Notes: Lots of dialogue/scenes again from A Game of Thrones by GRRM! I don't believe in disclaimers but I also don't want to be accused of not citing my sources!
In the dark of the night, ill news arrived. The king's steward brought word that the king wished to see Eddard Stark. Ned was assisted by his men, Tomard and Cayn, from the Tower of the Hand to Maegor's Holdfast. At the holdfast and inside, they passed Sers Boros Blount, Preston Greenfield, and Ser Barristan Selmy of the kingsguard. Eventually they reached, and were admitted into, the king's chambers.
Inside Ned found his friend, Robert Baratheon, upon his deathbed. Grand Maester Pycelle was attending the King. The Queen was seated near her husband, her face displaying concern. She seemed to be rather awake for such a late hour. Lord Renly was inside the room as well, pacing with a nervous energy. Countless servants were hurrying about the room, assisting the maester.
Ned looked upon his friend and his heart broke. The king was wounded from hip to breast, ripped open by the tusks of a boar. They spoke briefly before Robert dismissed everyone except for Ned. Robert had a change of heart regarding Daenerys Targaryen. He had ordered for an assassin to be sent to kill the girl. Robert claimed that the gods had sent the boar as a punishment for the order, and told Ned that the girl should be spared if at all possible. Then he had Ned write out the writ of succession.
The king named Ned as Protector of the Realm and Regent for Joffrey, until the boy was to come of age. Ned could not bear to tell his friend the truth about his presumed children. He could not hurt his friend as he lay dying.
When the order was written, with Ned writing "my heir" in place of "my son", Ned reopened the door to the king's chamber. The servants returned, as did Renly and the Maester who witnessed the seal upon the letter. King Robert's last request was for Ned to take care of his children. Ned promised him, pained by lying, until he thought upon the king's bastards whom he could protect.
Pycelle gave Robert milk of the poppy to drink and the king drifted off the sleep.
Ned and Renly left the room where they briefly spoke with Ser Barristan and Varys. They spoke of the hunt where Robert had been wounded. Renly was awed by his brother killing the boar though he was mortally wounded. Ser Barristan seemed distraught that he had been unable to protect the king. Ned assured the man that it was not his fault that Robert had chosen to hunt a boar while too drunk to stand straight. When Varys asked who had given the wine to the king, he learned that the wine had come from Lancel Lannister, the Queen's cousin.
They had given Ned much to ponder, but for the moment he wanted nothing more to be alone. He made his way back to the entrance of Maegor's Holdfast. Varys slipped away some time before they arrived at the bridge, and Ser Barristan had remained at the door to the king's chamber.
Ned's men were assisting him across the bridge when Renly emerged from the keep as well. He approached and asked that they might speak alone. Ned agreed and sent his men away. Tomard and Cayn bowed their heads and walked to the end of the bridge, far enough away that they could not overhear whatever Lord Renly wished to say. Lord Renly's gaze flitted from Ser Boros to Ser Preston, who stood at either end of the bridge, before he moved closer to whisper to Ned.
"That letter is about the regency isn't it? My brother has named you Lord Protector?" He did not pause for an affirmative answer. "My lord, I have thirty men in my personal guard, and other friends beside, knights and lords. Give me an hour, and I can put a hundred swords in your hand."
Swords? What would he need of swords? Ned's closest friend was at death's door, he wanted to mourn, not fight. "And what should I do with a hundred swords, my lord?"
"Strike, now while the castle sleeps." His voice was hushed, yet fevered. He still glanced warily at the two kingsguard. He suggested that Eddard should take Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella into custody as prisoners in order to control Cersei and the council.
Ned thought of Robert, his friend, near death though he was fighting hard to remain alive. He thought about the Targaryen children who had been pulled from their beds and murdered the last time the matter of succession was overthrown. "Robert is upon his deathbed and you want me to drag children from their beds?"
"Every moment that you delay gives Cersei another moment to prepare. She is no friend to you or I. If we wait until Robert dies..." He shifted anxiously again and his eyes froze upon an approaching figure who was walking across the courtyard of the Red Keep.
Prince Oberyn Martell, just the man whom Ned did not want to see at that moment. "Oberyn," Ned spoke up in greeting. "Why are you here?"
The man approached the bridge, causing Ned's men and the Kingsguard to notice his presence. "You do recall that I cannot sleep in this place. I was taking a walk when I heard an unpleasant rumor and wanted to see what I could learn. By your presence, I would venture to guess that the rumor is true."
Ned glanced between the two men and could almost see the plans they were weaving in their own minds. Ned's leg was throbbing in pain and his heart was weary. He wanted nothing to do with plots, schemes, and the follies of kings. "Lord Renly," Ned said as Oberyn drew near. "May I introduce you to Prince Oberyn Martell."
"Prince Oberyn." Renly's greeting was stiff but polite. He seemed to be measuring something in his mind.
"Lord Renly," Oberyn replied. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though the circumstances must be upsetting for yourself."
The Lord of Storm's End bowed his head in acknowledgement of Oberyn's greeting. He then turned to face Ned. "Would he do it?"
Ned knew the answer. It was all that Dorne had been seeking for years, revenge. If Oberyn Martell was not there, beside him or within the Red Keep, Ned could make a different choice. With the Red Viper beside him, the only option was to betray his friend, again. A brief consideration for how fleeting honor, honesty, and loyalty had become passed through Ned's mind. How had he become the man he was? Little by little, bit by bit, the quiet young man who had tried to be good, honorable, and honest had made so many compromises that the bitter taste never quite left his mouth. He would have to side with Renly, but would they have enough men to do the deed? If they captured the Lannister children, would they be able to hold them captive? What would the next step be?
Ned's answer was firm and bitter. "You will win the love of Dorne when his sister is avenged and Tywin Lannister is brought to his knees. Is that what you are prepared to do?"
Oberyn's eyes glittered in the dim light of torches and the full moon. He looked between the two men, appraising the situation in silence. Renly considered both men, and bowed his head in thought. Ned looked down, seeing the writ of succession which he clutched in his hand.
Queen Cersei's children were bastards, no true heirs to King Robert. Ned had written the words "my heir" instead of "my son" in the order of the regency. Should the regency pass to a Baratheon heir, the crown should go to Stannis Baratheon, the second of Lord Steffon Baratheon's sons. Yet Dorne would only be appeased if their blood was upon the throne.
"Do it," Ned hissed through clenched teeth. Both men turned to face him abruptly. Renly's face betrayed his shock and Oberyn's smile spoke of bloodshed. "Gather your men and take the Queen and her children into custody." He wanted to vomit, everything about this decision seemed wrong. "Once you have them secured, I shall convene the council to hear your brother's words and discuss the matter of the succession."
Ned looked upon Renly, a reflection of his brother Robert so long ago, and was filled with cold fury. "Pray that your brother can forgive this dishonor we do to him upon his deathbed."
Renly's lips twitched, though with what emotion Ned did not know or care. "My brother cared little for anyone save himself, in life or in death, but I thank you for your decision."
They parted a moment later. Renly went to seek out his allies and gather them to seize the Queen and her children. Prince Oberyn walked with Ned, though they remained quiet until arriving at the Tower of the Hand. Once Ned and Oberyn were alone in the solar, Ned sank wearily onto the plush chair behind the desk. His leg was throbbing and his heart was hollow. He prayed that his children were safe, wherever they were. He prayed that the gods would forgive his betrayals.
"My men will assist Lord Renly," Oberyn was saying, though his words scarcely registered to Ned's distressed mind. "But to what end?"
Ned ran his hands along his face and through his hair. "Only the gods know. If you want to avenge your sister, this is the time. When the small council convenes they will know all that I know."
"All?" Doubt was evident in the prince's voice.
The unspoken question was clear to Ned. Did he mean to reveal the truth about Jon? "Not that." He had promised Lyanna to keep Jon safe. Jon would only be safe if he remained the bastard son of the Lord of Winterfell and Ashara Dayne. Jon of House Targaryen, the son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, could never exist. "They will learn the truth of Cersei Lannister and her children. They will know that the Kingslayer attempted to murder my son and that their actions led to the hostilities in the Riverlands."
"Do we have enough support to hold the city against the Queen, against her father?"
"I will send for Lord Baelish, he wields considerable sway over the gold cloaks. If we are to hold the city, then we need more swords." Ned slammed his hand onto the desk, causing one of the inkwells to tip and spill. He hissed a curse. "Would that I had never come to this place."
Oberyn watched in silence for a few brief moments, and then smiled. "I was wrong to tell Ashara that you were a boring man." Then in somber tones he added, "I will send a man for Lord Baelish and then rouse my men." He bowed politely and then swept from the room.
Eddard Stark was now alone with his thoughts, and truly there was no more frightful place for him at that moment. He wished for a godswood, a true godswood, with a weirwood heart tree. Yet would the gods give him solace? Was he still a good man? Was he still an honorable man?
His best friend, his third brother, would die before a day passed. Yet even as his friend lay dying, the legacy of Robert Baratheon was being destroyed. Ned had promised Robert to watch over his children, and Ned would do that. Once there was peace, Ned would ensure that Robert's bastards were well kept.
Peace... what price would peace cost this time? How many children would be murdered? How many children would be orphaned?
He hated Lyanna and Rhaegar in that moment. He hated his brother Brandon. He hated the Mad King and the Kingslayer. He hated Robert and Cersei. Most of all he hated himself for making decisions which seemed to never have a good ending.
The ache of loss threatened to overwhelm him. He wanted to go home. He wanted Winterfell. He wanted Catelyn in his arms. He wanted his children around him, all of his children. He wanted to see them laugh and play together. Only the gods knew if he would ever see his family again.
Some time later, Cayn and Desmond arrived with Littlefinger between them. From his attire, it seemed as though he had already been about for the day when Ned's men had found him. Were Ned less exhausted, such a thing might have seemed curious to him.
Lord Petyr seated himself across from Ned, a smirk upon his lips. "The whisperers in the Red Keep are telling fascinating tales tonight. I suppose that congratulations are in order."
"The king lies wounded and near to death." Ned's reply was cold and harsh, this was not a moment for levity.
"I know, and I know that Robert named you Protector of the Realm."
"And how is it that you know that, my lord?"
"Varys hinted as much, and you have just confirmed it."
Ned swore. He was so sick of games, and yet... if Littlefinger did not know of the plan which had been devised to detain the queen and her children, then perhaps some secrets were still kept for the moment. Weighing his options, Ned decided to have some trust in this man whom his wife considered as a little brother. He told Petyr the truth about the bastardy of the queen's children. Littlefinger's response showed that he was not at all shocked by the news.
"So with no legitimate heirs, the path of succession becomes quite tenuous does it not?"
Ned tensed his jaw. "By rights the succession should pass to Stannis."
"Should..." Petyr stretched the word out, allowing the syllables to seem ponderous. "However, Stannis cannot take the throne without help."
Ned was well aware of that fact. He was also well aware that Stannis sitting upon the throne would not appease Dorne, and if Dorne were not appeased... Had he sent his children into a prison? Would Prince Doran Martell hold his children as hostages to ensure that Dorne's vengeance was complete?
Treason... every possible move was treason. Usurping the throne as his friend lay dying; what had he become?
"Is that why you have asked me here, Lord Stark, for assistance?"
"You promised Catelyn that you would help me." The man's eyes narrowed, as they had upon their first meeting. Ned did not like Lord Baelish's frosty and almost possessive nature toward Catelyn. Ned's mistakes regarding his wife were his to bear. It was not another man's duty to protect his wife, no matter what mistakes he had made.
His smile seemed bitter. "And I shall, Lord Stark. First I will tell you that Stannis Baratheon is not the right man for the Iron Throne. He is no man's friend, even his brothers find him distasteful. He is hard and unyielding. Seating him upon the throne would spell death for Cersei and her bastards, and arouse the anger of Lord Tywin." He spoke of the men and Houses who would not side with Stannis Baratheon as king, men who had sided with the Targaryens during Robert's Rebellion or Balon Greyjoy in his Rebellion. He also spoke of the benefits Ned could have by marrying his own children to the Queen's bastards. Yet Ned knew that he could not and would not marry his children to the Lannister bastards, unless...
"You can control Joffrey," Lord Baelish was saying, "He is but a boy, and controlling him should allow us time to dispose of any unwanted issues. Then, should he prove troublesome, we can reveal his little secret and put Lord Renly upon the throne."
Renly upon the throne? It might work, could work. Renly Baratheon was well loved, and were he to be placed upon the throne, many would support him. He was unwed and so was the Heiress of Dorne, a marriage which would appease the Dornish. A match which would keep his children safe.
"I will not wed my children to the Lannisters. I will not seek to put my children in harm's way or upon this bloody throne. What you suggest is treason." What I am doing now, as we speak, is treason. "Dorne will not stand for the bastard sitting upon the throne."
"You informed the viper of the truth?" Littlefinger released a scoffing laugh. Then he sighed. "I suppose that the Tyrells will not wish to see Joffrey upon the throne either." Seeing the question in Ned's eyes, he produced an unsealed parchment and laid it upon the desk, though he did not remove his hand. "With the good Maester Pycelle occupied with the king, the ravens are quite free to deliver letters. This arrived earlier this evening and was discovered by an associate of mine. I presume that the maester was intending to inform the Queen in the morning, long before telling you. The Mountain is dead, from the men you sent to bring him to justice. Loras Tyrell struck the killing blow, but he himself was killed in the process. Lord Tywin will find it difficult to placate the anger of the Tyrells now that their son lies dead. Now then, whom would you suggest that we place upon the Iron Thone?"
Ned clenched his fists beneath the desk. There were no words to describe how vile he felt. "It was your suggestion, Lord Baelish, we place Renly Baratheon upon the throne." Petyr Baelish smiled, truly smiled, at Ned's words. "Renly would be supported by myself, the Stormlands, and likely the Martells, Tyrells, Riverlands, and Vale."
"An alliance which not even Tywin Lannister could possibly withstand, provided that every House falls into line behind Renly."
"King's Landing must be secured first and foremost."
"For that you would need many swords." Littlefinger's smile grew impossibly wide. "And to guarantee so many swords, you have come to the man who pays the most swords in the city. Tell me Lord Stark, do you already have some plan in action?"
What should a man do when he is trapped between honor and dishonor? When trapped between truth and lies? Brandon had impulsively chosen to defend Lyanna without a second thought. Rhaegar had thrown away honor, duty, and marriage for a mere girl and the realm had bled. What was Ned when compared to his own brother and sister? Would his choices now make the realm bleed as theirs had done so many years before?
"At this very moment the queen and her children are being secured. I intend to call the council together so that the succession can be discussed. I know however, that you are a man who has a price. What price would it take to secure the gold cloaks to this cause?"
"Oh for them, a few thousand gold, a small price to avoid losing our heads."
"And for you?"
"I am certain that Lord Renly will give me anything of my choosing once he is given a throne, don't you agree?" Ned bowed his head low, in agreement and disgust. "Then I will be on my way, Lord Stark."
The man stood, bowed, and departed the room.
When he was alone, Ned cradled his head in his hands and wept. "Gods forgive me," he whispered into the quiet of his chamber.
King Robert Baratheon, first of his name, was dead by the time they convened within the Tower of the Hand. Morning had just barely broken, grey and dull. The birds were singing beyond the walls of the tower, but their tones seemed joyless.
The men arrived one by one, in various states of dress and attire. Prince Oberyn Martell's clothes were bloodied. Lord Renly Baratheon's clothes were slightly torn, and his cheek was bruised. Lord Petyr Baelish arrived with Janos Slynt, the commander of the city watch, both seeming fresh and clean compared to the first two men. Varys slipped into the room silently, as he was always wont to do, his face seemed as ominous as ever. Grand Maester Pycelle and Ser Barristan Semly arrived awhile after the other men. Neither appeared to have slept much during the night and their faces were lined with age and exhaustion.
Eddard Stark wearily requested that all of the men be seated, to which they all complied.
"Is it done," Ned asked Renly and Oberyn, before addressing the rest of the council.
Renly gave a terse nod of the head. "They are unharmed and under guard," Oberyn replied.
"Whom, may I ask, is unharmed and under guard?" The question came from Ser Barristan, who had probably noted the state of Renly and Oberyn's attire.
"With the," Ned paused, the words catching in his throat. He breathed deeply before continuing. "With the passing of King Robert it is necessary for us to discuss the succession of the crown." He proceeded to read the writ of succession and explain the truth of Cersei Lannister's children. The only men who seemed surprised by the revelation were Ser Barristan and Janos Slynt. Pycelle protested vehemently that such an accusation was spurious.
It took several minutes of loud discussion and debate for the room to fall quiet again. "I heard it from Lady Cersei herself." Ned's voice was calm and level. "The persons who are under guard are the former queen and her children. Regarding this matter, it would be judicious to hold a trial. For the moment, I believe that we all wish to know more about their dispositions."
"Tommen and Myrcella are sequestered together," Renly replied quietly. "They are with one of their nursemaids and guarded by some of my personal guard. They only know that my brother was wounded, they know nothing more."
Prince Oberyn replied next. "Cersei and her son Joffrey are held by my men."
Ned regarded the Viper doubtfully. "Why is there blood on your clothing?"
"I had a minor dispute with one of the former queen's men. He is dead now, as are several more of her personal guards."
Ned swore under his breath, and he noticed that he was not alone in his distress. Pycelle protested the actions of the men. Oberyn eyed the maester as though he were deciding how best to stick him with a sword. Ser Barristan remained quiet and unreadable.
Eventually, the discussion of whom the next king should be arose. Ned bitterly recalled that he had been in such a discussion before, when his friend Robert was crowned. He allowed Littlefinger to make the suggestion in favor of Lord Renly, though it was a long time in coming.
Baelish, Varys, and Renly discussed. Pycelle protested. Ned spoke little, though he offered his support in favor of Lord Renly. Oberyn Martell observed the proceedings carefully, with narrowed eyes. Eventually, he too suggested that Dorne might support Renly, though there would need to be some considerations. The other two men simply observed, Barristan stoically and Janos Slynt appearing as though he were a fish out of water.
By midday, the decision was made to crown Renly Baratheon as King of Westeros. Letters were sent to the Kingdoms of Westeros, declaring the death of King Robert, the bastardization of the children of the former Queen Cersei, and the ascension of Renly as the new king.
The remainder of the day was spent subduing the city, writing letters, and affirming the positions of the council. Ser Barristan Selmy was requested to retain his position; to which he requested and was permitted, a day to consider his future. Grand Maester Pycelle was detained as a prisoner, removed from his position, and deemed untrustworthy. Lord Varys was retained as Master of Whisperers, seemingly unaffected by the change in authority. Lord Baelish was pleased to retain his position and to be granted his price. His demand was rather simple, a greater lordship and a highborn wife, once peace was reestablished, to which Renly readily agreed.
Ned, though he had no greater wish than to return home, was retained in his position due to his assistance with Renly's ascension. Prince Oberyn was granted a position on the council as well, for the same reasons.
Securing the city was a bloody job. Over three hundred men who claimed loyalty to Cersei Lannister died within the Red Keep and King's Landing that day. Among the dead were Ser Meryn Trant, of the Kingsguard, and Sandor Clegane. More than one hundred other men were killed in the fighting that day, including two of Prince Oberyn's guards who died in subduing Clegane.
A matter of alliances was among the first order of duties, after the city was secured. Renly wrote to his retainers in the Stormlands, calling them to arms in his support. Ned wrote to Winterfell, calling his men to support the Riverlands first, as Lannister forces had been reported as fighting Tully men in the Riverlands. Once the Riverlands were supported, the northern forces would be able to assist in the south. He also wrote to his wife's family, stating that the North would support the Riverlands as kinsmen, and hoped that they would bend to Renly as king. He wrote similarly to Lysa Arryn in the Vale.
When Ned was alone with Oberyn and Renly, he spoke with them at length about the need for a southern alliance. An alliance bound in marriage to keep the strength of the south united as had been done during Robert's Rebellion with Houses Stark, Tully, and Arryn. Renly seemed reluctant to discuss the idea of marriage, but he also seemed to understand the importance. Letters were sent to Prince Doran Martell and Lord Mace Tyrell requesting not only their allegiance, but a marriage pact.
Ned did not doubt that the Martells would wish to see Arianne upon the throne, in place of her kin who had been murdered by the Lannisters. He also did not doubt that the ever ambitious Tyrells would wish for their daughter Margaery to be crowned as the queen. The details were not Ned's concern, though he doubted there would be peace if the Tyrells chose to join Lord Tywin over King Renly. The goal would be to wed Baratheon, Martell, and Tyrell, in whatever way the lords so decided.
Meanwhile in the North, Robb Stark, acting as Lord of Winterfell in his father's stead, had already begun to call his bannermen to arms. Lady Catelyn Stark had sent a letter to Winterfell, from the Vale, requesting that the North aid Riverrun against Lannister aggression. As a son of the North and the Riverlands, Robb knew that his duty was to support his family in the south. The northern armies would begin their march south a fortnight after receiving Lord Stark's letters regarding Renly Baratheon's ascension to the throne.
Notes:My thanks to everyone who is following this story, much love.
I know that I said the next chapter was the kids, but this made more sense to do first for a variety of reasons.
Littlefinger's decisions here are based upon his actual suggestions in AGOT. I didn't change that much of his dialogue or Renly's. He is also very strongly influenced (here) against the Lannisters based upon the death of Loras. Ned's decisions here were more based upon the safety of his children, and I hope that I conveyed how hard the decisions he made were for him.
I post on archive of our own and , so some of these notes apply to one place more than the other:
I've had a couple people note different grammar/typos/random things I mess up... I don't have a beta. I write, I proofread, and then I post. I am not opposed to having a beta, I just don't have one. Feel free to offer?
I follow the books, not the tv show for this story and most of my stories. So characters like Syrio are described as they are in the books. The ages are the ages of the books unless otherwise noted. (I do watch the show... and this coming season scares me... and they're gonna replace the Stark sigil on Winterfell and I am not ok with that!)
I am terrible with ages/years/dates (in real life, which translates into stories) so I may confuse how old some characters are at different times. I have already done this with Alys I think twice. Math is not my friend.
On fanfic I have a picture for the cover image that is Ned/Ashara/Cat and the children minus Jon, when I figure out how to post it on archive I will do that too.
To anyone who is also reading my other stories, I have not abandoned any of them, for the moment I want to focus upon this story.