Chapter 94 - Negotiations with Free Folk (I)
"Betrayal is a painful thing, it always comes from the people you least expect." Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.
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"Hoster Tully wanted his blood on the Iron Throne to get Riverrun out of its predicament, so he married off his daughters to Lord Stark and Lord Arryn, but his plan failed when Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark refused to sit on the Iron Throne. The letter that reached Lord Rickard came from the hand of Lisa Tully. Although Catelyn was innocent in that respect, since she didn't know about the conspiracy," Aenar added in a calm tone, his voice terribly cold and murderous.
Eddard felt his chest tighten at the name of Hoster Tully and Lisa Tully. He wanted to laugh at the tragic situation, but no laughter came from his lips, only a deep bitterness in his heart. He had married the daughter of the man who had used the lives of his father and brother as pawns in a larger conspiracy.
After twelve years of marriage Eddard had obviously learned to love Catelyn, but he still felt as if he had been betrayed and was filled with rage.
Robb opened his mouth and widened his eyes, he wanted to say something, but found himself unable to utter any words. He discovered that almost all of his relatives had either died because of conspiracies or were the conspirators themselves. He wondered why a Throne was so important...
"Uncle, I know you must be full of rage right now, but put that rage aside for a moment and when I begin my reconquest, Hoster Tully's head is yours." Aenar spoke with a calm tone, he too was angry, but he had to control himself, he was no mere mortal. His fury could have devastating consequences.
Eddard regained his composure and nodded. However, he didn't know how he would look at his wife again. Although Catelyn was not to blame or aware of her father's conspiracy, he still felt extreme discomfort at the thought of marrying the daughter of the man who had killed his father and brother.
"What do you want to do, Your Grace?" Eddard looked at his nephew with a seemingly calm gaze, he didn't doubt Aenar's words. Although lies could be told, true anger and hatred could not be forged. If such a thing could be done by Aenar, then Eddard had to regret that he had raised his nephew wrong.
"Summon all vassals to Winterfell, all of whom must swear allegiance to me, bend the knee and accept my claim." When Aenar said this, he was looking directly at Lord Medger of House Cerwyn.
Medger swallowed, he wasn't as stupid as the other Lords of the North, but faced with Aenar and that frightening look, the man preferred to kneel.