Ronnet Connington SI

-Chapter 72-

-1 moon later-

"Good, keep going like that and you'll be as strong as your father in no time," said Rodrik to Ronald, who smiled at the compliment from my right hand.

'He makes too many careless mistakes,' I thought critically, even though I had to admit he would have no trouble defeating enemies older than him, given that my blood was transforming him a little more each day.

'A grace I also granted to my right hand,' I thought, observing Rodrik's graceful movements despite his large build.

"Are you still sulking alone in your corner?" said a voice I would recognize among a thousand.

"I'm not sulking," I said calmly, without diverting my attention from the fight.

"You don't talk anymore, you don't laugh, you don't see women, it certainly seems like worrying behavior, at least when it comes to you," said Alynne.

I grimaced at my sister, who amused herself with the situation before finally saying:

"I'm doing just fine, you're exaggerating."

"Well, you have no right to say you're fine. We barely see you when you lock yourself in your rooms to do… what do you do alone in your rooms, anyway?" she said, casting a suspicious glance.

I smiled, ignoring her antics, and said: "I'm learning to live like a hermit."

"A… hermit," she said, looking me up and down before bursting into laughter.

I rolled my eyes and then said:

"You don't have to mock me; I might take it to heart."

"I beg your pardon," she said, though I could see no remorse in her eyes, which sparkled with amusement.

I shook my head and then said: "Tell me what you came to say."

Her laughing demeanor quickly faded, and then she said:

"Raymund and his wife are about to arrive."

"Hmm," I muttered, as I already knew they were arriving today.

"He's really angry with you," Alynne added.

"About what?" I asked.

"You know very well what you did," Alynne said, to which I responded with a nonchalant shrug.

'I had it all calculated; he wasn't at any real risk.'

"Have you been exchanging letters with him?" I suddenly asked my sister, noting that she said "wife" instead of "fiancée."

"He's my brother, I'll have you know. He just sent me a letter to ask how we were all doing and to announce his marriage to Sansa," said Alynne.

'How we're all doing, huh,' I thought, amused by the phrasing.

"I remind you he's my brother too, and I didn't get that honor," I said lightly, while watching Ronald sheathe his sword and leave the training yard.

'That could be the solution; nothing is holding me back from doing it now,' I thought, watching my son's back.

---

-POV Raymund Connington-

"Are you sure that was the best thing to do?" Sansa asked me, her hand gripping mine due to the anxiety she felt about coming to the place where her family was held prisoner.

"Don't worry, you were just Sansa the last time you saw my brother. Today, you're my wife, Sansa Connington. You're part of our House; my brother won't harm you," I said, reassuring her as our carriage passed through the gates of Griffin Roost.

Once we stopped, the door opened, and I stepped out to the applause of everyone.

In just a few weeks, we had managed to fully capture the Riverlands, and within a moon, we had forced all the lords of the Riverlands to kneel and become our vassals.

'A feat even Ronnet couldn't accomplish,' I thought, pleased to be cheered by the crowd.

I helped Sansa out of the carriage, and we turned towards my family. Everyone had gathered to welcome us, but I couldn't help but notice Ronnet's absence.

'As always, he has to try to stand out,' I thought, losing the joyful smile I had been wearing.

"Raymund," said Alynne, hugging me.

I smiled with relief as I hugged my big sister back and asked: "He's not here?"

"He's waiting for you in the Royal Council Room," Alynne said, her smile also fading.

"Royal Council?!" I said, surprised.

"Many things have changed since you left. HE has changed, so be careful when you speak to him," Alynne said.

'What the hell is going on in this castle?' I thought, noticing the many soldiers stationed in the castle.

'Although not enough to raise suspicion, I knew my brother well enough to know that he always did everything in his power to pay back those who wronged him or us.'

I stifled all distracting thoughts to focus on the family reunion before going to meet my brother with many questions on my mind.

---

-POV Ronnet Connington-

Tapping on the council table, I waited patiently for Raymund to deign to show up, which he did about ten minutes later.

The doors opened, and Raymund entered, accompanied by his wife and Alynne, laughing loudly.

I shot a cold glance at the three, who instantly froze, and I said in a neutral tone:

"I believe I told your sister I was waiting for you."

"I was saying hello to the others," he said in the same tone.

"Hmm," I muttered, inviting him to take a seat.

Once he did, I said: "First of all, I'm proud of each of you for fulfilling your roles perfectly, especially you, Bronn. I had a hard time believing you could actually betray your friend Tyrion, and yet you did."

"No friendship could withstand what you offered me," he said, trying to hide the fact that he hadn't enjoyed the moment.

'He likes that dwarf, I'll have to be careful about that in the future,' I thought.

"Yes, well, here's the first issue. I'm not going to make you Lord of the Stepstones," I said, deciding to reveal the truth to Bronn.

Bronn narrowed his eyes, and I said: "I received a report from my fleet commanders, and I've lost far too much to keep this lucrative deal just to give it to you."

'In truth, I never intended to make him Lord of the Stepstones. I have something else in mind for him.'

"Very well, and what do you offer in return?" he said, expecting some compassion from me for his services.

"Who says I have anything to offer in return?" I said in a very serious tone.

Bronn looked around, wondering if I was going to eliminate him, and it was Alynne who broke the silence by saying:

"Come on, give him his gift, the poor man is on the verge of having a heart attack."

I suddenly smiled, then signaled to Rodrik, who went into my room through a connecting door and pulled out a chained woman.

Bronn smiled and then said: "As beautiful as she is, I have no use for a woman."

I smiled and then said: "I imagine you don't have much regard for women, given all the whores you've bedded since you arrived on my lands, but this woman is no ordinary woman. Let me introduce you to Asha Greyjoy, the eldest daughter of the late King Balon Greyjoy, niece of the current King Euron Greyjoy, and your fiancée."

"You know, you're quite the cunning little rascal. You used Euron Greyjoy to screw the Lannisters hard, and now you're going to use the Lannisters to screw Euron Greyjoy, so that I can screw the Lannisters hard again," Bronn said, understanding the ultimate goal of this union.

I nodded, and Bronn said: "It's not that I want to seem ungrateful to your… majesty, but she doesn't seem too thrilled about this union."

"She isn't," said Asha, answering for me.

"And she even speaks," said Bronn, as if it was the first time he'd heard someone talk about their life.

I rolled my eyes and then said: "I've had a few discussions with Asha, and she knows exactly what will happen to her if she misbehaves, don't you?"

Asha nodded, so I gestured to Rodrik, who unchained Asha.

"Now that we've settled the matter of your marriage, Bronn, it's time to address the matter of your marriage, Raymund. It seems I was not informed of either the location or the fact that you were getting married," I said, suddenly turning to my brother.