8th Month of 283 A.C. Tower of Joy
Lord Rickard Stark
The ride to Dorne had not been a very pleasant one, the Stormlands had been left somewhat a ruin by the Tyrells and the war, and winter. People looked scarce and broken as they had ridden past, and something stirred uncontrollably in him, Robert Baratheon had done nothing to aid his people in their time of need, instead if what Simon Staunton said the man was doing nothing but the things he had developed a reputation for. Whoring and drinking, Rickard had no problems with the two things, but so long as the king was discreet about such things he did not mind. It was the fact that the man was supposedly doing it wide in the open as well as voicing his worries and concerns about Lyanna and Rhaegar. That was something he could not stand by and as such he found his support for Robert waning as the moons went on. As such they had learnt this news at Nightsong, where Rickard had left his son and heir Ned in charge of the northern host, whilst choosing companions with which to ride into Dorne. Arel Dayne, the man who had proven so useful in King's Landing of course had to come. Willam Dustin and Mark Ryswell had come out of a sense of duty and honour to Brandon. Then there were the two men Rickard had most wanted to come, Mors Umber a bellowing giant of a man but someone whom he had the most faith in and Robard Cerwyn another friend of Rickard's from childhood and someone who was a danger with a sword. Finally there was Martyn Cassel, his ever trusted steward and right hand man.
They arrived at the entrance to the Tower of Joy and it was there that Rickard found the three men who were preventing him from getting to his daughter. Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Gerold Hightower known as the white bull for his strength an old man now, but still deadly. Ser Oswell Whent, a man Rickard had served beside in the war of the ninepenny kings and one of engagement under the reign of King Aegon V, a deadly warrior and cunning. Finally there was Ser Arthur Dayne the sword of the morning and allegedly the deadliest knight of Aerys Kingsguard. They were all here, meaning Lyanna would be as well. Rickard ordered his men to stop and dismount and when they approached the tower all three of the Kingsguard straightened up. Rickard spoke first his voice level. "I had not thought to find you here Sers. I had looked for you on the God's Eye when your prince came and fell."
Ser Gerold was the one who replied. "We were not there, or yet the battle would have been won, and Prince Rhaegar would still be alive."
"Woe to the Usurper if we had been," Ser Oswell said.
"I looked for you when King's Landing fell I had thought to find you. When your sworn brother Ser Jaime slew King Aerys with a golden sword in the throne room." Rickard said.
"We were not there, or King Aerys would yet sit the throne and our false brother would burn in the Seven Hells." Ser Gerold responds.
"At Storm's End when I lifted the siege and the Tyrells bent the knee along with all else, I had thought to find you." Rickard states.
"Our knees do not bend so easily." Ser Arthur replies. His hand going to his sword.
"Ser Willam Darry has fled to Dragonstone with Prince Viserys and your queen. And I wonder why you are not with them?" Rickard enquires.
"Ser Willam is a good man and true," Ser Oswell responds.
"But not of the Kingsguard," Ser Gerold points out. "The Kingsguard does not flee."
"Now or then," Ser Arthur points out, donning his helm.
"We swore a vow." Ser Gerold explains, his shoulders tensing.
Rickard's men move up beside him as they look to draw their own swords.
Ser Arthur speaks then his tone sad. "And now it begins."
All were ready and then Lord Arel Dayne speaks his tone sharp. "Stop this madness. Stop it right now." All eyes turn to the Lord of Starfall. "What are we doing? Why are we preparing to kill one another? There is a woman in there who is a daughter of Winterfell, Lord Rickard is her father. Do you honestly believe that he would harm his own daughter?"
There is a moment's silence as they all consider this and then it is the man's own brother who responds. "He has fought to put the Usurper on the throne brother. I do not see how you can abide to be in his presence. This is the man who allowed Princess Elia and her children to be killed and nodded when her killers got off free. What are you doing with him?"
Lord Arel's voice is hard when he says. "I am doing my best to complete our house's duty. You know the tales Arthur, and you know what Aerys was, a mad man intent on destroying the seven kingdoms. And Rhaegar, by the gods' brother, you, and yourself said he was becoming more and more like Aerys with each passing day. What happened to Elia and her children was of course brutal and destructive, and we are here to rectify that."
Rickard speaks then. "Your brother speaks true Ser Arthur do you truly believe that I could come here, and harm my own daughter. No matter what I have done in the past, I have come here to ensure my daughter is safe and free from the shackles that Rhaegar Targaryen placed on her."
At this Ser Oswell laughs. "So you think that your daughter was taken against her will? By the gods, she did always say you did not understand her. She came willingly, she wanted to go with Rhaegar. Hells she even begged him to take her. Move the stain of ambition from your eyes Rickard, and see that this is the truth. Robert Baratheon would not want your daughter now."
Rickard tenses at the man's words, feeling anger grow inside of him but then he takes a calming breath and says. "I have come to realise that perhaps Prince Rhaegar did not forcibly take away my daughter, but their actions were something that caused a whole lot of deaths as a consequence. But that is immaterial now, I have come to take my daughter home. Whether or not she wants to marry Robert Baratheon is another matter entirely. I will not force her to, now move out of my way."
Ser Arthur responds then. "You claim the usurper as king. And the wishes of the king, even a false one, come before the wishes of all else. How do we know that you will not hand over Princess Lyanna to satisfy your own ambition?"
The words hit him hard and he says softly. "So she did marry him, the dreams were true." He runs a hand through his hair and then says. "Ser Arthur, I would never harm my daughter. And I have come to realise that perhaps having her marry Robert Baratheon would be to harm her. I have my own doubts about the man, but I cannot abide by seeing her get hurt. So you will tell me now and you will tell me honestly, why do you remain here?"
Ser Arthur's voice is hard as iron when he says. "Because we are the last of the Kingsguard that know what that term means. The Kingsguard does not abandon the king, and we shall be damned if we allow you to give our king and his mother over to the usurper."
At this Rickard's nerves begin jangling he looks at Martyn out the corner of his eye and when his old friend nods he swallows and then says. "Do you truly believe me to be like Tywin Lannister? I am not a man who would kill innocents, and that is what my daughter and grandson are. Please Sers, I am asking you as a father and a grandfather allow me the chance to see them. And I will not do them harm."
Ser Oswell whose hands had been on his sword belt before then removes them from the belt and stands aside and says. "So long as you swear on the gods old and new not to do them harm, I will not stand in your way old friend."
Rickard nods his thanks and then looks at Ser Arthur, the man seems troubled. "How do we know that this is not some ploy? You would be goodfather to the usurper with this marriage, and you would have more to gain by handing Princess Lyanna and the king to the man whom your own son considers a friend."
Rickard grits his teeth and then says. "I swear by the old gods and the new Ser Arthur I will not hand over my daughter or grandson to Robert Baratheon. I will not see them killed as Elia and her children were killed. They will remain alive and free to do as they wish when this is over and done, and as long as there is breath in my body."
"Then swear it Lord Rickard. Remove your weapons from your person and get down on bended knee and swear that you shall not harm the princess or her child." Ser Arthur says.
"Arthur this is unnecessary." Lord Arel protests.
But Rickard is already throwing down his sword and his gauntlets, and on bended knee he stares at the Sword of the Morning and says. "I Rickard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, and the protector of the horned one, do hereby swear on my life and those of my house not to harm my daughter the Princess Lyanna or her son."
Rickard continues to look at the man after he has finished speaking and he can see the conflicting emotions on the man's face before the sword of the morning eventually sighs and says. "Very well you may rise Lord Rickard. I shall not stand in your way."
Rickard nods at the man and then moves towards the entrance of the tower, only to find Ser Gerold blocking the way his huge frame preventing a chance to move past. "Ser Gerold come now this is ridiculous what more proof do you want that I will not harm my daughter?" Rickard asks.
The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, seems to be torn and then he says his voice soft. "For too long did I stand by whilst the Kings of the Realm broke through their vows and allowed chaos to come into play. I stood by whilst Aerys raped and burned, but I will not stand by and allow you the chance to break through and harm the king or the princess. By rights I should slit your throat now and end you."
Rickard feels the anger growing inside of him. "Then do it Ser. Do it and let this conversation come to an end. Do it so that I might not know the pain anymore. But know that you cannot stand alone, not against Robert Baratheon. Besides that is not what Ser Duncan the Tall would want now is it?"
"You dare mention his name here? You, of all people, the butcher of Bloodstone, the harridan of Ironsmith. You dare mention the name of the finest knight the realm has ever seen. I do not believe that you know truly, just what has started here. I should kill you." Ser Gerold roars, at this Mors Umber begins walking forward but Rickard raises a hand to stop him.
"Then do it Ser, do it and die as well. Or do what the knight who so look up to would do and see to it that a man and his daughter are reunited." Rickard says.
The knight is torn for a long time, and there is silence and Rickard's heart is beating inside his chest, and then the knight says. "Very well you may pass, but I shall go with you."
Rickard nods and then orders his men to stand down and wait outside, before following Ser Gerold up the steps of the tower, running up the last few. Ser Gerold stands outside the door, and when Rickard enters he sees his daughter lying on a bed of roses blood pressed out against the sheets, and his daughter's handmaiden Wylla sat next to her. Rickard looks at the girl and nods before going to his daughter's side. "Lyanna," he says softly. "It is me, it is your father Rickard. I have come to take you home sweetling. Back to Winterfell."
His daughter's eyes are glazed and sweat is running down from her face, "Father? Is that you? I had thought you were dead, dead with Brandon in the flames of King's Landing. The raven told me you had died, but I knew he was lying. I….. I am sorry father, for everything. For running away and not telling you, for not being a better daughter…. For Brandon's death."
Rickard kisses his daughter's hair and says. "No Lyanna, it is I who should apologise. I should never have pushed you to marry Robert. I should have listened to you. Brandon, Brandon sealed his own fate. But you, you can still decide your own, come home with me sweetling. Come back to Winterfell."
His daughter laughs somewhat, and Rickard is horrified to see blood coming out of his daughter's mouth. "I… I cannot move papa. I cannot, it hurts it all hurts. I cannot become Robert's wife, nor will I return to Winterfell. I will die now, but at least you will be here."
"No Lya sweetling, you can't die, you are stronger than that. Please Lya sweetling come home with me." Rickard pleads, his eyes beginning to water.
His daughter takes his hand then and holds it tight. "Before I die, please….. Please promise you will protect my son…. Please promise me you will protect him from those who would do him harm please….."
Rickard kisses his daughter's cold hand and says. "I promise sweetling. I will protect your child with all my life, with everything I have. I promise."
His daughter says nothing then she merely smiles as her eyes close and her breathing slows and then stops. Rickard holds his daughter's hand for a long time after that, his grief overwhelming him, crying he holds his daughter's hand and then her body, until a baby starts crying, where the noise comes from he is not sure, until he turns round and sees Wylla rocking a babe trying to soothe it. "Is that, is that her son?" he asks. The girl nervously nods her head and Rickard asks. "May I hold him?" After a moment's hesitation the girl hands the child over to him, and he gasps, it's as if he's looking back at Ned when he was a babe, a long face, brown hair and grey eyes. Those eyes are looking at him now wondering who he is no doubt. "What did she call him?" he asks Wylla, his voice soft.
The girl is silent a moment and then she says in an equally soft voice. "Jonothor, my lord. For Jonothor the Giant."
Rickard smiles then, the tales he had told his children had clearly left a lasting impact on them. "Jonothor Targaryen eh? Well my boy, we are going to have to shorten that somewhat for you to learn." He looks at the girl and says. "Come with me, it is time we discussed what needs to be done." Giving the child back to his daughter's handmaiden, he walks out of the room nods to Hightower and then walks down the stairs and once Hightower has shown them to a room where meals were taken he asks for the other two knights of the Kingsguard as well as his own companions to enter the room. Once they are seated he points to his grandson and says. "My lords, Sers, may I present to you my grandson Jon Targaryen, a prince of the blood and half Stark."
There is a shocked silence before Willam Dustin asks. "What do you intend to do with the child Your Grace? After all Lady Lyanna is dead and Robert Baratheon would want the child dead, as it is Rhaegar's son."
Ser Gerold speaks then before Rickard can even consider responding. "We will not allow you the chance to deny the child his rights. King Jonothor is the rightful king, and we do all we can to ensure he gets his throne."
Robard speaks then. "So you would see more bloodshed and fighting to ensure a babe gets the throne, instead of waiting for a time when Robert Baratheon messes up, and he will."
"If that is what it takes we shall do so." Hightower responds.
"So you would kill us all here just if we did not support some dragon child? Pah. Robert Baratheon is a man grown and knows what war and winter are. This babe does not." Mors Umber says.
Rickard looks at the man then, his grief there in his eyes and his words. "This babe is my grandson Mors, this babe is what this war was fought over. This babe would make a far better king than that fat oath. Tell me my lords, do you want to have to kiss the arses of some southern ponce, or do you want a chance to rule Westeros as we were supposed to?"
There is some murmuring at that and then Robard speaks then. "The pact of ice and fire never came to fruition though my lord. Cregan Stark never wanted the throne, though his cousin came close once."
Rickard looks at him then and says. "Aye Cregan did not want the throne, and neither do I. but I will not allow my grandson to die to sate Robert's bloodlust. My daughter is dead, my son is dead, I will not allow my grandson to die as well."
"What do you intend to do then my lord?" Willam Dustin asks.
Rickard looks at the Kingsguard then and says. "I mean to keep my promise to my daughter. I mean to protect my grandson."