Treating with a King

Catleyn moved quietly behind the two soldiers of the Stormlands. All around her she could hear the cheering and jeering of men as they gathered around to watch two men fight. At one point in time, she thought tourneys such as these were like real wars, she had found them exciting to watch as two men fought.

Now, after having experienced a real war, seen the atrocities it brought and looked upon the changes it had caused in her son, she knew that this was nothing more than a pale imitation.

As the two guards before her parted the men in front, she looked at them all and wondered as to how men older than her son, could be so young and naïve. The two men behind her, hand picked by her son were loyal men from the north and had served in Winterfell as guards. They had fought beside Robb in the Battle of the Whispering Woods and at the Battle of the Camps.

Both younger than many of the Baratheon soldiers around her, and yet they looked and acted far older. Their hands resting on their blades as they warily studied those around them, stepping closer to the Lady Catelyn Stark as they did to ensure her safety from any possible attack.

Catleyn highly doubted that Renly would attack her, nor did she imagine that he would do anything nefarious. Oh, he insulted her, the fact that he knew she was coming south and had organised a tourney on the very day she was set to arrive was an insult. The fact that he, despite no doubt having already been informed of her arrival, and kept the tourney going was an insult. The fact that even now, as she was stood across from him, that he never once acknowledged her presence was an insult.

An insult to her and her son and a remainder of their rightful places.

One thing she did note as she looked around the various sigils behind Renly was that it comprised only of houses from the Stormlands. She wasn't overly surprised, Renly was a popular man and beloved by his people. But she found it curious that only houses from the Stormlands were gathered here and that there were no houses from the Reach.

It was curious because they were currently stationed in the Reach at Bitterbridge.

'Perhaps, the reports on Renly's alliance with the Reach is not true after all.' She thought, trying to understand what this would mean.

On the one hand, it meant that Renly's force if it turned out to be unwilling to accept Robb's position of King in the North and Trident, then at least her son would be capable of dealing with a much smaller army. On the other hand, it raised the question of where the Reach's loyalty lied.

Are they remaining neutral or are they allying with others?

Catleyn didn't know and as she thought upon it, she asked herself what to do after the meeting here. Should she return to her son at Riverrun, or should she march west to Highgarden and find out if the Tyrell's were still open to an alliance?

As much as she had argued to stay by her sons side, Catelyn could understand why she was asked to come. Renly was a King and so it would be an insult to him to send anyone else but the highest of noblemen to meet with him. Robb couldn't go as he had marched south to Pinkmaiden to bring the rebellious House Piper to heel before marching on to Oxcross to destroy Ser Stafford Lannisters host.

Her brother, Edmure was overseeing the defence of the southern flank at the Fords. Lord Jason Mallister was leading a campaign to reclaim the lands of the Riverlands. And Lord Roose Bolton was a man not to be trusted in the words of her own son.

That left only her that he could trust to meet with Renly and it not be deemed an insult. Though it seemed while her son despite his inexperience on politics, at least had the decency try and avoid insulting Renly, the man in question did not share the same decency.

It all came to an end when the large knight parried the smaller knights blade to one side and knocked him to the ground with a bash of his shield. There the knight pointed his blade at the one of the ground who looked at it before raising his arms in surrender.

Behind them, Renly clapped his hands. "Well-fought. Approach." The knight did, marching forward before dropping to one knee. "Right, remove your helmet."

'He' did so and there was mutterings and murmuring from the men of the Stormlands, each of them looking at the woman to be revealed under the helm. She was not a pretty woman, with coarse features covered in freckles, swollen lips and crooked teeth. But she was strong and skilled, there was no denying that.

"You are all your father promised and more, my lady." Renly murmured a smile on his face. "Brienne of Tarth, you may ask anything of me you desire. If it is within my power, it is yours." He declared boldly.

Brienne once again dropped to her knees. "Your grace, I ask the honour of a place in your Kingsguard. I will be one of your Seven, pledge my life to yours and keep you safe from all harm." Again there was mutterings from the men around them and Catelyn watched on. Shocking though it may have been to see a woman under the helm, it was not a sight she was unused to any more. There were many warrior women amongst her sons army, many from Bear Island.

One of her sons best warriors and most trusted guards was Dacey Mormont.

"Done! Rise, Brienne of the Kingsguard!"

And as Renly clapped, the men around him did as well, though begrudgingly.

With this done, Catelyn indicated to Renly with her head and the Baratheon soldier stepped forwards. "Your grace, I have the honour to bring you, Lady Catleyn Stark. Sent as an envoy by her son, Robb, Lord of Winterfell." The man declared, Catleyn stepping forwards into the middle of the men, staring up at Renly on his makeshift throne. With her head held high and her back straight she ignored the looks and whispering of those around her.

"Lord of Winterfell and Winter, High Chief of the First Men and King in the North and Trident." She reiterated, staring up at Renly daring him to refute her words.

Renly just smiled, as he always did. "Lady Catelyn, I'm pleased to see you."

"You are most kind, your grace." Catelyn bowed her head.

"We have heard tales of your sons exploits. You and Ned should be proud of the son you have raised." Catelyn ignored the empty words and flatteries, all meant to win her over. "I am sorry, for your loss. I swear to you, my lady that when I march upon Kings Landing that I shall avenge his death."

"I thank you, your grace. I am pleased to see that my husband was so beloved." Her words were true, Robert and Ned had fought side by side in the war, a union and brotherhood between the North and Stormlands. It had been something that had been passed down into the common soldiers.

Yet while Robert's brash and abrasive personality had made many lords respect and fear him, they did not love him. Ned on the other hand, with his humbleness and sense of duty had made him well-liked by those that served and fought by his side.

"I have come here for one purpose, your grace." Catelyn declared loudly. "My son, as you have no doubt heard, has been proclaimed King in the North and Trident, a decision made by his bannermen. A decision he has accepted. However, he does not wish there to be war between you and him. He still remembers his fathers stories of how he and Robert were brothers, he hoped that the bond between House Baratheon and Stark was still strong despite recent events. That both you and he, could reach an understanding."

"And what understanding would that be?" Renly asked, both ignoring the mutterings of the men around them.

"An alliance, between two Kings. My son will aid you in your efforts to march south and claim the Iron Throne and to bring the Lannisters to justice. In return, he asks that you recognise the independence of the North and Trident as its own independent kingdom under his rule."

"Two Kings and two kingdoms." Renly murmured quietly, rubbing his jaw in thought as he considered her terms. "He would ask that I sacrifice more than half my realm to him?"

Catleyn frowned, having recognised that this may be a possible problem. "The North, as you may have heard is hard and cruel. The people that live there are not wealthy and shaped by the world around them. Despite having the largest of the Seven Kingdoms, we do not have the wealth of many other kingdoms, like say, the Reach."

Renly nodded his head, he having understood that, but it was not the North he was bothered about. Despite not officially being one of the Seven Kingdoms, the Riverlands was a very rich place in both agricultural and trade. It was second in terms of agricultural wealth behind the Reach, which meant that the North would have a steady supply of food.

"There is one problem with your request, my lady." Renly spoke and by the way her lips thinned, he knew that Catelyn was aware of what he was talking about. "The Riverlands."

"The Riverlands proclaimed my son their King, not you." She snapped. "My son, defeated Jamie Lannister and liberated Riverrun, he commits his soldiers now to free the rest of the Riverlands while keeping Tywin Lannister at bay. All you do is camp here and have tourneys. My son, is fighting a war for a just cause, that is something the both the men of the North and Riverlands recognised."

Renly was far from insulted, a far cry from the soldiers under his command who shouted in outraged. He instead just chuckled, clapping his hands.

"You have a sharp tongue, my lady." He chuckled. "Forgive me, I meant no insult. But as much as a I respect your son, I cannot just let him walk off with more than half the realm without concessions. I am aware that your son is unmarried, yes?"

"He is."

"Excellent, then may I propose a marriage. A joining of our two realms and houses. A child of his joined in marriage with a child of mine."