coming to life once more. All of it terrifies him and he screams and cries and thrashes against the chains that have suddenly come to bind him. And in the midst of all this a wolf headed man and a half human half beast thing with horns dance and do things that make Ned want to tear his eyes out.
He awakes to the sound of his wife calling his name. His eyes come into focus and he sees her leaning over him worried. "I… I am sorry my lady, I did not mean to wake you." He manages to say.
His wife brushes off his concern and says. "I was already awake my lord. Robb needed feeing. But are you alright, you seemed most distraught."
Ned sits up then and says. "I am quite alright my lady. Though I…" he hesitates somewhat and then says. "I would like for us to keep one another warm my lady." She blushes somewhat then and comes back into bed and together they fall back asleep.
When morning comes Ned and his wife speak not a word of what happened during the night, he is armoured and ready to go with the breaking of first light his wife gives him her favour to wear in battle. He thanks her for it and then once the gates are opened he and his men ride through and leave Riverrun behind. They ride in relative silence until they come towards the edge of the Tumblestone and that is when the formations are made, with Ned leading the point of the arrow and leading the charge. They are into the Westerlands for no longer than an hour, seeing snow and blood when they come across a party of Ironborn scouts and battle begins.