Just a bit of jibber jabber from me :D

I know Cat was always a bitch to Jon but she's still one of my absolutely favorites... (GOD, how I hope Lady Stoneheart will be in the fifth season - pretty pretty please...) :D

It would seem I have czech readers too - PARÁDA :D (=AWESOME :D)

I still don't have a beta, so if anyone would be interested, just PM me :)

Well, here we go. I hope you'll like it :)

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CHAPTER 8 – MAKING FRIENDS

He returned to her six moons later. All bloody and scarred but alive. Her husband, the father of her child. He had to fight his way even to his own home. Robert sent many raiders on ships to get to the North and pillage its lands so they wouldn't be able to support his enemy but the men her husband left to protect them always managed to push them back.

She remembered one day when there was about five hundred raiders heading towards Winterfell. Willam Dustin panicked and almost dragged her, Benjen and both boys to the carriage that would get them to White Harbor and out of Westeros, just as his lord commanded, but ser Barristan and Benjen himself managed to convince him otherwise. If they would leave the castle, the raiders would catch them on their way and their fates would be sealed. They stayed and within a couple of days, the threat was gone. Not five thousand men could take Winterfell, Benjen told her then but Catelyn doubted they were ordered to conquer Winterfell. She knew more than few things about war from her father and uncle and she was fairly certain they merely served as a distraction for her husband at the main front. Unfortunately for Robert and Tywin though, her husband was not stupid and made certain his homeland and family are well protected before he marched south to meet with them.

Now, he was back in the castle while the war lasted on in Riverlands. Her homeland has become a battlefield in a war for a dragon's life. She was angry and resentful because it was her father's people who paid the highest price and countless of lives were lost so that one may be preserved. She was angry and resentful not towards her husband though but towards Robert Baratheon. He wanted the child dead and nothing could stop him in achieving it. A sweet, innocent child that slept right next to her own son. Why should he die? What for? What he did that was so terrible he did not deserve a chance to even live? It was hardly his fault who his parents were. She told her husband she would do anything so that their son may live and grow up in a strong man that would make him proud and as she watched Jon Targaryen slowly grow alongside Robb as if he was his own brother, she was determined to do absolutely anything for him as well.

She didn't realize she feared for her husband's life so much until she saw him ride through the gate in Winterfell with couple of guards, all covered in blood.

"Fear not, my lady," he smiled at her when he dismounted his horse, walking towards her. "None of the blood is mine."

She visibly relaxed when she saw with her own eyes that he was truly unharmed and felt a sudden urge to throw herself in his arms to welcome him home.

"Your guests have not yet arrived, my lord," she said instead. "Though we received a raven not long before you have arrived saying they left the White Harbor."

Her husband nodded. "Very well, I will at least have a chance to make myself presentable before they arrive."

-.-

Lord Stark stood at the square in Winterfell with his wife to his left and his brother to his right while the envoy of his guests rode through the gate. There were about fifteen men with cold expressions that could rival those the northerners always used when they met with men unknown to them. They all stopped not far from them and their leader who rode in the middle came in front of him.

"Lord Stark, how kind of you to invite us," he smiled insincerely and Ned fought the urge to turn his eyes.

"Welcome to Winterfell, lord Balon," he said and bowed his head a little.

The lord of the Iron Islands followed his example. "Truth be told, I did not expect you would entertain in such times," he said mockingly.

Ned took a deep breath and gave him a forced smile. "Let's go inside, you must be hungry after such a long journey."

"Indeed," Balon nodded. "Let's do that and after, we can speak about the real reason we are here."

"That bastard knows we need him," Benjen whispered to Ned, while Balon dismounted his horse.

"He knows the truth. He is our only hope if we want to end this war quickly," Ned whispered back.

"Well, he doesn't need to be all cocky because of it," Benjen murmured.

"He can be as cocky as he wants, as long as he helps us."

The Iron Islands stayed neutral until this point. Ned has sent a Raven to the Pyke at the beginning of the war, asking if they would be willing to join him against Robert but no response came. He thought they already swore their allegiance to Robert and expected a real attack from the sea for couple of months instead of few raiders but none came. Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully started to think about addressing Lord Balon Greyjoy again, when raven brought a message, saying he would like to meet with Lord Eddard Stark in person. Ned invited him to their camp but he refused to – in his words – meet at such a busy place and suggested they meet at his castle to discuss the details of his conflict with King Robert. Ned didn't like the idea of having him near his family but he had little choice. He needed the Ironborns.

The small talk at the dining table was torturing Ned. He didn't know what to expect of Balon and how he would stop himself from tearing him to pieces if he would refuse to join with Ned. He was still new to the world of negotiation and diplomacy. When they yet fought in Robert's rebellion, it was always Jon who managed the politics and allies, not Ned and certainly not Robert. His father and Jon Arryn taught him all they knew about politics but Ned still had too little of his own experiences. He was a soldier, good at fighting and good at planning a war but intrigues still eluded him. Perhaps in time, he will learn the craft better.

"Let's cut to the chase," he said a bit angrily. Well, not just yet it would seem, he thought.

Balon laughed a little. "You are rather impatient, Lord Stark."

"You know what I want, give me an answer then," he said, ignoring Balon's last sentence.

Balon gave him a serious look. "Why don't we depart the main hall? Politics is a boring subject; perhaps we should discuss it in privacy."

Ned nodded and left the great hall with Balon Greyjoy by his side. They walked quietly towards Ned's solar. When they walked in, they both sat on chairs, facing each other. There was silence for some time; Ned almost thought they engaged into some sort of staring contest when Balon spoke at last.

"What I want to know is why should I join with you? What's in it for me and my people?"

"The spoils of war," Ned answered.

"If I want spoils, I will send my men to pillage some land that won't cut my head off in response."

"You think we will lose."

"Yours and Robert's army are equal in size and you are both rather impressive generals but sooner or later one of you will start to lose. My money is on you because Tywin Lannister can hire as many sellswords as he wishes and remind me again which side Tywin Lannister took?"

"Why did you want to meet with me then? Not only to tell me that I will lose, surely."

"The Iron Throne has been bombarding me with ravens, telling me I owe my allegiance to the king. It is getting rather tiring, I must say. You sent me one raven and when I did not reply, you took the message, loud and clear. I like that. Robert thinks if he will chase after me as if I was some shy maiden, I will yield to his rule. He commands me to join him. An Ironborn listens to no commands; we do what we want and when we want. Right now, I want to listen to you."

"Well, if you will join with me, I'd say the chasing will stop. You will be a traitor in the eyes of the realm."

Balon laughed. "Everybody is a traitor now and then. Robert was a traitor a year ago and now he wears the crown."

"I will not lie to you, Lord Greyjoy, I need you but you know that very well already," Ned said. "If we join together, Robert and Tywin will not stand a chance; nor anyone else for that matter. You have the best fleet in Westeros but your men are weak on land. I have it the other way around. You will attack from the sea while they are busy fighting me. All the treasures on the coast will be yours to take for the entire south is protected only by a handful of men. The North, the Riverlands, the Vale and the Iron Islands; that is a force Robert cannot hope to defeat. And as long as you rule the sea, there will be no army of sellswords from Essos, no matter the gold Tywin Lannister possess."

"True," Balon smiled. "I must say it sounds very tempting but there is one question I need answered before I answer you."

"Speak it, then."

"Do you plan to take the Iron throne for the boy?"

"No."

"Why?"

"That is a second question."

"I do not care. Let's say I will join with you, I start to pillage the south – not as pathetically as Robert tries to pillage the North – but truly. Robert will be forced to retreat or he will lose his lands and you will chase every man out of Riverlands and then… what?"

"We will secure the borders of my father-in-law's lands and never let any other southerner cross it unless asked."

"You will make another kingdom," Balon said, surprised and impressed. "Independent from the Iron throne."

"I would not use the word kingdom, that sounds too presumptuous, but we would truly be independent from the Iron throne," Ned smiled a little.

"You would be a king in your own right."

"I seek no kingship but I will not bow to a king who would murder my own blood. I have risen against Aerys when he dared to touch the wolves and I will not hesitate to do so again, as I have already shown when I defied Robert."

"This will shape the realm for generations."

"So be it."

"What will happen if your nephew grows up and decides he wants to take his father's throne from the usurper? Will you break the borders and support him or will you try to stop him?"

"The throne is rightfully his and it will be his own choice when he will be old enough to make it. I will not stop him if he will wish to sit on his father's throne."

"Well, so much for the view into the future… You say you seek no kingship but you will be a king nonetheless, at least thought if not called. I, on the other hand, do seek kingship yet the title eludes me. Long have I waited for an opportunity to declare Iron islands independent from the rest of the kingdom and the time is now."

"You say my defeat is inevitable without your help. Well, if you stay neutral in this war and declare yourself a King on top of that, Robert will turn his eye on you as soon as he defeats me and he will force you to kneel. It would seem you need me just as much as I need you in the end."

"Aye, that is how it seems."

"Only one question remains. Will you join me, Lord Greyjoy?"

Balon smiled. "What is dead may never die. The Ironborns will help you as long as you help the Ironborns."

Ned returned his smile. "Our friendship is official then."

-.-

Balon Greyjoy left Winterfell the next morning. They agreed he should come to their main camp to discuss their strategy in person with everyone involved. He was certain Hoster Tully and Jon Arryn will be excited to see Balon on their side. The Ironborns will quickly change the weights in this war.

"When will you leave again?" his wife asked sadly while they watched the party of Ironborns ride into the distance.

"Tomorrow, I think. I originally meant to leave today as well but I think I deserve one stolen day with my wife and the boys, wouldn't you agree, my lady?"

Catelyn smiled widely. "I think you do, my lord. But will you not be needed there?"

"I have left the command in very capable hands of Howland Reed, GreatJon Umber and Rickard Karstark. They may break each other's noses but they will take care of my men, of that I am certain."

"In that case, you are almost bound to stay for at least a day with us," Catelyn smiled again. "After all, you have seen your son and nephew only for a moment last night and they were both asleep when you were finally finished with Lord Greyjoy. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see how lively they are when awake and how much they have grown."

"With the Greyjoys at our side, we will end this war quickly. Well, I hope we will. Then I will have every day for the rest of my life to be with the boys and you, my lady," he returned her smile.

Catelyn touched her belly. "And all our other children. Is it silly to hope we have conceived another child last night?" she asked him.

Ned laughed a little. "We only had our wedding night before I had to leave for war and Robb is a product of that one night. It most certainly is not silly, my lady."

"Then, perhaps there will be another child awaiting your return."

"I will be long back before you give birth to this one," Ned smiled heartily and squeezed his wife's hand.

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Author's note: Well, what did you think? :) .

Once again, I'd like to thank you all for your support, I'm really thrilled to have so many faithful readers :)