Riverrun

Their appearance caused quite a stir among the servants and guards who immediately wanted to know who the injured man was and what he'd done. Upon learning that it was Matrim Rivers, the chatter intensified. Matrim stirred as he was laid on a table.

Lord Tully arrived when the excitement was in full flow. He was tall and broad-shouldered with grey in his auburn hair. He strode up to the table and looked down at the wounded man.

"So...this is the bastard who slew my parents, and my dear wife. He looks rather less impressive now."

He saw Vira standing by. "Lady, i am told it was you who brought him here. Who are you?"

"He will. I do not doubt it. Do you care to attend the execution?" Lord Tully asked. "You must be my guest tonight, of course."

OOC - ok, fair enough.

He was silent for a moment, simply looking at her. "You have lost people to, my lady? You are very young to have suffered tragic losses, but I might say the same of many people in these difficult times. So many lives lost. I love the Seven well, as all men and women ought, yet I do not think the recent wars a godly thing, despite their cause. And as for that fellow Rivers, well, there is nothing so ungodly as a man like that."

he paused, looking at her with a serious expression. "My lady, might I asked if it was the war which caused your suffering, or bandits like Rivers?"

"You shall certainly have my friendship, my lady. You are generous to refuse the gold. I believe I shall use it instead to help the poor. There are too many people who suffered at Rivers' hands. If only all were as selfless as yourself, the realm would be a much better place."

On his way back to King's Landing from Casterly Rock, Maekar pauses at Riverrun. He had been flying full out to reach the capital as quickly as possible, but Riverrun was practically dead on the path and so he swept down into the castle's bailey, seeking to speak with Lord Tully for a few moments before resuming his flight. He dismounted in the courtyard, and directed one of the pages present to convey him to the Lord's solar.

"You have my thanks, my lord. His grace the King's loss will be felt all across the realm, for years to come, I am sure," Maekar replied courteously, his gaze falling on the book. He smiled at Lord Tully's young daughter, bending slightly to meet her gaze. "Would you mind very much, lass, if I spoke to your lord father alone? I am loathe to turn young lady from her father's arms, but I shall make it up to you if I can," he said solemnly.

Maekar blinked in surprise. "My father, the King, always held true to the Gods of our ancestors, the Gods of Valyria. Given that he waged a war against the Faith of the Seven for all his life, I am surprised you would think that he held to their ways," he replied.

"I have little time, my lord, so I will ask your forgiveness if I cut street to the heart of things. I have heard half a dozen conflicting reports from the capital, each more confusing than the last, but what I am sure of is that Lady Vira Blackwood is guilty of neither murder nor regicide. She told me that you were a good friend to her, during her time in the Riverlands, and the honor of House Tully was unimpeachable and unmatched. It is my belief that she is being framed as an attempt to link me to the King's murder; I am here to request your aid in saving her from whatever cruel fate her grace the Queen has devised," Maekar said.

"Her grace the Queen has sought my death since the day I was born," Maekar replied dryly. "And when the King informed her that I would be created Prince of Dragonstone, and Aegon disinherited, upon my return from Winterfell, she flew into quite a rage. I cannot see her murdering the King herself, but she certainly acted quickly enough when he was, to turn the accusation toward a woman long associated with me in order to tie me to the crime," he added.

"The King's Will, shall show that I speak the truth, unless her grace the Queen has destroyed it without reading it to the court," he said, with a frown at the last. "She would not dare attempt such a farce of a trial, if I had not been sent North from the capital…" Maekar lapsed into silence, and Lord Tully got the impression that he was piecing together a puzzle in his head.

"Why would he attaint Trajan, and execute Darklyn…" he murmured, half to himself, and his head snapped up. "She must have been making proclamations in father's name before his body was found," he said to Tully. "My brother Trajan was likely the most devoted member of our family to the King, yet the Queen and Aegon both despise him."

OOC - it was quite a big lie, and dangerous as well, else I wouldn't have wanted to roll it. But you rolled quite well anyway

Lord Tully's face paled. "These are grave accusations, my lord. You mean to suggest that the King and Queen were acting against one another? This is most troubling indeed. I wish I need not think ill of Her Grace, but...the circumstances are most odd. And yet...this business of the will...His Grace truly meant to disinherit Prince Aegon in favour of yourself? Gods be good. May I ask why?"

Silence reigned for a moment as Lord Tully digested the information. "And yet Princess Rhaena was betrothed to Prince Aegon. It would appear the King had a change of heart after that event, then? May I be frank with you, my lord?"

"That is most interesting, my lord, though it is a pity you do not have a copy of this document you speak of. I have always done my utmost to uphold the laws of the land, my lord. Were such a document to be produced, it would certainly be my duty to abide by it. But I will speak plainly. Prince Aegon's love of the Seven has long been known across the realm. As a devotee of the Seven myself, I lived in hope that the prince would one day do much to restore the damaged relations between the adherents of the Faith and those who follow the gods of Valyria. If that is not to be, I wonder where it leaves House Tully. Are we to be persecuted for failing to worship the gods of Valyria? I cannot forsake my gods." He laid his hand firmly on the book as if it could protect him.

Lord Tully looked at Maekar with a worried expression though he was clearly doing his best to maintain his composure.

"I have no intention of raising arms against the crown, I promise you that. I meant no insult to yourself or your intentions, my lord. I simply wish to worship my gods as I see fit, as all men should. I have no sympathies with the Faith Militant, as it happens. They got what their deserved. But, since the war ended, I have been afraid that His Grace King Maegor might attempt to outlaw worship of the Faith itself. Perhaps my fears shall prove unfounded."