Part 35:
"I promise," Ned whispered. "I promise." He reached out to Lyanna, but his hand caught only straw, slowly the dream faded and the reality of the Black Cell returned to him again. "I kept my promise." He whispered to the darkness.
Time had no meaning here, but it seemed that Stannis didn't want him dead, only broken, food and water were sometimes brought, sometimes the straw was changed and strange hands bathed him, the clothes he wore were no longer his own and he no longer tried to fight the guards when his soiled clothing and straw were changed. But even in sleep he found no comfort, Lyanna haunted him, Catelyn haunted him, even the memory of Sansa haunted him, although surely she was still alive. There were other ghosts as well… "Don't start any fights," His father's voice said firmly, "But if you have to fight, win." But he was no longer a boy of eight standing in the Winterfell training yard, and he could see no path to victory.
Varys visited him occasionally, although only the gods knew why he bothered. And Selyse, no, it was Queen Selyse now. Mad, ugly, fool of a woman, for all her faults Cersei would have been better company. Well… he must really be going mad to think that. The Red Witch had visited him a few times, although she never talked, she just stood there and looked at him as if he confounded her. The other unexpected visitor was Ser Davos.
Davos was a strange man, a kind soul who seemed to only just be realising that his loyalties had been misplaced. He spoke to Ned of his concerns for Shireen, and of the terrible things that Stannis and the Red Woman were doing. He spoke of his fears for his own son, now a zealous follower of this new god, new gods were never good news. Ned could only listen in shock as Ser Davos told him about the shadow baby, and how Renly had died at its hands, of the part he had been forced to play in it. Ned might not have believed the words out of the mouth of any other man, but Davos was not the type for fanciful imaginations.
Davos' visits became more and more frequent, and then one day the question came. "If I could get you out of here, would you take Shireen with you and keep her safe in the North?"
"You can't get me out of here, Davos, do not feed a desperate man false hope." Ned had replied.
But Davos had simply shook his head. "Never underestimate a smuggler from Fleabottom, Lord Stark." He'd replied. "Stannis might have knighted me, but I'm still a crabber's son."
"Then be a smart crabber's son." Ned had replied. "Walk away from all this while you still can. Take your wife, sell everything, and start again."
"I'm getting too old for that." Davos had replied. "But an old fool can do something right."
He'd left not long after that, and Ned had fallen back into fitful sleep. But that had been days ago, or weeks… or was it only hours? Ned didn't know. He went to sleep and it was dark, he woke up and it was dark, light only came when people chose to visit him. But one day that changed, he woke up and there was light, the cell door was open. He looked down at his chains and found them unlocked, an iron sword lay on the straw near the door… but it was too easy, it had to be a trap.
He freed himself of his chains and tried to stand, but his legs didn't want to hold his weight. Slowly he gained his feet and started to gingerly walk around the room. He was in no state to fight, if he tried to run they'd kill him, they could justify it if he tried to run, so he sat back down. Some time passed and he stood up again, he walked some more, he walked over to the sword, but he didn't pick it up, he walked over to the far side of the cell, away from the chains, and found some fresh straw to sleep in. When he woke up again the door was shut, but he was still unchained, he carefully found his way to where the sword had been, but it was gone. He walked blindly around the room, feeling his way, his legs were slowly getting stronger, he settled down on the far side of the room from the door and waited. So they wanted to play games, did they? Let them play.
Some time later guards and servants came to change and bath him, they were shocked to find him unchained, but he didn't fight them, they seemed happy enough to let him bath himself. When he put on the fresh clothes he noticed that they were his own. They gave him bread and water, and he was kind enough to remember that they were just doing their job and say thank you. He knew he was still weak, but as long as they didn't chain him back up again…
Over time the guards snuck him better food and he started to get stronger, they talked with him, and he learnt that they were uneasy with the things that were happening. He learnt their names, learnt about their families, their hopes and dreams. He never asked them to help him and they never offered. Then one day the door was open again, an Iron sword lying on the ground. Hesitantly he picked it up, up, that was the only way to go. He saw a guard standing with their back to him, the man's name was Deke, he had a wife and three sons. His wife was pregnant and he was hoping for a girl, he wanted to name her Daisy. Ned liked Deke, but that didn't change things, he strangled the guard with the sword's belt quickly and dragged him into the cell. He striped the guard, taking his armour, helm, and cloak. He took the man's keys and purse, his sword and his dagger. Then he took the keys and started opening every cell he could find. He found Davos in one of them, pressed one of the swords into his hand and tried to get him to stand.
"C'mon, Davos," He muttered. "We have to go help Shireen."
There were people in some of the other cells, criminals maybe? Soldiers? Ned didn't know, but he opened every door. And unlocked every chain. Three times Ned managed to approach guards from behind and strangle them, each time he knew their name. Each time another man took their gear and sword. The last Black Cell was the biggest shock, Tyrion Lannister. This imp was injured and slow, but Ned wouldn't leave him behind.
There were more guards on the next level, but Ned and three others were in guards uniforms so the guards were easy to trick, the first group was a group of three, when they challenged the escaping prisoners Ned stated that there were orders to move all of the prisoners. He made as if to reach for the orders and one of the guard's lent close, the guard's visor was up, Ned sent an open palm forcefully into the nose, pushing the bone up was enough to kill the guard and two of the other men had taken out the other guards before they could draw their blades.
"That's dirty, Stark, I like it." Tyrion muttered.
"We need clean uniforms if we're going to pull this off." Ned replied. "You two, keys, you three, can you use a sword?"
"Yes." "Yeah." "I'll give it a try." The three men replied.
Ned nodded. "Good, put their uniforms on, quickly now, Davos, help them. Tyrion, you may be short, but you know how armour is supposed to go, talk them through it."
The cells of this level yielded more surprises, Alester Florent, Beric Dondarrion, and young Neddy Dayne amongst them. A dozen more guards died, Ned sent Beric and Neddy with Davos to find Shireen, disguised in guard uniforms.
"And what are you going to do?" Tyrion asked carefully.
"I'm going to kill Stannis." Ned replied as he unlocked another cell.
Tyrion swallowed thickly. "I know the back passages of this Keep better than you do, I'm not much use in a fight, but I can get you so far. What about these, ah, lovely men?"
"Their fate and choices are their own." Ned replied. "Although any that choose are welcome to join me."
Alester Florent squared his shoulders. "I'm with you, Lord Stark."
They caught Stannis by surprise, the Red woman was with him, she raised the fires up against them, as she had done in the Throne Room, but Ned just laughed and threw his arms around Stannis as he burnt. Stannis started to scream before Ned did, he was in agony, but he wasn't letting go. He managed to drive Stannis towards a window, they were still burning when Ned forced them through the glass, they were still burning as they started to fall. As the ground rushed up to meet him the last thought that passed through Ned's head was of Ashara Dayne's smile. Maybe now he would see her again?
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