Chapter 12 - Backroom Deals
- Red Keep: The Throne Room -
Eddard Stark and his small entourage of guards made their way through the doors into the middle of the throne room. Opposite of them to greet them was Robert Baratheon on the throne with his Hand; Lord Jon Arryn standing beside him. In front of him was Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jaime Lannister in front of the stairs with eyes vigilant as they took on the entering group.
"Ned! It's great to see you!" Robert spoke joyfully to his brother in all but blood. "Hope the travels weren't as hard."
"I apologize for how long it has taken me to come back Robert," Ned grimly replied. "I was moving with the Northern Army so I couldn't leave them behind."
"No bother my dear friend," Robert chuckled. "That is perfectly fine." He was still in his lightened-mood when he spoke up next. "How did you fair finding your sister Ned?"
It didn't take a mind-reader to see Eddard Starks expression changing to sorrow to know there was no good news in that regard. Robert also frowned at the same time. "What happened Ned?" His tone now changed to worried as he took in his friend's expression.
"I came upon her as she was dying of fever," Ned confirmed to the gasp of the crowds around the sides. "I was able to share but a few moments before she was no longer of this world."
"WHAT?!" Robert was now furious as he stood up from the throne. "Wasn't there anyone with her to take care of her? Where was she? I will sack the Keep she was at to avenge her!"
"Robert," Ned calmly spoke in a muted tone. This seemed to reach Robert more than shouting would have as he immediately calmed down to take in Ned's next words. "She was with few servants and the former Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy." This seemed to get some acknowledgements around the room as he continued. "They did not have any healers or Maesters in the area, and could not move her to a Keep in her condition. They also could not send anyone to fetch a Maester as they had so few people there to begin with." He looked directly at Robert now as he finalized. "I'm only glad that the men guarding her allowed me to pass without conflict so I could spend her final moments at her bedside to alleviate her worries."
Robert had to look away from his friend as he was shaking. He was facing away from the throne room audience so they couldn't tell if he was angry or sad. He stayed that way for the moment while Jon Arryn spoke up in his place.
"Lord Eddard Stark, do we know the former Kingsguard that were watching over the late Lady Lyanna?"
"Yes," Ned confirmed. "They were Ser Oswell Walys, Ser Gerold Hightower, and Ser Arthur Dayne." Ned could tell these names caught the attention of the two Kingsguard in front of him.
"And these men, you did not fight them or wound them at all?"
"No," Ned answered. "At the time I was more concerned with getting to my sister in a timely manner instead of wasting time fighting them. They already knew of Lyanna's state and didn't seem to care about protecting her from me and my men when they were unable to protect her from herself."
"So you had extra men with you at the tower?" Jon confirmed. "And even with a group of your men, you didn't go after these former Kingsguard?"
Ned now looked at his former foster father Jon with a noticeable frown. "No, I did not think it would be prevalent to fight the realms best-known fighters with the few extra men that I had. It was a risk of lives that was unnecessary. Especially true for the fact they allowed me to see my sister unmolested."
Howland Reed was starting to notice his Liege Lord's acting slipping; however he couldn't do anything without being noticed so he could only hope Eddard didn't give into anger.
"Lord Stark," Robert spoke this time. "I would like to pay my respects. Where is her body so I may do so?"
Ned knew this would be the true test as he answered. "As part of her dying request, I had her remains burned."
"WHAT?!" Robert looked enraged. "How could you do that to your sister Ned?!"
"As I said," Ned repeated with a grim face. "I burned her remains as part of her dying request."
"Why would you do such a thing? I thought the Starks had their crypts up in Winterfell?"
"We do," Ned agreed. "However I did not have the means to take her body back in its entirety at the time so instead I agreed with her request as it would also be easier to transport her ashes."
Robert now had visible tears in his eyes as he looked on at his friend before turning away and stomping out of the room through the back entrance. The Kingsguard followed after him quickly.
"I believe I speak for the King and the realm when I say we are sorry for the loss of your family Lord Stark." Jon broke the din of whispers that had occurred at the king's abrupt exit. "I would ask that before you leave, we give the King time to say goodbye to his former betrothed's ashes if at all possible. Are you planning on staying long in the capital, Lord Stark?"
Ned looked at Jon before answering. "Indeed, I have business here that will take the next week. I will send a man to let you know when a good time would be for the King to visit her remains."
"We have rooms prepared for you, I will have one of the servants lead you there."
"Thank you Lord Arryn for the thought, however I must decline. I plan to stay with my men and army outside the city until I leave."
Jon nodded, and Eddard Stark left the throne room with his entourage from the opposite entrance.
- an hour later inside Lord Stark's command tent -
Howland Reed entered the tent after making sure only the most trusted guards of House Stark were posted all around the tent. Tying the tent entrance flaps together and making sure there was no room to peak inside, he stood next to his liege Lord awaiting further instructions.
"Are you sure you weren't seen?" Ned asked his most trusted friend.
"Indeed, only your guards posted saw me."
"Then it's time," Ned declared. He fished out a Hirashin Kunai from his belongings and, following Hanko's instructions, threw it into the ground a few paces away. They then looked on at the kunai in anticipation.
When nothing happened for a solid minute, Howland spoke up. "Are you sure you got the instructions right?"
"Yes," Ned answered him. "I was told in case of non-emergency to just throw the knife a few paces away." Ned scratched his head. "He didn't say what would happen though-"
A blink of darkness occurred above the kunai and suddenly a figure appeared above the knife. Dressed in all black and lean, with a black hood covering red hair and a white mask on his face painted red to look like a skull.
"Hello Eddard Stark," the figure spoke calmly.
Eddard Stark and Howland were drawing out their blades on instinct at the unknown man that suddenly appeared.
"Relax Ned, it's me," the man answered. He took off the hood and removed the mask from his face to show it was Hanko.
"By the Gods you scared us," Ned admonished. Both himself and Howland started to put their blades back in their scabbards.
"My Lord," came a concerned voice of a guard from outside the entrance flap. "Are you okay in there?"
"We are fine," Ned answered loudly. "Please remain outside and make sure no one comes close to listen."
"Understood milord!"
There was a pause before Hanko continued. "So I'm guessing we are at Kings Landing?"
"Outside King's Landing anyway." Ned answered. "I'm staying with my men and since I can't take the whole army into the city…" he let the ending pause answer his own statement. "What I want to ask though is why we have to stay here another week?"
"Let me explain…"
"Excuse me sir," a messenger garbed in the colors of House Stark came up to Ser Jamie Lannister and Ser Barristan Selmy who were standing outside the King's chambers. "I have a message-"
"The King is still sleeping off a hangover at the moment," Ser Barristan explained. "It is also still the hour of the nightingale."
"Apologies Sers, however I'm not here to pass a message to the King," the man addressed them both before turning to Jamie. "I'm here to pass a message to you, Ser Jamie."
Barristan and Jamie looked at each other in confusion before Jamie took the outstretched paper from the man in front of them. The man seemed to wait patiently as Jamie opened the letter.
Ser Jamie Lannister,
I'm writing as I have been informed of certain facts recently to which I was otherwise unaware. From what I understand, I and all the rebellion owes you a life debt which I plan to fulfill. I also plan to apologize for my actions in proclaiming you a Kingslayer in public to all. To this end I would urgently ask that we meet sometime today or tonight. The place to meet would be of your choosing in King's Landing. All I ask is that you come alone, both fully armed and armored but cloaked so you can travel without people following. If you want, please inform Ser Barristan that this meeting will occur, but not to where, and not including the contents. By informing Ser Barristan I'm hoping that will ease your mind that I have any thoughts of treachery. I know you are wondering about the secrecy. The secrecy is due to the information for you which would be dangerous in the wrong ears. I know of the spies in Kings Landing and will be making actions to make sure no one unwanted will hear us when we meet.
Please inform my messenger about where and what time you would like to meet so he may inform me and I can make the preparations accordingly.
Jamie re-read the letter at first wondering if this really was done by Lord Stark, however he noted the signature and that concluded his thoughts on the subject. He thought about how Stark let him choose the location as well which spoke volumes as to how much Eddard Stark was willing to give in just to have this meeting. Thinking briefly about a place to meet, he took the messenger off to the side, whispering the location and hour before going back to guarding the door with Ser Barristan.
"So...do I need to ask?"
Jamie took the letter and put it to a torch hanging off the nearby wall. Making sure to put the paper on stone so it wouldn't burn the entire keep, he made sure it completely burned before turning to Ser Barristan. "According to the letter, I'm to inform you that I will be having a private meeting with Lord Stark tonight."
"Why would the Warden of the North meet with you? Wasn't he the one that gave you your new moniker?"
"Indeed he did," Jaime confirmed. "However the letter also said I couldn't tell what the meeting is about, only that there will be a meeting."
Ser Barristan turned thoughtful as he mulled over the meaning, "It seems Lord Stark wants you to feel at ease by having you tell me." Jamie now looked confused, so Ser Barristan explained further. "By you telling me this now, if anything were to happen to you, Lord Stark could be implicated, thus he cannot do anything and instead must assure your safety."
Jamie nodded in understanding as they continued keeping vigil.
The rest of the day went by quickly. Only following King Robert Baratheon to his standard audiences, meetings, and meals. What was normally a prolonged shift due to the lack of Kingsguard seemed to quickly pass. It wasn't long before his shift was over and the Baratheon guards took his place.
Following the letters instructions, Jamie cloaked himself and put cloth between the armor joints to keep his armor quiet as he walked through the streets to the destination he chose. The place was a two story dwelling a shy bit off the main road. He only knew of it because it was a property the Lannisters had owned already before the sacking. It wasn't being put into use for anything yet, and he had already scoped it out beforehand, so he felt comfortable knowing the location and its exits.
He saw a light peaking through the doorway so he knew someone else was inside. He drew his sword out as he opened the door.
Inside he saw Eddard Stark sitting on the opposing side of the room from him, behind a table. He was getting up to greet the new entrant.
"Ser Jaime, I thank you for meeting me," Ned started off as Jamie was closing the door behind himself. "I do not want to waste your time, however I must ask that we wait a short bit before we start as there will be someone making a stop here."
"Why all the secrecy then if you are just going to bring people here?" Jamie asked with a harrumph as he made his way towards the table; putting his sword back in its sheath.
"Because I just wanted to get an expert first for a gift," Ned answered respectively. Jamie's eyebrow shot up at the mention. "Like I said in my letter I wanted to make recompense with my actions and I, as well as everyone in King's Landing, owe you a life debt. Having an expert stop by to get information for one gift I was informed would be a good idea."
There was a knock on the door which had Jamie stiffen towards the noise, however Lord Stark called out to enter so they did.
'They' consisted of a middle-age man and a much older gentleman. The middle age man looked like the stereotypical blacksmith. Wearing un-assuming peasants garb with dirty soot marks and fades burn marks strewn about his torso and arms. The much older gentleman looked well into an age Jamie didn't think possible. The man was taller with some half-moon shaped glass in front of his eyes being held by fine thin pieces of metal. These 'spectacles' sat on his wrinkled face displaying a grandfatherly smile. The rest of him was draped in a overly long set of robes that were both dark, yet made of something else as they had a metallic sparkle to them depending on where the light hit them.
"'Scuse me Ser," the blacksmith mentioned, "I was told to come here to get some measurements on your weapon."
Jaime looked at both the older gentleman and Eddard, concerned about being basically unarmed meeting these unknowns.
"If it makes you feel better Ser Jaime, you can hold onto my own sword until he is done," Eddard mentioned, unbuckling his sword-scabbard and giving it to Jaime. Jaime realized a shocked moment later that Eddard Stark just handed him his ancestral Valyrian Steel weapon to ease his mind.
Jamie didn't take much longer to unbuckle his own sword-scabbard and give it over to the blacksmith. The blacksmith brought it to the table and unsheathed the sword. Without delay the man quickly started taking measurements on the steel.
"Lord Stark I still don't understand-" The blacksmith's attention turned to both men now going wide-eyed; realizing he was in the presence of a High Lord.
"Apologies M'Lord, I did not recognize you before," the blacksmith hurriedly stepped away from the sword and bowed before Ned.
"Do not worry my good man, I'm the one who asked you to be brought here by my man. Please, finish taking the measurements."
The blacksmith quickly got up and continued about his business as Jaime spoke up again. "I still do not understand-"
"Ser, please keep your questions until the man has completed his work and left for the evening," Ned interrupted. "Trust me, I will answer all of your questions once we are by ourselves."
Jamie could only sigh as his curiosity kept growing at their nearing discussion. The blacksmith, understanding the weird atmosphere would last as long as his presence, quickly went through his measurements. It did not take much longer to complete his work before saying as such and handing the sword back to Ser Jaime.
"Thank you for coming at this late hour," Lord Stark nodded to the man, "Our mutual friend here-" Ned motioned to the old man "- will join you tomorrow to get started."
"No, please m'lord, thank you m'lord for the generous offer," the blacksmith beamed at Lord Stark before bowing and leaving through the same entrance they all entered from.
When the old man did not make to leave, Jamie chimed in haughtily. "I didn't know the Northern armies gave you old men to fight with as well Lord Stark."
"He will be working with the blacksmith on your gift; however he is also needed here for the discussion."
Jaime frowned as he turned to Lord Stark. "What do you mean? I thought this was going to be a private discussion."
"Indeed I did say that," Ned confirmed, "however I didn't specify how many people would be a part of the discussion, just that it had to be private."
Jaime still was upset and was going to say something before the old man interrupted in a whispery voice sounding his age. "Ser Jaime, if you would please give Lord Stark his ancestral weapon back, I'm sure it would be most appreciated."
It wasn't until that moment Jaime realized he had both of the only visible weapons in the room in his possession. He looked between the old man who was now at Lord Stark's side, and Lord Stark himself before sighing and handing over Ice to its proper owner. Lord Stark smiled and nodded in thanks before continuing to explain. "This gentleman here also was the reason I have been informed of your actions that saved us all."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the fact we are currently standing over caches of Wildfire that you stopped the Mad King and his Pyromancer from lighting up and killing us all."
Jamie looked on in shock at the two men as he breathed out in a low tone. "How do you know of that?" he asked before turning to the old man. "Everyone that was in the room at the time is no longer alive," he started to turn angry at his own confusion. "So how do you know that?"
The old man and Lord Stark looked at each other before they both nodded. The old man turned back to Jamie and showed his hand in front of him, displayed in a weird symbol.
Tiger
With a cloud of steam appearing randomly, Jamie became alerted and unsheathed his sword before the cloud cleared.
In the place of the old man with dark robes now stood a young man with bright red hair and white robes that had strange symbols drawn on them.
"I have my ways," Hanko answered Jaime's question.