Chapter 18: Father & Son
Brandon sat on his horse nervously as it trotted down the path. He was on his way to Riverrun to finally wed Catelyn Tully; when he had first met the girl he could not say he was truly interested in her, but the time they had spent together had done much in warming his heart. Though it did little to alleviate the guilt he felt for Barbrey Dustin, his lover —though he had given his word he would marry her. 'Something that is impossible now,' he thought to himself.
He felt lucky that Barbrey understood, as children of the Lords they knew that what they wanted in life could often not be achieved and you must simply make do with your lot in life. Catelyn was a sweet woman and would make a fine wife and mother, even if she was not the wife that Brandon would choose. 'I could've been family with Daemon had things not gone so badly,' he thought to himself. He did not believe that Daemon was a traitor and he knew his sister and Lysa didn't either; he'd have to offer his sympathies when he saw Lysa at Riverrun.
"Are you well son?" Rickard Stark asked as he rode next to him. As his father, it was only right he attended the wedding along with the rest of their family —apart from Brandon's mother as she was quite sickly and couldn't travel far.
"I am fine Father... I'm just in thought that's all," he replied.
"It's natural to be nervous Brandon, but it will pass, soon you will be wed and being with Catelyn will be as natural as breathing air," Rickard said trying to alleviate some of his nervousness.
"I know father, I am in thought about different matters," he admitted.
Rickard being the shrewd man that he was knew immediately he meant Daemon. He had seen how close his children had gotten to the southern Lord and knew they must've taken his betrayal difficultly "I know he was your friend Brandon but you would do well to forget about him, as a traitor to the realm you will only drag yourself down by associating with him," he said sternly.
Brandon looked up to his father with a scowl "He is no traitor! These are all malicious falsehoods," he replied.
"Regardless of whether that is true or not you will not convince the King, in any case, I am glad, he was much too close with your sister, much more than appropriate," Rickard commented.
Brandon just turned and looked toward the road. He couldn't dispute his father's words, he was right, they'd never convince the King Daemon was innocent, and he was a lot closer to Lyanna than what would be seen as appropriate. Though that was because Brandon knew Lyanna was in love with Daemon, while he may be able to hide his expressions Lyanna could not. He'd seen her looking at him with such love and devotion; Brandon wasn't sure what to do at first but eventually decided to let it go. He knew Daemon and he knew Lyanna, he could trust them both to do the right thing.
"I don't believe I need to remind you of the importance of this alliance Brandon?" Rickard said as he looked over to his son who still had a sour expression on his face.
"I'm not sure father, perhaps if you explain it another dozen times I'll finally understand," he said mockingly.
"Joke all you wish boy, but you must recognise the importance of this alliance for the North," Rickard said sternly.
"I know that the Riverland gets the benefit of having high-calibre aura users to call for in times of conflict, but I'm not sure if I understand what the North stands to benefit," Brandon said with gritted teeth.
"We get food at a vastly discounted price, we can finally go into next winter with a surplus of food," Rickard said bluntly.
"Winter always hits us the hardest as you know, it stops us from growing our population beyond a certain point, but after this alliance, we might finally enjoy some growth," he finished. Brandon sighed and nodded, he knew his father was an ambitious man who wanted to bring the North into a golden age but he didn't see how that could happen —even with their extended lives.
The next few days they rode at a leisurely pace —mostly at Brandon's request— despite acting confident he found himself getting cold feet. He longed to go back north and into the arms of the woman he loved. He was brought out of his thoughts when close by to the trident they saw a rider approaching them "Who is that?" Brandon asked, his father narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not sure, but be ready, it could be an ambush," Rickard said as he placed his hand on the pommel of his sword.
Both father and son relaxed as the rider got closer and they recognised him. Broad body with greying red locks and scaly black armour it was the strongest man in the Riverlands —Brynden Tully, The Black Fish.
"Lord Brynden! Well met, is there a reason you've come to meet us on the road? We are less than half a day away from Riverrun," Rickard asked as he spurred his horse forward to meet him with Brandon following close behind. They both frowned as they saw the grim expression on his face.
"Lord Stark, in truth I was not riding this road to meet you but heading towards Maidenpool, but since I am here I might as well give you the grave news," Brynden said in a gruff voice.
"Lyanna and Lysa were both spirited away by Rhaegar Targaryen and two of his Kingsguard, they were taken on the road back to Riverrun a few days ago." With every word that left Brynden's mouth, Brandon became more and more enraged, his aura threatened to explode out of him and turn his mount into a paste on the ground.
Brandon was no longer listening and had spurred his horse onwards in the direction of Kings Landing. Brandon was doing all he good to keep his aura in check but the sheer anger and hatred he was feeling right now still leaked out of him —even his personal horse felt nervous underneath him. His father rode after him in a panic knowing how hot-headed his eldest son was —and Brynden followed right behind him.
"Brandon!!!" His father called out as he spurred his horse onwards, but Brandon as an avid rider had one of the best bred and trained horses in the north —his father simply couldn't keep up with him. Rickard's panic began to set in as he saw Brandon's horse get further and further away with no way to stop it "Lord Brynden please send word to Riverrun of what has happened, and send a letter to Jon Arryn to keep Ned in the Vale, it'll be the safest place for him," Rickard requested as he slowed his horse down watching Brandon disappear into the distance.
"I'll have a man I trust to deliver the message, I'll be going to the site of the fight to see if I can pick up a trail," Brynden replied, Rickard looked over and nodded gratefully, he knew nothing could end well right now and while he too was struggling to contain the rage he felt towards the Targaryen Prince he was a lot more shrewd than his hot-headed eldest son. Despite considering himself a shrewd man and knowing the likely outcome of going after Brandon, there was no way that he would leave his son to the machinations of the damn Mad King.
"How could the Prince be so stupid as to kidnap the daughters of Great Lords!" Rickard spat out as his fists tightened around his reins.
"Arrogance My Lord, those damn Targaryens believe they could walk into a man's house and fuck his wife and we'd simply bow and thank him for the honour," Brynden said with a disgusted look on his face.
"I don't need to tell you what will happen if Brandon does what it looks like he's about to do?" Brynden asks rhetorically.
Rickard shook his head "I just hope he doesn't make it before I can catch up with him, if this is the last time I see you then live well my Lord, dark days are upon us," Rickard said before kicking into his horse and spurring him forward after his son. Though in his heart he knew it was all in vain, their fate had been decided as soon as Brandon lost his temper.
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"RHAEGAR!!!"
Like thunder Brandon's voice carried through Kings Landing as he rode through its streets. His aura was no longer contained pushing itself out of his body and weighing down on those around him, even those who couldn't see aura could undoubtedly feel the weight of it as the Stark Heir rode past them; The Gold Cloaks didn't dare even approach Brandon as they felt the pure malice coming from him, this was especially true of the officers within the Gold Cloaks as they could use aura and so they saw the sheer power that Brandon wielded. Nevertheless the officers and Manly Stokeworth —The Commander of the City Watch— rallied at the gates of the Red Keep to ascertain why this powerful aura user was riding towards their King.
While there were over a dozen officers and Manly himself they were not aware of the caliber of aura user that approached them. Even Barristan Selmy himself stated had Brandon been a 3rd or 4th son he would've trained him to become a Kingsguard; Brandon was also enraged which had quite the effect on how others perceived his aura. Needless to say, the men were nervous and it became even worse when they lay eyes on Brandon who turned a corner on his Horse jumping off it as he approached the gate.
"Open the gate now!" He boomed out, his sword was already unsheathed and he hadn't stopped in his stride towards the Gold Cloaks.
"State your business and sheath your weapon or we will be forced to-"
Brandon was already standing in front of Manly Stokeworth barely a foot from him. His height of 6,4 feet and his body of thick muscles looked imposing to the much smaller commander. "I won't ask again..." he growled out. All the men present started to consider whether they should stand aside and let Brandon in, but they quickly decided against it; Scary as Brandon was at that moment he didn't compare to the King, and the King would have all manner of punishment waiting for them if they didn't do their jobs.
"I-I r-repeat ser, sheath your weapon and state your business," Manly Stokeworth said as he and his men released their auras.
Brandon with a scowl on his face drew his hand back aura instantly exploded out of it growing to humungous proportions, but quickly shrunk down before it was just a second layer of skin over Brandon's arm. Before the men could even move or try to attack Brandon whipped his hand around slapping the Commander of the City Watch with the back of his hand; the blow sent Manly straight through the barracks that sat next to the entrance to the Red Keep and out the back.
The officers started to panic and rushed towards Brandon who unleashed a large amount of aura before stepping on the ground and cracking the earth beneath him. The officers stumbled but managed to regain their footing, though not in time to defend against Brandon's ruthless attacks. However, he still had the thought of mind to only knock them out and not kill them, as they weren't involved in his quarrel.
The last officer tried to swing at Brandon with his aura-infused sword, but Brandon merely leaned out of the way and raised his leg before booting the Gold Cloak straight through the gate to the Red Keep.
"RHAEGAR!!!" Brandon shouted as he walked into the Red Keep courtyard, he infused his aura with all the malice and anger he felt which kept most of the guards at bay. Those who could counteract his aura were still met with his fist as he made his way into the Keep; Brandon made his way towards the throne room shouting Rhaegar's name and commanding him to come out and return his sister and Lysa Tully, but his commands were ignored.
Brandon burst into the Throne room with his sword out and his aura unrestrained. The nobles and ladies of the court all looked positively shocked as they looked at him, but none were more shocked than the King himself who sat on the Iron Throne surrounded by his Kingsguard. Jaime Lannister, Lewyn Martell, Barristan Selmy and Gerold Hightower. All of them released their auras and unsheathed their weapons the moment they felt Brandon's malicious aura.
"GIVE ME BACK MY SISTER!!!" Brandon howled as he approached the Iron Throne, not caring at all that he was committing treason simply by brandishing a sword in the King's presence.
"BOY!!! STOP THIS MADNESS!!!" Rickard shouted out as he came in a moment after Brandon. He had struggled to keep up with his son so Brandon had an hour lead on him, luckily for Rickard he took his time making his way through the Red Keep.
"TREASON!!!" The King shouted as his aura exploded out of him and he stood up from the throne.
Rickard rushed towards his son grabbing him roughly by the shoulders and forcing him down to his knees. "Are you mad boy, you are going to get us both killed!!!" Rickard shouted at his son which seemed to sober the boy up again, though his anger was still present and he scanned the room for Rhaegar.
"Your Grace I apologise for the manner in which my son approached, but if you could hear my explanation I'm sure you'll understand," Rickard said humbly, though he did so through gritted teeth.
The King breathed heavily as he looked at the eldest stark son with pure anger. He started to step down the Iron Throne, each step melted the metal of the throne slightly as his aura burned hot. "You better have a good explanation Stark or I will kill your son where he stands!" The King shouted as he stepped down from his thrown and grabbed Jaime's sword from his hand.
"We recently got word that Prince Rhaegar has spirited away my daughter Lyanna and Lysa Tully with the help of Arthur Dayne and Oswell Whent," Rickard states loudly for the whole court to hear. Shocked gasps and murmurs echoed through the Throne room as the nobles whispered to each other. This quickly got on the King's nerves and he flashed his Aura "SILENCE!!!" He shouted.
"You make a serious accusation Lord Stark, what evidence do you have to support it?" he asked mockingly with a slimy grin on his face.
"The men who accompanied both women managed to escape and get the word out to Riverrun," Rickard explained.
"So in other words you have no evidence but the words of some peasants who are not even present?" The King said as he laughed.
"Your Grace... these men aren't simply the type to-"
"I've heard enough Lord Stark, you've already failed in your attempt to sully my son's reputation, I know he wouldn't bother fucking that she-bitch of yours, your daughter probably ran away with a peasant or has been taken by bandits," the King said dismissively.
Brandon couldn't control his rage any longer at the disrespect the King was showing his family and his aura exploded out of him once more sending most of the room to the floor with its power. "Twice now you threaten your King!!! I will have you executed!!!" He shouted as he approached Brandon and Rickard.
"NO!" Rickard shouted as he released his own Aura. Things had gone to shit and right now he could only think of one solution that may give him a chance to save his son.
"We demand a trial by combat!" Rickard shouted at the King which made him hesitate in his steps. Slowly he lowered the sword that he had raised and a smile formed on his face.
"You wish for a trial by combat?" He asked.
Rickard nodded resolutely and so did Brandon after Rickard shoved his elbow into him. "Then you shall have a trial by combat, and we shall have it right here right now!!!" Aerys shouted.
"I NAME MYSELF YOUR EXECUTIONER!" King Aerys said as his Aura grew out of his body before turning a sickly green that then caught fire. The nobles began to screen before they all started to run out of the room —guards included. The only people who stayed were the Kingsguard and the Starks.
The stone floor caught fire and to each side of the Starks was a large wall of green wildfire. In front of them was Aerys who was now floating in the air with his wildfire aura surrounding him.
"In the name of King Aerys II Targaryen, I sentence you to die,"
(AN: So next chapter is gonna be a big fight and the thing that kicks the war into spin. Anyone curious at their abilities? Anyway hope you liked the chapter.)
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