Prince Hidden in the Sands
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Moat Cailin
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The two Kings stared each other down, cold and hard gray eyes stared into bright blue eyes. Winter King Eddard Stark stared into the eyes of someone he once called friend, but that was over a decade ago, and all he saw now was a fat whoremongering man with visible sweat stains and a messy beard. Ned on the other hand was more well kept, with his beard trimmed, fine leather, mail, and steel and hair stuck back with the hammered bronze of the Crown of Winter sitting atop his head.
Beside the southern King was his hand, Lord Jon Arryn, who Ned has been avoiding eye contact with ever since the man entered the hall. He already had to face Yohn and the disappointment on the Bronze Yohn's face almost broke the Winter King.
But now he was here sitting in Moat Cailin with his enemies before him in the form of King Robert Baratheon, Lord Jon Arryn, and 2 Kingsguard. With Ned was Benjen Stark, who was released from his vows to serve his older brother as Wolf's Claw, and Roose Bolton, a man Eddard found shocking loyalty from, but don't think just because he found the man loyal didn't mean he hasn't dropped his guard around the Bolton.
However men weren't the only living and breathing things in the hall, at both Starks' feet were their bonded direwolves, Fenrir at Ned's feet his molten gold eyes staring at his master's enemies, and Beowulf with orange eyes hidden behind his eyelids.
"Let's get down to business." Winter King Eddard Stark spoke, his eyes never leaving King Robert's eyes. "You want to end this." He said plainly, his eyes grew harder as they stared into bright blue. "Everyone knows that conquering the North is almost impossible without Dragons, and you 'Robert', made sure that isn't going to be an issue."
Ned wanted to smile when he saw the Fat man raise a lip at his insult. Indeed he didn't see the King as an equal, the Winter King saw the southern King as nothing more than a Fat whoremonger who drinks and fucks all day.
"Ned." The voice of the aging Jon Arryn spoke, "Please don't do this. Bow and pay the fee for your transgressions. You know his grace and I don't want this, but you have pushed the lords and the realm too far."
Leaning forward in his makeshift throne the Winter King spoke. "No. I will not bend my knee to this pathetic excuse of a King." Ned said, noticing the 2 knights place their hands on their swords. "The Robert I knew wouldn't be this obese man before me who does nothing but drinks and fucks day in and out, and most of all he wouldn't have bowed so low to laugh at the death of children."
"I could have you killed." The Winter King heard his fellow King say. But as he finished everyone watched as notches opened in the walls, revealing crossbows and bows aimed at the guests. The Southerners remained in silence as their King and the King before them had a stare-down. "What do you want?"
Ned leaned back when he heard those words, and held out a hand before the Leech Lord who gave him a scroll. He then gave it to his Father figure, who opened it and began reading it. "First I want my daughter Sansa Stark returned to me so that she can do her duty to her family, and any betrothals she has been a part of destroyed. Second I want 7.5 thousand gold and silver each, and I want it in a fortnight, if I don't have it then expect retaliation."
The Stark King watched as the southern King looked at his hand, and they watched as their father figure nodded confirming that all of what Ned said was on the scroll. The Fat King looked at him with a raised brow. "Is that all?"
Ned shook his head in denial. "I would also like to mine the contents of Dragonstone. Anything found in the caves is ours and if my men find that there is resistance from your people they will have my authority to kill them." This confused the people opposite them because to them there was nothing of value in those caves. But the Winter King continued. "Also for the promise that your people don't try anything stupid like attacking us, we will also be taking a prisoner."
This made Robert glare at him but Ned remained unfazed and just stared back into the man's eyes. "Who is this prisoner?"
The Stark King went to speak but was stopped when the Hand of King spoke first. "He wants Princess Myrcella Baratheon." Robert looked to his hand who gave him the scroll, but Jon Arryn spoke. "Ned… why do you want Lord Tywin Lannister, Gregor Cregane and Amory Lorch?"
This caught one of the Kingsguard's attention, the knight having emerald eyes making it clear that it was Jaime Lannister. "To bring justice to those they wronged," Ned said as he glared at the King of the Six Kingdoms.
What happened next wasn't what the Southerners expected but was understandable, as Jaime stepped forward after removing his helmet to show short golden blonde hair. "You want my father's head." Ned didn't need to hide it so just nodded. "I respect you King Stark but that is stupid. Everything you said was understandable but this has no excuse or reason minus what happened to the family that killed most of your siblings and father."
The Winter King placed all his attention on the man and nodded. "I will not deny that and in all honesty, I hate the Mad King for what he did and I'm grateful to you for killing him, I'm just sad that I didn't get to do the deed myself. But that is exactly it, the Mad King killed my father and brother, he was the one that needed to pay for his crime. But Princesses Elia, Rhaenys and Prince Aegon Targaryen were innocent of the crime. They had a life ahead of them but your father ordered them dead and 2 innocent children paid for the crime their forefather did."
Gray eyes stared into emerald green and what shocked the southerners was that the King's eyes weren't as cold or hard as they were if he was looking at his fellow king. "All points are valid, your Grace," Jaime said, bowing his head and hiding a slight smile. "But wasn't it you who titled me Kingslayer?"
Ned nodded and leaned forward. "Ser Jaime, I apologize for that but at that moment I was filled with anger and rage that I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. But I also know that you did your duty by slaying him so you are no Oathbreaker." He watched as the knight's eyes widened at what he said.
The King of the North also noticed that what he said got the other King's attention, along with the Hand and the pale eyes hidden behind the helmet, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. "What did the Kingslayer do to gain your respect?" Robert asked, and when Ned looked at him his eyes returned to the cold and hard they were before.
"Do you agree with my demands?" Was all the Winter King said, and Ned knew that they knew he was changing the topic. Ned also knew that he made Ser Jaime's life a little bit harder, but if the knight was smart he would leave his station. Minutes went by as the King thought about his demands. "If you do, I expect everything and everyone in a fortnight, and if they aren't then expect heavy casualties and retaliation."
The man's left eye twitched at the mention of his birth name and opened his mouth to speak. However, he was stopped when 2 messengers entered the hall. One was wearing the armour of a Baratheon guard and the other was wearing the armour of a Stark guard.
However, when Ned looked at the man he recognized him immediately as one of the guards he had ordered to stay to protect his Love. "What news do you bring of my Wife, Ser?"
The knight bowed as he stepped forward, and he spoke. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Sire. But I am here to bring you news that you have a new healthy and strong daughter. Lady Ashara has decided to name the babe Lyarra, after your late mother." A smile grew on the man's face. "Congratulations, your Grace."
Hearing this made the Winter King feel an unknown weight lift from his shoulders. He sat back down on his makeshift throne, hearing his brother and lord congrats him on a new Stark. Opening his eyes Ned allowed his mask to break, and a smile appeared on his face. "Thank you, Ser for bringing this news to me. You may rest in the barracks until we leave."
The man bowed thanking his king and left, leaving the room in a comfortable silence. But that silence was broken when the Southern King spoke. "Congrats Ned." Robert then looked to the messenger. "What?"
What the knight said was part good news for the North, but also shocking news to both factions. "Your Grace, House Tyrell has called back their men from the Northern border, and we were given news that Lady Olenna Tyrell, Lady Tyrell and Lady Margaery are making their with North." The man said, and already Ned felt the eyes of the King and his Hand on him.
"I also bring bad news, Sire." The knight continued, and Ned could see the fear in the man's eyes. "We have received a raven from Storm's End… approximately six hours ago the Golden Company under the command of Aegon VI Targaryen has taken and is holding the Fortress."
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Highgarden(Hours Ago)
—
Margaery entered the gardens of her home expecting the normal, with members of her family walking about gossiping about this and that, and the household guards lining the walls. The beauty was also looking forward to talking to her mother and grandmother.
However, what she did enter into, confused and shocked her. For lining the walls weren't only Tyrell men and knights, but also men wearing the colours of House Martell and Stark, and not a single one of her cousins were to be seen. Margaery eyed all the armoured and armed men, as she made her way over to where her grandmother would always be found.
Once the youngest Tyrell found her mother and grandmother, she found that they had guests in the form of a beautiful Dornish woman and a giant of a man who had a greatsword strapped to his back. Margaery eyed the Northman and Dornish woman. "Mother… you had me fetched?"
Alerie Tyrell looked at her with a face that would normally be in the form of a smile or something that wasn't what her mother had now. Lady Tyrell held a shocked and surprised look in her eyes, as she nodded.
"That I have my dear," Alerie said as she looked back to what had her attention before she came. "Come and look, Marg." Her mother said as she ran a hand along something that the youngest Tyrell couldn't see.
Margaery nodded and made her way over to the other women of her family, and when she got there her eyes landed on what had Alerie attention. What she saw amazed her with its beauty, for in the box was a longsword with a blade rippling patterns. For pommel was a small tower, with the handle having leather wrapped around it.
"Do you know what this is dear?" Margaery heard her grandmother ask, and in response, the youngest Tyrell shrugged. She knew it was valyrian steel but not what sword this is. "It's the ancestral sword of your Mother's house, Vigilance."
Her eyes widened upon hearing the name. "How? Wasn't it lost during the Dance?" She asked as she looked at her mother, who was still running a hand over the sword's blade. When Margaery got an answer it wasn't from her family but the giant of a man.
"Aye, it was lost to the South. But in the North, we've kept it for something like this, in hopes that we could gain an alliance when the time was needed." Her eyes went to the man, and she already knew what was about to happen.
"Lord Umber," Alerie said, taking her eyes off the formerly missing sword. "Please take this to my father in Old Town, and tell him that the price has been paid." Margaery watched as the now-named Northman nodded. "My Flower." She looked over to her mother and saw the look she gave her. "You are now betrothed to Prince Robb Stark. You will be Queen of the North and you will rule it by his side."
—
TBC
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Direwolves
Eddard Stark- Fenir: Alpha, standing at a height of a horse, with black as night fur and molten gold eyes.
Benjen Stark- Beowulf: Beta, standing at the height of just short of a horse, with gray and brown fur and bright orange eyes.
Dyanna Dayne- Visenya: is a female direwolf with gray and white fur and green eyes.
Robb Stark- Gray Wind: is a male direwolf with smoke gray fur and yellow eyes.
Beron Stark- Spring: is a male pup with brown fur and mystic blue eyes.
Cregan Stark- Night Sky: is a male pup with fur like Fenir but his eyes are pale white.
Ulrick Stark- Wolf: is a male pup with gray and brown fur with orange eyes.
Lyarra Stark- Unnamed: is a female pup with fur a mix of black, gray and white and black eyes.
Daemon Targaryen- Unnamed: is a male direwolf with fur as white as snow with blood red eyes.
12+ more unnamed and unclaimed(However the idea of some going to House Karstark is a idea)