Chapter 16
The Secret
Winterfell, The North(298 AC)
It was a beautiful day. The birds chirping, the castle of Winterfell filled with serene sunlight which enhanced its natural aesthetics and beauty. This peaceful scenery is disturbed by the screams of the Warden of Winterfell.
"How dare you try to arrest Elia's daughter?" Ashara asked her eldest as she tried to crush his head under her feet.
"OW OW OW…Mother, have mercy please. I didn't try to arrest her, we just brought her in for her own protection and to ask her some questions." Damien plead for his life under her mother's feet.
As soon as Rhaenys was brought in by Damien, Robb and Jon, chaos ensued in the ancient castle of Winterfell. Ashara started to bawl with Rhaenys as they both hugged each other for support followed by Ashara trying to crush Damien's head when he suggested that Rhaenys needed to be brought in for questioning.
We find Damien groaning in pain in the floor, with Jon trying to calm Ashara down. Robb was having the time of his life as he saw his cousin suffering in such a comical fashion and Catelyn was simply chucking at her nephew's misfortune. Rhaenys was plain horrified when she saw Damien the Impaler, writhing on the floor begging for mercy from his own mother.
Rhaenys remembered Ashara, after all, Ashara was the Lady of Honor in service of her mother. As soon as Rhaenys saw Ashara her fears of being executed abated a little bit and she started crying a little. She never expected that the most fearsome Warden on the continent, who had the reputation of being utterly ruthless and cruel whenever necessary, was so scared of his own mother.
The scene of Ashara threatening Damien would have been hilarious for her had it not so completely absurd. In Rhaenys mind, the image of a ruthless and cruel Damien was completely shattered and she calmed down a little. She started to hope that maybe aunt Ashara could save her from Robert and Damien's wrath.
As a furious Ashara was pulled away by Jon and a laughing Robb was dragged away by Catelyn, Damien slowly stood up and faced Rhaenys who was looking at him with a small but beautiful smile. Immediately Damien started to fight his rising blush as his fearsome reputation was completely obliterated by his own mothers.
"Are you alright ?" Rhaenys asked as she looked at Damien with a little apprehension.
"I am fine," Damien replied as he fixed his hair. "I didn't know you knew my mother, your grace. If I did, I would have bought you in with all the courtesies befitting a queen."
"I am not and never will be a Queen." Rhaenys said, filled with melancholy. " My mother was a queen, and what did that get her except for humiliation and pain. Even her death was painful and horrifying."
"Forgive me, your grace. It wasn't my intention to make you reminisce something that is clearly painful for you. But," Damien said in a serious voice. "I need you to answer a few questions beginning with the most obvious one, How are you still alive?"
Rhaenys took a long breath to calm her uneven nerves and began her long and perilous tale. Rhaenys remembered it all as clearly as it was yesterday. The years that have since passed had indeed dulled the pain but the wound of that day will forever be fresh on her psyche .
Flashback, Kings Landing (On the day of the Sacking)
"Please your grace you have to run. Tywin's mad dogs are already at the gates of the Red Keep. We have to get you away from here." Varys pled as he disobeyed the mad king and tried to save the queen and her children.
"No, I will not leave my loyal guards and household alone in this time of great peril. What kind of Queen would I be if turned tail and ran." Elia asked as she looked at Varys with sad eyes. "I will not abandon my people and my home. I will plead with Lord Tywin to spare my children. He will surely see the strength it will provide his position, to have the Queen and her children as bargaining chips."
"But what if he doesn't listen to you. It's too great a risk my queen, please." Varys begged for her queen to reconsider. "If not for yourself then for you children, I beg you your grace, please reconsider."
"No," Elia said in a determined voice. "I will not run, Varys. Rhaenys, go to your room and wait for my handmaiden to come and get you. Varys, please escort Rhaenys to her room."
Varys looked truly sad as he escorted a frightened Rhaenys back to her room but suddenly he gained a determined expression and turned to Rhaenys and knelt down to her level and begged with her. If he couldn't save them all, he would save at least one of them.
"My princess," Varys began in a grave and frightening tone. "You must escape. My man will escort you to the port where you will be taken to Essos. Please princess, you must escape or they will kill you."
"But my mother,.." A very frightened Rhaenys began but was cut off by Varys as he pled again.
"Please, princess. You must escape, I will save your mother and brother too but you have to escape as quickly as you can. We don't have any more time princess, please." Varys begged as he looked at the now weeping Rhaenys and hugged her for the last time and ordered his man to escape with her.
For the first time in her life, Rhaenys defied her mother and chose to run as Varys told her. Fear addled her mind and she couldn't stop crying as her protector scooped her in his arms and ran out of the Red Keep. But fate didn't take you very far when you are standing at the heart of chaos and chaos collected its first due.
The guard who was carrying her saw some Lannister soldiers making their way towards them and immediately ordered the princess to run, and run she did. She ran ignoring the shouts and chaos that surrounded her and she ran until she couldn't run anymore and stumbled into a man with grey tunic and pants.
As the princess looked at the soldier she noticed a difference in the clothing of this soldier as it was not Lannister red but grey. She knew this was it for her and she started bawling her eyes out, after all she didn't want to die. But something unexpected happened.
In the heart of darkness sometimes light makes its way and in this moment of utter chaos fate finally smiled on the little princess as she was immediately enveloped in a hug. Rhaenys didn't even care at this point and she just bawled her eyes out in the arms of this soldier who tried his best to calm her down.
When she couldn't cry anymore she fell asleep in the soldiers arms, never expecting to wake up from this sleep but when she opened her eyes the next time she was surprised to find herself hung in a cloth bag from the back of the very soldier that comforted her.
"You are finally awake little one." The soldier asked her as he pulled her from her bag and hugged her.
This was too much for the little princess. In the past few days of darkness and cruelty a small gesture of love was all it took for Rhaenys to weep again and desperately hold onto the soldier for any familial comfort she could find.
The soldier immediately recognized her and sheltered her from the rest of his fellow soldiers. This soldier was not a Lannister but from the North. He was a part of Eddard Starks forces and after finding out what happened to the queen and her children he was more determined than ever to protect the princess.
Together Rhaenys and the soldier made their way back into the North where he raised her as her as his own daughter. He even gave her a name, Alaya. For little Rhaenys, her new father became her whole world.
As the years went by and Rhaenys came to know the truth of what happened to her real father, mother and brother she came to resent the Starks, Baratheon's and above all else, the Lannister's. She swore vengeance against them but with the reforms that the North enacted, she came to see the Starks in a different light.
Here was a Lord Stark who was 3 years younger than her yet he completely transformed the North. Here was a Lord who went to war for his people at the tender age of 9 and surprised everyone by actually winning. Here was a Lord who thought of the commers first and nobility later. Here was a Lord who was loved by millions and hated by Rhaenys.
But people forget that time is a wonderful healer and the weight of vengeance far supersedes the weight anyone has the capacity to carry. So with the reforms in the North, the betterment of commoners everywhere and her new father's death when she was 15, Rhaenys finally let go of all her hate.
She decided to forever remain Alaya, a practitioner healer in the service of Winterfell. She thought she would devout her life to saving others so that nobody would suffer as she did but fate had different things in mind. Which brings us back to now.
Present Day, Winterfell
As Damien heard the princess's tale he couldn't help but feel proud of his own accomplishments and pity the poor princess who has only known misfortune all her life. Here was a brave princess who lost everything and had every right to hate him, even if its born out of irrationality. But her golden heart forgave him and his family.
"So," the princess began cautiously. "Should I await my execution orders Lord Stark?" Rhaenys asked in a resigned tone.
She knew Starks were family to King Robert and the Kings hatred for anything Targaryen was legendary. She knew the moment her identity was reveled that this could only lead to the chopping block. She knew her borrowed time was over.
As she began to contemplate and accept the inevitability of death she slowly began to weep. Partly because of her inevitable death, but the main reason the princess wept was because she was still the same cowardly little girl who ran away and let her family be killed when she lived thousands of miles away in comfort.
As she wept silently when suddenly she felt a hand on her chin and she was forced to look into the beautiful amethyst eyes of the Warden of the North. He looked worried and sad at the same time.
"Why do you cry, your grace?" Damien asked as he looked at the crying princess with pity and worry.
"Because after all these years, I am still a coward, afraid of death. I ran away because I was afraid when they killed my family and now again, when death finally comes to take me, I am still scared of dying. I am still a coward." Rhaenys confessed as she wept furiously.
"You are not a coward, your grace." Damien said as he touched his forehead with the princess and wiped her beautiful eyes which were full of fear and tears. "It's natural to be afraid of death. Without the fear of death, humanity will lack the spirit to achieve something extraordinary in the drive to survive."
"You think you are the only one who is afraid of death but you lack the knowledge that it's the fear of death that drives humanity to the path of excellence. In strive of a better life, humanity betters the society as whole. The fear of death gives us strength, strength to be extraordinary. The fear of death doesn't make you a coward, it just makes you as normal and as extraordinary as the rest of humanity." Damien continued as he looked into the now attentive princess's eyes.
"It is difficult to comprehend, despite its simplicity. But in the end," Damien said as he smiled at the princess as he finally enveloped her in a hug. "We are all just humans. You who had the courage to forgive her families murderers and move can never be a coward. Your are the bravest person I had the pleasure of meeting, your grace."
After so many years, Rhaenys finally felt at rest as she held Damien tightly and cried as she buried her face into his neck. Damien's warmth and words gave her enough courage and she cried in liberation from fear and acceptance of her own mortality.
"I am ready, I am ready to die, my Lord." Rhaenys whispered in Damien's ears as she refused to let go of his warmth.
"Well too bad, princess. Because I am not ready to kill you just yet. You entrusted me with your secret, it would be terrible manners for me to not reveal my own little secret to you. You are not the only living child of Rhaegar Targaryen in this castle." Damien whispered in her ears.
Kings Landing, The Crownlands
"You would dare lecture me, your King. I brought you here to help me not to take away the last pieces of joy I have left." Robert roared as he stood face to face with an equally furious Eddard.
The news of cancelling the tourney didn't sit well with Robert but what infuriated him further was that his friend was calling him an incompetent and vain king. He knew he had not been a good king by any standard but he was a hell of a lot better than the Mad king and he would not stand for anyone calling him incompetent and vain.
"When the Mad king died, people expected their situation to improve Robert. But you drowned in your own grief and now the kingdom is 6 million in debt with absolutely nothing to show for it. This is the height of incompetence and vanity and your numbers speak for themselves." Eddard roared back.
Robert would have crushed anyone else for this insolence, but Eddard and he had always tussled like this. Eddard was the level headed one whereas Robert was the furious one. Eddard was the Jon to Roberts Damien in his mind. Robert knew Eddard spoke the truth but that didn't make it any less insulting.
"Careful, Ned. Be careful of how you speak to me. I AM THE KING." Robert roared as a show of power.
"IF YOU ARE A KING THEN ACT LIKE ONE. Remember what Jon used to tell us, a good king only lives and dies for his kingdom. Here, you sit on your fat arse as the rest of your kingdom starves. I will not tolerate this Robert. You brought me here to help you and save you but it also means that I have to save you from yourself." Eddard roared back.
Both of them looked at each other with intense eyes and both awaited the blow they were expecting from the other but slowly the tension abated. Jamie and Barristan released their breath as Robert slowly walked away from Eddard and sat in his chair with his eyes full of melancholy.
"What would you have me do Ned?" Robert asked Eddard in a defeated tone.
"Lead your people Robert, that's what a great king does. Then need a good leader to show them that they don't have to starve. They need you to show them that the poverty ended with the Targaryen regime and that your regime brings a peaceful and beautiful tomorrow." Eddard said as he pled with his friend.
"If you truly want to burn away the name Targaryen from the minds of the people of the Capital then be the king that washes away the sins of all the past Targaryen king and then nobody would remember them. They will burn their name in effigy and hail you as their savior. Be their savior Robert." Eddard asked as he knelt beside his friend and his King.
Robert looked as if the fire had returned to his eyes and he looked at Eddard full of passion and finally said, "Do what you must, I give you my complete authority."
Eddard released a sigh of breath that he didn't know he was holding in and took his leave from the Kings chamber with Jamie in tow.
"That was a powerful speech Lord Stark, but do you really think you can save these people?" Jamie asked as he walked with Eddard towards the small council chamber.
"You saved these people 17 years ago, sir Jamie. I am barely making sure that their living standards are up to mark." Eddard replied as he smiled at Jamie.
"I know I am very limited in my capacity to help, but please ask me for any help that is within my power my Lord." Jamie said as he bowed before Eddard.
"Raise you head, Sir Jamie. Your thought of help speaks of how wrong I was in my assessment of your character and your honor. Fear not Sir Jamie, I will call for your help whenever I need it." Eddard said as he patted Jamie on his shoulders and walked into the small council chamber.
When Eddard entered the small council chamber he found it completely deserted except for a man in black clothes waiting for him, sitting at the head chair. He had his entire face covered and only his eyes were visible.
Eddard immediately went on guard and started to move his hand towards his sword but stopped his advance when he heard what the masked man said.
"The Winter King sends his salutation, Lord Stark." The masked man said as he looked at Eddard who was staring back at him with wide eyes.
"You are one of the Unseen. My nephew told me you were going to meet me here. What is your name, my friend." Eddard asked in a hushed voice as he sat next to the spy.
"Relax Lord Stark, my men have completely secured this room. Whatever you and I will say will only stay between us. As for my name, you may call me Shadow " The masked man, now identified as Shadow said as he turned to face Eddard.
"I thought the head of your organization was called Shadow, are you the head of the Unseen?" Eddard asked as he looked at the spy with awe and reverence.
"We are all Shadows, my Lord. We all live and die in the Shadows so that the North can prosper under the sun. But enough chit chat. I have come to tell you that we have collected what our Lord asked of us." Shadow told Eddard as he took out some documents from under his shirt.
As Eddard finished reviewing the documents when he asked, "Are your men in position?"
"My men are always in position, my Lord. Right now 10 men are in the Shadows looking over our meeting, 10 others are looking over your daughters, 5 are stationed around the king, 10 around the queen and the rest are classified. Rest assured, my Lord, we are always ready." Shadow said as he got up to move out of the room through a secret passage.
"Then it's time for my move, and for the game to commence." Eddard said as he smiled at the genuineness of his nephews plan.
Later in the Evening, Tower of The Hand
Eddard sat in his chambers as he patiently awaited his guest for this evening. He tried talking to his daughters but both of them were still angry with him so he decided to give them time. Arya professed her desire to learn swordsmanship and Eddard arranged for a Bravosi Water Dancer Syrio Forell and Jamie to look after her training.
Sansa decided to better spend her time with princess Myrcella and prince Tommen as well as Varys and spend most of her remaining time looking through the tomes in the possession of Grand Maester Pycelle.
As he heard someone nocking on his doors he beckoned for his special guest to come in and prepared himself.
Littlefinger was apprehensive about meeting Eddard on such short notice and was certain this meeting could not mean anything good for him but he knew above all else that nothing could be achieved without the presence of risk.
As Littlefinger sat in front of Eddard he waited a few moments for Eddard to start talking but when he didn't then Littlefinger started to squirm in his position.
"Do you know why I singled you out in our last small council meeting, Lord Baelish?" Eddard began looking at Littlefinger with amusement in his eyes.
"No, my Lord Hand." Littlefinger replied.
"I wanted the council to think that I am at odds with you, because they can never know what I have in mind for you." Eddard said as he got up from his position and started to walk towards Littlefinger.
"Excellent move my Lord Hand, but how can I help you?" Littlefinger asked as he relaxed a little as he watched Eddard walk towards the liquor counter.
"When I was asked to become the Hand of the King I didn't even contemplate wanting to do what I have decided to do. The state of the kingdom and its people has only reinforced my decision. My wife trusts you implicitly and I lack friends in this capital so I have decided to put my trust in you and ask for your help." Eddard asked as he poured two glasses of wine and started carrying it towards Littlefinger.
Littlefinger was calm on the outside but inside he was bouncing in excitement. He knew Eddard was planning to do something big and Catelyn must have told him to trust Peter. This was the best news he had ever hoped to have heard and he asked as he concealed his giddiness, "And what do you need my help with, my Lord?"
Eddard sat on his table in front of Baelish and extended him a glass of wine and said in a quiet voice, "I want your help to overthrow the King."
AN:- And here is another chapter guys, hope you like it. The polls are still going on so please vote and review this chapter if you like it. To some of my reviews I want to assure you that I have not forgotten about Val, I have a very special purpose for her in my mind but she will not be paired with Damien. Also this will not be a harem and a polygamy as I think Damien can barely handle one girl, let alone many :p. The current poles are as follows:-
Rhaenys Targaryen:- 21
Daenerys Targaryen:- 4
Margaery Tyrell:- 7
That's it for now. I love you guys and see you next time.