The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories! Chapter 44
🕑 Added 2024-06-16 18:45:52 +0000 UTCChapter 44: Freedom?
[Fourteen Days Later — Riverrun]
{Catelyn Stark}
Spring had arrived.
Riverrun had always been a fertile place, filled with beautiful greenery and rich farmlands. Of all the lands, Riverrun received the most beautiful and abundant spring.
"But this is not normal."
Flowers bloomed and petals flew.
Spring was still days away, and these sudden events only made me worried.
This was not normal.
Riverrun never had seasons out of their time, but now we had spring early.
This was not a good sign.
"Maybe the tales are true," Uncle Brandon muttered, staring at the river shores. "Maybe it is just a sorcerer."
This was bad.
Sorcerers were horrible to deal with, and the crown sending a sorcerer could mean no good for us.
"What if we behead the sorcerer?"
"Then we suffer the wrath of the crown and the gods combined."
I was biting my lip, aware that the situation was bad and certain that the arrival of the sorcerer was bad news.
"If it were an army, we would have the upper hand. We are familiar with our lands, know the movement of water, and are certainly capable of defending ourselves."
But this was different.
"With a sorcerer, the only weapon we can wield is our tongue."
Sorcerers did not come alone. They were cunning and tricky. They always had people with them, guarding their safety.
But whispers said that this one was alone.
Certainly foolish or well prepared.
But we would only know once we talked with him.
Something we would be doing soon.
"He is here," Uncle Brynden said, crushing the little flower that bloomed under his feet. "And he might be trickier than we expected."
That he was. After all, what we felt was not an illusion but actual flowers blooming all around us —at an odd time of year.
…
…
Riverrun.
Great scenery, amazing smell of nature, and certainly the most comfortable place to live that I have seen so far.
There were no hills, no rough terrain, or harsh weather.
A lovely place to settle down and live a comfortable life, perfect for people who love nature and farming.
But maybe not the greatest for handling an army or facing enemies.
They did have the grand advantage of being surrounded by rivers; most armies would die out and be defeated before they could set foot on these lands. But the issue was that the rivers were their only advantage.
Once an army landed here, no one could save the people.
Geographically, this place was made to be peaceful, not for warriors.
And I did not come as a warrior either.
I came as a messenger, no, as a diplomat—an arbiter.
And what better way to let the people know of my intentions and my arrival than to make these flatlands bloom into a flowery sight?
Certainly enough to send a message.
As for how they interpret this message, that is up to them.
Thankfully, they did not take an offensive stance.
I saw no army, and I sensed none hiding either.
Well, there were some guarding the city, rightfully so, but none that prepared to face me.
Instead, there were five people.
A man with a strong build, rather aged but still capable.
Next to him was a woman, certainly beautiful but showing signs of wear. Not much older than the Queen, but she had certainly lived through different challenges.
Next to them were three armed men—soldiers, most certainly.
With each step I took, their faces became clearer.
And soon, I heard their voices too.
“Welcome to Riverrun, sorcerer of the crown.”
The aged man’s voice was deep, quite worn but deep. It was the voice of a man who had commanded massive armies.
“It is an honor to be welcomed in Riverrun.” I knew who the woman was, yet I had no clue about the gray-haired man.
“Never did I expect the queen to send a single, unarmed man to these lands.” Catelyn Stark, the widow of the late Eddard Stark, was as commanding as they said. “And never have I even heard of a sorcerer traversing such dangers without protection.”
Certainly, the sorcerers of this world had a reputation for being cowards. Most hid behind others, most never showed themselves to the world, and the rest manipulated others to do their bidding.
Maybe I was doing just that, but to everyone else, I appeared to be a man foolish enough to step into dangers knowingly.
“I appreciate that you didn't gather an army to put me on a stake the moment I stepped foot on these lands.”
This made Catelyn shake her head while the aged man answered. “You are an emissary of the Kingdom, and we know better than to raise weapons against an unarmed man.”
Honorable, respectable. But honor only leads to death.
I looked at the soldiers behind them. They tensed the moment my eyes fell on them but relaxed as the older man glanced at them.
“I believe we have much to discuss,” Catelyn kept her emotionless face. “Some matters we will agree upon, some that we won't, and most that we will have to compromise on.”
Compromise was not something I was planning on doing, but to not drag the matter, I nodded in agreement.
“That is what I am here for today.” I gave her the brightest smile, “To solve issues without shedding blood.”
I could see the veins on her temples, her nails digging into her palms.
She was furious, rightfully so. Her husband was executed on false claims, and here I spoke of preventing bloodshed.
“Please,” the old man said. “Follow us. You must be weary from the long journey. Have some food and rest, and after that, we will have the discussion.”
“That is something we can immediately agree on.”
And I meant it. I wanted a tour of the place, to delve into the luxuries of these lands, and then worry about the main issue.
I didn't ask if the prisoner was alive; I didn't even ask if he was hurt or not.
I didn't even mention Jaime Lannister’s name.
“The fields have seen ample rain this year,” the old man, who finally revealed his name to be Brynden Tully, the uncle of Catelyn, explained. “While our lands have been fertile, rain has been quite irregular for the last three years. Thankfully, this year nature is with us.”
And it certainly was. The fields appeared greener than any other; the smell of fresh soil and the clean air from the trees surrounded us.
“You will be served delicacies of Riverrun.” Catelyn said, “The people of Riverrun, and our family, have lost appetite from all the pain given to us, but we just cannot let the guest go hungry.”
She certainly had the sharpest tongue I had seen in any woman.
“So do enjoy your stay, and do not mind the others.” Even a foolish man would feel the edge of her words. “The suffering of the common man should not stop you from doing what you came here for.”
Most would feel offended or even threatened in this situation, but not me.
“Worry not, I know that very well.” I walked through the open lands and into the bustling city. “My duty does not revolve around solving issues of a poorly managed city.”
This made both Brynden and Catelyn halt their steps for a second before walking ahead without dragging the matter.
“Sorcerers are respected everywhere, Ser Darius.” Brynden explained, “Mostly because people fear the wrath and curses of sorcerers. So, I believe you will not take offense to the minor mishaps that might happen around you.”
His words held multiple meanings, but I still nodded.
This allowed me to walk through the market and the beautiful city, leading me to the inner city and then to the houses for the rich and the noble.
“You will spend the night in the guesthouse designed for the most prominent figures of the Kingdom.” Brynden explained, “You will be presented with food, entertainment, and all the necessities in your room. So, for today you may rest and we shall discuss the matters at hand early tomorrow morning.”
They were more willing to host the discussion now, if possible, right here. But they still had to show hospitality.
“I appreciate the gesture, Ser Brynden.”
“Then we will leave you to yourself, Ser Darius.” Catelyn still kept the same face, void of any expression. “May you have a peaceful sleep.”
Everything she said felt like a threat.
“That I shall, My Lady.”
And with that, I awaited the morning sun.
Aware that it would not go the way either party wished for.
…
…
[The Next Morning — Riverrun]
{Jaime Lannister}
My eyes hurt, my vision blurred, and my body burned.
I hadn't seen or felt a single ray of light in days, and my body had only just started to adapt to the darkness. Thus, the moment I walked outside, my vision was messed up, and my body felt like it was on fire.
However, after a few minutes, my senses normalized, and I heard voices.
Some were familiar, and some were not.
“The queen would not like to hear of her brother being in this condition.”
An unfamiliar voice, but I had a hunch about who it was.
“He is in far better shape than any war criminal."
That was the voice of Brynden Tully, the Blackfish.
“Criminal is a strong word.” The previous voice laughed, “But then, he did lose to your army. And the victors have the right to decide the fate of the loser.”
My vision slowly started to clear, and the faces became recognizable.
The faces of Brynden Tully and Catelyn Stark sat on one side, with another man sitting alone opposite them.
“But I believe we cannot just let go of a Lannister.” Brynden was a determined man. It was difficult to win against him when it came to politics.
And of course, Catelyn.
“After all, you know that it was his army that attacked us first, lost to us, and ended up a captive of the Starks.”
I wanted to scoff, to let them know that it wasn’t because I was weaker—it was because I didn’t expect them to play dirty.
“I do know that,” the man was certainly the sorcerer that those guards talked about. “But I also believe that releasing Ser Jaime would solve a lot of issues for both sides.”
“I see that not being the case.” Catelyn frowned. “What guarantee do we have that the Crown will not come after us once we release him?”
“Trust me, my lady,” the sorcerer laughed. “If the Crown wanted, there would already have been a massive war.”
“Not when the Queen's brother is our captive.”
“Exactly when the Queen’s brother is your captive.” The man looked directly into Catelyn’s eyes. “The Queen is smart, but her court is filled with people much smarter and more opportunistic than any others.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Cersei was blind to them, but I wasn’t.
“When a dozen men fill your ears every moment of the day, you end up making decisions that are not your own.” He sat in a commanding posture. “So, it’s not that the Queen is planning an attack. It’s that the Kingdom gains nothing by losing a chunk of its army and its potential support.”
“We do not support the Crown.”
“You do not support the Queen, My Lady.” The sorcerer had a way with words. “You do not support the king. Treasonous offenses, but I understand what you mean and feel. Yet, that does not mean you hate the Kingdom. Your family has lived and served the Kingdom, and in a kingdom—kings come and go, but the kingdom remains.”
He took a deep breath. “You would not want your family line to end here, Lady Stark and Ser Tully.”
“Are you…” Catelyn frowned. “Threatening us?”
“Of course not.” The man corrected himself immediately. “I am simply suggesting something in everyone's interest.”
“That interest led to my husband's murder.”
He nodded. “An unfortunate event, but one that allowed for your bloodline to continue. The Starks still exist, and your son will be the most powerful man in the North. But going against the Crown will destroy all that.”
“It is not possible for us to let go of Jaime Lannister.” Brynden said. “It brings us nothing.”
But the man was prepared for this.
“Trust me, it does.” He said, drawing everyone's attention. “You have something—no, someone still in King’s Landing that you would be willing to let Ser Jaime go for.”
Everyone’s eyes went wide at his next words. “Your daughters.”
And with that, swords flew to his neck—stopping inches away, ready to cleave off his head if he spoke out of turn.
“Careful... A single scratch on my daughters, and neither you nor the Lannisters will ever see the light of day again.”
Finally, the man showed an expression he had not shown before.
Anger.
“I am simply an emissary, someone who does not want either side to draw blood.” He frowned. “I am presenting you with a solution in favor of both parties, and yet you threaten me with blades to my neck.”
The temperature around us became colder, chilly. The grass beneath us withered, the vegetation faltered, and the air became difficult to breathe.
“Do not forget, I am not only an emissary but also a sorcerer. And there is a reason I am not afraid to walk here alone, into enemy territory with no one behind me.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight. The blades pointed at his neck froze and cracked, shattering without anyone even touching them.
“It is either you accept, or you don't, and I leave with or without Ser Jaime.” His voice was cold. “But if you ever try to swing at me, Riverrun will see a drought worse than the deserts of Essos.”
“You…” Catelyn clenched her fists, but Brynden decided to speak instead.
“We want no bloodshed, Ser Darius.” He was concerned about the people and Riverrun.
Even I felt threatened. Never had I seen a sorcerer of such magical strength, capable of disrupting nature itself.
“If I wish to, I could ruin your lands, Ser Tully.” The sorcerer lowered the intensity of his magic. “But I am not here to wage war. I am here to be diplomatic, to be civilized. And to hopefully leave with Ser Jaime.”
Angering a sorcerer meant angering the god that the sorcerer prayed to. And for the sorcerer to be this strong, his god was no weak being.
“What is the guarantee that Sansa and Arya will be safe and brought to us?” Catelyn finally asked, and the man answered.
“That is my promise, a promise on the magic of this world that I wield.” He spoke. “I will bring them to you, unharmed. And if I fail to do so, I will forever lose the magic of this world that I wield. You must know what it means for a sorcerer to make such a promise.”
“A swear on magic itself…” Brynden was just as taken aback as I was. “No sorcerer makes such a promise…”
“I did.” The man said. “And you know well enough what that means.”
Catelyn gulped. “My daughters... When will they be back?”
The sorcerer thought for a while before he answered. “It takes two weeks to travel from here to King’s Landing and an equal amount for the return trip. So, given the extra time needed to handle matters at court, I can promise you that you will have your daughters with you by the end of the month next to monsoon.”
Catelyn clenched her fists, eyes ablaze as she looked at me.
“I ought to kill you here, Kingslayer...” she spat. “But I value my daughters more than your worthless life. You have already lost your honor with the murder of your king, you lost your morals with the murder of my husband, and you lost your fame by losing to my son.”
Her words stung, but I could not fight back.
“You are already dead as a man, and it doesn't mean much even if you walk away now. You are no more a man.”
Her words hurt, but I had no response.
“You will leave these lands, never to step foot here again.” She bit her lips in fury. “Begone. Never appear again, because if you do—you will not be able to keep your head.”
This... meant that the sorcerer had succeeded.
And I...
I was free.
Unaware that dying in the dungeon would have been better than experiencing the future.
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[[A/N: This world will be over at chapter 60 and no, it will not be simply the villain winning. This world’s ending will be a little different. We will catch pace after next 2 chapters.]]
