It had all happened too fast for everyone. They were still processing what they had seen, from the incest to the possible murder. And then they heard two crashes. The first was one of the seats crashing into the ground, the second was a body hitting the ground. Then came the sound of a fist hitting a face.
Tywin was the first to react, grabbing the Stark boy's arm to hold him back. But the boy was stronger than he expected. He had ripped his arm from the man's grip and kept hitting Jaime's face, screaming obscenities with every hit. Not even the combined forces of Robert, Brandon, Hoster, Edmure and Rickard could completely hold the young man back. There was venom in each word he spoke, venom so sharp that those that heard him were cringing from it.
"Father" Raven's voice made Ned hesitate. His head slowly turned to the side and saw Raven looking at him from his place near the front of the rows. He broke free from the hold the men had him in and rushed over to his son.
"Bran" shaky hands held Raven's and gave them a squeeze. Then he let go of them and slowly but gently removed the furs from over his legs. Below his hips the legs looked mangled, broken beyond repair. He was crippled, no longer able to use his legs to move. It explained the chair. Ned turned back to Jaime and was ready to pounce again, but Raven put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
"Why?" Ned asked.
"It was necessary" Raven answered. "If not Jaime then some way else. Great power comes at a cost" Raven explained. "He just happened to be there that day."
"Is your injury what led you to have your powers?" Rickard asked, leaving The Lannister cub with his father.
"When one door closes, another opens. I can never be able to walk again, but I can fly" Raven explained. Rickard's eye widened fractionally in realization. He nodded his head.
"Before we start with what comes next" Rhaegar spoke and Raven looked at him, "I think we should pause for a bit. Catch up and process all we've learned."
"Very well" Raven muttered.
"Bran" it was Catelyn who spoke now. The woman approached him, her heart painfully clenching at the sight of the injury on her son. This was her son, a boy she would carry for nine months sometime in the future and raise. "When you said you lost everyone, does that mean."
"That all my siblings are dead and I'm trying to remedy that? Yes," Raven answered simply and they all stiffened.
"You said you were able to stop it once" Lyanna poked.
"The first time, my predecessor put his plans after the rebellion ended. He let people die that played no big part in his plans. His plan was to prepare me to be the next raven and lead events to where I would sit the throne at the choice of the people."
"You were King?" Edmure asked in surprise.
"For three years I was King. Keeping a close eye on everyone across Westeros and making sure everything was going smoothly. My eyes never reached into the greater North and that had let The Great Other rally his power. I had sent people back up there, I told them it was safe" Raven's fists clenched in anger. "The Great Other turned someone close to me to his side, fed the darkness that grew in him because of events that led to him having to kill someone he loved, events that turned his love towards madness. The Great Other made him his new avatar. He put an Iron Crown on his head and declared him The Night's King. And through him, he began his conquest again. We couldn't recover in time. The North fell first, and their dead joined the new Night's King. Then they marched South. We couldn't do anything this time and nobody stood a chance. When he came to kill me, I could see it in his eyes, the regret and pain. I did that. I sent him up there to become the vessel of darkness. As his sword pierced me and the last bits of his humanity faded, I projected my soul to the past. I had already decided what I needed to do to prevent it all. I needed to stop The Rebellion, I needed someone on the throne that was made to be king. I needed people who could help in setting things right."
"And that is why you picked us" Rhaegar spoke and they all looked to him. "After the events of Harrenhal. You brought The Wardens, The Lord Paramounts and all the important players here to show what would have been if things went as they were going to. To act as a warning so we don't mess it up."
"Yes," Raven nodded, "my predecessor saw my memories and he understood that he too made a mistake by acting too late. So he helped me bring you all here. Connected our minds so I could show you as well."
"Then you are aware of what I planned to do at Harrenhal but couldn't because my father showed up" Rhaegar stated and Raven nodded.
"Tell them" Raven ordered.
"Tell us what?" Lyanna asked, looking between her nephew and the prince.
"I want to overthrow my father and take the throne for myself" Rhaegar declared, surprising everyone. "It is no secret that he is slowly dissolving into madness. He needs to be taken off the throne before he does what he does and starts The Rebellion. I wanted to discuss this at the tourney but Varys whispered into my father's ears and he came."
"I'll help" Ned answered without hesitation. "He kills my father and brother, I will not let him do that" he declared.
"I stand with Ned" Robert declared.
"The Stormlands stand with Robert" Stannis added in.
"I stand with you, My Prince and so does The Vale" Jon Arryn declared.
"I will not let my children die and my family slowly devolve into chaos. The North stands with you" Rickard declared.
"Stopping The Rebellion will save Elia" Doran muttered, "Dorne stands with you."
"Houses Stark and Tully are bound by marriage or will be. Our words are Family, Duty, Honour. House Tully will stand with House Stark" Hoster Tully answered.
"I will lay my life for you my friend" Ser Arthur declared.
"As will I" Ser Barristan stated. They both have had enough of standing idly by and letting Aerys do the cruel things that he does.
"I will stand by you, Prince Rhaegar" Tywin spoke, "but at a condition."
"You dare-"
"What is it" Rhaegar interrupted Robert before he could get into some conflict.
"You release my son from The Kingsguard once you ascend The Throne and return him to me."
"Father-"
"That is my only condition."
"It will be done" Rhaegar nodded, as did Tywin.
"I can see that all yours have supported the prince. I don't see how The South needs to play into this. We could just remain neutral and when the time comes we'll help with The White Walkers and this Great Other."
"In time you will see that your house isn't as safe as you think it is, Lady Olenna" Raven spoke. "In time, you will also lend your support."
"We shall see" Olenna narrowed her eyes on Raven. That was a threat, it had to be one.
"Daenerys Targaryen has to be born" Raven looked at Rhaella. "Before you dispose of Aerys, Daenerys must be conceived. She is necessary for this war."
"What about you?" Catelyn asked.
"My siblings and I will be born one way or another. You will marry Brandon and you will bear his children. But whoever father marries, they will bear his children. My siblings and I will be born in between you two. I am unsure who gets who. But we will be born."
"I might have an idea of who Ned might want to marry" Brandon whispered to his father. Rickard raised an eyebrow. Brandon motioned to Ned and Rickard looked at his second son. Ned was looking at Ashara Dayne, and Ashara Dayne was looking at him. An interesting match.
"I will see about it" Rickard whispered back to Brandon. Could Jon be the child of these two? It seems likely since both of them seem to be quite fond of one another.
"We should get back to watching" Raven muttered and everyone nodded. They slowly returned to their seats, but Jaime lingered. Raven looked at him and he looked at Raven. He saw the remorse in Jaime's eyes and just nodded his head. Jaime gave a nod in return and went back to his seat. The Knight shrunk at the glare from his father. There was a lot those two needed to talk about in private it seemed.
