If there was something Robar's lord father had hammered on him ever since the first time he took on a sword, was that he couldn't underestimate someone. Especially so when that someone was Stannis Baratheon.
He grew up hearing the tales of valor and courage of the Rebellion, of Jon Arryn's honor, of Eddard Stark's famed warriors, of Robert Baratheon's bravery and charisma… Among all those fabled men who wrote their names in history solely on their own merits, there was one story that was his favorite.
As a second son, the story of Lord Stannis holding Storm's End under the unrelenting assault of the Reach never failed to lift Robar's spirits.
Only with that, Stannis' name would be remembered for ages to come, but then, the Greyjoy Rebellion happened.
There, the Lord of Dragonstone smashed the Iron Fleet in a single battle. A man of comparatively little experience at sea destroyed a house famed for their prowess at seamanship.
One ought to be blind to doubt his genius as a commander. Which was why, he couldn't understand why Renly didn't spare more than thought to Stannis' army across the Blackwater Rush.
It was sobering then, when Lady Stark didn't seem to underestimate Stannis.
"A camp in the kingswood of five thousand foot and a few ships," Ser Wendel reported. "That's all Lord Stannis has, my lady."
The morning was closer to midday than to dawn. The heat was almost unbearable and Robar's sword and daggers were as sharp as they could ever be.
"There has to be something else," Lady Stark said.
He agreed on that sentiment. No one declared himself king without a bigger army on his back. Especially someone demanding total surrender from his enemies.
"He must have many more ships," Robar said. "Mayhaps he hurried here with his van and his ships are behind."
"If it were so, why did he brought ships with his van?" Ser Wendel asked caressing his chin.
He couldn't answer that. In truth, no one but Stannis could. "It matters not, the city will be mine. Stannis' army or not," Renly told anyone who'd hear him. In an open field Renly's sixty five thousand would crush anyone, it was an undeniable fact. The issue was, battles were rarely fought that way.
From Robb's triumphs over the Lannisters to Jon Stark's taking of Maidenpool, battles weren't a straightforward occurrence.
"Ser Wendel," Lady Stark called. "Prepare our party, we'll move our tents to that mound." She pointed to slope closest to the Lion Gate.
"Aye, my lady," Ser Wendel said.
Once in position, his companions all stood tense as a bowstring. No one really knew what they were to do or what was on Lady Stark's mind.
Renly's army kept hammering the gates with the intensity of a particularly annoying drizzle after yesterday's parlay. If there had been any indication of Lord Tywin accepting Renly's proposal, then Robar failed to grasp it.
In all fairness, a king or a dowager queen in cuffs walking out of King's Landing was something impossible not to see, so Robar was certain Tywin hadn't accepted the proposal. In fact, he couldn't someone surrendering his own daughter and grandson with no real fight was doomed to have his reputation soiled forever.
From a moment to the next, the men atop the walls became a flurry of movement. Handing out arrow crates, moving rocks along the walls all the while hollering and screaming before the fight.
Ever since the first assault, Renly kept his losses at a minimum. He went from planning to take the city in a day to the more realistic plan of exhausting the defenders and slowly pushing them to surrender.
It was the same after the parlay. Even after losing the kingswood camp, the strategy was the same. Probing attacks to keep the men fixed on the walls and rotate the attackers to keep them fresh.
Stannis, on the other hand, couldn't risk it all on one assault across the Blackwater, his smaller army couldn't afford it. So that front was at a standstill.
Trumpets sounded the attack. Renly's army marched forward in groups. This time, there were more men than previous attempts, but still not enough for Robar to think of it as a real storming.
On and on it went through the day. Arrows were exchanged, rocks thrown and the gates stood strong. The only question was, for how long could that be.
"It seems the city will hold one more day, my lady," Ser Wendel said from the side. It was close to dusk.
Lady Stark sighed. "Prepare camp, we'll stay here."
"Aye."
Ser Wendel sternly asked caution out of them. It was a good call in Robar's mind. One ultimatum had already been broken and now, a second one was close. Stannis may not have a big army, but stating terms as harsh as his couldn't be ignored.
The camp was set and the sentries assigned. He asked for the first shift, mostly because he wouldn't have been able to sleep either way.
With bathed breath he saw the last rays of sunlight fade. Stannis had given his brother time until now for total surrender. It was increasingly clear the younger Baratheon wouldn't be bending the knee, so Stannis response was close. Due to this, he expected… something.
Mayhaps a great night raid, or mayhaps an assault on the River Gate with the rest of the ships everyone knew Stannis had, or mayhaps saboteurs attacking one of the gates from the inside.
From the looks of it, Renly's camp thought the same as they lit more torches for the night, along with more riders patrolling their outskirts.
The hours came and went, and nothing happened. His concern kept him awake for a while, but he decided to sleep as much as he could. A haggard knight was not good after all.
Trusting his companions would wake him up if anything happened, Robar closed his eyes.
###
The night fell on King's Landing and with it the final goal of our expedition was at hand.
One of my little helpers found its way to an opening in the Red Keep tunnels big enough for our purpose. While another one found its way to the castle itself, by now the rest of my mice were running across halls and hallways trying to find my sister.
As for the escape route, well, Aegon's High Hill is supposed to have exits out of the walls. Maegor wouldn't have been a legendary paranoid if it didn't. My rats were on escape route duty, finding their way there. Worst case scenario, we would be camping in the tunnels for a bit.
With Stannis arriving I knew the time to act was now. Renly and Tywin may underestimate him due to the force stationed in the Kingswood was too small to hold the city, but I knew better. Cerati did a little reconnaissance trip to the Blackwater Bay and found Stannis' fleet getting ready. A ship's numbers can be deceptive, but all in all, his numbers at sea should've been close to his numbers afoot.
After sharing the information I found, my companions agreed to the need to hurry. And so, after a quick goodbye to Chataya and Alayaya and a few hours of anxious waiting, we were on our way. Needless to say, we wanted to be like ghosts disappearing in the night. Being found out at this time could be potentially catastrophic.
"Hello there, friends," a smug Dornish prince greeted after we turned left from the main street. "Lovely night for a walk."
Right. Of course.
Even without turning around, I could picture Dacey readying her mace. That's what I get for not having a scout close by.
"You were… indisposed when we left, Oberyn," I said. It was technically the truth, so I knew my face wouldn't betray me, probably. "Sadly things changed and we had to search for new accommodations." Again, technically the truth.
"What a coincidence," he said, tapping his spear on the ground. "I, too, am looking for new accommodations. Care if I join you in your walk?"
From his tone… Well, there were two possibilities. This was all an incredibly unlikely coincidence. Or—
"Quit your games Oberyn," Dacey said. Her hand clenching her mace. "Why the fuck are you following us?"
Perwyn tensed and lowered his stance discreetly. "Step aside, my prince. We won't be stopped."
"Heh. No need to be so serious," Oberyn said. "I didn't come here to fight." He put his spear behind him, hooking his arms over the shaft. "Well, I did come here to fight, just not you."
"Yeah, sure. That's a valid reason to let you come with us," I said, dry as sand.
He chuckled. "Very cautious, I see. Fret not! By this point you should know who my real enemies are. We share the same enemies and the last thing I want is to leave the Lannisters with one less problem to worry about." He shrugged as he finished.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' kind of situation? Yeah, I could see Oberyn of all people to find it an extremely valid reason to do this.
It's just that…
"How could you know we are enemies to the Lannisters?" Dacey asked. She raised her mace, ready to get rid of loose threads. "What if we are Lannister informants?"
Oberyn's smile grew wider. "I very much doubt the Lannisters could hire a lady of Bear Island. Isn't that right Jon- I mean, Jaren?"
Fuck.
How?
Why?
Something must've shown in my face. If the mortified look Dacey gave me wasn't proof enough, then Oberyn resuming his talking certainly was.
"Think of it as Dorne's payment for obtaining a confession from Lorch. You- I mean, Jon Stark did a fine job," he finished with a taunting smirk. "Also, I want to make sure everyone knows that the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts." His smirk turned into something feral by the end.
…And there he was.
I turned to the side, Dacey clenched her jaws but gave a nod. Perwyn subtly loosened up and also gave his approval.
"Fine," I said. From the time we spent with the Dornish prince, I could somehow gleam he was being almost completely sincere here. He wanted to hurt Lannisters, and he knew we were on our way to… wait, "But first, tell me what do you think we are about to do?"
"I have no idea," he said shrugging. "Something reckless, I bet. The kind of reckless where having the best spear in Westeros could tip the scales in your favor."
Well, he wasn't wrong.
"Perwyn, mind filling the prince of our recklessness? I need to focus," I said.
Out of all the people to find out about our movements, Oberyn was one of the better ones. When we first met, I wouldn't have thought I could've trusted the Dornish prince to join us, but spending time with him these last days made this little bump in the road exactly that.
We resumed our walk with Oberyn and Perwyn on the rear. I heard a cloth being flapped and turned my head. Oberyn had a cloth in hand, he was polishing his spear with it…
The Red Viper indeed.
He gave me an innocent smile. I decided I didn't want a headache right before abusing my skinchanging to high heaven so I kept walking.
###
"So that's how you knew of Renly's attack," Oberyn said.
We were in a back alley. It was suspiciously paved, it must've been a main street back in the day until something happened. Maybe it was a fire or maybe it was some crazy riot back in the Dance's days. It didn't matter either way.
I crouched looking for the marks I made with my little helpers. "Yup. First men magical blood or whatever. Pretty handy if you ask me."
"Pretty handy indeed," Perwyn said. "My squire found some bandits back in Riverlands with his gift."
The mark was behind some hay. There was a tiny space that my rat used to get out. I pulled and with some effort, the carved flat stone came off.
The first thing I noticed was the slanted ramp. This had to be one of Maegor's escape routes, else a straight fall a couple of yards down should've been better.
Oberyn whistled. "Well then." He went first. "Time to save a princess."
I got the feeling his words had more than one meaning. At the same time, prodding on the subject would've been stupid.
"Dacey," I said turning. "The torches, if you would."
The night was young still. It would take us a while to navigate the labyrinth checking for the marks I made with my rodents.
With a final breath, I put the stone back once we all were inside the tunnels. The time was now.
###
It was late afternoon when someone knocked on her door.
Sansa took a moment to calm herself. She smothered any and all trace of hope in herself.
She wouldn't believe Mother was close and negotiating her release. Not until she saw her with her own eyes.
She steadied her breath and got up from her seat.
"Yes?"
"Princess Myrcella asks for your presence, milady," the guard said.
That was a first. She usually never saw her friend after the afternoon. And that was not all, Sansa was being summoned. It would be a normal occurrence, if not for the hour.
There was also the queen to think about.
Her maid helped her with her dress. At her insistence, she brought her sleeping gown with her. "The little princess is scared, m'lady," Annara had said.
Sansa was about to leave her room, when she thought of Lord Stannis' letters.
Myrcella seemed normal when they were together, but mayhaps she was putting on a brave face. She wouldn't be the first lady to do so.
She went back to her bed and picked up her book. If her friend was scared, then Sansa had to be strong for her.
The halls were empty. The red cloaks usually posted in every corner were missing.
It made the Red Keep look far more unsettling. In times like these, Sansa remembered the stories of the Red Keep. Of the workers whose blood gave the Red Keep its color. Of the Iron Throne itself rebelling and killing Maegor. Of the Kingmaker crowning Aegon the Elder and dragging the realm into a horrific war.
Of Lord Renly or his elder brother taking the Red Keep and—
She inhaled slowly. It wasn't a good time to be thinking of that.
Sansa entered the princess room. It was as beautiful as she had imagined. Silk drapes of deep crimson covered the bed, magnificent tapestries covered every inch of the walls and everywhere she looked, gold greeted her.
Her friend was with Tommen. They were playing checkers, the game Bran introduced to the prince back home. From the looks of it, Myrcella was about to win.
When Sansa arrived, the game became two on one. She had the most experience, so playing against the siblings was only fair. Her friend liked to play aggressively, while her brother often tried to defend.
Time passed. There were smiles and some laughter too.
It was only when Prince Tommen fell sleep, that Myrcella hugged her fiercely and started crying.
"Uncle Stannis is going to kill Tommen," she kept saying.
This time, the impulse to lie almost overwhelmed Sansa. A knot formed in her throat. She wanted to tell her friend that everything will end up alright, that Lord Stannis wouldn't become a kinslayer. The words died in her mouth. Lord Stannis' letter was clear.
In the end, she hugged her friend just as fiercely until she cried herself to sleep.
Utterly drained and tired, Sansa lied down next to Myrcella. Perhaps it was how tired she felt, or perhaps it was because she feared losing another friend, but she didn't need her book to fall sleep.
###
"Milady," someone called softly in the dark.
The words almost made Sansa flinch. She turned her head instead.
"Yes?"
"There's someone you have to see, milady." Arra said.
It was still dark. Morning was still far.
With growing apprehension, Sansa asked, "Who?"
"Annara, she's in the door, milady," Arra said.
A few blinks to clear her vision later, she saw the soft glow on the door.
Something was wrong, she knew. She got up from the bed. If this were Winterfell, she'd call for the guards at once.
She gave Arra a closer look, and gasped at what she saw.
Her maid was carrying her babe in her bosom.
She took her maid's hand and went to the door. Annara was there, she was certain.
Sansa exhaled one last time and opened the door.
Annara looked anxious. "I found it, m'lady. I found it."
"What?"
"The tunnels, an entrance. I found it."
###
A/N: Ok, I'm scrapping a thing that's supposed to happen in parallel to KL, we'll be checking that out a little later so there'll be a in-world time marker for us to know what time it is.
Also, I kinda wanted to write from Catelyn's PoV, it's just that right now she's feeling a lot and I'm not good enough to write the story and her interior complexities in a balanced way. So, we keep on with Robar.
You can read two chapters ahead: p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / yorud
Anyways, give me your comments (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞