Runestone

[Deleted]

In the night, a lone rider came through the gates on a bleeding, frothing horse. One of the guardsmen recognized the rider, and ran for the maester. When Maester Cerwyn came out, bundled in his sleeping robe, he saw Aranya crouched over a bundle in the saddle. Only her will kept the black courser standing. She dismounted, and the stallion trembled. A groom took the horse into the stables. Aranya and the maester spoke in hushed tones, and horror and awe dawned on the maester's face.

He ushered Aranya into the castle. Lady Martina, Jon Royce's mother, kept vigil with her through the long, terrible night.

The next day, several Royce knights rode to the Redfort, and fetched Brynden back to his mother.

[Deleted]

Word spreads along the Vale. Lord Tommen and Lord Redfort arrive, as do Ser Harry Belmore and Ser Casset Corbray. Aranya's cousin Alla Hunter also comes with Lord Robar's younger brother, Ser Edric Hunter.

Aranya cannot bring herself to leave, so the master-at-arms of Runestone rides out in search of the Hand. Lord Tommen, Ser Casset Corbray, Ser Edric Hunter and Ser Harry ride with him, as do twenty knights.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Rhodri is found traveling slowly, with a young family in tow -- a mother with her own child, who is nursing the strange child, while the mother's husband helps drive the small cart that carries them. Rhodri rides upon Selwyn's horse with Yohn seated behind him. Beaumarin trails a short way lost in his own thoughts.

[Deleted]

Ser Fenric, Runestone's master-at-arms, saluted the Hand as he rode up, and the lordlings with him bowed their heads. "Lady Aranya grew anxious, my lord Hand," Ser Fenric said. He saw the boy behind Rhodri, and bowed his head, understanding that this was Lord Rhodri's firstborn.

"Allow us to escort you to Runestone, my lord," Lord Tommen said, looking grave. His eyes met Rhodri's. "If I may say so - I know what it is to lose a brother. I am sorry, my lord."

The twenty knights flanked the cart, while the lordlings and Ser Fenric escorted the Hand and his son.

[Deleted]

The Baelishes arrive at Runestone.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"This is the second I've lost," Rhodri says, his voice hoarse, continuing on to Runestone. The baby wails, quickly joined in chorus by the other.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Marris Bealish, Selwyn's mother, sits ashen faced in the corner of the Great Hall, while Lord Baelish, her brother, is flush red with drink.

[Deleted]

Lord Tommen glances at the babies and then at the singer, but does not ask. He rides in tactful silence.

Ser Harry Belmore speaks, "My lord, is it true that you battled against warlocks, who would have otherwise destroyed the valley and mountains? Then Lord Selwyn died a great hero, ser."

They rode through the gates of Runestone. Maester Cerwyn greeted them, and said he would go fetch Aranya and Lady Martina.

"How many were there?" Lord Tommen helped the nursing mother and her babies off the cart. "Do you want us to send men back, my lord?"

[sethgreyjoy]

Strangely enough, a small group of three men make their way to Runestone. Their leader is an albino dressed in dark brown leather. One is injured, cradling his injured arm in a sling. The proceed to the gates slowly.

[Deleted]

Lady Martina was speaking to Lady Marris Baelish in a soft, kindly voice when the maester told her the Hand had arrived. Aranya, who had sat still by Selwyn's corpse - washed and dressed - bolted to her feet. Brynden was in her arms. She walked out to see Rhodri.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"It is true we battled," Rhodri says. "Warlocks or demented men, I could not say the difference. Do not call my brother Lord, he always hated the word. He was Selwyn. He died with honor to save Aranya, that is what we know, and that is enough."

"There is no need for swords, not now."

[sethgreyjoy]

Fryse dismounted roughly, and straightened his brown cloak. He looked to the group at the gate and called out to them.

"Got an injured man here!" His voice seemed hoarser than usual.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Yohn slips from his father and walks to the old godswood of Runestone, and finds its intact weirwood.

[Deleted]

The others stepped back respectfully as Aranya, Lady Martina and the two Baelishes came up. Aranya's face was ravaged with grief, as if she'd cried through the night. But it now the muscles were tight, as if she was determined to hold it in. She walked to Rhodri, hesitated, and glanced at Selwyn's brown stallion. "I'm sorry," she said, her throat constricted. "About your horse." She placed a hand on his arm steadily.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

The Runestone Septon hustles across to the albino to look on at the injured man.