♱𖣂 Redfork Menace ♱𖣂 pt.5
Benjicot Blackwood x Bracken!OC
Summary - Shanda makes it home from her nightly mission easily and walks into a tense family meeting. Benjicot Blackwood starts making plans of his own.
Warnings - fem!reader, suspense, mentions of injuries, adult language, period typical misogyny, condescension, benjicot brainrot, Kieran Burton fancast.
Word count - 2.4k
Things are starting to shape up!
Read Unraveled from the story Redfork Menace by Moseslikellama with 0 reads. fantasy, rivals, houseblackwood. When Sha...
When Shanda appeared back at Stone Hedge she had developed a slight limp. Sneaking inside had been easy enough, Martyn had still been on guard. And she had made her way inside moving silent and unseen all the way to her own chambers. There she collapsed exhausted, but there would be no rest for her now. She lay there for a moment trying to convince herself this was truly reality. First, she was an idiot. She had severely underestimated her opponent and it had almost cost her everything. If he had managed to drag her back to Raventree… She shuddered at the thought.
She pulled herself out of bed by sheer force of will and began readying a bath. Since starting her escapades in the borderlands she had refused all servant assistance in her room. She did her own linens, warmed her own water and got herself ready. It was easier that way, less questions. It gave her a sense of autonomy she had been lacking before. Despite how dangerous the situation truly was, she couldn’t find it in her to stay away. The information would be useful and she couldn’t bear to go back to her boring life before the nightly adventures.
Her father trusted her more than most, putting her in charge of the record keeping and allowing her a say on any matter pertaining to the honor of their house. But it didn’t mean he ever listened to what she said. Shanda had too many brothers to count and inevitably her opinion was pushed down in favor of others. It was hard not to take it personally. How would she ever gain the experience to offer useful advice if she were stuck in these walls all day? Whenever she voiced these frustrations her father would simply urge her to look into taking a suitor up. She always scoffed at the notion that would take her away. And it didn’t guarantee any more freedom than she had now, less factoring in children on any account.
She looked upon her face in a dingy mirror while she braided her hair back. The shadows under her eyes were a tad darker than usual but that could be explained away by working late. Fall approached and soon most of her time would be spent managing shipments for winter. Besides the dark shadows she looked the same as ever. Her shoulders throbbed with every heartbeat and she was sure a couple of ribs were bruised. Today was going to be hell. Taking one last look in the mirror she headed downstairs.
The sky was still gray, though lighter than it had been over the past two days. She knew something was wrong when Martyn was in the main hall waiting for her along with her father.
“Good morning Father, Martyn. What news brings us together on this day?”
The only family meetings they had usually preceded disaster.
“Martyn, tell your sister about the Raven you received.”
Face unreadable Martyn pulled a slip of paper open before reading.
“To the many houses of the River lands. This is a formal warrant issued for the individual terrorizing Blackwoods lands, dubbed the “Redfork Menace”. Countenance is small in stature, remarkably fast and responsible for multiple crimes in Blackwood lands. The charges include: Attempted assault, trespassing, illegal snare traps, and most grievously an attempt to harm the heir of Raventree. Further attempts by anyone to penetrate the land beyond the river will be met with immediate hostility.
Signed, the heir of Raventree Hall”
Shanda stood there momentarily speechless.
***
Benjicot Blackwood approached Raventree Hall feeling giddy. He’d nearly had her this time, the sly little Bracken who kept sneaking into their side of the borderlands. She was so fierce and fought valiantly. It was adorable. It was also incredibly irresponsible. The Brackens were all craven simpering cunts. They were unfit to sit on the land they owned and contaminated the air for the rest of the riverlands. But she was a pretty foul mouthed creature that considered herself so clever. He knew about her presence almost immediately. The guards might not have been sure about her existence but he had been.
As heir he knew all of his lands like the back of his hand, the borderlands no exception. With the increased tension and altercations surrounding the area he had volunteered to join the guard rotation. It would break up the monotony of his normal routine and show he wasn’t too good to work just like the rest of them. After the first time she had appeared he’d sat back and waited, watching her movements and familiarizing himself with her mannerisms. He had studied her so intently that he had cracked her identity on the third occasion he saw her. Her bronze hair had caught in the moonlight where she lay crouched and he pretended not to see her. The answer to why she might be spying on them dawned on him with the flash of her hair. Amos Bracken was a blonde but his wife had auburn hair. Martyn Bracken had the same auburn hair and his twin was of an almost identical shade.
He could have died of laughter at the realization. They were sending her as a scout and spy? Whatever sneaking she did might pass the bar in Stone Hedge but to him she was loud, visible. She never stayed crouched low enough and ventured much too close. Sometimes she would lose track of time, focusing too intently. He hadn’t lied about her skill in covering her tracks though, that was true. She had done well to step lightly and the snares had been a nice touch. But she’d used the wrong kind of rope, he was much heavier than the rabbit string she had brought. But he had played along because it was entertaining and she was trying so hard. It must be difficult to be surrounded by Brackens all the time, no wonder she was so keen to cross over into his land.
Ben’s father trusted him to resolve the borderland conflict on his own. He could do it quickly and quietly but where was the fun in that? If it had been the normal scum, he wouldn’t have hesitated to bring them to justice. But the nosy woman interested him and he wanted to escalate the issue. It was no sweat off his brow, he was dealing with a known threat with his Lord fathers permission. And he would bet all of the money in King’s Landing that her father had no idea she was sneaking out at night into Blackwood land. He doubted she was planning to return anytime soon given he’d knocked her off her feet easily and given her a small taste of why it was so stupid for her to be there. All the same he wanted to make her nervous.
Inside the halls of his house he quickly made his way to the maester to put his budding plan into action. He wanted to announce a warrant for her arrest. He couldn’t outright name her, not yet. But he could make it clear to her that he was threatening her, what had she called herself? “Bane of the Blackwoods and the Menace of the Redfork.” He smiled thinking about it. It had taken all of his willpower to stay on his knees pretending to be restrained while she raged at him. It was so hard not to wrap her up in his arms and cart her off home. It would be too easy. No, it was better to do it this way. If he was lucky he might get a bride out of the situation.
Over the past moon the feud had been going nonstop. The late summer air did something that spurred them on, young men in a frenzy constantly causing rifts. Since Lord Grover Tully was older than dirt and not half as useful, it fell to his heir Elmo to dispense justice. Elmo had made it clear on their last summoned meeting that he was over it and rivalry be damned they better hold it together for a while. If Ben started a petty unnecessary fight over a Bracken spy terrorizing them and it was revealed the spy was the only daughter of Amos. Well, a marriage might be a fine way to try and mend the years long rift between the houses. He was frankly unconcerned with her house affiliation and would be honored to free her of it.
“Maester Haine, I have solved the crisis in the borderlands and perhaps in the process solved another of our problems. Come, let us write an announcement. Send a copy to every house in the river lands, big or small.”
***
Shanda has swallowed harshly before straightening her shoulders and looking appropriately concerned. She shoved all of her terror down as far as she could. He’d used her words. Named her, the Redfork Menace. This was a terrible turn of events and the look her father was shooting her did not bode well.
“You look tired. Have you been sleeping well?” Her father placed a hand on her shoulder, feigning concern while he probed her.
“Fall approaches, my duties increase. Worry not father, I will rest in time.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, his eyes flicking up and down examining her closely. “See that you do that. Oh and I suppose since you mentioned the coming fall, I don't need to remind you wolves will be roaming in larger numbers now. Everyone is required to have an escort outside of the keep walls.” He smiled cheerfully at her, squeezing her shoulder before leaving. Once he was gone Martyn quickly dragged her into a room off the main keep. It was dim and appeared to be some storage room with shelves full of bottles and jars.
“You’ve done it now Shan. What happened?”
She grimaced, rubbing the back of her neck. “He’s fast Martyn. Much faster than you would expect. I’m not even sure he’s fully human. I saw him jump from such a high distance and he caught up to me without even trying. Whatever rumors are spreading about him, they’ve failed to mention that.”
She had no intention of going back out maybe ever again. Twice was enough to teach her a lesson especially with her father breathing down her neck. He wouldn’t accuse her outright unless presented with irrefutable evidence. She wasn’t going to slip up and give it to him.
“What about the dagger?”
Shanda pulled it out of the pocket hidden in the folds of her gown and handed it off to him. She was relieved that she had done that right. At least one thing had gone as planned.
“Listen I know I screwed up Martyn.”
She held up her hands in surrender at his angry expression.
“Yes, that's putting it lightly. But it's fine. I’ll just lay low, let this blow over. I can pick back up after the mourning ceremony if the heat has died down. If not, well, maybe we move on to something else for a while.”
His face softened as she spoke. And she confided further in him.
“I believe I may have kicked the hornet's nest here. There’s something wrong with that man.”
She didn’t mention the way he’d made her head spin or how softly he’d spoken to her. Blood rose to her cheeks at the thought and she pushed it away sharply. He’d just threatened to arrest her! He wanted to put her on trial for delusional charges. And most importantly he was a Blackwood lout.
“Don’t worry sister, it's likely I’ll be on guard duty for life. And I wouldn’t miss a shot against Bloody Ben given he comes looking for you.”
Shanda rolled her eyes at her grinning brother.
“This is serious, you know.”
“Oh I know. But I did warn you from the beginning all of this was egregiously stupid. So, I told you so.”
“Whatever Martyn. You wanted something to spice up endless guard duty as well. Fall is nigh upon us though, maybe next time you can accompany me. I bet we could sneak past Pepperwood, he’s always sleeping on the job. Should fire him really but in the meantime we use it to our advantage.”
“Slow down there. Let’s make it through this crisis and the mourning ceremony then worry about it. Have you figured out a way to get Royce out of going?”
Shanda frowned. “I have but you’re not going to like it.”
“Tell me later then. I’m going to bed and I already have enough nightmare fuel for the moment. You should get some sleep as well. You look like shit.” He gave her a soft hug before departing.
Alone again she took a deep breath. Her mind swirling with the words from the heir of Raventree. It was obvious he thought this was entertainment. If Benjicot was as fearsome as they said, she should’ve never had a chance to trap him. The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach grew as she considered maybe he’d let her snare him. The thought was too much to consider. It opened too many cans of worms and unanswerable questions. Better to put it out of her mind and move on with her life. There would be other opportunities to remind the Blackwoods of honor.
Shanda left the storage room and wandered up to the library tower to start her actual work. The shipments and bills that were always waiting for her. Her desk was full of little scrolls, much more than should’ve been there for the early afternoon. Sorting through them, a spike of ice shot through her chest. They were all from the river folk. Derry, Frey, Lothston, Mallister, Mooton, Mudd, Piper, Ryger…. The list went on as she identified the seals. Damn near every lord in the land had sent a letter.
Shoulders slumped, hands trembling, she broke the first seal. “The most noble and honorable house Derry will not tolerate the recent slander noted to us just after dawn this morning by House Blackwood. Derry and Bracken share a rich history and a trusted friendship. Should the situation call for an escalation, House Derry will not answer. A fourth altercation in the worst storm season in a decade would not do us well.
Warmly, House Derry, Lord Willard Derry.”
She sat very still trying not to rage at the idiot Blackwood who was going to draw the Tully eyes straight to Stone Hedge. Slamming her hands on the desk she knocked all of the remaining scrolls on the floor and began to pace furiously.
