Notes:
So this chapter will be in a non-limited POV meaning that more than one character's thoughts will be shown, in this case most if not all the main canon characters currently in Winterfell. We'll see how it turns out, hopefully it isn't a mess.
I split the retelling in two as otherwise it would have been nearly 20,000 words.
Big summary of the events of the series. Note: not everything said will be correct, accurate or the full story. They don't know everything. I wanted to write the reactions to the future but I didn't know a better way to do so without summarizing the whole series, so well, that is exactly what I did. Sorry in advance for massive paragraphs galore.
A few changes will be made in some chapters. One was so Loras does not die at the same time as Mace but dies later. Another was on the origin of Jon's egg in Elia's chapter, now the Targaryen's just bought it from the Starks for Ice, who got it from Hardhome.
And a reminder, each of Jon's wives are called a different variation of mother if there are multiple in the same place. Sansa=Mother, Marg=Mama, Val=Mom, Rhaenys=Muna(Valyrian). Sorry if this causes confusion.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Jon was the last to the table as they broke their fast, he rubbed at his eyes sleepily as he slipped into a spot next to Robb. Damn dream woke him up in the middle of the night.
They all were staring at Jon, in his tired state he didn't even notice. Theon thought it amusing how out of sorts the normally perceptive bastard was. "The fuck happened to your face?"
While Margaery wouldn't have put it the way the Greyjoy did, she too was curious. But there were more important things such as memorizing how adorable Jae looked at the moment, his dark waves tousled and head lolling downward sleepily every once in a while. Something about the marks seemed familiar.
Watching his brother lift his head slowly to blink mindlessly at the Ironborn's words would have been an amazing moment for Robb to later tease his brother with had he not been worried for Jon. While Robb was working himself to the bone everyday like Jon, his brother seemed to push himself further.
"What?" Jon had no idea what they were talking about.
Ned didn't know what exactly brought his attention to his children's conversation but once he took notice of Jon's face he needed to know. "Lad. Your face, what happened?"
As Jon dipped a finger in his water to rub across his face in a test of ink, Arya could only smirk. Her pranks have left a mark. She could only giggle at the stupid face he made as he stared at his clean fingers.
"Good gods. They are talking about the scars. Where did you get them? If you got injured last night then they shouldn't be closed already." Val reasoned, she was tired of these people not saying what they mean. Besides it only served to make Jon look stupid when it wasn't like he could see his own face. "They look nice though."
Sansa had to agree with Val, they made him look tougher, as if he had sacrificed some of his beauty to save her. She could dream up a thousand stories on the origin of those small silvery slashes. They were also the same ones that older Jon had below the weirwood that day in her dream. As the others looked at her strangely she realized she must have hummed in agreement. Worse, was the fact she did so in front of Mother.
"Oh! Those are the scars from the eagle attack!" Lorys commented loudly from down the table.
That woke Jon up. He dreamt of that blasted bird. Some of the boys had told Jon of some of his future scars since they arrived, including the story of a wildling's eagle familiar clawing at his face. He thought his mind had just conjured up the dream based on the tale but it might have been a memory. Were his other dreams memories? Should he expect hundreds of tiny scars upon the palms of his hand soon. "Do not mention if injuries scar in the retelling unless anyone wishes for that knowledge."
"Best to avoid specifics on how people are injured or die altogether. Even if scaring were not an issue," Alsauna added.
Ned had to agree, "Aye." No one needed to know that information, Ned would prefer not knowing about the injuries his children suffered in general but it was necessary.
All too soon they were done eating and the table split, the younger kids accompanied some of the spare time travelers to continue the day as normal while everyone else sat in the war chamber to be told the future. Arya was half excited and half dreading this meeting, on one hand she would learn of a possible future but she also knew it ends in the death of much of her family as well as her own. Meetings were also generally boring but this was different.
Laerra was the first to speak, "I suppose we should start from the catalyst of everything, Jon Arryn's death. First off, it's not the Lannisters, surprising, I know. In truth it was actually Lady Catelyn's sister, Lysa, who poisoned her husband with Tears of Lys, I believe it was recorded as in the text."
Cat's jaw dropped, her sister, her little sister wouldn't do such a thing. Lysa was always cowardly so poison would be her weapon but why would she kill the father of her child? Why would she kill the man who protects her? She knew Lysa was never happy with the match, neither would Cat have been but it made little sense. "She wouldn't…"
"She would, she did." Alsauna took over the story. "She does worse. You don't know her. Anyway she wasn't acting alone, she was prompted and aided by Petyr Baelish, currently the master of coin."
"Petyr?" Those two were always close and Petyr was always mischievous and reaching but to kill the Hand of the King! Cat could hardly believe it but she did so easily.
Frankly Ned wasn't all that surprised, the boy had been stupid to fight Brandon with a blade and he soon learn that a sword was not meant for his hands, so logically Baelish relies on poisons now like a snake.
Sauna continued, "Yes, we'll get back to him. Onto Robert's time here. He comes seeking a hand and to unite House Stark with his blood, or what he presumed was his blood, the royal children are not his if you did not know. Anyway, for whatever reason Lord Stark accepts both terms. Tragedy strikes during their stay here though, Bran while climbing gets pushed from Theon's Tower by-"
Cat's wail cuts her granddaughter off and she clamps a hand over her mouth to silence her anguish. Her babe! Her favorite little babe. How many times had she warned him not to climb, but she kept letting him do so without punishment because he loved it, and it got him killed. Tears flooded her eyes.
The Starks all felt their mother or aunt's sadness. Robb's fist and jaw were so clenched he was close to breaking a bone. Jon was frozen in mourning before a fierce fire alighted inside him as he recalled that Bran was pushed. Sansa mimicked her mother almost exactly. Even Theon was mad, crossing his arms and scowling, the boy was practically a little brother that he didn't want but still had.
"Who?" Ned and Arya demanded at the same time. They had matching icy looks that could freeze over all seven hells.
Taking a deep breath, Sara answered, "The Lannisters, Jaime Lannister at the command of Cersei. Bran caught them coupling. At the moment he doesn't know his sister is a complete whore. It's a fucked up version of the Aegon, Naerys, and Aemon triangle, but Cersei fucks anyone handsome and loyal if Robert and Jaime are away."
Sansa could not be more horrified, another one of her favorite stories ruined. This queen was hardly queenly, and her knight hardly knightly, and from earlier tales the king was not kingly either. Her stories were truly just that, stories. And Bran! They killed her little brother.
Margaery felt empathy for the Starks but could not help but inwardly cackle in her mind. After what Cersei accused her of in the future, the woman is going to get her due. The Starks and Tyrells would get their revenge even if those crimes didn't happen this time.
"Fucking Lannisters," Ned muttered. If he could bar them from Winterfell he would, let the damn lions freeze. From the Kingslayer to Tywin himself they were dishonorable, ambitious, greedy, cocksure assholes. He'd enjoy toppling their empire just as Tywin surely did with Aerys, sans the killing of the children, Ned would not stoop to their level.
"Fucking Lannisters." The men of the room and Arya repeated it like a chant, Benjen could not be more proud, if he wasn't so angry he might have shed a tear at the beauty of it. He recalled the moment he and Val's children had on the way to the Wall, they said it then too.
"I should clarify," Sauna spoke up again, gaining everyone's attention. "Bran didn't die from the fall." Everyone let out a huge sigh but their rage still lingered. "But he remained sleeping for moons and lost the use of his legs."
The boy's siblings could only imagine how Bran must have felt when he awoke. Their little brother, the wishful knight, lost not his life but his hopes and dreams and all his favorite activities. Robb and Jon felt some misplaced sense of guilt for not being there, for not protecting their little brother as was their duty, but they also knew they couldn't expect to never leave the boy's side. All the times Arya rubbed her superiority in knightly activities in Bran's face seemed rude now, the fun they were at the time sapped away. While Sansa was given her dream eventually, Bran, still just a boy, was robbed of his, but not this time. Bran would become a knight, a great knight, Brandon of the Blade, or was that one taken.
The pregnant woman's voice started up again. "After this the royal party left with Grandfather, Arya and Mother heading south and Father, Uncle Benjen and Tyrion Lannister heading to the Wall. No, Tyrion does not take the black. While near the Trident is where problems start to occur. Mother-" Laerra stopped herself to explain after more than a few confused looks, "Marg is Mama, Sansa is Mother, Val is Mom, Rhaenys is Muña, interchangeable if there is only one in the room." Then she continued, "Mother and Joffrey while riding, without a chaperone I might add, came across Arya practising sword fighting with a butcher's son using sticks. Joffrey took issue when the boy hit Arya and started torturing the lad before Arya whacked him on the head to stop him and caused him to attack her, she was saved by Nymeria who bit the bastard."
Taking over the speech was Daena, "The event resulted in a multiple day search for Arya and Nymeria, the murder of the butcher's boy, and when found a trial for Arya when she was found after she sent her direwolf away. At the trial, Arya and Joffrey had countering accounts of the event and as such it turned to Mother, who to her great regret and under stress from the royals she claimed she couldn't remember. The queen demanded a direwolf dead and with Nymeria gone, Lady was killed. Arya blamed Mother for the boy's death and Mother blamed Arya for Lady's and they never got to reconcile until many years later."
Tears fell from Sansa's eyes. Her sweet pup. A part of her still wished to blame Arya for not being a lady but she couldn't blame her for trying to save someone from Joffrey. She couldn't help but be horrified at her own actions, a good person wouldn't lie, a good person would stand for what was right and Joffrey clearly wasn't in the right. Lady died because of the villainy of the Lannisters and her own lack of action.
"Sometime while the others were on their journeys, an assassin came for Bran as he slept. He burned all the beautiful books in the library and also the sept but no one cares about that. Fortunately the attempt failed, though we don't know the specifics. Just that intended weapon was a Valyrian steel dagger that once belonged to Littlefinger, Tyrion Lannister, and finally Robert Baratheon, so who sent the catspaw is a mystery," Sara explained.
Ned took note of the details and tried to piece it together as he held Catelyn but he didn't have enough.
For the first time Jael spoke up, "Up at the Wall, Father quickly learned what the Watch really was, the good and the bad." He gave Jon a sorry look. "Father started off as a bully in his own words, whacking other recruits around in the yard and acting as their better but eventually came to realize even as a bastard he was more privileged than many. Around this time Benjen went missing beyond the Wall on a search for Waymer Royce's party."
Dropping his head in shame, Jon vowed to be better than that. After being looked down upon for being a bastard all his life he could hardly believe he behaved as such. He did recall the words many of his children repeated when teaching him lessons, 'You know nothing.'
Benjen noted the lack of clarifying his death, he hoped he did not fall so early when his family still needed him.
"Back in Winterfell, Grandmother leaves Robb, Bran and Rickon, to go to King's Landing. Bran awakes while she is gone. In King's Landing, Catelyn and Eddard are presumably told by Littlefinger that the dagger last belonged to Tyrion, a lie. And for whatever reason you left the dagger with him, it was Valyrian steel, valuable, and was still evidence." Sauna fixed a disappointed look at her grandparents.
"Anyway Grandpa Ned with the help of Baelish investigated Jon Arryn's death leading him to discover Robert's bastards and the true paternity of the royal children. One of those bastards in the capital was Cassana's father." Laerra paused for a second before remembering what she wanted, "Oh, there is also the Hand's Tourney, held in honor of Grandfather becoming Hand of the King. Yatta, yatta, yatta, Joffrey starts buying affection from mother with gifts, Robert gets killed by a boar while hunting because his Lannister squire got him extra drunk on Cersei's orders, Sansa tells Cersei that Grandfather was planning to send her and Arya back up north, Ned gets captured for allegedly planning treason, Arya escapes, Sansa is held hostage, most of the household is killed."
The fact that she alone escaped brought a sad smile to Arya's face, she was proud of her ability but sad for her family and household.
Sara spoke up before anyone had time to think through what they just heard, "You forgot some. Cat publicly captures Tyrion on her way back north and takes him to the Eyrie for a trial; he wins and he was truly innocent. In retaliation for this capture Tywin sends the Mountain to raid the Riverlands, with no evidence it was truly the Mountain Ned as Hand sends a force to defeat and capture the Mountain. Jaime Lannister also wants revenge for Tyrion and attacks Ned, the fight results in Ned getting injured and Jaime goes into hiding. Then Robert dies and all that."
Catelyn could only listen as it just gets worse and worse for her family. She recognized her actions stemmed a lot of the suffering, she wouldn't have blamed herself for capturing Tyrion if she wasn't aware of the consequences and she noted Tyrion's innocence. Petyr's lie caused it all…
She felt so stupid and in front of everyone. Sansa was shocked by all the terrible things that happened. Life is no song, she recalled. Once again the other Sansa ruined things by trusting the wrong people. How much different would it have been if she'd only been wise? Leaning into Jon and feeling an arm wrap around her comfortingly, she vowed to be smarter, better. She was glad she stood between him and Robb.
Continuing the reveal was Jael, "When news of this comes to Winterfell in a letter Cersei forces Mother, Sansa, to write, Robb calls his banners. Shortly before Father hears of this he takes his vows and they find the corpses of two of Benjen's party members, they return to the Wall with the corpses, but that night the corpses rose and killed two of the highest ranking members. Father, alerted by Ghost, manages to save the Lord Commander by throwing a burning curtain on the wight, scaring his hand."
Mouth agape, Robb couldn't believe what he was hearing. "The dead rising, wights? You speak of the Others?" It dawned on him after he said it, the deserter's words, his fear. He remembered the great winter mentioned by the children. The hairs on his neck rose.
"We've already discussed it, Ed, Jon, Val, and I. We know how to fight back and protect ourselves. I've seen fallen wights but none risen. The Watch has already been warned and the wildlings already know, but not how to fight back yet," Benjen added.
Margaery was half tempted to throw up her hands and walk out. When her children say Targaryens didn't do simple, she had thought it would be more complex, not a war against death. Is this what she will have to deal with as Jae's queen? If so, being a lady sounded much easier. But being the queen during a legendary war would bound her to the histories and she would have many songs. That would be worth the madness, hopefully...
Impatient, Laerra started back up again, "Anyway, Father was eventually given Longclaw, Jonnel's Valyrian steel sword for saving Jeor Mormont. When Robb marched south, father had wished to join but his new friends convinced him to stay true to his vows. In the Riverlands the Lannister begin to march on Riverrun, they win a battle below the Golden Tooth and a battle outside Riverrun and capture Edmure but not Riverrun. Both Renly and Stannis declare themselves king."
"Renly is a third born son, what claim does he hold over Stannis?" Catelyn interjected.
Sighing, Sara pinched between her. "None. He had the majority of the Stormlands and the Reach. Even though Renly is more interested in coupling with Mama's brother Loras, the two marry. Fortunately for her, he was incapable of penetrating a woman so a maiden, she remained."
Blinking dumbly, Sansa was confused. She did not understand how that worked, she knew the basics of what coupling entailed, but how did it work with two of the same part.
"How does that work?" Arya's question resulted in her mother screeching her name and clamping her hands over Arya's ears. She just wanted to know, it wasn't like she could do anything with that information, she wasn't a boy, no matter what Sansa said moons ago.
Margaery felt the Stark's eyes judging her and Garlan as if it had been their idea to aid Renly in usurping her elder's claim. Jon's gaze bothered her the most, his scowl was disapproving with a hint of anger and relief. So he liked her enough to be a little possessive, she could work with that, if the other revelations didn't ruin that too.
Alsauna clapped to get everyone back to task, while Laerra was happy to let things get entertaining, Sauna was more serious. "Father, Robb and Sansa should remember this scenario from their lessons. The Freys at the Twins had their banners called, and when Robb arrived looking to cross as going around the river would take too long to save Riverrun, they demanded a toll. Grandmother was sent to negotiate after she reunited with Robb, in the end the agreement is that Robb and Arya are to marry Freys and Robb was to take a Frey, Olyvar, as a squire and Catelyn was to take two wards for crossing the bridge and the Frey forces. Grandmother, I'm sorry to be rude and my language but you are a shit negotiator."
"I agree," Arya commented dryly, taking a step away from her mother. She couldn't accept the betrayal. Though she was curious, there was no mention of her returning and Cass never mentioned her marrying or being with anyone other than her father Gendry.
She would have agreed verbally but Margaery didn't want to bring anymore attention to herself after the Renly incident, the Lannister marriages later will be worse as it was.
Shuddering, Catelyn had to admit that was a terrible deal, she could only hope that at the very least saved Edmure and Riverrun. The Freys were weaselly bastards, though she did think Roslin and Olyvar were fine children. Walder Frey had neither aided the rebels or the loyalists in the Rebellion, and their actions here proved where their loyalty lies. This can not be repeated, they are traitors to both their liege lord and their king.
"While Roose Bolton loses a battle to Tywin along the Green Fork, the gamble at the Twins results in a huge victory for Robb in the Whispering Wood, he takes minimal casualties and captures many Westerland lords including Jaime Lannister. There were problems however, during the battle Jaime killed Eddard and Torrhen Karstark, as well as Daryn Hornwood. Leaderless, the Westermen were easily dealt with." Daena gave Robb a proud smile.
Even if Robb knew he eventually died, he couldn't help but feel proud of himself, he defeated Jaime Lannister in his first ever battle for Bran and his father, his uncle too. He didn't know how to feel about marrying a Frey. Roslin, he liked well enough and she was pretty but he wasn't a fan of her shyness. Robb was startled when he received a slap on the back from Jon and a proud smirk which was rare. The thing that broke his good mood was seeing Jon's arm return to being around Sansa.
"Things only get worse from here," Sauna warned. "Back in King's Landing: Grandfather is given a chance to publicly confess to his so called crimes in front of the Sept of Baelor, he does so to protect Mother and likely thought Arya was in their custody as well. The Lannister's likely wished to keep Eddard alive as a hostage but…" She stopped and bit her lip before setting her sword in the middle of the table. Swallowing Sauna continued, "But Joffrey, now declared king, demanded his head. He was executed right before Mother and Arya's eyes with Ice."
Ned shivered as he felt a tingle at the back of his neck. He heard the girls and Cat verbalize their horror, his poor poor girls. Seeing Lyanna's death was hard for him, but his girls were so young and seeing an execution is different, so violent. The blade on the table was the same steel that tasted his blood, sucked his life away, and it was his own house's blade, it was insulting. He realized that meant he lost not only his life and daughter to the Lannisters but Ice too.
Sara continued the dark tale."A sennight later, Joffrey forces Mother to accompany him on a walk in which he takes her to a line of spikes, on them are the Stark household: Septa Mordane, Vayon Poole, and other's heads line the spikes. He takes a special glee in showing her Grandfather's. Mother said she attempted to push Joffrey to his death even if it got her killed but Sandor Clegane stopped her but did not tell the so-called king."
Burying her head in Jon's surcoat, Sansa cried. The future was terrible. She hated the things her mind painted. Jon's arms around her were all that kept her standing, she didn't want to hear more of this but she knew she had to. Hearing about Mother, Robb, Arya, and Bran dying would break her. Just over a moon ago she believed the heroes always triumphed, she knows better now, but she wished it wasn't so. Occasionally she noted her arms wrapped around Jon's torso would bump a hand rubbing circles on his back, Val's.
"What happened to me?" Arya wouldn't say it aloud but she was scared that she might have ended up captured too. She's heard tales of some of the horrors that noblewomen face when captured.
Daena answered, "You escaped, Yoren of the Night's Watch cuts your hair and pretends you're a boy. You meet Gendry this way, he was fleeing the Queen, she wanted to kill all of Robert's bastards, when every one of them has black hair and blue eyes, her children stand out. We don't know much else of your story, you were tight lipped in the future. For a time though you traveled with Sandor Clegane after he abandoned the Lannisters, after that you trained under the Faceless Men in Braavos. You repeated a list of names before you slept every night of the names of those who wronged you and your family. Needle saved you, physically and mentally."
"Needle?" Cat asked. Her poor daughter. Arya, her rebellious girl, for the first time ever Cat was thankful for the girl's resourcefulness, she was glad her daughter escaped. Though she recognized what training under a Faceless Man must entail, Arya was trained to be a killer. With a list of names, her girl was on a path of vengeance and death, one that left Cat with a sickening feeling.
Answering for Arya was Sara, "A Braavosi blade forged by Mikken on request of Jon. It was a present given to her before everyone left Winterfell. When Grandfather learned about it he hired her a teacher in King's Landing. Mother claims Arya didn't lose herself to the Faceless Men's training because of Arya's fondness and memories with the blade."
Arya smiled at Jon and he smiled back. As amazing as it sounded to be a Faceless Man she wouldn't give up her family, she wouldn't give up Jon, her parents, even Sansa. Even when Jon wasn't with her, he protected her and guided her. She loved him for that. This time they won't part, she'll train and become a Queensguard, she'll protect her sister and her nieces and nephews.
Mentally Cat thanked Jon, as much as she wished it hadn't been necessary, it had been and his actions protected her daughter. His eyes met Cat's own, all she gave was a swift nod and he gave one back. She would have preferred he not have been the one to comfort Sansa throughout all this Cat admitted she was in no state of mind to do so herself, she figured Ned wouldn't either.
"Back to Riverrun, with news of his father's death, the Northmen and Riverlords crown Robb as the King in the North. For this transgression Joffrey has Sansa called before court and beaten by the Kingsguard despite publicly claiming Robb and Grandfather were traitors, this becomes common until Tyrion puts an end to it. Tyrion also sends Ned's bones to Riverrun." Sara's eyes watched sadly as her mother pressed herself more into her father and whimpering.
Almost immediately Robb's awe at being made a king by his people was crush learning of the consequences his sister had to bear for his rise in title. He drops his head, his pride had turned to shame.
Laerra pick up where her sister left off, "Around this time Stannis sent out letters declaring Joffrey a bastard of incest. Presumably because his bannermen declared Robb a king and Stannis' lack of men, Robb could not ally with him. Stannis also took to the faith of the Red God, and was not accepting of other religions or at least the Red Priestess in his service wasn't. So he sent his mother to treat with Renly and sent Theon to Balon Greyjoy."
Jon frowned, it may be that he and Theon had always been antagonistic to each other but he had a bad feeling. Robb may have had faith in Theon but Jon knew what it felt like to strive for a father's love, and Balon Greyjoy was no ally to the North. Theon was a ward in name but a prisoner in truth, Robb gave away his hostage.
"Renly despite gathering a massive force moved slowly, he refuses an alliance with Robb. At this time Stannis besieges Storm's End and Renly is forced to move and defend it, Cat attends the parlay where neither brother backs down. In the end with help from his priestess, Stannis sends a magic shadow assassin which slays Renly. Loras, enraged and believing it had been done by Renly's guard, kills three of them including Yohn Royce's second son. Brienne of Tarth, another of the guards and Grandma Cat were accused and fled to Riverrun together. Most of Renly's host joined Stannis including a fair number of Reach houses such as the Florents and both branches of Fossoways. Leonette stays loyal to the Tyrells however," Lya added.
Smiling that his wife stayed loyal to his house, Garlan could only wish it never came to that again. The fact that many houses were not loyal was not a complete surprise, many still disputed the Tyrell's claim over the Reach but it was still unwelcome.
"With his mother and Theon away, Robb continues to fight the Lannister and marches half his force against the Westerlands, taking castles such as Ashmark and notably the Crag, Jeyne's home." Sauna stopped to take a deep breath. "The attempted Greyjoy alliance went even worse than with Renly, Balon refused and started an invasion of the North, taking the majority of the coast; Moat Cailin, Deepwood Motte, Torrhen's Square were all captured. Theon himself captures Winterfell, Bran and Rickon were able to hide in the crypts with Hodor and a captured free folk woman. To avoid the shame of losing two children, Theon burns two miller's boys and claims they are Bran and Rickon."
Theon felt the blood rush out of his face. All the room watched him, with untrusting eyes. He knew he wasn't a good man as much as he wished he was, he wasn't Robb or Jon, but he couldn't imagine himself betraying his friend, his only real friend. Murdering two boys too, he could guess which ones, Theon had fucked their mother enough to remember their faces. There had been so many times he'd wished he was a Stark and so he takes all that is theirs, betrays Robb, what was it all for? All he'd done was prove everyone right to distrust him, Jon, Lady Stark, all the lords of the North.
"Back in King's Landing, the population begins rioting as Renly had blocked the food supply along the Roseroad, Myrcella was sent to Dorne for an alliance. Mother is still a hostage. Stannis attacks the capital but Tyrion using Aerys' old wildfire caches alights Blackwater Bay green destroying much of Stannis' fleet but it isn't enough. Though fortunately for the Lannisters, Baelish had convinced the Tyrells to ally with them, and Tywin abandoned his foothold at Harrenhall, together the Lannisters and Tyrells fend off Stannis with Garlan wearing Renly's armor in the battle, to distract his enemies. Sandor Clegane offers Mother an escape as he flees but she declines."
Frowning at all of it, Ned could not help but hate Petyr Baelish even more. He disliked Ser Garlan's trick as well, though not as much as the Tyrells joining the Lannisters. The wildfire caches was what really caught his attention. "The wildfire caches have not been dealt with?"
Sara smirked, "Not all. Because somebody condemned Jaime Lannister for killing the Mad King without seeking out a reason, he never shared why besides to Tyrion and later Brianne of Tarth. You destroying his reputation for the act made him unable to come forth with the information without sounding like he was coming up with excuses. Lions are prideful. Anyway Aerys had caches planted all around the city and told the pyromancers to ignite it once Tywin's betrayal was revealed. But fortunately for everyone Jaime saved everyone, killing the pyromancers and Aerys just for you to label him the 'Kingslayer.' You know nothing, Ned Stark. Congrats you made a hero into an asshole, even if he fucks his sister."
Gods, Aerys had been madder than they ever thought. Ned had always assumed that the Kingslayer did the deed to protect his father and Ned supposes he did do so but he did more than that. Perhaps there was more to the Kingslayer but the man was also capable of killing a child, Ned's Bran. Had his damnation of the young boy barely older than Jon really turned Jaime into such a cruel man? Ned cursed himself.
After a few moments of silence, Sauna spoke up again, "Back at Winterfell, Ser Rodrik lays siege to Ironborn held Winterfell but they get attacked by a Bolton force under command of Roose's bastard Ramsey. After showing the bodies of Rodrik, Cley Cerwyn and a Tallhart, Theon grants them access. Ramsey inside has his men turn on the ironborn. Despite taking the castle he also orders his men to damage it and hurt its residences, destroying walls and causing floods from the hot spring water. The Great Hall's roof collapsed, a side of the First Keep destroyed, the Maester's turret, the bridge, the stables. Ramsey took Theon and the women and children back to the Dreadfort. And before this all happened Ramsey captured a widowed Lady Hornwood, and forced her to marry him, then raped her and starved her to death. The man is a monster. Fortunately Bran, Rickon and their two companions escaped in the aftermath."
Everyone could only listen on in horror about what happened to their home and its people. Their family's legacy for thousands of years was lost and destroyed.
"Robb, injured from an arrow during the siege of the Crag is being nursed back to health by Jeyne. Shortly after he gets news of his brothers' supposed deaths, they sleep together. In response to taking her maidenhood he marries her which causes trouble with the Freys. He faced other problems such as Edmure attacking Tywin and losing, ruining Robb's plan. At a reclaimed Harrenhall, Roose commanded other Northern lords to attack Duskendale to get them killed. Not only this but in her grief for Bran and Rickon, Catelyn has Jaime Lannister released and tasks Brienne with a prisoner exchange. Though a wise one, as Sansa was Robb's presumed heir. Lord Karstark, who lost two sons to Jaime, rebels and kills two Lannister prisoners. Robb beheads him as a traitor."
Beginning to see where this was leading Robb paled. While it was nice to know he didn't die a greenboy, he felt ashamed for how his and Jeyne's relationship began. He was better than that, but he couldn't blame himself for one moment of weakness. Both his mother and friend betrayed him, and everything was collapsing on the future Robb. With hindsight and better teaching he concedes that capturing Lord Rickard would have been wiser. Staying silent he awaited hearing of his death, he was ready for it.
"In King's Landing Tywin took over as Hand from Tyrion as well as credit for the victory. Mother's betrothal to Joffrey is discarded and Mama, Margaery, is set to marry him in her place which Mother was thankful for though she did warn Mama. Trying both to protect Mother and get a claim to the North, Mama tried to arrange a marriage between Mother and Willas Tyrell, Mama's eldest brother. Unfortunately for her, Mother told someone which resulted in her quickly being forced to marry Tyrion. Despite being mostly kind and never bedding her, Tyrion forced her to strip before him and groped her on occasion." Sauna gave a sad look to the back of her mother's head.
The relief she felt knowing she never married Joffrey was quickly crushed hearing the rest. She was disgusted by what the imp made her do but at the same time thankful he did not do worse. What a twisted feeling that was, to be thankful someone didn't do worse. It was reassuring to be in Jon's arms, she wouldn't suffer that fate this time, her prince was already with her. She could tell he was angry for her sake by the way he held her a little tighter and his hand were fists, it made her feel strangely safe.
Sara gave her grandmother and uncle a warning look. "Needing to regain the Frey's allegiance, debatably they might never have even had it, Edmure, now lord of Riverrun as Hoster Tully passed, was to marry a Frey in Robb's place. Edmure chose Roslin and they eventually are happy together and they conceive that night. But the wedding is anything but happy." Once more Sara looked to Robb, only after a gulping nod did she continue. "At the wedding once Edmure and Roslin left for the bedding, it became a massacre, the Freys, Boltons, and Karstark men slaughtered Robb's men. He and Grandmother are killed. Greywind, who was locked up for being aggressive towards Freys beforehand, was killed. All three of their bodies were disrespected." She hung her head down.
Gasping in horror, Cat molded into Ned with rivers of tears cascading down her cheeks. Her poor boy.
"How?" Robb's voice pierced the silence. "How did they disrespect our bodies?"
After giving him a pleading look, Sauna relented. "They removed and stitched Greywind's head in place of yours, paraded you around like a mummer's dragon. Grandmother was thrown striped and with her hair cut into the Green Fork as a mockery of Tully tradition. The Frey's reputation falls even further for breaking the guest right and the event is known as the Red Wedding. Roose Bolton is named Warden of the North."
Robb feels bile rise in his throat but keeps it down. It was more sickening what happened to his mother than he, it made him gag just thinking what they might have done to her. He lost, he became the Stark who lost everything, his father lost Ice, but he lost Winterfell, lost the North, lost his life. Even though he had not lost any of it yet, Robb sunk in his chair defeated, he could only listen now for his siblings to clean up his mistakes. Robb was supposed to protect and lead them but he couldn't do either when they hadn't been with him. What a failure he was.
They gave everyone a few moments, maybe far longer, but eventually Lya spoke again. "Another famous wedding soon followed: the Purple Wedding. During the feast Joffrey was poisoned by a joint effort between Baelish and Great Grandmother Olenna. They had gifted Mother, Sansa, a hairnet which had contained the poison, in the end they pinned it on her and Tyrion. Mama was ignorant of the plan. Though Baelish smuggled Sansa out to the Vale. Mama was instead set to marry Prince Tommen which she did and that marriage too went unconsummated."
Even though Margaery tried hard to avoid looking at Jae, she did. Seeing Sansa curled up comfortingly pressed into his side, annoyed Marg but that wasn't the worst of it. Both of their eyes stared at her judgingly, his eyes were like violet tinted obsidian sharp enough to cut skin, just as they were capable of cutting at her heartstrings.
"The wars slow here. Tyrion is put under trail for the murder of Joffrey and demands a trial by combat, who Oberyn Martell volunteers for as the Mountain was sure to be the opposing champion, still unknowing that Elia and her children survive and are still in hiding trying to judge when best to reveal themselves. Oberyn gets overconfident and ends up falling but not before giving the Mountain a painful death by poison as well as possibly poisoning Tywin. Tyrion is freed by Jaime and ends up killing Tywin while he shat on the privy before disappearing." Sara's words were interrupted by Arya's amused clap.
Everyone cracked at least a little bit of a smile at Tywin's unflattering death. Ned himself took a surprising amount of joy from it. He didn't approve of kinslaying but Tywin had damned himself enough that a death by his own legacy is what he possibly deserved.
"At Winterfell an Arya imposter is forced to marry Ramsey, in actuality this is Jeyne Poole, who was given to Baelish by the Lannisters and forced into prostituion by him before gifting her to the Boltons. She suffered greatly under Ramsey as did Theon. Theon was tortured until he broke, he lost fingers, toes and his…" Daena pointed down towards her crotch.
The fate of her friend horrified Sansa. What happened to Theon was also disturbing though slightly warranted, but still excessive and beyond gross.
Sucking in a breath, Theon absentmindedly gave his cock a rub through his breeches to ensure it was still there and working, sighing when reassured his treasure was still there. He couldn't help but think that his torture was a curse for betraying Robb and the Starks. If he meets this Ramsey, the bastard is going to get gelded, it would only be fair and as a rapist by law it was his punishment.
Ned couldn't help but wonder what the other Northern lords thought of the Bolton take over. With Ramsey as heir they surely would be skeptical, there is only so much you can hide for so long. Would they fight for Ned's daughter or at least the safety of the people?
"Cock," Sara blurted to clarify without shame of her language. "Before this, in the Vale, Mother is forced to take the identity Alayne Stone, Baelish's alleged bastard, and stays with Mad Aunt Lysa and Baelish at the Eyrie, who had married in the Fingers. Eventually Creepyfinger was caught by Lysa during one of the times he forcefully kissed Mother and your crazy as hell sister blamed Mother and tried to throw her out the Moon Door because she is completely mad. Anyway, Baelish pushed Lysa out instead. Baelish who was granted Harrenhall and the title of Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, and was Robert so-called Arryn's regent sought to have Mother marry Harrold Hardyng, kill Sweetrobin, reveal her identity and reclaim the North, then kill Harry-the-Arse, no offense Lya but your good-father is a potbellied, balding creep. Anyway back on track Baelish wants to kill Harrold off after he had a child or two with Mother."
Rolling her eyes, Laerra just shrugged. "There is a reason my husband and I don't visit the Vale often. He doesn't look forward to his father trying to flirt with me or inquires about what I'm like in bed either."
Catelyn gasped, terrified as she realized what Petyr's game was. He sought to marry Sansa and rule half of Westeros if not everything. She knew he had been infatuated with her when they were children at Riverrun, but this was beyond that. Had he become so obsessed with her over the years that he projected her onto the next best thing, Lysa and then Cat's own daughter. It made her nauseous, it was disgusting. His clevernish was terrifying, he had played everyone for fools, Cat, Ned, the Tyrells, the Lannisters, Lysa. She could only hope he failed.
Not for the first time, Ned really wished Brandon just killed Baelish. It would have saved everyone a lot of trouble.
"Things didn't go to plan for him though. Yohn Royce and others were suspicious of him, and they eventually deduced Mother's identity. They approached her and worked together. Mother convinced Baelish to publicly name her his heir to make Harrold more accepting of the betrothal, he reluctantly does so. Sometime during this time, they move down to the Gate of Moon as winter is coming. Eventually there is a tourney which is attacked by the mountain clans, and Mother is saved by Brienne and a mystery knight.
"Later a trial is held for Baelish and he tries to buy off his judges but Mother promised them more than he would give as she was giving them his money that she was set to inherit. Unfortunately Robin Arryn arrived and tried to stop the trial and Baelish held him hostage, both of them died in the aftermath. One of Yohn's daughters marry Harrold in Mother's stead and he accompanied her to meet Jon at the Wall." Sauna's long explanation required her to take a few breaths afterwards.
As disturbed as she was at Petyr and as saddened about the death of Lysa's son, she couldn't help but be proud of her daughter. Outsmarting Petyr was no easy thing, but her daughter was clever too. Robert's death was unpredictable, and Cat hopes that Sansa never blamed herself for her cousin's death. She did think Sara calling him Robert so-call Arryn was queer.
"Shortly after the trial Aegon and Muña, under alias of course, arrived planning to poison Baelish and secure allegiance with the rest of the Vale, but the deed was already done and they accompanied Sansa to the Wall. They didn't like his rise in power, as well as the fact that Grandma Elia claims Grandma Lyanna and Grandfather believed he may have been involved with the disappearance of Lyanna's letter to Riverrun at the start of the Rebellion." Daena added.
"Petyr, was traveling back to the Finger's at the time. He couldn't have done anything to the letter had it reached Riverrun. Though Brandon wasn't at the keep either." Cat added, she and Ned had discussed the topic days prior.
Sauna sighed, "But Lysa was there."
Recoiling, Cat couldn't believe what her granddaughter was suggesting. Though admittedly she doesn't know Lysa as well as she thought, not to mention Lysa killed her husband and later tried to kill her own niece. "Surely you can't mean…"
"We strongly suspect, but have no confirmation. As you said Baelish was traveling to the fingers after recovering from an injury caused by Brandon. What you did not know was that Lysa was with child at the time, Baelish's child. She had motive to hate Brandon, as well as a reason to stay near the rookery. Lysa in time would reveal her state to her father wishing to marry Baelish, but deeming him too lowborn, Hoster Tully forces her to take moon tea. These relations and Sweetrobin's similar health to Baelish are the cause of our doubts on his legitimacy," Daena concluded.
Back up north, children are mostly cherished for surviving, and down here they had it so easy that they purposely killed unborn babes. It desturbed Val, but she could recognize one man doesn't generalize a population. There are good and bad men everywhere. Besides she is sure there are men that would do the same beyond the Wall.
Catelyn was genuinely horrified by her father's actions. He not only damaged her sister's womb but her mind, it was no wonder why Lysa never visited back home. "How- how do you know this?"
"Lysa told Mother. That is also how we know that Lysa killed Jon Aryyn, she confessed so before Mother," Sauna answered.
"So the whole war was started because of a little squabble?" Arya asked.
Crossing his arms or well the closest he could with one in a sling, Jael shook his head. "That is how many wars begin but make no mistake, this didn't start the war, just accelerated its beginning. Aerys was the reason for the war and so long as he was on the throne there was a great chance of war. Grandfather tried to avoid it by commissioning the Tourney at Harrenhall, but Varys the spymaster caught word."
"So the rumors were true, it was meant to be a cover for a great council?" Benjen added.
Daena answered, "Yes. As you might imagine, Grandfather was not exactly happy to know his father rapes his mother, burns people alive, plus Aerys was disgusted by Muña looking Dornish, which put a lot of pressure on Elia to have a Valyrian looking son and you know of her health. So the solution was Harrenhall and multiple wives. It was that or let Aerys make an enemy of the whole realm before a rebellion started which would end the Targaryen Dynasty." She didn't need to mention that basically happened but they still had a fair amount of the realm loyal.
"So… back to the retelling?" Sara questioned a bit awkwardly after a few minutes of silence. After getting nods, she did just that. "Back in the Riverlands, with Edmure and Roslin captured, the Blackfish missing, Riverrun in Lannister-Frey control, things were mostly bleak for the Rivermen. The force sent by Grandpa Ned, became known as the Brotherhood without Banners, they fought against the Lannisters the whole war and continued to do so, they did not ally with Robb though. They had a red priest, Thoros of Myr who revived their leader Beric Dondarrion over and over again. Eventually Beric gave his life to revive Lady Stark. But having been dead for days and soaked in the river, you can imagine she wasn't so pretty, anyway she was mute and had an obsession with killing all Freys and Lannisters, so she took over the Brotherhood and they began avenging her family. This continues until years later."
Staring at her mother in a strange sort of amazement, Arya did not know what to think. She finds it a bit ironic that her mother, who had tried so hard to steer Arya away from violence would become such a advocate of it. Though future Arya seemed to also be a killer if she was a Faceless Man. Perhaps she gets that from her mother after all, wouldn't that be something.
Ned took a half step away from her as if repulsed. But he was only their children's father, he did not carry them in his belly for moons, he did not feed them from his breast. He was a lord and a busy one, he would not be as attached as she, her children were her world. Ned fought a war to avenge his family, she did the same, she'll feel no shame for that.
"In the capital, Cersei had rising problems, without Tywin, things started to fall apart. Margaery was manipulating Tommen, the public loved Mama more than the Lannisters. Stupidly Cersei lets the Faith remilitarize under a new High Septon. She also burns the Tower of the Hand with wildfire. She refuses to pay the massive debts the crown owes to the Iron Bank, or the Faith. She plots and has men accuse Mama of adultery and bedding many men, Margaery is imprisoned until a trial but was delayed for a long time. Cersei was also arrested for her own real affairs. She eventually does of walk of atonement but is also to have her own trial.
"Loras, under orders to capture Dragonstone from Stannis' small garrison does so easily but sends a letter of his victor that he got extremely hurt in the process as a cover to take the Lannister men and the Redwyne fleet to protect the Shield Islands and Oldtown from the Ironborn. He later dies in battle there.
Garlan smirked to himself at his little brother's actions, though grief still invaded his heart. Leave it to Loras to play the hero, Garlan hopes he was victorious even in his death but doubted that with their luck. He does applaud the stealing of the Lannister men, that would certainly be problematic for Cersei.
"When the trial day comes with Garlan championing Marg after an argument was made that Mama was not technically part of the royal family yet as the marriage was not consummated. He wins and as they wait for Cersei's trial they realize that Cersei was no longer present so they flee but with Mace overweight they move slowly. Either way, Cersei explodes the Sept with, again, wildfire. On the run through the city, Mace and some guards are killed, allowing the rest to escape." Laerra looked on sadly at her mother and uncle.
Margaery experienced many feelings throughout her daughter's words, but mostly she was left with sorrow and anger. Cersei would get her due and Margaery would wear that damn crown in the end, this time too. She'll ensure that Cersei doesn't win any victory, much less let her take Marg's family away from her.
Notes:
All the retelling paragraphs kind of have the same voice but, having all of it match the speaker's voice and personality would have been a lot of work. Frankly I just wanted to get past the future talk and onto the plot again.
This was kind of a basic chapter and not the best but it felt necessary to cover all this before moving on.
Some more editing may happen for this chapter to clean it up and breakup some of the long paragraphs.
Next chapter will be the post-book/season 5 future of the retelling as well as Jon's storyline. It is already written so it just needs editing, expect it in a few days.
Upcoming Chapter POV Order:
Everyone II
Shorts II
Ned II (Robert's Arrival)
Multiple POVs III (Robert, Jaime, etc.)
Elia II
Sansa I