Eddard Stark POV:
The Northern host moved throughout the capital securing the vital points throughout the city, though they found them to be in Lannister hands. When they finally moved into the castle, he found Lord Tywin Lannister along his inner circle of lords and knights with him in the throne room.
Ned said, "Lord Tywin, I did not expect your forces to be in control of the city".
Tywin replied, "I sought to prove my loyalty to the new regime. I trust after we break the siege of Storm's End, I trust King Stannis will be grateful".
Ned asked, "What did you do with Aerys or Prince Rhaegar's wife and children?"
Tywin replied flatly, "Aerys is dead. His throat was slit open. By whom, no one knows. Prince Aegon is dead, by the Mountain as it appears the prince's corpse was found near Clegane's. As for Elia and Rhaenys, they are in Pycelle's chambers along with my son. It seems like he is holding Pycelle hostage and forcing him to treat Elia's wounds as it would appear Gregor Clegane was a mad dog".
At that moment, Ned regretted bringing the Velayron boy with him, he had thought to keep him close until he found his sister, but now he can see it was a mistake. As the boy tried to charge and had it not been for Howland and Ser Mark Rsywell's quick response and watchful eyes, the Velaryon boy would have tried to kill Tywin with his bare hands. Ned, thanked the gods that he had not returned the boy's weapons to him.
The Velayron squire howled in fury at Tywin, "YOU DAMNED TREACHEROUS BASTARD! CLEGANE WAS YOUR SWORN MAN! YOU ORDERED THE PRINCE'S DEATH! I'LL SEND YOU TO THE SEVEN HELLS TO BURN FOR ALL TIME!"
Tywin said, "You best keep your prisoner quiet Stark, or he will lose his tongue".
Ned stepped forward with his hand on his sword, and said, "You will not touch him Lannister. You will have enough crimes to answer for, best not add to them".
Ned turned to his men and ordered his men to follow them out, they had a certain Kingsguard to speak to.
When they arrived at Pycelle's chambers they saw Ser Jaime with a bloody sword in hand, awaiting anyone who dared threaten the princesses, and standing above several corpses arrayed in arms and armor that spoke of their former loyalty. He saw a few Lannister marks, but mostly those belonging to that of Hose Clegane or some other Westerland house that he did not recognize.
Ned called out, " Ser Jaime, I must speak with you".
Ser Jaime looked at him with an expression that was an attempt of the usual neutral expression for a Lannister, but Ned could see a tired look that spoke of regret and failure. Ser Jaime said, "Stay where you are Stark or I will cut you and your men down. I will let no one harm Prince Rhaegar's family".
Ned replied, "I mean them no harm Ser Jaime, and I will have my men guard the door while I speak to you in the chamber".
Ser Jaime hesitated, unsure whether to trust him.
Daemon Velayron spoke up, "Ser Jaime, you know me. I was Prince Rhaegar's squire. Lord Stark will do them no harm. He swore a Holy Oath for the love of his sister and the love she bore for Prince Rhaegar".
Ser Jaime lowered his guard and said, "Alright, just you and Daemon, Stark. Though you shall bring in no weapons".
Ned said as he took off his sword belt, "As you wish. Daemon is already unarmed".
Ned and Daemon walked into Pyclle's chambers, as Ned's men took guard positions around the door.
Once they have entered the chamber, Ned asks, "What are the princesses' condition?"
Ser Jaime replies, "Princess Rhaenys is fine, I killed Lorch before he could harm her. Though I fear I was too late for her mother. Pycelle claims she may not make it due to the savage things Clegane did to her. Princess Rhaenys is sleeping in the corner over there. I saw no reason to let her see her mother suffer. Ser Jaime sighed before continuing, "Damn my father and his cruelty. This is a new low even for him".
Ned was shocked by this revelation and asked, "Ser Jaime, did your father order Lorch and Clegane to kill Elia and her children?"
Jaime nodded.
Ned was silent for a time in shock that even a man like Tywin could be so cruel. It took some time for him to find his voice.
Ned asked, "Ser Jaime, do you know who slew Aerys?"
Jaime replied, "I know the man quite well. He is me afterall. Aerys sought to burn the entire city when my father began his attack, and I couldn't let that happen. So I killed his Chief Pyromancer, all of their high officers, and Aerys himself on the steps of the Iron Throne. I was in such shock I almost collapsed onto the throne, had it not been for Rhaenys' screams you would have found me on that blasted throne. I broke two oaths today, one to protect the king. As it turns out a King is worth less than half a million souls. The second is the oath I swore to Prince Rhaegar to keep his family safe. All I could do was save Rhaenys. Aegon was dead before I got there and their mother was not far behind him thanks to Celegane".
Ned stood there in stunned silence. He could not believe that Jaime had willingly broke his Kingsguard oath, but Ser Jaime had done it to save all the innocents that would have burned, including Aerys' own family most likely. It seems the gods allowed him to break his oath to save countless lives.
Ned said, "Ser Jaime, if you wish, I can have my Northmen stay in the capital until Elia is well enough to be moved to Dragonstone, and out of your father's hands".
Ser Jaime admitted, "That is probably for the best my lord. Thank you".
Ned turned around to walk out, when he was stopped and turned around by Jaime's voice, "Stark, your father's sword is in the reliquary vault with the treasury vault". Jaime tossed a key ring with two keys. Jaime then said, "Make sure you lock back up, I rather not be responsible for the loss of treasury or the relics inside".
Ned replied, "Thank you Ser Jaime".
After they left the Grand Maester's chambers, they walked in silence for a time now. Especially Since Ned left Ser Mark Rsywell and Martyn Cassell to aid Ser Jaime in guarding the princesses.
Ned would eventually break the silence and ask the young Velayron, "What is on your mind Daemon"?
Daemon replied, "I don't know, my Lord. Ser Jaime broke his oath, but it allowed him to save countless lives including the princesses". He paused and continued, "Though now the succession is even more vulnerable. Prince Viserys can switch from an innocent playful child to an arrogant princeling at the drop of a hat".
Daemon sighed, "Prince Rhaegar believed that was due to him being primarily under their father's care and believed when he ascended the throne he could help Viserys be better. But alas, that is not possible now. Though perhaps Queen Rhaella could fill in that role".
Daemon lowered his voice to barely above a whisper and said, "If Princess Lyanna has a boy he would be king, though I am warry what Lord Tywin might do. If the news was made public before we reached her grace".
Ned said, "I agree and then there is the matter of Stannis, I have to break the siege regardless and many lords will support a man grown over a child or a newborn. Do not worry Daemon, I will honor my oath and protect my sister and my niece or nephew".
Ned would successfully retrieve his family's ancestral Valyrian Steel greatsword and free Ethan Glover, the only survivor of the delegation of Northmen and Valemen that had come with Brandon and his companions or their lord father and the fathers of Brandon's companions.
It would take about two days for Ned to properly organize the Northern occupation of Kings Landing and force the Lannisters to withdraw from the Red Keep and camp outside the walls. He left his infantry at King's Landing and took the greater part of his cavalry to Storms' End to lift the siege, which would be a ceremonial matter at best.
Ned prayed to the old gods of the North that Lya would be safe and that further bloodshed could be avoided, but only time would tell.
Lyanna's POV:
She had been devastated when the Kingsguard delivered the stream of dark news that came from the capital, Brand and Father's deaths, Rhaegar's death and eventually little Aegon's. She almost wished for own death right then and there, if it hadn't been for their baby. She might have tried to end it. Robert's death was a cold comfort, as she would much rather have Rhaegar alive and with her when she gave birth, and to live the rest of their days in blessed bliss. Rhaegar had told her their union would be blessed by the old and new gods, and even the gods of old Valyria. She believed him then. Now she wasn't so sure. Rhaegar was certainly a strange man, but how she loved him. No other man save her brothers had ever supported her willful ways, but Rhaegar loved her even more so for it. Lyanna smiled remembering how Rhaegar found her as she tried to remove the mismatched armor she had worn in tourney to avenge Howland's honor, how she fel at the sad song Rhaegar had played at the feast, and the surprise she felt when Rhaegar crowned her with Winter Roses no less. Then when the Weirwood wood faces weeped at their wedding, she took it as a sign that the Old gods were blessing their union.
Now all she was left was a baby she was convinced was a boy despite Rhaegar's own insistence at their child being a girl. The dragon egg Rhaegar left for their babe and the recovered crown of Aegon the Dragon which Rhaegar had recovered prior to the tourney. She loved her son and could not imagine the grief Elia must be feeling at having lost her own son, but at least the reports say that Rhaenys still lived.
Her guard and companions for today were Ser Arthur, his sister Ashara, and a servant from Starfall named Wylla. The three women had grown close during their time together. Lyanna considered them her sister in every way but blood. Ashara could have been her sister in another life had Brandon lived. At least Ashara had her daughter, little Alyssa. Who is just like her mother but with Brandon's coloring and love of laughter. Wylla had been brought to act as wetnurse for Arra and eventually her own baby when he was born. According to Ashara, Wylla had some skill as a midwife as well.
Lyanna turned in her bed to face Ser Arthur directly and asked, "Has Ser Gerrold finished his plans"? Lya knew that Ser Gerrold was planning how to retake the capital and crown either her son or Prince Viserys as king should she have a daughter.
Ser Arthur replied, "I do not believe so since with both Prince Rhaegar and Robert's deaths the realm is in chaos neither the loyalists nor the rebels know who is in charge. Lord Tyrell is still besieging Storms' End, but according to Daemon, your brother is on his way to lift the siege and then come for you. Daemon stressed that Lord Stark swore to bear no steel against House Targaryen and has promised to protect your child and their rights…" Arthur paused, "If Stannis makes a claim for the throne the war could go on for gods know how long and word from the Reach is that the Ironborn have begun reaving their shores, which will divert their forces to deal with the threat. As of right now, I saw all the strength that remains to us once we announce the next king will be less than half of Reach's strength and royal fleet. Rhaenys is in the rebels hands and Dorne will not support you for now, though they may in the future especially if we betroth Prince Viserys to Princess Arianne. In truth it depends on what your brother does and even if he does support us we may need a Great Council".
Lya replied, "Ned will not fight against me and Daemon has said that Ned was enraged by the Lannisters slaughtering Aegon and raping and nearly killing Elia. You are right, a Great Council may be the best path especially since continuing the war will only hurt the realm".