DICCLAIMER: I DO NOT KNOW ANY OF THESE CHARACTERS ONLY THE ONES THAT ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER

JON I

The fairly calm evening was looming over the mountains of the Vale. Although the evening was calm and quiet, those words can't be said about lord Arryn. In the chambers of the lord of the Vale, lighten by a few candles around the room, sat lord Jon Arryn in his desk with a piece of a paper in front of him, which he was re-reading again and again. He lost count of how many times he was reading the letter that came from Kings's Landing to his chambers this evening.

"Not to mention Elbert died there too most likely." thought the lord about the death of his cousin, who most likely died with the Stark men that went into the capitol with lord Rickard.

With the letter still in hand, Jon couldn't fathom the logic with which the Mad King thinks. This letter. How could he send the king heads of his son's?

"Not son's, Jon. Wards." corrected John his thoughts.

Robert and Ned were the closest things that Jon had to son's he never had. Both of his previous wife's tragically died. His first one during a childbirth, which took away both Jeyne and his stillborn daughter. And his second wife, Rowna, didn't have the luck to conceive a child before she died of the unexpected winter chill that visited the Vale.

Now he finally had what he always wanted and Mad King just assume's that he will give them their heads. Give them the heads of not only heir to House Baratheon but now, even the heir to House Stark. If someone should give someone someone's head, it should be the Mad King and he should be giving both Ned and Robert the head of Rhaegar Targaryen for what he had done to Lyanna.

"Why? Why did he do it?" asked John himself. Why was the heir to the Iron Throne so stupid to abduct Lyanna? He already married Elia Martell. Happily, it even seemed. With beautiful two babes. But then he just has to mess things up because he wants the she-wolf of the North.

With raging thoughts, time flew fast. It was late in the evening already and he should get to his bedchambers for a good night sleep. Which will not come lightly after those news. But there is still one thing he has to do. He stood from his chair, and slowly went to the door of his chambers. Jon slowly opened the door revealing the guard behind his chambers.

"Ser Alkvin. Bring Ned and Robert to my chamber's." said Jon to the guard.

The guard in a shining steel armor with a blue/white cape on his back gave his lord a confused look.

"In this hour, my lord?" asked the Alkvin.

"Yes. I have important news for them." said Jon. "Especially for Ned."

Poor Ned. The new heir to the North already knew the news about the capture of his older brother. He was visibly shaken a little by the news, even when he didn't know him as much as he knows Robert. How will the poor young man react to the news of the death of his father and brother remains unknown. And Jon wishes that he would not have to tell these news to Ned. Hopefully, Robert will comfort him when Jon will tell Ned these delicate news.

Wait for the two men to arrive was nerve-wracking. Jon thought about it over and over again. How to hand such news to the man of nine-and-ten namedays? His thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door. The familiar knock of ser Alkvin Redfort. Here it goes.

"Come in!" exclaimed John in his chambers.

And here they stand. The two heirs to the Great Houses of Westeros. One of which doesn't even know it, yet.

"Lord Arryn." said the first man quietly, and made a slight bow to him.

"Again? I already told you many times to call me Jon, Ned." said Jon with a sad smile. But he knew it would be of no use to scold him. Northerners are as stubborn as they say. Maybe even more so.

"Jon. Why did you bring us here in this bloody hour?" asked the second young man whose voice echoed through the chamber.

"News came from King's Landing." said Jon quietly getting right to the topic. Faster he will say it, faster it will be over.

"Lyanna?" asked Robert impatiently in his loud voice. Jon could immediately see hope in those bright blue Baratheon eyes. Unfortunately, he does not have the news Robert seeks.

"No, Robert. There are no news about lady Stark as of yet. It's about lord Rickard and Brandon Stark." said Jon quietly yet again. As soon as he said it, Robert's eyes visibly lost it's spark when he didn't mention the only living female Stark.

Jon then looked at Ned who was waiting for the news. Standing tall. Quiet. Composed. Nearly not moving. Not drawing any attention of the room unlike Robert who was shifting, ruffling his hair, scratching his hand and more.

"Ned. I... I am terribly sorry to have to tell you this. But. Your father and brother. They died." said Jon quietly as he was looking at those grey eyes for a reaction. Ned blinked a few times when he revealed the news. His composed stature was visibly shattered. Jon saw that he was breaking on the inside, but was trying to remain calm on the outside.

"How?" asked the young Stark with a slight tremble in his voice.

Jon couldn't even tell him what atrocity they did to Ned's kin in King's Landing, so he just took the letter he was reading this whole evening and gave it to Ned.

Robert, on the other hand, stopped scratching his hand and was just looking at Ned with a shocked face. The shock slowly transformed into anger. A furious anger.

Ned's eyes ran through the letter several times. Tears started forming in his eyes as he was reading the letter over and over again, just like Jon did earlier. Jon then stood up from his chair and walked to Ned. He put his hand on his shoulder and grabbed the paper Ned was holding. Ned didn't want to let the paper go, but after several tugs from Jon, he finally let go.

"What happened to them?" asked Robert, in slightly angry voice.

Jon looked at Ned trying to find out if he can tell him. Ned with glassy eyes nodded. Jon then took the letter and gave it to Robert so he can read it too, as Jon was petting Ned's shoulder and as Ned was trying with all his might not to break down.

"That's a monstrosity! Madness! How could the council allow it?! Fire as a champion?! That's not how trial by combat works in the face of gods! And..." angry Robert stopped as he looked at Ned who was still standing next to Jon with his head hung low and with long black hair covering his face.

Both Jon and Robert now could see few tears fall onto the floor from behind Ned's long black hair. Robert then threw the letter on the desk and went to pet Ned on his other shoulder just like Jon did.

"Jon. Will you give us to them? Will you give us to the dragons for slaughter?" asked Robert with an angry voice that he was clearly trying to keep in check, but to no avail.

"Of course not. Not after what they did. What Aerys did to Starks can't be ignored nor forgiven." said Jon.

"And Rhaegar!" Robert added angrily to which Jon only silently nodded and agreed.

"What are we going to do then. If you will not grant king Aerys's wishes, you will be labeled a traitor to the crown, lord Arryn." said Ned as he lifted his head up and looked at Jon by his side. It took little to no time for Ned to put himself back together. Even though the tears could still be seen in his eyes. First his sister. Now his father and brother. No one could blame the lad for shedding few tears in this dark hour.

"Ser Alkvin! Bring in the maester!" exclaimed Jon as Jon looked at the door and could see the shadow move under them. Alkvin heard. Good.

"What do you plan, lord Arryn?" asked Ned curiously. But before Jon could answer they heard a chair being moved. They both looked at the desk where the lord of the Vale usually sat and watched as Robert sat down, took a blank piece of paper, feather and began writing.

"What are you doing, Robert?" asked Jon curiously with one hand still on Ned's shoulder.

"Calling the Stormlands. I am going to march into the Red Keep, kill the Mad King and free Lyanna myself!" said Robert loudly as he was writing furiously. Seems like they read each other's minds. Shortly after Robert finished his sentence another knock was heard on the door.

"Come in!" exclaimed Jon and an old maester entered the room.

"How may I be your service, my Lord." asked the maester with no hair.

"Call the banners." said Jon confidently.

"How many, my lord?" asked the old maester.

"As many as the Vale have." said lord Arryn seriously to the old maester.

"What for, my lord." asked the confused old maester.

"The Vale and Stromlands are rebelling against the crown." said Jon to the maester who was visibly surprised by the news.

He had this on his mind for a while. As soon as he got the letter, he knew that there is no way that he will give Ned and Robert to Aerys. That man is a madman. But when he realized that Ned is now lord of Winterfell and Robert is lord of the Stormlands it was clear that they won't be just sitting around and watch as Aerys will burn the Seven Kingdoms to the ground. It's time for somebody to step in.

Ned seemed surprised by the turn of events when Jon looked at him. No one else would probably notice, since reading Eddard Stark is quite difficult. Surprised and observent. That was how he looked like to Jon. Ned was observing his best friend writing with those quiet, yet watchful eyes of a Northerner. Jon took both of Ned's shoulders, step in front of him and looked into his eyes.

"Ned. You are Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North now. You have the chance to avenge your father, brother and find your sister. You have the power to call your own bannermen too." said Jon to Ned. It was abrupt, but since Robert is already writing letters to lords of Stormlads, and Jon will be writing to the lords of the Vale, they need the North behind their backs as soon as possible. And there will be no doubt that all the North will answer to Ned's call. The North already lost too much. And three out of 7 Great Houses of Westeros is a good start in a rebellion against the crown.

"Maester! Prepare my seal and some papers. The North is in an open rebellion too." said Ned seriously to the maester, who was surprisingly still in the room. Maester then bowed slightly and went to his chambers for seals to grant their wishes.

Jon wasn't even surprised that Ned acted so quickly. He probably didn't even need convincing to do the right, honorable thing and avenge the death of his brother and father. Seems like he won't be getting the sleep he wanted tonight.

"The North remembers." whispered Ned right before Jon, Robert and Ned sat down in lord Arryn's chambers, began writing letters to their lords, handing them to maester and joining their forces to end the reign of Targaryen kings.

So, what do you say? Review are welcomed. I may even decide to write a full story. My take on Robert's Rebellion if you, readers, would want.

Alkvin Redfort - brother of Horton Redfort. Being only a year younger than his older brother, Alkvin wanted to be the Lord of Redfort too. This created conflict between the two brothers, and when their father died, there was a threat the fighting would get bloody. At the age of fourteen, their mother stepped between them and resulted the conflict once and for all. Not showing any favoritism, she declared that the two will have a joust. The one who will win the joust, will become the Lord of Redfort. The other will go to to the Eyrie and will become a knight, giving up lands and serve the Lord of The Vale. Horton won the joust and as was promised, Alkvin went to Eyrie and is loyally serving Jon Arryn as his personal guard from that day onwards.