A warden in the Apocalypse
Chapter one- I'm Ironborn
Warning another harem fic. Many changes have been made to canon. Ned has no heirs only his bastard. Balon has only Asha as his heir. Also this is set during Balon's rebellion against the crown.
The air smelled foul of blood. All of pyke was covered in bodies of both Greyjoys and their houses and Baratheon's and Starks and their houses. Hundred laid on the ground. Either died or dying. Few still yelled for the mother's mercy. To answer them men holding knifes went to them and stuck a dagger to any whom yelled. Deep in their hearts the dagger stabbed giving the mercy.
Asha was in her small room, deep in the castle, the sounds outside were loud and brash. All she could listen to was the yells of men as they died fighting on the streets as another hour passed she thought the battle would end but still the song of death rang. Men screaming as many fled or fell. Asha's guards were long gone running for their lives leaving her alone the sounds of death coming forth filling the streets closer. She stood in the center of the room waiting for what would surely come. In her hand she held a dirk, whatever arose she wouldn't die and if they would try to seize her they would lose an eye or more. I'm iron born. She told herself as she grasped the dirk tighter the soft grip against her palm as the sunlight filled the small room.
In time she heard men outside yelling and fell with thuds screaming as the sound of weapons struck them, the pain prevalent the screams filled the hallway.
"I yield!" A man yelled. The only sound that followed she heard was a weapon struck flesh and the screams stopped. The blood soon poured down the hall and gradually into the room slowly as she stood starring at the large crimson bath. A pool of blood at her feet. She had never seen death so close it was the only thought she could think now. The sounds of men rushing toward the door filled her ears, then the door kicked open and for a moment Asha thought she must be dreaming. For what stood before her wasn't real but only in a nightmare. A man in a red cloak with a massive beard stood alone, it wasn't his person who was mystical but his weapon. His sword, it was a flame from the hilt to the tip, it blazed with the orange hue, the man held to his body as if he commanded the flame itself. Asha eyes widen as she was baffled gazing at the flames, she found movement a memory as she stayed still.
The man observed her, he knew it was the usurpers daughter, his only daughter. He looked to the side as he handed his weapon to a stark who ran up beside him and he went towards the girl.
"Are you frightened?" He spoke gently, his eyes calm as he made no sudden movements. She shook her head her dirk still in her hand. "Good I will not harm you. I am Thoros and you are Asha. am I wrong?"
"I am." She found her voice.
In the large Greyjoy throne room a much leaner Robert Baratheon stood wearing chainmail and armor with a stag on his chest plate. His war hammer covered in blood as he missed war and brought it down on several men. At his side Ned stark stood his sword at his feet masked by blood as well. Both looked down at the usurper Balon Greyjoy standing beside them, his cloak torn and his crown broken. The sounds of yells still filled the room as outside men screamed dying. The wall behind them was nothing but ruble from the siege that lasted a day. Many perished as behind them several Greyjoy laid blood from their smashed bodies. The two men looked down at Balon and Robert was keen on ending this quickly one way or the other.
"Bend the knee. And be done with it." Robert buffered.
"I will not kneel. No Greyjoy ever swore an oath to a Barathoen." Balon stated not breaking for this stag.
"Swear one now or lose your stubborn head!" Robert roared as he stood ready for the choice the usurper made. Ned was not pleased. Ned witnessed countless men lose their lives and for what. Nothing for yet another rebellion that heed countless death, as hundreds of his men perished, men he knew men he had come to know, after all the decay he did not wish to see more death.
"Will you not spare your men's lives. will you make your life forfeit and let so many die." Ned stated at the Greyjoy. Balon looked up at the northern man, his face was hard as the north that he knew. Never in his life time did he have the grace to meet a northern man but he wished to never again in his life, wolves do not kill krakens. They spend their time licking each others wounds. He saw no other choice he had no other alternative, he would not let his honor throw away his life, a life he enjoyed. And here in his home in front of these men that spit in his face, killing his guards and destroying his castle. Gradually he bent the knee before Robert. As he kneeled the large doors opened to the throne room and Thoros entered with a young Asha Greyjoy before him.
"I found her my king. The heir to the iron islands. Asha Greyjoy." Thoros stated as a large group of men came with him all knights of the seven kingdoms with little Asha. Ned saw the little girl standing before Thoros she said nothing as she stood before the many knights. Robert also looked at the small child and smiled.
"Bending the knee isn't enough. We must take his heir for a safe measure. You will never raise your hand against the king again" Robert said to the usurper as Thoros nodded. Ned saw the sadness in the young girl.
"She'll be lost and in lands unknown. I will take her your grace. Let me raise her as my own as my ward." Ned spoke as he bent the knee.
"So be it Ned. Damn you stand on your feet. You will take his daughter as your ward." Robert stated.
"No!" Asha screamed as she darted forward towards her father, before she knew it she was beside the men. She reached Balon but felt the man named Thoros grab her shoulder keeping her from her father. Balon was on his knee and simply looked up at her nothing was said. Asha gazed at her father, gazing into his eyes, she no longer saw iron in his face, but a man broken, she was alone.
She didn't remember much only the men and the wolf taking her down past the many towns to a small paddle boat. There she sat at the bow her hands gripping the wood her fingers with blisters, pained but still she gripped the wood. The sound of the oars descending into the water was all that Asha could hear as the vast of ocean cast away her happiness. The source of her imagination the same water where the god waited for her was now casting her away. Her eyes dare not dart away, as pyke was hidden in the distance by the mist, for those last moment glimpsed her home she wanted only one more moment one more time to see her home, the she knew the people her life. Before she knew it the tears came from her eyes. She never cried, it wasn't for iron born. Still she felt the tears run down her cheeks and she didn't try to halt them. Ned watched the little girl as she watched at the end of the looking out at her home. "Child." He stated to her and she turned around staring at the large wolf.
"Im sorry." He said, but these words meant nothing to her he was an evil and she was a Ironborn. She was still silent all the way to the large long ship and stood on the deck as several crew all gazed at her. She felt their eyes as many stopped their tasks to see the young Greyjoy standing alone. She felt alone as their eyes burned into her. They brought her down into the depths of the cabins until they came to a room. And there she stayed for the journey to lands she never saw to the lands of lions and a land she never wanted to see.
She never said a word the ship sailing for countless days to reach port. Even with the gloom the large man always stayed close to her. Always greeted her and never once let her out of his sight. Taking most of his time trying to talk to her only she wished he would leave her alone. Soon the ship came to port hearing men yelling as a crowd waited and cheered their return. Remaining in her cabin in darkness she would sooner die then listen wishing they would all shut up as she seldom left their bed. After an hour the noise silenced as the annoyance left and she looked out. Her eyes found a world unlike hers a world much bigger and filled with green lands this was the first time she saw the green lands it was large and so much than the islands she loved. They landed in a large castle called and she knew nothing. She was left in the hands of Thoros stuck in a room.
Ned felt pain ripping a girl from her home but he always do his duty. He was called to the king in lannisport and went to Robert. He opened the door and found Stannis sitting closest to the door at a large oak table. Once Ned entered Stannis stood,
"Lord stark." Stannis greeted, as he held out his arm. Ned smiled as he instead grabbed him and wrapped his arms around the man. Stannis was left only to pat the large ma on the back still never use to the Starks hugs. Stannis watched Ned smiled brightly at him as Stannis couldn't help but smirk. "If it weren't for your ships we wouldn't be standing here." Ned declared with a smile, Stannis bowed pleased with this man.
"Im glad someone appreciates my tactics." Stannis spoke in his harden tone and standing straight.
"Come brother you do not need praise from me." Robert roared as He sat at the head of the long table a cup of ale in hand as he drank it all with a gulp then slammed it down. "Come Ned. sit. Enjoy this ale with me." He commanded him.
"I'm sorry your grace but I will not be joining you to kings landing." Ned said a calmness in his voice.
"Come now. You can't spend all your life in the frozen north. Taste kinds landing with me surely you need it." he said as he slapped Eddard on the back.
"Im sorry you're grace I have been troubled and must see my lady. And the girl will be alone in a land she does not know." Ned explained.
"Fine have it your way. Spend all your life in the frozen north why should I tell you otherwise. But you will share an ale with your brother." He commanded as he held out a cup and Ned sat down as well as Stannis and others joined them Tywin also entered. An hour became the past as the many lords shared ale speaking of the many houses of Westeros, as Ned noticed Tywin was colder then usually. Never once did the man smile nor did he speak to his king only if need be. As they drank Tywin left as many soon followed there after. After sharing ale with the other lords Robert sat back in his chair only him his brother Stannis and Ned in the room.
"Ned." He finally spoke as he downed another ale.
"Yes my king." He said.
"I want to speak to you on a matter that heads your attention more serious."
"What of my king."
"Stannis." Was all needed to be said as Stannis stood the chair scarping the floor and left with nothing said in no. Once the door closed Robert slammed his fist against the table.
"I need you Ned now more than ever." He told.
"I am yours to command."
"The damn Lannsiters keep bombarding with their ravens, night and days. Since I did not marry their lion they have hated me, I would sooner believe they wanted me. That damn man!" He roared as he stood up pacing back and forth.
"Tywin is a hard man, one I do not wish to have as an enemy. What troubles you?" Ned asked.
"Ned listen to me. That man wants a match for his daughter. A match that I cannot provide, but you. You have a bastard, your heir to Winterfell. I would have you name him stark, he will wed the lion. And put an end to these damn ravens, or I swear to you ill bring war to their doorstep. A lion and in the north what better match the warden of the west's daughter with the warden of the North's son." Robert said with a smile. Ned only silence as he took in all that was said.
"My son is only nine, she is a woman of twenty." Ned explained baffled.
"He will be a man in a few years and Cersi is the most elegant and beautiful in all the seven…" He thought for a moment. "Yes I know he is young but in a year he will be a man and you will have an alliance with another great house. And but there is no other my brother, your son will be a warden and I would have him wed. Ned did not enjoy the thought of a lion in his home but he knew tywin was a man not to leave wanting and Roberts mind was made.
"I will do as you command." he said as he knelt down. "My son will be named stark and he will give his hand to Cersi Lannister. I will see it done your grace." Ned stated.
"Stand damn you. You are my brother not some lord, Ned." He said with a laugh. Ned stood and saw a smile on his friend, a man he had love for and knew since the vale.
"Send a raven to your son." Robert said with a smile.
"No. I will tell him myself. He needs to hear this from me." Ned said. The day went by but all Ned could think was of a lion and a in the north, he did not enjoy the thought.