A gift

Two weeks before Tywin gets the letter. Harrenhal becomes relatively quiet after a group of men killed the people using the castle. Now, the people who were supposed to be tortured were collecting the bodies in one place to be burned and some heads to be put on spikes along the road leading to the castle.

Man1: "Fcking Lannisters! Dressing up as bandits!."

Man2: "If not for these people, we would still be tortured."

The two of them were looking at the people that were patrolling the castle. The people that were saved were grateful for what they did but they also fear them. Not every day that you would see people using hooded clothes to cover their faces but to not see them even if the sun is high up. They would understand if they are using another set of cloth to cover them but the eyes would still be visible. Whatever they are using, they can cover their head entirely and can see through it. Some say that they are using black magic to cover their faces because one person saw that their black faces emit black smoke. Even if that is true, they don't want to mess with ten people that have killed five hundred men in the dark of the night without as much as a sound. The mountain, who was just checking the castle, was only able to last a few seconds before his head separated from his body.

Man1: "What do you think did they do to the body of the mountain?"

Man2: "Who cares! No one will cry for his death."

The two continue with what they are doing because, after that, they can either go back to their homes or stay in Harrenhal for the meantime.

A week after Tywin gets his letter. Oberyn and Doran were waiting in the main palace in Dorne because someone has given them a gift that is on its way to their location. Most of the time, they would not bother in accepting gifts personally but a letter was attached to a crate that said:

"Justice for Elia Martell and her children."

The letter was brought first to them by a messenger when they receive the crate from a small boat floating towards Plank town, a port town in Sunspear.

Oberyn: "What do you think it is?"

Doran: "Besides the medicine for my gout? I have a guess."

Oberyn: "Is it about the message that you receive three weeks ago about the bandits around Harrenhal that turn out to be Tywin's men?"

Doran: "Yes and his dog, the mountain, is the one leading it. From the report, that brute's body was not found and I guess that we will know soon enough."

After a few minutes of waiting, the crate came to their palace. Oberyn opens it and sees what is inside. Then he places it near Doran so that he can see the content.

Doran: "So it's true."

Oberyn: "There is also a letter inside."

Oberyn opens it and reads the letter.

Oberyn: " 'I'm sorry that I can only give you the head of the dog for now. When Doran is completely healed, come to Harrenhal.' This person is being humble."

Doran: "No matter. He is a friend of Dorne. Tell Ellaria about it and only her. We will tell the others after we went to Harrenhal."

Oberyn nods and left Doran alone to think. A guard near him covers the box and puts it aside for now so that when Ellaria came, she will also see the present.

Doran: "Soon, Elia will be avenged completely."

Casterly Rock, present time---

(an: 6 months 2 week AA)

Tywin receive a letter saying that the hired sellswords with his three hundred men did not return from Harrenhal. Something is going on in that place. From the information before, only ten men are guarding the castle, not including the people that the mountain and his men have taken before. Most of them were just village people with no experience fighting. How could ten people defeat more than eight hundred men? But, he has other matters to do first. Somehow, Tyrion was being held captive by Catelyn Stark.

Tywin: "Call Kevan here. He should be preparing to go back to Lannisport."

The messenger that was still in the room run outside to give the message to one of his Lords.

Tywin will use this excuse to make the north submit to him but it seems that one of his children is planning on killing that drunkard for a king so the realm will be divided again. The only problem is the new people in the north. Forty-five thousand battle-hardened soldiers. He would have made a deal with Ironborn, Frey, and Boltons to divide the attention of that force.

Back to King's Landing---

Ned tried to talk to Robert after the tournament but he become busy after it. But when he did have time to talk to him about his wife taking Tyrion as a prisoner. The two of them didn't see eye to eye because Robert wants to kill a mother and child across the sea. After walking out away from the small council and leaving behind the pin for the hand. Petyr Baelish talk to him and told him that he would let him see the last person that Jon Arryn talk to.

Just like in the series. Ned got cornered and stabbed in his right calf by one of the Lannister's men while fighting Jaime Lannister.

A few moments after Robert visited Ned in his room, Raizen also came to his room to see Ned.

R: "You look awful."

Ned: "Got stabbed by a Lannister."

R: "I heard."

Ned: "Why are you here?"

R: "Arya is already on the road towards Winterfell with some of your men. I will catch up to them after my visit here."

Ned: "I can't say I don't approve even if you disobeyed me."

R: "I already told you before. If things got problematic here, I will save them first."

Ned: "But what about Sansa?"

R: "Problematic, guarded by king's guard after they know that your wife took Tyrion as a prisoner. I could have killed them and gotten Sansa out but you will be left behind and punished. If you were given the choice, take the black."

Ned: "Thank you"

R: "Don't thank me yet. I plan to let my people in Moat Cailin protect Arya while getting back to Winterfell then get back here to take the two of you and the others. I would have to use the ship from White Harbor because I think the Freys were already in the pockets of Tywin Lannister. The guy is also gathering his army to march north for the pretense of saving Tyrion."

Ned: "Do you know where is Catelyn now?"

R: "On her way to her sister. Did you know that Lysa is crazy? Letting her son be breastfed even though he is old enough. She spoils him. Not only her, but even Petyr Baelish bring also some gifts for the boy more often than expected."

Ned: "What are you implying?"

R: "Don't trust Petyr, even Maester Pycelle. Based on the story, I think that the maester trick Aerys to open the gates for Tywin's men to sack King's Landing."

Ned: "What about Varys and Renly?"

R: "Varys is complicated and Renly will probably flee King's Landing as to not be implicated in what will happen. You already got backstabbed by the Lannister. It's only a matter of time before something more serious will happen. Until then, keep yourself and Sansa safe. After Arya came back to the north, I will get you two. It's a good thing that she already left before your confrontation with kingslayer."

Raizen left Ned to rest and follow Arya through the King's Road. At the same time, Cersei ordered her men to look for Arya but the girl is nowhere to be found. She confronted Ned about it but only told her that she sails for Braavos with her teacher to learn different swordsmanship. Cersei thinks that he was lying but Eddard Stark is not known for it.

Raizen already told Ned to lie for the safety of Arya. The only problem is crossing the Twins because of the Freys but he decided that they will not cross it. He told the north men with them to go through the Twins but he and the girl will just go through Vale. They wanted to complain but with just a stare from Raizen, they accepted. Robb mostly called for the bannerman of the Stark and currently gathering at the moment.

It will be dangerous for some because of the mountain clan but it will also be an experience for Arya. They change their outfit to leather armors and instead of cutting her hair, he just tie it in a ponytail.

(image: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/626985579351683151/ - for Raizen)

(Image: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/3448137205822667/ - for Arya but in smaller size plus the sheath for Needle)

Two weeks later, Raizen was leaning against a tree while looking at Arya when they came across Tyrion and his companion while the girl is practicing her swings.

(an: 7 months 1 week)

Tyrion: "Who do we have here? The daughter of my former captor."

R: "Keep talking Tyrion Lannister. I hope your companion can save your neck if you push it."

Raizen took out his double edge sword with some chains on the pummel which he created with titanium and tungsten. One side of the sword is silver in color but the other half was black. He also put runes in it for more durability and sharpness.

Tyrion: "A peculiar weapon."

R: "It's not just for decoration."

Raizen diagonally slashed at the tree that he was leaning on. It was not a big tree but a normal man can not hug it entirely.

Tyrion can say that he had read plenty of myths like giants, children of the forest, and even dragons. But some things will make you stun in disbelief for seeing it with your own eye. Though the only thing that he saw is a blur when the man that Arya Stark has for a companion swings to a thick tree.

Tyrion: "Bronn, did you see what he did?"

Bronn: "It was blurry but I think he tried to cut the tree. Though I also think that he missed it by an inch."

After returning the sword in its sheath, he gave a little push on the tree. The next thing that happened gave another shock to Tyrion because the tree was cut at the same angle as the man's swing. Not only that, the cut was smooth when he got close to it and touch it. Bronn also inspect the cut and could not believe what he have seen.

Tyrion: "Who are you and what's with the mask?"

R: "I'm Raizen. At the moment, I am the bodyguard and instructor of Arya Stark in swordsmanship."

Bronn: "Oh really?"

R: "What? Is the cut tree not enough for you?"

Bronn: "I heard about Valyrian swords can cut through metal. So I think that what you did is thanks to that sword."

Before Raizen could explain, a group of mountain clans came and surround them. Without a second thought, Raizen move so fast that it was hard for the people to follow his movements that it only took less than a minute to kill eighteen people while Bronn only got three.

When Bronn finishes his third kill, he looks around to see that the other mountain people were already dead and Raizen was already cleaning his sword.

Tyrion: "There are few things in this world that could impress me but to kill more than the other at the same time is near at the top."

Bronn: "How many did he kill?"

R: "Eighteen"

Bronn: *looking at Tyrion* "When you need a champion again and he is the opponent, you're on your own."

Raizen reaches out to his bag that Arya kept safe under a bush and pulls out two flasks of wine. He gave Tyrion and Bronn each to let them taste the content.

Tyrion: "What is this?"

R: "If I want you dead, I would not need poison to do it. It's called a flask. It has wine in it. Twist the top until it is open."

This is the first time that Tyrion sees a container made of steel. The best part is that it contains one of his favorite in the world besides going to brothels. Bronn copies Tyrion and opens his own flask and drinks from it. When both finish their first sip, Tyrion looks at Raizen and asks a simple question.

Tyrion: "How much for this wine?"

R: "It's was supposed to be a gift for you when you return from your journey to the wall."

Tyrion: "Well, we both know what happened next."

R: "I know that you are not the one who hired the assassin to kill Bran."

Arya, who was listening until now said something.

Arya: "What?! Did someone try to kill Brand?!"

R: "Yes, That was the reason that Tyrion was framed and why Jaime Lannister confront your father. Jaime wanted to maim your father because your mother took Tyrion as a prisoner."

Arya: "If he becomes a prisoner, why is he free now?"

R: *looks at Tyrion then to Bronn* "Trial by combat."

Tyrion: "How did you know that?"

R: "The Vale worship the seven and follow its rules. You are smart enough to request it and lucky enough that your champion won. Anyway, I know that you would want to go to your father first but now I am asking you a favor, to me and not Arya, to keep Sansa and Eddard Stark safe in King's Landing. That one flask is for compensation for what had happened to you. If they are still safe before I come to get them, you will get a barrel of it. Anything else..."

Tyrion: *gulp* "I understand, but you know. I can't oppose the king if he decided to you know..." *looks at Arya*

R: "I would know if you did something or not. Varys is not the only one with birds."

After their further discussion, they both continue in their travels with their companions and Arya asks what had happened in King's Landing.

Raizen told her that her mother wanted to talk to her father directly but was intercepted by Petyr Baelish and Varys. Her mother asks if they knew who owns the Valyrian steel dagger that was used to kill Bran. Petyr told her that it was his until Tyrion won it on a gamble which he admit but he didn't bring the dagger to Winterfell.

Tyrion plans to get it back from King's Landing before going back to Casterly Rock. But he said that along the way, her mother accused him of attempted murder and incite the people in the in where they meet to arrest him and go to King's Landing. From then, they got ambushed, went to the Erie, won the trial by combat then meet them in the forest.

Arya: "Are you sure that the imp is telling the truth?"

R: "That was the first time that I have talked to him and based on gossip, he is a smart man. I also think that Bran's fall and the assassin were a different matter. It was just a coincidence that he got an accident first before the assassin came."

Arya: "Who do you think did it?"

R: "I can't tell. There were many things that had happened. After we came to King's Landing, your father told me that they got a letter in Winterfell telling them that they should be wary of the Lannisters. When the Lannisters came, Bran had an accident. When they left, he was almost killed. Tyrion got blamed and your father got stabbed with a spear by one of the Lannister's soldiers when Jaime Lannister confronts your father."

Arya: "So it was the Lannisters all along!"

R: "Too simple for a conclusion. It will result in a war between the Starks and Lannisters. And because your father is the friend of the King, the seven kingdoms will be divided again."

Arya: "If that is the result? Who would benefit from it?"

R: "I don't have enough evidence to point fingers."

Arya: "You know who it is?"

R: "I do but I will talk about it with your father when I meet him again."

------------------------------------------------

(an: 8 months AA, 6 months series)

It took almost three weeks of walking until Raizen and Arya reached Moat Cailin. They meet with one of the people of House Reed the second week and ask them if they could buy their horse which the people accepted. From afar, Arya could see the castle that they have passed through before when going to King's Landing.

Before they depart at Winterfell, she wonders why there were so many people coming with them to King's Landing but then those people stayed at the castle in Moat Cailin to repair it. Her father said that Moat Cailin will be given to the new people that were using the land south of the wall called the "Gift".

Her father wanted even before to properly man the moat but no house wants to do it because of how expensive it is to repair and maintain. But then the new people that came from Essos, who by the way were also part one of the north before, came back and help the north with its food problem when they ask for the Gift and volunteered to fix Moat Cailin.

After just a few months, Moat Cailin looks like a proper castle even if there are still people repairing the outside of it.

When the two of them get inside the castle, one of the people comes close to them and gave a letter to Raizen to be read immediately. After reading it, he gave it to Arya because she deserves to know the contents of the letter. Arya just keeps on crying while holding the letter.

Raizen: "I know that you are in pain right now but you need to stay strong. Your father might still be alive, it says in the letter that he was still in prison. Your brother probably called his bannermen march already but my people will not move until I say so. I would send a raven and wait for the army here at Moat Cailin. You would need to go back to Winterfell to protect your brothers. Your mother will probably be with your brother Robb when they got this same message."

Arya: "What would happen to Sansa?"

R: "She will be safe. Tyrion is there."

Arya: "But he didn't keep father safe."

R: "It was out of his control. He will try to delay whatever the decision may be. If not, I will put his head on a pike in Casterly Rock with Cersei, Tywin, and Joffrey. For now, I will lend you a hundred men until you are within the walls of Winterfell."

Arya: *wiping her tears* "Let's go."

After Arya left, Raizen contacted his men and ordered them to move thirty thousand to the shore on the west side of Moat Cailin.

In two weeks' time, the men gathered by Robb came to Moat Cailin. Along the way, he meets up with Raizen who looking over a letter with the reports from his army.

Robb: "How many men did you gather?"

R: "Thirty thousand, I ordered them to sail from the Gift. I plan to use the remaining men to patrol the shores, kill bandits and add men to some castle's defenses. I ordered to have a thousand men to protect Winterfell. We can't be too sure. There might be some people that will use the chaos for their benefits."

Robb: "Where are your men? I didn't see them here at the moat."

R: "Some are already at the Twins."

Robb: "Do you have news from the south?"

R: "I do. There are three main armies. Lannisters, Stannis, and Renly's. Vale and Dorne were not moving yet. A part of the Lannister's army is marching for the Golden Tooth to try to harass the Tully. With Jaime Lannister leading the army, the Tully will lose that battle and continue towards Riverrun. Tywin is marching towards Harrenhal but he won't be able to take the castle. He already tried with small forces on multiple occasions but failed."

Robb: "Why?"

(an: 8 month 2 week AA, 6 mon 2 wks)

R: "After coming to King's Landing, your father told me about the bandits that plague the villages near Harrenhal so he ask me if I can help with solving it. The king didn't seem to even care for his country so, as the hand of the king, your father made the decision. I called some people from the moat and solve the problem. It was also a coincidence that the mountain was there with some soldiers but it seems that Tywin Lannister was already preparing to capture a valuable position. But now, he will be hard press to move to Harrenhal."

Robb: "It is similar to the reports that came to us. The other lords debated with what to do but I told them that I would talk to you first because you might have a bigger force. Have you already talked to the Freys?"

R: "Stubborn bunch. Walder Frey wants to talk to you first, probably try to marry his daughter to you."

Robb: "Aye. If my mother is here, she would talk to the Frey and force me to do just that. But when we met Arya on the road, she came with her back to Winterfell."

R: "Do you want to help the Riverlords or fight Tywin directly? If you choose the first, you only need my men to do it. From the reports that I receive, only fifteen thousand of the Lannister's forces have marched against the Riverlords."

Robb: "How would you pass the Twins if they want to talk to me first?"

R: "It was already been taken it over."

Robb: "I thought you said that your men were still at the Twins and they were waiting for me. Why didn't you wait for my command!?"

R: "My people fight for the north. It does not mean that they fight for you. If taking the Twins benefits the north then I will take it. Twenty thousand of my army is already marching towards the Golden Tooth as we speak. By the end of the week, the tooth will be manned by my people. After they defeat the Lannisters, three thousand will remain there and prevent them from advancing. The remaining will march towards Casterly Rock to take it over before they raise another army. If it succeeds. The army will take the remaining towns one by one."

Robb: "Is your army that strong to do that? For every victory, you would need to divide your army. Let's not even talk about the deaths in your army. How can they advance further if they lessen in numbers after every fight?"

R: "If they die."

Robb: "What? If they die? I am not questioning your men's quality because I heard how they fair in the wall. But this is war! Things will happen that we didn't know."

R: "A bet then."

Robb: "I'll humor you."

R: "If my men defeat every force in the west, I will get the Dreadfort"