A Delicate Matter

[Barley]

Rather than go to Harrentown, Saesha decided to talk to her husband about the disturbing situation that had arisen at the gates. 

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

She found Belric sitting at the edge of the godswood. He smiled at the sight of her despite the days grim events.

[Barley]

"Hello, Darling,"sge said standing before him, then she sighed and sat next to him. After pausing for a moment she laced their fingers together. "I am sorry you had such a trying day."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric held her hand in his, rubbing at the small knuckles of her soft fingers. "Do not be sorry for me. I am still here, and in one piece." Images of Hoster's mangled body resonated in Belric's thoughts. Trying to free the horrors from his mind, he looked to his wife's beauty. "Why have to come looking for me, my dear?"

[Barley]

"A couple of reasons. I have sent some men to retrieve the guards bodies, I am going to give them back to the families when they arrive back." She shook her head at the whole business. "I also wanted to talk to you about your brother, and not even the awful business with the bear, if it is true."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

He smiled at her, despite the sorrowful nature of her tidings. While he had been blinded by rage and emotion, she had seen to it that the men who had died in his service were taken care of. Her selflessness was not lost on him, though he never mentioned it.

"Tell me of Edmure," Belric said, his expression placid. "His name is held in ill favor right now, but I can hardly believe the rumors about the bear. My brother is a good man, and has always treated my men with respect. If any of this was true, why didn't Dacey or Jormun tell me of Edmure's cowardice themselves? It's been weeks since the hunt. Why am I only hearing of this now?"

[Barley]

"I do not know, perhaps your other family were attempting to keep his reputation in tact after a single error." Saesha replied, "which they are to be commended for, family loyalty is no small thing. I came to ask you to remove him from his position as castellan, for a time anyway." She waited to see his reaction before she went on.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric balked at Saesha's suggestion, what reason could she possibly have to ask such a thing?

"Why would you ask me to do that?" He fought to remain calm, vexed by the question.

[Barley]

"Keep what your sister says about the bear in mind," she said putting a hand on the side of his face gently, "all I wil say is, I do not think him responsible enough, if I had not happened upon it, he would have been happy sending a fifth of our men into unnecessary danger hunting the bandits. That is twenty men. When Willem rode up, he did not even ask him any questions, he just heard they wanted back up and plucked a number from thin air. We do not have twenty men to waste. He did not even ask how many men Willem thought he would need. Does that sound very responsible to you? Never mind that he took the decision upon himself when you were here, regardless of the fact that we have informed him he is not to take such decisions on himself while you are here it was blatant disrespect. " she did not go into the fact just yet that he ignored her, or undermined her at the gates, as she felt it would make this seem personal, and it was not.

"I do not think he appreciates the importance or limitations of his role, and that is very dangerous. Who knows what he may do while you are away?"

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

He let go of her hand, shaking free of her grip and standing up in sudden undirected aggression. He paced back and forth swiftly, storming about as he tried to piece it all together.

These were serious accusations, and the implication of what she was saying weighed heavy on Belric's heart. What reason would Edmure have had to issue orders like that without Belric's approval? There were too many unknowns, Belric struggled to see the trees for the forest.

He looked at her with speculation, "What are you saying exactly? You think Edmure means to betray my orders when we leave for Riverrun?"

[Barley]

"Not betray," Saesha confirmed, watching him pace. "Only that he will use his best judgement, but his best judgement may not be good enough."

Saesha did not want to make matters worse, just to let her thoughts be known. Though clearly that has been on belrics mind if he leaped to that assumption.

"While we are away, someone needs to be in charge who was can trust completely. Whose decisions we can know we support without hesitation, and I myself have a lot of cause to be hesitant. When I suggested Edmure go to bolster the ranks. He claimed to be too busy. Doing what, who knows, but i would not think it came before the lives of his family, but clearly it did. It not have been very important, which means I assume you know if the pressing matter he needed to attend to."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric thought about what Saesha was saying, unable to deny her accusations of Edmure. He had proven that he care more for his own agenda than his Lord's. Belric was having trouble admitting it however, still clinging to the faith he had in his family.

"Who would you suggest, Jon?"

[Barley]

"I honestly do not know who to suggest. It would be better if we had time to let you decide, but with us going to Riverrun, that is impossible. I do not know your family, Belric, not well, I cannot say what you should do. But I am certain for at least until he perhaps... gets the war from his mind, your brother should not be it." Edmure must be going slightly mad, if he forgot Saesha fought in the war its entire duration, sat on war councils hosted by her brothers, and was of far greater use during the battles than Edmure could ever have hoped of being.

She took a shallow breath, "do you wish for me to stay?" It was clear the idea did not make her happy.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I cannot simply dismiss my brother. Despite his stubbornness he has always been a good man." Belric massaged the stiffness from his knuckles. "I will talk to him, as well as Jon. I am confident that Harrenhal will be safe under their watch."

He sat back down next to Saesha, comforting her with a hand to he back. "Give Edmure a chance. He will not fail me. Perhaps you will trust him more once we have returned to find Harrenhal still standing."

[Barley]

"he has already failed you, dear. When the dog shows his teeth and snarls, you do not unleash him and leave him alone with your children, you keep him out of the way until his temperament is trained to improvement. I am happy to let him try and earn my increased good will, but given his decision making thus far... without us here to rectify any lapse, are you comfortable leaving the fragile peace we have made to his sole care?" she asked, not wanting to seem unmoving, but she felt very strongly on this point.