A False Alliance

[Brienne of Tarth]

Brienne had travelled leagues up the the King’s Road to get to where the Young Wolf resided, Riverrun. She was permitted a few men by King Renly to escort her, mostly to make the whole situation seem more formal, and to add extra defence in case things don’t go quite according to plan. Brienne was to have an audience with Lord Stark, to discuss plans to make an alliance between the Wolf and the Stag. Though, it was only a mere distraction from Brienne’s true purpose in the hold. She was to bring the Kingslayer to King Renly, alive, and that was the only thing she was to do. Once the Kingslayer was retrieved, they would have to make haste back to camp in the Stormlands. Though it felt wrong to deceive Robb Stark, Brienne knew it was the best way to infiltrate Riverrun safely. The difficult part was how they were to escape without any sort of bloodshed.

As Brienne’s party drew closer to their destination, she prayed to the Seven that the plan will go smoothly with no or, more likely, minor complications. They carried Renly’s stag and a rainbow flag for his Kingsguard. They had sent a raven ahead of time to let Lord Stark know of their coming. How this meeting will go was a different story. For all she knew, the boy will betray their trust and capture them as prisoners of war. At least she would find out where the Kingslayer resided. Then again, the Starks have always been honorable men and true to their word. Knowing this made Brienne feel even worse for offering a false alliance. She hoped the Young Wolf will understand once Renly claimed his throne.

Approaching the gates, Brienne was stopped by two guards. They examined their belongings before admitting them to pass. Many of the residents inside the safety of Riverrun’s walls stared in awe at her. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was loyal to King Renly or because she was a woman in a suit of armor. Either way it made her extremely uncomfortable. Years of stares and gawking, yet she was still not used to it.


Robb Stark

[Robb Stark]

Robb was discussing strategy with his advisors when a knock sounded on the door before it opened. The delegation from Lord Renly was in view of the castle. Robb had not been overly surprised when he had received a raven from the younger Baratheon lord and knew now that he would have a decision to make. In what they where calling the war of five kings, he knew he had two enemies. The Lannister, having killed his father and held his sisters, and the Greyjoys, whom where attacking his home. He could not save his family on his own. By the laws of their land, Robb knew that the throne was rightfully Stannis's. And this was leading him more to siding with Stannis in the alliance. But he would give this Envoy of Renly's a chance to sway his decision.

He left the room they where in and moved to the main hall of Riverrun, where Robb took a seat with Grey Wind sitting at his side. He waited there for the Lady Brienne to be brought to him.

Robb watched as the Lady Brienne entered the room and waited for things to settle before he spoke, "Lady Brienne. Your raven mentioned you had a message from Lord Renly? Tell me, my lady. Why should I bow to King Renly when our laws state the line of succession to be the older brother. Bran could not be a Lord before me so why should Renly be King before Stannis?" He knew his father had supported Stannis claim over Renly's to began with and was not so willing to go against something his father had died for.

[Brienne of Tarth]

Brienne the main hall of Riverrun, along with the rest of her party. There she saw the Lord Robb Stark upon a seat and his direwolf at his side. The beast's presence made her anxious within the hall, she could not stop staring at it. Brienne quickly snapped out of the trance when Lord Robb spoke. He asked why he should "bow" to King Renly when law states Stannis to be next in line. The question was one that Brienne had trouble answering. It was true law stated Stannis to be king after Robert, but Stannis's cause had little support. Brienne straightened and spoke loud and clear, "King Renly is not asking for you to bend the knee, not yet. He only wishes to make an alliance to capture King's Landing from the Lannisters. Once the lions have been dethroned, it can be decided to whom the Iron Throne shall go to. Believe it or not, Lord Stannis is loved little in his claim, but King Renly has more support and more men. His grace is even kind enough to grant the North its independence and crown you King of the North once he takes the Iron throne." Giving Lord Stark the North should be more than enough to convince him.

It would be stupid not to take the deal. King Renly had the Tyrells, Tyrell bannermen, and most of the Baratheon bannermen. Near a hundred thousand swords, spears, and pikes, including the house of Stannis's wife. With the power of King Renly's southern host and Robb Stark's Northern, it will be more than enough to take King's Landing. House Stark was even getting the North. Now that Brienne thought of it, this plan would be much better than just capturing the Kingslayer. It would avoid more conflict between the kings, but Brienne had to do what her king asked of her, no question.

Brienne still worried though. She was afraid she made the deal sound too sweet to believe in. She looked back and forth from Lord Stark to his direwolf, anxious. She could not mess this up, so she kept a straight and calm face to hide how nervous she really was. Brienne wasn't a very good liar, but this lie might have been convincing enough. She could feel a cold sweet on her lower back. She repeated the plan over and over in her head as the Young Wolf contemplated her statement.