Gared Tuttle/History

Season Two AU

#### Clear As Snow

When Rodrik Forrester reacts poorly to the news his father had bastards, Gared implores him to believe them.

When Rodrik and Elsera Snow pull out of their vision, they return to Gared. Rodrik informs Gared that he acknowledges the twins' claim to bastardy and Gared responds that now that he has settled his differences Rodrik can help reclaim Ironrath.

Rodrik instantly rejects the proposal and says they have to kill the Whitehills first, otherwise they'll just be slaughtered again especially if they had a traitor like they did before. Gared questions this, and Rodrik tells him of Duncan's betrayal, feeding the Whitehills information.

Shocked, Gared questions what happened to his uncle. Rodrik tells Gared that Duncan betrayed the house and had to be killed. Gared angrily tells Rodrik to do what he likes, and parts ways with him.

The Forrester soldiers follow Rodrik, but Tom decides to leave Rodrik to save Ironrath for Mira. Sylvi calls to Rodrik as he departs with the soldiers, telling him he needs to know something.

#### Home

Gared's group arrive at the Tuttle Farm, and Targan - a wildling man - comments that it's about time as his children are tired and thirsty.

Gared informs him of the well and the beds at the farm and the man returns to get his children, while his wife, Signa, tells Gared that while Targan is confrontational he appreciates what Gared has done for them. She asks what will happen to them when they take Ironrath, and Gared says the Wildling family could probably stay with them at Ironrath.

Sylvi says she's sorry about what happened to Gared's uncle, then asks if they can really take back Ironrath and what he plans to do with Elsera's soldiers if they do. Gared merely says they'll improvise, and Sylvi says she's with him as no one else is going to stop him being killed.

Elsera approaches Gared weakly as he stares at the graves of his father and sister. He notes Elsera's poor condition and she says that the visions she shared with Rodrik took a lot of strength out of her, but notes that this doesn't have to be the end of Gared's family.

Elsera suggests raising them as Hollows and having Gared's father fight for them, but Gared shoves her away and asks if she's insane, insisting his families stay buried. Targan tells Gared that a group of soldiers is approaching from the North and Gared gives the order to get the children and Josera inside so that the warriors can face their enemies head on.

Durstan and his group arrive and tell Gared & Co to move along or be punished. Gared approaches one of the soldiers and straight up kills him, telling Durstan to 'do his worst'. Durstan turns and gives the order for his men to attack while he retreats and tells Gryff of their enemies while Tom sides up next to Gared and says he'll fight alongside him.

Targan, Gared and one of Elsera's Hollows kill a Whitehill each. Josera wargs into Shadow, roaring and scaring some more of the Whitehills who try to kill him. The first is quickly dispatched while the second successfully impales Shadow through the shoulder with a spear. Gared tells Tom to help Shadow, while Josera leaves the house (having stopped skinchanging into the bear) and yells for the man who hurt them both.

He picks up a sword and before Gared can help he is tackled by a Whitehill who deduces that they're fighting for the Forresters. Before he can harm Gared, he is stabbed through the neck by an unknown assailant who helps Gared up - and is revealed to be Finn. Targan alerts Gared that the last of the Whitehills has been killed. Gared looks around for Sylvi and begins to panic. Upon finding the girl he embraces her and admits her absence scared him for a moment.

Sylvi is confused that Gared cares so much about her, and he admits that he promised to her brother that he'd look after her. Sylvi says she's fine and that Gared should instead be looking after Josera, whom has just murdered someone. Josera admits he's never killed a man with his own hands and has instead always done it through Shadow, and that it feels different.

Gared tries to comfort him while Elsera assures that Shadow will be all right given time to heal. Josera asks how he is supposed to help reclaim Ironrath without his bear and Gared notes he did fairly well with his sword with little training. Finn notes that things have been going poorly in his absence and Gared says that given the size of House Whitehill's scouting groups he probably shouldn't have sent Finn ahead alone.

Finn claims that he could have beaten that many on his own, but tells Gared he doesn't know what to think any more and needs a reason to stay. Gared asks where else Finn can go, and Finn suggests heading back home to the Riverlands and rekindling his romance with Lady Piper. Gared discourages him but says that if he sticks around he can stay at Ironrath. Finn asks if the Forresters would have him, and Gared says he'll make sure of it. Finn agrees to stay, then introduces Gared to two strays he picked up while scouting: Beskha and Ryon.

Gared tells Ryon that Rodrik is alive which cheers him up. Beskha is relieved and introduces herself, but Sylvi remarks that she has done a poor job of protecting Ryon as he appears to have frostbite. Beskha mistakenly takes Sylvi for a white walker and is horrified by her, but Gared quickly interjects that they are all friends there.

Finn leers suggestively at Beskha and suggests that some of them are more friendly than others before Sylvi takes Gared away and asks if they ought to tell Ryon about the bastards. Gared does end up telling Ryon, who doesn't understand at first.

When Gared explains that they had to be kept secret to stay safe, Ryon runs up and embraces Josera - to the latter's surprise. Beskha remarks that Sylvi was right in her assumption that she's no good with children, and Gared says she's welcome to join them.

Beskha says she still has a score to settle with Gryff and Gared plots to camp at Ironrath until they build up their strength and are ready to attack the Whitehills.

#### Godric's Moor

Gared, Finn, Beskha, Sylvi and Josera await members of House Whitehill of Ironrath to parley with them. Finn questions why the Whitehills know they were coming, and Sylvi says one of their scouts escaped and warned them before they could catch up.

Josera recommends killing everyone who arrives right away, but Gared defends the idea of parleying and then doing battle as it is how Gregor Forrester would have done it. The Whitehills then arrive - Gryff himself, accompanied by Harys, Grenn, Durstan and Imry.

Gryff comments on the name of their meeting spot, Godric's Moor, and suggests renaming Ironrath to "Gryff's keep". He admits he is surprised that they weren't ambushed, and Beskha calls him out on his hypocrisy. Gryff recognises her from Stillport and notes that she got out with Rodrik, then asks where he is. Gared says they don't serve Rodrik, stating that he is leading this attack.

Gryff notes Gared's surname and says he is surprised Gared did not betray them like Duncan did. Gared notes that his family was killed by Whitehills, but they died proud of him, but Gryff disputes this. He says he has Ironrath to make his father proud, and Gared has nothing, but Gared states he squired for Gregor the Good.

After dismissing Gregor as 'Gregor the dead', Gryff tells them to surrender, but Gared denies it - saying they'll take Ironrath back whether it's intact or a pile of ashes. Gryff is pleased to hear there'll be a fight and says he'll have Gared's group flayed when he wins.

Finn states that Gryff's threats do not scare them, and that he's merely a 'pigeon in armour four times too big,' arousing chuckles and threats from Grenn and Durstan. Gryff says his two men can do what they like with Finn in battle, but he wants Gared for himself. Gared says he'll gladly take Gryff in single combat, but Gryff denies it, saying it sounds like a marriage pact.[65]

He dismisses the Forrester splinter faction, saying he has men to prepare. Gared confirms the battle will occur tomorrow and the Whitehills ride back to Ironrath. Gared's group speak about how Gryff's house are overconfident and that the Forresters will win the battle. Gared says they'll find out tomorrow and gives the order to ride back to the farm at Tuttle.

#### The March to War

Gared's and Gryff's armies face off against each other. Josera tells Gared that Ryon, Newt and Willow are safe with Shadow elsewhere, and Gared tells him to make sure someone is ready to flee and find them if things go awry.

Gryff orders Harys to launch their 'surprise' and the latter drags their Talia stooge forwards and holds a knife to her neck, shocking Gared who thinks she is the real deal. Gryff demands Gared surrender or he will kill "Talia" which causes Gared to falter while his companions yell for him to give them an order. However, when Harys turns to look to Gryff, a Whitehill soldier seizes the chance and charges at the larger man, freeing "Talia" from his grasp and yelling that the girl is a fake.

Gryff is distracted as the soldier pulls "Talia" away from the brewing battle and orders his men to catch them. Gared notes this distraction and gives the order to charge, but Harys retaliates and tells the soldiers to take the Forresters. As the two forces clash, Gared kills the first soldier. Whitehills atop the wall loose their arrows, killing a hollow and one of their own. Another man charges at Gared, and while Gared deflects his initial blow Finn approaches and kills the man for him.

The Whitehills start getting the upper hand, making Gryff confident enough to decide to head back inside. A soldier charges at Gared, who dodges his attack, and the soldier is killed by Beskha from behind. Gared and Beskha regroup and the former notes that Gryff has retreated. Beskha kills another man and tells Gared to go after Gryff with Finn. Gared asks where Sylvi is but Beskha dismisses the question and pursues another soldier.

Targan and Signa both cry out in pain - the former is impaled in the shoulder with a sword while the latter is shot in the arm with an arrow. As Whitehills prepare to end both of them, Gared is left to choose which one to save.

Gared saves Signa's life, leaving Targan to be bludgeoned to death by Durstan. He tells Signa to retreat and shouts for Finn, but runs into Josera and Elsera. While they agree to find Finn and head inside Ironrath after Gryff, the archers on top of the wall notice them and their commander decides to head down to take part in the battle.

#### Eye of the Storm

Gared, Finn, Josera and Elsera enter Ironrath's courtyard. Finn spots Ashara and Remus Ashwood in a cage and suggests they release them. Gared asks Elsera if she's all right, and the latter says she just needs to concentrate. She then tells Gared to go after Gryff so that the battle can end quickly. Gryff rides past Tarrick and tells him to hold the line. Gared and Finn begin to fight the man, who is armed with a halberd of sorts, who slices Finn's face while deflecting a blow. He pauses as Gared, Finn, Josera and Remus Ashwood advance on him, leaving him outnumbered. Noticing this, Tarrick discards his weapon and surrenders, eliciting jeers about cowardice from Gared's group. Tarrick merely says the cause is not worth his life and he's taking the smart way out, and Gared orders him to be detained in the cage where the Ashwoods were previously held so that they can deal with him later - Finn hopes this means they'll execute him. Tom then runs into the courtyard, yelling that the Whitehills have noticed that Gared has made it inside Ironrath and that they are coming after them en masse. Finn says they will hold the line while Gared takes Gryff.

Gared implores Gryff to surrender, but Gryff ignores the plea and tells Gared he's ruined everything and that he'll kill Gared for what he's done. The two begin to fight and Gryff knock Gared to the ground, but Gared swings his leg out and trips Gryff up too, knocking him over. The two clash swords again and Gared headbutts Gryff. He gains the upper hand and knocks Gryff to his knees again with a punch to the face, but the man merely chuckles and spitefully commends his skill - stating he's not as good as Rodrik. When Gared questions what makes him say so, Gryff says Rodrik always watched his back. Following this comment, Gared is speared through the leg by Durstan, who snuck up on him. Gryff flees and demands Gared's head then flees and Durstan says that he will skin Gared's group alive for killing his own men at the Tuttle Farm. Before he can start, however, he is speared through the neck by Sylvi who quickly embraces Gared and helps him to his feet. The two are approached by Elsera, who is bleeding profusely from her nose and mouth - complaining about a man inside the ironwood trees. Her complaints quickly erupts into screams of pain. Josera rushes forth to aid her and explains that she has pushed herself too far with the blood magic - making herself vulnerable to other forces. Elsera says they left a spirit behind at the North Grove and it has become vengeful, but before she can explain further she is manipulated into chanting a command that allows said spirit to access all of her hollows. Josera says they have to get inside as Elsera is no longer commanding the hollows - at which point the spirit interrupts them and begins to turn the hollows against them.

#### Thrombus

Gared, Sylvi, Josera, Elsera and Ashara enter the great hall of Ironrath as Tom and Remus close the door behind them. Ashara prepares a chair for Gared to sit in as he is injured, and Finn quickly catches up after fleeing from the battle. Gared asks if he is hurt and Finn says someone hit him over the head but he is fine, then Gared catches a better look at the man's face and expresses shock when he sees a massive injury covering the left side. Sylvi quickly changes the subject and says they need to work out what is going on in the courtyard.