Chapter 123 – Tests and Tests
Artos sat at the long table's head, not as Hand addressing dumb lords and Council Members, but as a father and an Uncle. Robb sat to his right, Bjorn to his left, and Ser Loras Tyrell a little further down, hands folded, shoulders tense, guilt written plainly across his face.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
It was Loras who broke the silence first.
"My lord," he said, voice low, "It's about time I apologise for the situation. It's due to me that situation led to this I am… sorry. About all of this. If I had not pressed as I did in the Tourney. I did kind off mock him while making passes, I would not have put you and your House at odds with the Lannisters."
Artos looked at him, as if asking 'Really Boy'.
"That is nonsense, boy. Don't ever utter that bullshit." he said.
Loras blinked. "My lord?"
Artos leaned back slightly in his chair. "You are my ward. My responsibility. Whatever storm your presence has drawn, it is mine to weather, not yours. You are as my family as Robb and Bjorn. It doesn't matter if you poke the fucker. What he did was unjustified and a provocation of his own."
Loras looked down, chastened.
"I did not mean to—"
"You meant to win," Artos said. " And You did. Gregor chose his own path. Do not confuse a monster's choice with your own. I didn't teach you to be so weak hearted boy. I taught you to be fierce and you did just that."
Robb allowed himself a small breath at that.
Bjorn's mouth twitched, though he quickly hid it behind the stiffness of his jaw. Both boys knew that Artos rarely bothered comforting anyone; when he did, it had weight.
Loras looked up again, eyes still troubled.
"Yet it has put you in a bad spot, my lord. With Lord Tywin. With the whole of West most probably."
Artos shrugged. "The West was always difficult with us . I assure you You did not cause that."
Artos shook his head" We already have problem with Lord Tywin thanks to me And Ned. That's the probably only reason he even escalated that instead of covering it up.You merely gave me the excuse to address it with some teeth."
Artos said shocking them
"Father ? " "Uncle Ned" Robb and Bjorn asked at the same time. Even Loras is confused.
Artos grinned "Aye, Ned. Back then in Rebellion, I and Ned when we come to seige the King's Landing. But we already found City ravaged by Lions. I was angry back then seeing the rape and plunder so I did order my men to kill Lannister men and bring order into City. I myself with Ned had gone to Throne . I wanted to kill the Mad King myself but as you know Kingslayer took that pleasure from me. So I did threaten him but in the end left him alive. But that seemed to pinch Old Lion and he did ask for my head but Ned threatened him infront of the King." Artos told the lore enlightening them.
The lore really confused them as image of Ned is more as a Good and Quiet Wolf Lord rather than someone threatening a Lord infront of the King. He didn't seem that type to them.
Bjorn spoke challenging Artos "Really Father, That's more like you rather than the Uncle Ned. He is too good for that "
Artos laughed at that " He is a Stark,boy. A bit Soft yes but Stark nonetheless. He leaded the Rebellion you know. He may seem good and different but step on the tail of Quiet Wolf he will become wild. You just don't know the Young him. He controlled mine's younger version that is more wild than you can imagine. So he has fang so don't ever Underestimate him . It's just rest of us were too wild so he and Benji seem mild Children. Even Benji he may seem the calmest of us all. But piss him off he can kill you before you even think. That's why I pushed him for becoming Lord of Moat Calin. He is calm but got enough fangs that even I would hesitate to poke."
That earned him a look from Robb, Bjorn and Loras.
Artos just got more Serious "Well enough of the Lore now. Time to get more serious."
Artos turned his gaze to Bjorn.
"And you," he said.
Bjorn straightened a little seeing Artos being serious. "Yes, Father?"
Artos' tone hardened. "You had a simple task really , It was infront of you yet, You did not complete it. You failed, you couldn't even keep the reputation that I build, you just had to carry. Simple enough but you are so ....." Artos let it like this as some words are better unsaid.
Silence.
Robb looked at his brother from the corner of his eye. Loras looked suddenly uncomfortable. Bjorn's expression did not change, but the shoulders stiffened.
"I… failed," Bjorn said.
"Yes," Artos replied. "You did. That makes you weak. Us weak."
Loras flinched. Robb's jaw clenched.
Bjorn's hand tightened on the table, though he did not look away.
Artos stepped closer to Bjorn. "You couldn't even finish the work that was handed to you on a golden plate." He scoffed at Bjorn—his own blood
Artos held his stare a moment longer, then let out a breath.
"But," he said. "You accept it. It's better than being unaware fool."
Bjorn frowned.
Robb realized, then, what Artos was doing.
Loras realized a heartbeat later. Bjorn's eyes flickered with something like reluctant understanding.
"So you truly think I am weak, Father" Bjorn said quietly.
Artos tilted his head. "You failed a task. That is weakness in that moment. It does not mean you will fail the next. But you did something not many would dare. You face off the monster named Mountain for your Brother in all but blood. For that I can't fault you but I am proud of you son. But you failed to kill an enemy that Attacked your brother if same attack had happened on Ned I would carve his head and put that onto the legs of the Old Lion."
Bjorn took that in with a slow breath. Even Loras took a pause they once again remind themselves of the man Artos really is .... Ruthless to the point.
Artos' gaze shifted to Robb.
"Now ignoring my son failure," he said, "I need letters Robb."
Robb straightened a bit scared. "Letters, To Father?"
"Aye and along To three lords," Artos said. "The ones you deem suitable to sit in judgment."
Robb stared at him for a second. "You want me to choose?"
"Yes," Artos said. "You are heir to Winterfell. You are the one who should take those decisions. And I want to know if you can judge from where you stand. I want to know if taught you enough"
Bjorn glanced between them, interested despite himself. Loras looked surprised; it was not often that they were given open tests in politics rather than battle drills.
Robb took a breath. "May I… ask for your suggestions?"
Artos shook his head. "No. This is yours. You have seen enough of the realm, heard enough names. Decide which three lords will give us the best chance at making a political statement, or something close to it."
Robb's mind turned quickly. "We need men who are not beholden to the Lannisters, but not enemies either. Men who respect the North but are not our sworn banners. And men the king will listen to."
Artos' eyes softened, just a fraction. "Go on."
Robb spoke slowly, thinking it out in front of them.
Artos rose from his seat having no patience left to deal with those brats
"Send the letters by tonight," he said. "You three will remain here and think it through. The Mountain will die regardless, but how he dies matters. This way, your positions are stronger when it happens."
Loras lifted his head. "He will die?"
Artos looked at him, voice quiet but absolute.
"The Mountain will die," he said. "Trial or no trial. This path is simply longer, and more politically correct. It places us where we ought to be—on the side of law, not just vengeance. It's just a bit trouble some...."
Artos smiles and said " and enjoyable"
Loras swallowed hard, then nodded. "Then I am at your service, my lord."
"You already are, Knight of the Wolf as they call you." Artos said smiling
He gave Robb one last look, sharp and measuring.
"Do not disappoint me , i think I had enough" he said.
Then he left them to their thoughts, all three heirs sitting beneath the weight of the choices that lay ahead—one heir to Winterfell, one to its vengeance, and one to his own guilt.
Artos smiles leaving them all in thier conundrum. He wasn't really honest to them but he needed to push some buttons there to let them grow even more afterall they need to surpass the current generation.
A few days later, Artos stood in a very different room, facing a very different man.
After setting a test for the young brats, he now had one of his own.
Tywin Lannister received him in a solar that smelled faintly of parchment and old leather.
The Lord of Casterly Rock stood near the window, a goblet in hand, pale gold catching the light on his rings. He turned when Artos entered, face as unreadable as ever.
"Lord Hand," Tywin said. "Is this about the current… arrangement?"
Artos closed the door behind him and let it latch.
"No Old Lion," he said more casually than Tywin would have liked. "It is not."
That, more than the words themselves, caught Tywin's attention. His brows moved the slightest degree.
"Then what is it? I hope you aren't here wasting my Time." he asked giving the same treatment
Artos' mouth curved into a smile that was so obviously wrong, so deliberately insincere, that it could only be mockery.
"I wished to speak about your inheritance," Artos said. "And your will."
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