The North 298 AC.
Moat Cailin.
Eddard Karstark.
The raven was his second real test, the first had been hosting the Northern Army as it marched forward and greeting his future goodfather. That he was to be Lord of Moat Cailin came as a great surprise and honor to both he and his father, that he was to marry came as a shock to only him.
" I've received word from Lord Stark, he means to name you Lord of Moat Cailin." his father said and Eddard looked at him shaking his head.
" Me?" he asked.
" Aye, you boy. Funds will be directed to rebuild the Moat and lands made ready so you'll have an income lad, you'll need it for you and your new wife."
" Wife?" he asked stunned as he tried to come to terms with what he'd just been told.
" Aye wife, you and Lord Reed's girl, Meera. You're to be married in a year or two and named Lord of the Moat, this is a great honor Lord Stark is giving you, the Moat is the key to the North lad and to see one of mine own as its lord please me greatly. It's far more than I could have ever given you.".
" Marriage, father?".
" A lord needs an heir and Howland is a leal and good man and close by too. Handy if you need to call on him."
" Very well, I'll accept."
" Of course you'll bloody accept, you think it was a choice I was giving you boy." his father said laughing.
So he had set out with Torrhen and made his way with a hundred men to Moat Cailin and in the almost a year he'd been here, he'd set the workers to task. It would be many years before the Moat ever regained anything like it's former glory, maybe his sons or theirs would be the one's to do so. But he had built a fine garrison and when his father, future goodfather, and Lord Stark had arrived with the Northern army they had been impressed. His father patting him on the back and even Harrion seeming proud of him, though the meeting he was called to that night soon stopped his own pride at what he'd done. Leaving him more eager to prove that theirs wasn't misplaced.
" Prince Tyrion tells us the Iron Born are ready to reave, so I'll leave another thousand men with you Lord Eddard, Howland will give you a hundred archers too." Lord Stark said.
" I thank you my lord, but I already have two thousand men I can call on, is that not enough?" he asked.
" It may be, better to be safe than sorry. The watchtowers have ravens?" Lord Stark asked.
" They do my lord.".
" Good. Send them word to warn them to be on the lookout and it should be enough. From the towers to here is a long way and Howland's men will bleed them if they come. You need to finish them if they do Lord Eddard, the Moat must hold." Lord Stark said.
" It will my lord, on that I give you my vow." he said and saw his father look at him and nod, his pride clear .
The raven brought the news, ships had begun to sail up the Fever River and Eddard called for Torrhen who was serving as his Master of Arms.
"They come brother?" Torrhen asked.
"They come, let's send them back to their drowned god." he said as Torrhen went out to ready the men.
Deepwoond Motte 298 AC.
Robett Glover.
To give battle, win glory and make a name, he'd wished for it so much, and yet as he arrive back at his home he felt happier than he had on the march. At first, he'd taken issue with rising for a dragon, but he'd been won over by what Lord Stark had said, what the others had said, and the dragons themselves, all of them. Jon Snow was a decent lad when he thought him a bastard and Robett had never cared which side of the sheets a lad was born on. Larence was a good lad too and so bastard or true it mattered not.
Finding out he was actually Jaehaerys Targaryen didn't really change that opinion and so he was willing to ride and fight for the boy, he'd be a far better king and friend to the North than Robert Baratheon had ever been. Yet a part of him even after hearing some of the truth that Galbart had gotten from Maege and Wyman wasn't fully on board. The loss of Ethan may be on Jon Arryn's and Robert's and Hoster Tully's hands as much as anyone but it had been a dragon he'd died for. So when his brother and Lord Stark had come to him and told him what the other dragon had said, he'd in a way welcomed it.
" The Iron Born have gathered a fleet Robett, I fear we'll come under attack." Galbart said.
" Aye, I wish you to take two thousand men Robett, some of your own, some of mine and others. Take them and make sure Deepwood Motte is protected, help out Lady Alysanne if she calls." Lord Stark said.
" As you wish my lord." he said looking to the lord and then to his brother who nodded.
" I've sent a raven to Winterfell, the Blackfish is there with Ser Rodrik. He's a good man to have in a fight Robett, call for him if you need and he'll come." Lord Stark said.
" I will my lord." he said and then looked to Gablbart when Ned Stark walked away.
" Protect our home brother, see the fucking squids pay a heavy price should they come." Galbart said embracing him and patting him on the back.
" Be safe brother, Deepwood Motte will await your return and the squids will feel the strength of my fist should they dare try to take our home from us." he said placing his fist over his heart as Galbart did the same.
Arriving home he was welcomed by Sybelle with surprise and by Gawen with joy. Taking the time to go and see his babe and finding Erena asleep in her crib. After telling his wife the reason for his return he set to make sure the defenses were set, they had more than enough men and so he began to look for weak spots. Once he was certain he'd sorted any out he set up watches and waited, if the ships came they'd not find him lax. He was ready for them and the North would remember the day the Iron Born fell at Deepwood Motte.
Winterfell 298 AC.
The Blackfish .
After a few days of almost apathy, he had begun to feel like himself once more. He'd stand by Bran when he heard petitions, offer advice when called for or an ear when needed. In the mornings and evenings he'd spar with his great-nephew and at other times with some of the other men of Winterfell. He'd been left a decent garrison and along with Ser Rodrik, he put them through their paces.
Yet it was when the raven came that he felt truly alive. The idea of a fight against Iron Born scum something he could get his teeth into and he found he needed it, needed to fight and kill men who deserved it. The war was not something he could take part in, his war was here, and while he wished no one on his side would need to die. He knew if it came he was ready to.
That he had Ser Rodrik to guard the keep and keep Bran safe helped a lot, as did the men when they arrived. 500 with another 1,500 sent to Torrhen's square and the Stoney Shore. They had men a plenty should they be needed. Ser Rodrik suggested and he agreed that half these men should go to Wintertown and that while they were there should raise half as many again just in case the town came under attack.
"It's too big a target for the Iron Born to attack but attack it they may, best it be ready nephew." he said and Bran nodded.
"Ser Rodrik, see that it's done." Bran said and Brynden nodded at him.
"I will my lord." Rodrik said before leaving.
"Did I do alright uncle?" Bran asked nervously once the other knight had left.
"You did fine Bran, come let me show you how to prepare in case you're besieged." the Blackfish said.
He took him around the walls of the keep, showing him where to post guards and why before taking him to the stores to show him what he needed to ensure they had enough of. Truthfully there had not been much for him to do to ready the keep, Ned kept a firm hand on his men and stores, Ser Rodrik was more than capable and Lady Elle managed the day to day running of the household.
When Bran wasn't with him or seeing to his duties, he spent most of his time in the lady's company, and despite himself, Brynden had found he liked the woman. Perhaps had Cat not played such a large role in her situation herself, or if Ned had set her aside simply on his own back then things would be different. Or maybe had Elle being a different sort of person he'd have thought less of her but the woman never lorded it over him. She allowed Bran to act as he should and to him, she was courteous and respectful whenever they spoke.
"You intend to ride out if needed Ser Brynden?" Elle asked after Bran had gone to bed that night.
"I do my lady, Ser Rodrik will command the garrison here and I'll ride with 1,000 men to wherever needs our help."
"You think they'll come?" she asked.
"I do my lady, but they'll be broken against the walls of Winterfell should they ever make it that far, and I'll ride them down long before then." he said as he noticed her rubbing her hand on her stomach.
"I'm glad you're here Ser." she said as she nodded to him and got up to leave.
The news came a few days later, multiple attacks and a large scale invasion was underway and Brynden readied his men to ride out.
"I should ride with you." Bran said as he readied his horse.
"Your are the Lord of Winterfell until your father returns, this is where you need to be. I'll be safe enough, it's the squids who need to worry." he said and saw the boy swallow deeply.
"I'll await your return Ser Brynden." Bran said a moment later.
"It shall be soon my lord." he said jumping up on his horse.
Rosby/The God's Eye 298 AC.
Robert.
He had to admire how the Golden Company marched if nothing else, the army moving far more quickly than he was used to. They were experienced, prepared and though their leader was to the best of Robert's estimation, a coward, the men under him were anything but. He found listening to some of their tales to be enlightening, contracts they had taken, battles they fought, Dothraki on an open field, unsullied, gods the stories alone got his blood flowing in a good way.
Which was more than could be said about some of the company. Most of them were men he found something in common with, men who hated the dragons as much as he did. Though only because they supported a different dragon, those men though he could get used to and enjoyed eating with. The one he was looking at now, not so much, Robert watching as Jon Connington took a seat.
He remembered all too well Battle of the Bells, hiding out in the brothel and the women he had taken. That part he looked back fondly at but the man he eyed now had killed men he'd called friends. He would have if he'd had the chance seen him dead and his love for the dragon prince was well known. When he'd seen him first it had almost led to a fistfight, Harry Strickland, Ser Franklyn flowers, and Illyrio himself stopping him from giving into his temper.
" What's he doing here?" he shouted angrily.
" Your grace?" Harry Strickland asked.
" Him, the fucking Griffin, the Dragonlover." he said as Connington walked toward him.
" Jon is a captain in the company your grace, a much-valued member of the company." Harry said.
" He's a fucking traitor, a fucking Dragonspawn supporter." he said as Jon Connington stood in front of him "Those were good men you killed Griffin, Denys Arryn was a friend of mine."
"As Ser Myles was one of mine, your grace, war leads to strange bedfellows, yesterday's enemies become today's friends."
" You're no friend of mine, Griffin, Dragonlover." Robert spat.
" A different dragon, a different day. I serve the company now and the company serves you, your grace." Jon Connington said yet something about his voice was off.
Robert moved towards him only for Ser Franklyn to step beside the Griffin, Illyrio moving far more quickly than he usually did, coming to stand beside him.
" Your Grace, the company's men are theirs to deal with. Should you continue this then their contract with me becomes null and void."
" Very well, get him from my sight, let that be the service he does for me." Robert said storming away, not seeing the masked silver-haired boy glare at him or Illyrio look to Jon Connington and nod.
As they readied to ride past Rosby the riders rushed out from the keep. Lord Gyles leading them himself and Robert wondered what was so urgent. It didn't take him long to find out and so they camped at Rosby for the night, Robert taking over the Lord's Solar and asking for a map. How Stannis had managed to be defeated was beyond him, yet it wasn't that which concentrated his mind.
Instead, it was the other news, the raven from Lomas telling him that the Western Army marched under the Dragonspawn and the Kingslayer, marched past the Stoney Sept, and headed his way. He looked down at the map and saw the God's Eye and began to smile, he'd killed one fucking Dragonspawn by a river, this one he'd take pleasure in drowning in the lake.
Calling for Illyrio, Harry Strickland, and the other captains of the Golden Company, he kept the new of Stannis's defeat to himself. Telling them instead that they had the chance to end this if they marched quickly. He lied that if they could bog them down at the God's Eye they'd be joined by the Stormlords riding North and the Western Army would be caught between both sets of forces.
"How many men has Lord Stannis under his command, Your Grace?" Harry Strickland asked.
"15,000 at least, probably more, 20-25,000 if he gathered all the men." he said.
"I had thought we'd join with Lord Jon?" Illyrio said.
"Aye, but this is too good a chance Illyrio. We can end this here, without the dragon they're done and he'll come to face me." he said and Illyrio nodded.
They marched hard and Robert felt himself grow ever more eager, he had but one chance to win this war now and in a way he felt as if he was back in time six and ten years earlier. Just like then, he was marching to war outnumbered and yet not outmatched. He cursed not having Ned with him, not having Jon by his side, but he'd killed one dragon and won a war once, he'd do so to another he thought as they marched.
Each morning and each evening before he retired he spent it sparring in the yard. He'd still not been able to swing his hammer but he felt fitter and stronger than he had been in years. The meals he had were simply for food and not for comfort, the wine basically all but cut out. He was sleeping better, even shitting better than he had for longer than he could care to remember.
Even with the Golden Company, with the Knights of the Vale, and should the Iron Born prove themselves useful, Robert knew they couldn't compete with the numbers. If it came down to one big battle they'd lose and he'd resolved himself to that, as long as he could see those who'd betrayed him dead. Ned, the Kingslayer, the Roses, and especially the Dragonspawn. As long as he fell then he'd go to his own grave happy, but he'd almost feared he'd not get the chance to face the boy.
" They'll not split their forces, Robert, they'll know better than that. We must keep them from uniting, use the distances between them against them." Jon Arryn said.
" Aye I know Jon, I just want them dead, to see them in the ground. I'll see the whole fucking realm on fire before I see a dragon sit my throne." he said angrily.
" We'll prevail Robert, if we stick to our plans we'll prevail. Our men fight for us, for a true king, theirs fight for glory and position." Jon Arryn said.
Each night though he had wondered if that was true, Jon seeming to think the Dragonspawn was a puppet king, Robert was not so sure. The boy seemed smarter than that, better than that a voice in his head called out but he shook it away. It was his betrayal he felt even keener than Ned's, a part of him almost admiring his friend for what he'd done, for not being able to see Lyanna's boy dead.
The larger part of him was angry and upset, he should have been his, theirs, he should have been their son. Each day he'd seen him, he'd thought so, thought how proud he'd have been if that had been his boy, his heir. To see him rise, to knight him by his own hand and watch him put the very best in their place. It had been a dream and it had turned into a nightmare.
"You stole him from me, just like you stole her from me, you stole my son." he shouted in the tent, his sleep having been disturbed and he waved the guards away when they came in.
They crossed the God's Eye river and he saw them in the distance, the golden Lion flying next to the Three-Headed Dragon. After setting up their position he sent word for the parley, Illyrio saying that he wished to stay behind and so he let him. Instead, Robert rode out with Harry Strickland, with Ser Balman Byrch, Ser Laswell Peake, and to his annoyance with Jon Connington.
Looking to the hill he saw the horses ride towards them, hearing the gasp and glad it came from Jon Connington and not him. He recognized the golden armor of the kingslayer and the white cloaks that rode behind the figure who had caused the Griffin to gasp. The boy's armor almost mirrored his father's and Robert felt his rage begin to rise at that, yet he found he couldn't stop looking at it either. The armor glistened in the light and Robert found himself mesmerized for a moment. It was an exquisite set of pitch black plate and mail reminiscent of the style of the ancient Valyrian warlords, the paintings of whom he'd had removed from the Red Keep. Upon the breastplate and set in glittering rubies the three-headed dragon stood out and it made his own armor look poor in comparison.
That he wore no helm also had been what had caught his eye, his hair flowing and apart from the color, looking so much like his father's that briefly, Robert was in another place at another time. But it was the crown he wore on his head which soon made him stare, that and the sword at his hip. Something that both he and Jon Connington were both looking at with interest.
As they drew ever closer, he heard another gasp and this one had indeed come from him. The four white-cloaked men now very familiar to him, the Fat Flower's son that had been so close to the boy, the giant he'd tried to take for his own and Barristan the Bold. Those three alone would have been enough to draw attention. Yet it was the last man with the milky white blade on his back that had drawn his gasp and made Jon Connington speak his name aloud.
"Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning." Jon Connington said as the horses stopped and both sets of men stared at each other.
The Trident 298 AC.
Ned.
It had taken them some time to march and when he saw it in front of him, he shuddered. Of all the places he had imagined this fight may go down, this was not one of them. The Trident held many memories for him, none of them good. Over the years he'd wondered about that day, thought about what could have happened had he known the truth.
Would he have been able to change things, to reach out and parley with the man he now knew had been his goodbrother? Had the die already been cast or could things have happened differently? Would Robert have fought if the North hadn't? Would Jon Arryn have fought? If they had then would he have fought them?. He tried not to let his mind go to such places and yet it was impossible not to.
The world could have been a different place. Had they stopped it then had Rhaegar lived would Lyanna have lived also?. Would his nephew have grown up with his mother and father, with his sister and brother if men had not conspired to see the dragons fall? Anger was something that he felt rarely, true he'd get annoyed and he could lose his temper occasionally. But true anger, he could count on one hand the number of times he'd felt it.
Hearing of his father and brother's deaths. At the Tower when Lyanna told him the truth. When he'd learned what the Maesters had done and when he learned what Cat had tried to do. Now though he felt it race through his veins, his blood rising and he looked to see Lya staring at him, her calmness allowing his anger to recede. Allowing it to simmer rather than to boil.
"Thank you girl." he said as he stroked her fur.
He was still stroking her when Maege, Howland and the Greatjon came his way, the outriders had returned with the news that the Knights of the Vale marched toward them.
"We should offer them the king's terms, at least. Any news on Prince Tyrion?" he asked and Maege shook her head.
"We may need to do this on our own, Ned." Maege said.
"Then we do it on our own, Maege, fuck the Knights of the Vale." the Greatjon said.
"Prince Tyrion will be here, he, his army and his dragon will be here on the morrow." Howland said and Ned didn't even bother to question him, knowing that Howland knew best.
"Send riders to arrange the parley. We're set up here?" Ned asked.
"We are, Rickard and Galbart are seeing to it with Roose's lad." Maege said.
"Seems a good lad." he said to nods.
"Aye, better than his father at any rate." Maege said.
"Any word on Roose?" he asked the Greatjon.
"It doesn't look good Ned, he's been leeched so much that he can barely move. Whatever it is that's in him will end him I fear."
"Howland?" he asked.
"Nothing I can do for him Ned, nor would I wish to." Howland said and Ned looked at him when he walked away.
The sickness had come out of nowhere. Not long after passing Moat Cailin, Roose had fallen from his horse. It had caused some panic until Howland explained that it was nothing to do with mosquitoes in the Neck as some had suggested. Still until they'd entered the Riverlands men had worried they'd be next. Ned had gone to the man and spoken, he'd had words with his son and despite things had found the idea of Lord Domeric to be one he could live with quite comfortably.
They were eating lunch when word came back and Ned readied his men to ride out and treat with his former foster father and with men he'd once called friends. He, Lord's Jorah, Howland, Galbart, and the Greatjon, Ser Wylis and Ser Wendell, Rickard, Maege, Medger, and Ser Domeric acting in his father's stead made up the Northern party. He saw them on the hill above them and they rode up and were soon face to face with men they may soon be fighting against.
Jon Arryn, Yohn Royce, Lord's Belmore, Corbray, Egen, and Hunter, along with Ser Symond Templeton. Men he had known for almost half his life and had broken bread with in each of their halls. He saw them stiffen when he dismounted and Lya walked by his side. Ned watching them as they did likewise and soon they were standing face to face, Jon Arryn looking him in the eye.
"I'm sorely disappointed to see you here Ned, sorely disappointed, to see you abandon honor so." Jon Arryn said.
"Me" he snorted "You think I've not seen that raven you sent out, naming me a man without honor. A man who slept with whores, I think you've mistaken me for your other foster son, Jon." he said to laughs.
"You rise against the King, Lord Stark, seek to put a bastard on his throne." Yohn said.
"Do I Yohn, some kings don't deserve the crown they wear, not after the lies they and men that serve them spread. Nor do they after the crimes they've participated in. To murder a boy with your own hands, to so in front of his mother, to kill every member of a household and to do so without trial. Is this the honor you taught him, Jon, is this what the Vale has come to?".
"Even here in front of men who once called you friend you lie, Ned, is there no depth you won't sink too." Jon Arryn said shaking his head.
"When I've been the one lied to all his life? I'll not take rebuke from the man who told the gravest lie of them all. How long did you know Jon? You and Robert? How long did you know of Lyanna and the letter she wrote? Why did you keep it from me?" he said his anger rising.
"I know nothing of your sister, other then Robert loved her and you now seek to sully her memory with lies and untruths." Jon Arryn said and Lya began to growl.
"Careful Jon, I may not break parley but I'll not make the same guarantee about my wolf. You lied to me Jon, to me the man you once called your son. Knowing that, I'm sure I'm not the only one here you've lied to." he said looking to the others.
"How dare you sully your betters savage." Lord Egen said.
"Betters, all I see are a load of fancy fools in armor, fools who forget it wasn't the Knights of the Vale who won the rebellion, it was the North, or do you not remember your broken army? Or Robert's broken army? Do you forget when we were the only ones able to march on to King's Landing." Maege said.
"Had the truth not been kept from us then, it would have been a march to crown the rightful king and not to place a usurper on his throne." Jorah said.
"Something that we've managed to rectify all these years later." the Greatjon said laughing.
"Even your lords are spouting the same lies now, Ned. The boy is a bastard, your bastard, are you so desperate for the throne that you'd use her name to claim it?" Jon Arryn said.
"Don't mention my sister in my presence again, Jon, lest we find out just how far you can fly. Tell these men the truth for once in your life, let's walk from here as friends and I'll seek my nephew's forgiveness and give you mine own. Keep your head and those of your men Jon, stop the lies." he said.
"The only liar here is you Stark and I curse the day I ever welcomed you in my halls." Jon Arryn said.
"As do I, Jon, as do I. Well since you won't tell the truth then I shall, your wait for Stannis will be a long time coming, or has he not told you that Dorne rises for the true king?"
"Lies, Damn Lies." Jon Arryn said though Ned saw one or two men look to the lord.
"My king offers you but one chance. Bend the knee and he'll forgive you rising, he'll accept your claims and seek no retribution, do not, and when we win this war and we will, then you'll face a dragon's wrath." he said looking to the men.
"I spit on your terms Ned and offer you mine own, give up this folly and I'll let your son keep Winterfell. Your lords can return North and we'll seek no further respite. You can take the black and join your brother and your nephew will lose his head." Jon Arryn said.
The laughs rang out then, the Northern lords almost doubling over and Lya's growls were the only thing louder.
"Your line ends with you Jon, just like Robert's, your child is not yours. House Arryn dies tomorrow and just so you know, I'll take the greatest of pleasure in it, Listen Jon." Ned said as everyone quietened down and Lya began to howl "The quiet wolf is quiet no more and wolves are far better hunters than falcons.".
They mounted up and rode away and Ned for once felt ready for war, eager for the battle to come. He had given him the chance to come clean and the man had shown who he truly was, as high as honor were words and they meant nothing. Chivalry and being a faithful man meant nothing, liars deserved all they got and this liar had cost him far too much. Winter was Coming for Jon Arryn and as he rode he felt his lip curl into a snarl and when he looked down at Lya she seemed eager to feast.