I don't own A Game of Thrones all rights belong to GRRM
The sun sat in the middle of the sky and beat down an almost unbearable heat on the tower in the middle of the desert. In front of the tower stood three men all wearing almost identical sets of white armor and white cloaks. These three men are knights any man in the Seven Kingdoms would recognize Ser Gerold Hightower the White Bull, Ser Oswell Whent, and perhaps the most well known of the three, Ser Arthur Dayne the Sword of the Morning.
The knights stood and watched as riders approached knowing that if it was the wrong man that showed up they would find themselves fighting a battle for their lives that they would not win.
As the riders came into view they noticed was the man leading them, Eddard Stark Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, and that the Usurper was nowhere to be found. If this was who they were hoping would come they showed no sign of it. When the riders got closer they halted their progress, dismounted, and proceeded on foot for the last ten or fifteen feet.
"I looked for you on the Trident," Ned said to them.
"We were not there," Ser Gerold answered.
"Woe to the Usurper if we had been," said Ser Oswell.
"When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were."
"Far away," Ser Gerold said, "or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells."
"I came down on Storm's End to lift the siege," Ned told them, "and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them."
"Our knees do not bend easily," said Ser Arthur Dayne.
"Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your Queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him."
"Ser Willem is a good man and true," said Ser Oswell.
"But not of the Kingsguard," Ser Gerold pointed out. "The Kingsguard does not flee."
"Then or now," said Ser Arthur.
"We swore a vow," explained Ser Gerold.
They stood there for what couldn't have been more than a minute but it felt like hours to the men in the stand off and it appeared that it would come to violence until a cry rang out from the tower above.
"Your sister awaits you Lord Stark." Announced Ser Arthur.
The riders started forward until a voice cut them off.
"Only you Lord Stark." Said Ser Gerold a bit harshly.
The Northern men all looked a bit uneasy and reached for there weapons until Ned put one hand up as a signal to stop.
"Alright I shall go alone." Conceded Ned
"Follow me." came the voice of Ser Arthur only a few moments later.
Ned followed the knight up the stairs of the tower into a room at the top. The knight opened the door and walked in closely followed by Ned and what he saw next was a sight that would haunt his dreams for many years to come. His sister was laying in a bed of her own blood and her face was looking incredibly pale. Ned immediately rushed to her side and yelled her name.
"Lyanna!"
"Ned is that you, is that really you, you're not a dream?"
"No I'm not a dream." He replied while smiling sadly. "I'm here, right here." He stated.
"I've missed you big brother."
"I've missed you too."
"I want to be brave"
"You are."
"I'm not, I don't want to die"
"You're not going to die. Get her some water!" He yelled at no one in particular.
"No, no water just listen to me Ned," she leaned in close and whispered to him "his name is Jaehaerys Targaryen, if Robert finds out he'll kill him, you know he will you have to protect him. Promise me Ned, promise me."
He then heard a babies cry and the wet nurse brought the baby to him and put him in his arms.
"Promise me Ned, promise me" She reiterated with her last breath.
Ned looked down at the baby as it opened its eyes to look at him and Ned saw deep purple eyes staring back at him.
Line Break
As they rode in silence the castle of Starfall came into view and Ned kept shifting uncomfortably, nervous for the reunion that was about to occur between him and the only woman he has ever loved, Ashara Dayne. The closer they got to the castle the more uncomfortable he felt until the were at the gates and he felt as if he might burst from how nervous he was.
"Who goes there!" Yelled a guard from atop the wall.
"I, Arthur Dayne and my companions who seek an audience with my sister, Lady Ashara." replied Arthur.
The gates were quickly opened and they made their way into the courtyard where his men plus Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell were shown to their rooms. A servant beckoned Arthur, Ned, and Wylla the wet nurse who was carrying Jon, the name they decided upon as they couldn't go around calling him Aemon for obvious reason, to follow her to Ashara's chambers. They walked in silence until they reached Ashara's chambers where the servant paused.
"Not many know this but Lady Ashara birthed a stillborn a few moons ago and has been struck with a fever since then and the maester says she is not long for this world." The servant told them.
They nodded wordlessly and entered her chambers closing the door behind them. Lying on the bed was a very pale and weak looking Ashara Dayne.
"Well if it isn't my two favorite men in the world." Said Ashara with a light grin.
"Hello Ashara" Replied Arthur with a sad smile.
"What brings you two fine gentlemen here today." Asked Ashara with another weak grin.
The men looked at each other before Ned stepped forward and told them of their predicament. Ashara sat there in her bed silently the whole time just listening and taking in all that Ned had to say, and when he was done she briefly glanced at Jon before saying, "Do you have a plan for what you are to say to Robert, I doubt he would be happy another Targaryen being alive."
Ned looked at Arthur briefly before saying, "I am going to claim him as my own and Arthur shall ask Robert for a release from his Kingsguard oaths to accompany me to Winterfell and stay to protect the boy, and to explain why he is going to Winterfell and why he has purple eyes, well we were wondering if…" Ned trailed off.
"You were wondering if you could claim he is our child." Ashara said. Ned's silence gave her the answer she was looking for. "I would be fine with that, if this damn war hadn't started then me and you would be married and perhaps we would have already had our first child." Ashara stated.
Ned looked at her and smiled sadly "I would have liked that."
Ashara looked at them sadly and asked "Would you two stay with me tonight?"
They wordlessly nodded. They stayed with her all throughout the night reminiscing with each other each thinking how much simpler life was before the rebellion. When Ned and Arthur woke up the next morning Ashara was not breathing, she had passed in her sleep.
Line Break
Ashara's funeral was held two days later and the party of ten men, one wet nurse, and a baby left the morning after on a boat headed to King's Landing with the bones of Lyanna Stark.
As soon as they docked in King's Landing they started to put their plan into action. First Ned along with Ser Gerold, Ser Arthur, and Ser Oswell would make there way to the Red Keep while the other six men along with the wet nurse and Jon would find an inn to stay in. Next Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell would bend the knee to Robert and request their positions on the Kingsguard were not removed, this part took very long for Ned to convince them to agree to. Finally Ned would explain Lyanna's death, how he had a bastard with Ashara, and Ser Arthur would request release from the Kingsguard to go North and protect his nephew.
Their whole plan worked perfectly, Robert accepted Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell into the Kingsguard and released Ser Arthur, and he and Robert spent time grieving over Lyanna and shared some of their favorite memories of her over a glass of wine, or seven.
Line Break
They stayed in King's Landing for a week before sailing north to White Harbor to ride to Winterfell. The whole journey was done mostly in silence until Winterfell was coming into view and Ser Arthur rode up to Ned.
"Are you sure all of your men can be trusted with this secret?" Murmured Arthur almost too quietly to be heard.
"Yes, I trust them all with my life, and they have all been sworn to secrecy." Replied Ned almost instantly.
They continued the rest of the way in silence until they reached the gate.
"Open the gates for your Lord!" shouted a voice from atop the walls.
The gates opened and they entered into the court yard where they were met by Maester Luwin.
"My Lord your wife awaits you with your son and her uncle, Ser Brynden in the Great Hall." Stated the Maester.
Ned scowled the thought of having to tell Catelyn that Jon is his bastard was bad enough, now having to tell the Blackfish too was enough to ruin any man's day. Ned motioned for Arthur and Wylla to follow him, the rest of the party having returned home after reaching White Harbor. The three dismounted and Arthur put up his hood before they all walked to the Great Hall. When they reached it Ned steeled himself for a moment before pushing the door open.
They entered the Great Hall and Ned approached his Wife and her Uncle. As soon as Catelyn saw him approach she jumped out of her seat and yelled "Ned!" before rushing up and giving him a hug.
"Cat!" Ned replied equally excited.
"Come here there's someone here you should meet." Said the auburn haired blue eyed beauty before placing his son into his arms.
"His name is Robb." She added as Ned looked down at him. What he saw was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He saw a pair of bright blue eyes looking up at him, his son had a big smile plastered on his face and a few tufts of auburn hair poking out of his head. He immediately felt a sense of fierce protectiveness for this child, his child.
"Who are your companions?" Cat said only now noticing them.
Ned handed Robb back to the wet nurse before saying "Wylla come here." Wylla stepped forward and Cat finally noticed Jon in her arms.
"Whose this little guy?" Cat asked as she saw Jon.
Ned took Jon into his arms before saying "This is Jon," then he paused for a second before saying "He's my son."
Cat's gave immediately turned steely as she looked angrily at Jon and Ned.
"I see" She replied.
"You think because your a lord now you can disgrace my niece like that Stark, I ought to show you and that boy what you get for disgracing House Tully!" Shouted the Blackfish before reaching for his sword, but Ser Arthur was much quicker. With his hood still up and covering his face he stepped forward and pulled Dawn free of its sheath and pointed it at the Blackfish.
"Take your hand off your word or I'll take your hand off your body!" Thundered Ser Arthur.
"Who are you to threaten me, brother of the Lord of Riverrun!" Yelled the Blackfish.
Arthur reached a hand up and pulled down his hood before saying "I am Ser Arthur Dayne, brother of the Lord of Starfall, Member of Aerys the Seconds Kingsguard, Slayer of the Laughing Knight, and Sword of the Morning, and that is my Nephew you just threatened."
I'm a new writer so I would appreciate any feedback you have.