Part 4: The Truths of Eddard Stark

Jamie

He rode beside Brienne, Pod and Tormund. It was amusing to see the wildling on a horse, he kept shifting uncomfortably and losing control of his horse.

"It's really not difficult" Jamie laughed after the seventh time of his horse veering off the path. "Just keep the reins straight and stop shifting around on the saddle."

"Fucking southerners, You and your poncey forms of transportation."

Brienne laughed "It's a horse, not a carriage."

The red headed man frowned confused. "Carriage?"

Jamie and Podrick guffawed, Brienne stared at him perplexed. "It's, like a cart, but with walls and roof and its pulled by horses and you sit inside it."

"That sounds terrible" Tormund grumbled.

Jamie saw Sansa riding by herself a few paces back from Jon and Daenarys. He kicked his horse and moved up to join her.

"Lady Stark." He said bowing his head.

"Ser Jamie" She said stiffly.

"Always a pleasure to be in your company." He muttered "How have you been?"

She sighed "I am following my brother into war, my family is separated once again and until they have a child I am the heir to the iron throne. So, I have been fairly stressed."

"I'm sorry that you are stress, is there anything I can do to relieve some stress?" He asked, hoping that she would give him a warm answer.

"No Ser Jaime there is nothing you can do." She kicked her horse and rode off. Jamie had half a mind to follow her but restrained himself.

"She'll warm to you eventually." Podrick said taking her place. "Just have to work at it."

"Who are you to give me love advise?" Jamie scoffed.

Podrick laughed "Trust me, I may not be a good fighter, but I do know about love."

Jamie laughed quietly "Maybe we should have more men like you Pod. Maybe then the world would be a better place."

"Maybe that's the key to everything." Pod sighed smiling.

As they rode, the land became swampier, they had passed Moat Cailyn a few hours previously. Jamie knew that they planned to stop at grey water watch, but he also knew that it was a keep that not even ravens could find, and he was sceptical over whether they would. However, as they delved deeper into thick forests a halt was called. He rode up to the front of the line where a young girl stood, a spear in her hand a shield on her back. Her brown hair was tangled and scraggly and she wore strange clothes which seemed to be made out of moss and leaves.

"Your majesties, my name is Meera Reed, daughter of Howland Reed, I travelled with Brandon Stark beyond the wall, may I welcome you to Grey Water watch, my father is most eager to meet you King Jon." She bowed before them. "This forest is suitable for your armies to camp, I am afraid that we only have enough space for twenty men. We must go on foot from here."

"That's not a problem" Jon said dismounting. "I shall bring my war council, and my advisors and my wife shall bring her generals."

"Very good your grace". She said.

Jamie dismounted, as did twenty others and pulled his travelling sack from his horse. He looked to his brother. "Are we seriously going to follow some girl into a swamp?"

Tyrion looked up at him "She has kept Bran Stark alive for the past seven years, and her father served loyally beside Ned Stark. She is perfectly trustworthy."

Jamie frowned and dismounted his horse, his boots sunk slightly in the swampy mud.

"And we are staying here because?" Jamie asked as his brother landed in the mud next to him.

"Howland Reed is a strong ally, I am told he wasn't present when Lady Lyanna died, he is the only living man who has known the secret. Jon wants to meet him."

They continued on the path which was becoming progressively overgrown. The girl navigated the weeds, branches and vines gracefully, ducking and leaping never losing her footing. The rest of them stumbled behind, tripping over vines, mud splattering on their clothes. Despite the winter, the air was humid and thick it made sweat form at the back of Jamie's neck and soon, his leather was ribbing on his skin. After some time, they gathered in a dark green clearing, which sat at the edge of black water. It swelled against the grassy bank, a small man stood on a floating platform, large enough for fifty people. Like Meera he wore mossy clothes, around his neck was strung what looked like frog skeletons. Jamie shuddered.

"Didn't old nan tell us that the crannog men were actually frogs?" Jamie whispered in Tyrion's ear.

His brother chuckled "I think she might have done, but we can't judge, they were probably told that we shit gold."

"Lady Meera" The old man croaked.

"Ser Tigris" She smiled. "Will you take us to the Grey tower, my father is expecting the Targaryens."

The old man cackled "Dragon's drown in the swamp" He said this to no one in particular but he noticed how Daenarys glowered darkly at her hand.

The old crannog knight had surprising strength, with a long staff he spurred them through the water. They soon to pass by houses, if you could call them that. They were more like moss covered wooden huts, each with a deck onto the water, with a small boat harboured with vinery rope. As they passed men and woman appeared, most of them armed with spears, or small daggers. The smell was damp and dank, Jamie's stomach clenched uncomfortably. He hoped that they wouldn't have to eat any frogs while they were here.

When he was a child at Casterly rock, there had been rumours of a swamp Witch named Maggi the frog, apparently, she had travelled from greywater watch and told people of their fortunes. He hadn't believed it, instead taking to jumping from cliffs and sword play.

As the gloom cleared he had his first glance of actual stone. The grey tower looked as if it could crumble any day, smoke rose from several chimneys and lights shone through the small windows. At intervals along its walls stood more crannogs, more spears and more glaring dark eyes. Jamie did not feel comfortable, he had no idea who these people were and what they were capable of and they were outnumbered greatly.

The float moved through a curtain of thick vines and he knew they were now under the castle. They bumped against the stone and they scrambled off.

Two guards stood century either side of a heavy wooden door. "Lady Meera" They muttered and pushed the wood inwards on to a stony staircase. Climbing Jamie was reminded of the broken tower at Winterfell, the moss and leaves crawling through the stone like snakes. Ahead he saw Jon take Daenarys' hand, often jealousy seeped through his bones when he looked at them, Jamie had never had that love, even with Cersei. They had never held hands, never whispered sweet nothings into each other's ears. Cersei had never supported him through anything, it had always been about her, she had been the queen and Jamie just a king's guard.

At the top of the stairs was a door that led to the Grey Tower's hall. Despite the bog and slime and moss the hall was welcoming, even in the dim light. A table stood against the hearth and a man leaned over a large map spread across it.

"Father" Meera called and the man looked up. He was not an old man, maybe only Jamie's age. His long brown hair was scraggly, with grey peppered through it. He wore dark green wool and leathers, with an animal skin cloak. When he saw them he smiled kindly, bowing to Jon and Daenarys.

"Your grace" He said, his northern accent was not as harsh as the men of Winterfell but it was evident all the same. "It has been a very long time."