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Chapter 31

The hunt begins

Edmure POV

Riverrun, it was a long time since I saw it last. It still stood firm, so at least something was good, I guess. Once we entered through the gates, the first to welcome me was my wife and children. After telling Arianne to look after the girls, I went to see my father.

Before the doors of my father's chambers stood Maester Vyman. He looked troubled, concerned even. But I didn't care about him for now. Passing through him and opening the door, I saw my father lying on the bed.

He had sickly pale skin. His hair was all white. Maester Vyman had taken good care for my father to look at least presentable. He was cleaned and dressed. My father's beard was shaven, and his hair was cut short.

"Father. Is me, Edmure," I call out to him.

"Edmure?" He asks uncertainly.

"Yes, father. How are you feeling?" I ask him.

"I can feel my bones creak, sometimes it is hard to breathe, but it's still bearable," He answers. "What going on, Edmure? Vyman said something about a gathering of bannerman but didn't elaborate more."

"War, father, was is coming," I answer him. "Arianne didn't speak with you, did she?"

"No, it's my fault," He replies. "I never truly accepted her, and she didn't like it, I gather. Who are we at war with?"

"Lannisters," I answer.

"So, you're were right," My father responds grimly.

"If only I weren't," I respond with a bitter smile.

After my words, the silence overcame us. I took an apple from the stand next to the bed and skinned it. After cutting it into pieces, I gave it to my father. He only took a few pieces. I could see how skinny he became. Eating for him is probably painful. He won't say it, but I could see it.

"Your granddaughters came with me. Do you want to see them?" I ask.

"Granddaughters?" He asks me back.

"Yes, Sansa and Arya, Cat's children," I answer.

"Sansa and Arya, yes I remember. Sansa, she looks like Cat, doesn't she?" He asks, trying to remember.

"Yes, I call for them," I answer and prepare to leave.

"Edmure," He calls me out before I turn around.

"Yes, father," I reply.

"You prepared for this war, haven't you?" He asks.

"Yes, we will win," I answer without any hesitation.

"I know. You never let me down. I am proud of you. Proud that I can leave everything to you, and I know you will be a better lord than I ever was."

…

After talking with my father, I left for my chambers. It has been a long time since I have been here. Nothing much seemed to have changed. Looking at familiar servants and guards walking in the castle put my mind at ease.

"You have missed Elia's fifth name day," Arianne tells me.

"I know," I answer and undress, getting ready to go to sleep. "Do you have any news?"

"There are some bandits in the west wreaking havoc," Arianne answers, "From the description, it seems to be the Mountain. I don't understand what Lannisters wants for him to do here alone."

"To pave the path for their main forces," I reply. "And probably set a trap for me."

"A trap?" She asks.

"I have to go and deal with him. Otherwise, he will burn villages and farms on his way," I answer. "How many are there of them?"

"From the reports, it seems no more than a hundred," She informs me.

"There are more," I reply. "Tywin wants me to go with a hundred men too, to get rid of the Mountain. When we reach him, we will be ambushed by at least three times of men than it is reported."

"So you won't go, right?" She asks, concerned.

"No, I have to. Otherwise, people will start to think that I am weak or worse scared," I explain to her.

"Who cares what people think," Arianne exclaims. "You been gone for so long, send other lords to deal with the Mountain."

"I care what people are thinking," I respond. "I may be their lord, but in the end, it is me who serves them. I must ensure that my people are protected, fed, and have a roof over their heads. It is my responsibility that comes with the power of being a lord. And I made a promise to your father and uncle to give the head of Mountain to them. It's a good chance now to do so."

"Even if you know that it is a trap?" She asks in anger.

"Even then," I respond. "Don't worry. I will make preparations to win."

"There are no winners in the war. It's something you said once," She tells me. "I am worried that our children won't even know their father. Axel and Geralt are still young, and if you were to disappear from their lives, they wouldn't even remember that you were for them in the first place."

"I know," I answer bitterly. I knew all too well of this, but I must do what I must do.

"Go take a bath. Don't think I will let you sleep on the bed while smelling like a horse," She tells me. "First thing in the morning, you are going to a barber. Your hair is a mess, and don't even think of keeping that beard."

"What, you don't like it?" I ask while pretending to be offended.

"You look like a tomato," She replies with a laugh.

"And I thought you liked tomatoes," I respond with a smile, but my smile disappears a moment later. "I think you should take children and go to Dorne."

"Don't be ridiculous. We aren't going anywhere," Arianne responds without any hesitation. "With war coming, you need my help."

"It will be dangerous for us all. Arya overheard Varys talking about sending Faceless or Sorrowful men to assassinate me," I explain to her.

"Then we are safest here in this castle. If you can't protect us, I don't believe anyone else will be able," She tells me.

"Fine, then I want you to check everyone's background, from servants to the knights that are stationed here," I tell her. "Let go of everyone that we don't need. Surround children and yourself with trustworthy and capable men."

"I will. Now take a bath, and let's go to bed," She orders me, and I follow.

…

The next day, I met with some lords and Patrek to discuss what measures we should take against the Lannisters. Lord Clement Piper was with his two sons. Ser Karyl Vance came on the behest of his father. Tristan Ryger, Lord Tytos Blackwood, and his eldest son Brynden and Lord Jonos Bracken were gathered in this room too. You could say they are the most powerful western houses of Riverlands. Other lesser lords had come too, but they didn't have much to say most of the time.

"Ser Karyl, what do we know of the Mountain and his men?" I ask.

"They are pillaging villages south of Mummer's Ford, and it's only a matter of time before they come to the Ford," Ser Karyl reports.

"The Mummer's Ford is secured with a hundred guards and walls. He will be stopped there if he tries to take it," Lord Bracken informs us.

"What of Sherrer? There lives hundreds of smallfolk who will protect them?" Lord Blackwood asks.

"It just a hundred men, give me an order, and I raise him from the ground, Lord Tully," Lord Bracken tells me.

"Don't be foolish. It is a trap. The Lannisters are just waiting for someone to take the bait," Patrek explains.

"I say you just craven. Where is your father? Shouldn't he too be here with his men?" Lord Bracken inquires.

"Lord Jason Mallister won't be joining us. He is to stay in Seagard and watch for Ironborn activities," I inform everyone.

"Ironborn? You think they are going to do something?" Lord Clement asks, concerned.

"It won't be a war with only us and Lannisters. The King has ordered ser Jaime to return to King's Landing; otherwise, his head will fly," I explain. "Tywin won't stand for this, especially now that his golden son has finally returned home. So Baratheons will get involved sooner or later, Starks will follow the King to war. I don't know what Vale will do, but it seems they are no friends of ours. With chaos raging in Westeros, the Ironborn will try to take revenge on their failed rebellion. And Lord Jason is someone who killed Balon Greyjon's son. You know he won't let it go that easily."

"What of other lords?" Lord Bracken asks.

"Most will join us at Riverrun, but I will leave a force at Harrenhal," I inform him.

"Enough of the war. What are we going to do about the Mountain?" Lord Blackwood asks.

"I will take the bait," I tell them. "I will take a hundred men and meet him, ser Karyl, ser Marq, and ser Patrek will take a hundred and fifty men each and flank him. When I meet him with a hundred men, the rest of his men will go from hiding to me. Then they will fall to you sers." I explain the plan.

"Still, the Mountain is lord too. We need the King's permission to attack him," Lord Bracken tells us.

"Yes, but now that I think about it, nobody saw the Mountain's face. How can we be sure it is him," I reply with a smile. "The more I think, the more I am confident that it is just common bandits."

"Of course, how could a lord do something like pillaging? It is probably just any brigands," Lord Blackwood agrees with me. "We don't need the King's permission to take care of some brigands now, do we?"

"No, we don't," Patrek agrees with a laugh.

Afterward, I let everyone go and told only those joining me on the hunt to stay. I made sure nobody was listening to us, and then I looked at them. They were young. I knew them personally and even fought with them. I knew I could trust them.

"Why you wanted for us to stay, my lord?" Asks ser Karyl.

"There a change of the plan," I tell them and take out five glass bottles from a chest nearby. "I am going to Sherrer. There I will meet with the Mountain and lose. I will run towards Mummer's Ford for safety. The Mountain will chase me. There is where you will come and attack them."

"If you think it is a better plan than sure," Patrek agrees without any question.

"But why hide these plans from other lords?" Ser Karyl asks.

"You suspect spies among us?" Ser Marq asks.

"Everyone has a price, and not everyone loves me," I reply, not willing to continue the discussion.

"What in those bottles?" Patrek asks, taking one of the bottles in his hands.

"Wildfire:" I answer. "A souvenir I took from King's Landing."

Patrek quickly and carefully put it down back to the table. Others backed down from the table, with their faces covered in a cold sweat. They looked at me, waiting for an explanation, but didn't dare to voice their concerns.

"I can't defeat the Mountain," I tell them. "And I don't think any of you can do it either. The Mountain is a beast with a sword. He is covered in armor that, even with my Valyrian sword, would be hard to get a decent cut. So I decided that the best chance would be to burn him. No armor will protect him when Wildfire covers him."

I ordered them to prepare with an agreed-upon plan as we will leave with the first light tomorrow. Men need to be armed, horses readied, and so on. I needed to cut my hair and shave my beard before Arianne became angry with me. The hunt has begun, and I will see thru it till the end.