Storm of the North

283 AC, Red Mountains of Dorne

They rode, the sun beating down on them.

The sun felt like it was scorching already and they weren't even close to Sunspear. He could only imagine, how it would be there. They were nearing the tower. So close, yet so far. His gut told him the sun wouldn't be the last obstacle in his way today. Good thing he'd sent Naruto ahead, to, if not take care of the enemies, at least stall them so they could not run. Hopefully the younger man, boy still really, wouldn't be hurt. Naruto had proven himself a good replacement for his mother, in protecting the Stark family. His only failure, if it could be called that, was losing track of Lyanna after the tourney of Harrenhall.

These were the thoughts of one Eddard 'Ned' Stark. The Quiet Wolf. Lord of Winterfell. Now Warden of the North, probably. To his friend and brother in arms, Robert Baratheon, the war seemed to be over. He sat on the throne. Never mind they still didn't hadn't secured the one thing that started this damn war in the first place, Ned's sister Lyanna Stark. He rode toward the Tower of Joy along with Howland Reed, Lord William Dustin, Ethan Glower, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull and Ser Mark Ryswell. All men of the north, all good men. And none liked this heat.

The whole war got it's starting beats when the now former prince of the Seven Kingdoms Rhaegar Targaryen had stolen her. Usually there is no problem a prince taking a young maiden along them. The problem in this case? Lyanna was promised to Robert Baratheon, the future Lord paramount of the Stormlands, for marriage.

Ned's older brother Brandon had taken umbrage and rode south to meet with the king him self to demand the return of their sister. The king had imprisoned Brandon and demanded that Rickard, Lord Stark, Ned's Lyanna's and Brandons father come to court to answer for his son's 'misdeeds'.

Rickard had done so, only to be captured as well. When demanding a trial by combat for the king's imagined slights the king had declared he would agree and declared fire as his representative and lit Rickard on fire. Brandon was forced to watch, unable to help his father. He was given a "chance". A rope had been wrapped around his neck and a sword placed right out of his reach. He had been told he could freely save his father from the flames, he just needed to cut the rope and free his father. Brandon strangled himself to death while crying for his father and trying to reach for the blade.

Then the king had declared Ned and Robert were to come before the king along with the man raising them, Lord Jon Arryn, Warden of the East and reaffirm their loyalty.

That had been the last straw.

The banners were called. Ned rode to the North, Robert rode to the Stormlands.

Ned had come home to Winterfell. Naruto's last orders from Ned's father were to guard Ned's younger brother Benjen with his life. He had kept Benjen safe, training the younger boy when Ned arrived. They had gathered the men and Ned rode south, with Naruto acting as his right hand. Benjen remained at Winterfell.

His father had told him, he'd never seen such ferocity as with Naruto's mother on the battlefield. Ned believed the same held true for the son. Anytime Ned felt he was about to die in the middle of battle, he turned and saw Naruto there, guarding his back and butchering any would be attackers. The way he swung a greatsword with a single hand and another sword in the other, carving all who stood against them, was awe inspiring. It was why he sent Naruto ahead to find Lyanna, while he moved to Kingslanding, to finally put and end to a Targaryen rule. The man was one who would stand toe to toe with any Kingsguard. Naruto had even faced Barristan the Bold and came out on top.

So, it was strange when he laid his eyes upon the sight in front of the tower.

Naruto, till clad in his lighter than normal armor, sitting in front of the tower, his back to the tower. The younger man's legs were crossed, his greatsword leaning on the big rock he was sitting on. Down on the ground in front of the rock Naruto sat upon, there were three Kingsguard's in front of the rock, patiently waiting, guarding the entrance to the tower. One was Ser Arthur Dayne "Sword of the Morning". Next to him were Ser Oswell Whent "the Black Bat" and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower "The White Bull".

What had happened? The Kingsguard were still here. So was Naruto.

"Naruto! What is this!?" Ned yelled up at the younger man.

"Ned, calm down." Naruto replied patiently.

"Calm down?! I sent you here to bring back my sister and here you are, waiting with these traitors!" Ned raged.

Naruto remained silent for a moment, let out a sigh and then stood up and jumped down from the rock. When Naruto was firmly on the ground again, he didn't reach for the blade leaning against the rock. he turned to Ned and stared right into his eyes.

"We can't move her. Not yet." Naruto spoke simply "She is my friend and as such, until she can be safely moved, we'll not be going anywhere. None of us."

"Start making sense man! Speak plainly!" Ned barked.

Naruto looked at him for a moment, glanced at Ser Dayne and spoke "I arrived here a while ago. When I arrived, I requested entrance to the tower and was denied. Ser Dayne and I then had brief altercation. Neither could get the upper hand and some information rose to our knowledge. After the knowledge surfaced, neither wished to continue the fight, so we came to an agreement in which I was given momentary access to the tower while unarmed, to assess conditions of Lyanna being here. We agreed, I and the three Kingsguards along with the woman tending to Lyanna, that she cannot be moved yet."

Ned processed Naruto's words.

"I want to see her." Ned spoke, gritting his teeth.

Arthur looked to the younger man, the nodded towards Naruto "Same rule, you leave your weapon"

Naruto leaned back against the rock, watching as Ned's faced soured, yet Ned did as asked and left his sword with on of the men with him. Ned came to stand in front of Arthur who blocked the passage to the tower, simply staring in to the older man's eyes. Arthur nodded and moved out of the way, allowing Ned to walk up the stairs of the tower.

Naruto and Arthur both stared after Ned for a while. Then looked to each other. Arthur drew his blade, while Naruto did the same and moved to larger space and started sparring, while Ser Whent and Hightower moved to guard the entrance.

To the men who arrived with Ned it was a bizzare sight to say the least. A young man, matching blades with a legendary Kingsguard, both wielding greatswords like they were nothing. The younger man moved more lightly, attacking with speed and moving like he wouldn't leave prints in snow and the Kingsguard not allowing the younger man to leverage his mobility by blocking most avenues of attack, limiting his space.

Different methods of fighting, yet both seemed to be matched. Both seemed to be enjoying themselves as well. There seemed to be almost joy as they clashed. Like old friends seeing each other again after a long time or something similar.

When they broke their clash, Ser Dayne spoke lightly smiling "A few more years of experience for you and I would hate be across from you."

"Aye, mother said you were a bit of a pushover" Naruto japed.

The answer was Ser Dayne bullying Naruto with his larger size by invading Naruto's defence, pushing back the younger man with a statement of "I said few more years. Leave the jokes till you're at your best, you still have room to grow."

Naruto grunted as he tried to escape Ser Dayne's reach and not having any luck with it. When he was almost pushed to the ground, he grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at Ser Dayne's face finally getting him to back off, while the Kingsguard was dodging the small cloud of sand.

"What was that? Seemed pretty desperate." Ser Dayne poked fun.

"Shut up. Mean old man." Naruto needled back.

"Old? OLD?! I'll show you old!" Ser Dayne attacked again.

The Kingsguards shook their heads in exasperation. The Northmen felt like they were having a strange dream. Maybe the heat was making them see things.

The sparring continued for a while, until Ned came back walking down the stairs. He looked shocked and unsettled.

William Dustin was the first to voice the unasked question "Ned, how is Lyanna? Was Naruto telling the truth? Does she have to stay here?"

Ned turned to the men who came with him, still shaken "Yes, she can't be moved, she needs rest."

Ned then turned to Ser Dayne and Naruto "She said she wants to see you both"

The men in question nodded and hurried towards the tower, disappearing inside.

"My Lord" Howland Reed began "you look like you've seen a ghost. Is there something wrong?"

Ned was silent. He opened his mouth momentarily, then closed it, opened again and closed again.

Then he seemed to gather his thoughts "Yes, there is something wrong. We can't do anything about it. I need all of you to vow everything that happens here, remains here, none can know." Ned peered at his comrades.

Said comrades weighed his words, then one by one knelt, with their heads bowed.

"Thank you, my friends. Now get up, no kneeling, not here" Ned spoke, a bit of emotion creeping in to his voice.

To be continued…?

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