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Harrenhal, the largest castle in whole Westeros, was finally visible on the horizon. From afar it looked like a mountain, with five twisted peaks. They were in fact great towers built by Harren the Black's rivermen slaves before the Conquest, but Balerion's flames melted them with the Ironborn King inside.
Nowadays this enormous keep on the shore of the Gods Eye, with its large domains composed of dozens of villages and almost thirty towns, was in possession of House Whent. They were quite a new house, that rose to prominence after their predecessors, the Lothstones, were overthrown by King Maekar.
'Who would have thought that this upstarts would be able to run this monstrosity? Not only that, but they seem to thrive!' her father, Lord Sizzo Sunglass exclaimed, with an envious look on his pale face. 'Even Lord Lannister himself isn't able to organize a tourney on such a large scale without a year-long preparations. I know Lord Whent has a lot of peasants and fields but it is hardly believable that he's able to pay for all that...'
'Oh, Father!' her brother, ser Guncer Sunglass, started 'If The Seven favour them to such an extent, we should be happy and celebrate their good fortune.' Her brother was very religious from the young age and he once dreamt of becoming a septon, but their father never allowed this to happen. She didn't feel the same amount of godly passion as her brother but she loved Guncer and she was loved by him nonethless.
They rode with their entourage in a relative silence for the rest of this day before Lord Sizzo decided to camp for a night between the road and the lake's shore. 'Just one day more and we'll be there. We are almost halfway through the road alongside eastern shore.' Guncer remarked.
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The Sun was slowly rising when they were awaken by the sudden sound of hundreds of horses riding on the road with a high speed. Their men-at-arms drew their swords and bows. Their servants hid behind their carts. Everyone knew that they would be unable to repeal attack of brigands, if they were riding down the road, but no one expected some outlaws to attack so close to a tourney with hundreds of knights.
A few moments later an entourage of great size approached them. They were very relieved yet surprised when they saw great column of knights. 'The Crownlanders!' Lord Sizzo exclaimed. They saw three hundred men with banners of many loyal lords. Black warhammers of recently upjumped Rykkers of Duskendale, white and purple knights of Farrings, red chevronels of Rosbys and mamy, mamy others. The Sunglasses were surprised, because most Crownlanders willing to participate in the Tourney traveled over a week ahead of them, accompanying the Prince of Dragonstone. They planned to do the same, but Lord Sizzo had another change of heart about their agreement with 'This Grasping Heathen' as Guncer called him.
On the horizon, above even larger host of archers clad in black, wind swept an enormously big banner of red, three-headed dragon on a field as black as night. 'His Grace is comming?!' She almost shouted this half statement, half question. 'The Spider probably found out some interesting facts about the Whents, the Prince and maybe even Her Grace the Queen.' Lord Sizzo whispered. 'With a little bit of luck you might become a stepmother to a queen.'
Chapter 2: The Man out of Ice
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Lord Rickard Stark of Winterfell was not a man of pleasantries. He wanted respect and obedience, not some frivolous love in his not so young age. 'Four children might not be enough' his maester, Walys Flowers, said 'Many of your bannermen are unhappy with the marriages I suggested and there are quite a few lesser houses like Hightowers and Royces that might require a stronger bond before we make our final move'. He didn't like the idea of getting someone in Lyarra's place but Walys was right like he always was.
Walys at first proposed Cersei Lannister as a candidate but Rickard refused out of hand. He didn't want his younger children to usurp Lyarra's ones. 'It has to be someone respectable enough, but not powerful. Preferably southron. She will pave the way for Catelyn Tully. We don't have many allies around Prince Rhaegar's seat. Maybe we need someone from the Narrow Sea?' Rickard said.
Lord Stark fought about this conversation from half a year ago whe his long awaited guests came to his tent. Lord Sizzo Sunglass of Sweetport Sound, a rather short man of middle age, came to the tent with his to children. The younger one, a son and heir named Guncer, looked quite annoyed and embarassed. Rickard already knew about his religiosity from Walys and his network of friends from the Citadel. Behind them stood the older child who went know a few steps closer.
Cuniperta Sunglass, maiden daughter of Lord Sizzo and Barquena Shett, looked far lovelier than what Lord Rickard expected. She was taller than her relatives, her pale skin contrasted with relatively short, curly raven black hair styled according to the newest Qohorik fashion, quite liked by the Mad King. Her face seemed a little bit too short but her lovely little nose and huge, steel grey eyes compansated it.
'I'm grateful that the gods old and new allowed us to finally meet in this happy hour!' Lord Stark said 'Lord Sizzo, Ser Guncer, Lady Cuniperta! I hope that your travel was save and uneventful.'
'We are also glad to meet you, my Lord.' Lord Sunglass said 'If we come to the most beneficial final agreement, hopefully proclaiming the engagement during this most prestigious occasion, I will consider myself the most blessed father in the Seven Kingdoms.'
'I hope that indeed we will be blessed.' Rickard exclaimed 'I invite you to this very tent tonight to eat my bread and my salt and to feast with my family. I am sure they will be as welcoming of this union as me.' Maybe they will be convinced, somehow...
'We will happily attend!' Lord Sizzo said cheerfully.
Rickard was quite worried. This marriage negotiations, his unruly children and now the King himself came. Maybe the move will have to be made far earlier.
Chapter 3: The Daughter of Seagulls and Stars
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She was happy to have this wide, pine table between her and her husband-to-be. Cuniperta knew that such a marriage prospect would be envied by the whole realm, but she never felt so estranged before. Lord Rickard Stark with his cold, long face looked like if they were negotiating a price for a basket of herrings. His eldest son, Brandon, looked at her with temptation and lust, at least when his father turned the other way, as if she was some common whore. Rickard's only daughter, Lyanna, two years her junior, had a hostile look on her face while the second son, Eddard, tried to avoid her gase.
'Lady Cuniperta!' Lord Stark adressed her 'I've heard that you are very talented in painting icons of your Seven.'
'Who would have thought that there is an interest in this kind of art in the North.' Her brother said before she responded.
A little bit annoyed, she put her hand on his and said
'I am grateful that my Lord finds my art interesting.'
She paused for a few seconds and continued
'I will happily send you some of them as a gift when we will return to Sweetport Sound.'
Some servants entered the tent, bringing new courses and taking used plates. She looked at her father. Lord Sizzo seemed relaxed, but she knew that there was a storm of nerves hiding not far beneath his lordly mask.
'Actually...' Lord Stark started, while chewing a huge chunk of pork 'I intend to bring you North with me just after this Tourney ends.'
'Oh... ' Cuniperta reacted 'What a pleasant surprise, my Lord.'
Not pleasant at all. They won't even let her bid farewell to her mother before binding her forever to this bunch of fools.
She stopped herself from saying some insult, but she wasn't the only one displeased with this ordeal. She-wolf showed her venomous teeth.
'Your precious paintings will certainly enhance the design of my late mother's chambers, left behind not even two years ago.' Lyanna Stark said with anger in her eyes. 'Soon no one will remember there was another Lady Stark... '
'Lyanna!' her father shouted 'She will be your stepmother. You will adress her with all due respect!'
The tent fell silent. Her father and brother exchanged annoyed looks. Eddard Stark looked worried, his older brother uncomfortable. Rickard was murderously cold, while his daughter almost erupted.
A few moments passed before Lyanna Stark raised herself from her seat and spoke to Cuniperta.
'I ask your forgiveness, my dear mother.' the last word curried a new, cold feeling. Probably hatred. 'I raise my cup to our dear Lady Cuniperta the Whore, the Darling of Sweetport Cunt!' Lord Stark's daughter said before throwing her cup at her and missing because of her anger.
Cuniperta felt frozen to the core. She couldn't process what happened next. Lord Stark shouted in mad anger. Lyanna stormed out of the tent. Eddard run behind her to catch her. Guncer tried to drew his sword, but Brandon was faster. It could have been a bloody evening, but Lord Rickard wrenched his son's sword and her father pushed Guncer to his seat. She felt so numb. A few tears started to make their way out of her eyes.
'My Lady...' Lord Rickard started while she was slowly raising from her seat. She ignored him. Her feet started to move without her thinking. Someone tried to grab her hand, but she was already running. Out of this tent. Out of this land. Out of this life.
Walker Liguer (Guest) on Chapter 3 Tue 16 Jan 2024 07:07PM UTC
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Tangy_Citrus on Chapter 3 Mon 17 Mar 2025 07:37AM UTC
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