He had gone to bring home back a living sister. But he came back with a dead sister and a bundle in his arms.
Ned Stark had lifted the siege at Storm's End at the order of his king Robert Baratheon. And there he learned that his sister was at the Tower of Joy, located at the north end of the Prince's Pass. He had gone there with just six companions, all from the North. Howland Reed, Lord Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell went with him. But only Howland Reed had come back.
"Promise me Ned" he still remembered the last words his sister spoke before she breathed her last, she made him swear to protect her son. The one that she died giving birth to. Ned already saw the North in the boy, not a hint of Targaryen visible. It would be easy to hide him up in the North, to name him a baseborn son of the Lord of Winterfell. He could protect the last thing of his sister that remained.
Ned went to King's Landing before he went back North. He had gone to rescue his sister without any word to the King. It might be seen as a slight if he did not return to tell him of his reasoning at the very least. Robert and Jon he knew wouldn't see it as such, but the rest in court might. Southern politics, he hated it.
He wasn't surprised to find Robert at the gate, waiting to greet him. With him, he had Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, and Renly Baratheon. Stannis seemed to have put back on some of the weight he had lost from the siege. He looked slightly healthier than before. Renly though looked about back at his healthiest. The one that surprised Ned though was the woman stood just a bit back and a bundle in her arms. He did not know the woman, was she one of the women Robert impregnated?
"Ned!" Robert let out a barking laugh and hugged the Lord of Winterfell as a brother would. Ned returned the hug with the same emotions, hiding a small smile from the man. He felt Robert pull away and when he looked to the King's face, he saw him looking towards the casket.
"I'm sorry, Ned" Robert spoke solemnly and dipped his head. "Would you allow the silent sisters to prepare her body? To take her back home where she belongs?" he asked.
"I would be grateful, Your Grace" Ned nodded. Robert motioned for the men at the back to take the body from Ned and Howland. They took the body to the sept without another word.
"Surely you went with more men than just Howland here" Robert spoke once the body was taken away.
"I had taken six men with me, your Grace. But only Howland lived. The Kingsguard posted there to put up a valiant fight."
"I see" Robert muttered. "You've had a long journey, Ned. But there are important things we must discuss. Come with me. Howland, you as well. And bring the babe with you."
Ned was not surprised at being invited into the castle. He knew Robert would want to talk about Lyanna and rage about Rhaegar. Like he did when they were fighting battles. But to invite Howland and the child as well, did Robert know? A sudden fear gripped him at the thought. Surely not. There could be no way Robert would know.
Ned watched Robert take the babe from the woman that was standing with Jon while Howland took Lyanna's son from the midwife that had accompanied them from the tower. The group that walked with him consisted of the King, the Hand, and the King's younger brother. Renly had been sent away to do as he pleased while the midwife had been taken away by the woman somewhere. Probably to rest.
The King led the party to a room with just a big round table and chairs arranged around it. The Small Council room, Ned deduced. Inside of the room, there were two men sat that once more surprised Ned. Ser Barristan The Bold and Lord Varys The Spider.
"Allow me to introduce Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard."
"Lord Stark" Ser Barristan stood and gave a slight bow when the King introduced him. Ned gave a small bow back in respect.
"And Lord Varys, my master of whispers."
"Lord Stark" Varys' bow was more pronounced but held the same amount of respect that Ser Barristan's had. Though the returned greeting from Ned did not hold equal amounts of respect.
"And meet young Daenerys Targaryen, my ward" Robert now showed off the babe in hand.
"Targaryen?" Ned asked in shock as he watched the babe closely. She was surely a Targaryen, the purple eyes and platinum blonde hair told as much.
"The youngest child of Aerys and Rhaella" Robert explained and Ned looked at him with shock. "Rhaella died giving birth to her. Ser Willem Darry brought her here, by the help of our own master of whispers."
"What about Viserys? Where is he?" Ned asked a sudden urgency in his voice. "And what happened to Ser Willem?"
"Ser Willem has returned to Dragonstone. He will be acting castellan until Daenerys is of age to take up the ladyship of Dragonstone. As for Viserys" Robert cleared his throat. "The madness was already in him when he was brought to me. And his mother crowning him only worked to build his delusions. I had no choice but to send him to the wall with the rest of the men that refused to bend the knee."
"I see" Ned let out the breath he was holding back, his entire body now relaxed. Robert gave him a smile before addressing the entire room.
"You have all been brought here to be told something that must not leave the confines of this room" he began, handing the babe Daenerys to Jon. He moved towards Howland and Ned felt his heart speed up. The restless only built up as Robert took a closer look at the babe before it dropped entirely when Robert spoke again.
"He has his mother's eyes" Robert commented, looking at the boy with a smile. He then straightened and looked to Ned, who looked as white as a ghost. "You planned on passing him on as your bastard?"
"He is my bastard child, your Grace" Ned stated, no calmness in the way he spoke.
"Don't lie to me, Ned. We have been through enough to know when the other is not being truthful" Robert almost chastised the Northern Lord. "This is Rhaegar and Lyanna's child."
"Robert-"
"Ned," Robert interrupted the man before he could continue. "Is he legitimate?"
"I don't think so" Ned murmured.
"Good. Keep him hidden Ned. If the Targaryen sympathizers know of his existence, they will push him for the Throne no matter his birth status. And the ones that fear the second coming of Aerys" he shook his head. "I am making everyone present here swear an oath to me right here. The information about the boy does not escape this room. He is Ned's bastard and shall be known as such to the world" he declared and the men present in the room spoke the words and sworn an oath. "And Ned, you have to tell Catelyn about this secret and make her swear an oath of secrecy as well."
"Robert" Ned looked to his King with surprise once more, "I hardly know the woman. I don't know if she can be trusted with this secret."
"She will keep your oath Ned" Robert put a hand on Ned's shoulder. "She is a Tully. And what are the words of House Tully?"
"Family, Duty, Honor" Ned answered in a soft murmur.
"You are her family now Ned, and your family is her family. She will keep her family safe. It is her duty to do what her husband wants of her, as long as it is within reason. This is very reasonable. And as a Tully, she will uphold the honor of your words. And there is nothing less honorable than breaking an oath your husband or wife makes you swear. Do you understand Ned? Trust in her and she will not let you down. She is a Tully through and through."
"I-" Ned hesitated for a moment before giving a confident nod, "I do. And I will trust her with this" he stated calmly and Robert smiled at him.
"And what of young Daenerys?" Howland asked and Robert turned to him. "Daenerys can't be kept a secret like Lyanna's son here. There will be sympathizers that would push for her to dethrone you since her brother is now bound for the wall. How do you intend to resolve that issue, your Grace?"
"Daenerys is simpler in my opinion" Robert smiled, "I have already made it clear that she is my ward and that she will grow up under my watchful eyes. I have taken responsibility for her education and life. When she is of age, she will marry my firstborn son."
"The marriage would silence supporters calling you and your children Usurpers" Varys murmured. "But those that hated Aerys would not look kindly on it. They might think the mad king would come back in power."
"I trust that Daenerys here will not fall for the madness that her father and brother have fallen to."
"And if she does?" inquired Jon Arryn.
"If she does, we'll cross that bridge if it comes up" Robert assured his hand and the rest of the men in the room. "Does the boy have a name, Ned?"
"Lyanna called him Jaeherys."
"That has to change" Robert stated.
"I was thinking of naming his Jon. After Jon Arryn" Ned explained and Jon seemed to puff up at the statement.
"A fine name" Robert nodded his head. "That will be all for now Ned. You should rest. You have a long journey ahead of you."
"Your Grace" Ned gave a nod before exiting with the baby Jon and Howland.
"Are the ravens sent Jon?" Robert asked.
"They are, your Grace" Jon nodded his head.
"Then we are done for today. The small council meeting is adjourned for the day."
The room slowly emptied, until it was just Varys and Robert in the room.
"You must trust me very much to have let me in on this secret, your Grace" Varys spoke in barely a whisper.
"Knowing you Lord Varys, you would have found out one way or the other. Even though sending spies to The North has proven to be a failing task for you. I like it better, knowing who knows which of my secrets."
"Of course your Grace" Varys gave a short bow and went to exit.
"And Lord Varys" Robert called and the eunuch stopped and turned around. "Use your birds and see if anything in papers exists of Rhaegar and Lyanna, something that binds them as partners. Or something about young Jon's birth. If you happen to come across something, I want you to burn them all. Destroy any clues you find and make sure this information dies with those that were present in the room."