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Chapter Text

I had to protect my daughter even if it meant my own death. Looking around the dusty broken down house and seeing Elijah checking on Roman and not his niece was a stabbing betrayal. And Klaus, who was suffering from a wooden stake to the heart, knew there was just one choice to protect our daughter. So as Greta's hand was in my chest I said goodbye to my daughter and her father in my head I ripped Greta's finger off with her daylight ring and rushed us outside as I burned alive. My only thought was of my daughter Hope and how much I hoped she would be ok. 

The next thing I knew I was in a forest surrounded by everyone I knew who died Jackson, Grandma Mary, the pack, and I finally met my parents it was so calming and I knew I was going to be ok I was still worried for my daughter but I knew her father would be there for her. Time passed differently here I wasn't sure how long it had been but i was out grabbing some firewood for the bonfire when i saw her 

“Hope” I shockingly asked.

“Mom” hope whispers surprised and rushes towards me. We hug each other tightly 

“What happened why are you here” I asked hope worriedly

“I was sick, mom there's so much i have to tell you” Hope says 

“You shouldn't be here it's not your time yet” I tell her worriedly 

“Its ok i want to be here, I want to be here with you” Hope says exhaustingly

“No you have to go back” I tell Hope “I need you to fight this Hope wake up” I tell her strongly

“Hope, Hope” we hear Klaus shout 

“You have to go back to your dad” I tell Hope worryingly 

“I'm so sorry i'm so sorry for everything that happened and i can't forgive myself” Hope says, and it broke my heart a little.

“Well to bad because I forgive you” I tell Hope concerned “I forgive you Hope and i know that your scared and I know that your sad and that's ok what happened this year was about hatred and ugliness that was born well before you, and well before me i need you to fight this Hope wake up” I tell her sternly

“I want to be here, i don't want leave you here alone.” hope says worriedly

“I'm not alone” I whisper to her “listen”. As we stopped talking and heard distant chattering “come with me” I tell her

So we walked towards the sounds where you could hear someone drumming a guitar and laughing. “Look” as we watched the pack talk around the fire and Jackson playing his guitar “Jackson here” as I said it we locked eyes and he stopped drumming and stood up with a concerned look on his face “my parents, Grandma Mary. i'm not dead because of you i'm at peace because of you” I tell her concerned as i turn to look at her.

Hope sighs deeply “if I go back will I ever see you again” she ask’s sadly

“ not for a very very long time” i sob laugh “so you better have some good stories ok, make art, use your voice have adventures, and have one totally epic love” I tell her while crying laughing “and be ever bit of yourself because of the very best of me is in you” I tell her. 

“I love you mom” Hope cry laughs 

“I love you too” I tell her and I hug her tightly as I whisper “always and forever”

“I don't want to let go” hope cries

As I give her one more squeeze and pull back to look around the camp. “I need you to do something for me,” I told Hope. “Live life to your best and never forget our bond and how much i love you we will see each other again one day” we both sob and give another hug as she fades away back to the living world I start crying even more. 

I look up and close my eyes just standing there and that's when i realized it was unnaturally quiet where was the quiet talking that was just here i open my eyes but all i could see was darkness, “hello is anyone there” I ask worried turning around and that's when I saw it it was a tree but one i had never seen before it was bone white with blood red leaves and what looked like a face carved into the stump.

“We have been watching you for a long time Hayley Marshall” a ancient sounding voice boomed around me 

“Who's there, and watching me?” i ask curious but also worried

“Yes we have watched your struggles with the ones you call your family and the love you have for your daughter and decided it was time to call you to us” the voice says

“Who's us, and what for, why me” I ask 

“ In our world we are called the Old Gods and we need a champion, someone who will change the game and let the Prince Who Was Promised become who he needs to be and if things were to let happen naturally we will not see the fruits of our labor.” it says

“But that doesn't answer why me” i ask

“His mother died in Childbirth like you did and that is not the only similarity she what would be called your doppelganger. We want to bring you to our world and change the future that is in store for him, as sour champion there will be a few things we want you to do for us if you agree and as a thank you we will gift you a few things but we will let those be a surprise

“What about my daughter, Klaus, his family my supernatural side” i ask cautiously if this thing really was a god then i needed to tread lightly you never know what could anger a god.

“We will let you keep your werewolf and vampire sides and a little plus, your family well when a member dies we will bring them over to our world, although one of the things we ask you to do is to bring down the Faith they have been ruling to long and try to suppress us we can't let this happen the more we grow in power the faster and alive your family can come understood”

“Yes my answer is yes” I tell them with a spark of hope in my chest I could see them again.

“To begin you will need her memories and when we take you into this world it will be 16 years after she died.”

“And her name” i ask bewildered

“Queen Regent Lyanna Stark Targaryen” they say 

I nodded in shock and told them I was ready and then all I remembered was a bright light that burned and I started having flashes of this Lyanna who I guess was now me and her life. The earliest memory was a 7 year old version of myself in medieval cloths playing swords with a boy who looked around 11 and i then i realized this had to be Brandon my brother i wasn't sure how i knew that but i did, another memory flashed and say myself at age 15 at a tourney fighting again 3 squire knights who had been picking on Howland Reed for his size and i couldn't let them get away with it so i dressed up as a knight of the laughing tree, i didn't know it would create the chaos that unfolded but it did. Rhaegar had found out it was me and kept it a secret from his father who order the knights death, but he was so impressed that a 15 year old girl put 3 knights who were twice my size into their place he crowned me the queen of love and beauty over his wife he thought i was the perfect fit for the prophecy of Ice and Fire since Elia his wife could not have any more children safely. 

The anger of what happened with crowning me was a bigger issue then we expected. A few moons later after constantly communicating with Rhaegar through letters we came up with a plan, in a moon i was going to go riding into the wolfwoods where i would ‘disappear’ i told Benjen i was leaving that father couldn't make me marry Robert Bartheon that he was a brute and a whore. 

But he wouldn't listen and break the betrothal so i had to do something and that when the plan came into action Rhaegar was going to meet me near the twins and he would marry me with Elia complete knowledge and support you see i hadn't just communicated with Rhaegar but also Elia to make sure she was ok with it I was young not stupid and somehow fell in love with her too. So me and Rhaegar met up with part of the kingsguard Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Oswald Whent.  And rode hard to Dorne Elia home she was supposed to meet us there but when we arrived we found a letter saying she wanted to be there but couldn't make it Aerys wasn't letting her leave the keep and to marry without her. So we had a septa and found a godswood to marry for my family tradition to marry under the old gods.

A moon later I realized what I was expecting. I excitedly told Rhaegar and we sent Elia a letter to let her know. Rhaegar and I talked and with Dorne's custom any of my children would be after Elias in the line of succession. I was 3 moons along when we heard of my brother rushing to the capital and ordered Rhaegar to bring me home i wasn't sure why they thought he kidnapped me i left letters in my fathers solar and my brother room but it was already too late because by the time we heard what happened Aerys had killed my brother and Father. And ordered the death of my other brother Ned and Robert and it started the rebellion. 6 moons later i was holed up in the tower of joy being watched by 3 kingsguard after Rhaegar was forced to leave and fight in the war Gerold Hightower arrived to protect me while Rhaegar was gone, i went into labor after learning the news of Rhaegar's passing and what happened to Elia and her children.

I knew i wasn't going to make it long after giving birth it was too much in every way but seeing my baby's face and learning it was a boy and not a girl as Rhaegar had hoped so he could have his Visenya, but i knew he was going to be a boy a mother knew my Jaehaerys my beloved boy who was going to live orphaned. That's when I heard sword fighting outside I asked the Wet-nurse Wylla what was going on and she told me there were seven men in direwolf armour fighting the 3 kingsguard. When I learned this I knew my brother Ned had found me, I started crying knowing this would be the last time I saw him.

I screamed as soon as another wave of pain hit me and for my brother suddenly the sound of swords against each other stopped. Wylla had took Jaehaerys to get cleaned up from the blood when Ned barged into the room 

“Ned” i asked softly

“Lyanna” he asks, slightly shocked walking towards me and setting the sword against the bed I lay dying on, and coming to the side of the bed and kneeling next to me. Looking at the bed full of blood 

“Is that you, is it really you” I ask weakly I could feel the sweat on my brow I was fading faster now i don't have long. Ned reaches to grab my hand that I started moving towards him “your not a dream” I ask weakly

“No i'm not a dream” Ned says sadly “i'm here, right here” 

“I missed you big brother” I tell him softly breathing shakly

“Missed you too” he says lightly

“I want to be brave” I say crying 

“You are” he says weakly

“I'm not” I counter watching as Ned moves his hand from mine and looking at the blood that covers it while his other hand had been brushing the hair away from my face.

“Your not going to die” Ned says in a weak conviction I start crying a little more and “get her some water” Ned orders Wylla who was at the end of the room next to Howland Reed. “Get a Maester” 

“No no water listen listen to me Ned” I ask of him weakly and he quiets down and leans his head down towards me so I can whisper to him “his name is Jaehaerys Targaryen” I whisper quietly “if Robert finds out he will kill him you know he will you have to protect him promise me Ned promise me” I ask looking at his face i could tell he was shocked he turned his face as Wylla brought my baby towards us and my hand slipped from his face and Ned took him to his arms “promise me Ned” I ask again “promise me” he lightly nods his head as he looks down towards my son and I felt myself fully slip away.

As the last of the memories slipped into my mind I knew I had to find him my/our Jaehaerys. When I opened my eyes once again I noticed I was in a familiar woods. It was the wolfwoods and I was completely underdressed for being in the cold. I was completely naked.

Chapter Text

As I stood in the woods feeling the summer snow fall around me all I could think of was my son and what he looked like now. I shivered as another breeze hit me and I looked around the wolfwoods. I wasn't sure how far away from Winterfell and I knew I couldn't walk around naked so I turned into my wolf form. Having my werewolf suppressed was insanely painful and I would never imagine that on my worst enemy except perhaps The Hollow that bitch was part of the reason I died and couldn't be with my daughter. I now understood why Klaus was the way he was before the curse and his obsession with breaking it. I mean 1,000 years with his werewolf side suppressed had to be agonizing and not good for his mental health at all.

As I looked around the forest it was always unique looking when looking through the eyes of the wolf and remembering it. Instead of the greens and browns that I knew the forest looked like as a human it was in shades of yellows and blues. I could see much easier at night and farther away. It was sunset currently as I made a mental checklist of things I needed to do currently.

1)Needed to find some food and water

2)Plan to figure out how to explain my age to the Starks and how I was alive

3)Find some clothing

4)Figure out what happened to my son

I needed to find some shelter for the night though I didn’t particularly want to be out in the open for any predators or hunters to find me. So I first went hunting for some dinner. I hadn't had food in what felt like a long time. As I started moving I caught the scent of a rabbit and followed the scent where I came across a small clearing. My vision focused onto a decent sized rabbit and I lunged for it, it startled but couldn't do much after I got my teeth around its neck and snapped it. I carried the rabbit with me as i looked for a safe place to rest for the night. 5 min later i came across what looked like a decent seized burrow as i sniffed around to see if any other animals had been near it i was lucky to find just faint traces of another wolf but didn't seemed like it had been near anytime recently. I squeezed myself through the opening and it was tight but it would work for just the night. As I munched on the rabbit I caught, all I could think of was my family and how they would take that I was back, Lyanna was back.

It was still slightly confusing thinking of myself as her I was Hayley but also not. I had her memories and her feelings towards people but I also had my life as Hayley and I lived longer as her then Lyanna who died at 16 summers. I knew I needed to think of myself more as Lyanna this was her people and her life that I was living now. It was just going to take a minute for me to get used to it. I finished the rabbit and curled up with my back facing the opening.

As I fell asleep I knew it was going to be an adjustment but I was ready for it. The real question was if everyone else could handle the chaos I would bring. My last thought was what did my son look like. Was he platinum blond like his father or dark haired like me and was he purple eyed or grey eyed? Was he happy? What did he know about me?

I woke up aching from being in a tight ball as I turned my head I looked out the hole I was in and saw the brighter lights trickling into the burrow and as I was about to crawl out I heard the sounds of faint talking and horse moving towards me, I froze for a moment before I backed up a little just in case they were out hunting. As they walked passed I could here them talking about hunting, the fainter I heard them the less tense I felt and when I stopped being able to hear them I crawled out and looked around. It was different during the day, more beautiful as the sun hit the snow it lightly glittered. The trees looked more vibrant.

I looked around to see where I should go. I knew I needed to find the Kingsroad that would be the best way to find my way to Winterfell. I hunted some more and found another rabbit and a couple squirrels over the next couple hours. I finally came across the Kingsroad; it was just a large compacted trail meant to be able to drive a wheelhouse across. I looked up to see the placement of the sun and noticed it was about midday.

I continued walking more north when I scent the smell of blood and then I heard the growl of another wolf and the sound of a snort and hooves against dirt i moved ahead more and came across a badly wounded direwolf and a large stag both were bleeding pretty bad and as the stag got ready to charge the wolf again I locked eyes with the direwolf and could see they were scared but also wasn’t going to back down, i wasn't sure why they went just running off maybe she was hungry but direwolves were sacred to our family and I couldn’t just stand by so I ran towards the stag as it was about to connect with the direwolf and landed on the back and reached forward an wrapped my jaws around the stags throat and started ripping. It was bucking hard trying to get me off but I wasn’t going to let go as it stumbled and started to fall. I leaped off so it wouldn't roll onto me. It was a good 13 hands tall.

As I shook my fur out and looked at the dead stag I couldn't help but feel like this was a significant moment. I wasn't sure why I felt this way but I did. I looked up and towards the direwolf who was eyeing me. I wanted them to know I wasn't here to hurt them so I backed away and showed my neck like I was submitting. They walked towards me and as I looked on I was blown away she was a gorgeous multicolored direwolf and as she walked around me to study me and when she came in front of me again she came up and rubbed her head against mine as if showing thanks so i did the same as we looked to each other I did realize I felt bigger then before i had to be almost as tall as her I wasn't this big before but maybe that had something to do with being in another world.

We made eye contact and as she slightly stumbled walking towards some bushes I rushed towards her and let her use me as a crutch so she she didn't fall and as we got off the path and down towards the river bank she barked and 6 direwolf pups came out stumbling towards us and as she laid down she looked at me again and nodded towards them as if she wanted me to watch them and she fell asleep. I looked on and got worried I didn't think she was injured that bad but I guess I was wrong. I looked towards the pups and knew I couldn't leave until she woke up so I layed down as the pups came closer towards me looking curious but none came super close as if they were worried. There was one though that caught my eye the most and he was a beautiful snow white with red eyes. I could tell he was the albino of the pack, the odd one out. He was also the most curious he didn't make any sounds but he was the only one that had the guts to move towards me as he came closer leaned my head down so we would be at the same angle he moved forward slightly and as we looked at each other i felt a connection I wasn't sure what it was but I moved my head forward slowly and my snout touched his. He backed up and that's when I noticed it he was mute he was moving his snout like he was barking but no sound came out.

He moved closer and curled up next to my body and when I looked towards the other pups they were playing with each other between me and the mother direwolf, this definitely explained why she didn't just leave though she was protecting them.

A couple hours had passed when I heard it the stepping of horses and as I looked up and towards the Kingsroad i knew i should have moved the carcass of the stag but i didn’t have time know I could only stand up and move to guard the wolves the mother direwolf still had not woke up she was breathing but I was getting worried with her injuries.
As the group from Winterfell came across the body of the stag they were shocked it had wounds all over it but not as bad as the wound on the throat it was completely ripped out. As Lord Ned Stark jumped off his horse he walked towards the stag and crouched down.

“What was it?” asks Jon as he asks this, the wolf that was eyeing the group from down the hill looked to him and felt a connection with him she wasn't sure what it was yet. He was a very curly dark brown haired, almost black hair teenage boy with dark grey eyes with strong stark features and a long face and a lean build with a brooding look to his face.

“Mountain lion?” asks Theon Greyjoy he was the ward and hostage of Lord Stark after his father tried and failed starting a rebellion, he was lean, light brown hair and blue eyed teenaer with a cocky grin on his face and that took away from his handsome face.

“There are no mountain lions in these woods” Lord Eddard Stark Ned for short tells the boys, he had a long face and dark brown hair with a beard that was starting to go gray making him look older than his 30 and 5 summers his eyes were a dark grey that could be soft as fog or hard of stone depending on his mood.

Ned stands and tells everyone to look and he pulls out his sword when he sees it looking right at them he sees a direwolf standing protectively over another direwolf that looked seriously injured and 5 pups around them.

“No one move” orders Ned the direwolf that was standing was a dark brown direwolf with tan around her face, legs, and belly.

Ned slowly puts his sword down as he eyes the wolf and looks toward the one that was laying down and covered in blood, he could guess what happened with the stag, he slowly moves down the hill towards the hill eying the wolf's eyes to see if she would attack

“FATHER” yells Jon, bran, and Robb worried

“Trust me sons” Ned tells them as he walks closer still eyeing her body language. As Ned moved closer to the wolf that he had no idea was actually his dead sister in wolf form. Lyanna looked towards the older man that looked so much like her older brother and as he got closer and put his hand out to sniff him and to show he meant no harm. She moved closer and took a sniff of his scent and it hit her like a train or I guess a ship in this world she chuckles lightly at her own joke. It was him her brother, he smelt like parchment and ink, a woody scent, and a metallic smell like sword polish. She found him or he found her either way she needed to convince him to take her with him.

“They are freaks” says Theon and Lyanna turns towards him and growls at him for calling them that

“They are direwolves” counters Ned to Theon shooting him a look.

“Can I see her injuries?” Ned asks the wolf standing in front of the injured one. She looks at him like shes reading his soul and like she understands him she nods and moves back so he could have a look as he moves closer to inspect the injuries she follows his moves very closely. He runs his hand along her side feeling the injuries and parts where to stag stabbed her with its antlers. He looks up towards Ser Rodrik Cassel; he was a stout older man with white hair and large whiskers; he is the Master of Arms at Winterfell.
He looks back down “tough old beast” says Ned

“There are no direwolves south of the wall” says Robb he was another teenage boy with thick Auburn hair, stocky build, and blue eyes says

“Now there are seven” stated Jon moving slowly toward his father and the other boys except for Theon follow. Eyeing the giant wolf he pick up a pup and offers it to Bran a boy who also has thick auburn hair and blue eyes. “Do you want to hold it?” asks Jon to Bran

“What will happen to them?” asks Bran to his father

“They don't belong down here” states Cassel

“Well if there mother doesn't get some serious help they won't make it” states Ned to the boys

“Alright give it here” Theon tells Bran, grabbing hold on his knife and reaching towards the pup in Bran's arm. Lyanna notices what Theon was trying to do and growls at him. And he jumped slightly, taking a step back from the giant wolf that was glowering at him.

“Put away your blade” Robb tells Theon disgustingly

“I take orders from your father not you” states Theon boldly

“Please father” begs Bran

“I don’t know Bran” Ned states thinking

“Lord Stark? There are 5 pups, one for each of your children. They are a symbol of your house, they were meant to have them, even better if we can help the mother then you could have one also if she permits” Jon states. Do they really not notice the other pup thinks Lyanna looking towards Jon.

The boys look towards Ned with hopeful eyes

“You will train them yourselves, you will feed them yourselves and if they should die you will bury them yourselves am I understood.” stated Ned to the boys “If the Mother direwolf decides she does not want to stay you have to let them go with her.”

Bran cradles the pup as Jon hands more pups to Robb. “What about you?” asks Bran to Jon.

“I'm not a Stark” states Jon with just an ounce of sadness that Lyanna could detect. As she look on at this boy who looked so much like her and her brothers with his stark look she had a feeling she knew who he was so with so much hope in her she leans towards him slightly and takes a whiff of his scent and she couldn't believe it it was him her baby boy should smell her and Rhaegar scent mixed in with his. As she looked closer at Jaehaerys or she guesses Jon she could see of Rhaegar mixed in the aristocrat cheekbones, when he turned his head in certain lights just a glimpse of violet could be noticed in his dark eyes, and his lean build were all Rhaegar.

As Jon goes to walk away he hears a slight movement in the bushes “what is it” asks Robb and Jon walks over to it and finds the Albino pup he picks him up and brings him to his face.

“The runt of the litter, that one's yours Snow” states Theon cockly. When Lyanna hears him call Jon, Snow she narrows her eyes at Ned who had walked up the hill to talk to Cassel about putting the Mother dire wolf on the cart they have with them to transport her to the kennels. What have you been telling my son, big brother, she thinks.
As they approach the castle with the pups in the arms of Robb, Bran, and Theon except for the Jon’s pup. Lyanna trails next to Ned eyeing him trying to decide how she was going to show him she was back.

They entered the courtyard where Catelyn met them. She was a beautiful woman older than the last time Lyannna saw her with long auburn hair that was braided in a southern style and had blue eyes. You could tell she was the mother of Robb and Bran.

“That took longer than I expected” states Catelyn eyeing the wolves with them.

“Sorry my Lady wife we ran into something that needed help” states Ned

“I can see that” she says with disdain

As Lyanna is half listening to the conversation between her brother and his wife she cant help but look around and notices some changes toward the courtyard, and was that a Sept in Winterfell she thought that will have to go and think to herself. Tuning back into the conversation the couple were having.

“..ennel master i need him to check on her injuries and see how long it will take for her to heal.” Ned tells Catelyn

“As my Lord husband commands” she says with clearly covered disdain.

As everyone splits off to do things that they usually do at that time of day, Lyanna follows Jon to the kennels where he left his pup with its mother and unknown to Jon the wolf that was following him currently was his mother that he wanted to meet so badly.

As Jon walks towards the training grounds to get some practice in before the evening meal he meets Robb who also had the same idea. They grab a couple training swords and get into position that they have been taught, he looks around to see if he can spot Catelyn she didn't like it when he won against Robb she always thought he wanted to become heir of winterfell, he didn't really care much about it be honest he was thinking of joining the Watch the next time his Uncle Benjen came back he wanted to go with him.

He didn't see her so as they got ready to fight he breathed in and breathed out focusing on the sword that Robb was currently swinging towards his chest he twirled out of the way and brought his sword up to block him. Taking a step forward swinging the sword to the left he hits Robb’s and the push against each other grinning. Taking a step back he moves to the right to try to get a hit in but Robb blocks it again, Robb moves to slash at him again but instead Jon ducks under the slash gets behind Robb and taps his back with his sword.

“You always over reach” chuckles Jon

Robb nods with a slight chuckle “next time Snow next time”

As they laugh with each other Catelyn who saw the whole thing she was not happy that the bastard managed to hit Robb she had a scowl on her face, Robb should be better she thought

Ned arrived at the end of the fight and seeing the anger on his wife's face he moves toward her "they are just taraining my love he cant win every single fight"

As Lyanna watched all this happen she knew Ned had not said anything to Catelyn about Jons true parentage and she would need to tell her. She knew southeners were scared of bastards and what they could represent they had their reason though, you just needed to look at the history books.

Lyanna looks towards Ned who started walking away and she decided to follow him. Ned was walking to his solar to fill out some letters he received from the Mormonts when he noticed he had a shadow. It was the wolf she was following him, she was very intelligent thought Ned you could see it in her eyes.

As Ned entered his solar she followed him in and Ned shut the door as he sat down in his seat to start on the letters he received. A few moments later is when he noticed she was staring at him. He looked at her and he chuckled

“Do you want a blanket or something to lay on is that why your staring me down” Ned asks as if she could answer but to his complete shock she nodded as if to say yes, a little weirded out he tries to shrug it off and moves the blanket that was on the back of his chair and lays it down on the floor next to him.

Lyanna looks at her brother and laughs silently to herself she was about to scare the fuck out of him. She didn't really want her brother to see everything so she grabs the end of the blanket and starts to try to pull it over her body so she could change back into her human body. Ned glances at him and laughs lightly and reaches down to pull it over her like she was trying to do. He glances back to his letters and starts writing again. When she heard it it was awful it sounded like someone was breaking their bones over and over again.

Startled, he looks towards the awful sound and sees the wolf changing into something else. He stands up and backs into the corner, all he could see was the back of a Lady's body with dark brown hair and pale skin. That's when she turned and he got a good look at her.

Lyanna turns and looks at him after transforming back to human and wrapping the blanket securely around herself

Ned looks at the Lady that looked so much like his little sister who died 16 years ago but looks slightly older

“Hello big brother” Lyanna states with a smirk and Ned gasps.

Chapter Text

No it can’t be thought, Ned anguished looking towards the direwolf who just turned into a person and looked so much like his dead sister.

“NO YOU CAN'T BE SHE’S DEAD” roared Ned with anger and sadness towards this thing that was in his solar that had to be pretending to be his sister.

“Oh big brother it is me and I did die but The Old Gods have decided that our family needed help for the future that was in store for our family.” Lyanna tells her brother walking closer to him. As she reaches where he was standing against the wall not able to go anywhere she puts her hand on the back of his neck and pulls him down to rest their heads together.

“W-what” he whispers looking into her eyes and seeing the swirling dark grey of his little sister's eyes and as he looked closer he noticed a hidden scar that was in her dark eyebrows that he remembered how it came to be.

She was 6 years old and running around the mess hall with Benjen following her like a pup. He and Brandon had just sat down at the table when their father Rickon walked in seeing his daughter and youngest son running around. He yelled at them to sit at the table for supper. Lyanna, startled by the shout, looked back towards their father and while still running ran straight into the edge of the table cutting her eyebrow open.

Looking at the woman who claimed to be Lya and had at least one scar in the exact same place as her and looked so much like her a spark of hope started stirring in his chest. “Lya is it really you” he whispers “you look older how is that possible” he asks

Lyanna looking to ned sighs with great sadness “that is a long story, one that I only want to tell once and with the whole family” she states backing up “but just know it was a life of betrayal, sacrifices, and the love of a daughter The old gods decided that when I died a second time that they needed a change here in Westeros so they brought me back along with the.. Abilities that I have from the other world”

“So it's really you then Lya” ask Ned the feeling of hope so high in his chest

“Oh yes now brother what have you been telling my Jaehaerys or should I call him Jon” she asks with a raised brow

“Omg Lya” Ned sobs as he grabs her and brings her into a tight hug.

“Oh Ned i missed you too” she mutters as she pulls back she wipes the tears that started falling down his face as he gazed at his little sister that he didnt think he would ever see again.

“To answer your questions about Jon well we couldn't exactly let him be called Jaehaerys that would have just gives him away and with the fact that his Stark features are more prominent then his Valyrian features was a blessing in disguise” he tells her.

“And the fact that he thinks he's a bastard?” she asks “does anyone else besides you and Howland aware about his parentage”

“No, when I promised you to keep him safe from Robert I knew the only way to get away with bringing a child back and to convince Robert that he was mine and not yours.” Ned tells her looking guilty “and you died before i could find out if he was trueborn or not”

“Well i can answer that easily enough he's trueborn Rhaegar and I married in Dorne under the godswood and a sept with Princess Elia permission” she states “now what has Jon been told, and your wife I saw the way she was looking at him she doesn't want him here she should have been told”

Ned sighs heavily and walks back over to the desk and sits behind it as Lyanna walks over and sits on one of the other chairs adjusting the blanket to make sure it wouldn't slip as Ned see this he takes off his outer shirt so he was just in his undershirt he gives it to his sister and looks away so she can slip it on he hears the rustling of cloths and a clear distinct i’m decent he looks back over to see his sister sitting on the chair with his shirt on and the blanket tied around her waist

“Well it’s good to hear that you were married but was it consensual did he force you” he asks concerned.

“No, of course not. We were in love, all three of us Rhaegar, Elia and I.” she tells him sadly “it went so wrong so fast” she mutters.

“Well that’s good but does that mean you weren't kidnapped” he asks “ and to answer your previous question Jon doesn't know anything about his mother I haven't told him a thing and my Lady Wife well I was going to tell her when i got back to winterfell after the war but i kept pushing it back with trying to get a hold of the Lordship that i wasn't prepared for and then it just seemed to late to tell her so i just didn’t.” he tells her guiltly

“Well of course i wasnt kidnapped. I left letters in father solar and Brandon's room telling them i wasn't going to marry Robert and i was leaving to be with Rhaegar and Elia.” she tells him confused “i'm not happy about Jon not knowing who his parents are and you not telling your wife who he is she deserves to know. I wouldn't be surprised if she just ignores him and doesn't want him around your children with the way the southerners believe about Bastards” she states

“What do you mean” Ned asks confused

“Oh Ned you can’t be that dense can you be Southerners are convinced that Bastards are there only to steal the birthrights from legitimate heirs, just one big example would be the Blackfyre Rebellions” she tells Ned with a shake of her head at her idiot brother.

“I- I didn’t know” he states

“Obviously” she drawls “ i haven't seen Benjen since i arrived where is he, did he marry?” she asks hopefully

Oh no Ned thought she's going to be pissed they were so close as children “now don’t be mad” he tells her concerned

Lyanna narrows her eyes at her elder brother mad why would she be mad i mean the only thing that would make her mad was if… “oh hell no tell me he didn’t join the Night's Watch” she yells

“...”

“And you didn't stop him what the hell Ned he should have gotten married have some kids” she growls upset at her idiotic brothers

“I tried to convince him but he believed that it was his fault you were dead” Ned states sadly

“What, why would he….” oh she thinks as she remembers telling Benjen she was leaving and couldn't marry Robert

“What was that you remembered something” Ned states

“When I was packing thinks to leave to meet Rhaegar I ran into Benjen and he tried to stop me as I was getting on the horse but well we all know i'm the best horse rider in the family and he couldn't follow me” she states sadly “he probably thinks I got kidnapped from running away from him and not the fact that I was running to him.”
“Well at least we know the answer to that” glowers Ned at her “ What letters did you leave to Father and Brandon because I don't know what letters you were talking about.”

“Oh well I left letters telling them I was leaving to marry Rhaegar and Elia, she couldn't have anymore children without risking her life and there was a prophecy that Rhaegar believed our child would be part of.” she tells Ned solemnly “someone is conspiring against our family. Ned, someone took those letters before they saw them. We need to find out who we can trust and we need our family together again all of us, the lone wolf dies..”

“But the pack survives” finishes Ned with a small smile

“Now” Lya starts saying leaning forward “tell me what has happened in the last 16 years that i've been… gone”

“Well i have 5 children with Catelyn Robb who is my heir, Sansa who looks so much like her mother and follows her mothers southern ways, Arya who looks so much like you sister it’s slightly concerning actually, Bran who’s short for Brandon after our brother he wants to be a knight and loves climbing the towers against the wishes of his mother” chuckles Ned “and last of the children is little Rickon who follows his brothers and Arya when he can like Benjen used to do with you. Theon Greyjoy lives with us as a hostage and a ward after his father tried to start a rebellion 7 years ago.”

“So Winterfell is just full of Children Brother can't seem to keep your hands off you wife can you” she teases at him

“Oh you're one to talk sister Rhaegar and Elia” he teases back with humor. “ I do have a question for you why do you look…older you don't look 30 and 3 like how old you would be if you didn't die but you also don't look 10 and 6 anymore you look like Your are in your early 20s how is this possible” he asks confused

Well Brother to answer that question I want your wife here but it seems we have some eavesdroppers” she states nodding to the door “so we might have some others we need to tell” she noticed the heartbeats outside the door 5 min ago listening to the conversation.

“Oh shit” a child's voice muffles outside the door

Ned stands up and walks to the door he nods to his sister to move out of the way of the door frame and he opens it looking at the shell shock looks of his children except for Bran and Rickon who were not there. “Now what are the 4 of you doing skulking outside my door.” he says looking down at Robb, Jon, Sansa, and Arya

“Were sorry Father” states Sansa with a frown looking down. “Mother wanted me to come tell you that Supper was Ready but I ran into them and they came to talk to you also but then we heard a voice inside the Solar and didn’t want to disturb you so i was going to walk away until well we realized it was a women and the mention of us” she looks back at him and then at her shoes again”

“I’m not proud of the fact that the 4 of you decided it was a good idea to listen to a private conversation but I guess you will need to be told either way” he states looking back at his sister who nods her head in agreement.

“Sansa Retrieve your Mother and bring her to the Solar and ask her to bring a dress with her” Sansa confused but nods her head in agreement and rushed off in the most ladylike way she could without looking bad. The last thing she heard when she turned the corner was hearing her father berate her siblings. She arrived quickly to the mess hall and found her mother talking with a servant. Catelyn hearing her arrival turns towards her with a small smile but upon seeing the slight grimace on her daughter's face she looks back at her, her smile slipping.

“Sansa my darling whats wrong” Catelyn asks concerned

“Father has Requested your presence at his solar and to bring a dress with you.” Sansa states looking up at her mother

Catelyn looked towards her daughter who had a serious look on her face. Catelyn face tightens slightly with a frown and nods leaving the servant with a nod she tells Sansa to follow her and walks her room with sansa trailing her and reaches her Bedchambers and walks to the closet where all her dresses hang up grabbing her most Northern dress that she least liked she folds it over arms and heads to Neds Solar. When she arrived she saw Robb, Arya, and her husband's bastard outside the door looking scolded and her Lord Husband standing in the doorway.

Lord Eddard Stark NOticing his wife appear with Sansa in tow and a dress in hand he nods to her solemnly “you asked me to bring a dress here” Catelyn asks with a worried look on her face noticing he was only in his undershirt and pants.

“Thank you my lady it’s for the women in my solar” he states looking anywhere but her and reaches for the dress taking it from her limp arms he holds the dress out and a slim but muscular feminine arm grabs the dress and looking toward his sister he nods and takes a step out and closes the door behind him so she can dress in private.

“Who is she” demands Catelyn once he closes the door “and why does she not have a dress, is it her” she asks looking towards Jon who looked as confused as the the rest of the family

“It is Jon's mother” Ned confirms and glances over at the shocked and hopeful look on Jon’s face and back at his seething wife.

Catelyn hearing Ned admit that the unknown women who was undressed in her husband solar reaches up and slaps Ned hard “you brought her here how dare you, did you fuck her again” she asks shakily.

“You dont understand its not what you think” Ned states with understanding how it looks

“Don't understand your bastards mother is in your solar with no dress explain to me how i don't unders…. Oh” she stumbles on her words when the door reopened and a woman that she only saw briefly at the Tourney at Harrenhal it couldn't be her though she was younger then should be now but also older then when she died. “Lyanna it can't be… you died your suppose to be Dead” she stumbles on her words looking toward the women that looked so much like her dead good sister she had dark brown hair that reached her chest a button nose piercing grey eyes and pouty lips with angular cheekbones and nicely arched eyebrows

“Hello Catelyn it’s good to see you again you've made my big brother very happy” Lyanna states with a small smile on her face. While the children and Catelyn looked at her with a shell shocked look on their faces.

“Wait wait i'm confused, my mother is supposed to be in there and if that's you and your Lord Stark's sister does that mean… who am i really” Jon asks with a confused and worried look towards Ned and the women who looked so much like the statue in the crypt.

Catelyn and Ned’s children also had a shocked look on their face as they gazed between the women telling them she was Lyanna Stark and Jon Snow noticing more of the details that were more Lyanna then Neds now that they had a side beside comparison. “Wait, so you're not my brother” asks Arya with a sad look on her face.

“Oh Arya he will always be your brother you were raised together like one but you are right Ned is not his Father that privilege belongs to someone else but if you want that answer we need to take this into the solar we don't want to be overheard do we” Lyanna tells her kneeling down towards to the little girl that had tears in her eyes she looked so much like herself when she was a child with the streaks of mud on the bottom of her dress and the mischief that was just barely hidden she was the only child of Neds that got the dark Stark looks with her grey eyes and black hair. Versus her other sister who had the tully looks with her Red hair braided in southern style and her bright blue eyes that looked towards Lyanna with a glimmer of anticipation.

“Right let's move in to my solar please” Ned tells the group and moves to hold open the door for everyone to pile in. As they do he makes eye contact with Catelyn and he could tell by the look in her face she had so many questions for him.

After everyone piled in, Catelyn and Lyanna sit in the chairs in front of Ned's desk while he sits down in his chair. Robb and Jon lean against the wall near Lyanna, and Sansa goes to sit next to her mother when Lyanna lays the blanket down so Sansa wasn't sitting on the hard floor while Arya sits leaning against Lyanna's chair not carrying that was ruining her dress again.

Lyanna looks down at Arya with a small smile. Looking back towards Ned her face become solemn “well since we are all here I guess I should start where should I begin” she mutters to herself

“How are you alive”

“Is HE my father”

Why do you look like that”

“When did you arrive”

“Can you teach me swordfighting”

“Where have you been”

“Woah slow down one question at a time” Lyanna states. Looking towards everyone who started sprouting out questions looking towards Catelyn she sighs deeply “thank you Catelyn for looking after my son even if you were not aware that he was, you could have demanded that Jon be taken somewhere else or be a ward at one of the other Northern house but you didn’t so you have my gratitude” she states while lightly glaring at her brother for not telling her in the first place.

“Of course Lyanna i might not have been happy to have my husbands ‘bastard’ child in my home but i would never turn down a child who was motherless” Catelyn tells her good sister still reeling in shock that this was happening and the bastard she was so worried would takes Robbs birthright wasn't even Ned's son but his nephew

Lyanna slightly smiles at her and looks down at the little girl next to her and leans down “with your fathers permission i will teach you how to swing a sword but to do that you need to learn to dance and to sew deal” she tells her Arya glancing up at the women that admired she contemplates the offer and nods her head. Catelyn and Sansa look on in shock at how easy Lyanna got her to take her lessons seriously.

“Who am i really” asks Jon stepping forward looking between Ned and Lyanna he wasnt sure what he was feeling at the moment gratitude that his mother was alive confusion that he wasnt Neds son horror that he might be the product of rape.

Lyanna looks toward her son who was the perfect mixture between her and Rhaegar and raised with the stark honor standing up she moves gracefully towards her son reaching him she reaches up to touch his cheek and he slightly jerks back as her hand gets closer to his cheek. Stopping her hand she gazes at him and he looks back seeing the love and acceptance of himself he moves his cheek to her hand moving her hand to the back of his neck. She smiles at him broadly and leans her forehead against his “you my son are Jaehaerys Stark Targaryen the first of your name the rightful ruler of the seven kingdoms” taking a step away but her hand now resting on his shoulder so she could address the shock of her announcement to the room “Rhaegar and I were married in Dorne with Princess Elia’s permission actually she was supposed to be there but couldn't get away from Aerys you see we were going to marry all three of us I was in love with both of them.”

The shockwave of her announcement went through everyone except for Ned who was already told this the shock of knowing that the person they saw as their brother was in fact their cousin and he was the rightful ruler of the seven kingdoms. Catelyn who was shell shocked that the bastard she loathed was not only not even Neds but he was a trueborn and a prince on top of that.

“What does this mean about the rebellion if you really loved him then why did King Robert and our family think you were kidnapped.” asks Sansa tilting her head slightly

“That’s the question I left Letters to my Father and oldest brother telling them I was leaving but I don't think they found them. I think someone stole them to start the war i dont know who but I will find out.” she recalls with anger

“How do you look like this and how are you alive? Ned said you died in a fever, was he lying” asks Catelyn. Lyanna giving one last squeeze of Jon’s arm she moves to sit down turning slightly to Catelyn.

“Ned told the truth I did die in Dorne in the Tower of joy from a fever what he didn't tell you that it was birthing fever not long after bringing Jon into the world I had enough time to beg Ned to protect my son after hearing what happened with Elia and her children i needed him to protect him because I knew I wasn’t going to make it I was already weak and it didn’t help losing more than half of my family.” she tells the room

“I killed you?” Jon asks sadly.

“Oh it wasn't your fault my son there were so many reasons on why it happened never blame yourself and i’m here know” Lyanna tells him softly

“Yeah, how is that even possible?” asks Arya bluntly. Looking down towards the girl Lyanna smirks

“Well it will be a long story, maybe we should have dinner brought here.” she tells Ned

“Yes good idea sister” Ned says standing up he moves to the door and opens it seeing the servant walking past holding a basket he orders them to come over. The servant girl walks over and bows to her liege lord

“How may I help my lord” asks the servant girl

“Can you tell the kitchen to bring supper in my solar 7 bowls and have Bran and Rickon fed with the childrens nursemaid” orders Ned politely to the girl

“Yes milord” she states bowling and rushing off to the kitchen to tell them what Lord Eddard wanted and then went to get the boys nursemaid before continuing her chores

Walking back in Ned sees everyone glancing between Jon and Lyanna still shocked from the announcement. Sitting back down he looks over at his wife seeing the confusion and slight hurt on her face he started to explain what happened with Princess Elia’s children and how Elia was raped and murdered by the mountain also known as Gregor Clegan and Prince Aegon little head was bashed into the wall until he almost couldnt be recognized and Princess Rhaenys was stabbed around 50 times by Ser Armory Lorch. All the while, Kingsguard member Jamie Lanninster killed his king by stabbing him in the back. When Robert saw the bodies of the princess and her children all he did was call them Dragonspawn and laughed at their bodies. When he tried confronting Robert about how Clegan and Lorch should be punished for killing member of the royal family. All his friend could say was I don't see any problems with it. Ned was so mad that he went to leave but before he could leave to find his sister for confronting Robert about the children he ordered NEd to go lift the siege against the stormland first and then to find Lyanna. By the time he found Lyanna in Dorne and could get passed the kingsguard Lyanna was already dying and there was no maester to help so he watched as his only sister died in his arms and promised to protect her son the only way he could see. With the fact that he was already sporting dark grey eyes and a little bit of dark hair he decided the best way was to say he got someone pregnant and he was taking in the child. “I was going to tell you the truth but things kept happening in the beginning that I kept pushing it back and then it got to point that it felt like I waited too long and I just decided I wasn't going to say anything” he tells Catelyn

“I'm not going to say i'm happy that you lied but I understand why you did you were protecting your sisters son it was her last wish” Catelyn tells him sadly

Before they could continue a knock on the door directed their attention towards it Jon walks to the door and opens it a few servants standing holding food stand before him he takes a step back so they could enter and they bring in 7 bowls of stew with a couple jars of mead and water. And they leave when jon goes to open his mouth Lyanna holds her hand out to silence him listening as the heartbeats and quite whispering of who was the lady that looked like Lord Eddard in the solar when the only thing she could hear was the heartbeats of guards at the end of the hall she nods her head to Jon to continue.

Looking confused on what just happened he asks “so can you tell us your story now.”

“Well to begin you should be aware this is not the only world out there” she states serious “and I wasn't always Lyanna I had another name”

“Wait what so you aren't our Lyanna” Ned stands up worriedly.

“I am but I'm not” states Lyanna “my name was Hayley Marshall and I died trying to protect my daughter from a great evil known as the hollow that was trying to take my daughters gifts she was born with. When I died The Old Gods came to me and asked for a champion someone who would change the path that the Starks were about to go on, one that would bring the ruin of the Stark line. Since I was the doppelganger of Lyanna Stark they decided I was the best. We were both Mothers and died trying to protect our children. But you need to understand I am Lyanna but i’m also Hayley we are one in the same they fused our souls together when i agreed to save this family”

Chapter Text

“So who were you before in this other world” asks Ned leaning forward with his hands resting on his desk. Looking towards everyone in the room, eyeing the anticipation on Jons face as he rests against the wall with Robb next to him. Arya sitting on the floor next to her chair with a hopeful face of a fun story to be told. Sansa was sitting on a blanket next to her mothers chair and had a worried look on her face. Catelyn was sitting next to her in the only other chair in the room looking between Ned and Lyanna.

“My name was Hayley Marshall and I was a werewolf queen”

“Whats a werewolf” asks Arya excitedly

“Well if you let me finish I could tell you” chuckled Lyanna at her eagerness “in this world to understand I have to go back over 3000 years in that world 2 tribes of witches yes they are real in this world before you ask, two members of a rival tribe decided to marry to combine their power they thought that uniting in peace they would be entering a new age of harmony. A marriage was arranged where two powerful witches joined to unify one powerful coven. That marriage bore a child for 9 months. The tribe elders came to visit the mother using magic to grant the child great power for the hope that the child would become a symbol of prosperity. But they had no idea what evil they were bringing into the world. Her name was Inaudu it was clear she was stronger than anyone could imagine. She had a terrible hunger for power and that's how the Hollow was born, but that was only the beginning of her end.

“Wait so witches are real like what” asks Sansa curiously

“They are servants to Nature they are meant to keep things in order but over the years they lost their way” Lyanna states

“So how is this supposed to explain Werewolves or whatever” asks Robb

“I'm getting their patient's child. Over time she grew and craved more power. Inadu would channel life and all its forms her hunger was insatiable. She loved the fear that she inspired in others her people thought her as ruthless, unfeeling, and empty. Until that became her defining quality. So they began to describe her by that only trait. The Hollow. She killed them all not because they hurt her or were unkind; she did it for fun. When her evil came too great to bear, the tribes came together to defeat her. Tribal elders managed to capture her using mystical bindings but even then with all that power Inaudu was still too strong. Death seemed to be the only solution. Four of the strongest elders each imbued part of their magic into a mighty axe she only had one weakness: her bloodline, when the weapon was ready they relied on her Mother the one who gave her life was the only one who could take it away. Before she could kill her child Inaudu cast one more spell. One powered by her own death. A curse on all who were present that night. She bound them to the full moon so once a moon they would turn into the beasts that they used to hunt her. Creating the werewolf curse. You see you had to kill someone to break the curse otherwise it lay dormant. My line was of Inaudu Mother.” Lyanna states to the room

“So let me get this straight this woman was so power hungry she killed for fun and then her own mother had to kill her but doing so they were cursed to turn into a ‘werewolf’ and in that world you were descended from the mother” asks Ned

“Yes, that is right” Lyanna states

So was there any other creatures in this world” ask Jon

“Oh yes Vampires, they drink the blood of living things and are undead. These were created by someone we call The Original Witch but My daughter unfortunately called her Grandmother.” Lyanna tells them.

“Wait what I think you need to explain more” says Ned with a worried look on his face

“Around 1000 years before I had been born a woman named Esther had married a man named Mikael. They were vikings. They fought wars and plundered land. Esther was a Witch along with her sister Dahila. Esther went to her sister when she couldn't get pregnant begging for her sister to help her she said she would on one condition she wanted the first born of every generation you see first borns in their family had great power. And Esther agreed and got pregnant soon after. 5 summers later Dahlia came to take the child named Freya her brother Finn watching everything and Esther pregnant with her 3rd child Elijah begged her sister not to take her but Dahila demanded it was the price for her to have children she demanded Esther tell Mikael that Freya died of a plague. Esther started dabbling in Dark magic to protect her children from Dahlia. Not long after losing the first born they moved to a new land and had the rest of their children. 24 years later after losing Freya they lived in a village near werewolves one night 2 of the brothers decided to to hide close to the werewolves to watch them turn. This was a mistake Nikaus the older brother carried his brother back to his mother begging for help but the youngest of the family Henrik at age 15 died. MIkael made their mother use her Dark magic to protect their family to make them stronger and faster and then werewolves. Unknown to them this would have dire consequences. Mikael fed wine laced Doppelganger blood to the children.

“What's a doppelganger you’ve said that before” asks sansa confused

“A doppelganger is someone who after a certain amount of year is born again they have a special blood meant for spells or curses they are shadow selves they look the exact same as each other the oldest one im aware of this line was Amara born 1000 years before the original family and was in love with a betrothed man. The 2nd I'm aware of was Tatia, she's the one that they drank the blood of. The brothers Elijah and KLaus now the age of 24 and 21 respectively, were both in love with the girl and they butt heads constantly because of this. Anyway back to the story after feeding his children the blood laced wine he drove his swords through their hearts killing them and then himself as Esther watched.

“So the solution this man had to save his children from the werewolves was to kill them. That seems counterproductive.” says Catelyn bewildered with the thought of this man

“I cant believe that their Mother just watched him do it and didn't try to stop him” Ned states

“Well the Mikaelson parents aren't ones you want to follow, actually the exact opposite.” Lyanna tells them “Later on that night one by one each member of the family woke up from death with the hunger for blood they learned that once you were a vampire you couldn't be a witch at the same time their brother Kol age 19 had lost access to his witch side. Some of the side effects they found were they couldn't be in the sun without catching fire. It wouldn't kill them but they would be on fire until they were out of the sun. Another weakness was the flower vervain which grew under the one tree that could permanently kill them that the siblings made sure burned. Another weakness is a werewolf bite; it would cause them hallucination and fever. Later when klaus killed for the first time he found something out he wasn't Mikaels son Esther had an affair with a werewolf alpha and Niklaus was the product of that Mikael enraged with Esther demanded she bind his wolf side and hunted Niklaus birth family to death starting a war between species. Mikael demanded Elijah help hold NIklaus down while he begged his mother and brother to help him while she spelled him. Later Niklaus would hunt his mother down, killing her for the betrayal and telling his siblings it was MIkael that did it. Mikael would hunt Niklaus and his family for the next thousand years trying to kill him. Elijah, horrified for betraying his brother and Rebekah who was the now youngest of the family at forever 17 promised Always and Forever this would become their family motto over the next 1000 years. he manages to kill Mikael after breaking his curse 1000 years after being turned. Now known as The original hybrid a vampire-werewolf

“So this guy Klaus has a side of himself that was locked away for a 1000 years just because his father was pissed that his wife cheated.” states Ned

“Sadly yes, what they wouldn't know was that Klaus being born a werewolf but turned into a vampire by a witch would make him have the ability to have children because of his wolf, because when vampires are turned into what they are it makes them infertile because they have to die first. Almost 100 years after they turned they learned they could turn others but they had to die with their blood in their systems and coming back as vampires who were weaker than the Mikaelson family. You see normal vampires could be killed by any type of wood and if they didn't have a special ring spelled by a witch they couldn't walk in the sun without dying vampires also have the power of compulsion and it's the suggestion to make humans do anything you want them to do. Although the original family could compel other vampires and humans, regular vampires could only compel humans. Drinking vervain tea is what makes compulsion not possible.

“So what does this have to do with you” asks Arya forgetting about her daughter being Esther's grandchild

“I think she's saying since this Klaus could have children he's the father of hers” Catelyn tell them

“You would be right Catelyn, unknown to me I got pregnant after a night together with Klaus. I had this birthmark” Lyanna turns and showed the crescent moon birthmark that was transferred on when they merged souls “and I was looking for my family you see I was given away when I was a child. So I was looking for who my birth parents were when Klaus told me he had seen a birthmark like mine in a place called Louisiana, New Orleans. I headed there only to be kidnapped and told I was pregnant. We had many problems with witches trying to kill Klaus and our daughter for the power she would inherit. You see she was born a tribrid a Vampire-witch-werewolf. I was murdered after giving birth and my throat was slit. Unknown to the witches all it did was turn me into a hybrid werewolf-vampire. After getting our daughter back we named her Hope but we needed to make it seem like she was dead so we sent her away with Rebekah Klaus’s sister. I ended up finding out I had an arranged marriage to a wolf in my family's pack and I was royalty there we ended up marrying and he found out about my daughter being alive. Later on we found out their sister freya was still alive and their aunt was looking to take Hope since she was the firstborn we managed to kill dahlia after a long fight. Many trials later Jackson my husband was killed. when hope was 7 our family reunited and we found out hope was being seeked out by The hollow and for the next 8 years we would search for a way to protect her in the midst of all that i was taken and my werewolf side suppressed and after a vampire named Greta wanted her son to kill my daughter I fought Greta and Klaus arrived with his brother Elijah that lost his memories and was helping the women kill my daughter so I ripped her finger off that had a daylight ring and threw us out of the house killing us both. I don’t know what happened to the hollow. I just hope Klaus figured something out.” Lyanna says sadly

“Oh gods Lya you went through so much” Ned says standing up and walking around his desk to give her a hug.

“Does this mean in a way i have a little sister” Jon asks cheekly

“I guess it would” Lyanna tells him chuckling back “She would like you very much”

“So are you human or did you come to Westeros as a hybrid” Catelyn asks concerned

“When I was in limbo talking with the Old Gods they told me that I would still be a hybrid but I had a few surprises waiting for me and when members of the originals die they would be sent here away from their enemies to start over. They've also asked me to keep the faith away from the North. There are things happening beyond the wall that old gods are trying to hold back but they can't do that if another pantheon of gods is trying to interfere with their doings. Lyanna tells the group aiming the end of it towards Catelyn.

“Are you saying they need the septa that has been built to be teared down” asks Ned cautious of his wife's anger

“Yes that does not mean they can’t be worshipped just no building’s in the north” she states

“So I can't have a sept but I'm allowed to still worship on my own.” states Catelyn not happy with this development “you know I would say hell with it and fight to keep the sept but as long as i can still worship on my own in private then i will allow it I mean I have to believe the old gods are real I mean your alive”

“I'm sorry Catelyn but I appreciate the compromise.” Lyanna tells her good sister

“Can we see your supernatural sides now?” Arya asks impatiently. Lyanna laughs and nods her head taking a step back; she lets her fangs descend with veins under her eyes, her eyes glow gold, and shows her half transformed clawed hand. Turning back to her normal face she looked around at everyone and Sansa and Catelyn had a shocked look on their face, slightly flinching back from her. The others had amazed looks on their faces.

“Does this mean i don't have to worry too much about losing you again” asks Ned with Jon nodding his head to the question.

“Yes brother it will take alot to kill me now” Lyanna states shaking her head at her brother “it also means you won't be able to ever get rid of me ”

“What about the wolf I want to see!” demands Arya.

“Now little one don't be rude. I can't do it now because I will shred my clothing but when we leave the room no one can be aware I'm back not yet anyway i have plans and for it to work i need to keep myself a secret first.” she states.

“Im sorry Aunt Lya” Arya mutters while everyone looks between the two in shock it was like pulling teeth to get Arya to apologize.

“So what exactly is your plan” asks Ned

“Easy the point is to put Jon on the Throne to do that thoroughly I will need allies. But first I will need to weed out who is still Targaryen Loyalists or at least hates the Lannister/Bartheon family and to make the North stronger” she tells the room

Jon looking at his mother is shocked he knew when he was told that he was the rightful heir that it was a possibility but to hear that she was already making plans to put him on it was mind blowing he was 16 years old he wasn't ready for a responsibility like that. “M-Mother are you sure i dont think im ready for a commitment like that” ask Jon stuttering over Mother not used to saying it

Lyanna beames at Jon for calling her Mother. “ it won't be soon there are a few things that need to happen before then and i would like you to have met your future queen first”

Jon blushes deep when hears his mother talk about him marrying. Ned glances between the two and smirks “ well I know some still Targaryen loyalists and the hatred of Lannister’s . There is House Tyrell Targaryen loyalist. House Martell with what happened to Elia and her children they are still out for blood if you were to bring them the mountain or Armory Lorch they would listen to you. The north will stand behind you.”

“And the Riverlands” states Catelyn with a Nod.

“Maybe some of the stormlands and vale but not sure who.” Ned tells his sister

“Well that's a decent list. At least I need to find a way into Kingslanding and find out how things are holding there if the people like the ‘royal family’ or not and how hard it would be to overthrow them.” she tells the group

“And the plans for the North” asks Ned seriously

“Moat Cailin needs repairing if the North was to be invaded, that would be our strongest point. And we need better trade deals. We are being exploited because we don't have many things to trade with. We need to be more efficient so maybe fixing up the roads would be a good idea.” Lyanna tells them

“This will cost many dragons, sisters and might take years to see the effect.” Ned tells her

Well Ned the world I came from was farther in their evolution. They had wheelhouses that moved without horses and a type of wheelhouse that flew in the sky like a dragon carrying over 100 people at once cutting travel times by more than a quarter.” she says

Everyone in the room couldn't imagine something like that but if she knew some ways to help the north thrive with less southern help the better.

“We will need to figure more details out at a later date.” Catelyn tells her ”it's getting late we should come back to this later”

“Yes that's probably a good idea wife” Ned says looking outside the window and seeing it was pitch black “let's come back together after the mid day meal.

Everyone nods their head and stands up to leave when little Arya looks right up at Lyanna and asks ”so do I get to see it now, you turning into a wolf”

“Arya, that's a rude question to ask” Robb tells his little sister. Throughout the last 5 hours he has had a roller coaster of emotions: the shock of his Aunt being alive, the sadness and joy for Jon, the anger towards his namesake and the issues his aunt has had.

“It's alright Robb” Lyanna tells him with a light chuckle she asks Sansa to hand her the blanket. And then tells everyone to turn the other way and after everyone turns she undresses and throws the blanket over her back and kneels on the floor and makes sure everything was covered “you can turn around now” she tells the family

They turn around and see Lyanna covered in a blanket kneeling on the floor, her dark brown hair framing her face and when she looked up she nodded and then they heard the sharp sounds of bones breaking and rearranging. Flinching back they were not expecting it to sound so grotesque. Lyanna finished her shift back to her wolf form and shook the blanket off sitting up and looking towards the group she could see how disturbing the sounds were to them.

Robb and Jon look at Lyanna who was now a wolf they were shocked to see the same wolf that was with the mother direwolf that had dark gry face markings and tan legs and body. “That was you” they said simultaneously shocked

Lyanna gives a light laughing growl at the boys. Everyone leaves the room and heads to their bedrooms for the night Lyanna follows Jon to his room and lays outside his door before he walks in he looks towards her. “You can come in and sleep in the room if you want Mot….” he stops himself from finishing his sentence not wanting anyone hear him call her Mother. She shakes her head at him and he nods his head and goes into his room. Lyanna lays outside his room protecting him from anyone that might want to hurt him. She wasn't going to lose him ever again.

The next day after the mid-day meal they meet up in Ned’s solar. Lyanna had gone hunting in the woods and got some food and blood before meeting up with them.

When Lyanna followed Jon into the room Catelyn stood there with a new dress ready for her to change back into. It was another northern style that was made practical for warmth. It was a light grey that seemed easy to slip on and off which was perfect for her currently.

“So where should we start” asks Ned

“We need to arrange meetings with the Northern houses to see which ones are loyal, ones that need more of an incentive and ones that we need to bring in closer whether by trade or perhaps marriage betrothals so no Betrayals can happen in the other world there was a saying keep your friends close but your enemies closer, tell me the current relations with the houses please” Lyanna asks

Ned looks towards Robb and Jon and asks “boys you have been practicing tell me what our relations with the houses and who we should keep an eye on, I will correct any mistakes you make.

Robb and Jon look at each other with an oh shit looks for being put on the spot “ our vassel houses are Karstark, Umber, Glover, Manderly, Reed, Mormont, and Bolton, Not to mention the Mountain Clans but i'm not sure their names ones we should keep an eye on Bolton and House Dustin.” Robb says

“The mountain clans are Wells, Harclays, Liddles, and Clays along with House Hornwood that Robb forgot.” Jon finished

“You are almost completely correct, you got all the main houses correct but not quite all the mountain clans. You forgot The first flints and the Knotts.” Ned tells the boys “ we need to look out for the Boltons, and Lady Dustin she is still mad I didn't bring her husband's body back from the war. Some of our strongest vassals at most to least are Reed, Mormonts, Manderly, Karstark, Glover, Umber, and boltons.

“Lady Catelyn can we look over the children of the houses and go over possible marriage prospects” asks Lyanna

“Yes but the children get the last decision. I'm not forcing the marriage onto them and we can ask to foster the ones we choose.” Catelyn says

Nodding Lyanna asks Ned to tell them the closest to age for possible prospects. When Robb comes closer and asks if he really gets the final decision or not. Arya gets upset and yells she doesn't want to marry and starts pouting. Sansa looks towards her mother and lightly asks if a Southern house was a choice at all. Catelyn looked towards Lyanna and down to Sansa “my darling it's not likely the only one remotely around your age is Robert's son and I'm sorry but with what the Lannisters did to Jon’s siblings i don't want you alone with any of them. There is Loras Tyrell but rumors are that he is a sword swallower so not him.”

Ned looks out to his children he never wanted to decide a betrothal for his children he wanted them to find love but at least if he asks to foster first they might get to know each other and if he decided to choose between two to three for each and have them pick it was better than nothing. Alright Robb your picks could be Alys Karstark, Wynyafryd Manderly, or Wylla Manderly. Sansa, your picks are between Domerik Bolton, Brandon Tallhart, and Jojen Reed. Arya your cho….”

“No, I refuse, I don't want to hear it.” Arya stubbornly refuses

Ned sighs deeply and looks toward Lyanna with a raised brow asking if she wanted to try to handle this. “Alright fine we will give you a couple years to decide alright” Lyanna asks. Arya pouts but nods her head anyway. “I want to bring Meera Reed and Lyanna Mormont for Bran at the least they will be friends for Arya” states Ned with conviction

“But Ned Bran is so young he only 10 we should wait like Arya” Catelyn stubbornly says

“No my Lady Wife, at least they will be here for Arya.” Ned demanded “Lyanna what are you thinking for Jon.”

“Wait i’m part of this” asks Jon confused

“Of course you will be king one day. I know it's new but we have to come up with at least a few ideas for yourself,” Lyanna tells him “I’m thinking
In terms or political and around your age you have Margaery Tyrell and Arianne Martell understood

“Yes Mother”

“On the other matter we need to fix up Moat Cailin first and then get the roads fixed up for easier trading

“Alright sister, then I want Bran to be Lord of it once it's finished.” Ned says Lyanna nods in agreement as they work out how long it would take for a full restoration. With their numbers it would take 3 years, maybe less if they could recruit more people to move there.

As 2 moons pass with the Starks sending letters out to their chosen vassel lords asking to foster specific children for the period of 1 year to choose betrothals. They arrived soon after things were hectic for a moon but everything seemed to be settling down finally. As 2 moons later they received a letter from Kingslanding Jon Arryn was dead and the king rode North.

Ned and Lyanna were down in the crypts before their father and brother. “It’s starting big brother you need to be ready, it's time to start playing the Game of thrones…”

Chapter Text

Winterfell had a moon to prepare for the King's arrival and his escort. So they were rushing to get everything in order. They had to make sure they had enough furs for the Southerners who were not used to the cold. Enough firewood for the rooms, and harvested food from their glass houses they knew the king liked to feast.

Catelyn was in the Mess Hall ordering servants to different parts of the keep to clean and get ready for the guests.She was also sewing a couple new dresses for the arrival of the King and Queen. Sansa sat near her while also doing her own embroidery for her dresses, Arya sat nearby while trying to do the knotts her sister had shown her. She wouldn't usually sit here and do this but she had made a promise to Lyanna to try harder and then she could start to learn how to sword fight something Lyanna told her was you need to know how to embroider and how to sew so if you were ever injured you fix yourself up and your clothing that might have got ruined. The two girls were surrounded by the Ladies that came for their brother Wynafryd Manderly, Alys Karstark, Merra Reed and Lyanna Mormont also couldn't forget Sansa's friend Jeyne Poole. Arya really liked Merra and Lyanna; they both knew how to have real fun and not just sit in and embroider all day.

Ned was addressing the letters from the Northern lords on how their children were doing at winterfell and trying to decide on who was closest to what Stark and the ghost of Winterfell and if it was real Ned had to chuckle at that.

Lyanna was currently in her wolf form in the Wolf woods following behind the Mother Direwolf she had finally healed up 2 moons ago but had taken a shine to Ned and decided to stay. They were currently out hunting with 6 rambunctious pups making lots of noises behind them. In the last 4 moons they have grown a significant amount. They know the sizes of young adult wolves. The two adult direwolves look at each other and just shook their heads as if to say children. Lyanna lifted her head up when she caught the scent of her son as he headed her way. She looks over at the other direwolf and nodded her head and moved to intercept Jon from the hunting the mother direwolf was slightly failing at because of the pups.

Jon had left to find his mother; he needed to talk with her. For the last 4 moons something would come up before he could cornered her to ask questions about his father and his family. It also didn't help that she was mostly in wolf form except for being in Uncle Ned's solar, and the occasional walk around the grounds in a flowing nightgown at night which he still thought was weird but they wanted to pull one on everyone.

Ned and Lyanna decided it would be a funny thing to do, People already thought she was dead. Why dont they make her a ghost, someone who walked around the keep and grounds in just a nightgown and no shoes? I mean who would guess it was her alive. Plus rumours would circulate about the ghost of winterfell hopefully bringing people there to hopefully capture a look. Now saying it was Lyanna that was the icing on the cake for when she decided to reveal she was alive it would mean there would already be rumors that people saw her.

Lyanna scenting the air, came across Jon who had a passive look to him. He was currently wearing thick dark grey trousers with a light grey shirt that was tucked underneath a heavy coat lined with a snowcat's fur. The animal kept killing livestock near wintertown and she killed it and gave him the fur. He was holding on to a thick dress and some boots that he set on the ground and turned around. Lyanna who looked at her son with a wtf look transforms back and slips on the dress and shoes. “What is it Jon” Lyanna asks ”you know this is very risky”

“I'm sorry but I've tried getting alone time with you for moons now but we always get interrupted. I wanted to ask some questions about… Father” Jon asks hopefully

Oh she thinks well it’s been a time coming “ of course i'll tell you about your father walk with me” she says starting to walk towards a waterfall she was aware of before everything had happened.

“Well Rhaegar was a tall lean muscular man in his early twenties he had platinum blonde hair and your cheekbones and your broody look” she chuckles at him “he had the most gorgeous amethyst eyes. He didn't love fighting he used to play the Harp at Flee Bottom and anything he earned he gave to the houses that the orphan’s lived in. he liked reading and he loved his family very much”

“It sounds like you loved him very much”

“Oh I did now that doesn't mean we didn't have our own fights and there were things I definitely disapproved of. But he was much better then Robert see he was 18 and already had 2 bastards i knew if i married that man i would never know the freedom of being me again he just wanted me as a prize not for me he wouldn't have allowed me to sword fight but that's how Rhaegar had met me.”

“So things weren't always perfect, how exactly did you meet” he asks

“What do you know about the tourney at Harrenhal”
“It was in 281 by lord Walter Whent for his daughter. It was said that King Aerys was not supposed to attend but he did; he was paranoid that his son was trying to overthrow him. People were shocked with how bad the Kings physical decline was. Jamie Lannister became part of the Kingsguard at this event. There was a great feast to start the tourney off and it was said that you cried at the singing of Prince Rhaegar and you poured wine on Uncle Benjen for teasing you. Lady Ashara Dayne danced with Uncle Ned at this feast. The tourney took place for 10 days and the competition lasted 7 days. The most memorable thing that I remember was a mystery knight called ‘knight of the Laughing tree’ they only appeared on the list for the honor of a crannogman i have no idea what that means though. King Aeys sent men to find the knight including Prince Rhaegar to find out the identity of the knights but it was said no one could find him he just appeared and disappeared. Prince Rhaegar won the Jousts and instead of crowning his wife Crowned you which was scandalous since not only was he married but you were betrothed.” Jon recalls

“Yes well what you are not aware about was the fact Rhaegar did catch the Knight but let them go”

“What why would he do tha…” oh he things seeing her raised brow sighing “it was you wasn't it”

“Oh yes it was and the crannogman was Lord Howland Reed at the beginning of the tourney Howland was taken and beaten by some squire knights and I couldn't let that go so I dressed as a knights and beat them. And then left I was only there for that but I was followed by Rhaegar who had found me when I was taking off the armour and well you know the rest.”

“He could have just taken you to his father he didn’t have to let you go” Jon states confused

“You need to understand Aerys was going Mad seeing traitors everywhere. But then he started burning people. That's when Rhaegar had a plan he was going to help fund the biggest Tourney of the century to disguise the fact that he was meeting High lords to discuss removing him as head of the kingdom in an informal great council. Knowing how the Kings spider Lord Varys found out about this, no one was sure.

“So Aerys had been correct on being worried his son was going to overthrow him”

“Yes and no Rhaegar had just been planning remove him from the political seat, maybe moving him to Dragonstone for the rest of his days but things went wrong.”
“Huh it's crazy to think of what happened if he had succeeded, where would we be now” Jon says

“Well this is how things are so we will make do with what we can now tell me your thoughts on being heir, because you have Daenerys and Viserys who are your Aunt and Uncle who are still alive just exiled in Essos.” Lyanna tells him

“I mean I don't want to rule but i know that depending on the state of the crown that will be the deciding factor.” jon admits

“You are correct if you really don't want to and the crown is fine. We can lay low, maybe meet up with the last Targaryens. I won't force you to become King. Just be aware from the rumors its likely to happen”

“If it does how do I get the respect of the people I mean i'm only a 16 summers boy that's never been outside Winterfell before you came back i was thinking of going to the Wall and joining like Uncle Benjen it would have been an honor to serve”

“Oh fuck no they never should have put that idea into your head do you really know what the Wall is full of not people like Benjen. Very few people volunteer for the Night’s Watch now. It's mostly full of rapists, murderers, and traitors. You swear off family ties and having a family and you would die there unless a king gave you a pardon do you understand me”

“Y-yes Mother I-I didn't know” Jon shakly replies “I still want to visit the Wall though if we are trying to better the North shouldn't we be seeing what we can do for the Wall provisions and anything else they might need. We've been getting some weird reports from deserters and I think it would be a good idea to see if they have any truth to them.”

“That’s not a bad idea if we talk to your Uncle Ned we could find a good time thats best for that trip. We can even talk to him about you leading it and seeing how much we need to teach you.” Lyanna says looking up Lyanna realizes they had been aimlessly walking around while talking and didn't actually arrive at the waterfall for 3 hours realizing they needed to get back she turns towards her son and stops walking “we've been gone long enough we should head back, but son know I’m here for you always ok”

Jon nods his head and turns around so she can transform back after a few moments of bones breaking. It stops so he turns around and grabs the dress and shoes. Looking back at Lyanna he nods his head “I'll follow you, I have no idea where we are at currently” she huffs a laugh and starts walking back to Winterfell.

When they arrived back Jon ran into Robb who had been looking frazzled

“Oh thank the gods move it” states Robb pushing Jon to walk fast to his bedchamber

“What is going on” laughs Jon

Lyanna watches the two boys with a glimmer of joy and walks off to find Arya she promised the Little wolf some sword practicing unknown to Arya it was just going to be feet movement first more dance moves.

Jon and Robb finally arrive at Jons room and enter it “I'm hiding here. I like it when a girl is all over me like any teeneager but it's too much. Wynafryd is the only one with some sense that she isn't all over me like Alys she keeps trying to corner me. I can actually hold an intelligent conversation with Wynafryd though.” Robb states

“Oh so you like the older girls then” Jon teases

“Oh shut it you you…”

Can't find a comeback can you” Jon says shaking his head at Robb

“Only because father and Aunt Lyanna aren't making you choose yet” Jon raises his eyebrows at his brother/cousin “fine your right i'm a little jealous” Robb mutters

“You just have to look for a Lady to help when you become Lord Stark. I might have to look for someone worthy of the title Queen.”

“Might be? I thought it was a done deal they are going to put you on the throne when the time is right”

“I talked to Mother today and she said if i don't want it and the state of the crown is in good hands she won't push for it.”

“What are you hoping for then Jon”

“I don't want to be king at only 16 summers. That's a lot of responsibility not to mention I don't have any respect. Everyone thinks I'm a Bastard, I want experiences and build my name before I go for something like the throne and show that I could be worth fighting for.”

“Well I can tell you right now you have a better mindset than any Heir who believes they deserve their title just because of their birth." Robb tells him “I can tell you there is no one better I would want to follow” Robb leans toward Jon and gives him a hug.

Jon pulling back says “look at us just saps aren't we just like those girls your hiding from”

“You did not just call me a girl” he yells tackling Jon and play wrestling with him

Jon's talk with Robb was what he needed. He knew he wasn't ready for the throne but maybe in a few years and maybe he would have his Mother help as Regent until he was ready to take it.

Time started flying by as the people living in the keep were kept busy preparing. A moon had passed all too soon Catelyn was in the great hall with Maester Luwin. He was a smaller older man with grey hair and grey eyes, known for his wisdom, loyalty, and practical approach to situations. He is a scholar of science and medicine, along with magic this is shown with the fact he has a Valyrian steel link. On his chain that he wears around his neck like a collar.

“We need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion’s chamber. I’m told he reads all night.” Catelyn states

“I’m told he drinks all night” Maester Luwin counters

“How much could he possibly drink? A man of his… Stature.”

“We’ve brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar. Perhaps we’ll find out

“In any case candles” she says at last

Theon, Jon and Robb are getting barbered when Jon asks “why’s your mother so dead-set on us getting pretty for the king? He asks as Robbs face is being shaved

“It’s for the queen, I bet. I hear she's ‘sleek as a mink’ Theon offers leaning shirtless on the poster of the bed

“I hear the prince is a right royal prick” Robb states back

“Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick. Theon says as Robb stands up and slaps the back of a shirtless Jon who goes and sits down in the chair.

“Go on Tommy, shave him good he’s never met a girl he likes better then his own hair” Robb states as the barber starts running his finger through Jons long curly hair for the best length and starts snipping hair Robb and Theon start laughing at Robbs joke while jon gets a concerned look on his face as his hair is pulled

Ban perched atop the castle wall gazes at the large royal procession that approaches Winterfell gates. He climbs down nimbly to go tell everyone

Catelyn and Luwin walk together to the courtyard passing Bran's wolf pup he named Summer who was standing at the size of a small wolf at 5 months “gods they grow fast” she says seeing bran climb down the wall she yells at him “BRANDON!”

“I saw the king! He’s got hundred’s of people!” he tells his mother excitedly

“How many times have i told you: no climbing” she scolds him

“But he’s coming right now! Down our road!” He says again grinning

“I want you to promise me: no more climbing” she says sternly

“I promise” he says looking down

“D’you know what?” Catelyn asks

“What?” Bran asks

“You always look at your feet before you lie. Run and find your father tell him the king is close” she tells him at last watching as he and Summer run off to search for Ned.

Arya watches as the grand entry of the king's horses and men she climbs onto a tall wagon for a better look wearing a helm and cloak. She watches as Prince Joffrey, a lanky teenager with green eyes and blonde hair, enters on a horse as well as the guard riding right behind him in a hound helmet.

The Starks stood in the courtyard in a receiving line, behind them stood the heirs of the northern lords as well as Jon snow

“Where’s arya? Sansa, where's your sister? Catelyn asks Sansa and she shrugs her shoulders not knowing”

Arya tries to scoot past her father to get in line before he notices her but he does and “hey, hey, hey,hey. What are you doing with that on?” and pulls the helm of her head.

Arya now irritated, pushed Bran “Move!”

Joffrey rides up, smiling at Sansas, Robb not liking the way Joffrey was looking at Sansa glares. The man wearing the Hound helm pulls it off so you see a man with dark brown hair and half his face scarred badly from a fire . The wheelhouse carrying The queen and the other children lumbers in, followed by King Robert. Everyone kneels as he embarks. Robert heaves himself off his horse. Ned looks shocked at the sight of his old friend, now fat and red-faced, a far cry from the muscled handsome face of their youth. Robert signals for all to rise and looks at Ned.

“Your Grace.” Ned greets

“You’ve got fat.” Robert tells him and Ned gives Robert a “What about you?” look. They start laughing.

“Cat!” Greets Robert Happily

“Your Grace.” she greets back

“Nine years. Why haven’t I seen you? Where the hell have you been” Robert asks turning towards Ned

“Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours” Ned replies

Cersei and her other children descend from the wheelhouse and walk towards Ned and Caitlyn

“Where’s the Imp?” Arya asks Sansa

‘Be quiet” Sansa tells her sister

“Who have we here? You must be Robb.” he says, greeting Robb “My, you’re a pretty one.” he tells Sansa turning towards Arya “Your name is?”

“Arya.” she replies

Robert nodding turns to Bran “Ooh. Show us your muscles. You’ll be a soldier.”

Jaime removes his helm. As Arya peers at him

“That’s Jaime Lannister. The queen’s twin brother.” Arya tells Sansa

“Would you please be quiet” Sansa begged

Cersei approaches the line as Ned says “My queen”

“My queen.” Catelyn echoed

“Take me to your crypt. I want to pay my respects.” Robert orders of Ned

“We’ve been riding for a month, my love. Surely the dead can wait.” Cersei asks of robert

“Ned.” Robert repeats

“Where’s the Imp?” Arya asks again

Cersei feeling humiliated in front of everyone, walks back to Jaime. “Where is our brother? Go find the little beast.”

Ned and Robert enter the crypts walking down towards Lyanna’s statue and tomb. Unknown to Robert was the fact she was alive and she was in the crypts. She had decided she was going to see her brother and father before she had to see that oaf's face again but hearing them come down to the crypts she should have expected it was something he would do. Crypts were meant for just the Starks but how were you supposed to tell a king no.

“Tell me about Jon Arryn.”

“One minute he was fine, and then … Burned right through him, whatever it was. I loved that man.” Robert replies sadly. Poison possibly Lyanna thinks but who.

“We both did.” Ned replied

“He never had to teach you much, but me … You remember me at 16? All I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls. He showed me what was what.” Robert states

“Aye.”

“Don’t look at me like that. Not his fault I didn’t listen.” They laugh. And Robert sighs “I need you, Ned. Down at Kings Landing. Not up here, where you’re no damn use to anybody. Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the king.”

Ned looks over to his sister who was looking right at him and sees her nod her head slightly this was their way into Kingslanding to see how the kingdom has been run

Ned kneels down saying “I’m not worthy of the honor.”

“I’m not trying to honor you. I’m trying to get you to run my kingdom while I eat, drink, and whore my way to an early grave. Damn it, Ned, stand up. You helped me win the Iron Throne, now help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived, we would have been bound by blood. Well, it’s not too late. I have a son, you have a daughter. We’ll join our Houses.” Robert says. Lyanna, disgusted with how far Robert has fallen rolls her eyes. Looking towards Ned she shakes her head no to a betrothal

Robert places a feather in the hand of Lyanna’s statue. “Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her.”

“She was my sister. This is where she belongs.” Ned says, looking toward Lyanna. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else she thought

“She belonged with me.” he states Lyanna wanted so badly to punch him

He touches Lyanna’s stone face saying “In my dreams, I kill him every night.” and in mine I tear off your face and eat it she thinks growling.

“It’s done, Your Grace. The Targaryens are gone.” Ned replies looking towards Lyanna again Knowing the had the true heir to the Throne here in Winterfell

“ Not all of them.” he replied thinking of Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen

Chapter Text

Inside the crypt Lord Eddard Stark and King Robert Baratheon are walking back out to the keep to get ready for the banquet. Ned, as Lord Stark's close friends call him, tries to come up with a reason on why Sansa could not marry Robert's son without him getting mad. He could tell his friend was desperate for them to be an actual family.

“Robert we need to talk about the children and you won't be happy” Ned says stopping Robert in the middle of the cavern lined with torches.

Robert stops and turns to his brother in all but blood, someone who he sees closer to him than his own blubbering idiots of actual brothers. “What is it Ned, why do you say this, it's easy you have 2 daughters and I have 2 sons we can make an arrangement” he tells his brother he was desperate for them to become family since he couldn't marry Lyanna perhaps his children could now whether that be his oldest or youngest son he wasn't sure but seeing how Joffrey his idiot son had looked at Sansa that could be a good match.

Unknown to Robert they were being followed by a wolf she was more than just a wolf though she could turn into human and she was the woman that Robert still yearned for even after 16 years Lyanna Stark. She couldn't believe how much he had changed. It made her more concerned about how the realm was being run. She watched as Ned had stopped Robert in the cavern to bring up the betrothal he wanted between the families.

“I can't let Sansa be betrothed to your son. The Northern Lords are already expecting a betrothal with her, we decided she gets to pick her betrothal in 8 moons.” he tells Robert hoping he understands.

“I cant say i’m happy but I understand wanting to keep your vassal houses happy and if you already promised them I know how your honor is like Ned” Robert tells him thinking about what he says “what about the younger one she even looks a lot like Lyanna her and Tommen might be a good match.”

Ned looking back towards Lyanna sees her nod her head he sighs deeply and turns back to him and nods his head in agreement he knew Arya would not be happy about her choice being taken away from her he needed to talk to Lyanna and find out why she wanted this he was so sure she was against the family joining with the Lannisters.

Lyanna listening to the conversation had decided it could not be Sansa. She was older soon to have her first period or as in this world it was called her first blood. But Arya who was wild as she was at her age had more time and if they could convince Robert to have Tommen as a Ward if worse came to worse they would have a hostage against the Lannisters. Plus the children were young as they age things might change.

“I agree we will talk about this another day to talk about the details” he politely asks of the king.

Robert nods and they continue back out of the cold crypts to get ready for the feast.

Back inside the keep walls Sansa and Catelyn are in Sansa bedroom while Catelyn brushes and goes to braid her hair into a southern updo when Sansa stops her mother “perhaps Mother we might do my hair in the Northern style tonight I don't want Prince Joffery to think I want to be southern with the way he was looking at me” she tells her mother worried she was to be betrothed to a Northern house.

Catelyn nodding her head undos the partial braid she had started on and brushes her hair back out taking pieces of hair and taking stripes of Leather and braiding it in and adding a few bronze decorative wraps to go over braids into her hair when Catelyn had finished Sansa had 2 small braids on each side of her face wrapped in leather with bronze bead wraps to bring attention to them and the front half of her hair pulled back into a braid with a detailed metal pin to hold it while the rest of her fair fell down her back.

Catelyn looking at her daughter with a small smile nodded to herself. Her daughter might have her looks but right now she has the look of the north now if she could convince Arya to sit down long enough to get that girl into a dress and hair down that would be a miracle. Perhaps if she found Lyanna she could convince her to get Arya to let her do her hair. She wasn't sure what it was about Lyanna that Arya would actually listen to but she was glad someone could get her to at least behave for a bit ever since Lyanna showed up Arya was actually paying more attention towards her lessons and taking them serious.

Later on in the day the banquet had started Catelyn had caught sight of Lyanna wolf form walking in the family hall where the childrens rooms were and had asked for her help with getting Arya ready she had nodded her huge wolf head and tracked Arya down who was hiding from her mother but with Lyanna urging she went and got ready and let her mother add a couple of braids to her hair with a couple beads like her sister. Lyanna who had briefly turned to human had taken Arya to talk to her about the betrothal offer that Robert wanted. Understanding that if she got told in front of everyone for the first time she would act out. Arya who was not happy about that arrangement shouted at her that she didn't want to marry and Lyanna understanding told her it wouldn't happen anytime soon and might not happen at all. For now to just pretend and maybe just become his friend first.

In the Great hall there are tables filled with many different types of food and candles for lighting. Many lords and knights were sitting around laughing together while eating. It was an enjoyous evening. King Robert was in the hall like many others and was getting handsy with one of the servants leaning down and kissing her while his hands roamed. Looking on with disgust, Cersei and Catelyn watched on. Catelyn with the look of a woman who couldn't understand why he would do so in front of his wife and feeling embarrassed for her. Cersei looks annoyed that he must do this in front of everyone, making her look like a fool.

Out in the courtyard Jon was practicing with his sword against a fencing dummy he wasn't inside because they needed to play the part of him being Ned's bastard and Catelyn not wanting him to be seen by the royal family. Lyanna watched on as he hit the dummy with hard and practiced strikes left, right, left, right, left Lyanna hearing the clomping of hooves into the courtyard turns her head and sees a man with gaunt features and sharp features with blue-gray eyes and long dark brown half tied up out his face that looked on to Jon he was wearing Full black outfit that was of a rich velvet, with high leather boots and a wide belt with a silver buckle, a heavy chain was wrapped around his neck.

“Is he dead yet” the voice calls out to young Jon. he turns at the sound of the voice and grins back to the handsome man who jumped off the horse and walked towards him. Lyanna watching the man come closer eyes him more, something about him was familiar but she wasn't quite sure.

“Uncle Benjen” Jon laughs, dropping his sword and walking to the 29 year old man who looks at his Nephew as he opens his arm for a hug. Lyanna watching on unknown to her little brother and it hit her hard that she was looking at him he changed so much i mean she understood that it had been years since they saw each other but the last she saw of him was this lanky teenager who followed her everywhere.

“You got bigger. I rode all day. Didn't want to leave you alone with the Lannisters. Why aren’t you at the feast?” he asks Jon grinning at he boy looking around and raising his eyebrow at the large direwolf who was eyeing him with a strange intelligent look

Jon looking at his Uncle knowing he would have to lie for now until Uncle Ned and Mother could corner him and tell him the truth changes his expression into a ruthful look said “Lady Stark thought it might insult the the royal family to seat a bastard in their midst”

“Well, you’re always welcome on the wall. No bastard was ever refused a seat there” Benjen tells the boy nodding sadly. Lyanna hearing this growls slightly at her brother no way was her son joining the watch while she was alive. She was going to have words for him trying to convince Jon to join maybe more than words.

Jon nodding his head sighs deeply looking back to Lyanna and then back to Benjen “If you had offered that to me 5 moons ago i would jump to it and ask you to take me back with you but things have changed since then.” he tells him.

Benjen looking at his young nephew now notices the sad look that used to always be there is gone and he stood taller then before where he usually was hunched like he was trying not to be unnoticed, he stood differently now. He wasn't sure what changed but he was happy about it. Nodding well i’m glad you’ve changed your mind. I'm curious about what it was. Have you met a girl perhaps” he teases

Jon laughing shakes his head “it’s something you will need to talk to with Un- Father” he stutters a bit he had gotten used to thinking of Uncle Ned as Uncle and not father.

Benjen, not noticing the slip nods his head curious “well I better get inside and rescue your father from his guests we’ll talk later, you should come in you are still Ned’s son” he nods and walks off to the feast.

When Jon turns around to go back to training for a few moments before going in as his uncle suggested he hears a voice “your uncle’s in the Night’s Watch” it states Jon looking on and seeing a very short man walking towards him. He was of blonde hair and chiseled jaw. The interesting thing about the small man was his mismatched eyes one was green and the other black as Jon looked on he noticed one the black one was slightly lower than the green. Ah this was the queen's brother the Imp he wasn't as ugly people made him out to be he thought.

“What’re you doing back there?” he asks of Tyrion Lannister

“Preparing for a night with your family. I’ve always wanted to see the wall” he tells Jon walking toward him and leaning against a wood post taking a swig of the flask of alcohol that he had. Looking on Lyanna eyes the conversation between the two she remembered hearing rumours of Tyrion he was 31 moons only a year younger than herself and knew that Lord Lannister hated his second son but the rumors of his smarts well he might just be someone they could swing to their side if the rumors were true and he hated his sister and father.

“You’re Tyrion Lannister. The queen’s brother?” Jon confirms toward the man that was obviously drunk

“My greatest accomplishment. You - you’re Ned Stark's Bastard aren’t you?” he asks looking toward the dark haired boy looking around his eyebrows shot up seeing the massive wolf that was eying the two of them it was of a dark grey with tan legs and stomach and markings on the face. Jon knowing he had to play his part looks angry towards the dwarf and turns away so he wouldn't laugh at the godsmack look as he saw Lyanna. Ghost, his direwolf was in his room currently napping.

Tyrion, noticing the angered look shot at him before turning around and walking away not noticing it wasn't real asks “Did i offend you? Sorry. You are the bastard though.” walking towards him

Jon who had smirked as he walked away making sure his features changed to an impassive look turns back around to face Tyrion “Lord Eddard Stark is my father” he states looking down at him lying through his teeth.

“And Lady Stark is not your mother. Making you a bastard. Let me give you some advice, bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor. Then it can never be used to hurt you.” Huh that would have been good advice if he was an actual bastard Jon thought. But he had a part to play and he wouldn't let his mother down.

“What the hell do you know about being a bastard?” he demands fake angry at Tyrion who had turned away and started walking back to the doors to the feasts halls.

Turning back around “all dwarves are bastards in their fathers’ eyes” Tyrion tells the boy. Lyanna, seeing the hidden sadness in the man's face, stands up and walks slowly so as to not scare him. Tyrion, eyeing the massive wolf walking closer to him, notices it was taller than him and gulps slightly. “What's their name who do they belong to” he asks looking between the two wolves one who was an actual wolf “are they an actual wolf they are much bigger”

Jon stifling a laugh as Lyanna moves closer and lays down in front of the Dwarf to be face to face tells him “we named her Lyanna after my aunt the she wolf” he lies not telling him that it was actually Lyanna “she’s a direwolf she belongs to no one but she usually follows my father or me” he adds on

Tyrion nods and watches as she lay in front of him and brings her head closer to his. He was surprised with the intelligence he noticed in her eyes and reached a hand out to scratch her ear. Being slow he didn't want to lose a hand for being an idiot. Lyanna watching him closely noticed this nudged his hand in the right spot laughing lightly he scratched the perfect spot never in his 31 years did he think he would be scratching the ear of a direwolf. Removing his hand he nods to the two and walks back to the feast. Lyanna and Jon look to each other and laugh as they follow tyrion into the feast to get some food

Back in the great hall where the feast was still going strong and many were laughing, drinking and dancing with music. We see Ned looking on, hearing a voice behind him say “You at a feast -- It’s like a bear in a trap.”

Turning slightly noticing his brother Benjen who had a small smile on his face he turns back and asks “The boy I beheaded. Did you know him?”

“Of course I did. Just a lad. But he was tough, Ned. A true Ranger.” he tells Ned

Ned scoffs “He was talking madness. Said the Walkers slaughtered his friends.” he tells his brother looking confused

“The two he was with are still missing.” he tells him

Ned scoffs lightly “A wildling ambush.”

“Maybe. Direwolves south of the wall. Talk of the Walkers. My brother might be the next Hand to the king. Winter is coming.” he states

Ned nodding his head agrees “Winter is coming. Benjen” he turns to him we need to talk soon privately in my solar alone in the morning there is something you should be aware of” he tells him he couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he sees their sister alive once again

“Now what are these rumors of a ghost here at winterfell” Benjen asks his brother. Before Ned could reply Robb approaches them “Robb boy. How are ye? He asks giving Robb a hug and a pat on the shoulder

Robb laughing tells his Uncle he was good

Catelyn and Cersei who sat together watch as the king gets more bawdy with a wench. Catelyn, trying in desperation to ignore the king asks “Is this your first time in the North, Your Grace?”

Cersei turns to Catelyn to answer before looking back towards the disgusting sight of her husband's hands all over the servant “Yes. Lovely country”

They turn their eyes towards Sansa and Arya who over the past moons had grown closer they still had things that bothered each other but with Lyanna help they grew closer. Catelyn turns back to converse with Cersei “I’m sure it’s very grim, after Kings Landing. I remember how scared I was when Ned brought me up here for the first time.”

Cersei notices Sansa approaching smiles and asks the little red haired girl “Hello, little dove. But you are a beauty. How old are you?”

“Thirteen, Your Grace.” she says slightly smiling

“You’re tall. Still growing?” she ponders

“I think so, Your Grace.” she nods with a small smile

“And have you bled yet?” she intrusively asks

Sansa, not comfortable with the way the conversation turned, looks towards her mother before replying “No, Your Grace.”

Cersei continues to question Sansa and asks “And your dress. Did you make it? Sansa nods her head yes smiling happy that she noticed “Such talent. You must make something for me.” she tells her with a small smile Sansa smiles back before going to sick back down with Jeyne and Arya who were surrounded by possible matches for betrothals.

Cersei turns to Catelyn “I hear we might share a grandchild someday.” she remarks not aware it wasnt Sansa and Joffrey that Ned and Robert had talked about.

Catelyn nods having talked to Ned before the feast and they talked about having Tommen as a ward and a possible betrothal for Arya “I hear the same.”

“Your daughter will do well in the capital. Such a beauty shouldn’t stay hidden up here forever.” she tells Catelyn

They watch as Joffrey smiles at Sansa with a gleam in his eyes that Catelyn didn’t like. Sansa trying to ignore him turns to her friends.

Ned, walking to his family, runs into Jaime he tries to walk around but Jaime steps in front of him again. Lyanna stood next to her brother watching this she wasnt a fan of Jaime but she was aware that he was only 17 at the time he killed Aerys and she might not know the full truth of what happened but she wouldn't forgive the fact that he didn't protect Elia and her children she knew he had liked her and wanted to help Rhaella everytime king Aerys had taken her in there bedroom from letters that Elia would send her when he would come to her when his brothers in the kingsguard would stop him. Knowing Aerys he probably had told someone to do something bad and the only thing he thought of at the moment was to kill him. Unknown to Lyanna she had hit it on the mark.

“Your pardon.” Ned states

“I hear we might be neighbors soon. I hope it’s true.” Jaime tells him tilting his head slightly he eyed the wolf next to them it was huge.

“Yes, the king has honored me with his offer.” Ned replies looking around then back to Jaime he didn’t particularly like him after finding him sitting on the iron throne and Aeys dead at his feet smirking.

“I’m sure we’ll have a tournament to celebrate the new title, if you accept. It would be good to have you in the field. The competition has become a bit stale.” he eyes Ned

“I don’t fight in tournaments.” he bluntly replies

“No? Getting a little old for it?” he says quieter leaning towards Ned

Ned chuckles lightly “I don’t fight in tournaments because when I fight a man for real, I don’t want him to know what I can do.”

“Well said.” Jaime leans back and chuckles lightly moving so Ned can walk to his family.

Arya, seeing how boring the night goes, eyes her sister with a smirk. Lyanna, noticing this, knows that Arya was going to do something to be sent to bed, eyes the two sisters. Arya puts mashed potatoes on a spoon and flicks it at Sansa.

“Arya!” she screeches undignified. Arya laughs at her sister face and sansa loses the anger on her face taking a handkerchief from Jeyne wipes off the food on her face.

Catelyn sighs towards her unruly daughter and signals to a laughing Robb to deal with the two girls. Robb, still laughing, grabs Arya and tells her “time for bed” taking her out of the hall and to her room.

Later in the night after the banquet had ended Ned and Catelyn are in bed talking “I’m a Northman. I belong here with you, not down south in that rat’s nest they call a capital.” he tells his wife with his arm around her shoulder and Catelyn cuddles into his chest.

“I won’t let him take you.” she tells him seriously. She was aware they didn't really have a choice and it would help Lyanna but she was still very much against it.

Ned scoffs lightly “The king takes what he wants. That’s why he’s king.”

Catelyn, now amused, leans up looking towards him “I’ll say, ‘Listen, fat man, you are not taking my husband anywhere. He belongs to me now.’” Ned chuckles at his wife and sighs deeply as she turns and cuddles back into his chest.

“How did he get so fat?” he chuckles again

“He only stops eating when it’s time for a drink.” she tells him with a chuckle Ned laughs along with her before leaning down and kissing her hair.

They hear a knock on their door and a voice “It’s Maester Luwin, my lord.”

“Send him in.” Ned announces

“Pardon, my lord, my lady. A rider in the night from your sister.” he tells the couple cuddling in bed. Catelyn hearing this looks confused and leans up pushing the blanket of herself and takes the sealed letter from him.

Ned, noticing Maester Luwin was about to leave, tells him to stay, getting out of bed and walking towards her.

Catelyn opens the letter “This was sent from the Eyrie. What’s she doing at the Eyrie? She hasn’t been back there since her wedding.” she ponders out loud.

Catelyn after reading the note looks shocked and rushes quickly to throw the letter into the fire that kept their room warm

“What news?” Ned asks confused

“She’s fled the capital. She says Jon Arryn was murdered. By the Lannisters. She says the king is in danger.”

“She’s fresh widowed, Cat. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.” he tells her but remembers what robert had told him down in the Crypts and how he went from feeling perfectly fine to dying quickly.

“Lysa’s head would be on a spike right now if the wrong people had found that letter. Do you think she would risk her life, her son’s life, if she wasn’t certain her husband was murdered?” she tells Ned concerned for his safety

“If this news is true, and the Lannisters conspire against the throne, who but you can protect the king?” states Luwin

“They murdered the last Hand. Now you want Ned to take the job.” counters Catelyn worriedly looking between the two

“The king rode for a month to ask Lord Stark’s help. He’s the only one he trusts. You swore the king an oath, my lord.” he says softly

Catelyn counters Luwin's statement by telling him “He spent half his life fighting Robert’s wars. He owes him nothing.” she turns towards Ned “Your father and brother rode south once on a king’s demand.” she says knowing he was going to go anyway.

“A different time. Different king.” Luwin states softly looking at Ned's back who sighed heavily.

In another part of the castle King Robert was walking drunk back to his room a few of the kingsguard trailed after him the kingsguard were Barristan Selmy, Arys Oakheart, and Meryn Trant

Lyanna had shifted into the ‘ghost of winterfell’ apparel she had figured if she was going to fuck with Robert the best time would be when he’s drunk and only half rembers in the morning” hearing the group move slowly down the hall she brushes her night gown down makes sure her hair is not crazy messy and walks across the hall you see the hall they were down was shaped like a ‘T’ so she would walk passed them their was a window with the moon shining into the hall that made her seem ethereal she turns her head to look Robert right in the eyes before saying “Robert” in a soft voice and turns back and continues to walk she hears a sharp deperate “Lyanna” as she moves out of his eyesight before hurrying and turning back into a wolf grabbing the dress and hiding it in one of the alcoves and hiding her wolf body in the dark shadow of it watching Robert stumble into view looking shocked followed by the kingsguard that were just as confused and bewildered.

Robert knew he had drank a lot that night but seeing the apparent ghostly apparition of Lyanna had made him sober up quickly rushing towards where they had lost sight of her he looks and sees nothing. He had heard the rumors about the ‘Ghost of Winterfell’ but seeing it was another story especially when he noticed it was Lyanna.

The kingsguard were absolutely shocked, turning towards each other with wide eyes as they guided their shocked kind to his room. Although there was one of the KIngsguard that wasn't that easily fooled, Barristan Selmy had noticed the inconsistencies that the king did not. The apparent ghostly arrange was older then Lyanna was when she died he surveyed the apparent empty hall when he noticed it in a hidden alcove was part of a nightgown he took a step forward when he saw it a Direwolf he could just make out its shape but they eyes were a bright gold. He ponders the connection of the direwolf and the lady as he brings his king to his bedroom and stands guard for the night.

Chapter Text

The next morning Ned gets up early at dawn to meet his siblings in his Solar. He gives Catelyn a kiss before getting dressed and goes down to the kitchen to have them bring some food to his solar for 3 people. He walks past Jons room where Lyanna had started posting herself in front of every night since she got back. She looks at Ned as he comes closer “i'm getting Benjen meet us in the Solar please” nodding her giant wolf head Lyanna heads to the solar waiting outside the door for 15 min she sees Ned and Benjen who looked exhausted coming down the hall. 

“--st I be up this early Ned” she hears Benjen ask at the end of the hall”

“Patients my brother you will see” Ned replies 

Ned looks down at his sister nodding and unlocks and opens the door for them. “What's with the Direwolf” Benjen asks eyeing her 

Ned gestures for him to sit on one of two chairs in front of his desk and before sitting in his. He takes a dress out from under his desk and sits it on his desk and moves to move the wood panes that when pushed against the wall looked like decoration but when moved it unfolded after moving it away from the wall turned into a changing area for Lyanna. They had decided they needed something in the Solar after many changes back within the past moons but it wasn't obvious on what it was. So they came up with this. Benjen watches his brother confused on what was going on, why was a dress in his room and what was this contraption. Ned after situating everything puts the dress behind it and moves to sit at his desk nodding to Lyanna.  “We found 8 Direwolves 6 pups and 2 adults this is one of them I would like to introduce you to Lyanna” Ned states gazing at his brother who looked shell shocked

“You named her after our sister” Benjen asks incredulous

They hear a knock on the door so Ned gets back up and opens the food seeing a couple servants with food he takes them and sits it on the desk for them to eat. 

“Not exactly” he replies, nodding at her once again and then to the contraption he was messing with. Lyanna silently laughing to herself knowing how much this would freak him out walks behind the changing area and transforms back and puts on the dress. Benjen hearing the sound of bones breaking snaps his head between Ned and where the direwolf disappeared to “What is going on Ned” he asks worriedly

Lyanna hearing this walks out from behind the area in the warm dark grey dress they had stashed in here. “Hello little brother” she says softly walking towards him

“I-I dont understand whats going on your dead you’ve been dead for 16 years you can’t be here” Benjen stutters gazing at his once thought to be dead sister in shock looking between the two. “Did you lie to me brother you told me she was dead why is she here now.” he demanded, outraged they must be playing some type of joke his sister was dead and it was all his fault, he thought.

“Oh little Benjy it is me. Ned never lied, I was dead” Lyanna tells him with his childhood nickname that only she would use. Benjen looking between the two looks closer to the young women claiming to be his sister 

“You can't be her for so many reasons” Benjen states still shaken by the nickname he hasn't heard in 17 years “ your not even the right age she died at 16 you look only in your early 20s not even your 32 summers that she would be not to even mention the fact that you cant bring back the dead” Benjen states outraged by this pretender that had even convinced his brother. He would later in the next 5 years dread saying this.

Lyanna and Ned glance at each other they knew this would be a shock for him but didn't expect that it would take this long to convince his stupid ass maybe she should have just stood in front of him and transformed.”Benjy please lis–”

“No don't call me that only one person has that privilege and she's dead forever” Benjen yells pointing a finger at her. Lyanna watching her younger brother get worked up throws her hand up in the air. She could see the tears in his eyes that had yet to fall so she needed to tell him something only they would be aware of. 

“Benjen remember when you and I would explore the crypt together when we little we found a opening behind our Ancestor Bran the builder once it led into a huge room that had part of the natural spring run into it and we would his from Brandon in there finding it fun to hide from Brandon our brother behind Bran our ancestor who he was named after.” She tells him looking for any recognition in his eye. Benjen hearing about the hidden alcove where they used to play and had almost forgotten about is shocked that shouldn't be possible only Lyanna and I are aware of the place i  never told anyone and i doubt she did either since we went even supposed to be that far down. 

“How no one should be aware of that” he demands not quite believing it could be her

“Oh brother, because it's me I have the scar from falling on the broken tower and breaking my arm, the scar from running into the table when we were younger. Its me truly me it's a blessing from the old gods they brought me back” she tells him seriously.

Benjen looks between the two and the last of his resolve crumbles seeing the look on their faces he stands up pushing his chair away  looking closer to her face inspecting it and wraps Lyanna into a giant hug not wanting to let her go “oh my gods Lyanna i've missed you so much its all my fault” He mutters in her ear not wanting to let go.

Lyanna pushed him away so she could breathe telling him “it was never your fault it was many little things that all boiled into what happened and I'm here now it's ok i’m not planning on leaving anytime soon.” She leans forwards to do the same forehead to forehead move she did with Ned when she told him. “Now there are a few things you need to be told because our brother lied to you about some things” as she says this while giving Ned the evil eye thinking I can't believe you didn't tell him the truth of my death our brother I mean c'mon she thinks to herself.

“What do you mean” he asks glancing at Ned he narrows his eyes “what lies”

“Oh yeah about that..” Ned stutters not expecting to be called out on it.

“It would seem in our brothers outrageously genius mind he thought to keep the truth of my actual death a secret and the product of it also, from the family” Lyanna replies 

“I’m confused so how did you die then i thought is was a fever” Benjen asks

“Ned found me on my Deathbed dying of the birthing fever after giving birth to my son Jaehaerys Targaryen” she states to him Benjen gaspes and looks between the two 

“Wait then what happened to him where is he” he asks expecting a White haired child

“Really brother use that head of yours who in the family doesn't quite belong” Lyanna states with a head shake. God why are my brothers so stupid sometimes she thinks.

“Oh my gods Jon is your son isn't he, wait if his name is Jaehaerys and I'm assuming if you said Targaryen he’s the rightful heir isn't he” Benjen ponders before realising what that means.  “Ned your taking care of a Targaryen child right under Roberts nose that takes guts” he states once again surprised with Ned with keeping it a secret for that long

 Lyanna leans forward and slaps the back of Benjen's head hard, making it ring slightly “Now I want you to be aware I'm not happy you are part of the watch. I wanted you to get married and have a family. It was never your fault Raegar never kidnapped me. I met with him.” she tells him “and Jon will never joining the NIght's Watch not while I live”

“Lyanna it's not a bad place our family has been putting men there for centuries it is an honor to be part of them” Benjen replies back affronted

“Your right Benjen, it used to be a place of honor to be there until the crown and other lords only started sending the rapists, murderers, thiefs, and traitors. In the past 200 years the volunteers for the watch have declined rapidly so there's more criminals than honorable men there and I don't want my only son there i don't even want you there but you've said your vows”

Benjen shifts uncomfortably with the accurate description of the Night Watch currently. No one wanted to give up the ability to have a family. Which was one of the biggest issues they were having with recruitment. 

“Now brother sit down this will be a long story about how I came to be this way” she tells him gesturing to herself. While taking a bite of the meat and cheese that was sitting on the desk.  

Later after breaking their fast the king and Ned’s conversation with his siblings is over and are situated on horses to go on a hunt. Robert moves his horse closer to Ned to address him. While the bustle of the guards walk around them in the courtyard of winterfell.

“Are you as good with a spear as you used to be?” Robert asks looking weary from his encounter last night.

“No, but I’m still better than you.” Ned states looking up to Robert

Robert chuckles at Ned “I know what I’m putting you through. Thank you for saying yes. I only ask you because I need you. You’re a loyal friend. You hear me? A loyal friend. The last one I’ve got.” he says relieved to have some to trust in Kingslanding

“I hope I’ll serve you well.” he broodly replies

“You will, and I’ll make sure you don’t look so fucking grim all the time. Come on, boys, let’s go kill some boar!” Robert demands as Ned chuckles the group move out of winterfell. Ned spotting Lyanna, Bran, and his wolf pup Summer nods to them. 

Catching up to Robert so they ride side by side Robert leans over to Ned and tells him “I saw the ghost of Winterfell last night” Ned was not surprised since Lyanna had told him this morning. Looks over and sees the look on Robert face that was of just devastation “It was Lyanna it had to be”

Ned look at his friend and just nods his head “I know i've seen her too” 

Bran, Lyanna, and summer are watching the last of the guards trickle out when summer starts sniffing around Brans feet “come on, you” Bran tells his direwolf 

Lyanna watches as Bran starts to climb the broken tower. Summer started whining after the boy was not able to follow. She knew Catelyn didn't like him climbing but she also knew the only way to get him to stop was if he fell and hurt himself so she kept an eye on him as he climbed. He got near the top when he started hearing weird grunting sounds.

He scooches closer to look into the tower. At first all he sees are broken pieces of wall, weeds grown into the building and random pieces of wood. When he sees them at first he only sees the Kingslayer doing something to a blonde woman who was grunting. She leans up and that's when he realized who it was. It was the queen, the Kingslayers sister. Shocked at what he was witnessing, he goes to move when Cersei sees him. Her eyes went wide with horror at getting caught she tells Jaime to stop and that's when he sees him. Bran tries to move away quickly but Jaime with long legs rushed to grab him before he moved too far. “Are you completely mad?” Jaime questions the boy who climbed the tower

“He saw us.” Cersei states

“It’s all right. It’s all right.” Jaime says trying to calm Bran down who was worried what they were going to do to him

“He saw us!” shouts Cersei at Jaime

“I heard you the first time.” he replies to Cersie  looking out the window just seeing the wolf pup and larger wolf he turns to Bran “Quite the little climber, aren’t you? How old are you, boy?”

“Ten” he replies
.
“Ten.” Jaime looks at Cersei, who gazes back imploringly. Turning to face Cersei he says “The things I do for love.” pushing Bran out the window without looking. 

What he wasn't aware of was the large wolf at the bottom of the tower heard everything that happened. She watched Bran fall knowing she couldn't do anything currently in this form but she could in her other. Hearing his small body hit the floor was heartbreaking. She could hear his spine snap and if he survived long enough to get him alone in a room she would help. So she started howling as Cercie and Jaime snuck out of the tower. She couldn't do anything currently but she would keep an eye on those two and tell Ned what had happened. 

It took a good 10 min of straight howling for someone to come investigate and it was Robb who saw them. Started shouting for a maester and he grabbed his little brother still shouting and rushed to Bran's room with Lyanna and Summer trailing behind them. 

Catelyn, seeing the limp body of her son in her oldest arms screams in fright rushing to them as they reach his room catelyn opens the door and Bran is laid out on the bed. “Did you see what happened?” Catelyn asks Lyanna who nodded. Catelyn was slightly relieved that they would find out what happened. Looks at her child who wasn't waking up.

Maester Luwin arrives and after running his hands along his back tells Catelyn he was sure Bran broke his back and he most likely wouldn't wake up and if he did he would never be able to walk again. He leaves the grieving mother alone. It was just her Bran and Lyanna so she begs Lyanna to turn back into her human form grabbing an extra blanket to drape over her.

Lyanna, understanding the anger and desperation in Catelyn nods her head. She turns “We need Ned here when I tell you what happened but first let me do this” she turns to the boy in the bed she transitions into her vampire face biting into her arm to bring blood to the surface she brings it to his mouth. 

“What are you doing” demands Catelyn startled to see her good sister trying to drop blood into her sons mouth

“My blood heals all types of wounds. It should heal him, it might take him a day or so to wake up though.” she tells catelyn who looks shocked. Removing her hand she nods and Lyanna bleeds into his mouth after her arm heals she nods and turns back into the wolf catelyn understanding opens the door so she could go find Ned leaving Bran, Catelyn and summer.

Ned and Robert entered the courtyard after a successful hunt. Robert kept Talking about the boar he managed to kill with a spear. As they dismounted from the horse Ned heard the sound of pounding paws behind him. Turning around he looked at Lyanna who looked at him with wide eyes and grabbed the end of his cloak to drag him somewhere. Ned, knowing it had to be something important, turns towards Robert and tells him he was needed somewhere. Nodding his head goodbye. He follows Lyanna curiously to the children's rooms. 

Lyanna nudges Bran door and Ned opens it to see Bran in bed asleep with Summer at the end of it looking at him as he enters turning to his wife “Whats going on” 

“Its Bran Robb heard Lyanna howling a-and found Bran at the bottom of the Broken Tower he fell I -I’m worried he won't wake” she tells her husband absolutely devastated she would lose her child “Lyanna saw what happened she said she wouldn't tell what happened until you were here”  

Ned nods his head Worriedly on what happened he turns to his sister and gives her the blanket that was discarded on the floor putting it over her. Lyanna Transforms back after wrapping the blanket securely she sits down on the other side of Bran turning towards her brother and his wife. 

“As soon as you left he started climbing. I was keeping watch down below when I heard it. It was very faint but someone was having sex in the tower.” she tells them

“What that tower is supposed to be locked its broken and not to be entered someone could have seriously been hurt” Ned demands angrily 

“Yes someone was hurt OUR SON” Catelyn yells at Ned hurt

“That's not the point its who the couple were, Bran didn't fall he pushed i watched it happen” Lyanna tells them disgusted

“Who was it sister who would hurt our family?” He demands. Catelyn, looking horrified that someone tried to kill her child, brushes her hand over her son's Auburn locks. Silently praying to the Mother that her child would be ok.

“It was Queen Cersei and Kingsguard Jamie Lannister her brother” she tells them

“What her own twin brother th-thats so-” Catelyn starts

“Barbaric, Targaryen, Sinful, disgusting” Lyannna starts listing off

“All of the above” Ned's deep voice growls. “We need to tell Robert if the queen is cuckolding him he needs to know.

“There is a chance that the children aren’t even his if you look at them they don't have any Baratheon features” Lyanna explains she had been keeping an eye on Robert's children seeing what kind of children they were. Joffrey was a monster and a spoiled brat that got away with so much and if the rumours were true of what he did to his little brother's pregnant cat well she was glad they convinced Robert to have Tommen and Arya to be betrothed and not Joffrey and Sansa. Tommen seemed like a sweet child, maybe a little too timid but being around Arya will change that quickly. Myrcella was a sweet girl a lot like Sansa in that regard.  Lyanna was incredibly suspicious of only seeing Lannisters look in the children though..

“So Robert might not even have any trueborn heirs this will start a war if it gets out” states Ned seriously “We need to tell him immediately”

“Wait you can't just tell him his wife has been cuckolding him you will need proof of such a thing. It's my strong belief that Jon Arryn died of poisoning and if such a thing is true about the children, well I think we just might have found the cause of why. We need to find solid evidence of the affair and the children before bringing it to him." Turning towards Ned Lyanna tells him “We need to be extra careful in Kingslanding we can't trust anyone but each other understand and absolutely no telling Cersei you are aware i know how you and your honor is but that will only bring problems to us. 

“Yes sister” Ned nods seriously Cersei and Jaime wouldn't get away with this.

Chapter Text

The next morning Tyrion woke up in the kennels where he fell asleep drunk. Glancing up he saw his Nephew and Sandor Clegane watching him get up. Off to the side was Lyanna who came to check on The mother direwolf who the Starks started to call her Shadowfax but saw the three men and decided to eavesdrop.

“Better-looking bitches than you're used to, Uncle. My mother's been looking for you. We ride for King's Landing today.” Joffrey tell his drunkyard of an uncle. Tyrion glares at Joffrey as he looks at his Nephew pointing at him briefly

“Before you go, you will call on Lord and Lady Stark and offer your sympathies.” Tyrion orders him

“What good will my sympathies do them?” JOffrey asks as Tyrion leaves the kennels

“None. But it is expected of you. Your absence has already been noted.” tells him seriously
“The boy means nothing to me. And I can't stand the wailing of women.” Joffrey tells his Uncle. Tyrion, hearing this, reaches up and smacks Joffrey for saying such a thing joffrey after getting hit gasps and shrieks like a little girl.

Lyanna watching this go down only thought this was hilarious, the Prissy Prince being put in his place by his dwarf uncle.

“One word and I'll hit you again.” Joffrey hearing his uncle say this gasps

“I'm telling mother!” Tyrion not playing around hits him again and points at his face

“Go! Tell her. But first you will get to Lord and Lady Stark and you will fall on your knees in front of them and tell them how very sorry you are, that you are at their service, and that all your prayers are with them. Do you understand?” Joffrey gets angry at his Uncle how dare he hit a Prince he was above him in every way.

“You can't…” Joffrey starts to say but Tryion slaps him once again.

“Do you understand?” Joffrey glares undignified that he was just slapped multiple times. Glancing down he mutely nods his head and walks off.

“The Prince will remember that, little lord.” Sandor tells the Dwarf

“I hope so. If he forgets, be a good dog and remind him. Time for breakfast…” he states cheerfully before his voice trails off at the idea of food. Lyanna watches him go and decides to get some food also before she heads up to Bran's room to check on him.

Catelyn was watching over Bran waiting for him to hopefully wake up. Summer was outside playing with her siblings. Lyanna was also in the room in wolf form since summer was not there she decided to stay and was laying on the bed as if she was trying to protect the boy. When she heard the swooshing of a dress she looked towards the door, when Cersei entered the room.

Catelyn who had been making a protection symbol for Bran had glanced up at the sound of the door and seeing Cersie standing there she kept the disgust on her face so she wouldn't show that she knew about her and Jaime. She quickly glanced at Lyanna as she was staring down the Queen. She stood up to address her by putting down the protection wreath she was making.

“Please.” Cersei tells her gesturing to Catelyn to sit back down

“I would have dressed, your Grace.” Catelyn tells her brushing her night dress down.

“This is your home. I'm your guest. Handsome one, isn't he?” she asks, glancing at the boy who was asleep and injured that she and Jaime caused “I lost my first boy, a little black-haired beauty. He was a fighter too... Tried to beat the fever that took him. Forgive me. It's the last thing you need to hear right now.” She says softly memories flashing through her mind she glances towards Catelyn slightly shocked face

“I never knew.” She tells the Queen surprised.

Unknown to Cersei what she just said certified the fact that the children were not Baratheon at all but Lannisters for Lyanna.

“It was years ago. Robert was crazed, beat his hands bloody on the wall, all the things men do to show you how much they care…” smiling softly thinking of the son she had lost so long ago “The boy looked just like him. Such a little thing... A bird without feathers. They came to take his body away and Robert held me. I screamed and I battled, but he held me. That little bundle. They took him away and I never saw him again. Never have visited the crypt, never.” glancing from Bran to Catelyn with tears in her eyes “I pray to the Mother every morning and night that she return your child to you.” Cersei tells her secretly hoping the boy would just pass away. She understood the painful experience of losing a child and would not wish that on anyone but the boy saw something that they can't be aloud to be told.

“I am grateful..” Catelyn replies to the prayers for her son but not quite believing them.

“Perhaps this time she'll listen.” she says before walking out of the room not able to handle seeing the devastation on the other woman's face and the soft face of a child who was injured because of her.

Lyanna after she leaves shaking her head at Catelyn and jumps off the bed to look for her son. They were leaving for Kingslanding and Benjen and Jon were headed to the wall. Benjen because he had Vows to uphold and Jon was going to evaluate the wall and find anything suspicious was going on.
In Neds solar sat Robert the two were talking about the possible betrothal between their young children

“We need to talk. I have decided that my children are to stay in the North. It will be a retinue of guards of mine that I pick and my Direwolf Lyanna who will come with me.” Ned tells Robert seriously

“But the children they will need to get to know each other you need to at least bring Arya with you”

“No Robert too many times has a Stark gone south and never returned. I will not risk my children. I want to foster Tommen here with my children. It would be good for the boy. I have been watching him and he is catered by his mother. It would be good to get him out of her control and with some children who are not Lannisters we have other noble children currently fostering.

Robert listening to his friends reasonings nodding his head understanding the reasons why and thinking on it “Im sorry Ned but Cersei will never allow Tommen to stay here in the North shes very protective of the children”

Ned sighs deeply thinking on what they could do he and Lyanna were going to bring to find out the truth of the children's parentage perhaps he would have Arya come with him but send her back when they decided it was getting risky perhaps she would want Tommen to go with her at that point nodding his head he tells Robert Arya would go with him on the compromise that Tommen was made his ward and would live in the hand tower with them instead of the royal family hall. Robert nods his head in agreement telling him that it could work and if they were to leave, Tommen was to go with them.

The two talked more about their future plans. Ned had told Arya to start packing for the road she would come with them. Arya was not happy about this change of plans but at least she could be with Lyanna, the one person she looked up to most. She was in her room repacking things for Kingslanding having Nymeria help her pack.

“Thank you, Nymeria.”She tells her wolf who brought her a dress, when she heard her door opening she turns towards it and it's Jon and Lyanna “Septa Mordane says I have to do it again. My things weren't properly folded", she says. Who cares how they're folded?! They're going to get all messed up anyway.” Arya tells them irritated

“It's good you've got help.” he gestures to Nymeria

Arya wanting to show off the trick she had been teaching Nymeria says “Watch. Nymeria, gloves.” and she gestures her head when she doesn't move

“Impressive.” Jon replies in humor

Arya irritated replies“Shut up. Nymeria, gloves!”

“I have something for you. And it has to be packed very carefully.” Jon tells her

“A present?” she asks hopefully

“Close the door.” he demands lightly. Arya rushes to close the food to see what her brother got her.“This is no toy. Be careful you don't cut yourself.” he tells her pulling out the
wrapped blade and laying it on her bed. Picking it up scabbard and all her turns back to her holding the thin blade out for her to see

“It's so skinny.” Jon lightly laughs at her reply

“So are you. I had the blacksmith make it for you special. It won't hack a man's head off, but it can poke him full of holes if you're quick enough.” he replies

“I can be quick.” she tells him

“You'll have to work at it every day. How does it feel? Do you like the balance?” he asks as she holds it out inspecting the blade

“I think so.” she tells him excited for the blade

“First lesson: Stick them with the pointy end.” he says leaning down to rest a hand on her shoulder

“I know which end to use.” she tells him irritated turning to Lyanna who was watching them “can you believe him like I wouldn't know what end to use”

“I'm going to miss you…” he tells her lightly jerking slightly when she went to give him a hug but was holding the sword still and got it close to his face “Careful…” he tells her she drops the sword on her bed jumping up to give him a hug “All the best swords have names, you know.”

“Sansa can keep her sewing needles. I've got a needle of my own.” She tells him, Hugging tighter Jon who was going to miss his little sister while gone hugs her a little more.
Jon after saying his goodbyes to Arya walks over to Bran room where Catelyn still sat followed by Lyanna. he was still anxious talking with Lady Catelyn but things had gotten better since she was aware that he wasn't Neds child. Seeing her wrap a doll he tells her “I came to say goodbye to Bran.”

Catelyn turns towards him nodding “alright go on then”

Jon nods slightly hesitating for a moment before walking to the edge of the bed near Bran's head“I wish I could be here when you wake up. I'm going north with Uncle Benjen.im headed to the Night's Watch I wont join but there are inconsities that are happening.” Leaning down to tell him “I know we always talked about seeing the Wall together, but you'll be able to come visit me at Castle Black when you're better. I'll know my way around by then. We can go out walking beyond the Wall, if you're not afraid.” he tells the sleeping boy.

“Thank you Jon” she tells him looking at him leaning over to pat the hand that rests on the bed

That's when Ned walked into the room glancing over to his father figure he gave a kiss to Bran’s brow not sure when he would see him again and walked out. Lyanna didn't follow them out this time needing to talk to the couple

“17 years ago you rode off with Robert Baratheon. You came back a year later with another woman's son. And now you're leaving again.” She tells him worried it might not have been his child in the first place but it seemed every time he left for war he came back with another child. First it was Jon then it was Theon. He might not have cheated on her
yet but she knew that men had their needs and what would happen if she couldn't meet them because they were hundreds of miles apart from each other

“I have no choice.” he tells her gruffly looking at her not wanting to leave his wife

Catelyn Stark: “That's what men always say when honor calls. That's what you tell your families, tell yourselves. You do have a choice. And you've made it. I can't do it, Ned. I really can't.” she tells him crying not wanting him to leave her again especially since their child is still not awake

“You can. You must.” he tells her seriously

Lyanna, looking between the couple feeling like she shouldn't be in the room, walks over a blanket down catching their attention. Catelyn seeing what she wanted, wipes her
eyes and grabs the blanket draping it over her body so Lyanna could turn into her human form.
Turning towards her brother she says “while on the road I will very rarely be able to turn human, do not let Arya bring her direwolf with us real wolves won't do well in the southern heat and that many people.”

Nodding his head in agreement he asks if that was all she starts to nod but stops herself “we need a way to tell if something is going wrong to signal besides just howling maybe a false and truth signal since I can walk around without people quieting down.”

Ned nods his head in agreement “how about you sit down for false laydown for truth”

Lyanna thinking of this nods her head glancing over at bran who looked better already but had yet to wake “send a letter immediately when he wakes and anything that might be different”

“Different how” Catelyn asks

“I don't know how vampire blood will mix with his lineage” she tells her good sister

Before shifting into wolf form to check on Sansa and Robb before they left. Walking the halls of the keep she finds Sansa sewing with the other young ladies walking in she walks straight to her and bites the edge of her dress and starts pulling her out of the room Sansa laughs understanding she was needed says goodbye to the ladies and follows Lyanna to her bedchambers where she throws a blanket on her. After turning back into human she asks Sansa to run and get Jon and Robb she needed to talk to the three of them. Nodding her head she left to find Robb enjoying the company of his betrothal and Jon leaving to get his horse packed but stops them telling them that they were needed and to follow her. They nodded and followed her to her bedchambers where Lyanna was waiting

“We are leaving soon so I want to talk to you before I leave” she tells the three.
Turning towards Sansa who looked at Lyanna “I understand by the time we come home you would have picked the man you will marry let me tell you don't settle for less then you deserve. You are an amazing young lady and will do your house justice.” Sansa, hearing this nods her head in thanks and gives her Aunt a hug goodbye before leaving to meet with the other noble ladies to think more on her possible betrothals.

She turns to Robb who looked at his Aunt with curiosity on what wisdom she wanted to share with him “you will be married by the time we arrive home, you will be helping your mother run the North so let me tell you it won't be easy, so talking with others for advice is admirable your young and have a lot to learn but with help I can see you raising the North into something great.” hearing this Robb nods his head in thanks giving his Aunt a hug he leaves to say goodbye to Arya.

Lastly she turns towards her son “My son I hate that i'm leaving you once more but know I will always be there for you” she tells him “you never know what helping underdogs could do for you, you will have to make hard decisions in your life and sometimes that will go against what others believe I want you to understand I believe in you and i will always love you no matter any mistakes you make understand.” she demands Jon who looked at his mother now understanding the devotion of a mothers love. Nods his head in agreement he would take her words to heart for the rest of his life. He kisses his mother cheek before giving her a hug and leaves the room so he could pack up his horse for the ride.

In the courtyard Jon is carrying a saddle when Robb walks up to him asking “You've said goodbye to Bran? He's not going to die. I know it.” Robb tells him as Jon walks to his horse

“You Starks are hard to kill.” states Jon

“My mother?” asks Robbs

“She was very kind.”

“Good.” he nods “Next time I see you i'll be married” he tells Jon

“better you than me”

“don't forget you are also a Stark, farewell Snow.” he tells Jon who glances at him and they share a smile full of secrets.

“And you, Stark.” giving each other a hug Robb walks off to his betrothal who was not far from where they stood. He ended up picking Wynafryd Manderly she was a few years older then himself but the perfect person for him she was kind but knew how to put her foot down on things she wanted.

The Starks looked behind at the family they were leaving, Catelyn stood outside with Rickon, Robb, and Sansa who waved goodbye. Ned and Jon nod their head goodbye before looking forward to the long road ahead of them they rode for a good few hours before Jon, Benjen and Tyrion and a couple Lannister guards were to separate from them on the road.

Ned stops to turn to Jon with Lyanna trotting next to them. The horses in the beginning were skittish but once realizing she wasn't going to attack them walked calmly next to her. They watch as Benjen turns with Tyrion and some guards to separate from the group to follow another trail to The Wall.

“There's great honor serving in the Night's Watch. The Starks have manned the Wall for thousands of years. And you are a Stark. You might not have my name, but you have my blood.” Ned tells him while Lyanna stares him down

“You know uncle if I wasn't aware of the truth I would have joined but it would seem Mother has banned me from joining” he chuckles lightly looking at Lyanna “I will find out the resources the Wall needs and find out if there is any truth behind what we've been hearing from deserters”

Eddard Stark: “Be careful Jon your Mother would kill me if you were injured badly” Ned tells him glancing down at her who nodded her head in agreement he says goodbye and watches as Ned and Lyanna trot quickly to catch up to the usurper King and his Kingsguard. Glancing forward he catches up with his uncle Benjen

A couple days later they are stopped for rest during midday Robert has a mini table full of wine and food with Ned near him with his direwolf Lyanna.

Robert glancing around at the flat plains ahead tells Ned “Gods, this is country! I've half a mind to leave them all behind and keep going.”

“I've half a mind to go with you.” Ned tells Robert glancing around shifting slightly

“What do you say, just you and me on the Kingsroad, swords at our sides, a couple of tavern wenches to warm our beds tonight.” Robert asks his friend joyfully.

“You should have asked me 20 years ago.” Ned chuckles slightly

“There were wars to fight, women to marry... We never had the chance to be young.” Robert laughs happily

“I recall a few chances.”he counters looking at his friend

Robert laughs loudly “There was that one... Oh, what was her name? That common girl of yours? Becca? With the great big tits you could bury your face in.” he asks

“Bessie. She was one of yours.” he counters. While Lyanna watched on

“Bessie! Thank the gods for Bessie and her tits. Yours was... Aleena? No. You told me once. Meryl? Your bastard's mother?” he asks confused

“Wylla.” Ned lies. Lyanna watches them banter back and forth disgusted by the comments Robert was making, huh using the wet nurse as a backstory was a smart move on Ned's part, she thinks.

“That's it. She must have been a rare wench to make Lord Eddard Stark forget his honor. You never told me what she looked like.” he probs for more information

“Nor will I.” counters Ned not wanting to have to continue and lie.

“We were at war. None of us knew if we were gonna go back home again. You're too hard on yourself. You always have been.” he tells Ned noticing the frown on his face thinking it had to do with sleeping with someone outside of his wedding vows.“I swear if I weren't your King, you'd have hit me already.” he tells him

“The worst thing about your coronation... I'll never get to hit you again.” jokingly Ned tells him

“Trust me, that's not the worst thing. There was a rider in the night.” he tells Ned, handing Ned the letter.

Opening the letter Ned summarises its contents outloud “Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horse lord. What of it? Should we send her a wedding gift?” he asks of his friend glancing quickly to Lyannna who had perked up at the name. Rhaegar sister she winces slightly not wanting to imagine what the poor girl was having to go through she would need to find her at some point in the future.

“A knife perhaps, a good sharp one, and a bold man to wield it.” Robert tells him irritated with the last of the Targaryens

“She's little more than a child.” He counters

“Soon enough that child will spread her legs and start breeding.” he says gruffly

“Tell me we're not speaking of this.” Ned asks his friend irritated

“Oh, it's unspeakable to you? What her father did to your family…” he thinks back to the letter of the death of Rickard Stark and Brandon Stark“That was unspeakable. What
Rhaegar Targaryen did to your sister…” he says thinking of the woman he missed out on marrying because of him “the woman I loved. I'll kill every Targaryen I get my hands on.” he tells Ned angrily

“But you can't get your hands on this one, can you?”

“This Khal Drogo, it's said he has 100,000 men in his horde.” he tells him worriedly getting louder as he got angrier

“Even a million Dothraki are no threat to the realm, as long as they remain on the other side of the Narrow Sea. They have no ships, Robert.” he loudly counters him

“There are still those in the Seven Kingdoms who call me Usurper. If the Targaryen boy crosses with a Dothraki horde at his back, the scum will join him.” he tells Ned thinking of Dorne, Highgarden, and some other houses in other kingdoms

“He will not cross. And if by chance he does, we'll throw him back into the sea.” he tells Robert trying to calm him down

Robert tightens his lips looking down at his wine “There's a war coming, Ned. I don't know when, I don't know who we'll be fighting, but it's coming.”

Chapter Text

Jon sat near the fire with Ghost his direwolf next to him. He sat listening to the men chatter and the birds caw looking around. He had to admit it was a beautiful place with the rushing river and the centuries old trees surrounding them. Before they had arrived they had gone through a town which had a few men that were criminals that were being sent to the wall.

Benjen gesturing to them as he went to sit down “Sit. You'll be fed. Untie them.” he tells the man who was guiding the tied up men to sit.

“Rapers. They were given a choice no doubt... Castration or the Wall. Most choose the knife.” Tyrion says. Noticing the downcast look on his face “Not impressed by your new brothers? Lovely thing about the Watch... You discard your old family and get a whole new one.” he tells him

“Why do you read so much?” Jon asks, nodding to the book in Tyrion's hand. Deflecting the fact that he wasn't going to join the watch.

“Look at me and tell me what you see.” Tyrion tells him not looking up from his book

“Is this a trick?” Jon asks not wanting to play games

“What you see is a dwarf. If I'd been born a peasant they might've left me out in the woods to die. Alas, I was born a Lannister of Casterly Rock.”he tells the boy briefly glancing up at him “Things are expected of me. My father was the Hand of the King for 20 years.”

“Until your brother killed that King.”
“Yes, until my brother killed him. Life is full of these little ironies. My sister married the new King and my repulsive nephew will be King after him. I must do my part for the honor of my house, wouldn't you agree? But how? Well, my brother has his sword and I have my mind. And a mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone. That's why I read so much, Jon Snow. And you? What's your story, bastard?” Tyrion asks

“Ask me nicely and maybe I'll tell you, dwarf.”

Tyrion chuckles lightly “A bastard boy with nothing to inherit, off to join the ancient order of the Night's Watch, alongside his valiant brothers-in-arms.” he says not believing a word he says

“The Night's Watch protects the realm from…” Jon starts

“Yes yes, against grumpkins and snarks and all the other monsters your wet nurse warned you about. You're a smart boy. You don't believe that nonsense... Everything's better with some wine in the belly.” Tyrion tells him throwing him a pouch of wine. Jon takes a swig while eyeing Tyrion and the man tied up. Unknown to Tyrion Jon knew that things were different now with the arrival of his dead mother and word from beyond the wall well things aren't as they seem.

The last thing Bran remembered was falling from the tower. It was weird he would look at himself asleep in his bed through Summer's eyes and could see his mother watching him sleep. He tried to say something but the only thing to come out was a bark. He remembered one of the stories Old Nan would tell him about how Starks could Warg into animals due to the blood of the first men. He was sure this was one of those moments when he was warged into Summer. He wasn't sure what caused him to do it; perhaps it was the fall that woke this part of himself but he didn't quite believe that was the cause; it must have been something else. He was currently walking around Winterfell as Summer.

Master Luwin walked into Bran’s bedchambers where Lady Catelyn sat praying with her Mother statue of the seven with Robb and his betrothal in the corner watching her.

“It's time we reviewed the accounts, my lady. You'll want to know how much this royal visit has cost us.” The Maester tells her walking up and resting a hand briefly over Bran's forehead.

“Talk to Poole about it.” Catelyn tells him glancing briefly up from the Mother statue she held.

“Poole went south with Lord Stark, my lady. We need a new steward, and there are several other appointments that require our immediate attention…” he tells her softly understanding the woman was worried for her son

“I don't care about appointments!” She tells him harshly

“I'll make the appointments. We'll talk about it first thing in the morning.” Robb intervenes he was heir and it would give him some practice for his Lordship

“Perhaps my lady I could help also if I am to be the next Lady of winterfell if would be good for me to understand the layout of the accounts and such things” Wynafryd tells her future Good Mother wanting to make it easier for the women who was worried one of her sons wouldn't wake up. Cateyn hearing this looks up briefly and nods he head in agreement .

“That's a smart idea” Catelyn approves

Maester Luwin hearing this agrees “Very good, my Lord. My Lady.” he nods his head leaving the room. Robb walks over to open the window to the stuffy room as Catelyn watches. They hear the howling of wolves through the open window.

“When was the last time you left this room?” Robb asks his mother seriously

“I have to take care of him.” She tells her firstborn not wanting to leave Bran’s side in case he wakes up or dies. She was aware Lyanna told her he should wake soon but she didn't want to leave things for chance.

Robb sighs deeply turning towards her “He's not going to die, mother. Maester Luwin says the most dangerous time has passed.”

“What if he's wrong? Bran needs me.” not really believing herself but not able to leave Bran’s side

“Rickon needs you. He's six. He doesn't know what's happening. He follows me around all day, clutching my leg, crying…” he tells her needing her to remember she has a 6 summers old son she should also be caring for. He glances briefly over to his betrothed seeing the worried look on her face he turns back to his mother. As they hear the howling of wolves grow louder

“Close the windows! I can't stand it! Please make them stop!” Not wanting to hear the howling she begs him it brought her back to the moment when Lyanna was howling for help for Bran.

Robb looks out the window hearing the sounds of dogs and wolves barking, and the neighing of horses and the yelling of men “Fire. You stay here. I'll come back.” he tells the two women rushing out of the room.

Catelyn and Wynafryd glance at each other worried. What was going on a fire starting randomly wasn't a good thing. The two women had a feeling of dread. Wynafryd and Cateyn head to the window to see the Kennels on fire. Wynafryd had a dagger hidden up her sleeve, something she was taught if a man ever tried to corner her alone she could fight them off. Turning around the two see a Man in a black hood. Gasping in fright the two women take a step back. Wynafryd drops the knife into her hand getting a good grasp on it

“You're not supposed to be here. No one is supposed to be here. It's a mercy. He's dead already.” he ominously tells them drawing his blade walking closer to the bed Bran lay on

“No!” Cateyn yells rushing towards the Assassin that dares come to harm her son. She is slapped by the man falling on to the bed face first. he grips her hair pulling her head and body up and back to slit her throat but before he could do so Wynafryd with her dagger stabs the man in the back. While Cateyn grips the blade near her throat to push it away, in the meantime slicing her hands open on the blade. They back away into a dresser with Wynafyd letting go of the blade in the assassins back so she wouldn't get smashed. The man screams as Catelyn bites his hand he still had around her throat. He pushes her once again into bed as they scrambled around the room. He moves quickly to the boy in the bed with his dagger Wynafryd rushing towards him to try to stop him. She stops in her tracks when the assassin was inches away due to Bran as Summer barges into the room and leaps onto the assassin's back tearing into the man that tried to kill him as Cateyn and Wynafryd watch on. Summer takes control and Mauls the man to death as Bran watches in the back of her mind seeing the man dead she jumps on the bed sniffing her human to make sure he was ok before laying at his feet like she was guarding him. Catelyn looks between the Direwolf and the dead assassin with hands sliced up with wide eyes grateful her husband had found the pups.

In Snowy mountains the group headed to the wall stop to gaze at the massive Wall ahead of them Jon and Tyrion look at it with astonished looks on their faces.

“Welcome.” Benjen tells his Nephew with a light chuckle

Cateyn walks through the courtyard to the broken tower. Looking up to the window he was pushed out of she enters the tower heading to the room hoping to find evidence of the two Lannisters she walks to the window glancing down at the fall Bran took she is horrified knowing her son fell that far. She looks around seeing a cleared patch on the floor walking to it she shifts things around finding a long golden hair that must have belonged to Cersei stuck in between the floorboards.

Cateyn stood in the Godswood with Robb, Theon, Rodrick, and Maester Luwin; she was holding a council to tell them about what she found.

“What I am about to tell you must remain between us. I know Bran did not fall from that tower. He was thrown.” Cateyn tells the group

“The boy was always sure-footed before.” Maester Luwin mutters to Cassel

“Someone has tried to kill him twice now. Why murder an innocent child if he didnt see something he wasn’t meant too?” Cateyn tells them seriously

“How are you sure, my lady?” Theon asks

“there was a witness that watched it happen. I can't go into detail yet but” she glances meaningfully at Robb silently telling him Lyanna saw everything “I would stake my life if the Lannisters are involved. We already have reason to suspect their loyalty to the crown.”

“Did you notice the dagger the killer used? It's too fine a weapon for such a man. The blade is Valyrian steel, the handle dragonbone. Someone gave it to him.” Rodrick tells the group before turning to his Lady “This witness where are they” he asks

“They went with Ned; he's aware of who it was. They are going to look for more proof of what happened in KIngslanding and keep an eye on the one who did it.” Cateyn tells him

“They come into our home and try to murder my brother? If it's war they want…” Robb states getting angry

“If it comes to that, you know I'll stand behind you.” Theon tells him. He was like his brother better then his ones from Pyke anyway. Robb at least listened to his words and thought on them before completely dismissing them.

“What, is there going to be a battle in the Godswood? Too easily words of war become acts of war.” Maester Luwin tries to calm the boys from being too rash “We don't know the full truth yet. Lord Stark must be told of this assassin attempt.” he tells Lady Catelyn

“I don't trust a raven to carry these words.” Catelyn tells them

“I'll ride to King's Landing” Robb tells his mother

“No.” Cateyn tells her son “There must always be a Stark in Winterfell. I will go myself.”

“Mother, you can't.” Robb tries to tell her

“I must.” she counters

“I'll send Hal with a squad of guardsmen to escort you.” Cassel tells Catelyn

“Too large a party attracts unwanted attention. I don't want the Lannisters to know I'm coming.” Counters Catelyn

“Let me accompany you at least. The Kingsroad can be a dangerous place for a woman alone.” He tells his Lady. Catlyn nods her head in agreement.

“What about Bran?” Robb asks not believing she would leave before he woke

”I have prayed to the Seven for more than a month. Bran's life is in their hands now.” Catelyn tells him sadly.

In Brans room she hangs the protective ward she made above him brushing the hair from his face leaning forwards she lingers a kiss on his forehead goodbye unknown to the women Bran was on the cusp of waking and felt the goodbye kiss.

The group headed to Kingslanding stopped for the evening to rest for the night. Arya walks with Lyanna next to her.

Glancing over at a group of young women who laughed at her. Arya knew she wasn't the prettiest girl but she wasnt plain either if what Lyanna told her was true and she looked like her at her age she might grow into a prettier woman but she was still a girl currently. Glancing away she scoffs at the girls she didn't care for dresses and such not looking at were she was going she almost walks into someone “pardon me , Ser” she rudely tells the unknown man that was leering at her. Lyanna had told her she needed to be nicer with her words. She may not like it but she was a Lords daughter and anything she did could cause problems for her father even if he was close friends with the king. She took a step back and bumped into some glancing at the man with the burn scar on his face. She takes a step back so she wasn't so close to him. She didn't like the way she was cornered between the two

“Do I frighten you so much, girl? Or is it him there making you shake? He frightens me too. Look at that face.” Sandor Clegane asks of the dark haired girl who before had looked worried before looking at him with a curious look on her face it was weirding him out.

“I'm sorry if I offended you.” she tells the man looking at him with a curious expression. He looks at the little girl with wide eyes and with a weird look walks away “Why won't he speak to me?” Arya asks the Hound curious

“He hasn't been very talkative these last 20 years. Since the mad King had his tongue ripped out with hot pincers.” tells the girl to scare her. Arya, hearing this looks to the man walking away with a curious look on why that happened. She went to open her mouth to ask when she Joffrey started talking.

“He speaks damn well with his sword though. Ser Ilyn Payne, the King's justice. The royal executioner. Does the hound frighten you? Away with you, dog. You're scaring my brother's betrothal. The sun is finally shining. Come walk with me.” Joffrey demands of the girl he was annoyed that Sansa didn't come just her ugly sister he was hoping to be betrothed to Sansa she was a gorgeous girl but no his little brother got a betrothal offer before he did.

Arya scoffs at the prince “no thanks I have things I need to do” she tells him before starting to walk away. Joffrey, annoyed that she wasn't listening, grabs her arm and pulls her to him. But the minute he touched her arm Lyanna started growling at him scared he was going to get bit he lets go quickly and walks away with a mutter of driving a sword through her flank.

Arya runs off to meet Mycah, the butcher's son. He was a red haired boy a little taller than Ayra was. They were next to a field by a river. They had been play sword fighting for a good 30 min being watched by Lyanna when Joffrey on a walk being trailed by the hound glancing at each other hearing the sounds of sticks hitting each other they walk closer and come across Arya and a boy.

“I'll get you!” Mycah laughs as he swings a stick at Arya’s as they shuffle around the area hitting each other's sticks before the sound of footsteps distracted Arya and Mycah got in a hit Arya quick word of OW when mycah managed to get a hit in. Stopping to look at the boy and his guard that looked at them.

Joffrey, seeing the two having fun and wanting to ruin it since Arya had refused to walk with him, shouts at the two “ladies should not be playing with boys. Who are you, boy?” he demands

“Mycah, my Lord.” Mycah tells the blond prince bowing his head

“He is the butcher's boy, and he's my friend.” she tells the prince wanting him to leave.

“A butcher's boy who wants to be a Knight, eh? Pick up your sword, butcher's boy. Let's see how good you are.” Joffrey taunts the boy fingering the handle of his sword. He pulls it out of the sheath.

“She asked me to, my Lord. She asked me to.” Mycah tells him scared as the prince advances with his sword pointed at him.

“I'm your prince, not your lord, and I said pick up your sword.” Joffrey demands once again

Lyanna stands up watching the drama unfold getting an uneasy feeling

“It's not a sword, my prince. It's only a stick.” Mycah tells him stumbling back
“And you're not a Knight. Only a butcher's boy. That was my brothers betrothal, do you know that?”

“Stop it!” Arya shouts as Joffrey has the end of the sword on the boys cheek pushing it to draw blood

“I won't hurt him... Much.” Joffrey says as he drags the sword. Arya horrified wraps her hand tight on the stick she had lifting it and hitting Joffrey's back to get him to stop hurting her friend “Filthy little bitch!” he shouts and starts swinging at Arya with his Sword. Arya managed to block some hits but he pushed her onto the ground “I'll gut you, you little cunt!” he yells at the girl on the ground pointing his sword at her chest.

Lyanna rushes to stop him from hurting Arya more jumps onto him pushing him onto the ground. She stood on top of him growling at the boy who now had a frighten look on his face

“Lyanna!” Arya shouts for her to back off. She stood up grabbing his sword and standing above him and pointing the sword at him.

“No. NO. Please don't.” Joffrey begs whimpering like a little girl from the scare of the direwolf and the sword now at his throat.

Arya walks away throwing the sword into the river and running off with Lyanna to her father and the king to tell them what happened before things got twisted.

Joffrey watched her run off and glances at the Hound that stood back “why didn't you do anything” he demands standing up

“Boy that was your own fault for attacking someone with a direwolf as a guard” he tells the spoiled prince. They walk off to Cersei so Joffrey could go tell a lie to his mother on what happened hoping to get the wolf killed.

Arya had run to her fathers tent with Lyanna behind her. Barging in she found the king and her father eating some food. Ned turns towards his daughter and seeing the scared look on her face stands up quickly walking to her. “What happened are you alright” he asks glancing between the two

“JoffreyfoundmeandMycahpracticingswordfightingandattackeduswithaswordhehitmeandIwasonthegroundwhenLyannatackledhimawayfromme.” Arya rushes to tell him

“Woah woah slow down repeat yourself please” Ned asked worriedly glancing over to Robert who looked interested at the sound of Joffrey's name.

“What has that no good son of mine done now” demands Robert

“Mycah, you know the Butcher's son and I were practicing sword fighting near the river when Joffrey found us. He wanted to teach Mycah a lesson with his sword against Mycah stick. When he refurbished he started cutting his cheek so I might have hit him on the back to stop. But then he started to attack me with the sword so when I hit the ground he stood over me. Lyanna tackled him away; she didn't bite him or anything just knocked him away. I picked up the sword and threw it into the river” Arya summarises quickly to the two

Robert and Ned glance at each other quickly “well good thing you have that wolf then. I will fix this, nothing will happen to anyone involved” Robert tells the two standing up he walks out of the room to find his son and wife.

Ned turns to his daughter “We should be glad you didn’t bring your direwolf things could have gotten bloodier and worse” he turns to Lyanna and asks if everything happened that way she nods her head and he sighs deeply.

Later that night they were escorted into the Inn where they were supposed to be sleeping that night. Robert sat in a chair while everyone stood around him. Joffrey and Cersei were trying to have Ned's wolf killed.

“Sorry Ned for the wait” Robert tells his friend

“Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son. That animal of yours nearly took his head off.” Cersei states

“That's not true! She just tackled him away from me. He was hurting Mycah and going to hurt me.” Arya yells upset at the lie.

“Joffrey told us what happened. You and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him.” Cersei says

“That's not what happened!”

“Yes it is! They all attacked me and she threw my sword in the river.” Joffrey lies

“Liar!” Arya shouts

“Shut up!” Joffrey demands angrily

“Enough! He tells me one thing, she tells me another. Seven hells! What am I to make of this?” Robert states

“Well there was another person that witness it Sandor Clegane watched what happened perhaps his story will tell us what happened” states Ned

They turn to the Hound who looked on at the proceedings he was no fan of the Lannisters and definitely not Joffrey so he would tell the truth “The little lady tells the truth Joffrey is lying the wolf was protecting her”

“No you lie!” shouts Joffrey angry that his guard was backing the Starks. “I want that wolf killed!”

“She's as wild as that animal of yours. I want her punished.” demands Cersei “and that wolf killed”

“What would you have me do, whip her through the streets for landing a blow on our son? Damn it, children fight. It's over.” shouts Robert at his wife

“Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life.” Cersei states

“You let that little girl disarm you?” demands Robert to Joffrey laughing “See to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son.”

“Gladly, your Grace.” Ned states

“And what of the direwolf? What of the beast that savaged your son?” she demands wanting retribution.

“I'd forgotten the damned wolf.” he sighs deeply “all the wolf did was tackle him he was not hurt in any way besides maybe his pride. The wolf will go free but Ned if she hurts one of my people without a reason she will be killed. She is a good protector for your child though keep her close” Robert dismisses the group and Ned nods his head in agreement leaving the room.

Sandor walks through the camp with a boy covered in blood draped over a horse. Ned seeing this asks “The butcher's boy... You rode him down?” Ned asks Sandor who continued walking

“He ran... Not very fast.” Sandor tells the Lord “Cersei’s order”

In Winterfell Bran lay in bed with Summer at his feet he opens his eyes.

Chapter Text

The group headed to Kingslanding spotted the city a few miles back. As they entered the massive city the smell was horrible. Lyanna with her wolf nose sneezed many times as they traveled through Flea bottom it got less pungent the closer to the keep they got. They entered through the gates when a kingslanding guard walked quickly to the stark guests

“Welcome, Lord Stark. Grand Maester Pycelle has called a meeting of the Small Council. The honor of your presence is requested.” the man said with his hands behind his back

Ned nods his head turning towards Cassel “Get Arya settled in. I'll be back in time for supper. And, Jory, you go with her. Lyanna with me.” Lyanna nods walking up to stand next to Ned.

“Yes, my Lord.” Jory Cassel responds

“Perhaps the wolf should stay with your group…” The guard noticing Ned staring him down changes his mind ”If you'd like to change into something more appropriate…” he trails off once again noticing Ned Stark give him a blank stare as he takes his riding gloves realizing his disinterest he moves his eyes over to the massive wolf before gulping and turns to lead the man and wolf to the council chamber.

Lyanna looking around as they walk noticing the Dragons carving in the stone walls the Lannisters and Baratheon were trying to hide behind tapestry and statues. The guard led them through two heavy iron doors on the other side was the Iron throne. A Throne created by Aegon Targaryen by using the swords of his enemies melted and twisted to shape a throne it was a difficult place to sit you could easly stab yourself on it. It was said that if you sat on the throne and was cut by the swords it was a sign of a bad omen and you were unworthy of the throne.

Ned walked towards the Iron throne where Jaime lannister sat on the steps in his golden armour and white cloak shown as a member of the kingsguard his helmet rested next to him. Jaime stood up as Ned drew closer and walked towards him.

“Thank the gods you're here, Stark. About time we had some stern northern leadership.” Jaime jests at the lord

“Glad to see you're protecting the throne.” Ned states dryly

“Sturdy old thing. How many kings' asses have polished it, I wonder? What's the line? The King shits and the Hand wipes.” Jaime quotes at Ned seeing as he was the new hand now and how much Jon Arryn did for the kingdom.

“Very handsome armor. Not a scratch on it.” Ned replies dryly looking him up and down.

“I know. People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss.” Jamie replies mockingly

“You've chosen your opponents wisely then.” Ned tells the man

“I have a knack for it. It must be strange for you coming into this room. I was standing right here when it happened. He was very brave, your brother. Your father too. They didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody deserves to die like that.” Jaime tells the stark lord mind flashing back to the horrifying screams of a lord burning to death and the strangulation of the stark heir

Ned and Lyanna look around the room they knew that this was where their father and brother were murdered by the Mad king it was like they could still here there brother begging for someone to help their father while choking himself to death to reach a sword just out of reach and the agonizing screams of their father who was being cooked alive in his armor. The two starks shook their heads not wanting to think about that.

Ned, irritated by the reminder, responds “But you just stood there and watched.”

“500 men just stood there and watched. All the great knights of the Seven Kingdoms. You think anyone said a word, lifted a finger? No, Lord Stark. 500 men and this room was silent as a crypt. Except for the screams, of course, and the Mad King laughing. And later... When I watched the Mad King die, I remembered him laughing as your father burned... It felt like justice.” Jaime tells him

“Is that what you tell yourself at night? You're a servant of justice? That you were avenging my father when you shoved your sword in Aerys Targaryen's back?” Ned responds not wanting to talk to Jaime about his family

“Tell me... If I'd stabbed the Mad King in the belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?” He asks tilting his head slightly

“You served him well, when serving was safe.” Ned responds walking off towards the door to the left of the throne. Lyanna trailing after him looks behind her to get one last look at jaime who watched as they left something wasnt right about Jaime killing The mad king not that he didn't deserve it but Jaimie was 17 at the time she was curious on what caused him to do it something in her gut told her it was not as simple as Tywin asked him to.

Ned and Lyanna enter the small council’s chamber where the others are already awaiting him. Looking around the room they notice the men there was the master of Whispers Lord Varys, Varys is a plump, bald eunuch with soft hands and round shoulders he was also known as the spider. The Master of Laws was held by Renly baratheon the kings brother He was a lean and lithe man with a clean shaven face who stood as tall as his brother Robert he had hair dark as coal that reached his shoulders and blue-green eyes he was also rumored to be a sword swallower not that she minded that much. The Master of coin was Petyr Baelish a short man of slender build. Has sharp features, a small pointed beard on his chin with dark hair with threads of grey running through it he has gray-green eyes. Ned remembers him as someone who had tried to fight Brandon for the affection of Catelyn. The last one in the room was Grand Maester Pycelle he only has sparse hair that runs around his bald, spotted head. He has a long, snowy beard that runs down to his chest and a broad stomach.

The group watch as Ned enters the room with a giant wolf trailing behind him. They look on at the massive wolf that stood like a guard for Lord Stark. They each had there own agendas but all knew the wolf would be a problem for their future plans so they would need to come up with ideas to get rid of the wolf. They wouldnt realize how hard that would be do to the fact that it was no ordinary wolf

“Lord Stark.”Varys simpers standing from his chair and quickly walking to Ned with his hands outreached to shake Neds

“Lord Varys.” replies Ned dryly

“I was grievously sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad.” Varys tells him

“A shame you didn't say a prayer for the butcher's son. Renly! You're looking well.” Ned replies irritated before turning toward Roberts youngest brother

“And you look tired from the road. I told them this meeting could wait another day, but…” Renly replies to his older brother best friend standing and giving him a brotherly hug.

“But we have a Kingdom to look after. I've hoped to meet you for some time, Lord Stark. No doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me.” Petyr interjects

“She has, Lord Baelish. I understand you knew my brother Brandon as well.” Ned responds dryly.

“All too well. I still carry a token of his esteem from navel to collarbone.” Petyr responds dryly

“Perhaps you chose the wrong man to duel with.” he responds back annoyed

“It wasn't the man that I chose, my Lord. It was Catelyn Tully. A woman worth fighting for, I'm sure you'll agree.” Petyr responds hidden jealousy that Lyanna picked out immediately.

“I humbly beg your pardon, my Lord Stark.”Maester Pycelle interjects

“Grand Maester.” Ned responds surprised

“How many years has it been? You were a young man.” he tells Ned

“And you served another King.” Ned dryly replies to the older man

“How forgetful of me. This belongs to you, now.” he tells Ned handing him the pin of the hand, Ned inspects it it was smaller then his palm it was a bronze pin a circle and a hand coming out of it “Should we begin?” asks Pycelle and everyone sits but Ned

“Without the King?” Ned questions

“Winter may be coming, but I'm afraid the same cannot be said for my brother.” Jests Renly

“His Grace has many cares. He entrusts some small matters to us that we might… lighten the load.” Varys tells the Northern Lord

“We are the lords of small matters here.” Jokes Petyr

Renly hands a letter over to the standing Lord Stark. Taking the letter Ned sits down opening the letter “My brother instructs us to stage a tournament in honor of Lord Stark's appointment as Hand of the King.” he tells him

“Mmm, how much?” Petyr asks not surprised in the least

“40,000 gold dragons to the champion, 20,000 to the runner-up, 20,000 to the winning archer.” Ned tells the group. Raising his eyebrows at the extremely high price of the tournament

“Can the treasury bear such expense?” asks Pycelle to Petyr already knowing the answer to his question.

“I'll have to borrow it. The Lannisters will accommodate, I expect. We already owe Lord Tywin 3 million gold. What's another 80,000?” responds Petyr

“Are you telling me the Crown is three million in debt?” Ned asks horrified and shocked looking down at his sister who looks back at him.

“I'm telling you the Crown is six million in debt.” Petyr corrects.

“How could you let this happen?” asks Ned to the council, horrified. Lyanna sitting next to him eying the men in the room isn't as surprised as Ned was with how much Robert liked to feast, drink, and take whores to bed but 6 million debt was insane. Perhaps they needed to investigate the master of coin books to make sure everything was going where it needed to go. Something about Petyr didn't sit right with her.

“The Master of Coin finds the money. The King and the Hand spend it.” Petyr tells the man

“I will not believe Jon Arryn allowed Robert to bankrupt the realm.” Ned tries to counter Petyr

“Lord Arryn gave wise and prudent advice, but I fear His Grace doesn't always listen.” Pycelle tells him as Ned looked at him

“‘Counting coppers,’ he calls it.” Renly replies

“I'll speak to him tomorrow. This tournament is an extravagance we cannot afford.” states Ned irritably

“As you will. But still, we'd best make our plans.” Petyr warns him

“There will be no plans until I speak to Robert.” he shouts “Forgive me, my Lords. I had a long ride.” reaching up to wipe his face he rests his elbows on the table and apologizes to the council

“You are the King's Hand, Lord Stark, we serve at your pleasure.” Varys simpers once again

Arya and Jory sit at a table eating in the tower of the hand while they wait for Lord Stark Arya is stabbing a knife into the table between her fingers.

“Please don't, Arya. Just eat your food.” Jory begs the girl not wanting her to accidentally chop off a finger on his watch.

“I'm practicing.” Arya tells him

“Practicing for what?” he asked the girl confused

“The Prince.” Arya responds

“you can't say that little one” Jory tells her sternly looking around

“He's a liar and a coward and he killed my friend.”

“The Hound killed your friend.” Jory corrects her

“The Hound does whatever the Prince tells him to do.” Arya replies angrily

“Ok off to unpack” Jory tells her, lifting her from her seat and setting her down grabbing her shoulder to direct her to her bedroom.

“What's happening here?” asks Ned when he walks in sporting his new hand of the king pin he sees Jory guiding her out of the room

“Arya would rather stab the table then eat her food” Jory tells his Lord

“Go to your room. We'll speak later.” he tells Arya and he nods to Lyanna to follow her “War was easier than daughters.” he tells Jory grabbing some food to the table to snack on

Lyanna had walked over to her room. They didn't want it to seem as if another woman was staying here so there was a dog bed with toys and extra clothing from Arya and Ned mixed in with dresses she could wear. Before turning into human she listened to hear if any birds or spiders were in the walls not hearing anything she quickly turned and grabbed a dress to change into before meeting Ned in the Hall right before he knocked on the door nodding to each other he knocked on the door.

Arya was unsheathing Needle privately in her room when her father knocked, not wanting to talk to him she shouted at him “Go away!”

“Arya, open the door.” Ned asks, Arya walks to the door with the sword in hand and opens it seeing her father and aunt “May I come in? Whose sword is that?” Ned questions his youngest daughter after he closed the door behind him and Lyanna

“Mine.” Arya tells him possessively.

“Give it to me.” he orders her taking the sword and inspecting it “I know this maker's mark. This is Mikken's work. Where did you get this? This is no toy. Little ladies shouldn't play with swords.” he tells her sitting on the bed and facing her

“I wasn't playing. And I don't want to be a lady i want to be like Aunt Lyanna”

“Oh darling i might swing swords but im still a lady” She tells her niece

Ned sighs deeply giving his sister a look he turns to his daughter “Come here. Now what do you want with this?” he pats the bed next to him gesturing towards the sword in his hand

“It's called Needle.” She tells her father

“A blade with a name. And who were you hoping to skewer with Needle? Do you know the first thing about sword fighting?” Ned questions

“Stick 'em with the pointy end.” she tells him quoting Jon.

Lyanna started laughing and leans to her brother “well she's not wrong”

Ned also starts laughing “That's the essence of it.”

“I was trying to learn. I asked Mycah to practice with me. I asked him. It was my fault.” Arya tells him riddled with guilt for being the cause of her friends death.

Ned turns slightly more to look at Arya better he sighs sadly “No, sweet girl. You didn't kill the butcher's boy.” he tells her resting his arm over her shoulder

“I hate them! I hate all of them. The Hound, the Queen and the King and Joffrey.”

“Oh my darling this is just what royals do they abuse their power because no one can stop them” Lyanna tells her niece and kneeling in front of the girl

“He is a liar.” Arya blurts looking to the adults before looking back at her lap

“Darling, listen to me. He is a prince and your betrothed to his brother you need to be more careful. Robert and I have talked about having Tommen come stay here with us” Ned tells her gently

Arya hearing this turns her head sharply to her father with wide eyes “no absolutely not i don't want to be betrothed and i don't like him he's way too nice” she states stubbornly folding her arms over her chest “he can't come live here this is our safe space away from… those people”

“Well… Look at me. You're a Stark of Winterfell. You know our words.” Ned tells her

Winter is coming.” Arya quotes

“You were born in the long summer. You've never known anything else. But now winter is truly coming. And in the winter, we must protect ourselves, look after one another.” Ned tells her before looking at his sister who looked on at the duo understanding the hidden message in what he said

“I don't hate him i guess I still don't want him sleeping here but I guess we can do things together”

“I don't want to frighten you, but I won't lie to you either. We've come to a dangerous place. We cannot fight a war amongst ourselves. All right?” Ned tells her handing the handle of the sword to her “Go on. It's yours.”

“I can keep it?” She asks standing up after Lyanna moved out of the way she inspects the sword and swinging it around a little

Ned stands up and moves to the door with Lyanna trailing him chuckling “Try not to stab anyone with it. If you're going to own a sword, you'd better know how to use it.” he tells her leaving the room Lyanna gives one last glance to niece and closes the door after them.

A crow lands in the windowsill of Brans room he sits up against the headboard of his bed and glances over at it. Sitting next to his bed is Old Nan she was an ugly old woman toothless, shrunken, and winkled almost blind and much to weak to climb the stairs on her own she had white hair or at least what was left of it anyway.

“Don't listen to it. Crows are all liars. I know a story about a crow.” Old Nan starts. she love telling stories especially to new generations of Starks she sat in a chair next to the boy knitting

“I hate your stories.” Bran tells her bluntly

“I know a story about a boy who hated stories.” she counters amused “I could tell you about Ser Duncan the Tall. Those were always your favorites.”

“Those weren't my favorites. My favorites were the scary ones.” Bran
corrects

“Oh, my sweet summer child. What do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little Lord, when the White Walkers move through the woods. Thousands of years ago there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story that you like?” she asks Bran who had turned his head towards her adjusting himself he nods his head with wide eyes wanting to know more “In that darkness, the White Walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds…”

Robb listening in on the other side decides to interrupt the old women before she could give him nightmares and opens the door abruptly cutting her off.

“What are you telling him now?” he demands jokingly

“Only what the little Lord wants to hear.” she responds

“Get your supper. I want some time with him.” he tells her. Nan stands up leaving her knitting and leaves the room to the brothers “One time she told me the sky is
blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant named Macumber.” he tells Bran smiling

“Maybe we do.” Bran responds straight faced

“How do you feel? You still don't remember anything?” Robb asks, Bran shakes his head everything was fuzzy from that day he just remembered a hand pushing him out the window “I've seen you climb a thousand times. In the wind, in the rain... A thousand times. You never fall.” Robb states he was aware of what happened but didnt want to scare Bran unless he remembered himself he was still just 10.

“I did though. It's true, isn't it... what Maester Luwin says about my legs do you think its true” he asks softly scared he might never be able to climb or run.

“Your already sitting up thats a good sign you've been asleep for awhile and it was an injury to your spine it will take awhile” he tells Bran.

Bran looks at his brother and back down to his lap the good thing was he could feel pressure on his legs. His mind drifted of to the weird dreams of hunting in the wolfwoods

Catelyn and Rodrick arrive at Kingslanding, entering through a back entrance on white and Dark brown horses Lady Catelyn had a scarf wrapped around her hair to try to conceal her identity

“Fewer eyes back here, my Lady. But still too many.” Rodrick tells her looking around paranoid.

“It's nine years since I've set foot in the capital. And no one knew who I was the last time I came either.” Catelyn attempts to reassure the man

“My Lady.” he nods to the 2 guards men on horses that were quickly approaching them.

Two guards in Black armour and helmets on brown and white stallions “Welcome to King's Landing, Lady Stark. Would you mind following us?”

“I would. We've done nothing wrong.” she questions

“We've been instructed to escort you into the city.” the guard tells the noble lady

“Instructed? I don't know who's providing your instructions, but…” She starts to say before getting cut off as the one on the brown horse gets closer

“Follow me, Lady Stark.” he says handing her the letter. She opens it quickly before glancing over at Cassel with wide eyes

They are escorted through the street of silk and into the back entrance of a brothel up into a room where she sees a man she hasn't seen in years Petyr Baelish.

Petyr was sitting on a Settee with whores sitting on both sides of themselves in very little clothing. He stands up quickly when Catelyn comes into the room. “Cat! Go on. Go upstairs.” he tells the ladies before standing in front of her

“You little worm!” she shouts at him throwing the letter he had sent to her at him “You take me for some back-alley Sally you can drag into a…” she continues to yell before being cut off at the entrance of two naked whores who had stepped into the room. Petyr seeing them snaps his fingers and gestures them to leave.

“I meant no disrespect to you of all people.” Petyr responds quickly trying to placate the lady

“How dare you bring me here! Have you lost your mind?” she growls out

“No one will come looking for you here. Isn't that what like you wanted? I'm truly sorry... about the locale.” Petyr responds quickly

“How did you know I was coming to King's Landing?” she questions

“A dear friend told me.” he responds gesturing towards the beading curtain that was being pushed aside by the short plump eunuch

“Lady Stark.” Varys states in greeting as he approaches the woman

“Lord Varys.” Catelyn responds back in question

Varys: “To see you again after so many years is a blessing. Your poor hands.” he tells her reaching and grabbing for her hands but she quickly pulled them out of his grip as he lifted them.

“How did you know I was coming?” she questions annoyed.
“Knowledge is my trade, my Lady. Did you bring the dagger with you, by any
chance? My little birds are everywhere. Even in the north. They whisper to me the strangest stories.” she handed the dagger over to the man “Valyrian steel.” Varys tells the concerned women. Catelyn knew this could only mean that the spider had spies in winterfell and that made her very concerned for the wellbeing of her goodsister and husband.

“Do you know whose dagger this is?” she questions once again after Varys examined the dagger she had brought with her.

“I must admit I do not.” Varys tells the concerned woman

“Well well, this is an historic day. Something you don't know that I do. There's only one dagger like this in all of the Seven Kingdoms. It's mine.” Petyr responds smiling in amusement.

“Yours?” she questions suspiciously. She knew they couldn't trust anyone in the capital especially one like Petyr she hadn't seen him in years and she knew he was still in love her even through she was a very happily married women. Not to mention she knew everyone in the capital had their own agendas

“At least it was, until the tournament on Prince Joffrey's last nameday. I bet on Ser Jaime in the jousting, as any sane man would. When the Knight of the Flowers unseated him, I lost this dagger.” Petyr responds unknowingly of the suspicion that Catlyn held towards him.

“To whom?” she question suspiciously.

“Tyrion Lannister. The Imp.” Petyr tells her. Catelyn looks at the man it wasnt a giant leap to think Tyrion might know what going on. She would need to talk to Lyanna to see what her thoughts were in that case but she knew it was much higher possibility that the man was protecting the queen and trying to deceive her into thinking it may be someone else.

Chapter Text

At Castle Black in the snowy courtyard Grenn a new recruit with a red face and thick neck is a well built man is swordfighting against Jon. Jon getting a good hit with the pummel of his sword hits Grenn face breaking his nose and Grenn doubles over groaning in pain.

“If that were a real sword, you'd be dead. Lord Snow here grew up in a castle spitting down on the likes of you. Pyp. Do you think Ned Stark's bastard bleeds like the rest of us?” Allister Thorne the Master-of-arms of the Night Watch a slim and sinewy man of 50 years with peppered hair. Mocks the two before gesturing towards Pyp to get ready to attack Jon. Jon irritated already at the fact that the man was obviously trying to put the ‘bastard’ in his place. He would just have to show he wasn't one to be pushed around.

Pyp steps forward to lunge at Jon but with one move Jon hits the pummel of his sword into the other mans before kicking him into the ground and onto his back.

“Next!” Allister shouts annoyed with how fast the younger boy managed to put Pyp down.

Jon circles the unknown man before their swords clashed a couple times down against each other before quickly getting behind him and while the man went to take a step he quickly wrapped his arm around the others arm throwing him off balance and tossing him into the ground. The Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and Tyrion looking on from a balcony.

“Next!” Allister yells again getting more irritated that no one was managing to beat him.

Another man goes to attack Jon just as another joins in, but jon quickly kicks one away to the floor and hits the jaw of the other man making them back off. Glancing at the men watching him

“Lord Snow, it appears you're the least useless person here. Go clean yourselves up. There's only so much I can stomach in a day.” Thorne tells him annoyed that he couldnt push around the stark bastard, before addressing his disappointment in the other men.

Back in the throne room, just outside of the small council chambers. Ned and Lyanna are making their way from the council chambers where they had another annoying council meeting that didn’t really go anywhere. Due to the fact that Robert was not budging on the tournament although Lyanna and Ned had brought up her idea of charging per seat and event. So better visibility would be more expensive vs someone high up in the stands. The council agreed and they decided on highest 15 levels would be 1 silver stag and the lowest 15 rows which would be 1 gold dragon for the nobility. And each event was a silver stag and there would be 5 events so one person could pay the lowest of 1 silver stag and 1 silver stag per event. That way they would make at the least some money not much but some. They were leaving when they were quickly stopped by the limping steps of the Grand Maester.

“Lord Stark. I meant to give you this earlier. So forgetful these days. A raven from Winterfell this morning.” he slowly walks down the steps to the new Hand and hands off a letter before quickly shuffling away.

“Good news? Perhaps you'd like to share it with your wife?” questions Petyr that was walking toward him with a ledger.

“My wife is in Winterfell.” Ned states dryly at the smaller man as he glances down at the letter.

“Is she?” he questions knowingly before gesturing toward the Stark Lord to follow him. Glancing down towards Lyanna who was eyeing the man suspiciously he follows him.

As Baelish leads Ned and his wolf to the entrance of his brothel. “I thought that she'd be safest here. One of several such establishments I own.” he tells the man. Ned already irritated he was being taken to a brothel grabs the man and pushed his into the wall and starts to choke him

“You're a funny man. A very funny man.” Ned tells him irritated as Petyr tries to pry the Starks hands away from his throat.

“Ned!” Cateyn shouts, poking her head out of a window. Surprised, he looks up to see his wife and quickly opens the door and enters the establishment.

“The Starks... Quick tempers, slow minds.” Petyr mutters, making Lyanna who was staring him down snap at his ankles for his words before she quickly enters the quickly shutting door.

Jon, after being almost jumped by the gang of boys he defeated in the yard, is grateful he was not actually joining the men here; he couldn't believe how much he had wanted this before he found out the truth about his parentage. He was glad to hear that Bran woke up finally he just hoped he would be able to see him sooner than later.

At Baelish’s brothel. The stark lord and his wife greet each other lovingly while Petyr watches on the sidelines wanting it to be himself not knowing that he was being watched carefully by the human hiding as a wolf.

“The mere suggestion that the Queen's brother tried to kill your boy would be considered treason.” Petry tell the two after they broke apart.

“We have proof. We have the blade.” states Catelyn

“Which Lord Tyrion will say was stolen from him. The only man who could say otherwise has no throat, thanks to your boy's wolf.” states Petry hiding his gratitude in that. But not enough that Lyanna who had not taken her eye off him saw it and narrowed her eyes. She knew he knew something but was not telling.

“Petyr has promised to help us find the truth. He's like a little brother to me. He would never betray my trust.” Catelyn tells Ned turning toward him and holding his hand looking him in the eyes. She knew that Petyr cared for her and hoped that he would help them but she knew with the secrets that the family had she couldn't trust anyone but the Starks. So she hoped he saw the fact that she hoped that Petyr would help them; she couldn't completely trust him, not with the secrets they were harbinging.

“I'll try to keep you alive, for her sake. A fool's task, admittedly, but I've never been able to refuse your wife anything.” Petyr lies through his teeth towards Ned who was looking at him annoyed that Catelyn said she saw him like a little brother.

“I won't forget this. You're a true friend.” Cateyn tells the smaller man with a small smile.

“Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain.” Petyr tells her

Later catelyn and Ned were saying their goodbyes “I wish i could see Arya” Catelyn tells Ned holding his hand as they stood next to the horses she would be riding back to winterfell

“Its to dangerous” Ned tells her

“Just for a moment” she questions sadly she might not have the best relationship with her youngest daughter and she missed her badly. Sighing heavily she nods before leaning into his ear “don't trust anyone but the men you brought with you I can't lose you”

Nodding his head he gives a kiss on his wife's head “we will be careful the minute we smell trouble coming our way we will get out of here. We just need to find the evidence were looking for”

“You watch yourself on the road yeah” Ned questions lightly holding her slightly harder “That temper of yours can be a dangerous thing” Ned chuckles lightly

“My temper gods be good you nearly killed littlefinger yesterday” Catelyn remarked laughing.

“He still loves you” Ned tells her talking about littlefinger

“Does he” questions Catelyn knowingly. Before she hugs him tightly and they start kissing and Ned pulls her tighter to him by the waist not wanting to let go before they are interrupted by a loud bark from Lyanna who was gazing at the couple knowingly. They chuckled at her before pulling back

“Off with you” Ned tells her sadly as they gazed at each other thinking of what the future had planned for them and Catelyn got onto her horse glancing at Ned once more before leaving the courtyard.

Jon makes his way across the fort and towards the elevator that takes him to the top of the wall where Benjen was waiting looking out over the wall into the snowy forest and the everlasting winter.

“I wanted to be here when you saw it for the first time. I'm leaving this morning.” Benjen tells his nephew over the whistling biting wind

“You're leaving?” Jon asks surprised turning to glance at his uncle

“I'm the First Ranger. My job is out there. There have been disturbing reports.” he tells the young boy

“What kind of reports?”

“The kind I don't want to believe.”

“let me come with i’m strong enough.”

“You're not going. You're no ranger, Jon. Plus your mother might actually kill me if I brought you with me” he solemnly tells the boy

“You're not wrong but we need to find out about the rumors and aren't the wildings the best source of information since they have been living on that side for over a thousand years”

“It would be a good idea if you could get the wildings to listen to you before they try to gut you” Benjen laughs darkly “gather the information your uncle needs and bring it to winterfell and for the love of the gods do not cross the wall. We will speak more when I return” he tells the boy, setting his hand briefly on Jons shoulder before walking towards the elevator.

Jon glances at the ground below his heart in turmoil.

later again in the courtyard of Castle Black. Jon is battling the brothers in black as Tyrion overlooks from the balcony. Jon, continuing to defeat them, starts teaching them.

“Don't stand so still. It's harder to hit a moving target.”he tells one that he had yanked the sword out of his hand after standing long enough to take it. Glancing at Tyrion who was watching, glanced back at the other man and tells him “Except for you. You move too much. I could just hold my sword out and let you do the work for me.” getting a nod from him.

Jon and Tyrion are standing near a fire later that night after Tyrion pissed off the wall like he had promised to do. When Jon starts a conversation with him “I'm sorry to see you leave, Lannister.” Jon tells him he surprisingly actually likes the dwarf with his sarcasm and not caring what others thought of him.

“It's either me or this cold. And it doesn't appear to be going anywhere.” he jokes

“Will you stop at Winterfell on your way South?” Jon asks

“I expect I will. Gods know there aren't many feather beds between here and King's Landing.” chuckles Tyrion

“If you see my brother Bran, tell him I miss him. Tell him I'll visit when I can.”

“Of course.” Tyrion nods

“Hell struggle to walk for awhile” Jon states sadly

“He’s lucky though a fall like he took he shouldn't even be alive let alone be able to walk the gods look over him. Take care, Snow.” Tyrion tells him shaking his hand goodbye.

“Farewell, My Lord.” Jon tells the smaller man

Arya arrives to her ‘dance lesson’ her father had set up for her the morning of the next day being supervised by her aunt in wolf form who was laying near the door with her head rested on her front paws.

“You are late, boy. Tomorrow you will be here at midday.” The man was a bald man with a beak of a nose wearing leather pants and gloves with a coat over his tunic. Holding two wooden swords infront of himself

“Who are you?” Arya questions

“Your dancing master, Syrio Forel.” the man tells the young girl before tossing one of the swords to her while grinning maniacally.

Lyanna who was off to the side watching smiled slightly already to be able to tell this would be fun to watch. Arya caught off guard, misses the thrown sword and walks over to grab it.

“Tomorrow you will catch it. Now pick it up. That is not the way, boy. This is not a great sword that is needing two hands to swing it.” he tells her as she had went to pick it up with two hands.

“It's too heavy.” Arya responds annoyed

“It is heavy as it needs to be to make you strong.”he tells her balancing his on one hand before tossing it up and catching it with one hand “Just so. One hand is all that is needed. Now you are standing all wrong. Turn your body side-face.” fixing her posture with the sword so she was facing him like she should “So. You are skinny. That is good. The target is smaller. Now the grip... Let me see. The grip must be delicate.” adjusting her hand so she wasn't gripping it too tightly

“What if I drop it?” she questions

“The steel must be part of your arm. Can you drop part of your arm? No. Nine years Syrio Forel was first sword to the Sealord of Braavos. He knows these things. You must listen to me, boy.” he tells her walking around her and deciding on where to start.

“I'm a girl.” Arya corrects slightly annoyed

“Boy, girl... You are a sword, that is all. That is the grip. You are not holding a battle-axe. You are holding…” he tells her annoyed to adjust her once again before being interrupted

“A needle.” she finishes for him grinning.

“Ahhh… Just so. Now we will begin the dance. Remember, child, this is not the dance of the Westeros we are learning... The knight's dance, hacking and hammering.”he tells her swinging it towards the girls waist a couple times “This is the Bravo's dance... The water dance.” gliding gracefully over the room like a dance “It is swift and sudden. All men are made of water, do you know this? If you pierce them, the water leaks out and they die. Now you will try to strike me.” he tells her

Arya tries a sneak attack while his back was turned but he just walks around the girl attempt. And gets into a fighting position while the girl attempts to disarm him “Up!” he tells her after she fell forward in one of the attempts. “Dead. Dead. Very dead. Come. Again, faster.”Arya takes several attempts as Syrio turns his back, defending her and disarming her constantly. She begins picking up on a few things, but still needs much work.

This is when Ned walks in and smiles at the joy on his daughter's face she was not winning at all but instead of giving up she just tried harder and harder but she was learning and quickly too.

Lyanna who was watching chuckled when Arya kept losing. Ned after watching Arya almost get injured smile fell slightly.

In the courtyard of castle black, Jon is giving lessons in fighting “Leg, shoulder, leg. Left foot forward. Good. Now pivot as you deliver the stroke. Put all your weight behind it”. Jon tells Grenn before being interrupted by said boy

“What in seven hells is that?” questions Grenn about the very plump and round boy that entered with Alliser.

“They'll need an eighth hell to fit him in.” comments Pyp

“Tell them your name.” Alliser says gruffly

“Samwell Tarly, of Horn Hill. I mean, I was of Horn Hill. I've come to take the black.” he says timidly as the group of fighters started laughing. Samwell knew he wasn't fit to be here; he wasn't a fighter.

“Come to take the black pudding.” Jests Rast

“Well, you couldn't be any worse than you look. See what he can do.” he gestures Rast to attack the boy

Rast a larger man full of muscle hits the poor boy twice and into the ground brutally “I yield. Please, no more.” begs Samwell

“On your feet. Pick up your sword. Hit him till he finds his feet.” Alliser tells Rast. after 7 sword strikes to the back of the boy who was squealing in pain “It seems they've run short of poachers and thieves down south. Now they send us squealing bloody pigs.” a couple more hits and Jon takes a step to intervene but is stopped by Pyp who tells him no “Again, harder.” goads Alliser.

“Enough! He yielded.” barks Jon, annoyed with the unneeded power display. Grabbing Samwell and pulling him to his feet and pushing him away

“Looks like the bastard's in love. All right then, lord Snow, you wish to defend your lady love, let's make it an exercise. You two. Three of you ought to be sufficient to make lady piggy squeal. All you've got to do is get past the bastard.” Alliser gestures to Samwell who was behind him.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” ask Jon with a raised eyebrow he knew he could easly take the 3 on but this was just ridiculous they were supposed to be training them not beating them to a bloody fucking pulp.

“No” states Grenn looking at Pyp they knew Jon was a formidable fighter

Alliser gestures for them to start and the three guys Rast, Pyp, and Grenn attack Jon at once, trying to get to Samwell, the first Rast goes to hit him but is quickly by a knee to his groin taking him to the ground and punching his head as he falls. Grenn attacks him next but Jon elbows his temple hard making Grenn collapse. Then Pyp attacks and their swords clash only for Jon to twist and shove his shoulder into Pyp, sending him tettering backwards. Jon is attacked from behind by Rast with a sword to the back but the armour blocked it from giving anything worse then a bruise quickly turning Jon hitting him once again in the groin and punching his stomach when he dropped to the floor
going to attack Grenn once again “No. Yield yield yield! I yield.” Grenn shouts not wanting to receive a similar fate to Rast. He liked his cock not injured.

Alliser Thorne: “We're done for today. Go clean the armory. That's all you're good for.” Alliser tells Jon annoyed

“I'm not part of the watch you cant tell me what to clean!” shouts Jon after the leaving man.

“Well fought!” Pyp tells Grenn with a smile after standing up

“Piss off.” Grenn grumbles brushing himself off

“Did he hurt you?” asks Samwell concerned to the raven haired man that protected him

“I've had worse.” Jon waves off quickly

“You can call me Sam... If you want. My mother calls me Sam.” Sam tells Jon, stuttering slightly with anxiety.

“It's not going to get any easier, you know? You'll have to defend yourself.” states Jon seriously cutting him off

“Why didn't you get up and fight?” Grenn states annoyed

“I wanted to. I just couldn't.” mumbles Sam softly embarrassed

“Why not?” asks Grenn even more annoyed.

“I'm a coward. My father always says so.” states sam bitterly

“The Wall's no place for cowards.” Jon tells the plump boy. Why in the world would he come here? He looked more like a scholar or a Maester than a fighter.

“You're right. I'm sorry. I just... Wanted to thank you.” he says softly before picking up the sword he dropped and walking off.

“A bloody coward.” mutters Grenn “People saw us talking to him. Now they'll think we're cowards too.” Grenn shouts annoyed

“You're too stupid to be a coward.” counters Pyp with a smile

“You're too stupid to be a…” Grenn starts but trails off as he gets in a stance to tackle Pyp

“Quick now, before summer's over.” Eggs Pyp jumping around in a come at me position.

“Come on here!” growls out Grenn irritated as he lunges several times for Pyp. JOn watches the two with a raised eyebrow before walking off towards the Maester tower he wanted to talk about the things the watch needed

In King's Landing Ned and Lyanna are in another Small council meetings in Kings Landing where Janos Slynt commander of the cities watch astought jowly man, Varys, Renly, Petyr, and Maester Pycelle were at discussing the tournament

“It's the Hand's tournament that's causing all this trouble, my Lords.” states Janos addressing the table where the counsel sat.

“The King's tournament. I assure you the Hand wants no part of it.” corrects Ned annoyed. He did not want the tournament at all but Robert would not budge even a little. So know but at least they were going to make something from it..

“Call it what you will, Lord Stark Ser, the city is packed with people and more flooding in every day. Last night we had a tavern riot, a brothel fire, three stabbings and a drunken horse race down the Street of Sisters.” states Janos, listing the damages that have already occurred and it has not even started.

“Dreadful.” drawls Varys

“If you can't keep the King's peace, perhaps the City Watch should be commanded by someone who can.” states Renly annoyed with this already

“I need more men.” corrects Janos

“You'll get 50. Lord Baelish will see it paid for.” Ned states gesturing slightly to Petyr who raised his head in question to that statement.

“I will?” He questions

“You found money for a champion's purse, you can find money to keep the peace. I'll also give you 20 of my household guards till the crowds have left.” States Ned annoyed but understanding the need.

“Thank you, my Lord Hand Ser. They will be put to good use.” bows Janos before leaving

“The sooner this is over, the better.” Ned counters annoyed. Lyanna who was laid at his feet listening in snorted slightly, she knew how much Ned hated the peacocking that being part of the southern courts was.

“The realm prospers from such events, my Lord. They give the great a chance at
glory, and the lowly a respite from their woes.” Varys tells the dower Stark Lord

”And every inn in the city is full and the whores are walking bow-legged.” Petyr smugly remarks since he owned the most brothels he would be getting the most money for the tournament

“I'm sure the tourney puts coins in many a pocket. Now... If there's nothing else, my Lords? Ned states before addressing Petyr “i need to see all the books for the past 20 years before and since robert became king please have it dropped off in the hand solar, also any anger over the new payment to get into the tournament” he asks the room

“It's going well we've already made 40,000 in gold dragons there was some issues in the beginning but they've been straightened out now.” states Petyr annoyed while the other council members are surprised with how well it's working.

Eddard stands and watches as everyone dissapear quickly. “This heat. On days like this, I envy you northerners your summer snows. Until tomorrow my Lord.” Pycelle gestures as he slowly walks away

“I've been hoping to talk to you about Jon Arryn.” states Ned stopping Pycelle and resting his hands on the desk leaning slightly forward.

“Lord Arryn? His death was a great sadness to all of us. I took personal charge of his care, but I could not save him. His sickness struck him very hard and very fast. I saw him in my chambers just the night before he passed. Lord Jon often came to me for counsel.” Pycellse states slowly like breathing was hard.

“Why?” asks Ned suspiciously

“I have been Grand Maester for many years. Kings and Hands have come to me for advice since…” Pycelle starts offended before trailing off

“What did Jon want the night before he died? Ned asks seriously. He was aware that Jon Arrys most likely died from poison from what it sounded like. The question was did Pycelle know and try to hide it.

“He came inquiring after a book.” he states questiongly

“A book? What book?” he questions once again, it must have been overwhelming evidence for them to kill Jon

“I fear it would be of little interest to you, my Lord. A ponderous
Tome.” Pycelle says trying deter the stark lord

“I'd like to read it.” Ned states seriously

They walked to Pycelle’s room, and Pycelle sits the book on the desk after retrieving it from the shelf..

"The lineages and histories of the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms, with descriptions of many high lords and noble ladies and their children." states Prycelle hoping he would just leave it

“flipping through pages to see if anything was left or annotated in it "Harkon Umber, first of his name, born to lord Hother Umber and lady Amaryllis Umber in the 183rd year after Aegon's landing, at the last hearth. Blue of eye, brown of hair and fair complected, died in his 14th year of a wound sustained
in a bear hunt." Ned reads aloud.

“As I said, my Lord, a ponderous read.” Pycelle states not wanting him to investigate more. He had no issue with the man but if he continued his questions he would need to tell the queen

“Did Jon Arryn tell you what he wanted with it?” Asks Ned after backing away from the book trying to read the older man's face.

“He did not, my Lord. And I did not presume to ask.” he states not wanting to drag the facade on longer

“Jon's death…” starts Ned sadly.

“Such a tragedy.” Pycelle says cutting him off

Shaking his head to rid himself of the memories of Jon he asks “Did he say anything to you during his final hours?”

“Nothing of import, my Lord. There was one phrase he kept repeating ‘The seed is strong,’ I think it was.” He hints at.

"The seed is strong"? Hmm weirds no matter though.” undersanding what that meant he quickly shut down the conversation not wanting it to get back to Cersie.

“The dying mind is a demented mind, Lord Stark. For all the weight they're given, last words are usually as significant as first words.” he chuckles lightly

“And you're quite certain he died of a natural illness?” Ned asks

“What else could it be?” ASK Pycelle concerned on what the lord might know

“poison perhaps but no matter just seemed sudden is all”

“A disturbing thought. I don't think it likely. The Hand was loved by all. What sort of man would dare…” Pycellse states with a fake concern

“I've heard it said that poison is a woman's weapon.” states Ned only to receive a nip at his ankle from Lyanna who was glaring at him for the comment.

“Yes. Women, cravens... and eunuchs. Did you know that Lord Varys is a eunuch?” he questions nervously

“Everybody knows that.” glowers Ned

“Yes, yes, of course. How that sort of person found himself on the King's Council, I will never know.” He rambles nervously

“I've taken enough of your time. States Ned picking up the book to read through later.

“No trouble at all, my Lord. It's a great honor…” he goes to stand but is stopped by the lords hand.

Eddard Stark: “Thank you. I'll find my own way out” Ned stops him before standing completely and walking out.

Ned is walking back to his solar when he sees Arya balancing on one foot in front of a staircase and approaches confused on what his daughter was doing

“Syrio says a water dancer can stand on one toe for hours.” she tells him amazed

“It's a hard fall down these steps.” Ned states concerned for her safety

“Syrio says every hurt is a lesson and every lesson makes you better. Tomorrow I'm going to be chasing cats.” Arya tells him brightly

“Cats? Syrio says…” ned shakes his head smiling in bizarre amusement

“He says every swordsman should study cats. They're quiet as shadows and as light as feathers. You have to be quick to catch them.” she says after stopping for a moment to talk more with her father

Eddard Stark: He's right about that.” Ned states walking over to the door.

Arya Stark: Now that Bran's awake will he come live with us?” asks Arya hopefully after he went to leave once again.

"He needs to get his strength back first we might be home before then.” Ned tells her

“He wants to be a knight of the King’s Guard. He can't be one now, can he?” she asks concerned sitting down on the stairs

“he might but he could also be Lord of a holdfast or sit on the King's Council. Or he might raise castles like Brandon the Builder. Ned tells her as he walks up the few steps and sits next to her.

“Can I be Lord of a holdfast?” she asks hopefully

chuckling he tells her “You will marry a high Lord and rule his castle. And your sons shall be knights and princes and lords.” Lyanna who was watching, wanted to laugh at her brother. Arya would never settle for that.

“No. That's not me.” states Arya annoyed before standing and continuing the pose Syrio taught her. Ned stands up and goes into his solar

Walking over to where he had stashed a dress he tossed it at her and turns around after the sounds of the shifting he looks at her. She stood there in the light blue dress and was glaring at him

Sitting down in the chair he looks at her “what did i do now”

“Brother i love you, but your an idiot”

“What did i do”

“Arya is so different compared to Sansa she will never want to be one of those ladies who just births babies for some lord like a trophy, for the love of the gods, don't make the same mistake father and brother did with me.” she tells him sitting down

“What am i supposed to do then Lya please tell me because i have no idea because i lost you and i don't want to lose her.”

“Listen to her but also i know the way the world works its a man world but that doesn't mean there are not places that have better respect for a women warrior.” Lyanna tells him thinking of another feisty dark haired women.

“You mean the dornish” Ned states annoyed “they hate our family for what happened they would never care for Arya the way she should be”

“Brother I love you but your so wrong, I personally never met Oberyn but the rumours of his daughters who have been trained to fight since they were physically capable sounds like the perfect place for Arya. would it hurt to approach him and ask if they would be willing to have her as a ward not to mention we will need them when Jon decided he wants his crown because the way robert is spending and the way that the city is I don't see lasting for another few years. It would take one plague and the entire city could be wiped out. I need to tell that family the truth and that would be a good way to get alone with them. “ she tells him needing to understand how well Arya could fit in there

Ned sighs heavily and nods in agreement “what are your thoughts on Petyr and Pycelle?”

“Petyr can not be trusted even without looking in the books i can already tell you he been stealing from the treasury and the fact that they are in debt 6 millions dragons is huge not to mention the man is so helplessly in love with your wife he won't care if something happens to you. Pycelle well he's another matter he’s been grand maester for over 30 years he needs to be removed he's been the maester for far too long not to even mention did you see the way he was directing you towards the trait section of that book it's like he was pointing a sign saying this is why Jon Arryn is dead.”

“Yeah i noticed that too, i thought it was weird he was definitely in on the poison of Jon”

“Oh for sure yes he might not have administered it but he had plenty of time for a cure but did nothing.” states Lyanna sitting back in their chair they think of the things they needed to get done.
Talk to Oberyn, Discover what Jon Arryn was figuring out the days before his death, Catch Cersei having an affair, Tell Robert about the infidelity and prove the children aren't his.

Chapter Text

Oberyn Martell was laying in bed nestled into the warm embrace of his paramour but he could only think of how much he hated to be in the city of kingslanding but his brother Doran the prince of Dorne needed him to be there to spy on the new hand and if the rumours of the direwolves were true. Oberyn burned with anger over the Usurper and what had happened to his sister and her children. He would curse the idiotism of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark for causing the death of his sister. He wanted revenge on the men who did it mostly the Mountain, Tywin Lannister, and the King Robert Baratheon. He had waited for 17 years for revenge but Doran had yet to make any plans and he was tired of waiting. How easy could it be to slip poison into their goblets or knick the mountain with a poisoned blade in the melee he was known as the red viper for a reason but he was stopped by his brother many times over the years telling him they needed to wait longer it wasn't the time he didn't understand why they had to wait unknown to him he wouldn't have to wait much longer for revenge his life would never be the same after the visitor that would visit him in the next day. Pushing the thoughts away he shifts so he is in between Ellaria thighs while she sleeps and starts nibbling her thighs higher and higher waking her up when she grabs onto his hair pulling him just where she needed him.

Keeping watch on the wall Sam and Jon look out over the wall. Jon was not part of the watch but figured he would help out while he was there. Jon the more he talks to Samwell the more he gets confused on why he was at the wall it was easy to see he wasn't a fighter so why did he come. After asking Sam why he came to the watch he was told of the 2 choices the man received from his lord father ‘either take the black where you forsake all claim to inheritance or i will kill you and tell your mother you were in a hunting accident’. Jon was horrified by this he couldn't even imagine how a father could be like that to his own flesh and blood. For 17 years he believed that Ned stark was his father and was treated like his son even though he wasn't even aware he was a trueborn. So knowing a LOrd would treat his trueborn son that way was horrifying so as he looked at the helpless man he swore he would help him. It was obvious Sam wasn't not meant to be a fighter but perhaps with the ailing health of Maester Aemon Sam could go to Oldtown and become a Maester instead.

Walking through the gardens of King’s Landing. Lyanna and Ned are on their way to get Tommen and take him to Arya after Robert had complained that the children were not spending any time together since Cersei had put her foot down with her child living with a Stark. When Baelish walked quickly up to Neds side “I hear you're reading a boring book.” he states knowingly

“Pycelle talks too much.” Ned gruffly replies annoyed

“He never stops. Do you know Ser Hugh of the Vale?” Petyr asks Ned shakes his head no “Not surprising. Until recently, he was only a squire... Jon Arryn's squire. He was knighted almost immediately after his master's untimely death.” he tells him

“Knighted for what?” after not receiving an answer “Why are you telling me this?” he asks suspiciously

“I promised Cat that I'd help you.” Petyr tells him

”Where is Ser Hugh? I'll speak to him.” Ned states

“A singularly bad idea. Do you see that boy there?” he gestures to a couple of young poor boys sitting next to a tree watching him “One of Varys's little birds. The Spider has taken a great interest in your comings and goings.” nodding over to an older man gardening but was watching the two high noble men walk on together “Now look there. That one belongs to the Queen. And do you see that Septa pretending to read her book?” he asks gesturing to the women sitting on the bench next to a lady sewing
“Varys or the Queen?” Ned asks annoyed

“No. She's one of mine. Is there someone in your service whom you trust completely?” Baelish corrects before asking

“Yes.” says Ned curtly thinking of his sister and Jory Cassel

“The wiser answer was no, my Lord. Get a message to this paragon of yours... Discreetly. Send him to question Ser Hugh. After that, you might want him to visit a certain armorer in the city. He lives in a large house at the top of the street of Steel.” he tells him

“Why?” he questions darkly

“I have my observers, as I said, and it's possible that they saw Lord Arryn visit this armorer several times in the weeks before his death.” he tells him knowingly

“Lord Baelish, perhaps I was wrong to distrust you.” states Ned surprised with the help he was receiving from the man

Chuckling knowingly he corrects him “Distrusting me was the wisest thing you've done since you climbed off your horse.” finished with the conversation Petyr walks away

Preparing for the Hand of the King’s tournament, Ser Hugh is pacing out steps on the joust. When Jory walks up to him interrupting his count “Ser Hugh? Ser Hugh!”

“As you can see, I'm busy.” Hugh states annoyed continuing the pace

“I'm here on behalf of Lord Eddard Stark, the Hand of the king. I'm the captain of his guard.” he tells the light haired man

“I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name, Ser…” he questions

“No "ser." I'm not a knight.” Jory tells him annoyed

“I see. Well, it just so happens that I am.” Hugh states turning around and ignoring the man and continuing his pacing.

Riding on horseback through King’s Landing, Ned and Jory arrive at the armorer. Lyanna was not with them; they figured having a direwolf would be counterproductive when they were trying not to be obvious so she was supervising Arya and Tommen.

“He said he'd be glad to talk to the Hand himself. He's a knight, you see.” Jory tells him annoyed with how much of a prick the knight had been.

“A knight. They strut around like roosters down here. Even the ones who've never seen an arrow coming their way.” States Ned dryly

“You shouldn't be out here, my Lord. There's no telling who has eyes where.” Jory tells his lord concerned for his safety

“Let them look.” Ned states jumping down off his horse and entering the armorer. He calls over to the blacksmith stopping his work; he walks over to the lord where Ned asks the man if the previous hand came here and why that was.

“The former Hand did call on me, my Lord, several times. I regret to say he did not honor me with his patronage.” Tobho Mott a balding man in his 50s, tells him while wiping the sweat off his face with a rag.

“What did Lord Arryn want?” Ned questions

“He always came to see the boy.” Mott tells the Lord Hand nervously

“I'd like to see him as well.” Ned tells him curiously what had the Lord Hand come to see an apprentice so many times.

“As you wish, my Lord. Gendry!” he gestures for the teenager to come forward. Annoyed, Gendry who had been listening to the conversation, sets down his tools and walks over to the two men ”Here he is. Strong for his age. He works hard. Show the Hand the helmet you made, lad.” He gestures proud of the good work his apprentice was doing.

Ned watched as the boy brought over a helmet with antlers coming out of it he took it and inspected raising his eyes in surprise in how well the work was “This is fine work.” he tells the boy

“It's not for sale.” Gendry tells the Lord

“Boy, this is the King's Hand! If his lordship wants the helmet…” Mott tells the boy slightly horrified.

“I made it for me.” Gendry states not wanting to argue but not willing to relinquish what he had made for himself.

“Forgive him, my Lord.”

“There's nothing to forgive. When Lord Arryn came to visit you, what would you talk about?” Ned states before turning back to the boy and questioning him.

Thinking back to the conversation with the older man Gendry tells him “He just asked me questions is all, my Lord.”

“What kind of questions?” Ned asks

Gendry after looking for permission towards Mott responds “About my work at first, if I was being treated well, if I liked it here. But then he started asking me about my mother.”

“Your mother?” Ned questions confused

“Who she was, what she looked like.” Gendry tells him

“What did you tell him?” Ned asks

“She died when I was little. She had yellow hair. She'd sing to me sometimes.” Gendry tells the lord looking down

“Look at me.”Ned tells the boy after he looked up Ned took a moment to inspect his features and was shocked to see an almost replica of a young Robert Baratheon with his black hair and bright blue eyes and stocky build. Realizing what this meant he knew he needed to tell Lyanna and find the other Bastards because this could be the evidence they were looking for “Get back to work, lad. “ after gendry walks away to continue his work he turns to Mott and tells him “If the day ever comes when that boy'd rather wield a sword than forge one, you send him to me.” he walks back towards his horse and where Jory was waiting

“Find anything?” he asks

“King Robert's bastard son.” Ned tells him

In the mess hall at Castle Black. Jon sat down with Grenn and Pyp to eat before he headed to the Maester tower once again the minute he had heard his name he knew the blind Maester was his relative he had yet to tell him but wanted to do so soon so the old man would know he wasn't the last of the Targaryens in westeros.

“Where have you been?” asks Grenn after Jon sat down to eat.

“Watch duty. With Sam.” Jon tells him

“Prince Porkchop. Where is he?” Pyp asks before looking around and not seeing him asks where he is

“He wasn't hungry.” Jon tells them

“Impossible!” Laughs Pyp

“That's enough. Sam's no different from the rest of us. There was no place for him in the world, so he's come here. We're not going to hurt him in the training yard anymore. Never again, no matter what Thorne says. He's your brother now and we're going to protect him.” Jon tells them annoyed with their attitude

“You are in love, Lord Snow. You girls can do as you please. But if Thorne puts me up against Lady Piggy, I'm gonna slice me off a side of bacon.” Rast tells them turning to face Jon and his friends.

Later that night after having a nice history lesson on the Targaryens with Aemon. Jon walks around the sleeping recruits towards Rast where he slams a gag over the man's mouth with Pyp, Grenn, and his direwolf Ghost stand over the now awake man who was terrified with how close the direwolf was snarling silently in front of his face. Ghost was so close he could feel his warm breath over his face and the devil red eyes “No one touches Sam.” Jon warns harshly before walking away. Terrifying the man

In the training yard the next morning Rast is defying Alliser and not attacking Sam. only hitting him lightly even when he's being yelled at by Alliser who getting annoyed his men were not listening to him but some bastard from the north.

Later inside the Castle Black mess hall, Jon and Sam are cleaning the tables talking about how Jon had almost been with a woman but couldn't do it since he had not wanted to have the possibility of creating a bastard like himself. knowing he was a trueborn had not changed that thought. he did not want to make that mistake especially knowing how it feels to be a bastard of a high born lord he couldn't do that to a child.

“Enjoying yourselves? You look cold, boys.” Alliser mocks the two boys who had been play fighting when he walked in

“It is a bit nippy.” Sam jokes lightly

“A bit nippy, yeah, by the fire, indoors. It's still summer. Do you boys even remember the last winter? How long has it been now? What, 10 years? I remember. Was it uncomfortable at Winterfell? Were there days when you just couldn't get warm, never mind how many fires your servants built?” Alliser questions Jon

“I build my own fires.” Jon tells him annoyed he didn't get why Alliser kept trying to antagonize him.

“That's admirable.” he mocks “I spent six months out there, beyond the Wall during the last winter. It was supposed to be a two-week mission. We heard a rumor Mance Rayder was planning to attack Eastwatch. So we went out to look for some of his men... Capture them, gather some knowledge. The Wildlings who fight for Mance Rayder are hard men. Harder than you'll ever be. They know their country better than we do. They knew there was a storm coming in. So they hid in their caves and waited for it to pass. And we got caught in the open. Wind so strong it yanked 100-foot trees straight from the ground, roots and all. If you took your gloves off to find your cock to have a piss, you lost a finger to the frost. And all in darkness. You don't know cold. Neither of you do. The horses died first. We didn't have enough to feed them, to keep them warm. Eating the horses was easy. But later when we started to fall... That wasn't easy. We should have had a couple of boys like you along, shouldn't we? Soft, fat boys like you. We'd have lasted a fortnight on you and still had bones leftover for soup. Soon we'll have new recruits and you lot will be passed along to the Lord Commander for assignment and they will call you men of the Night's Watch, but you'd be fools to believe it. You're boys still. And come the winter you will die... Like flies.” he tells them before walking out.

Lyanna walked with Ned and Arya to watch the first event of the tourney the joust. Beyond the city walls a hundred pavilions had been raised beside the river, and the common folk who could pay came out in the thousands for the event. Lyanna watched at the splendor of it took Arya’s breathe away, the shouts of the crowd, the banners snapping in the wind and the knights themselves. Arya watched them in glee wanting to be one. They got to where Ned had paid for their seats.

They watched as the seven knights of the Kingsguard took the field, all but Jaime Lannister in scaled armor the color of milk, their cloaks as white as fresh fallen snow. Ser Jaime wore the white cloak as well, but beneath it he was shining gold from head to foot, with a lion's head helm and a golden sword. Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain That Rides, thundered past them like an avalanche. Arya had vague memories of Lord Yohn Royce, who had guested at Winterfell two years before. “His armor is bronze, thousands and thousands of years old, engraved with magic runes that ward him against harm,” Arya whispered amazed to her aunt. Ned pointed out Lord Jason Mallister, in indigo chased with silver, the wings of an eagle on his helm. He had cut down three of Rhaegar’s bannermen on the Trident. Arya gaped over the warrior priest Thoros of Myr, with his flapping red robes and shaven head she bounced in her seat wanting to see his flaming sword he was rumored to have. Other riders Ned did not know; hedge knights from the Fingers and Highgarden and the mountains of Dorne, unsung freeriders and new-made squires, the younger sons of high lords and the heirs of lesser houses.

Arya didn't much care for the other men but she did pay attention to their names just incase they became something in the future Ser Balon Swann. Lord Bryce Caron of the Marches. Bronze Yohn’s heir, Ser Andar Royce, and his younger brother Ser Robar, their silvered steel plate filigreed in bronze with the same ancient runes that warded their father. The twins Ser Horas and Ser Hobber, whose shields displayed the grape cluster sigil of the Redwynes, burgundy on blue. Patrek Mallister, Lord Jason’s son. Six Freys of the Crossing: Ser Jared, Ser Hosteen, Ser Danwell, Ser Emmon, Ser Theo, Ser Perwyn, sons and grandsons of old Lord Walder Frey, and his bastard son Martyn Rivers as well. Jalabhar Xho, an exile prince from the Summer Isles who wore a cape of green and scarlet feathers over skin as dark as night, young Lord Beric Dondarrion, with his hair like red gold and his black shield slashed by lightning.

The Hound entered the lists as well, and so too the king’s brother, Lord Renly of Storm’s End. Jory, Alyn, and Harwin rode for Winterfell and the north. After seeing the men of the North Arya hollered for them Jory’s armor was blue-grey plate without device or ornament, and a thin grey cloak hung from his shoulders like a soiled rag. Yet he acquitted himself well, unhorsing Horas Redwyne in his first joust and one of the Freys in his second. In his third match, he rode three passes at a freerider named Lothor Brune whose armor was as drab as his own. Neither man lost his seat, but Brune’s lance was steadier and his blows better placed, and the king gave him the victory. Alyn and Harwin fared less well; Harwin was unhorsed in his first tilt by Ser Meryn of the Kingsguard, while Alyn fell to Ser Balon Swann.

The jousting went all day and into the dusk, the hooves of the great warhorses pounding down the lists until the field was a ragged wasteland of torn earth. A dozen times Arya gasped in horror and awe with the brutality of it as riders crashed together, lances exploding into splinters while the commons screamed for their favorites. The Kingslayer rode brilliantly. He overthrew Ser Andar Royce and the Marcher Lord Bryce Caron as easily as if he were riding at rings, and then took a hard-fought match from white-haired Barristan Selmy, who had won his first two tilts against men thirty and forty years his junior. Sandor Clegane and his immense brother, Ser Gregor the Mountain, seemed unstoppable as well, riding down one foe after the next in ferocious style. The most terrifying moment of the day came during Ser Gregor’s second joust, when his lance rode up and struck a young knight from the Vale under the gorget with such force that it drove through his throat, killing him instantly. The youth fell not ten feet from where the Starks were seated. The point of Ser Gregor’s lance had snapped off in his neck, and his life’s blood flowed out in slow pulses, each weaker than the one before. His armor was shiny new; a bright streak of fire ran down his outstretched arm, as the steel caught the light. Then the sun went behind a cloud, and it was gone. His cloak was blue, the color of the sky on a clear summer’s day, trimmed with a border of crescent moons, but as his blood seeped into it, the cloth darkened and the moons turned red, one by one. Arya had watched it happen but seemed to be handling it well even though she had never seen a man die before.

She ought to be crying, the siblings thought surprised at the girl. “Im surprised your handling this so well” states Ned to his daughter.

“Im not a baby father i wouldnt cry like Sansa or Bran” Arya states not blinking she wanted to fight and she knew killing would happen if she could get her wish so she didn't want to seem like a little girl who couldn't handle a little death. The young knight in the blue cloak was nothing to her, some stranger from the Vale of Arryn whose name she had forgotten as soon as she heard it. And now the world would forget his name too, Arya realized. After they carried off the body, a boy with a spade ran onto the field and shoveled dirt over the spot where he had fallen, to cover up the blood. Then the jousts resumed. Ser Balon Swann also fell to Gregor, and Lord Renly to the Hound. Renly was unhorsed so violently that he seemed to fly backward off his charger, legs in the air. His head hit the ground with an audible crack that made the crowd gasp, but it was just the golden antler on his helm. One of the tines had snapped off beneath him. When Lord Renly climbed to his feet, the commons cheered wildly, for King Robert’s handsome young brother was a great favorite. He handed the broken tine to his conqueror with a gracious bow. The Hound snorted and tossed the broken antler into the crowd, where the commons began to punch and claw over the little bit of gold, until Lord Renly walked out among them and restored the peace. Later a hedge knight in a checkered cloak disgraced himself by killing Beric Dondarrion’s horse, and was declared forfeit. Lord Beric shifted his saddle to a new mount, only to be knocked right off it by Thoros of Myr. Ser Aron Santagar and Lothor Brune tilted thrice without result; Ser Aron fell afterward to Lord Jason Mallister, and Brune to Yohn Royce’s younger son, Robar.

In the end it came down to four; the Hound and his monstrous brother Gregor, Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer, and Ser Loras Tyrell, the youth they called the Knight of Flowers. Ser Loras was the youngest son of Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South. At sixteen, he was the youngest rider on the field, yet he had unhorsed three knights of the Kingsguard that morning in his first three jousts. His plate was intricately fashioned and enameled as a bouquet of a thousand different flowers, and his snow-white stallion was draped in a blanket of red and white roses. After each victory, Ser Loras would remove his helm and ride slowly round the fence, and finally pluck a single white rose from the blanket and toss it to some fair maiden in the crowd. His last match of the day was against the younger Royce. Ser Robar’s ancestral runes proved small protection as Ser Loras split his shield and drove him from his saddle to crash with an awful clangor in the dirt. Robar lay moaning as the victor made his circuit of the field. Finally they called for a litter and carried him off to his tent, dazed and unmoving.

When the white horse stopped in front of her, she was shocked. To the other maidens he had given white roses, but the one he plucked for her was red. “Sweet lady,” Ser Loras said, “no victory is half the northern beauty you will be.” Arya shell shocked and a little horrified by the attention, took the flower timidly and embarrassed. His hair was a mass of lazy brown curls, his eyes like liquid gold. She set the rose on her lap lightly after inhaling the sweet fragrance of the rose Ser Loras had ridden off Arya turned to her aunt who was already looking at her with a wolfish grin she groaned in embarrassment for her reaction and refocused to what was happening in front of her where a man was standing over her, staring. He was short, with a pointed beard and a silver streak in his hair, almost as old as her father.

“You look so much like your Aunt, you know she was crowned the queen of love and beauty once” he tells the dark haired girl not aware the women he was talking about sat no more than 3 feet away and brought her into a flashback of that fateful tourney at Harrenhal that had started the downfall of her family and Rhaegars.

“I've been told, who are you and what do you want?” Arya states annoyed and still angry at herself for her reaction towards Ser Loras she wasn't her sister who loved the idea of knights and flowery things so her reaction to him had her mad.

“Arya Manners, this is Lord Baelish he’s also known…” Ned chastises Before starting to introduce the man before getting cut off.

“An old friend of the family. I've known your mother a long long time.” Petyr tells her

“Why do they call you Littlefinger?” Arya questions not so nicely causing Ned and Lyanna to fight back a laugh at the abruptness of her question.

“Don't be rude” Ned tells his daughter

“No, it's quite all right. When I was a child I was very small and I come from a little spit of land called The Fingers, so you see, it's an exceedingly clever nickname.” Petyr tells the young girl not telling her how much he hated the name he stood up and left the family to continue to watch but by then, the moon was well up and the crowd was tired, so the king decreed that the last three matches would be fought the next morning, before the melee. While the commons began their walk home, talking of the day’s jousts and the matches to come on the morrow, the court moved to the riverside to begin the feast.

Six monstrous huge aurochs had been roasting for hours, turning slowly on wooden spits while kitchen boys basted them with butter and herbs until the meat crackled and spit. Tables and benches had been raised outside the pavilions, piled high with sweetgrass and strawberries and fresh- baked bread. The Starks were given places of high honor, to the left of the raised dais where the king himself sat beside his queen. The father and daughter ate their food quickly while Arya snuck scraps to Lyanna who laid down at their feet. Singers sat before the king’s pavilion, filling the dusk with music. A juggler kept a cascade of burning clubs spinning through the air. The king’s own fool, the pie-faced simpleton called Moon Boy, danced about on stilts, all in motley, making mock of everyone with such deft cruelty that. Lyanna wondered if he was actually simple minded. Arya meanwhile laughed at the mean jabs the fool was doing at everyone that caught his eye. All the while the courses came and went. A thick soup of barley and venison. Salads of sweetgrass and spinach and plums, sprinkled with crushed nuts. Snails in honey and garlic. Arya had never eaten snails before; Father showed her how to get the snail out of the shell.

Then came trout fresh from the river, baked in clay; Ned once again helped his daughter crack open the hard casing to expose the flaky white flesh within. And when the meat course was brought out she grabbed a giant size of it that she dropped to Lyanna to eat. Later came sweetbreads and pigeon pie and baked apples fragrant with cinnamon and lemon cakes frosted in sugar, that Arya knew Sansa would have enjoyed immensely. She was wondering if she could sneak some with her back to her room when the king began to shout.

King Robert had grown louder with each course. From time to time Lyanna could hear him laughing or roaring a command over the music and the clangor of plates and cutlery, but they were too far away for her to make out his words. Now everybody heard him.

“No,” he thundered in a voice that drowned out all other speech.

Arya was shocked to see the king on his feet, red of face, reeling. He had a goblet of wine in one hand, and he was drunk as a man could be. “You do not tell me what to do, woman,” he screamed at Queen Cersei. “I am king here, do you understand? I rule here, and if I say that I will fight tomorrow, I will fight!”

Everyone was staring. Arya saw Ser Barristan, and the king’s brother Renly, and the short man who had talked to her so oddly but no one made a move to interfere. The queen’s face was a mask, so bloodless that it might have been sculpted from snow. She rose from the table, gathered her skirts around her, and stormed off in silence, servants trailing behind. Jaime Lannister put a hand on the king’s shoulder, but the king shoved him away hard. Lannister stumbled and fell. The king guffawed. “The great knight. I can still knock you in the dirt. Remember that, Kingslayer.” He slapped his chest with the jeweled goblet, splashing wine all over his satin tunic. “Give me my hammer and not a man in the realm can stand before me!”

Jaime Lannister rose and brushed himself off. “As you say, Your Grace.” His voice was stiff.

Lord Renly came forward, smiling. “You’ve spilled your wine, Robert. Let me bring you a fresh goblet.”

Arya, ignoring what was happening around her, turns to her father and asks if they can head back to the tower now.

Ned nodding in agreement stands up gesturing for Lyanna to guard their back, takes Arya’s smaller hand and walks back where they were staying. Where he kissed his daughter's forehead goodnight and heads to bed himself.

Before Ned could undress himself he was interrupted by Jory

“My Lord, Her Grace the Queen.” Jory announces before stepping out of the room

“Your Grace.” Ned states questiongly due to the late hour of her visit.

“How do you like your tournament?” Cersei asks questiongly

“Putting my name on it doesn't make it mine.” Ned states dryly “especially when i tried vehemently not to go through with it”

“I thought we might put what happened on the Kingsroad behind us – the ugliness with the wolf and trying to force you to kill the beast was extreme. Though sometimes we go to extremes where our children are concerned. How is Arya?” she asks the man curious about the young girl.

“She misses her family and her direwolf but she's doing well” Ned tells her dryly

“The only trueborn who seems to favors your coloring, the rest of your brood seem to take your wifes tully's looks over your own” Cersei tells him

“What are you doing here?” Ned questions annoyed

“I might ask the same of you. What is it you hope to accomplish?” Cersei asks the Stark Lord trying to understand why he was going to such lengths to find out what Jon Arryn was doing on his last days.

“The King called on me to serve him and the realm, and that's what I'll do until he tells me otherwise.” Ned tells her dryly

“You can't change him. You can't help him. He'll do what he wants, which is all he's ever done. You'll try your best to pick up the pieces.” she tells him seriously

“If that's my job, then so be it.” Ned shrugs

You're just a soldier, aren't you? You take your orders and you carry on. I suppose it makes sense. Your older brother was trained to lead and you were trained to follow.”

“I was also trained to kill my enemies, Your Grace.”

“As was I.”

Ned watched the queen leave promising himself to tell Lyanna about the conversation with the queen and what he found out at the blacksmiths the next morning. He finished getting ready for bed and falls asleep.

Further north Catelyn had finally crossed the twins and was officially back in the North. She released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. In a week she would finally be back in her home with her children. Not realizing she had just missed Tyrion who had passed through not even a few hours before her.

Chapter Text

Back in Kingslanding Ned and Lyanna enter a tent where Ser hugh the knight that the Mountain had killed the day before. Body was being tended to by a silent sister.

“He had no one else. A mother in the Vale, I am told.” Barristan Selmy told Ned

In the pale dawn light, the young knight looked as though he were sleeping. He had not been handsome, but death had smoothed his rough-hewn features and the silent sisters had dressed him in his best velvet tunic, with a high collar to cover the ruin the lance had made of his throat. Eddard Stark looked at his face, and wondered if it had been for his fault that the boy had died. Slain by a Lannister bannerman before Ned could speak to him; could that be mere happenstance? He supposed he would never know.

“Hugh was Jon Arryn’s squire for four years,” Selmy went on. “The king knighted him before he rode north, in Jon’s memory. The lad wanted it desperately, yet I fear he was not ready.”

Ned had slept badly last night and he felt tired beyond his years. “None of us is ever ready,” he said.

“For knighthood?”

“For death.” Gently Ned covered the boy with his cloak, a bloodstained bit of blue bordered in crescent moons. When his mother asked why her son was dead, he reflected bitterly, they would tell her he had fought to honor the King’s Hand, Eddard Stark. “This was needless. War should not be a game.” Ned turned to the woman beside the cart, shrouded in grey, face hidden but for her eyes. The silent sisters prepared men for the grave, and it was ill fortune to look on the face of death. “Send his armor home to the Vale. The mother will want to have it.”

“It is worth a fair piece of silver,” Ser Barristan said. “The boy had it forged special for the tourney. Plain work, but good. I do not know if he had finished paying the smith.”

“He paid yesterday, my lord, and he paid dearly,” Ned replied. And to the silent sister he said, “Send the mother the armor. I will deal with this smith.” She bowed her head. Afterward Ser Barristan walked with Ned to the king’s pavilion.

Lyanna trailing behind them stomach growling to the smell and sounds of fat sausages sizzling over fire pits and spices of garlic and pepper. She watched as the camp started spring to life before her eyes as young squires were rushing around on errands as their masters woke. She reflected over the death of the young knight and how needless it was. All it had done was drive her anger over The Mountain.

“The king means to fight in the melee today,” Ser Barristan said as they were passing Ser Meryn’s shield, its paint sullied by a deep gash where Loras Tyrell’s lance had scarred the wood as he drove him from his saddle.

“Yes,” Ned said grimly remembering the night before as he had shouted for everyone to hear.

Ser Barristan’s look was troubled. “They say night’s beauties fade at dawn, and the children of wine are often disowned in the morning light.”

“They say so,” Ned agreed, “but not of Robert.” Other men might reconsider words spoken in drunken bravado, but Robert Baratheon would remember and, remembering, would never back down. The king’s pavilion was close by the water, and the morning mists off the river had bathed it in a subdued grey. The kings tent was all of golden silk, the largest and grandest structure in the camp. Outside the entrance, Robert’s warhammer was displayed beside an immense iron shield blazoned with the crowned stag of House Baratheon. Ned had hoped to discover the king still abed in a wine-soaked sleep, but luck was not with him. They found Robert drinking beer from a polished horn and roaring his displeasure at two young squires who were trying to buckle him into his armor.

“Your Grace,” one was saying, almost in tears, “it’s made too small, it won’t go.” He fumbled, and the gorget he was trying to fit around Robert’s thick neck tumbled to the ground.

“Seven hells!” Robert swore. “Do I have to do it myself? Piss on the both of you. Pick it up. Don’t just stand there gaping, Lancel, pick it up!” The lad jumped, and the king noticed his company. “Look at these oafs, Ned. My wife insisted I take these two to squire for me, and they’re worse than useless. Can’t even put a man’s armor on him properly. Squires, they say. I say they’re swineherds dressed up in silk.”

Ned only needed a glance to understand the difficulty. “The boys are not at fault,” he told the king. “You’re too fat for your armor, Robert.”

Robert Baratheon took a long swallow of beer, tossed the empty horn onto his sleeping furs, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said darkly, “Fat? Fat, is it? Is that how you speak to your king?” He let go his laughter, sudden as a storm. “Ah, damn you, Ned, why are you always right?” The squires smiled nervously until the king turned on them. “You. Yes, both of you. You heard the Hand. The king is too fat for his armor. Go find Ser Aron Santagar. Tell him I need the breastplate stretcher. Now! What are you waiting for?” The boys tripped over each other in their haste to be quit of the tent. Robert managed to keep a stern face until they were gone. Then he dropped back into a chair, shaking with laughter.

Ser Barristan Selmy chuckled with him. Even Eddard Stark managed a small smile. Always, though, the graver thoughts crept in. He could not help taking note of the two squires: handsome boys, fair and well made. One was Sansa’s age, with long golden curls; the other perhaps fifteen, sandy-haired, with a wisp of a mustache and the emerald-green eyes of the queen.

“Ah, I wish I could be there to see Santagar’s face,” Robert said. “I hope he’ll have the wit to send them to someone else. We ought to keep them running all day!”

“Those boys,” Ned asked him. “Lannisters?”

Robert nodded, wiping tears from his eyes. “Cousins. Sons of Lord Tywin’s brother. One of the dead ones. Or perhaps the live one, now that I come to think on it. I don’t recall. My wife comes from a very large family, Ned.” A very ambitious family, Ned thought. He had nothing against the squires, but it troubled him to see Robert surrounded by the queen’s kin, waking and sleeping. The Lannister appetite for offices and honors seemed to know no bounds. He had only been in the capital for a week and could already tell that Robert was completely surrounded by Lannisters. He did not have many of his own people from Storm’s End and if he wasn't careful could dispel disaster for the king and his allies which including his family.

“The people are talking that you and the queen had angry words last night.” The mirth curdled on Robert’s face. “The woman tried to forbid me to fight in the melee Ned. She’s sulking in the castle now, damn her. Your sister would never have shamed me like that.

Unknown to the kind said woman sat their listening into said conversation and scoffed to herself she absolutely would have. If Robert had not been such a whore back then and thought he deserved her just because he was Neds friend they might have worked but she would have never let him become this man before her. She would have beaten him bloody to respect her and never would tolerate him sleeping with others. But thats not how things came to fruition so they would never would know what would have happened if things had not happened the way they did.

“You never knew Lyanna as I did, Robert,” Ned told him. “You saw her beauty, but not the iron underneath. She would have told you that you have no business in the melee.”

Oh contrare brother Lyanna thought to her self she herself would have attempted to enter and would have encouraged her partner to do the same. If they were not attempting to hide her identity from everyone she would have entered the melee. Perhaps though she could bring back the knight of the laughing tree. Not during this tourney of course she did not have enough time to have that armour made once more. She figured the armour she had buried 18 years ago in the godswood was probably rusty as hell.

“You too?” The king frowned. “You are a sour man, Stark. Too long in the north, all the juices have frozen inside you. Well, mine are still running.” He slapped his chest to prove it.

“You are the king,” Ned reminded him.

“I sit on the damn iron seat when I must. Does that mean I don’t have the same hungers as other men? A bit of wine now and again, a girl squealing in bed, the feel of a horse between my legs? Seven hells, Ned, I want to hit someone.”

Ser Barristan Selmy spoke up. “Your Grace,” he said, “it is not seemly that the king should ride into the melee. It would not be a fair contest. Who would dare strike you?”

Robert seemed honestly taken aback. “Why, all of them, damn it. If they can. And the last man left standing . . . ”

“ . . . will be you,” Ned finished. He saw at once that Selmy had hit the mark. The dangers of the melee were only a savor to Robert, but this touched on his pride. “Ser Barristan is right. There’s not a man in the Seven Kingdoms who would dare risk your displeasure by hurting you.”

The king rose to his feet, his face flushed. “Are you telling me those prancing cravens will let me win?”

“For a certainty,” Ned said, and Ser Barristan Selmy bowed his head in silent accord. For a moment Robert was so angry he could not speak. He strode across the tent, whirled, strode back, his face dark and angry. He snatched up his breastplate from the ground and threw it at Barristan Selmy in a wordless fury. Selmy dodged.

“Get out,” the king said then, coldly. “Get out before I kill you.” Ser Barristan left quickly. Ned was about to follow when the king called out again. “Not you, Ned.”

Ned turned back. Robert took up his horn again, filled it with beer from a barrel in the corner, and thrust it at Ned.

“Drink,” he said brusquely.
“I’ve no thirst—”

“Drink. Your king commands it.” Ned took the horn and drank. The beer was black and thick, so strong it stung the eyes. He already missed his northern mead.

After a few moments of standing there Robert ushered Ned telling him “ Enough of this! Let's go watch 'em ride. At least I can smell someone else's blood.”

“Robert?” Ned asks furrowing his brows eyeing his open shirt.

“What? Oh! An inspiring sight for the people, eh? Come! Bow before your King! Bow, you shits!” he cackled

After Robert put on an actual shirt he and Ned went to watch the rest of the the jousts. Arya had made the decision to skip out on the events of the day preferring her ‘dance lessons’ she was currently chasing a black cat through the passages of the castle.

Lyanna had decided now was the perfect time to track down Oberyn Martell before the Melee started where he would be mostly alone getting ready.

While the end of the tourney was nearing Ned and Robert sat watching as Ser Loras and Ser Gregor faced off and Loras managed to knock the massive man off due to his horse being in heat and Ser Gregors horse being a stallion. The man got up and shouts for his sword. His squire brings it to him and then Gregor severs his horse’s head completely off. The stunning everyone then Gregor attacks Loras. Knocking him off of his horse and striking him with his sword. Sandor, the Hound and his brother, runs down from the stands and fends him off from killing the younger man while Robert yells at them to stop in the name of the king. Sandor bows and gregor storms off in a rage. While Loras thanks the hound for the help.

Meanwhile Maester Luwin and Bran sat at a small table . Luwin was attempting to teach the young boy about the different house but it was obvious he was distracted by watching young Theon practice his archery. The boy was still having lingering affects of being asleep as long as was. Thankfully he could still walk though he just couldnt walk longer than 30 min without falling and archery and sword fighting was out of the option at the moment.

Lyanna had finally managed to track down the Martells tent the symbol of a red sun being pierced by a golden spear on a orange field was large and easly noticeable so she slowly and silently entered only to find the man in a compromising position with his paramour and a unknown male. Her eyes widen with the scene in front of her the three of them were intertwined in a sinful embrace.

Oberyn had not noticed the large wolf that had entered his tent but when he moved to kiss down her body but she noticed it. She had frozen with wide eyes as Oberyn didnt notice and the man they dragged into bed had been sucking Oberyn’s cock so his view was blocked as well.

Oberyn noticing she was distracted pulled back and seeing her eyes on something he narrowed his eyes and turned to see what had her frozen. Only for his eyes to widen as well it was a wolf a large one it had a dark brown pelt with tan around its face, legs, and belly.. It had to have been the Starks wolf but why in the world was it in his tent.

Lyanna seeing that she was noticed smiled a wolfish grin showing her sharp teeth causing Oberyn to stop the man that was sucking him to stop as he went hard to limp in a matter of seconds. He wasn't scared of many things but a giant wolf eyeing him while his cock out was definitely one. He pushed the man away and when he noticed her he yelped and rushed naked as the day he was born out of the tent. Leaving Ellaria, Oberyn, and Lyanna alone.

The three of them sat in the tent staring when oberyn finally spoke up “what in the seven hells are you doing here wolf” he states annoyed and not looking for a response.

So Lyanna started changing in front of them. Oberyn and Ellaria watch as the giant wolf that entered their tent bones started rearranging themselves and the fur regress into human skin. Oberyn pushed Ellaria behind him but they watched it all happen. It was a horrifying but satisfying at the same time. Oberyn only thought was this could not be happening. But by the end of her transformation she sat on her knees with her hands splayed out in front of herself, her long hair covering her face but nothing else.

Lyanna was not worried about being undressed; she had lived 35 years being Hayley Marshall who had no worries about being naked around others she was a hybrid it was only natural. She had only been respecting her brothers and his family by not walking around naked that and she knew the people would be scandalised if she had.

Oberyn watched in fascination as the wolf turned into a fair skin raven haired woman. With perky breasts and lovely curves that he could run his hands along all day and never be bored. Then she had looked up and he saw it the angular face the grey eyes this had to be a Stark the question had to be was what one because as far as he knew the only female starks was 10 and 4 and the other 10 and 2. But this lady had to be in her 20s so he wondered who she was.

“I know i'm a beautiful woman Oberyn but perhaps you should cover up a bit” Lyanna states laughing as she had noticed the two gazing at her with wide eyes. Oberyn was a slender but muscular man it was obvious he was a warrior. Currently though he sat up in the bed gazing at her and she watched as he grew harder once again. Raising a sculpted eyebrow she stared straight at him although she slid her eyes to just behind him to his paramour Ellaria who was a thin women even after birthing four children with dark raven hair and sinful brown eyes and high cheekbones. Lyanna gazed down at the exotic beauty before her with her smaller breasts and curves but smooth skin Lyanna was slightly awed by her.

Glancing down Oberyn looked back up with his black viper eyes as people called them “what can I say your a beautiful women and im a handsome man i have no reason to be conscious about” he responds smoothly lifting a thin brow in response.

Lyanna looking back over at the man she looked him up and down “hm i do not disagree” she states looking at the man he has lustrous black hair with a few silver hairs to show he was aging like fine wine and he had a short ragged beard that followed his jaw line and a mustache that shaped his poutful lips perfectly. “But i am sadly here on actual business we need to talk”

Oberyn narrowed his eyes and stood up walking to the women in front of him he lifted his hand and lifted her chin so she would look at him “and who are you then beautiful and what can i do for you” he purred leaning closer to her sinful mouth.

Ellaria still sat on the bed looking at the beautiful women and Oberyn and noticed the women eyes go wide and how she slightly leaning into him. Ellaria was no idiot she saw the way she had looked at her and how she was looking at Oberyn. Ellaria smiled one way or another Oberyn would get this women into their bed.

Taking a step back from the handsome dornish man she took a moment on how to address herself. “My name is Lyanna Stark Targaryen and I am your good sister”

Oberyn eyes went wide before narrowing in anger he quickly leaned furthur into her and quickly moved his hand down to her throat where he squeezed it in warning. “You lie Lyanna Stark died and you are not even the right age if she had lived.” he snarled angrily

Not surprised in the slightest she grabbed his hand and using little force pulled his hand away from her throat. Shocking the man at the use of strength the smaller women should not have. “I am her and i was married to Rhaegar Targaryen the rebellion was a lie”

“Then why shouldnt I kill you right now. You and that silver haired man are why I lost my sister” He snarled eyes narrowing and moving towards her again.

“Wait my love, we should hear her out first” Ellaria states standing up and grabbing a robe to somewhat cover herself since it was obvious they were done having fun for now. She grabbed Oberyn’s and an extra robe and walked over and set her hand on his shoulder before turning to the women and handing her extra over to her.

Lyanna nods her thanks to the woman before sliding the silky red robe over herself. She watched as Oberyn took his and tied the front of it. She glanced over the tent now noticing everything and gestured to the table with a few chairs “may we” she asked receiving a nod she walks over and sits down gesturing for the other two to do the same.

For the next 20 min she explained how she had caught the eye of Rhaegar but not just him but his wife Elia and they had made plans but something happened and things started falling apart. How she was going to marry Elia too but they couldn't get back to the castle and ended up marrying without her but were going to marry once the rebellion ended but things spiraled and she ended up dying not long after her brother found her. She did not explain what she died from all she said was a fever but when she caught Ellaria eyes she noticed the recognition in her eyes. Because 17 years ago Ned Stark the most honorable man came home with a child with prominent Stark looks.

“If you died how are you here and at this age” asks Oberyn suspicious this was insane he thought to himself

“Well I lived another life and when I died once again the old gods came to me and told me to fix their mistakes since many of the houses were doomed to almost extinction” Lyanna tells them thinking back on the moment with the gods. She wasnt going to tell them the threat beyond the wall until she had proof of it.

“I can not believe my sister never said anything about being in love with you” states Oberyn still not fully believing her but over the course of her telling she had described a few letters from Elia to him.

“All i can tell you is under a hidden panel in the tower of joy is a small box of letters that Elia sent me. She wrote about you too by the way about how much she had missed you and Doran”

“Dont just dont” Oberyn tells her looking away

Nodding in understanding she continues on “we need your help, Robert is not fit to be king and the Lannisters are surrounding him we believe that the children of the king is not even his but Cersei and Jaime’s”

Hearing this Oberyn roars with laughter “your telling me that fat fool is being cuckolded by his wife, haha this is the best thing i've heard in a long time” he slowly calms his laughter before leaning towards her “why do you need our help and what do we get in return” he questions eyes bright in interest.

Looking over to Ellaria she raises a brow and receives a slight nod. “I have a son his name is Jaehaerys Targaryen but you would know him by another name” she states

Confused Oberyn looks at her with a raised brow waiting for her to reveal his name only for it not her to say it but Ellaria “Jon Snow right Ned Stark's bastard son only he isnt is he”

Nodding her head in agreement she sits back in her chair. “I made Ned promise to protect him not aware he was going to name him a bastard but thankfully he has my coloring so unless you know what to look for its not to obvious who his father is.”

“Ned Stark huh i'm surprised he didn't bring the child straight to Robert” he tells her thinking about his niece and nephew.

“Ned arrived too late to the massacre of your family and I'm so sorry for what happened to them” Lyanna tells him before leaning forwards. “We want to bring the lannisters down to their knees and to make them beg for forgiveness i doubt the king will be alive for much longer Cersei Lannister has big ambitions and her husband is in the way of that”

“Now that i can get behind what do you need from us and what do we get for the help” Oberyn questions

Smiling viciously she tells him “the men that are the reason behind Elia and the childrens death i will bring them to you. I can't promise a time but you will be able to have your revenge before the year is out. We need the last Targaryens to be protected and you are the best person that could look for her without drawing too much attention by going to Essos.” thinking for a moment she nods to herself “Also we would like you to take in Arya Stark she wants to learn to fight and I think your Sand snakes could help her become the woman she wants to be”

Oberyn sat there thinking over her words and nodded in agreement “we can take Arya with us when we leave. You bring us the men who killed my sister and her children and i will do anything you want” he tells her “now tell me everything i need to know and do”

Over the course of the next few hours they hashed out plans before Lyanna said her goodbyes and transformed back into her wolf. Leaving to the castle to grab Arya and Ned and tell them what was to happen. Oberyn and Ellaria watched her leave in awe “she is going to bring Westeros to kneel. I can already see it” Oberyn tells his paramour before standing and picking her up and bringing her to bed.

Ned had a very interesting conversation with Varys that he needed to recount to his sister. The king was certain to die soon just like Jon Arryn was for asking questions about Robert's bastards and he was warned about he might be on that kill list too because of what he was investigating. On why he was telling him Varys responded it was because he was being trusted now and he had honor unlike many in the castle.

An hour later Arya had came across two men in the dungeons of kings landing after admiring the dragons skulls over hearing their conversation she gasps quietly they had been talking about the murder of Jon Arryn and how Ned could just be killed they left and the gate she had entered through was locked so she traversed through until she could find an exit that lead to the beach of Blackwater Bay she quickly heads to the castle gate only to be mistaken as a beggar because her face was smudged with dirt and dust and was wearing trousers and a very dirty tunic.

“Off with you. No begging.” the first guard tells her turning away.

“I'm not a beggar. I live here.” Arya counters annoyed

“D'you want a smack on your ear to help you with your hearing?” the guard threatens

“I want to see my father.”

“I want to fuck the Queen, for all the good it does me.” guard 2 says with a chuckle

“You want your father, boy? He's lying on the floor of some tavern, getting pissed on by his friends.” the first guard says

“My father is Hand of the King! I'm not a boy. I'm Arya Stark of Winterfell and if you lay a hand on me, my father will have both your heads on spikes! Now are you going to let me by or do I need to smack you on the ear to help with your hearing?” Arya threatens them.

Overhearing the shouting Lyanna recognized Arya voice and quickly walked over to the gate and stood behind the two guards before growling at the two imbeciles

“Lyanna i need to tell father something” she tells her hurriedly

Nodding, Lyanna walks over nudging the small girl forward and are not stopped by the guards; they quickly make their way to Ned's solar. Where she now stood with Lyanna next to her.

“You know I had half my guard out searching for you? You promised me this would stop.” Ned tells her concerned for her safety

“They said they were going to kill you.” Arya says worriedly

“Who did?”

“I didn't see them, but I think one was fat.”

“Arya you need to be careful on what you say.”Ned tells her looking at Lyanna with worried eyes

“I'm not lying! They said you found the bastard and the wolves are fighting the lions and the savage... something about the savage.” Arya tone got louder and louder in worry

“Where did you hear this?” Ned asks

“In the dungeons, near the dragon skulls.”

“What were you doing in the dungeons?”

“Chasing a cat.” she sheepishly admits

A knock at the door brings everyone's attention onto Jory who had just opened the door “Pardon, my Lord. There's a Night's Watchman here for you” Jory tells Ned

Nodding Ned stands up and rounds the dest to stand next to Arya to greet the man that walked in “Your name, friend?” Ned questions.

Yoren: “Yoren, if it please. This must be your son. He has the look.” he states glancing at the small child covered in dirt

Arya Stark: “I'm a girl!” Arya retorts annoyed with being called a boy twice within an hour

“Did Benjen send you?” Ned asks sharing a brief glance with Lyanna

“No one sent me, my Lord. I'm here to find men for The Wall, see if there's any scum in the dungeons that might be fit for service.”

“Ah, we'll find recruits for you.”

“Thank you, my Lord. your boy he is a remarkable fighter we just might have a new lord commander in the next few years.”

“Jon?” he asks confused Yoren nods in agreement

“tell me what is going on with my son” he asks eyeing Lyanna with a sharp nod.

“Jory, take Arya to her room please.”

“Come along, my Lady. You heard your father.”

Nodding in agreement, Jory takes the small girl's shoulder and guides her out of the solar and to her room. After the loud thump of the door closing behind them Arya turns towards him “How many guards does my father have?”

“Here in King's Landing? Fifty.” he tells her with a raised brow

“You wouldn't let anyone kill him, would you?” she asks worried

“No fear on that count, little Lady.”

Meanwhile Yoren explains to Ned all the things that Jon was helping with at the watch and how he was helping train recruits on top of that. Not long after he leaves the Stark lord alone. Leaving the perfect moment that Ned and Lyanna could quickly brief each other on the things they have found out. Quickly Lyanna throws on her dressing robe and sits down facing her brother.

“Varys came to see me. He tells me the king wont live for much longer” Ned tells her rubbing his hand over his face in exhaustion

“Not surprising Cersei has no love for Robert and with the children most likely not his its not a giant stretch to think that she wants to kill him to put Joffrey on the throne”. She tells him

“Thats not all. I was warned that we may or may not be on that list of people they want dead for investigating roberts bastards”

Leaning forward Lyanna nods in agreement. “I talked with Oberyn he's agreed to help us on the condition that I bring the men responsible for Elia and the childrens murder.”

“That's good sister but how will they help”

“Oberyn will take Arya with him tomorrow morning to Dorne..” she starts before being cut off
“WHAT” Ned shouts standing up

“SIT DOWN!” Lyanna shouts back “we need to get Arya away from here before things get out of control and i don't want you to send guards with her we need the protection here their is to many Lannisters here that will want us dead. Not to even mention we talked about this Arya would be much happier to learn from other women on being lady like and deadly. Oberyn told me he would protect her like one of his own and i believe him.“

“Does it have to be so soon” he questions with sad eyes

“Yes the more we look into things the more danger we put on ourselves including Arya i want to sneak her out in the early mornings tomorrow and drop her off with them as they leave on their boats.” she tells him

Thinking on it Ned sighs heavily he could not disagree with her logic Arya would be safer away from Kingslanding he didn't particularly want her to go to Dorne he would rather she go back to winterfell but understood what Lyanna wasn't actually saying Arya could keep an eye on the Dornishmen for them and if they wanted to go behind their backs they could get a head's up plus Arya would probably love being around other girls who trained with weapons so he reluctantly nods in agreement.

“Also I was looking through those books that Baelish dropped off. There seems to be a couple million that have been slowly trickling out into inconsistent businesses that I investigated. There is something going on that is not right. We need to talk to the people that have given loans and see if it matches what is recorded and if they are not then we know who is taking the money” she tells him thinking about the suspicious master of coin.

“Show me” he tells his sister after receiving a nod they spend an hour going over the books where she had noted the inconsistency.

Later Ned and Lyanna are walking through a courtyard in King’s Landing, heading for King Robert’s chambers but are stopped by a royal steward.

“Lord Stark, your presence has been requested in the small council chamber. A meeting has been called.”

“I need to see the King first -- alone.” he tells him thinking of the conversation he and his sister had on the master of coin.

“The King is at the small council meeting, my Lord. He has summoned you.”

“what about” he questions confused

“No, my Lord. I believe it concerns Daenerys Targaryen.”

Hearing her name Lyanna perks up Rhaegar's little sister she thinks to herself wondering what had happened.

Chapter Text

At the small council meeting everyone on the council including King Robert were present. Where Lyanna had to listen to them debate on how to kill the young girl just because she was pregnant. While her brother her sweet but idiotic brother went head to head against robert. Now don't get her wrong she was behind her brother on what he was saying but he shouldn't have disagreed so vehemently in front of the whole council he was just asking for trouble.

Ned on the other hand was getting angrier and angrier over his friend “I followed you into war - twice, without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child.”

“She dies.” Robert growls out

“I wish him every success.” Ned unfastened the heavy clasp that clutched at the folds of his cloak, the ornate silver hand that was his badge of office. He laid it on the table in front of the king, saddened by the memory of the man who had pinned it on him, the friend he had loved. “I thought you a better man than this, Robert. I thought we had made a nobler king.” he tells him looking over to Lyanna with regret shinning in his eyes. He sighs heavily Lyanna had been right Robert was a terrible king. Thinking of Jon and the person he was, he wasn't ready for the crown yet but he was a much better person then Robert had been at his age and if he wanted his mother to sit the throne until he was ready well he doubted Lyanna would disagree too much.

Robert’s face was purple. “Out,” he croaked, choking on his rage. “Out, damn you, I’m done with you. What are you waiting for? Go, run back to Winterfell. And make certain I never look on your face again, or I swear, I’ll have your head on a spike!” Ned bowed, and turned on his heel without another word. He could feel Robert’s eyes on his back. As he strode from the council chambers, the discussion resumed with scarcely a pause.

“On Braavos there is a society called the Faceless Men,” Grand Maester Pycelle offered.

“Do you have any idea how costly they are?” Littlefinger complained. “You could hire an army of common sellswords for half the price, and that’s for a merchant. I don’t dare think what they might ask for a princess.”

The closing of the door behind him silenced the voices. Ser Boros Blount was stationed outside the chamber, wearing the long white cloak and armor of the Kingsguard. He gave Ned a quick, curious glance from the corner of his eye, but asked no questions.

The day felt heavy and oppressive as he crossed the bailey back to the Tower of the Hand. He could feel the threat of rain in the air. Ned would have welcomed it. It might have made him feel a trifle less unclean. When he reached his solar, he summoned Vayon Poole. The steward came at once. “You sent for me, my lord Hand?”

“Hand no longer,” Ned told him. “The king and I have quarreled. We shall be returning North”

“I shall begin making arrangements at once, my lord. We will need a fortnight to ready everything for the journey.”

“We may not have a fortnight. We may not have a day. The king mentioned something about seeing my head on a spike.” Ned frowned. He did not truly believe the king would harm him, not Robert. He was angry now, but once Ned was safely out of sight, his rage would cool as it always did. Always? Suddenly, uncomfortably, he found himself recalling Rhaegar Targaryen. seventeen years dead, yet Robert hates him as much as ever. It was a disturbing notion . . .

“It might be safest if I went on ahead,” he told Poole. “I will take my daughter and a few guardsmen. The rest of you can follow when you are ready. Inform Jory, but tell no one else, and do nothing until I have gone. The castle is full of eyes and ears, and I would rather my plans were not known.”

“As you command, my lord.” When he had gone, Eddard Stark went to the window and sat brooding. Robert had left him no choice that he could see. He ought to thank him. It would be good to return to Winterfell. They got the most out of what they wanted to find out in the capital. Perhaps he and Catelyn would make a new son together when he returned, they were not so old yet. And of late he had often found himself dreaming of snow, of the deep quiet of the wolfswood at night. And yet, the thought of leaving angered him as well. It struck him suddenly that he might return to Winterfell by sea.

Ned was no sailor, and ordinarily would have preferred the kingsroad, but he could instead head to white harbor it would be a quicker journey. Although before he left he would leave a letter for Robert telling him of his suspicions and what had happened in Winterfell hopefully they would be long gone by then.

He looked over to Lyanna who sat staring at him “I know I know that was stupid but i can't ever condone the murder of a child and she is still one. I probably just escalated our time frame didnt I” he sighs annoyed at himself.

He starts packing but is distracted when Petyr Baelish comes into his room “His Grace went on about you at some length after you took your leave. The word "treason" was mentioned.”

“What can I do for you?” Ned asks walking over to him

“When do you return to Winterfell?” Petyr questions coming up with an idea

“Why? What do you care?”

“If you're still here come nightfall, I'll take you to see the last person Jon Arryn spoke with before falling ill. If that sort of thing still interests you.”

“I don't have the time.”

“It won't take more than an hour. But as you please.”

Ned watches as Baelish exits the chambers and sighs deeply turning to Lyanna while grabbing a dagger. “Go to Arya tell her she is to leave with the Martells” he tells her. Before turning and taking off after Baelish but stops for a moment and tells Jory.”Round up all the men we have and station them outside the Arya’s' chambers. Who are your best two swords?”

“Heward and Wyl.” Jory tells him

“Find them and meet me at the stables.” Ned orders before following Baelish to one of his brothels. Inside Ned walks to one of the prostitutes that was holding a babe. Jory and Baelish stood in the other room waiting.

“She looks like him, don't she, my Lord? She has his nose, his black hair.” Mhaegen the mother of the bastard tells him a girl who couldn't be older then 15

“Aye.”

“Tell him when you see him, my Lord. If it please you... Tell him how beautiful she is.” she asks the lord bouncing the baby in her arms

“I will.”

“And tell him I've been with no one else. I swear it, my Lord, by the old gods and new. I don't want no jewels or nothing, just him. The King was always good to me.” she begs

“When Jon Arryn came to visit you, what did he want?” Ned questions .

“He wasn't that sort of man, my Lord. He just wanted to know if the child was happy, healthy.”

“She looks healthy enough to me. The girl shall want for nothing.”

Ned breaks off from Mhaegen and enters the same room as Baelish and Jory. thinking on the bastards he had met all black hair and mostly blue of eye even in the trait books that was given to him almost all Baratheone were blue of eyes but all were of black hair so Roberts children’ could not be his and knowing Cersei and Jaime relationship well the children likely came from that incentous relationship. Shaking his head from those thoughts he looks over to wear baelish was lounging on a settee with two whores draped around him.

“Brothels make a much better investment than ship, I've found. Whores rarely sink.” he tells Lord Stark standing and walking over to him

“What do you know of King Robert's bastards?”

“Well, he has more than you, for a start.”

“How many?”

“Does it matter? If you fuck enough women, some of them will give you presents.”

“And Jon Arryn tracked them all down, why”

“He was the King's Hand. Perhaps Robert wanted them looked after. He was overcome with fatherly love.” Baelish shugs

Whoever killed Jon Arryn did it because he found out the truth of the children he thinks to himself. “Come” Ned barks at his men.

“Jory!” shouts Ned noticing Jory stare at one of the whores as she flashed a breast at him as he exits the brothel.

“My Lord.” Jory apologies following him

Ned and Jory leave the brothel with a few of Ned’s men but are suddenly surrounded by Jaime Lannister and his men.

“Such a small pack of wolves.” Jaime states sliding of his horse

“Stay back, Ser! This is the Hand of the King!” Jory warns

“Was!... the Hand of the King. Now I'm not sure what he is... Lord of somewhere very far away.” Jaime mocks

“What's the meaning of this, Lannister?” Baelish asks confused

“Get back inside where it's safe.” he warns Petyr before addressing Lord Stark “I've heard rumors that you're searching for Robert Bastards why?” he questions

“nothing you need to worry about” Ned states looking around on a way to get out of the ambush he knew was coming

“It seems it does seeing as his wife is my sister so tell me why you are looking for the bastards”

“I know what happened that night Jaime in the tower someone besides my son saw” he tells him stupidly “we know the truth so let me pass or i will tell Robert.”

Causing Jaime to draw his sword, causing all of them men on both sides to draw their swords, except for Eddard who gazed at Jaime with a knowing look.

“My Lords! I'll bring the City Watch!” Baelish loudly announces stepping forward for a moment before turning and rushing off.

“Come, Stark. I'd rather you die sword in hand.”

“If you threaten my Lord again…” Jory warns stepping forward in agistation

“Threaten? As in, ‘I'm going to open your Lord from balls to brains and see what Starks are made of’?” Jaime mock questions

“You kill me, your sister is a dead woman and so are your bastard children.” Ned announces warningly

“You're right.” he tells the Stark before turning his head slightly ”Take him alive! Kill his men!” Jaime tells his men

“No!” Ned screams, clawing for his sword. Men closed from both sides. Ned cut one down, cutting at phantoms in red cloaks who gave way before him. Jory Cassel charged, cutting down a couple of Lannister men. A steel-shod hoof caught a Lannister guardsman in the face as he got close to Jory and the man fell with a sickening crunch. Wyl one of the guards that came with him cursed as they pulled him off his dying horse, swords slashing in the rain. Ned rushed to him, bringing his longsword down on Tregar’s helm. The jolt of impact made him grit his teeth. Tregar stumbled to his knees, his lion crest sheared in half, blood running down his face. Heward was hacking at the hands that had seized his bridle when a spear caught him in the belly. Suddenly Jory was back among them, a red rain flying from his sword. “No!” Ned shouted. “Jory, away!” He warns with widened eyes as he faces off Jaime but before he could do so he is quickly stabbed through the eye killing the young man quickly. enraged Ned faces Jaime as the fights around them cease for a moment as everyone watches the two men face off. Where they share multiple clashes and doges of the swords. It was easy to see that they were easily matched but as Ned steps back for a moment to get a breath one of the Lannister men behind him quickly steps forward stabbing Ned in the back of the leg with a spear, causing him to fall to the ground. Jaime, frustrated with how the fight had turned, knocks the guard out. mounting his horse that one of his men brings him

“You're never going to leave Kingslanding now stark” he tells the Lord before galloping off. His men leaving the Stark alone with the dead bodies of his men

Ned began to drag himself through the mud, gritting his teeth at the agony in his leg. It seemed to take years. Faces watched from candlelit windows, and people began to emerge from alleys and doors, but no one moved to help.

Littlefinger and the City Watch found him there in the street, cradling Jory Cassel’s body in his arms. Somewhere the gold cloaks found a litter, but the trip back to the castle was a blur of agony, and Ned lost consciousness more than once. He remembered seeing the Red Keep looming ahead of him in the first grey light of dawn.

Then Grand Maester Pycelle was looming over him, holding a cup, whispering, “Drink, my lord. Here. The milk of the poppy, for your pain.” He remembered swallowing, and Pycelle was telling someone to heat the wine to boiling and fetch him clean silk, and that was the last he knew.

All in the meanwhile Lyanna had sat Arya down to tell her she was to travel with the Martells to Dorne where she would learn to fight by the famous viper and his sand snakes. But she needed her to tell them if the Martells ever started acting suspicious around her.

Arya listened to her aunt and didn't want to leave her but the more talk about possibly training with other girls made her heart leap in joy so she nodded in agreement before asking when she was to leave. When she heard she was to leave early tomorrow she was surprised but got quickly to packing for an interesting adventure.

Later Lyanna is lounging in Arya room as she slowly repacked her things when she smelled blood. It wasn't long after she heard the multiple people rushing towards Ned's quarters that she got up and left the room Arya following her. That's when the two of them saw him, Ned was passed out and being carried by two guards bleeding everywhere being followed by Maester Pycelle.

Arya's eyes widened in horror at the scene in front of her. Her strong father was bleeding heavily onto the floor she watched as they entered his quarters and the door was shut behind them. She looked over at Lyanna who was already looking at her and nudged her to her room.

After pushing Arya to her room Lyanna quickly entered Ned’s room where the maester stood working on Ned's leg. She sat in the room through the night waiting for him to wake so she could figure out what had happened. He did not wake that morning or for the next five days he was in and out of consciousness and never alone so she couldn't slip him some of her blood to heal his wound. Arya had left with Oberyn and his paramour early that next morning after Ned was wounded although Arya had fought about leaving while her father was unconscious but Lyanna had her write a letter for Ned before sneaking her out of the castle and to the encampment where they had left quickly. So there she sat in his chambers waiting for him to wake.

Meanwhile Jaime before leaving the city snuck into Cersie’s quarters to tell her what Ned had told them before he left quickly and quietly knowing how Robert would react to him injuring his best friend even if they were not agreeing.

Early morning on the 6th day Ned slowly woke up feeling the soft bed underneath him and the quiet muttering of voices he opened his eyes to see

“Lord Eddard?” A shadow stood over the bed.

“How . . . how long?” The sheets were tangled, his leg splinted and plastered. A dull throb of pain shot up his side.

“Six days and seven nights.” The voice was Vayon Poole’s. The steward held a cup to Ned’s lips. “Drink, my lord.”

“What . . . ?”

“Only water. Maester Pycelle said you would be thirsty.” Ned drank. His lips were parched and cracked. The water tasted sweet as honey. “The king left orders,” Vayon Poole told him when the cup was empty. “He would speak with you, my lord.”

”If he wishes to speak with me, I should be pleased to receive him here. I hope you wake him from a sound sleep. And summon . . . ” He was about to say Jory when he remembered. “Summon the captain of my guard.”

Alyn stepped into the bedchamber a few moments after the steward had taken his leave. “My lord.”

“Poole tells me it has been six days,” Ned said. “I must know how things stand.”

“The Kingslayer has fled the city,” Alyn told him. “The talk is he’s ridden back to Casterly Rock to join his father. I have put on extra guards, if it please you.”

“Jory and the others . . . ”

“I gave them over to the silent sisters, to be sent north to Winterfell. Jory would want to lie beside his grandfather.”

It would have to be his grandfather, for Jory’s father was buried far to the south. Martyn Cassel had perished with the rest at the tower of joy when he went looking for his sister. Seven of them had gone and only two men and a baby had left that tower.

“You’ve done well, Alyn,” Ned was saying when Vayon Poole returned.

The steward bowed low. “His Grace is without, my lord, and the queen with him.”
and saw the king and queen sitting next to him while Lyanna in her wolf form was laying at the end of the bed watching them with narrowed eyes.

Ned pushed himself up higher, wincing as his leg trembled with pain. He had not expected Cersei to come. It did not bode well that she had. “Send them in, and leave us. What we have to say should not go beyond these walls.” Poole withdrew quietly.

Robert had taken time to dress. He wore a black velvet doublet with the crowned stag of Baratheon worked upon the breast in golden thread, and a golden mantle with a cloak of black and gold squares. A flagon of wine was in his hand, his face already flushed from drink. Cersei Lannister entered behind him, a jeweled tiara in her hair.

“Your Grace,” Ned said. “Your pardons. I cannot rise.”

“No matter,” the king said gruffly. “Some wine? From the Arbor. A good vintage.”

“A small cup,” Ned said. “My head is still heavy from the milk of the poppy.”

“A man in your place should count himself fortunate that his head is still on his shoulders,” the queen declared.

“Quiet, woman,” Robert snapped. He brought Ned a cup of wine. “Does the leg still pain you?”

“Some,” Ned said. His head was swimming, but it would not do to admit to weakness in front of the queen.

“Pycelle swears it will heal clean.” Robert frowned. “I take it you know what Catelyn has done?”
“I do.” Ned took a small swallow of wine. “My lady wife is blameless, Your Grace. All she did she did at my command.”

“I am not pleased, Ned,” Robert grumbled.

“By what right do you dare lay hands on my blood?” Cersei demanded. “Who do you think you are?”

“The Hand of the King,” Ned told her with icy courtesy. “Charged by your own lord husband to keep the king’s peace and enforce the king’s justice.”

“You were the Hand,” Cersei began, “but now—”

“Silence!” the king roared. “You asked him a question and he answered it.” Cersei subsided, cold with anger, and Robert turned back to Ned. “Keep the king’s peace, you say. Is this how you keep my peace, Ned? Seven men are dead . . . ”

“Eight,” the queen corrected. “Tregar died this morning, of the blow Lord Stark gave him.”

“drunken slaughter in my streets,” the king said. “I will not have it, Ned.”

“That is not what happened—”

“I said, I will not have it! To hell with your reasons. You will make your peace with Jaime no matter the argument you two had.”

“Three of my men were butchered before my eyes, because Jaime Lannister wished to chasten me. Am I to forget that?”

“My brother was not the cause of this quarrel,” Cersei told the king. “Lord Stark was returning drunk from a brothel. His men attacked Jaime and his guards.”

“You know me better than that, Robert,” Ned said. “Ask Lord Baelish if you doubt me. He was there.”

“I’ve talked to Littlefinger,” Robert said. “He claims he rode off to bring the gold cloaks before the fighting began, but he admits you were returning from some whorehouse.”

“Some whorehouse? Damn your eyes, Robert, I went there to have a look at your daughter! Her mother has named her Barra. She looks like that first girl you fathered, when we were boys together in the Vale.” He watched the queen as he spoke; her face was a mask, still and pale, betraying nothing.

Robert flushed. “Barra,” he grumbled. “Is that supposed to please me? Damn the girl. I thought she had more sense.”

“She cannot be more than fifteen, and a whore, and you thought she had sense?” Ned said, incredulous. His leg was beginning to pain him sorely. It was hard to keep his temper. “The fool child is in love with you, Robert.”

The king glanced at Cersei. “This is no fit subject for the queen’s ears.”

“Her Grace will have no liking for anything I have to say,” Ned replied. “I am told the Kingslayer has fled the city. Give me leave to bring him back to justice.”

The king swirled the wine in his cup, brooding. He took a swallow. “No,” he said. “I want no more of this. Jaime slew three of your men, and you five of his. Now it ends.”

“Is that your notion of justice?” Ned flared. “If so, I am pleased that I am no longer your Hand.”

The queen looked to her husband. “If any man had dared speak to a Targaryen as he has spoken to you—”

“Do you take me for Aerys?” Robert interrupted.

“I took you for a king. Jaime is one of your own brothers, by all the laws of marriage and the bonds we share. The Starks have driven him off. This man dishonors you with every breath he takes, and yet you stand there meekly, asking if his leg pains him and would he like some wine.”

Robert’s face was dark with anger. “How many times must I tell you to hold your tongue, woman?”

Cersei’s face was a study in contempt. “What a jape the gods have made of us two,” she said. “By all rights, you ought to be in skirts and me in mail.”

Purple with rage, the king lashed out, a vicious backhand blow to the side of the head. She stumbled against the table and fell hard, yet Cersei Lannister did not cry out. Her slender fingers brushed her cheek, where the pale smooth skin was already reddening. On the morrow the bruise would cover half her face. “I shall wear this as a badge of honor,” she announced.

“Wear it in silence, or I’ll honor you again,” Robert vowed. He shouted for a guard. Ser Meryn Trant stepped into the room, tall and somber in his white armor. “The queen is tired. See her to her bedchamber.” The knight helped Cersei to her feet and led her out without a word.

Robert reached for the flagon and refilled his cup. “You see what she does to me, Ned.” The king seated himself, cradling his wine cup. “My loving wife. The mother of my children.” The rage was gone from him now; in his eyes Ned saw something sad and scared. “I should not have hit her. That was not . . . that was not kingly.” He stared down at his hands, as if he did not quite know what they were. “I was always strong . . . no one could stand before me, no one. How do you fight someone if you can’t hit them?” Confused, the king shook his head. “Rhaegar . . . Rhaegar won, damn him. I killed him, Ned, I drove the spike right through that black armor into his black heart, and he died at my feet. They made up songs about it. Yet somehow he still won. He has Lyanna now, and I have her.” The king drained his cup.

“Your Grace,” Ned Stark said, “we must talk . . . ”

Robert pressed his fingertips against his temples. “I am sick unto death of talk. On the morrow I’m going to the kingswood to hunt. Whatever you have to say can wait until I return.”

“If the gods are good, I shall not be here on your return. You commanded me to return to Winterfell, remember?”

Robert stood up, grasping one of the bedposts to steady himself. “The gods are seldom good, Ned. Here, this is yours.” He pulled the heavy silver hand clasp from a pocket in the lining of his cloak and tossed it on the bed. “Like it or not, you are my Hand, damn you. I forbid you to leave.”

Ned picked up the silver clasp. He wasn't being given much of a choice but looking at his sister he knew he needed to leave. His leg throbbed, and he felt as helpless as a child. “The Targaryen girl—”

The king groaned. “Seven hells, don’t start with her again. That’s done, I’ll hear no more of it.” “Why would you want me as your Hand, if you refuse to listen to my counsel?”
“Why?” Robert laughed. “Why not? Someone has to rule this damnable kingdom. Put on the badge, Ned. It suits you. And if you ever throw it in my face again, I swear to you, I’ll pin the damned thing on Jaime Lannister.”

Ned looking over to Lyanna wolf form and back to Robert he sighs heavily he messed up when telling Jaimie about knowing what happened in the tower he made his bed now he would have to lie in it but in doing so he would need to tell Robert about everything he found especially if Cersie was aware of what he told Jaimie. So glancing once more at his sisters narrowed gaze he turns to Robert as he is about to leave his room.

“Your wife is cuckolding you Robert”

Robert stops in his tracks taking in what Ned just told him before turning around with a thunderous look on his face “what did you just say”

“Cersei children are not yours and I have proof” Ned tells him, adjusting his leg slightly with a deep sigh.

As Lyanna watches her brother make a stupid decision all while she can't tell him off or stop him if she doesn't want to reveal that she is alive.

“You better be able to back this up Ned because if you can't..!” RObert leers to his best friend.

“My son never fell from the tower he was pushed. No he does not remember it but there was someone else who watched it happen.”

“So what does this have to do with my children Ned, and who is this so called witness”

“It has everything to do with it because the person who pushed him was Jaime Lannister while he was coupling with his sister your wife”

“You're telling me Cersei and her brother are..” he starts not wanting to finish the sentence with a disgusted face “who do they think they are Targaryen’s. Who is this witness Ned I want to speak with them”

Glancing briefly over to his sister he looks back at robert and sighs tiredly “you wont believe me when i tell you but it's not just that robert if you look at the traits of your family Baratheons are always born with black hair and on the rare occasion a different eye color but always black hair.”

“And the children are of blonde hair just like Cersie and her brother” Robert realizes with a growl “stop stepping around the question who is the witness i want to hear from their own mouth on what happened that day”

Lyanna watching everything go on in front of her sighs heavily looks like her brother was taking it out of her hand at least she could compel him to forget if needed. So standing up from the bed she grabs a robe that was laying on the back of a chair and walks over to the dressing screen quickly transforming and pulling the robe tight over her before sighing heavily with resentment. Before stepping around to face Robert.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile Bran was having a vision of a raven flying through Winterwell while Bran follows it through the cryps. Bran wakes suddenly to the loud steps of his brother opening his door.

“Its mother she has been shown walking though Wintertown get ready, meet me in the courtyard” Robb tells him before quickly leaving the boy on his own.

Sighing heavily he moves sluggishly around the room getting dressed while thinking about his mother. She had left him while he was at his worst. What kind of mother does that he thinks sourly. Especially when her own house words were ‘family, duty, honor’ where it was her duty to be with him, her son, her family who was injured severely. He shook his head at that thought, eyeing Summer who was still laying at the end of his bed and gestured to her to follow and exited his room to head to the courtyard.

Cateyn had a long trip back to her children but there she was in the courtyard finally back. she watched as Robb and his betrothal Wynafryd rushed to meet her while the other children slowly trickled out with their direwolves trailing each child respectfully.

“Mother!” They all shout pausing right in front of the woman before giving her their hugs and telling her everything she had missed on her travel to Kingslanding and back.

Looking around the courtyard she spots Bran who stood near the door with a chilled look on his little face. Gasping in shock she quickly walked over to him.

“Bran how are you doing i was so worried for you” she tells him kneeling down to pull him into a hug but before she could do so he pulled away from her.

“You left when i was hurt you don’t care about me” Bran mutters angrily at her

“What no Bran that's not true i had to leave for your father.” she tells him gently grabbing his small hand in hers to get him to look at her.

“But father wasn't the one injured i was why did you leave i needed you and you weren't here” he starts crying “you should have been here what about your words Family, Duty, Honor where was that when you went south”

Catelyn looked on at her son and taking in his words she closed her eyes with a deep sigh perhaps it was a little irrational of her to leave the family she thinks “i'm so sorry Bran you were almost killed while unconscious i needed to tell your father but i see know that might have been rash i should have had someone else do so.” she tells him before grabbing him and pulling him into a hug. ”Now lets break our fast and we can talk more” she states loudly for everyone to hear.

Back in Kingslanding Ned and Lyanna face Robert who was gaping at her with an open mouth. “What in the bloody seven is going on” Robert blusters gazing at the women that looked like Lyanna who came out behind the dressing screen after the wolf went behind it. “What kind of devilry is this”

“Robert i would like you to meet the witness of the fall. Although you have met her before.” Ned gently tells him not knowing how the man would react.

As Robert takes in this women he feels a sharp pain in his heart he knew that face he dreamt of it for so long “Lyanna” he gasps quietly walking over to the woman raising his hand to rest on her face as if mimicking when he stroked the statue of her. “How, how is this possible Ned she was dead you told me she was dead” he asks turning back to his best friend his voice raising in bewilderment. “You lied to me” he realized in horrifying clarity.

“Robert, look at me. Really look at me” she tells him annoyed. Looking over at the women he had wanted to marry he took her in and that when the realization hit him she did not look the 30 and 5 years she should be she looked like she was in her 20s.

“How. how old are you” he croaks out

“I am 33 years old but stopped aging at 21.” she tells him softly watching as emotions flicker through his face.

“How is that possible? What are you, where have you been?” he questions eyes wide.

“I died, Ned never lied about that. I came from another world with supernatural creatures and I am one of them or more accurately 2 of their creatures. I died again after protecting my daughter and the old gods brought me back to fix the mistakes that are going to happen in the future”

“What you can't expect me to believe this. This has to be some type of magic” he blunders not believing it. Lyanna sighs heavily she had not shown the other creature to Ned but it would seem she would have to since she did not want to change back to her wolf. So she vamp sped to be right in front of him and felt the change in her teeth lengthening into sharp double fangs due to her werewolf side and her eyes glow gold.

Robert and Ned watch this change happen with wide eyes and as her eyes and teeth go back to normal they two men gaped at her. “What the hell was that” they shout together.

Looking at the two men she rolls her eyes “my supernatural creature is a werewolf that's turning into a wolf and a vampire which means i live off blood, don't age, and cant die” she tells them watching as their eyes widen in wonder and then horror.

“”You live off blood why? That's not right” states Ned slightly horrified.

“Can you turn other people have you killed anyone in Kingslanding for blood” Robert questions with narrowed eyes

“I dont have much of a choice if i don't drink blood i desecate which means i can't move. I don't have to drain someone dry, they don't turn into vampires that way neither does a vampire bite.” she tells them before turning to her brother “which reminds me my blood will heal your injury so..” she trails off lengthening her fangs for a moment to bite her wrist and brings it to Ned lips “drink it will heal your injury”

Robert watches as Ned hesitantly drinks from Lyanna wrist with wide eyes and as he pulls the blanket away from his leg they watch as it slowly knits together. “How do you turn vampires because if we could have an army of your kind to fight against our enemies we would be unstoppable even just one of you could finally go kill those Targaryens in Essos” He asks before the realization of how much power this would give him would be.

Ned and Lyanna look at each other with wide eyes before she addresses his comment “i’m not turning anyone you have to die first and that causes problems like not being able to have children and you live for an eternity. I'm especially not killing a young girl that has done nothing wrong except exist” she tells him thinking about another young girl who people were always trying to kill just because she came from a family with bloody history. “Besides were getting off track on the reason why Ned even brought me up. I heard two people having sex in the tower right before little Bran was pushed off and watched Jamie and Cersie exit no more then 5 min after he fell.” she tells him. Watching the arrange of emotions flicker over his face from betrayal, anger, and cool resentment.

“She’s dead their all dead” Robert states turning once more for the door to order the queen to the dungeons.

“Robert stop!” Lyanna demands loudly “someone murdered JOn Arryn, money is being stolen out of the treasury, and your killing yourself and if were not careful you might be next look around the Lannisters have all but taken over the Red Keep.”

Robert stops in his tracks taking in her words and thinking back to everything that has been going on for the past several years Jon dying suddenly after being perfectly healthy. More and more Lannister coming to the city even his own squires were lannisters. So looking back to the siblings in the room he sharply asks “why do you think i would be next”

Lyanna glances over to her brother to see if he would answer but seeing the look he was already giving her she sighs “Joffrey is obviously not your child and one of incest hes already going mad just like some targaryen did do to the inbreeding. Cersie loves her child and looks past his faults and coddles him. Hes already 15 he's becoming at the age where she will want to put him on the throne there is just one problem for that.” she tells him, waiting for him to realize what it was.

“Me” he states angrily. “But why do you think i'm killing myself”

“Yes, in the other world we were a lot more technically advanced including medicine and I can tell you right now all your drinking has ruined your Liver. You haven't exercised except for when you go of for war and your fat Robert and that can put a lot of strain on your heart and kill you”

Robert listening to her sighs heavily she was right he had let himself go and had gotten fat and lazy. “I know i just hate being king. You should have taken it Ned” he tells him before turning to the women he had loved even through her death “does this mean when I take care of Cersei I can finally marry you” he asks hopefully it was all he had wanted.

Lyanna watched him with an unreadable look “Robert you never really loved me”

“Yes i did..”

“No you didnt you loved the idea of me and the idea of our families tied together you did not know me you never even tried tell me one thing that you know about me” she asks him gently

“Easy you love horses and riding” he tells her proudly

“Robert everyone knew that about me, did you know I loved to sword fight.”

“I-I didn’t” he tells her hunched over slightly in embarrassment.

“We would have never worked you whored your self out and i resented it knowing i was betrothed to someone who had already fathered a couple bastards”

“I wouldn't have looked for someone else” Robert states not truly believing himself. “We will never know how it would have happened because Rhaegar kidnapped you”

“You would have and you know it. I'm sorry to tell you this Robert but Rhaegar never kidnapped me i went with him willingly”

“What, why would you do that” Robert demands everything he knew was being flipped upside down on its head

“We caught each other attention at the tourney at Harrenhal” she tells him

“He was married though.” Robert tells her perplexed “when did you have time to catch his attention anyway”

“Easy i was the knight of the laughing tree he had found me hiding the armor. I wasn't just in love with him robert but Elia too. We were going to marry.”

“You're telling me we started the rebellion on a lie” he asks horrified if it got out to the commoners they would want to kill him for it he thinks to himself.

“That part was a lie i don't know who started it i wrote letters but apparently no one received them. Arys caused the rebellion he would have been usurped anyway just instead of you it would have been Rhaegar instead.” she tells him watching as the anger that the name usually brought on his face didn't show only resentment instead.

“Seven hells this is a mess” Robert mutters sitting down once again in a chair. “So whats your plan. You're obviously here for a reason.”

“How badly do you not want to be a king Robert” she questions

“I hate it but there is not one else that can take the job i just want to go back to Storm's End and live the rest of my life there like it should have been” he tells her looking at her smug face “i’m going to regret this what are you thinking”

Looking over to Ned and seeing him give a small nod in agreement she turns to the king “you have no trueborn children no one to inherit the crown” she tells him bluntly after receiving a nod she continues “their are Targaryen children that still have the right of the crown”

“No absolutely not I may not want them dead anymore but I tried too hard to get the Targaryen blood off the throne,” Robert tells her, irritated.

“You only were able to take the throne because you have Targaryen blood in your family” she reminds him “i’m not talking about the ones in Essos i’m talking about a half targaryen half stark trueborn son”

Robert eyes went wide in realization “you married him and had a child” he asks quietly relizing he had no chance with her.

“I did Ned raised him while I was not able to”

“Your bastard Jon right, smart move Ned keeping him as a bastard” RObert realizing what she was asking made him actually think for a moment a child raised by Ned Stark's Honor would make a great king “I am reluctant to admit but that would be a perfect fit for a king” he tells them. “Especially since neither of my brothers have son’s”

“Make him your heir Robert. It will bring rest to those who were Targaryen loyalist” Ned speaks up finally he was proud of his sister watching as she efficiently manipulated his friend to do exactly what she wanted.

“I need time to think on this” Robert tells the two but watched as they looked at each other and back at him he sighs annoyed “what is it”

“Cersie is going to want to kill us we need to get out of the city” Ned tells him “I might have told Jaime i knew about the incest and the children being his” he admits wincing slightly at the heated look he was receiving from Lyanna.

“You idiot, your honor is going to get us killed!” Lyanna states annoyed before looking back at Robert “you need to go on your hunt and think on what we proposed, order some of your own men into the capital. We need to head back north. I need to see my son and Ned needs to see his. I know you need Ned as your hand but you need to find someone else maybe bring in a Highgarden they could start to help bring in allies start to cut away the Lannister power”

“I don't trust them. They only want more power for themselves, they will want a match that I can't give them” he tells her annoyed already just thinking of bringing a flower into the capital.

“Good think we have talked about a match with Margaery Tyrell then” she tells him knowingly. “Look if you really don't want to be king we talked about the possibility of a regent for the boy so he can be ready to take the throne and not resent it just like you do” she tells him

Nodding in agreement he sighs annoyed that he was going to bring the flowers into the capital but he was sick of being king and this was the perfect opportunity “fine i give you a year to get back to King's Landing with the boy.” he tells her grabbing the pin that Ned was holding out to him before muttering to himself while walking out of the room to write letters before going on his hunt “my brothers are not going to like this.”

“Hold up Robert,” Lyanna shouts. Turning around he finds her right in front of him “I know your going to try to send Cersei to the dungeons the minute your alone so im sorry about this” she tells him before starting to compel him she watched as his eyes dilated “you will be smart and send the letters but hide the fact that you know about Cersei and the children until you come back from the hunt” she watched as he gave a slight nod before turning back and leaving. Before heading back to her brother to help him pack since her things were already packed, not that she had much.

Meanwhile in the north Bran and the boys are out riding while Bran who is trotting on his horse is yelling in joy “Not too fast.” Robb yells out to Bran.

“Come on, Dancer.” he encourages his horse to go faster

“When are you gonna tell him?” Theon questions watching the young boy yell in joy before turning to face his friend

“Not now.” Robb tells him wanting it to just be a relaxing day out riding

“Blood for blood. You need to make the Lannisters to pay for Jory and the others.” Theon encourages not understanding why he wasn't doing anything

“You’re talking about war.”

“I’m talking about justice.”

“Only the Lord of Winterfell can call in the bannermen and raise an army.”

“A Lannister put his spear through your father’s leg. The Kingslayer rides to Casterly Rock where no one can touch -” Theon questions not understanding why he wasn't taking this more serious Lord Stark could have been killed like the other North men that were with him.

”You want me to march on Casterly Rock?!” Robb questions horrified

“You’re not a boy anymore. They attacked your father. They’ve already started the war. It’s your duty to represent your House when your father can’t.”

“And it’s not your duty, because it’s not your House. Plus Mother is back and will take control of things it's her decision not mine.” Robb tells him annoyed that Theon kept pushing for him to go to war. Standing up from the log they had sat on to watch Bran he realizes that he couldn't hear Bran anymore and starts examining the woods for where the small boy went “Where’s Bran?” he questioned worriedly

“I don’t know. It’s not my House.” Theon announces annoyed walking away into the woods.

Bran who had encouraged his horse away from the fighting friends was walking through the forest passing through a creek he didnt realize someone was creeping up on him. He enters a small learning when he is ambushed by four wildings who grabbed onto the reins of his horse so it wouldn't go anywhere looking around realizing how far he gotten he softly questions “Robb?

“All alone in the deep dark woods.” the woman wilding states holding onto the horse

“I’m not alone, my brother is with me.” Bran announces looking around hoping he would show up

“I don’t see him. Got him hidden under your cloak?” another Wilding jokes

“Oh, that’s a pretty pin. Silver.” the woman states gazing at his pin that his father gave him.

“We’ll take the pin. And the horse. Get down… Be quick about it.” the wilding states getting annoyed as the boy just watched him

“I can’t. I need help getting down” bran states. His legs were still a little weak plus the horse was very tall.

“What’s wrong scared of little old us” the wilding mocks

“I’m Brandon Stark of Winterfell and if you don’t let me be, I’ll have you all killed!” Bran demands.

The woman wilding hearing his name eyes go wide she knew that name. The other wilding steps forward bringing a knife to his lap “Cut his little cock off and stuff it in his mouth.”

“the boy’s worth nothing dead. Benjen Stark’s own blood. Think what Mance would give us.” the woman announces stopping them from hurting the small boy.

As the wilding grab him to take him off the saddle the first wilding announces “Piss on Mance Rayder and piss on the North. We’re going as far south as south goes. There ain’t no white walkers down in Dorne.”

Robb hearing the voices comes across the four wildings that surrender his younger brother “Drop the knife. Let him go and I’ll let you live.” he announces dragging his sword out of its sheath

One of the Wildlings runs at Robb swinging an axe which he quickly doges the attacks before he can get a swing in blocking his swings and manages to slice the wilding throat the woman charges Robb hitting his back with a club but robb twists around grabbing her by the hair and drags her to behind from him. Just as another attacks him He manages to block his attacks and kills him too. Robbs stands with a sword in one hand and another tangled in the women hair as he faces the last wilding that had yanked Bran off of his horse with a knife at his throat

“Robb!” bran shouts scared

“Shut up! Drop the blade!” he yells at the small boy before turning to the young man and yelling at him.

“No, don’t.” bran yelps out

“Do it.” he says sharply as he digs the knife closer to the boy.

Robb, seeing the scared look Bran was shooting at him, slowly sits his sword on the ground looking up at the Wildling while still gripping the woman by her hair. He looks back up after glancing at her just as an arrow went through his chest from his back. As he drops to the ground bleeding he sees Theon a few yards behind him with a bow. The Wildling stops moving as Theon approaches. Robb releases the women from his grasp as Theon walks over drawing his bow on her. Robb moves over to Bran to check on him “Are you all right?” he questions worriedly

“Yes, i wasn't hurt” Bran promises him

Theon looking around at the bodies around them “Tough little lad. In the Iron Islands, you’re not a man until you’ve killed your first enemy. Well done.” he says proudly not knowing what else to say.

“Have you lost your mind? What if you’d missed?” Robb asks rasing his voice in worry.

“He would have killed you and cut Bran’s throat.” he counters annoyed

“You don’t have the right -” Robb starts to say before getting cut off

Theon gazing at what he thought was his friend, obviously not if he was more irritated that he helped save the two then letting them get killed by wildings “To what, to save your brother’s life? It was the only thing to do, so I did it.” he announces not sorry whatsoever

“What about her?” Robb asks as the women gasping in shock in what happened so quickly.

“Give me my life, my lord, and I’m yours.” She states scrambling to a begging position

“We’ll keep her alive.” Robb announces after thinking for a moment about the possibility of insider knowledge of what was happening behind the wall. She sighs in relief as Theon drops his bow and after confirming Bran was ok they head back to Winterfell.

Osha gives a sigh of release, Theon releases his bow and Robb, holding Bran, assures that he’s okay.

On a boat heading to Dorne a young Stark stood watching the blue waves. When she was approached by the man that introduced himself as Oberyn Martell

“Your Aunt is an interesting lady” he announces himself

Turning her head slightly she nods in agreement “Aunt Lyanna will do everything to protect her family and those she consideres friends” she turns to face him he was wearing a thin orange tunic with a knife strapped to his side “why did you agree to take me with you” she questions

“Easy your aunt promised to bring men to me that i have wanted dead for a very long time and she talked about a girl who wanted to be more than just a lady but someone who can fight and she figured the best place for that was in Dorne since we don't discriminate between genders”

She hummed to herself before looking out once more and watching the waves. Oberyn watched the small girl with a knowing look he could tell she already missed her family. “Come with me” he announces beckoning her to the front of the boat

“What are we doing” she questions turning to follow him

Turning his head he smiled wickedly “im going to teach you”

Arya's eyes go wide in wonder. The red viper was going to teach her how cool she thinks. “Where are we going to start sword, spear, maybe poisons” she questions brightly walking faster to walk beside him

Chuckling in amusement “maybe let's just start with engaging your mind and some strengthening exercises for now i need to see where your at and what weapon would be best in your hand” he tells the excited girl.

Across the Sea in Vaes Dothrak Daenerys is centered around everyone and eating the heart of a horse a the Dothraki and a priest chant around her. Her husband Khal Drogo looks on in anticipation. It was a tradition by Khalessi to determine if she was to have a girl or a boy. As the chanting is at it’s loudest, Daenerys finally finished with the heart. Everyone looks on in anticipations, she wretches forward, on the verge of puking. The chanting suddenly halts. Khal Drogo leans in and looks intensly. Daenerys holds everything in and sobs. Her hands bloody, she slowly sits up, keeping everything in as she gulps the final bite. The priestess begins to speak, Jorah translates directly for Viserys. “The stallion who mounts the world. The stallion, is the khal of khals. He shall unite the people into a single khalasar. All the people of the world will be his herd.”

Daenerys rises to her feet knowing the best name for her child one named after her brother she starts speaking in Dothraki to the room “A prince rides inside me! And he shall be called Rhaego!” she shouts to the room

The room begins chanting, “Rhaego! Rhaego!” As the chanting grows louder and louder, Drogo stands up and walks up to Daenerys. “They love her.” Viserys announces in shock.

The room’s chanting gets even louder. Drogo hugs his wife at her thighs and hoists her up, carrying her around the room. “She truly is a queen today.” JOry announces in amazement by the the strength in the young girl.

Meanwhile at the docks in Blackwater Bay Ned and Lyanna board a ship with half of their men while the other half were to leave on the kingsroad back North. They stand on the bow of the ship watching as the city grows smaller and smaller.

Unknown to the stark woman, two men she knew intimately appeared naked as the day they were born in Essos in a city named Qarth in front of a council of nobles and merchants in a bright light.

A well-built man with reddish blonde tint hair with blue-green eyes appears naked in front of a group of men in clothes he hasn't seen in centuries.

While his brother lay next to him a man in his middle twenties with dark brown hair and chisels square jaw with brown eyes with a stocky build.

“Where the bloody hell are we” the blonde hair man states while everyone around them gapes in wonder.

Chapter Text

Lyanna stood in wolf form next to her brother as they approached White Harbor first passing seal rock. It was a stone that sat fifty feet above the water and was grey-green in color. She gazed at the men that manned it with crossbows,scorpions, and spitfires as they passed through and into the inner harbour where it took them 30 min to get docked. Ned, Lyanna, and their men step onto the dock only to be greeted by Wyman Manderly the lord of White Harbor a man who was in his sixties with a massive belly and a joyful look on his face his blue eyes gleamed in excitement.

“My Lord I hope your travel was easy for you” Manderly states stepping forward and giving a bow to the man.

“The journey was quick and easy.” Ned states giving a nod “I noticed the extra defences on Seal Rock as we passed through.”

“Yes Lady Catelyn sent us a letter a moon or so ago to repair and strengthen the defenses and make sure its well-manned which was easy enough” Manderly states before stepping closer to the two and lowering his voice “is there something i need to be aware of?” he questions

“Not yet it's just a precaution, things in Kinglanding are rocky and I would rather we be prepared” Ned states not wanting anyone to worry.

Nodding Manderly gestured to them to follow him as they entered the city being guarded by the Stark and Manderly men as they walked on the straight cobbled streets she looked around; it had been nearly 20 years since the last time she was last in White Harbor. She noted as they walked that the houses were made of whitewashed stone and steeply-pitched roofs of dark greys. They walked along the Castle Stair, a stone street with steps leading towards New Castle, the Manderly seat and Wolf’s Den an ancient fortress that served the Manderly house as a prison. she marveled at the gorgeous marble mermaids that led their way with bowls of burning whale oil cradled in their arms. It was remarkable craftsmanship. They entered through the gates and walked towards the doors of the castle

“We can't stay for long, I want to get to Winterfell quickly” Ned tells Manderly.
“Indeed at least stay long enough to get some food in you and of course to take guest rights” he asks his liege lord.

Thinking about it “it would not hurt to do so” Ned nods receiving a hum they entered into the castle as manderly waved a servant and asked them to go to the kitchen and get food ready receiving a nod they continued until another servant walked towards them as they entered the great hall of the Manderly seat also known as the Merman’s Court with a plate of bread and salt. Ned nods, grabbing a slice, dipping it in bread and eating it.

Lyanna in the meantime was looking around the room noting that the walls, floor, and ceiling were made of wooden planks notched together and decorated with creatures of the sea. A short time later the two siblings are led to another room where a table stood with an arrangement of food. Lord Manderly waddled his way to the head chair sitting down and gestures them to join as Ned sits Lyannna lays at his feet watching as two men and a women walk in and sit down on the other side of the table they introduce themselves as Ser Wylis his wife Leona Woolfield and Ser Wendel.

“Ah yes Ser Wylis we have you to thank for the beautiful Wynafryd it would seem my son has been taken by her.” Ned states as he dishes cod onto his plate dropping one for Lyanna to eat also.

“Ah yes she also seems to be taken with your son also” Wylis remarks with a eager smile on his mustached face. He was a larger man just like his father and was bald with a bushy walrus mustache that covered his mouth. “When should we expect a wedding?” he asks.

“Soon I would think, last I heard they were waiting for my return” Ned states as he wipes his mouth with a napkin. Receiving a nod he sits back in his chair full and waits for Wyllis Manderly to be finished. Soon after the 5 of them stood at the river white knife where four boats bobbed. They were not large boats; they just had room to sit 10 men comfortably. They would sit five in each plus provisions they had picked up for the trip. Saying their goodbyes they get on the boats and travel for the next few days on the river seeing fishermen on the way they were only attacked a couple times but it was taken care of quickly. Couple days later as they traveled the river Ned thought about everything that had happened since Lyanna came back and how much was changing.

Arriving at Castle Cerwyn they dock the boats. And are greeted by Cley Cerwyn heir to lord Cerywyn and 3 guards noting their liege lord they welcome him and ask if he needs anything looking at the extra supplies in the boats he asks for a wagon and horses for the half day ride to winterfell receiving a nod they waited for them to come back meanwhile Lyanna stood gazing North and noticing this Ned walked over and nodded his head towards where she was gazing “ Go to him he needs you you have a lot to plan I can make the half day ride by myself” he tells her Lyanna looking over at her brother walks over giving him a lick on the hand as a goodbye she turns north and runs heading to the Wall where her son was.

Watching his sister rush off north he gazes as she gets smaller and smaller and he is brought back to the present when young Cley interrupts his musings gesturing to the wagon and horses he brought nodding his thanks he calls for the men to start moving the supplies to the wagon stepping up and doing the same he would never order something he wasn't willing to do. After everything was in order he walks to one of the horses and swings himself up onto the chestnut horse thanking the young heir and heads off to Winterfell.

Robert was in the Kingswood hunting he almost called the hunt off but decided he wanted one last fun thing to do before he ordered Cersei to the dungeons but thinking back on the warning on how he was completely surrounded by Lannisters he figured more of his own men would arrive by the time he was finished with the hunt and perhaps the new hand. He was still gobsmacked that Lyanna was alive, she was the love of his life or at least he thought she was now he wasn't so sure. Listening to her he realized she was right he never really knew her. Thinking back on it he realised he wasnt in love with her but the idea of her it hurt coming from her but he had a few days to reflect on what she had told him and he couldn't even disagree. Ned was like a brother to him and marrying his sister would have made them actual siblings in a way and he loved the idea of that sure Lyanna was an absolute beauty and maybe they could have loved each other if given the time but they weren't.

Honestly he couldn't hate Rhaegar as much anymore because she was right. By the time Harrenhal tourney happened he already had a couple bastards. Even now he knew he had at least a dozen bastard children and she would have resented him for it he couldn't even lie to himself he wouldn't have stayed loyal to her. Now don't get him wrong he still hated Rhaegar for marrying someone else betrothed while he was already married, but it happened and couldn't be changed and to hear that a child was born from that union well Ned had the right to hide him. Thinking back to his behavior on Elia Martell's children he was horrified at his reaction calling them ‘Dragonspawn’ as if they went just 3 and 1 still toddlers they didn't deserve to die that way it was like a heavy fog of anger had lifted and his reaction to the young Targaryens were horrifying. He couldn't fault Ned for handing in the Hand pin after his reaction to Daenerys being pregnant. He didn't know Jon Snow but the brief times he saw him in winterfell and everything he had heard the boy seemed like the good sort especially being raised by Ned maybe a little dower but someone who thought he was a bastard would be. His thoughts are interrupted as his squire Lancel Lannister of course another cousin of his wife speaks “More wine, your Grace?”

“Oh, what was I saying?” Robert asks distractedly after taking a swig of the wine and handing it back to him as they walk through the woods, his spear at the ready.

“A simpler time.” Renly continues for him annoyed. He did not want to be on the hunt he would much rather be with Loras.

“It was! It was. You’re too young to remember. Wasn’t it, Selmy?”

“It was, your Grace.” The dower faced guard states.

“The enemy was right there in the open, vicious as you like, all but sending you a bloody invitation. Nothing like today.” Robert states thinking back on the time where he wasn't king and could do what he wanted.

“Sounds exhilarating.” Renly comments already annoyed at his older brother. He made these comments every time they went hunting.

“Exhilarating, yes. Not as exhilarating as those balls and masquerades you like to throw.” Robert Laughs, attempting to bond with his little brother he asks “You ever fucked a Riverlands girl?”

“Once, I think.” Renly lies

“You think? I think you’d remember. Back in our day, you weren’t a real man until you fucked a girl from each of the Seven Kingdoms and the Riverlands. We called it “making the eight.” Robert remarks his breathe heavy already, perhaps he should work out more.

“Those were some lucky girls.” Renly mocks lightly walking behind him annoyed with the conversation.

“You ever make the eight, Barristan?” he asks

“I don’t believe so, your Grace”. He responds politely, Robert wasn't the best king but at least he wasn't burning people alive and killing them for no reason.

Laughing Robert reminiscing on how easy life was then states “Those were the days!”

Renly fed up with the conversation, stops and slams the spear into the ground and raises his voice demanding “What days were those? The ones where half of Westeros fought the other half and millions died? Or before that, when the Mad King slaughtered women and babies because the voices in his head told him they deserved it? Or way before that when dragons burned whole cities to the ground?”

Maybe Renly wasn't too wrong about reminiscing about those times; it was just so much easier then. Just fighting and fucking on repeat no politics to worry about but he was king and shouldnt be treated like we wasn’t “Easy, boy. You might be my brother, but you’re speaking to the King.”

I suppose it was all rather heroic. If you were drunk enough and had some poor Riverlands whore to shove your prick inside and “make the eight.” Renly states angry and embarrassed he switches hands holding the spear and stomps of in the opposite direction Robert was heading.

Lancel had been tasked by Cersei to get Robert outrageously drunk on the trip so stepping forward seeing the upset face of the king he shoves the wineskin into his hands and asks “More wine, your Grace?”

Taking the wine he goes to take a giant swig but Lyanna voice mocks in his head ‘your killing yourself with how much you drink’ he stops himself bringing it back down he stares at it for a moment before handing it back to the squire ‘no more wine for me boy I need a clear head’

Barristan stares at his king with new eyes Robert had never refused a drink before he wondered what had changed. They continued walking looking for something to kill while he wondered what had changed.

Klaus Mikaelson had lived through centuries and seen many things but this was a new one for him. His brother and him arrived in the city Qarth in a blinding light making the nobles of the city think they were gods. But over 1000 years of traveling he had never heard of a city Qarth and after looking at a map they had given him he realised they had to be in another world, because nothing was familiar the last thing he remembered was feeling the White oak Stake being stabbed into his chest as he plunged one into his older brother Elijah of course the noble bastard couldn't let him do it alone so there they had stood in the middle of the quarter of new orleans the city that he helped build and where his daughter was born where Hayley had sacrificed herself to protect their daughter Hope. Now he would make the same sacrifice so their daughter could live just like she had done killing the Hollow once and for all. It was agonizing pain but he would do it over and over again to protect Hope.

Hayley and Hope had changed him. 1000 years of running from Mikael, his father who hunted them through the centuries ruthlessly taking everything they had built and burning it to ashes the moment they were happy had made him into a ruthless monster that everyone was afraid of. But after killing Mikael he thought things would have been better his family could finally be united again but they resented him for it. For stabbing the daggers that kept them asleep and safe into them over the centuries, particularly Rebekah and Kol with their uncanny habit of finding trouble and causing Mikael to find them. After finding out the miracle that was Hope, well she brought the family together.

He wasn't a good man; he knew that but he wasn't born that way; centuries of paranoia, betrayal, and anger had turned him into that man. His only regret was making so many enemies that could go after Hope when he wasn't there to protect her he could only hope his family would be. He wanted to be a better man for his daughter, someone she would be proud of, better than how he was treated by his parents. So he changed it took time, years actually but hopefully she would be proud of him for the better man he had tried to be for her. Instead of the paranoid man that couldn't even trust his own siblings he started relying on their help after almost losing Hope when she was born he even started trusting Hayley and had started to love her but before he could tell her she died she was the only women he would ever kneel for, a queen in her own right. He had once believed that love and family was a weakness but over the years as the family united to protect the youngest and their miracle he realised he was wrong they were his greatest assets. To know how bloody things get, how angry he got his family would still be there to back him up because no matter how angry they could get they would be Always and Forever.

After they had appeared in a bright light in front of the thirteen as they called themselves in the hall of a thousand thrones as they had called it. They were immediately hailed as gods and were given the largest manor by wide eyed nobles. Over the past month they learned about the city and the world they had landed in about Westeros and Essos, what cities that were important, even learning new languages. Now learning that the world they had landed in had magic was interesting but not more than hearing that 200 years ago there had been Dragons flying in the skies but they were now said to be extinct do to some Dragon dance, whatever that had meant. Not everyone was happy about their appearance though. Some of the nobles were enviest of the attention the two brothers were getting and hired many assassins to kill them believing their appearance were a flake. Only for said assassins to be left dead on the door steps of the manor with hearts being left next to them and throats being ripped out. Horrifying some but others fell more into the belief they must be Gods for what others could do damage like that. Not knowing the brothers were supernatural creatures called Vampires and could not be killed.

As the Mikaelson brothers caused a wave of anger and hope a group in the city started making plans to take them and find what magic they were using and take it for themselves even if that meant killing them. Back in Winterfell Ned had finally arrived home greeting them with hugs he called for a talk with Catelyn and Robb in his Solar.

As they headed to the Lord Solar, Ned couldn't keep his eye off his wife; he had missed her terribly, perhaps she would be interested in having another child he thinks to himself. As they entered his solar he noticed how things got rearranged and smiled to himself seemed like Robb had taken to being Lord well.

Robb, noticing he flushed in embarrassment and apologized receiving a chuckle from his father he smiled a little.

“Tell me how the north is doing and any news that i may have missed in my time traveling.” Ned asks them, watching as the mother and son share a glance.

“There.. are rumors that the mountain is raiding and raping Riverrun” Catelyn relunctly admits knowing his anger towards the man.

Stepping forwards to the desk his father sat at he tells him how they had enough grainery to last through a three year winter but would have to be careful. Receiving a thankful nod he gets an inventory on everything they had in stock and what they would need to import. Sighing deeply Ned gives his thanks before going head first into paperwork unintentionally dismissing the two.

Right as Robb was to leave Ned stops him “Robb tell me, how are things with Wynafryd”

Robb turns to his father with a wide smile “great father, she is everything I could have wanted” he admits before going red slightly “speaking of we were wondering when we were to marry”

Ned starts laughing knowingly “eager are you son, it's up to the two of you to give us at least a month so we can send letters for her family to come though” receiving a nod a red faced Robb leaves while he still chuckles after him.

Leaving Robb head to his betrothed to tell her the news and Catelyn to see Rickon and Bran who she had noticed starting hanging around the Reed children. Ned opens letters from the other lords reading about more wilding raids and how their coffers were doing with the upcoming winter.

Lyanna had made a decent distance to the wall but slowed her run when she head men up ahead on the Kingsroad so moving of to the side she hide in the trees as she heard one man in ragged fur outfit on a horse state “did you hear about what is happening in Riverrun”

The other man that didn't look much better then the first on his horse says “no what are you talking about brother”

“Apparently the mountain has left the capital and is now running around raiding villages and taking women”

She hears a sharp gasp from the other man “Someone needs to take him down, he never should have lived after what he did to the previous princess and her children.”

She hears a light slap and “you can't say that here the north has more reason then most to hate the Targaryen idiot” he says before lowering his voice “you're not wrong though”

Hearing enough she runs off in front of them going through what she heard, perhaps she could get to the Mountain faster than she thought.

It took her 2 days of straight running to get to the wall but there she stood in front of the large black gate. She had not thought that far ahead and didn't even think about how she was to get in without Jon noticing her. Although he did have Ghost he may be mute doesn't mean he wouldn't bring Jon attention to her though so with that thought she Howls loudly.

“Jon who had been with Samwell hears the howl and raises a brow as Ghost had started prancing around weirdly so saying his goodbye to his friend he enters the courtyard and nods to one of the brothers to open the gate.

As the gate is slowly lifted Jon sees what had Ghost so antsy it was Lyanna in wolf form. shocked Jon nods for her to join them but as she steps next to him they are stopped by Alliser Thorne who sneered at the three “absolutely not we may have to deal with you and your wolf we are not some kennel for you to keep direwolves send it back” he demands sharply going to kick Lyanna only to receive a sharp bark and a nip at his foot for his trouble.

“Its my fathers direwolf” He lies looking at her before right back “i have no need to listen to you if the Lord Commander asks me to send her back i will do so otherwise she stays” he tells him

Alliser, angry that some Stark bastard would disregard him, spins and heads for the lord commander's solar to complain once more about the boy.

Jon turns to her with a smile and gestures to follow him to his room so they could talk in piece “come we can talk in my room”

They come across Samwell on the way who had stumbled at the sight of the 3 of them before nervously stumbling over his words as he asks about the extra direwolf. Giving the same excuse he gave Alliser he continues to his room where he ushers them in. shutting the door and locking it he grabs a cloak and shirt and drops it on his bed and turns his back so she can change.

Lyanna who had watched her proudly take care of Alliser turns into her human form grabbing the shirt and cloak and putting them on as she sits on his bed and coughs for him to turn.

“What are you doing here?” Jon asks giving her a hug before sitting next to her.

“Can’t i visit my son” she teases with a small glint in her eyes

“Of course you can but shouldn't you be in Kingslanding with Fa-Uncle Ned” he corrects with a sheepish smile

Rolling her eyes she nods her head “Ned and I decided to leave it was getting to dangerous for us there” she tells him before grabbing his hand “Ned is back in Winterfell with his children and I wanted to be here with mine”

Smiling widely like a boyish idiot he wraps her in a hug “i'm glad for you to be here”

“Speaking of” she starts raising a brow “why are you still here you only needed to gather a list of things the wall needed before heading back to winterfell” she asks concerned he wanted to join.

“They need so much help Mother, their sword fighting is ludicrous especially with how the ‘master of arms’ teaches them. Not to even mention my great grand uncle Aemon Targaryen is the Maester here so i have been getting to know him.” he tells her

“Aemon Targaryen, wow i'm surprised he is still alive he should be in his hundred” she responds surprised remembering how Rhaegar would mention him sometimes hoping to get him away from the wall before he died so he could peacefully pass with family and in the halls of his family.

“Yes but i would like to tell him my identity particularly before he passes” he admits sheepishly.

Lyanna gazing at him nods in agreement “you should he deserves to know that he has family that still lives” looking over at ghost who was sitting in front of her she leans forward and scratches his ear “hows Benjen”

“Uncle Benjen went beyond the wall a couple months ago no one has heard from him.” he admits worriedly. Lyanna sighs tiredly, what had her younger brother get himself into now she thinks.

Not long later the 3 of them head to the maester tower to speak with the Maester. Walking up the steps Lyanna in wolf form follows her son as he knocks and receiving a come in they enter shutting the door. Looking around the room that had books along the wall, hanging herbs, and a bed that said Maester currently sat he was very old with white hair although that could have just been the Targaryen heritag and faded purple eyes.

“Aemon it's Jon” he states walking towards him and sitting on a stool near him.

“Ah Jon please joine me who have you brought with you” he questions hearing the extra padding of paws.

“Good ears my fathers direwolf” jon chuckles before sobering up “I need to tell you something”

“Hm, what is it”

“My name isn’t Jon Snow” he tells him nervously

“I'm well aware on who you are Jon” Aemon says knowingly

“No you don’t my father” he starts before getting cut off

“Is Rhaegar Targaryen” Aemon states throwing Jon off

“Wait, how did you know” he demanded, worried he had somehow shown who he was.

“Rhaegar had told me about Lyanna and how she was expecting and what i knew about Ned well its just didn't make sense for him to have a bastard and blood knows blood Jon”

Baffled Jon nods slightly before smiling “it's actually Jaehaerys”

“Good strong name” Aemon states before smiling “may i see you”

Confused Jon tilts his head slightly and asks “how”

“Come sit” he pats next to him nodding slightly he walks over and sits next to him turning to face him Aemon brings his hand up to Jon's face “i see through my hands now may i” nodding before remembering he can't see it he grabs the older man hand puts them on his cheeks. Aemon moves his hand slowly tracing his features and smiles “you have your father cheekbones and jaw. Nodding in agreement he smiles as Aemon started telling him about their family after leaning back. “You should know the Targaryen have a prophecy and something tells me its you”

Worried Jon glances at his mother who looked at him knowingly “is this the prophecy that everyone says Rhaegar was obsessed with”

“Yes but he was not the only Targaryen that obsessed over it. Passed down through our lineages it’s known as A song of Ice and Fire, a dream that Aegon the conqueror had foretelling of a long winter and the arrival of darkness that could destroy the world. It is my belief that it is you. The Prince that was promised, it is believed that a Targaryen king or queen needs to unite the kingdoms to face the threat and lead the fight against the darkness” he tells them as Jon and Lyanna look at each other knowing exactly what the darkness was.

In Vaes Dothrak Viserys who was very drunk waves his sword around before pointing it at Daenerys threateningly in a crowd of dothraki who were celebrating their Khals fortune quieted down outraged that the foreigner would dare threaten their Khaleesi

Viserys laughed. “They can’t kill us. They can’t shed blood here in the sacred city . . . but I can.” He laid the point of his sword between Daenerys’s breasts and slid it downward, over the curve of her belly. “I want what I came for,” he told her. “I want the crown he promised me. He bought you, but he never paid for you. Tell him I want what I bargained for, or I’m taking you back. You and the eggs both. He can keep his bloody foal. I’ll cut the bastard out and leave it for him.” The sword point pushed through her silks and pricked at her navel. Viserys was weeping, she saw; weeping and laughing, both at the same time, this man who had once been her brother.

Distantly, as from far away, Dany heard her handmaid Jhiqui sobbing in fear, pleading that she dared not translate, that the khal would bind her and drag her behind his horse all the way up the Mother of Mountains. She put her arm around the girl. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “I shall tell him.”

She did not know if she had enough words, yet when she was done Khal Drogo spoke a few brusque sentences in Dothraki, and she knew he understood. The sun of her life stepped down from the high bench. “What did he say?” the man who had been her brother asked her, flinching.

It had grown so silent in the hall that she could hear the bells in Khal Drogo’s hair, chiming softly with each step he took. His bloodriders followed him, like three copper shadows. Daenerys had gone cold all over. “He says you shall have a splendid golden crown that men shall tremble to behold.”

Viserys smiled and lowered his sword. That was the saddest thing, the thing that tore at her afterward . . . the way he smiled. “That was all I wanted,” he said. “What was promised.”

When the sun of her life reached her, Dany slid an arm around his waist. The khal said a word, and his bloodriders leapt forward. Qotho seized the man who had been her brother by the arms.

Haggo shattered his wrist with a single, sharp twist of his huge hands. Cohollo pulled the sword from his limp fingers. Even now Viserys did not understand. “No,” he shouted, “you cannot touch me, I am the dragon, the dragon, and I will be crowned!”

Khal Drogo unfastened his belt. The medallions were pure gold, massive and ornate, each one as large as a man’s hand. He shouted a command. Cook slaves pulled a heavy iron stew pot from the firepit, dumped the stew onto the ground, and returned the pot to the flames. Drogo tossed in the belt and watched without expression as the medallions turned red and began to lose their shape. She could see fires dancing in the onyx of his eyes. A slave handed him a pair of thick horsehair mittens, and he pulled them on, never so much as looking at the man.

Viserys began to scream the high, wordless scream of the coward facing death. He kicked and twisted, whimpered like a dog and wept like a child, but the Dothraki held him tight between them.

Ser Jorah had made his way to Dany’s side. He put a hand on her shoulder. “Turn away, my princess, I beg you.” “No.” She folded her arms across the swell of her belly, protectively.

At the last, Viserys looked at her. “Sister, please . . . Dany, tell them . . . make them . . . sweet sister . . . ”

When the gold was half-melted and starting to run, Drogo reached into the flames, snatched out the pot. “Crown!” he roared. “Here. A crown for Cart King!” And upended the pot over the head of the man who had been her brother.

The sound Viserys Targaryen made when that hideous iron helmet covered his face was like nothing human. His feet hammered a frantic beat against the dirt floor, slowed, stopped. Thick globs of molten gold dripped down onto his chest, setting the scarlet silk to smoldering . . . yet no drop of blood was spilled.

He was no dragon, Dany thought, curiously calm. Fire cannot kill a dragon.

Back in Qarth Klaus ran his hand through his blondish locks and sighs deeply annoyed. The two brothers had been walking down the street near the merchants gazing at the architecture of the buildings. They were surprisingly colorful and the bronze statue of the two snakes mating was beautifully made Klaus himself was an artist and enjoyed the beauty of what he saw. When they were accosted by men with blue tinted lips in the middle of the street. The men had surrounded the two and started duplicating somehow narrowing his eyes Klaus had growled out “Witches”

only for one of the men to bite back with “Warlock actually and your coming with us” Chuckling darkly the two men's fangs descended and dark veins descended underneath their eyes Klaus eyes glowed golden while Elijah eyes went Red causing the men to take a step back in shock “Demons” someone shouted horrified

Smiling wickedly Klaus speeds forward yanking one of the men viciously biting into their neck and rips his throat out looks back at the shocked men and smiles “correction hybrid” he points to himself after dropping the body unceremoniously at his feet before pointing back at his brother “Vampire” before he runs through the crowd ripping off arms and yanking hearts out his brother following in his steps not long after they were surrounded by bodies looking at each other they leave back to where they were staying and to strategize how to get rid of these warlocks not knowing that the men that they had only ripped limbs off had survived and quickly returned to the House of the Undying to tell them what they had discovered.