#torrhen's square

[agentrouka-blog]

What’s up at Torrhen’s Square?

So last we saw, Torrhen’s Square was still in the hands of ironborn, with Dagmer Cleftjaw holding captive the remaining Tallharts: The Lord’s daughter and heir Eddara Tallheart (age nine or ten), her aunt-in-law Berena of House Hornwood (widow of the lord’s brother Leobald) with her two sons Brandon (fourteen) and Beren (ten).  (Interesting succession constellation warming up there, btw.)

It was an unattractive destination while Asha was still holed up at Deepwood Motte. 

Between Deepwood and Dagmer lay long leagues, rugged hills, thick woods, wild rivers, and more northmen than she cared to contemplate. (ADWD, The Wayward Bride)

And Stannis dismissed it as strategically unimportant.

"Dagmer Cleftjaw holds Torrhen's Square. A fierce fighter, and a leal servant of House Greyjoy. I can deliver that castle to you, and its garrison as well." Perhaps, she might have added, but it would not serve her cause to show doubt before this king. 

"Torrhen's Square is not worth the mud beneath my heels. It is Winterfell that matters." (ADWD, The King’s Prize)

But if things do go South for Stannis at the crofter village (to a point), it may prove a useful close-by retreat. Either for Stannis himself, or simply for Asha, should she escape. Theon might be another story. Considering what role he played in the fall of Moat Cailin, he may neither want to go nor be welcome or safe there. 

If Asha heads to Torrhen’s Square, they actually choose to serve her loyally and she manages to create the peaceful surrender that Theon was only able to fake with Ramsay, the Northmen may gain some experienced sailors for that fleet Wyman Manderly has squirreled away. 

If Stannis heads there, he could re-establish communication with Castle Black through their rookery. 

I would like to think that we haven’t heard the last of this castle yet. 

#torrhen's square #the north #house tallhart #asha greyjoy #stannis baratheon #asoiaf speculation

[warsofasoiaf]

Why does Dagmer still hold Torrhen’s Square? It seems strange given that virtually all the other ironmen have been driven out of the North.

Everyone had other priorities and a tight timeframe. Roose had other targets to take before he needed to return to Winterfell to handle the wedding. Stannis had other targets and needs to take Winterfell given the weather. So Dagmer lucks out.

Thanks for the question, Ekendall.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#dagmer cleftjaw #war of the five kings #torrhen's square

[misguidedasgardian]

The Winter Sun (EPILOGUE 1)

Into the Future

MASTERLIST

Summary: Years went by in Winterfell 

Pairing: Cregan Stark x Fem!Targaryen Reader 

Warnings: Cursing, medieval and asoiaf customs, AGE GAP, Cregan is 12 years OLDER than reader), arranged marriage, mentions of SMUT, childbirth, complication in childbirth, might contain triggering content, might miss some warnings

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 3 k

Notes: Well… Sara did say she saw six puppies

The vibe around the Lords and Ladies of the North wasn’t nice when you returned from King’s Landing, with your white haired baby in your arms

Many started saying that you had returned to Aemond willingly, and you had given birth to his child, since Jonaerys was clearly a Valyrian like you, and like the Kinslayer.

But things stopped and improved when you gave birth to your third child, a year after you came back to Winterfell, also a boy, who looked very similar to his brother, only with the colors of his father, dark locks of hair, and icy gray eyes. A true looking Northerner.

You named him Torrhen

Torrhen Stark

Cregan would walk proudly in the hallways of Winterfell and all over with his sons in his arms, Rickon trotting behind him as he grew up, and three direwolves following close behind.

But only one dragon hatched from all the eggs Vhaelar bring forth, Jonaerys’ egg. it took months after you came back, and a dragon keeper had to move in Winterfell to take care of Vhaelar and her hatchling.

Jonah’s dragon was so different from everything you had ever seen before, it was black, with silvery white markings, and big gray eyes. his flames were icy blue, as Vhaelar’s were bluish with purple flare 

When Torrhen was 1, you suffered through another winter by then, and as it became some sort of “tradition”, Cregan got you pregnant with what you truly wished was a girl…

But it wasn’t 

You bring forth a baby with dirty blonde hair, and when he opened his eyes you saw with amazement he had one purple eye and the other gray, he was like Alyssa, your grandmother, who had similar features, you often wonder where he came from, he looked nothing like you or Cregan, but your husband was ecstatic 

You wanted a Valyrian name for your peculiar child, and Cregan compromised in naming him Orys, like the rumored bastard brother of Aegon the Conqueror

Orys Stark 

So Rickon was 5, Jonaerys 4, Torrhen two and a half, and Orys 1 year old, when you got pregnant again.

After Cregan’s begging

You believed you were done, you loved your children very much and you were begging for a little girl, that never came, so you believed you were done, you had four beautiful children with your loving husband

But you couldn’t deny anything to those beautiful Gray eyes 

So you held your big belly as you awaited Sara’s arrival.

Sara had fallen in love with Cregan’s best friend, who had come to Winterfell four years ago to grieve for the loss of his wife, and he fell in love with her. Ben Tallheart, so they married, Sara became a loving stepmother to a beautiful little girl who was now five years old, and they lived happily in Torrhen’s square, hence the name of your baby boy.

“Sister!”, she screeched, hugging you tightly around your belly

“Sister”, you whispered happily in her ear, Cregan just stood there, amused that Sara would always greet you first, but then he hugged his sister dearly

“Missed you”, it was true, you had missed her so dearly, the castle seemed almost empty without her in it

After warm greetings, Cregan took his friend so both of them could talk, while you took Sara who was so excited to see her baby nephews, who had multiplied in the last years. You went into the nursery, where they were all gathered, the four of your children, it was Orys nap time 

Rickon and Jonaerys hugged her tightly, running to her arms; they have gotten so big, Torrhen followed shortly after.

Sara was playing on the floor with her nephews, with their wooden figurines, as you sat on a long chair, rubbing your belly, you were super tired, you always were

“How is the pregnancy going?”, she asked

“It's different this time”, you confessed, Sara looked at you, gray eyes wide open

“What do you mean?”, she asked, you only shook your head, looking down at your huge belly

“I’ve been so tired”, you whispered, “I can barely eat, I feel awful”, she looked at you determinedly, “my belly is huge”

“What are you saying?”, she asked gently, you only shook you head

“I don’t feel as strong as I did before”, she looked concerned, as she was trying hard to remember something

“I'm sure everything's going to be alright” she said with a calming smile, you smiled back as you caressed your big belly.

You weren’t bluffing, you realized you were pregnant because of how much you threw up, you could barely find something to eat that didn’t make you sick 

Cregan hunted everything he could get his hands on, and Thelma cooked everything with different spices each time, but to no avail, everything made you sick, all the meats, so THelma fought hard to cook you legumes and different pies with vegetables.

Even so…

You still felt really weak.

This wasn’t like all your pregnancies before, and Cregan seemed truly concerned for you. He was over you at all times, tending you, caring for you, like your very first pregnancy with Rickon. 

And now Sara wouldn't take her eyes off of you now, always watching what you ate.

Your baby was restless, kicking you always, and you immense belly, sometimes you felt like you had a real dragon inside you womb, with more than four extremities 

But right after that thought, memories of all those Targaryen women who lost their babies, and what came out of them were truly dragon-like babies, and then you shook your head, wanting to purge those dark thoughts out of your mind.

But you had to be strong, you had to be, you had already given birth to four! FOUR babies, and everything went well, this was not going to be the exception

The night found you in the great hall, holding a feast for your guests, with Sara and Ben, and everyone really in the castle.

“I have an announcement to make”, Ben spoke, as he raised from his chair, raising his cup. “First I want to thank our gracious hosts”, he said, pointing at you and Cregan, who held your hand tightly. “For receiving us, and now… I want to say that the Lady of Torrhen Square and I are proud to announce that we are expecting our first child!”, he said, and the hall broke out with cheers and applause

You hugged Sara tightly

“I’m so happy for you!”, you greeted, and she laughed in your ear

“Thank you!”, as Cregan was hugging Ben, and then he turned 

“My beautiful sister”, whispered Cregan happily, hugging her tightly, you hugged Ben then

That made Cregan’s spirit rise for the coming days, and Sara and Ben agreed to stay here in Winterfell until she gave birth, meaning… six whole months, and you couldn’t be happier

The castle seemed to roar with life since then.

Rickon, Jonaerys and Eddara, Ben’s daughter, played through the hallways, and they were always filled with giggles and laughter 

And your belly got bigger and bigger, and you grew tired and tired 

Everytime Cregan looked at you, it was like his heart was broken, you knew he was afraid, you were becoming paler, and tired by the day.

At night you would beg him to make love to you, and he would, that made you happy, as he spoon you with him deep inside you as he cradled your big belly, he would kiss every inch of your body with devotion, and hugged you through the night. 

“Can’t wait to meet this baby”, he whispered sweetly in your ear

“Me too”, you said back, “perhaps it is finally a girl”, you teased

“Oh what I would give for a daughter that looks like you”, he whispered back, nuzzling his nose into your hair 

“She would be pretty cute, wouldn’t she?”, you kept teasing

“She would”, he whispered, “thank you”, he whispered

“for what?”, you asked back

“For everything”, he said back, “you brought me back to life, you gave me four beautiful boys, you turned Winterfell into a home”

“Well, you are very welcome”, you giggled, you turned around to meet him, and you kissed him lovingly, “thank you too, you did helped in everything you just mentioned”, and he chuckled against your lips

“I did my part”, he kept teasing, as you cuddled into the night.

The very next day, Cregan was outside, with Ben, you believed they went into the wolf’s wood to hunt, when your water broke

Immediately a pain shot through you like a lightning bolt, making you cry out. 

The pain was blinding, it wasn’t a contraction it was something else, something else entirely, and besides, you were certain the nine moons haven't completed yet. Soon people entered the room, maids, followed by Sara, immediately they held you, trying to prevent you from collapsing into the stone floor of your rooms

“It hurts!”, you cried

“Call the midwife, NOW”, screamed Sara, “find my brother”, but the pain was so blinding you couldn’t quite pay attention to what was going on around you

You felt your dress being ripped away from your body, a night shift placed instead, soft and light as a feather, and then you were laid in the bed softly. 

The contractions began shortly after, and it was hurting so much you couldn’t have a real grasp on reality anymore.

A young man, who worked at the stables was sent to find Cregan, he knew the woods by the palm of his hand, so he didn’t have trouble finding the hunting party.

“MY LORDS”, it took only that scream, for Cregan to know it was about you, and considering the state you were in, that you had gone into labor

Nobody could reach him as he mounted his horse and started galloping without stopping. He rode back to Winterfell at an incredible speed, jumped off his horse and ran inside the castle.

He ran  towards your room and he could hear the screams from the second floor.

His heart got tight inside of his chest, and he found you struggling, the bed soaked in your blood, he had never been so scared in his life, not even when the war happened. 

He was at your side in a second, he grasped your hand in his and started at you wide eyed

“Darling, I’m here”

“Cregan”, you called, “It hurts”

“i know my love, I know”, he soothed, looking at the midwives who looked at each other with worried glances

It was bad, he knew it, everybody knew it, at one point, the midwives didn’t know what to do so they called in the maester who gave you milk of the poppy to clear, rather, distract your mind from the pain

It did help, when it took effect, you received the command

“Push my lady”

And you did, gods you did, with all your strength.

It was bloody, it was painful, it was worrying, but after two hours, the room was filled with the cries of a babe

“A little girl M’lord!”, chanted the midwife, receiving the crying child into the world

Cregan sighed loudly, with relief, squeezing your hand back, as he looked at the midwife cleaning a little baby with pitch black hair, he had a daughter.

But this wasn’t over yet, you cried in agony again, and Cregan looked down at you, still grasped in the claws of pain. 

“The afterbirth?”, he asked, but the maester shook his head, seeming horrified

“No, I think…”

“It's another babe”, said the midwife, as he give the little baby girl to his father, who was wide-eyed, not knowing if to be relieved, or scared to death, he looked down at the face of his little daughter and caressed her little head.

But when he looked at you he was so scared, you were shaking with pain, blood oozing out of you, he whimpered

“I think the baby is breached”, the midwife whined, like she was in the same state of horror

Hours went by

You were in a state of such pain your eyes were closed and you couldn’t scream anymore, you just whined softly.

Cregan was in the corner of the room, her daughter in his arms, but he just looked ahead, scared to death, his worry was such that he believed he was going to age centuries.

The maester whispered in the corner with the midwife, as her assistants were each by your side, whispered words of comfort, rubbing your belly hoping to push the baby out themselves 

“You need to be strong My lady”, whispered one, a young sweet girl, “think of your children, they need you, those sweets boy, and your baby girl”

you only got to nod, that phrase seemed to be the only thing that could pierce through the cloud of pain and milk of the poppy. Using the last of your strength, you leaned in, and pushed, again, the thought of your husband and children spurred you on, your baby, still inside of you, needed to make it out.

The midwife saw your intent and was with you in a second

Cregan gave his baby girl to the maester, and was also with you.

“You can do this love, please”, he begged, “please…”

It was another hour, you had been at this for six whole hours, when another cry was heard in the room.

Another little girl

With hair white as ice, and reddened face.

Then it came the afterbirth, but for that, you couldn’t no longer feel anything at all

The maids washed you and changed the sheets, you were breathing steadily, but you were barely conscious.

Cregan had his new baby girl in his arms, his dream came true, she did look like you, but the maester was telling him you had lost a lot of blood, that you could no longer have any more children… if you ever woke up… 

Sara had heard anything, but she was with your other children

“What is happening, where is mama?”, asked Jonaerys, he was a sensitive boy, he felt everything

“She is giving birth to the baby, sweet boy”, she whispered, as she cradled Orys in her arms hoping to made him sleep

“She is taking too long”, he whispered, his eyes filled with tears

Rickon came and hugged his brother

“She will be alright, she is mommy”, he said back, Sara looked as the sweet boys hugged themselves 

“Her vision had never wrong before, you were going to pull out of this

But Cregan was scared, very, very scared

The maids had called in wetnurses from the village, and they took both his daughters with them. 

He just stood by your side

As the maester else him with the promise that if you made it out tonight, you were going to regain your strength

“Please don’t leave me”, he whispered, his tears choking him, “please, I beg of you”, he begged like a prayer, holding your hand, “you give me all I ever dreamed of, you deserve to enjoy it by my side, our beautiful children, our six children you gave me”, he said with teary eyes, “please my love, I will follow you soon after, please don’t abandon me, our children need you, I need you, please”

He was seated on a chair he needed right next to the bed, and laid his head by your side, still holding your hand.

He stayed there all night, right next to you, hearing your faint breaths.

It was early in the morning, when you squeezed his hand back, and he cried in relief.

. . .

Two weeks passed, and you had recuperated your strength. Cregan brought you your girls as soon as you woke up, and spent the night with the four of you, after eating plentifully. 

One of your daughters had the northerner features, while the other was a Valyrian just like you, you named them Robyn and Rhaenys, the latter in honor of your dear aunt, who had been like a mother to you. 

“They are in very good health, My Lords”, said the maester, you smiled widely, looking at your daughters, who were both of them awake, laid on your bed, and wiggling happily, “although”

You and Cregan both snapped your head to look at the maester

“Although?”, you asked fearful, you then looked at your babies

“Little Rhaenys, I think there is something wrong”, your eyed immediately filled with tears

The old man showed you, he clapped his hand near Robyn, and she blinked her eyes and squirmed because of the loud noise, but he repeated the same thing near Rhaenys, and she barely reacted

“What does it mean?”, you whined, Crregan held you

“She might be deaf, my lady”, he whispered, Cregan held you against his chest. As you cried, scared of what that could mean. 

“Does that mean she can’t hear?”, asked RIckon, you wiped your tears immediately, and your two eldest sons entered the room. Torrhen still didn’t know what was going on, and Orys was still a baby.

“That is right boy”, Cregan was strong, as he smiled to his eldest son

“We will create a cool language with our hands so we can speak to her, then”, Rickon said like it wasn’t a big deal. And you laughed wholeheartedly, hugging and kissing your son. 

Now you had your six puppies, everything was going to be alright. With your growing family, and Sara, and Cregan’s best friends

And a huge feast they threw in King’s Landing in your honor. 

taglist!

@severewobblerlightdragon @missusnora @stargaryenx @poppyreader @chainsawsangel @court-jester-stuff @batprincess1013 @eddiepicker 

@lyannesworld @arujee @kamisunshine @​​mss-nthng @partypoison00 @grimistangel @elleclairez @may-machin @prettykinkysoul @justagurlwithships @champomiel 

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@esposadomd @ajanauia @phantomtea19 @let-love-bleeds-red @kishie8 @dreamingofyourmoons @esposadomd @sandronebabyy @kemillyfreitas @​​trifoliumviridi @dreamingofyourmoons @darling-jace @biblichorr @ivvypg @mendes-bae @borikenlove @tssf-imagines @praline357 @alitaar @prettykinkysoul @aelora-a @a-mexican-waffle @ateliefloresdaprimavera @alexa4040 @lrboyd @anditsmywholeheart  @weaselyss  @scarlettqueen190 @deeeeexx @cloudroomblog @dreaming-of-the-reality @yentroucnagol @crazymusicgirl104 @toodlesxcuddles @thanyatargaryen @mxtokko @bellstwd  @elaena-aerrin @glaciuswduo @holb32

#misguidedwinter #cregan stark x reader #cregan #cregan x you #cregan x reader #cregan stark #hbo house of the dragon #house targaryen #house stark #house of the dragon #targaryen!oc #targaryen!reader

[racefortheironthrone]

Doing a CBC archive binge, and in ACOK Bran II you mention the possibility of the Wild Hares being brought to Winterfell under the command of Ser Rodrik; I was wondering how you think their presence at Winterfell during the Ironborn Invasion may have affected events in ACOK (and beyond, if you think the butterfly would flap its wings that strongly).

Well, "one man on a wall was worth ten beneath it" and Theon's attack on Winterfell was badly undermanned to begin with...

If Theon's attempt to seize Winterfell fails, everything changes:

Winterfell acts as the rallying point for the North against the Ironborn invasion. The Northern forces that gathered to besiege Theon instead retake Torrhen's Square and Deepwood Motte, and put Moat Cailin under siege from the north.

Ramsay Snow rots in the Winterfell dungeons instead of leading House Bolton's treason in the North. Roose's plans to overthrow House Stark are going to be substantially weakened at the very least.

With Winterfell relieved and the North pushing back the Ironborn on its own, Robb Stark does not need to go back home via the Twins and will likely stay and fight in the Riverlands. Without the false news of his brothers' death, Robb probably doesn't marry Jeyne Westerling. House Frey will still try to betray him, but without a pretext or a perfect opportunity like the Red Wedding.

Catelyn Stark does not free Jaime Lannister.

Very much a "but for the want of a nail" scenario.

#asoiaf #asoiaf meta #war of the five kings

[redwolf17]

For the ask game: Viserion, other, wall, north

Viserion:

"Stark will kneel," Lord Mathis said, impatient, "just as Torrhen knelt to Your Grace's namesake. True, Viserion is not the equal of Balerion, but she is still a dragon."

Other:

Olyvar looked at the parchments that lay on the table in front of them. The illuminations of trees and flowers were as numerous as they were carefully drawn and colored, each labeled with a scribbled note. Other pages were covered with rough sketches of circles and triangles, squares and seven-sided stars.

Wall:

"My lord, setting the realm aright will be the work of years," King Aegon replied. "But such work will be for naught if the Others and their wights descend from the north to kill us all. There has been no word from the Night's Watch since the solstice, nor from King Robb since he marched for the Wall. Does that not trouble you, my lords?"

North:

When they first landed at Dragonstone, Olyvar had hoped to fly north as soon as possible, perhaps in third moon. Not to stay, of course. No, he had meant to meet with King Robb and Lord Snow, take the measure of the war that lay ahead, and return south to gather his forces. Then Cersei and Jaime Lannister had blown up King's Landing with the help of his grandfather Aerys's malevolent shade, and Olyvar had been putting out fires ever since.

#the weirwood queen #always enjoy a good ask

[ironbornsource]

ASHA GREYJOY APPRECIATION WEEK

Day 4 & 5- Leadership & Political Vision

“My nuncle said you know him. You know me too—”

“I want to know you better!” someone shouted.

“Go home and know your wife,” Asha shot back. “Nuncle says he’ll give you more of what my father gave you. Well, what was that? Gold and glory, some will say. Freedom, ever sweet. Aye, it’s so, he gave us that … and widows too, as Lord Blacktyde will tell you. How many of you had your homes put to the torch when Robert came? How many had daughters raped and despoiled? Burnt towns and broken castles, my father gave you that. Defeat was what he gave you. Nuncle here will give you more. Not me.”

“What will you give us?” asked Lucas Codd. “Knitting?”

“Aye, Lucas. I’ll knit us all a kingdom.” She tossed her dirk from hand to hand. “We need to take a lesson from the Young Wolf, who won every battle … and lost all.”

“A wolf is not a kraken,” Victarion objected. “What the kraken grasps it does not lose, be it longship or leviathan.”

“And what have we grasped, Nuncle? The north? What is that, but leagues and leagues of leagues and leagues, far from the sound of the sea? We have taken Moat Cailin, Deepwood Motte, Torrhen’s Square, even Winterfell. What do we have to show for it?” She beckoned, and her Black Wind men pushed forward, chests of oak and iron on their shoulders. “I give you the wealth of the Stony Shore,” Asha said as the first was upended. An avalanche of pebbles clattered forth, cascading down the steps; pebbles grey and black and white, worn smooth by the sea. “I give you the riches of Deepwood,” she said, as the second chest was opened. Pinecones came pouring out, to roll and bounce down into the crowd. “And last, the gold of Winterfell.” From the third chest came yellow turnips, round and hard and big as a man’s head. They landed amidst the pebbles and the pinecones. Asha stabbed one with her dirk. “Harmund Sharp,” she shouted, “your son Harrag died at Winterfell, for this.” She pulled the turnip off her blade and tossed it to him. “You have other sons, I think. If you’d trade their lives for turnips, shout my nuncle’s name!”

“And if I shout your name?” Harmund demanded. “What then?”

“Peace,” said Asha. “Land. Victory. I’ll give you Sea Dragon Point and the Stony Shore, black earth and tall trees and stones enough for every younger son to build a hall. We’ll have the northmen too … as friends, to stand with us against the Iron Throne. Your choice is simple. Crown me, for peace and victory. Or crown my nuncle, for more war and more defeat.” She sheathed her dirk again. “What will you have, ironmen?”

“VICTORY!” shouted Rodrik the Reader, his hands cupped about his mouth. “Victory, and Asha!”

“ASHA!” Lord Baelor Blacktyde echoed. “ASHA QUEEN!”

Asha’s own crew took up the cry. “ASHA! ASHA! ASHA QUEEN!”

~ A Feast for Crows, The Drowned Man

#ashaweek2022 #asha greyjoy #ashagreyjoyedit #asoiaf #asoiafedit #a song of ice and fire #op

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ADWD: The Wayward Bride (Asha I) [Chapter 26]

Asha Greyjoy was seated in Galbart Glover's longhall drinking Galbart Glover's wine when Galbart Glover's maester brought the letter to her.

The Greyjoys always tell on themselves.

Same chapter:

"Asha of House Greyjoy. This is my castle."

+.+.+

And that seal … the Boltons of the Dreadfort went into battle beneath pink banners spattered with little drops of blood. It only stood to reason that they would use pink sealing wax as well.

This is poison that I hold, she thought. I ought to burn it. Instead she cracked the seal. A scrap of leather fluttered down into her lap. When she read the dry brown words, her black mood grew blacker still. Dark wings, dark words. The ravens never brought glad tidings. The last message sent to Deepwood had been from Stannis Baratheon, demanding homage. This was worse. "The northmen have taken Moat Cailin."

"The Bastard of Bolton?" asked Qarl, beside her.

"Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Winterfell, he signs himself. But there are other names as well." Lady Dustin, Lady Cerwyn, and four Ryswells had appended their own signatures beneath his. Beside them was drawn a crude giant, the mark of some Umber.

Those were done in maester's ink, made of soot and coal tar, but the message above was scrawled in brown in a huge, spiky hand.

We have to focus on the huge, spiky hand.

That same handwriting is present when Jon receives his first letter from Ramsay.

Ramsay Bolton, Lord of the Hornwood, it read, in a huge, spiky hand. - Jon VI, ADWD

But huge, spiky hand is never mentioned when Jon receives the Pink Letter, so many have speculated Ramsay didn't write it.

However I would argue huge, spiky hand is implied.

The wildling gave the letter a dubious look and handed it right back. "Feels nasty … but Tormund Thunderfist had better things to do than learn to make papers talk at him. They never have any good to say, now do they?" - Jon XIII, ADWD

Tormund can't read, what's making him think the letter feels nasty?

+.+.+

It spoke of the fall of Moat Cailin, of the triumphant return of the Warden of the North to his domains, of a marriage soon to be made. The first words were, "I write this letter in the blood of ironmen," the last, "I send you each a piece of prince. Linger in my lands, and share his fate."

Asha had believed her little brother dead. Better dead than this. The scrap of skin had fallen into her lap. 

Asha learns Theon is alive, which is important for later.

+.+.+

Whether Sybelle Glover would find any joy in the fall of Moat Cailin, Asha could not say. Lady Sybelle all but lived in her godswood, praying for her children and her husband's safe return. Another prayer like to go unanswered. Her heart tree is as deaf and blind as our Drowned God. Robett Glover and his brother Galbart had ridden south with the Young Wolf. If the tales they had heard of the Red Wedding were even half-true, they were not like to ride north again. Her children are alive, at least, and that is thanks to me. Asha had left them at Ten Towers in the care of her aunts. Lady Sybelle's infant daughter was still on the breast, and she had judged the girl too delicate to expose to the rigors of another stormy crossing.

Unreliable narrator Asha Greyjoy.

Her young children would also be alive and with her if you hadn't claimed their castle.

+.+.+

"Euron has no interest in Balon's conquests. My nuncle's off chasing dragons." The Crow's Eye had summoned all the strength of the Iron Isles to Old Wyk and sailed out into the deepness of the Sunset Sea, with his brother Victarion following behind like a whipped cur. 

Lmao.

Forgive me, Vicky.

+.+.+

"We should go to Torrhen's Square and join the fight," urged Quenton Greyjoy, a distant cousin and captain of the Salty Wench.

Somehow I knew he was going to be dead by the end of this chapter.

+.+.+

Asha had four longships and not quite two hundred men … including Tristifer Botley, who could not be relied on. For all his talk of love, she could not imagine Tris rushing off to Torrhen's Square to die with Dagmer Cleftjaw.

Numbers update!

Asha has 4 longships.

Asha has 200 men.

I don't know how many men are still alive after this chapter.

And those ships are anchored on the western coast of the north. Unless there's a mission involving the Shadow Tower, the Frostfangs, or Bear Island, they're not terribly useful.

+.+.+

"I'd sooner fuck you." One quick slash unlaced her jerkin. Asha reached for her axe, but Qarl dropped his knife and caught her wrist, twisting back her arm until the weapon fell from her fingers. He pushed her back onto Glover's bed, kissed her hard, and tore off her tunic to let her breasts spill out. When she tried to knee him in the groin, he twisted away and forced her legs apart with his knees. "I'll have you now."

"Do it," she spat, "and I'll kill you in your sleep."

George would call this consensual love making.

+.+.+

She was sopping wet when he entered her. "Damn you," she said. "Damn you damn you damn you." He sucked her nipples till she cried out half in pain and half in pleasure. Her cunt became the world. She forgot Moat Cailin and Ramsay Bolton and his little piece of skin, forgot the kingsmoot, forgot her failure, forgot her exile and her enemies and her husband. Only his hands mattered, only his mouth, only his arms around her, his cock inside her. He fucked her till she screamed, and then again until she wept, before he finally spent his seed inside her womb.

[...]

She liked the feel of his smooth, soft skin beneath her fingers. She liked the way his long, straight hair brushed against his shoulders. She liked the way he kissed. She liked how he grinned when she brushed her thumbs across his nipples. The hair between his legs was a darker shade of sand than the hair on his head, but fine as down compared to the coarse black bush around her own sex. She liked that too. He had a swimmer's body, long and lean, with not a scar upon him.

[...]

Drunk, smiling, she crawled beneath the furs and took him in her mouth. Qarl stirred in his sleep, and after a moment he began to stiffen. By the time she had him hard again, he was awake and she was wet. Asha draped the furs across her bare shoulders and mounted him, drawing him so deep inside her that she could not tell who had the cock and who the cunt. This time the two of them reached their peak together.

why

+.+.+

The room was cold. Asha rose from Galbart Glover's bed and took off her torn clothes. The jerkin would need fresh laces, but her tunic was ruined. I never liked it anyway. She tossed it on the flames. The rest she left in a puddle by the bed. Her breasts were sore, and Qarl's seed was trickling down her thigh. She would need to brew some moon tea or risk bringing another kraken into the world. 

This never happens. . .

+.+.+

A shy smile, strong arms, clever fingers, and two sure swords. What more could any woman want? She would have married Qarl, and gladly, but she was Lord Balon's daughter and he was common-born, the grandson of a thrall. Too lowborn for me to wed, but not too low for me to suck his cock.

If he knocked you up, you can make him your salt wife.

+.+.+

"My sweet lady," he murmured after, in a voice still thick with sleep. "My sweet queen."

No, Asha thought, I am no queen, nor shall I ever be. 

We're still trying to figure that one out, Asha.

'Sweet lady' is almost exclusively reserved for Sansa and Catelyn in this story, but I think it would be a stretch to suggest the above has anything to do with Sansa.

+.+.+

To east and west were empty fields. Oats and barley had been growing there when Asha took the castle, only to be crushed underfoot during her attack. A series of hard frosts had killed the crops they'd planted afterward, leaving only mud and ash and wilted, rotting stalks.

+.+.+

It was an old castle, but not a strong one. She had taken it from the Glovers, and the Bastard of Bolton would take it from her. He would not flay her, though. Asha Greyjoy did not intend to be taken alive. She would die as she had lived, with an axe in her hand and a laugh upon her lips.

I respect it, Cersei.

+.+.+

If anyone fled, it was me. The memory still shamed her.

[...]

"If I stand with my other uncles …"

"… you will die outcast, with every hand against you. When you put your name before the captains you submitted yourself to their judgment. You cannot go against that judgment now. Only once has the choice of a kingsmoot been overthrown. Read Haereg."

Only Rodrik the Reader would talk of some old book whilst their lives were balanced on a sword's edge. "If you are staying, so am I," she told him stubbornly.

"A book can be as dangerous as a sword in the right hands," said Haldon. - Tyrion IV, ADWD

Rodrik the Reader will save the world.

There might be clever wordplay happening above, see if you can catch it.

+.+.+

"Don't be a fool. Euron shows the world his smiling eye tonight, but come the morrow … Asha, you are Balon's daughter, and your claim is stronger than his own. So long as you draw breath you remain a danger to him. If you stay, you will be killed or wed to the Red Oarsman. I don't know which would be worse. Go. You will not have another chance."

Is this about Euron or someone else? Why not both!

+.+.+

Asha was still at Ten Towers taking on provisions when the tidings of her marriage reached her. "My wayward niece needs taming," the Crow's Eye was reported to have said, "and I know the man to tame her." He had married her to Erik Ironmaker and named the Anvil-Breaker to rule the Iron Islands whilst he was chasing dragons. 

[...]

She had to pay her nuncle his just due. With one stroke, Euron had turned a rival into a supporter, secured the isles in his absence, and removed Asha as a threat. And enjoyed a good belly laugh too. Tris Botley said that the Crow's Eye had used a seal to stand in for her at her wedding. "I hope Erik did not insist on a consummation," she'd said.

Lol, how can you not love Euron?

Arya fans like to use this proxy wedding to support their belief that Arya is Lady of Winterfell. Nobody tell them this is a different religion, and that's the dumbest thing anyone has ever said.

+.+.+

The sound of the waves washing against a rocky shore was in her blood, but there were no waves at Deepwood Motte … only the trees, the endless trees, soldier pines and sentinels, beech and ash and ancient oaks, chestnut trees and ironwoods and firs. The sound they made was softer than the sea, and she heard it only when the wind was blowing; then the sighing seemed to come from all around her, as if the trees were whispering to one another in some language that she could not understand.

Tonight the whispering seemed louder than before. A rush of dead brown leaves, Asha told herself, bare branches creaking in the wind. 

BRAN?!

+.+.+

"It's not food I want, my lady. You know that." Tris had grown himself a thick brown beard at Deepwood. He claimed it helped to keep his face warm.

Yeah, I bet that's why.

Qarl pleased her more than all the rest together. He might shave but once a fortnight, but a shaggy beard does not make a man. - The Wayward Bride, ADWD

You ever notice there's numerous love triangles that feature one spurned man, who isn't wanted by the girl? :)

+.+.+

"Would you have me run?"

"I would have you live. I love you."

No, she thought, you love some innocent maiden who lives only in your head, a frightened child in need of your protection. "I do not love you," she said bluntly, "and I do not run."

Be fair Asha, I'm sure there's many men who fantasize about these things, whether they admit it or not.

+.+.+

"I have hostages, on Harlaw," she reminded him. "And there is still Sea Dragon Point … if I cannot have my father's kingdom, why not make one of my own?" Sea Dragon Point had not always been as thinly peopled as it was now. Old ruins could still be found amongst its hills and bogs, the remains of ancient strongholds of the First Men. In the high places, there were weirwood circles left by the children of the forest.

What a weird insertion that was.

Why in the world would a Greyjoy who worships a Drowned God mention that?

+.+.+

"You are clinging to Sea Dragon Point the way a drowning man clings to a bit of wreckage. What does Sea Dragon have that anyone could ever want? There are no mines, no gold, no silver, not even tin or iron. The land is too wet for wheat or corn."

I do not plan on planting wheat or corn.

Please learn to sow. Don't doom yourself like the other one.

+.+.+

"Do you know what I think?"

"I am about to, I suspect."

"I think the Damphair's dead. I think the Crow's Eye slit his throat for him. Ironmaker's search is just to make us believe the priest escaped. Euron is afraid to be seen as a kinslayer."

"Never let my nuncle hear you say that. Tell the Crow's Eye he's afraid of kinslaying, and he'll murder one of his own sons just to prove you wrong."

She's right, he does not care.

"Not even you would dare," said the Damphair. "I am your brother. No man is more accursed than the kinslayer."

"And yet I wear a crown and you rot in chains. How is it that your Drowned God allows that when I have killed three brothers?" - The Forsaken, TWOW

He ties Dam-phair to the prow of his ship for everyone to see. Is he really worried about appearances?

+.+.+

"Even if you did find your uncle Damphair, the two of you would fail. You were both part of the kingsmoot, so you cannot say it was unlawful called, as Torgon did. You are bound to its decision by all the laws of gods and men. You—"

Asha frowned. "Wait. Torgon? Which Torgon?"

"Torgon the Latecomer."

"He was a king during the Age of Heroes." She recalled that much about him, but little else. "What of him?"

"Torgon Greyiron was the king's eldest son. But the king was old and Torgon restless, so it happened that when his father died he was raiding along the Mander from his stronghold on Greyshield. His brothers sent no word to him but instead quickly called a kingsmoot, thinking that one of them would be chosen to wear the driftwood crown. But the captains and the kings chose Urragon Goodbrother to rule instead. The first thing the new king did was command that all the sons of the old king be put to death, and so they were. After that men called him Badbrother, though in truth they'd been no kin of his. He ruled for almost two years."

Asha remembered now. "Torgon came home …"

"… and said the kingsmoot was unlawful since he had not been there to make his claim. Badbrother had proved to be as mean as he was cruel and had few friends left upon the isles. The priests denounced him, the lords rose against him, and his own captains hacked him into pieces. Torgon the Latecomer became the king and ruled for forty years."

Asha took Tris Botley by the ears and kissed him full upon the lips. 

Well looky here.

Asha learns Theon is alive, and then we get this. The one time a kingsmoot was overthrown, it was because the king's eldest son Torgon wasn't present. Urr(Eur)agon the Badbrother was chosen instead.

There's only one way to interpret that, but I think the author might be playing tricks.

Only once has the choice of a kingsmoot been overthrown. Read Haereg.

Red herring.

I'm sorry, there isn't an ironborn alive who would look at Theon and think he's king material. This version, or the one from ACOK.

+.+.+

She broke off suddenly. When Tris tried to speak, she shushed him, listening. "That's a warhorn. Hagen."

[...]

"Cromm and Hagen saw them coming over the wall," Grimtongue explained.

"Just these two?" asked Asha.

"Five. We killed two before they could get over, and Harl slew another on the wallwalk. These two made it to the yard."

[...]

"How many more?" she said. "Tell me, or I'll make your dying last until the dawn."

"Many," he finally sobbed, between screams. "Thousands. Three thousand, four … aieeee … please …"

Numbers update!

Stannis has 3000-4000 men.

Stannis had come north with no more than fifteen hundred men - Davos III, ADWD

1500-2500 of those men are the mountain clans, and we desperately need most of them to survive his downfall.

+.+.+

Galbart Glover's maester had claimed the mountain clans were too quarrelsome to ever band together without a Stark to lead them. He might not have been lying. He might just have been wrong. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but we'll later learn the mountain clans are only helping Stannis to restore Stark rule, yes?

+.+.+

The maester pushed forward, with blood dripping from a broken nose. "Lady Asha, I beg you, strike your banners and let me bargain for your life. You have used us fairly, and with honor. I will tell them so."

"We will exchange you for the children." Sybelle Glover's eyes were red, from tears and sleepless nights. "Gawen is four now. I missed his nameday. And my sweet girl … give me back my children, and no harm need come to you. Nor to your men."

The last part was a lie, Asha knew. She might be exchanged, perhaps, shipped back to the Iron Islands to her husband's loving arms. Her cousins would be ransomed too, as would Tris Botley and a few more of her company, those whose kin had coin enough to buy them back. For the rest it would be the axe, the noose, or the Wall. Still, they have the right to choose.

All I can think about is Theon.

"I do not speak of running. Take the black."

"The Night's Watch?" Theon let the bow unbend slowly and pointed the arrow at the ground.

"Ser Rodrik has served House Stark all his life, and House Stark has always been a friend to the Watch. He will not deny you. Open your gates, lay down your arms, accept his terms, and he must let you take the black."

A brother of the Night's Watch. It meant no crown, no sons, no wife . . . but it meant life, and life with honor. Ned Stark's own brother had chosen the Watch, and Jon Snow as well.

I have black garb aplenty, once I tear the krakens off. Even my horse is black. I could rise high in the Watch—chief of rangers, likely even Lord Commander. Let Asha keep the bloody islands, they're as dreary as she is. If I served at Eastwatch, I could command my own ship, and there's fine hunting beyond the Wall. As for women, what wildling woman wouldn't want a prince in her bed? A slow smile crept across his face. A black cloak can't be turned. I'd be as good as any man . . . - Theon VI, ACOK

+.+.+

The wooden watchtower was the tallest thing this side of the mountains, rising twenty feet above the biggest sentinels and soldier pines in the surrounding woods. "There, Captain," said Cromm, when she made the platform. Asha saw only trees and shadows, the moonlit hills and the snowy peaks beyond. Then she realized that trees were creeping closer. "Oho," she laughed, "these mountain goats have cloaked themselves in pine boughs." The woods were on the move, creeping toward the castle like a slow green tide.

This is so cool. I want to see the crannogmen fight next.

+.+.+

She thought back to a tale she had heard as a child, about the children of the forest and their battles with the First Men, when the greenseers turned the trees to warriors.

Yo, the trees are warriors!

Everything turned inside out and upside down, and Bran found himself back inside his own skin, half-buried in the snow. The burning wight loomed over him, etched tall against the trees in their snowy shrouds. It was one of the naked ones, Bran saw, in the instant before the nearest tree shook off the snow that covered it and dropped it all down upon his head.

[...]

"The snow," Bran said. "It fell on me. Buried me."

"Hid you. I pulled you out." Meera nodded at the girl. - Bran II, ADWD

Kill Melisandre. Do it.

+.+.+

"We cannot fight so many," Tris Botley said.

"We can fight as many as come, pup," insisted Cromm. "The more there are, the more the glory. Men will sing of us."

Aye, but will they sing of your courage or my folly? 

She knows the answer to that.

+.+.+

Asha was not ready to die, not here, not yet. "A living man can find the sea more easily than a dead one. Let the wolves keep their gloomy woods. We are making for the ships."

Smart girl.

Greyjoys being adamant they must die near water is my favourite thing.

+.+.+

From beyond Deepwood's mossy wooden walls came the sudden sound of trumpets.

Trumpets? Wolves with trumpets? That was wrong, but Asha had no time to ponder it. 

Here comes the loser with his trumpet to ruin a fun stealth mission.

+.+.+

As Hagen came scrambling down the watchtower steps, a wolfling's arrow caught him in the belly and sent him plunging headfirst to the ground. His daughter ran to him, wailing. "Bring her," Asha commanded. This was no time for mourning. Rolfe the Dwarf pulled the girl onto his horse, her red hair flying.

I don't know what to make of this red-headed girl.

+.+.+

Deepwood was aptly named. The trees were huge and dark, somehow threatening. Their limbs wove through one another and creaked with every breath of wind, and their higher branches scratched at the face of the moon. The sooner we are shut of here, the better I will like it, Asha thought. The trees hate us all, deep in their wooden hearts.

[...]

After the scouts had vanished into the trees, the rest of the ironborn resumed their march, but the going was slow. The trees hid the moon and stars from them, and the forest floor beneath their feet was black and treacherous. 

[...]

Asha cursed beneath her breath, wondering if it had been a mistake to leave the castle. No. If we had stayed and fought, we might all be dead by now. But it was no good blundering on through the dark either. These trees will kill us if they can. 

THIS SHOULD BE STANNIS.

Stannis should have to fight threatening trees! It's not fair he gets to weaponize them! Where's the justice!

+.+.+

Hagen's red-haired daughter seized Tris Botley by the hand to draw him off into the trees. When he refused her, she went off with Six-Toed Harl instead.

Would that I could do the same. It would be sweet to lose herself in Qarl's arms one last time. 

Sex before the final battle is a classic trope, but this is a little out there.

+.+.+

Something flew from the brush to land with a soft thump in their midst, bumping and bouncing. It was round and dark and wet, with long hair that whipped about it as it rolled. When it came to rest amongst the roots of an oak, Grimtongue said, "Rolfe the Dwarf's not so tall as he once was." Half her men were on their feet by then, reaching for shields and spears and axes. They lit no torches either, Asha had time enough to think, and they know these woods better than we ever could. Then the trees erupted all around them, and the northmen poured in howling. Wolves, she thought, they howl like bloody wolves. The war cry of the north.

[...]

"Seven," shouted Grimtongue, but beside him Lorren Longaxe sprawled with one leg twisted under him, and the shadows kept on coming, shouting and rustling. We are fighting shrubbery, Asha thought as she slew a man who had more leaves on him than most of the surrounding trees. That made her laugh.

I'm so bitter the author wasted this on Asha instead of Stannis.

+.+.+

Behind her Grimtongue shouted, "Nine, and damn you all." Hagen's daughter burst naked from beneath the trees with two wolves at her heels. Asha wrenched loose a throwing axe and sent it flying end over end to take one of them in the back. When he fell, Hagen's daughter stumbled to her knees, snatched up his sword, stabbed the second man, then rose again, smeared with blood and mud, her long red hair unbound, and plunged into the fight.

This girl is ruining the immersion.

+.+.+

The world went red and black and red again. Pain crackled up her leg like lightning, and far away she heard her northman say, "You bloody cunt," as he lifted up his axe for the blow that would finish her.

A trumpet blew.

That's wrong, she thought. There are no trumpets in the Drowned God's watery halls. Below the waves the merlings hail their lord by blowing into seashells.

She dreamt of red hearts burning, and a black stag in a golden wood with flame streaming from his antlers.

Is that hidden foreshadowing or more R'hllor nonsense?

Patchface is a servant of the Drowned God, confirmed.

Patchface jumped up. "I will lead it!" His bells rang merrily. "We will march into the sea and out again. Under the waves we will ride seahorses, and mermaids will blow seashells to announce our coming, oh, oh, oh." - Jon XIII, ADWD

Final thoughts:

This doesn't count as a victory for Stannis. The trees and Jon Snow won.

-> return to menu <-

#operation stumpy re-read #adwd #the wayward bride #asha i

[isefyres]

MORE ADDED MUSES PART 2:

Jacaerys Targaryen: Upon the beggining of the dance and his mother becoming Queen, Jacaerys as her heir, goes by Targaryen. He is send North by his mother to gather the alliance of the Starks as well to the Vale. He is bethroded to Baela Targaryen. However, upon reaching Winterfell, Jacaerys grows close with Sara Snow, Lord Stark's bastard sister.

Callahan Blackwood: a nephew of Tytos Blackwood and a Knight, he grew up as a squire for Edmure Tully. He was at Riverrun at the moment of the Red Wedding and went back to Raventree, only to found it as part of the Bracken's new territory. He rides North.

Eddara Tallhart: Upon the death of her brother and her father, Eddara becomes the new lady of Torrhen's Square. She was held captive at her own home by ironborn but was eventually fred after the Battle of the Bastards. She holds a grudge toward Theon Greyjoy as his actions led to the taking of her house.

#out of character ╲ when you play the game › mun. #last ones i promise #artwork╲ houses › mutuals can interact.

[west1rosi]

muses i might add:

HOUSE CELTIGAR : Bartimos Celtigar (head of house celtigar during the dance of the dragons, canon name), Clement Celtigar (heir to claw isle ), Selira Celtigar, Jocey Celtigar and Cliara Celtigar, Bartimos' triplet daughters. Like the Valeryon and Targaryen, they origin from Old Valyria but they never bonded with dragons and are seen as a lesser house. House Celtigar however, are thought to be practicians of magic. They possess purple/lilac/deep blue eyes and silver/blonde hair.

Eddara Tallhart: Eddara became Lady of Torrhen's Square after the death of her father and older brother. From the North, taken captive by ironborn, she was freed by Ashara Grey.joy. She pledged her house to Jon Snow and assisted in the battle of the bastards. Eddara would eventually also fight during the battle for the dawn.

Jayda Umber: daughter of GreatJon Umber and younger sister of SmallJon Umber. Forced to pledge to Ramsey and the Boltons due to fear of what would happen to her father, they would eventually find freedom and Jayda guards their family seat while her brother fights in battle.

#⸻ . ✷ ❛ out of character ❜ 〉the dead are coming . #so what do we think. . .yes?

[danceofdragonsrphq]

THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY DASH EVENT;;

T H E S T O R M

In the vibrant city of Highgarden, nestled amidst the lush fields of the Reach, a normal day unfolds with the gentle sway of blooming flowers and the cheerful hum of bustling activity. Residents and visitors go about their daily routines, strolling through the enchanting gardens, engaging in lively conversations, and relishing in the splendor of the grand Highgarden Palace. However, as twilight descends, an unexpected shift in the atmosphere sends a shiver down their spines. The sky darkens, thunder rumbles ominously, and torrential rain begins to pour.

Panic ensues as the storm intensifies, trapping everyone in their respective locations. Fear grips their hearts as lightning illuminates the city in flashes of blinding light and thunder reverberates through the air, transforming Highgarden into a labyrinth of uncertainty and danger. Trees limbs crash to the ground, powerful winds knock over anything that is not tethered down. The once tranquil streets and idyllic gardens become treacherous, forcing individuals to seek shelter wherever they can, clinging to one another for support, and collectively braving the perils of the powerful storm that now holds them captive.

Various characters have found themselves trapped into various locations to shelter in the storm:

Location 1: THE GREENHOUSE

casimir

cregan

cerissa

minisa

glorie

This group of characters had found themselves out amongst the gardens of Highgarden before the storm descended upon them all. There was little time to get anywhere safe within the castle and all of them individually made their way into the relative safety of the greenhouse. Outside the storm still is raging on, threatening to break it’s way inside. However as time passes the group begins to realize a dangerous creature may also have sought refuge from the storm inside the greenhouse. The group must decide how they want to proceed. Do they fight off the unknown creature inside or brave the lightening, powerful winds, and falling trees?

Location 2: RIVER MANDER

leo

yesenia

nasir

emira

margaret

This group of characters had found themselves near the markets set up near the Mander River. Perhaps some getting ready to arrange their transportation back home or others just enoying the wares of the market place. When suddenly the storm hit them harder than anyone expected. Perhaps being by the water’s edge was the most dangerous place to be but there was little time to find shelter. All of the group finds themselves in the building of the dockmaster as he tries to calm everyone inside. But slowly the water begins to creep under the door and it seems the level is getting higher and higher. What will the group do?

Location 3: A HIGHGARDEN INN

zialla

joy

ren

yuna

Those lucky enough to be in the main market square when the storm hit was able to find themselves within the warm walls of one of the main inns of the city.  Everything seemed calm, as people kept to themselves or chatted with those around them. Drinks and food were served to those who wanted it and all seemed well. Until one mother begins to panic trying to figure out where their small child ran off to. Some people seemed worried the child ran off into the storm but that seemed unlikely as the door was being closely watched. Worry really began to sink in as another child goes missing. The group must decide if they will help and what is happening

Location 4: A SMALL SEPT

illya

torrhen

maximus

anya

lenora

For those traveling back towards the castle they needed to take shelter in a small sept along the road. The sept is mainly meant for those traveling out or into the castle to stop and have one final prayer before they venture out of the city. But today it is filled with people from all over. At first all seems peaceful until the septon who oversees the sept notices a group of people from the westerlands. He demands they must leave since they are not allowed in the septs according to the high septon. However, going outside might as well be a death wish with how the storm is picking up. However the septon is insistent they must leave and is trying to rally support behind him knowing the High Septon may come down on them all.

---------

Happy three year anniversary! We wanted to do a fun dash event for everyone to enjoy and bring together some interesting pairing of characters.

Now this plot can be done however is best for your group. However our suggestions could be to:

-Do small banter style threads between individual characters to start

-Come together as a group banter to tackle the plot happening in your location

However this is your plot too! If you have another idea you’d like to do run with it. This setting and initial plot is just a jumping off point for you all to get creative with. There is no right or wrong answer here, just have fun!!

#plot development #dash event: the storm

[agentrouka-blog]

You know how in the third book Catelyn thinks about how much grief might've been avoided if it had been Theon instead of Rickard Karstark's sons to die at Jaime Lannister's hands? Well, let's say this does happen. What if Jaime had kill Theon instead of the Karstark boys? What changes? Does this prevent the fall of Winterfell? And more importantly how does Balon react to losing his last remaining son to the Lannisters? Would he still want to attack the North? Or would he decide to get revenge and attack the Westerlands?

Balon didn't consider Theon a factor in his plans to attack the North. (And I doubt he would have bothered to attack the westerlands in revenge. He had bigger plans, and little love to spare for his last son.)

He was already scheming in that direction well before Theon showed up as Robb's envoy.

A great number of longships, fifty or sixty at the least, stood out to sea or lay beached on the pebbled shore to the north. Some of the sails bore devices from the other islands; the blood moon of Wynch, Lord Goodbrother’s banded black warhorn, Harlaw’s silver scythe. (...) Had Lord Balon anticipated him and called the Greyjoy banners? (.....)

"Do you think I gather my ships to watch them rock at anchor? I mean to carve out a kingdom with fire and sword . . . but not from the west, and not at the bidding of King Robb the Boy. Casterly Rock is too strong, and Lord Tywin too cunning by half. Aye, we might take Lannisport, but we should never keep it. No. I hunger for a different plum . . . not so juicy sweet, to be sure, yet it hangs there ripe and undefended.” (ACOK, Theon I)

But Balon also never intended to take Winterfell as quickly as Theon did. He meant to have Theon cause small disturbances at the Stony Shore near Torrhen's Square, and for Asha to take Deepwood Motte, to provoke a distracting response and then cut off the only land route in and out.

“Victarion,” Lord Balon said to his brother, “the main thrust shall fall to you. When my sons have struck their blows, Winterfell must respond. You should meet small opposition as you sail up Saltspear and the Fever River. At the headwaters, you will be less than twenty miles from Moat Cailin. The Neck is the key to the kingdom. Already we command the western seas. Once we hold Moat Cailin, the pup will not be able to win back to the north . . . and if he is fool enough to try, his enemies will seal the south end of the causeway behind him, and Robb the boy will find himself caught like a rat in a bottle.” Theon could keep silent no longer. “A bold plan, Father, but the lords in their castles—” Lord Balon rode over him. “The lords are gone south with the pup. Those who remained behind are the cravens, old men, and green boys. They will yield or fall, one by one. Winterfell may defy us for a year, but what of it? The rest shall be ours, forest and field and hall, and we shall make the folk our thralls and salt wives.” (ACOK, Theon II)

Theon made a bit of a botch of that when he inspired the remaining northmen to rally against him in one place he didn't have the men to defend:

"If only you'd had the good sense to raze the castle and carry the two little princelings back to Pyke as hostages, you might have won the war in a stroke." (...) "Your prize will be the doom of you. Krakens rise from the sea, Theon, or did you forget that during your years among the wolves? Our strength is in our longships. My wooden pisspot sits close enough to the sea for supplies and fresh men to reach me whenever they are needful. But Winterfell is hundreds of leagues inland, ringed by woods, hills, and hostile holdfasts and castles. And every man in a thousand leagues is your enemy now, make no mistake. You made certain of that when you mounted those heads on your gatehouse." (ACOK, Theon V)

Theon manages to hand the victory over his small ironborn force (and the remaining Stark-loyalist northmen!) to Ramsay Bolton, who burns the castle, which is a big blow to Robb. But the other ironborn remain at Moat Cailin, Deepwood Motte and Torrhen's Square, theoretically keeping to the plan to take over the north.

Of course, all that comes to an end anyway when Balon dies and the kingsmoot is called.

So, given Balon's end, yes, I think Catelyn is right and Theon's death would have prevented the fall of Winterfell and the "subsequent "deaths" of Bran and Rickon at ironborn hands, while the attack on the north itself would still have gone ahead and later stalled due to Balon's death.

Of course, we can't know what other plans Ramsay may have come up with to cause chaos in the North and weaken the Starks. He was happy enough to immediately make brutal moves on the Hornwood lands and was already undercover as Reek at Winterfell when Theon showed up.

So. Potentially a lot of things could still have gone in a similar direction without Theon's involvement.

#what if #theon greyjoy #winterfell #war of the five kings

[oathkeeperoathbreaker]

A Clash of Crowns

The ancient crown of the Kings of Winter had been lost three centuries ago, yielded up to Aegon the Conqueror when Torrhen Stark knelt in submission. What Aegon had done with it no man could say. Lord Hoster’s smith had done his work well, and Robb’s crown looked much as the other was said to have looked in the tales told of the Stark kings of old; an open circlet of hammered bronze incised with the runes of the First Men, surmounted by nine black iron spikes wrought in the shape of longswords. Of gold and silver and gemstones, it had none; bronze and iron were the metals of winter, dark and strong to fight against the cold.

Catelyn I, A CLASH OF KINGS

Small wonder the lords gather around him with such fervor, she thought, he is Robert come again. Renly was handsome as Robert had been handsome; long of limb and broad of shoulder, with the same coal-black hair, fine and straight, the same deep blue eyes, the same easy smile. The slender circlet around his brows seemed to suit him well. It was soft gold, a ring of roses exquisitely wrought; at the front lifted a stag’s head of dark green jade, adorned with golden eyes and golden antlers.

Catelyn II, A CLASH OF KINGS

As he neared, she saw that Stannis wore a crown of red gold with points fashioned in the shape of flames. His belt was studded with garnets and yellow topaz, and a great square-cut ruby was set in the hilt of the sword he wore. Otherwise his dress was plain: studded leather jerkin over quilted doublet, worn boots, breeches of brown roughspun. The device on his sun-yellow banner showed a red heart surrounded by a blaze of orange fire. The crowned stag was there, yes . . . shrunken and enclosed within the heart.

Catelyn III, A CLASH OF KINGS

Trader captains brought lace from Myr, chests of saffron from Yi Ti, amber and dragonglass out of Asshai. Merchants offered bags of coin, silversmiths rings and chains. Pipers piped for her, tumblers tumbled, and jugglers juggled, while dyers draped her in colors she had never known existed. A pair of Jogos Nhai presented her with one of their striped zorses, black and white and fierce. A widow brought the dried corpse of her husband, covered with a crust of silvered leaves; such remnants were believed to have great power, especially if the deceased had been a sorcerer, as this one had. And the Tourmaline Brotherhood pressed on her a crown wrought in the shape of a three-headed dragon; the coils were yellow gold, the wings silver, the heads carved from jade, ivory, and onyx.

Daenerys III, A CLASH OF KINGS

[H]e donned his crown, a band of cold iron slim as a finger, set with heavy chunks of black diamond and nuggets of gold. It was misshapen and ugly, but there was no help for that. Mikken lay buried in the lichyard, and the new smith was capable of little more than nails and horseshoes. Theon consoled himself with the reminder that it was only a prince’s crown. He would have something much finer when he was crowned king.

Theon V, A CLASH OF KINGS

The denizens of Joffrey’s court had striven to outdo each other today. Jalabhar Xho was all in feathers, a plumage so fantastic and extravagant that he seemed like to take flight. The High Septon’s crystal crown fired rainbows through the air every time he moved his head. At the council table, Queen Cersei shimmered in a cloth-of-gold gown slashed in burgundy velvet, while beside her Varys fussed and simpered in a lilac brocade. Moon Boy and Ser Dontos wore new suits of motley, clean as a spring morning. Even Lady Tanda and her daughters looked pretty in matching gowns of turquoise silk and vair, and Lord Gyles was coughing into a square of scarlet silk trimmed with golden lace. King Joffrey sat above them all, amongst the blades and barbs of the Iron Throne. He was in crimson samite, his black mantle studded with rubies, on his head his heavy golden crown.

Sansa VIII, A CLASH OF KINGS

#a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #a clash of crowns #robb stark #renly baratheon #stannis baratheon #daenerys targaryen #theon greyjoy #joffrey baratheon

[misguidedasgardian]

The White Dragon (37)

37. The Kraken and the Dragon

MASTERLIST

Summary: The war takes an interesting turn, and you found yourself with your hand ties with a new danger looms over your new and big family 

Pairings: main Harwin Strong x Fem!Targaryen reader

Warnings: cursing, medieval and A song of ice and Fire AU customs, injury, burns, dragon fire, death, violence, armies, death, war and all that comes with it. Might miss some warnings but you know what this is about :) 

+18, MINORS DNI

Wordcount: 2.8 k

Notes:  Sorry it took so long, I was really overwhelmed with all the fronts I opened, but here we are! thanks for the patience

You know Cregan had been sleeping some herbs into your nightly tea for you to sleep more soundly, and you thank him for it… you  had been so psychologically drained that nights are essential to recover your energy… but the dreams you are having are slowly torturing you

Last night dream consisted in scouting the frozen woods, on foot, finding your dragon slings hugging each other in a frozen cave, they jumped at the sight of you, and ran towards your awaiting arms

It felt so real you almost believe it, you could see the scenery so clearly in your head, it broke your heart when you woke up and you were alone in your room in Winterfell

Your search has been fruitless, your children were still missing, no leads, no nothing, except for…

When you were flying above Torrhen’s Square, you had heard of a group of two children, a young woman, and a dragon, that led you to a small fishing town on the banks of a river.

But what you found there was even more scary…

Ironborns, in small boats, raiding the villages… There was no connection and yet, you felt like it was… like there was a vivid connection between those two separate sightings

You knew your sister had a pact with the Greyjoys, a flimsy pact that was less of an alliance because you knew how flimsy Irion borns where only a fool would trust them…

Before you could investigate that lead further, Rhaegar came to find you, you shared your theories with him, but before you could act on them… He gave you his news

“We have to return to Winterfell, now”, he said, alarmed, “there is news from King’s Landing, we need to go”, with your heart in your mouth you both flew back to the capital of the North, what can it possibly be this important to…?

Rhaenyra had taken King’s Landing, and she was summoning you

“She what?”, you asked, your son wore concern in his eyes, and Cregan did as well as he looked at you

“Rhaenyra took King’s Landing, it wasn’t difficult, the royal army decimated, all the Queen’s children gone, nobody knows where Aegon is”, he said firmly, “and her first command was to summon you to the capital”, he said, looking right at you

You grabbed your forehead, because you were certain you had gotten a sudden fever, you felt dizzy and 

“Gods”, you whisper, “What about… all the traitors?”

“She filled the dark cells under the Keep”, said Rhaegar, “the first one to go will be Otto Hightower

“Of course”, you whispered, “and you both said, she wants to see me?”

“Yes, she summoned you first”, said Cregan

“Me? why?”, again, his concern was visible

“I’m guessing for you the bend the knee”, he said

“I can’t go, I’m looking for my children”, you said wobbly

“There is something else”, Rhaegar said

“What? what is it?”, you asked

“He said something cryptic in the message, she wrote, The Kraken and the Dragon”

You got angry, you didn’t want to answer the call, but, how could you say no? if the ironborn… if the Greyjoys had your children… you didn't even want to know what might happen to them, they were treacherous, not to be trusted, and Sarra…

“What?”, you asked, suddenly enraged, there were no coincidences, you had learned that the hard way, and if Rhaenyra mentioned the name of the people you thought responsible for taking your children…

“You need to go, I will stay here and follow the lead, I’ll fly to Pyke myself if I have to”, he promised you

“The Greyjoys cannot be trusted”, you warned, but as you look into his eyes, you whined, “I want to find my babies”, you whispered, “I want to find Sarra”, you said

“I know, but if you don’t go…”

“What? what do you think is going to happen?”, you asked

“Mother, you had risen armies, you looked her in the eye and told her she wasn’t your Queen, you need to bend the knee”, he said, “there is too much at stake”

And it hit you

You had said those things to her, you fought her battles as you were distracted, she had taken the Iron Throne for herself.

“I will go”, you said, “I will go and bend the knee for all of us”

“I will go to Pyke”, Rhaegar said

“I will need a ride South”, said Cregan looking at you

Time was acting curious when the only thing you cared about was finding your children, time became a funny thing, and when you flied all the way down to King’s Landing in one night, time happened even faster

Soon you landed in the Dragonpit, and everywhere you looked at… was black and red, red and black, the red three headed dragons heraldry could be seen hanging from everywhere

It was insane

Cregan had come with you, sensing he needed to bend the knee to ease the troubled mind of the new Queen, who had lost so much during this war.

You were received by a carriage and a platoon of soldiers, all of them wearing black and red, it was dizzying.

King’s Landing has not been touched by war, it had no held battles within its walls, and yet, you could feel it in the air as you were advancing through the empty streets, the unrest, the uneasiness, the mistrust, it was like the calm before the storm. Like in the middle of the gloomiest, coldest day you felt this warm breeze, something that clearly did not belong there, that it was a clear omen that a storm was on their way.

That is what you felt 

You were received by cold, unknown looks, not even one single Lord, the Keep seemed empty, devoid of life, and the lousy court. It was empty.

You guessed that first the Greens eliminated those who were devoted to Rhaenyra, and now Rhaenyra had eliminated those who were devoted to Aegon the Usurper

Black banners with your sister’s sigil were hung on both sides of the huge entrance to the Throne Hall, and soon you walked those short steps up to enter the most important room in all the Kingdoms. You shared concern looks with Cregan when you were before the doors, he only nodded, and soon, the doors opened

“Princess Y/N of House Targaryen, Lady of Harrenhal, and Lord Cregan of house Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North”, someone presented, you looked down the room, to the other side and…

There she was

It was like a dark vision, your sister seated in the Iron Throne, grabbing it tightly, her mouth twisted and a frown on her face, your uncle was standing next to her on her right, and Jacaerys was in her left

“Sister”, she greeted

“Queen Rhaenyra”, you said back, you couldn’t anger her, this woman before you, she was no longer your sister, who knows what she is capable off

“Cregan Stark”, she greeted then

“Your Grace”, he said back

“You took the capital”, you observed

“My rightful place, wouldn’t you say?”, she asked

“Of course”, you said back hastily, “it was a good strategy, not even I saw it coming”

“Because you were everywhere else, but where it mattered”, spitted your uncle

“Sister”, you said gently, ignoring him, “maybe you are not aware, but Aegon the Usurper attacked Winterfell, in these terrible events, my two young children barely escaped, alongside Lord Cregan’s oldest daughter Sarra, they are missing in the frosty forests, I was searching for them…”

“Your children are safe”, she interrupted, and you looked up at her wide-eyed

“What?”, you asked, astonished 

“I know where your children are”, she said, “and you own daughter, Lord Stark”, you both stood there, frozen, you couldn’t see if that in your sister’s tone was a threat, or if you should feel relieved

“Where are they?”, you asked

“Safe”, she said

“WHERE?”, you asked loudly and firmly

“You are talking to the Queen”, said Daemon, “Show some respect”, he muttered, but as he looked at Rhaenyra, she shook her head slightly

“To my understanding”, she said then, looking at you, “you have captured Helaena Targaryen, and her children”, she said like it was a good thing, you shared concerned looks with Cregan

“Captured?”, you asked, “what do you mean?”

“She is your hostage, isn’t she?”, she asked

“She is in Harrenhal, yes”, you said vaguely, “and her children”, the ones you tried to kill, you thought bitterly 

“I see”, was she hinting what you thought she was thinking

“And the traitor and usurper, Aemond targaryen?”, asked Daemon

“What about him?”, you said

“He plotted to usurp our righteous Queen”, he said, “he is a traitor and therefore, must be executed”, you paled at the thought

“He was key, in the defeat of the Greens”, you said then, “he convinced Highgarden to join our side, my queen”, you said firmly, “he is faithful to my daughter, they are married, he is of my blood now”, you said firmly, “he surrendered, he surrendered the Baratheon Army he was leading”

“He will have to come here and bend the knee”, she said

“He tried to kill me!”, interrupted Jacaerys

“And I stopped him”, you fought 

“Because of him this war erupted”, said Rhaenyra

“The war is almost won”, you said, “Aegon might be at large, but you, my Queen, hold the capital, we have armies, the Lannister’s is completely destroyed, as the Baratheons, we have dragons”

“The Northern army is at your service, my queen”, said Cregan, “thanks to your sister, is almost complete, just as the Arryns”

“The Arryns are facing an uprising and a civil war”, said Daemon

“Sister…”, you called, taking the complete attention of her, you couldn’t care less about anything else, “where are my children?”, you asked then

“I need you to understand it is not easy for me to trust you”, she said defensively, “you said I was not your sister, nor your queen, so you must understand, you need to fall in line”

“So you took my babies to make me fall in line?”, you asked, and she kept quiet, your father’s crown must have a tight hold in her brain, you thought bitterly, “I’ll fall in line”

“This is a good start sister”, she said, “If you say our half brother and sister are not a threat, they will come here and bend the knee to me as well”, she said, “as will your children”

“You have no reason to suspect me or my family”, you said

“Really?”, mocked Daemon, “Do you want to know what sigil is hanging over the Twins in the Riverlands? or in Highgarden in the Reach?”, he asked, and you didn't even know the answer, “yours, not our Queen’s” 

“Those were…”, you didn’t even know how to explain that

“Your children weren’t they?”, she said, “they did those treacherous things”

“We are on one side”, you said sincerely, “they took those castles in your name, they were fighting your battles”, you said gently, even though you weren’t truly sure about what you were saying. 

You looked at Cregan by your side, the war had exploded because of you, your children fought battles because they thought you were dead… you couldn’t even began to explain what they were thinking, they wanted blood in your name

“You said I wasn’t your Queen, nor your sister”, she repeated, “of course now you spew deceitful words in front of me”, she said spitefully. You sighed loudly, this is something you could have never even think about happening, so you did the one thing you could in this position

You kneeled right in front of her, “I, Princess (Y/N) of House Targaryen, Lady of Harrenhal, rider of Vhaelar, I pledged my undying allegiance and devotion to you Rhaenyra of house Targaryen, first of her name, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and protector of the realm”, you said firmly, looking down at the ground, Cregan kneeled right beside you

“I Cregan Stark, swear my allegiance to you my Queen, the North is yours”, he said then. You didn’t care at this point, you would do anything to recuperate your babies, no matter the cost. 

“Like i said”, she said firmly, “this is a start, you will summon your family here, and they will al bend the knee and call me their rightful Queen”, she demanded, and you nodded, and you started planning, you needed to speak to them first, to explain, to see what they thought about this.

“I will”

“And the Tullys, and the Tyrells”, she also demanded

“This war isn’t over yet”, said Daemon, “we still have battles to fight, enemies to defeat, that cunt… needs to die”

“What about my children, when will I be aware of their whereabouts?”, you asked again

“As soon as all the family and the Lords and Ladies of the realm that you so selfishly rallied to your side instead of mine, swore allegiance to me”, she demanded.

And you looked at Cregan.

You had come willingly to King’s landing, but now you were not sure you could get out of it by your own will.

As soon you realized, you were right

You and Cregan were politely asked to stay and rally the Lord and ladies by raven.

You were not treated like a prisoner, but they wouldn’t let you leave, though they gave you complete freedom within the keep

Your children were prisoners, your older children could be easily treated as traitors if your sister so pleased.

Helaena, Helaena and her babies, the rightful heirs of Aegon II, the current King of the seven Kingdoms… they were more in danger than anyone else, and you had no idea how you were going to protect them

In your stay in the Keep you had learned other things as well

Otto Hightower had the first ticket for a one-way trip to the gallows, but first Rhaenyra wanted the surrender of the biggest army at play, an army with a dragon that were stalking the Stormlands not far from here… other treacherous lords were condemned as well, but they deserve it…

And Queen Alicent, she was made a prisoner in the tower of the hand

You needed to see her as well, but you weren’t sure they were going to allow you to

“Where are we going?”, demanded to know Sarra, as she held on tightly on Saera and Vaegor

“The dragon Queen has given us permission to plunder and ravage everything in the Westerland we can get our hands on”, said the Red Kraken, “we are going to start in Casterly Rock”

“You are insane, even I, a Northerner girl know that the Rock cannot be conquered, not even by Dragons”, Dalton Greyjoy only chuckled darkly, “let alone by sea”

“You know nothing of what we are capable of doing, the Lannister army is in shambles, if we cannot take the rock we will take Lannisport and hit them by land”, he said, “I don’t have to explain military strategies to a little girl”, he mocked 

“That is even more insane!”, she said, “Let us get out”, she looked at the far off shore, “Here we are near The Grag, aren’t we? we are in the Riverlands, the Tullys are our allies, leave us in a small boat, I can row to shore, and then you can go and plunder and sack whatever you want, we are deadweight”. She said urgently, “My betrothed has a dragon, his twin brother, his sister, HIS MOTHER!”, she said, “they are all looking for us”, she explained, “they are going to be angry”

“Even in Pyke we have heard stories about the Strong Dragon”, he said, “I know who he is, he is the main reason why you are still in one piece, and I haven’t let my crew have their way with you”, Sarra flinched, grabbing the kids tighter against her, “you are safe as long as our new Queen says so”, he said mockingly, “I have no intention of burning to death, not before I fuck the Lannisters nicely in the ass”, Sarra tried to cover the children’s ears but it was of no use

Dalton looked up at the sky, the medium size dragon was flying over their heads, untiring, unwavering, sometimes she would fly towards land, but she would always come back, then he looked at the little girl, who the beast was bonded too

“No, you're going to stay here, in the safety of my boat, how can I deliver you to the Tullys, uh? what kind of gentlemen would I be?”, he said simply. Rapuaa was going to help with the invasion, medium sized or not, she was still a fire breathing dragon

More notes: it looks live everyones meeting in Casterly rock

@tearsarcane @integra1127 @aestmilky @thanyatargaryen @tythaitie @lostinworldofdarkness @voodoogoul @wildmindedbeauty32 @lil-pudd @alicattx @electric-bloo @astaaan-lol @stargaryenx @kaitieskidmore1 @bregarc @lilpnd @jcpenneyyy @janelei @fexibau @ladyoakenshield157 @danielle-leah1997 @lady-ragnvindr @cecilyjmorgenstern @omgsuperstarg @bugheadskid @batprincess1013 @her-fandom-sanctum @holb32 @blue1006 @stargaryenx @grippleback-galaxyy @mikariell955 @genesisliveson @mendes-bae @caspianobsessed @notmundane3000ane3000 @kamisunshine @just-someone11 @ietss @joliettes

#misguidedhotd #targaryen!oc #targaryen!reader #hbo house of the dragon #house of the dragon #house targaryen #rhaenyra #harwin strong x reader #ser harwin strong #ser harwin x reader #harwin strong x targaryen reader #cregan #cregan stark

[ofthesentinels]

setting : winterfell, the beginning of the northern war ;; @zaidamanderly

the blanket of white snow that coated the land as far as the eye could see crunched underneath the boots of the ruling lady of cerwyn as she trekked back towards the castle from the godswood. she was not the best at visiting, or praying, in truth, but when her patience was at it's thinnest, she tended to find peace kneeling before the heart tree more than anywhere else. she wasn't quite sure if the gods truly had such an influence over her, or if it was the solitude itself - probably both.

there was a vast difference from standing outside with the air so chilly it burned her cheeks, though she was more than used to it by now. it seemed particularly cold out these past weeks, but sylvi did not feel her usual self either, often a warmer presence, with a fiery spirit to match. it did her no good to mope, but there was a strong desire to join the fight that she struggled to find satisfaction within the safety of stone walls.

warm air from inside of the great hall seemed to wrap around her like a blanket, she inhaled the sweet smell of wood burning in a hearth, and emerlad hues looked over to see her children playing with others, the watchful eye of many mothers seated around them as they spoke to one another. normally sylvi would find herself amongst them, but she decided to seek refreshments before she did.

it was then she spotted the familiar image of zaida manderly entering - the woman was brighter than the stars in the northern night sky, a dear friend since they were little girls. their lack of shared faith never mattered to sylvi, their common ground was rooted deeper than that of the sentinel trees that surrounded her home of birth in torrhen's square. "zaida!" she called out to the other, formalities long being forgotten between the two, and sylvi feeling her mood shifting already, for she she hadn't the chance to speak to her friend in some time.

she approached the other now, removing the gloves from her hands and stuffing them into the pocket of her dress. her shoulders slumped slightly as the tense mood seemed to melt off of her. "gods, it's good to see you." there was a pause, sylvi was well aware of what was occurring with the manderly's right now, and while she hoped to have a light-hearted discussion with zaida, that almost seemed impossible. "how are you doing?"

#❆ c o n v e r s a t i o n s || sylvi cerwyn. #zaida 001

[sapphcon-ic]

"it's not torrhens square I mean to take" top ten pictures that happened before disaster

#turn away theon #go home king #theyve already introduced ramsay and reek like theon it is not looking good #acok #asoiaf read

[owenstark]

A NEW AGE

"As we bid farewell to those that gave their lives protecting the North, our way, and our people, let us also celebrate a new age. The beginning of a new age where the north will only experience growth, prosperity, and true survival. Our roads, the improvement of our great city and the addition of our newest market city. For the next 7 days and 7 nights we will celebrate the lives of our fallen northmen and prepare for the new year. A New Age!"

What's Happening?

There are celebrations being held in WINTERFELL to start the 14 day event for the Northmen. IN the Kingswood where a ring of trees and stones are being planned they will bid farewell to the fallen. there will be a feast held to honor the Manderlys for their efforts in freeing Manal along with their efforts allowing the Umber forces to weaken. Manal requested there to not be a dance during this faest.

The games at Winterfell are games of melee, wrestling, and a game involving a stick and a ball.

A second feast is held to honor Princess Cassana Stark and her safe return along with the capture of the Little King, his name no longer used. This feast will include song and dance.

The Cassana Games will be a series of different archery competitions.

Note: There will be a separate post about the market celebrations. These celebrations will move from Winterfell to Torrhen's Square, the new market city of the North's Western lands. (MARKET TO BE NAMED)

The Games take some inspo from historical viking games; Foot racing, swimming in the cold pools of water and the few open hot springs, tug-of-war, wrestling, and something that seems to be a very violent version of field hockey “knattleikr”

People can get hurt or die in the games as Northmen play rough, they’re not always as rough as they can be after things like war for the men are sick of death and dying. Women take part in games with other women, men and women do not wrestle each other, no field hockey, and no tug-of-war. No exceptions. These are hard games with giant Northmen and it’s set in stone the men will not play with the women and can become a point of irritation when women try to join and “soften” sport.

Children often take part in play with wooden swords, spears, and shields. Once again, young girls are often playing with dolls or decorating shields though it’s not uncommon for northern girls to have their own play weapons.

There are of course board games, very popular in the north for when the night chill sets in people will gather around fires playing these games.

Weight lifting: Carrying big ass rocks, or stacks of big ass rocks.

Drinking Games: Very common in the north.

Getting drunk and composing poetry

Arm wrestling while drunk

Verbal sparring while drinking.

Skin Throwing: Bear skin rolled into a ball and it is often played indoors, rugby is the best modern example.

#region plot ;; a new age