Chapter 3
A/N:Here's a little explanation for some points people have brought up in the reviews:
Yes, Jon's older brother was called Aegon but I will be keeping him called Aegon, as they did in the show. The reasons for this is that the show and George R R Martin discussed what would happen in his books for the later seasons to be done off of; therefore I believe that they are going to throw in some kind of prophecy to do with the name 'Aegon' and that's why Rhaegar wanted at least one son named Aegon. So, for my own suspicions, I am keeping to the name Aegon. And also because it makes sense to shorten his name to 'Jon' as Ned would not have wanted to change the name that Lyanna chose for her son completely, so it makes sense.
Thank you for pointing out my mistake on saying that the sword Dawn was valyrian steel, when really it is from a star. I have changed that now :)
Points brought up like: whether Ashara and Ned would name their son 'Robb' (answer: no), and the Northern Lords reactions to fighting for the Targaryens will be addressed in this chapter. Though I will not be going into major detail about the Second Sack of King's Landing as it is the aftermath that matters the most.
Thank you for all of your reviews, I love to read them and the points that they bring up and am overjoyed to see you all getting involved with some very long reviews! :)
So here's chapter 3:
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"Robert isn't backing down," Lord Aenar informed Ned with a sigh as they were leaving the last Inn they had stayed within before they would arrive to King's Landing, "but the Queen has called for her loyalists, and they are coming."
"How long?" Ned inquired, thinking of the long journey he had taken from the North to Casterly Rock in his youth, which was only a little bit further on than King's Landing.
"Two weeks for the furthest away Northerners, but it matters not. Tywin's men are already outside the gates, if we meet them with the Dornish men – in which case the closest ones are three days ride further back and the furthest ones are a week and the reinforcements from the Reach, which will arrive but a day after us," Lord Aenar told him, staring ahead. Ned had never noticed quite how similar Ashara and Aenar were in looks.
"So we shall attack in a week then, when the last of the Dornish arrive and, hopefully, the furthest south Northerners have arrived?" Ned questioned, earning a nod from Aenar as they cemented the plan.
"Are you sure that the Northerners will stand with you, Ned?" Aenar inquired carefully, casting his violet eyes to the grey eyed man, "after all, King Aerys killed the North's Lord and it's Heir, and Rhaegar was partly responsible for the death of a daughter of the North."
Ned's jaw locked and his eyes hardened at the thought of his people turning their backs on him. For the beginning of his rule over the North, he had wished to be fair but firm in order to earn the respect of his people first; but, if he had to, he would order they come to him and fight for him. They were his people, and to ignore their liege Lord was punishable by death.
The song of The Rains of Castamere, sang often in the Westerlands as a kind of warning, played in his head.
If spending years with Tywin Lannister had taught him anything, it was that a Lord had to not just be liked but also feared by his subjects, or else they will simply try to walk all over you and degrade you.
The memory of the way that Lord Bolton acted during his father's council meetings came to mind, Tywin would have never stood for a bannerman undermining their Lord.
"House Reed stands with House Stark," Howland Reed informed Ned, whose face softened slightly at the man's words, though still as hard and cold as the North, "I believe in you, Ned. And I believe in Lyanna's son."
Ned knew that Howland would never forget what Lyanna did for him, as the Knight of the Laughing Tree. And that, at this point, made Howland Reed the Northern man he trusted most.
"As does House Dustin," Lord William Dustin informed him with a nod, "you're a good man, Ned, even if you are more of a Red Wolf than a Grey one."
"And Clan Wull," Theo Wull said with a nod of his head to Ned.
Ned's heart warmed as the rest of the Knights – even though they were not the Heads of Houses – swore fidelity to him as well. Somehow, somewhere, he had inspired their loyalty and their belief in him. He only hoped that the rest of the North saw the same in him that the rest of them did.
"Just remind them that while Aegon may be a dragon," Howland said, looking towards Lyanna's son, "he is also a son of the North. And will be brought up by a Stark of Winterfell. He shall be the North's Dragon."
The baby Prince chose that moment to smile, eyes staring from Northern man to Northern man.
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Ned sucked in a breath as he headed into the Lannister side of the camp outside of the gates of King's Landing with Lord Aenar Dayne, Ser Arthur Dayne, Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Ser Oswall Whent, Ser Mark Rhyswell, Prince Oberyn Martell and Lord Mace Tyrell, the latter two of whom had arrived very recently to accompany, and lead (in Oberyn's case anyway), the Dornish troops and the troops from the Reach.
When they finally arrived at Lord Tywin's tent – having been directed there by a Lannister guard who had been awaiting them at the entrance – they were announced by a herald, before each of them had been admitted in.
Both Lord Tywin and Ser Jaime were standing by the table. At the sight of Ned, Jaime pulled him into a hug, laughing as he said, "I suppose I should be calling you Lord Eddard now, and I hear you've got a wife."
It was only then that it had hit Ned just how long he hadn't seen Jaime for, not since before Brandon died, and that had been many a months ago, and way before he was married.
Ned grinned in response, telling his brother in all but blood, "I'll always be Ned, and you'll always be Jam."
Jaime laughed at the nickname that Ned and Cersei had so cruelly brainstormed in their youth, dubbing him Jam's of all horrible flavours after Jaime had dared to call Cersei 'Sei', which she evidently did not like, and gave ned a punch to the shoulder.
Tywin nodded at Ned, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Though, before Ned knew it, it was gone, and replaced with the classic, emotionless mask of Tywin Lannister that Ned himself wished that he could replicate to such a degree.
"The second Sack doesn't need much strategy, we outnumber them one to five, we just need to know which divisions are going in which direction and what we are going to do about the current… predicament of the so called Queen," Lord Tywin stated, ignoring the dirty looks of Prince Oberyn being thrown his way, instead staring at Ned.
"Predicament?" Ned inquired, fearing the answer.
"Catelyn Baratheon is pregnant," Ser Jaime informed Ned with a sigh, "I hate to say it Ned, but she try to take the throne should it be a boy, it would be easier just to-,"
"No!"
Surprisingly, it was Prince Oberyn who beat Ned to the refusal, eyes narrowed on the two Lannisters, "I will not allow what happened to Elia to happen again. She will not die. Not if you want the support of Dorne. I don't care if it's the murdering usurper's child, we do not kill children in Dorne."
Ned nodded to Oberyn's words, informing the two, "Catelyn and her babe will be spared, but you are right. She could. So we will simply have to wed her to somebody loyal after Robert Baratheon's death."
"Realise Jaime from his Kingsguard vows," Lord Tywin said, ignoring Jaime's protests, "you can do so as he killed a King, call it his punishment. To have the dishonour of being exiled from the Kingsguard. This way, he can be the Heir to Casterly Rock and marry the Lady Catelyn, keeping her loyal."
Ned looked to Jaime, whose face was covered in protest. But Tywin was right. Jaime would keep her loyal, and he would then be able to carry on the Lannister name.
Face apologetic, though only regretful for Jaime's hurt, and not for the strategic plan, he nodded to Tywin.
Jaime clenched his jaw and stormed out, bashing into the shoulder of the quiet Mace Tyrell, still disappointed in hearing that his daughter would not be betrothed to Prince Aegon should Queen Rhaella have a daughter. Ned had half a mind to retreat the proposal between his future son and Lady Margaery with Mace being such an ungrateful twat.
Tywin emotionlessly watched Jaime go, before turning back to the others, it was Ned that then spoke up, "so, if we have the Lannister troops surround the city, make sure nobody else gets in or out after all of our troops are in, the Northern men which have arrived can assist in that; and if the Dornish troops and the troops from the Reach take to the Red Keep. I want Robert and Catelyn alive and unharmed, along with Jon Arryn and any other Nobles there."
They nodded, all glad for the lack of strategy truly needed for the Sack – especially Mace Tyrell – and headed back to their camps to inform their soldiers of what would be going on.
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Ned was surprised and pleased that the soldiers had listened to his commands, and Robert Baratheon, Catelyn Baratheon, Jon Arryn, Lysa Arryn, Hoster Tully, Edmure Tully, Renly Baratheon and Stannis Baratheon were all left unharmed – well, relatively as Robert, Hoster and Stannis had tried to fight their way out regardless of being massively outnumbered – despite Ned's worries that they would be.
And so Ned was standing in the recently cleaned throne room, Ashara at his side, as Lords from various Houses (including Lord Mace Tyrell, Lord Tywin Lannister and Prince Oberyn on behalf of Dorne) swore fidelity to him as Regent, and Prince Aegon as the future King. He already had a man on the matter of summoning the rest of the Lords of the great and small houses alike to come to King's Landing to do the same, and to send a letter to Queen Rhaella, promising her safe passage back to King's Landing.
In his arms was his nephew, the Prince, allowing the Heads of the Houses to see the babe for themselves, their future King.
Ned was tempted to groan in annoyance when he thought of the coronation that he would have to plan. And how on earth they were going to make a crown small enough for Prince Aegon's head.
As the last Lord left, the herald announced 'Ser Jaime Lannister' and the man that Ned thought of as a brother entered, causing Ned to give the Prince to the Lady Ashara and head down the steps to meet him.
Ned sighed regretfully, "I'm sorry Jaime, but you know it's necessary."
"It's alright Ned," Jaime stated, bringing him into a tight hug, "at least now I'll have more time to spend with Cersei," and to that he smirked.
"Be careful," Ned warned, knowing that Jaime would find any opportunity to be with her and thus persuading him not to would be fruitless.
Jaime nodded, before looking to Ashara, nodding, and leaving. He would have introduced himself, Ned knew, had it not been for the intense frown upon Ashara's face at the sight of him. She had been one of Princess Elia's handmadiens, and loathed the Lannisters for their part in her death.
Ned frowned, looking towards her to where she stood with a scowl upon her lovely face, "Ashara, it wasn't his orders."
"She was murdered and raped by Lannister men, Ned,"Ashara bit back, violet eyes glistening at remembering a good woman who had been one of her closest friends, dying all for a Mad King and a love that caused war, "I can't forgive that."
"I may not hold the Lannister name, 'Shara," Ned began, grabbing onto her hand and bringing it up inbetween them, eyes hard despite the intimate gesture, "but I was raised by them. And they don't call me the Red Wolf for nothing. Tywin, I can accept you having a grudge with; but Jaime doesn't deserve it."
"You're right, I'm sorry, Ned. I just can't imagine somebody doing that to me, and after killing our child," she moved her hands to her stomach, and Ned's dark grey eyes widened in realisation.
"You're-?" He began with a gulp, observing as she nodded.
He laughed, pulling her into an embrace in his joy, even more elated as he heard her giggle.
"Nobody will ever hurt either of you, I promise," Ned swore, pulling her closer still towards him.
Promise me, Ned.
Promise me.
"Arthur," Ned called to the Kingsguard nearby, watching the couple with a large smiled, though frowned slightly as Ned's tone turned grave, "bring me Robert and Catelyn Baratheon, Jon and Lysa Arryn and Stannis and Renly Baratheon."
Ser Arthur Dayne nodded, leaving the room before coming back ten minutes later with two guards escorting each of the prisoners.
Robert Baratheon was a tall, muscular, handsome man with dark hair and intense blue eyes. Handsomer than Ned, Ned knew; and regarded him with what Ned assumed was his best glare.
His wife – who was once Brandon's betrothed – stood beside him, she too was glowering in Ned's (and Ashara's, as Ned was asked to marry her before she was wed to Robert, of whom she had no love for and did nothing but pine over the dead Princess Lyanna) direction. She was beautiful, there was no denying that, though not to the same degree as Ashara, with tumbling auburn locks and her own Tully blue eyes.
He sighed, deciding that he would deal with these two first.
"Robert Baratheon of the House of Baratheon of Storm's End, you are sentenced to die for the murder of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and conspiracy in the deaths of Princess Elia of Houses Targaryen and Martell, Princess Rhaenys of House Targaryen and Prince Aegon, the elder, of House Targaryen," Ned informed him, watching some fear settle into the warrior's eyes, "you will die by beheading at dawn tomorrow."
He nodded to the guards to take him away, all the while Robert shouted profanities at Ned, yelling, "I did this for your family! I did this for the deaths of your father and your brother! And now you want to reward the Targaryens by having their kin on the throne? You bastard."
Ned frowned, truly beginning to contemplate what they would think of him; of what he was doing now. And what his mother would have thought.
He didn't answer Robert's shouts, instead turning to Catelyn and informing her, "after your husband's death and Ser Jaime is realised from his vows in shame for Kingslaying, you shall be wed to Jaime Lannister; to ensure your, and your child's, loyalty to the throne."
He then nodded to the guards by Catelyn and they began to take her away. He could hear her shrill voice yelling 'the Kingslayer?!' from where he stood even as she was down a far corridor.
He then turned to address Lord Hoster Tully and Lord Jon Arryn at the same time, informing them, "both of your houses will face heavy fines, money that will go towards repairing cities and towns damaged by Robert's Rebellion. You will swear fealty to me but you will not be killed today. You rose up against a Mad King, and now you no longer have one. Make no mistake, however, as if I hear that you have been conspiring, or if the words 'rebellion' or 'uprising' ever fall from your lips again then you will be executed."
They both nodded, clearly Lord Jon and Lord Hoster surprised and grateful to escape King's Landing with their lives, "also, House Brune will now be Wardens of the East due to their loyalty to the Crown in the rebellion."
Though disappointed, Lord Jon Arryn nodded in acceptance, before swearing fealty to Prince Aegon as the future King and to Ned as regent; Lord Hoster Tully soon copying, with his son lord Edmure.
Then all were released, and told to leave for the Riverlands and the Vale of Arryn respectively, to which they did.
Lord Stannis Baratheon swore loyalty to the crown and thus kept his inheritance of Lord of Storm's End and was informed that his House too would be fined. However, Ned kept him in King's Landing. He had use yet for the eldest Baratheon who Ned knew would stay loyal now, with his dislike for his brother and his want to do what was right.
So, far, Ned couldn't help but think that things were going smoothly.
Now, he would need to summon Tywin in order to receive the men responsible for the deaths of Princess Elia and her children to send them back to Dorne.
And to establish the soon-to-be King Aegon VI's small council.
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Prince Oberyn Martell would be Master of Laws, Ned had decided, with Lord Stannis Baratheon as Master of Ships (the man was too talented, in Ned's opinion, to rule him out) and Lord Varys as the Master of Whispers (Ned had considered not keeping on the Spider, but after he had spilled on Grand Maester Pycelle Ned had allowed it) as well as Lord Jaime Lannister (renounced as a member of the Kingsguard just before the execution of Robert Baratheon) and, finally, Lord Tywin Lannister as the Hand of the King.
As advisors, he had also honoured Lord Mace Tyrell for his part in the second Sack of King's Landing.
When they had met, they had discussed the coronation of Jon, but Ned had decided to wait; deeming it a deal sweetener should he allow Queen Dowager Rhaella a part in organising her grandson's coronation.
They had also discussed the burial that Robert should have, and eventually decided on simply sending his cremated ashes back to Storm's End. Cremation was a burial mainly used for those of House Targaryen, so burning him had the unkindness and symbolism that Lord Tywin and Prince Oberyn had called for but the kindness that Ned and Lord Mace had called for by allowing him to be put in his family crypt. Even if it wasn't his body.
Ned knew that, sooner rather than later, he would have to hold a meeting with the Northern men. Discuss what would be happening now, while he was playing Regent in the capitol; and to find out just how loyal they truly were to him.
Especially when many parties had arrived far later than they should have, purposely taking as long as they could to ensure that they didn't have to take part in the second Sack. Like House Bolton and House Umber.
He had no doubt that, should they sense weakness, the Boltons shall try to strike.
In his worries, he found his feet leading him to the royal nursery, to where Jon – Prince Aegon – lay sleeping.
He had wondered many a times why Prince Aegon had the same name as his older half-brother, and his mind had come blank. That was until he had conversed with Ser Arthur, and the man had informed him of a prophecy that Prince Rhaegar had completely and desperately believed in, to do with a son named Aegon. It had been his wish to have at least one surviving son named Aegon.
So when Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon had been murdered, Lyanna had honoured his wish with naming her son Aegon.
No matter how many times Ned asked, Arthur would not tell him of the prophecy, and so Ned had resigned himself to bite his tongue and trust that if it was something serious – though he had never, personally, put too much faith in prophecies – then Arthur would have told him.
Ned gazed down at the little babe, wondering if his own child would resemble him as much as Jon resembled Lyanna, with just hints of Ashara; or if it would be the other way, with Ashara's hair and eyes and complexion, but his temperament, smile, nose, jaw and chin.
Or if he or she would simply be a perfect mix of them both.
It still seemed surreal.
He was going to be the Uncle of a King, the Lord Regent of Westeros; he was Lord of Winterfell and the Warden of the North; and he was an orphan, with only one sibling left.
He closed his eyes, sighing out, before leaving.
Sorry it's a shorter chapter, I wanted to get it up before I go out.
Next chappie: Northern Lords and stuff ;)