Arrival (aegon, Cat)

[wicked]

Another day was coming to an end. The days were getting shorter, and the temperature was slowly but surely dropping. Winter was coming, this he knew. He didn't really experience the last winter though. He is still young, but with everything his parents and the measter have taught him, he was sure of it. He was just about to go get his brothers to have dinner when one of the soldiers that was supposed to be manning the wall ran up to him.

"My lord! Lord Stark! Soldiers are forming up outside the walls, and they're not ours!"

He dropped what he was holding and quickly ran to the wall. It was true, troops were gathering. He told the men to prepare to fight, and to get everyone to man the walls. He would go get his Armour and sword, and would make sure his brothers were safe. About 10 minutes later, a record time for him, he was back at the wall. It was more crowded already, and more men were climbing the walls.

"Men! Do not fire until I give the order! We will see what they want first."

The men were ready to hopefully keep the city under their command.

[griff]

Riding at the head of the men ling of Knights was a man all in red, the cloth and leathers of a Red Priest, beside him was his dearest friend. The much older and more experienced in life, Jon Connington. Behind them were a thousand exiled Knights. Men that deserved to be home in Westeros. They passed through Wintertown, with winter coming people had started to move closer to Winterfell but they kept inside closed doors when strange men arrived.

It was Jon Connington that spoke up when men ran the battlements of Winterfell, not "Young Griff." "Greetings Regent of Winterfell! I am Jon Connington...." his voice boomed in the open air as he shouted to be heard. "I ask for entrance to speak, and request my men be allowed set up tents on your land." Simple requests so far, a little conversation and somewhere for his men to sleep in the night. It was cold in the North.

[wicked]

The troops wanted to set up camp, and their commander wanted to talk. That was a new one. One Rickard had never seen. What could they possibly want? Rickard decided to let Connington and his adjudant enter.

"You and your companion may enter, and your men may set up camp in the fields, if they don't destroy anything. Don't trick me, or you will regret it."

He then ordered the men to open the gate, but to remain on guard and on their posts. Rickard wasn't sure whether it was a trap or not, so he too remained on his guard. At least they didn't attack... yet. He walked to the gates to meet the guests, and told one of the servants to prepare the dining room for them.

[catelyntully]

Catelyn was standing on the steps of Winterfel's keep watching as the gates opened and the man dressed in red appeared on the other side.
Her chest tightened, it was only recently that her brother had saved them from a siege was this another attack so soon? Or were these friends come to help them?

Her younger sons were still locked away in side- Rickard her elder son would probably wish her to be inside but she couldn't. She wouldn't leave him in this time of great need. She couldn't.
Briskly Cat walked down the steps and towards the ladder that reached the top of the wall and stood at the bottom waiting.
"Rickard," She called. "Rickard, who are these men?" Her pale face was flushed with worry.

[wicked]

He was still waiting at the gates when his mother began calling him. she was worried, about the men that were setting up around the city, no doubt. He had to find a good way to tell her.

"Mother, why are you not inside with Bran and Rickon? And I don't know who these men are, and frankly, as long as they don't have hostile intentions they are welcome."

He really wished she had stayed with his little brothers. If the men turned out to be hostile, at least she'd be safe with them, and wouldn't die for now.

"Mother, please go to Bran and Rickon, I figure they need you right now! Also, if these men prove to be friends, I think we need to provide their leaders with some rooms, if you could take care of that for me?"

Now he got back to waiting for the men.

[griff]

The man in red and Jon Connington rode in on their horses while there men moved back the area's surrounding Winter town to set up tents and see to feeding themselves. The Golden Company was well equipped, you could say that much for them. They were called the Golden Company for a reason.

Once they were inside Jon and the Red Priest slide off their horses before they approached the current Regent of Winterfell. "If King Robb Stark is in the South, does this mean I have the honour of addressing Rickard Stark?" he asked before offering his hand for a firm shake. "I am Jon Connington, once the Lord of Griffon's Roost. I fought against your father during the Rebellion, I am sorry to hear of his passing. We both fought with honour and there was no shame between us as enemies, but now I come to the Starks as a friend." Jon Connington pulled off his gloves, it was cold but he was well wrapped. The Red Priest at his side stayed quiet while Jon did the talking.

[catelyntully]

Catelyn saved her mild irritation at her son's patronization for later when they ewre in private. But for now she followed him none the less to these strangers.

One of the men addressed him self as Jon Connington a former foe of Ned. It made Catelyn uncomfortable. But she held her position at her son's side with dignity and with all the grace of a nobel Lady.
"Any one who comes under the banner of friendship to Winterfel is a welcome sight, Lord Connington." Catelyn looked to her son to make a further introduction.

[wicked]

Rickard didn't know any of his father's former enemies,but if they came as friends, they were welcome

"Lord Connington, you already know me, apparently. And do tell me why you come here as a friend even though you say our families were enemies once. Though maybe we could do so in the dining room? Before my guards spotted you, I was just about to have dinner."

By now he was really getting hungry, and since they didn't seem to be hostile, Rickard invited them to discuss whatever they wanted during dinner.

[griff]

"Thank you kindly Lady Stark, and I know I said it to your son already, but I wish to give you my sympathies on your husbands passing. It was a good man." In the south, Ned Stark was generally considered a cold and reserved man, but everyone knew he was a man of honour. Even in Essos one heard about the honour of Lord Ned Stark.

"Of course your Lordship, as you would." When Rickard Stark led the way to the great dining hall, Jon Connington and the Red Priest followed, quietly until they were seated. "We have heard in Essos the injustices your family have been made to endure since the boy King ascended his throne. Terribly tragedies." If Jon Connington was saying lines to show false sympathies, he gave no sign of it. But it had always been said of Jon Connington, he was a good man and a true one.

"I shall speak plainly enough of my reasons for coming here, with an army no less." he started it, licking his lips under his thick brown mustache and beard. "I am here to broker an alliance. I have with me a man more suited to being the King of Westeros then Joffrey or Stannis or any of them. A man that has worked fields and mended fishnets, who has known the hardships of the commonman, taught that being a King is a duty, not a birthright. What's more...he has a better claim to the Iron Throne then anyman in Westeros." With that the former Lord of Griffon's Roost went quiet for a few moments, to allow Rickard Stark and his mother to take it in. "I propose, that we aid your brother, the King in the North in his rebellion against the boy King. Help you get all the justice your family deserves and in return, when the Iron Throne is empty...place my man on it." It was not a simple thing to request. But Jon Connington believed it was the best thing for the Seven Kingdoms with all of his noble heart.

[wicked]

Rickard was surprised by the proposal, and was curious about the man he proposed to give the iron throne.

"Well, now I'm interested in this man of yours. You've no doubt you've heard the cause of this war. Robb went to war to get our father and sisters back"

Suddenly one of the scouts entered and whispered something in Rickards ears. He took a worried face. He nodded a few times, said a couple of things and finally ordered the scout to continue what he was doing.

"Sorry for the interruption. It seems that Gregor Clegane is marching an army here. And he's coming in force. According to my scouts he has around double the men we have together. I don't know when they'll arrive so we're gonna have stay ready."

This was the second time they had sent troops to take Winterfell, and Rickard hoped that somehow some familymember was close and would be able to assist them. If these numbers were true, they were gonna need it. Though the soldiers of Connington were his as well, they still had only halve the force the enemy has. They were gonna have to hastily prepare the city.

[catelyntully]

Catelyn looked warily at Jon as he spoke, his statement was bold and he seemed to have little to back it up other than his word. Even if Jon Connington was a man whose word was as a good as gold that was before the rebellion- and he was asking for a awful lot.

Cat was about to speak out when a scout came to her son's side and requested his attention, they spoke for a moment and suddenly the tension in Catelyn's chest went tighter.
Gregor Clegane was on his way back? Did that mean the battle for Kingslanding was over? Did that mean Robb was defeated? Did her eldest son lay dead on a battlefield or did his head adorn the walls of Kingslanding on a spike?
Her hand rose to her mouth and her face hardened in anguish at the thought.
"Excuse me..." She said trying her best to compose her self with eyes closed tightly and lips pressed firmly together. After a moment she looked at her son then at the men before her. "It seems we don't have much of an option but to accept your request... Lord Connington."
Did he know the the hound riding Northward? Is that why he'd come at this time?

[griff]

Jon turned to the Red Priest beside him whom gave a short nod and with that Jon turned back to the Starks. "Gregor Clegane? I spit on that man! It was Rhaegar that knighted him, his treachery is without limit. He could not know of our arrival. With your permission, I would bring our men inside your walls so that we might catch him off guard should he force open the gates." he rose from the table, as did the Red Priest. They were dressed to stay warm, but now it was the time for armour it would appear.

This would make for a good chance to show the Stark's their good intentions. Fight beside them and defeat a Lannister force. Hopefully the first of many victories. Taking down Tywin's mad dog would be a powerful symbol.

[wicked]

"Alright, get them in and place them where you see fit. Mother, will you please make sure Bran and Rickon know what's gonna happen? I know they've already gone trough this before, but it doesn't hurt to be sure."

He already wore his armor, so there was no need to leave the room to put it on. They'd have to wait now. But it wasn't the worst kind of waiting. The worst was when Clegane would arrive and besiege the town. Rickard hated the time between besieging and attacking. That was the calmth before the storm.