Duty or Desire // Jon Snow // Robb Stark

32. Deception... Brilliant

'Our scouts have found that Tywin Lannister moves north.'

'we need to get him on broken ground so we can get around him.'

'No we need to stop him so we can stop Jamie Lannister at the siege of river runn do that and the river Lords will join us!' Umber said

'To do that we need to cross the river the only crossing is at the twins.' robb remarked

'Lord Frey controls that bridge.' Odie told them

'So what should I be doing? move against Jamie? Or lord Tywin?' Umber questioned, Robb looked to Odie she was well in knowledge and a skilled fighter but the both of them had never needed to plan an attack of this size before, the youngest ones in the room were in charge. Everyone looked to them.

'Pardon me my lords but we captured a Lannister scout!' a man said running into the tent. Robb looked over the man, he stood nervously before them. robb hatched a brilliant plan, he stepped forward staring down the Lannister scout.

'Let him go.' robb instructed 'tell lord Tywin Lannister that winter is coming for him. 20,000 northerners are marching south to find out if he really does shit gold.' With that the scout ran off.

'20,000? Where the fuck-' Umber began.

'Deception...' odie mused kissing Robbs cheek. 'Brilliant.'

+++++++++

'You have seen better days my Lord.'

'Another visit?' ned questioned varys.

'Sansa came to court this morning to plead for your life.' Varys informed him.

'I don't need her begging for me, did you laugh with the others?' Ned asked

'You do me wrong my Lord your blood is the last thing I want.'

'What do you want?'

'When I was still a boy before they cut my balls off with a hot knife I traveled with a group of actors through the free cities they taught me that each man has a role to play the same is true at court. I am the master of whispers. I am a good actor my Lord.'

'Can you free me from this pit?' ned spat.

'I could but will I? No. As I said I'm no hero.' Varys reminded him.

'What do you want? no riddles no stories tell me what you want?' Ned begged

'Please do you know that your son is marching south with an army of Northman?' He said kneeling before him 'fighting for his father's freedom'

'Robb, he's just a boy.' Ned muttered.

'Boys have been conquerors before but the man giving Cersei the keys is the Kingdom... the Brothers band together with Stannis. He has the best claim to the throne he's a battle commander and he is-'

'Renly will stand against his brothers claim' Ned corrected.

'Sansa pleaded so sweetly for your life it would be a shame to throw it away. Cersei is no fool she knows a Wolf is useful to her more alive, than a dead one.'

'Do you want me to serve the woman who killed my king? who butchered my men? who crippled my son?' ned questioned incredulously.

'I want you to serve the realm.' he shouted 'tell the queen you will confess your vile treason and tell your son to lay down his sword and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir that he is. Cersei knows you as a man of honor if you give her the peace she needs and promise to carry her secret to the grave I believe she will allow you to take the black and allow you to live out your days there with your bastard son.' Varys informed him.

'You think my life is some precious thing to me? That I would trade my honor for a few more years... Of what? You grew up with actors you learn the craft and you learned well.' Ned told him 'but I grew up with soldiers. I learned how to die a long time ago.'

'Pity,' varys said 'such a pity. what of your daughter's life, my Lord? is that a precious thing to you?'