9th Month of 283 A.C. Nightsong
Eddard Stark
Being left behind in Nightsong was not something Ned had agreed with, but he had seen the sense in why his father had done it. Just as there must always be a Stark in Winterfell, there had to if possible be a Stark commanding the northern army, it was just something that was done. Of course Nightsong was an intimidating castle, the place was steeped in history and Lord Durran Caron was a proud man a fierce warrior and someone Ned liked a fair bit. His son Bryce reminded Ned a bit of Benjen in just how active he was and how he could never remain still for longer than a few moments. There had been some troubling news when they had arrived at Nightsong at first, word from his father's ally in court Simon Staunton, the man Ned liked little but he had very useful information. And whilst Ned had not shared his father's concerns about whether or not Robert would stick to the betrothal before leaving King's Landing, when this raven had come there had been definite worry, his friend, the man he considered a brother, had been whoring and wenching but had made no secret of his worries over Lyanna and her virtue. That had angered Ned, and he had been tempted to ride to King's Landing and kill Robert there and then. Of course he had not done so and now with his father having returned from Dorne with Lyanna's body, and with a babe and the three knights of Aerys Kingsguard there was a whole new issue to deal with.
They were alone in his father's tent, and Ned was somewhat worried about how cold and solemn his father seemed. The boy, his nephew Jonothor was asleep in a makeshift cradle in the tent, and the three Kingsguard were present as well. Ned cleared his throat and asked. "What do you plan on doing with Lya's son father? The second Robert learns of him, he will want to have his head on a pike. And that is something I cannot allow."
His father looks at him then and says. "I will not allow the child to be handed over to Robert Baratheon. Were Lyanna alive and had she wanted to discuss the matter with Robert then perhaps I might have considered it. But she is not alive, and as such I will not hand over my grandson to a man who wants innocent children dead."
Ned looks at the three Kingsguard in the tent who are looking at them both with suspicious eyes and swallows. "Then what do you intend to do? Having the three Kingsguard here will attract attention and would make Robert think something is up. They have refused to bend the knee and will want to fight Robert. But we are Robert's allies and we cannot allow that. Whatever else they might have been before this rebellion, they aided and abetted in Rhaegar taking Lyanna. They were knights of the Kingsguard, but also men who have common sense, surely they should've tried harder to persuade the prince against this course of action, and saved the lives of many in the process. The consequences of their actions are just as much on them as they are on Rhaegar and Lyanna."
His father looks at him then and asks. "So what would you have me do then Ned? Chain the Kingsguard and send them off to King's Landing to face Robert's judgement? I made them a promise that they would not be harmed when they were in my service, and I intend to stick with that. They remain here. But what would you have me do for Jon then?"
Ned was stuck for a moment and then he said. "Hide him father. No one need know where it is that he has come from. The men you went south with will never speak a word of this to anyone if you tell them not to. You promised to protect Lyanna's son, then this is the best way to protect him. Hide him from sight, make it so that none would consider looking for a child that does not exist. Claim him as your bastard, my bastard, hells even Brandon's bastard. But please do not risk him."
His father looks at him a moment and then says. "A bastard eh? You would have me name my grandson a bastard to hide him from your friend's wrath? You would have me lie about his parentage? I will not sully your mother's honour by claiming him as mine. Nor will I make up the most ridiculous of claims that you sired a bastard, the boy might look like you, but your honour is too well known. And there is not a chance anyone with sense would think him to be Brandon's bastard. Brandon was dead long before this boy was conceived. The Kingsguard here will not wish for him to be denied his rights, and besides claiming him as a bastard is still drawing attention to him. Hiding him brings the risk of always needing to look over one's shoulder to ensure no one gathers the truth."
Ned as a horrible feeling as to where this is going and it is with some trepidation he asks. "Then what do you intend to do with Jon, that would not endanger his safety and ensure you can keep to the promise you made to Lya?"
His father is silent a long time, and Ned can feel the eyes of the Kingsguard on them both, he eventually sighs and says. "I will declare for him and fight to put him on the throne as the rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms."
This comes as a huge blow to Ned, he had suspected but never thought it would occur. "You… you cannot do that. We foreswore any vows to the Targaryens when we named Robert our king. We fought to put Robert on the throne, we did everything to ensure Robert was on the throne. You cannot be considering breaking your oaths to Robert to put Lya's child on the throne father? That is absolute madness, none will stand with you, and Robert himself will be wroth. He will want the child killed and he will threaten us as well. Benjen and mother will not be safe in the north, and my own wife and child will be in danger in Riverrun. Father this is suicide."
His father is completely silent then and says. "It is the only decision that will guarantee Jonothor's safety. Every other decision I have thought of leads to either him dying at the hands of that child killer Tywin Lannister, or at the hands of Robert Baratheon. I will not hide him away as if I am ashamed of him, I will not hide him away and then spend the rest of my days worrying over whether or not he will ever be found. Such a thing will take its toll on all of us. Better to be honest about it all and have done with it. I will fight to put my grandson on the throne, as it is the best way to ensure that he will remain safe."
Ned feels torn over this and says. "But father, by fighting to put Jonothor on the throne you are running a very high risk here. He will always be in danger until he is sat on that throne and even then he might not sit the throne. Our own allies will look at us and wonder what has become of us, we will be seen as outcasts and traitors. None would fight for us as they would not want a Targaryen on the throne now that Robert sits the throne. We would be defeated, as ours is a cause without honour."
His father snorts. "Always with the honour Ned. How many times must I tell you that honour will only get you so far. Honour will not warm your bed in winter when the darkness comes, honour will not prevent death from taking you. And honour will not ensure that Jonothor is safe. So long as he is alive and Robert Baratheon is alive, he will always be at risk, for there will be suspicions, and Robert has already shown he is suspicious of those rumours that are being spread. We must act, and act now. Jonothor shall be king one way or another. Besides, I would have thought you would be happy with this. It means your child killing friend no longer has a crown."
Ned swallows then and says. "But we are only 12,000 men father. Others will not side with us, not now. Jonothor will always be at risk, and is this truly worth more death and destruction? Just to put a babe on the throne? Even then he would face more threats and risks. Is this truly what you wish?"
"It is not a case of doing what I wish, it is a case of doing what needs to be done. Hiding Jonothor from the world is not acceptable and has its own risks and worry. Ensuring he sits the throne is the only way we can ever truly be sure he is safe. My mind is made up and if you continue to protest I will seriously reconsider where your loyalties lie. Remember, Robert Baratheon was the man who threatened to have Jonothor and your sister killed should something come true." His father says.
Ned feels as if he is being torn in two then and says. "That was not what he meant father and you know it. I do not understand, is this to do with ensuring someone of your blood sits the throne? These ambitions have seen two of my siblings dead, and now you wish to bring more war upon the family. Has your drive to see the throne in your power, more than the will to see the family safe?"
His father's eyes flash then and his tone is cold when he responds. "I am doing this to ensure that the family is safe. You are naïve, if you think Robert Baratheon will not look to pin the blame for Lyanna's death on us. With Tywin Lannister whispering in his ear, already he is growing more and more corrupt. Let us remove the man and the source of the poison and seat someone whom we know can be counted on. I will not lead my family to the gallows to suit Tywin Lannister's purpose."
"But you would lead us to the gallows for your own needs." Ned counters.
"Enough." His father roars. "I will not be questioned on this anymore. Either side with me or return to King's Landing to the man who wanted you dead when you dared question him. I care not, but remove yourself from my sight."
Ned bows his head and leaves his father's tent, wandering the campsite for some time, feeling lost and confused. His father has changed, or has he? Ned realises now he never really knew his siblings, growing up in the Vale put distance between them all, and it is that which is showing now. He thinks on his foster brother, and the man he is supposedly becoming, Ned wants to believe there is some good left in Robert, but everything his father said is true, Robert is falling down a precipice, and whether or not he wants to be there is one thing. He knows for certain that Robert would never try and help him out if the roles were reversed.
His brooding is interrupted when he bumps into the little crangongman who has become a good friend of his, Howland Reed, Lord of Greywater Watch and a fierce fighter looks at him then and bows. "My apologies Lord Eddard I had not seen you there."
Ned waves off the apology and says. "I have told you many times Howland, I am just Ned, not a lord, that's my father. But tell me what are you doing here, I had thought you would be with the others."
His friend smiles somewhat and says. "I had needed to speak with Lord Caron about something. It is not important. So how did the meeting with your father go?"
Ned has long since stopped trying to figure out how his friend knows what is happening when others did not. He sighs and says. "Badly, he wishes to fight for Lya's son's right to the throne. And I do not know what to do."
"You are unsure whom to side with, your father and your family and aid in protecting Lyanna's child. Or the man you consider a friend and a brother, who rode beside you through all the battles. Not an easy task that one my lord. I do not envy you it." Howland says.
"What would you do, if this was your choice to make?" Ned asks.
His friend is silent a long time and then responds. "I would side with my family. At the end of the day, Robert Baratheon was put on the throne, yes, and we did fight to put him on the throne. But he is someone who has shown what it is like for an untrained mind to become powerful too quickly. Corruption is rife already within the court from what we know. And Robert though he might be a foster brother, is not the one who came to aid you at the God's Eye. That was your father, he was the man who has done everything he has to ensure you are safe and protected. Blood is thicker than claimed kinship."
"But there is no honour in what my father is suggesting." Ned protests.
His friend chuckles softly and says. "Honour is a fickle thing my lord. It is a danger and it is a blessing. But honour will not warm you at night, nor will honour hold you when you cry or die. Family will, duty will, and as the crow flies, it is now yours to decide. Honour or family, what will you go with Ned."