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NED I
The Rebel army had marched long and hard from the Trident on Roberts command for the capital expecting to set the city to siege, but then the scouts returned. They had reported that the city was smoking, and that a great host had sacked the capital. When Ned asked what banners, they were flying the scouts reported seeing the Golden Lion flying high above the Gate of the Gods. Thanking the men Ned took the head of the army and marched onto the city with great haste. Ned could smell the stench of King's Landing long before the city was even in view. When at last he could see the capital, Ned looked over the plumes of smoke that told of the sacking that had occurred.
Taking his host down the Kings Road, Ned approached the Gate of the Gods with the Lion of Lannister flying high. Outside of the Gate stood a small Host of five hundred some men with a man in thick plated armor mounted atop a gold haired stead. Ned accompanied by Howland Reed and serval other riders rode up to meet the commander of the detachment before the gate.
Upon reaching the host the man pulled open his helm to reveal none other than Ser Kevan Lannister, brother to the Lord of Casterly Rock. Ned had remembered him a few years younger though he was without doubt that Ser Kevan was still a formidable warrior in his own right.
"Lord Stark," Ser Kevan tilted his head toward the northern lord. "I was told by our scouts your host would be arriving, my brother thought it best that we met you at the gate."
Ned looked past him and toward the city which was still burning. "What is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning? I don't quite follow."
"You're Lord Tywin was neutral in the war up until now. Why have you moved to sack the city?" Ned demanded.
"My brother thought it wise to show his support for Lord Robert, though I suppose it's to be King Robert soon enough."
"King Robert? Where is the Mad King then?"
"Dead, or so I've been told. If it's true that he is dead, I've yet to hear any reliable on how he died as I have not been inside the city; my duty was to hold the rear until your host arrived."
Ned frowned at the news of the man's death. He had intended for the king to be put to a trial for his crimes and then beheaded. Ned sighed. "I suppose the city has been secured then?"
"Most assuredly Lord Stark, my brother Lord Tywin has been seeing such matters personally."
Content Ned turned back to his commanders. "Take your men and see to it that the city is under control. I don't wish for any more bloodshed than there need be." Ned then turned to Ser Kevan addressing him. "With Aerys death I can assume that the Red Keep is secured?"
"Yes, Lord Stark."
"Good, Lord Reed, Lord Umber, with me." Ned commanded as the three men rode for the gate with a small number of his bannermen following closely behind on their own mounts.
As the rebel forces rode into the city, they saw Lannister men scattered about every street they passed, many of them taking to the belongings of dead soldiers and civilians alike. Looking about, Ned could see the bodies of warriors sworn to House Targaryen mixed in with the uncountable corpses of the innocent commoners caught in the slaughter that had stained the streets. Ned had never seen so many flies in all his life, and it was all that he could do to stop himself from gaging at the smell of death that festered all around him, though the site nor smell seemed to have been effecting the Lannister men as they walked over the bodies with little regard. Ned's men remained quiet as they took in the sense, which in terms of blood and carnage rivaled even that of the Trident.
Riding passing the Great Sept of Baelor, Ned could see the silent sisters walking to and from the Great Sept carrying bodies of Lannister men to priests as young girls wept before septas as they prayed for forgiveness after men had taken liberties with them. Ned could do nothing but ride past them to Aegon's High Hill to the Red Keep.
The gate was open, guarded by Lannister Knights who hailed Ned as he passed them by. As Ned rode the castle grounds he could see the bodies of the loyalists how had refused to surrender, if they had even been given such a chance, lining the path to the Castle Proper. Looking to one end of the grounds, just beside one of the castle stables, Ned could see a mound of the black and red of Targaryen banners being set alight as Lannister men celebrated around the blaze with wine from the Keeps own stores.
"My Lord." Ned quickly turned to the sound to see Howland Reed had ridden up on his left side.
"What is it, Lord Reed?" Ned said, his gaze moving back to the blaze.
"I spoke to one of the Lannister men, irritating fellow, but he claimed the Mad King's body has yet to be taken from the Throne Room."
"Then we shall go to collect his and Ser Jaime's body, if Lord Tywin hasn't seen to his son already." Ned said, dismounting his horse as he started for the doors of the keep.
"My Lord," Howland said, coldly. "Ser Jaime yet lives."
Ned stopped and turned back to face the Lord of Greywater Watch. "How badly injured is the lad?"
Lord Reed didn't flinch as he replied. "He isn't, injured that is."
Seeming to understand him, Ned felt his blood boil as he turned his heel and stormed for the throne room, Lords Reed and Umber following him close behind. It hadn't taken long for the party to come bursting into the throne room. It was vast with massive white marble pillars that supported its high ceilings with its expansive arches. The walls of the room held paintings of the feats of the Targaryen's long and once proud dynasty and even some depictions of Old Valyria, along with long black banners flying the red three headed dragon sigil. But all of this was but a distraction for the true presence in the room, the Iron Throne. The seat of power for the Seven Kingdoms was no ordinary throne, it was a seat made for a conqueror. The throne had been given its name for the swords of that comprised it, as they stretched into a pile that twisted its way skyward until it reached its peak, at least forty feet in the air, with a great expanse of windows behind that flooded light over it casting its shadow on the marble floor.
It was the first time any of them had stepped foot here, and the site would have been impressive had it been any other occasion, save the dark thoughts of what had happened to Ned's family in this very room. But all that gave way as Ned looked up the steps of the Throne to find none other than Ser Jamie Lannister sitting at its summit, his blood-stained sword across his lap, the Mad King lying dead at the foot of the Iron Throne in a pool of his own blood. From where the Mad King laid, it was apparent to Ned that he had been stabbed in the back, and his blood was on the sword of a member of his own sworn Kingsguard, who now sat in the seat of the very king he had sworn to die for.
"Ser Jaime, what is the meaning of this!" Ned demanded, marching forward.
"I had expected to find you in higher spirits, Lord Stark," Ser Jaime replied, setting aside his sword as he rose from the throne. "After all, the murderer of your dear father and brother is dead." The knight said, his face stern as he descended the throne.
"Aye, and you killed him." Ned said, looking directly into the knight's eyes, his distrust evident. Ser Jaime looked as though he had more to say, but bit his tongue as he just returned Ned's gaze. Ned then turned to Lord Umber. "Take Ser Jamie, this Kingslayer will answer for his crimes as an oath breaker."
On Ned's commanded, Lord Umber drew his sword and moved to take Ser Jamie. The knight wasn't given a moment to think before Lord Umber along with two others had him. Ned looked the Lannister in his eyes before cursing him. "You have no honor." Ned fumed.
"Release him Ned." Boomed as voice as Ned heard several sets footsteps behind himself. Turning, Ned gazed upon Robert, who was still wrapped in bandages from the scars he had earned at the Trident.
"Robert, I thought you were still recovering from your wounds." Ned looked at his friend in surprise.
"I was, but I decided I was well enough to at least look at the battle from afar, that was until I was that there was no battle to be had at all." Robert explained. "Now let the fucker go Ned."
Ned tensed. "He killed Aerys Targaryen, stabbed his own King in the back! You know as well as I do what that means."
"It means he killed a bloody madman," Robert boomed. "As far as I care one less Targaryen in the world is one less problem."
Ned felt his blood run hot but signaled for his bannermen to release Ser Jaime. Seeing the command, Howland Reed shoved the Kingslayer forward, letting him free. Lord Umber grunted under his breath as Ser Jamie offered the Lord of the Last Hearth a smug smirk.
"The Mad King is dead, so what will you do with the children, murder them?" Ned snapped.
"There is no need to concern yourself with the remaining dragon spawn, Lord Stark." A new voice said as a third party entered the throne room.
Looking past Robert, Ned saw Tywin Lannister for the first time. The man stood dressed in golden armor bearing the sigil of a lion upon his breastplate. The armor was the finest Ned had seen upon any man and even had plated gold around the trim of the steel. Lord Tywin was thin though he stood tall with his back straight looking down at everyone as if they were beneath himself. His golden hair was kept thin and his face was well groomed with well-kept golden sideburns, but what drew attention to his cold eyes one a deep green the other an icy blue. Ned felt his eyes narrow, he decided he already distrusted the southron lord nearly as much as he had Walder Frey when he had arrived late upon the end of the fighting at the ford, the only difference had been that Lord Tywin had managed to influence the fighting.
"What is your meaning, Lannister?" Ned felt his hand tighten around his sword as he spoke.
"I mean, I've had them dealt with," The lord scoffed. "What, did you think that the heirs to the Targaryen dynasty could be allowed to live? You'd have an uprising of loyalists the moment they are given a chance if the children of Rhaegar Targaryen are left alive."
"You had children murdered?!" Ned looked to Robert, hoping the man would see the folly in the murder of children, but felt his mood worsen even more when he saw a smile creep across the Baratheon's face.
"It was necessary," Tywin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ned. "You northerners are too honorable, it'll get you all killed one day. If you leave seeds of rebellion behind they will be sure to bear fruit one day. Best to snuff these things out now and be done with it."
"Aye, us northerners have honor and you southerners have your gold and wines, but I would rather die with my honor than do what you see as necessary." Ned replied slamming his sword into his sheath, the sound echoing across the marble floor. "If I were to judge-"
"Enough, Ned! The Targaryens were monsters who killed your family and took Lyanna from me, the more, the merrier, I say." Robert boomed, making his way past Ned. Lord Stark, for a moment, felt his patience for his friend slip but reined himself in as he watched Robert walk deeper into the throne room as he looked up at the greatest seat in all the Seven Kingdoms.
"If I can find no justice here then I'll take my leave."
"There is still the matter of Storm's End I believe." Tywin Lannister reminded Robert.
"Yes, my brother Stannis is hold up in the castle." Robert replied without removing his eyes from the throne. "We should move to lift the siege at once."
"I will go to lift the siege then." Ned tried to hide his anger though he was still ripe with it. "Perhaps I might find out where my sister is, since near everyman who could tell us is either dead or missing. I shall leave with two-thousand men to hold the city, I suspect I'll be able to get Lord Tyrell to bend the knee with little resistance when he had ten-thousand men at his rear."
Robert just nodded, Ned knew he would be crowned soon enough, but the Lord of Winterfell was too bitter to see it. Ned gathered his men and made leave for the city, leaving both Robert and the piles of bodies behind him. He didn't know how he felt about what had happened, he suspected he'd never see Robert the same, perhaps he could forgive, but he doubted he would ever forget.
A/N: This chapter was edited on 09/24/17 due to mistakes within the chapter itself. There as been a bit of additional dialog added though the main theme of the chapter is the same. If you have any edits that I might have missed feel free to send me a PM. I plan on editing more of the older chapter this week before I drop the next chapter. Thanks.
-AA
SPECIAL THANKS TO MY AMAZING EDITOR/BETA READER
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