Eddard
Chapter 3
A week had passed already and still I couldn't bring myself to shatter Jon's world with the news that an army was coming for us, well him mostly, all because of the blood in his veins Targaryen blood as well as Stark. I was been selfish really I didn't want to give up the boy I loved as a son for a long dead memory, after today after the words left my mouth, i would no longer be father or papa to him, only uncle and a liar at that. My sweet Jon my golden boy who was smarter than most men i meet even at his tender age and a swift fighter who took to any weapon with a natural gift that apparently didn't come from his father if Arthur Dayne could be believed.
No doubt Lyanna in the form of a boy, perhaps if my father had let her fight, she would've found no need to rebellion and run from the betrothal she didn't want for a man she did. The man she wanted what a horrid ending it was,I could still recall it like it was yesterday a room full of blood and the smell of roses, A promise beg for and given and an infant King who made not a sound until his mother truly passed from this world. A promise started it all the idea of how i could kept Lyanna boy safe, I suppose I must of thanked the gods a hundred time for the small mercy they gave me in the form of Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent as they were all willing to let me and my men pass to begin with and then agreeing to follow my lead in how to kept the boy safe.
A strong voice broke me from my memory " Lord Stark"
I snort back "Lord Stark, really Arthur after all these years,"
He shrugs as he turn to stand next to me "Well when a man's so deep, in thought like you were it better to error on the side of caution when bringing him back to reality"
"I suppose you're right"
"What were you thinking of ?" a shake of my head and yet i answered
" That past, the boy, you, me and Asher mostly"
I see him nod from the corner of my eye and a sad longing look quickly spread over his face which he shake off before looking at me "Ahh Asher, i known it must seem a waste now, to ruin her reputation by telling all she was Jon mother, but it was the right choice, and one she agreed to."
he turned his head to look at me after my grunt and shrug before i mutted "Purple eyes why did it have to be purple eyes and curly hair"
I wave my hand up to the sky and back down before i hear his deep laugh while he shakes his head and clap's me on my heavily covered back
"You know why my friend he was to be the best of both of them in personality and looks,"
"I know i known, we discussed it many times, i love the boy and i have grown to love Persephone as well but, wouldn't the world have had an easier time if Rhaegar had married his aunt."
I see a deep frown spread across his face "Come Ned you known why they didn't, her and Rhaegar both believed that madness was caused by the incest of siblings. After Aerys and Rhaella began showing signs they refused to wed. Not that it went over very well"
I shake my head before i responded "You never did explain it, how they managed to define Aerys" a simply shrug was my response
"Come on tell me" i nudged him with my left arm as he sighs deeply before answering
"Fine, a hundred men, Morgan had slept with only 5 as far as i known but was able to pay or blackmail a 100 into telling the king and Queen that they had her. Not only was she no longer a maid but used beyond care."
"Ah i see, she was no longer fit for their son then?."
"Yes and so she was forced onto Stannis in hope of calming down the growing hatred between the houses, not that it went well 6 years of marriage and nothing but un happiness to show for it at the time anyway,Stannis was too young for a woman grown" shaking his head he finished "I dare say it why most believe Persephone isn't Stannis child after 6 years of nothing, the moment before a war he bed's his wife and get's her with child, it hard to believe."
I nod along before agreeing " yes it is, though it doesn't matter now for his done protecting her."
Arthur turns to look at me once more " You don't think it a bit strange 6 years ago he sent her here to protect her from robert's knives and poison and now, he's what ? , going to kill the child he's called daughter for 15 years."the anger in Arthur face and tone mirror my own.
"That's what it would seam, stupid man."
"Yes but known to be honour bound, if Robert falls i doubt stannis will continue to hunt her at least."
I nod back "A small mercy really but it wouldn't help much" i let loose a sigh of frustration "But not Jon which is the real problem in all of this, he's too young to rule and fight in a war but he must come along."
Arthur claps me on the back once more as we stare across Winterfell " Will protect him Ned, do not think on that, i'll never leave his side in battle, nor will Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent, once they're back here with their 6,000 men."
My neck almost snap's at the speed i turn to look at him "You got word to them then?"
He simply shrugs"Of course it the real reason i came to bother you, Not to discuss the past."
"Right sorry," I nod in turn a guilty look now adorning my face "I mean to tell Jon today, that's all and couldn't help think on what lead me here and what in my selfishness i don't wish to give up"
"Ned?" a breath, a pause before he continued "Rhaegar sired him but you raised him he wont forget that"
"Perhaps, but after i tell him all i will be his uncle, it what he must call me and it what i must become to convince people he is the rightful king, i won't be his father after this it will be to hard to go back" i stare harder at the courtyard of Winterfell wishing for peace and lies to stay in tack where there no need to ruin this hard won peace I hear Arthur voice raise once more as he tries to help me.
"I've be helping to raise that boy to, it won't be easy to go from friend and uncle like person to a stony king's guard. But it what we must do or else we may die."
A deep breath to clear my mind "I known Arthur, so 6,000 men when will they arrive?"
Arthur tone is bussine hard once more "Mostly likely two weeks they sent their letter back saying they were almost ready to leave 2 days ago i reckon they left by now and should be in moat cailin soon."
"Good with the north and there added men will have an army of 26,000 strong"
"And Roberts what does he have?"
"Double "
"Double god's Ned"
I hear the worry i've been trying to squash in arthur voice, i must be the stronger one then and reassure us both
"We have no allies yet and the men belonging to Stannis i doubt mean to stay with him. Persephone is called back for two month of every year to ease the unrest in Dragonstone, they are loyal to her alone it would seem." Arthur sigh and becomes his hard self once more
"You need to tell them and now, so letters can be written and signed by the Targaryen heirs, will get more help in there name then our's"
Easier said than done in truth but i roll my shoulder once and place the mask of Lord of Winterfell back in place "I know i'll go find them,have you seen them"
"Barely you know how they are , woods would be your best beat this time of day" humor from my friend no doubt trying to ease my load, so i return in kind.
"You going to have to get better at watching them once the war begins"
"I, I known" he laughs "But in truth the north will see an endless summer before anyone can control those two" with my own laugh and shake of head i went off to find my nephew and break the news i had been fearing to tell since the day of his birth.
