Grave consequences

Olaf now into his mid 60’s clutched his jacket, wrapping it around his body as the guards covered him from the falling snow in the highlands; the village was quiet and those who were out in the weather were staring at the luxury items that he possessed the scouts last saw Arthur here 8 years ago before disappearing off their radar. “Sir... you shouldn’t be here; it will cause trouble like the other outsider!” “Please, I have spent many years looking for a man... my son; he was slightly shorter than me and bulkier, short black hair and a start off a beard, if he looks like he once did. He wields dual blade and his skin... it sounds stupid but it glows!” the man nodded beckoning him over to a field where he simply pointed over to a small tombstone with the words, “Arthur died 932AD from a sword wound!” he looked over to the man who spoke, “Just over 8 years ago he came to us seeking a place to stay; they saw his marks and thought he was an Witch. He died instantly!” Olaf studied the tombstone before looking away tearing up whimpered, “I’m soo sorry son! He should never have done it! I should... I should have stopped him or given you your reward before his... I, I should inform Brienne!” his guards comforted him when he fell to the cold snowy floor crying for the lost as he said, “I... I don’t want to be here anymore!”

The door slammed open as Olaf marched in with his guards marching towards Alfred who was attending to business, “Father, do you mind I am in the middle of business with an ally of the crown!” “Alfred it’s important!” he nodded before excusing himself guided his father into the crown with his wife and Cersei in toe, “What is it father?” Olaf looked down before stating in his tears, “I found Arthur!” “Olaf love what’s wrong?” Cersei spoke holding his arm, “He’s buried in the village facing the snowy cliffs!” “Wait what?!” Alfred cried out in disbelief, “He’s dead?!” Cersei stuttered and nodding Olaf spoke, “I’ve seen the grave and in hope that they were wrong begged for more information it appears he stumbled on the wrong type of village and he was attacked... I... don’t even know what to say! I’ve written to Brienne to inform her of the events... it’s your fault. You did this! You and your stupid “he could overthrow me attitude!” Alfred looked down before stating, “I wanted him safe, I wanted him to live in guarded luxury, not this; never this!” Gwendoline glared at them before snapping, “No matter what you say or hoped, what matters is what we did! We never took care of him and we never thought about him and now he’s dead... poor kid!”

A week later and Olaf led the memorial for his son, the group crowded around the grave with off in the distance stood the blonde renegade knight who wept for her former student, “I’m sorry Arthur; I failed you! Even after everything you did for me!” she spoke, Alfred tried to find words to comfort her but secretly knew staying silent was the better choice and knowing of what Brienne had done on finding out Arthur’s ****; deserting her men chose not to act. Olaf also stood alone drinking the ale to deaden the thoughts and emotions which emerged to the surface.

What transpired after the event was chaos, Olaf spend his days drinking for comfort and Alfred when he became more reliant on his fathers governance was met with very little help. Brienne retired to a local village and Gwendoline well, things changed; she never liked Arthur but she acknowledged and confessed that what happened was wrong and seeing her husbands willingness to sweep it all aside blaming his position for not having enough time to worry about it; however this excuse caused even more tension between the marriage that ending up fracturing splitting the North into two sides the side that sided with the Queen believing he was inefficient and Arthur should have been king and the loyalists who believed in tradition and loyalty will pay off but one thing was clear if Olaf didn’t try and stop it another war would break out and this time it would be a bloodbath.