Episode one: A Cold Whisper {Game of Thrones} (COMPLETED)

Elena Caron

"We have more grave news."

Lord Bryce, Maester Yandel, Ser Jared, Lord Wren, Lord Petyr and Lady Elena sat in silence at the long table in the great hall. Lord Bryce sat at the head of the table, clasping his hands and looking nervously up at his small council.

"You mean you have more grave news," spat his eldest son, poison in his eyes but a more worried tone in his voice.

"What is it father?" spoke his youngest son Petyr.

Lord Bryce humphed and took a deep, sharp breath.
"A raven came. Robert Baratheon is dead." he began. There was a stillness in the air in the great hall.
"And," he continued, everybody held their breath, "Ned Stark has been executed."
Everybody lowered their gaze, in complete shock.

"That's not all, is it father?" Wren hissed, fuming.

"Now, now Wren, it's not fair to be harsh on your father in these grave times." the Maester said to Elena's raging older brother.

Elena looked at her father, his eyes were full of sorrow and their usual bright hazel colour was a dull, thick and dark brown.

"I'm..." he hesitated, "I'm going away... for some time."
Everybody's eyes widened at this.

"Where to my Lord?" Ser Jared piped in.
"No! Father please don't leave!" Petyr cried out.
"I'm sorry... Stannis Baratheon has called to arms all of the late King Robert's remaining bannermen. I must fight by his side when he claims the iron throne as his own."
"But isn't King Joffrey the heir to the throne? After Robert's passing." Maester Yandel spoke up.
"King Joffrey is an inbred bastard, a child of incest between Jaime and Cersei Lannister, along with the other two, Myrella and Tommen, he has no right to the throne." Bryce replied, with a-matter-of-fact tone, "I'm so sorry." he said to his three children, "but this is bigger than any of us... I'm afraid that this could be the beginning of yet another war... Joffrey beheaded Ned Stark when he tried deny him the throne. The North won't forget that... not to mention Renly Baratheon has now decided he deserves to be the new King of Westeros." Bryce uttered.
"Seven hells." Jared breathed.
Bryce turned to him.

"Gather up the soldiers. We are leaving at dawn."
"You're going to leave Nightsong unprotected?! Elena was attacked! We, us, our family were threatened!" Wren threw the scroll Elena had uncovered from the raven the previous night onto the long table.
"Of course not!" came his fathers booming voice, "I will take the Caron army with us to Stannis Baratheon, Ser Jared," Bryce now turned to his master of arms, "you will stay, along with twenty other strong and loyal men. You will stay at Nightsong to protect my children. And my heir," he looked Wren in the eye.
"My lord," Ser Jared once again gave a short nod, and exited the great hall.

Bryce put his head in his hand. A sob came from Elena's right.
"Please don't leave us father." Petyr whispered. Maester Yandel put his arm around the young boy and squeezed. Wren stood up angrily, letting his chair slide backwards causing a loud scraping sound.
"That's right," he said, "I'm your heir. Thanks for the reminder - just in-case something crazy happens like I dunno, you, y'know, die at war."
Petyr snivelled.
Wren stalked over to Petyr and lifted him up in his arms. He swiftly strode out of the great hall, followed closely by Maester Yandel who gave Lord Bryce a last, sad smile, leaving Elena alone with her father.

Lord Bryce smiled sweetly at his daughter, and frowned when she did not return it.
"My darling girl, you've been put through so much these last few weeks..."
Elena remained silent and gave him a reproachful stare.
"Elena...?"
"Father," she whimpered, "how did mother die...?"
Lord Bryce straightened his posture, "I told Maester Yandel to tell you - she caught the Great Spring Sickness. I presumed you already knew."
"He told me," she whispered, "father," she continued, "how did my mother die."
There was a silence in the near empty great hall. The glowing sun was placed in-front of a pale blue sky. It disappeared behind a cloud and the great hall was engulfed in the shadows.
Bryce cleared his throat.
"Wren... that blasted boy. He shouted it last time... in the great hall," he growled.
"You lied to us - to me." she cried.
"I couldn't let Petyr find out... he's too young -"
"How did mother die!?" Elena shrieked.
"She was poisoned!"

Another horribly, absolute silence.
Elena howled, tears streaming down her plump face from her watery brown eyes like a still river that fell into a rushing and glistening waterfall.
"She wasn't just your mother," Lord Bryce whispered, "she was my wife. My love."