The morning at the Crossroads Inn was grey and cold. Link stood in the center of the common room without his sword belt. He felt off balance as if he were missing a limb. Around him the royal court had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Robert Baratheon sat in a heavy oak chair with a cup of wine already in his hand. He looked tired. Cersei sat beside him her face a mask of golden indifference while Joffrey stood nearby with a bruised ego and a thirst for vengeance.
[Status: Alert]
[Crisis Event: Trial of the Guard]
"Ned says you are a good man" Robert rumbled while looking at Link. "He says you saved his boy. But my son says you are a threat. He says you barked at him like he was a stray dog and reached for your steel. Who am I to believe?"
"Believe your own eyes My King" Link said while standing tall. "I am a soldier. If I had reached for my steel the Prince would not be standing here to complain about it. I was doing the job Lord Stark gave me which was to keep his daughter safe."
A few of the Baratheon knights chuckled but a sharp look from Cersei silenced them.
"My boy is the future King" Cersei said. "He does not need permission from a Northman to walk the earth. If your guard cannot show proper respect he is a danger to the crown."
Ned Stark stepped forward. "The man was doing his duty Robert. The road is dangerous. If he was stern it was out of concern for the Lady Sansa."
"Call the girl" Robert commanded.
Sansa was brought into the room. She looked pale and her hands were trembling. She looked at Joffrey who gave her a thin cold smile. Then she looked at Link.
"Sansa" Ned said gently. "Tell the King what happened. Did Link threaten the Prince?"
Sansa hesitated. Link could see the conflict in her eyes. She wanted to be a Queen and she wanted to please Joffrey but she also knew Link had protected her.
"Link was... he was very loud" Sansa whispered. "He told us we had to go back. Joffrey wanted to stay. They argued. I did not see a sword but I was very scared."
It was a halfway truth. It was enough to save Link from the headsman but it was enough to condemn him in the eyes of the King.
"Enough" Robert shouted while slamming his cup down. "I will not have my journey ruined by a squabble over a walk. Ned your man is too prickly for this company. He is a splinter in the Queen's toe."
"What is your judgment Robert?" Ned asked.
"He is banished from the royal caravan" Robert declared. "He will ride for King's Landing immediately and alone. He will wait for us there. If I see him on the road again I will have him put in irons. And he stays disarmed until we reach the capital."
Cersei looked displeased. She wanted blood but she knew she could not push Robert further without risking an argument with Ned. Joffrey looked furious but he remained silent.
Ned walked over to Link. He held the heavy steel sword in his hands but he did not give it back.
"You heard the King" Ned said. "You leave within the hour. Take a fast horse. Go straight to the Red Keep and present yourself to the master at arms. Tell him you are there to prepare the Stark chambers."
"I understand My Lord" Link replied.
Ned leaned in closer so only Link could hear.
"I know what you did boy. And I know why you did it. Get to the city. Keep your eyes open. If the walls have ears I want you to be the one listening."
Link bowed. He felt a strange sense of relief. By being sent ahead he was being removed from the "Fixed Point" of the Trident. He had successfully saved Lady and Nymeria. The timeline had shifted.
As Link walked toward the stables to prepare his horse he saw the Hound watching him from the shadows of the barn.
"Going on a little trip?" the Hound rasped.
"The King wants the road to himself" Link said.
"You got lucky" the Hound said while spitting a dark glob of tobacco onto the dirt. "The Queen does not like losing. You are going to a city full of Lannisters without a sword. You might find that the road was the safe part."
Link mounted his horse. He looked back at the inn one last time. He saw Arya watching him from a high window. She held up her wooden sword in a silent salute.
Link turned his horse south and spurred it into a gallop. He was alone now. No loops to protect his friends and no steel to protect himself.
[New Anchor Point Established: Arrival at King's Landing]
[Mental Fatigue: Low]
.….
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction.
I wanted to let you know that I'll be releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapters
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!