Ned gripped the railings on the deck as the North's largest galley lurched sideways from the huge wave. The Sea Wolf was the North's pride in the sea, and was built by a former smuggler, caught by Manderly forces, but in exchange for his life, he vowed to serve House Stark and build ships, as he explained the lack thereof of fleets.
His father had taken the smuggler under his service ever since, unfortunately the ship was only finished a month after the rebellion. For its maiden voyage, the ship sailed from white harbor to gull town, to fetch Ned, when Robert sent out a raven ordering the capture of Rhaella at Dragonstone. He remembered what happened when the Lannister forces arrived first at Kingslanding, and he had no doubt that the same would happen if Robert's forces arrived at the island first.
"Lordship awaits you Ser Davos if we reach Dragonstone in time!" Ned shouted at the man who he himself was shouting orders to his crew.
"Build the castle already then milord, we already have arrived!" the man grinned, as he pointed at the looming figure ahead of them, hidden by the rain and surge.
Dragonstone.
XXXXxxxxXXXX
He had his head on top of his shoulders, he could not breathe freely until he had reached the neck where it was safe. He planned three different routes, the other two a fake envoy to shake off potential assassins, after all it was not everyday you carry a Targaryen babe.
Five hours ago
"Kill her! Kill that dragonspawn!" Robert screamed red-faced, veins bulging around his face and neck. Ned shook his head and seethed inside, how had Robert come to this? Maybe Lyanna had a point. But he shook away his thoughts of his sister and focused at the task at hand; saving Daenerys Targaryen, the only acknowledged living Targaryen in Westeros.
"No Robert, she is naught but a child! Innocent of her family's crimes!" Ned held the crying babe tighter.
"She is a threat to your grace's rule, she must be disposed of." Tywin Lannister spoke, he did not shout nor raised his voice, but it felt like listening to his father. His cold eyes betrayed nothing, was this his face too when he ordered the deaths of Elia Martell and her children?
"Are we cravens now my lords that we are afraid of a little babe?" Ned spoke, he looked at the eyes of all the great lords in the room.
"Her father killed your family Ned! And her brother raped your sister!" Robert screamed
"She is not her family! She is still a babe and is innocent of her family's crimes! Jaime Lannister already killed the Mad king, and you yourself smashed his chest in, and crashed his face. As far as I'm afraid, justice has been done. Are we so much cravens now that we cower before a babe?"
"Lord Stark may have the right of this, mad as her family is, she shows no sign of it yet. I am not so cold as to kill little children, raise her, and marry her to your child to consolidate your reign." Stannis spoke blandly, he was the youngest in the room, but he served as the lord of Storm's end.
"The seven hells freeze over before I marry any of my brood to that dragonspawn!" Robert practically spat at Ned's direction.
"Fear, lord Stark does great things to men, like the murder of babes and innocent." Doran Martell now voiced out, his face emotionless but in his eyes fire raged.
"We called this council to reach a decision, it has been an hour now and still we have not yet arrived at one." Hoster Tully rubbed his greying beard, his good father eyeing him warily. "It is true that she is a babe, and yet when she grows up and declares that she wants the throne?" The riverlord continued, his eyes hardening as he looked at the last of the Targaryens.
Ned looked around the hall, Robert was fuming, Tywin silent and calculating, Hoster looked tired, Mace looked lost, and Jon looked at him blankly.
"My lords, if you'll listen to me." None could command a room full of giant egos as great as Jon Arryn. His voice commanded respect, one which Ned hoped to accomplish.
"She is a threat to Robert's kingdom true, but too many innocents have died, and it would not bode well for Robert if he killed her, the faith would ask questions." He continued as he rubbed his chin, and he truly looked old, despite still being a strong man he was into his sixties now, wrinkles adorned his face, and white hair predominated his head.
"I propose that she be raised by a house loyal to Robert, to be a ward of that house and raised to be a loyal subject of the crown." Silence reigned in the room.
"Foolishness, it would be offering loyalists another dragon to raise their banners for. We might as well offer the girl the Iron throne by now." Tywin spoke in a quiet voice, but inside he was cursing, he knew he had to get in control or his legacy would be threatened.
"That's why we have a loyal house to Robert raise her, if the girl gets it into her head that she wants the throne then we can control her." Jon argued back.
"So you propose the Vale then? So one day you may have a queen of your own on the throne?" Tywin questioned the falcon lord.
"Nay, I would be Hand of the King here, but did I not raise my banners when her father demanded the heads of my foster sons? Did I not risk my life to topple off House Targaryen? No my lord, I do not wish to let Targaryens reign over us again, but never would I let the murder of an innocent child take place." Robert looked furious at their foster father.
"I still say that she dies!" Robert slammed his fists on the table and took a swig at his goblet.
"I see the merit of lord Arryn, let the babe be fostered by a family loyal to his grace, perhaps if House Tyrell could do it?" Mace placed his hands on the table, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
"Were you not Targaryen Loyalists four moons ago? Now you wish to foster a dragon lord Tyrell? Do you think us fools?" Hoster Tully laughed at the audacity of the Reachlord whose face turned Red with shame and anger.
"But we bent the knee! We have already sent food and provisions for the people of Kingslanding!" Mace screamed.
"Peace Lord Tyrell, Hoster speaks true, while none here could say that they are as generous as your house, you have sided with the Targaryens, and people would get the wrong idea, no, for the stability of the realm Daenerys Targaryen would not be fostered in Highgarden." Jon said, his eyes darted around the room, this people were the most powerful in the realm, one mistake and war would happen again.
"I think Lord Stark should foster the babe." Doran spoke, he crossed his arms.
"Bah, and give them a weapon to use against the throne?" Lord Tywin shook his head.
"He is nothing but honorable, he personally delivered the remains of my sister and her children even if he did not need to, and I hear he personally killed of one of the perpetrators? One of your men lord Tywin" Doran glared at the Lannister lord.
"Lies, it was not me, nor have I given such any orders!" Tywin sat rigidly in his chair.
"A babe stabbed for half a hundred times, then raped? A boy, not even a year of age had his head smashed in! Is that justice?" Doran spoke, standing up.
"The man already claimed guilty, and Stark already beheaded him. I did not order anyone to do so much as that." Tywin spoke coldly as he glared back at Doran.
"The mountain was also claimed to be the one to kill Aegon and Elia, my lords, your grace, justice is not yet done!" Doran looked around the room, as he furiously pointed at Tywin.
"Lorch claimed he was the one to do it, all." Tywin argued.
"Justice is done, Rhaegar raped my Lyanna! Those dragonspawns deserved to die!" Robert screamed.
Doran bristled. He was about to say something but Ned shouted, the babe in his arms crying.
"My lords, tis true that raising her would always be a threat, but House Stark has nothing to gain with fostering her. My own father and brother died by the Mad King's hands, my sister abducted by Rhaegar, I assure you my lords, I would be the last one to raise her to the throne." Ned spoke coldly.
"Ned speaks right, House Stark and the North has suffered the most during this war. I would sooner trust lord Stark with the babe than any other man in the realm." Hoster spoke in support of his goodson, which Ned nodded at him in gratitude.
"What about when you die Ned, what stops her from raising her banners?" Robert asked as he glared at his foster brother. Ned dismissed the glare and looked at Robert blankly. To be frank he had no answer to that either, so he hugged the babe closer.
"I have a solution my lords. Eddard, you have a son do you not? Your heir? Hoster's second in line after Edmure if I may be wrong?" Jon Arryn asked, as he clasped his hands together.
Hoster waved his hand and muttered "Aye, after Edmure and should he not have any heirs, Robb is the heir to the Riverruns."
"Robb, Robb is his name." Ned looked at the king whose eyes softened a touch.
"I propose then that the girl be betrothed to the boy, and when they come in age, be married under the old gods or new, to ensure her loyalty, and to prevent her from being taken by Targeryen loyalists." Jon said, the room once more reigned in silence, the squalls of the babe and Ned's shooing the only sound in the room.
Ned suddenly felt his throat go dry, and swallowed non existent water.
"I-I see such merit in your plan lord Arryn, and lord Stark has my confidence." Hoster spoke.
"Of course the ever ambitious Lord Tully." Tywin dryly said.
"You dare?!" Hoster stood up and slammed his fists at the table.
Poor table Ned thought, it had been subjected to abuse this past hour.
"Enough milords, lets call a vote, say aye if you agree, and nay if not." Jon raised his voice over the screaming.
Hoster calmed down but still glared at the Lion of the Westerlands, who ignored him.
"Aye for me, Lord Tully?" Jon spoke first. His hand brooch glinting in the light.
"Aye" his good father replied.
"Lord Tyrell?"
"Aye"
"Prince Doran?"
"Aye"
"Lord Lannister?"
"Nay"
"Lord Stannis?"
"Aye"
"Lord Stark?"
Ned looked at the babe who stared at him in curiosity, eyes still wet from crying. Already he felt responsible for the babe.
"Aye, I will raise her a loyal subject to the throne, and teach her of the Targaryen's crimes and horrors." Ned spoke, as he stared at everyone at the room.
"Your grace?"
"Bugger me off, go then and raise her in your frozen wasteland home, I hear one word of treason and House Stark will be gone in the history books!" Robert roared, and threw his goblet across the room, he stood up, glared at Ned, then left the hall.
"If there are no more concerns my lords, the meeting is adjourned." Jon Arryn cleared his throat and all the men stood, Tywin left immediately after Robert who called for his hammer, to cooldown in the training yard.
"Forgive him Ned, he has anger in his heart." Jon Arryn spoke, but Ned raised his hand.
"You need not apologize for something out of your control Jon, I fear that for all that he has matured as a fighter, he is still a boy inside." Ned spoke as he sighed.
"How's Jon?" Ned froze as Jon asked.
"Well, I will raise him in Winterfell alongside my heir, it is the right thing to do." Ned said carefully.
"Tis right, I would not scold you anymore as I know you already know your mistake. It is not easy to do the right things, but honor compels us to. You are a great man Ned, Rickard would be proud. I should go now, there is still the matter of the Kingsguard." Jon clasped the lord of Winterfell's shoulder, as he conversed with Doran Martell.
"You are more brother to my own brother, as he claims, I care not, I do not like senseless violence, nor killing innocents, but should she get the wrong ideas you should do your duty Lord Stark." Ned stared coldly at the young stag, who gritted his teeth as he spoke, but he nodded his head in respect and left quickly.
"Many will try to harm you on the road, and I fear Tywin would move against you and call it an accident." Hoster grimaced as he thinks of the Warden of the West.
"We will board the Sea Wolf father, tis a fine vessel. Have you breached the matter with Lord Brynden my lord?" Ned asked.
"He says that he shall think of it, but for now he shall continue his service to the Eyrie." Hoster pursed his lips.
"I understand then, I shall send him a letter, he is always welcome in the North." Ned said, Daenerys was already fast asleep on his arms.
"Lord Mace! The trades are fair then, five hundred pounds of different grains to be given to the north monthly, as well as bushels of fruits in season, doubled when winter comes in exchange for an investment in the bank of the reach, as well as wood shipments and wool."
"Tis a fair trade my lord, forgive me, but I must go to my family, my wife has recently given birth to a daughter." Ned nodded as the man briskly walked away.
"Lord Stark, you shall always have a friend in Dorne, you have done so much service for us." Prince Doran bowed to him
"Do not bow Prince Doran, I fear I was too late in arriving, I did not get to save your sister nor her children. It should be I who bows in apology." Ned shook his head as he remembered the horrow he witnessed.
"Much so my lord that you have given us far more justice than what the crown has offered, I will be off then my lords." Doran bowed his head in respect before walking away, his scent of spices and exotic oil lingering in the air.
"Say hello to Cat for me Ned, and send my love to Robb." Hoster shook his hand then hugged him.
"I would send word to Seaguard if you wish to dock there?" Hoster asked.
"We have bought enough provisions for three month's worth of sailing, I do not wish to dock in any port except White Harbor."
"A wise choice." With that both men exited the halls, and together with their guards made way for the bay.
As Daenerys fussed around looking for a sweet spot as she slept, Ned cooed and hugged her tightly. Not even a woman flowered and men had already decided her fate.